THE Regional Forum on Cetacean Management, organized by the Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) and funded and supported by the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados, was held on 26th March 2025, at the Harbour Club Hotel, Saint Lucia. This event marks an unprecedented step forward for the Caribbean, bringing together governments and civil society actors from the OECS to work collectively on the management of whales and dolphins in the region.
This forum was the final milestone of the Ti Dolphin An Nou project, funded by the French Embassy. The project aims to strengthen cetacean protection in the southern Lesser Antilles—from Dominica to Grenada—through regional cooperation, education, and standardised scientific research.
The forum opened with remarks from H.E. Mr. Etienne Francis, Ambassador of France to Saint Lucia, and Mr. Thomas Nelson, representing Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.
Jeffrey Bernus, Founder and Director of CCS, presented four years of results, including:
• The first comprehensive baseline on regional cetacean scientific knowledge,
• Confirmation of cross-border movements of whales and dolphins,
• And the urgent need for joint management of this shared migratory resource.
His presentation was followed by science-based recommendations, reinforcing that cetaceans are vital to the blue economy and ecosystem health and that protecting them requires regional cooperation, public awareness, and long-term research.
This work has already yielded concrete results: CCS has successfully supported the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in developing the first-ever regulations on small cetacean hunting, a major step forward for both biodiversity conservation and the development of the island’s blue economy.
The panel discussion that followed highlighted key next steps, such as:
• Focusing on Regional Cetaceans Management
• Engaging local marine stakeholders (fishers, whalers, tour operators…),
• And Integrating social and local context to improve public understanding and support.
This type of regional cooperation on cetacean protection has never been achieved before in the Caribbean. The forum was hailed as a historic milestone, demonstrating the Caribbean’s ability to build a shared conservation vision rooted in science and regional solidarity.
In recognition of the need for continuity, a roadmap will be proposed to all participating states in the coming months. This roadmap will guide the next steps, promote regional coordination, and help mobilise funding to sustain and expand these collaborative efforts.
The forum brought together high-level delegations from the participating countries, including Hon. Minister Jullan Defoe (Dominica) and Mr Javan Williams, Permanent Secretary of Grenada’s new Ministry of Blue Economy, whose leadership was widely commended. Fisheries departments from all delegations were also present and actively engaged in the discussions. The Martinique Collectivity (CTM) was also represented as well as Espace Sud Martinique.
The event also featured contributions from renowned cetacean expert Dr Shane Gero of the Dominica Sperm Whale Project, as well as the local conservation group Ripples to Waves, further enriching the forum with cutting-edge research and grassroots perspectives.
This landmark initiative could serve as a model for other regions globally and will be highlighted during the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference to be held in Nice, France, in June 2025.