This year, 150 whales were slaughtered in the Iceland whale hunts which continue to spite protests and controversy. The numbers for this year's whaling season surpasses the number of kills from the previous year and included 94 fin whales which are still considered endangered by many conservationists around the world. Common minke whales were also targeted for the slaughter.

The Icelandic government defends the hunt by claiming that they are hunting from “abundant stocks” and justifying the kills by referring to their rightful use of “living marine resources” with little regard for the whales. They still refuse to comply with the international ban on whaling to despite outrage from around the world.

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MigalooWhile making his annual migration through the Pacific, the infamous solid albino humpback whale, Migaloo, was recently seen again returning to the waters of the Queensland area. Observers spotted the white whale which seemed to be moving in a southeast direction from Snapper Island and may be headed for the reef. Although Migaloo seems to be in good shape and is behaving normally and displaying all of the normal signs of a healthy and active humpback whale, some concerns have been raised about a lump spotted on the whale's head that could pose a potential threat to his health.

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Sailing under the Jolly Roger is a clear statement.

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Both shocking and stirring, Modest Mouse’s new video for their song “King Rat” truly fits the music piece itself. Stark illustrations reveal a whaling team set out to sea—only, instead of humans, they are actual whales, gruff and unflinching, much like human fisherman are often portrayed in reality television shows.

As the lyrics spin a scenario of unquenchable greed, the captain and his mates sneer and ready for their catch, following the smirking sun:

“…I took all that I desired, even crooks have to pay the rent. We swam like rats on fire right, right down the reservoir. We took all that we could carry but we tried to carry more.”

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Go Mila and Nicola!

Whales saved a diver's life, this week, at a diving competition in China.

Polar Land Aquarium in the city of Harbin in Northeast China hosted a free-diving competition, Tuesday, to screen applicants for a whale training job. Diver Yang Yun was below 15 feet of frigid water without any air, when she developed severe leg cramps.

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Organizations such as the Sea Sheppard Society have brought a great deal of attention to the whale slaughters carried by Japanese whaling fleets through various campaigns and the Whale Wars show that documented the fight against these whaling vessels to keep the quickly disappearing whale populations alive. However, little attention has been drawn to the other war that Japan has waged against whales through the unregulated kills associated with bycatch.

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Just amazing footage:

Swedenborg WhaleRecently workers in Sweden made a most remarkable discovery hidden deep within the clay of their work site. The discovery was made when they unearthed the remains of a whale believed to be at least 10,000 years old and some hope to prove that this mysterious new skeleton may actually be the remains of the legendary Swedenborg Whale.

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Whales are some of the most majestic creatures that have ever graced this earth. Did you know that the largest dinosaur would have only been half the size of the incredible blue whale? Watching whales is like seeing something much bigger than you are—both literally and figuratively. If you love whales and plan to go whale watching sometime soon, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

When you choose to go whale watching depends on the species you’re hoping to see. The best season to se an orca, or killer whale, is usually in the winter, and humpbacks are typically more viewable September through January. The gray whale is more unpredictable.

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I have a solution to the global whaling debate:

Stop whaling.

Okay, I know that nobody’s going to go for that, but world leaders should at least have something in mind. So there’s only one thing to meet a standstill in whale protection decision-making like the one we saw at the International Whaling Commission this week: a very dramatic eye-roll, heavy sighing and possible gestures of disgust.

The thing is, there’s been a ban on commercial whaling since 1986—a ban that’s been completely ignored by Japan, Iceland and Norway. This complete disregard to the moratorium leaves the IWC looking like a complete joke—and, let’s face it, if they can’t enforce their rules, aren’t they?

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