Colombia moves forward with the implementation of the National Aquatic Mammal Action Plan 2022-2035!
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia with support from the IKI Save the Blue Five project, a regional project funded by the Federal Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) of Germany, through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific, German Cooperation GIZ, Conservation International and MarViva Foundation, carries out capacity building and articulation actions for the construction and possible future implementation of the “Protocol for marine mammal stranding and entanglement care“.
As part of these actions, strengthening, discussion and articulation spaces have been carried out with the participation of the Directorate of Marine, Coastal and Aquatic Resources of the Ministry of Environment, Regional Autonomous Corporations of the Pacific (CODECHOCO, CVC, CRC, CORPONARIÑO), National Natural Parks of Colombia (PNN Utría, PNN Uramba Bahía Málaga, PNN Gorgona, DNMI Cabo Manglares) and Port Captaincies of the Colombian Pacific (CP Buenaventura, CP Guapi, CP Tumaco) representing environmental and maritime authorities.
In order to mitigate entanglements and improve safe care in each case, dialogue processes that promote the strengthening of local institutional capacities in the Colombian Pacific are highlighted, through awareness actions, delivery of specialized kits and trainings such as the course “Enmallamiento y Varamientos enfocado a los mamíferos marinos de Colombia“(Entanglement and Strandings focused on marine mammals in Colombia) given by the International Whaling Commission – IWC” and the “Red Nacional de Asistencia a Ballenas Enmalladas de México – RABEN” (National Assistance Network for Enmeshed Whales in Mexico).
Prior to the start of the whale migration season and in order to promote actions, a total of 15 specialized whale disentanglement kits were donated to the environmental and maritime authorities, consisting of a watertight box, a clamp, extensions, joints, a flying knife, a fixed knife, safety carabiners and special marine blades for cutting fishing gear and ropes.
Colombia is facing a growing situation of entanglement events, for which reason various sectors and institutions agree on the importance of continuing with the process of joint construction to move forward with the creation of Local Care Networks, capable of attending in a coordinated, effective and safe manner to cases occurring in the Pacific.
For this reason, Save the Blue Five is promoting the formation of a Regional Training Network in the Southeast Pacific for disentanglement of large cetaceans, based on the “Training of Trainers”, thus leaving installed capacities in the country to move forward with the formation of national and local trained and trained networks, projected to be implemented as pilot measures in two departments of the Colombian Pacific.
By strengthening capacities today, we ensure more sustainable oceans tomorrow!
