OceanCare 92d ago

The Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15) has closed in Campo Grande, Brazil and the outcomes for migratory marine species give reason for cautious optimism. 🐋 The most significant achievement of the week was the adoption of a landmark Resolution on conserving seamount ecosystems. These underwater mountains are critical oases along migration routes as they are important feeding, breeding, and spawning grounds for whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and many other species. Less than 1% are currently effectively protected. The new Resolution urges Parties to change that. 🔹Governments also upheld and reinforced the precautionary position on deep-sea mining established at COP14, a critical step for the protection of migratory species and their habitats. 🔹40 species were added to the CMS Appendices, including the scalloped and great hammerhead shark and three thresher shark species, affording them a higher level of international protection across their migratory range. 🔹A new Marine Pollution Resolution was adopted, establishing a permanent expert Working Group to address the complex impacts of chemical and other pollution on migratory species. 🔹And Parties in West Africa have committed to continue working to address the threat of taking migratory species as Aquatic Wild Meat. OceanCare was present throughout the week, engaging directly on key marine issues including seamount and deep-sea protection, and advocating for stronger cooperation between CMS and other international bodies such as the BBNJ Agreement and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 🌊 @BonnConvention #CMSCOP15 #Seamounts #OceanConservation #MigratorySpecies #SharkConservation