WWF'S GLOBAL CETACEAN CONSERVATION PROGRAMME
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BRIEFING
2011
© naturepl.com/Todd Pusser / WWF
WWF’s global CETACEAN
conservation programme
At or near the top of the food web, A concerted effort is needed in order (such as migratory pathways) targeted
whales, dolphins and porpoises to prevent losing another of these policy activities at a global level are
(cetaceans) are highly vulnerable to iconic species. The WWF Cetacean identified.
harmful human activities in marine Conservation Programme aims to focus
Threats: For each WWF priority
and freshwater ecosystems. Bycatch, WWF’s resources where they can make
species/place, threats were identified
pollution, collissions with vessels, the biggest difference.
and ranked according to their scope,
ocean noise and habitat degradation
Species focus: WWF focuses initially severity and urgency, and strategies to
– to name only a few – are major
on some of the most threatened species mitigate each of the most important
threats putting many species at risk
of cetacean which require immediate threats were developed.
of extinction. Most of the great whale
attention – the North Atlantic right
populations have still not recovered Securing a long term future for
whale, the Western North Pacific
from industrial whaling and small cetaceans on our planet is not
gray whale, the Hector’s dolphin, the
cetacean species are victims of something that anybody can do
the Vaquita – as well as several river
destructive fishing practices and alone – effective partnerships with
dolphin species which are on the brink
unsustainable coastal development. governments, the private sector,
of extinction.
Bycatch kills an estimated 300,000 communities, scientists, NGOs and
whales, dolphins and porpoises each Place based focus: WWF also civil society are at the heart of WWF’s
year. The Yangtze River dolphin, the focuses on ten of WWF’s marine Cetacean Conservation Programme.
first cetacean species to slip quietly into priority places that are ecologically The marine environment has never
probable extinction in recent times, important for cetaceans, and five major been under such heavy pressure, and
did not die from a harpoon but as a river basins where river dolphins occur. successful cetacean conservation
result of a range of different threats will call on the ability of people and
Policy: In order to create the
from unsustainable fishing practices organisations to work together more
necessary enabling environment
to habitat degradation, the cumulative than ever before, requiring long-
for cetacean conservation, and to
impact of which this vulnerable species term commitments and synergy of
address threats occurring outside the
was not able to withstand. knowledge, skills and resources.
identified priority places
page 1
WWF’s Global Cetacean Conservation Programme
Goals & Objectives for
Goal 2 – By 2020, priority threats
to marine cetacean survival are
Marine Cetaceans
measurably reduced in at least ten
priority seascapes.
• Arctic Seas – Priority threats to
cetacean species are reduced and
resilience to climate change is
By 2050 viable Goal 1 – By 2017, four highly strengthened.
threatened marine cetacean
populations of all populations are stabilised or
• Coastal East Africa – Cetaceans are
benefiting from reduced mortality and
marine cetacean increasing. critical habitats are secured.
species exist in the • Addressing bycatch of North Atlantic • Coral Triangle – Cetaceans are
wild, fulfilling their right whale in Eastern Canada. North benefiting from reduced mortality and
Atlantic right whales are listed as
role in the maintenance endangered by IUCN, with less than
improved community commitment to
conservation.
of healthy marine 400 animals remaining.
• Mediterranean Sea – Priority threats to
ecosystems, and the key cetacean populations (including the
• Protecting the Western North Pacific
sustainable development gray whale in its primary feeding endangered fin whale) are reduced.
of coastal communities. area off Sakhalin Island, Russia. The • Southern Chile – Priority threats to
Western North Pacific gray whale is key cetacean populations (including the
critically endangered, with possibly less endangered blue whale) are significantly
than 130 animals remaining. reduced and critical habitats are secured.
• Southern Ocean (including coastal
• Addressing bycatch of Maui’s dolphin
Argentina) – Key depleted cetacean
in New Zealand. The Maui’s dolphin is
populations are stabilised (e.g.
critically endangered, just 111 animals
franciscana dolphin).
remaining.
• Southwest Pacific – Priority threats to
• Addressing bycatch of vaquita in the cetaceans are reduced.
Gulf of California, Mexico. The vaquita
• West Africa – Priority threats to
is critically endangered, with around
cetaceans are reduced.
245 animals remaining.
• Gulf of California – Large whale
populations in the Gulf of California,
Mexico, benefit from strict conservation
measures.
Goal 3 – By 2020, at least ten
policy outcomes at a regional or
global level have been secured
which increase the protection and
conservation of cetaceans and their
habitats throughout their range.
• Work on international/regional
frameworks; bycatch; commercial
whaling; oil and gas exploration and
development; ship strikes; climate
change adaptation strategies; whale
watching tourism in developing
© naturepl.com /Doug Perrine / WWF
countries; critical habitat areas,
conservation management plans;
and improving basic scientific
understanding of cetacean populations,
particularly for species listed by IUCN
as data deficient.
page 2
WWF’s Global Cetacean Conservation Programme
© naturepl.com /Todd Pusser / WWF
Goals & Objectives for
Freshwater Cetaceans
Goal 1 – By 2020, selected GOAL 2: By 2020, relevant
By 2050 freshwater freshwater dolphin and porpoise policies have been improved at
cetaceans and humans populations are stabilised or a global level, and the political
live in harmony in increasing in six river basins. will and commitment to conserve
freshwater dolphins and porpoises
five critical rivers and • Amazon & Orinoco Basins – South
and their habitats throughout their
mutually benefit from American river dolphin species1
range has been increased.
fully functioning and • Yangtze Basin – Yangtze river finless
• Work on pollutants, water
porpoise
healthy river systems. infrastructure development projects,
• Indus Basin – Indus river dolphins protected area networks, climate
• Ganges Basin – Ganges river dolphins change, bycatch and sustainable
dolphin and porpoise watching
• Mekong Basin – Irrawaddy dolphins
tourism.
inhabiting the Mekong river
1 The Action Plan for South American River
Dolphins 2010 - 2020, developed jointly by WWF,
WCS, WDCS, SOLAMAC and Fundacion Omacha
is available at http://assets.panda.org/downloads/
the_action_plan_for_south_american_river_
dolphins_baja.pdf
page 3
Some achievements
100%
•
Despite the growing pressures in marine and freshwater environments,
wwf’s global cetaceans conservation programme - june 2011
there have been some notable successes in cetacean conservation across
the world . The examples below show what can be achieved, although
much more is needed to prevent extinction of several of the species
RECYCLED
mentioned below. WWF is committed to working with governments,
industry and communities to ensure the world’s whales, dolphins and
porpoises have a long term future in the wild.
Mexico / vaquita
The Mexican government launched
a multi-million dollar programme to
Canada / North
reduce bycatch of vaquita in gillnets
and established a vaquita reserve
Atlantic Right
Whale
The Government of Canada moved a
shipping lane in the Bay of Fundy to
reduce vessel collisions with North
Atlantic right whales
New Zealand /
Maui’s dolphin
The New Zealand government
established a gill net ban in large
parts of Maui’s dolphin habitat
India / Ganges
river dolphin
Unregulated fishing has been brought
WEST AFRICA /
to a complete halt in one project
area, and the dolphin population has
WWF.PANDA.ORG/species/cetaceans
multiple species
increased in the upper reaches of the
Ganges River
West African Governments are
establishing a wide network of Marine
Protected Areas
© Barrett&MacKay / WWF-Canada
For more information, please contact
Why we are here
To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and Carlos Drews
to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
Director, Species Programme, WWF International
www.panda.org
cdrews@wwfint.org
© 1986 Panda symbol WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund)
® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademarks. WWF, Avenue du Mont-Blanc, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
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