Registered number: 2737421 English registered charity number: 1014705 Scottish registered charity number: SC040231 

WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

9 Bishop Fleming 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## CONTENTS 

||Page|
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details ofthe Charity, its Trustees and Advisers|1|
|Trustees’ Report|2|
|Independent Auditors’ Report on the Financial Statements|27 - 30|
|Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities|31|
|Consolidated Balance Sheet|32|
|Charity Balance Sheet|33|
|Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows|34|
|NotestotheFinancialStatements|35-55|





## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

|Trustees|Lisa Drewe, Chair|
|---|---|
||Arietta Bortot|
||John Gerard-Leigh|
||Alexander Hunt|
||Hannah McCarthy|
||Jessica Pollitt|
||Adrian Reed|
||Philip Smith|
|Company registered||
|number|2737421|
|Charity registered||
|number|1014705 $C040231|
|Registered office|Brookfield House|
||38 St Paul Street|
||Chippenham|
||Wiltshire|
||SN15 1LJ|
|Company secretary|Carolyn Moore|
|Chief executive officer|| Chris Butler-Stroud|
|Independent auditors|Bishop Fleming LLP|
||Chartered Accountants|
||10 Temple Back|
||Bristol|
||BS1 6FL|
|Bankers|Barclays Bank plc|
||99 Hatton Garden|
||London|
||EC1N 8DN|
|Solicitors|RoydsWithy King|
||5-6 Northumberland Buildings|
||Queen Square|
||Bath|
||BA1 2JE|
|Investment Managers|Barclays Wealth|
||Gerrard Investment Management|
||4th Floor, TayHouse|
||300 Bath Street|
||Glasgow|
||G24LH|



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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## CHAIR'S STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

In the first quarter of this century, real progress has been made toward creating a safer ocean for whales and dolphins. WDC has played an important role in that progress - from challenging commercial whaling and captivity to expanding marine protection and promoting safer fishing practices. 

Despite these successes, major threats remain. Bycatch is still the leading cause of whale and dolphin deaths, targeted hunts continue, and growing risks such as pollution and climate breakdown place ocean life in jeopardy. 

WDC’'s work is more vital than ever. 

We are influencing public opinion in whaling nations, urging travel companies to stop promoting dolphin shows, supporting scientific breakthroughs, and protecting vital habitats around the world - from the Amazon to Alaska, and Scotland to Southeast Asia. We're also working to design and implement safer fishing gear and expand marine protected areas through our Important Marine Mammal Areas initiative. 

Both in the UK and internationally, we are partnering with governments, industries, and communities to reduce threats from fishing, development, and pollution - while growing a global movement of people taking action for whales and dolphins. 

We have big ambitions for the future, but economic challenges remain. After strong growth the previous year, overall income declined in 2023/24 - though our North American income rose. To meet future demands, we must diversify and grow our funding, particularly through partnerships with foundations, businesses, and the continued support of our incredible supporters. 

Despite the hurdles, WDC's expertise, relationships, and passion continue to grow. We remain committed to ensuring every donation has the greatest impact. I’m deeply grateful to our exceptional team and Board for their dedication and support. 

Together, we are building a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
7 ———_J<br>— ——<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## Dr. Lisa Drewe 

## Chair, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 

Page 2 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES 

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity and its subsidiaries for the year ended 30 September 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. 

The financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

The Trustees have considered a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements. Given the level of reserves, cash and bank balances and the current operating position of the charitable group, they consider that the accounts should be prepared on a going concern basis. 

## ABOUT WDC 

WDC is the leading global NGO dedicated to whales and dolphins. 

Our vision is a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. 

We bring together, and work hand-in-hand with, companies, philanthropists, scientists, NGOs, governments, and grassroots communities to find solutions to problems faced by whales and dolphins. 

Our expert-led teams in the UK, Europe, the Americas, and Australasia work across the globe to create change. 

We do this by: 

- e Protecting whales and dolphins: through conservation, research, and rescue, directly and in partnership with others. 

- e — Influencing decision-makers: providing a powerful voice for whales and dolphins among governments and businesses. 

- e Campaigning for support: delivering campaigns, education, science, and storytelling to inspire support and action. 

- e Including everyone: creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement of whale and dolphin champions. 

- e Increasing awareness and understanding of whale and dolphin culture and intelligence, and building greater appreciation of the role whales and dolphins play in healing the ocean and tackling climate change. 

We are entirely funded through voluntary donations and grants by people and partners who, like us, believe whales and dolphins are extraordinary. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## OUR OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES 

Our vision is: A world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. 

Why whales and dolphins matter: Whales and dolphins are awe-inspiring. They are intelligent beings, vital for the health of the ocean and planet. They have suffered from terrible harm — deliberate and accidental — and their homes and populations are under threat. But it's not too late. Together we can still help them recover and flourish and they can help us reconnect with and re-wild, the ocean. 

Why WDC? WDC is the leading global NGO dedicated to whales and dolphins. We are lean, ambitious, impactful, and internationally respected. We work with, and fund, change makers across the world, addressing multiple threats with a portfolio including research, advocacy, education and campaigning. We pride ourselves on working with a broad range of stakeholders and decision makers, taking an integrated and holistic approach to addressing threats. 

Our aims 

- e Stop cruelty from harms such as whaling and captivity; e Create safe seas, free from the threat of pollution, collisions with vessels and accidental entanglements in fishing gear; 

- e Champion why whales and dolphins matter: Create recognition of cetaceans as sentient, socially complex beings, and allies in the fight against climate and nature breakdown. 

## Our 10-year goals 

- e End commercial whaling. 

- e Reverse the growth in captive facilities worldwide. 

- e Achieve sustainable fishing solutions that reduce impacts on whales and dolphins internationally. e Secure a ban on gillnets in MPAs. 

- e Win meaningful protection of at least 30% of the ocean for whales and dolphins. 

- e Reduce the harmful impact of industrial ocean activities on whales and dolphins, including noise pollution, vessel strikes and damage to critical habitats. 

- e Achieve international recognition of the vital importance of whales and dolphins to life on Earth. 

- e Strengthen whales’ and dolphins’ legal protections globally through recognition of their rights. 

- e Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive global movement of people acting for whales and dolphins. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## ACHIEVEMENTS & FUTURE PLANS 

## 1 HUNTING AND CAPTIVITY 

## 1A. HUNTING 

As global opposition to whaling grows, WDC remains a trusted leader in driving change within whaling nations, including Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Japan. We are committed to reshaping how these nations perceive both whales and whaling. WDC focuses on fostering change from within, empowering local communities, political leaders and organisations to take ownership of the movement. Through our network of NGOs, local communities, political figures and public influencers, WDC is cultivating understanding of the vital role whales play in marine ecosystems and society and across these nations, we are witnessing a powerful groundswell of support. WDC is a leading force in the global movement for whale conservation, committed to fostering sustainable, homegrown solutions to end whaling. 

## What we achieved this year: 

Japan: Our in-depth poll on public attitudes towards whaling and whale meat consumption revealed a notable shift in public opinion, with growing concern over the ethical implications of whaling and an increasing majority of people opposing the practice. Building on this momentum, we have strengthened our partnerships with key Japanese NGOs, providing critical support for their advocacy efforts. Additionally, we have actively participated in demonstrations and other high-visibility activities to further engage the public and drive meaningful change in Japan’s approach to whaling. 

Norway: We launched a dedicated Norwegian-language website, and developed partnerships with key stakeholders in Norway, including animal welfare organisations, whale-watching companies, artists, and political leaders. Together, we are raising awareness of ethical, environmental, and health-related issues surrounding whaling through lobbying, public demonstrations, and targeted online and offline campaigns. Ina recent study, we purchased and analysed minke whale meat samples from several Norwegian stores. The results highlighted that consuming even small amounts of whale meat could exceed safe limits, with particular risks for children and adolescents. This research has been featured in prominent Norwegian newspapers as part of a broader public awareness campaign. These combined efforts culminated in a high-profile invitation to present at Norway's largest political conference, where we addressed decision-makers on the urgent need for policy reform. Combining partnerships, scientific evidence, and political engagement, we are reshaping public opinion, influencing policy, and reinforcing WDC’'s role as a leading advocate for ending whaling in Norway. 

Faroe Islands: We have built crucial partnerships with activists, businesses, and organisations. We are empowering grassroots organisations and local advocates to take ownership of the movement and drive change. These relationships are pivotal in shifting attitudes towards whaling and influencing policy, creating a ripple effect that will see growth in the movement against whaling. 

Iceland: We published and promoted an in-depth report to the Icelandic Fisheries Ministry, outlining the environmental, economic, and ethical implications of whaling. Our advocacy, as part of a coalition of NGOs, led to the UK Fisheries Minister writing to Iceland to condemn the renewal of whaling licences. In addition, through a joint outreach to the President of Iceland, several partner NGOs were invited to meet directly with the President. These interactions are reshaping the conversation in Iceland, fostering the momentum needed to end whaling. 

Whale meat consumption: We launched a campaign urging Michelin to end its endorsement of restaurants serving whale meat. This has evolved into a broader initiative, a growing movement to transform how we think about food sustainability and global food security. Whales and dolphins remain at the heart of this story. Their presence on fine dining menus was the trigger for this work and their role as sentient, vulnerable species continues to drive our ambition to influence culinary standards and protect ocean life. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

International Whaling Commission: WDC presented papers on both bycatch, and whales’ essential contribution to ecosystem functioning at IWC’s Scientific Committee. Our Scottish sinking groundlines project got a positive recommendation from the Committee to inspire replication and roll-out of this type of fishing gear to reduce entanglement of cetaceans. We fought hard to get a resolution tabled and passed, condemning the lack of cooperation by whaling nations and reminding them of their international legal obligations to do so. We also presented evidence from allies in Norway, which exposes poor welfare in whaling, gaining significant support with many countries raising concerns. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Expand our education and awareness campaign: We will amplify our public-facing campaign, building momentum and deepening engagement across platforms. Collaborating with key influencers we will shift public opinion on whaling and strengthen global support for whale protection. We aim to inspire a broader commitment to ending whaling, driving change in consumer behaviours, public attitudes, and political will. 

Strengthen partnerships in Norway and the Faroe Islands: We will enhance our on-the-ground advocacy, deepening relationships with political leaders, businesses, and organisations. We will work closely with our partners to foster political engagement, advance public education, and support targeted investigations that expose the realities of whaling. Our collaborative efforts will focus on reshaping public attitudes towards whaling and influencing policy decisions that prioritise cetacean welfare, laying the foundation for a long-term cultural shift against whaling in these regions. 

Engage Michelin on global food security and ethical sourcing: In collaboration with Michelin, we will launch an ambitious programme aimed at ensuring no vulnerable species, including cetaceans, are served in Michelin-starred restaurants. Our work with Michelin will include continued advocacy for stricter guidelines regarding whale meat, driving the restaurant industry towards more ethical sourcing practices. By partnering with other high-profile brands, we will foster a global movement against the promotion of whale meat, creating industry-wide change that positions ethical dining as the new standard. 

Advocate for a permanent ban on whaling in Iceland: Building on the momentum of our recent report and campaigns, we will intensify advocacy efforts. We will galvanise public and policymaker support through campaigns, political engagement, and media coverage. Working closely with local and international partners, we will push to reverse the decision to grant new whaling licences and ensure Iceland joins the global movement for sustainable and ethical treatment of whales. 

Launch a Japanese language website to raise awareness about the ethical and environmental issues surrounding whaling and cetacean conservation. 

Advocate for stronger protections for small cetaceans globally: Collaborating with international organisations and governments to push for stronger regulations and a coordinated response to small cetacean hunts. 

Convene an international group on welfare in whaling with a view to getting action at the International Whaling Commission on improving animal welfare. 

## 1B. Anti-Captivity 

WDC remains the global leader in the fight to end cetacean captivity, driving change through advocacy, cutting-edge research, and powerful partnerships. We challenge tourism companies, entertainment industries, and policymakers to halt the promotion and sale of tickets for captive facilities. By working with key stakeholders across sectors, we are creating a movement that addresses the emotional and physical suffering endured by whales and dolphins confined to tanks or sea pens. Over the past year, our efforts have been focused on amplifying this critical message, ensuring it reaches the wider public and creates lasting shifts in attitudes towards captivity. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## What we achieved this year: 

Public awareness campaigns: We launched a campaign to discourage British tourists from visiting dolphinaria, culminating in commitments from two of the UK’s largest tour operators, EasyJet and Jet2holidays, to cease selling and promoting tickets for marine parks that exploit cetaceans. By influencing these key travel providers, we have created a powerful ripple effect that is shifting consumer demand towards more ethical alternatives. 

Engagement with TUI: WDC attended TUI’s Annual General Meeting to engage directly with shareholders and raise awareness about the ethical issues surrounding dolphin shows. This intervention was designed to prompt a shift in perspective within TUI’s leadership, urging them to reconsider their support for captive cetacean attractions. By leveraging shareholder influence, we continue to apply pressure on the company to adopt more ethical travel practices, aligning their offerings with a global movement towards cruelty-free tourism. 

German coalition: We intensified advocacy in Germany through alliance with influential local organisations. Our joint efforts have applied significant pressure on the German government to follow European nations that are banning or phasing out cetacean captivity. These partnerships are crucial for positioning Germany as a leader in cetacean welfare and ensuring that Germany's policies reflect progressive, ethical standards. 

EU advocacy and political engagement: As part of the ‘Dolphinaria Free Europe’ coalition, WOC has engaged with the European Parliament to advocate for legislative reforms addressing cetacean captivity. Our efforts are laying the groundwork for stronger EU-wide policies that protect marine mammals from exploitation, and we continue to work closely with partners to shape the political landscape in favour of lasting change. 

Global captivity database: We laid the foundations for a global database that tracks the number, species, and locations of cetaceans held in captivity worldwide. This interactive tool will be the first of its kind. 

Investigation: Our team has been conducting extensive research in preparation for a report, set for release in 2025, that will expose the dark realities of the captivity industry. Through detailed investigations, we will reveal the practices behind captive breeding and live captures, providing the evidence needed to drive public awareness and advocate for stronger protections for cetaceans. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Continue to lead and expand our campaign in collaboration with fellow NGOs in Germany, pressuring the German government to join the growing list of European nations that are banning or phasing out cetacean captivity. 

Encourage TUI to finalise their welfare guidelines and ensure that the company fully removes dolphinarium visits from their holiday offerings. This effort will align TUI with industry leaders such as Virgin Holidays, Thomas Cook, and British Airways Holidays, who have already committed to ethical travel options, creating further pressure for change across the travel sector. 

Build on the success of our ‘Don’t Go To The Show’ campaign, by rolling out a multi-year strategy designed to shift public attitudes and consumer behaviour. Through compelling storytelling and powerful visual campaigns, we will continue to expose the cruelty behind dolphin shows and challenge the forces that perpetuate the captivity industry. 

Work to secure commitments from travel platforms, guides, and blogs to exclude captive cetacean experiences from their listings. By encouraging consumers to make more ethical travel choices, we will shift global demand towards cruelty-free tourism. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

Publish our report detailing the global scale of cetacean captivity, providing an in-depth exposé on the practice of wild captures, transfers, and captive breeding programmes, equipping advocates with the evidence to inform future campaigns and policy reforms. 

Contribute to the development and implementation of the Regulation of the Animals (Low Welfare Activities) Abroad Act. This landmark legislation will set a global precedent, restricting the promotion and support of captive attractions abroad and marking a significant step forward in the fight to end cetacean captivity. 

Document and raise awareness about the negative impacts of ‘swim-with’ dolphin attractions. Our detailed investigations will shine a light on the unethical nature of these experiences, raising awareness of the suffering caused to the dolphins involved and advocating for the closure of these harmful attractions. 

## 2 WHALES AND DOLPHINS MATTER 

Whales and dolphins are intelligent, socially complex and awe inspiring. They deserve to have their rights and intrinsic value recognised. 

And there are other reasons why they should be valued.; why we consider them the ‘green whale.’ They are our allies in tackling climate change and reversing biodiversity loss. Whales are essential components of a healthy and functioning marine ecosystem, that has been degraded with their absence. They circulate nutrients, transporting them from the deep and across ocean basins, they help the ocean to fix and store carbon, and sequester it into the deep sea when they die as ‘whale falls.’ This programme of work is backed by robust science and engaging education. 

2A. ‘Green Whale’ — ocean-based solutions to the climate and nature crises. 

## What we achieved this year: 

Research: Continued supporting our multi-expert authored paper on the Alaska Whale Pump project, establishing robust evidence of the impact humpback whales have on nutrient and carbon cycles. 

Policy: Worked alongside World Federation for Animals and governments to integrate the role of wild animals, including whales, into the UN Convention on Biological Diversity decision on climate and biodiversity at COP16 — the first time the ecological role of wild animals has been recognised by the UN body responsible for reversing global biodiversity loss. We helped to launch World Federation for Animals’ ‘Animals for Climate’ website at UNFCCC COP29- showing policymakers key steps to integrating animal protection into national climate strategies. We presented a paper on the latest scientific knowledge on cetacean ecosystem functioning at the International Whaling Commission's Scientific Committee and will continue to play a leading role in this work moving forward. 

Funding: We are working closely with a large-scale finance industry partner and philanthropists, seeking to fund, and - with a major broadcaster - film for broadcast, a groundbreaking project tracking a ‘Whale Fall’ (a whale carcass on the seabed) , over several years. This will help us more fully understand the contribution of whales to deep-sea biodiversity and carbon sequestration and provide a platform to broadcast the whales’ ecosystem-level importance to a global audience. (Note: Some details are subject to non-disclosure at this time). 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Continue to seek financial support for our cutting-edge research projects to advance scientific understanding of whales’ ecosystem roles. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

Continue to gather the latest scientific information and studies on this topic, with a view to presenting evidence at the International Whaling Commission; continuing to push for an end to whaling for ecological, as well as welfare and conservation considerations. 

Support the publication of Dr Joe Roman’s research on the Great Whale Conveyor Belt, in Nature Communications. This research, substantively funded by WDC, contains strong evidence of whales’ role in distributing nutrients vital to ocean health, across vast distances. 

Continue to work with the World Federation for Animals Working Group on UNFCCC to further integrate climate impacts on animals, animal welfare and the role of animals in ecosystems into the UNFCCC process. 

## 2B. Culture and rights 

## What we achieved this year: 

Developed an interactive cetacean and primate culture story map, showcasing the diversity and richness of animal cultures. The map will be launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress to stimulate thought among conservation practitioners and members of the public to show how species other than ourselves, have specific ways of doing things and garner support for efforts to protect not just populations and gene pools, but also these unique and fascinating animal cultures. 

Co-hosted a joint CMS (Convention in Migratory Species) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) event, at CMS Conference of the Parties, producing material for delegates, including a CMS factsheet on animal culture and garnering support for wider work on culture from countries attending, to work to identify animal cultures in the wild and explore what these mean for the protection of species, populations, ‘cultural units’ and individual whales and dolphins. Co-edited a multi-authored special issue on ‘Animal Culture in a Changing World’, making strong, evidence-based arguments for culture being integrated into conservation and providing an overview of this ground- breaking and emerging field. WDC is at the forefront of both developing and promoting the argument for whales’ and dolphins’ interests through protection of their ‘cultures.’ For example; the devastating impact that losing even a few individuals can have on a group or population's chances of survival and/or recovery if they are knowledge holders. 

Worked with indigenous groups across the Pacific region co-hosting a workshop at University of Auckland University, with UNESCO-NZ and IUCN CEESP to bring forward diverse human perspectives on whale and dolphin cultures, rights and human-animal kinship. 

Continued to advocate for whale and dolphin cultures across a range of forums, including the development of this work under IUCN and World Heritage. 

Represented cetacean welfare and interests via the Society of Marine Mammalogy, contributing to an ethics ‘reset’ at this ground-breaking conference showcasing the relevance of culture to marine mammal conservation. 

Worked with the Wampanoag Tribes in the Northeast US, providing opportunities for ceremonies honouring the passing of large whales through our Marine Animal Rescue and Response programme; helping to publicize whales cultural value in human societies. 

In 2024/25 we shall: 

Co-lead the development of an IUCN (World Conservation Union) Task Force on Animal Culture to be established at the IUCN World Congress in Abu Dhabi, October 2025. 

Publish a cutting-edge special issue on animal culture and conservation in the prestigious Royal Society journal Philosophical Transactions B, containing 19 seminal articles that will guide the direction of 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

this field over coming decades. We will disseminate these articles across the daughter agreements and MoUs of the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species to spread the net wider on the relevance of culture to conservation. 

Co-lead a workshop at the European Cetacean Society to pilot delivery of the work on animal culture across CMS daughter agreements. 

Advocate for protection of cetacean culture across forums, including through the IUCN, CITES, IWC, SPREP and CMS. 

Co-lead side-events at the World Conservation Congress on animal culture and human-animal kinship, including launching the culture mapping tool. 

Work through the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee and IUCN to challenge the use of specific terms in conservation language. 

Develop a multi-authored veterinary volume on animal welfare and sociality, featuring the impact of cultural transmission on wider cetacean welfare. 

Continue to collaborate with Tribes in North America, creating communication protocols on how we talk about whales with respect to Tribal relationships with marine mammals including the recognition by some Tribes of whales as family members. 

## 2C. Citizen science 

Enabling citizen science with funding from Aberbrothock Skea Trust, Alpkit Foundation, D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Jingle Jam, Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund and SeaChangers, 

## What we achieved this year: 

Training, supporting and engaging with community scientists to monitor whales and dolphins from around the coast 

- e Established the Shorewatch programme in Scotland’s Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland) with support from the NLHF 

- e 246 volunteers contributed 7,000 hours of time, undertaking over 13,500 dedicated watches, to collect data on the presence and distribution of whales and dolphins from 59 sites around Scotland 

- e In April 2024, we reached 100,000 efforts (10-minute-long watches) and saw our volunteers clock up 1 million minutes looking for and recording the presence of whales, dolphins and porpoises. 

Increased engagement with people across Scotland, particularly focusing on reaching young people, addressing barriers to involvement, and growing the number who appreciate, and advocate for whales and dolphins 

- e Trained 145 new Shorewatch volunteers (including 52 young people) e Connected with over 9,000 members of the public during Shorewatches 

- e Focused efforts on removing barriers to accessing conservation and research opportunities (with twoyear funding from SeaChangers). We travelled to three universities with Hope, our inflatable humpback, and engaged with over 500 young people at events. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## Championed citizen science, and highlighted its importance and contribution to conservation 

- e Delivery of the latest findings from the programme through a new report: Patterns and trends in cetacean occurrence along the Scottish Coast: Insights from the WDC Shorewatch Programme; for example NatureScot using data for monitoring species within MPAs; 

- e Apaper in the prestigious Frontiers in Conservation Science on the usefulness of community science photo-identification contributions to efforts to understand the distribution and populations of Risso's dolphins in northern Scotland; 

- e Presented the results of our successful Winter Watch Challenge at the European Cetacean Society Conference, showing how targeted support from WDC's team on the ground can boost data collection at data deficient times and locations (Scotland in mid-winter); 

- e SW team coordinated WDC data and inputs, collaborating on the case towards successful designation of three Important Marine Mammal Areas in Scotland (in addition to the two further IMMAs in western Scotland and one in Wales which were also created). 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Continue Shorewatch presence, data collection and monitoring of whales and dolphins in key areas and increase engagement with young people in Scotland; 

Analyse WDC data and trends on presence and distribution of whales and dolphins to inform lobbying and policy decisions and raise public awareness of the growing threat of human activities on whales and dolphins; for example, scoping and impact assessments for new developments, and to feed into consultation responses and collaborative campaigns; 

Contribute to and advise on plans to improve monitoring of highly mobile species; (working with partners such as Nature Scot) 

Demonstrate the value of land-based monitoring of whales and dolphins. 

2D. Education and learning 

What we achieved this year: 

Increased the number of people that engage in a WDC education programme via talks and workshops in schools and communities: total 90. 

Expanded our lesson plan series and online education resources, via our website and the TES teachers’ platform TES. Teachers are downloading packs on average 65 times per month. 

Produced activity pack for schools and clubs: ‘Climate Giants,’ spreading the word about whales’ vital role in ocean and climate conservation. 

Built on, and improved our ‘KidZone,’ web pages, to inspire the next generation of conservationists and launched a new German language website for children. 

Promoted river dolphin conservation action in Amazon communities to reduce dolphin deaths from hunting, bycatch, habitat destruction and pollution. Working with communities to foster positive attitudes towards river dolphins and better understanding of their vital role in healthy river ecosystems. 

In North America: Reached over 10,000 students and more than 350 teachers through our education program. A formal evaluation of the WDC curriculum determined that most students increased interest in science and were more curious about pursuing a future career in science as a result, and brought experiential programmes to under-resourced communities, engaging students in whale identification and naming of humpbacks. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

In 2024/25 we shall: 

Expand our community conservation education programmes in the Amazon regions of Peru, Colombia and Bolivia, including training and support for additional educators. We will visit more schools and river communities, increasing understanding of local river dolphins and habitat and engaging local people in protection to eliminate hunting in some communities and reduce in others, for example by correcting misunderstandings about fish dolphins eat, persuading fishers to consider dolphins when setting nets, discouraging illegal gold mining and deforestation and encouraging replanting of flooded forest native trees and plants. 

Set up an education project with an NGO in Bangladesh, helping to address threats to endangered river dolphins. 

Work in partnership with a multi-media company to producea digital education resource about dolphin conservation which will be available online (free) for children and young people globally. 

Develop more resources and increase visits, for schools and groups for children and young people in the UK. 

Support a family theatre show project featuring issues impacting whales and dolphins. 

Develop a partnership with Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) to increase WDC engagement with secondary school pupils. 

In North America: pilot a high school STEM programme using an interactive video game WDC and ondemand fishing gear to provide students with real life solutions to human-wildlife conflict issues, and train high school teachers and educators to provide meaningful watershed educational experiences to increase students’ understanding of their local watershed and their impacts on it. 

## 3 CREATE SAFE SEAS 

Without safe seas, whales and dolphins cannot thrive, and WDC is committed to tackling the worst impacts of threats from bycatch and pollution to the impact of offshore industries. By advocating for better management and mitigation of damaging activities, WDC is determined to-secure stronger ocean protection so threatened populations and species can recover and thrive. 

3A. End bycatch 

## What we achieved this year: 

Conducted on-the-water research in Scotland to trial sinking lines for creel fisheries, aiming to reduce entanglement risk. 

Published findings and presented recommendations to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, who support further trials and rollout in Scotland of sinking line in creel fisheries. Kickstarted data collection for an updated estimate of global cetacean bycatch (with Duke University, USA). 

Coordinated NGO engagement with the UK government on bycatch mitigation, via Wildlife LINK. Launched a research project to identify barriers for fishers transitioning to lower-impact alternative gear types, in Southeast England. 

Lobbied the UK government to improve bycatch mitigation efforts and better regulate fisheries activities in MPAs. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

Successfully required a previously overlooked seasonal right whale habitat to be incorporated into the existing Massachusetts Bay Restricted Area which annually limits the use of static vertical lines between February and April. 

In 2024/25 we shall: 

Publish our alternative-gear questionnaire findings, and lobby the UK government to address barriers and support the transition to lower-impact gear types, to reduce the numbers of whales and dolphins dying in nets. 

Support trials in Sri Lanka, to develop solutions to address bycatch, investigating novel, low-cost gear modifications. 

Use findings and data on global cetacean bycatch to explore options for updating the global estimate. 

Engage with and lobby the UK government to enhance bycatch mitigation efforts and improve the regulation of fishing in MPAs. 

Publish findings on the first four years of working with fishers off North America NE coast to trial ondemand fishing gear, that reduces the risk of whale/gear interaction. 

Propose modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce large whale entanglements. 

3B. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and safe seas 

## What we achieved this year: 

Announced 33 new IMMAS (Important Marine Mammal Areas) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea and obtained funding to expand the monitoring and implementation programme to two more IMMAs. Recognition of these IMMAs is essential to both creating, and making effective, MPAs. 

Brought together 57 regional scientists for an IMMA identification workshop for the western North Atlantic and Wider Caribbean and prepared the resulting 46 candidate IMMAs for peer review. 

Received results from WDC-funded one-year IMMA monitoring and implementation in in Peru, Kenya and Malaysia and arranged webinar and meetings with the scientists engaged in IMMA work in these areas. 

Forged an agreement with Global Fishing Watch making it possible to monitor present and past fishing activity in and around the 280 IMMAs around the world. 

Publicized ‘IMMAs in Danger’ with the spotlight on three threatened subspecies of dolphins and the harbour porpoise in several IMMAs in the war zone in the Black Sea as well as the vaquita in the northern Gulf of California. 

Published a report on the management effectiveness of the 11 UK cetacean MPAs and met with key government officials and MPA managers to discuss ways to improve management of the most damaging activities. 

Input into briefings and government consultations related to marine protection and management, including the design of UK regional marine plans, and consultations on MPAs, calling for robust management of activities within MPAs. 

Supported campaigns for better management of MPAs outside the UK: such as the Great Blue Ocean campaign to strengthen protections in the Southern Ocean's South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands MPA (SGSS)}). 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION 

## (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Announce 40+ new IMMAs in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Wider Caribbean. 

Prepare a summary report of five IMMA monitoring and implementation efforts with what was learned and how we go forward to expand the programme; obtaining funding for at least two more IMMA monitoring and implementation effort. 

Expand the concept of migratory IMMAs (IMMAs that show large whale migrations) including a method for displaying them on the map — this is key for preventing ship strikes as we are gaining much more awareness from shipping companies who use IMMA maps to slow down or avoid seasonal migrations of large whales. 

Organize IMMA workshops (2025-26) in the Southeast Atlantic region (West Africa) and the Northeast Pacific (western Canada, SE Alaska, US west coast and Hawaii). Each workshop would have around 50 scientists and result in a further 30-40 IMMAs. 

Work with shipbuilding, yachting and shipping industries to expand awareness and use of IMMAs, and more broadly respect for whale and other marine mammal habitats. 

## Lobby the UK government for effective regulations of damaging activities in UK MPAs. 

Lobby the UK government to review management of UK MPAs, to support biodiversity recovery and responsible use of marine resource. 

Engage with MPA managers on the back of our UK cetacean MPA report, to implement recommendations and improve management and monitoring. 

3C. Disturbance: human activity displacing, harming or killing whales and dolphins 

What we achieved this year: 

Trained 157 of our Shorewatch volunteers, to record incidents of disturbance. 

Raised awareness of disturbance amongst the public, Shorewatch volunteers and Scottish parliamentarians via events, media interviews, blogs, and water sports magazine articles. 

Delivered webinars on best practice when encountering cetaceans to watersports membership bodies, including Paddle UK members and Canoe Scotland. 

Provided guidance and flyers to instructors and members of the British Stand Up Paddleboard Association. 

Set up 12 partnerships with water users, such as Paddle UK, Canoe Scotland, BSUPA local tour operators, local kayak rentals, SUP influencers and manufacturers of watercraft to distribute WDC’s advice leaflet and stickers. 3000 stickers and leaflets have been distributed. 

Engaged with the UK government, wildlife crime officers, and initiatives such as Marine PAW and Operation Seabird to promote best practices for responsible behaviour when encountering whales and dolphins and advocated for policy change. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Engage with the UK government, wildlife crime officers, and initiatives such as Marine PAW and Operation Seabird to promote best practices for responsible behaviour when encountering whales and dolphins and advocate for policy changes. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

Collect further information on disturbance of whales and dolphins in Scotland and liaise with Police and local wildlife crime officers to focus efforts on preventing and reducing harassment and disturbance. 

Disseminate best-practice advice on responsible behaviour via outdoor equipment suppliers, paddle sports membership bodies, activity centres, regulatory authorities, and public outreach. 

## Strengthen relationships with policymakers and wildlife crime officials. 

Contribute to the development of a national web platform for logging wildlife disturbance reports around England and Wales. 

## 3D. Offshore developments 

Anthropogenic pressures are increasing in the marine environment from the rapid expansion of offshore industries, including renewable energy and oil and gas developments and shipping. Noise generated by offshore industries can cause hearing damage, disturbance, displacement from important habitats and masking of cetacean communication signals. 

## What we achieved this year: 

Lobbied the UK government to implement policy changes for offshore developments (e.g. offshore wind farms) to reduce impacts on whales and dolphins, (e.g. calling for mandatory noise limits). 

Engaged with offshore developments to promote best practices during construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. 

Conducted research on novel technologies, such as floating offshore wind, to inform developments and policy. 

Worked with other NGOs to promote messaging on phasing out offshore fossil fuels, avoiding developments in MPAs, and lower-impact rollout of offshore renewable developments. 

As part of Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling, supported efforts to phase out oil and gas licensing in UK waters. 

As part of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, contributed to international advocacy for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining. 

In 2024/25 we shall: 

Lobby the UK government to reduce the impact of offshore developments on whales and dolphins through use of noise reduction technologies and mandatory noise limits. 

Establish best practice with developers including providing advice on noise and cetacean monitoring and advocating for quieter installation methods for offshore wind farms. 

Push decision makers to phase out offshore fossil fuels, avoid developments in MPAs, and create lowerimpact renewable energy solutions. 

Publish an updated Oceans of Noise report, outlining the impacts of underwater noise (e.g. shipping, military sonar, offshore developments), assessing mitigation options and providing recommendations for key stakeholders. 

Engage with international working groups to address impacts of offshore development on cetaceans, such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) Energy Task Force. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 3E. Pollution 

‘Ghost’ gear (abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear) presents a direct threat to wildlife by continuing to catch and trap wildlife and causes death or injury through ingestion or entanglement. WDC is addressing the issue, participating in initiatives to ID, track, recover and reduce fishing gear that is no longer in use. 

## What we achieved this year: 

Published our ‘Tackling ghost gear’ report looking at existing options for ports, harbours and fishers to dispose of ghost gear and end-of-life fishing gear and making recommendations to government and stakeholder authorities. 

Worked with the International Whaling Commission group, focussed on Marine Debris, to research the origin and pathways of ghost gear. 

Advocated for WDC’s recommendations at the Labour Party Conference, highlighting our priorities and proposed solutions to the ghost gear problem. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Work as part of the Advisory and Innovation boards of NETTAG+, an EU funded project, bringing scientists, NGOs and industry together to work on tagging gear, so it can be found, recovered and disposed of. 

Lobby UK national and devolved governments to implement a free disposal system for fishing gear at UK ports and harbours. 

Lobby the governments of the UK to implement zonal gear planning for fisheries as part of their National Marine Plans, to reduce ghost gear pollution. 

Advocate for more UK ports and harbours to join Fishing For Litter, an international scheme providing fishers with bags to collect marine debris gathered in fishing gear during fishing operations and disposal options in harbours; providing fishing communities with the means to clean the ocean. 

Financially support Ghost Fishing UK who train divers to find and retrieve lost or abandoned gear. 

## 3F. Species recovery 

Harbour porpoise — Baltic Sea 

## What we achieved this year: 

A temporary ban of gillnets in German MPAs was continued thanks to efforts from WDC and partner NGOs. We presented our harbour porpoise work at the largest yacht and water sports trade fair, the BOOT in Dusseldorf with life-size porpoise exhibits and talks in the ‘Love Your Ocean’ exhibition area. And we created a dedicated website area on WDC's harbour porpoise protection work. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

WDC will work to ensure that the new government in Germany commits to and consistently implements appropriate measures. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## Orcas — Oregon coast 

What we achieved this year: 

Successfully petitioned the state of Oregon which now lists Southern Resident Orcas on its Oregon Endangered Species List. 

## In 2024/25 we shall: 

Look for further dam removals in the Pacific Northwest to help maintain healthy orca populations. 

## North Atlantic Right Whales 

## What we achieved this year: 

Provided staff support to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s photogrammetry research on living endangered North Atlantic right whales. 

Responded to 69 cases of stranding marine mammals including six large whales. Data was submitted to NOAAs National Stranding Database. 

In 2024/25 we shall: 

Provide staff support to research conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Blue World Research Institute focusing on endangered North Atlantic right whales. 

Expand our Marine Animal Rescue and Response Program stranding response area by an additional 15%. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 

The charity is an incorporated legal entity limited by guarantee, the business of which is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 17 November 2008. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. As of 30 September 2023, there were eight trustees on the board. 

## Appointment of trustees 

Trustees are appointed by the board of trustees by a majority vote on a skills basis. Trustees serve for a three-year period and may then be re-elected. 

## Trustee induction 

New trustees receive information on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the strategic plan and recent performance of WDC. They meet key employees and other trustees. 

## Organisation 

The trustees meet four times a year to review the strategy and performance of WDC and to approve operating plans and budgets. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive and senior management have delegated authority, approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and policy activities. The trustees approve such strategies and monitor and evaluate their implementation on a regular basis. 

## Governance code 

The trustees are mindful of the principles and recommended practice set out in the Charity Governance Code and believe the charity applies the principles, as evidenced in this annual report, of organisational purpose, leadership, integrity, decision making, risk and control, board effectiveness, diversity, openness and accountability. 

## Related parties 

The charity has three subsidiaries. The trading subsidiary, WDC (Trading) Ltd., raises income through merchandise, running a café, licensing and lotteries. It Gift Aids any taxable profits to the charity. WDC Germany GmbH, a charitable company under German regulations, was founded to expand awareness of WDC's work within Germany and German speaking EU countries. Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Inc., a charitable company under United States regulations, is an organisation with similar aims and objectives as WDC. The US charity has developed a programme of policy work to enhance international and national efforts of the charity. 

The charity also financially supports the connected charity WDC Australasia, which was established in October 2003. As well as funding the set up period of this organisation, which has similar aims and objectives to the UK based charity, WDC provides management advice as and when required by WDC Australasia. WDC Australasia continues to assist in the delivery of WDC policy work, both within Australia and New Zealand and internationally. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## Risk management 

The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that: 

- e The charity is operating efficiently and effectively; e Its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition; 

- e Proper records are maintained, and financial information used within the charity or for publication is reliable; 

- e The charity complies with relevant laws and regulations 

The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include: 

- e Asstrategic plan and an annual budget approved by the trustees; 

- e Regular consideration by the trustees of financial results, variance from budgets and non-financial performance indicators; 

- e Delegation of authority and segregation of duties; 

- e Identification and management of risks. 

The trustees have reviewed the formal risk management process introduced by the Chief Executive. This process is linked to the strategic plan and reviewed in line with annual planning processes. Systems have been developed to monitor and control these risks: 

- e Identifying the types of risk WDC faces; e Prioritising them in terms of potential impact and likelihood; e Identifying means of mitigating the risks. 

These risks and controls are reviewed by the trustees on a regular basis. 

The four main risks identified as part of the risk management process and the actions we are using to address these risks are: 

1. Current economic climate. We are continually assessing the impact of the cost of living crisis on our supporters and funders in line with risk three below. We are also continuing with hybrid working to assist staff with the cost of commuting. 

2. Government Policy. We are still in a period of uncertainty following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The major risk is that uncertainty has a negative impact on consumer behaviour. We are also concerned to ensure that the strict level of protection afforded to cetaceans in current EU law is carried over into UK law and is not diluted under pressure from other countries to create favourable trade deals. WDC is working with a coalition of UK NGOs to represent its views to government and the EU. We remain receptive to supporters’ views on these issues and continue to keep them informed of our activities through publications and websites and then communicate our collective views to government and agencies. 

3. Reliance on established income streams: Income from individual giving has stabilised during the period and remains a significant proportion of our income. Whilst we have grown our income from corporate partners, we shall continue to seek to diversify our individual giving to ensure growth but also reduce risk of reliance on one income stream. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

4. Ability to keep up to date with supporter segmentation and the impact of technological advances which are vital in order to communicate with our supporters and other stakeholders. We recognise that communication via the web and social media is of the utmost importance and are currently updating our website to be able to maximise our ability to use the internet in an efficient and effective way. We have an IT service group that regularly meets to review support and we have hired new staff with specialist e-media experience. We shall continue to be outwardly facing with regard to changes in technology to ensure that WDC is able to maximise our ability to communicate with stakeholders. 

## Key management pay 

The pay of key staff is reviewed annually and normally increased in line with any pay increase given throughout the organisation. WDC salary bands are reviewed against independent benchmarking surveys at least once in a two-year period. The market data considers charity pay in organisations of our size (income and staff), charity area and location. WDC considers its key management personnel to be the Trustees and the members of the UK senior management team. Trustees are unpaid. Senior management team salary, except for that of the Chief Executive, is set by the Chief Executive and approved by the Trustees. The Chief Executive's pay is set by the Trustees. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## FUNDRAISING PRACTICES 

After a 29% growth in income in the 2022/23, income levels fell back, though overall income was still significantly in excess of 2021/22. In 2023/24 WDC spent £1,231,064 on fundraising and raised £ 4,027,287, a ratio of 3:1. 

WDC's income continues to grow, on average, year-on-year. As we diversify income generation, the accounts reflect a broader range of income sources. These include grants and donations from partnerships, events and legacies. This strategy aims not only for growth, but a greater percentage of income being spent on achieving our goals. 

WDC is acutely aware of increasing uncertainty in the economic environment and the ongoing impact of cost of living rises. Nonetheless, we continue to plan for growth and have invested in fundraising and anew CRM. We are particularly looking for growth in large-scale, longer-term funding, to improve both profitability/ROI and negate over- reliance on individual giving programmes such as our adoption programme. 

In this way, we plan to deliver more funds to vital conservation work, advocacy, programmes, projects, and campaigns at a time when whales and dolphins need our supporter’s help more than ever before. 

## Individual Giving 

2024 showed a small decline in this area of income, but our adoption programme and one-off donations from supporters remain a cornerstone for WDC, representing 49% of our income. We are also pleased to welcome many new supporters as the WDC Weekly Lottery was launched and has proved to be hugely popular. Our retention rate remains extremely high at 83.3%, compared with charity industry standard, and we are grateful to supporters for their generosity and continued loyalty. 

## Partnerships 

We continue to implement our strategy to increase income from companies and partnerships, and see this as a growing and vital part of our portfolio. It not only raises income but helps us spread awareness of our cause to brands’ customers, and affects positive moves towards sustainability and the valuing of nature in the corporate sector. 

Over the year, we worked with a wide range of highly supportive partners across many sectors, including long term partners such as Animal Friends, Brita and Deloitte. Once again, we worked very closely with the video games industry, which has raised over £531,000 for whales and dolphins in 2024. We launched three new partnerships with games such as Selfloss by Maximum Entertainment, Creatures of Ava by 11bit Studios and Set Sail! Arena by Dragon Scale Studio, as well as a dedicated Humble Bundle promotion all donating a percentage of net revenue to WDC's conservation efforts. 

We hosted our third annual World Ocean Day Steam Sale in June 2024, bringing together 30 streamers and content creators as well as over 50 games publishers and developers to raise funds and awareness for WDC's Safe Seas programme highlighting the issues of bycatch and entanglement. The World Ocean Day . event raised over £122,000 and helped to fund a new project in Sri Lanka collaborating with local fishing communities to adapt their gear to be less harmful to marine life. 

October 2024 saw the launch of WDC'’s first Halloween streaming event called Orcatober. Highlighting the horrors of whale and dolphin captivity this inaugural event brought together streamers and make-up artists across the globe to play horror games and make terrifying make-up looks, raising £5,000 towards our ongoing work to end captivity. 

For the 9th consecutive year, we were incredibly grateful to be a beneficiary of the Jingle Jam annual fundraising event, which raised an exceptional £330,000 for WDC, funding our work to protect whales and dolphins including our entire education programme. This includes delivering educational experiences for children and communities in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru to educate, inspire and motivate young people to 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

protect and save the river dolphins and their river homes. Jingle Jam funds have also enabled WDC to create an interactive multimedia digital learning resource called WDC Dolphin Defenders. It will be free to use and accessible to children aged 10-16 worldwide. 

In total Jingle Jam has raised over £2.5 million for WDC over the past nine years. 

## Philanthropy 

WDC receives generous support from individual donors and charitable trusts and foundations, usually towards specific programmes. In 2023-24 we saw significant growth in our trust and grant income (from £361K in 22-23 to £419K in 2023-24). 

This support allows us to carry out work that we would not otherwise undertake. 

We are extremely grateful to Focused on Nature for their generous support of our core work with whales and dolphins. 

Thanks to funding from the Arcus Foundation, we were able to complete our project to create an open access interactive online ‘story map’ for exploring everything that is known about whale and dolphin culture. 

We successfully completed our project with creel fishers in western Scotland, with support from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot, to test whale-friendly approaches to prawn and crab fishing. 

With support from NatureScot we concluded our research into the presence of Risso’s dolphins in Scotland's northern Minch to inform future management of the North East Lewis MPA. 

With continued support from RS Macdonald Charitable Trust we concluded our research into the presence of Risso’s dolphins off the Isle of Lewis with a view to informing appropriate management of the North East Lewis Marine Protected Area. 

With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we continued involving remote communities in Orkney and Shetland in our citizen science Shorewatch cetacean monitoring project. 

With funding from the Scottish Marine Environment Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) we were able to purchase essential equipment to support Shorewatch volunteers to collect citizen science sightings data. 

This year with support from the Global Returns Project we were able to put eight8 IMMA monitoring agreements in place off the coasts of Brazil, Oman, Peru, Malaysia and Kenya. 

With support from the Flotilla Foundation we continued to advocate for the protection of whale and dolphin species at international fora such as the International Whaling Commission, the UNFCCC, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UK’s Marine Management Organisation. 

With support from the following funders, we were able to expand our Blue Youth project to engage more young people from disadvantaged areas across Scotland in marine conservation and remove barriers they face in accessing volunteering opportunities: Sea-Changers, The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation and Alpkit Foundation. 

## Legacies 

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge those who generously remember WDC in their Will. WDC received £556,530.13 in legacies during 2023-24 and we continue to be incredibly moved and grateful to the dedicated people who support the protection of whales and dolphins in this way. As well as the many gifts we've received already, we've been approached by many more people wanting to include a gift in their Will for the future. Thank you so much. 

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WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## Regulation 

WDC is signed up to the Fundraising Regulator, which oversees fundraising activity in the UK, and is fully compliant with its regulations. 

We fully comply with GDPR regulations, and all new activities are checked against these. In practice WDC has asked supporters for opt-in consent to all our channels since 2015 and has never shared data with other organisations. 

WDC works closely with a small number of carefully selected specialised fundraising agencies and companies to help us deliver our fundraising activity. We operate to the highest ethical standards in all our fundraising activity and only work with external suppliers who match our standards. To ensure that our fundraising activity is fully compliant. We are regulated by The Gambling Commission for our annual raffle and weekly lottery. Our TV ads are cleared through Clearcast, the Advertising Standards Agency regulates our press advertising and the Payroll Giving agencies we use comply with their regulatory authority. 

With all our activity, supporters are given an option to opt out or unsubscribe from future communication and we always act upon and respect these requests. We have a vulnerable person policy, which includes escalation guidance, and public facing staff are aware and know when to escalate. 

Lastly, we have a Supporters Charter which details our commitment to our supporters. 

WDC only exists thanks to the support of amazing individuals and organisations, we never take this support for granted, and are committed to acting with the utmost professionalism and respect in all aspects of our work. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## FINANCIAL REVIEW 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Total income for the year ending 30 September 2024 was £5,332,082, (2023: £5,941,529). Legacy income<br>was down £115k compared to the same period last year, regular giving and adoptions also declined slightly.<br>There was also a decline in Partnership income in the year but the overall trend is up. Income from Trusts<br>and Grants saw an increase of 20% over the previous year. Trading activities also increased by 36%<br>Where our income came from:<br>< a |<br>LEN we 13% ra @ Donations [&] [Similar] [income]<br>emery 1% ES<br>ASFA clei aeoe INS m Legacies i<br>eoMES Schaapeen SLY aeetc SteeOna © Merchandise, Raffle, and magazine<br>Yo income<br>13% 63% ® Royalty and similar income<br>yy = Regular giving and adoption<br>yo programmes<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Where our income came from: 

Charitable expenditure in the year amounted to £6,464,495 (2023: £5,751,659). 

The cost of raising funds has increased slightly from £1,370.820 to £1,390,339. There has been a conscious decision to invest in fundraising, both in staffing and the implementation of a new CRM that will offer a great deal more functionality than our current database. Expenditure on charitable activities increased by £694k to £5,074,156. 

The overall result was a net deficit of £1,127,497 (2023: £223,387) leaving reserves of £2,002,401 for the group. Restricted funds are £317,525 and unrestricted £1,684,876. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## Where the money is spent: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
|<br>19% |<br>ul m Conservation & campaigns |<br>@ Merchandise, raffle & magazine<br>bs12% gy [ee] m Supportcosts Activities<br>|<br>ay<br>f Ee 67% @ Fundraising costs<br>a |<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## Performance of Subsidiaries 

The US subsidiary is showing net deficit of £14,902 in the year and net assets of £441,995. 

The German subsidiary had net deficit of £52,857, and net assets of £458,769. 

The Trading company had a profitable year with a net surplus oof £68,270. 

## Reserves Policy 

WDC hasa policy of holding sufficient financial reserves to fund current and future activities. Reserves are held to cover for cash flow fluctuations, to provide for unforeseen costs, to provide for a buffer against a fall in income and to enable it to take advantage of unforeseen opportunities. WDC’'s objective is to maintain an appropriate level of reserves to keep pace with the development of the organisation, with regular reviews being performed of both the reserves policy itself and the level of reserves held. 

As a result of the most recent review, the trustees have determined that the reserve level which will meet the above objectives is £1,100,000 in unrestricted funds. 

Planned investment during the year has resulted in a drop of reserves to below the required level. The budgets over the next 3 year will be set to allow unrestricted reserves to reach the required level. 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES 

The trustees (who are also directors of Whale and Dolphin Conservation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and charity and the income and expenditure of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- e select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- e make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- e state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

- e prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the charity's constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware: 

- e there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware; and e the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. 

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

## Auditor 

A resolution to appointment Bishop Fleming LLP as auditor of the charity was proposed and agreed. By order of the trustees. 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
fEE<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## Dr. Lisa Drewe 

## Chairman 

Date: 23%June 2025 

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## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION 

## OPINION 

We have audited the financial statements of Whale and Dolphin Conservation (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group') for the year ended 30 September 2024 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated Balance Sheet, the Charity Balance Sheet, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

## In our opinion the financial statements: 

- ° give a true and fair view of the state of the Group's and of the parent charitable company's affairs as at 30 September 2024 and of the Group's incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended; 

- e have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- e have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

## BASIS FOR OPINION 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's or the parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## OTHER INFORMATION 

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors’ Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Page 27 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (CONTINUED) 

## OPINION ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 2006 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

- ° the information given in the Trustees’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements. 

- ° the Trustees’ Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

## MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ON BY EXCEPTION 

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- ° the parent charitable company has not kept adequate and sufficient accounting records, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- e the parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- e certain disclosures of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or e we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES 

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Group's and the parent charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Page 28 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (CONTINUED) 

## AUDITORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors’ Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

- e We have considered the nature of the sector, contro! environment, and financial performance of the entity; e We have considered the results of enquiries with management and Directors in relation to their own identification and assessment of the risk of irregularities within the entity; and 

- e We have reviewed the documentation of key processes and controls and performed walkthroughs of transactions to confirm that the systems are operating in line with documentation. 

As a result of these procedures, we have considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the highest area of risk to be in relation to revenue recognition, with a particular risk in relation to year end cut off. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK) we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. 

We have also obtained understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and FRS 102 and UK tax legislation. In addition, we considered the provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the company's ability to operate or avoid a material penalty. 

Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following: 

- e Reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements; 

- e Performing analytical procedures to identify unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; 

- e Reviewing board meeting minutes; 

- e Enquiring of management in relation to actual and potential claims or litigations; 

- e Performing detailed transactional testing in relation to the recognition of revenue, specifically grants, with a particular focus around year end cut off; and 

- e In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgments made in accounting estimates are indicative of potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business. 

We also communicated identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all members of the engagement team and remained alert to possible indicators of fraud or non compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. 

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from an error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentation or through collusion. These are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the Page 29 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (CONTINUED) 

further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likley we would become aware of it. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors’ Report. 

## USE OF OUR REPORT 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors’ Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. at David(pow)Butler FCA DChA4(Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Bishop Fleming LLP 

Chartered Accountants 

Statutory Auditors 10 Temple Back Bristol BS1 6FL ee Date: LY Jue Zo Li 

Page 30 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|funds|funds|funds|funds|
|2024|2024|2024|2023|
|Note|£|£|£|£|
|INCOME|FROM:|
|Donations|and|legacies|4|3,160,863|795,181|3,956,044|4,742,161|
|Charitable|activities|5|689,141|.|689,141|720,067|
|Trading|activities|6|622,622|-|622,622|450,033|
|Investments|7|64,275|-|64,275|29,268|
|TOTAL|INCOME|4,536,901|795,181|5,332,082|5,941,529|
|EXPENDITURE|ON:|
|Raising|funds|8|1,390,339|-|1,390,339|1,370,820|
|Charitable|activities|9|4,213,727|860,429|5,074,156|4,380,839|
|TOTAL|EXPENDITURE|5,604,066|860,429|6,464,495|5,751,659|
|NET|(EXPENDITURE)/INCOME|
|BEFORE|NET|GAINS|ON|
|INVESTMENTS|(1,067,165)|(65,248)|(1,132,413)|189,870|
|Net|gains|on|investments|30,134|-|30,134|41,800|
|Foreign|exchange|losses|(25,218)|-|(25,218)|(8,289)|
|NET|MOVEMENTS|IN|FUNDS|(1,062,249)|(65,248)|(1,127,497)|223,381|
|RECONCILIATION|OF|FUNDS|
|Total|funds|brought forward|2,747,125|382,773|3,129,898|2,906,517|
|Net movement|in|funds|(1,062,249)|(65,248)|(1,127,497)|223,381|
|TOTAL|FUNDS|CARRIED|FORWARD _|21|1,684,876|317,525|2,002,401|3,129,898|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. 

The notes on pages 35 to 55 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 31 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REGISTERED NUMBER:2737421 

## CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

||||2024||2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Note||£||£|
|FIXED ASSETS||||||
|Tangible assets|14||126,769||108,540|
|CURRENT ASSETS||||||
|Stocks|16|54,849||43,925||
|Debtors|17|806,526||817,108||
|Investments|18|569,823||799,685||
|Cash at bank and in hand||994,962||1,935,605||
|||2,426,160||3,596,323||
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one||||||
|year|19|(438,443)||(451,984)||
|NET CURRENTASSETS|||1,987,717||3,144,339|
|TOTALASSETS LESSCURRENT|||————xK—||a|
|LIABILITIES|||2,114,486||3,252,879|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after more||||||
|than one year|20||(112,085)||(122,981)|
|TOTAL NETASSETS|||2,002,401||3,129,898|
|CHARITY FUNDS||||||
|Restricted funds|21||317,525||382,773|
|Unrestricted funds||||||
|Designated funds|21|-||1,518,851||
|General funds|21|1,684,876||1,228,274||
|Total unrestricted funds|21||1,684,876||2,747,125|
|TOTALFUNDS|||2,002,401||3,129,898|



The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements. 

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
=A<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Lisa Drewe Chair of Trustees 

Date: 23 June 2025 

The notes on pages 35 to 55 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 32 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REGISTERED NUMBER:2737421 

CHARITY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

||||2024||2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Note||£||£|
|FIXED ASSETS||||||
|Tangible assets|14||17,997||21,590|
||||17,997||21,590|
|CURRENT ASSETS||||||
|Debtors|17|680,111||643,231||
|Investments|18|308,497||542,860||
|Cash at bank and in hand||378,013||1,229,922||
|||1,366,621||2,416,013||
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one||||||
|year|19|(354,671)||(364,169)||
|NET CURRENTASSETS|||1,011,950||2,051,844|
|TOTALASSETS LESSCURRENT<br>LIABILITIES|||—_—_—_<br>1,029,947||—_—<br>2,073,434|
|TOTAL NET ASSETS|||1,029,947||2,073,434|
|CHARITY FUNDS||||||
|Restricted funds|21||177,442||248,046|
|Unrestricted funds||||||
|Designated funds|21|-||1,518,851||
|General funds|21|852,505||306,537||
|Total unrestricted funds|21||852,505||1,825,388|
|TOTALFUNDS|||1,029,947||2,073,434|



The Charity's net movement in funds for the year was £(1,043,487) (2023 - £26,104). 

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements. 

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: 

Lisa Drewe Chair of Trustees Date: 23 June 2025 

The notes on pages 35 to 55 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 33 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES|||
|Net cash from operating activities|(1,065,148)|89,109|
|CASH FLOWS USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES|||
|Purchase oftangible fixed assets|(58,303)|(4,946)|
|Proceeds from sale ofinvestments|234,363|-|
|Purchase of investments|-|(74,920)|
|NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES|176,060|(79,866)|
|CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS FORTHE YEAR|(889,088)|9,243|
|Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning ofthe year|1,935,605|1,934,650|
|Change in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rate movements|(49,451)|(8,288)|
|CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR|997,066|1,935,605|
|Thenotesonpages35to55formpartofthesefinancialstatements|||



Page 34 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

1. GENERAL INFORMATION 

The Charity (company number 02737421, charity reg. number 1014705) is a charitable company, limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1LJ. 

## 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

## 2.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. 

Whale and Dolphin Conservation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. 

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) and Consolidated Balance Sheet consolidate the financial statements of the Charity and its subsidiary undertakings. The results of the subsidiaries are consolidated ona line by line basis. 

The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of Financial Activities in these financial statements. 

## 2.2 GOING CONCERN 

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. The Trustees have considered a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements, and have also assessed various business plans relating to the potential risks to the Group. 

Further details on going concern can be found in the Trustees' Report. 

## 2.3 INCOME 

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. 

The recognition of income from legacies is dependent on establishing entitlement, the probability of receipt and the ability to estimate with sufficient accuracy the amount receivable. Evidence of entitlement to a legacy exists when the Charity has sufficient evidence that a gift has been left to them (through knowledge of the existence of a valid will and the death of the benefactor) and the executor is satisfied that the property in question will not be required to satisfy claims in the estate. Receipt of a legacy must be recognised when it is probable that it will be received and the fair value of the amount receivable, which will generally be the expected cash amount to be distributed to the Charity, can be reliably measured. 

Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable. 

Page 35 



WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


- 2.4 EXPENDITURE 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. 

Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Group to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading. 

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Group's objectives, as well as any associated support costs. 

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. 

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT. 

- 2.5 FOREIGN CURRENCIES 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the reporting date. 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. 

Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities. 

## 2.6 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION 

Tangible fixed assets costing £3,000 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably. 

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost. Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives. 

Depreciation is provided on the following bases: 

Long-term leasehold property - Over the life of the lease Fixtures & fittings - 20% straight line per annum Computer equipment - 25% straight line per annum 

Page 36 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

## 2.7 INVESTMENTS 

Fixed asset investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the Balance Sheet date, unless the value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and presented as ‘Gains/(Losses) on investments’ in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities. 

## 2.8 STOCKS 

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads. 

## 2.9 DEBTORS 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 

## 2.10 CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND 

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

## 2.11 LIABILITIES AND PROVISIONS 

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. 

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. 

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities as a finance cost. 

## 2.12 OPERATING LEASES 

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

## 2.13 PENSIONS 

The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Group to the fund in respect of the year. 

Page 37 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) 

## 2.14 FUND ACCOUNTING 

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Group and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. 

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Group for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. 

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund. 

3. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND AREAS OF JUDGEMENT 

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. 

## Critical accounting estimates and assumptions: 

The Charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below. 

Critical areas of judgement: 

The principal judgements and estimates adopted relate to the accounting and recognition of the legacies and the amount receivable at the year end. 

Page 38 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 4. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES 

||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|DONATIONS|||||
|Individuals|1,335,475|284,788|1,620,263|1,845,967|
|Corporate Partnerships|444,969|202,024|646,993|1,213,594|
|Trusts|502,156|308,369|810,525|676,938|
|Adoption programme donations|176,818|-|176,818|189,642|
|TOTAL DONATIONS|2,459,418|795,181|3,254,599|3,926,141|
|Legacies|701,445|-|701,445|816,020|
|TOTAL LEGACIES|701,445|-|701,445|816,020|
||3,160,863|795,181|3,956,044|4,742,161|
|TOTAL2023|3,903,459|838,702|4,742,161||



Included in the 2024 restricted income above is £251,561 (2023: £127,886) of grant income that had met the income recognition criteria in the prior year. At the balance sheet date the funds carried forward are correct, and no adjustment has been made to the prior year numbers. 

26 legacies were receivable in the year totalling £701,445 (2023: £816,020 in respect of 43 legacies). 

5. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 

||Unrestricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Membership and adoption programmes|689,141|689,141|720,067|
|TOTAL2023|720,067|720,067||



Page 39 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 6. INCOME FROM TRADING ACTIVITIES 

||Unrestricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Cafe income|155,552|155,552|143,452|
|Royalties income|439|439|141|
|Merchandising income|121,404|121,404|124,942|
|Raffle income|34,038|34,038|29,171|
|Other income|311,189|311,189|152,327|
||622,622|622,622|450,033|
|TOTAL2023|450,033|450,033||



## 7. INVESTMENT INCOME 

|||Unrestricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||funds|funds|funds|
|||2024|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|
|Interest|receivable|64,275|64,275|29,268|
|TOTAL|2023|29,268|29,268||



Page 40 



WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

8. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS 

## FUNDRAISING AND TRADING EXPENSES 

||Unrestricted|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Merchandise, raffle and magazine costs|159,275|159,275|202,733|
|Fundraising costs|1,231,064|1,231,064|1,168,087|
||1,390,339|1,390,339|1,370,820|
|TOTAL2023|1,370,820|1,370,820||



## 9. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Summary by fund type 

||Unrestricted|Restricted|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|Total|Total|
||2024|2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Expenditure on Charitable Activities|4,213,727|860,429|5,074,156|4,380,839|
|TOTAL2023|3,587,244|793,595|4,380,839||



## 10. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY 

||Activities||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||undertaken<br>directly|Support<br>costs|Total<br>funds|Total<br>funds|
||2024|2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Expenditure on Charitable Activities|4,349,249|724,907|5,074,156|4,380,839|
|TOTAL2023|3,804,152|576,687|4,380,839||



Page 41 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 10. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY (CONTINUED) 

## ANALYSIS OF DIRECT COSTS 

|||Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
|||funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Staff costs|2,536,823|2,536,823|2,166,736|
|Depreciation|24,518|24,518|19,863|
|Grants & Contracts|603,509|603,509|610,127|
|Fundraising|388,591|388,591|244,595|
|Travel and Accomodation|126,730|126,730|119,358|
|Legal and Professional|138,231|138,231|142,537|
|Bank Charges|3,023|3,023|4,110|
|Office Overheads|218,637|218,637|194,467|
|Staff Development and Support|62,819|62,819|36,029|
|Premises Costs|146,429|146,429|106,601|
|IT Costs|85,221|85,221|111,833|
|PolicyActivities|7,618|7,618|45,157|
|Insurance|7,100|7,100|2,739|
||4,349,249|4,349,249|3,804,152|
|TOTAL2023|3,804,152|3,804,152||



Page 42 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

10. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY ACTIVITY (CONTINUED) 

## ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS 

||||Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||funds|funds|
|||2024|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|
||Staffcosts|115,725|115,725|110,780|
||Depreciation|1,320|1,320|16,434|
||Insurance|32,160|32,160|60,160|
||Bank Charges|6,875|6,875|8,635|
||Office Overheads|27,512|27,512|37,713|
||Staff Developmentand Support|80,974|80,974|88,075|
||Premises Costs|74,378|74,378|84,556|
||IT Costs|288,005|288,005|114,402|
||Travel and Accomodation|5,696|5,696|1,916|
||Forex Gain/Loss Realised|26,926|26,926|1,199|
||Legal and Professional|65,336|65,336|52,817|
|||724,907|724,907|576,687|
||TOTAL 2023|576,687|576,687||
|11.|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)||||
||Net income/(expenditure) for the year includes:||||
||||2024|2023|
||||£|£|
||Operating leases||136,488|137,772|
||Deprecation oftangible fixed assets||40,074|37,099|
||Fees paid to auditors for:||||
||- Audit||47,188|55,457|
||- Non Audit||1,824|3,557|
||Total||225,574|233,885|



Page 43 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

12. STAFF COSTS 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|2024|2023|2024|2023|
|£|£|£|£|
|Wages|and|salaries|3,425,626|3,035,697|2,369,723|2,076,108|
|Social|security|costs|349,119|305,323|210,916|174,536|
|Contribution|to|defined|contribution|pension|
|schemes|108,867|104,583|108,467|91,297|
|3,883,612|3,445,603|2,689,106|2,341,941|
|The|average|number|of|persons|employed|by the|Charity|during|the|year was|as|follows:|
|Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|2024|2023|2024|2023|
|No.|No.|No.|No.|
|Charitable|activities|47|45|31|27|
|Cost|of|raising|funds|20|20|16|14|
|Management|&|administration|8|9|8|7|
|75|74|55|48|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Group|Group|
|2024|2023|
|No.|No.|
|In|the|band|£60,001|- £70,000|1|2|
|In|the|band|£70,001|- £80,000|1|1|
|In|the|band|£80,001|- £90,000|1|-|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


All Trustees and the UK Senior Management Team are considered to be key management personnel. The total amount of employee benefits (including employer pension contributions and employer National Insurance contributions) received by key management personnel was £402,584 (2023: £395,456) for 7 personnel (2023: 7 personnel). 

For Trustees’ remuneration, see note 13. 

## 13. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES 

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - ENIL). 

During the year ended 30 September 2024, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2023 - ENIL). 

Page 44 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS 

## GROUP 

||Long-term||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||leasehold|Fixtures and|Computer||
||property|fittings|equipment|Total|
||£|£|£|£|
|COSTOR VALUATION|||||
|At 1 October 2023|40,000|334,638|340,641|715,279|
|Additions|23,892|26,897|7,514|§8,303|
|At 30 September2024|63,892|361,535|348,155|773,582|
|DEPRECIATION|||||
|At 1 October2023|40,000|244,345|322,394|606,739|
|Charge for the year|986|29,915|9,173|40,074|
|At 30 September2024|40,986|274,260|331,567|646,813|
|NET BOOKVALUE|||||
|At 30 September2024|22,906|87,275|16,588|126,769|
|At30September2023|-|90,293|18,247|108,540|



Page 45 



WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (CONTINUED) 

## CHARITY 

|||Long-term||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||leasehold|Fixtures and|Computer||
|||property|fittings|equipment|Total|
|||£|£|£|£|
|COST ORVALUATION||||||
|At|1 October 2023|40,000|185,256|311,984|537,240|
|Additions||-|-|7,514|7,514|
|At|30 September 2024|40,000|185,256|319,498|544,754|
|DEPRECIATION||||||
|At|1 October 2023|40,000|182,989|292,661|515,650|
|Charge for the year||-|858|10,249|11,107|
|At|30 September2024|40,000|183,847|302,910|526,757|
|NET BOOKVALUE||||||
|At|30 September 2024|-|1,409|16,588|17,997|
|At|30September2023|-|2,267|19,323|21,590|



Page 46 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 15. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS 

## PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES 

## The following are subsidiary undertakings of the Charity: 

## WDC (Trading) Limited 

The Charity has a 100% holding of its subsidiary WDC (Trading) Limited (company number 02593116), registered in England and Wales. Its registered office is Brookfield House, 38 St Paul Street, Chippenham, SN15 1LJ, UK. 

WDC (Trading) Limited had an excess of income of £412,595 (2023: £409,663) over expenditure of £344,325 (2023: £334,373), resulting in a profit of £68,270 (2023: £75,920) for the year. The Company's net assets at the year end were £71,690 (2023: £79,715). 

## WDC Germany GmbH 

The Charity has a 100% holding of its subsidiary WOC Germany GmbH (company number HRB126158, charity reg number HRB126158), registered in Germany. Its registered office is Implerstrasse 55, 81371, Munch, Germany. 

WDC Germany GmbH had income of £660,199 (2023: £891,510) and expenditure of £713,056 (2023: £678,232), resulting in a deficit of £52,857 (2023: £214,878 surplus) for the year. The Charity's net assets at the year end were £458,769 (2023: £533,313). 

## WDC (North America) Inc 

The Charity has a control of its subsidiary WDC (North America) Inc through licence agreement and Board membership (charity reg. number 045223), registered in United States of America. Its registered office is 225 Water Street, Suite A145, Plymouth, 02360, MA, USA. 

WDC (North America) Inc had income of £1,114,972 (2023: £962,201) and expenditure of £1,129,874 (£949,377), resulting in a deficit of £14,902 (2023: £12,824 surplus) for the year. The Charity's net assets at the year end were £441,995 (2023: £443,437). 

## 16. STOCKS 

|||||||Group|Group|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||2024|2023|
|||||||£|£|
|Finished|goods|and|goods|for|resale|54,849|43,925|
|||||||54,849|43,925|



Page 47 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

|17.|DEBTORS|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|||2024|2023|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|£|
||DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR|||||
||Trade debtors|1,397|26,263|-|-|
||Amounts owed by group undertakings|-|-|46,295|126,961|
||Other debtors|9,839|10|12|10|
||Prepayments and accrued income|795,290|790,835|633,804|516,260|
|||806,526|817,108|680,111|643,231|
|18.|CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS|||||
|||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|||2024|2023|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|£|
||Listed investments|.|15,739|-|15,739|
||Unlisted investments|569,823|783,946|308,497|527,121|
|||569,823|799,685|308,497|542,860|



The other investments are balances held on a cash deposit platform for savings accounts. 

Page 48 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 19. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 

||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2024|2023|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Trade creditors|217,872|199,816|180,693|170,455|
|Other taxation and social security|110,382|82,754|103,123|67,705|
|Provisions|19,510|18,583|17,029|18,152|
|Accruals and deferred income|90,679|150,831|53,826|107,857|
||438,443|451,984|354,671|364,169|



||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2024|2023|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Deferred income at 1 October 2023|40,333|42,619|40,333|42,619|
|Resources deferred during the year|.|26,333|°|26,333|
|Other deferred income|-|14,000|-|14,000|
|Amounts released from previous periods|(40,333)|(42,619)|(40,333)|(42,619)|
||-|40,333|.|40,333|



Page 49 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 20. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR 

|||Group|Group|
|---|---|---|---|
|||2024|2023|
|||£|£|
|Other|loans|112,085|122,981|



Under the CARES Act, WDC (US) received an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) of £111,940 on 13 June 2020 from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The loan has an interest rate of 2.75% and is repayable in total monthly instalments of £478. 

## Included within the above are amounts falling due as follows: 

|BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE YEARS|||
|---|---|---|
|Other loans|11,868|12,980|
|OVER FIVE YEARS|||
|Otherloans|100,217|110,001|



Page 50 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 21. STATEMENT OF FUNDS 

## STATEMENT OF FUNDS - CURRENT YEAR 

|||||||Balance at|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Balance at 1|||||30|
||October|||Transfers|Gains/|September|
||2023|Income|Expenditure|in/out|(Losses)|2024|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|UNRESTRICTED|||||||
|FUNDS|||||||
|DESIGNATED|||||||
|FUNDS|||||||
|Designated funds|1,518,851|.|-|(1,518,851)|-|.|
|GENERAL FUNDS|||||||
|Free reserves|1,228,274|4,536,901|(5,604,066)|1,518,851|4,916|1,684,876|
|TOTAL|||||||
|UNRESTRICTED|||||||
|FUNDS|2,747,125|4,536,901|(5,604,066)|-|4,916|1,684,876|
|RESTRICTED|||||||
|FUNDS|||||||
|Critical Habitat|||||||
|Fund|75,324|22,489|(27,020)|-|-|70,793|
|Important Marine|||||||
|Mammal Project|62,346|105,379|(106,808)|-|-|60,917|
|UK & US Project|||||||
|Funds|182,812|576,769|(661,792)|-|-|97,789|
|Green Whale|||||||
|Project|62,291|90,544|(64,809)|-|-|88,026|
||382,773|795,181|(860,429)|-|-|317,525|
|TOTAL OF|||||||
|FUNDS|3,129,898|§,332,082|(6,464,495)|-|4,916|2,002,401|



Page 51 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 21. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (CONTINUED) 

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows: 

The Critical Habitat fund was raised to support the IMMA monitoring protocol project. 

The Biomass Boiler fund was provided in the prior year to purchase a Biomass Boiler for the Scottish Dolphin Centre. 

The Important Marine Mammal Project relates to use of consultants for the development of IMMAs and production of fact sheets. 

UK and US projects includes various projects working on promoting safe seas and ending captivity and hunting. 

The Sousa project in the prior year relates to working with the African Aquatic Conservation Foundation to develop and train a coastal network of fishers, national parks and marine protected area staff. Furthermore, the fund relates to the development of conservation professionals and volunteers to report and respond to marine mammal and sea turtle sightings. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation also partnered with seafood companies to educate fishers about protected species. 

The Green Whale project relates to mobilising whales and dolphins as natural allies in ocean recovery and climate crisis. The project aims to promote a radical transformation in whale and cetacean conservation. 

Page 52 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 21. STATEMENT OF FUNDS (CONTINUED) 

## STATEMENT OF FUNDS - PRIOR YEAR 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Balance|at|
|Balance|at|30|
|1|October|Gains/|September|
|2022|Income|Expenditure|(Losses)|2023|
|£|£|£|£|£|
|UNRESTRICTED|FUNDS|
|DESIGNATED|FUNDS|
|Designated|funds|1,518,851|-|-|-|1,518,851|
|GENERAL|FUNDS|
|Free|reserves|1,050,000|5,102,827|(4,958,064)|33,511|1,228,274|
|TOTAL|UNRESTRICTED|
|FUNDS|2,568,851|5,102,827|(4,958,064)|33,511|2,747,125|
|RESTRICTED|FUNDS|
|Critical|Habitat|Fund|84,546|24,625|(33,847)|-|75,324|
|Biomass|Boiler|Fund|9,310|-|(9,310)|-|-|
|Important|Marine|Mammal|
|Project|-|160,129|(97,783)|-|62,346|
|UK &|US|Project|Funds|155,927|544,630|(517,745)|-|182,812|
|Sousa|Project|50,000|-|(50,000)|-|-|
|Green|Whale|Project|37,883|109,318|(84,910)|-|62,291|
|337,666|838,702|(793,595)|-|382,773|
|TOTAL OF|FUNDS|2,906,517|§,941,529|(5,751,659)|33,511|3,129,898|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Page 53 



zs, 

## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

22. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS 

## ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - CURRENT PERIOD 

||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2024|2024|2024|
||£|£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|126,769|-|126,769|
|Current assets|2,110,277|317,525|2,427,802|
|Creditors due within one year|(440,085)|-|(440,085)|
|Creditors due in more than one year|(112,085)|-|(112,085)|
|TOTAL|1,684,876|317,525|2,002,401|
|ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS- PRIOR PERIOD||||
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
||funds|funds|funds|
||2023|2023|2023|
||£|£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|108,540|-|108,540|
|Current assets|3,213,550|382,773|3,596,323|
|Creditors due within one year|(451,984)|-|(451,984)|
|Creditors due in more than one year|(122,981)|-|(122,981)|
|TOTAL|2,747,125|382,773|3,129,898|



## 23. PENSION COMMITMENTS 

The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the group to the fund and amounted to £108,978 (2023: £104,583). £18,363 (2023: £7,956) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors. 

Page 54 



## WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) 

## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 

## 24. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS 

At 30 September 2024 the Group and the Charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows: 

||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2024|2023|2024|2023|
||£|£|£|£|
|Not later than 1 year|138,790|119,687|104,330|82,689|
|Later than 1 year and not laterthan 5 years|314,477|283,556|226,637|277,438|
||453,267|403,243|330,967|360,127|



The following lease payments have been recognised as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities: 

||||Group|Group|Charity|Charity|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||2024|2023|2024|2023|
||||£|iy|£|£|
|Operating|lease|rentals|136,488|148,388|102,028|108,989|



## 25. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in section 33.1A of FRS 102 in not disclosing intragroup transactions where 100% of the voting rights are controlled within the Group. 

A grant of £21,153 (2023: £25,508) was awarded to the Charity by WDC (North America) Inc during the year to support their projects. WDC (North America) Inc owes the Charity £Nil (2023: £23,454) at the year end. 

A grant of £3,809 (2023: £2,053) was awarded by the Charity to WDC (North America) Inc during the year to support their projects. The Charity owed WDC (North America) Inc £Nil (2023: ENil) at the year end. 

There is a licencing agreement in place between the Charity and an Australian-based connected charity, WDC Australia, to use the Charity's logo and brand. 

Page 55