United States of America sign Pacific Islands Cetaceans MoU

Biodiversity Conservation

Photo courtesy of CMS

Media Release by CMS/SPREP, Bonn, 27 September 2012 - The United States of America 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.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme congratulates and welcomes the United States to the Memorandum of Understanding.

“This is a monumental occasion for the Pacific region and we look forward to the benefits to come from this strong partnership.” said Mr. David Sheppard, the Director-General of SPREP.

“This supports the work of the Marine Species Action Plans 2013 – 2017, passed at the SPREP meeting in September, which focus on three groups of marine species of conservation concern: dugongs, marine turtles and cetaceans (whales and dolphins).”

The United States had already indicated their intention to sign at the 3rd Meeting of the Signatories to the Pacific Cetaceans MoU earlier this month in Noumea, New Caledonia, at which they participated as Observers.

At a ceremony in the margins of the 1st Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Migratory Sharks, held in Bonn this week, Shannon G. Dionne, Acting Deputy Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of International Affairs (NOAA) signed the non-binding agreement on behalf of the United States.

Photo courtesy of CMS

Ms. Dionne expressed the strong commitment of her country to conserve these species and undertake joint efforts to address key threats such as entanglement and strategy response as well as emerging diseases in marine mammals.

Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of CMS, highlighted the importance of the new signatory because of its capacity in granting technical and scientific support. This contribution would be indispensable to boosting conservation activities.

The participation of the United States in this regional initiative under CMS is expected to promote the implementation of the 2013-2017 action plan for whales and dolphins in the Pacific Islands Region adopted in Noumea.

For more information on the MOU and data on cetaceans in the region, refer to www.cms.int and www.pacificcetaceans.org or please email SPREP’s CMS Pacific Officer, Ms. Penina Solomona at peninas@sprep.org