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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Published today: the IWC's report of wide-ranging work over the last two years. Includes latest progress on bycatch, vessel strikes, climate change & whale watching, as well as summaries of whale conservation status by species/ocean basin. Read it here archive.iwc.int?r=23094

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The IWC launches a Global Cetacean Research Repository, a new #openaccess data repository for global cetacean research. Effective policy making depends on access to the best available data & over 80 years, the IWC has prized scientific advice.https://zenodo.org/communities/cetacean-research/

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The IWC Scientific Committee has published the report of its 2026 meeting. Topics vary from management plans & status assessments for individual populations to mitigation of global threats such as vessel strikes and marine pollution. Read it here archive.iwc.int?r=22706

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

A new report concludes the threat from maritime traffic to cetaceans worldwide remains significant and is growing, exacerbated by the continuous increase in global shipping activity. Read more at iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

Vessel strikes: a systemic, global, and transboundary issue requiring coordinated action

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Around 200 leading whale scientists are in Slovenia for the IWC Scientific Committee meeting. Over 2 weeks they will scrutinise the latest research & produce a report that provides a scientific foundation for IWC policy making. Read their previous reports iwc.int/scientifc-co...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

A WHALE OF A JOURNEY – 80 YEARS OF THE IWC: Art Competition launched to mark 80 years of science and stewardship. If you are aged 4-18, interested in the ocean and feeling creative, we would love to hear from you. All artworks are welcome. More info here iwc.int/public/docum...

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Reposted by @iwc-whales.bsky.social

UNEP-WCMC @unepwcmc.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

🚨 World reaches a major milestone for nature at sea!🌊 10.01% of the ocean is now officially within protected and conserved areas. This update to the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas (WDPCA) is a vital step toward Target 3 of #KMGBF. tinyurl.com/3dj8h337

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Day 2 at CMS COP15 covered some key topics for IWC including Aquatic Working Group sessions on FADs, fisheries bycatch and marine pollution and an event on the Blue Corridors initiative, whilst the Plenary covered climate change and renewable energy.

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Pleased to support the Convention for Migratory Species at COP15: Connecting Nature to Sustain Life. A very relevant topic for IWC and the long migrations of many whale species. IWC will be reinforcing existing collaboration inc. on bycatch & entanglement, vessel strikes, pollution & whale watching.

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Scientific Committee members are now meeting to prepare for an assessment of North Atlantic humpback whales. Assessments are vital to understand a population's current status & consider many factors inc. population size, genetics, behaviour & biology. iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

In-depth assessment begins for North Atlantic humpback whales

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

The IWC supports #WorldWildlifeDay, a day to celebrate and appreciate the wonder and #biodiversity of our planet, and to focus on the global effort needed to address the multiple threats faced today #WWD2026

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Successful conclusion to series of 3 collaborative workshops with SPREP (Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme) & WWF. Held in Fiji, topics were Blue Corridors, bycatch & small cetacean species assessment. All will report to IWC Scientific Cttee in April/May. iwc.int/resources/ne...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

A partnership between the IWC, @SprepChannel and @WWF has resulted in a series of three workshops, held over six days and covering Blue Corridors, bycatch and species assessment. All 3 workshops are taking place in Nadi, Fiji (23-28 February 2026). Read more iwc.int/resources/ne...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

The IWC, SPREP, and the Pacific Community (SPC) are meeting in New Caledonia to better understand the cetaceans of the Western Central Pacific Ocean. Bycatch, data sharing & conservation strategies are on the agenda & the conclusions will be reported to the IWC Scientific Committee in April.

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

As the IWC commemorates 80 years of marine science and stewardship, its five Executive Secretaries, past and present, reflect on the different challenges of the role over time. Read the Reflections at 80 iwc.int/commission/8...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

IWC Call for Proposals: new research programme on potential impacts of offshore renewable energy on cetaceans. The 5-yr partnership with Australian Govt will address range of potential impacts. Deadline for applications is 27/3/26. Details/applications: iwc.int/management-a...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Vol 27 of the Journal of Cetacean Research & Management (JCRM) is live. The IWC's open access, peer reviewed journal, publishes original scientific research. Explore the archive: journal.iwc.int/index.php/jc... #whales #science #marinescience #whalescience #openaccess

PHOTO taken during an aerial survey of bowhead whales in West Greenland in April 2022. This survey forms the basis of the first paper published in Volume 27.

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

The latest IWC entanglement response training has concluded in the Caribbean. More than 30 participants from four island nations participated in the 3-day event which began in the classroom before two days at sea iwc.int/management-a...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

The IWC is appealing for information on interactions between cetaceans & marine-debris as part of a new study contracted to @UniofExeter Unpublished data, reports/other gray literature are particularly welcome. The deadline is 15 March 2026. If you can help contact eh858@exeter.ac.uk

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

News Bulletin: read all the latest news and events from around the IWC's global community of cetacean scientists, policy makers, regulators and conservationists mailchi.mp/69d77eb10c75...

mailchi.mp

IWC News Bulletin - January 2026

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Reducing collisions between whales and vessels: 2-day workshop begins today, focused on vessel strike hotspots & risk assessment. Experts from science, shipping, finance, int'l & local governance also shared experiences re. implementation of mitigation measures. Report to follow.

Martha Rojas Urrego, IWC and David Osborn, IMO at the vessel strikes workshop

Ship struck whale, Bonaire Marine Park. Credit: Kalli de Meyer

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

As part of its Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, the IWC is leading a 10-day workshop in Congo, training local responders to use the Bycatch Risk Assessment (ByRA) toolkit, enabling users to model & map bycatch risk & identify critical new areas for research. Read more: iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

IWC leads bycatch mitigation training in Congo

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

2026 marks 80 years of IWC work to conserve whales & regulate whaling. Whilst the mandate hasn’t changed, the threats facing whales are more complex than ever before. The IWC has evolved to meet them & today runs programmes to address concerns inc bycatch & entanglement, vessel strikes. www.iwc.int

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

JCRM is the IWC’s scientific journal. Our latest volume, includes papers on the impact of climate change on migratory whale species & potential solutions to reduce the threat of entanglement for North Atlantic right whales. journal.iwc.int/index.php/jc... #jcrm #whales #whalescience

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Pleased to co-author @CIBBRiNA review of #bycatch strategies for endangered species, inc. both technical & socio-economic measures. Whilst there is no universal solution, strategies tailored to species & contexts do exist & can prove extremely effective cibbrina.eu/new-report-t...

cibbrina.eu

New report: The state of play for bycatch mitigation strategies - CIBBRiNA

As part of our work towards building a bycatch mitigation toolkit, CIBBRiNA has published a new report which reviews past, present, and potential future bycatch mitigation strategies for Endangered, T...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Scientific Cttee (SC) Chair, Dr Lindsay Porter was pleased to give keynote speech at 9th Symposium on Cetacean Research, Anqing, Anhui Province, China, & visit Yangtze River sanctuary for finless porpoise, a successful conservation project resulting in population increase & an SC commendation

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Underway in Cambridge: technical meetings of IWC Scientific Committee groups to progress critical work on population (abundance) estimates & status for several whale populations including southern hemisphere fin whales & eastern North Pacific gray whales iwc.int/resources/ne...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

State Of Cetacean Environment Report (SOCER) now published. 5yr compendium provides comprehensive, global account of today's environment for whales, dolphins & porpoises & challenges they face. Read it: iwc.int/document_3810 #marinescience #cetaceanscience #whaleconservation

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Annual IWC-POWER research cruise returns to port after 16th successful expedition in the North Pacific. This year's focus was gray & humpback whales: 62 biopsy samples, 600+ hrs of acoustic recordings, 80 days at sea & 1161 nautical miles #marinescience iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

Successful completion of the annual IWC-POWER research cruise

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

IWC is increasing accessibility to its extensive range of data. Access to current and historical catch data has been improved & its hoped the same data visualisation & sharing technology can be used to improve access to abundance data iwc.int/management-a... #marinescience

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

IWC Scientific Committee Chair, Dr Lindsay Porter will this week join local & int'l experts to discuss #bycatch mitigation strategies at a workshop in Kikori, Papua New Guinea. Dr Porter will explain the low cost tools used in IWC bycatch projects around the world & safe handling of bycaught animals

Sousa sahulensis, one of the species at risk of bycatch in Papua New Guinea.
Credit: Alex Brown, MUCRU

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Out now: the IWC News Bulletin brings you all the latest activities & events across the IWC's global community. This edition includes a new renewable energy research initiative, updates on status & abundance & upcoming workshops in the western Pacific mailchi.mp/9f35f72bbeb0...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Collaboration & 58 hrs hard work results in successful refloating of stranded, 30,000kg humpback whale, Angola. Congratulations to all involved inc. CCAHD & IWC Strandings Expert Panel who provided remote advice throughout the complex rescue. Read more: iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

Successful refloating of stranded humpback whale, Angola

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Tomorrow is #InternationalCoastalCleanupDay. Entanglements in ocean debris cause drowning, starvation & laceration. Ingestion causes internal injury & infection. Why not join a local #coastalcleanup or plan to reduce waste/recycle more at home? Read more iwc.int/index.php?cI...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Congratulations to the latest entanglement response apprentices who have successfully completed advanced training with CCS in Provincetown under the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network (GWERN). Read more: iwc.int/resources/ne...

iwc.int

Successful completion of latest entanglement response apprenticeships

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

The Journal of Cetacean Research & Management (JCRM) is the IWC’s open-access journal dedicated to original research into the conservation & management of cetaceans. Find the latest articles here: journal.iwc.int/index.php/jc...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

The IWC launches a new interactive course on InforMEA’s e-learning portal. Learn about the IWC, regulation of whaling & the IWC’s world-leading scientific research & conservation initiatives. #whales #conservation #whaleconservation #marineconservation elearning.informea.org/course/info....

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Excited to share latest taxonomy updates from the Society for Marine Mammalogy: changes in classification of some dolphin species including creation of a new genus & division of Franciscana dolphin (focus on an IWC #CMP) into 2 subspecies. Read more at marinemammalscience.org/science-and-...

Franciscana dolphin and calf. This species is now split into two sub-species.
Credit: L Russo Lacerna, Fundacion Cethus

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

IWC is @ Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project Steering Cttee meeting @fao.org, Rome. IWC's project assesses cetacean #bycatch & raises capacity building in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The meeting is discussing the last year's updates to make tuna fisheries more sustainable.

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

This week's workshop closes with the CMP for #franciscana. Initiated in 2016 it's now preparing for a Comprehensive Assessment by the IWC Scientific Committee. These assessments provide the IWC with status info & identify issues that may impact future status. iwc.int/management-a...

Francisca and calf.
Credit: Russo Lacerna, Fundacion Cethus

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Workshop moves to Lahille's dolphin. Initially the focus of a rapid response Task Team, a CMP followed in 2024. Just 600 individuals remain & the greatest threat is #bycatch in artisanal fisheries so work with fishing communities is the highest priority iwc.int/management-a...

Lahille's bottlenose dolphins.
Credit: Pedro Fruet

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

This week's CMP workshop moves onto the Guiana dolphin which is found across 9 countries, creating the transboundary issues that CMPs are designed to address. Engagement & commitment are vital to success in multi-jurisdictional efforts like this one. iwc.int/management-a...

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

The July issue of the IWC News Bulletin includes reports from all over the world on the latest training in #strandings and #entanglement response, #bycatch, Conservation Management Plans, upcoming meeting info and lots more. Read it here t.co/IcHKfV1DKo

t.co

https://mailchi.mp/3fc5235712f6/iwc-news-bulletin-july

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

The CMP workshop moves on to South American River Dolphins. 300+ died in a climate change-driven rise in river temps in 2023. Measures to rescue & monitor them are now part of this CMP which poses unusual challenges & requires the collective wisdom of IWC & range states. iwc.int/management-a...

South American river dolphin
Credit: Fernando Trujilo, Omacha Foundation

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Now underway - a week-long workshop on all IWC South American Conservation Management Plans began with SW Atlantic & SE Pacific right whales. Coordinators were able to share experiences, challenges & solutions for first time. The big benefits of bringing together CMP coordinators are already clear!

Southern right whale off the coast of South Africa
Credit: MRI Whale Unit, University of Pretoria

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Congratulations to all involved in another successful entanglement response workshop. The workshop was held in Piura, Peru and provided 60 participants with the skills to respond safely and effectively to whales entangled in fishing gear. Read more: iwc.int/resources/me... #cetaceanconservation

iwc.int

Peru Strengthens its Capacity to Rescue Whales Entangled in Fishing Gear

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

The latest news from the IWC Scientific Committee. Read more at www.iwc.int

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

With IWC Commissioner Vasiliades from Cyprus at #UNOC3, discussing various aspects of the IWC work programme and planning for #IWC70 in the context of the EU Presidency

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Pleased to join @cms.int @unbiodiversity.bsky.social @CITES & other key partners at #UNOC3 to discuss marine animal species for healthy ecosystems & long-term sustainability, inc. evolving threats to cetaceans & effective, science-based conservation & management responses

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iwc-whales.bsky.social @iwc-whales.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Whale watching on the agenda for a meeting at #UNOC3 with colleagues from the Dominican Republic including Commissioner Reyes. The Dominican Republic is an active participant in the IWC Whale Watching Handbook, working to achieve sustainable whale watching wwhandbook.iwc.int/en/

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