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A humpback whale will jump to the surface of the Pacific Ocean
More than 350 scientists and conservationists from 40 countries have signed a letter calling for global action to save whales, dolphins and porpoises from extinction.
They say more than half of all species are concerned with conservation, with two on the “knife edge” of extinction.
Lack of action on polluted and over-exploited seas means many will become extinct in our lifetime, the letter says.
Even large iconic whales are not safe.
“Let this be a historic moment when realizing that the whale is in danger, it spreads a powerful wave of everyone’s footsteps: regulators, scientists, politicians and the public to save our oceans,” said Mark Symonds.
The letter, compiled by a visiting research fellow at the University of Bristol in the UK and a senior marine scientist at Human Society International, has been signed by experts from around the world.
Growing threats
“Save Whale” was a familiar green slogan in the 1970s and 1980s, part of a movement that helped bring an end to commercial whaling.
While endangered populations in most parts of the world have had the opportunity to recover from organized hunting, they are now facing numerous threats from human actions, including plastic pollution, habitat and hunting damage, climate change and collisions with ships.
The biggest threat so far has been accidental capture of fishing equipment and nets, which kill about 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises a year.
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To draw attention to the rally eloquence in Mexico
Hundreds of scientists have expressed similar concerns – that we are approaching a number of stagnant extinctions. And until we take action now, future generations will be denied the opportunity to experience these sensible social and inspiring creatures.
They point to the decline of the right whales of the North Atlantic, of which only a few remain, and a porpoise, Vequita, found in the Gulf of California, which could be up to the final 10 of its kind.
And they say it’s almost inevitable that both of these species follow the Chinese river dolphin on the verge of extinction. The dolphin, also known as Baiji, was once common in the Yangtze River, but is now thought to be dead.
The letter, signed by experts from the UK, the US, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil, states that this “dramatic” decline could have been avoided, but lacked political will.
Dr Susan Lieberman of the Wildlife Conservation Society said she had signed the letter to help scientists raise these issues more broadly.
He said the government is developing, funding and implementing additional necessary actions to better protect and preserve this iconic species – so that they do not go the way of Baiji.
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Dolphins chase sardines from South Africa
Scientists say more than half of the 90 live species of whales, dolphins and porpoises are concerned with conservation, and the trend of acting “too little, too late” should end.
They are calling on countries with whales, dolphins and porpoises (CTCs) in their waters to monitor threats and do more to protect them.
Whale and dolphin conservation, Sarah Dolmen of the UK, said accidental catching in fishing gear, known as a bycatch, is an issue around UK waters, resulting in the deaths of thousands of cetaceans and other animals, including seals and birds.
This includes harbor porpoises and common dolphins and an increase in the number of mink and humpback whales off the coast of Scotland.
She said being caught in a fishing net was a “horrible way to die,” with some animals living with broken teeth or beaks or losing their babies.
He told BBC News: “We can believe that the fish that are being eaten do not bycatch protected species like whales and dolphins.”
The letter is part of a growing movement by scientists and conservationists to raise awareness about the threat posed by whales and their young relatives, dolphins and porpoises.
The issue was discussed in September at a meeting of the Scientific Conservation Committee of the International Whaling Commission, which has the main mission of preventing extinction.
Members have organized “extinction initiatives” to work out how many extinctions members may face and what more we can do to prevent them.
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