Migratory Species

Pacific Islands Show Global Leadership On Cetacean Conservation

The second meeting of 12 Signatories to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU (Convention on Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region) concluded with the adoption of a progressive Action Plan and a call from the region for greater cooperation between the four cetacean (whale and dolphin) agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

The Pacific Cetaceans MoU, covers a vast region.  It the largest (by area) comprehensive whale and dolphin protection agreement in the world. There are now 12 Country and Territory Signatories. WDCS is both a Partner Organisation to CMS and a formal Collaborating Organisation to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU

WDCS, which welcomes the outcome of the Pacific Cetaceans MoU meeting, is honoured to have been accepted as the Coordinator of the Technical Advisory Group, a role that places significant responsibility on the organisation’s shoulders, and one that WDCS commits to performing well.

"The Action Plan outlines a progressive set of conservation priorities including efforts to protect many species in the Region, such as blue and humpback whales, orca and bottlenose dolphins. Like elsewhere in the world, the Region’s cetaceans are being threatened by by-catch, entanglement in fishing gear, direct hunting, climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, underwater noise and collisions with ships," said Cara Miller, WDCS Pacific Program Leader, who attended the meeting this week.

To read the full press release download here

A dedicated website donated by WDCS, was also launched at the meeting as a platform for regional information exchange for the Signatories.