The Arabian Sea humpback whale is a case for regional marine cooperation. Discuss.

The Arabian Sea humpback whale (ASHW) is the only humpback population in the world that does not migrate. It stays in the northern Indian Ocean all year [2]. It is listed as Endangered and lives in waters shared by many states. That makes it a clear case for regional rather than purely national conservation. India made this point at IWC-70 (Hobart, 2026) when it called for cooperation among "range countries" [1].

Why the case is regional

• Shared range: confirmed range states include India, Oman, Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, the UAE and Sri Lanka. Whales have been recorded moving between Oman and Yemen [2].
• Fragile population: fewer than 100 whales remain off Oman. The effective population is probably under 250, isolated for about 70,000 years [2]. Losing even a few whales in one country's waters affects the whole population.
• Threats that cross borders: 30–40% of Omani humpbacks carry fishing-gear scars, and Arabian Sea container traffic tripled between 2004 and 2014 [2]. Worldwide, under 10% of large-whale populations have any protection from ship strikes [3].
• Data gaps: little research happens outside Oman, so the whales' movements are poorly understood [2].

Current efforts and their limits

• The CMS Concerted Action (2017) targets this population. Yet it notes that conservation so far has been "minimal, piecemeal" and uncoordinated [2].
• India funds humpback monitoring under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme [4]. It also gives cetaceans the highest protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 [1]. But one country acting alone cannot protect a species found in ten countries' waters [2].
• Hurdles: strained India–Pakistan ties, no dedicated regional marine forum, and competing port, oil-and-gas and fishing interests.

Way forward

• Science network: share photo-ID, acoustic and satellite-tag data, and run joint surveys.
• Fisheries: close critical habitat to certain kinds of fishing, as IUCN experts recommend [5], and train fishers to free entangled whales.
• Shipping: agree on shipping routes and speed limits in areas where whales gather.
• Template: India's river-dolphin dialogue with Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar [6] could be extended to the Arabian Sea states.

The ASHW's biology, the threats it faces and the gaps in what we know all cross national borders, so its survival depends on countries protecting it together. A regional Arabian Sea framework could build on the CMS Concerted Action and India's position at IWC-70, grounded in science and involving local communities. It would advance SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and the constitutional duty to protect wildlife under Article 51A(g), turning diplomatic statements into real protection.