WWF Wants Whale Havens In EEZ Pacific Nationsff

The World Wildlife Foundation’s South Pacific Program has launched two brochures aimed at stepping up its Whale Sanctuaries Campaign.

The first, titled “Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Pacific”, is targeted at raising awareness of these mammals in the Pacific. The brochure opens up to a poster with information on the species that are found in the Pacific region.

The second brochure is WWF’s Exclusive Economic Zone Whale Sanctuaries Campaign brochure and provides information on the benefits of these sanctuaries.

The brochures are part of WWF’s campaign to secure a network of sanctuaries in the South Pacific region.

WWF communications manager Bernadette Masianini said in a statement the WWF was working with governments, regional institutions and NGOs to encourage Pacific Island countries and territories to declare their EEZs whale sanctuaries. “To date six Pacific countries – Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, French Polynesia, Niue and Fiji – have declared their EEZs sanctuaries,” Ms Masianini said. These EEZ’s are rich fishing grounds for tuna.

“Declaring Pacific Island EEZs as sanctuaries provides a refuge from human threats for whales, porpoises and dolphins. Whale sanctuaries provide protection for other marine species such as sharks and turtles.”

A whale sanctuary is a designated area of ocean in which whales, porpoises and dolphins can find a safe refuge from human threats to their survival. They provide protection for other marine species such as tuna, sharks and turtles.

The WWF says worldwide human passion for whale watching has doubled in the past 10 years. It adds that careful regulation of whale watching operations, proper facilities on whale watching vessels and related education and research programs can all bring significant benefits to Pacific Island countries and territories.

The push for whale sanctuaries comes as Japan and Norway push for hunting of some species be allowed. Whale meat is delicacy in some cultures while other countries use research as a pretext for the wholesale slaughter of the mammals.