Editorial

By M.Sc. Miguel A. Iñíguez Bessega
President

Fundación Cethus and 2009

2009 has begun as a year where the future outlook is uncertain and complex, and it is characterized by the financial problems that nowadays involve the entire world. Beyond this situation, which we can not be exempt, we continue working to fulfil our mission of Educate, Conserve and Research. In view of such complex moments, it’s never better to remember our mission, which drives us since December of 1992 when Cethus started its activities. For this reason we face 2009 as a year of many challenges, but with all members of Cethus working with the same determination, dedication and responsibility. We wish to inform you some of the activities we will carry out during 2009, many of which we consider crucial to fulfil our mission, bearing our convictions in favour of the conservation of dolphins, whales and porpoises in mind.

• International Whaling Commission (IWC)
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Research
• Clean Sea (Mar Limpio)
• Others

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The IWC faces a process of internal debate that will basically decide its future. Cethus is the Argentinean NGO that has worked more years on this issue, specifically since 2001. Our participation and contributions, particularly from the scientific point of view, have led us to work in a coordinated and closely way with non-governmental organizations and governments, mainly those within our region. This year the 61º IWC’s meeting will be held on the Island of Madeira, Portugal, and there, we will again be present to continue defending our conservationist position,not just as NGO, but as part of the Delegation of Argentina, attempting to provide from technical support in the decisions inherent to our country.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

For several years now, Cethus is working with governments of Latin America in those proposals that involve cetaceans of the region, as well as in all other regulations of the Convention with the aim of conserve the various species. Particularly this year, will be of for everything that will happen during the next meeting of the Parties of CITES, to be held in Qatar in early 2010.

Research and Conservation

In this regard, Fundación Cethus will continue its research proposals. For example, the Commerson’s dolphins of the province of Santa Cruz Project continue expanding the individuals identification catalog, reaching 58 individuals for Bahía San Julián, as well as our genetic studies, whose results have already been presented in some international conferences, and are essential to determine conservation actions to protect populations that can be sighted from our shores. In our Southern Right Whale Project we have began aerial censuses and boat surveys at the San Jorge gulf. Linked to this, the results of the years of work enable, to date, to make evident the presence of Southern Right whale from July to September. These data become very important not only because it is a species that is in recovery, and it seems to be reconquering old breeding and nursery territories, but also for its potential significance for the development of coastal communities in the province of Santa Cruz, which could benefit from whalewatching as successfully as the province of Chubut and is in its beginnings in Río Negro. Therefore, these data provide the basic information necessary for making and implementing conservation and management measures, to reduce or mitigate the impacts caused by human activities such as habitat destruction of habitat related to coastal development, pollution in all its forms and the incipient and growing development of activities related to seismic surveys and oil exploration within the area.

Clean Sea (Mar Limpio)

Last year, Cethus launched within its website a section called Clean Sea (Mar Limpio), which provides information and consultation on prevention and mitigation of oil spills, and conservation of marine and coastal environments.

Others

Finally, at the beginning of the year, Cethus attended a workshop on cetaceans and climate change organized by the Government of Costa Rica. It is worth mention also that Cethus was present at the First International Conference on Coastal and Marine Areas for cetaceans to be held in Maui, Hawaii and where a number of exhibitions, including a poster that evaluates the usefulness of the activity of whale watching as a tool of the management of coastal marine areas of the Patagonia Argentina, were presented. Also we participated in the workshop on non-lethal research in the Southern Seas, organized by the government of Australia, that attempts to coordinate research proposals for this region of the planet. As can be see, Cethus continues its activities. We have many challenges ahead to achieve, always bearing in mind our mission and trying to improve each of our activities. Particularly at this time, we would like to take this opportunity to re-launch our bulletin which has more information and a more dynamic new design. We hope that, in addition to strengthen even more our work, you like this tool and that it continues being an important means of communication and contact.
See you soon.