Program Term Archive
Marine Wildlife
Historic Orca Captivity Bill Becomes Law in California
Marine WildlifeIn March 2014, California Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) introduced into the California Assembly AB 2140—a bill to prohibit the breeding of captive orcas and their use in theatrical shows...
IWC Meets in Slovenia on Anniversary of Whaling Moratorium
Marine WildlifeThe 66thmeeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) took place October 20–28, 2016, in Portorož, Slovenia, 70 years after the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) was ratified....
Poll Reveals Arizonans Oppose Captive Dolphin Swim Programs
Press ReleaseNovember 1, 2016Marine WildlifeA statewide poll released today by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Animal Defense League of Arizona (ADLA), revealed that more Arizonans oppose than support the practice of keeping dolphins in captivity for...
NMFS’ Designation of Russian Beluga Whales as Depleted Makes Their Import into US Illegal
Press ReleaseOctober 27, 2016Marine WildlifeThe Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Cetacean Society International (CSI), Earth Island Institute (EII), and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) lauded the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) today for its final designation of the Sakhalin Bay-Amur River population of...
On 30th Anniversary of Whaling Moratorium, Norwegian Whaling Ignored
Press ReleaseOctober 26, 2016Marine WildlifeDuring the 66th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), conservation organizations openly criticized the fact that actions against commercial whaling are absent from the IWC agenda. A petition directed at...
Florida Manatees Succumb as Algal Blooms Alter Habitat
Marine WildlifeOutbreaks of algae may once again be taking a heavy toll on the West Indian manatee population in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. Since May, nine manatee carcasses have been found,...
Keeping Shark Fins in the Ocean and Out of the Soup
Marine WildlifeFor over a decade, AWI has provided an online database of restaurants in the United States that continue to serve shark fin soup. The goal is to help people avoid...
National Aquarium Sending Its Dolphins to Sanctuary
Marine WildlifeThe National Aquarium in Baltimore announced in June that it plans to move its colony of eight dolphins from its indoor amphitheater pool to a seaside dolphin sanctuary—the nation’s first....
Under Pressure, Mexico Pledges New Fishing Restrictions to Help Save Vaquita
Endangered Species, Marine WildlifeOn July 24, Mexico committed to permanently banning all gillnet fishing within the Gulf of Mexico habitat of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. Details, including enforcement mechanisms, have yet to...
Wildlife Trade in Focus at CITES Conference of the Parties
Marine Wildlife, Terrestrial WildlifeIn September 2016, thousands of government delegates, scientists, industry representatives, and conservationists will gather in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the...