The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has announced that Vanuatu has joined the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MoU) as its 26th Signatory. Vanuatu signed the MoU in the Philippines on 19 February 2013.

Manila, Philippines, 20 February 2013 - The Second Signatory State Meeting for the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU) was hosted by the Government of the Philippines on 19 and 20 February in Manila, Philippines. The Dugong MOU was concluded in 2007 under the auspices of the UNEP Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals to protect an endangered sea cow species. The Dugong MOU Secretariat coordinates support for international efforts to conserve dugongs and seagrasses from the UNEP/CMS Abu Dhabi Office which is hosted by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), on behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce/NOAA) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) have signed a renewed Letter of Cooperation (LOC) aimed at continuing collaboration in the conservation and management of migratory marine species and their habitats. Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, and Bert Lenten, CMS Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer in Charge, signed the Letter at the United States Embassy in London, United Kingdom, on 12 February 2013. Shannon Dionne and Alexis Gutierrez, NOAA officers involved in development of the LOC were also present at the signing.

The Micronesia Challenge is highlighting recent support for the Awareness Campaign for Sustainable Management of the Tafunsak Marine Protected Area Project in Kosrae, and spotlights the outcomes of a Micronesian Challenge Communications workshop, which convened in Guam.

A new international science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystems, set up to assist governments and citizens to better understand the state, trends and challenges facing the natural world and humanity in the 21st century, has now put in place many of the administrative and staffing structures needed to implement its important work.

It was with deep regret that the CMS Secretariat team heard about the sudden death of Lui Bell, Marine Species Adviser at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) on 29 November 2012.

The UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) has published a policy brief titled “Securing the Future of Mangroves.” The brief is based on the World Atlas of Mangroves and describes both the current status of mangroves, including their economic value, as well as threats to mangrove ecosystems and considerations for good management practices.

The 40th CMS Standing Committee met on the 7th and 8th November 2012 in Bonn, Germany.

Government representatives from eight countries met in Brighton, United Kingdom, to decide future priorities to better protect small whales, porpoises and dolphins under the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS).

The United States added their signature to the CMS Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region (Pacific Cetaceans MOU) raising the number of signatories to 15.

Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region (Pacific Cetaceans MoU) held their third meeting on 8 September 2012, in Noumea, New Caledonia, addressing the threats facing whales and dolphins in the Pacific Islands Region.

Cook Islands, host of last week's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), used the summit's opening ceremony to announce the creation of the world's largest marine park.

The Third Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia on the 8th September 2012.

The Diversity Database for the Pacific Cetaceans MoU is now fully online, ready with over 400 records, many of which link through to google mapping for easy Government referencing.
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La Base de données sur la diversité pour le MOU des cétacées du Pacifique est maintenant disponible en intégralité en ligne ; elle offre plus de 400 dossiers, dont bon nombre sont liés à Google Mapping pour un référencement aisé par les gouvernements.

The first dedicated cetacean research survey in Samoan waters was carried out in March and April 2011 with the support of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).

The CMS and Pacific Cetaceans MoU Secretariat welcomes the recent establishment of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the CMS Pacific Cetacean MoU.

A first workshop to establish the mission, framework and regulations for the Vueti Dawasamu Environment Movement (DEM) was held in March. The first recommendation coming from the DEM was that Moon Reef be declared a marine protected area. The Chief of Dawasamu as well as all elders of the district subsequently made it it official.

Two weeks of reserach training were recently conducted in Manus, Papua New Guinea, helping build capcity to conduct cetacean survies. This work was carried out in partnership with the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), and was a follow-up from the workshop run in late 2007.

The secretariats of CMS, CITES, Ramsar and World Heritage Conventions made a joint statement to the High level Segment of the 10th Conference of the Parties to CBD CoP10.

The 1st year for a new cetacean research project in Fiji is now completed. The project is collaboration between the Fiji Government Fisheries Department, WWF, the University of the South Pacific and WDCS International and is a significant contribution to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU.

The CMS Secretariat welcomed the signing of the MoU on the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region by Tonga and Tuvalu on 9th September 2010, in Madang, Papua New Guinea.

The 2nd Meeting of the Signatories to the Pacific Islands Cetaceans Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), concluded today (Wed 29 July, 2009) in Auckland, New Zealand. 13 Pacific Island states and territories met for two days to agree a way forward to conserve the whales and dolphins of the Pacific Islands Region.

Speech by Robert Hepworth, CMS Executive Secretary, on the 30th Anniversary of CMS

The Pacific Cetaceans MoU is an intergovernmental agreement that aims to protect and conserve Pacific cetaceans and their habitats, including their migratory corridors throughout the Pacific Islands Region.

The Pacific Cetaceans MoU was negotiated under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), in collaboration with the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).