July 2021 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

New paper: Low-frequency sampling rates are effective to record bottlenose dolphins
by Bianca Romeu 29 Jul '21

29 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I would like to share our recent publication: Low-frequency sampling rates are effective to record bottlenose dolphins The paper was published this week in the Royal Society Open Science and is available as an open access article here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201598 Abstract Acoustic monitoring in cetacean studies is an effective but expensive approach. This is partly because of the high sampling rate required by acoustic devices when recording high-frequency echolocation clicks. However, the proportion of echolocation clicks recorded at different frequencies is unknown for many species, including bottlenose dolphins. Here, we investigated the echolocation clicks of two subspecies of bottlenose dolphins in the western South Atlantic Ocean. The possibility of recording echolocation clicks at 24 and 48 kHz was assessed by two approaches. First, we considered the clicks in the frequency range up to 96 kHz. We found a loss of 0.95–13.90% of echolocation clicks in the frequency range below 24 kHz, and 0.01–0.42% below 48 kHz, to each subspecies. Then, we evaluated these recordings downsampled at 48 and 96 kHz and confirmed that echolocation clicks are recorded at these lower frequencies, with some loss. Therefore, despite reaching high frequencies, the clicks can also be recorded at lower frequencies because echolocation clicks from bottlenose dolphins are broadband. We concluded that ecological studies based on the presence–absence data are still effective for bottlenose dolphins when acoustic devices with a limited sampling rate are used. I am available to answer any questions regarding our work: romeu.bianca(a)gmail.com Best regards, -- *Bianca Romeu * CRBio 88562/03-D ^ | \ __ - | - \ __ _ _/ -- -- \ __ _/ -- \ / @ ) _ / __-- ===> / _ __ -- _ _ _ _ -- -- / / | / / / |/ __/ /__ /__^__ /

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RFP on “Application of Risk Assessment Framework Based on the Data-Driven Population Consequences of (Acoustic) Disturbance (PCAD/PCoD) Model”.
by Walsh, Danny 29 Jul '21

29 Jul '21

Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life - Phase IV Request for Proposals Number: JIP IV-2021-001 Title: Application of Risk Assessment Framework Based on the Data-Driven Population Consequences of (Acoustic) Disturbance (PCAD/PCoD) Model Proposals are due by: September 17, 2021 The Joint Industry Programme on E&P Sound and Marine Life (Phase IV) is pleased to request proposals on “Application of Risk Assessment Framework Based on the Data-Driven Population Consequences of (Acoustic) Disturbance (PCAD/PCoD) Model”. Details of the RfP are given in the document which is available via the links below. RFP page https://www.soundandmarinelife.org/funding/rfps/ News item https://www.soundandmarinelife.org/sound-and-marine-life-announce-two-rfps/ Proposals are invited in response to the RfP by 17 September 2021. Yours sincerely, Danny Walsh | Media & Communications Manager | IOGP | +44 20 3763 9715 | +44 77 3448 8672 International Association of Oil & Gas Producers | www.iogp.org | Reception: +44 20 3763 9700 Please note that all IOGP offices will be closed from 2-13 August 2021 IOGP is registered in England. Registration number: 1832064. Registered office: City Tower, 40 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5DE

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SEICHE ACOUSTIC COURSES FOR 2021
by Sherry Baruwa 29 Jul '21

29 Jul '21

Good afternoon, Seiche Training is pleased to announce its final Acoustic courses for the year 2021. Underwater Acoustics in the Marine Environment Course PRICE - £1750 + VAT Date – 13th to 16TH September 2021. Delivery - Virtual As concerns about the impact of underwater noise on marine wildlife increases, regulations to protect marine wildlife have since become more important. For those working in and around the marine environment, it is essential to understand the basic concepts of underwater acoustics and how noise can impact marine wildlife. The course is intended for regulators, environmental consultants, researchers, and policy/environmental professionals within the industry. It will be particularly useful in providing a better understanding of reports that delegates either have to deliver or receive from clients. The course is delivered by two renowned academics who are both experts with years of experience in their field. Dr Paul Lepper is the Senior Research Fellow in the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at Loughborough University. He specialises in underwater acoustics, bioacoustics, and underwater technologies. These include acoustic and optical underwater systems, sound field measurement, modelling and simulation. Professor Victor Humphrey is a Professor of Acoustics in the Institute of Sound and Vibration research at the University of Southampton. He has over 30 years of research experience in both underwater acoustics and medical ultrasound. Applied Marine Acoustic and Signal Processing Course PRICE - £1,100 + VAT Date – 20th to 22nd September 2021. Delivery – Virtual Our Applied Marine Acoustics and Signal Processing course provides a unique opportunity to understand the marine acoustic environment. Developed with a strong focus on the physical principles, coupled with practical signal processing techniques, this training aims to equip delegates with the real skills and tools they can use immediately. These transferable skills are proven for both commercial and research fields. To register, please send an email to training(a)seiche.com<mailto:training@seiche.com> Seiche Training Limited https://www.seiche.com/training/ Kind regards, Sherry [Seiche Ltd]<http://www.seiche.com/> Sherry Baruwa Business Administrator Seiche Ltd Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom <https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bradworthy+Industrial+Estate,+Langdon+Roa…> T: +44(0)1409 404050<tel:+44(0)1409%20404050> E: s.baruwa(a)seiche.com<mailto:s.baruwa@seiche.com> W: www.seiche.com<http://www.seiche.com> Registered in England & Wales No. 3475558, Registered Office: The Custom House, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents. Sherry Baruwa Training Administrator Seiche Ltd T: +44(0)1409 404050 E: s.baruwa(a)seiche.com W: https://www.seiche.com Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom Registered in England & Wales No. 03475558, Registered Office: C/O Seiche Group, Bradworthy Industrial Estate, Langdon Road, Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7SF, United Kingdom The information contained in this e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or previous e-mail messages attached to it, is privileged and confidential, and solely intended for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or otherwise use the information, and you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and delete this e-mail and attached documents.

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New paper by the SouSA Consortium-South Africa's endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins face complex conservation challenges
by Stephanie Plön, PhD 29 Jul '21

29 Jul '21

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors I would like to draw your attention to a new publication of the SouSA Consortium, published today in Frontiers in Marine Science, section Marine Megafauna: "Science alone won't do it! South Africa's endangered humpback dolphins *Sousa plumbea* face complex conservation challenges" Stephanie Plön, Shanan Atkins, Vic Cockcroft, Danielle Conry, Sasha Dines, Simon Elwen, Enrico Gennari, Keshni Gopal, Tess Gridley, Sandra Hörbst, Bridget S James, Gwenith Susan Penry, Meredith Thornton, Olga Alejandra Vargas-Fonseca, Els Vermeulen The article is open access and can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.642226/full?&utm_so… Abstract: The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (*Sousa plumbea*) is “endangered” with likely less than 500 animals remaining in South African waters. Established in 2016, the SouSA Consortium is a formalised network of scientists and conservationists to combine knowledge and research efforts, and make coordinated decisions with the aim of conserving the species. The first collaborative project collated available photo-identification data in an attempt to refine a national population estimate and investigate movements between research sites. This work was able to identify 250 uniquely marked individuals, with the population divided into the south-coast (Agulhas bioregion) and east-coast (Natal bioregion) populations. Environmental factors almost certainly play a role in the declining numbers of the species in South African waters. However, individual threats and solutions are challenging to identify as the South African marine environment is undergoing significant natural and anthropogenic changes with major shifts in the distribution and numbers of some prey, competitor and predator species. Therefore, we believe that a continued investigation of potential contributing factors and their interaction will take too long, inevitably resulting in another case of documenting extinction. With this in mind, we present the results of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis in an effort to help us identify the next steps to take toward the conservation of humpback dolphins in South African waters. We unanimously conclude that no single cause for the rapid decline of humpback dolphins in South African waters can be identified, and that the cumulative effects of multiple stressors, which are difficult to pinpoint and mitigate, are impacting population numbers. While highlighting the need for continued research, we suggest a shift toward more action-focused conservation efforts, the first concrete steps being the development of a Conservation Management Plan with input from other stakeholders. Assoc. Prof. Stephanie Plön Medical Virology Department of Pathology Stellenbosch University and Bayworld Centre for Research and Education (BCRE) Port Elizabeth South Africa Cell: +27-76-3791067 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Ploen *https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/ <https://iucn-csg.org/stephanie-plon-phd/>* *-Member-IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group* *-Member of the **International Whaling Commission (IWC) Expert Advisory Panel on Strandings for Africa and the Indian Ocean* *-Member of the Intersessional Task Force on Sousa for the International Whaling Commission (IWC)* *-Member- International Relations Committee of the Society for Marine Mammalogy* *-Stranding coordinator for IndoCet for the Indian Ocean region* *-Associate Editor-Marine Mammal Science*

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New paper on near real-time acoustic monitoring from autonomous surface vehicles
by Mark Baumgartner 27 Jul '21

27 Jul '21

Dear Colleagues, The following paper was recently published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, and is available as an open access article here: https://asa.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1121/10.0004817 Near real-time detection of low-frequency baleen whale calls from an autonomous surface vehicle: implementation, evaluation, and remaining challenges Mark Baumgartner, Keenan Ball, Jim Partan, Léo-Paul Pelletier, Julianne Bonnell, Cara Hotchkin, Peter Corkeron, and Sofie Van Parijs Mitigation of threats posed to marine mammals by human activities can be greatly improved with a better understanding of animal occurrence in real time. Recent advancements have enabled low-power passive acoustic systems to be integrated into long-endurance autonomous platforms for persistent near real-time monitoring of marine mammals via the sounds they produce. Here, the integration of a passive acoustic instrument capable of real-time detection and classification of low-frequency (LF) tonal sounds with a Liquid Robotics wave glider is reported. The goal of the integration was to enable monitoring of LF calls produced by baleen whales over periods of several months. Mechanical noises produced by the platform were significantly reduced by lubricating moving parts with polytetrafluoroethylene, incorporating rubber and springs to decelerate moving parts and shock mounting hydrophones. Flow noise was reduced with the development of a 21-element hydrophone array. Surface noise produced by breaking waves was not mitigated despite experimentation with baffles. Compared to a well-characterized moored passive acoustic monitoring buoy, the system greatly underestimated the occurrence of sei, fin, and North Atlantic right whales during a 37-d deployment, and therefore is not suitable in its current configuration for use in scientific or management applications for these species at this time. If you are interested in near real-time acoustic detection of baleen whales from autonomous platforms, you may be interested in 2 additional open-access papers that evaluate the same real-time acoustic monitoring system in moored buoys and Slocum gliders: Baumgartner. M.F., J. Bonnell, S.M. Van Parijs, P.J. Corkeron, C. Hotchkin, K. Ball, L.-P. Pelletier, J. Partan, D. Peters, J. Kemp, J. Pietro, K. Newhall, A. Stokes, T.V.N. Cole, E. Quintana, and S.D. Kraus. 2019. Persistent near real-time passive acoustic monitoring for baleen whales from a moored buoy: system description and evaluation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 10:1476–1489, doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.13244. Available at https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.13244. Baumgartner, M.F., J. Bonnell, P.J. Corkeron, S.M. Van Parijs, C. Hotchkin, B.A. Hodges, J. Bort Thornton, B.L. Mensi and S.M. Bruner. 2020. Slocum gliders provide accurate near real-time estimates of baleen whale presence from human-reviewed passive acoustic detection information. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:100, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00100. Available at https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00100/full. Mark Baumgartner Senior Scientist Biology Department Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution MS #33, Redfield 256 266 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 02543 mbaumgartner(a)whoi.edu <mailto:mbaumgartner@whoi.edu> www.whoi.edu/sites/mbaumgartner <http://www.whoi.edu/sites/mbaumgartner> (508) 289-2678 phone

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Monitoring manatee abundance via an unmanned aerial system (UAS or drone)
by Edwards, Holly 27 Jul '21

27 Jul '21

My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the open-access publication of our manuscript "Monitoring abundance of aggregated animals (Florida manatees) using an unmanned aerial system (UAS)" in Scientific Reports. Edwards, H.H., Hostetler, J.A., Stith, B.M. et al. Monitoring abundance of aggregated animals (Florida manatees) using an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Sci Rep 11, 12920 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92437-z Imperfect detection is an important problem when counting wildlife, but new technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can help overcome this obstacle. We used data collected by a UAS and a Bayesian closed capture-mark-recapture model to estimate abundance and distribution while accounting for imperfect detection of aggregated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) at thermal refuges to assess use of current and new warmwater sources in winter. Our UAS hovered for 10 min and recorded 4 K video over sites in Collier County, FL. Open-source software was used to create recapture histories for 10- and 6-min time periods. Mean estimates of probability of detection for 1-min intervals at each canal varied by survey and ranged between 0.05 and 0.92. Overall, detection probability for sites varied between 0.62 and 1.00 across surveys and length of video (6 and 10 min). Abundance varied by survey and location, and estimates indicated that distribution changed over time, with use of the novel source of warmwater increasing over time. The highest cumulative estimate occurred in the coldest winter, 2018 (N = 158, CI 141–190). Methods here reduced survey costs, increased safety and obtained rigorous abundance estimates at aggregation sites previously too difficult to monitor. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Holly H. Edwards, Ph.D. 100 Eighth Ave. SE St Petersburg, FL 33701 727-896-8626 ext. 1924 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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New publication on cetacean occurrence offshore of Washington
by Ally Rice 26 Jul '21

26 Jul '21

Dear MARMAM community, My coauthors and I are pleased to announce the open-access publication of our paper, "Cetacean occurrence offshore of Washington from long-term passive acoustic monitoring" in *Marine Biology*. Abstract: A variety of cetacean species inhabit the productive waters offshore of Washington State, USA. Although the general presence of many of these species has been documented in this region, our understanding of fine-scale habitat use is limited. Here, passive acoustic monitoring was used to investigate the spatial and temporal distributions of ten cetacean species at three locations offshore of Washington. Between 2004 and 2013, a total of 2845 days of recordings were collected from sites on the continental shelf and slope, and in a submarine canyon. Acoustic presence was higher for all species at sites farther offshore. Detections were highest during the fall and winter for blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), likely related to reproductive behavior, while minke whales (B. acutorostrata) were only detected on two days. Odontocetes showed temporal separation, with sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) detections highest in spring, Risso’s (Grampus griseus) and Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) highest in summer, and Stejneger’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon stejnegeri), Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), and the BW37V signal type highest in winter or spring. There was interannual variation in detections for most mysticete species, which may be linked to oceanographic conditions: blue and fin whale detections increased during 2007 and 2008, and fin and humpback whale detections increased in 2011. These results inform our understanding of cetacean behavior and habitat use in this region and may aid in the development of conservation strategies suited to the dynamic conditions that drive cetacean distribution. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-021-03941-9 Best, Ally -- Ally Rice Staff Research Associate II Scripps Acoustic Ecology Laboratory Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD office: 858-534-5755

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Job Posting: Manatees and Warm-water Habitat in Florida
by Deutsch, Chip 25 Jul '21

25 Jul '21

OPS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: ANTICIPATED VACANCY EXPECTED START DATE: September 1, 2021 (or soon thereafter) DURATION: 12 months, full-time Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Section: Wildlife Research Subsection: Marine Mammals Working Title: OPS Biological Scientist II Position #: 77907601 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida (Pinellas County) Rate of Pay: $22.00 per hour. Full-time (40 hours/week). Limited benefits, but state group health insurance is available to eligible candidates. Posting Date: July 23, 2021 Closing Date: August 9, 2021 Job Description: We expect to receive funding for a 12-month OPS position to carry out a NOAA-funded actionable science grant project, entitled "Creating Secure Warm-water Habitat Networks for Manatees along Florida's Gulf Coast: Developing a Vision, Identifying Gaps, and Prioritizing Restoration Sites." The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a plan to identify and address the highest research priorities to meet management needs regarding the creation, enhancement, or protection of warm-water habitats for manatees. We aim to achieve that through "coproduction of science," which involves a team of researchers and managers working closely together from the initiation of project planning so that research outcomes can be directly applied to management decision-making. We seek a highly organized and motivated scientist to take a leading role in the execution of this project, including the following responsibilities: locating, inventorying, and compiling existing biological, environmental, and human dimensions datasets; identifying key gaps in existing data sets; summarizing, analyzing, and synthesizing data into useful products (e.g., GIS maps, graphs, tables, written summaries) for use in reports and presentations; assisting with metadata documentation and data archival; helping to define features of an optimal warm-water habitat network; organizing project team meetings, documents and outputs; and drafting and coordinating team member input into the preparation of two final products, a research and development plan and a transfer and application plan. The person in this position will clearly communicate technical information to project team members and stakeholders, while maintaining a professional working environment that promotes teamwork. Tasks must be completed each month to stay on track with a full project schedule and to ensure deliverables are completed by established deadlines. This position does not involve field work or data collection activities. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor as needed. Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the biological sciences and one year of professional biological experience in a field or laboratory program; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university in one of the biological sciences. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The entry-level knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform job duties are: * Knowledge of wildlife ecology, biology, and natural systems. * Knowledge of principles and techniques of biological research, data analysis, and ecological study design. * Experience in data analysis and synthesis. * Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and technical report writing. * Skilled in use of spreadsheet, word processing, and graphics software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. * Skilled in use of mapping software, including ArcGIS (or other GIS software) and Google Earth. * Ability to work independently and as part of a team; establish and maintain effective working relationships. * Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments in a timely manner to meet assigned deadlines. * Ability to travel occasionally for meetings. Qualified applicants will need to be highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, and adept at problem-solving and time management to succeed in this position. Preferred Education and Experience: Master's degree in one of the life sciences. Experience with ArcGIS preferred. Application Requirements: Applicants are required to submit a complete, up-to-date, State of Florida Application Form electronically in People First, by midnight on the closing date listed. Go to: https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com (enter 77907601 in the keyword search field). Applicants should also upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information (including email and phone) for three references with their People First application by the closing date, but these do not replace the requirement for a completed State of Florida application form. Applicants are required to complete the additional application questions. If you experience technical difficulties during the application process, please call People First at 1-877-562-7287. 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. OPS employees are not eligible for paid vacation, sick leave or state holidays and are only compensated for hours worked. This is a grant-funded OPS position with limited benefits. This position will be funded based on a 12-month grant that the Commission expects to receive shortly. 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 (This position is eligible for health insurance. The individual must meet eligibility requirements; current employees or someone who has worked for the State of Florida (or state university system) and is rehired within 13 weeks of their separation date, are encouraged to consult with People First or the servicing Human Resource Office for details on their eligibility.) * 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 * No moving expenses provided The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Chip Deutsch, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute E-mail: Chip.Deutsch(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Chip.Deutsch@MyFWC.com> http://myfwc.com/research/manatee/research/radiotelemetry-tracking/

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Seal Rescue Ireland Internship Opportunities
by Paschal O'Connor 25 Jul '21

25 Jul '21

*Seal Rescue Ireland is accepting applications for our exciting internship positions!* Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) is a charity organisation which operates a busy marine animal rescue and rehabilitation centre located in Courtown, Co. Wexford. As the only facility that fully rehabilitates seals within the Republic of Ireland, SRI responds to seal strandings nationwide. Most reports are for young grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and common seal (Phoca vitulina) pups found sick, injured or orphaned across the Irish coastline. In addition, SRI pursues understanding and public engagement of ocean conservation and sustainability through education, community outreach and research programmes. SRI is currently accepting applications for their internship programmes for the end of 2021 and into the new year! With rolling start dates year around, these high paced, full-time positions are for a minimum of 12 weeks, but longer time commitments are encouraged. After completion of initial training, interns who excel may be invited to stay longer and offered higher levels of responsibility with the potential for compensation through living expenses. *Due to Covid-19, Seal Rescue Ireland is only considering applications from the Republic of Ireland and the UK until further notice. All offers of internship positions with Seal Rescue Ireland may be subject to change depending on government regulations and advice, as well as SRI’s decisions on what is best for the health and well-being of our team. We thank everyone for their flexibility and understanding during this crisis.* Seal Rescue Ireland offers 4 different internship opportunities: Animal Care and Conservation Internship - provides a well rounded experience, with the interns time divided between caring for seals in rehabilitation and giving educational tours to visitors of our centre. Marketing and Media Internship - provides the intern with experience in producing quality media content to help Seal Rescue Ireland promote our mission, ocean conservation, and our fundraising efforts. Education Internship - provides the intern with experience in developing and presenting educational programs and activities for groups of all ages that focus on ocean conservation and sustainability. Community Engagement Internship - provides the intern with experience in community outreach to raise awareness of SRI and ocean conservation, event planning, and fundraising to support our centre. These are unpaid positions. Intern housing is available for 90 Euro/week (including food) on a first come first served basis. Interns are responsible for their own travel expenses. Please visit our website at - https://www.sealrescueireland.org/internships/ , for full descriptions of our internships and to download the application form. Completed applications can be submitted to: intern(a)sealrescueireland.org. Registered Charity: RCN 20108519 *Paschal O'Connor* Intern Coordinator On Behalf of Seal Rescue Ireland Phone: 053 942 4980 Rescue hotline: 087 195 5393 Site: www.sealrescueireland.org Email: intern(a)sealrescueireland.org Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20108519 Address: Courtown Harbour, Co. Wexford, Ireland Visit North Wexford this Summer! <https://lovegorey.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Wake-up-in-North-Wexford-Su…> <https://www.facebook.com/sealrescueireland> <https://twitter.com/seal_rescue> <https://www.instagram.com/sealrescueireland/?hl=en> <https://sealrescueireland.tumblr.com/>

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New Release: Annual Report 2021 Montenegro Dolphin Research
by Selina Brouwer 24 Jul '21

24 Jul '21

Dear MARMAM members, We are happy to announce the release of our Annual Report of 2021 of the Montenegro Dolphin Research: Turning Research to Conservation Outputs for Cetacean Protection in Montenegro! *Abstract:* Montenegro Dolphin Research started its dedicated cetacean research of Montenegrin waters in September 2016 and since then has been in the field for over 700 days to gather the missing knowledge on cetacean species and to understand the level of human impact on these magnificent creatures. Our results estimated the population size of bottlenose dolphins of 116±17 individuals in 2017, with a sharp decline to 79±21 individuals in 2019. However, the sighting rates of bottlenose dolphins increased from 24% in 2019 to 27% in 2020 and 47% in 2021. Since March 2020, Montenegro has had reduced human presence within the marine environment due to the COVID19 pandemic. It is interesting and also promising to see that the number of dolphin sightings immediately increased once the human pressure in the area decreased. Additionally, the inclusion of acoustic techniques in addition to the visual surveys revealed the dominant presence of foraging behaviour within the Bay of Kotor, with rare and specific vocalisation types being recorded in the area. Our previous studies in Montenegro highlighted the dominant presence of ‘travelling state’, proposing that Montenegro was mainly a migration corridor for the bottlenose dolphins. However, our recent acoustic results revealed that it also holds both foraging and socialising grounds. Last but not least, both the effect of tourism and fishery related boats revealed significant alterations to the behavioural budget of bottlenose dolphins in Montenegro, even when their exposure level to those specific boats are below 20% of the time. Montenegro is a country with a growing economy and tourism related activities are one of the main income sources. Even though eco-tourism is the one and only sustainable tourism source, the tourism industry is generally directed towards coastal development of hotels with little to no investment in their environmental impact assessment. As a result, uncontrolled coastal destruction, noise and chemical pollution, and plastic debris are already showing an impact on the marine ecosystem of Montenegro. Further, oil and gas explorations have started to take place within the coastal waters of Bar as well as in the unique deep-sea ecosystem of the Adriatic Pit with no publicly available report on the activities. Even though we are fully aware of the importance of economic growth in a country, any human activities that may be carried out in an uncontrolled and unregulated nature are likely to form severe threats to marine species and their associated habitats. Therefore, our project and its research and conservation outcomes form one of the most important steps towards effective conservation strategies that promote not only the protection of nature, but also sustainable blue economic growth. If you would like a copy of this report, please send an email to info(a)DMAD.org.tr or go to research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353380470_Montenegro_Dolphin_Resea… All the best, DMAD Team *Marine Mammal Research Association* *Deniz Memelileri Araştırma Derneği (DMAD)* *info(a)dmad.org.tr <info(a)dmad.org.tr>* *www.dmad.org.tr* <http://www.dmad.org.tr/> *Follow us on: Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/DMADforNature/> & Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/>*

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