Current state of knowledge of Cetacean threats, diversity and habitats in the Pacific islands region : 2009 revision [presented at] Second meeting of the signatories Auckland, New Zealand, 28-29 July 2009

Abstract

This report provides a review of the current state of knowledge of cetacean diversity, habitat and threats in the Pacific Islands Region. The boundaries of the Pacific Islands Region, as defined by the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region (CMS 2006), are the marine areas under the jurisdiction of each Country or Territory of the Pacific Islands Region, and extend to the area defined by the Noumea Convention, i.e., between the Tropic of Cancer and 60° South latitude, and between 130° East longitude and 120° West longitude. The region stretches over some 10,000 kilometres from east to west and 5,000 kilometres from north to south, with a combined economic exclusion zone (EEZ) of approximately 30 million km².