The sperm whales are listed under Appendix 1 and 2 of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, Appendix 3 of the Bern Convention, Appendix 1 of CITES, and Appendix 4 of the EU Habitats Directive. This species is protected under the US Endangered Species Convention and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but as of 1996 are listed as "Not at Risk" by COSEWIC in Canada and are not listed under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. Sperm whales are Protected by the IWC and are currently listed a Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 3.1. It has been argued that the distinct sub-population in the Meditterranean should be listed separately as Endangered.