Keeping Sperm Whales “Safe from Harm” with First-Ever Reserve

Dominica, an island in the Caribbean, is establishing the world’s first sperm whale reserve.

“The 200 or so sperm whales that call our sea home are prized citizens of Dominica. […] We want to ensure these majestic and highly intelligent animals are safe from harm and continue keeping our waters and our climate healthy,” says Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

Large ships and commercial fishing will now be banned from about 800 square kilometres off Dominica’s western coast. Sperm whales have been spotted on nearly all corners of the earth, but Dominica’s sea is one of the few spots where the species can be found year-round. Hopefully, the country’s newest measure will protect this important marine animal who, in Prime Minister Skeritt’s words, “ancestors likely inhabited Dominica before humans arrived.”