How we make a difference

We advocate for the protection of dolphins and challenge practices that cause them harm. We work tirelessly to change laws, educate the public, and promote institutional changes that lead to safer, healthier lives for dolphins.

Halt the harmful dolphin hunts in Taiji

We are fighting to end the dolphin hunt drives for good. Every year, fishermen herd hundreds of dolphins into a narrow cove in Taiji, Japan. Terrified, these dolphins are captured or killed. We’re targeting the two economic drivers – the sale of dolphins into captivity, and the slaughter of dolphins for food.

Source Robert Gilhooly

Break the cycle to end dolphins in captivity

We’re on a mission to end the cruel cycle of dolphins suffering in marine parks. Dolphins in captivity can experience lifelong stress, deprivation, and physical harm. We’re advocating for laws against dolphin captivity, educating the public about its harmful effects, and encouraging people to engage with dolphins through responsible wildlife experiences.

Source World Animal Protection Thailand / Chanklang Kanthong

Remove shark nets

Alongside Sea Shepherd Australia, we’re fighting to make 2023 shark net free. Shark nets are ineffective at reducing the risks of shark bites, and harm countless marine animals. We’re advocating for shark nets to be removed for good and educating people about the scientifically backed shark mitigation technologies already being used in New South Wales.

Source Mother Ocean Freediving

End harmful feeding of dolphins

We’re putting an end to humans intervening in dolphins’ natural feeding behaviours. Feeding wild dolphins can disrupt their natural behaviours and can lead to injuries and disease. However, many people still think it is harmless. We’re raising awareness of the risks, asking the government to put dolphin welfare before tourism, and encouraging people to engage with dolphins through responsible wildlife experiences.

Source Andy Toots Unsplash

Improve dolphins’ ocean home

A healthy ocean is crucial for dolphins to thrive. We advocate for cleaner, safer oceans by raising awareness about the importance of marine conservation, minimising ocean pollution and promoting a plant based diet to mitigate the impact of commercial fishing. Together, we can ensure a sustainable and vibrant home for dolphins.

Source Talia Cohen Unsplash

What our supporters say

We’re lucky to have some of the best supporters on the planet. With their help, we’re making it a safer place for dolphins.

'Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do! I will gladly donate to a cause that is actually making a change!!'

Jodi B

‘They are doing great work and the highlight was to sue the hunters of Taiji in court.’

Leotien P

'The dedicated determination of the team to improve the education and therefore the concept people have of marine-life in general, and especially dolphins'

Maureen J

'Love love love this organisation. Great great team. 5/5 without a doubt. Thank you for all you do.'

Melody M

'Always dedicated to the right values and pursues with integrity and conviction. Thank you!'

Michele J

'Superb action against the awful cruelties humans inflict on Dolphins!'

Virginia S

Meet our leadership team

Hannah Tait

CEO

Hannah Tait is a powerhouse of leadership who steers our compact, yet highly impactful team towards significant victories for marine life.

Emilia Michael 

COO & General Counsel

Emilia Michael, our stalwart strategist, is devoted to ensuring every donation we receive is effectively utilised to profoundly improve the lives of dolphins.

Action for Dolphins’ leadership team believes that with the support of Action for Dolphins’ donors and partners, we can offer real, institution-wide protection to dolphins. If you are interested in learning more about how we can achieve this, please get in touch.

Meet our Board

Sarah Lucas

Chair

Sarah – the driving force behind Action for Dolphins – is a testament to relentless dedication and transformative leadership.

Stephanie Hall

Director

Steph brings a powerful blend of social impact, applied environmental research and commercial strategy to the board.

Jordan Sosnowski

Director

Jordan brings a unique blend of legal acumen and steadfast commitment to animal rights to the Action for Dolphins board.

Olivia Lucas

Director

Olivia brings a multifaceted background in medicine, research and strategic thinking.

Our collaborators

We are fortunate to collaborate with many like minded organisations towards the shared goal of creating lasting positive change for marine life. We've listed a few of them below.

Our alliances

Together, we are stronger. We are proud to be part of the following alliances to foster a world where every creature is valued and protected.

We are also part of the Australian Alliance for Animals Organisation Network.

Our achievements

United with thousands of dolphin defenders globally, we've achieved notable milestones in the fight to improve the lives of dolphins. Check out our biggest wins.

Source Action for Dolphins

Ending dolphin captivity in NSW

We’ve successfully outlawed the breeding of dolphins in New South Wales. Also, wild dolphins can’t be imported into New South Wales. This means that Zippy, Bella and Jet – the dolphins currently residing in the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park (Coffs Harbour) – will be the last generation to live in captivity.

A dolphin is captured mid-leap above the ocean's surface, with water cascading off its body. The background is a calm sea stretching to the horizon under a clear sky. The dolphin's skin glistens in the sunlight, highlighting the grace and agility of these marine mammals.
Source Pagie Page Unsplash

Combatting Taiji dolphin hunts

We tackled the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) as a way to disrupt the cruel dolphin hunts in Taiji, Japan. Garnering support through legal action and a petition signed by thousands, we persuaded 62 Japanese aquariums under WAZA to stop buying dolphins from Taiji – a groundbreaking achievement!

‘A small Australian group has done what years of vigils, arrests, and even the plea of a Kennedy could not: knock the wind out of Japan’s dolphin hunt’
Andrew Darby, The Sydney Morning Herald

Close-up of several packages of dolphin meat on display, each labeled with a price tag, in a supermarket setting.
Source Robert Gilhooly

Disrupting the dolphin meat trade

To stop the slaughter of dolphins for meat, we’re taking action against companies peddling dolphin meat. We have already successfully shut down a key supplier of dolphin meat on Yahoo! Japan after our investigation revealed mercury levels in one meat sample were shockingly 97.5 times beyond Japan’s regulatory recommended limit.

Source Abner Abiu Castillo Diaz Unsplash

Saving marine life from shark nets in Ballina

In Ballina, Australia, we championed a campaign against the installation of shark nets. The NSW Government decided against the permanent use of these nets thanks to the loud voice of locals calling for their removal. This saves the lives of countless marine animals passing through these waters.

Source Noah Munivez Pexels

Helped Minjerribah Island’s dolphins

Our dynamic awareness campaign on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke) Island worked wonders – ranges report people are no longer feeding the wild dolphins! And the best part? These dolphins are now safe from being touched and fed by people, are free from social disruptions, and aggression spikes.

Source Sean Oulashin Unsplash

We helped clean our beaches

In our commitment to protect marine life, we’ve initiated beach cleanups. We have removed over 160 kg of trash from local beaches, which is about the same weight as two adult dolphins. This has helped to prevent marine pollution and the resulting harm it can cause to marine creatures.

Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you