28 October 2014: Some 50 participants from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia and international and regional organizations met to promote the implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS).

The ‘Third Biennial Conference on Cetacean Conservation in South Mediterranean Countries’ assessed knowledge acquired on cetaceans the region, identified potential gaps, and considered the development of conservation actions. Participants also addressed population monitoring and strandings, critical habitats, conservation plans, the exchange of information, and the photo-identification of cetacean species.

The conference was organized with support from the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA -MAP-UNEP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, and the National Centre for Marine Sciences (CNRS) of Lebanon. It took place in Jounieh, Lebanon, from 21-23 October 2014. [IUCN News] [ACCOBAMS Website]