Global Cetacean Action Plan (GCAP)

Global Cetacean Action Plan (GCAP)

The IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG) is leading the development of a new Global Cetacean Action Plan (GCAP) to help stakeholders prioritize conservation measures using the IUCN Assess-Plan-Act cycle to halt population declines.

What is a Global Cetacean Action Plan and why is it needed?

The IUCN Red List provides an overview of the extinction risk and status of the 94 recognised cetacean species. Over a quarter, 26%, of cetacean species are classed as threatened with extinction. Threats facing cetaceans are location- and species-specific, and include fisheries bycatch, habitat degradation and ship strikes.

Overview of cetacean IUCN Red List status worldwide (Braulik et al., 2023)

Ganges river dolphins

Scientists, conservationists, and governments, amongst others, have been working to identify, monitor and reduce threats to support cetacean conservation for decades. However, the multidimensional complexities of threats, including ecological, political, social, and financial factors, make threat reduction challenging. Conservation efforts have yielded progress for some cetaceans like Indus River dolphins and Yangtze finless porpoises. However, many species and populations continue to decline and some are on the brink of extinction or extirpation. Urgent and more pervasive conservation action is needed to prevent further declines and extinctions.

Evidence shows that strategically produced conservation action plans can support the implementation of conservation interventions, resulting in successful conservation outcomes.

The last IUCN global action plan to guide cetacean conservation was drafted in 2002. At present, there is no active IUCN global plan for cetaceans. CSG members have expressed strong support for the drafting of a new GCAP through a recent member survey. In the face of mounting pressures on cetaceans globally, there is both opportunity and need to develop a new plan.

Previous IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group action plans

Plan preparations

Preparations to produce a new GCAP began in 2025 with a systematic review of 23 multi-species, multi-country marine megafauna action plans produced up to February 2025. Best practices from the reviewed plans were combined with other available conservation planning guidance (e.g. IUCN/SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group tools, expert interviews) to develop recommendations on how to develop a new GCAP. Recommendations include following a 14-step action plan production process. Step 1 of the process requires the CSG to secure funding. With some funding secured, more funding is still required to see the GCAP through from start to finish. A concept note designed to help raise funds for the production of a new GCAP is available here.

The 14-step action plan design process recommended in Tubbs et al.’s (2025) systematic review of marine megafauna action plans, derived using modified versions of the steps outlined in the conservation planning literature (TNC, 2007; IUCN/SSC Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee, 2017; CMP, 2020; Byers et al., 2022; Lees, 2023).

Next steps  

In 2026, the CSG will begin coordinating the development of the plan. An initial in-person workshop will be held for CSG leaders and Regional Coordinators, the IUCN/SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) and representatives of organisations such as the International Whaling Commission and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The workshop will be held in Singapore at the Singapore Oceanarium. The CPSG will guide participants through threat analyses and facilitate the first stages of drafting the GCAP.

Following the workshop, a series of follow-up virtual meetings to solicit wider input from the entire CSG membership and other stakeholder groups will take place. This will help to improve the plan’s inclusivity and comprehensiveness, and support its acceptance and implementation.

The full project is expected to take 18 months.

Supporting references

Braulik, G. T., Taylor, B. L., Minton, G., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Collins, T., Rojas-Bracho, L., Crespo, E. A., Ponnampalam, L. S., Double, M. C., and Reeves, R. R. (2023). Red-list status and extinction risk of the world’s whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Conservation Biology, 37(5), e14090. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14090

Byers, O., Copsey, J., Lees, C., Miller, P., and Traylor-Holzer, K. (2022). Reversing the Decline in Threatened Species through Effective Conservation Planning. Diversity, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090754

Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP) (2025). Open standards for the practice of conservation (Version 5.0). Available at: https://www.conservationstandards.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CMP-Open-Standards-Report-v5.0-FINAL-English.pdf

Conservation Members Partnership (CMP) (2020). Standards for the practice of conservation (version 4.0). US Fish and Wildlife Service. Available at: https://conservationstandards.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/CMP-Open-Standards-for-the-Practice-of-Conservation-v4.0-English.pdf

Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) (2020). Species conservation planning principles and steps, Ver. 1.0. IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Available at: https://www.cpsg.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/CPSG%2520Principles%2520%2526%2520Steps_English.pdf

IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee (2017). Guidelines for species conservation planning. Version 1.0. Available at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-065.pdf

Lees, C. M. (2023). Planning Principles and Tools for the Conservation of Threatened Species. PhD thesis, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC). (2007). Nature conservancy conservation planning handbook. The Nature Conservancy. Available at: https://www.conservationgateway.org/Documents/Cap%20Handbook_June2007.pdf

Tubbs, S., (eds.) Minton, G., Braulik, G., Reeves, R., Abel, G. & Taylor, B. (2025). Marine megafauna conservation action plans: Systematic review and recommendations in preparation for a global cetacean action plan. Technical report prepared for the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group.