Loved my favorite place in the whole world, the Chesapeake Bay getting a shoutout at #CMSCOP15 for being ecologically unique!

Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers bring you a full daily recap of negotiations, discussions and highlights at #CMSCOP15, along with fantastic images you won’t find anywhere else.

Don’t miss today’s coverage: enb.iisd.org/conference-p...

Oscar fish in outdoor aquarium

I saw oscar fish in Brazil, where they are native. It was incredible.

Only 53% of the total area of KBAs is covered by protected and conserved areas, revealing significant gaps in safeguarding critical habitats. More work is needed to conserve comprehensive networks of sites that support species throughout their migratory cycles.

➡️ www.cms.int/publication/...

As #CMSCOP15 continues, the message is clear: #MigratorySpecies need more than isolated protection. They need connected habitats, coordinated policy and action across borders.

With 24% of CMS-listed species globally threatened, cooperation cannot be optional.

Learn more: https://www.cms.int/cop15

Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers bring you a full daily recap of negotiations, discussions and highlights at #CMSCOP15, along with fantastic images you won’t find anywhere else.

Don’t miss today’s coverage: enb.iisd.org/conference-p...

Delegates at #BBNJ PrepCom III focused on institutional issues, data and information governance, and cooperation, and initiated the process for the selection of the permanent seat of the Secretariat, among the offers by Belgium, Chile, and China. #biodiversity #ocean

enb.iisd.org/marine-biodi...

At #CMSCOP15, Parties are discussing more cross-cutting issues — big themes that affect many species, habitats and sectors at once. Watch the video to learn more about some of the issues on today’s agenda.

Discover more via the multilingual meeting documents: www.cms.int/cop15docs

132 countries and the EU have signed the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), which has been in force since 1979.

By bringing countries together, supporting research, and coordinating conservation efforts across Range States, CMS helps safeguard migratory wildlife and their habitats.

#CMSCOP15

Scenes from around #CMSCOP15 🌿✨

From striking photography to the conference logo, every detail of this year’s visual identity draws inspiration from the Brazilian Pantanal, one of the world’s most biodiverse wetlands.

Photo credits: @meioambientegov.bsky.social and @enb.iisd.org

Epic river migrations of fish rapidly collapsing, UN report finds Vast journeys, among world’s great wonders, found to be under threat as freshwater fish populations crash by 81%

‘Epic’ river migrations of fish are rapidly collapsing, UN report finds

- Vast freshwater fish journeys of up to 11,000km are one of nature’s great wonders and the species support hundreds of millions of people

@cms.int #COP15
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

You can read more here:
CMS Report: www.cms.int/publication/...
European Atlantic ISRAs: sharkrayareas.org/download/eur...

We recently contributed to the European Atlantic regional compendium of Important shark and ray areas for the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group, which listed several areas off the coast of Ireland as valuable for the conservation of basking sharks.

However, progress has been made identifying Key Biodiversity areas, including Important Shark and Ray Areas in support of the conservation of migratory species.

The Interim Report on the State of the World’s Migratory Species was just released for #COP15 of CMS. The report highlights the unfortunate fact that sharks and rays have had a dramatic increase in extinction risk in recent decades.

Hey that's me!

Basking sharks are among the world's most wide-ranging fish, moving across borders and through shared waters, making their conservation a truly international effort.

In the High-level Segment at #CMSCOP15, Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment, Brazil, reiterated Brazil's commitment to working with all countries to conserve migratory species & their habitats, & called for making COP15 “a resounding defence of multilateralism.” #ConnectingNature @cms.int

🎉Today marks the start of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Migratory Species ! CMS COP15 is hosted by the Government of Brazil in Campo Grande from 23–29 March 2026. The COP agenda includes several items that are closely related to ASCOBANS’ work on small cetacean conservation, such as bycatch, marine pollution, underwater noise, vessel strikes, and conservation priorities for cetaceans. Check out the provisional agenda here: https://www.cms.int/.../provisional-agenda-and-documents-39 🐬 ASCOBANS has submitted its progress report to COP15, which is available here: https://www.cms.int/.../report-agreement-conservation... . . . 📷 © 髪結師 / AdobeStock

CMS COP15 begins today!

Held in Campo Grande, Brazil, COP agenda includes items relevant to ASCOBANS, e.g. bycatch, marine pollution, underwater noise, vessel strikes, and much more: www.cms.int/cop15

🐬 ASCOBANS progress report to COP15 is available here: www.cms.int/document/rep...

@cms.int

I am so thrilled and honored to be representing @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social at COP15 for the Convention of Migratory Species!
#COP15 #Brazil

Shoutout to @tg4.bsky.social which is the only channel anyone can reliably access while traveling.

Along with the Marine Research and Conservation Foundation, we have written a Concerted Action for basking sharks that we hope will be adopted!

I am on my way to Brazil to represent @irishbaskingshark.bsky.social at COP15 of the Convention for the Conservation Of Migratory Species

On 3 March 2026, the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, announced a new voluntary Marine Wildlife Code of Conduct for tour operators engaged in wildlife watching off the southwest coast.

Read more on our blog post:
www.baskingshark.ie/post/a-posit...

This has been a long time in the making! I'm thrilled to see forward momentum on this.

‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careers Researchers lay bare the human toll of lay-offs, funding cuts and attacks on science one year after the president’s return to the White House.

‘Shattered’: US scientists speak out about how Trump policies disrupted their careers

GNÉ-ALT FÓGRAÍOCHTA: Basking – The Nursery (‘Liamhán Gréine – an Iasclann’) — eispéireas ealaíne tumthach i mBaile Thiobraid Árann Tugann an t-ealaíontóir Tom Meskell a shuiteáil Basking ar camchuairt go At 6s & 7s Gallery i mBaile Thiobraid Árann le Basking – The Nursery, ar suiteáil solais thumthach é lena ndéantar ceiliúradh…

Tá sceitimíní orainn taispeántas ealaíne seo!

tuairisc.ie/gne-alt-fogr...

We took advantage of our large gathering of basking shark experts to ask the most pressing question of all: How would you describe a basking shark?

#baskingshark #sharkscience

Basking - The Nursery | Tipperary Artist Directory Basking – The Nursery is a continuation of Tom Meskell’s acclaimed Basking series, exploring the majestic presence and gentle mystery of the basking shark through illuminated sculpture and…

Basking sharks visit Tipperary!

A new exhibition by Irish artist Tom Meskell opened last weekend in Tipperary Town. In 'Basking - the Nursery', the focal points are two juvenile sharks, each about 2.5 metres in length, suspended in blue-green light amidst the sounds of the ocean.