Dear MARMAMs,

I am happy to share a new review paper titled 'Integrating Cultural Dimensions in Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Conservation: Threats, Challenges, and Solutions,' led by first author Dr. Eguiguren:

Eguiguren, A., Avila I.C., Mesnick S., Cantor M., Hersh T., Pérez-Puig H., Rosero P.,Rendell L., Whitehead H., Rojas C. & Alava J. J. 2025. Integrating cultural dimensions in sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) conservation: threats,challenges and solutions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: 38020240142. http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0142 

This review highlights how culture—socially transmitted behaviors—affects the structure, vulnerability, and resilience of sperm whale populations, particularly in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). ETP sperm whales face numerous human-caused threats, such as fishing conflicts, pollution, and climate change, which hinder their population growth. Although a 2017 UN initiative recognized the importance of cultural considerations in their conservation, significant knowledge and implementation gaps remain. The article calls for stronger international collaboration and the use of advanced technologies to better integrate cultural dimensions into conservation strategies for this vulnerable species.

The article is available at: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2024.0142

Thank you,

Isabel C. Avila