International Whaling Commission (IWC) Programmes on Chemical Pollution

Research on cetaceans indicates that many classes of chemical pollutants, particularly persistent organic pollutants, are so-called ‘endocrine disrupters,’ meaning that they interfere with the hormone system and can increase susceptibility to disease and reduce reproductive success. The huge number of synthetic chemicals released into the environment and their interactions makes quantifying impacts on whale populations a complex task.

The IWC Scientific Committee has initiated four programmes, Pollution 2000, Pollution 2000+, Pollution 2020 and Pollution 2025. The first two initiatives examined tissue concentrations of priority pollutants in key cetacean species and determined toxicological markers and health assessment endpoints to determine adverse health effects, culminating in the development of tools and techniques to estimate population level effects.

The IWC Scientific Committee has also initiated work on the sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) which pose a significant ongoing threat to some cetacean populations long after their production was banned. Pollution 2020, assessed the risk to cetaceans from microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Pollution 2025 is focused on cumulative effects and multiple stressors. Pollution 2025 is also setting out a multi-disciplinary, ‘One Health’ approach, recognising that the health of people, animals and the environment are closely connected.

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New Guidelines Proposed to Address Light Pollution

The resolutions seek to raise awareness of the potential impacts of artificial light while the proposed guidelines provide a framework for assessing and managing the impact of artificial light on susceptible wildlife, including migratory species. For example, they consider wildlife-friendly lighting design and the management of light sources near protected wildlife.

The guidelines recognize the potential of conflicting requirements for wildlife conservation and human safety and the need for a balance between both.

CMS Family Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessments for Marine Noise-generating Activities

Several resolutions of ASCOBANS, ACCOBAMS and CMS have recognized underwater noise as a major threat to many marine species. These resolutions call for noise-related considerations to be taken into account as early as the planning stages of activities, especially by making effective use of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Thanks to a voluntary contribution from Monaco, the CMS Secretariat on behalf also of the ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS Secretariats was able to hire consultants to undertake this work.

Following a multi-step consultation process as outlined in UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.24.2.2, Resolution 12.14 on Adverse Impacts of Anthropogenic Noise on Cetaceans and Other Migratory Species was adopted by the 12^th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS. In its Annex, it contains CMS Family Guidelines on Environmental Impact Assessments for Marine Noise-generating Activities.

These Guidelines cover the necessary detail for meaningful EIAs for Military and Civil High-powered Sonar, Shipping and Vessels Traffic, Seismic Surveys (Air Gun and Alternative Technologies), Construction Works, Offshore Platforms, Playback and Sound Exposure Experiments, Pingers (Acoustic Deterrent/Harassment Devices, Navigation), and other Noise-generating Activities (Acoustic Data Transmission, Wind, Tidal and Wave Turbines and Future Technologies).

The Resolution urges Parties to ensure that Environmental Impact Assessments take full account of the effects of activities on CMS-listed marine species and their prey and consider a more holistic ecological approach at a strategic planning stage. The Guidelines are designed to support them in this endeavour.

CMS Risk Assessment of Plastic Pollution to Migratory Species in the Mekong and Ganga River Basins

This report examines the health risk posed by plastic pollution in the Ganges and Mekong River basins to twenty-three freshwater, terrestrial and avian species protected under CMS. It also presents a framework for estimating the risk of plastic pollution to species within freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. It currently relies on the best available data from the Asia-Pacific region but can be improved on as additional research is conducted

CMS Guidelines to Prevent the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds

These guidelines were prepared in 2016 by the Preventing Poisoning Working Group of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The guidelines cover the impacts from five priority poisoning areas: insecticides, rodenticides, poison-baits, veterinary pharmaceuticals, lead ammunition and fishing weights. Six key recommendations.

African Wildlife Poisoning Database

The Vulture Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission gathers and collates data on historical and current incidents of wildlife poisoning to assess the scope and impact of this threat to vultures and other scavenging birds and wildlife on the African continent. The Database is accompanied by a map of poisoning incidents in Africa. A webform and a data submission template have been designed to facilitate simple uploading of records of poisoning incidents.

IWC Strandings Initiative

The IWC Strandings Initiative was established following a multi-disciplinary expert workshop in 2016. The workshop discussed how best to develop practical guidance on handling cetacean strandings and concluded that an international Strandings Initiative should be established under the auspices of the IWC, incorporating the skills and experiences of strandings experts from a range of different countries around the world.

IWC Marine Debris

The increasing amount of debris in the world’s oceans has become a major cause for concern. There are many different types of marine debris. It travels freely and does not recognise national boundaries, which means international collaboration is essential to any attempts to address the issue effectively.

Agreement Text and its Annexes as amended by the 8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP8)

The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago.

Developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), AEWA brings together countries and the wider international conservation community in an effort to establish coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds throughout their entire migratory range.

International Whaling Commission (IWC) programmes on ocean noise

Anthropogenic ocean noise is identified as one of the priority threats in the Strategic Plan of the IWC Conservation Committee. In 2018, the IWC agreed a Resolution that recognised the increasing concern over ocean noise, and clarified next steps to better understand and manage the threat. In 2022 the IWC endorsed a Workplan on Anthropogenic Ocean Noise. The Scientific Committee is also undertaking research on the impact of noise on cetaceans, and the effectiveness of different approaches to reduce exposure.