What is WDC
WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the leading international charity dedicated solely to the worldwide conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Whaling and captivity
End Deliberate Harm
Outreach
Educates the public on the significant ecological role (science) whales and dolphins play in the ocean and motivates them to take action on policy issues.
Outreach
MARR
White Sharks and Whales Expedition
Safe Boating
Population
Fewer than 370 whales survive today with only 70 breeding females.
Our Mission
To amaze people with the wonder of whales and dolphins and inspire global action to protect them.
Why whales and dolphins matter
Win change in policy and practice
Policy
Creates impactful change to best protect whales and dolphins. WDC’s policy work is informed by science and supported by public education through WDC’s outreach.
Policy
Klamath River dams
Vessel Speed Rule
Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act
International Whaling Commission
Threats
The population has struggled to recover as they face mounting modern-day threats from accidental entanglements in fishing gear, vessel strikes, and climate change.
Our Vision
Our vision of a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free is not a noble gesture, but an essential means to sustain the future of our Earth by increasing the planet’s climate resiliency.
Create safe seas
End accidental harm
Science
Allows WDC to provide the most accurate information for our outreach programs and guides our recommendations as we work with decision-makers to create impactful policy for the protection of whales and dolphins.
Science
On-demand fishing gear trials
Green whale reports and research (Whales in Hot Water, Great Whale Conveyor Belt, Whale Fall, Whale Pump)
Whale Watching photos
2024 losses
We lost 2% of the right whale population in 2024 alone.
Fundraising
Whale Jam
Grants
How does WDC help
WDC has worked to develop and implement rules to reduce vessel strikes, successfully reducing the risk of a fatal collision by 80-90% in US waters.
On-demand
Education
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, a federal stakeholder group working to increase protections for right whales.
Adoptable Whales
When you symbolically adopt a Humpback Whale or Killer Whale (Orca), you receive our engaging educational whale adoption package with your adopted whale’s family tree poster and fact cards with fascinating info about your whale’s size, diet, migration patterns, and ocean habitat. Coral, Mars, Midnight, Pepper, Reflection, Salt, Sirius, Fife, Holly
WDC is working with the Blue Water Research Institute to collect eDNA data to help identify times and places right whales are using their habitats.
In support of ongoing field research by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WDC is on the water in Cape Cod Bay monitoring right whales in one of their most important seasonal feeding and nursing areas.
As part of a coalition of NGOS, WDC is meeting with elected officials in Washington DC to highlight the important role whales play in the ecosystem, protecting the health of our planet.