World Whale Day was established in 1980 in Hawaii at the initiative of the Pacific Whale Foundation. Since 1986, this environmental date has been associated with the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling.
Russia has a vast marine area (12 seas of the World Ocean and the Caspian Sea). This day emphasizes the importance of preserving fragile ecosystems and caring for their unique inhabitants.
About 50 species of marine mammals have been recorded in Russian waters – whales, dolphins, walruses, and seals. The protection of marine mammals is an integral part of state policy for the conservation of aquatic bioresources and requires the consolidated efforts of all of society.
Specialists at the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) conduct comprehensive studies of marine mammals and their habitats, including monitoring their abundance and distribution, studying their food supply and environmental situation, and developing conservation measures.
Every year, activists and conservation organizations organize manifestos, campaigns, and meetings to draw public attention to the decline of marine mammal populations. This concerns not only whaling poaching but also dolphinariums and oceanariums, where mammals are often kept in appalling conditions.
To support various causes, celebrities perform charity concerts, and television channels and periodicals dedicate programs and publications to these animals.
VNIRO Press Service