September 2009 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammal Scientist and Passive Acoustic Monitoring System (PAMS) Operational Technician Vacancies
by Nick Robinson 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Gardline Environmental Ltd is a member of the Gardline Marine Sciences Limited Group of Companies and are a successful Environmental contractor, operating a fleet of inshore boats, conducting major integrated offshore projects on a worldwide basis and inshore projects for major clients in the UK and overseas. As part of our continued growth there are immediate vacancies for the following positions: PAMS OPERATIONAL TECHNICIAN As a PAMS Operational Technician you will be responsible for the maintenance, despatch and receipt of all PAMS equipment. In addition, you will be expected to keep up to date with national and international development of PAMS and implement accordingly. Applicants will ideally be of degree calibre or equivalent in a relevant discipline and possess a full comprehension with the technical composition and use of PAMS. Ideally the candidate would have an understanding of marine mammals, their biology and identification and previous marine survey experience would be advantageous. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENTIST Reporting to the current Marine Wildlife Business Manager, you will be expected to undertaken and develop the application of marine mammal observations, monitoring and recording systems, the compilation and preparation of reports and the processing of observational data and possess a sound knowledge marine mammals, their biology and identification. Ideally you will be of degree calibre or equivalent, and demonstrate the ability to lead and develop projects from implementation to completion and illustrate sound commercial awareness. You will need to be a confident individual with a can do attitude and enjoy being challenged. Previous relevant marine oil and gas or renewable energy industry experience is advantageous. Both positions require the individual to spend in the region of 60 days at sea, dependent on project requirements, with the remaining time being office based (Great Yarmouth). As well as a competitive salary, these roles also include offshore allowances and a range of employee benefits, such as; personal and professional development, a further range of employee benefits and world wide travel opportunities. To apply for these positions please email your CV and covering letter to Allan Tucker, Recruitment Officer on recruitment(a)gardline.com. Closing date: 8th April 2009 Nick Robinson ________________________________ CONFIDENTIALITY - This e-mail and any attached files contain information that is confidential and/or may be subject of legal privilege, intended only for use by the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received this message in error and that any dissemination, copying or use of this message or attachment is strictly forbidden, as is the disclosure of the information therein. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and preserve this confidentiality by deleting the message. No binding contract will result from this e-mail until and unless an officer, on behalf of the sender, signs a written document. Sender accepts no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of this message as it has been transmitted over public networks. Unless otherwise specifically stated any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the sender Company.

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First Call for Abstracts - Top Predator Session at 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting (BO23)
by Daniel Palacios 06 Oct '09

06 Oct '09

The 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting The upcoming Ocean Sciences Meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon, between 22 and 26 February 2010. The Ocean Sciences meeting, the world's largest gathering of ocean scientists, is jointly sponsored by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), The Oceanography Society (TOS), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Scientific Session "BO23: Recent Technological Advances for Studying the Ecology of Top Marine Predators" Description: The use of sophisticated electronic devices and other advanced technologies for the study of marine top predator ecology is becoming routine, resulting in new insights into the physical and biological processes that influence predator behavior and distribution. This session seeks to bring together biologists, oceanographers, and engineers who are involved in the development and application of cutting-edge instrumentation or novel methods to study the ecology of predatory fishes, marine turtles, seabirds, pinnipeds, and cetaceans. Presentations on the use of technologies such as electronic tagging, hydroacoustics, bioacoustics, autonomous or remotely operated vehicles, and remote sensing are welcome. Contributions from outstanding students are particularly encouraged. This session is co-sponsored by AGU's Biological Oceanography and Marine Technology Sections. Conveners: Daniel Palacios, Mark Baumgartner and Steven Bograd Abstract deadline: 15 October 2009 Conference details: http://www.agu.org/meetings/os10/index.php For further information about this session please contact: Daniel Palacios NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC 1352 Lighthouse Avenue Pacific Grove, CA, USA 93950-2097 831-236-6905 daniel.palacios(a)noaa.gov Mark Baumgartner Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution MS #33, Redfield 256 Woods Hole, MA, USA 02543 508-289-2678 mbaumgartner(a)whoi.edu Steven Bograd NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC/Environmental Research Division 1352 Lighthouse Avenue Pacific Grove, CA, USA 93950-2097 831-648-8314 steven.bograd(a)noaa.gov

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ESA listing petition for the insular stock of Hawaiian false killer whales
by Alter, Liz 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Readers of MARMAM may be interested in the following announcement regarding an Endangered Species Act listing petition for the insular stock of Hawaiian false killer whales, filed today by the Natural Resources Defense Council. A press release and the petition itself can be found at the link below. NRDC Asks Obama Administration to List Endangered Whale Species <http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090930a.asp> LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2009) - The Natural Resources Defense Council today called on the federal government to list the Hawaiian population of false killer whales as an endangered species and designate critical habitat to ensure its recovery under the Endangered Species Act. The Hawaiian false killer whale population is a small and ecologically unique population of 120 animals that has suffered a significant decline over the last 25 years. http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090930a.asp

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Internship at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Cape Cod
by Ruth H Leeney 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Right whale Internship posting: Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is seeking an intern for the upcoming 2010 right whale survey season. This person will work with both the aerial survey and habitat survey teams, who operate between January and May every year, documenting the abundance, distribution and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay. The intern will primarily assist staff members with photographing right whales and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites in Cape Cod Bay. The successful applicant will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, database entry, and matching images to known animals using an online catalog. He/ she will be required to work a minimum of four full days per week. The intern will often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail-oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Fieldwork will likely involve one to two surveys per week, between January 2 and May 15. Applicants must be available for the full field season. Requirements: * A degree, preferably in biological/ environmental sciences (required). * Experience with digital SLR cameras. * Experience in photo-identification of marine mammals, and matching of photographs (required). * Data entry; basic computer skills in programs such as Excel and Word (required). * Experience of working on boats. Must not suffer from seasickness. * Must work well in a team. Field hours can be long and the winter fieldwork conditions are cold. * Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab-based research methods. * A valid US drivers license would be beneficial but is not essential. Housing will be provided, as well as a stipend of $1000 for the whole internship period. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to expand their skills in marine mammal survey techniques, and will offer the successful applicant the unique chance to work with one of the world's most endangered cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale. PCCS has a long history of conservation and research work with the North Atlantic right whale. This internship will afford the successful applicant an invaluable opportunity to work within a well-established institution, with highly-qualified scientists, and to gain experience in photo-identification, matching, data entry and analysis. Some experience in plankton sampling may also be gained. Details of our work can be found at the following links: Habitat program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/vbhabstudies.htm Aerial program: http://www.coastalstudies.org/what-we-do/right-whales/aerialsur.htm Application process: Please submit your cover letter, resume, college transcripts (unofficial are sufficient), and the contact information for three references via email to rleeney(a)coastalstudies.org ; please compile these into one pdf file if possible. The closing date for applications is November 15, 2009. Ruth H. Leeney, PhD Director, Right Whale Aerial Survey Program Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies 5 Holway Avenue MA 02657 USA t: (508) 487-3623 ext. 111 www.coastalstudies.org www.namibiandolphinproject.blogspot.com http://publicationslist.org/ruth.leeney

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Re: [MARMAM] WDCS Request
by Nicola Hodgins 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Dear MARMAMMER¹s, WDCS is kindly asking for your help as we are compiling a comprehensive online species guide that will include up to 5 quality images of each species alive and at sea - although we appreciate that for several species, like for example many of the beaked whales, this will not be possible. Unfortunately we are falling short of being able to source all the images that we need or are looking for better ones and/or additional ones that best showcase cetaceans and would assist in easy identification of the animal. As and when you would get the chance can we ask you to have a trawl through your photos and see if you can fill in any of the blanks. All photographers will be credited and images will NOT be used for any other purpose, unless authorised to do so by the photographer. A list of species for which we need images follows and all and any help will be greatly appreciated! If you can help then please respond to me directly (nicola.hodgins(a)wdcs.org) to arrange transfer of files! Thank-you in advance for your help, Nicola Antarctic minke whale Bowhead whale Burmeister's porpoise Chilean dolphin Dall's porpoise Dwarf sperm whale Finless porpoise Franciscana Fraser's dolphin Hourglass dolphin Long-beaked common dolphin Melon-headed whale Northern right-whale dolphin Peale¹s dolphin Pygmy killer whale Pygmy right whale Pygmy sperm whale Sei whale Spectacled porpoise Snubfin dolphin Andrew's beaked whale Arnoux's beaked whale Baird's beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Gervais' beaked whale Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Gray's beaked whale Hector's beaked whale Hubbs¹ beaked whale Longman¹s beaked whale Perrin¹s beaked whale Pygmy beaked whale Shepherd¹s beaked whale Sowerby¹s beaked whale Spade-toothed beaked whale Stejneger¹s beaked whale Strap-toothed beaked whale True¹s beaked whale Nicola Hodgins International Projects Co-ordinator WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Phone: - +441249 449 537 Mobile: - +447841497597 http://www.wdcs.org *** WDCS International Brookfield House 38 St Paul Street Wiltshire SN15 1LJ UK Since commercial whaling was banned¹ more than 30,000 whales have been killed. Help us Stop Whaling. www.whales.org <http://www.whales.org> WDCS is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment. > Please consider the environment before printing this email. This e-mail's contents are confidential to the intended recipient(s) at the e-mail address to which it has been sent. It may not be disclosed, copied to, circulated or used by anyone other than the intended addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this transmission in error please telephone the originator immediately or ring +44 (0)1249 449500. Any opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WDCS. Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (³WDCS²): Registered in England and Wales No. 2737421 WDCS, Brookfield House, 38 St. Paul street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN!5 1LJ. Registered Charity No. 1014705. Tel: 01249 449500 Fax: 01249 449501 WDCS Shop is a trading name of WDCS (Trading) Limited (Registered in England No. 2593116) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (Charity No. 1014705) and gift aids all post tax profits to the charity. WDCS Wildlife Centre: Spey Bay, Moray, IV32 7PJ. Tel: 01343 820339 Fax: 01343 829065 WDCS Australasia: WDCS, PO Box 720, Port Adelaide Business Centre, South Australia, Australia 5015. Tel: 1300 360 442 Fax: 08 8242 1595 WDCS Deutschland: WDCS, Altostraße 43, D-81245, München. Tel: 089 6100 2393 Fax: 089 6100 2394 WDCS (North America): 7 Nelson Street, Plymouth, MA 02360-4044 Tel: 1.888.MYWHALE (1.888.699.4253) WDCS (South America): Potosi 2087, B1636BUA, Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel-Fax + 5411- 4796-3191

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Information about the occurrence of marine mammals within the Antarctic Treaty Area
by Alex Liebschner 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Dear colleagues, I’m looking for any information about the occurrence and abundance of marine mammals (especially (Blue) whales) in the area of the Eastern Ross Sea, Amundsen Sea and Bellingshausen Sea during the austral summer (January to April). Any information as accurate as possible would be helpful to contribute to the assessment of the potential impact of seismic surveys in these areas. In particular, if you know about local populations or stocks of marine mammals in the areas mentioned above, it would be a great help if you could provide me with this information. Please, do not worry about any misuse of the information received – no info or data will be used for any publication. If you know anybody who could provide assistance on this matter, please don’t hesitate and transfer this mail forward. Thank you very much in advance for your help. Please contact me directly under: liebschner(a)gmx.de Many regards Alexander Liebschner -- Jetzt kostenlos herunterladen: Internet Explorer 8 und Mozilla Firefox 3.5 - sicherer, schneller und einfacher! http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/chbrowser

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Last call for registration on Marine Mammal Observer Course and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Course
by Yvonne Miles 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

Hi All *Scanning Ocean Sectors – A Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training company and Joint Nature Conservation Committee – JNCC, recognised course for industry and research.* * * We have years of research behind the *effective* training of MMOs with courses adapted to the requirements of the clients, and taught by professionals in their specialised fields. *Please note that we are finalising numbers for the October courses * ** NOTE – There will be *ONLY **ONE** MMO COURSE IN OCTOBER 19th - 21st * * ** Due to high request we will be running a Passive Acoustic Monitoring course for MMOs on 22nd – 23rd October 2009 * ** *This course is booking up quickly so don’t leave it late* ** Please visit our website for more information and to register for all courses At the end of November there will be 2010 dates for training up on the website *Note – There are limited numbers for each course so please book early to avoid disappointment.* * * If anyone is interested in advertising in our newsletter please contact us for the next issue www.scanningoceansectors.org info(a)scanningoceansectors.org -- Yvonne Miles 9 Long Street Point Vernon Hervey Bay QLD 4655 Australia 0431 824 063 mob 07 4124 8320 land line info(a)scanningoceansectors.org www.scanningoceansectors.org

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MobySound.org: soliciting sound files for the archives
by sara.heimlich 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Dear Colleagues: *We invite you to visit MobySound.org*, the new location for MobySound, an open-access sound database for research in automatic call recognition (ACR) of marine mammals. MobySound provides training data for ACR methods and currently contains recordings of a number of species of cetaceans; pinniped recordings will be added soon. We are currently expanding the archive of recordings and are actively soliciting contributions from our colleagues in the marine mammal sciences (you!) We have an incoming FTP site where you could deposit sound files, or we are happy to get them on CD/DVD. We will also be at the 2009 SMM Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Quebec City, where we will be able to take direct deposits. What are we looking for? Recordings of any marine mammal species that are (ideally) relatively long sound files -- 10-30 minutes (or longer) -- along with metadata: where and when the recordings were made, instrumentation used, where the whale sounds are within the files, degree of certainty about the species in the recordings, etc. A full list of desired metadata is appended below. We realize that the ideal recordings may not exist, and if they do, may not be easy for you to find in your collection, so we expect less than the ideal; any recordings and metadata that would be easy for you to provide would be helpful. We always post a copyright statement, which includes an appropriate attribution clause regarding source and acknowledgments, and states that permission to use sound files beyond the immediate scope and purposes of this project must be sought directly from the provider. We can also accommodate other copyright arrangements which might better suit the needs of a contributor. Feel free to contact us at any time, or hunt us down for a good chat during the 2009 SMM Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Quebec City. Cheers- Sara Heimlich and Dave Mellinger Sara Heimlich (541) 867-0328 tel. Sara.heimlich(a)oregonstate.edu CIMRS/NOAA VENTS Acoustics Marine Mammal Group Hatfield Marine Science Center Newport, OR. 97365 USA _ _ _Detailed list of the sort of information we would find useful:_ * recordist (person) * recording equipment, frequency response, sample rate, bit depth * time/date of recordings; is that part of the sound files? * geographic area * position and speed of hydrophones (x, y, z); may be a track (e.g., GPS track) for mobile hydrophones * time and frequency of vocalizations (or presence/absence of them within specific time spans) * signal-to-noise ratio * species and numbers of individuals present -- degree and type of verification * behavior * is hydrophone on-axis / off-axis / unknown * sound speed profile * bottom depth at sensor (or bathymetry of the area) * bottom characteristics * sea state / swell size * references * sources of noise and interfering sounds * distance from recorded animals * time/frequency positions and types of vocalizations of interest within each file -- Sara Heimlich CIMRS/NOAA VENTS Acoustics Marine Mammal Group Hatfield Marine Science Center Newport, OR. 97365 USA (541) 867-0328 tel.

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Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy
by Brill, Katie 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Florida Manatee Research Job Vacancy OPS Research Staff Job #77900922 Department: Wildlife Research Location: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas County) Rate of Pay: $11.00/hr (40 hrs/wk) including some weekends and occasional holidays; no benefits provided Close Date: October 5, 2009 Contact: Katherine Brill Position Description: Serve as member of FWC's manatee necropsy, carcass salvage, and rescue team. Conduct necropsies at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory or in the field on manatees and other marine mammal carcasses, record observations, and complete associated necropsy reports. Responsible for preparation and labeling of sample containers, carcass disposal, and cleaning of equipment and instruments. Recover marine mammal carcasses for necropsy from Florida's Northwest region (coastal and inland waterways of Manatee County to Escambia County). Assist in manatee rescue and transport operations in the Northwest region. Assist with manatee rescues and capture operations away from designated area as needed. Process skeletal collection requests according to FWC and USFWS guidelines; prepare skeletal remains for curating and shipping and process federal, state, and international permits for tracking skeletal collections and information requests. Maintain inventories of tissues and tissue requests. Manage associated database of inventories including metadata. Responsible for vessel maintenance and associated boater safety reports. Manages the processing and labeling of manatee necropsy slides, digital images, archiving of digital images, and overseeing the image log database. Participate in public outreach efforts ad appropriate. Prepare research papers and technical reports. Serve with other MMPL staff members in the rotating, on-call duty (that includes weekends and occasional holidays) for the purpose of responding to marine mammal emergencies and carcasses. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: * Knowledge of the Florida Manatee Recovery Plan and state and federal legislation protecting manatees * Knowledge of methods of data collection and principles and techniques of research and analysis * Knowledge of marine mammal anatomy and necropsy techniques * Knowledge of SLR digital cameras, filters, and lenses * Experience creating and managing databases, spreadsheets, and word processing using Microsoft Access, Excel, and Word * Able to trailer flatbeds and watercraft vessels * Able to safely operate watercraft vessels 26' in length and smaller * Be capable of daily manual labor requiring handling of heavy and sharp objects and working under unpleasant conditions * Must be physically fit, able to lift at least 75 lbs, and be able to swim sufficiently to save oneself * Able to conduct fieldwork in all weather conditions * Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships * Be comfortable speaking to the public * Possess or be able to obtain a Florida driver's license within a month of employment Minimum Requirements: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences or one year of professional biological experience in a field or lab research program. Experience with dissection, pathology, or animal necropsies. TO APPLY: A State of Florida Employment Application must be submitted through the People First Web site (https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com) by the closing date. Applicants selected for interview will be expected to submit a letter of introduction, resume and references--notification will be made to those individuals following the closing date.

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Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Project Officer - Position available
by CBMWC 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Job opportunity - Project Officer for Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Project Officer for Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Duration: October 2009 to April 2010 Line Management: Chairman, Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Group Responsible to: Chief Executive (WTSWW) Salary: circa £8,750 p/a for a 26 hour week (days flexible) Application process: Send CV plus covering letter to info(a)cbmwc.org by Friday 9th October 2009 Interviews will be held during the week commencing 12th October 2009 An opportunity has arisen for a Project Officer for the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, Wales. This post is available for a period of up to 6 months depending on starting date. JOB DESCRIPTION Overall Purpose of Post * To develop and implement the volunteering strategy for the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre including recruitment, induction, volunteer development and training. * Develop financial initiatives for the centre to secure its long term viability and sustainability. * Raise the profile of the Centre and its work. * Further the development of the Centre, its research, education and awareness raising work. Main Responsibilities * Recruit, coordinate and support CBMWC volunteers, including responding to all volunteer enquiries. * Advertise for and recruit seasonal volunteers for the 2010 field season. * Encourage and promote volunteering opportunities to members and the wider community, identify volunteer roles for long term local volunteers and recruit. * Manage the running of visitor centre shop, including stock ordering and purchasing. * Identify and develop other potential income streams for CBWMC. * Development of current projects and identification of potential future projects, in line with CBMWCs research, education and awareness raising objectives. * Identify funding opportunities and work on grant applications. * General administrative support. * Raise awareness of the work of the Centre and marine conservation locally and nationally. * Production of reports to funders. Person Specification Essential * Demonstrable experience of working with volunteers and understanding volunteer needs * Excellent organisational and communication skills * Ability to work without supervision * Show self-reliance and initiative * Ability to lead and motivate others * Ability to work effectively under pressure * Ability to work well within a small team * A commitment to wildlife and conservation issues * Flexible working attitude * Understanding of Health & Safety issues Desirable * Full driving licence * Experience coordinating volunteers * Knowledge of grant fundraising processes * Confident personality and excellent communicator * Knowledge and understanding of computers/databases * A knowledge of Welsh may be an advantage This post is part-time (26 hrs per week) from October 2009 to April 2010 (covering secondment post, possible extension). The post is based at The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, Patent Slip Building, Glanmor Terrace, New Quay, Ceredigion SA45 9PS. The post is subject to a CRB data check and a 3 month probationary period. Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is supported by the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Group, a Marine interest group of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. For further information about the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre please contact Sarah Perry (01545 560032), visit www.cbmwc.org <http://www.cbmwc.org/> or email info(a)cbmwc.org. DEADLINE: Applications (CV & covering letter) to be emailed to info(a)cbmwc.org by Friday 9th October 2009. __________________________________________________________________ Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Patent Slip Building Glanmor Terrace New Quay Ceredigion SA45 9PS West Wales, UK Ffon/Phone: 01545 560032 E-bost/E-mail: <mailto:info@cbmwc.org> info(a)cbmwc.org Website: <http://www.cbmwc.org> www.cbmwc.org www.cbmwc.org http://twitter.com/CBMWC Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is supported by the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Group, a Marine interest group of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Helping to conserve Cardigan Bay's Marine Wildlife through education, interpretation and research. Cynorthwyo i gadw Bywyd gwyllt Moral Bae Aberteifi trwy addysg as ymchwil. __________________________________________________________________ The contents of this email are confidential and are soley for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this email in error please delete it and notify us either by email or telephone. It is prohibited to copy, forward or otherwise disclose the contents of this email.

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