Days after a national poll showed that its own citizens oppose commercial #whaling, Antigua & Barbuda and co-sponsors tabled a draft resolution that risks lifting the global whaling moratorium by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). It will be debated at #IWC70 in Hobart this autumn. 1/3

Antigua and Barbuda's government has dismissed its own citizens on #whaling. After a poll which showed most oppose commercial whaling, its #IWC Commissioner questioned the survey and defended the pro-whaling stance. 1/3

👉 In der 10. Folge von «Plastic Matters» spricht Marco Scherrer mit Dr. Ewoud Lauwerier, OceanCare's Plastic Policy Specialist, darüber, warum Zigarettenstummel kein Littering-, sondern ein Plastikproblem sind & warum dieser Unterschied vieles verändert. 🎙️Hier reinhören: www.oceancare.org/podcast/

🌊The deep sea covers two-thirds of our planet. Yet #DeepSeaMining risks profound, irreversible harm. As the #ISA Council meets (13–24 July), governments face a clear choice: support a precautionary pause or moratorium. 43 countries now back a halt on DSM-activities. @deepseaconserve.bsky.social

‼️ Der US-Ölkonzern ExxonMobil will mit Schallkanonen CO2-Lager in der Nordsee suchen – derselben schädlichen Methode, mit der auch nach Öl und Gas gesucht wird – und verkauft es als Klimaschutz. Das ist kein Klimaschutz, sondern ein Geschäftsmodell und eine Scheinlösung. 1/2

🌊 At the #OurOceanConference (OOC11), African & global civil society organisations have published a call on governments & banks to stop offshore oil and gas exploration & exploitation in African waters. 1/2

This #WorldOceansDay, the UN asks us to REIMAGINE our relationship with the ocean. We believe that is exactly the right question. The #BBNJ shows what becomes possible when States act together.That same commitment must now be carried forward to address every threat our blue planet continues to face.

An important step for the protection of sperm whales in the Mediterranean. 🐋 The Green Fund has officially joined 'SAvE Whales' as a new partner. It also secures the public co-financing committed by Greece to move & progress towards the full implementation of the project. @thegreentank.bsky.social

🌊 Der deutsche Bundesrat ebnet nun auch den weiteren Weg für Deutschlands Beitritt zum BBNJ-Abkommen! Ein wichtiges Signal während der #PrepCom3 in NY, der letzten Sitzung vor #BBNJCOP1. OceanCare begrüsst diesen Schritt. #BBNJ @highseasalliance.bsky.social @umweltministerium.de

🐬 At #CMSCOP15 OceanCare's partner organisation #BEES delivered an intervention supporting the continuation & expansion of the Aquatic Wild Meat workstream, addressing the harvest & consumption of protected marine species in coastal communities. OceanCare strongly supports this call. @cms.int

At #CMSCOP15, OceanCare's Mark Simmonds, CMS's Councillor for Marine Pollution, joined a side event on why the oldest animals in migratory populations are irreplaceable. They carry knowledge about migration routes & foraging strategies. Protecting species means protecting their wisdom too.🐋 @cms.int

Yesterday at #CMSCOP15, OceanCare welcomed the groundbreaking work of the CMS Animal Culture Expert Working Group and the publication of a landmark special issue in the Royal Society Philosophical Transactions B on animal culture and conservation. 1/2 @cms.int

Day 1 at #CMSCOP15: Brazilian scientist Alex Zerbini opened with a powerful presentation, highlighting the vulnerability of the world’s migratory whales. He also noted, that protecting these species requires coordinated action across CMS, the IWC, and the BBNJ Agreement. @cms.int

🌊 PrepCom 3 is underway! From 23 March to 2 April, governments meet for the final Preparatory Commission before the first #BBNJCOP. This is a critical moment towards turning global commitments into real protection of the ocean. #HighSeasTreaty @highseasalliance.bsky.social 1/2

4/4 6) Adoption of the Aquatic Wild Meat Action Plan, addressing the harvest and consumption of dolphins, turtles, and other protected marine species by coastal communities 🐟 There is no alternative to comprehensive, collaborative, and precautionary action.

3/4 4) The establishment of a permanent working group of experts to address marine pollution 🧪 5) Concerted Actions for sperm whales in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and the Franciscana dolphin, and Lahille's bottlenose dolphin in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay 🐬

2/4 We are calling on Parties to: 1) A resolution to protect seamount ecosystems, as many migratory species depend on them for survival 🌋 2) Upholding the precautionary position on deep-sea mining ⛏️ 3) Support the proposed listing of seven shark species, including the scalloped hammerhead shark 🦈

Tomorrow, #CMSCOP15 opens in Campo Grande at the gates of the Pantanal, one of the world's most extraordinary ecosystems. OceanCare's expert team will be on the ground in Brazil, engaged across the issues that matter most for migratory marine species. 1/4 @cms.int

3/3 Monaco and Panama have also proposed a resolution urging governments to prioritise seamount protection within and beyond national jurisdiction. #OceanCare supports full adoption of the proposed resolutions at CMS COP15. 🌊

2/3 🦈 The scalloped hammerhead shark, assessed as critically endangered by the #IUCN, also depends on seamounts. At #CMSCOP15 this week, it is proposed for full international protection for the first time which is essential as the population has decreased by over 80% in the last 72 years. @cms.int

1/3 Fewer than 1% of seamounts are effectively protected, yet these underwater mountains are critical oases for migratory species like sperm whales, sharks, and sea turtles. 58% lie in the high seas, where no single country has the authority to act alone. 🌊 #CMSCOP15

4/4 That is why @cms.int exists. Next week, governments gather in Campo Grande for CMS COP15. OceanCare will be there, working for stronger protection for migratory species in the ocean. Follow our coverage. 🌊

3/4 Destructive fishing, pollution, including underwater noise, vessel strikes, & climate change: Migratory species are facing a multitude of threats. And emerging threats like deep-sea mining risk adding to the pressure before we even fully understand the consequences.

2/4 In the ocean: sharks and rays have lost half their populations since 1970. Hammerhead sharks, devil rays, and sawfishes are among the most threatened species on the planet. Sea turtles show fragile signs of recovery, but bycatch remains their greatest threat.

49% of migratory species are declining. 24% face extinction. The latest science, released just ahead of #CMSCOP15 in Brazil, leaves no doubt about the urgency of this moment. 🌊 Link to the State of the World’s Migratory Species Interim Report (2026): www.cms.int/publication/... @cms.int 1/4

2/3 Yesterday OceanCare, the Basque Centre for Climate Change & the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) hosted a high-level event at the @europarl.europa.eu.

2/2 40 countries + scientists, Indigenous Peoples & civil society already stand against #DeepSeaMining. And with the #BBNJ Agreement now in force, Deep-Sea Mining is incompatible with its biodiversity & conservation objectives. A moratorium could help to safeguard the High Seas. #HighSeasTreaty

The deep sea covers ⅔ of our planet, regulates climate, stores carbon & supports biodiversity. As the #ISA Council meets (9–19 March), the choice is clear: adopt a precautionary pause or a moratorium on #deepseamining. 🌊 Mining risks irreversible & permanent damage. 1/2 @deepseaconserve.bsky.social

Venice has a very special visitor: "Mimmo", a bottlenose dolphin that has called the Venetian Lagoon home for eight months. Now scientists are calling for its protection and for people to behave appropriately around the dolphin. 🐬 1/2

4/5 In 2023, the @imohq.bsky.social designated the NW Mediterranean as a 'Particularly Sensitive Sea Area', addressing deadly ship strikes on whales & recommending speeds of 10-13 knots. OceanCare's research shows shipping companies are not complying. Voluntary measures are not effectively working.