Decisions 15.52 to 15.56 - Priorities for Area-based Conservation of Marine Migratory Species
Aquatic Species Conservation Issues
.
Decision directed to: Parties
Parties are requested to make use, as appropriate, of the identified Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs),Important Marine Turtle Areas (IMTAs), Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) when identifying habitat at risk or designing threat mitigation measures, assessing environmental impacts, and when designating marine protected areas, or generally for marine spatial planning purposes, including through National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
Decision directed to: Parties
Parties that are also members of Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) are requested to encourage those bodies:
a) to make existing fisheries and observer data available and/or support with analysis of these data for the purpose of ISRA, IMMA, IMTA, and KBA delineation, and to increase efforts to undertake additional research on the habitats of relevant species, including reproductive areas (e.g., nursery or mating grounds);
b) to collaborate closely with CMS and relevant CMS daughter agreements to ensure that ISRA, IMMA, IMTA, and KBA identification and conservation measures are appropriately reflected into fisheries research and management frameworks.
Decision directed to: Parties, IGOs & NGOs
Parties, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to actively engage with and provide financial and technical support to IUCN Commissions and the KBA Partnership for the process of identifying IMMAs, ISRAs, IMTAs, and KBAs globally.
Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council is requested to, subject to the availability of resources:
a) develop a report about improving the long-term effectiveness of protected areas dedicated to marine migratory species in the face of climate change, and make recommendations to Parties;
b) collaborate with IUCN Commissions and the KBA Partnership to include data on CMS-listed species in the identification of IMMAs, ISRAs, IMTAs, and KBAs.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall:
a) inform Parties of newly identified IMMAs, ISRAs and IMTAs, and the relevant CMS-listed species;
b) reach out to other relevant regional and international organizations to bring to their attention the value of identifying IMMAs, ISRAs, IMTAs, and KBAs for conservation planning;
c) continue to liaise with IUCN Commissions to promote the value of IMMAs, ISRAs, IMTAs, and KBAs for the conservation of CMS-listed species, and continue to engage in the Blue Corridors for Turtles partnership;
d) continue to engage in the process around the BBNJ Agreement, including attending upcoming meetings.