The Convention on Migratory Species adds the Flesh-footed Shearwater to its Appendix II and approves Concerted Action for the species

Flesh-footed Shearwater in flight, photograph by Mike Double

The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) held its Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP15) in Campo Grande, Brazil over 23-29 March 2026.  Australia, France and New Zealand had proposed (UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.30.2.6) including the Near threatened Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes on Appendix II of the Convention (click here).

The proposal stated that the species’ “listing on Appendix II will elevate the suitability score of flesh-footed shearwater for inclusion on Annex 1 of ACAP.  A listing on Annex 1 of ACAP would further facilitate the anticipated benefits identified here as ACAP is very active in the development and promotion of best-practice seabird bycatch mitigation advice for relevant fisheries.”

During the week’s meeting, the Committee of the Whole (CoW) recommended the proposal, supported by ACAP, to add the shearwater to Appendix II be adopted by the Conference of Parties.

New Zealand then introduced the proposed Concerted Action for the Flesh-footed Shearwater (UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.31.3.10), emphasizing the need for scaled-up action on the threat posed by bycatch.  ACAP supported the proposal, noting it was “well-overdue”.  The CoW forwarded both proposals to the COP for adoption.

Approved!

The Conference of Parties met in plenary on the last day of COP15 and accepted both the COW’s proposals, formally adopting the Flesh-footed Shearwater onto Appendix II and approving the proposed Concerted Action for the species.

Two shearwaters, the Critically Endangered Balearic Puffinus mauretanicus and the Vulnerable Pink-footed Ardenna creatopus, are listed on Annex 1 of the Albatross and Petrel Agreement.  Both are also listed on Appendix 1 of the Convention on Migratory Species, now joined by the Flesh-footed Shearwater.  Two earlier ACAP Monthly Missives have considered whether the Flesh-footed Shearwater should be listed by the Albatross and Petrel Agreement (click here).

At COP15, the Federal Government of Germany, depository of the Convention and host of the CMS Secretariat, offered to host COP16 in Bonn in 2029.  COP16 will coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Convention, also known as the Bonn Convention, which was signed in Bonn in June 1979.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 01 April 2026