eNewsletter: June edition
Spotlight: Orca
Each month we will dive into fun facts, stories, and updates with you, our whale and dolphin loving community of fin-tastic supporters!
Did you know?
- They are also known as “killer whales,” because some ecotypes eat other whale species.
- Orcas hunt in packs, coordinating their feeding raids with incredible skill.
- Orcas live in family pods of up to…
Proposed new species in 2024
Subscribe and Learn Why We Need Your Help
Dive in each month to learn more about whales, dolphins, and how together we can protect them.
Our programs
On-demand fishing gear
Minor entanglements cause major harm
In 2020, WDC and Conservation Law Foundation joined forces with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to collaborate on technologies that could be lent to fishermen willing to participate in a gear trial. This gear removes static vertical buoy lines by allowing fishermen to locate and retrieve underwater set traps through an “on-demand” acoustic retrieval process. Operating under a federal exemption fishing permit, commercial fishermen have retrieved gear over 5,000 times with a 90% success rate in just the past two years.
Vessel speed rule
Conservation groups continue bid to lift stay in right whale vessel speed rule case
Conservation groups returned to federal district court to further efforts to obtain a deadline for Biden administration action on a 2022 proposed expanded vessel speed rule vital to protecting a species in crisis. A reply brief filed points to the deaths of two young, critically endangered right whales from vessel strikes in the last month, emphasizing the immediate need to lift a stay in place since September 2022 so the case can proceed before this endangered species’ numbers dwindle further.
“Vessels slowing down can save whales and people from deadly collisions, but sadly, the only thing slowing down is progress on releasing this rule,” said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation of North America. “Politics is now outpacing entanglements and vessel strikes as the biggest threat to right whales.”
Juneteenth
This Juneteenth, we recognize the irony that the practice of whaling has been a more inclusive opportunity for people of color than whale conservation.
DEI in recruitment
To remove bias from our intern and job recruitment process, applicants are reviewed by a panel that has undergone training about biases in hiring practices.
Both intern and job applicants are selected through a blind review process to eliminate bias and to give more opportunities for candidates from underserved communities to gain experience in this field. Applicants answer a series of questions through an online form and the panel receives the responses with candidate numbers only. All identifying information – including names, genders, references, and resumes – is hidden from the initial review process. Candidates are scored based on responses and the panel meets to compare scores of candidates and discuss why a candidate received a particular score. The panel then chooses, from the candidate pool, which individuals will be interviewed. Only after candidates are chosen for interviews does the panel receive identifying information on the candidate.
We are dedicated to creating opportunities which represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the more impactful our work will be.
internships. Unpaid internships prevent many students from participating in this field. We are committed to only offering paid internships to increase access to this field.
Orca Action Month
World Oceans Day
June 8th is World Ocean’s Day! Planet Earth needs a healthy ocean, and a healthy ocean needs whales. Explore our 2023 Impact Report to see how we made a difference in the lives of whales and dolphins with your donation last year.
Subscribe and Learn Why We Need Your Help
Dive in each month to learn more about whales, dolphins, and how together we can protect them.