Karan, L.,Clark, N.
A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas Technical Report
no. 130, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, high seas, Madagascar, Marine Protected Area, Mascarene Islands, migration
@techreport{,
title = {A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas},
author = {Karan, L.,Clark, N.},
url = {https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2020/03/a-path-to-creating-the-first-generation-of-high-seas-protected-areas},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
number = {130},
pages = {42},
publisher = {Pew Charitable Trusts},
abstract = {Beyond the horizon, more than 200 nautical miles from shore, lies an area of the ocean known as the high seas.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation. },
keywords = {Arabian Sea, biodiversity, Gulf of Guinea, high seas, Madagascar, Marine Protected Area, Mascarene Islands, migration},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Beyond the horizon, more than 200 nautical miles from shore, lies an area of the ocean known as the high seas.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation.
These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any nation, make up roughly two-thirds of the ocean and cover nearly
half of the planet’s surface. Much is still to be learned about these areas, but scientists know they teem with life
and are among the largest reservoirs of ocean biodiversity. The high seas support abundant fisheries; provide
habitat and migratory routes for whales, sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds; and harbor remarkable ecosystems,
such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.
The high seas are also an increasingly busy space; rapid advances in technology and increasing demand for
goods and trade in recent decades mean virtually no part of the ocean—including these waters far from shore—
remains untouched by human industrial activity. Currently, a patchwork of different regional and sectoral
organizations manages this last global common space with little coordination among organizations, and that
is leading to the degradation of the marine environment and its resources. These areas belong to everyone, yet
governments currently have no comprehensive legal mechanism in place to protect high seas marine life.
There is an opportunity for this to change. Negotiations are under way at the United Nations to finalize a new
high seas treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond national
jurisdiction. The treaty could allow nations to establish comprehensive, cross-sector marine protected areas
(MPAs) on the high seas. These areas, when well-managed, can be effective tools in building ocean resilience
to climate change, avoiding fisheries collapse, and preserving biodiversity. Currently, less than 1 per cent of
high seas waters are highly protected, but scientific evidence suggests that protecting at least 30 per cent of
the ocean is more likely to achieve long-term ocean health objectives.1 High seas MPAs can play a key role in
reaching this target.
Although there is much still to discover, scientists have sufficient data and research to begin mapping and
modeling hot spots of biodiversity on the high seas.2 This report identifies some of the special places that could
benefit from protections established under a new high seas treaty. The findings build off a project funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts and led by scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in conjunction
with partners from 13 universities and organizations. Using an algorithm that allows for consideration of
multiple factors, researchers developed a data-driven analysis to identify areas in the high seas of outstanding
conservation value.
The 10 sites highlighted represent areas with a spectrum and combination of important features, such as
species richness, productivity, and habitat diversity. They are located in oceans that span the globe.
This report also includes recommendations to inform the negotiations under way to finalize a new legally
binding international agreement. The agreement should ensure the establishment of effective high seas
protections, including by setting meaningful conservation objectives and requiring enforceable management
plans for these critical waters beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation.
Minton,G.,Cherchio, S.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Ersts, P.J.,Findlay,K.P.,Pomilla, C.,Bennett, D.,Meyer, M.,Razafindrakoto, Y.,Kotze, D.,Oosthuizen, H.,Leslie, M.,Andrianarivelo, N.,Baldwin,R.M.,Ponnampalam, L.,Rosenbaum, H.C.
A note on the comparison of humpback whale tail fluke catalogues from the Sultanate of Oman with Madagascar and the East African Mainland Journal Article
In: Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, vol. 11, no. 408, pp. 65-68, 2010.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, megaptera novaeangliae, Mozambique, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, photo-ID, population identity, South Africa
@article{,
title = {A note on the comparison of humpback whale tail fluke catalogues from the Sultanate of Oman with Madagascar and the East African Mainland},
author = {Minton,G.,Cherchio, S.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Ersts, P.J.,Findlay,K.P.,Pomilla, C.,Bennett, D.,Meyer, M.,Razafindrakoto, Y.,Kotze, D.,Oosthuizen, H.,Leslie, M.,Andrianarivelo, N.,Baldwin,R.M.,Ponnampalam, L.,Rosenbaum, H.C.},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},
volume = {11},
number = {408},
pages = {65-68},
abstract = {The photo-identification catalogue of humpback whale tail flukes from Oman was compared with those from Antongil Bay, Madagascar and study
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, megaptera novaeangliae, Mozambique, Northern Hemisphere, Oman, photo-ID, population identity, South Africa},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The photo-identification catalogue of humpback whale tail flukes from Oman was compared with those from Antongil Bay, Madagascar and study
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.
sites in South Africa and Mozambique collectively termed the ‘East African Mainland’. No matches were found, supporting other lines of evidence
that the humpback whales studied off the coast of Oman form part of a discrete Arabian Sea population, which adheres to a Northern Hemisphere
breeding cycle, and has little or no ongoing exchange with the nearest neighbouring populations in the southern Indian Ocean.While the sample size
from Oman is small, and low levels of ongoing exchange might not be detected in this type of catalogue comparison, the study nonetheless emphasises
the need to pursue research and conservation efforts in the known and suspected range of the Endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale population.
IWC
Report of the 54th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Annex N Report of of the Working Group to Review Sanctuaries and Sanctuary Proposals Technical Report
no. 119, 2002.
BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, sanctuaries, Stock identity, whale, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Report of the 54th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Annex N Report of of the Working Group to Review Sanctuaries and Sanctuary Proposals},
author = {IWC},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-01},
number = {119},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, sanctuaries, Stock identity, whale, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Rosenbaum,H.C.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Minton,G.,Baldwin,R.,Glaberman,S.,Findlay,K.P.,Best,P.
Preliminary analysis of MtDNA variation among humpback whales off the coast of Oman and their relationships to whales from wintering grounds in the southwestern Indian Ocean Technical Report
no. 458, 2002, ISBN: SC/54/H4.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, genotyping, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Mayotte, migration, Oman, population characteristics, South Africa, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Preliminary analysis of MtDNA variation among humpback whales off the coast of Oman and their relationships to whales from wintering grounds in the southwestern Indian Ocean},
author = {Rosenbaum,H.C.,Collins,T.J.Q.,Minton,G.,Baldwin,R.,Glaberman,S.,Findlay,K.P.,Best,P.},
issn = {SC/54/H4},
year = {2002},
date = {2002-01-01},
journal = {Document presented to the 54th meeting of the International Whaling Commission},
volume = {SC/54/H4},
number = {458},
pages = {1-10},
abstract = {Preliminary results of genetic analysis of skin tissue samples obtained from two sampling locations off the coast of Oman are compared with those obtained form longer term surveys in Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique and the east coast of South Africa. Haplotype diversity was relatively low for whales from Oman in comparison with other populations. Maternal lineage haplotypes were shared between whales from both sites in Oman and those of other populations. However, it is unclear whether these shared haplotypes indicate recent exchange/migration links between the Arabian Sea and SW Indian Ocean populations, or are the result of ancestral polymorphism from historical population expansion. Two private material lineage haplotypes were detected in Oman, represented by three individual whales.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, genotyping, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Mayotte, migration, Oman, population characteristics, South Africa, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Preliminary results of genetic analysis of skin tissue samples obtained from two sampling locations off the coast of Oman are compared with those obtained form longer term surveys in Madagascar, Mayotte, Mozambique and the east coast of South Africa. Haplotype diversity was relatively low for whales from Oman in comparison with other populations. Maternal lineage haplotypes were shared between whales from both sites in Oman and those of other populations. However, it is unclear whether these shared haplotypes indicate recent exchange/migration links between the Arabian Sea and SW Indian Ocean populations, or are the result of ancestral polymorphism from historical population expansion. Two private material lineage haplotypes were detected in Oman, represented by three individual whales.
Best,P.B.
Distribution and population separation of Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni off southern Africa Journal Article
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 220, no. 44, pp. 277-289, 2001.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Bryde's whale, Distribution, Indian Ocean, length, Madagascar, migration, population characteristics, reproduction, sexual maturity, South Africa, whaling
@article{,
title = {Distribution and population separation of Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni off southern Africa},
author = {Best,P.B.},
year = {2001},
date = {2001-01-01},
journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},
volume = {220},
number = {44},
pages = {277-289},
abstract = {A review of available catch and biological data suggests that there are 3 populations of Bryde's whales in the Southern African region. An inshore population (the South African Inshore stock) occurs over hte continental shelf of South Africa, south of about 30§ S and seems to be non-migratory, although there is a movement up the west coast in winter. A pelagic population (the South-east Atlantic Stock) occurs on the west coast of southern Africa, ranging from equatorial regions to about 34§ S, and appears to migrate north in autumn and south in spring. Whales from the Southeast Atlantic Stock differ from the South African Inshore Stock in size, scarring, baleen shape, seasonality of reproduction, fecundity and prey types. both occured in the west coast whaling ground off Donkergat, but with differing seasonalities and distributions from the coast. Bryde's whales are rare on the east coast of southern Africa, but are found in summer in some numbers south of Madagascar. Whales from this population are clearly smaller than those from the Southeast Atlantic Stock, but are similar in size to, or even smaller than, those from teh South African Inshore stock. Their external appearance is unknown, but they differ in prey type from South African Inshore stock, and because of a clear discontinuity in distribution, it is believed that they form a third (pelagic) population (the Southwest Indian Ocean Sstock). this population may or may not move normt as far as the Seychelles in winter, but seems to be separate from Bryde's whales in the Arabian Sea. From their size composition, length at sexual maturity and infrequent capture, Bryde's whales taken at Durban may have repasented strays from ei ther ht eh South African Inshore Stock or the Southwest Indian Ocean Stock, and recorded stomach contents also indicate prey ty pes commn toe either stock. The unusual degree of population differentiation shown by Bryde's whales may be a consequence of hteir limited seasonal migrations and apparent resource partitioning.},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Bryde's whale, Distribution, Indian Ocean, length, Madagascar, migration, population characteristics, reproduction, sexual maturity, South Africa, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A review of available catch and biological data suggests that there are 3 populations of Bryde's whales in the Southern African region. An inshore population (the South African Inshore stock) occurs over hte continental shelf of South Africa, south of about 30§ S and seems to be non-migratory, although there is a movement up the west coast in winter. A pelagic population (the South-east Atlantic Stock) occurs on the west coast of southern Africa, ranging from equatorial regions to about 34§ S, and appears to migrate north in autumn and south in spring. Whales from the Southeast Atlantic Stock differ from the South African Inshore Stock in size, scarring, baleen shape, seasonality of reproduction, fecundity and prey types. both occured in the west coast whaling ground off Donkergat, but with differing seasonalities and distributions from the coast. Bryde's whales are rare on the east coast of southern Africa, but are found in summer in some numbers south of Madagascar. Whales from this population are clearly smaller than those from the Southeast Atlantic Stock, but are similar in size to, or even smaller than, those from teh South African Inshore stock. Their external appearance is unknown, but they differ in prey type from South African Inshore stock, and because of a clear discontinuity in distribution, it is believed that they form a third (pelagic) population (the Southwest Indian Ocean Sstock). this population may or may not move normt as far as the Seychelles in winter, but seems to be separate from Bryde's whales in the Arabian Sea. From their size composition, length at sexual maturity and infrequent capture, Bryde's whales taken at Durban may have repasented strays from ei ther ht eh South African Inshore Stock or the Southwest Indian Ocean Stock, and recorded stomach contents also indicate prey ty pes commn toe either stock. The unusual degree of population differentiation shown by Bryde's whales may be a consequence of hteir limited seasonal migrations and apparent resource partitioning.
IWC
Report of the 50th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Annex Report of the Sub-Committee on Other Great Whales Technical Report
no. 118, 1998.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Stock identity, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Report of the 50th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Annex Report of the Sub-Committee on Other Great Whales},
author = {IWC},
year = {1998},
date = {1998-01-01},
number = {118},
abstract = {The report summarizes the documents presented to, and discussed in the subcommittee on other great whales. It focusses on the definition of whale stocks around the globe. It includes specific mention of the recent papers (Mikhalev 1997, Baldwin 1998) on humpback whales in the Arabian Sea, and strongly recommends further research. "The subcommittee recommended that dedicated surveys should be carried out to establish the status of humpback whales in the northwest Indian Ocean, and that these should include the collection of biopsy material from which the genetic relationships of this interesting stock could be investigated (particularly since genetic material was now available form Madagascar to the south)."},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Stock identity, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The report summarizes the documents presented to, and discussed in the subcommittee on other great whales. It focusses on the definition of whale stocks around the globe. It includes specific mention of the recent papers (Mikhalev 1997, Baldwin 1998) on humpback whales in the Arabian Sea, and strongly recommends further research. "The subcommittee recommended that dedicated surveys should be carried out to establish the status of humpback whales in the northwest Indian Ocean, and that these should include the collection of biopsy material from which the genetic relationships of this interesting stock could be investigated (particularly since genetic material was now available form Madagascar to the south)."
IWC
Report of the 42nd meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Report of of the Small Cetacean Subcommittee Technical Report
no. 117, 1992.
BibTeX | Tags: Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, sanctuaries, Stock identity, whale, whaling
@techreport{,
title = {Report of the 42nd meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Report of of the Small Cetacean Subcommittee},
author = {IWC},
year = {1992},
date = {1992-01-01},
number = {117},
pages = {178-234},
publisher = {International Whaling Commission},
keywords = {Arabian Sea, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, Madagascar, sanctuaries, Stock identity, whale, whaling},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}