On February 12, 2024, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) released a landmark report on the State of the World’s Migratory Species as part of CMS COP 14. This first ever global biodiversity report focused on migratory species comes to many concerning conclusions, including that nearly half of CMS listed migratory species are showing population declines (although some are improving). More disturbingly, 97% of CMS-listed fish are under threat of extinction. Overexploitation and habitat loss combined with degradation and fragmentation are are the greatest threats to CMS-listed species. Invasive species, pollution and climate change are also having a devastating effect on species.
The fate of transboundary marine species has been on the mind of researchers at MELAW, and in December 2023 a report flowing from a joint workshop held in 2022 was posted online. A brief summary is provided below of the workshop with a link to the report.
Workshop Report, Transboundary Marine Species at Risk & Their Recovery In A Changing Climate: Taking Stock of Canadian and US Scientific and Governance Responses, Enhancing Future Cooperation, Washington, D.C., 3–4 November 2022
On November 3 and 4, 2022, a group of government officials, academics, non-governmental organization representatives, scientists and lawyers gathered at the offices of Duke University in Washington DC to deliberate upon means to improve the management of marine migratory species that cross the US and Canadian border. The convening, sponsored by Duke University, the Marine and Environmental Law Institute at Dalhousie University, the Ocean Frontier Institute, housed at Dalhousie University, and the Environmental Law Institute, provided ample opportunity for frank discussion and highlighted numerous avenues for coordination between the United States and Canada. The report summarizes the two days of meetings, presentations, and discussions.
The workshop’s objectives were to take stock of existing science, evaluate differences in national policies, and consider how to improve bilateral cooperation and conservation efforts, a need of heightened urgency considering anticipated climate change-induced distribution shifts. After two days of presentations, the workshop concluded with participants breaking up into small groups to discuss successes and challenges, as well as recommendations for the way forward. Participants were excited to highlight the strength of the informal cooperation between the two countries, in particular on North Atlantic right whale. But identified challenges were also numerous and ranged in complexity from data sharing and intragovernmental coordination to paradigm shifting needs such as incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and implementation of ecosystem-based management. Participants recognized the importance of political will and passionate, mission-driven individuals to advancement of scientific and management measures forward.
The Report succinctly captures the ideas and proposals, summarizing the presentations from each panel, and aspires to spur further discussion and action to conserve marine migratory species. It presents a comprehensive summary of recommendations focused on specific national, bilateral, regional, and global actions. These include strengthening species protection laws in both countries, unifying listing and management standards, and taking leadership roles in international forums.
From Dalhousie University, Professor David L. VanderZwaag, Canada Research Chair in Ocean Law & Governance and then Director of Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Schulich School of Law, and Professor Boris Worm, Marine Ecologist, Biology Department, were members of the steering committee and chaired panels. The Report includes, as an Appendix, the Briefing document on the Federal Legal Framework for Protecting Marine Species at Risk in Atlantic Canada, prepared by a team at MELAW – Jordan Sarah Head, Olga Koubrak and Professor VanderZwaag, with research assistance from Joanna Skrajny and Alex Hayward.
[With thanks to Devdatta Mukherjee and Olga Koubrak for the preparation of this summary.]