April 2013 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Sirenews No. 59 & Archives Available Online at http://sirenian.org/sirenews.html
by Caryn Self-Sullivan 24 Apr '13

24 Apr '13

Dear colleagues, The latest issue of Sirenews is now available online: http://sirenian.org/sirenews/59APR2013.pdf Older issues are archived here: http://sirenian.org/sirenews.html Sirenews is the official newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Sirenia Specialist Group. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE THAT Sirenews is an informal forum, not to be considered citable, formally-published literature; it is NOT "peer-reviewed", and contributions to it should not be quoted without the written permission of the author. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of IUCN or other organizations. Sirenews (ISSN 1017-3439) appears twice a year in April and October and is edited by Cynthia R. Taylor and James A. Powell, Sea to Shore Alliance. Sirenews is supported by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission and archived online by Sirenian International. Submission deadlines are April 1 and October 1. Material may be submitted by e-mail to: Cynthia Taylor (ctaylor at sea2shore dot org). Cheers, Caryn Caryn Self-Sullivan, PhD President & Co-founder, Sirenian International Email: cselfsullivan(a)sirenian.org Phone: +1.540.287.8207 Website: http://sirenian.org Blog: http://mermaidsandmermen.blogspot.com/ Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/sirenianinternational Facebook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sirenian/ The mission of Sirenian International is to promote the long-term conservation of manatee and dugong populations around the world through research, education, and inter-cultural collaboration. Please remember us when budgeting for your charitable donations. Donate online at http://sirenian.org.

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New paper on Mediterranean conservation
by Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara 24 Apr '13

24 Apr '13

Dear Colleagues, I have the pleasure of announcing the publication of a paper dealing with conservation policy and processes in the Mediterranean: Portman M., Notarbartolo di Sciara G., Agardy T., Katsanevakis S., Possingham H., Di Carlo G. 2013. He who hesitates is lost: why conservation in the Mediterranean Sea is necessary and possible now. Marine Policy 42:270-279. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.03.004 Abstract. Marine conservation is urgently needed across the Mediterranean region, and much information exists to support establishment of conservation priorities and planning processes. Yet the identification of priority areas for conservation is challenging both from socio-political and ecological perspectives, and differing approaches to setting priorities have led to constraints and inertia. Based on a review of existing and proposed conservation initiatives at various scales throughout the Mediterranean, a model process is presented for furthering marine protection based on conservation priorities set at a regional scale and already endorsed internationally. This article proposes implementing marine spatial planning within the eleven Ecological and Biological Sensitive Areas (EBSAs) of the Mediterranean Sea using an 8-step process designed for moving conservation forward in this particularly complex region. The proposed process combines tenets of professional urban/regional planning and systematic conservation planning. As shown with two specific examples, despite some conventional wisdom, there is enough information in the Mediterranean Sea to move forward with ecosystem-based marine spatial management for conservation purposes using the EBSAs as a starting point – and the time is right to do so. A pdf copy of the paper can be requested from me. Regards, Giuseppe ____________________________________________________ Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Ph.D. President, Tethys Research Institute Via Benedetto Marcello 43, 20124 Milano, Italy disciara(a)gmail.com • +39 335 6376035 • Skype: patmos1999 www.tethys.org • www.disciara.net

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Seeking tissue samples from Pseudorca and Feresa (false and pygmy killer whales) for genetics projects
by Karen Martien - NOAA Federal 23 Apr '13

23 Apr '13

Dear colleagues, We are seeking tissue samples from Pseudorca crassidens (false killer whales) and Feresa attenuata (pygmy killer whales) for inclusion in global phylogenetics projects of each species. Please contact Karen Martien ( Karen.Martien(a)noaa.gov) if you have samples that you may be willing to share. Many thanks, Karen Martien, Robin Baird and Bob Brownell -- Karen K. Martien, Ph.D. Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Phone: 858-546-7058 Fax: 858-546-7003 Karen.Martien(a)noaa.gov http://swfsc.noaa.gov/prd-mmgenetics.aspx

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new article on strandings as population indicators
by Hélène Peltier 23 Apr '13

23 Apr '13

Dear colleagues, I am glad to inform you that a new article is now available online: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0062180 *The Stranding Anomaly as Population Indicator: The Case of Harbour Porpoise /Phocoena phocoena/ in North-Western Europe.* Helene Peltier, Hans J. Baagøe,Kees C. J. Camphuysen,Richard Czeck,Willy Dabin,Pierre Daniel,Rob Deaville,Jan Haelters,Thierry Jauniaux,Lasse F. Jensen,Paul D. Jepson,Guido O. Keijl,Ursula Siebert,Olivier Van Canneyt,Vincent Ridoux * *Abstract: Ecological indicators for monitoring strategies are expected to combine three major characteristics: ecological significance, statistical credibility, and cost-effectiveness. Strategies based on stranding networks rank highly in cost-effectiveness, but their ecological significance and statistical credibility are disputed. Our present goal is to improve the value of stranding data as population indicator as part of monitoring strategies by constructing the spatial and temporal null hypothesis for strandings. The null hypothesis is defined as: small cetacean distribution and mortality are uniform in space and constant in time. We used a drift model to map stranding probabilities and predict stranding patterns of cetacean carcasses under H_0 across the North Sea, the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, for the period 1990--2009. As the most common cetacean occurring in this area, we chose the harbour porpoise /Phocoena phocoena/ for our modelling. The difference between these strandings expected under H_0 and observed strandings is defined as the stranding anomaly. It constituted the stranding data series corrected for drift conditions. Seasonal decomposition of stranding anomaly suggested that drift conditions did not explain observed seasonal variations of porpoise strandings. Long-term stranding anomalies increased first in the southern North Sea, the Channel and Bay of Biscay coasts, and finally the eastern North Sea. The hypothesis of changes in porpoise distribution was consistent with local visual surveys, mostly SCANS surveys (1994 and 2005). This new indicator could be applied to cetacean populations across the world and more widely to marine megafauna. All the best Helene Peltier -- Hélène PELTIER -PhD Observatoire PELAGIS UMS 3462 Université de La Rochelle-CNRS 5, allées de l'océan 17000 La Rochelle, France hpeltier(a)univ-lr.fr +33 (0) 16 49 67 82 /+33 (0) 6 82 74 08 41

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Sirenews 59
by Cynthia Taylor 22 Apr '13

22 Apr '13

Sirenews 59, April 2013, is now available online at http://sea2hore.org/publications/sirenews/ Sirenews is the newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Sirenia Specialist Group. The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of volunteer experts working together towards achieving the vision of "A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity." The Sirenia Specialist Group is focused on the conservation of manatee and dugong populations around the world. Cynthia Taylor and James Powell, co-editors Sea to Shore Alliance www.sea2shore.org

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Volunteer and Research get some experience and knowledge
by Moidjio CRCAD 22 Apr '13

22 Apr '13

Dear all. Moidjio CRCAD is proud to launch a new season of whales, dolphins and turtles monitoring. August-October 2013.We have the chance to operate in one of the most remote and beautiful islands of East Africa. We are now recruiting volunteers to help out with ongoing research on the Comoros islands. We are looking for people of any horizons to help us with data collection on behaviour, photo-ID and marine mammal, turtle spotting and conservation. We are running this project for 4 years now and we encounter on a daily basis Humpback whales, spinner dolphins and pan-tropical spotted dolphins, occasionally False killer whales, melon headed, Fraser's dolphins and bottlenose, We are also protecting and studying nesting green turtles and hawks bills. Our programme is very exciting and run by passionate and expert in there field. Positions are available for anybody interested in research and conservation of these fantastic species. We are a small organisation very well organised and established in the area, composed of scientists, specialist on marine mammals and turtles and of local knowledge.We are working independently of any “gap year company” that will overcharge you for volunteering for a good cause. We are serious but still have fun! Our research aims to have a better understanding of the marine mammal populations around Comoros, help authorities to set up laws for marine conservation against tourism and oil and gas development and preserve a capital breeding ground for humpbacks and green turtles. We charge you what it cost us to welcome you. We are a non profit organisation, working hand in hand with locals and in partnership with Marine national parks of Comoros. We’ve been contracted to work for the BBC in 2010 for the making of the series “AFRICA, the Cape” and are very reliable and an ethical charity registered on the Comoros islands and France. In addition to marine mammals surveys, we will conduct marine turtles surveys, sea-grass meadows surveys, mangrove surveys and conservation, coral reef and it biodiversity surveys.It is an amazing occasion to get experience in research and conservation.The cost is of 300£ per week and for 4 weeks spent you pay 3. Groups are welcomed and additional deduction would apply. We remind you that we are not doing it for profit, none of us get paid, we give our knowledge to people for the new generation of conservationists!We will provide you with a substantial training in cetaceans research, share our experience and joy of life and give you the opportunity to observe cetaceans in one of the most remote island of Africa. Moheli and Grande Comores are the forgotten islands of Africa with a phenomenal natural heritage. Cetaceans behaviour is very unusual and approaches with our experts are always smooth and ethical. So if you planned to do something good this summer/autumn between August and October please come and help us to research these unknown populations of animals. Please visit our website for more details and do not to hesitate to ask any questions.You can discover us on facebook " Moidjio CRCAD Moheli Comoros" or please visit our website. thank you for coming, your help will be much appreciated. Benjamin Wambergue Project Coordinator and head Scientist,Moidjio C.R.C.A.D (Comoros)Centre for Research, Conservation And Development 19 Rue de Notre Dame59670 Cassel, Francehttp://sites.google.com/site/moidjio

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Request for 2012/13 whalewatch guidelines and regulations
by Carole Carlson 22 Apr '13

22 Apr '13

Dear MARMAMERS, I am in the process of updating the compendium of world-wide whalewatch guidelines and regulations. The updated version will be posted on the website of the International Whaling Commission. I would greatly appreciate receiving any new codes, guidelines or regulations that have been formulated over the past year. Many thanks! Carole Carlson email:carolecarlson123@gmail.com

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The new ECS group page on Linkedin
by Wouter Jan Strietman 22 Apr '13

22 Apr '13

Dear all, One of the outcomes of the last ECS meeting has been the creation of a European Cetacean Society Linkedin group page and several subgroups. These are now open for everyone with a linkedin profile to join. The aim of this group is to disseminate information about cetaceans to members of the ECS and the public at large in an interactive and professional way. By being an open platform it may serve not only as a European but also as an international platform to exchange knowledge and expertise between people and organisations in the field of cetaceans. In comparison to our ECS mailing list, we intend this group to be a more informal platform and better suited for interaction and discussion between both members and non-members on a vast range of topics. In comparison with the facebook page it's more aimed at professional interaction (and some people like to keep their professional and private life separate). This group is still in its infancy and a work in progress, but it can be developed in such a way that it includes more subgroups than the current two. If you'd like to start a new group on a specific topic (i.e. strandings, Risso's Dolphins, genetics, MPA's, etc, etc), either for the public at large or for a selected group only, and either within or separate of a current subgroup, please contact one of the moderators. We hope you will all enjoy this new group and are looking forward to your posts and comments. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to post in the comments below or on the group page itself. Hope to see you all there. With kind regards, Wouter Jan Strietman, Francesca Zardin, Aviad Scheinin, Tilen Genov

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1 May - Abstract deadline for Biennial Marine Mammal Conference
by Elisabeth Slooten 21 Apr '13

21 Apr '13

Don't forget to submit your abstracts for the Biennial Marine Mammal Conference – to be held in New Zealand later this year. Everything you need is at: www.marinemammalscience.org The deadline for submitting an abstract is midnight 1 May (regardless of where on the planet you find yourself). See you at the Conference ! Liz ------------------- Dr Liz Slooten, Zoology Department, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand Chair of Organising Committee, 20th Biennial Conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, Dunedin, New Zealand, 9-13 December 2013

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Latest Issue of JMATE
by michael belanger 21 Apr '13

21 Apr '13

HI Everyone The Editors of the Journal of Marine Animals and Their Environment (JMATE) are pleased to announce that the latest issue (vol 5, # 2 December) has been completed and is available free online at: * http://www.oers.ca/journal/journal.html*<http://www.oers.ca/journal/journal.html> The Editors would like to thank all of the reviewers and staff for their assistance in making another issue possible! JMATE is now accepting manuscript submissions for the next issue! Manuscripts dealing with issues related to the preservation of the marine environment, protection, conservation, rescue and rehabilitation of marine life are encouraged. TABLE of CONTENTS EDITORIAL........................................................................................................................................................ pg 1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR............................................................................................................................ pg 2 ANNOUNCEMENT ………………………………………………………………………………..........…… pg 2a INVITED COMMENTARY The mystery of the vampire squid.<http://www.oers.ca/journal/Volume3/Maldini_Galley.pdf> Ellis R…………………………………………………..… ................................................................................. pg 3-5 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS * BRIEF COMMUNICATION:* * * Competitive feeding behavior interaction between a Dogfish Shark (Squalus acanthias) and a pinniped (Phoca vitulina). Askin N, Belanger MP, Wittnich C ..................................................................................................... pg 6-8 * * * CASE REPORT:* Orca (*Orcinus orca*) captivity and vulnerability to mosquito-transmitted viruses Jett J, Ventre J. ........................................................................ ............................................... pg 9-16** * * * TECHNIQUE:* Biomedical health assessments of the Florida manatee in Crystal River - providing opportunities for training during capture, handling and processing of this endangered aquatic mammal. Bonde RK, Garrett A, Belanger MP, Askin N, Tan L, Wittnich C ............................................. pg 17-28 * * * SCIENTIFIC:* * * Skin disorders in common minke whales and white beaked dolphins off Iceland - a photographic assessment. Bertulli C. G, Cecchetti A, Van Bressem MF, Van Waerebeek K. ........................................... pg 29-40 Michael Belanger Director of Operations Oceanographic Environmental Research Society (OERS)

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