Whale Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research and public awareness of whales and their environment. Our research programs contribute to the understanding of natural behavior patterns in whales by conducting fully integrated studies of population biology, genetics, ecology, and behavior. Our closely linked education programs make the interpretation and dissemination of this information available to the public and to policy makers in order to evolve meaningful management and conservation programs.
MISSION
Whale Trust’s mission is to conduct, support, and promote scientific research and education programs on whales and the marine environment.
VISION
Our vision is a world that understands, appreciates, and protects whales and the ocean planet we share.
CORE BELIEFS
We believe that science lies at the heart of environmental education and conservation.
Scientific research is the foundation on which meaningful education and conservation programs are built.
We believe that ocean health matters to us all.
As the largest and most visible mammals in the ocean, the health of whales speaks to the overall health of the marine environment. With the ocean covering more than 70% of the earth’s surface and containing 97% of all living matter, humans depend on the health of this ecosystem for our food, water, and air .
We believe that studies of whale behavior are paramount to effective conservation and management.
We study natural behavior and communication patterns in whales. Our research programs contribute to the understanding of natural behavior patterns in whales by conducting fully integrated studies of population biology, genetics, ecology, and behavior. The study of whale behavior is one of the most difficult, least funded, and least understood areas of whale research, yet it lies at the core of protecting the species.
We believe in the power of education to transform our connection to our natural world and our commitment to protect it.
Our education programs make our research findings available to the public and to policy makers in order to evolve meaningful management and conservation programs. By engaging students of all ages in our work, we hope to inspire the next generation of researchers.
We believe that collaboration is critical to our success.
Partnerships and collaborations play a key role in Whale Trust’s efforts locally and internationally. We believe that whales, by nature, encourage collaboration — they swim across ocean basins and cross international boundaries. It will take all of us working together to answer key questions about whales and their ocean environment, and to care for the planet we share.