Tomb-beaches

70th International Whaling Commission
Press release n°2

The United Kingdom and Ireland, on behalf of the countries of the European Union, are submitting a draft resolution on “cetacean strandings as a cross-cutting priority of the International Whaling Commission”. The stranding of dead or live whales is a source of emotion and controversy for the populations of coastal countries, making them realise that there are still whales in the high seas. According to the terms of the resolution, the sharing of information could harmonise and improve rescue protocols and facilitate the understanding and reduction of all old and news threats to the daily lives of whales, such as food shortages, pollution, litter, disease, collisions, noise pollution and entanglement in fishing gear.

Humpback whale, September 22, 2026, Sunshine Coast, State of Queensland, Australia © Sunshine Coast Council

Humpback whale, September 4, 2026, San Francisco, State of California, United States of America © Steve Kerr

In line with this resolution, Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) has, since September 1, 2026 – one month before the opening of the 70th IWC – recorded 138 strandings on beaches, rocks, mangroves and at the foot of cliffs in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and regional seas such as the Persian Gulf: 59 whales, approximately 24 sperm whales, 42 dolphins, 8 pilot whales, 2 dugongs, 2 porpoises and one pygmy killer whale. 32 countries are affected.

Off the coast of New Caledonia (France, South Pacific), around 20 sperm whales have stranded on Reynard Islet, in the Chesterfield Archipelago within the Coral Sea National Park.

In Australia, 2 common dolphins have died from bird flu. “As far as I can see, there have only been 12 dolphins to have died from the virus internationally, so it appears to be a very rare event; it’s a very serious concern” said Dr Mike Bossley. The IWC’s Scientific Committee emphasises that health monitoring of cetaceans is essential, as they act as sentinels for the health of the oceans.

Two dugongs have stranded in the Philippines.
Two fin whales, already in a process of decomposition, have washed up on beaches in Hainan Province in China and Chiba Prefecture in Japan.

A northern bottlenose whale, a species of beaked whale that is highly sensitive to underwater noise pollution – particularly military sonar – has stranded in Iceland in subarctic waters.

Northern bottlenose whale, September 1, 2026, Djúpavogur, Djúpavogshreppur Municipality, Iceland © Visir

A Bryde’s whale has stranded on Iranian beaches in the Persian Gulf. “The exact cause of death is not yet known and requires expert analysis and a post-mortem,” said Rouhollah Ahmadi of the Hormozgan Department of the Environment. The Iranian press cites “collisions with ships and propeller injuries” as the main causes of whale deaths in the Gulf. Given the circumstances, the death could also be attributed to the roar and pollution caused by the war.

In the Philippines, a pygmy killer whale washed ashore. His stomach was empty and he was infested with parasites.

In Indonesia, on the island of Java, a beached whale was butchered by local residents and the meat distributed even before the veterinary services arrived on the scene. This practice, which is dangerous for consumers and prevents scientists from determining the causes of the stranding, is also common in certain coastal villages in Eastern and Western Africa and in Madagascar (1).

Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, with the support of Gabon, are proposing the creation of a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, south of the equator, between South America and West Africa. In this area, 35 southern right whales, 3 humpback whales and one pygmy sperm whale have stranded since September 1, 2026. Southern right whales migrate from their sub-Antarctic feeding areas to gather from June to November off the coasts of South America and Africa, where they breed, give birth and nurse their calves. In Argentina, where 32 of the southern right whales have stranded, the Whale Conservation Institute (Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas) is concerned about the high calf mortality rate this season. Of the 1,200 southern right whales recorded, provisional data indicate that more than 340 calves have died along the beaches of the Valdés Peninsula.
A pygmy sperm whale washed ashore whilst still alive at Balneário Gaivota, in the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil). She was escorted by the Federal Police for 250 km to a care centre, where she died. She was a juvenile measuring 1.8 metres. The species is rarely sighted. It lives in deep ocean waters, at depths of up to 600 metres.
On the coast of South Africa, where the sanctuary would extend, 2 southern right whales have stranded since September 1. Since the start of the breeding season, 5 calf strandings have been recorded. These coincide with a mass mortality of sardines off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. Maritime traffic involving oil tankers and container ships via the Cape of Good Hope route has almost doubled since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East in April. Shipowners (and their insurers) want to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The risk of collision in this area is therefore heightened.
The sanctuary in the South Atlantic would ban all commercial whaling and, in particular, would help to improve our understanding of the attacks suffered by whales and the ways to address them.