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Towards a Conservation Plan for Black Sea cetaceans presented at the 2nd Meeting of the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee. Istanbul, Turkey, 20-22 November, 2003 Alexei Birkun (1), Giovanni Bearzi (2), Dmitriy Glazov (3), Irakli Goradze (4), George Komakhidze (4), Sergey Krivokhizhin (1) & Olga Shpak (3) (1)
Brema Laboratory, Gagarin str. 9a-18, 95026 Simferopol, Ukraine
INTRODUCTION 1. The strategy for cetacean research and conservation actions presented here has been developed following a request by ACCOBAMS, that encouraged one of the authors (A. Birkun) to proceed with the development of a Black Sea conservation and management plan, according to the Implementation Priority #6 (ACCOBAMS, 2002). Such management plan is intended to complement the existing Implementation Priorities addressing cetacean research and conservation in the Black Sea. 2. This document was prepared during the first training course on cetacean photo-identification sponsored by ACCOBAMS, that was held in July 2003 at the Tethys Research Institute field station in Kalamos, Greece. The course provided opportunities to discuss the most appropriate actions and prioritize them based on input provided by researchers from Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. All participants agreed about the general strategy and committed to support the actions outlined in this document. Representatives from three other Black Sea countries (Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria) did not participate in the photo-id training course and as a consequence they could not participate in this effort. Therefore, they are encouraged to provide input and ideas to further complement and improve the present contribution to a Conservation Plan for Black Sea cetaceans. 3. Although an attempt was made to design a common strategy for all Black Sea countries, differences in the available expertise and level of organization among areas, as well as different scientific backgrounds and logistical constraints, ultimately affected the design of uniform strategies and resulted in different approaches and recommendations. 4. Recommendations made by the IWC Subcommittee on Small Cetaceans (IWC, in press) were adopted by this document and partly incorporated in the strategy presented here. The proposed priority actions were identified in addition to or based on the recommendations by the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee (Tunis, 2002), as well as in accordance with the IUCN/SSC 2002-2010 Conservation Action Plan for the World(s Cetaceans (Reeves et al., 2003).
RECOMMENDATIONS We recommend that a common mechanism to promote cetacean research, conservation actions and capacity building be promoted by ACCOBAMS and adopted by all Black Sea countries, with the aim of facilitating cross-country collaboration while taking into account regional differences. We
recommend that a Conservation Plan for cetaceans (CPC) in the Black
Sea region be created based on a strategy
designed
by ACCOBAMS.
The
implementation of such a CPC should coordinated by ACCOBAMS
and BSC. Although the final
CPC may result from a series of regional Action Plans
developed independently by each Black Sea country, collaborative
efforts and management actions
should be strongly encouraged. For instance, Ukraine,
Russia and Georgia may develop a joint CPC based on the hypothesis
that cetaceans
move
across the coastline of these countries. Such an hypothesis
remains to be confirmed
by the ongoing photo-identification studies. EC Agencies
such as INCO-Copernicus, INTAS and TACIS may support scientific research
and collaboration between
Western
European
and the former
USSR countries (i.e. the so called NIS countries, including
Georgia, Russia
and Ukraine). We recommend that links be created between
ACCOBAMS and these agencies to explore possibilities
to fund collaborative
projects
centred around cetacean research and conservation. Finally, we recommend that Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria be requested to provide further input and comments to complement and improve the present document.
PROPOSED ACTIONS The 10 Actions proposed below have been divided into four broader categories: Management, Capacity building, Education & Awareness, and Research & Monitoring. We would like to stress that all categories are equally important and they will have to be addressed simultaneously.
1. MANAGEMENT ACTION
1.1. Aim: Reduction of the currently very high numbers of harbour porpoises being caught annually in fishing gear. Background: Bycatch of harbour porpoises in fishing gear has been recognized as one of the most dramatic threats affecting cetaceans in the Black Sea. Recommendations: Link with group working on Fisheries Convention in the Black Sea (Fisheries Advisory Group of the Black Sea Commission) to develop an Action Plan dedicated to mitigation of bycatch of harbour porpoises.
2. CAPACITY BUILDING
ACTION
2.1. Aim: Capitalize on existing expertise. Creating a framework supporting the development of a long-term capacity building strategy in the Black Sea sub-region. Background: Very few young scientists and students are involved in cetacean research and conservation activities in the Black Sea countries. No special course (or any other particular form of education) on cetacean research and management exists in national Universities. At the same time there are institutions, teams and specialists who can provide interested young people with basic knowledge on cetology and practical skills on field and laboratory work on Black Sea cetaceans. Recommendations: We recommend that ACCOBAMS supports the creation of a inter-university course on cetacean research and management, which may be organized, for instance, at the Crimean State Medical University / Tauria National University, both situated in Simferopol, Ukraine, with a basic assistance from the Brema Laboratory (Simferopol), a non-governmental body recognized as ACCOBAMS Partner by MOP1 (Monaco, 2002). Such a cetacean research and management course would offer
a possible link with the Sevastopol (Ukraine) branch of the
Lomonosov
State
University of Moscow (Russia) University, resulting in facilitated
access for Russian
students. The course would be the first of its kind in Black
Sea countries, and would provide Black Sea students interested
in cetaceans
with a possibility
to get expert advise and supervision. EU projects such as "Tempus", which is including the Tauria National University and the Lomonosov State University of Moscow, may facilitate the participation of international cetacean experts to the course taught at Simferopol. Although being particularly aimed to Russian-speaking students (i.e., to students from Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine) who can attend the University courses at Simferopol, the course should be open to students from all Black Sea countries. ACCOBAMS may help supporting the interested students by developing an appropriate selection mechanism that gives access to a system of grants. We recommend that one grant is made available annually for a PhD student from a Black Sea country. In addition, interested students from Black Sea countries may be provided with grants (e.g. one grant per year) to allow their participation in short-term courses on cetacean research and conservation (e.g. the course on marine mammals organized by the University of Valencia, the distance sampling workshop organized by the University of St. Andrews, the field training courses on cetacean research techniques organized by the Tethys Research Institute etc.) and to gain practical field experience with cetaceans.
ACTION
2.2. Aim: Providing Black Sea researchers and students with follow-up and expert supervision to facilitate scientific data analysis on cetaceans. Background: Some researchers and postgraduate students have accumulated sizeable datasets containing various field and laboratory data on Black Sea cetaceans. Those data are in need of accurate treatment and analysis including modern approaches in applied mathematics and mathematical modelling. However, expertise is needed to perform such analyses, which should be made available to the concerned researchers. Recommendations: We recommend that ACCOBAMS provides support to one Black Sea person/year for visiting a European laboratory to get expert supervision, consult the scientific literature, perform data analysis and draft papers on Black Sea cetaceans. An appropriate mechanism should be put in place to select the most worthy applicants.
3. EDUCATION & AWARENESS
ACTION
3.1. Aim: To give access to the general public, mass media, decision makers and potential sponsors to the results of cetacean research and conservation activities carried out in the Black Sea region. To increase the transparency of any interactions between research teams, NGOs and governmental bodies in Black Sea countries. Background: Cetacean research and conservation activities are on the rise in some Black Sea countries, and a series of meaningful projects have been realized during the past decade (IWC, in press). Nevertheless, information about those activities as well as on the present state and threats to Black Sea cetacean populations is mainly or exclusively accessible for cetacean specialists, leaving aside many other concerned people. Ukrainian researchers started to facilitate access to information by means of a web site (www.dolphin.com.ua) and of a CD ROM on Black Sea cetaceans that includes the description of 20 projects conducted by the Brema Laboratory and its partners since August 1999. However, such information and tools are available for Russian-speaking users only. Recommendations: We recommend that ACCOBAMS provides support to develop web sites dedicated to Black Sea cetaceans and to research and conservation activities in each Black Sea country, and encourage the development of networks and collaborations. These web sites should be bilingual, using national and English languages.
ACTION
3.2. Aims: Provision of appropriate documentation to Black Sea researchers, particularly as far as access to scientific literature on cetaceans is concerned (see ACCOBAMS Implementation Priorities #12 and 16). Background: Representatives from several Black Sea countries have repeatedly and consistently stressed that access to the cetacean scientific literature is difficult in their countries. This prevents to obtain appropriate documentation, learn from the work done by others and publish in scientific journals. Recommendations: We recommend that links be developed between comprehensive collections of marine mammal literature and Black Sea libraries and/or individual researchers. Exchange of literature should be facilitated by all means by providing selected libraries with the necessary support to operate as a source of continuously updated information for Black Sea researchers. This may result in the creation of core cetacean libraries in Black Sea countries which, in turn, may serve as sources for local scientists and interested students. We further recommend that the proposal made by the Brema Laboratory to the ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee for the funding of a digital library on Black Sea cetaceans be (re)considered, and that exchange of information and literature among Black Sea libraries be facilitated and supported.
4. RESEARCH & MONITORING
ACTION
4.1. Aim: Promotion of research and conservation activities in the recognized areas of high importance for the conservation of Black Sea cetaceans (e.g. see ACCOBAMS Implementation Priority #4). Background: Aerial surveys in the Kerch Strait, Azov Sea and northeastern shelf area of the Black Sea have been conducted by a joint Ukrainian/Russian team in 2001 and 2002. The procedures and results obtained from these surveys were commended by the IWC Subcommittee on Small Cetaceans (IWC, in press). Recommendations: We recommend that hot spots of cetacean occurrence in the Black Sea are identified, particularly by means of line transect aerial and boat surveys, where photo-identification projects can be conducted. This would result in the creation of photo-identification catalogues for Black Sea dolphins (primarily common bottlenose dolphins; see Action 4.4) that may trigger cross-country collaboration among Black Sea institutes, promote cetacean research and increase knowledge on dolphin movements and habitat use. It is recommended that support be provided to the Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Varna, Bulgaria, to design and perform preliminary cetacean surveys in the area. Preliminary support has been provided by the Tethys Research Institute in the context of a cetacean training course sponsored by ACCOBAMS and attended by Dr. Konstantin Mikhailov. This should be followed by the provision of expert support, and by capacity building initiatives aimed at creating expertise in Bulgaria.
ACTION
4.2. Aim: Promotion of research in the Turkish Straits System and in the Kerch Strait, with special regard to population discreteness and movements across the Azov, Black and Mediterranean Seas (also see IWC, in press); promotion of data publishing for these areas with the aim of informing the scientific community at large. Background: The Turkish Straits System and the Kerch Strait represent two natural gates or corridors connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean and Azov Seas. Both channels are recognized as the most important migratory paths and they are known to represent critical habitats for Black Sea dolphins and porpoises (IWC, in press). Cetacean sighting surveys in the Turkish Straits System and in the Kerch Strait have been recently conducted by researchers from Turkey and by a joint Ukrainian/Russian team. Recommendations: Results from the field work conducted so far should be made available to the wider scientific community and used to design future research strategies. A Conservation Plan for dolphins living in the Turkish Straits System may be commissioned to specialists working with the Istanbul University with reference to the recommendation made in the IWC Berlin document (IWC, in press). Similarly, a Conservation Plan for dolphins living in the Kerch Strait may be prepared by Ukrainian and Russian scientists provided with supervision by authoritative experts.
ACTION 4.3. Aim: Developing research projects and collaborations aimed at increasing information on cetacean wintering areas in the Black Sea. Background: Field studies of Black Sea cetaceans have been carried out mainly during the warm season, from May to October. Consequently, very little is known about cetacean distribution and ecology in the cold season. Previous authors (e.g. Kleinenberg, 1956) suggested that biologically important winter aggregations of dolphins and porpoises occurred regularly in portions of the Crimean, Caucasian and Anatolian coasts. In particular, it has been speculated that the area of Poti-Batumi, in Georgia, and the adjacent Turkish waters may represent annual wintering areas for cetaceans, which use those waters as seasonal foraging grounds. However, no dedicated research has been conducted so far to test this hypothesis. The same areas are known to represent key wintering areas for anchovies (Black Sea geographic information system, 1997). Recommendations: We recommend that collaboration between the Georgian Institute of Marine Ecology and Fisheries in Batumi and the Black Sea Technical University in Trabzon, Turkey, be improved to study the existing cetacean wintering areas in the south-eastern Black Sea.
ACTION
4.4. Aim: Promotion of cetacean photo-identification techniques in all Black Sea countries (ACCOBAMS Implementation Priority #11). Background: A training course on photo-identification methods was organized by ACCOBAMS in July 2003 for Black Sea researchers including representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. The course was then complemented by a follow-up in Balaklava, Ukraine, in October 2003. Recommendations: We recommend that the existing links with the Europhlukes programme (www.europhlukes.net) be enforced to promote photo-identification studies in the Black Sea sub-region. A project similar to Europhlukes could be specifically in Black Sea countries to promote the creation of Black Sea catalogues, following a comprehensive series of capacity building activities, follow up and expert supervision. A collaborative project was started by Russia and Ukraine in 2003, and may have Georgia joining in 2004. Dorsal fin catalogues of common bottlenose dolphins identified in these three countries may be shared and published online on a dedicated web site. Such a pilot initiative may attract interest and promote further developments.
ACTION
4.5. Aim: Promotion of preliminary investigations on cetaceans living in the Georgian and Bulgarian coastal waters, based on surveys and photo-identification work. Background: In the summer 2003, researchers from Bulgaria (Konstantin Michailov) and Georgia (Irakli Goradze, George Komakhidze) have been involved in training programmes sponsored by ACCOBAMS, aimed at increasing expertise on cetacean research methods. The trainees have been provided with dedicated data collection forms and protocols (Bulgaria, Georgia) and photo-identification equipment (Georgia) to run basic cetacean studies in coastal waters. Recommendations:
We recommend that the capacity building
process initiated
by
ACCOBAMS be
implemented and
that follow up be
provided to support
preliminary research on cetaceans off
Varna, Bulgaria, and in the Kolkheti
National
Park, Georgia. In Georgia, an ongoing project exists for the establishment of the Kolkheti National Park which includes a Marine Reserve of approximately 144 km2; this project is a component of the World Bank/GEF funded Georgia Integrated Coastal Management Project GICMP. This seems to represent an ideal framework to start a cetacean study within the waters of that marine reserve. This project could be run by two Georgian researchers who attended the training course on photo-identification methods organized by ACCOBAMS, who would be willing to perform cetacean research in the region based on individual photo-identification techniques. We further recommend that basic cetacean surveys be promoted in other poorly-known areas with the aim of identifying hot spots of cetacean occurrence. In particular, cetacean survey methods which were used successfully in Russian and Ukrainian waters (see IWC, in press) could be "exported" to other Black Sea countries.
REFERENCES ACCOBAMS. 2002. Proceedings of the first session of the meeting of the parties of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area. Monaco, 28 February - 2 March 2002, 124 pp. Black Sea Geographic Information System. 1997. CD ROM, Version 2.0. BSEP & UNDP. IWC. In press. Report of the Sub-Committee on Small Cetaceans. Annex M. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. Kleinenberg S.E. 1956. Mammals of the Black and Azov Seas: Research Experience for Biology and Hunting. USSR Acad. Science Publ. House, Moscow, 288 pp. [In Russian]. Reeves R.R., Smith B.D., Crespo E., Notarbartolo di Sciara G. 2003. Dolphins, whales, and porpoises: 2000-2010 conservation action plan for the world's cetaceans. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, 139 pp.
ANNEXES
ANNEX
1 Action
# 4 In spite of the recent growth of scientific knowledge and attention on cetacean ecology in the Agreement area, and of the awareness of the survival threats these mammals are subject to, evidence is accumulating that some populations are declining in numbers and becoming increasingly fragmented within their shrinking range. Particular concern exists for short-beaked common dolphins in the Mediterranean, as well as for harbour porpoises, common bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales. In some well-known instances, relic population units of these species are presently seen to be undergoing dramatic reductions in their numbers, and are thought likely to disappear soon if prompt measures are not taken. This action proposes to select four areas, each of them containing critical habitat for one of the four priority species, in which pilot conservation and management projects be developed and implemented immediately. Areas should be selected on the basis of sufficient available knowledge and characteristics of the area allowing the creation of a model, which can then be applied to other similar situations in the Agreement area. The following areas show particular promise as possible candidates: (a) the coastal waters surrounding the island of Kalamos, western Greece (short-beaked common dolphins); (b) the coastal area of southern Crimea, Ukraine, comprised between Cape Sarych and Cape Khersones (harbour porpoises and Black Sea common bottlenose dolphins); (c) the offshore waters of southern Crete, Greece (sperm whales); and (d) the waters of the Losinj-Cres Archipelago, Croatia (Mediterranean common bottlenose dolphins). Conservation measures should involve the establishment of ad hoc protected areas encompassing critical habitat for the target species and the adoption of experimental management plans with the involvement of local people and user groups; measures should include intensive monitoring of the cetacean population, targeted research, regulation of impacting human activities, education efforts directed at the local fishing communities and recreational users, and promotion of more compatible, alternative activities (e.g., whale watching) and resource uses. Action
# 6 This project envisages the co-operation between ACCOBAMS and the Black Sea Commission to prepare a proposal to be submitted to the GEF, concerning a comprehensive conservation and management plan for Black Sea cetaceans. The plan should include efforts to fill the existing knowledge gaps concerning the distribution, abundance, population structure, and factors threatening the conservation of the three species involved, as well as management measures such as the establishment of specially protected areas, the development and implementation of regulations to increase sustainability of human activities in the subregion, and the organisation of training, education and awareness initiatives. Action
# 11 Studying free-ranging cetacean populations using photo-identification techniques has become a common, powerful research practice during the past decade in many areas of the world, including portions of the Agreement area. Such studies have proven, among other things, to hold considerable conservation value. Recently, a three-year programme, «Europhlukes», was funded by the European Commission with the goals of developing an European cetacean photo-id system as a support tool for marine research and conservation, to initiate a European network which will link providers with end-users of the European cetacean photo-id system, and to ensure future growth and maintenance of the system and its databases. Although a budget for this action could not be secured for the 2002-2004 period, it is highly recommended that an operational link be established between ACCOBAMS and the «Europhlukes» project management, to explore possibilities for future co-operative effort, for the extension of the programme to non-European partners within the Agreement Range States, and to help ensuring the indefinite continuation of this worthy initiative after the European project is terminated. Action
# 12 Cetacean research and monitoring techniques have made considerable progress in recent decades, and provide significant support to the conservation and management effort. While such techniques are currently consistently applied, and even developed, in portions of the Agreement area, they are largely ignored elsewhere. Diffusing research and monitoring abilities throughout the region thus seems like a timely challenge and one of the highest priorities as far as cetacean conservation is concerned. The problem to be addressed is twofold: (a) transmitting knowledge through appropriate, effective and long-lasting training procedures, and (b) ensuring that such hard-gained knowledge is put to good, long-term use once the trainees endeavour to apply it at home. Accordingly, this activity will firstly consist in the organisation of field-based training courses in areas providing ideal research facilities and opportunities, to teach standard research techniques and provide selected participants with a hands-on experience. Secondly, follow-up support to the selected trainees in their countries, to assist with the development and implementation of research and conservation projects, will have to be provided through a co-operative effort between the Agreement Secretariat, or the appropriate Co-ordinating Unit, and the concerned Contracting Party. Action
# 16 One of the greatest hindrances to the region-wide development of a cetacean science tradition - a fundamental prerequisite to conservation and, ultimately, to the fulfilment of the purposes of the Agreement - is the diffused current unavailability of up-to-date specialised literature in most Range States' scientific and academic environment. This action proposes the establishment of a working group, which should include specialised librarian expertise, to examine the current availability of pertinent bibliographic material across the Agreement area, to strengthen existing facilities, and to identify locations where additional specialised libraries should be established. Support should be provided to existing libraries containing significant cetological bibliographic collections, to ensure continued updating and expansion, to facilitate access to information to the local scientific community, and to provide a framework for capacity building that will encourage documented cetacean research in the Agreement area. Modern document transfer and exchange technology should be adopted and promoted, and library databases should be managed within the context of a network that facilitates cross-library research and exchange of materials.
ANNEX
2 Prepared
by Ayaka Amaha Ozturk,
Bayram Ozturk, Ayhan Dede, Arda
Tonay As responding to the recommendation in the above article, Turkey, as one of the riparian countries of the Black Sea, would like to make some suggestions. Action
Recommendations: Socio-economical study on the Black Sea fishing communities should be carried out to provide better and more pratical solution for the fishermen. Establish one or two Marine Protected Areas are also of concern as bycaught species. Action
2.1 Recommendations: an inter-university course on cetaceans research and management can be organized at Istanbul University with assistance from TUDAV, a NGO recognized by UN system Action
3.1 Background: Internet is still not commonly used in public schools in the Black Sea region. Recommendations: an education Packet (booklet, poster, sticker, etc.) on cetaceans in the Black Sea will be prepared in 5 black Sea languages as well as in English and distributed to elementary school children. Action
4.1
Recommendations: (We know that bycatch is one of the greatest threats to Black Sea cetaceans, we do not have enough information to elaborate any management plan in a realistic and feasible way. Therefore…) We recommend that the level of bycatch as well as fishing power investigated more in detail to identify critical habitats for cetaceans in the Black Sea.
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