UNITED EP NATIONS Committee (STAC) to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS (MMAP) IN THE WIDDER CARIBBEAN : A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals (MMAP) in the Wider Caribbean: A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Implementation of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals (MMAP) in the Wider Caribbean: A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ANALYSIS November 2020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY including from all activities listed in Articles 11(1)(b) of Marine mammals hold a unique place in the collective the Protocol.2 pysche and economies of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). As a breeding and calving ground After more than a decade of MMAP-related for some whale species, the warm waters of the programmatic work under the SPAW Protocol, this Caribbean see the perennial return or residency of report compiles and reviews the status of major a diversity of majestic marine mammal species that threats to marine mammals of the region, and aims serve as a boost for tourism and source of inspiration to assess progress by countries towards achieving for some, or a valuable natural resource to be implementation of the MMAP since its adoption consumed or utilized by others. in 2008. A qualitative and quantitative assessment by country was conducted primarily to guide future Many of the marine mammal species within the action for continuing efforts towards the conservation WCR are highly migratory, and are therefore a shared and sound management of marine mammals in the natural heritage among all Specially Protected Areas Region. The assessments focused on the 11 primary and Wildlife (SPAW) Contracting Parties. All marine categories of issues and threat indicators, including: mammal species are technically protected under the fisheries interactions; habitat degradation and coastal SPAW Protocol. The drafters of the SPAW Marine development; pollution and marine mammal health; Mammal Action Plan (MMAP) recognized the aesthetic, protected areas and other management regimes; cultural and economic value of these species when research; whale watch and associated activities; marine they drafted the foundations of the Action Plan in 2005. mammal strandings; marine mammals in captivity; Subsequently adopted by Parties in 2008, the plan was acoustic disturbance and underwater noise; vessel meant to guide and inspire national species recovery strikes; and climate change. A regional threats analysis plans and regional cooperation to protect marine and a summary review of the work of the SPAW mammals and their habitat in the WCR. Programme in support of MMAP implementation was also completed. All marine mammal species are currently listed on Annex II of the SPAW Protocol.1 Listing on Annex Through person-to-person interviews, surveys, and II requires the total protection of these species, consolidation of current literature and available data, the resulting assessments are neither intended to be enhancement of coordination with regional punitive nor meant to compare country responses or fisheries bodies to track and mitigate marine initiatives, but rather highlight areas in need of attention mammal bycatch; and collaboration. As such, an evaluation of the efficacy Ƥ Enhancement of joint programming among of protective measures, programmes, and iniatives was regional organisations for implementation of beyond the scope of this report. planning strategies to protect marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems; To further this aim, a series of recommendations Ƥ stemming from this technical review are offered, Establishment of sampling programmes for providing a blueprint for future action. These emerging contaminants (heavy metals, micro and recommendations are presented and organized under nano-plastics and associated chemical residues) each of 11 categorical threats as identified within the in fish, sargassum and marine mammal resources original MMAP. Highlights from the report’s regional that are harvested for human consumption; threats analysis served to guide final recommendations Ƥ Development of marine protected area for the Region, with the hope that tangible actions management plans that include marine mammals; can be prioritised and resources mobilized as interest Ƥ Enhancement of outreach and distribution of and focused directives for conserving precious the SPAW regional marine mammal viewing marine mammal resources are renewed through the guidelines; distribution of this technical report. Ƥ Development of marine mammal research protocols for the WCR; Some of the report’s high-level recommendations include: Ƥ Creation of a centralized strandings database and reporting mechanism; Ƥ Establishment of a regional coordinative Ƥ Creation of national marine mammal inventories 3 mechanism that will serve to coalesce and to track and manage the health and welfare of connect expertise, resources, and data to promote captive marine mammals; long-term capacity building for marine mammal Ƥ Development of regional guidelines for seismic conservation in the WCR; survey operations; Ƥ Development of a model national Marine Mammal Ƥ Identification and implementation of a centralized Action Plan that can guide SPAW Contracting platform for reporting vessel strikes data; Parties towards developing their own national strategy and frameworks for marine mammal Ƥ Integration of marine mammal considerations conservation; into national climate change action plans and strategies. Ƥ Enlistment of collaboration with the existing global bycatch mitigation initiatives, and DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this report are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Regional Activity Center (SPAW-RAC), UN Environment Programme - Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), or Member States. The presentation of material and information in this report does not imply the expression of any opinion, endorsement or recommendations on the part of CEP or the UN Environment Programme. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The document was authored by Courtney Vail and Monica Borobia as consultants to the SPAW-RAC under the French Public Procurement Code and the INTERREG EU Funds requirements. The SPAW-RAC is a technical center based in Guadeloupe, provided by the Government of France to support the SPAW Protocol and implement the SPAW workplan under the Cartagena Convention. As such, it is part of the UN Environment Programme-Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and assists Caribbean countries and territories in implementing their commitments to the protection of biodiversity. The SPAW-RAC leads the execution of the Caribbean Marine Mammals Preservation Network Project (CARI’MAM) Project with the French Agency for Biodiversity. Image courtesy of Eric Ramos. Bottlenose dolphins in Belize. The CARI’MAM is a cooperative project funded by the European INTERREG programme. Encompassed in the objectives of the Wider Caribbean Region Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP, UNEP 2008) and the current SPAW workplan, its purpose is to implement Milton Haughton, Ileana Lopez, David Mattilla, Peter the recommendations of the MMAP by strengthening Murray, Eric Angel Ramos, Caroline Rinaldi, Lorenzo managerial capacities and developing common tools Rojas-Bracho, and the SPAW Species Working Group/ for conservation and evaluation purposes. Drafted Marine Mammal Subgroup (Gérald Mannaerts, Anne- under the CARI’MAM Project, this technical analysis is Marie Svoboda, Paul Hoetjes, Nina Young, Kristen intended to enable Contracting Parties to the SPAW Koyama, Susan Millward, Julia Horrocks, and Marcos Protocol to review the MMAP and design future actions Casilla). Additional thanks to the SPAW-RAC team to better conserve marine mammals according to their (Géraldine Conruyt, Claire Pusineri and Sandrine national commitments under the SPAW Protocol. Pivard) for their thoughtful reviews and engagement with SPAW Contracting Parties. Various representatives of governments, non- governmental and governmental organisations, and issue-area experts have contributed to this report LAYOUT AND DESIGN through questionnaires and interviews, and by Report layout and design was graciously provided sharing their recommendations and expertise. These by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and with a very contributions and discussions serve as the foundation special thanks to Alexandra Alberg. of this report. SUGGESTED CITATION SPECIAL THANKS SPAW-RAC. (2020). Implementation of the Action Plan A special thanks to the individuals that reviewed drafts for Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region: of this report, provided critical insight, and suggested A Scientific and Technical Analysis. Authored by editorial improvements: Alejandro Acosta, Jeffrey Vail, C. and Borobia, M. UN Environment, Caribbean Bernus, Rhema Bjorkland, Tadzio Boervoets, Jaime Environment Programme, Specially Protected Areas Bolaños, Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez, Shane Gero, and Wildlife Regional Activity Centre. 158 pp. Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES 1 REGIONAL THREATS ANALYSIS 52 Marine Mammals in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 3 53 Fisheries Interactions 55 Habitat Degradation and Coastal OVERVIEW 6 Development 66 Pollution and Marine Mammal Health 69 OBJECTIVES 7 Whale Watching and Associated Activities 74 METHODOLOGY, FRAMEWORK AND Protected Areas and other ASSESSMENT 8 Management