The value of IWC Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) was clear at IWC69, with four new CMPs proposed. It is testament to progress made by the five existing CMPs that so many more were sought. The new plans focus on species in Asia, South and Central America and all were endorsed, one provisionally subject to additional government input.

CMPs provide a framework for countries within the range of cetacean populations to work together and in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, to protect and rebuild those populations. CMPs are flexible management tools that help range states address threats including fishing bycatch, entanglement, ship strikes, habitat loss, pollution, climate change and acoustic disturbance. The CMP programme is led by the Conservation Committee. The Scientific Committee provides technical information to inform each CMP.

The success of a CMP depends on its effective adoption and implementation by stakeholders. Early and continued engagement is beneficial. It is key that the process is fully supported by relevant governments with the IWC providing support and guidance when and where needed.

CMPs are already in place for western North Pacific gray whales, two populations of southern right whales in the south-west Atlantic and south-east Pacific, and two dolphin species: the franciscana dolphin found in coastal waters of the South Atlantic, and South American River dolphins.

The activities taking place under CMPs vary from fieldwork such as surveys and tagging programmes establishing population size and behaviours, to practical workshops teaching safe and effective entanglement response. Outreach and information-sharing is an important component of each CMP with recent events including a public awareness campaign for ‘Our Neighbour the Franciscana.’

Reflecting the particular challenges faced by many small cetaceans, three of the new CMPs are focused on dolphin species: Guiana, Lahille’s, and the Irrawaddy dolphin which was endorsed pending additional input. The fourth new CMP is for Central American humpback whales.

During IWC69, the effectiveness of CMPs as a framework to address conservation concerns was highlighted by several member governments engaged in work under existing CMPs.  A further demonstration of the growing demand for CMPs was the launch of a new CMP Handbook.  This new resource explains the requirements and processes involved in developing and implementing a CMP and was endorsed at the meeting.

An additional initiative to bring together the many different activities ongoing under different CMPs is the CMP Newsletter which was also published during the meeting.  This edition features Arabian Sea humpback whales, a potential candidate for a future CMP, and a profile of the CMP coordinator for Southern Right Whales in the eastern South Pacific.