Arabian Sea Humpback Whale Regional Conservation Management Plan Endorsed by the IWC Scientific Committee

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The Arabian Sea Whale Network is pleased to announce that the joint regional IWC-CMS Arabian Sea Humpback Whale Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has been formally endorsed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Scientific Committee.

The endorsement was published in the recently released Report of the IWC Scientific Committee 2026, which commended the strong collaboration underpinning the development of the CMP and recognised the contributions of the Arabian Sea Whale Network and its broad engagement of scientists, researchers, regional governments, and other stakeholders.

The CMP was first recommended by the IWC Scientific Committee in 2011 and has since been developed through sustained collaboration among range states, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the IWC, and numerous regional and international partners. The Scientific Committee highlighted the continued commitment of stakeholders and range states despite significant regional challenges.

This endorsement marks the third major international milestone for the CMP, following endorsement by the CMS Scientific Council in December 2025 and endorsement by the CMS Conference of the Parties (COP15) in March 2026.

The next steps will be consideration of the CMP by the IWC Conservation Committee and subsequently by the IWC Commission at its meeting in Hobart, Australia, in September – October 2026. If adopted, implementation of the CMP is expected to begin in 2027 through a coordinated programme of conservation actions, governance structures, scientific advisory mechanisms, and regional collaboration.

ASWN extends its sincere thanks to the many researchers, government representatives, conservation practitioners, partner organisations, and network members whose dedication and collaboration made this achievement possible. We also thank the IWC Scientific Committee for its careful review and support of this important regional conservation initiative.

The endorsement represents a significant step forward for one of the world’s most endangered and isolated humpback whale populations and demonstrates the power of regional cooperation in addressing shared conservation challenges.

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