Whale and dolphin watching, news and sightings.

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Whale watching has grown from nothing to a multi million dollar industry over the last 25 years. Amazingly, Australia only banned whaling in 1979, and now is one of the most vociferous anti-whaling countries.

Whale watching really started in the US, but is now a worldwide industry with nearly 100 countries encompassing all seven continents running some whale watch tourism. Ironically the three countries that still undertake whaling, Japan, Iceland and Norway (though Norway's 2006 whale hunt was 50% below expectations), all have burgeoning whale watching industries. The UK some has surprisingly good whale and dolphin watching, from orcas in the Shetlands, Minke whales all down the west coast and plenty of dolphins about, there are plenty of opportunities for whale watching around the UK.

Thankfully the whale watching industry has been a great driver in the protection of whales, and as the industry grows it can only be hoped that those countries who still do slaughter whales will see there is more value in live whales than dead ones.

It is also possible to swim with whales, even orca (Click here to read about swimming with killer whales).

However even a carefully managed whale watching industry has its drawbacks. In Hawaii there has recently been an increase in the number of whale watch boats colliding with whales, despite adhering to a strict code; and there is some evidence that the resident pods of Orca (I know, I know, they are dolphins really.) found between Seattle, Vancouver and Vancouver Island, are being adversely affected by the number of whale watching boats.

While there are no internationally recognised whale watch guidelines, most countries have their own strict rules.

Cick here to see Explore's selection of whale watching holidays.

Recent Whales & Dolphins news

New documentary released to highlight the plight of the Vaquita

More Whales & Dolphins news

Whale and dolphin ID from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

New England whale watching and research

The other England - the US's New England - is also blessed with wonderful whales and dolphins to see, as Ben Mallion reports.

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Biscay ORCA Big Whale Watch 2008 clocks up 9 cetacean species

Biscay whale watch 2008.
In two days we had encountered 9 species of cetacean, including rare beaked whales, leaping Bottlenose Dolphins, large tuna, the second largest whale on earth, and ghostly white Risso's Dolphins.

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Whales and dolphins of Oman - Dolphins, Humpbacks and Blue whales!

Oman may not be well known as a whale and dolphin hotspot, but research by the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group (OWDRG) had turned up some surprising discoveries.

Four Arnoux’s Beaked Whales observed from Polarstern expedition

December 2006. Meike Scheidat & Linn Lehnert, the whale scientists on board of Polarstern, made a remarkable cetaceans sighting: Four Arnoux’s Beaked Whales (Berardius arnuxii), observed from the helicopter.

Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing Blue and Sperm whales?

On twenty two whale watching sessions in the first twenty six days of April, Jetwing Lighthouse naturalist Anoma Alagiyawadu saw Blue whales every time.

Is Belize An Unrecognised Hot Spot For Whale Watching?

For many, Belize sounds like a far flung exotic destination, but few can put their finger on its exact location and think of a reason to spend a holiday there.

Sperm whale sighting off Torbay, South Devon

Observers were surprised to see a large whale very close to the shore off Torbay in South Devon. It was identified as a Sperm whale, the largest of all the toothed whales.

Norwegian whaler filmed taking an age to kill a Minke whale

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has released footage showing a Minke whale suffering for more than 20 minutes - and potentially 2 hours - after being shot by an exploding harpoon.

Mediterranean Gray whale sighted off Barcelona

The gray whale we reported on three weeks ago off the Israeli coast has now been re-sighted off the eastern Spanish coast.

Sea Shepherd will not compromise on whaling in Southern Ocean

Killer whales are probably several different species

Scientists report finding strong genetic evidence supporting the theory that there are several species of killer whales in the world's oceans.

IWC proposal will allow commercial whaling in Antarctic Ocean

A new proposal announced by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) would, if adopted, for the first time in 25 years, endorse the killing of whales in their most precious feeding grounds, the Southern Ocean.

Huge Fin whale strands in Cornwall

The body of a huge whale has been found on the north coast of Cornwall; The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes it to be a Fin whale, which had been reported floating close to the shore off Pendeen.

Britain’s only resident orca pod – No breeding for 20 years

The conservation status of the group is thought to be critical since no live calves have been sighted since research began almost two decades ago.

Sea Shepherd vessel sinks after 'collision' with Japanese whaling ship

The Sea Shepherd Society claims that the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 deliberately rammed the Ady Gil and caused catastrophic damage to the Sea Shepherd catamaran.

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UK wildlife photography competition - 2009 - results

Successful wildlife and wilderness photography does not necessarily involve long flights and equally long immigration queues. The inaugural Wildlife Extra UK wildlife photography competition is not only a fabulous example of just how beautiful the British Isles are, but also that it does not need a fat pay cheque to seduce talented photographers into wanting their work displayed. There are no remote cameras involved (yes, that is a dig) and no ludicrous Photoshop sorcery either, just a litany of belting images.

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An end to Japanese whaling?

A major review of Japanese government spending could spell the end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Huge Blue whale killed by a ship in California.

A huge, 72 foot long, female Blue whale has been killed by a collision with a ships propeller off California.

One Humpback whale caught every 10 days in Queensland beach nets

Another Humpback Whale has been caught in a shark net off Australia's Queensland Coast, this is the 5th Humpback snared since September 2009.

First ever recorded Humpback in Thames found dead

. A 28ft (9.5m) Humpback whale has been found dead in the River Thames near the Dartford Bridge.

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Albino Humpback returns to Queensland waters

Not seen since 2007, Migaloo - bigger than a truck and iridescent white - made his annual migration north past Cairns unnoticed.

Sri Lanka - The growing whale watching hotspot

Between 08 October 2008 and 13 April 2009 Blue whales were encountered 71 per cent of the time. The strike rate was even higher during the December to April period, peaking from January to April. During March and April Blue whales were recorded almost every day.

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Norway suspends whaling

Norwegian whalers have announced that they have suspended their whale season half way through their usual whaling season after killing around 350 Minke whales, less than 40% of the allotted of 885 whales.

Mekong dolphins on the brink of extinction

Pollution in the Mekong River has pushed the local population of Irrawaddy dolphins to the brink of extinction, according to a new WWF report.

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Possible new population of North Atlantic Right whales discovered off Greenland

The recordings in the Cape Farewell Ground raise the possibility that the eastern North Atlantic right whale population may still exist.

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Leucistic Elephant seal

Despite the recent claim by the BBC that a white elephant seal seen in 2008 on Marion Island was the first confirmed sighting of a leucistic elephant seal, one of our readers, Nancy Spruance, has sent us a photo of a leucistic Elephant seal that she saw on Prion Island, off the northeast coast of South Georgia, way back in November 2003.

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BP & Exxon ignore pleas to help worlds most endangered whales

BP and Exxon have continued ignoring requests to join consultations with an international scientific panel to work to protect the world's most endangered whales, threatened by oil and gas development around Sakhalin Island in Far East Russia.

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50 Sperm whales die after stranding in Tasmania

The Sperm whales, which were mostly mothers and calves, stranded on Perkins Island, a remote island off Tasmania's north-west corner.

First North Atlantic right whale sighting in Azores since 1888

On 5th January 2009 a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was seen 5 miles south of Faial Island in the Azores.

Sea Shepherd harassing and chasing Japanese whaling fleet

Blue whales sighted off Irish coast

Blue whales have been seen off the south west coast of Ireland for the first time in recorded history.

Unusual whale and dolphin wash up on the Scilly Isles

Two highly unusual marine mammals, a Sowerby's beaked whale and a Risso's dolphin, have been washed up on the western shores of the Isle of St Agnes within days of one another.

Adelaide dolphins learn to ‘Tailwalk’

A wild dolphin in Adelaide has been teaching other wild dolphins the art of ‘tailwalking', a behaviour which is extremely rare in the wild.

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Mass dolphin stranding in Cornwall - at least 26 dolphins dead

On Monday 9th June, 26 common dolphins stranded and died near St Mawes in Cornwall.

Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing blue and sperm whales?

The Blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka.

Details

Ten top places to watch whales.

Rare White Killer Whale Spotted in Alaskan Waters

A very rare and unusual white kilelr whale has been photographed off the Aleutian Islands.

Yangtse River dolphin declared extinct

After an exhaustive search, the Baiji has been declared extinct. However just two weeks later a Baiji has been sighted, and filmed.

The latest update on the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Oceans.

A collision, 2 men lost at sea for 8 hours, an on-board fire and a tragic death.

The world's smallest cetacean is sinking towards a man-made extinction.

The Vaquita porpoise, the smallest cetacean, is found only in the Gulf of Carolina. The population numbers just 2-300, and is under threat from fishing nets.

Princess Cruise Lines pay $750,000 over the death of a Humpback whale in Alaska.

Princess Cruises agreed to pay out $750,000 in fines after one of it's ships was involved in the death of a pregnant Humpback.

Spate of Blue whale deaths off California

September 2007. Three Blue whales found dead in 2 weeks off California.

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Humpback whales recovering, other cetaceans edging towards extinction

Iceland resumes commercial whaling

Hope fading for the world’s rarest mammal

After 26 days of travel and 1750 kilometres, the Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Expedition 2006 has arrived in Shanghai.

Death of a Minke whale, an eye witness account

A Minke whale has been strangled by a plastic strip around its neck.

Minke whale stranded in Cornwall

A 7 metre long Minke whale washed up on Porthcothan beach. Minke sighting are unusual at this time of year.

Dolphin slaughter in Japan

Thousands of dolphins are brutally slaughtered every winter in villages and small towns in Japan.

Southern right whales of South Australia.

This is one of the best viewing areas in the world with up to 70 whales, including calves, congregating in the seas adjacent to the Bunda cliffs.

British Columbia Whale Watching guidelines.

Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the rear.
Approach no closer than 100 metres and shift your motor into neutral or idle.
Keep noise levels down - no horns, whistles or racing of motors.
Start your motor only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.
Leave the area slowly, gradually accelerating when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.
Approach and depart slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction. Do not "leapfrog."
Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.
Maintain low speeds and constant direction if travelling parallel to whales.
When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.
Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.
If there is more than one vessel at the same observation site, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in encircling the whales.
Minimize the time spent and the number of vessels with any one group of whales.
Limit time, as above, and then move out to allow other vessels access to good viewing positions.
Coordinate activities by maintaining contact with other vessels, and ensure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.

Reader offer. whales and dolphins

Reader offer:
Whales and Dolphins of Great Britain is available at £9.95 (down from £11.95),. Contact Cetacea Publishing, Nook Farmhouse, Ashby Road, Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9BS. Tel: +44 (0) 845 1086385. Email: info@cetaceapublishing.com . Order on line: www.cetaceapublishing.com . Please quote Wildlife Extra as the coupon code and update the page to get your discount. Major credit cards accepted.

Notable marine sightings around the UK and Ireland, 2007.

20th January. 6 Bottle Nose dolphins off Stonehaven. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
November. Humpback feeding off Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, possibly in the area for 2 weeks. Interacting with Bottle Nose Dolphins. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
September. Minke whale found dead on Devon beach.
August. 2-3 Minke whales off St Abbs Head/Coldingham Bay in Berwickshire.
August. Minke whale in Fraserburgh Harbour.
July. Northern Bottlenose whale strands in River Orwell, Ipswich.
June. Humpback seen off North Devon.
June. 10 Minke whales sighted off the Isle of Man.
May. Several Minke sightings off Isle of Man, plus a Sei whale.
May. Repeated sightings of Orcas off Orkneys
May. Rare sighting of Bottlenose dolphins in the Channel, click here for details.
April. Several Orca sightings off Northern Ireland
April. Fin whale in the Moray Firth.
April. Orca seen off Isle of Man.
March. 2 Humpbacks seen off Anglesey/Isle of Mann.
March. 3 Killer whales seen off Shetland.
March. Sperm whale strands on Orkney.
March. 6 Killer whales seen off Orkney.
March. A pod of 15 Sperm whales seen by fishermen off Caithness.
January. A pod of nine killer whales seen in the Firth of Forth.

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