Dominica Establishes World's First Sperm Whale Reserve

Marine Protected Area Aims to Safeguard Endangered Species and Combat Climate Change

Dominica is creating the world's first marine protected area for endangered sperm whales, covering about 800 square kilometers of waters on the western side of the island nation.
The protected area will prohibit large vessels and commercial fishing, but will allow small-scale sustainable artisanal fishing and limited whale tourism.
Sperm whales, the largest toothed mammals on Earth, are particularly attracted to Dominican waters which provide critical feeding and nursing grounds.
The reserve is expected to help fight climate change as sperm whales contribute to carbon sequestration through their feces, which is rich in nutrients that help plankton blooms capture carbon dioxide from seawater.
Less than 500 sperm whales are estimated to live in the waters surrounding Dominica, and their population is declining due to threats such as ship strikes, plastic trash, noise pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear.