Securing Regions through CMS

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are often highly migratory, traveling great distances and through many Country territories. Because no signal country can control everything their effective protection can only be achieved through international cooperation. Developing this cooperation is the focus of the WDCS Securing Regions Programme.

WDCS believe that one way to develop solutions to conservation problems is through regional agreements. The Convention for Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), is a tool for WDCS to work through to develop these Agreement and have Countries commit to conservation activities.

CMS has already developed three agreements.

• ACCOBAMS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area
• ASCOBANS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas, and
• MoU for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region

WDCS is pleased to be recognised as a Partner organisation to CMS.

WDCS And Year Of The Dolphin WDCS is working with the Convention on Migratory Species to highlight the plight of wild dolphins and the need for urgent conservation efforts 2008-March-14

Pacific Islands Region In 2002, WDCS identified the Pacific as a region in need of greater protection for whales and dolphins. 2008-February-20

Baltic And North Seas The serious threats facing whales, dolphins and porpoises of the North East Atlantic, including the Baltic and North Seas, are many. 2008-February-20

Black And Mediterranean Seas Whale and dolphin populations of the Mediterranean and Black seas are in dramatic decline. Over the past decades, the fragile ecosystems of these seas have been damaged by over-fishing, pollution, coastal development and increased vessel traffic. 2008-February-20