In December 2019, scientists announced the approval of 37 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in the Western Indian Ocean and Arabian Seas. The new IMMAs highlight key habitats for various threatened marine mammal species, including endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, and the threatened dugong. IMMAs are an important first step toward greater protection efforts, including in some cases, the establishment of marine protected areas.
For more details, download the full announcement.
