The CSG is sometimes approached with a request to provide an expert scientific opinion on a specific issue related to cetaceans. On other occasions, members of the CSG wish to express their particular concerns about a threatened cetacean species or population, or about the potential consequences for cetaceans of a proposed development, activity or policy. This may lead to the drafting of a letter to relevant individuals or organizations, signed by an IUCN official, the CSG chairman, or a group of CSG members. A selection of previous letters of this kind (and responses to them, when available) can be read below:
2023
2023 – CSG Letter to Nepal Supreme Court re Karnali Dams
2023 – CSG Open Letter regarding Taichung Port Expansion – Taiwan
2021
2021 – Joint Statement by IUCN, WWF-Cambodia and the Cambodia Fisheries Administration – Time is running out for saving the transboundary dolphins of the Mekong – English and Khmer
2021 – Letter from IUCN SSC about reduction in measures to protect vaquita
2021 – Carta de IUCN SSC a la Autoridades Mexcicanas sobre vaquita – Espanol
2021 – Letter from IUCN SSC to the Mexican Authorities about the vaquita – English
2020
Letter from IUCN to Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippines.
2018
Letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China
2017
Letter to H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia from IUCN
2016
Letter from the IUCN SSC on the Namibia live capture and export
IUCN letter Re India Waterways Bill and Ganges River Dolphin
2014
Letter about the Vaquita to the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, from the Director General of IUCN
Letter about the Vaquita to the Mexican President from the Director General of IUCN
2013
Letter to the Spanish Government regarding swim-with-dolphin programmes
Letter to the Indonesian Government regarding a ban on captive dolphin facilities
2012
Letter to IUCN regarding the Balaclava Island Coal Export Terminal, Australia
Letter to the President of Mexico from the Director General of IUCN
Letter to the Bangladesh Government regarding the Sundarbans Cetacean Sanctuaries
Letter to Suriname regarding the Saramacca River seismic survey
2010
Letter from IUCN Asia to the Indonesian Government regarding seismic surveys in the coral triangle
2007
Letter from the IUCN Director General to the Mexican President regarding the vaquita
Response from the Mexican Government
Letter to the CITES Secretariat from the Cetacean and Veterinary Specialist Groups regarding capture and export of dolphins from the Solomon Islands
2006
Letter from the SSC to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India regarding a seismic survey in the Brahmaputra River
Letter from the CSG and IWC to Oil India regarding a seismic survey on the Brahmaputra River
Response from Oil India