Good news for the globe-trotting creatures of land and sea: 40 migratory species, including 33 marine marvels, just landed some fresh protection. This all went down at the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) summit, held recently in Campo Grande, Brazil.
Think of it as the UN for animals that can't sit still. With 132 nations and the EU on board, the CMS is basically the international agency trying to make sure a shark swimming from one country's waters to another doesn't suddenly find itself in a regulatory black hole. The theme of this year's meeting? "Connecting Nature to Sustain Life." Because, apparently, even a loggerhead turtle needs a good networking event.
"A very strong COP for marine species," is how Amy Fraenkel, the CMS executive secretary, put it. And considering the alternative, we'll take "strong" any day.
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Start Your News DetoxSharks, Seabirds, and Underwater Mountains
Among the newly safeguarded are 26 seabirds, three shorebirds, and four species of sharks. (Because who doesn't want more sharks? From a safe distance, of course.)
Beyond just listing species, delegates also focused on some pressing issues. They want to dial back the accidental capture of protected species in fishing gear — which, if you think about it, is a pretty basic ask. They also worked on identifying critical marine highways and pit stops for these traveling animals. Because even a whale needs a good rest stop with amenities.
But wait, there's more: The summit also called for beefed-up protection for seamounts (those are underwater mountains, if you haven't been brushing up on your oceanic topography). They recognized the plight of freshwater fish and even took a stand against the potential ravages of deep-sea mining. Fraenkel was particularly chuffed to see the focus expand to entire ocean systems, from coasts to the shorebirds that depend on them.
While all these steps are certainly worth a cautious cheer, the summit wasn't all sunshine and high-fives. It came with a pretty stark warning: extinction and species decline are still happening at an alarming, accelerating rate. So, while we're celebrating these wins, it's clear the animal kingdom's frequent flyer program still needs a lot more work.
