Pacific whales threatened by environment change [1]
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 - 18:23. Updated on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 14:42.
Raising awareness to protect Pacific whales in the face of emerging threats is part of a regional campaign ‘Protect Pacific Whales’ recently launched by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The campaign will look at whale conservation; ocean conservation; and also problems whales face as ocean-dwellers as their environment changes. These problems will also impact all Pacific island people who rely on resources and ecosystem services provided by the ocean.
Four key events to promote whales and enhance their conservation will be held in 2016 and 2017 including a regional art exhibition at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea; Marine Mammal Area workshop; Ecotourism workshop and an international conference on the changing environment and whale watching best practice while maximizing their revenue earning potential.
As part of the campaign SPREP is planning to combine scientific research, training and capacity-building, exchange of information, and cultural and artistic celebration in a programme of works, reports SPREP.