The Orca

There are around 90 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the world
known, collectively as "cetaceans". All have in common that they are
facing a plethora of challenges: being brutally hunted, trapped for amusement
in tiny tanks, caught as bycatch in fishing nets or exposed to a changing
environment through pollution, oil exploitation and spills, and shipping
noises. The more we researched the current situation, the more it became clear
to us that we couldn’t just produce a watch that claims to take inspiration
from whales. We wanted to make people aware of the horrible threats cetaceans
are facing and support the work that is being done for them.

We got in touch with Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), the leading
global charity dedicated to the conservation of whales and dolphins. With their
help we developed our pledge, to donate £20 to their work for every sold watch.
This will be an ongoing commitment with more details on WorkforGood.

About
Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

Whales and dolphins face huge challenges, but WDC is determined to fight
for them wherever and whenever we can. We’re not a huge organisation with
limitless resource, so we’re making sure we focus our expertise and passion on
the most important areas and where we believe we can make the biggest
difference.

End captivity

Around 3,600 whales and dolphins are held  in tanks. But the tide is
turning. People like you are boycotting captive attractions and supporting WDC
to fight to end captivity. We have campaigned successfully for holiday
companies such as Virgin Holidays, British Airways and TripAdvisor to stop
selling trips to SeaWorld and other facilities that hold captive whales and
dolphins. We have also helped prevent the opening of new facilities and helped
achieve a total ban on keeping whales and dolphins in captivity in India,
Croatia, Slovenia and other countries.

Our focus is
on:

Creating sea sanctuaries where captive whales and
dolphins can be retired to a more natural environment or, where possible,
prepared for a release to the wildStopping the supply of whales and dolphins to
captive facilitiesEnding demand for whale and dolphins shows

Stop whaling

More than 1,500 whales, and even more dolphins, are killed in hunts every
year. And the whalers make no secret of wanting to kill more. WDC is determined
that this won’t happen and, for over three decades, we have successfully fought
to defend the international moratorium on whaling against those who would
overturn it.

Our focus is
on:

Fighting to stop whaling and dolphin hunting in
Europe, Japan and around the worldReducing demand for whale meatPromoting whale watching as a sustainable
alternative

Prevent deaths in nets

Hundreds of thousands of dolphins, porpoises and whales die in fishing gear
every year. It’s brought some species to the brink of extinction. WDC has
helped ban – or change – damaging fishing practices that can kill whales and
dolphins.

Our focus is
on:

Working with governments to ensure laws are
toughened up to stop dolphins, porpoises and whales dying in fishing gearTeaming up with scientists and fishers to find
safer fishing methodsFighting to save species on the brink

Create healthy seas

Water covers over 70% of the world’s surface, yet only a tiny percentage is
“protected”. And the threats of commercial fishing, plastics and pollution are
combining to make the whole ocean unsafe. We’re calling for 30% of the ocean to
be protected by 2030. It’s an ambitious target but it would benefit lots of
species, including humans.

Our focus now is on:

Working with local communities to locate and
maintain protected areasWorking with international bodies and governments
to designate protected areas in the places whales and dolphins need them
most

To find out more about their work and their success over the last years,
please visit their homepage (https://uk.whales.org/), follow them on social media @whalesorg or on their YouTube channel
below.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation is a UK registered charity (no. 1014705).