Making waves: Getting it right for Arctic whales
The three whales that are endemic to the Arctic—bowhead whales, white whales (or belugas) and narwhal—have evolved over time to become high-latitude specialists that live in close association with sea ice. Thus, it is no surprise that climate change is a cause for concern for their well-being. This issue of The Circle addresses some of the challenges Arctic-endemic whales face as well as new monitoring methods and conservation actions to help mitigate the negative impacts on these whales.
Stories from this issue
Whales in a changing Arctic: A call for action
News from the Arctic (2024.02)
Getting to know the Arctic’s whales
Migrating whales need specially managed blue corridors
As vessels find new routes, bowhead whales face new threats
The future of Greenland’s narwhals
Using fibre optics to listen in on whales
Listening for belugas in Alaska’s Yukon River
What’s next for the Mary River Mine?
Could “silent zones” and sustainable use be the answer?
The back cover
© Yulia Ivashchenko / MOSCOW Project
The “official” end of commercial whaling
The Soviet Union’s oldest whaling factory ship, the Aleut, sits off the coast of Kamchatka in 1958. That year, a moratorium on commercial whaling issued by the International Whaling Commission came into effect. Despite the global ban, countries such as Norway, Iceland and Japan continue to engage in commercial whaling activities.
More from The Circle
The Arctic in the age of tech
The forgotten Arctic: A crisis of global inaction
Navigating a changing Arctic
Arctic clean-up: Turning the tide
About The Circle magazine
Quarterly
WWF Arctic Programme publishes the magazine four times per year and each issue zeroes in on a theme and presents a range of stories.
Actions
It covers the key climate risks are for the Arctic—and what researchers and decision-makers in the eight Arctic nations are doing.
Perspectives
We aim to hear from contributors in a selection of Arctic countries—from youth to Indigenous communities to policymakers to scientists.
Themes
Stay informed about the environmental and development issues affecting wildlife, ecosystems and people in the Arctic today.