Sydney Harbour humpback, a ban on dolphin shows, and sponges for foraging
Big Blue Bulletin #60
Welcome to the latest edition of the Big Blue Bulletin – things have changed just a little bit around here as featured stories will now focus on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with a little bit of commentary from me thrown in as well. Still, you can expect good news, bad news, and a cute creature in your inbox every week.
Let’s dive in 🐬
Ocean news
🗞️ Big news of the week -
🇦🇺 Humpback whale that swam to Circular Quay, delighting ferry passengers, has left Sydney Harbour
A young humpback whale that surprised ferry passengers by swimming past the Opera House and up to the Harbour Bridge has now left Sydney Harbour. First spotted at Circular Quay earlier in the week, the whale spent the day exploring the area before heading back out to sea. Experts said it appeared healthy and curious and is a “reminder that Sydney Harbour is very wild.”
☮️ How to save the whales from Trump
A joint survey by Greenpeace and the University of Exeter has confirmed the presence of whales, including vulnerable sperm whales, in two Pacific areas earmarked for mining by The Metals Company. Concerns around deep-sea mining aren’t just about what might happen on the seafloor, but how the impacts will rise up the water column—disrupting the very habitats whales rely on. Despite mounting scientific opposition, the US president has signed an executive order backing mining in international waters, bypassing years of global negotiations.
🧽 Dolphins learn to wear sponges ‘like a clown nose’ to hunt fish
In Shark Bay, Australia, some bottlenose dolphins have learned to wear sea sponges on their beaks to protect themselves while foraging along rocky seabeds. The technique helps stir up fish like barred sandperch—but new research shows the sponge can interfere with echolocation, making it harder to navigate. Despite the challenge, dolphins that have master the method can hunt more efficiently, passing the skill from mother to calf.
⚖️ Could giving this pod of dolphins the same legal rights as humans help keep them safe?
A pod of around 130 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins off South Korea’s Jeju Island faces growing threats from discarded fishing gear, boat traffic, and pollution. One dolphin, nicknamed Orae (which means “long” but in this context means “wishing him a long life”), has already lost his dorsal fin—an all-too-common injury in these waters. Now, local campaigners and environmentalists are calling for the pod to be recognised as a “legal person” in Korean law, in a first-of-its-kind [in South Korea] effort to extend legal rights to wild animals and strengthen protections for this vulnerable group.
🇲🇽 Mexican Senate unanimously approves ban on dolphin shows
The Mexican Senate has unanimously approved a ban on using dolphins and other marine mammals in entertainment, following years of public pressure over animal welfare concerns. The 99–0 vote amends the General Wildlife Law to outlaw marine mammal shows and tourist interactions, except for approved scientific research. President Claudia Sheinbaum backed the legislation, calling it a necessary step to prevent abuse.
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by © Greenpeace / R. Wolfensberger.
Wonderful story about the dolphins using tools (sponges). Smart, smart creatures.
great news out of Mexico!