World Cetacean Alliance
The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is the largest global network of partners, working together to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats.
WCA Partners include dedicated grassroot NGOs, responsible whale and dolphin watching businesses, and passionate individuals and researchers who are all committed to making a positive difference for cetaceans.
WCA’S MISSION
The WCA's vision is a world where all cetaceans are free, where oceans thrive, and where communities care. We believe that real change comes from working in partnership and that, where there is collaboration, there is a shared sense of purpose. Our mission is to protect cetaceans and their habitats through global collaboration.
WHALE HERITAGE AREAS
Through Whale Heritage Areas, our flagship global programme, we acknowledge and empower outstanding destinations around the world where local communities celebrate, respect, and protect cetaceans.
Left: Fraser Coast Tourism & Events (Hervey Bay)
Right: Sodurba Tourism Association (The Bluff)
RESPONSIBLE WHALE & DOLPHIN WATCHING
The WCA also recognises Responsible Whale & Dolphin Watching companies worldwide that meet the highest standards for animal welfare, customer experience, and environmental and social sustainability. Our Global Best Practice provides guidelines and sustainability criteria for operators and destinations.
Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari (WCA Partner)
DOLPHINS AREN'T DISCARD CAMPAIGN
With our sister charity, Sussex Dolphin Project, we run the ‘Dolphins Aren’t Discard’ campaign to stop dolphins being killed as bycatch in supertrawler nets.
So far, more than 130,000 people have signed our petition calling for greater transparency and accountability from the UK government to tackle the threat.
PROTECTING WHALES FROM SHIP STRIKES
Our world-first online course, ‘Becoming ‘Whale Aware’’, provides training to commercial vessel operators of all kinds to help minimise collisions with whales, also known as ship strikes. As well as being available directly from the WCA via Thinkific, the course has been distributed by maritime training platforms OTG and Seably, and is being used by the cruise line Lindblad Expeditions to train their crew fleet-wide.
North Sailing (WCA Partner)
WCA’S Legacy
The WCA hopes to bring people together across the world, to raise awareness and understanding of cetaceans and the many dangers they face, and to inspire and empower them to protect these amazing animals.
Raggy Charters (Algoa Bay)
What would you change in the world?
Destructive fishing methods are among the greatest threats to cetaceans and their habitats worldwide.
For example, we believe that hundreds of dolphins are killed as bycatch every year by pelagic supertrawlers fishing in waters around the UK. With our Dolphins Aren't Discard campaign, we're urging the UK government to introduce stronger legislation to hold supertrawlers to account and stop these needless deaths.
The WCA is also a member of the Transform Bottom Trawling coalition, which is calling on world leaders to reduce and, where possible, prohibit this environmentally irresponsible practice.
Left: Raggy Charters (Algoa Bay)
Middle: Lachlan Goten via Unsplash
Right: Ray Harrington via Unsplash
support wca
Support the work of WCA. Your support really can make a difference!
Every donation, large or small, will strengthen WCA’s voice and support their efforts to protect dolphins, whales, and porpoises, and end the deadly issue of bycatch.
Image Credit: Marie Dehayes via Unsplash
WEBSITE: https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/
INSTAGRAM: @worldcetaceanalliance
