State of Cetaceans 2026

At a time when the health of our planet’s oceans is under immense pressure, understanding the lives of the whales, dolphins and porpoises that inhabit them has never been more important - or more urgent. These extraordinary animals are not just charismatic icons of the wild, but vital indicators of ocean health. They live in every ocean on Earth, often far from human view, yet they are increasingly exposed to the cumulative impact of human activities - from climate change to overfishing, noise pollution to vessel strikes.

With our surveys expanding globally, we are gaining even greater insight about marine mammal populations in more diverse and remote parts of the ocean. Our work on vessel strikes and wider threats to cetaceans and their habitats has moved onto an international stage, and so our report now reflects this increasing global dimension to our work.