Protecting species at risk
Worldwide, many marine species have drastically declined in numbers, including the most threatened marine vertebrates in Canadian waters–sharks, North Atlantic right whales, and Bluefin tuna. There's an urgent need to ensure their long-term viability.
WWF is protecting marine species that are at risk from overfishing and from being caught in fishing gear designed for other species, known as unintentional catch or bycatch.
WWF is protecting marine species that are at risk from overfishing and from being caught in fishing gear designed for other species, known as unintentional catch or bycatch.
What WWF is doing
Smart Fishing
Smart fishing practices that reduce bycatch are a crucial part of our sustainable seafood plan. WWF works on smart fishing solutions on a global basis.Find out more
Northern right whale
Endangered right whales
WWF reduces accidental entanglement by leading the improvement of fishing gear and practices, while still allowing fishermen to catch fish.
With the help of Nova Scotia lobster fishers, WWF has created new ways to protect the remaining 400 endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy. Here’s how we do it.
Learn more about right whales
With the help of Nova Scotia lobster fishers, WWF has created new ways to protect the remaining 400 endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Bay of Fundy. Here’s how we do it.
- Moving shipping lanes that commonly lead to fatal collisions
- Reducing the amount of excess rope that ties lobster traps together and risks entangling whales, marine turtles, and other species
- Identifying known, or potential high-risk, areas with intense fishing that are a significant risk for whale entanglement
Learn more about right whales
Oceans Blog Posts
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Swimming with sharks
My personal experience with a shark showed me how beautiful and non-threatening these creatures are, and most importantly, that they need us to ...
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Oil tankers and oil pipelines too great a risk: Canadians for the Great Bear
Oil tankers and an oil pipeline through Canada’s remarkable Great Bear region are too great a risk to take, said ‘Captain Canada’ hockey hero Scott ...
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Live chat with the Water Brothers
Two eco-adventurer brothers, Alex and Tyler Mifflin, travel the world to explore our relationship with water—from tropical reefs to freezing seas, ...
A Shortfin mako shark
Canadian sharks
Half of the 28 shark species in our waters are threatened with extinction. The unintentional catch of sharks in commercial fisheries is common, and particularly severe in pelagic longline fisheries aimed at catching swordfish and tuna in Atlantic waters. WWF will help create a Canadian Shark Conservation Centre.
Learn more about Canadian sharks
Take Action
Join our Facebook group Oceans Action for the Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy Group