70th International Whaling Commission
\nPress release n\u00b02<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom and Ireland, on behalf of the countries of the European Union, are submitting a draft resolution on \u201ccetacean strandings as a cross-cutting priority of the International Whaling Commission\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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In line with this resolution, Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) has, since September 1, 2026 \u2013 one month before the opening of the 70th IWC \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In Australia, 2 common dolphins have died from bird flu. \u201cAs 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\u201d said Dr Mike Bossley. The IWC\u2019s Scientific Committee emphasises that health monitoring of cetaceans is essential, as they act as sentinels for the health of the oceans.<\/p>\n Two dugongs have stranded in the Philippines. A northern bottlenose whale, a species of beaked whale that is highly sensitive to underwater noise pollution \u2013 particularly military sonar \u2013 has stranded in Iceland in subarctic waters.<\/p>\n A Bryde\u2019s whale has stranded on Iranian beaches in the Persian Gulf. \u201cThe exact cause of death is not yet known and requires expert analysis and a post-mortem,\u201d said Rouhollah Ahmadi of the Hormozgan Department of the Environment. The Iranian press cites \u201ccollisions with ships and propeller injuries\u201d 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.<\/p>\n In the Philippines, a pygmy killer whale washed ashore. His stomach was empty and he was infested with parasites.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n 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 Conservaci\u00f3n 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 Vald\u00e9s Peninsula. <\/p>\n 138 strandings recorded and reported in one month: the resolution submitted by the United Kingdom and Ireland on behalf of the countries of the European Union will ultimately help to shed light on the mystery of cetacean strandings and to prevent them, or at least reduce their number.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/robindesbois.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Baleine-a-bosse-Sunshine-Coast-Australie-SCC-Robindesbois.png\")
<\/a>Humpback whale, September 22, 2026, Sunshine Coast, State of Queensland, Australia \u00a9 Sunshine Coast Council<\/p>\n<\/a>Humpback whale, September 4, 2026, San Francisco, State of California, United States of America \u00a9 Steve Kerr<\/p>\n
\nTwo fin whales, already in a process of decomposition, have washed up on beaches in Hainan Province in China and Chiba Prefecture in Japan.<\/p>\n<\/a>Northern bottlenose whale, September 1, 2026, Dj\u00fapavogur, Dj\u00fapavogshreppur Municipality, Iceland \u00a9 Visir<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nA pygmy sperm whale washed ashore whilst still alive at Balne\u00e1rio 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.
\nOn 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.
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>Southern right whale, September 6, 2026, Balne\u00e1rio Rinc\u00e3o, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil \u00a9 PMP-BP<\/p>\n<\/a>Burial of a southern right whale on La Paloma beach, Rocha Department, Uruguay, in early September 2026
\n\u00a9 Municipio de La Paloma<\/p>\n