Decisions 15.107 to 15.109 - Migratory Freshwater Fish
Aquatic Species Conservation Issues
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Decision directed to: Parties
Parties are requested to:
a) consider proposing species identified in the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes for listing on CMS Appendices at future COPs;
b) consider the vulnerability of freshwater fish when looking at issues relating to linear infrastructure, hydropower dam construction, connectivity, bycatch and illegal take of species and apply appropriate measures to minimize the associated impacts;
c) initiate and promote cooperation instruments for listed species where appropriate, such as Concerted Actions, Species Action Plans (single or multi-species) MOUs and Initiatives, with clear work plans and technical advisory structures as well as promote the exchange of monitoring and surveillance data and any other ongoing actions in transboundary river basins.
Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council is requested to, subject to the availability of resources:
a) establish an expert working group to provide advice on migratory freshwater fishes (status reviews, listings, connectivity guidance and monitoring standards, key habitat identification such as free-flowing rivers, effectiveness of fish passage mechanisms as mitigation actions);
b) undertake further work to resolve regional and taxonomic gaps in the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes by working with IUCN and the expert group to compile evidence for Not Evaluated, Data Deficient and Least Concern (decreasing trend) species flagged as likely meeting CMS criteria;
c) undertake Green Status (Green List) assessments for CMS-listed freshwater fishes and priority candidates identified in the Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes;
d) identify free flowing rivers which are key habitats for migratory freshwater fishes that are threatened by future hydropower dam construction;
e) produce a status report summarizing the current conservation status and management progress for Appendix I freshwater fish;
f) commission a global status review of migratory marine bony fish (teleosts), mirroring the freshwater approach, to inform potential cross-realm actions;
g) conduct targeted regional reviews (with expert consultation) in basins and regions with numerous transboundary migrants, especially in Africa where transboundary migrants are under-represented in current analyses and data gaps are likely;
h) engage Lower Mekong, Orinoco, Nile, Okavango, Zambezi basin countries to explore pathways for coordinated management and potential accession/participation in CMS instruments;
i) work closely with the Secretariat on the possibility of developing a dedicated freshwater fishes module for the Atlas of Animal Migration;
j) incorporate relevant data into the Status of the Worlds Migratory Species report to be developed for the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and other related CMS communication products;
k) undertake a gap analysis of activities undertaken by CITES, CBD, Ramsar, FAO, IUCN and river-basin organizations to identify where CMS adds the most value and to align actions on monitoring, connectivity safeguards and sustainable harvest/trade.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall, subject to the availability of resources:
a) integrate the needs of migratory freshwater fishes into future CMS work, including Decisions, Resolutions and cross-cutting initiatives on ecological connectivity, energy, climatic change, linear infrastructure and bycatch reduction;
b) support the Scientific Council with the implementation of Decision 15.108.