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studies. While these criteria are not specific to the Mediterranean and Black seas, they
must take into account the special features of each of these seas and, especially, of
the species that live here. Similarly, the specific threats that cetacean populations
encounter here must be taken into account.

Sites of importance for cetaceans are:
- sites with critical habitats for cetacean species and
- sites where interactions between cetacean and human activities are reported to
occur or to constitute threats or potential threats to cetaceans.

Cetacean critical habitat has been defined as “a place or area regularly used by a
cetacean group, population or species to perform tasks essential for survival and
maintaining a healthy population growth rate” (Hoyt, 2005). This is a helpful starting
point but it may be useful for the Scientific Committee to discuss and refine its
understanding in order to come up with its own working definition. Various countries
have definitions of critical habitat (US, Australia) and Harwood (2001) discussed
critical habitat. We suggest that the following criteria be used to identify sites with
critical habitats for cetaceans and which could be considered strong candidates for
protection status:

- Areas used by cetaceans for feeding, breeding, calving, nursing and social
behaviour

- Migration routes and corridors and related resting areas
- Areas where there are seasonal concentrations of cetacean species
- Areas of importance to cetacean prey
- Natural processes that support continued productivity of cetacean foraging

species (upwellings, fronts, etc.)
- Topographic structures favourable for enhancing foraging opportunities for

cetacean species (canyons, seamounts)

The following criteria are suggested for the identification of sites in need of protection
due to the occurrence of significant interactions between cetaceans and human
activities: areas containing cetacean critical habitats, where

- conflicts between cetaceans and fishing activities have been reported, or
- significant or frequent bycatch of cetaceans is reported, or
- intensive whale watching or other marine tourism activities occur, or
- navigation presents a potential threat to cetaceans, or
- pollution runoff, outflow or other marine dumping occur, or
- military exercises are known to routinely occur.

The issue of inventorying sites that are of conservation interest has been dealt with in
other pertinent multilateral instruments and treaties for the ACCOBAMS area; it is
recommended for the requirements of the present work programme that the tools and
inventory systems that have been adopted in these multilateral instruments and
treaties be used. These systems are:

- the Natura 2000 network instituted by the EU Habitats Directive,
- the Emerald network instituted in the context of the European Council, and
- the SDF1 system adopted in the context of the Barcelona Convention.

The inventory of sites that are important for cetaceans can be organised using the
form appearing in the Appendix 2 to this programme of work. The form has been
prepared in accordance to Resolution 2.14 and adapted from the existing format for
the proposal of SPAMIs that was adopted in the context of the Barcelona Convention.

1 Standard Data-entry Form for inventorying natural sites of conservation interest

3