January 2022 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Summer distance sampling workshop series - registration open
by Len Thomas 04 Apr '22

04 Apr '22

Distance sampling is a survey technique widely used to estimate the density and abundance of marine mammal populations, and other taxa. The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling are pleased to announce that we will be running 3 live online workshops this summer on aspects of distance sampling. Registration is now open for 2 of them, and will be for the 3rd soon. The workshops are: 1. Spatially explicit models for distance sampling data: density surface modelling in practice, 16th-20th August 2021. 2. Distance sampling when animals are missed at zero distance, 30th-31st August 2021. 3. A practical guide to distance sampling survey design and simulation, 13th, 14th and 16th September 2021. For more details, and to register, go to https://workshops.distancesampling.org We are offering one free place on each workshop with the goal of to widening participation to scientists from countries with fewer resources and groups traditionally under-represented in wildlife science. More details are at http://workshops.distancesampling.org/widening-participation and the closing date for applications for the widening participation scholarships is June 15th. -- Len Thomas len.thomas(a)st-andrews.ac.uk lenthomas.org @len_thom Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling and School of Mathematics and Statistics The Observatory, University of St Andrews, Scotland KY16 9LZ Office: UK+1334-461801 Admin: UK+1334-461842 While I may be sending this email outside of my normal office hours, I have no expectation to receive a reply outside of yours. The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

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SMM Editors' Select Series for February 17th: Ice seals as sentinels for algal toxin presence in the Alaskan Arctic
by Student Members-at-Large Society for Marine Mammalogy 31 Jan '22

31 Jan '22

Greetings MARMAM! Join us on *Thursday, 17 February 2022 at 4 PM PST (7 PM EST / 18 February at 12 AM UTC)* for the next SMM Seminar Editors' Select Series: Ice seals as sentinels for algal toxin presence in the Alaskan Arctic with Alicia Hendrix of the University of Washington. Free to attend. Registration required. Presented online on Zoom. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j-IwEcQQRAGoRFv8mpZIoA Space on Zoom is limited to the first 500 attendees. The talk will also be streamed live on the SMM Facebook page. *The SMM Seminar Editors' SelectSeries highlights the latest and most exciting marine mammal science published in the Marine Mammal Science Journal. This is your chance to engage with marine mammal scientists, learn and ask questions from anywhere in the world. All are welcome. * *About this talk:* The algal-produced neurotoxins domoic acid and saxitoxin permeate food webs in the Alaskan Arctic and subarctic, potentially threatening the health of high-level consumers. As water temperatures continue to rise in the Arctic due to climate change, marine mammal exposures to these toxins may be increasing as warmer ocean temperatures are more favorable for toxic algal blooms. We analyzed domoic acid and saxitoxin presence and levels in samples from the gastrointestinal tracts of almost one thousand Alaskan ice seals harvested over fifteen years for subsistence purposes. Though no clinical signs of health impacts were reported in harvested seals, one or both toxins were found in all four species studied. Additionally, the number of ice seal stomach content samples containing DA increased over time in seals collected in the Bering Sea, suggesting an increase in toxin prevalence in the region. Increasing toxin exposure in ecologically and culturally critical Alaskan species, including ice seals, raises concerns for potential health impacts if toxins continue to increase in the future. *About the presenter:* Alicia Hendrix is a PhD student in the University of Washington’s Environmental Toxicology program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Scripps College. Her work has taken her throughout the Americas, studying threats to marine ecosystems as diverse as the Pacific intertidal and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef with organizations including the Cape Eleuthera Institute and the NOAA Fisheries. Her research interests include toxin and toxicant impacts on wildlife and human health, and methods for promoting ecosystem resilience in the face of new threats. She has mentored or taught students at elementary, high school, and undergraduate levels, and believes strongly in building partnerships with coastal communities to amplify regional voices and knowledge. Best regards, Eric Angel Ramos, Ph.D. Candidate *Ayça Eleman, Ph.D. *Candidate *Theresa-Anne Tatom-Naecker, Ph.D. Student* *Student Members-at-Large* Society for Marine Mammalogy

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New paper on understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors
by Enrico Pirotta 31 Jan '22

31 Jan '22

Dear MARMAM colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the following paper is now available online: Enrico Pirotta, Len Thomas, Daniel P. Costa, Ailsa J. Hall, Catriona M. Harris, John Harwood, Scott D. Kraus, Patrick J. O. Miller, Michael J. Moore, Theoni Photopoulou, Rosalind M. Rolland, Lori Schwacke, Samantha E. Simmons, Brandon L. Southall and Peter L. Tyack. Understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors: A new perspective on a longstanding challenge. Science of the Total Environment 821, 153322. Abstract: Wildlife populations and their habitats are exposed to an expanding diversity and intensity of stressors caused by human activities, within the broader context of natural processes and increasing pressure from climate change. Estimating how these multiple stressors affect individuals, populations, and ecosystems is thus of growing importance. However, their combined effects often cannot be predicted reliably from the individual effects of each stressor, and we lack the mechanistic understanding and analytical tools to predict their joint outcomes. We review the science of multiple stressors and present a conceptual framework that captures and reconciles the variety of existing approaches for assessing combined effects. Specifically, we show that all approaches lie along a spectrum, reflecting increasing assumptions about the mechanisms that regulate the action of single stressors and their combined effects. An emphasis on mechanisms improves analytical precision and predicti! ve power but could introduce bias if the underlying assumptions are incorrect. A purely empirical approach has less risk of bias but requires adequate data on the effects of the full range of anticipated combinations of stressor types and magnitudes. We illustrate how this spectrum can be formalised into specific analytical methods, using an example of North Atlantic right whales feeding on limited prey resources while simultaneously being affected by entanglement in fishing gear. In practice, case-specific management needs and data availability will guide the exploration of the stressor combinations of interest and the selection of a suitable trade-off between precision and bias. We argue that the primary goal for adaptive management should be to identify the most practical and effective ways to remove or reduce specific combinations of stressors, bringing the risk of adverse impacts on populations and ecosystems below acceptable thresholds. Keywords: adaptive management, climate change, combined effects, mechanistic modelling, multiple stressors, population consequences. A PDF copy of the paper can be downloaded for free from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153322 Please do not hesitate to contact me for any question regarding our work. Best Regards, Enrico Pirotta

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New publication on stranding records of sperm whale on the Turkish coast in 2019-2020 with a note on the opportunistic sampling of stomach content
by Arda M. Tonay 31 Jan '22

31 Jan '22

Dear All, Apologies for cross posting. We would like to inform you that the new paper on stranding records of sperm whale on the Turkish coast in 2019-2020 with a note on the opportunistic sampling of stomach content has been published in the Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment. The pdf copy is available online via the following link. Tonay, A.M., Öztürk Ayaka, A., Salman, A., Dede, A., Danyer Aytemiz, I., Danyer, E., Öztürk, B. 2021. Stranding records of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) on the Turkish coast in 2019-2020 with a note on the opportunistic sampling of stomach content. J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 27(3): 281-293. https://blackmeditjournal.org/volumes-archive/vol-27-2021/vol-27-2021-no-3/… Abstract Three sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) strandings are reported from the Turkish Mediterranean coast between 2019 and 2020. The first individual was a juvenile found in July 2019 near Fethiye, in the west. The second individual, a neonate, stranded in Adana in the east, on 10 August 2020. The third case, a sub-adult/adult, stranded on the beach of Antalya, in the west on 14 August 2020. It was buried on the beach and excavated about two months later. During the excavation, a hard plastic food container was found, which contained cephalopod beaks and other plastics providing an opportunity for partial stomach content analysis. A total of 60 lower beaks were identified belonging to eight species. Umbrella squid Histioteuthis bonnellii was dominant, representing 30% of beaks encountered. Dry total weight of four plastics (hard plastic container, nylon bag, 1.5L PET bottle and packaging item) was 197.2 g. This opportunistic sampling allowed us to collect information on the stomach contents of this creature, which is rarely stranded on the Turkish and eastern Mediterranean coasts. Dietary studies on stranded marine animals are of great importance in monitoring environmental plastic levels and impacts on wildlife in this region. In the last 50 years, six sperm whales stranded on the Turkish coasts, five of them in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, which implies that this area is probably close to sperm whale habitats. Improvement of the stranding network as well as surveys for the distribution and abundance of this species to elaborate and implement effective conservation measures are recommended. Alternatively, pdf requests can be sent to atonay(a)istanbul.edu.tr <mailto:atonay@istanbul.edu.tr> Regards, Arda Arda M. TONAY Ph.D Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University Marine Biology Dep. Kalenderhane Mah. Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2 Fatih 34134 İstanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 212 455 5700 Fax: +90 212 514 0379 <mailto:atonay@istanbul.edu.tr> atonay(a)istanbul.edu.tr <http://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/> http://subilimleri.istanbul.edu.tr/ Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) P.O. Box 10 Beykoz, 34820 İstanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 216 424 0772 Fax: +90 216 424 0771 -- *Yasal Uyarı:* Bu elektronik posta, *buradan <https://bilgiislem.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/e-posta-yasal-uyari-e-mail-dis…> *ulaşabileceğiniz Koşul ve Şartlara tabidir. *Disclaimer: *This email is subject to the Terms and Conditions available **here.** <https://bilgiislem.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/e-posta-yasal-uyari-e-mail-dis…> ------------------------------------------------------------------ Lütfen bu e-postayı yazdırmadan önce çevreye olan etkisini dikkate alınız. Unutmayınız ki; dünyadaki kağıt tüketiminin yarısı kazanılırsa, her yıl 8 milyon hektar orman alanı (Ege Bölgesi büyüklüğünde) yok olmaktan kurtulacaktır. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Please take into account the impact on the environment before printing this e-mail. Do not forget that if we reduce our paper consumption by half, every year 8 million hectares of forest (an area the size of Aegean Region in Turkey) will be saved from vanishing. ------------------------------------------------------------------

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Informal networking event hosted by Australia/New Zealand Student Chapter of SMM
by Rebecca Boys 30 Jan '22

30 Jan '22

Dear Marine Mammal Community, The committee of the Australia and New Zealand Regional Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (ANZSCSMM) are pleased to announce we are hosting a virtual informal student event as part of celebrating 10-years of ANZSCSMM! The event will be held on the afternoon/evening of 11th March 2022 (12pm Perth GMT+8; 3pm Sydney GMT+10; 5pm NZ GMT+12). This is a free event which aims to bring together students interested in marine mammals from across Oceania. We encourage students to attend to have the chance to informally network with each other discussing research, and to hear advice and tips from three scientists on career paths and early career research. Please register by filling in your email and choosing your area of research expertise/interest: https://tinyurl.com/ANZSCSMM For more information, please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ANZSCSMM/ [cid:3dca448c-29c1-4aad-ba12-b5e92d15dbbf] Any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. The committee can be contacted by emailing: anzscsmm(a)gmail.com Please circulate among your labs – this is a great experience for students! ANZSCSMM committee ------------------------------------------------------------- Rebecca M Boys Marine Biologist PhD Student Cetacean Ecology Research Group School of Natural and Computational Sciences Massey University Auckland New Zealand [cid:78625426-9527-4b90-95af-22e7758d5cc6]<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebecca_Boys> [cid:6e969bb3-2ce3-405c-9107-6e8f925d0fd7] <https://scholar.google.co.nz/citations?hl=en&user=7rHpOpMAAAAJ> [cid:6b2778b9-0863-4533-97ef-04ce2b505a8a] <https://twitter.com/RebeccaMBoys> [cid:ecaa7114-5563-4115-a92c-b4d2fcb49d49] <https://www.facebook.com/CetaceanEcologyOrg/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBKlWSLR-YC7KHN…> [cid:cc09a4c1-afa0-4ee7-98a2-b7058d82b771] <https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/explore/research/animal-veterinary/animal/m…> [cid:9885ac43-93e6-4d8a-b3de-62539620d68c] www.cetaceanecology.org/<https://www.cetaceanecology.org/> Australia and New Zealand Student Chapter SMM Committee member European Cetacean Society National Contact Person for New Zealand

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Summer internship at IMMS
by Jennifer Pishnyuk 30 Jan '22

30 Jan '22

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS is accepting applications for our summer term. *The deadline for applications is March 1st.* Please visit our website for details on how to apply or send questions to jpishnyuk(a)imms.org https://imms.org/internship/ The IMMS Animal Training Internship Program is designed as a way for students/individuals interested in a career in animal care and training to gain valuable experience in a real-world setting. Interns will primarily be trained in aspects of animal care, but will also participate in other activities at IMMS. Our goal is to give interns a well-rounded experience in a variety of areas while providing expert training and experience. The IMMS animal care and training staff is in charge of caring for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and large parrots. Interns will work directly with animal care staff and be exposed to all aspects of the daily routine. Heavy emphasis is placed on basic tasks such as food preparation, and daily cleaning and facility maintenance. Interns will learn how to train animals with operant conditioning through observation and may assist during sessions. Interns will also complete a project during their internship, as well as help staff with daily water quality. Because we want interns to have a well-rounded experience, they will also be asked to assist in other departments. Interns may participate as 1) environmental educators and assist in giving presentations to the public, 2) research assistants that help with our many wild dolphin based research studies, or 3) emergency responders as IMMS is part of the Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network and responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. Interested applicants must follow the directions listed on the website to apply. Interns must be: • 18 years or older. • A recent graduate or actively pursuing a college degree in the sciences. • Willing to accept the internship as an unpaid position. • Able to commit to a minimum of at least 12 weeks, 40 hours a week. The internship can be extended depending on work performance. • Available to work weekdays, weekends, and holidays. • Able to lift 50 lbs, work long hours on your feet, and work outside in extreme conditions. • Able to maintain a positive attitude, good work ethic, sense of responsibility, and a strong willingness to learn. • Financially stable enough to obtain housing and transportation, though IMMS staff will do their best to assist you in making arrangements. • Able to comply with IMMS rules and regulations. Jennifer Pishnyuk Marine Mammal Trainer Animal Care Internship Coordinator Institute for Marine Mammal Studies Gulfport, MS

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WEBINAR: Ghost gear & marine fauna entanglement
by Niru Neil Dorrian 28 Jan '22

28 Jan '22

Please join the IMarEST Marine Mammal Special Interest Group for a Webinar on the issue of ghost gear and marine debris as a global challenge for aquatic environments and marine fauna entanglements. We will discuss the GGGI’s, SEA and GNI’s global approaches to tackling this problem, which will be followed by a joint Q&A session with our speakers and hosts. This livestream is hosted by the Marine Mammals Special Interest Group Thursday 10 February 2022 | 14:00-15:00 GMTAbout the speakers: *About the speakers:* Joel Baziuk, GGGI - The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is the world’s largest collective impact alliance dedicated to solving one of the most critical challenges facing our ocean today – that of ALDFG or “ghost gear”. ALDFG has been identified as the most harmful form of marine debris to marine biota, and recent estimates suggest it may account for as much as 70% of the floating macroplastic in the ocean gyres by weight, making it one of the most serious threats to aquatic biodiversity. The GGGI is a collaborative, cross-sectoral alliance of over 120 member organisations from the fishing industry, private sector, non-governmental organisations, intergovernmental organisations, corporations, governments, and academia dedicated to tackling ALDFG at a global scale. Sarah Dolman, SEA - Launched on 1st June 2018, the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) is a partnership between six organisations dedicated to promoting and protecting Scotland’s wildlife heritage and sustainable marine industries. SEA will work closely with the Scottish inshore fishing industry to provide a coordinated, comprehensive monitoring and engagement programme to better understand the scale and impact of marine animal entanglements in our waters, and work towards developing strategies to reduce this threat. Dr Alex Loureiro, EnerGeo - The EnerGeo Alliance is the global trade association for the energy geoscience industry. EnerGeo members recognise that marine debris presents a serious global threat to marine life and maritime industries. In 2016, EnerGeo (then IAGC) members led the development of the Ghost Net & Marine Debris Removal Initiative (GNI), which encourages member companies to remove marine debris during survey operations and report the amount removed to a centralised reporting system. As of the end of 2020, members reported removing nearly 2.5 million pounds of debris. During survey operations, members occasionally encounter marine life entangled in debris. In 2021, EnerGeo developed a guidance document for survey crews to assist entangled marine life while maintaining human and animal safety. The guidance is publicly available to promote best practices within the energy geoscience industry and beyond. *About IMarEST Webinars:* IMarEST Certificate of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for attending. Join an optional post-event interactive networking session where you can meet other attendees. Watch live from desktop or mobile, and ask questions to participants. Exclusive on-demand access to the webinar for 1 month. Recordings then remain available to Institute members only in IMarEST TV , with online and offline access via desktop and mobile apps. Membership of the IMarEST is open to all, whether you are a student, just starting out in your career, an experienced professional or just someone who is interested in marine engineering, science or technology or our work. *To register please follow this link below:* https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-ghost-gear-marine-fauna-entanglement… Kind regards Niru Dorrian Niru Neil Dorrian, BSc (Hons) CMarSci CSci FIMarEST Co - Founder & Marine Mammal Biologist Whalefish Mail: niru(a)whalefish.org Url: www.whalefish.org Cell: +44 (0)7888747719 *Connect - Share - Inspire*

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New publication on resighting rates of entangled humpback whales along the California-Oregon-Washington region
by Jennifer Tackaberry 28 Jan '22

28 Jan '22

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new paper 'Low resighting rate of entangled humpback whales within the California, Oregon, and Washington region based on photo-identification and long-term life history data' by Jennifer Tackaberry, Elana Dobson, Kiirsten Regina Flynn, Ted Cheeseman, John Calambokidis, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, section Marine Megafauna. It was published open access and is available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.779448 Abstract: Bycatch, commonly referred to as entanglement, is a leading source of human-caused mortality of baleen whales. A better understanding of the individuals that survive (or perish from) their entanglement can help reduce the risk of bycatch by informing gear modifications and fisheries management. However, determining survival rates is restricted by the ability to track individuals once they become entangled. Historically, the effort to identify and resight individuals from known entanglement cases was low along the West Coast. The recent increase of entanglements and photo-identification efforts in the California, Oregon, and Washington region provides an opportunity to assess entangled humpback whales’ resighting rates to better understand the effect of entanglements from the individual to the population level. We used photo-ID images of entangled humpback whales between 1982 and 2017 to examine pre- and post-entanglement sighting histories from longitudinal catalogs and life history data (Cascadia Research and Happywhale). We compared the entangled whales (n = 37) against control whales (n = 2,296), selected based on the date and location of the entanglement reports, to evaluate the deviation from the expected mortality rates (or lack of resighting) caused by entanglements and to help inform/support/test National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Serious Injury and Mortality (SI/M) index. Our results suggest that entangled whales were resighted less often than the control groups. Entangled whales with short pre-entanglement sighting histories and without post-entanglement resights did not match other feeding ground populations. Therefore, the higher proportion of entanglements with shorter sighting histories is likely due to their being alive for fewer years, indicating a higher risk of entanglement for younger whales. This indicates that entangled humpback whales may not be as large or strong as mature individuals, and future gear modifications should reflect that possibility. Additionally, the severity of the initial SI/M score aligned well with our resighting rates, though this worsened with the final score assigned. Continued effort to gather and improve data collection about entanglements will help enhance the SI/M determinations. Our findings show the value of photo-identification of entangled whales and how it dramatically increases our understanding of entanglements. All the best, Jenn Tackaberry -- Jennifer Tackaberry Humpback Whale Studies Program Center for Coastal Studies 5 Holway Ave, Provincetown, MA 02657

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Vacancy Announcement - Interdisciplinary Research Biologist/Research Mathematical Statistician – NOAA SEFSC, Marine Mammal Branch
by Jenny Litz - NOAA Federal 28 Jan '22

28 Jan '22

The NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Branch will be hiring an Interdisciplinary Research Biologist/Research Mathematical Statistician, ZP-0401/1529-3/4 position to support various marine mammal and sea turtle research analytical needs and co-lead/lead comprehensive interdisciplinary projects as PI/CI in the Division. The position will be located in Miami. The announcement will be open for *(7) days, from 1/28/2022 to 2/3/2022* and more information is available in the job link* NMFS-SEFSC-2022-0016*: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/632647900. We encourage applicants to submit a detailed CV as a PDF attachment rather than through the USA-Jobs resume builder to better assess candidate qualifications. Please distribute this announcement widely among interested colleagues. If you have any questions about the position, please contact Dr. Jenny Litz at jenny.litz(a)noaa.gov _____________ Duties copied from vacancy announcement: As an Interdisciplinary Research Biologist OR Research Mathematical Statistician, you will perform the following duties (Official Title will be determined based on the qualifications of the selectee): · Design, initiate, and execute research projects and quantitative analyses (statistics, modeling, computer programming), in combination with fieldwork, for protected resources in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean with emphasis on population and ecosystem ecology of marine mammals and sea turtles, in support of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. · Develop improved mathematical, biological, and statistical models (e.g., Bayesian statistics, multivariate statistics, population dynamics), incorporate biological or environmental covariates in density models, stock assessments and forecasts, and analyze data from surveys and research studies. · Develop and program models to analyze telemetry data, line-transect, mark-recapture and other data collection methods to prepare and publish abundance estimates, habitat models and ecological studies for protected species. · Conduct data analysis and interpretation of diverse datasets (e.g., marine mammal and sea turtle sightings, prey distribution, oceanography) to understand abundance, distribution, and environmental drivers of these dynamics. · Develop specialized reports, peer-reviewed papers and publications based on research products and present assessment methods and findings at scientific conferences, to scientific review panels, and workshops. NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZP-4, the ZP-3 is developmental leading to such performance. -- Jenny Litz, PhD <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact/jenny-litz-phd> Chief, Marine Mammal Branch <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact-directory/marine-mammal-researchers-…> NOAA Fisheries, SEFSC 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 jenny.litz(a)noaa.gov <email(a)noaa.gov> 305.361.4224 305.582.0371 (cell) www.nmfs.noaa.gov

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ASCOBANS call for photos and videos
by Jenny Renell 28 Jan '22

28 Jan '22

Dear all, ASCOBANS, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas<https://www.ascobans.org/en/species>, is a regional intergovernmental treaty working within the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The main focus within ASCOBANS is on reducing the unintentional entanglement of small cetaceans in fishing nets (bycatch) as well as mitigating other man-made threats, such as acoustic disturbance and marine pollution. Under the Agreement, information-sharing and outreach also play a key role in engaging both the general public and stakeholders in the conservation efforts. ASCOBANS, a UN treaty, is a non-profit organisation. In 2022, ASCOBANS will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we are looking into producing website and social media content, hopefully also information material. In order to make our outreach efforts as representative, informative, and attractive as possible, we are asking for your input: could you look in your photo and video (and audio) archives to see if there are any you can provide the ASCOBANS Secretariat with? • We would welcome photos / footage / audio of the species occurring in the ASCOBANS region<https://www.ascobans.org/en/species>, such as the harbour porpoise, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, beaked whales, pilot whales, (pygmy / false) killer whales. • As we are trying to cover as wide a ground as possible, we also welcome a wide range of pictures and video to go with it. Apart from beautiful ‘happy’ pictures of our photogenic small-cetaceans, we would also need some less beautiful documentation of some of the threats they face (bycatch, noise, chemical pollution, habitat degradation, prey depletion, ship strikes). • We would also be happy to receive photos / video clips of rescue operations and other conservation activities or cetacean research and outreach/education activities in the ASCOBANS region<https://www.ascobans.org/en/legalinstrument/ascobans>. • Kindly note that while for use on the website medium/smaller file sizes are sufficient, for the purposes of printed material we would need as high a resolution as possible to enable high quality prints. We will always give due credit to the photographer and/or organisation whenever we use a photo, so please include in the file name (a) the species (if known) and (b) how the image/video/audio shall be credited when applied. Should you have any particular reservations with regards to the usage of your photos/footage/audio (e.g. ok to use on the website and social media but not on printed material or PowerPoint presentations), please let us know. We are grateful to you for your assistance, and look forward to receiving your photos and video clips. Should you have any questions, please contact ascobans.secretariat(a)ascobans.org<mailto:ascobans.secretariat@ascobans.org>. Kind regards, Jenny Jenny Renell ASCOBANS Coordinator, CMS Aquatic Species Team Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1 53113 Bonn, Germany Tel. +49 228 815 2418, email: jenny.renell(a)un.org<mailto:jenny.renell@un.org> www.ascobans.org<http://www.ascobans.org/> www.cms.int<http://www.cms.int/> www.facebook.com/ascobans<http://www.facebook.com/ascobans> [cid:image001.png@01D8143C.5C76EA40] Disclaimer: The information transmitted is intended only for use by the addressee and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, dissemination or other use of it, or the taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons and/or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please inform the sender and/or addressee immediately and delete the material. Thank you.

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