February 2015 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Offshore oil and gas processing - Request for information/recordings
by Michael Stocker 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

Developing technology in offshore deepwater fossil fuel extraction and processing (E&P) is introducing equipment and practices that involve seafloor mounted equipment used to "pre-refine" (separate wanted product from unwanted brine, gas, mud, and solids), re-inject unwanted materials and substances back into a reservoir, and pump or pressure drive wanted product to the surface. In many locations this multi-phase materials handling is being done across high differential pressures, and likely some consequent noise. We have some evidence of noises from these installations interfering with passive monitoring of marine mammals but have yet been able to quantify (or qualify) the noises. As these deepwater installations are becoming increasingly ubiquitous (almost all outer continental shelf areas except the east and west coast of the US, the US Arctic, and Antarctic) we suspect that some members of this list have inadvertently recorded or measured some of this sound in the course of their work. If you have any of data on, or recordings of deepwater fossil fuel operations we would find them very useful in designing a monitoring project. We would not use any of these data for publication. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration. Michael Stocker, Director Ocean Conservation Research P.O. Box 559 Lagunitas, CA 94938 Mobile: 415-464-7220 Email: <mailto:mstocker@ocr.org> mstocker(a)ocr.org <http://www.ocr.org/> http://www.ocr.org

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Applications for Antarctic Research January 2016
by Quixote Expeditions 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

MARMAM Community - we at Quixote Expeditions have an excellent opportunity for scientists with projects in Antarctica! We are now accepting applications for our January 16 - February 6th 2016 Trip to the Antarctic Peninsula. Quixote Expeditions has a Guest Scientist Program where scientists can join any of our regularly scheduled trips in order to help them carry out their research. This can be anyone working on a master’s of PhD thesis, professors and researchers at universities, and scientists associated with non-profits. We offer a free space onboard any of our scheduled trips for scientists to perform their research. We sail in remote places that are often hard for scientists to get to and for those with limited funding, impossible due to the expensive nature of working in remote areas. We hope that by offering these spaces – one per trip, that amazing and interesting science can be continued here at the end of the world. In exchange we ask that the scientist try to involve the other guests onboard with the research and data collecting if possible (its not always possible!). We also want to know more about your interesting research and ask that scientists present some of the current or past research while onboard. For those interested, please go to our website http://www.syquijote.com/science/ and look for guest scientist info. You can also contact us at info(a)syquijote.com NOTE: Applications for the January 16- Feb 6th 2016 Antarctica Trip are due March 15th 2015. Applicants will be notified by April 1, 2015. For Antarctic expeditions scientists will be required to obtain their own permits for their research from their respective national authorities. We can offer free room and board to one scientists per trip. All other related costs are at the expense of the scientists. If your project potentially spans more than one trip, please apply for multiple trips on the application form.

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Field Research and Education Internship- Gloucester, MA
by Laura Lilly 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

The priority deadline for the Field Research and Environmental Education Internship at Cape Ann Whale Watch is quickly approaching! Applications are still being accepted. Cape Ann Whale Watch is accepting applications for its Field Research and Environmental Education Internship. Based in Gloucester, MA and partnered with Planet Whale, our whale watch boat takes between 150 and 250 passengers a day on whale watches in and around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We work to educate passengers about marine life and the oceans to foster a sense of importance and personal responsibility in doing a part to contribute to the well being and conservation of the environment. This internship will allow you to gain hands-on experience in research, educational techniques, and the general workings of being on a whale watch boat. Past interns have received degrees in biology, psychology, education, French, history, philosophy, etc. *You don’t need to be a biology major to apply, and prior experience is not required- training is provided on the job!* We are looking for individuals who will make the most of the amazing opportunities this internship provides. This internship is geared for college students and recent college graduates, however, anyone who is interested in helping Cape Ann Whale Watch and the educators/researchers or in learning about whales is encouraged to apply. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about whales and the ocean environment. Applicants for this position should feel comfortable with public speaking, teaching in small groups, and working with the general public. The deadline for application is March 1, *however early application is strongly encouraged.* Applicants will be notified by the end of March. The whale watching season begins in early May and it runs through October. During this time, we ask that people can devote at least 10 weeks to the internship. Interns are the core of the education program at Cape Ann Whale Watch. They work collaboratively with the naturalist to help accomplish our goal of educating people about whales and fostering a stronger appreciation and respect for whales and the ocean environment. Educators circulate the boat with hands-on teaching tools to educate the public about whales and their environment. Once the actual whale watching begins, the naturalist provides educational interpretive commentary while the interns collect data on whale behavior and identification for our research. Interns work 1-2 whale watch trips per day, four to five days per week. In addition to using teaching tools (such as a sample of whale baleen or a 3-D model of Stellwagen Bank), interns are available to answer passengers’ questions on a wide variety of topics- everything from whale behavior to ocean conservation. Interns are also expected to help with the general functioning of the whale watch vessel and provide a harbor tour to passengers at the beginning of each trip. In addition to responsibilities during whale watch trips, interns are expected to attend and participate in weekly meetings, which cover topics of interest and relevance, and also provide opportunity for reflection and development among the group of educators. Finally, interns are expected to complete a project of their choice- past examples include creating a new teaching tool or developing a slide show for passengers to view while on board. This is an unpaid internship, and housing is not provided, but we will work with all the interns to find something suitable. It is your responsibility to arrange for college credit if you choose to do so. If you are interested please send a resume, cover letter, two written letters of recommendation, and an unofficial transcript to: lbelliveau(a)worcester.edu or Cape Ann Whale Watch PO BOX 345 Gloucester, Ma 01930 Attn: Laura -- Laura Lilly (978) 302-5802

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New publication on Tursiops truncatus
by Stefania Gaspari 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

Dear MARMAM readers, We are happy to announce the publication of the following paper in Evolutionary Biology: Stefania Gaspari, Aviad Scheinin, Draško Holcer,, Caterina Fortuna, Chiara Natali, Tilen Genov, Alexandros Frantzis, Guido Chelazzi, André E. Moura. 2015. Drivers of population structure of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Abstract The drivers of population differentiation in oceanic dispersal organisms have been crucial for research in evolutionary biology. Adaptation to different environments is commonly invoked as an alternative to geographic isolation, as a driver of differentiation in the oceans. In this study, we investigate the population structure and phylogeography of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mediterranean Sea, using microsatellite loci and the entire mtDNA control region. By further comparing the Mediterranean populations with the well described Atlantic populations, we addressed the following hypotheses: 1) bottlenose dolphins show population structure within the environmentally complex Eastern Mediterranean Sea; 2) population structure was gained locally or otherwise results from chance distribution of pre-existing genetic structure; 3) strong demographic variations within the Mediterranean basin have affected genetic variation sufficiently to bias detected patterns of population structure. Our results suggest that bottlenose dolphin exhibits population structures that correspond well to the main Mediterranean basins. Furthermore, we found evidence for fine scale population division within the Adriatic and the Levantine seas. We further describe for the first time, a distinction between populations inhabiting pelagic and coastal regions within the Mediterranean. Phylogeographic analysis, suggests that current genetic structure results mostly from stochastic distribution of Atlantic genetic variation, resulting from a recent post-glacial expansion. Comparison with Atlantic mtDNA haplotypes, further suggest the existence of a metapopulation across North Atlantic/Mediterranean, with pelagic regions acting as source for coastal environments. The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11692-015-9309-8) If you are unable to download the article, please contact me by email and I will be happy to send you a copy: stefaniagaspari(a)gmail.com Best regards Stefania Gaspari

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Request for new or updated whalewatch guidelines and regulations
by Carole Carlson 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

*Please post this message. * *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 after the Scientific Committee meeting in June. I would greatly appreciate receiving any new codes, guidelines or regulations that have been formulated over the past year, ideally before 1 May.* *Many thanks!* *Carole Carlson * *email:*c <science(a)whalewatch.com>arolecarlson123(a)gmail.com

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Special Ecological Acoustics session at ESA annual meeting
by Aaron N. Rice 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

Dear Colleagues- We are excited to announce a special Organized Oral Session, "Ecological Acoustics: Conceptual and Technological Advances in Ecology Through Sound," at this year's Annual Ecological Society of America meeting in Baltimore. There are still two open slots for oral presentations in this session, which will be selected from submitted abstracts. In addition, we encourage individuals working in bioacoustics to submit ecologically oriented studies that are acoustics-related as Contributed Talks<http://esa.org/baltimore/abstracts/contributed-talks/>, Posters<http://esa.org/baltimore/abstracts/contributed-posters/>, or Lightning Talks<http://esa.org/baltimore/abstracts/contributed-lightning-talks/> that would complement this session. It would be great to have good representation from researchers focused on bioacoustics at this exciting meeting. Please note that abstracts are due by 5 pm EST on February 26, 2015. We hope to see you there! - Aaron Rice, Susan Parks, & David Luther -- Aaron N. Rice, Ph.D. Bioacoustics Research Program Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Cornell University 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850-1999 Tel: 607.254.2178 Fax: 607.254.2460 Email: arice(a)cornell.edu Web: http://www.nbb.cornell.edu/neurobio/aaronrice

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PAM Level 2 - NEW COURSE OFFERING
by Sam Nichols 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

*NEW COURSE: Seiche PAM Level 2 26-29th May 2015, FSC Millport, Scotland, UK* This new three day course builds on Seiche’s Level 1 course to develop practical PAM knowhow for troubleshooting problems, deployment and more advanced use of PAMGuard for mitigation. It is aimed at delegates with some PAM experience or who have completed Level 1. A scientific background is preferred, ideally in biology and marine sciences. The skills developed on the course can be applied to all PAM equipment currently in the marketplace. Delegates will have a mix of interactive sessions, lectures and hands-on access to equipment. The course begins by refreshing delegates’ knowledge on sound in water, marine mammal acoustics, PAM and PAMGuard. It moves on to explore advanced settings for identifying and localizing marine mammal species. This will then be applied using real-life data for projects requiring mitigation – such as shutdowns on seismic surveys. How to troubleshoot problems with both hardware and software will be covered, drawing on Seiche’s extensive experience of in-field support. Delegates will be able to take a closer look at the inner workings of the kit in a hands-on session. The course finishes with practical demonstrations of the best deployment methods of PAM kit, with seismic vessels specifically in mind. Thorough support material is provided. Modules covered: • Sound in Water: a review • PAM and PAMGuard: a review • Identifying Marine Mammal Detections during Seismic Surveys • Localizing Marine Mammal Detections during Seismic Surveys • Advanced Settings of PAMGuard • PAMGuard Software Troubleshooting • Marine Mammal Vocalizations • Report Writing for Marine Mammal Detections • PAM Hardware: inner working of the kit • Practical PAM Hardware: troubleshooting and repairing kit • Deployment Methods and Troubleshooting • Practical Deployment Cost - £575 plus VAT includes 3 nights’ accommodation and meals at Millport FSC For more info and booking, go to http://www.seiche.com/…/110-passive-acoustic-monitoring-pam… <http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seiche.com%2Ftopics%2F110-pa…> or contact Sarah Hancock at s.hancock(a)seiche.com <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','s.hancock(a)seiche.com');>. More info about Millport Field Studies Centre: Located on the eastern shore of the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, FSC Millport is easily accessible with an 8 minute ferry crossing from the mainland. It is one and a half hours from Glasgow and the airport by road or train. The centre offers a fantastic setting on the rocky shoreline and its varied marine wildlife. Facilities onsite include comfortable accommodation, relaxation spaces, aquarium, museum and a research library. >From the centre it is possible to drive, bike, or walk to the island's main town – Millport - to visit the local shops, pub and attractions. There is also a watersports centre offering sailing or canoeing, which welcomes watersports enthusiasts of all levels. The island is known as the Orchid Isle and is also home to the smallest cathedral in Europe, it has wonderful architecture and wildlife to explore.

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Recently published paper regarding craniometry of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
by Dusica Divac Brnic 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the publication of our recent paper: *DURAS, M., D. DIVAC BRNIC, T. GOMERCIC, A. GALOV: Craniometry of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Adriatic Sea. Vet. arhiv 84, 649666, 2014.* *ABSTRACT* The bottlenose dolphin (*Tursiops truncatus*) is a cetacean distributed worldwide with an external morphology that varies between different populations. An endangered population of bottlenose dolphins inhabits the Adriatic Sea and is legally protected. The skulls of 95 adult bottlenose dolphins (47 females and 43 males, 5 of unknown sex) were morphometrically analyzed. They originated from bottlenose dolphins stranded dead from 1990 to 2011 in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. For each animal a total of up to 53 skull measurements and meristic characters were taken using slide calipers to the nearest 0.01 cm. Sexual dimorphism within the Adriatic population was analyzed while the average morphometric values of Adriatic specimens were compared with published values for the genus Tursiops from different geographical areas. Male Adriatic bottlenose dolphins were signiﬁcantly larger in terms of 19 craniometric characteristics compared to females. The male skull is wider along the rostrum, at the level of the braincase and at the orbital region. Their braincase is higher and longer and their teeth are higher. Comparison of morphometrical values between Adriatic bottlenose dolphins and populations from other seas conﬁrms geographical polymorphism within the species *T. truncatus*. Our study showed that the skull size follows Bergmann’s rule, with larger skulls found in colder waters, while smaller skulls are found in populations from temperate and tropical seas. Our results represent referent craniometrical values for the Adriatic bottlenose dolphin and should be used when implementing morphometry in population conservation. A pdf copy of the paper can be downloaded free of charge at: http://www.vef.unizg.hr/vetarhiv/papers/2014-84-6-8.pdf <http://www.vef.unizg.hr/vetarhiv/papers/2014-84-6-8.pdf> Sincerely, Dusica Divac Brnic

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New paper on sperm whales planning their foraging dives
by Fais, Andrea 15 Feb '15

15 Feb '15

Dear all, I am very pleased to announce the publication of a new paper, showing for the first time that sperm whales use prior information to plan their echolocation and diving behavior. Title: Sperm whale echolocation behaviour reveals a directed, prior-based search strategy informed by prey distribution Authors: Fais A, Aguilar Soto N, Johnson M, Pérez-González C, Miller PJO and Madsen PT Abstract: Predators make foraging decisions based upon sensory information about resource availability, but little is known about how large, air-breathing predators collect and use such information to maximize energy returns when foraging in the deep sea. Here we used archival tags to study how echolocating sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) use their long-range sensory capabilities to guide foraging in a deep-water habitat consisting of multiple, depth-segregated prey layers. Sperm whales employ a directed search behaviour by modulating their overall sonar sampling with the intention to exploit a particular prey layer. They forage opportunistically during some descents while actively adjusting their acoustic gaze to sequentially track different prey layers. While foraging within patches, sperm whales adjust their clicking rate both to search new water volumes as they turn and to match the prey distribution. This strategy increases information flow and suggests that sperm whales can perform auditory stream segregation of multiple targets when echolocating. Such flexibility in sampling tactics in concert with long range sensing capabilities apparently allow sperm whales to efficiently locate and access prey resources in vast, heterogeneous, deep water habitats. Check out the paper here: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-015-1877-1 You can contact me for a pdf copy or any questions: andrea.fais(a)tiho-hannover.de Best Regards, Andrea Fais

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Science talks at WhaleFest 2015
by Dylan Walker 14 Feb '15

14 Feb '15

Dear colleagues: WhaleFest 2015 (Brighton, UK) will have a dedicated Science and Campaigns Stage with a programme packed full of fascinating talks on cetaceans and the wider marine environment. Below is a list of our speakers for both Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March in order of appearance, in addition to short summaries about each talk. Please note that both the speakers and the running order may be subject to change. Speakers include Hal Whitehead, Martyn Stewart, Mark Simmonds, Patrick Ramage, Charles Anderson, Fabian Ritter and many more! We hope to be able to welcome you to this event. For more info go to: http://www.whale-fest.com/ *Saturday* *10.30** Alyx Elliott - World Animal Protection* *Fishing's Phantom Menace - How Ghost Fishing Gear is Haunting our Oceans * A staggering 640,000 tonnes of lost or discarded fishing gear is left in our oceans each year. Every year this 'ghost gear' traps, injures and kills hundreds of thousands of whales, seals, turtles and birds. Join Alyx Elliott as she talks about the Sea Change Campaign and how governments, industry and the public can protect sea life and move towards a future free from ghost gear, and most importantly how you can get involved. *11.00* *Guy Stevens - The Manta Trust* *A Decade Researching the Maldivian Manta Ray* Join Guy Stevens, a British marine biologist and world leading manta ray expert, as he talks about the last decade of his life researching and conserving the charismatic rays in the remote Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives. The Maldives is home to the world’s largest population of the reef manta ray (*Manta alfredi*), which aggregate at spectacular mass feeding sites when monsoon and lunar currents sweep the manta’s planktonic food into the shallow coral reefs, making it the perfect place to study the world’s largest rays. *11.30* *Mark Simmonds - Senior Marine Scientist, Humane Society International and Visiting Research Fellow, School of Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol * *The Whaling Dilemma* Join Mark Simmonds OBE, respected cetacean expert and a long standing member of the UK's team to the International Whaling Commission, as he looks in depth at whaling and where it stands in the 21st century with a particular focus on Japan's activities. He will explain recent developments surrounding Japan's determination to resume their whaling programme in the Southern Ocean, and also the role that the UK plays in efforts to keep the global moratorium on commercial whaling in place. *12.30* *Anna Cucknell - Marine Conservation Research* *The Thames Harbour Porpoise Project: The Life and Times of the UK's Smallest Cetacean in Our Busiest Urban Waterway* Anna Cucknell will talk about the presence and conservation of harbour porpoises, the UK's smallest cetacean, in the Thames Estuary. Once severely polluted, the Thames Tideway is now a diverse and thriving ecosystem. In 2015, MCR and partners are conducting the first scientific surveys for Thames harbour porpoises. Acoustic and visual surveys will uncover the species' seasonal distribution in addition to highlighting any threats they are facing. This talk will summarise the methods and results from the first survey which will happen the week prior to WhaleFest, whilst explaining how everyone can get involved in the conservation of the Thames harbour porpoise. *13.00 Emma Cunningham - Marine Conservation Society* *Turning the Tide on Marine Litter - Can We Really Make a Difference?* Join Emma for an introduction to the work of the Marine Conservation Society and their work to tackle the rising level of litter that finds its way into the marine environment. Emma will talk about the harmful effects that this litter can have on our marine wildlife populations. Find out how you can help make a difference and get involved! *13.30 Jennifer Jackson and Iain Staniland - British Antarctic Survey* *Baleen Whales in Space and Time* This talk will cover work by the British Antarctic Survey using emerging technology such as remote sensing and population genomics to generate novel insights into baleen whale abundance, trends and population structuring of baleen whales and recovery from 20th century whaling. Highlights include the use of satellite imagery to count southern right whales from space, the use of acoustics to survey the presence of different species, population modelling to assess abundance and recovery trends of humpbacks and blue whales in the South Pacific and the global evolutionary history of the humpback whale. *14.00 Martyn Stewart - Nature Sound BBC* *Dolphins of Taiji and the Captive Trade* Around 2000 dolphins around the coast of Taiji, Japan, are captured between September and March each year. 8% are put into the captive programme, the rest are brutally slaughtered. Join Martyn Stewart as he delves deeper into the cetacean drive fisheries that take place in Taiji and looks in detail at the methods used by those performing the captures. Please note this talk may contain some graphic images and is not suitable for young children. *15.00 Alex Mustard - Underwater Photographer, Marine Biologist and Author* *My Top 5 Shark Shots* Alex Mustard is an award winning underwater photographer who has won a number of celebrated awards, including the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and a number of categories of the British Wildlife Photography Awards. During this talk Alex will share his five favourite shark photos and the stories and photographic techniques behind them. *15.30 Patrick Ramage - International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)* *Making Whaling History: The Strife is O'er, the Battle Won?* This year, for the first time in more than a century, no whales are being killed this season for commercial purposes in the Southern hemisphere. The world’s highest court has ruled Japan’s scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean illegal. Commercial whaling by Iceland and Norway faces increasing domestic pressure and criticism. Whale watching is growing in all three countries and continues to expand worldwide. Has the battle to end commercial whaling been won? Patrick Ramage, Global Whale Programme Director for IFAW and a 20-year veteran of the battle to end commercial whaling, will explore this and other questions in what promises to be an enlightening and entertaining presentation. *16.00* *Fabian Ritter - The International Whaling Commission (IWC) and MEER* *Ship Strikes: How to Mitigate a Problem With Many Unknowns* Fabian Ritter will provide an introduction to the issue of ship strikes for cetaceans and ask 'why do whales get hit by vessels?' and 'how can we avoid collisions?'. He will provide an overview of the mitigating actions that are currently in place or are being discussed, including technical, operational, legal and educational aspects. His talk will also discuss the role of the IWC and its global ship strike database. *16.30* *Cetacean Careers Speed Dating!* *Sunday* *10.30 Dr Charles Anderson - The Whale and Dolphin Company* *Rediscovery of Beaked Whales* The family of beaked whales includes some of the least known of all cetacean species. They are all animals of the deep sea, rarely seen and therefore of great interest to scientists and dedicated whale watchers alike. This talk describes the extraordinary and exciting rediscoveries of not just one but two beaked whales in the tropical indo-pacific: Longman’s beaked whale and Deraniyagala’s beaked whale. *11.30* *James Brickell - Producer and Director, BBC Natural History Unit* *Filming Dangerous Animals* BAFTA award winning filmmaker James Brickell talks about a job that brings him close to some of the most dangerous animals on earth. His career has taken him all over the world filming series including Life in Cold Blood and Deadly 60. Along the way he has had run-ins with all manner of potentially deadly creatures - including angry hippos, sharks, enormous squid and gigantic spiders. Many of them making a concerted effort to inflict pain on him! In this talk James shares his experience on how to both film and stay out of trouble when faced with deadly animals. *12.30 Tim Ferrero - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust* *Marine Conservation Zones: Securing a Future for our Marine Biodiversity?* It is a significant time for marine conservation around the UK. The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provided for the creation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), a new type of protection for important and vulnerable marine habitats and species. Tim Ferrero (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust) will discuss the work of the South East Wildlife Trusts in the development of the MCZs and campaigning for their designation. He will discuss what MCZs mean for marine conservation and how they would support cetaceans and other marine mammals, along with other types of national protection for these important mobile species. *13.00 Stephen Marsh - British Divers Marine Life Rescue* *Why do Whales Mass Strand?* Why do whales and dolphins strand en masse? Are the causes natural or man-made? Why would whole pods of whales end up on beaches, sometimes numbering hundreds of animals? Why are some species more likely to mass strand than others and where are the most likely places for these events around the UK? Using real life examples Stephen will address these questions and look at current theories. In this talk we will discover how a mass stranding event builds up and what can be done to try and avert a disaster. *13.30 Jennifer Berengueras - SOSdolphins* *SOSdolphins: The Campaign Against Spain**’s Dolphinaria* Spain is the EU country with the most dolphinaria (11) and the most captive cetaceans (100). SOSdolphins is a coalition of international NGOs who have decided to work on raising awareness in Spain. Spain is one of Europe’s main tourist destinations, therefore the work of SOSdolphins needs to be aimed not only at locals but also at tourists who visit Spain and its dolphinaria. Join Jennifer for a talk about the activities of SOSdolphins, their results so far and the work they still have ahead. *14.00 Wietse van der Werf - The Black Fish* *Protecting the Oceans Against Illegal Overfishing* Organised crime is threatening our oceans. Illegal fishing operations are estimated to be worth a staggering $23.5bn annually and it is estimated that up to 300,000 cetaceans die each year as a result of industrial fishing. The Black Fish brings together people, power and the benefits of modern technology to affect large-scale monitoring of the European seas. Using drones, citizen inspectors, boats, aircraft and social media, The Black Fish are evoking change across Europe on this pressing issue. Join Wietse van der Werf to hear from personal experience about what is involved in protecting our oceans - and cetaceans - from fishing crime. *14.30* *Hal Whitehead - Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada* *The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins - with photos by Jennifer Modigliani* A humpback whale sings a long a complex communal song, a song that evolves over months, a song whose changes propagate eastward across the South Pacific over years. Blue whales have simpler songs, but songs that get a little lower in pitch with each passing year. One community of bottlenose dolphins place sponges on their noses; in another the dolphins beg for fish from boaters; while a small group can walk on their tails. Come and join world expert Hal Whitehead as he talks about the fascinating topic of culture within whale and dolphin social structures, how our knowledge of cetacean culture should be central to conserving these species, and should influence how we treat individuals. Hal’s talk will be accompanied by photos from Jennifer Modigliani. *15.30* *Russell Wynn - National Oceanography Centre* *From Hard Graft to High Tech: Using Novel Robotic Vehicles to Map and Monitor Life in the Ocean* This talk will show how marine robotic vehicles are transforming the way scientists and policy-makers map and monitor marine life in the ocean. A recent demonstration project off southwest England comprised the largest fleet of robotic vehicles yet deployed in the UK, working together to simultaneously collect data on the ocean environment and ecosystem. Dr Russell Wynn will describe how the robots successfully imaged plankton and fish in the water column, detected echo-locating cetaceans, and photographed cetaceans and seabirds at the sea surface. *16.00* *Andy Rogan - Ocean Alliance* *Threats to Cetaceans: Chemical Pollution* Ocean Alliance is a research and conservation group founded by renowned whale biologist Dr. Roger Payne. The group focuses on the greatest threats whales face: in this case chemical pollution. This talk will look at the threat of chemical pollution on cetaceans - why it constitutes one of the gravest hazards to whale and dolphin species survival, why cetaceans are the ‘canaries in the gold mine’ for humanity when it comes to chemical pollution, how Ocean Alliance has been studying it (focusing on a recently concluded 5-year study in the Gulf of Mexico) and how we can help to try and solve this problem. *16.30 Cetacean Careers Speed Dating!* For more information about WhaleFest please visit http://www.whale-fest.com/ Regards, *Dylan Walker* co-founder Planet Whale & WhaleFest dylan(a)planetwhale.com <ian(a)planetwhale.com> www.whale-fest.com Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/pages/WhaleFest/108656792611093> Twitter <https://twitter.com/WhaleFest> mob/cell: +44 (0)7900 471490 <%2B44%20%280%297775%20871953> skype: planetwhale.whale

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