Oceania and the Arabian Sea provide habitat for the two remaining subpopulations of humpback whales recognized as endangered. Cet Law, will join the Center for Cetacean Conservation, which researches the Oceania subpopulation from the Cook Islands, for a listening and learning tour in Oman, the stronghold of Arabian Sea humpback whale research. The purpose of […]
Finding Common Ground for Endangered Humpback Whales
Educating on Cetacean and Ocean Issues
Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are one of the few categories of mammals that spend the totality of their life in the oceans, providing a unique glimpse of the practical effects human activities are having on the oceans. They also have commercial value to humans, hunted commercially and forming the basis of terrestrial tourism facilities […]
Supporting Processes to Protect Dominica’s Sperm Whales
The island of Dominica, a Caribbean Island nicknamed the Nature Island, is a unique whale-watching destination that provides visitors the opportunity to view their resident population of sperm whales. On behalf of the World Cetacean Alliance, and in cooperation with the Discover Dominica Authority, Cet Law is leading a stakeholder consultation process in Dominica to design […]
Facilitating Protections for Whales in the Pacific Islands
SPREP (the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Pacific Environment Programme) hosted a 3-day conference titled “Whales in a Changing Ocean” in Tonga April 4-6. 16 countries and territories participated in the conference. The conference included three break-out sessions taking place over a period of two days addressing 1) emerging threats to whales; 2) whale watching; […]
Pacific Island Whales in a Changing Climate
Blue Climate Solutions and Cet Law have co-authored a report, Pacific Island Whales in a Changing Climate. The report addresses the impacts of climate change, potential consequences of climate change on Pacific island whale populations, the role of whales in climate change mitigation, and the potential effects on the whale watching industries, which bring significant income […]
The Blackfish Effect on the U.S. Legal Systems
For the uninitiated, Blackfish is a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. The film follows the story of a killer whale, named Tilikum, that killed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, on 24 February 2010 at SeaWorld Orlando. Tilikum passed away in January 2016. Blackfish digs into the controversy of keeping killer […]
Studying Whale-Watching In and Around MPAs on the Pacific Coast
Cet Law has joined forces with Stephanie Stefanski, PhD Candidate, Duke University, and Jared Towers, Executive Director, NIMMSA, to perform a Pacific Coast Whale-Watching Study on behalf of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), as part of its Marine Protected Areas: Strengthening Management Effectiveness and Supporting Coastal Community Resilience project. The CEC is a commission formed by the […]
Auditing Vancouver Island North
Vancouver Island North’s story is woven with whales. From being considered a part of the First Nation’s family, to pioneering the now-standard use of dorsal fin and saddle patch identification for research, to developing some of the first whale watching guidelines in the world. Wanting that story shared and recognized, as well as their efforts to […]
Identifying Whale Heritage Sites
Established by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), Whale Heritage Sites are an innovative initiative aimed at increasing the protection and conservation of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and their habitats while contributing to sustainable livelihoods, the arts, science and education. Whale Heritage Site status will be granted to those places around the world where cetaceans are […]
Legislating the Cook Islands Whale Sanctuary
In 2001, the Cook Islands declared the waters in its exclusive economic zone (stretching 200 nautical miles from the coastlines) a whale sanctuary. For the past 15 years while no formal legislation was in place, Cook Islanders have been working together through consent and cooperation to protect and respect whales. Cet Law has worked with […]