The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Melanie Virtue Head, Aquatic Species
Global Threats to Migratory Species Habitat Loss & Degradation Climate Change Wildlife Disease Illegal Hunting & Trade Unsustainable Use Wildlife Disease Barriers to Migration Dams Powerlines Windfarms Fences, roads, railways
Threats to Migratory Species Marine Environment Bycatch Underwater Noise Pollution, Marine Debris Alien Invasive Species Illegal Fishing & Trade Barriers to migration
How CMS works
Species Appendices Appendix I Migratory species in danger of extinction Throughout all or part of their range. Grants highest degree of protection no taking Similar to CITES App I
Species Appendices Appendix II Species that would benefit from international cooperation through agreements
Non- Legally Binding Agreements and MOUs Aquatic Warbler Bukhara Deer Dugong Great Bustard Legally Binding Pacific Cetaceans Raptors Ruddy Headed Goose Saiga Antelope Wadden Sea Seals ACAP EUROBATS ACCOBAMS Sharks Siberian Crane Slenderbilled Curlew West African Aquatic Mammals High Andean Flamingo Marine Turtles Africa IOSEA Mediterranean Monk Seal ASCOBANS Gorilla AEWA West African Elephants Grassland Birds of South America Huemul
Action Plans Single or Multispecies Action Plans More flexible, easier to agree, but May carry less weight with Parties e.g. Single species Action Plan for the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) in the South Pacific Ocean
Concerted Actions Priority conservation measures, projects, or institutional arrangements undertaken to improve the conservation status of selected Appendix I and Appendix II species that involve measures that are the collective responsibility of Parties acting in concert; or are designed to support the conclusion of an instrument under Article IV of the Convention and enable conservation measures to be progressed in the meantime or represent an alternative to such an instrument;
European Eel CMS COP 11, 2014 Listed on Appendix II Species that would benefit from international cooperation Added to List of Concerted Action Species Priority conservation measures, to improve the conservation status of selected Appendix II species
First Meeting of the Range States of the European Eel October, 2016, Galway, Ireland CMS Secretariat and Sargasso Sea Commission
First Meeting of the Range States of the European Eel Scientists and policy makers European and American eel experts Discussion on options for a possible CMS Agreement or other arrangement
Recent Developments CMS COP 12 October 2017 adopted a proposal for a Concerted Action for the European Eel 1. Convene a second policy meeting of Range States to explore options to strengthen conservation efforts Synergies between existing instruments Include all RS, especially North African countries RFMOs and CITES
Concerted Action adopted CMS COP 12 October 2017.. 2. Survey gaps in conservation and management of the species 3. I.D. actions that complement CITES COP17 Decision and IUCN WCC resolution 4. Encourage improved data flow to ICES for annual reporting & AESG for Red List assessment in 2018 5. Engage stakeholders, e.g. RFBs, esp GCFM
Documents Proposal for a Concerted Action for the European Eel /sites/default/files/document/cms_cop 12_crp14_concerted-action-eel_e.pdf Options for Developing an Agreement under the Convention on Migratory Species for European Eels UNEP/CMS/COP12.Inf.34 /sites/default/files/document/cms_cop 12_inf.34_options-for-cms-eel_agreement_e.pdf
Next Steps Questionnaire to Range States gaps in conservation and management of the species 2 nd Meeting of Range States Malmo, Sweden, May 2018 Invitations to all RS Invitations to RFMOs and CITES Effort to ensure North African attendance