MenuInternational Marine Mammal Project
WebsiteMission Statement
The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP), a project of Earth Island Institute, works globally safeguarding whales and dolphins and protecting their ocean environment. www.savedolphins.eii.org
Description
For more than 35 years, Earth Island Institute’s International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) has been safeguarding whales and dolphins and their critical ocean environment. IMMP established the Dolphin Safe tuna standards and maintains a global tuna monitoring program, saving the lives of more than 90,000 dolphins annually from deaths in tuna nets. IMMP led the rescue, rehabilitation and return of Keiko, the orca star of the hit movie, Free Willy, to his home waters; exposed the brutal dolphin hunts in Japan, as depicted in the Oscar-winning film, The Cove; helped organize international efforts resulting in the Russian government’s release to the wild of 97 captured orcas and beluga whales slated for sale to China; and advocates to end the trade and captivity of dolphins and whales around the world. IMMP’s work extends to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans to protect marine mammals from harm through ingestion and entanglement. Join us in stopping the exploitation and slaughter of these magnificent marine mammals and in keeping them safe, wild, and free.
Program Details
IMMP uses consumer power, grassroots organizing, public education, strategic litigation, and media relations to protect marine mammals globally.
We work to:
- Phase out the captivity of dolphins and whales performing in small concrete tanks and retire them to seaside sanctuaries.
- Replace plastics with products that can be properly recycled and stop the scourge of plastic debris in our oceans that is choking sea life.
- Make commercial fishing more sustainable and end the uses of plastic nets and lines that regularly strangle whales and dolphins.
- Intensify pressure on Japan to end captures and killings of whales and dolphins, and collaborate with Russian activists to end the captures in Russian waters of orcas and beluga whales for captivity.
- Reduce offshore oil drilling and the threat of dangerous oil spills while promoting green alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind.
- Grow the number of tuna fishing companies subscribing to our Dolphin Safe tuna standards and promote protections for sharks and sea turtles.
