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Netherlands Antilles Stranding Workshop
The SPAW Action Plan for the conservation of
marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean
Region
Hélène SOUAN, Director of the SPAW-RAC
7 November 2009
Content
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW RAC
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP)
• Elaboration
• Objectives and contents
3. MM Strandings in the MMAP
• Key objectives and priority actions
• Perspectives and proposals
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC
The Cartagena Convention
• 1983 : adoption of the Cartagena Convention for the protection
and development of the marine environment in the Wider
Caribbean Region
• 1990 : signature of the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and
Wildlife (SPAW)
– 2000 : the SPAW Protocol enters into force
– 2009 : 13 SPAW contracting Parties
– 2000 : Agreement between UNEP and France > creation of the SPAW-
RAC in Guadeloupe
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC
The Cartagena Convention
Cartagena Convention
Adopted 1983
Entered into Force 1986
Oil Spills Protocol Specially Protected Land-based Sources
Adopted 1983 Areas and Wildlife Protocol of Marine Pollution
Entered into Force 1986 Adopted 1990 Protocol
Entered into Force 2000 Adopted 1999
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Geographic scope of the Cartagena
Convention
• Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea;
• 28 Countries (37 Territories) : 23 have ratified the Convention;
• ~2.7 millions km2;
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Objectives and Parties of the SPAW
Protocol
Objectives :
– To protect, preserve and manage sensitive areas
– To protect and preserve threatened and endangered species of flora
and fauna
– To protect species of regional concern to prevent becoming
threatened or endangered
13 Contracting Parties : Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican
Republic, France, Netherlands, Panama, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the
Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Structure of the SPAW Protocol
General Articles
General obligations, Mutual
assistance, Public awareness,
Committees
Protected Areas Other Protected Species
Establishment and listing, Common guidelines and criteria, National measures,
Protection measures, Exemptions, Cooperative measures,
Planning and management Environmental impact assessment Alien species
Annexes
Ann. I : Protected flora
Ann. II : Protected fauna
Ann. III : Fauna&flora
regulated use
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Implementation since 1990
• For SPAW species:
– Regional management plans (eg. Manatees)
– National management and/or recovery plans (eg. for sea turtles
with WIDECAST)
– Public awareness and education activities (materials, campaigns,
support to NGOs etc.)
• For protected areas:
– Regional guidelines for identification, selection, establishment and
management of PA
– Active MPA network of managers (CaMPAM)
– MPA Training of Trainers programme
– MPA Small Grants Fund for technical assistance and best practices
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Implementation since 1990
• For ecosystem management:
– Coral reef monitoring and capacity building
– Best practices in sustainable tourism (regional and local)
– Education and awareness
– Integated management of reefs ( better practices for fisheries,
marine tourism activities, pollution control)
• Institutional level:
– Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (4 ISTACs and 4 STACs
) (both Govs and NGOs participate)
– Legislative guide for Common Law countries
– Memorandum of Cooperation with CBD, Ramsar, CMS and
Interamerican Convention on Sea Turtles
1. The SPAW Protocol and the SPAW-RAC :
Missions of the SPAW-RAC
• Missions of the Regional Activity Centers : help UNEP/CEP and the
Parties implement protocols and workplans by collecting and sharing
information, supporting and coordinating projects, providing
technical assistance, organizing working groups, etc
• Framework : workplans adopted every two years by SPAW
Conference of the Parties
• The SPAW-RAC is now hosted by the National Park of Guadeloupe
• Last SPAW COP in September 2008(COP 5): adoption of the MMAP
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Why a MMAP?
• Lack of information on status and abundance of MM in the WCR
• Exploitation of the resource
• Very limited protective measures
• Insufficient national capacity
• Fragmented or non-existing policy
• Insufficient or lack of enforcement
• Poor public understanding & awareness
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Elaboration
Creation of a dedicated working group (WG) : COP4 decided to
extend its mandate till STAC 4
2 meetings of experts (since 2005) and electronic Working Group (3
yrs)
Review of existing documents and review of the literature on marine
mammals
Goal : to identify major threats, key objectives and concrete actions,
to establish priorities and a timetable
All actions to be implemented by the Parties with respect of their
national priorities and capabilities
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Elaboration
5 target areas :
increased scientific knowledge
enhanced public understanding
protective measures
policy development
improvement of law and its application
2 broad aims :
Management of human interactions and use : identify, address and
mitigate threats, manage strandings, manage taking and holding, adopt a
precautionary approach
Species protection : improve understanding of MM biology, maintain and
where appropriate restore distribution and pop. sizes, protected habitats,
ensure self-sustaining MM pop. throughout their distribution ranges
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
• Fisheries Interactions
Obj.= research on the magnitude and impacts of fishery interactions, monitor
and assess the impact of fisheries-related mortality
– Improve information on takes of marine mammals in fisheries (incl. onboard
observer programmes)
– Evaluate how marine mammals are used in the region and the impact
– Develop stronger working relationships with Fisheries Evaluate and present non-
lethal use of marine mammals
• Habitat Degradation :
Obj. =improved knowledge of MM habitats, links between activities and
habitat degradation, develop sustainable activities and restore habitats
– description of interaction areas
– develop and apply GIS
– Include MM habitat requirements in the Integrated Coastal Zone Management
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
• Pollution and MM Health
Obj. = improve diagnostic tools and capacity for assessing health, protect
coastal zones and important habitats
– Identify key locations for and convene a Regional Pollution Workshop to
compare information
– Implement studies to assess and monitor environmental and MM contaminants
– Training of a watchdog, monitoring, rescue and rehabilitation network
• Protected Areas and Other Management Regimes for Population Recovery
Obj. = explore value of protected areas, encourage actions to protect
important areas, explore new approaches for population recovery
– Design and declare MPA and other management regimes, that maintain
ecological connections
– Review existing MPA Management or Implementation Plans
– Assessing the feasibility of re-introducing the manatee to the islands of the
Lesser Antilles
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
• Research
Obj. = support research and disseminate results
– Compile existing knowledge of marine mammals in the region
– Identify gaps in scientific knowledge and make recommendations
– Compile list of experts and create a dedicated expert fora
• Marine Mammal Watching in the Wild and Associated Activities
Obj. = educate tourists, assess and mitigate impacts through guidelines,
codes of conduct and regulation
– Trilingual workshop on best practices and regional assessment on whale-
watching activities
– Improve benefits for local communities
– Encourage partnerships with scientists
– Adopt mechanisms to manage MM tourism
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
• (Marine Mammal Strandings)
• Marine Mammals in Captivity
Obj. = assess costs and benefices, asses impacts, minimize impacts on wild
populations, regulate capture, trade and possession
– Develop a process for evaluating and seeking exemptions and guidelines
– Standards for captive MM health and welfare and standards for capture,
maintenance and display
– Annual reports on captive MM (births, deaths, diseases etc)
– Research on MM species targeted for live-capture
• Acoustic Disturbance/Underwater Noise
Obj. = improve awareness, assess impacts, integrate noise limits in regulations
– Develop guidelines on underwater noise and its effects (MM and prey)
– Develop education programmes
– Support research programmes on chronic effects of noise
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
• Vessel Strikes
Obj. = identify high risks areas, assess magnitude of strikes and reduce
frequency and severity of vessel strikes
– Sollicitate reports on vessel strikes and collect information on vessel activity
– Memorandum of cooperation or agreement with IWC
– Educate stakeholders and the boating public
– Investigate and implement ways to mitigate impacts of ship collision
• Climate change
Obj. = develop baselines, improve understanding and minimize impacts
– Studies in index areas
– Participate in relevant fora
– Disseminate information on the effects of climate change on MM
2. The Marine Mammal Action Plan :
Objectives and content
5 short-term priority actions to be undertaken
– Contaminants workshop (2010)
– Best practices for whale-watching
– 3 stranding workshops
– Marine mammal expert group
– Standardize reporting on fisheries-related MM takes
3. Management of strandings in the MMAP
Key objectives for strandings
• Improve understanding on the causes of strandings in the WCR,
improve systems for responding to stranding events, and educate
stakeholders on the scientific importance of reporting and investigating
strandings.
• Compile and analyze data and samples from strandings and apply the
results to assessments and mitigation of impacts of human activities.
3. Management of strandings in the MMAP :
Priority actions
• Compile a database of veterinarians, researchers, biologists, and marine policy
experts in the WCR , including both specialists and interested non-specialists
• Build capacity to address strandings through three Regional Stranding Response
Training Workshops on stranding response and necropsy training.
• Develop a MM guide with two taxonomic keys: external appearance and features
of the teeth, skull and skeleton.
• Support the creation and/or strengthening of capacities and infrastructure in
countries of the region and establish ‘injury’ networks where feasible
• Create archives of samples for diverse studies such as pathology, contaminants,
paracytology and genetics.
• Build capacity to include standardized protocols, training in methods of sample
collection, archiving of samples, and establishment of an on-line database for
findings.
3. Management of strandings in the MMAP :
Perspectives and suggestions
• Three cross-sectoral issues in the MMAP :
– Understand
– Exchange and share
– Educate
• Strandings response can participate in those three issues
• Strandings response can contribute also to the implementation of
several key objectives and themes of the MMAP (vessel strikes,
disease, MM distribution, etc)
3. Management of strandings in the MMAP :
Perspectives and suggestions
• Stranding workshops :
– This workshop!
– January 2010 : French Antilles
– March 2010 : workshop for spanish-speaking countries
• Perspectives : how to build on this workshop’s outcomes ?
– Creation of a regional database on strandings, including both contacts
and information on stranded animals?
– Towards common standards among stranding networks?
– Improvment of exchanges between national stranding networks?
– Elaboration of the guide mentionned in the MMAP (building on ECCN
work) : how should it be shaped? With which content?
Thank you for your attention!
SPAW/RAC
Parc national de Guadeloupe, Habitation Beausoleil, Montéran, BP 93,
97120 Saint-Claude Guadeloupe (FWI)
Helene.souan.carspaw@guadeloupe-parcnational.fr
Tél: 0590 (0) 590 80 14 99
Mob: 0590 (0) 690 19 15 65
