Decisions 15.72 to 15.74 - Conservation Priorities for Cetaceans
Aquatic Species Conservation Issues
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Decision directed to: Parties
Parties are encouraged to:
a) include cetaceans within their respective National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and ensure that the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are applied in such a way that positively aligns with the conservation priorities for cetaceans;
b) assess whether any take of Appendix I-listed cetaceans occurs within their jurisdiction, and if so, review and implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in Annex 1 of UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.25.4.1 to address this;
c) increase data collection efforts for all CMS Appendix I-listed species for which they are Range States, in particular population abundance and trends, migratory patterns, and domestic and regional trade, to further the understanding of the extent to which populations are subject to contemporary take as well as other threats;
d) assess the extent to which the welfare and conservation of cetaceans that occur within their jurisdiction is impacted by climate change, and review and implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in Annex 2 of UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.25.4.1 to address this;
e) prepare, in advance, for the appearance of out of habitat cetaceans by creating protocols covering topics such as communication, stakeholder consultation, responder training and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) resolution, taking into account, as appropriate, the recommendations included in Annex 3 of UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.25.4.1.
Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council, subject to the availability of resources and where applicable with support from the Aquatic Mammals Working Group, is requested to:
a) synthesize research on the emerging understanding of how cetacean welfare can impact conservation outcomes, and make recommendations to Parties;
b) in collaboration with the IWC, ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS, review impacts of climate change on cetacean conservation and welfare, and make recommendations to Parties;
c) investigate the impacts of mass die-offs of cetaceans, including those linked to the presence of algal toxins, and make recommendations to Parties;
d) undertake, in cooperation with the IWC, a quantification of the contemporary whaling and aquatic wild meat takes of all CMS Appendix II-listed cetaceans in all regions, and make recommendations to Parties;
e) review the Compilation of Recommendations that could be Directed to the Scientific Council at COP15 and Future COPs contained in Annex 4 of UNEP/CMSCOP15/Doc.25.4.1 and make recommendations to the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties on priority actions to progress in the following intersessional period.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall,
a) support the Scientific Council, subject to the availability of resources, in the development of the reports and recommendations requested in Decision 15.73;
b) investigate the development of a joint work programme with the IWC Secretariat on the conservation of cetaceans, noting the MOU between both organizations.