Bonn,
9 August 2011 - the Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Society has launched the “Diversity Database for the
Pacific Cetaceans MoU” - an excellent initiative applauded
by the Secretariat. Now fully online, ready with over 400
records, many of which link through to Google mapping, the
multi-lingual tool makes Country/Territory and species specific
information freely and easily available to all Pacific Islands
Governments.

It includes tracking information on habitat
type, behaviour during the sighting, numbers of animals
per sighting, and any relatedthreats if the sighting is
of a stranding incident. The CMS and CITES Appendices listings
are also noted, as is any additional policy information
that is available. Refereed papers and meetings reports,
as well as photos are also linked to each record when these
are available. The database is completely open source and
requires no specific software, ensuring that there are no
barriers to Governments seeking to access to this important
the information.

WDCS’s International CEO, Chris Butler-Stroud,
on announcing the release of the tool said: “WDCS
understands the importance of making this depth of information
available to the Governments that have committed themselves
to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU. Our commitment is to maintaining
the support, keeping the Diversity Database as current as
possible so that it can be actively used as the basis of
sound domestic and regional conservation decisions.”

The online Diversity Database has been
developed as part of the Partnership Agreement between WDCS
and CMS, and also as a contribution from WDCS as a Collaborating
Organization to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU. A similar tool
is also being developed for the West African Aquatic Mammals
MoU and will be presented to CMS in the coming months. The
CMS Secretariat is deeply grateful for this support, which
again demonstrates the outstanding commitment of WDCS both
to the conservation of cetaceans and the support of the
Convention and its regional agreements.

To see the Pacific Cetaceans MoU Diversity Database click
here