Aiming to protect Cetaceans in the Dutch Caribbean across their geographical range

Project details

Title: Aiming to protect Cetaceans in the Dutch Caribbean across their geographical range

Time: 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2027

Project leaders: Jeffrey Bernus

Project summary:

The Caribbean is an important area where cetaceans feed, rest, and breed. To ensure that the population of cetaceans is stable or increasing, the breeding, feeding, and migratory areas of cetaceans in the Wider Caribbean Region need to be protected. While it is known that at least 33 species of cetacean have been seen in the Wider Caribbean Region, little is known about their population size, distribution, migratory patterns and where they encounter threats. The protection of cetaceans in the Caribbean during their various life stages needs to be improved by identifying and implementing management plans to counteract the various threats they face.

The Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) works at the Caribbean scale to improve cetacean conservation through international cooperation, education, and research. Their objective is to improve understanding of, distribute and share the knowledge on cetaceans in the Caribbean, and ultimately to ensure adequate conservation measures are put in place. In this respect, WWF is establishing a strategic partnership with CCS for a multi-year cetacean conservation program. The current partnership targets two overarching strategic goals of WWF:
1.     Reducing man-made threats to cetaceans 
2.     Expanding coverage & improve management of MPAs / cetacean sanctuaries

WWF targets these goals by strengthening regional collaboration by identifying and protecting Blue Corridors in the WCR, to which CCS will actively contribute.