Mission and principles

Mission

The aim of AFD is to stop cruelty to, and gain legal protection for, small cetaceans (dolphins and other small whales). AFD focuses on small cetaceans because these sentient animals do not have adequate legal protection, and are subjected to some of the most extreme cruelty inflicted on animals anywhere in the world.

AFD's primary goal is to bring an end to unregulated and inhumane hunts that kill thousands of small cetaceans annually. Initially, AFD will focus on the devastating hunts taking place in Taiji, Japan.

AFD also works to end activities that harm Australia's marine life and to end the practice of dolphin and whale captivity. Scientific studies suggest that dolphins and whales suffer in confinement. Therefore, AFD campaigns to have the practice of cetacean captivity abolished.

While AFD began in Australia, dolphins and whales need our help in many countries and, as such, our efforts to protect them are truly global.

Principles

AFD has the following core principles:

Its sole purpose is to improve the welfare of dolphins and whales
It will act lawfully, peacefully and respectfully
It will not denigrate or criticise the people of Japan or other countries in which dolphin hunting occurs – its argument is only with those few who are involved in the practice of dolphin hunting
It is committed to using donors' money wisely, with the aim of maximising the benefit of each dollar for dolphins and whales