The following bodies are provided for in the Agreement to promote its implementation:

 

The Meeting of the Parties (MOP):


6th Meeting of the Parties, 2009 © F. Rilla / CMS Secretariat.

The MOP is the decision-making body of ASCOBANS. It meets every four years (triennially prior to MOP8) to review progress made and difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Agreement and to lay down the priorities for the next triennium. Non-Party Range States and regional economic organisations bordering on the Agreement Area, as well as a number of other relevant Organisations are entitled to send observers to the MOP; other bodies qualified in cetacean conservation and management may apply for observer status.

Nine Meetings of Parties have so far taken place:

  • MOP 9: Belgium, Brussels, 7-11 September 2020 (held online due to Covid-19)

  • MOP 8: Helsinki, Finland, 30 August -1 September 2016

  • MOP 7: Brighton, United Kingdom, 22-24 October 2012

  • MOP 6: UN Campus Bonn, Germany, 16-18 September 2009

  • MOP 5: Egmond aan Zee, 18-22 September 2006 & The Hague, Netherlands, 12 December 2006

  • MOP 4: Esbjerg, Denmark, 19-22 August 2003

  • MOP 3: Bristol, United Kingdom, 26-28 July 2000

  • MOP 2: Bonn, Germany, 17-19 November 1997

  • MOP 1: Stockholm, Sweden, 26-28 September 1994

 

The Advisory Committee (AC)

The AC, which meets at least annually, provides advice and information to the Secretariat and the Parties on the conservation and management of small cetaceans and on other matters related to the running of the Agreement. Each Party is entitled to appoint one member to the AC, who may be accompanied by advisors. Concerning the participation of non-Party Range States, Regional Economic Integration Organisations and other relevant bodies, similar rules to those governing the MOP apply.

To date, 25 Meetings of the Advisory Committee have taken place:

  • AC28: Bonn, Germany, 26-28 September 2023

  • AC27: Online, 28-30 September 2022

  • AC26: Online, 8-12 November 2021

  • AC 25: Stralsund, Germany, 17-19 September 2019

  • AC 24: Vilnius, Lithuania, 25-27 September 2018

  • AC 23: Le Conquet, France, 5-7 September 2017

  • AC 22: The Hague, Netherlands, 29 September-1 October 2015

  • AC 21: Gothenburg, Sweden, 29 September-1 October 2014

  • AC 20: Warsaw, Poland, 27-29 August 2013

  • AC 19: Galway, Ireland, 20-22 March 2012

  • AC 18: UN Campus, Bonn, Germany, 4-6 May 2011

  • AC 17: UN Campus, Bonn, Germany, 4-6 October 2010

  • AC 16: Brugge, Belgium, 20-24 April 2009

  • AC 15: UN Campus, Bonn, Germany, 31 March - 3 April 2008

  • AC 14: San Sebastian, Spain, 19-21 April 2007

  • AC 13: Tampere, Finland, 25-27 April 2006

  • AC 12: Brest, France, 12-14 April 2005

  • AC 11: Jastrzebia Góra, Poland, 27-29 April 2004

  • AC 10: Bonn, Germany, 9-11 April 2003

  • AC 9: Hindås, Sweden, 10-12 June 2002

  • AC 8: Nymindegab, Denmark, 2-5 April 2001

  • AC 7: Bruges, Belgium, 13-16 March 2000

  • AC 6: Aberdeen, UK, 12-14 April 1999

  • AC 5: Hel, Poland, 22-24 April 1998

  • AC 4: Texel, Netherlands, 30 June - 2 July 1997

  • AC 2: Cambridge, UK, 29 November - 1 December 1995

  • AC 3: Copenhagen, Denmark, 13-15 November 1996

  • AC 1: Cambridge, United Kingdom, 8-10 March 1995

 

The Secretariat


UN Campus in Bonn © P. Stadié

 

The ASCOBANS Secretariat, located in Bonn, Germany, acts as the coordinating body of the Agreement. It gathers and disseminates information to the MOP and the AC. It plays an important role in awareness-raising and provides advice and support to the Parties, assisting them in the implementation of the agreement. It services the sessions of the Meeting of the Parties and meetings of the Advisory Committee. The ASCOBANS Secretariat along with other Regional Agreement Secretariats (AEWA and EUROBATS) within the framework of the Bonn Convention is integrated into the Aquatic Species Unit of the CMS Secretariat. The 5th Meeting of the Parties of ASCOBANS (2006) decided that from 1 January 2007 the CMS Secretariat would serve as the Secretariat for the ASCOBANS Agreement; and the Executive Secretary of CMS would be the Executive Secretary of ASCOBANS.