Dear friend

As we start a new year, it is shocking to reflect that in 2008 alone, over 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises are likely to have died in fishing nets around the world. That’s around one every two minutes.

Not only are damaging fishing practices threatening the very existence of some whale and dolphin populations and species, they are also causing appalling suffering.

Our new research has revealed the horrific nature of these deaths. Once trapped in fishing gear, in their panic-stricken attempts to surface for air, whales and dolphins often sustain cuts, broken teeth, beaks and jaws, internal injuries and even, in extreme cases, severed fins and tail flukes.

Whales and dolphins breathe air, but can hold their breath for long periods of time, around five minutes for the smallest porpoises and over an hour in the case of sperm whales. Once trapped underwater, they are likely to die long, drawn-out and painful deaths.

This level of suffering would not be tolerated in commercial meat production on land, but happens routinely in the production of some fish. It must stop.

WDCS is calling for governments and regulatory bodies around the world to act urgently and decisively to end this unacceptable suffering.

In the UK, we will soon start to see bodies wash up on Cornish beaches as a result of the pelagic trawl and other fisheries, in what has become an annual destruction of hundreds, probably thousands of dolphins. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, endangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins face a fight for survival.

You can help our campaign by sending an e-mail to the New Zealand Government urging action to ensure the survival of these dolphins and to end the suffering.

Thank you for your help.

Mark Simmonds
WDCS Director of Science