The Arabian Sea Whale Network (ASWN) was proudly represented at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC), held in Abu Dhabi from October 9 – 15, 2025. This major global event brought together more than 10,000 participants from over 170 countries, including scientists, conservationists, policy makers, and representatives of the private sector to define conservation priorities for the next four years.
ASWN’s coordinator Gianna Minton and members from Oman, Iran, and UAE joined colleagues from the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) at the shared booth, themed ‘Conservation Planning and Action for Cetaceans’. The booth served as a hub for discussions, attracting hundreds of visitors interested in learning about regional and global efforts to protect cetaceans. Visitors included scientists, conservation practitioners, and government representatives.
For ASWN, the Congress offered a timely opportunity to highlight recent progress and collaborations aimed at advancing the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Arabian Sea humpback whales (ASHW) – one of the world’s most isolated and endangered humpback whale populations. The draft CMP provides a coordinated framework to guide conservation actions across range states, addressing key threats such as fisheries entanglement, ship strikes, and habitat degradation. The CMP aims to strengthen regional collaboration among range states to mitigate these threats. This CMP would be the first to be run under the joint auspices of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). It will be presented for review and endorsement at CMS Scientific Council in December 2025 and its Conference of the Parties in March 2026, and subsequently the IWC Scientific Committee and Commission meetings in April and September 2026.
Through interactions at the WCC, ASWN members helped raise awareness about ongoing research and management initiatives, and encouraged stronger engagement from government agencies and partner organizations in implementing the CMP. The Congress also provided a valuable platform for connecting with potential collaborators and supporters interested in contributing to Arabian Sea humpback whale conservation through policy, research, and community-based initiatives.
The ASWN extends its gratitude to the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group for hosting the booth, to the UAE Dolphin Project volunteers for their assistance, and to all who visited and engaged in discussions about protecting Arabian Sea humpback whales and other cetaceans in the Indian Ocean.
Learn more about the CMP here
Download the ASHW Factsheet here
Photo credits: Sonja Lavrencic and the team of UAE Dolphin Project volunteers