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In 1979, the IWC voted to establish an Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary
after the Republic of Seychelles, an island nation off the east
coast of Africa, proposed its creation. The sanctuary was created
initially for a period of ten years, and offers protection to Sperm,
Bryde's and a number of baleen whale species. The Indian Ocean Sanctuary
was renewed for three more years in 1989 and indefinitely in 1992,
subject to review in 2002.
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Numerous whales migrate to the Indian ocean to breed and calve.
Bryde's, Sperm and Sei whales bear their young in the Indian
ocean. Both Humpback and Blue whales are thought to be year-round
residents. These whales are particularly valuable to the Republic
of Seychelles, which has a thriving eco-tourism economy based
in part on whale watching. |
Greenpeace conducts whale research cruises in the Indian Ocean
Sanctuary whenever there is a ship in the area which is not busy
with other campaign work. We document species, conduct photographic
identification of individual whales and monitor the ocean environment.
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whales | whaling | environmental impacts | solutions | greenpeace & the whales
