Meghan Hodges
Whales are under threat from a variety of human activities, including commercial whaling, fishing, and pollution. While commercial whaling was banned in 1986, some countries continue to hunt whales, and other threats such as entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, noise pollution, and climate change continue to endanger whale species. To save whales from pollution, individuals can take small actions such as reducing their use of single-use plastics and supporting marine conservation organizations through volunteering or donations. Beach clean-ups can help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean, and reporting stranded or injured whales can help with research and rescue efforts. Additionally, raising awareness about the need for boats to slow down in whale habitats can help reduce the risk of vessel strikes. Together, these efforts can help protect whales from the harmful effects of pollution and other human activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stop commercial whaling | A 1986 ban made commercial whaling illegal worldwide, but Japan, Norway, and Iceland continue to ignore it |
| Reduce fishing lines in the water | Entanglement in fishing gear is a brutal experience for whales, causing serious injury and death |
| Slow down boats | Right whales risk getting run over by boats, which can injure and kill them |
| Reduce single-use plastic | Plastic bags, straws, bottles, shampoo bottles, razors, and toothbrushes contribute to the pollution clogging up the oceans and threatening the lives of whales |
| Organize beach cleanups | Removing trash from beaches can reduce the amount of garbage ending up in the ocean |
| Report injured, distressed, stranded, or deceased whales | Data from such reports can help protect other whales, and if the animal is injured or stranded, getting the right people involved can help save its life |
| Support marine conservation organizations | Signing petitions, volunteering, spreading the word, and donating directly can help increase protections for whales |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce plastic consumption
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a critical issue that affects marine life, from zooplankton to whales. Plastic waste clutters beaches, collects in gyres, and pollutes every corner of the ocean, threatening marine wildlife and ending up in the seafood we eat.
Whales are impacted by plastic pollution in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Plastic waste can obstruct a whale's movement, making it difficult for them to swim and feed, and can cause internal injuries or even death. Additionally, plastic pollution contaminates whales' feeding grounds, reducing the availability of their prey and introducing toxic substances into their food chain.
To address this issue, it is crucial to reduce plastic consumption and prevent plastic from entering the ocean. This can be achieved through individual actions and community efforts:
- Reduce single-use plastic consumption: Single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, straws, bottles, and disposable razors contribute significantly to plastic pollution. Opt for reusable alternatives whenever possible.
- Choose eco-friendly alternatives: When purchasing products, prioritize those made from sustainable and biodegradable materials. Look for items that use minimal or recyclable packaging.
- Support anti-plastic pollution initiatives: Organizations like the WWF and Ocean Blue Project are dedicated to cleaning the oceans and protecting marine life. By signing petitions, volunteering, and donating to such initiatives, you can contribute to larger-scale efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
- Participate in beach cleanups: Joining or organizing community beach cleanups can make a significant impact by reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean.
- Spread awareness: Educating others about the impact of plastic pollution on marine life is essential. Share information about the issue and encourage others to take action to reduce their plastic consumption.
By taking these steps to reduce plastic consumption and prevent plastic pollution, we can help protect whales and other marine life, ensuring the health and sustainability of our oceans for future generations.
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Organise beach cleanups
Beach cleanups are a great way to help save whales from pollution. They not only help restore beaches but also prevent debris from flowing back into the ocean, where it can entangle and harm marine life. Beach cleanups can take place anywhere, from a beach to a river, park, or even your local town. Every piece of plastic and debris that is cleaned up is one less piece of trash that can find its way into a waterway and potentially harm marine life.
To organise a beach cleanup, start by gathering a group of friends, neighbours, colleagues, or community members who are passionate about making a difference. You can also reach out to local schools, as there are special beach cleanup programs designed for youth that emphasise the educational aspect of these initiatives. Surfers and water sports enthusiasts are also great people to contact, as they often arrange their own cleanup activities to protect the waters they enjoy.
Next, identify a beach or waterway in need of cleaning and choose a date for your cleanup. If you'd like to join a larger movement, you can plan your cleanup to coincide with a global event like International Coastal Cleanup Day, which takes place annually on the third Saturday of September. You can also reach out to environmental groups, non-profit organisations, or businesses in your area that may be interested in facilitating or participating in your cleanup.
Before the cleanup, be sure to gather the necessary supplies, such as buckets or tote bags for collecting trash. You can also download guides and toolkits from organisations like Sustainable Coastlines, Save Our Shores, and World Cleanup Day, which offer information on organising events, educational resources, and initiatives focused on reducing plastic waste. Don't forget to share your plans with your community and on social media to encourage participation and spread awareness.
On the day of the cleanup, be sure to take photos and share them on social media with relevant hashtags and tags for the organisations you're working with. This will help to inspire and encourage others to take action and get involved in future cleanups. Remember to leave the beach or waterway cleaner and safer for marine life, and feel proud knowing that you've made a meaningful impact on the issue of plastic pollution.
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Support conservation organisations
Supporting conservation organisations is a great way to help save whales from pollution. Organisations such as Greenpeace, Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), Save the Whales, and Ocean Alliance are dedicated to protecting whales and conserving the ocean environment. By donating to or volunteering with these organisations, you can directly contribute to their conservation efforts.
For example, WDC has over 30 years of experience funding vital conservation and research projects to protect whales and dolphins worldwide. They work to inspire global action and have teams in North America, Australia, Germany, and the UK, all working towards a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. Similarly, Ocean Alliance is an organisation that focuses on research and innovation in marine mammal conservation. They explore the use of drones in whale research and have a vast collection of whale and ocean sound recordings. Their work with the SnotBot® has even inspired children and their teachers to support their conservation research efforts.
Save the Whales is another organisation with a strong focus on education. Founded in 1977, it aims to educate the public, especially children, about marine mammals and the fragile ocean environment. They believe that empowering children and promoting awareness can lead to positive change for the planet. Greenpeace, on the other hand, takes a more direct approach by advocating for policy changes and holding governments accountable. They actively fight to end commercial whaling and address the long-lasting effects of whaling on whale populations.
By supporting these conservation organisations, either through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, you can play a crucial role in saving whales from pollution and other threats. These organisations rely on public support to continue their vital work in research, education, and advocacy for the protection of whales and their ocean habitats.
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Raise awareness about boat speeds
One of the primary causes of whale injuries and deaths is collisions with boats. Right whales, in particular, are vulnerable to boat strikes as they spend a lot of time near the ocean's surface and often swim close to the coast in waters frequented by boats. Their dark colour and lack of a dorsal fin also make them difficult to spot from the bow of a boat.
To protect whales from boat strikes, it is important to raise awareness about the need for boats to slow down in whale habitats. Slower boat speeds give boat operators more time to spot whales and reduce the chances of collisions being fatal. Radar technology can be used to monitor and enforce speed limits for boats of all sizes, but this is currently not widely implemented.
By advocating for speed limits and radar monitoring, we can help reduce the number of whales injured or killed by boat strikes. This is similar to how lower speed limits near schools protect children by giving drivers more time to react. Just as high speeds on roads can be deadly, high speeds on waterways can injure or kill whales and endanger boat passengers.
To raise awareness about boat speeds and their impact on whale conservation, individuals can spread information within their communities and contact local authorities. Getting involved with marine conservation organisations and signing petitions are also effective ways to increase protections for whales and ensure that our oceans remain safe for these magnificent creatures.
In addition to raising awareness, individuals can take further action by volunteering with conservation groups, donating to whale protection efforts, and making mindful purchases that support marine life conservation. Together, we can make a difference and help save the whales.
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Encourage adoption of ropeless fishing gear to prevent entanglement
Entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause of death and injury for many large whale species. Whale entanglement in ropes and buoy lines can result in drowning, starvation, and infections. In some populations, almost every whale has been entangled at least once. As such, ropeless fishing gear is a potential solution to this problem.
Ropeless or pop-up fishing gear eliminates the need for vertical lines in the water, which can entangle whales and other marine life. Instead of ropes, ropeless gear uses lift bags or buoys attached to ropes stored at the seafloor in bags or containers. These are triggered by remote sensors to float to the surface, bringing the traps with them. This technology has been successfully tested in the U.S. and Canada, and is already in use by some fishers in Australia.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has acknowledged the threat posed by entanglement and has called ropeless gear "game-changing". The Center, a conservation organization, is petitioning the U.S. federal government to require trap fisheries to convert to ropeless gear by 2026.
To support the adoption of ropeless fishing gear, individuals can advocate for government policies that mandate the use of ropeless technology in fisheries. Additionally, supporting organizations like The Center and NOAA Fisheries through donations or volunteering can help promote the development and implementation of ropeless gear.
While ropeless fishing gear offers a promising solution to entanglement, it is important to consider potential challenges. For instance, developing a gear location marking system is crucial to prevent gear overlay and to easily locate and check these systems. Another consideration is the use of acoustic signals in ropeless technology, which may have complications for marine mammals, though the current levels used are considered safe.
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Frequently asked questions
Whales face many threats, including commercial whaling, global warming, pollution, ocean acidification, noise and ship strikes.
Pollution such as single-use plastics clogs up the oceans and threatens the lives of whales. Plastic bags, straws, bottles, shampoo bottles, razors and toothbrushes are some of the items that end up in the ocean.
Start by identifying single-use plastics in your home and make a conscious effort to switch to eco-friendly alternatives. You can also organise a beach clean-up in your community to pick up garbage from the sand and water.
You can sign petitions by marine conservation organisations, donate to marine conservation efforts, and support whale disentanglement efforts.
