DOLPHIN Campaign

Decapitated dolphin head
Courtesy of WDCS


Trays of dolphin guttings
Courtesy of WDCS


Pilot whale fins
Courtney Vail/WDCS

Threats to dolphins and other marine migratory species are myriad, they include: destructive fishing practices, over-fishing, noise, plastic and chemical pollution, habitat destruction, ocean warming, and ocean acidification. In many countries dolphins are also exploited for their value in the animal trade and for food.

As we expand our campaign we hope to cover more of these concerns. For now we are focusing our efforts on issues that affect both dolphin and human health.

Recent research points to neurodegenerative diseases similar to Alzheimer's as a possible cause of unexplained beaching and groundings. Organisms fueled by human based pollution now found in the marine food chain may cause these diseases. The same organisms causing disease in dolphins and sharks are linked to neurological diseases in humans such as Lou Gehrig's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

An "Unusual Mortality Event" for Dolphins was declared in the Northern Gulf of Mexico in February 2010, after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The numbers through 11 August 2011 involve 512 stranded dolphins with 4% percent stranded alive and 96% stranded dead, according to the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Scientific analysis suggests that only 2% of dolphin carcasses were ever historically recovered after their deaths in this region, meaning that the true death toll from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could be 50 times higher than the number of deaths currently estimated.

Learning that these strandings represent a very low proportion of the true dolphin deaths is also critical when considering the magnitude of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on other species in our food web.

As our food chains become more and more entangled it is increasing important to understand its interactions, impacts, and consequences. Education is an important means to share the facts about the consequences of consuming these toxins, as well as to enlighten the public to the realities of ocean pollution and the connections to human health issues. SAVE THE BLUE has joined forces with other world-renowned organizations including the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine Brain Bank and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch, and others to explore these connections, implications, and impact on human health issues.

OUR CURRENT SAVE THE BLUE DOLPHIN CAMPAIGN IS TO SUPPORT CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION PROJECTS

Dolphin Drive Hunts

One of the most brutal exploitations of dolphins is the drive hunt as portrayed in the movie "The Cove." Since the release and worldwide distribution of the Academy Award-winning documentary, we were hopeful that shining a light on these hunts would be the first step towards their end. Unfortunately, both governments and fishermen remain steadfast in their commitment to kill dolphins for their meat and to sell them alive to marine parks. Through continuing awareness and commitment to education and outreach, we believe that the tide will turn and this archaic practice will be abandoned.

PLEASE DONATE, RECEIVE, AND WEAR YOUR EXCLUSIVE TRIBAL DOLPHIN PENDANT AND KNOW YOU ARE HELPING TO SAVE THE BLUE!

NEW ORLEANS - Fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon April 21, 2010. A Coast Guard MH-65C dolphin rescue helicopter and crew document the fire aboard the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, while searching for survivors April 21, 2010. Multiple Coast Guard helicopters, planes and cutters responded to rescue the Deepwater Horizon's 126 person crew. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) observed in emulsified oil on April 29. Credit: NOAA.

Students display their love for dolphins by making paintings on eco-friendly material.