1. Migratory Species: A Vision for 2020 Marine Mammals in CMS
Convention on Migratory Species
United Nations Environment Programme
Migratory Species: A Vision for 2020
Marine Mammals in CMS

2. Marine Mammals Marine Mammals Cetacea Carnivora Sirenia Dolphin/Whale/
Porpoise
Manatee/ Dugong
Ursidae
Pinnipedia
Mustelidae
Polar Bear
Seal/Sea Lion/Walrus
Sea/Marine Otter

3. Cetaceans: Classification
Whales
Dolphins
Porpoises
Cetaceans
Baleen Whales
Toothed Whales
The baleen whales are characterized by baleen, a sieve-like structure in the upper jaw made of keratin, which they use to filter plankton from the water. They are the largest species of whale.
The toothed whales have teeth and prey on fish, squid, or both. An outstanding ability of this group is to sense their surrounding environment through echolocation.
Number of Cetacea in taxa: ca. 85

4. Cetaceans and CMS Cetaceans are one of the most important
taxonomic groups for CMS
Research initiatives:
Assessment of populations & impact of by-catch
Training of local scientists
Conducting field surveys
CMS lists 12 species on APP I and 39 species on APP II
2 „binding“ Agreements dealing exclusive-ly with cetaceans
ASCOBANS
ACCOBAMS
1 Agreement for the conservation of cetaceans in the Pacific Islands Region
1 Agreement is being developed for cetaceans/ manatees of the Atlantic Coast of Africa

5. Dolphins 34 sea dolphins 5 river dolphins Flagship endangered species
 engage public interest in swimway (ecosystem) conservation
Hundreds of thousands of dolphins die every year as a result of human induced threats.

6. Whales
Whales are those cetaceans which are neither dolphins nor porpoises
This often leads to confusion because Orcas (“Killer Whales”) and Pilot whales have “whale” in their name, but are dolphins for the purpose of classification
Ambergis: a perfume ingredient from the intestine of sperm whales
Some species of large whales are endangered as a result of large-scale whaling during the 19th and 20th centuries: they have been hunted for oil, meat, baleen and ambergris.

7. Porpoises Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae
Most obvious visible difference from dolphins: flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins
Porpoises, divided into six species, live in all oceans, mostly near the shore
Best known is the Harbour Porpoise, which can be found across the Northern Hemisphere
Accidental entanglement (by-catch) in fishing nets is the main threat to porpoises today. One of the most endangered cetacean species is the Vaquita, having a limited distribution in the Gulf of California.

8. Threats Fisheries & by-catch Deliberate hunting Chemical pollution
Use of destructive fishing
methods
Growth of modern
commercial fisheries
Directly (by-catch)
Indirectly (prey depletion)
Deliberate hunting
Deliberate setting of nets
Harpoon hunts
Drive hunts
Live taking for
display
Chemical pollution
Domestic sewage
Industrial discharges
Seepage from waste sites
Atmospheric fallout
Domestic & agricultural run-off
Operational discharges from mines & oil rigs
Accidents & spills at sea
Bio accumulation of toxins
 reduced fitness & reproductive success
The chemicals that are probably of most concern for dolphins are the persistent organic pollutants including pesticides, such as DDT, and industrial chemicals. These substances enter the marine food chain and accumulate along the chain to the top marine predators. Damage to the reproductive and immune systems of marine mammals is the likely effect of this pollution.

9. Threats Noise pollution and harassment Climate change
Shipping
Military activities
Fisheries anti-predation devices
Air-guns used in seismic testing to
find oil & gas deposits
Wind farms & tidal turbines
Climate change
Sea ice changes
Higher water temperatures
Disruption of marine food chains
Habitat loss & degradation
Dams
Fishing structures
Abstraction of water for human use

10. Adverse Human Induced Impacts on Cetaceans CMS Resolution 8.22
CoP of CMS
identified ship strikes, marine noise, entanglement & by-catch, pollution, habitat & feeding ground degradation, which pose direct & indirect threats to the conservation of cetacean population
urges Parties to integrate cetacean conservation into other policy sectors
requests the Secretariat to cooperate with other organisations (IWC, Regional Seas Programmes, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations) to promote the Convention’s aim
instructs CMS bodies to draw this resolution to the attention of other relevant intergovernmental organizations (e.g. UNEP)
invites Parties to strive to ensure wherever possible that their activities within the scope of this resolution avoid harm to cetaceans

11. ASCOBANS Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas
Concluded in 1991 under the auspices of UNEP/CMS
Entry into force: 29 March 1994
Agreement Bodies:
Meeting of the Parties (triennial meetings)
Advisory Committee (annual meetings)
Secretariat (merged with CMS Secretariat on 1 January 2007)
Aim of the Agreement:
To achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for small cetaceans in the Agreement Area

12. ASCOBANS Agreement Area
Marine environment of the Baltic and North Seas
Range States
Estonia
Ireland
Latvia
Norway
Portugal
Russian Federation
Spain
Parties
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Lithuania
Netherlands
Poland
Sweden
United Kingdom
Extension of Agreement area likely to enter into force during 2007

13. ASCOBANS Species Covered
Any species, subspecies or population of toothed whales (Odontoceti) occurring in the Agreement area, with the exception of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Examples:
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Harbour Porpoise: the most common species of small cetaceans in the North Sea and the only native cetacean species in the Baltic

14. ASCOBANS What ASCOBANS Does to Help
ASCOBANS aims to promote close cooperation among Parties with a view to achieving or maintaining a favourable conservation status for small cetaceans
A Conservation and Management Plan obliges Parties to engage in
Habitat conservation and management
Surveys and research
Pollution mitigation
Public information
ASCOBANS also cooperates with:
Range States that have not (yet) acceded to the Agreement
Relevant IGOs
Relevant NGOs

15. ASCOBANS The Baltic Dimension
Only native cetacean species in the Baltic: Harbour Porpoise
Only some 600 of these animals remain
Urgent action is needed!
ASCOBANS has elaborated a Recovery Plan for Baltic Harbour Porpoises (Jastarnia Plan)
An Action Plan is also being developed for Harbour Porpoises in the North Sea

16. ACCOBAMS Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area
Concluded in 1996 under the auspices of UNEP/CMS
Entry into force: 1 June 2001
Agreement Bodies:
Meeting of the Parties (triennial meetings)
Bureau (annual meetings)
Secretariat
2 Sub-regional Co-ordination Units
Scientific Committee
Aim of the Agreement:
To reduce threats to cetaceans in Mediterranean and Black Sea waters and improve knowledge of these animals

17. ACCOBAMS Agreement Area
All the maritime waters of the Mediterranean & Black Sea & the Atlantic Area contiguous to the Mediterranean Sea west of the Straits of Gibraltar
Riparian States
Range States
Algeria
Bosnia & Her.
Egypt
Israel
Monaco
Russian Fed.
Turkey
United Kingdom
Albania
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
France
Georgia
Greece
Italy
Lebanon
Libya
Malta
Montenegro
Morocco
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Spain
Syria
Tunisia
Ukraine

18. ACCOBAMS Species Covered
All regular, vagrant & visiting cetacean species occurring in the Agreement area:
In the Mediterranean and Black Seas: 21 species (10 are resident)
In the Black Sea: 3 species (regularly occurring populations)
Examples:
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Sperm Whale
Risso’s Dolphin
Long-finned Pilot Whale
Harbour Porpoise: the most common species of small cetaceans in the North Sea and the only native cetacean species in the Baltic

19. ACCOBAMS Conservation Plan
Adoption and Enforcement of national legislation
Assessment and management of human-cetacean interactions
Habitat protection
Research and monitoring
Capacity building, collection and dissemination of information, training and education
Developing responses to emergency situations

20. ACCOBAMS Guidelines for Commercial Cetacean-watching
ACCOBAMS encourages whale-watching practices that benefit
whales and help to sustain a flourishing tourism industry:
2 complete booklets, on
guidelines on whale-watching and
the development of national stranding networks
were published

21. ACCOBAMS WW Activities & Scientific Work
Monitoring of whale-watching in French Mediteranean Sea
Diagnosis of whale-watching activities
Database (socio-economical and ecological aspects) was created
Monitoring & manage the activity
Whale-watching in the Mediterranean Sea and oil dependance
Literature review on alternative energies
Amount of CO2 presently emitted within the Pelagos area by whale-watching vessels will be calculated
Working group will consider measures to be tested within Pelagos

22. Pacific Islands Cetaceans MoU Agreement Area
Signatories
Covers all populations of cetaceans in the Pacific Islands Region and has 22 Range States and territories, many of which are Small Island Developing States
Australia
Cook Islands
Fed. States of Micronesia
Fiji
France
New Zealand
Niue
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu

23. Pacific Islands Cetaceans MoU
Final version of the MoU was opened for signature at the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Ministerial Meeting in September 2006
9 countries signed the MoU bringing it into immediate effect
2 countries followed & more will sign in the near future
MoU has also been signed by CMS, SPREP, IFAW, WDCS and WWF International
First meeting of the signatories: Apia, 6 March 2007

24. Pacific Islands Cetaceans MoU
MoU provides a framework for governments, scientists and others to monitor and coordinate conservation efforts
Many programmes are already underway and support the MoU’s implementation
Countries are standardising the way they report and collect data from stranded cetaceans
Studies have been undertaken to look at the interactions between cetaceans and commercial fishing
Educational programmes help connect local communities to conservation efforts (inter alia raising awareness)
Through the MoU, the Pacific Islands Region seeks to foster cooperation, build capacity & ensure coordinated region-wide conservation for cetaceans & their habitats.

25. West & Central African (East Atlantic) Small Cetaceans and Sirenians Agreement Area
Range States
Liberia
Mauritania
Morocco
Nigeria
Portugal
Sao Tome & Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Spain
Togo
Shall cover all popula-tions of small cetaceans & sirenians in West African Waters
Exact geographical scope has to be determined during W.A.T.C.H. meeting
Angola
Benin
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
DR Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Gambia
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau

26. West & Central African (East Atlantic) Small Cetaceans and Sirenians CMS Activities
Several projects aimed at
improving the knowledge on cetacean populations,
developing capacities for the study of cetaceans and
raising awareness of threats on them
have been supported by CMS in recent years in Senegal, the Gambia, Ghana and Togo.
CMS-sponsored workshop “Conservation and Management of Small Cetaceans of the African Coast” held in Guinea in 2000
Two major objectives:
A briefing on the biology and conservation aspects of small cetaceans and other aquatic mammals of West Africa
Generate recommendations which could lead to the development of a Regional Action Plan for the conservation of small cetaceans of West Africa

27. West & Central African (East Atlantic) Small Cetaceans and Sirenians Agreement Development (I)
Res. 7.7 supports the development of an appropriate CMS instrument on small cetaceans and sirenians in West & central Africa pursuant to Rec. 7.3
First W.A.T.C.H. meeting scheduled for October 2007 (hosted by Canary Islands)
Scientific Symposium (1 day)
Training Workshop on Whale-watching (1 day)
Negotiation of Action Plan and Agreement (3 days)
West African Talks on Cetaceans and their Habitat

28. West & Central African (East Atlantic) Small Cetaceans and Sirenians Agreement Development (II)
Scientific Symposium: open to governments, institutions, NGOs and private sector to discuss threats and challenges for the conservation of small cetaceans & sirenians in the region
Training Workshop on Whale-watching: whale-watching capacity building workshop to present and discuss best practices in the region and worldwide (include whale-watching tour for participants)
Negotiation session: of the draft Agreement & action plans: session will include Range States and observers

29. The “Year of the Dolphin” 2007
CMS, together with ACCOBAMS, ASCOBANS and WDCS have declared 2007 the “Year of the Dolphin”
UN, Governments, NGOs and the private sector (TUI) are building a strong alliance to achieve a common objective: to protect wild dolphins & create an ocean home safe from harm
Activities:
Outreach and Communication
Promotion
Education
Agreement Development
Science

30. The “Year of the Dolphin” 2007
Launch of YoD: 17 September in Monaco during celebration of 10th birthday of ACCOBAMS
New partners and supporters can join the initiative through
CMS is contacting all Governments to stimulate action
Government supporters: Australia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and ?

31. Sirenians: Classification
Dugongidae
Trichechidae
West Indian
Manatee
African
Manatee
Amazonian
Manatee
Dugong

32. Sirenians and CMS CMS lists the
Dugong,
West Indian Manatee,
African Manatee and the
Amazonian Manatee in its Appendix II
The West Indian Manatee is also listed on Appendix I (populations between Honduras & Panama)
A CMS Agreement is being developed for small cetaceans and sirenians of the Atlantic Coast of Africa (s.a.)
A Dugong MoU/Agreement is being developed (ranges from the coast of East Africa to the Western Pacific Ocean)

33. Dugong MoU/Agreement
The three manatee species and the Dugong are endangered species. All of them are vulnerable to extinction from habitat loss and other negative impacts related to human population growth and coastal development.
First and Second Dugong Range State Meetings have endorsed a final MoU proposal including a conservation and management plan (CMP) to conserve the Dugong
Text of the MoU/Agreement and CMP are now open for final consideration
CMS will coordinate with Range States to make arrangements for signing the MoU and to hold the first meeting of Signatories (tentative September 2007)

34. Dugong MoU/Agreement
MoU is designed to facilitate national level and transboundary actions that will lead to the conservation of Dugong populations and their habitats
Associated CMP provides basis for focused species and habitat-specific activities, coordinated across the Dugong’s migratory range
MoU and CMP  primary platform for conservation actions in all of the waters of coastal & archipelagic States of the Indian Ocean, East Asia, and western Pacific Ocean, as well as their adjacent seas

35. Carnivora: Classification
Ursidae
Pinnipedia
Mustelidae
Polar Bear
Sea Otter
Marine Otter
Seal
Sea Lion
Walrus

36. Carnivora and CMS
CMS lists in its Appendix I:
Marine Otter,
Southern River Otter
Mediterranean Monk Seal
CMS lists on Appendix II:
South American Fur Seal
South American Sea Lion
Common Seal (only Baltic and Wadden Sea populations)
Grey Seal (only Baltic Sea populations)
1 Agreement dealing exclusively with Wadden Sea Seals
The Seal Management Plan also includes the Grey Seal
An Action Plan elaborated for the Conservation of the Eastern Atlantic Monk Seal

38. Wadden Sea Seals Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea
Signed in 1990 under the auspices of UNEP/CMS
Entry into force: 1 October 1991
Aim of the Agreement:
Agreement Structure:
To cooperate closely in achieving and maintaining a favorable conservation status for the common seal population
It is an irreplaceable component of the Wadden Sea and an important indicator of its environmental health

39. Wadden Sea Seals Agreement Area
Parties:
Denmark
Germany
Netherlands
Trilateral conservation area is situated within the Wadden Sea Area
Consists of
The areas under Key Planning Decision Wadden Sea (Netherlands)
The Wadden Sea national parks and
The protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act seaward of the main dike
The brackish water limit including the Dollard (Germany)
The Wildlife and Nature Reserve Wadden Sea (Denmark)

40. Wadden Sea Seals Species & Threats
Common seal: most numerous native marine mammal species in the Wadden Sea: ca. 10,000 individuals
Diseases: severe outbreaks in 1988 and 2002 of phocine distemper claimed the lives of
seals in Northern Europe
20,000 seals in the North Sea (51% of the estimated population)
Disturbance through human activities (types of recreation, hunting and commercial fisheries)
Marine pollution
Habitat destruction (through dredging, the construction of dikes and dams)

41. Wadden Sea Seals Seal Management Plan
Plan covers the Wadden Sea stock of the Common seal and is extended to cover the 2 breeding stocks of the Grey seal
Plan specifies the actions in the following areas
Conservation and management measures regarding habitats
Pollution and wardening
Research and monitoring
Taking and exemptions of taking
Public information
Overall aim of the Work Plan
To restore and maintain viable stocks and a natural reproduction capacity, including improved survival rates among juvenile Common and Grey seals

42. Mediterranean Monk Seals Distribution Area
Range States
Algeria
Cyprus
(France)
Greece
Mauritania
Morocco
Portugal
(Senegal)
Spain
Turkey
Western Sahara
Former range: Mediterranean and Black Seas, the Atlantic coast of North West Africa, Cape Verde, the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores
Only fragmented pockets around the coast of Greece & Turkey, and isolated sites in North Africa, Mauritania and the Madeira archipelago
Occasionally individuals are reported as far away as the French Atlantic coast and Senegal

43. Mediterranean Monk Seals Species & Threats
Mediterranean Monk Seal is believed to be the world's rarest pinniped and one of the most endangered mammals of the world
Entire population estimated: less than 600 individuals (Critically Endangered)
Threats:
Direct exploitation in the past
Deliberate killing
Incidental entanglement in fishing gears
Destruction or alteration of costal habitat
Overexploitation of fisheries
Pollution

44. Mediterranean Monk Seals Action Plan for the Conservation of the Eastern Atlantic Monk Seal
Action Plan elaborated & approved at the 8th Meeting of the CoP
Plan provides a new focus for monk seal conservation
Plan is a guideline that lays down the procedures to implement coordinated actions:
It provides a means to combine programs from different states, local and private organizations into effective, efficient, concentrated efforts, which should lead to the recovery of the depleted population of the species
Latest Conference on monk seal conservation (2006 in Turkey) aimed at coordinating actions by strengthening common approaches and programmes between the Mediterranean and Atlantic Range States
The immediate goal is to stop the decline and, in medium term, to promote recovery

45. South Pacific Cetaceans
CMS Marine Mammal Activities Around the World Agreements – Projects – Year of the Dolphin
ASCOBANS
Wadden Sea Seals
ACCOBAMS
Monk Seal
Marine Mammal Survey
Humpback Dolphin Survey
Conference on Marine Mammals
Training Course Cetaceans
WAFCET
Cetaceans
Survey
Marine Otter Survey
Dolphin Survey
Workshop on Cetacean Survey
Cetaceans & Manatees
Workshop on Aquatic Mammals
Dugong
Franciscana Dolphin Survey
South Pacific Cetaceans

46. Marine Mammals CMS Vision for 2020 (I)
Global network of regional agreements
Main focus on cetaceans, but can also include
Sirenians and
Seals (depending on species/region)
Flexible instruments:
e.g. binding or non binding UN or independent (but with CMS link) delivery through intergovernmental partners e.g. Regional Seas
Action oriented: rolling conservation plans, on-line reporting, activities through governments, NGOs & private sector

47. Marine Mammals CMS Vision for 2020 (II)
CMS as global “guardian” or “promoter” of regional network world-wide
Promotional and normative activities by CMS e.g.
“Year of the Dolphin”
Whale-watching guidelines
Technical and educational publications
Quadrennial “World Whales Conference” linking Conventions, regional network, Governments, scientists, NGOs and wider public
Permanent financing mechanisms for whale conservation via (voluntary) tax on whale tourism

48. Marine Mammals – CMS & IWC (Personal View)
Great whales & whaling agreement should be settled by IWC, but not at expense of wider cetacean conservation
CMS de jure & de facto, is main global convention for conservation and non-lethal use of small cetaceans (SC)
SC are migrating; CMS is a UN body; has already established 3 regional CMS agreements concerning SC; published encyclopaedias on SC; currently running global “Year of the Dolphin” 2007 with strong NGO, UNESCO & commercial support

49. Thank you!