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Action Requested
This paper provides an update on the Voluntary Conservation Fund (VCF). The Conservation Committee (CC) is asked to note this information and provide any comments on intersessional progress made.

1. Voluntary Conservation Fund
At IWC67, the Commission endorsed changes to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations. This included an update to the project categories, eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and allocation process for the Voluntary Conservation Fund and revised Terms of Reference for the VCF Steering Group.
In addition, the proposed Carole Carlson Fund for whale watching and the CMP Fund were brought under the VCF umbrella and follow the same process, with the relevant SWG maintaining control over funding that is earmarked for their topic area.