The IWC Scientific Committee begins its annual meeting today.  Despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19, the group will work through a busy and challenging agenda, ranging from genetics and population structure to pollution and climate change.

New funding is available for scientists with research proposals focusing on conservation of dolphins and porpoises. The IWC Small Cetaceans Voluntary Fund (SCVF) has launched its fourth call for tenders thanks to generous contributions from IWC member governments and non-governmental organisations. 

Teamwork has resulted in the successful disentanglement of a humpback whale from a highly endangered population found only in the Arabian Sea.

On World Wildlife Day and as the IWC reaches its 75th birthday, members of the Scientific Committee are raising awareness of the need for increased action to prevent extinction of cetacean species.  As part of education and outreach efforts, a new section of the IWC website has been developed, containing information about extinction and the threats facing whales, dolphins and porpoises today. 

The Fisheries' and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has published Technical Guidelines to Reduce Bycatch of Marine Mammals in Capture Fisheries.  This detailed document has taken two years to produce and received support and input from the IWC's Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI).  

The IWC has started the new year with the introduction of a new logo, commemorating 2021 as the 75^th anniversary of the organisation.