The report is an encyclopaedia on the 72 species of toothed whales compiled by Professor Boris Culik of Kiel University in Germany and represents the most recent scientific findings on the distribution, migration, behavior and threats to this suborder of the cetaceans, which includes sperm whales, beaked whales, porpoises and dolphins which have teeth rather than the baleen of other whales.

Most marine species are heavily affected by ongoing and unsustainable mortalities through fishery interactions. Even if whales are not targeted directly by the fisheries, over-fishing of their predominant prey species was identified as a threat to 13 species (or 18%) in 2011 as opposed to 11 (or 15%) in 2001. Lack of food and forced dietary shifts due to overfishing pose additional threats to these 13 species.

Although hunting on a commercial scale has largely come to an end, many toothed whales still suffer losses from ongoing local hunting, deliberate killings or live-captures. A total of 50 species (or 69%) is now affected by such operations, as opposed to 47 (or 66%) in 2001.

Compared to the Review of Small Cetaceans first published online by CMS in 2001, the new report shows that the conservation status of the toothed whales has dramatically worsened over the past 10 years. Seas and oceans are increasingly affected by human activities, with impacts on an increasing number of species around the world.

"Toothed whales face major threats from bycatch, ship strikes, ocean noise and climate change. These threats need international regulation. The CMS Scientific Council has proposed a resolution on gillnet fisheries for adoption next month, calling for immediate action by the international community to improve fishing practices towards reducing the unnecessary death of so many marine mammals.

"The conservation status of toothed whales has worsened dramatically since 2001. Bycatch in fishing gear is the predominant threat to all toothed whale species. After the Baiji River Dolphin, more species will become extinct unless urgent action is taken to mitigate this threat," said the author of the report, Professor Boris Culik.

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