February 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Marine Mammal Education and Research Internship - Spring spots available still!
by Laura Howes 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Hello, The New England Aquarium is currently accepting Spring and Summer applicants for their Marine Mammal Education and Research Internship to serve aboard commercial Whale Watch Cruises, which are offered in partnership with Boston Harbor Cruises. Marine Mammal Education & Research Interns are responsible for collecting, and transcribing data related to the identification, location, and behavior of marine mammals found in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region. Interns are also involved in public education aboard the vessels. Additional duties include data entry, photo-identification processing, and educational outreach. Please click the following link to be redirected to a full description of the internship position: http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/c… You must apply through the New Aquarium Website: http://www.neaq.org/get_involved/volunteering_and_internships/internships/a… Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, 2 references, and an unofficial transcript to intern(a)neaq.org<mailto:intern@neaq.org>. Please contact NEAq directly to apply to this program. Sincerely, Laura Howes -- Laura Howes Director of Marine Education & Conservation Boston Harbor Cruises One Long Wharf Boston, MA 02110 p: (617) 227-4321 ext 277 lhowes(a)bostonharborcruises.com<mailto:lhowes@bostonharborcruises.com> [ALL CAPS logo email sig]<http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/>

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Joint Industry programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life - RFP
by Campbell, John, IOGP 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

The Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life is pleased to invite proposals on the following topic: "Autonomous Aerial and Marine Technology Understanding - Literature review on understanding the current state of autonomous technologies to improve/expand observation and detection of marine species" The RFP document can be downloaded from: http://www.soundandmarinelife.org/media/54262/jip22_phiii_rfpiii-15-02_uasa… . Submissions should be sent to info(a)soundandmareinlife.org and are due by 3rd April 2015. JOHN A CAMPBELL JIP Coordinator ________________________________ John Campbell Technical Director email: jac(a)iogp.org phone: +44 20 3763 9707 International Association of Oil & Gas Producers 209-215 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NL, UK reception: +44 20 3763 9700 web: www.iogp.org Follow us on Twitter @IOGP_News OGP is now IOGP.Visit our new website at www.iogp.org<http://www.iogp.org> ________________________________ This e-mail was sent by The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP). IOGP is registered in England. Registration number: 1832064. Registered office: 209-215 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NL.

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Volunteer Wildlife Guides Required‏
by Stones Brett 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

Two Volunteer Positions offered to marine biology enthusiasts with a passenger boat trip company to assist with wildlife guiding activities. SeaMôr Wildlife Tours is looking for two enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers to fill positions offered during the period of May to October 2015. The position requires working on our dolphin and wildlife watching boats as crew and wildlife guides, and also assisting with sales and marketing of the trips. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn some great skills such as boat handling and general seamanship, and also boost your public speaking. The trips run from the beautiful towns of New Quay and Aberaeron in Cardigan Bay, which is home to the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in the UK. Harbour porpoise, grey seals and a variety of sea birds are also amongst the many animals that can be viewed on the trip as well as all the animals that we catch and release from our lobster pots. WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE YOU WILL GAIN: Public speaking and guiding experience Crewing on a commercial passenger boat Boat handling Customer service and team work Managing social media ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: Fluent spoken English Interest in marine wildlife and boating Flexibility and the ability to work outdoors Good communication skills Good customer service skills Experience of working in a small team DESIRABLE: Marine biology (or similar) qualification RYA powerboat license Interest in marketing Website editing and design EU driving licence Other info: This is an unpaid post, however, there will be an element of paid work available, and free accommodation is provided. How to apply: If you are interested in this position, email your CV by 22nd March, 2015 to Brett Stones, info(a)seamor.org, or call us on 07795242445. Website www.seamor.org To see what we do, visit our website www.seamor.org

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job announcement -- NRDC Marine Mammal Fellowship
by Jasny, Michael 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

All, I'm pleased to announce that NRDC will be hiring a two-year, full-time, post-doctoral Fellow in marine mammal science. The Fellow will work with NRDC's Marine Mammal Protection Project and allied programs, and be supported by our Science Center. A full description of the position and instructions for applying are available at http://bit.ly/1LwhQiX. We will consider candidates committed to work out of any of NRDC's offices, but location in Los Angeles or New York is preferred. We plan to begin considering applications on March 15. Please feel free to email me if you have questions about the Fellowship. Cheers, Michael Michael jasny Director, Marine Mammal Protection NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL 4479 W. 5th Avenue Vancouver, bc v6r1s4 T 604.736.9386 c 310.560.5536 mjasny(a)NRDC.ORG<mailto:mjasny@NRDC.ORG> Please save paper. Think before printing.

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Manatee Job Posting, Tequesta FL
by Howell, Amber 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

Title: OPS Biological Scientist I Position Number: 77903020 Rate of Pay: $11.00/hour, 40 hours/week Location: Tequesta, FL Closing Date: 3/9/2015 DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES: Duties may include but are not limited to: recovery of manatee carcasses from a seven county area in southeast Florida, conduct necropsies on badly decomposed manatee carcasses and transport fresh to moderately decomposed manatee carcasses to the necropsy facility in St. Petersburg; participate in manatee rescue, including coordination of capture and transportation of injured manatees to the appropriate rehabilitation facilities; conduct aerial surveys of manatees and participate in aerial synoptic surveys for manatees; track radio-tagged manatees and photograph manatees for photo identification purposes; operate a computer and software such as Excel, Access and Word; coordination of monofilament recovery and recycling program; coordination of regional water temperature monitoring project; data entry, office work and public outreach including working with the media; general cleaning of office and equipment, vehicle, trailer and boat maintenance and other tasks assigned by supervisor; work long, unscheduled hours on short notice that include some evenings, most weekends and frequently on holidays. Occasional overnight travel required. NOTE: Initial work schedule will be Sunday-Thursday. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree with a major in one of the biological or life sciences. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Applicant must obtain boater safety certification within the first six months of employment. Applicant must be able to swim proficiently. Field work is highly physical and applicant must be able to lift 50 lbs. on a regular basis. Applicant must have the ability to work both as a team member as well as independently in various field situations; must be able to work under adverse field conditions, potentially nights, on weekends and holidays; must be able to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships; think logically and apply problem-solving techniques; effectively communicate verbally and in writing; and maintain a valid driver's license. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Marine mammal stranding-response experience is preferred. Knowledge of and the ability to use personal computers, field gear, and cameras are highly desired. The ability to safely operate and trailer boats less than 30 feet in length is also highly desired. WHAT IS OPS EMPLOYMENT? Other Personal Services (OPS) employment is a temporary employer/employee relationship used solely for accomplishing short term or intermittent tasks. OPS employees do not fill established positions and may not be assigned the duties of any vacant authorized position. OPS employees are at-will employees and are subject to actions such as pay changes, changes to work assignment, and terminations at the pleasure of the agency head or designee. WHAT BENEFITS ARE APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan* - mandatory * Workers' Compensation - mandatory * Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) - mandatory * Participation in state group insurance (upon availability and you must meet eligibility requirements) * Deferred Compensation - voluntary * Employee Assistance Program - voluntary WHAT BENEFITS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OPS EMPLOYEES? * Any form of paid leave * Paid holidays * Participation in the Florida Retirement System * Reinstatement rights or retention rights APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please submit a current resume, list of three references, and a cover letter along with your State of Florida Employment Application in People First, as an attachment. Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Employment Application Form electronically in People First (http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com<http://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/>) or faxed to 1-888-403-2110 by the closing date listed. Resumes and supporting documentation may be submitted in People First, but do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida Employment Application Form. If you experience technical difficulties during the application process or when attaching documents, call People First staffing at 1-877-562-7287. If unable to attach supporting documents to your application, they may be faxed to the People First Service Center at 1-888-403-2110. Be sure to include the Requisition number for the position to which you are applying on each page of your faxed documents. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or the People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. The State of Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. An Employment Eligibility Verification Check will be conducted in the E-Verify System which is a federal government electronic database that confirms the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Amber Howell Research Associate Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Southeast Field Lab

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New publication on the Operational interactions between South American sea lions and gillnet fishing in southern Brazil
by Rodrigo Machado 23 Feb '15

23 Feb '15

Dear MARMAM readers, We are pleased to announce our new publication: MACHADO, R.; OTT, P.H.; MORENO, I.B.; DANILEWICZ, D.; TAVARES, M.; CRESPO, H.A.; SICILIANO, S.; OLIVEIRA, L.R. 2015. Operational interactions between South American sea lions and gillnet fishing in southern Brazil. *Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems*.DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2554 Abstract: 1. This study describes operational interactions between coastal gillnet fishing and South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) off the southern Brazilian coast. 2. In total, 263 onboard surveys were carried out during three periods between 1992 and 2012 in fishing boats from two harbours on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul State: Passo de Torres (29°19’S; 49°43’W) and Imbé (29°58’S; 50°07’W). 3. Interactions of South American sea lions were observed in 116 (24.0%) out of 484 fishing operations. These interactions were more frequent in fishing boats from Passo de Torres (frequency of occurrence FO = 42.8%) than those from Imbé (FO = 14.8%; P < 0.001) and during autumn and winter months. 4. Interactions between South American sea lions and fishing activities with fixed bottom gillnets in Imbé were most frequent during period III of the study (2011/2012) (FO = 52.0%; P = 0.032). 5. These results demonstrated that interactions are not as high as reported/complained about by the local fishermen who tend to exaggerate the impact of these interactions. 6. It is suggested that reduced fish stock and increased fishing effort during recent decades is raising the frequency of encounters with South American sea lions during fishing activities off the southern Brazilian coast. Therefore, the implementation of fishery management measures that reduce fishing effort and that integrate environmental education programmes are essential to reduce conflicts between fishing activities and the sea lions in the region. You can access the paper here http: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.2554/abstract Best regards -- Rodrigo Machado ______________________________________________________________________ Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Aquáticos do Rio Grande do Sul (GEMARS). Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia de Aves e Mamíferos Marinhos. Departamento de Zoologia - UFRGS/IB. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil Skype: ecomachado

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Society of Ecological and Coastal Research: Marine Research Intern Program in British Columbia, June 2015
by whale lab 21 Feb '15

21 Feb '15

The Society for Ecological and Coastal Research - SEACR - is a non-profit organization, established in 1998, dedicated to scientific research on the ecology of near-shore marine systems. SEACR is sponsoring several long-term ongoing research projects on gray whale ecology in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada, with some exciting additions this summer. The projects are organized and run by members of the Whale Research Lab of the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/) Internships are for enthusiastic individuals to gain marine field experience. As an intern you will assist marine ecologists with their field research, living and working together in a remote field-station in the coast rainforest of Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. For more information on the current research see http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/whale and 'recent research' at http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/research. We currently have a few spots left in June! Sessions run May 31-June13 or June 13-June 26 with two or four week options available. Internships are offered on a competitive basis, at cost and provide invaluable exposure to boat based field work, the Pacific coastal ocean environment, marine mammal research, intensive training and mentoring in marine ecology, and encouragement to work and play hard! This internship is an excellent opportunity for an individual working toward a career in marine science to gain practical experience in the field. Ideal candidates possess a personal interest in marine ecology and a commitment to conservation research. THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT Flores Island is the home of the Ahousaht First Nations peoples and is nestled in world-famous Clayoquot Sound, in the Pacific Coast rainforest. Flores is an excellent place to learn about marine ecology and the study of nature. Along with learning field and technical skills during the course of work, when the opportunity arises Research Interns may engage in informal talks with graduate students, take hikes along the Wild Side Trail, have campfires, and interact with the Ahousaht First Nations peoples. Professors from the University of Victoria, local scientists and previous MRIP researchers will be frequent visitors to the field research station. Flores Island's natural beauty, sandy beaches, and abundant wildlife will keep you enthralled. Being here is the experience of a lifetime. APPLICATION PROCESS & COSTS To qualify as a candidate for the MRIP, see the pre-application process on our website: http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/MRIPapply Unlike many other volunteer internship opportunities, SEACR provides and organizes the room and board for our interns at cost. The internship package includes basic accommodations and three meals per day at the research station. Interns and research staff live together and are responsible for cooking and cleaning duties. Rooms are shared with at least one other person. The internship costs do not include transportation to and from the research camp on Flores Island, personal items, or special dietary requirements. A non-refundable $500 deposit is required upon acceptance to MRIP. Two week Internship is $ 2,300 CDN Four week Internship is $ 3,600 CDN This internship is an excellent opportunity for an individual working toward a career in marine science to gain practical experience in the field. Ideal candidates possess a personal interest in marine ecology and a commitment to conservation research. Marine research is difficult and challenging work, so being a Research Intern is not for everyone! Those who wish to participate in MRIP must be in good physical health, especially free of back and leg injuries, as the field hours (in the boat and in the lab) can be long - though very satisfying! This is not a program that certifies individuals in field research. It is, however, an experience that delivers a unique opportunity for education, development of field ecology research skills, travel, and enjoyment of wildlife. If you are interested in applying for a position, please see the details of our application process on our http://whalelab.geog.uvic.ca/MRIPapply Questions regarding the MRIP application or internships can be directed by email to: whalelab(a)gmail.com

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ECS Workshop: New mitigation methods and evolving acoustic exposure guidelines
by Frances Robertson 21 Feb '15

21 Feb '15

*ECS Workshop: New mitigation methods and evolving acoustic exposure guidelines* Malta, March 21st 2015 9am-5pm *Cost: €20* This workshop is offered by the MMOA (Marine Mammal Observer Association) and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. The purpose of the workshop is to cover changes in technology and recently developed methods, and to look at current methods used in mitigation with a view to improving or enhancing marine mammal mitigation guidelines in New Zealand and elsewhere. The workshop will be structured around two sessions; the first session will concentrate on novel technologies used in mitigation, while the second will discuss mitigation guidelines for seismic surveys and other activities and the roles these new technologies may play in them. Experts will present on a variety of topics including sound measurement, multi-beam, thermal imaging, acoustic deterrents, PAM and the use of streamers for PAM systems, acoustic exposure guidelines and soft start procedures. The workshop will end with a discussion which will consider how these methods may be used to improve mitigation, how they may be implemented and lastly guideline improvements. We recognise that we will not be aware of all emerging technologies and new data on mitigation effectiveness. We therefore welcome the submission of posters on relevant topics for discussion during the breaks and in the free-flowing session at the end of the day. If you wish to present a poster at this workshop, please contact Frances Robertson: frances.c.robertson(a)gmail.com To register for this workshop please contact either: Andrew Wright: marinebrit(a)gmail.com Or Patrick Lyne: plyne1(a)eircom.net The workshop schedule is as follows: *Noise measurement* 09:15 – 09:40: Peter Ward, Kongsberg Maritime Ltd PAM: Methods and Platforms for Underwater Noise Sensing *Multi-beam* 09:40 – 10:05 Paul Jepson, Zoological Society of London Final report of the Independent Scientific Review Panel investigating potential contributing factors to a 2008 mass stranding of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in Antsohihy, Madagascar 10:05 – 10:30 Gordon Hastie , SMRU, St Andrews University The use of multi-beam in marine mammal research and mitigation; pitfalls and possibilities ------------------------------------------- break 10:30 to 10:50 ------------------------------------- *Thermal Imaging* 10:50 – 11:15 Daniel Zitterbart, Alfred-Wegener Institute Exploring the Thermal limits of Automatic Whale detection *Acoustic deterrents* 11:15 – 11:40 Jonathan Gordon, SMRU, St Andrews University Aversive Sound Mitigation to Reduce the Risk of Damage to Marine Mammals *Passive Acoustic Monitoring* 11:40 – 12:05 Phil Johnston, Seiche Instruments Remote Passive Acoustic Monitoring (RPAM) for Mitigation 12:05 – 12:30 Doug Gillespie, SMRU, St Andrews University Signal processing and analysis: detection, classification, localization and reliability -------------------------------------------- Lunch Break ------------------------------------- 13:30 – 13:55 Matthieu Gouriou, Sercel QuietSea new PAM system. 13:55 – 14:20 Morten Svendsen, Western Geco Whalewatcher: new PAM system *Acoustic Exposure Guidelines* 14:20 – 14:45 Karen Hall, JNCC Analysis of MMO data and soft starts. 14:45 – 15:10 Andrew Wright Effectiveness of current guidelines. ------------------------------------------- break 15:10 to 15:30 ------------------------------------- 15:30 – 17:00 Open discussion on guidelines effectiveness and how they might be improved based on information presented. Frances C. Robertson, PhD *Wildlife Biologist* *Marine Mammal Biologist* Canada (+1) 604 339 4967 USA (+1) 360 420 4403 frances.c.robertson(a)gmail.com www.distantfin.net

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University of Maine Marine Center summer courses
by Kristina Cammen 21 Feb '15

21 Feb '15

The University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center has a great line-up of classes being offered this summer on the coast of Maine that are open to undergraduate and graduate students from all universities. Additional information and complete course descriptions can be found at http://dmc.umaine.edu/education/summeruniversity/. If interested in registering for one of these courses or for more information, please contact Linda Healy (lhealy(a)maine.edu) *MATLAB for Marine Science* Dr. Damian Brady • May 13-29 (M-F, 1-5pm) Marine science is an increasingly technical field and Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) is the language of technical computing. Students will learn the basics of computer programming and how to produce scientific figures that effectively highlight and communicate their results. *Techniques of Shellfish Aquaculture* Dr. Chris Davis • June 8-12 (M-F, 8am-5pm) Techniques in Shellfish Aquaculture is a one week course in which participants explore the theory and practice of marine bivalve aquaculture as practiced in the northeastern United States. *Techniques in Marine Mammal Ecology* Dr. Kristina Cammen • June 8-19 (M-F, 8am-5pm) This course will expose students to a diverse array of techniques used in marine mammal science and is designed to develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, and critical reading. Through a variety of in-class and field exercises, students will collect, analyze, and interpret data about the role of marine mammals in ocean ecosystems. *Science Communication Product Development * Annette deCharon • June 8-19 (M-F, 8am - noon) With guidance from experts, students will collaborate to create, share and evaluate a variety of science communication products. In a "flipped classroom" setting, they will use various online tools, critical thinking strategies, and collaborative approaches to construct meaningful key messages, engage new people, and broaden the impact of science. Graduate students will complete a focused three-day workshop following the course on preparing "Broader Impacts" statements for scientific research proposals. *Introduction to Research Diving* Christopher Rigaud • June 8 - July 29 (M-F for first week, every W thereafter, 8am-5pm) This is a class for students with a recreational certificate who hope to pursue scientific diving in their academic career. Students with a recreational certificate will be instructed in advanced diving, dive rescue, oxygen administration, and underwater research techniques. Practical field diving activities will be a large focus of the course. *Calibration & Validation for Ocean Color Remote Sensing* Emmanuel Boss (coordinator) • July 6-31 The major theme of this intensive four-week, cross-disciplinary, graduate-level course in Optical Oceanography is calibration and validation of ocean color remote sensing. The course will provide students with a fundamental knowledge of ocean optics and optical sensor technology that will enable them to make quality measurements, be able to assess the uncertainties associated with the measurements, and compare these data with remotely sensed ocean color measurements and derived products. The course is sponsored by NASA and the University of Maine, with the goal of preparing a new generation of oceanographers trained in the use of optics to study the oceans.

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New publication on the social aspect of food calling in bottlenose dolphins
by Stephanie King 20 Feb '15

20 Feb '15

Dear all We are pleased to announce our new publication: King, S.L., and Janik, V.M. 2015. Come dine with me: food-associated social signalling in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Animal Cognition. DOI: 10.1007/s10071-015-0851-7 Abstract: Food-related signalling is widespread in the animal kingdom with some food-associated vocalisations considered functionally referential. Food calls can, however, vary greatly in the type of information they convey. Thus, there are a multitude of purposes for which food calls are used, including social recruitment, caller spacing, the indication of type, quantity, quality, divisibility of food, the caller’s hunger level and even as tools to manipulate prey behaviour. Yet little work has focused on the social aspect of food calling in animals. We investigated the association of social signals in wild bottlenose dolphins with foraging behaviour where context-specific food-associated calls are commonly produced. Our data showed that specific social signals were significantly correlated with food call production and these calls rarely occurred in the absence of food calls. We suggest that animals are sharing additional information on the food patch itself with their social affiliates. You can access the paper here http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-015-0851-7 best wishes Stephanie Dr. Stephanie L. King Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews East Sands St Andrews Scotland KY16 8LB

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