World Marine Mammal Protection Day

February 19th - International Marine Mammal Protection Day (Whale Day). Today, not only whales but all marine mammals and wildlife inhabiting the seas and oceans are under protection.

On this day in 1986, a moratorium on whaling came into effect. After 200 years of whale hunting, the International Whaling Commission banned their hunting. This ban is still in effect, and hunting of large whales and the trade in whale meat are prohibited by law. Annually, various conservation groups and organizations conduct numerous campaigns to draw attention to the conservation of whales and other marine mammals.