Marine mammals hold a special place in our hearts. At SDTN, part of our mission is to promote marine mammal conservation; while whales often take the spotlight when we start discussing ways to help marine mammals thrive, dolphins and porpoises need our help, too. Here, we'll take a closer look at some of the top threats facing dolphins and other small cetaceans, and we'll talk about some steps being taken to help protect dolphins.
Threats to Dolphins
There are many problems which face dolphin populations around the world. These include certain fishing methods such as purse seining, drift netting, and gill netting; in addition, many dolphins are victims of by-catch; when they become entangled in fishing gear, they often drown as a result.
Dolphins are also threatened by the entertainment industry. While some nations strictly regulate the capture and treatment of captive dolphins, others do not; dolphins are captured indiscriminately and are subject to imprisonment in tanks too small to suit their needs.
Like other marine life, dolphins are adversely affected by marine pollution, including pesticides and heavy metals, agricultural and industrial pollutants, and plastics, which they sometimes ingest. Habitat degradation is another threat these animals face, as is excessive boat traffic and low frequency sonar.
Finally, dolphins and porpoises are needlessly slaughtered, with heavy pressure impacting populations in the Faeroe Islands and in Japan. There is no international body to regulate the killing, and in areas where dolphin slaughter regulations have been enacted, these rules are often ignored.
How People Are Helping Protect Dolphins
There are a number of organizations that help promote dolphin awareness via education; one of these is Blue Voice, an ocean awareness organization founded by Ted Danson and Hardy Jones in 2000. Another is The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, founded in 1987 and known as the leading global charity dedicated to cetacean conservation. Defenders of Wildlife also take a leading role in educating the public about the risks marine mammals face. Other organizations take up the cause for dolphins and other marine life by protesting worldwide, and by disrupting killings. Sea Shepherd intervenes on a regular basis, as does Greenpeace. Members of these organizations put themselves at risk on a regular basis, yet they never stop applying pressure to parties responsible for the killing of dolphins.
To learn a bit more about threats facing dolphins, and to learn more about the slaughter which still takes place today, take some time to do a bit of research, and though it's a painful experience, take the time to watch The Cove, a 2009 documentary describing the annual slaughter of dolphins at Taiji, Japan. Be vigilant about the choices you make each day with regard to plastics and chemicals, and do your part to help keep the ocean clean.
Finally, we ask that you take a few minutes to spread the word. All too often, dolphins are viewed as cute and cuddly creatures that live to entertain us humans. Instead, they are sensitive, highly intelligent animals, and an important part of the marine ecosystem. Though they are friendly and interested in humans, they should never be harassed. By working together, we can make the world a safer place for dolphins and other small cetaceans.