WDC Annual Review 2015

2015 ANNUAL REVIEW

2015 IN REVIEW

THE BIG 5 SOME HIGHLIGHTS

1

STOP WHALING

Our undercover investigation into the illegal sale of whale meat in Denmark has now resulted in law changes in that country. No meat is being sold like this in Denmark now

2

RIGHTS FOR WHALES AND DOLPHINS WDC has helped develop, and is promoting, a declaration on rights for whales and dolphins

3

END CAPTIVITY After years of campaigning, in 2015 a court in the USA ruled in our favour – 18 beluga whales will not be imported from Russia to an aquarium in the US

From securing protection for a number of species to promoting whale and dolphin rights and shutting down illegal trade, we've made some big gains – with your support

4

HOMES FOR WHALES We fought for the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

There are only 500 left and ships are injuring and killing them. Thanks to your help, we finally managed to get a permanent 10-knot speed limit in place along the USA's east coast and so reduced this threat by up to 90%

5

ENDING BYCATCH

With your support, we stopped a flawed public consultation process regarding controversial fishing plans in a protected marine area in Cardigan Bay, Wales, home to many bottlenose dolphins

‘I’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN THE WILD AND THESE AMAZING CREATURES NEED HELP FROM ORGANISATIONS LIKE WDC TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND FREE’ JULIA BRADBURY TV presenter and WDC patron

ABOUT WDC WHO WE ARE WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the leading charity dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins.

We are authorities on whale and dolphin issues, and are passionate about what we do. We operate at international meetings and work across many seas and oceans, as well as through our offices in the UK, North America, Argentina, Germany and Australia. We connect with all people who care about whales and dolphins. We make sure decision-makers hear our voice.

We are campaigners, researchers, lobbyists, educators and volunteers.

Together we are ‘one’ WDC. We work globally through campaigns, lobbying, advising governments, conservation projects, field research, rescue, education and much more.

OUR VALUES PASSION We care deeply about whales and dolphins, and we share this passion with our supporters

INCLUSIVENESS WDC does not work alone. Our supporters are at the heart of what we do. We work with other NGOs, communities and governments to achieve real protection for whales and dolphins

OUR VISION INTEGRITY Our work is backed by robust research, science and philosophy.

We are THE authority on whales and dolphins and the threats they face

A WORLD WHERE EVERY WHALE AND DOLPHIN IS SAFE AND FREE

COURAGE We are not afraid to take on those whose actions harm whales and dolphins – whether they be big business, governments or industries

OUR MISSION

TO AMAZE PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS, AND INSPIRE GLOBAL ACTION TO PROTECT THEM

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A WORLD WHERE EVERY WHALE AND DOLPHIN IS SAFE AND FREE Threats to whales and dolphins are numerous, with some growing at an alarming rate. During 2015 we began developing and further refining WDC’s strategy to tackle these threats and move closer to achieving our vision of a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free.

THE BIG FIVE To be more effective, WDC is focusing on five key programmes. We will be putting most of our resources into stopping whaling, ending captivity, creating homes for whales and dolphins (marine protected areas that limit harm caused to them), campaigning for rights for whales and dolphins (to establish legal protection for them), and tackling the issue of huge numbers of whales and dolphins dying in fishing nets each year.

OUR SUCCESS The journey towards achieving our vision for whales and dolphins is long and difficult but in 2015 we achieved some notable successes in each of these five core areas. In particular, our undercover work in Denmark has resulted in changes in the law there regarding the sale of whale meat. We also put pressure on the US government to protect the 500 remaining North Atlantic right whales that inhabit the east coast, which led to a permanent 10-knot speed limit in the region – reducing the threat of collision with boats by up to 90%. And, after many years of hard campaigning, a court in the US has ruled in our favour and banned the import of 18 beluga whales from Russia to an aquarium in the US.

CONTENTS Stop whaling

6

Homes for whales

8

End captivity

10

Establishing legal rights

14

Net gains

15

Communities and volunteering

16

It’s all down to you

18

Other work at WDC

20

Financial review

21

All thanks to you

22

During 2015 we also continued to move forward with our plans to create sea sanctuaries for whales and dolphins so that those that can’t be released can live out their days with space, dignity and in a more natural environment.

AND YOU We can’t continue to achieve these successes without our wonderful supporters, dolphin adopters, 250,000 followers on social media, donors, trust and grant making bodies, campaigners and volunteers. Together we can make our vision a reality.

Thank you.

Chris Butler-Stroud (CEO, WDC)

4 WDC 2016

WHY WHALES AND DOLPHINS NEED OUR HELP

OVER

5,000 WHALES

HAVE BEEN KILLED BY JAPAN, ICELAND AND NORWAY IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS

56 ORCAS

HUNDREDS MORE WILL BE KILLED AGAIN THIS YEAR

AND AROUND

300

ARE STILL HELD REMAIN CAPTIVE IN EUROPEAN IN SMALL TANKS AROUND THE WORLD BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS FACILITIES ALONE

THERE ARE 0 SANCTUARIES OF THE TYPE THAT WDC IS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH WHERE THESE WHALES AND DOLPHINS CAN LIVE OUT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WITHOUT BEING CONFINED TO A TINY TANK

AROUND

300,000 WHALES AND DOLPHINS

DIE AS A RESULT OF BEING CAUGHT ACCIDENTALLY IN FISHING NETS EACH YEAR

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ONLY COVER

3.5%

IF WE ARE GOING TO HELP PROTECT WHALES AND DOLPHINS MORE EFFECTIVELY THIS NEEDS TO INCREASE TO

OF THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN

30% BY 2020

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A fin whale slaughtered in Iceland

JAPAN, NORWAY AND ICELAND KILL AROUND

1,500 WHALES EACH YEAR IN TOTAL, DESPITE A BAN

6 WDC 2016

Hunting whales is still one of the prime examples of man’s exploitation of the oceans and the creatures that live there SOME WHALES can live to well over 100 years old and are slow to reproduce. So, hunting has, and continues to have, a major impact on populations.

It is estimated that three million whales were killed in the 20th century.

In the US, the North Atlantic right whale used to exist in vast numbers but now there are only around 400 left.

The blue whale, the biggest creature on the planet, has never fully recovered from hunting. Hundreds of thousands were slaughtered up until the 1960s,

with as few as 10,000 to 20,000 surviving today.

Despite a ban, Japan, Norway and Iceland still hunt whales commercially, killing around 1,500 each year in total, and so it is vital that we continue to focus on investigating and exposing the cruel trade in whale meat and products.

WDC is also working within these countries where many people do not support whaling and few eat the meat.

Our outreach in these places is critical to effecting real change.

AN ESTIMATED

3 MILLION WHALES WERE KILLED IN THE 20TH CENTURY

CHANGING THE LAW Our undercover investigation into the illegal sale of whale meat in Denmark led to changes in the law. No meat is sold like this in Denmark now.

FOOD FAIR FINE Our exposĂŠ of whale meat on sale at a German food fair resulted in legal action and a fine for the company responsible.

ILLEGAL EXPORTS We made Icelandic fin whalers so unwelcome in EU ports that they've been forced to take harder routes to Japan.

OFF THE SHELF We persuaded Findus Group to blacklist fish from companies with strong whaling links.

CONSUMPTION Consumption of whale meat in Iceland has more than halved since our campaign began publicising the fact that minke whales are hunted almost exclusively to feed tourists in the country.

Japan, Norway and Iceland still kill whales for food, despite a ban

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ROB LOTT WDC, JEREMY SUTTON-HIBBERT, M VOTIER, WDC

STOP WHALING

OUR WORK

HOMES FOR WHALES

WDC is at the forefront of protecting whale and dolphin habitats

A KEY PART of saving whale and dolphin populations is to protect the areas where they live. This can be done by establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) where agreement is made to restrict damaging practices such as oil exploration, certain types of fishing or ship speeds.

Around 30% of the world’s surface is land.

More than 15% of land areas are now in national parks, reserves and other protected areas. Of the world’s surface 70% is sea, yet marine protected areas cover a mere 3.5% of the ocean surface.

70%

OF THE WORLD’S SURFACE IS SEA, YET MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ONLY COVER 3.5% OF THE OCEAN SURFACE

MOST COUNTRIES HAVE AGREED THAT AT LEAST

10% 2020 NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED BY

8 WDC 2016

WDC HELPED TO BRING ABOUT AREAS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR PROTECTION BY THE UK AND DEVOLVED GOVERNMENTS FOR HARBOUR PORPOISES

WDC PERSUADED THE UK GOVERNMENT NOT TO GRANT LICENCES TO EXPLORE FOR OIL IN CORE DOLPHIN HABITATS

10 KNOTS

FINES UP TO

$13,200

FOR SPEEDING THROUGH RIGHT WHALE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS

FEDERAL SPEED LIMIT IN SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS FOR VESSELS 65FT OR GREATER

1,500

1973 MILES

FEEDING AND COURTSHIP CALVING

RIGHT WHALES TRAVEL BETWEEN CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, AND BAY OF FUNDY, CANADA

THANKS TO

YOUR

THE YEAR RIGHT WHALES WERE LISTED AS ENDANGERED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

WE FINALLY MANAGED TO GET A PERMANENT 10-KNOT SPEED LIMIT IN PLACE ALONG THE US EAST COAST AND SO REDUCED THE THREAT OF SHIPS INJURING AND KILLING DOLPHINS BY UP TO

HELP 90% OUR WORK • Bangladesh now has its first marine protected area (kick-started by WDC funding) – 672 square miles where whales and dolphins are known to live will be safer.

• We also helped bring about a new code of practice for vessels operating around Aberdeen harbour, Scotland, helping protect bottlenose dolphins in the area.

• We fought for the endangered

North Atlantic right whale.

There are only 500 left. We successfully lobbied the US government to increase protection for right whales, including expanding protected habitat by 40,000 square miles.

• Data collected by WDC staff and volunteers in the Moray Firth, Scotland, was used to convince energy company SSE not to carry out work in peak summer months when dolphins are likely to be in the area.

20162016 WDCWDC 9 9

SOML

Most countries have agreed that at least 10% needs to be protected by 2020. If we are going to help safeguard whales and dolphins (and the places they call home) more effectively, this needs to increase to around 30% in future.

WDC’s Homes for Whales and Dolphins work programme is at the forefront of designating, and even designing, new MPAs and, increasingly, we are working on protective measures and zones (important marine mammal areas, or IMMAs) on the high seas, far from land.

OUR WORK IN 2015 LEGAL RULING After years of campaigning, a court in the US ruled in our favour – 18 beluga whales will not be imported to aquaria in the US from Russia.

DOLPHIN HUNTS We continued to put pressure on members of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums to stop taking dolphins for marine parks from the brutal Taiji dolphin hunts. The Association has now voted to end the practice.

HOLIDAY WIN We continued our successful campaign for holiday companies to stop selling trips to SeaWorld and other aquaria.

PUBLIC DOLPHIN FEEDING Following WDC’s ongoing campaign to stop the public feeding dolphins at captive facilities, SeaWorld announced in 2015 that it

would be stopping the sale of fish food that visitors can feed to the captive dolphins in petting pools at its Orlando park. As part of our campaign, we carried out 100 hours of undercover investigation highlighting aggression by dolphins towards the public and disturbing treatment of the dolphins.

ORCA SHOWS WDC continued its pressure on SeaWorld to stop keeping orcas in captivity. In late 2015, SeaWorld announced it would phase out orca shows at its San Diego marine park by 2017.

ENDING CAPTIVITY Our campaigning to end captivity in Europe received a boost when Poland's environment minister announced in 2015 that there was no agreement to open a commercial dolphinarium in Mszczonów, Poland. He stated: ‘The best place to see dolphins is in the wild.’

A dolphin captured in a brutal Taiji hunt

FOLLOWING OUR CAMPAIGNING, 40 MAJOR AIRLINES HAVE AGREED NEVER TO TRANSPORT DOLPHINS CAUGHT IN JAPANESE DOLPHIN HUNTS TO A LIFE OF CAPTIVITY IN AQUARIA

WDC is working hard to educate the public about aquaria

END CAPTIVITY

WDC continues to campaign to keep whales and dolphins in their natural environment

WDC, GAVIN BRAY

WILD WHALES AND DOLPHINS roam for many miles each day in the sea. Yet some people still think it is perfectly okay to keep them in small tanks for human entertainment or education.

This has to stop. After many years of campaigning, we are beginning to see a very clear change in public attitudes, and a movement away from captivity being perceived as acceptable. It is important that

we seize this opportunity. There are parts of the world where the industry is still growing, and so we will have to keep up the campaigning and hard work to fight for each individual whale and dolphin held.

WDC will also be continuing its work to raise funds and establish sanctuaries where these amazing creatures can be returned to the sea where they belong, or live out the rest of their lives in a more natural environment.

WDC IS WORKING TO CREATE NATURAL SEA SANCTUARIES FOR EX-CAPTIVE WHALES AND DOLPHINS

18

BELUGA WHALES WILL NOT BE TAKEN FROM RUSSIA TO AQUARIA IN THE US AFTER A COURT IN THE US RULED IN OUR FAVOUR IN 2015

20162016 WDCWDC 11 11

A WORLD WHERE

EVERY WHALE AND DOLPHIN IS

SAFE AND FREE

ABOUT WDC WHO WE ARE WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, is the leading charity dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins.

We are authorities on whale and dolphin issues, and are passionate about what we do. We operate at international meetings and work across many seas and oceans, as well as through our offices in the UK, North America, Argentina, Germany and Australia. We connect with all people who care about whales and dolphins. We make sure decision-makers hear our voice.

We are campaigners, researchers, lobbyists, educators and volunteers.

Together we are ‘one’ WDC. We work globally through campaigns, lobbying, advising governments, conservation projects, field research, rescue, education and much more.

OUR VALUES PASSION We care deeply about whales and dolphins, and we share this passion with our supporters

INCLUSIVENESS WDC does not work alone. Our supporters are at the heart of what we do. We work with other NGOs, communities and governments to achieve real protection for whales and dolphins

OUR VISION INTEGRITY Our work is backed by robust research, science and philosophy.

We are THE authority on whales and dolphins and the threats they face

A WORLD WHERE EVERY WHALE AND DOLPHIN IS SAFE AND FREE

COURAGE We are not afraid to take on those whose actions harm whales and dolphins – whether they be big business, governments or industries

OUR MISSION

TO AMAZE PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS, AND INSPIRE GLOBAL ACTION TO PROTECT THEM

2016 WDC 3

ALLIED WHALE/COLLEGE OF ATLANTIC

A victim of fishing

NET GAINS WDC is working with the fishing industry to prevent unnecessary whale and dolphin deaths and injuries in nets

RICHARDPALMERGRAPHICS.COM

JUST AS OVERFISHING is causing huge problems for the oceans, the methods used and the drive to catch more and more fish have a major impact on whales and dolphins. Fishermen may not target them, but whales and dolphins do end up in nets, or seriously injured, due to entanglement in fishing gear. This is called ‘bycatch’ and is thought to be the biggest killer of whales and dolphins with around 300,000 deaths per year. We know that some whales who initially survive can still face shortened lives.

Some fishing methods are worse than others. WDC is now focusing more on fishing, and its effect on whales and dolphins, to try to identify the real issues and reduce the huge number of deaths.

WDC believes that it is important to work with the fishing industry to explore new methods and to stop bycatch.

'BYCATCH' IS THOUGHT TO BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST KILLER OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS WITH AROUND

300,000

BETTER METHODS In 2015 WDC continued to encourage governments and the industry to find better methods of reporting and monitoring bycatch to understand and address the key problem areas. WDC worked with fishermen to try to develop better fishing methods and in local communities to highlight the threats of fishing to whales and dolphins.

BAY WATCH With your support WDC stopped a flawed public consultation process regarding controversial fishing plans in a marine area in Cardigan Bay, Wales, home to a protected population of bottlenose dolphins.

BUOY, OH BUOY WDC has helped to establish regulations to reduce entanglements of large whales and harbour porpoise along the US east coast. Lobstermen now have to use fewer vertical lines for buoys, which reduces the risk of entangling critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.

DEATHS PER YEAR

WDC CONTINUES TO HELP IN THE CREATION OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS THAT CAN RESTRICT DAMAGING FISHING PRACTICES, INCLUDING REDUCING BYCATCH

A Hector's dolphin drowns after becoming entangled in a net 2016 WDC 15

COMMUNITIES AND

VOLUNTEERING How the White family has helped WDC protect the special bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth

WDC ‘ADOPT A DOLPHIN’ PROGRAMME 16 WDC 2016

FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS WDC has enabled supporters to ‘adopt a dolphin’ in order to help fund work to protect them and other threatened species around the world.

The amazing ‘adopted’ dolphins, Sundance, Kesslet, Mischief, Rainbow, Moonlight and Spirit, are part of the dolphin population in the Moray Firth. They are very special as they are the most northerly resident bottlenose dolphins in the world and are

significantly larger than their warm water relatives. This is because they have more blubber to insulate them from the colder water temperatures of the North Sea. However, their numbers are limited and they are very vulnerable to changes in their environment as these can affect breeding/ reproduction rates, endangering their long-term future.

The White family adopted Sundance 23

CROWN JEWELS

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR ADOPTION PROGRAMMES, PLEASE GO TO WHALES.ORG

Many of our dolphin adopters will be familiar with Charlie Phillips, our field officer, Field officer who knows these dolphins as Charlie Phillips well as anyone and provides our regular updates and photographs.

He says: ‘Since the late 1980s I have been enthralled by these wonderful, intelligent souls and have devoured every scientific paper and article about them. It’s amazing in that timespan just how much we have learned about their complicated and often enigmatic lives. The bottlenose dolphins I am so privileged to see and work with almost every day are the jewels in the crown of Scottish wildlife.

Through the world-class research carried out on these dolphins by the Lighthouse Field Station (funded for many years by WDC), we now know much more about their movements, behaviour and social structure and what we need to do for their future well-being.

‘I’m honoured to not only have a dolphin named after me by Aberdeen University, but also to be co-author on scientific papers, and have my articles and images used and quoted in publications worldwide to inform and educate people about just how important this population of dolphins is to the biodiversity of this country.’

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who supports our dolphin and whale adoption programmes – we simply could not carry out our work without you

Andy, Elaine and Catherine White

years ago. Elaine White explains why they chose to adopt him. ‘It all started when a friend chose Sundance to adopt for our daughter Catherine's birthday present as they were both three years old,’ she says.

‘When Catherine was seven we made the first of many visits to the Black Isle to see if we could spot him! Our very first boat trip was such an amazing experience and we were hooked. It has been lovely to watch

Sundance and Catherine “grow up together” and see how he has developed into such a strong adult, full of character. We always get a thrill when he is pointed out to us and it’s great to know that over the past 23 years we have contributed to WDC’s fantastic research and conservation work. It’s so important that the marine life in the Moray Firth is protected to enable all of them to live in a safe and healthy environment.’

2016 WDC 17

Rodney Veazey Rodney shares our passion for whales and dolphins, and is always happy to get involved. In 2015 he volunteered on WDC’s stand at WhaleFest in Brighton and led our Walk for Whales in Weymouth.

He also gives public talks on our behalf

IT’S ALL

DOWN TO

YOU

A massive thank you to our supporters, without whom we would not be here to protect whales and dolphins WE BELIEVE PASSIONATELY that whales and dolphins have rights.

These incredible creatures have the right to exist as nature intends, not as humans decide.

Our supporters share this passion and we would not have achieved the successes we celebrate within these pages without you.

You keep us going financially, and your endless enthusiasm and belief gives us a boost on those days when a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free seems far away.

Keira-Grace Castledine Keira was our star fundraiser in the 2015 Cycle Challenge raising £247.50. She cycled 15 miles and received the Headteacher’s Award at school for writing about the work she had done for whales and dolphins

18 WDC 2016

You get involved with our campaigns, you sign our petitions, you take part in our social media actions, you walk, you run, you swim, you donate and adopt whales and dolphins, you throw yourselves out of high-flying vehicles and you climb mountains. You are all brilliant and whales and dolphins all over the world are better off because of you. On their behalf – thank you!

There are too many of you to name in this small space but here are just four who have inspired us.

TOGETHER WE CREATE CHANGE AND WE APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE WANT YOU TO FEEL VALUED, SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED OUR ‘SUPPORTER CHARTER’ – OUR PROMISE TO YOU. WE WILL: Beatrix Karsgaard Along with mum Stacey, Beatrix organised her own Walk for Whales to help stop whale meat being transported through European ports. She invited all her friends along to a five-mile walk along the beach in Gullane, Scotland, with banners they had made for the occasion. They raised a fantastic £551

Kris Hjalmarsson Icelandic campaigner and superhero, Kris took on 14 skydives in one weekend for WDC. Fundraising to support our Whale Nation campaign and to create awareness of the whaling issues of his native country, Kris raised just short of £4,000. A dizzying feat by any measure

• administer your donation efficiently, putting your gift to work quickly • use your donation carefully and responsibly • where you have donated to a particular project, respect your wish to allocate your donation to that project • thank you for your support and let you know what your donations have made possible • make the best use of our income by carrying out projects that have a demonstrable, positive impact on the lives of whales and dolphins • ensure that your personal details and donations are kept securely, and never share your personal data with other organisations • abide by the Institute of Fundraising Code of Fundraising Practice (and any subsequent legislation) and ensure that all our activities are open and fair, honest and legal • communicate with you in the ways that you prefer and, if these change, adapt them to suit your needs • acknowledge any queries and complaints within three working days, and respond fully within 10 working days • never put any pressure on you to make a donation.

2016 WDC 13

We helped bring about a new code of practice for vessels operating around Aberdeen harbour in Scotland, helping to protect bottlenose dolphins in the area

Beach Clean – 251 WDC volunteers helped with 10 beach cleans, removing dangerous litter from the Scottish coastline

Local Brownies help with a beach clean project near WDC’s Scottish Dolphin Centre

More than 6,000 Shorewatches were carried out by volunteers during 2015. As part of our Shorewatch programme WDC trains, equips and supports members of the public, who then scan the seas to provide vital data from selected sites.

Shorewatch data is used to support our work to protect whale and dolphin populations 20 WDC 2016

SOME OF OUR OTHER WORK...

We expanded our whale watching programme, Whale SENSE, to Alaska in 2015, helping responsible whale watching operations in the area

Together we continued to help rescue stranded whales and dolphins

More than one million people have been exposed to messages about responsible wildlife viewing and at least 17 whale entanglements have been reported by Whale SENSE boats, in some cases enabling rescuers to quickly find and help distressed whales

FINANCIAL REVIEW

TOTAL INCOME for the year was £4,235,592. This was down by £333,953 from £4,569,545 in 2014, mainly because we ran the highly successful Wild Dolphins event in Aberdeen, Scotland, last year. As in 2014, income from legacies was higher than the average over the last five years.

Donations outside of the above were similar to 2014 with income

from adoption programmes slightly lower than last year but income from trusts and grants higher.

The cost of generating funds decreased from £1,463,515 to £952,094, although if you remove the costs of the Wild Dolphins event, costs are similar to last year.

As a percentage of total incoming resources, the cost of generating funds has decreased from 32% in

Governance costs

1p

Membership and adoption programmes

4p 8p

Information and education Conservation and campaigns Merchandise, café, raffle and magazine Fundraising

62p

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Conservation and campaigns Information and education Membership Adoption programmes Charitable expenditure

5p

PENNIES IN THE POUND: FUNDING BREAKDOWN

20p

2013 to 22% in 2015, reflecting the removal of the cost of running the Wild Dolphins event.

Charitable expenditure in the year amounted to £2,835,341, an increase of 1.8% from last year.

Charitable spend had been matched to budgeted regular donation income expected during the year.

WDC reviews the reserves position continually to ensure we hold sufficient financial reserves to fund current and future work. With donations from the public in decline recently, three years ago we increased the amount set aside to cover cash flow fluctuations. This resulted in a higher reserve level than maintained historically.

The receipt of two unusually large legacies in the past three years has allowed WDC to begin a strategic planning process that will take us through the next four years and beyond. At the end of the year the group had reserves of £1,492,996 of which £650,000 represents unrestricted funds and £92,939 represents restricted funds.

We have designated £750,057 for investment in engaging people to inspire action, growing sustainably and efficiently and in our people and processes. We have identified these objectives as the means through which we will deliver WDC’s five policy programmes.

Unrestricted funds (£)

Restricted funds (£)

Total funds (£)

Total funds 2014 (£)

2,113,214

234,408

2,347,622

2,239,104

179,762

-

179,762

231,437

45,865

-

45,865

54,976

262,092

-

262,092

260,842

2,600,933

234,408

2,835,341

2,786,359 2016 WDC 21

All thanks to you WDC wishes to acknowledge the continued support from corporate partners, trusts and foundations, major donors, donations in memoriam and legacies. We would also like to thank individual members of the public, adopters and WDC supporters TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS • The MPA Fighting Fund • The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation • The Downton Banister Trust • Maud Beattie Murchie Charitable Trust • The Joyce Cater Charitable Trust • The Panton Trust • T D Brunton Charitable Trust • J & J R Wilson Trust

22 WDC 2016

• • • • • • • • • •

The Waterloo Foundation The Mackintosh Foundation Kilverstone Wildlife Charitable Trust SEA LIFE Trust The Rufford Foundation Constance Paterson Foundation Fondation Ensemble Stella Symons Charitable Trust Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust Cecil Pilkington Charitable Trust

• Radlmayr Stiftung (Germany) • Würde & Recht der Tiere – Stiftung für Tierschutz (Germany) • Patagonia (US) • Island Foundation (US) • The Jessica Rekos Foundation (US) • The Boston Foundation (US) • Litowitz Foundation (US) • Tides Foundation (US) • Craigslist Foundation (US)

CORPORATES • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Animal Friends Peter Muffett and the DTV team Julie Walsham at Orca Originals Lisa Drewe at Newleaf Sustainability Practice Andrew Sutton at NiceImages/Eco2 Conran Design Group Mark Whelan and the team at Havas SEALIFE The International Jojoba Export Council Target Dry Elite Eco Logistics Endsleigh Insurance Profile Sri Lankan Airlines

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Konfidence Merlin Entertainments MJD Systems Speyside Craft Brewery SEGA The Humble Bundle Community Wildlife Worldwide Aldiana (Germany) Arda Base Wigs (US) Cape Clasp (US) FLOAT – For Love of All Things (US) Kamibashi (US) PuraVida (US) Sakroots (US) Terminus Tees (US)

• Thread Pit (US) • Wood’s Seafood (US) • Brewer’s Marine – Plymouth (US) • Systems Marines (US) • Cadet Enterprises (US) • Mocean Designs (US) • Far Fetched (US) • Munchkin (US) • The Dodo.com • VEER • Dean’s Jewelry • The White Starfish • Hightail Whale • My Green World • Auroch Digital

STATUTORY • Scottish Natural Heritage

• Natural Resources Wales

• European Fisheries Fund

2016 WDC 29

GET IN TOUCH WDC WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham SN15 1LJ, United Kingdom T +44 (0)1249 449500 E info@whales.org whales.org

WDC NORTH AMERICA 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth Massachusetts 02360, United States T +1 888 699 4253 E contact@whales.org

WDC DEUTSCHLAND Implerstr. 55, D81371 Munich, Germany T +49 89 6100 2393 E kontakt@whales.org

WDC AUSTRALASIA PO Box 720, Port Adelaide Business Centre, Port Adelaide, South Australia 5015, Australia T +61 (0)401 866 633 E info.au@whales.org

WDC SCOTTISH DOLPHIN CENTRE Spey Bay, Moray IV32 7PJ United Kingdom T +44 (0)1343 820339 E dolphincentre@whales.org

WDC LATIN AMERICA Cap. J.G. Bermúdez 1598 B1636EMB Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina E info.la@whales.org

All images by WDC and Shutterstock unless stated otherwise Cover image: Charlie Phillips