Decisions 13.66 to 13.68 - Marine Wildlife Watching

Parties are requested to: a) provide the Secretariat with copies of the relevant documents for any measures as described in paragraph 1 of Resolution 12.16 Recreational In-Water Interaction with Aquatic Mammals that they have adopted regarding recreational in-water interactions with aquatic mammals or other CMS-listed species, attached to the National Report; b) provide the Secretariat with copies of the relevant documents for any measures that they have adopted as described in paragraph 1 of Resolution 11.29 (Rev.COP12) Sustainable Boat-Based Marine Wildlife Watching, attached to the national report; c) provide the Secretariat with country profiles for countries not already covered, or for suggestions for case studies for inclusion in the joint international Whaling Commission (IWC)-CMS Whale Watching Handbook.

The Secretariat shall, subject to the availability of resources, support the Scientific Council in the development of the guidelines on recreational in-water interactions.

The Scientific Council is requested, subject to availability of resources, to: a) utilize the review of existing guidelines undertaken in partial fulfillment of Decision 12.51 (b) and presented to the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP13), develop guidelines, including a recommended code of conduct for operators on recreational in-water interactions with CMS-listed species; b) consult with the Secretariats and Advisory Committees, where appropriate, of the CMS Memoranda of Understanding dealing with aquatic species, in the development of these guidelines; c) consult with the IWC Scientific Committee in the development of these guidelines and, if practical, consider agreeing a joint product, at least with respect to cetaceans; d) present the guidelines and recommended code of conduct for operators concerning recreational in-water interaction to COP14, for formal consideration.