FACTSHEET IWC 66 2016 Baltic harbour porpoise © Katarzyna Lesner / WWF Cetacean Bycatch and the International Whaling Commission The Challenge Entanglement in fishing gear has long been recognized by scientists and policy makers around the globe as the most pervasive human-induced threat to cetaceans, causing an estimated minimum of 300,000 cetacean deaths annually 1. Fisheries bycatch was a leading factor in the recent extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin in China 2, and is causing unsustainable levels of injury and mortality to Endangered North Atlantic right whales 3-5 and Arabian Sea humpback whales 6, as well as the critically endangered vaquita in Mexico 7,8, Māui and Hector’s dolphins in New Zealand 9, Baltic harbour porpoises 10 and various freshwater cetaceans throughout Asia 11 and South America 12. Bycatch is often the leading cause of mortality in any cetacean population where habitat overlaps with fishing activity. While many studies point to a direct link between declining cetacean population numbers and interactions with fishing gear, much less has been done to determine AT LEAST 300,000 how to prevent or mitigate cetacean bycatch 13. Regional and international management efforts have been inadequate to date 14,15. At the same time, many CETACEAN DEATHS scientists and managers recognise that conservation of the most vulnerable ANNUALLY CAUSED cetacean populations will only be possible by finding ways to prevent and reduce bycatch. The International Whaling Commission, as the primary international body BY ENTANGLEMENT IN addressing cetacean conservation and management, is in a prime position to take the lead in a global effort to effectively reduce fisheries-related mortality and injury FISHING GEAR. to whales and dolphins. mitigation and prevention receives Large scale international collaboration can 14, which urges all member nations to learned from these efforts through on bycatch is imminent. THE OPPORTUNITY the priority it merits. During its lead to effective and significant reduction “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, engagement with other international and WWF invites member Governments 2016 meeting, the IWC Scientific of cetacean bycatch: extensive scientific seas and marine resources”. The 10 national bodies that have the mandate to of the IWC to support document CC05 Committee stressed “that the issue of research, technology development, specific targets under this goal include issue fisheries management advice and presented to the Conservation Committee bycatch is serious and extensive and advocacy and legal challenges have combatting overharvesting of fisheries regulations. this year and encourages parties to led to dramatic declines in dolphin and destructive fishing practices, which that the IWC cannot fully address Since its initiation in 2011, the IWC-led actively engage in the prevention and mortality in the tropical pacific tuna should presumably include a reduction global disentanglement network has been mitigation of the world’s greatest threat it alone. There is a need for greater purse seine fishery in the 1980s and in bycatch of protected species. extremely effective in disseminating best to cetaceans today. WWF is committed collaboration with individual 90s 16; and mortality of cetaceans (and The IWC is global in scope, and practice advice on whale disentanglement to reduce bycatch and to that end we are nations and other IGOs including other marine species) in large-scale drift through its Scientific Committee, brings through issuing guidelines and offering collaborating with some of the regional FAO, CMS, CCAMLR, ACCOBAMS, gillnet fisheries has also been effectively together some of the foremost cetacean hands-on workshops around the globe. and international bodies mentioned. Document CC05, presented to the ASCOBANS and ICES. Recent reduced following a United Nations scientists in the world. It already engages With this programme, the IWC has Additionally we are working at a national IWC Conservation Committee this international work to mitigate the General Assembly ban from 1993 onward in bycatch assessment through the demonstrated how it can effectively level with fishers and management 17 year, offers an analysis of some of the bycatch of other species (e.g. seabirds, (UNGA Resolution 46/215) . These collection of cetacean bycatch data in engage in science-based outreach and authorities to identify specific solutions threats posed by fisheries bycatch sharks, turtles) might provide large-scale conservation measures show countries’ annual reports to the IWC. conservation. However, the Committee to local bycatch problems. We very that a combination of scientific evidence to cetacean populations, and makes useful models of cooperation. It was It also has the capacity to encourage has stressed that disentanglement is much welcome this initiative and a clear case for the IWC to play a and political will can lead to significant its Scientific Committee members to not itself a prevention measure and only look forward to working with the suggested that the Committee should reduction of cetacean mortality. However, greater role in mitigating this threat focus more on bycatch prevention and a small fraction of the entanglements IWC and Contracting Governments seek collaboration with other experts there is little evidence of similar initiatives mitigation research and provide funding that occur are likely to be successfully to help address the urgent issue of globally. The document proposes who have knowledge (e.g. fisheries or progress in more recent years. to do so, to invite reports and discussions disentangled (IWC 2016, Report of bycatch. that the IWC implement a dedicated managers, fishing gear engineers)” The United Nations’ recently agreed on its effectiveness, and, perhaps most Scientific Committee Annex J). The need work-stream to ensure that bycatch (IWC/66/Rep 01(2016) Section 7.1.7). Sustainable Development Goal number importantly, to disseminate what is for a dedicated IWC work-stream focused THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) EUROPEAN UNION (EU) THE CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES (CMS) THE UNITED STATES MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT (MMPA) With 194 member countries, the FAO has a global mandate to “support improved The EU regulation 812/2004 requires The CMS has two resolutions that call for the assessment of the impact governance” of food production and harvesting. It has numerous initiatives and member states to monitor and assess of fisheries bycatch on CMS appendix listed species, the identification of The MMPA has been in place since organisations that could be brought into play if it joined forces with the IWC in the cetacean bycatch in commercial best-practice bycatch mitigation techniques and cooperation with FAO/COFI 1972, and has developed several effort to reduce bycatch: fisheries, and also requires the use on bycatch 15. Furthermore, the CMS hosts two regional agreements for the regulatory processes and tools that of acoustic deterrents (“pingers”) in conservation of cetaceans – both of which deal extensively with assessment and have successfully helped to reduce FAO FAO’S COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (COFI) certain fisheries with high marine mitigation of bycatch: marine mammal bycatch in some mammal bycatch. The regulation does circumstances in US waters. Of Has established International Plans of Has a mandate to conduct periodic not cover many fisheries that are known Action (IPOAs) to encourage reduction general reviews of fishery and THE AGREEMENT ON THE THE AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION particular importance is the Marine of seabird bycatch and the conservation aquaculture problems of an international to have cetacean bycatch issues and has Mammal Take Reduction Programme, of shark stocks 18. However, it has not character and appraise such problems thus had limited success in addressing CONSERVATION OF SMALL CETACEANS OF CETACEANS IN THE BLACK SEA which can serve as an example to other developed any parallel measures for and their possible solutions with a view the problem. Currently, there is OF THE BALTIC AND NORTH SEAS MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND CONTIGUOUS countries striving to achieve similar cetaceans 15, and should be encouraged to concerted action by nations, FAO, discussion of improving the manner targets. The August 2016 ruling on to do so, with technical specifications and inter-governmental bodies and civil in which protected species bycatch (ASCOBANS) ATLANTIC AREA (ACCOBAMS) the Fish and Fish Product Import advice that could be provided by the IWC. society 20. is documented under the EU’s Data Provisions of the Marine Mammal Collection Framework (DCF) under Protection Act, requires all 122 ASCOBANS has a working group on Is a cooperative tool for the conservation the reformed Common Fisheries Policy countries exporting fisheries products REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT FAO BLUE GROWTH INITIATIVE bycatch, and meetings repeatedly produce of marine biodiversity in the (CFP) and the IWC could provide useful recommendations and resolutions to Mediterranean and Black Seas. Its to the United States to demonstrate ORGANISATIONS (RFMOS) Assists countries in developing technical advice into this process. address monitoring and mitigation purpose is to reduce threats to cetaceans that they have regulatory programms The FAO has also established seven and implementing the new global measures with the aim of reducing in Mediterranean and Black Sea waters in place to address incidental and Regional Fisheries Management agenda