Whale Shark © Beto Bormann/Getty Images

Marine animals are essential for healthy ocean ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods and human well-being. Yet many of these species face severe threats due to human activities. Managing such activities in a way that ensures the conservation and legal and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, incl. through connected and effectively managed protected areas and other area-based conservation mea©©sures, is critical for implementing SDG 14 and Targets 3, 4 and 5 of the KMGBF. High-level government representatives and heads of MEA Secretariats and NGOs will highlight how to advance these goals through collaboration, innovative science, and an inclusive approach, providing actionable insights on how to protect marine animal species, ensure ecosystem health, and promote sustainable futures for all.

The CMS Secretariat partners with the Governments of Australia, Belgium, Ghana and Panama, the Secretariats of CBD, CITES, IWC, ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS, BirdLife International and the IUCN Species Survival Commission for this Blue Zone Event, which builds on existing Ocean Commitments addressing underwater noise impacts (CMS), sustainable tourism benefiting migratory species and local communities (CMS), regional cetacean assessments and biodiversity conservation (ACCOBAMS), bycatch mitigation (ACCOBAMS & IWC), marine turtle protection (CMS IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU), conservation of sharks and rays (CMS Sharks MOU), and cetaceans (ASCOBANS & IWC), whale watching (IWC), and entanglement response (IWC). It will also announce new commitments, e.g. focused on MPAs and connectivity along ocean flyways (BirdLife International), advancing cetacean conservation (ACCOBAMS), and promoting connectivity and area-based conservation measures for migratory species (CMS).

More information will follow in due course.