The IWC website has published the first phase of a long-term programme to share its assessments of whale status. Built on highly technical work conducted by the Scientific Committee over many years, the new Status of Whales webpages use simple thermometer graphics to show whether populations are moving towards extinction or recovery, how this status has changed over a 20-year period, and the level of confidence that can be attached to each assessment.

In addition to a table of thermometer graphics, there are further resources which website users are invited to explore. Dedicated pages have been created for each of the featured populations.  These include tables and graphs estimating population abundance (how many individuals of a particular population live in a particular area). Those seeking more technical detail can also access information about the trials undertaken in order to produce each status assessment, as well as the general methodology for the computer modelling and statistical estimates used by the Scientific Committee. All of the technical information is now easily accessible in one location and the pages are accompanied by a short glossary.

The status assessments undertaken by the IWC are uniquely detailed, focusing on individual populations rather than taking a global, species-wide approach. This is extremely important for conservation and management because, within a single species, there may be one population struggling to survive whilst another is thriving.  

The launch of the Status of Whales webpages is particularly timely. At its biennial meeting in September, the IWC endorsed a Resolution which strengthened cooperation and alignment with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. One key target of this framework is filling information gaps on the threat status of marine and coastal species.  The Status of Whales webpages are an important step to raise awareness and increase access to the IWC’s wealth of data and its rigorous, rolling programme of assessments, supporting the Commission's aim of collaborating more closely with relevant global processes and organisations.

The first three status assessments are available now and more will be added as they are developed and endorsed.  Anyone seeking information on species or populations not currently featured on the Status of Whales pages will also find a comprehensive series of short text summaries for other species and populations within the same Population Status section of the IWC website.