ASCOBANS News

Jastarnia Group Meets in Turku

Meeting participants of the 15th meeting of the ASCOBANS Jastarnia Group © Olli Loisa

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.

20 March 2019

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World Wildlife Day – Life below Water: for People and the Planet

World Wildlife Day 2019: Life below Water : for People and the Planet

The theme of this year’s World Wildlife Day campaign is “Life below Water: for People and the Planet” and is closely aligned to the 14th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14), which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

28 February 2019

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ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS Establish a Joint Bycatch Working Group

26 February 2019

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New Paper on Animal Culture Published in the Journal Science

Striped Dolphins © E.Pirotta / Tethys

Bonn, 26 February 2019 – a paper compiled by an international team of re

26 February 2019

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Inger Andersen Appointed as UNEP Executive Director

Inger Andersen has been appointed as the new UNEP Executive Director © Eric Bridiers

Inger Andersen of Denmark is the new Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Her nomination to the post by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was approved by acclamation by the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, 20 February.

22 February 2019

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ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative Contributes to Sharks MOS3

ACCOBAMS Survey

The Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS), member of the CMS family, developed the “ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative” (ASI) aimed at establishing an integrated and coordinated monitoring system for cetaceans throughout the ACCOBAMS area.

11 December 2018

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Connectivity Conservation: a Key Element of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group was held on 25 October © Florian Keil (UNEP/AEWA Secretariat)

CMS and its Family set the course for developing their contributions to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which is expected to provide a "New Deal for Nature" for the entire international community. Two years away from its adoption, the post-2020 framework presents the opportunity to raise the visibility of migratory wildlife and promote its conservation. Last week, the CMS Standing Committee (Bonn, 23-24 October 2018) endorsed the establishment of a Working Group (WG) on the development of CMS Family contributions to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

02 November 2018

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CMS Marine Noise Assessment Guidelines Promoted at the UN in New York

© Aaron Crowe

From 18 to 22 June 2018, government representatives and experts gathered at the Headquarters of the United Nations to discuss the issue of anthropogenic underwater noise in the context of the UN consultative process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-19). CMS Executive Secretary, Bradnee Chambers, delivered an opening statement and brought the CMS Family Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessments for Marine Noise-generating Activities to the attention of UN Member States.

26 June 2018