ASCOBANS News

International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise 15 May 2022

The third Sunday in May of each year is the International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise (IDBHP). It was introduced 20 years ago by the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS). IDBHP aims to raise awareness on the critical conservation status of the only cetacean species population native to the Baltic Sea.

13 May 2022

18th Meeting of the Jastarnia Group

For the first time in nearly three years, participants could gather for a face-to-face meeting of ASCOBANS again. The 18th Meeting of the Jastarnia Group took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 28 to 30 March 2022, and was also attended by a small number of online participants.

11 April 2022

Thirty Years of Conservation Measures for Small Cetaceans in European Seas

Thursday 17 March 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) – a regional environmental treaty of the United Nations.

17 March 2022

Statement of Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of ASCOBANS to Mark the 30th Anniversary of the Agreement

Today, we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of ASCOBANS – the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North-East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas.

17 March 2022

Article Published on Ecosystem Effects of Small Cetaceans

Small cetaceans may have big effects on ecosystem structure, dynamics, and function. A new article Functional Roles and Ecological Importance of Small Cetaceans in Aquatic Ecosystems has been published in Frontiers in Marine Science (open access) as a part of the research topic 'Small Cetacean Conservation: Current Challenges and Opportunities'.

07 March 2022

ASCOBANS 30: The Beginnings

Concerns over the conservation status of small cetaceans, especially harbour porpoises, led to the establishment of the "Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Sea" (ASCOBANS).

02 March 2022

10th Meeting of the North Sea Group

The tenth Meeting of the Steering Group for the ASCOBANS Conservation Plan for Harbour Porpoises in the North Sea (the North Sea Group) took place online from 18th to 19th January 2022. Chaired by Prof Peter Evans (Bangor University & Sea Watch Foundation UK), the aim of the meeting was to exchange countries' updates on the implementation of actions listed in the Conservation Plan.

21 January 2022

Internship Opportunities in the Aquatic Species Team

Are you a university student or a recent graduate?  Are you interested in aquatic migratory species?  Are you interested in the work of a multilateral environmental agreement of the United Nations?  If your answer is yes, consider applying for an internship in our Aquatic Species Team! (CMS, ASCOBANS, Sharks MOU, IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU)

17 January 2022

2021 Season's Greetings from the ASCOBANS Secretariat

This year our thanks for organising the ASCOBANS Season’s Greetings card competition goes to a local primary school, the Independent Bonn International School (IBIS) in Germany.

21 December 2021

Analysis on Bycatch Mitigation Measures and Alternative Fishing Methods Published

A new ASCOBANS report detailing a cost-benefit analysis for mitigation measures in fisheries with high bycatch is launched today.  The report, authored by Fiona L. Read, reviews the implementation cost and pros and cons of different bycatch mitigation measures and alternative fishing methods.

21 December 2021