Abstract

Cetaceans is the group representing whales and dolphins. That group has an important ecosystemic value in the word. The International Monetary Funds estimate thesis services at 1 trillion dollars per year. As an apex predator, they are shaping the trophic chain and therefore play an important role in the fisheries. The whale watching is a great income for as part of the development o the blue economy. They are also recognized as one of the main nature-based solutions to fight climate change as whales can store for more times carbon dioxide than the Amazon forest. The Caribbean host more than a third of the world's cetacean species as 33 species have been reported to breed, fed, reproduce and rest in the region. However, there are important gaps of data that could lead to the extinction of some population. Indeed, for many islands in the Caribbean the diversity, distribution, abundance and movement of these species are not known. These animals travel great distances, and their distribution can include several countries between which they circulate regularly. On the scale of some large cetacean species, the Caribbean is a unique space that these animals have used for longer than us, with no boundaries other than environmental parameters. It is therefore up to us to adapt and work together to break down our barriers, in order to protect them despite our di?erences – in legislation, language and culture – in each of our territories. Organizations undertaking quality field and policy work exist on many islands, but are often isolated. Projects aimed at enhancing collaboration within the region are limited in time and funding, thus leading to a lack of temporal and geograph-ical continuity. An organization led by local scientists is needed to coordinate the di?erent actions on the long therm.

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