The First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas

Summary Points from Presentations:
Cetacean critical habitat designations in the Mediterranean and Black Seas through ACCOBAMS
Erich Hoyt
• Much has been learned during the process of determining critical habitat features
in order to develop MPAs under the ACCOBAMS agreement.
• <strong>The</strong> existence of an expert advisory group was very important in terms of
identifying relevant areas and populations in need of conservation. Working
within the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee meant that the MPA process
could draw upon species conservation plans (e.g., for common dolphins in the
region) to identify potential sites and develop strategies for creating networks,
while recognizing additional measures that would need to be undertaken to
ensure successful conservation.
• Although the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee and State parties (countries) to
the agreement have endorsed the principle of establishing a network of 17
MPAs, implementation has been slow.
Cetacean critical habitats in Patagonia, Argentina
Miguel Iñíguez (presenting work by Cecilia Gasparrou, Marta Hevia, Vanesa
Tossenberger, Mauricio Failla and Miguel Iñíguez)
• A summary of 7 MPAs (and two areas important to cetaceans) in Argentina was
presented including details of the well known southern right whale spots around
Península Valdés.
• <strong>The</strong> main threats to cetaceans in Argentina include ship strikes, offshore oil and
gas development, and bycatch in fisheries.
• A matrix analysis of whale watching indicated only moderately satisfactory
management within MPAs.
• At this stage in Argentina, it may be more important to improve the management
of current MPAs than to create more of them.
What do we know about cetacean habitat in the Pacific Islands Region?
Cara Miller
• <strong>The</strong> Pacific Islands Region includes a large ocean with 22 different countries and
territories. Little data is available, yet a recent review indicates up to 42 different
species of cetaceans occur in this region.
• An excellent framework is in place (CMS Memorandum of Understanding for
the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region),
yet there has been difficulty discussing and progressing cetacean habitat
protection given the limited data.
• Ways forward for MMPAs in the Pacific Islands Region may include predictive
habitat modeling, concentration on specific species and/or countries or
territories, and description of ocean systems or processes that are important for
cetaceans.
ICMMPA <strong>Conference</strong> Proceedings
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