The Second ASCOBANS Workshop on Management of MPAs for Small Cetaceans took place from 31 May to 2 June 2022 in Helsinki, Finland, at the invitation of the Ministry of the Environment, Finland.
In early June, Francis Staub, Marine Mammal Twinning Coordinator, joined the second ASCOBANS Workshop on Management of MPAs for Small Cetaceans, in Helsinki, Finland, attended by over 20 participants.
The workshop aimed to build on the results from the first workshop held in May and June 2021 (online), and specifically to:
- Continue to develop and discuss examples of SMART conservation objectives for small cetacean MPAs, including Natura 2000 sites, by refining and adding to the results of thefirst workshop in order to arrive at a more complete lis
- Continue to develop and discuss examples of ambitious and innovative practical conservation measures for small cetacean MPAs, including Natura 2000 sites, resulting in a more complete and concrete toolbox of conservation measures for small cetacean MPAs, and will alsotake into account the challenges presented by climate change.
During the workshop, Francis presented the Marine Mammals Management Toolkit, highlighting the three core components and the five themes to attendees of the workshop. As the Toolkit, specifically the Self-Assessment Tool, empowers MPA managers to understand the level of protection afforded to marine mammals by MPA management plans, the Toolkit was highlight applicable to the workshop.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of the Environment of Finland, WWF Germany, WWF Sweden, Coalition Clean Baltic, Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process, and ASCOBANS.
Learn more about the workshop here.
