December 2019 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New publication: Day-night differences in fin whale ship-strike risk (California Current)
by Eric Keen 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share news of a recent publication in Frontiers in Marine Science: Keen EM, Scales KL, Rone BK, Hazen EL, Falcone EA and Schorr GS (2019) Night and Day: Diel Differences in Ship Strike Risk for Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the California Current System. Front. Mar. Sci. 6:730. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00730 Link to paper (full open-access): https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00730/full Abstract: Collisions with ships (ship strikes) are a pressing conservation concern for fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) along western North America. Fin whales exhibit strong diel patterns in dive behavior, remaining near the surface for most of the night, but how this behavior affects ship-strike risk is unknown. We combined diel patterns of surface use, habitat suitability predictions, and ship traffic data to evaluate spatial and temporal trends in ship-strike risk to fin whales of the California Current System (CCS). We tested a range of surface-use scenarios and found that both increased use of the upper water column and increased ship traffic contribute to elevated ship-strike risk at night. Lengthening nights elevate risk during winter throughout the CCS, though the Southern California Bight experienced consistently high risk both day and night year-round. Within designated shipping lanes, total annual nighttime strike risk was twice daytime risk. Avoidance probability models based on ship speed were used to compare the potential efficacy of speed restrictions at various scales. Speed reductions within lanes may be an efficient remediation, but they would address only a small fraction (13%) of overall ship-strike risk. Additional speed restrictions in the approaches to lanes would more effectively reduce overall risk. Please contact me if you have any questions. Best wishes, Eric Keen ericmkeen(a)gmail.com -- Eric M Keen <http://www.emkeen.org> Biologist, Marine Ecology & Telemetry Research Department of Earth & Environmental Systems, Sewanee: The University of the South Science Director, North Coast Cetacean Society Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal Co-Founder, International Manatee Day

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3-Day PAM Training Course - January 2020
by Jessica Fisher 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Dear Marmam Community, PAMOS will be holding an intensive 3-Day PAM Training Course on the beautiful island of Cozumel, Mexico. This will include one day of practical training at sea using PAM equipment. By the completion of the course you will fully comprehend the importance of having a PAM Operator on board a vessel and the responsibilities associated with such a position. We will equip you with the knowledge of how sound travels underwater, how to measure and understand the intensity of sound underwater, and how to identify the difference between Marine Mammal sounds and other Anthropogenic noises. It is expected that by the end of the training you will be able to understand the general mitigation guidelines and use the PAMGuard software and PAM hardware with confidence. The instructor is a specialist with more than 15 years’ experience in the field of Underwater Acoustics and gained his PhD in Scotland, UK. Groups will be kept small to ensure that enough attention is given to each student. Course Name: PAM Training Course Date: January 6, 7, & 8, 2020 Times: 8:00 to 17:00 Location: Island of Cozumel, Mexico If you are interested, I will be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the course. -- Jessica Fisher, PAMOS Business Manager | Underwater Acoustics Consultancy website: http://pamos.ca/ | email: mailto:jessica@pamos.ca |

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Anthropogenic impact on non-migratory whales
by jacopo di clemente 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Dear MARMAMers, for a project on Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) on baleen whales, we are looking to involve researchers worldwide to share specific data in order to parameterize a PCoD model originally developed for harbour porpoises (DEPONS; https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12563) The original model simulates how the dynamics of a resident population can be affected by pile driving noise, but it can be implemented on populations of whales influenced by different kinds of anthropogenic disturbances. Recently, it is emerging that not all the populations of baleen whales segregate their time between feeding and breeding grounds, and some of them remain in the same hotspot with little or no movement between seasons, potentially relying on the same food sources throughout the year. Therefore, we are now looking to use this model to understand how non-migratory baleen whales deal with anthropogenic disturbances year round. We are specifically looking for: Acoustic data: data on the kinds of noise that the species in question respond to, ideally source levels and locations of the sound sources on these frequencies. Movement data: Argos tagging data, GPS data of surfacing animals. Environmental data: as local carrying capacity emerges from competition for food, a food distribution map must be available. For species known to forage continuously, species distribution maps may be used as a proxy. Life history data: data on timing and probability of giving birth and other life history parameters are required from literature. In areas where entanglement is a critical issue, information on net length and soak time can be included in the model too. In areas where the ship strike risk needs to be modelled, AIS data of the boat fleet - together with the shipping noise level and the vocalization of the whales - can be very useful. This request is part of a multi-tool approach to understanding whale ecology under anthropogenic pressures. We encourage all researchers working with a similar dataset - and those interested in understanding the impact of disturbance on non-migratory baleen whale populations - to contact us at the following email addresses: Jacopo Di Clemente, MSc, prospective PhD student, jacopo.diclemente(a)outlook.com<mailto:jacopo.diclemente@outlook.com> Jacob Nabe-Nielsen, Head of Section for Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, jnn(a)bios.au.dk<mailto:jnn@bios.au.dk> All the best, J. Jacopo Di Clemente - M.Sc. Marine Science Department of Biology - University of Southern Denmark - Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark Vice President Accademia del Leviatano - V.le dell'Astronomia 19 - 00144 - Rome - Italy Phone: +45 93910840 - Skype: habana841 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jacopo_Di_Clemente2 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacopo-di-clemente 78786160/

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Marine Mammal Job Posting please
by Karen Helms 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Seeking Animal Care Supervisor at Northcoast Marine Mammal Center The Northcoast Marine Mammal Center (NMMC) is a nonprofit marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, release and education facility located in Crescent City, California. Since 1992, the NMMC has been dedicated to rehabilitating and releasing primarily California sea lions, northern elephant seals, and pacific harbor seals back into the wild. NMMC is also part of the NOAA West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Response Program. For more information about NMMC visit www.NorthcoastMMC.org<http://www.NorthcoastMMC.org>. The Animal Care Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day care of marine mammal patients and supervising the volunteers that care for them. The supervisor will implement all medical orders and procedures under the direction of the staff veterinarian. This is a part-time position for 24 hours per week, $16 per hour. Hours will include nights, weekends and holidays as necessary. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: * Maintaining the animal care schedule, making sure all shifts are covered by volunteers with the appropriate skills for each shift and each animal. * Ensuring all NOAA Marine Fisheries, West Coast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Program protocols are followed to meet or exceed animal care and safety standards. * Training new volunteers and interns as well as identifying and training new "trainers". * Implementing veterinary staff medical orders and procedures and training volunteers to follow these instructions. * Communicating with veterinary staff about daily observations or concerns regarding the health of each patient. * Maintaining accurate medical charts on all patients. * Assisting with rescues, releases and large whale entanglements as needed. * Assisting with events and special projects. Qualifications: * Bachelor's Degree in Biology or related life science with Marine Biology preferred. * Leadership experience in previous job, volunteer position or project. * Experience with blood draw, subcutaneous fluids and medication administration preferred. * Ability to adapt to frequently changing conditions and work practices. * Strong interpersonal and communication skills. * Ability to multi-task with a "can do" attitude a must. * 1-year animal care experience with marine mammals preferred. * Proficient in Microsoft Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Application deadline is January 6, 2020. Position starts on Monday, February 24, 2020 Please send a cover letter and CV/resume to Info(a)NorthcoastMMC.org<mailto:Info@NorthcoastMMC.org>. Please put Animal Care Supervisor in subject line. No phone calls or faxed submissions please. Karen Helms, Executive Director Northcoast Marine Mammal Center 424 Howe Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531 Office: (707) 465-6265 | Direct: (425) 444-1386 www.NorthCoastMMC.org<http://www.NorthCoastMMC.org> [NMMC-Logo[web]]

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New Publication: Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults
by Rosie Williams 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors and I, I’m pleased to announce the publication of our paper: “Juvenile harbor porpoises in the UK are exposed to a more neurotoxic mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls than adults”. Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 persistent and bio-accumulative toxic pollutants present as complex mixtures in human and animal tissues. Harbor porpoises accumulate some of the highest levels of PCBs because they are long-lived mammals that feed at a high trophic level. Studies typically use the sum of a suite of individual chlorobiphenyl congeners (CBs) to investigate PCBs in wildlife. However, toxic effects and thresholds of CB congeners differ, therefore population health risks of exposure may be under or over-estimated dependent on the congener profiles present. In this study, we found congener profiles varied with age, sex and location, particularly between adult females and juveniles. We found that adult females had the highest proportions of octa-chlorinated congeners whilst juveniles had the highest proportions of tri- and tetra-chlorinated congeners. This is likely to be a consequence of pollutant offloading between mothers and calves during lactation. Analysis of the individual congener toxicities found that juveniles were exposed to a more neurotoxic CB mixture at a time when they were most vulnerable to its effects. These findings are an important contribution towards our understanding of variation in congener profiles and the potential effects and threats of PCB exposure in cetaceans. The paper is open access and available to read or download at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134835 If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via email at rosie.williams(a)ioz.ac.uk Kind regards, Rosie Rosie Williams Zoological Society of London & Brunel University London Twitter: @RosieSWilliams1 _________________________________________________________________________ The Zoological Society of London is incorporated by Royal Charter - Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 208728. Principal Office England - Company Number RC000749 - Registered address Regent's Park, London, England NW1 4RY _________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been sent in confidence to the named addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose or distribute it in any form, and you are asked to contact the sender immediately. Views or opinions expressed in this communication may not be those of The Zoological Society of London and, therefore, The Zoological Society of London does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. The recipient(s) must be aware that e-mail is not a secure communication medium and that the contents of this mail may have been altered by a third party in transit. If you have any issues regarding this mail please visit: https://www.zsl.org/about-us/contact-us

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DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL
by AIMM Internships 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN PORTUGAL* *BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association - AIMM, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other species such as Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted. AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental friendly and multicultural environment. Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI-certified instructor. *WHERE:* Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal *WHEN:* The field season lasts from 1st of May to 31st October 2020. The minimum internship attendance is 7 days, preferably starting on a Monday. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in AIMM's research vessel, Ketos, or in opportunistic platforms (commercial dolphin-watching boats). Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions and seat availability in the dolphin-watching boats. Field days can be intense, especially in the peak of summer, but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: · Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; · Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; · Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; · Collect photos to photo-identification, acoustic recording, and underwater videos while on-board; · Secchi disk methodology; · Help to collect of drone footage from the marine mammals. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *INTERNSHIP FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs in the Algarve. This internship requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on internship fees for the 2020 season, please contact: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org We have a special deal for you, if you book you internship until 31th December 2019. *Included* in the fee is: · Accommodation in the research house; · Transportation to/from the marina; · Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); · Fieldwork in the research vessel or commercial dolphin-watching vessels. *Not included* in the fee is: · Transportation to/from Albufeira; · Meals in restaurants and snacks; · Free time activities; · Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); · Personal expenses. *INTERNS ARE EXPECTED TO:* · Be above the age of 16; · Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; · Be autonomous and flexible; · Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; · Speak English; · Participate for minimum 7 days. *Preference will be given* to those who have: · Relevant marine mammal field experience · Working experience on research vessels · Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms · Experience in photo-identification · Professional cameras that can be used for photo-ID · Availability to stay for longer periods of time *INTERNSHIP APPLICATION: * Applicants should fill up the online application at: https://www.aimmportugal.org/application-form AIMM will send a confirmation e-mail with all the details about the internship and asking for your Resume/CV, motivation letter (small statement on which are your expectations and why do you want to work with AIMM) and the period of time that you want to do the program. OR Applicants should send an e-mail to: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org, with the subject “*DOLPHIN RESEARCH INTERNSHIP*”. You will receive and e-mail with the availability and all the other details. Applications will be accepted during all season. However, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. The follow links are a shorts videos about the internship in Albufeira. You get a different perspective and feedback from old participants about it: https://youtu.be/hTJJQPHBdI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zTIEQEsftA *Contacts*: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | -- *AIMM Portugal* - Ass. Investigação do Meio Marinho | Marine Environment Research Association *Website*: www.aimmportugal.org [image: AIMM Portugal | facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/AIMM.org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | twitter] <https://twitter.com/AIMMPortugal> [image: AIMM Portugal | instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/aimmportugal_org/> [image: AIMM Portugal | youtube] <http://www.youtube.com/c/AimmportugalOrg>

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Second Call: GIS Training Courses January 2020 - 'An Introduction To Using GIS/QGIS In Biological Research' and 'An Introdution To Species Distribution Modelling In The Marine Environment'
by Colin D. MacLeod 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

This is second first call for attendees for our upcoming GIS training courses in January 2020. These courses are ‘An Introduction To Using GIS/QGIS In Biological Research’ and ‘An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling In The Marine Environment’. They will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, between the 27th and 30th of January 2020. 1. An Introduction To Using GIS/QGIS In Biological Research, Glasgow, Scotland, 27th – 28th January 2020: This introductory training course for those who wish to learn how to use GIS in any area of biological research, and it will provide an introduction to using GIS in a wide variety of biological research situations, including marine mammal research, and the course includes two marine-mammal-specific practical exercises (one based around calculating the observed abundance per unit survey effort of dolphins using a grid-based approach, and one based around mapping species richness for North Atlantic beaked whales). It is primarily based around a GIS software package called QGIS, which is free to use. As a result, it is one of the best options for doing GIS for self-employed MMOs, small environmental consultancies, NGOs, those working on small marine mammal research projects with limited budgets for purchasing software licences and students working at universities who do not have access to commercial GIS software packages. This course aimed at both those with no GIS experience, but wish to learn how to do GIS with QGIS, and also those who are familiar with using commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, but who wish to learn how to use QGIS as an alternative. However, this course is taught using software-independent approach, and it is also open to those who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS to do biological GIS. The course will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, and it will be taught by Dr Colin D. MacLeod, who has more than 15 years experience in using GIS for a wide variety of biological purposes. For those who cannot attend this course in person, a shorter online course based on the same materials is available from our sister site www.GISforBiologists.com. The course will primarily be based around QGIS (also known as Quantum GIS), which provides a user-friendly, open-source, free alternative to commercial GIS software packages, and it is becoming increasingly widely used in both academic and commercial organisations As a result, it is aimed at both those with no GIS experience, but wish to learn how to do GIS with QGIS, and also those who are familiar with using commercial GIS software, such as ArcGIS, but who wish to learn how to use QGIS as an alternative. However, this course is taught using software-independent approach, and it is also open to those who wish to learn how to use ArcGIS to do biological GIS. The practical exercises on this course will be based on those in ‘GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates’ by Dr MacLeod, and a free copy of this book will be provided to all participants. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 16 people, and the course will cost £295 per person (£200 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place, or for more information, visit http://gisinecology.com/an-introduction-to-using-gis-in-biological-research/ or email info(a)GISinEcology.com. 2. An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling In The Marine Environment, Glasgow, Scotland, 29th – 30th January 2020 This two day course follows on from the introductory GIS course and provides all the information required to start using Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) in the marine environment in a practical and biologically meaningful way. In a series of background sessions, case studies and practical exercises, it covers how to create data layers of species distribution, how to select and create raster data layers of environmental variables, such as water depth, how to join information on species distribution to environmental information, how to export data from a GIS project for analysis in a statistical package, such as R, how to create spatial visualisations based on a statistical model and how to validate the spatial predictions of a model. The practical sessions work through a species distribution modelling project based on real marine survey data from start to finish. This course can be done with either QGIS and R (our recommended option) or ArcGIS and R. The practical exercises on this course will be based on those in the recently published ‘An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling Using QGIS And R (GIS Workbooks Series)’ by Dr MacLeod, and a free copy of this book will be provided to all participants. Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 16 people, and the course will cost £295 per person (£200 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered charities). To book a place, or for more information, visit http://www.gisinecology.com/an-introduction-to-species-distribution-modelli… or email: cdmacleod(a)GISinEcology.com. Note: This course requires a basic knowledge of GIS (as covered in the above introductory GIS course) and how to use ArcGIS or QGIS GIS software. Both these courses will be held at the Mackintosh at the Willow, 215 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3EX, Scotland. Glasgow has great transport links and is within half a days travel by car or by fast train links from most cities in the UK. For example, it can be reached in as little as 4h 30mins from London by train. It can also be reached by direct flights from many European cities and the flight time is generally under four hours. Attendees will be responsible for their own accommodation. However, Glasgow provides a wide range of accommodation options to fit most budgets. ================================================================================== GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use Of GIS In Ecology Web: www.GISinEcology.com Email: info(a)GISinEcology.com Need to ask a question about using GIS? Try the GIS In Ecology Forum: www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm Books From GIS In Ecology Staff: GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP: £24.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology; RRP: £44.99 An Introduction To Using GIS In Marine Biology: Supplementary Workbook One - Creating Maps Of Species Distribution; RRP: £19:99 If you wish to purchase these books, visit: http://www.gisinecology.com/Book_Shop.htm To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is unavoidable. ==================================================================================

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New publication: Affiliation history and age similarity predict alliance formation in male dolphins
by livia.gerber＠aim.uzh.ch 03 Dec '19

03 Dec '19

Dear MARMAM community My co-authors and I are very happy to announce the publication of our findings on male alliance formation in Behavioral Ecology (https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arz195) Abstract: Male alliances are an intriguing phenomenon in the context of reproduction since, in most taxa, males compete over an indivisible resource, female fertilization. Adult male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Shark Bay, Western Australia, form long-term, multi-level alliances to sequester estrus females. These alliances are therefore critical to male reproductive success. Yet, the long-term processes leading to the formation of such complex social bonds are still poorly understood. To identify the criteria by which male dolphins form social bonds with other males, we adopted a long-term approach by investigating the ontogeny of alliance formation. We followed the individual careers of 59 males for 14 years while they transitioned from adolescence (8-14 years of age) to adulthood (15-21 years old). Analyzing their genetic relationships and social associations in both age groups, we found that the vast majority of social bonds present in adolescence persisted through time. Male associations in early life predict alliance partners as adults. Kinship patterns explained associations during adolescence but not during adulthood. Instead, adult males associated with males of similar age. Our findings suggest that social bonds among peers, rather than kinship, play a central role in the development of adult male polyadic cooperation in dolphins. In case of any questions on our work, do not hesitate to get in touch with me (livia.gerber(a)aim.uzh.ch) Livia --- Livia Gerber PhD candidate Department of Anthropology University of Zurich Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland phone: +41 (0)44 635 54 32 http://www.sharkbaydolphins.org

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New publication: Natal fidelity to social groups and mating within and between social groups in an endangered false killer whale population
by Karen Martien - NOAA Federal 02 Dec '19

02 Dec '19

Dear Colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of our article in Endangered Species Research: Martien, K.K., B.L. Taylor, S.J. Chivers, S.D. Mahaffy, A.M. Gorgone, R.W. Baird. 2019. Natal fidelity to social groups and mating within and between social groups in an endangered false killer whale population. *Endangered Species Research*. 40:219-230. ABSTRACT: Most mammals exhibit natal dispersal of one or both sexes, a behavior that likely evolved in part to reduce the chances of breeding with close relatives. When natal social group fidelity of both sexes has been documented, the risk of inbreeding is reduced by breeding among rather than within social groups. We investigated mating patterns in an endangered population of false killer whales *Pseudorca crassidens* from the main Hawaiian Islands (USA) using both genetic and photo-identification data. We tested the presence of the 2 most commonly observed inbreeding avoidance behaviors, i.e. natal dispersal and exogamy (mating occurring primarily among individuals from different social groups). Because not all mother−offspring pairs or individual ages were known prior to this study, we used re-sighting histories to determine plausible ranges of birth year for individuals, thereby limiting the pool of candidate parents and increasing analytical power. We identified 32 parent−offspring pairs, revealing strong natal social group fidelity for both sexes. Our results indicate that between 36 and 64% of matings involved individuals from the same social group. Because the population declined from over 400 to around 150 individuals between the 1980s and early 2000s, the intra-group matings may be the result of reduced opportunities for inter-group mating since the decline. Prior to the decline, social groups may have been sufficiently large that selective pressure to develop inbreeding avoidance mechanisms was low, or the population may have evolved alternate inbreeding avoidance mechanisms such as kin recognition. The paper is freely available through open access at https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v40/p219-230/ Please contact me if you have any questions - Karen.Martien(a)noaa.gov Cheers, Karen -- 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/mmtd-mmgenetics

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new position on ocean noise at NRDC
by Jasny, Michael 02 Dec '19

02 Dec '19

Dear MARMAMers, The Marine Mammal project at NRDC is recruiting for a new, permanently endowed position on ocean noise. The position will engage on a broad range of ocean noise issues, with an initial focus on reducing noise from large commercial ships. The work includes national and international advocacy, corporate campaigning, advancing science-based policy, and building cross-sector coalitions. We're willing to consider candidates based anywhere in the United States. A full job description is below. If you're interested, please visit https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/4342/senior-advocate-for-quiet-seas/job and upload your resume and cover letter from there. And please let me know if you have questions. Thanks, Michael Senior Advocate for Quiet Seas Natural Resources Defense Council Overview The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science, and the support of more than 3 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws; our marine mammal cases and campaigns have played a major role in shaping current policy on whale and dolphin conservation in the United States and internationally. Today, our staff of more than 500 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy and communications experts, and others, work out of offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bozeman, Montana, and Beijing. Position Summary NRDC is seeking an experienced advocate for a newly endowed position in our Marine Mammal Protection Project. This position, the Ken Balcomb Senior Advocate for Quiet Seas, will help lead our work to protect marine wildlife from ocean noise pollution, which has become a major issue for marine conservation in the United States and internationally. The work includes corporate campaigning, international advocacy, lobbying at various levels of government, advancing science-based policy, and building cross-sector coalitions, with an initial focus on reducing noise from large commercial ships. Success is about developing strong strategic goals, identifying opportunity, and achieving progress over time through smart, persistent advocacy. The successful applicant will join NRDC's Marine Mammal Protection Project, a team of lawyers and scientists that fights to save marine mammals and their habitat from ocean noise, bycatch, harmful development, and other threats. Responsibilities * Develops and executes high-impact campaigns to prevent and reduce underwater noise pollution, including a corporate responsibility campaign aimed at controlling noise from commercial shipping; * Represents NRDC on legislative issues related to ocean noise and marine wildlife at the federal, state and local level, including communication with elected officials and their staffs and drafting of legislative and regulatory proposals; * Advances ocean noise code and guidelines at intergovernmental organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the Convention on Migratory Species; * Builds alliances and maintains relationships across the shipping sector, including with shipowners, ports, technical experts, and regulators; * Helps lead coalitions of environmental organizations to lobby for national and international ocean noise control; * Speaks publicly on ocean noise pollution in a wide range of public contexts, including in traditional and social media and at public events; * Develops science-based policy on quieting commercial ships, including by directing naval architects, economists, acousticians, and other experts in the preparation of technical papers on ocean noise solutions; * Participates in related legal cases brought by NRDC; and * Contributes to marine mammal project fundraising by assisting in proposals and engaging in regular, consistent outreach to foundations and major donors. Qualifications * At least 8 years of experience in environmental advocacy, with demonstrated leadership, creativity, and accomplishment. * An advanced degree in a field relevant to the position, such as law, engineering, ocean science, or public policy; * Experience working with government agencies, with Congress, and with intergovernmental organizations; * Ability to lead complex coalitions with diverse national and international membership; * Ability to manage and prioritize an independent workload while also working as a member of a team; * Exceptional research, writing, communication (in both traditional and social media), listening, and analytical skills; * Ability to understand and explain scientific material to non-specialists; * Courtesy and diplomacy in dealing with colleagues, government agencies, corporations, and the public; and * Strong grant-writing and reporting skills and an ability to communicate effectively and in a timely way with donors. Please note that we are prioritizing advocacy experience and accomplishment over other factors. It is not required that candidates have a background in oceans issues. We are willing to consider candidates in all U.S. locations, not only those based in cities where NRDC has offices. The candidate must be able to travel as needed for advocacy purposes. NRDC is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience. To apply, please visit https://careers-nrdc.icims.com/jobs/4342/senior-advocate-for-quiet-seas/job and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. We would like you to upload any additional papers or project work that you think would showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of resumes, only qualified candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are having technical difficulty while applying, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care by dialing 1-800-889-4422. For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org<http://www.nrdc.org> 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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