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Norwegian Whale Reserve
Understanding the importance of protecting Hvaldimir, the town of Hammerfest in northern Norway has agreed to transform a picturesque fjord into one of the world's first whale reserves so he has the best chance to live his life with the dignity and respect he deserves.
This Norwegian Whale Reserve is intended to provide safe haven for its first inhabitant, Hvaldimir. A possible long-term goal is to include other whales – most likely other belugas and orcas – in need of a safe marine reserve to call home. For this pioneering effort, Norway will be recognized as a true advocate for marine animals. This reserve has the potential to become one of the most respected conservation projects in the world.
The Power of You
THE FUTURE OF WHALE CONSERVATION
OneWhale’s public safety program (Team Hvaldimir) has observed Hvaldimir’s journey and has monitored his location, behaviour, and interactions with the public over the course of the past two and a half years. Hvaldimir lives full time at salmon farms and sometimes causes interruptions in their work. Also, Hvaldimir has a burgeoning unregulated tourist industry cropping up around him, with amateur and professional tour operators and dive instructors selling group trips to swim and dive with Hvaldimir. To address these public concerns, OneWhale created the “Team Hvaldimir Public Safety program” to educate the public and cultivate a working relationship with salmon farms.
With year-round volunteers on site, Team Hvaldimir provides a resource and go-to contact to help farms manage the whale, so the farm workers can continue their jobs. By providing a safety and education program, we have found an effective temporary solution for Hvaldimir’s challenges. During this time, Team Hvaldimir has documented threats to Hvaldimir’s wellbeing, including potential entanglement in fishing gear and injuries from close interaction with boats and the general public.