Helsinki-ASCOBANS COP8 - Day II Toad Island

A spider-web of tram cables

Day one of the ASCOBANS CoP ended with a reception on a small island populated - somewhat to our surprise - by a large colony of toads.

Finland provided an excellent and well-lubricated reception dinner with almost no speeches.

Some delegates almost missed the boat home after wondering off in the dark....

Delegates on an island

Island Toad

The second day starts with the redoubtable Peter Evans chairing a bycatch working group - highlighting one of the key issues here which is a draft bycatch resolution. Arguably the other key issue may be whether or not the Parties (country members) of the Agreement can agree the budget to allow the Agreement to function for the next three years or so until the next CoP.

Peter Evans and CMS Marine mammal lead, Hedrun Frisch-Nwakanma (I don't know what Peter said!)

A early version of the Bycatch resolution flirts across the big screen... before
disappearing into a working group.

Delegates 'bycaught' at the top table

The blue screen of peace - there are several long breaks whilst national
leads debate the budget somewhere else,

A few images around the local area over lunch break

A common gull - note the blue legs

A view of the new lido being built in the harbour

a distant basilica

a corner of the harbour market

Back in the meeting room.... the bycatch resolution working group eventually staggers back in.

A new super-slim version of the key resolution has been prepared for discussion tomorrow.

The final item is a discussion of the 'strandings resolution' which is introduced by one of its drafters, Mr Simmonds:

Mark Simmonds of HSI - to his left Chris Butler-Stroud of WDC.

We end the day with the Dutch delegate, Jerome, giving out copies of a new porpoise game.

Tomorrow we still have to formally approve all resolutions - including the key bycatch, work plan and budget ones. To quote Heidi F-N
'Tomorrow will be another interesting day at #ASCOBANSMOP8. '