Pacific Islands Success highlights European failure to protect whales and dolphins
The lack of action by many European governments regarding the protection of whales and dolphins was brought sharply into focus following the signing of a new agreement in the Pacific. 12 countries signed the Pacific Island MoU (Convention on Migratory Species Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region) adopting a progressive plan of action that will further protect species in the region, such as blue and humpback whales, orca (killer whales) and bottlenose dolphins.
“Like elsewhere in the world, cetaceans in the Pacific Islands Region are being threatened by by-catch, entanglement in fishing gear, direct hunting, climate change, habitat degradation, pollution, underwater noise and collisions with ships,” said
The Signatories also called for closer cooperation with other regional CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) whale and dolphin agreements in West Africa, the Mediterranean and
“As is often the case, the Pacific Islands Region is showing unparalleled global leadership by calling for the world to cooperate on issues of shared responsibility. If the other CMS agreements respond positively to this call, this new level of coordination will create a very powerful collective voice to stand against threats to whales and dolphins around the world,” Miller continues.
Mark Simmonds, WDCS International Director of Science, was quick to highlight the comparative lack of action in
“We wish we could see the same kind of action, passion and transparency from European governments,” says Simmonds. “After some 15 years of rhetoric, Northern European countries have largely failed to mitigate fisheries bycatch or noise pollution effectively and there seems to be a distinct lack of support from many governments for the regional Agreement for dolphins and small whales in Europe (ASCOBANS) which will meet in September in
With the
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 is committed to performing well. A dedicated website donated by WDCS, was also launched at the meeting as a platform for regional information exchange for the Signatories: www.pacificcetaceans.org.
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.