Bonn, 15 February 2012 - Research and conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively referred to as cetaceans, will be subject of a series of meetings to be held in the Irish city of Galway in March. Galway’s “cetacean fortnight” will start with the annual meeting of the Advisory Committee of ASCOBANS from 20-22 March. At this meeting, participants will review progress of the Agreement’s implementation and will formulate recommendations to the Meeting of the Parties (22-24 October 2012).

This will be followed by related workshops and the scientific conference of the European Cetacean Society (ECS). On 24 March and organized jointly by ASCOBANS, the Mediterranean sister-Agreement ACCOBAMS and the ECS, a workshop on the “EU Habitats Directive and its implementation in relation to cetaceans” will be held. It aims to review implementation of the Habitats Directive across Europe, and to discuss ways to address some of its challenges. Additionally, links with other directives e.g. the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and other intergovernmental treaties, such as ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS, will be explored. The full-day event will focus on the legal framework, i.e. the European Directives and their relationship to other regional treaties. Participants will also consider methods for assessing favourable conservation status of cetaceans; progress with the establishment of the Natura 2000 protected area network as well as the implementation of strict protection measures throughout EU waters. Speakers and participants will include both policy-makers and scientists.

More information can be accessed at the ASCOBANS website