Conservation Management Plans, IWC Working Group Brisbane, Australia

Conservation Management Plans were introduced to the IWC in 2008.  Their purpose is to improve conservation outcomes for the world’s most endangered cetacean populations.  CMPs are tailored, flexible tools which enable targeted management of human activities.  Importantly, they are designed to complement existing international conventions and agreements, national legislation and management regimes in participating states.  An essential component is the involvement of stakeholders, including those whose actions contribute to the threats.  Three CMPs are already underway.  More are planned, and the IWC expert group meeting in Brisbane this month will be looking at cetacean populations all over the world.