Animal and Species Conservation
Dolphins
Dolphins are struggling to survive in the heavily polluted and overfished Mediterranean Sea. Common dolphin stocks have declined dramatically. Also, bottlenose dolphins and striped dolphins are severely threatened. The situation is alarming, yet there is hope: the protection of these dolphins has been given highest priority by OceanCare.
Whales
Sperm whales are cosmopolitan. As extreme divers, they prefer deep continental slope water and submarine canyons. Yet, these legendary whales are endangered in the Mediterranean.
Polar bears
The icy habitat of polar bears is melting away. Scientists are deeply concerned and project that, due to climate change alone, population numbers may decline by 70 percent by 2050. A more immediate and little known issue is the fact that each year, hundreds of polar bears are being shot – entirely legally.
Seals
Since 1996, the east coast of Canada has continued to host the biggest annual massacre of marine mammals. Every year, the Canadian government permits the killing of hundreds of thousands of harp seals.
Manatee
Sea cows have been around for some 50 million years. Now they are on the brink of extinction. OceanCare supports conservation programmes for the West African Manatee and calls on the United Nations to act.
Fish
Abundant fish supplies in supermarkets and restaurants are deceptive. Soon, fish will vanish from our dinner plates. Giant industrial fishing fleets systematically plunder the seas and, as a consequence, kill hundreds of thousands of whales, dolphins, sharks, birds and turtles worldwide as bycatch.
Sharks
Keeping sharks in an aquarium can in no way meet the animals’ species-specific and individual needs – irrespective of the tank’s size. The educational value of such an adventure aquarium is also very limited as the sharks cannot display natural behaviour in captivity.
Sea Turtles
Loggerhead turtles are protected under EU law and a range of international agreements. However, to effectively control threats to this species, we need in-depth knowledge about population size, distribution, habitat use and potential dangers.