Team Hvaldimir

Is OneWhale’s Public Safety Team On-Site with Hvaldimir in Norway.

Our Mission is to keep Hvaldimir and the public safe.

Team Hvaldimir Tips Line:
+47 455 15 915

Please call the Hvaldimir Tips Line if you've spotted him, have concerns about him, see inappropriate public behaviour, or if you are a salmon farm or marina who needs assistance.

ABOUT TEAM HVALDIMIR

The Team Hvaldimir Public Safety Program was formed the summer of 2019 by OneWhale.

OneWhale is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, created expressly for protecting the health and welfare of Hvaldimir, Norway’s famous resident beluga whale. OneWhale has a world-renowned expert team of whale researchers, scientists, and veterinarians, all dedicated to helping Hvaldimir lead a long, healthy, and safe life in Norway. To create a health protocol and to best advocate for his future, OneWhale has partnered with NOAH for Animal Rights.

For nearly 4 years, OneWhale has documented and observed Hvaldimir ́s journey. As many locals know, Hvaldimir lives full time at salmon farms and has caused workplace interruptions and hazards. Also, Hvaldimir has a burgeoning unregulated tourist industry cropping up around him, with tourists regularly invading the salmon farm’s space.

To address these public concerns, OneWhale created ‘Team Hvaldimir’ a Public Safety Program to educate the public and cultivate a working relationship with salmon farms.

The Impact of Team Hvaldimir

From June-September 2022, Team Hvaldimir was able to reduce Hvaldimir’s time spent at the salmon farm by approximately 80%.
We also reduced public traffic to the farms by approximately 95%. Tourists still found the whale but in more appropriate places, and our team was there on site to help educate.
Farms shared task schedules requiring a 'whale-free' work site. We ensured Hvaldimir had alternative activities when specific duties, like net lifting and cleaning by a special vessel took place, ensuring he was away from the site.
Team Hvaldimir offered emergency call services to fish farms, even deploying our divers to distract Hvaldimir and resolve any disruptions he posed during their on-site dive operations.
Increasing public safety by cautioning tourists from swimming with the whale and letting their children swim with the whale, dramatically reducing this often unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation.
We educated tourists on Norwegian laws regarding Hvaldimir, minimizing risky behaviors like reckless boat driving, jet-skiing, and inserting sharp objects into his mouth.

By providing a safety and education program, we have found temporary solutions for many of the known challenges of Hvaldimir’s life at salmon farms.

However, even with these full-time efforts, there are serious risks to the salmon farms and to Hvaldimir.

The communities around Hvaldimir understand that this is not a sustainable situation, so OneWhale will continue to advocate for relocating Hvaldimir... a long-term solution that is good for Hvaldimir and also good for Norway.

Team Hvaldimir’s Goals

Volunteers on-site buffer tourism around the whale, provide safety information, and educate the public on rules and regulations in place around the whale and regarding entering the salmon farms.
Team Hvaldimir provides a resource and a go-to contact to help farms to manage the whale and provide a “whale-free” workplace whenever requested; and enable the farm employees to do their jobs without the interruption from tourism.

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Team Hvaldimir

Is OneWhale’s Public Safety Team On-Site with Hvaldimir in Norway.

Our Mission is to keep Hvaldimir and the public safe.

Team Hvaldimir Tips Line:
+47 455 15 915

ABOUT TEAM HVALDIMIR

The Team Hvaldimir Public Safety Program was formed the summer of 2019 by OneWhale.

To address these public concerns, OneWhale created ‘Team Hvaldimir’ a Public Safety Program to educate the public and cultivate a working relationship with salmon farms.

From June-September 2022, Team Hvaldimir was able to reduce Hvaldimir’s time spent at the salmon farm by approximately 80%.

We also reduced public traffic to the farms by approximately 95%. Tourists still found the whale but in more appropriate places, and our team was there on site to help educate.

Farms shared task schedules requiring a 'whale-free' work site. We ensured Hvaldimir had alternative activities when specific duties, like net lifting and cleaning by a special vessel took place, ensuring he was away from the site.

Team Hvaldimir offered emergency call services to fish farms, even deploying our divers to distract Hvaldimir and resolve any disruptions he posed during their on-site dive operations.

Increasing public safety by cautioning tourists from swimming with the whale and letting their children swim with the whale, dramatically reducing this often unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation.

We educated tourists on Norwegian laws regarding Hvaldimir, minimizing risky behaviors like reckless boat driving, jet-skiing, and inserting sharp objects into his mouth.

Team Hvaldimir’s Goals

SUPPORT HVALDIMIR FROM HOME

APPLY TO ONEWHALE’S TEAM HVALDIMIR PROGRAM

Volunteers are expected to organize and fund their own travel.
Click below for more details to become a member of Team Hvaldimir!

Team Hvaldimir

Is OneWhale’s Public Safety Team On-Site with Hvaldimir in Norway. Our Mission is to keep Hvaldimir and the public safe.

Team Hvaldimir Tips Line: +47 455 15 915

ABOUT TEAM HVALDIMIR

The Team Hvaldimir Public Safety Program was formed the summer of 2019 by OneWhale.

To address these public concerns, OneWhale created ‘Team Hvaldimir’ a Public Safety Program to educate the public and cultivate a working relationship with salmon farms.

From June-September 2022, Team Hvaldimir was able to reduce Hvaldimir’s time spent at the salmon farm by approximately 80%.

We also reduced public traffic to the farms by approximately 95%. Tourists still found the whale but in more appropriate places, and our team was there on site to help educate.

Farms shared task schedules requiring a 'whale-free' work site. We ensured Hvaldimir had alternative activities when specific duties, like net lifting and cleaning by a special vessel took place, ensuring he was away from the site.

Team Hvaldimir offered emergency call services to fish farms, even deploying our divers to distract Hvaldimir and resolve any disruptions he posed during their on-site dive operations.

Increasing public safety by cautioning tourists from swimming with the whale and letting their children swim with the whale, dramatically reducing this often unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation.

We educated tourists on Norwegian laws regarding Hvaldimir, minimizing risky behaviors like reckless boat driving, jet-skiing, and inserting sharp objects into his mouth.

Team Hvaldimir’s Goals

SUPPORT HVALDIMIR FROM HOME

APPLY TO ONEWHALE’S TEAM HVALDIMIR PROGRAM

Volunteers are expected to organize and fund their own travel.Click below for more details to become a member of Team Hvaldimir!

Is OneWhale’s Public Safety Team On-Site with Hvaldimir in Norway.

Our Mission is to keep Hvaldimir and the public safe.

Team Hvaldimir Tips Line:
+47 455 15 915

Volunteers are expected to organize and fund their own travel.
Click below for more details to become a member of Team Hvaldimir!