Humpback whales are no longer listed as endangered
Following a major recovery and what is considered a conservation success story, Australia’s endangered or vulnerable species list will no longer include humpback whales. This decision issued by the Australian Ministry of Environment, stems from the analysis of an independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee which concluded that humpbacks’ recovery was strong enough to not be considered endangered […]
Protecting large cetaceans from ship strikes in the Mediterranean
Ship collision is internationally recognised as a major threat to cetaceans, including in the Mediterranean Sea, which is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. As maritime transport in the Mediterranean basin is expected to increase in the coming years, further measures to prevent collisions are needed. The following Mediterranean countries, France, Italy, Spain, […]
New Caspian Sea IMMAs awarded to endangered Caspian seals
Caspian seals (Pusa caspica) live only in the Caspian Sea — located in western Asia, the largest landlocked waterbody in the world. They have been on the IUCN endangered list since 2008, having declined by more than 70% in the 20th Century, primarily because they have been hunted for their fur and blubber. On the […]
IUCN Motion Adopted to Reduce Impacts of Incidental Capture
On September 8th 2021, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, motion 027 – Reducing impacts of incidental capture on threatened marine species– was adopted. The motion calls for, among other things, actions to reduce the bycatch of Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) marine species that is resulting in significant pressure to ETP species. The motion […]
35 Scientists in the Caribbean Issue Call to Action for Marine Mammals
The Greater Caribbean Region includes more than 35 species of marine mammals, one fifth of which are classified as threatened and several as near-threatened, on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Only a few decades ago, the monk seal, the only resident seal species in the region, disappeared. Thus, […]
IUCN Motion Adopted to Reinforce the Protection of Marine Mammals
On September 8th 2021, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, motion 118 – Reinforcing the protection of marine mammals through regional cooperation – was adopted. The motion calls for, among other things, identifying the marine zones and regions with significant conservation issues for marine mammals, reinforcing existing agreements and commitments in these marine zones, providing […]
CMS Scientific Body Adopts Work Programme to Address Threats to Migratory Species
Following two weeks of global meetings held entirely online, the scientific body of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) agreed on a wide-ranging series of actions to address growing threats to migratory species. Among the key outcomes, the Committee agreed: To create an expert working group on migratory species […]
