Ensuring effective cooperation between countries and relevant stakeholders to conserve whales, dolphins and porpoises in European waters and beyond is the fundamental aim of ASCOBANS. Whales are particularly vulnerable in the ASCOBANS region, including some of the busiest and most exploited ocean basins globally. The ten countries that have adopted ASCOBANS have committed themselves to provide a framework for international cooperation, including wide-ranging actions under three regional action plans, as well as regional and threat-based working groups. The treaty has been in force since 1994 and it is this long-term commitment that allows the associated international network to leverage targeted implementation of the SDG14 targets.
At the core of ASCOBANS work are three Single-species Action Plans: the Conservation Plan for Harbour Porpoises in the North Sea; the Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise Population in the Western Baltic, the Belt Sea and the Kattegat; and the Recovery Plan for Baltic Harbour Porpoises (Jastarnia Plan). A further Action Plan on Common Dolphins is currently in development. In 2016 the ASCOBANS Parties committed themselves to applying best practises regarding bycatch, underwater noise, ocean energy, cetacean watching industry, recreational sea use, underwater munitions, marine debris, pollution (emphasis on Polychlorinated Biphenyls), strandings response and other threats. In addition to these individual legally binding decisions, a number of guidelines have been developed including on Environmental Impact Assessments for Marine Noise-generating Activities.
ASCOBANS is a catalyst for international action, with strong emphasis on measuring success and adaptive monitoring through its annual national reporting cycle. Within the countries, population dynamics of cetaceans are regularly assessed (e.g. SCANS-III), including data from strandings. Exchange of knowledge across the science-policy interface, targeted capacity building as well as outreach and an annual campaign on the Baltic harbour porpoise further strengthen ASCOBANS impact in implementing SDG 14.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
NUTRIENTS
- Fertilizer use efficiency
- Wastewater treatment
- Manure management
- Nutrient sinks (e.g. constructed wetlands)
PLASTICS
- Coastal clean-ups
- Plastics product bans or restrictions
- Plastics recovery/recycling/reuse
SHIPPING
- Management of ship-based pollution and/or port waste management
OTHER POLLUTANTS (please specify)
- Other (please specify): Noise pollution
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Large Marine Ecosystem approach
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Type of commitment
- Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
- Reduction and elimination fishing practices and gear that destroy/degrade marine habitat
- Science-based fisheries management plans
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
- Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- No take marine protected area
- Marine protected area with partial protection
- Multiple use marine protected area
- MPA management and/or enforcement
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
Type of commitment
- Removal or reduction of harmful fisheries subsidies
- information relating to harmful subsidies
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
- Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
- Research capacity development
- Data access and sharing
- Training and professional development
- Scientific cooperation
- Transfer marine technology
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
- Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
- Activities to develop the capacity of States towards broader participation in and effective implementation of UNCLOS and its implementing Agreements
- Strengthening ocean governance, for example through the development of a national ocean policy or regional ocean policy
- Development of necessary infrastructure and/or enforcement capabilities to comply with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS and as complemented by other ocean-related instruments
January/2018
Hello, little whale campaign, with videos and outreach in all ten languages of the Baltic Sea, including English (ongoing throughout 2017)
Ongoing
Implementation of the Conservation Plan for Harbour Porpoises in the North Sea; the Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise Population in the Western Baltic, the Belt Sea and the Kattegat; and the Recovery Plan for Baltic Harbour Porpoises (Jastarnia Plan). Annual meetings of the ten countries, as well as working groups (e.g. 19-22 June 2017, Wilhelmshaven, Germany for North Sea and Jastarnia Working Groups, the latter covering the Baltic Sea; Advisory Committee meeting 5-7 September 2017, Le Conquet, France)
September/2017
2016 National reporting cycle to inter alia assess the impacts of underwater noise, ocean energy, unexploded ordnance (national reporting cycle conducted each year since 1994, but with different focus on different threats since 2016); to measure success and facilitate adaptive monitoring, results available by 23rd Meeting of the Advisory Committee (5-7 September 2017, Le Conquet, France).
In-kind contribution
Financing support through assessed and voluntary contributions from the ten ASCOBANS Parties
In-kind contribution
In-kind contribution by ASCOBANS Parties, observers and other stakeholders, including technical support and assistance
Staff / Technical expertise
Staff and technical support from the ASCOBANS Secretariat
