Migratory species in the oceans and seas travel across interconnected ecosystems throughout their lives. Highly migratory species, such as Mako Sharks, cross entire oceans, while a single Leatherback Turtle can travel 10,000 miles or more during its annual migration. As they travel, sometimes on journeys of thousands of miles, these species are especially vulnerable tohuman induced threats. To mitigate the impact of these threats, conservation and management plans need to consider geographical, spatial and temporal factors of migration.

As part of a series of meetings in Europe, including attending the opening of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Geneva, Inger Andersen, the newly-appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) paid a visit to Bonn to meet the staff of the CMS Family.

Ms. Amy Fraenkel has been appointed as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), as of 13 May 2019. She brings to CMS a wealth of experience, both as Party negotiator and as a senior United Nations official.

The 15th meeting of the ASCOBANS Jastarnia Group has successfully concluded in Turku, hosted by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and the Turku University of Applied Sciences. As well as reviewing progress under the conservation plans for the Harbour Porpoise in the Baltic Sea (the “Jastarnia Plan”) and in the Western Baltic, Belt Sea and Kattegat (WBBK), the meeting heard a presentation from a representative of the European Commission on the EU Technical Measures Regulation, which will replace Regulation 812/2004 governing bycatch mitigation.