Icelandic Non-Profit Seeks To Protect Orcas

A new conservation non-profit hopes to improve the quality of life for orcas around Snæfellsnes peninsula.

The non-profit in question, Orca Guardians Iceland, sent a press release yesterday announcing the formation of the organisation. Situated on Snæfellsnes peninsula in west Iceland, the group is for now focusing entirely on the orca population in the region. Their research of the whales themselves is non-invasive, and other efforts include education of the locals regarding their contact with the orcas.

“The nonprofit values killer whales as individuals with unique character traits, and promotes respectful and mindful encounters with them,” their statement reads in part. “One of the conservation tasks is, therefore, to develop a species-specific code of conduct for killer whale encounters on the water. This code of conduct is developed in cooperation with IceWhale and will be promoted not only to whale watching companies, but also to private boaters and fishermen in known orca areas.”

In addition, the group is also offering the general public the chance to “adopt” an orca, “where people can choose an orca and get to know ‘their’ orca through pictures and a profile of the individual that comprises encounters during the last three years, and explains about group structures, travel patterns, and special behavioral observations.”

For more information, check out their official site.