Projeto:
BACKGROUND
At the 50th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) held in the Sultanate of Oman in 1998, Brazil stated its intention to propose the establishment of a sanctuary for whales in the South Atlantic Ocean. Since that meeting, many consultations have been held in order to ensure that the proposed Sanctuary would be scientifically useful and would contemplate the widest possible array of regional interests. A proposal for a Whale Sanctuary in the South Atlantic was then submitted by the governments of Brazil and Argentina, together with many co-sponsors, to the 53rd and 54th meetings of the IWC, achieving in both meetings a majority of votes in favor of the proposal. The proposal was revised again in 2005 at the IWC Scientific Committee and the comments from member governments, IWC Scientific Committee as well as by many independent scientists from within the region were incorporated in the new version. Brazil continued discussing the creation of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (SAWS) in the following years and, at the 64th Meeting held in Panamá in 2012, Brazil submitted the proposal again for a vote, and it was very close of gaining approval then.
Article V of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) contains provisions under which the IWC may amend the schedule by adopting regulations with respect to the conservation and use of whales, including the designation of whale sanctuaries. These areas may be used for a variety of purposes, in particular those regarding whale research, management and conservation.
The establishment of whale sanctuaries in accordance with the rules of the ICRW is, therefore, entirely consistent with current practice regarding marine conservation worldwide, and has the potential to enhance socially important activities such as research and public education, particularly in developing countries.
Up to the present, the IWC has adopted three whale sanctuaries, two of which are still in force. In 1948, at the first meeting, the Commission suggested that parts of the IWC Management Areas I and VI designated in 1938 as a Sanctuary by the International Whaling Conference in London should maintain such status. The so-called “sanctuary” had the purpose of protecting whales in part of their Antarctic feeding grounds, which had not previously been subjected to pelagic whaling. Its boundaries encompassed the Southern Ocean south of 40oS between 70oW and 160oW. The Sanctuary was maintained until 1955.
In 1979, at the 31st IWC Annual Meeting, the Republic of Seychelles proposed the establishment of a sanctuary in the Indian Ocean. This sanctuary comprises the waters of the Northern Hemisphere from the coast of Africa including the Red and Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman to 100oE and the waters of the Southern Hemisphere from 20oE to 130oE. It became effective the same year and was established initially for a period of ten years, renewed 3 times. Since 2002, this sanctuary remains in force for an indefinite period of time.
A third whale sanctuary was proposed by the French Government at the 44th IWC Annual Meeting in 1992, encompassing the waters of the Antarctic Ocean south to the Antarctic Convergence. It was named Southern Ocean Sanctuary and was adopted by the Commission at its 46th Annual Meeting. This sanctuary comprises the waters of the Southern Hemisphere from 40oS, 50oW eastward to 20oE, then southward to 55oS, eastward to 130oW, southward again to 60oS, eastward to 50o and finally northward to the initial point.
At the 50th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) held in the Sultanate of Oman in 1998, Brazil stated its intention to propose the establishment of a sanctuary for whales in the South Atlantic Ocean. Since that meeting, many consultations have been held in order to ensure that the proposed Sanctuary would be scientifically useful and would contemplate the widest possible array of regional interests. A proposal for a Whale Sanctuary in the South Atlantic was then submitted by the governments of Brazil and Argentina, together with many co-sponsors, to the 53rd and 54th meetings of the IWC, achieving in both meetings a majority of votes in favor of the proposal. The proposal was revised again in 2005 at the IWC Scientific Committee and the comments from member governments, IWC Scientific Committee as well as by many independent scientists from within the region were incorporated in the new version. Brazil continued discussing the creation of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (SAWS) in the following years and, at the 64th Meeting held in Panamá in 2012, Brazil submitted the proposal again for a vote, and it was very close of gaining approval then.
Article V of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) contains provisions under which the IWC may amend the schedule by adopting regulations with respect to the conservation and use of whales, including the designation of whale sanctuaries. These areas may be used for a variety of purposes, in particular those regarding whale research, management and conservation.
The establishment of whale sanctuaries in accordance with the rules of the ICRW is, therefore, entirely consistent with current practice regarding marine conservation worldwide, and has the potential to enhance socially important activities such as research and public education, particularly in developing countries.
Up to the present, the IWC has adopted three whale sanctuaries, two of which are still in force. In 1948, at the first meeting, the Commission suggested that parts of the IWC Management Areas I and VI designated in 1938 as a Sanctuary by the International Whaling Conference in London should maintain such status. The so-called “sanctuary” had the purpose of protecting whales in part of their Antarctic feeding grounds, which had not previously been subjected to pelagic whaling. Its boundaries encompassed the Southern Ocean south of 40oS between 70oW and 160oW. The Sanctuary was maintained until 1955.
In 1979, at the 31st IWC Annual Meeting, the Republic of Seychelles proposed the establishment of a sanctuary in the Indian Ocean. This sanctuary comprises the waters of the Northern Hemisphere from the coast of Africa including the Red and Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman to 100oE and the waters of the Southern Hemisphere from 20oE to 130oE. It became effective the same year and was established initially for a period of ten years, renewed 3 times. Since 2002, this sanctuary remains in force for an indefinite period of time.
A third whale sanctuary was proposed by the French Government at the 44th IWC Annual Meeting in 1992, encompassing the waters of the Antarctic Ocean south to the Antarctic Convergence. It was named Southern Ocean Sanctuary and was adopted by the Commission at its 46th Annual Meeting. This sanctuary comprises the waters of the Southern Hemisphere from 40oS, 50oW eastward to 20oE, then southward to 55oS, eastward to 130oW, southward again to 60oS, eastward to 50o and finally northward to the initial point.
WHALES AND WHALING IN THE SAWS
The South Atlantic Ocean has been the scene of the reckless slaughter of most of the species of large whales, not only by coastal whaling that goes back to the early settlement times, but in more recent decades by pelagic fleets foreign to the region and largely detached from the South Atlantic nations’ legitimate interests in the management of whale resources. Some of these fleets have consistently captured protected species and disregarded regulations set forth by the IWC itself, therefore imposing further damage on species and stocks and preventing until today an adequate evaluation of the impacts of pelagic whaling in the regional context.
It became the responsibility of the developing countries bordering the South Atlantic to struggle for the recovery of their whale populations through distinct management measures, including the general prohibition of whaling in most of the EEZs, and the development of scientific research.
The recovery of whale species and stocks depleted by commercial whaling and by pelagic whaling fleets from faraway nations in particular is of paramount importance to many South Atlantic nations. The fruition of socio-economic benefits of both Ecotourism/whalewatching and scientific research depends on ensuring the recovery of whale populations to a healthy status, where whaling is no longer a threat, both to the population size and to specific individual whales which approach boats and are therefore of enormous value for whalewatching.
It became the responsibility of the developing countries bordering the South Atlantic to struggle for the recovery of their whale populations through distinct management measures, including the general prohibition of whaling in most of the EEZs, and the development of scientific research.
The recovery of whale species and stocks depleted by commercial whaling and by pelagic whaling fleets from faraway nations in particular is of paramount importance to many South Atlantic nations. The fruition of socio-economic benefits of both Ecotourism/whalewatching and scientific research depends on ensuring the recovery of whale populations to a healthy status, where whaling is no longer a threat, both to the population size and to specific individual whales which approach boats and are therefore of enormous value for whalewatching.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of SAWS are:
To stimulate co-ordinated research in the region, especially by developing countries, and through international co-operation with the active participation of the IWC. Such research would include, among other topics:
To stimulate co-ordinated research in the region, especially by developing countries, and through international co-operation with the active participation of the IWC. Such research would include, among other topics:
- Monitoring the recovery of depleted populations;
- Survey of historical open-ocean whaling grounds;
- Development of projects and initiatives to better understand migratory routes and movement patterns;
- Analysis of threats and potential mitigation measures to those threats across a range of spatial scales;
- Monitoring changes in distribution due to shifts in prey density, global warming, vessel traffic, seismic activities and other anthropogenic impacts;
- Analysis of pollutant load in cetaceans and their environment and potential threats for recovery of depleted stocks;
- Development of non-lethal techniques, testing and application of methodologies with possible comparison with other regions.
- To promote the long-term conservation of large whales throughout their life cycle and their habitats with special emphasis on areas of particular importance such as breeding, calving and, for some species, feeding areas, or consistent migratory paths.
- To develop the sustainable and non-lethal economic use of whales for benefit of coastal communities in the region, through ecotourism and educational activities such as whale watching and to provide scientific background to the management of such activities in order to ensure its sustainability over time.
- To provide an overall framework, for the development of localized measures, to maximize the conservation benefits at an ocean basin level.
South Atlantic Whale Sanctuarium
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The Brazilian Humpback Whale Institute, in charge of the Humpback Whale Project, sponsored by PETROBRAS, was established in 1996 with the noble mission of conserving the humpback whales and other cetacean in Brazil, contributing to harmonize human activities with the protection of the natural environment. With its headquarters in Praia do Forte, it maintains a staff of biologists and other professionals who direct their work towards these illustrious visitors yearly when they leave the frigid Antarctic waters during austral winter and spring for their breeding season. Praia do Forte has become one of the main concentration areas for these mammals and therefore a magnet for whalewatching, during which visitors have the opportunity to see the acrobatics of these majestic creatures which reach up to 16 meters in length and may weigh 40 tons – a true natural show off the coast of Bahia.
Before whalewatching trips are undertaken, talks are given so that the visitor can get informed about the species, its habits, behavior and curiosities. The Humpback Whale Institute also maintains a Visitor Center open from Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 6 PM, also during holidays. You can learn more by visiting the Humpback Whale Institute´s website at http://www.baleiajubarte.org.br .
TAMAR – The Brazilian Marine Turtle Project
Praia do Forte is the main nesting area for marine turtles in Brazil. There are seven species of marine turtles in the world, of which four have laid their eggs around Praia do Forte, on the beach of Papa Gente, for thousands of years. The monitoring is undertaken by the TAMAR Project, based at Praia do Forte since 1980, with the most thorough and modern interpretive center in the country. The base harbors the Turtle Museum, aquaria, tanks, restaurants and a gift shop. TAMAR is located in the fishermen village, behind the church and around the lighthouse.
The nesting season is from September to May and is monitored along 30 km of beaches. More than 900 nests are protected yearly. The entire area is under a special management regime.
You can learn more by visiting the TAMAR website at http://www.tamar.org.br/ .
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