ECS-ASCOBANS Workshop: Protecting the lesser-known cetaceans of the NE Atlantic

Photo: S.Hooker / Sea Watch Foundation

The Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) works to conserve small cetaceans within the NE Atlantic and it has concluded conservation plans for various populations of harbour porpoise and the common dolphin. Bottlenose dolphin populations also have a range of initiatives associated with them beyond the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. There are nine other small cetacean species regularly found in the Agreement area and these currently receive far less attention.

This workshop is intended to promote action to address the issues that they are facing by bringing together experts to firstly review what is known about them, including significant data gaps, and then brainstorming how to best take forward their conservation. Consideration will be given to alternative approaches to investigate them, for example, the greater use of citizen science, photo-ID, acoustics and strandings where appropriate.

This workshop will provide a report to the next meeting of the Advisory Committee of ASCOBANS and will also be made available to other interested parties. The species considered will include those that are data-deficient, such as beaked whales, white-beaked and Risso’s dolphins. Proposals for presentations are welcome.

The workshop is part of the European Cetacean Society (ECS) conference, taking place in Catania, Sicily, Italy. Registrations through the ECS website by 25 March 2024.