December 2023 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

UF Summer online aquatics courses - Manatee Health
by Larkin,Iskande (Iske) 29 Apr '24

29 Apr '24

Hi All, Registration is currently open for Summer 2023. The University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Health Program is offering the Manatee Health & Conservation course, fully online. Classes starts Monday May 15th and run through Friday Aug 11th. Registration will remain open through May 17th. Manatee Health and Conservation Class (VME4016 and VME6017) is an online course (3 credits) that will provide students (upper level undergraduate and graduate) and professionals (with an AA or higher degree) with a detailed overview of manatee natural history, health assessment, and research findings as well as explore conservation issues. For more information about the class or enrollment, contact Dr. Iskande Larkin (ivlarkin(a)ufl.edu)<mailto:ivlarkin@ufl.edu%29.*This> Sincerely, Dr Iske Larkin [AAH logo blue E-Mail Sig] Iske V. Larkin, PhD Senior Lecturer & Education Coordinator Director of Aquatic Animal Health Program Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida PO Box 100136 2015 SW 16th Ave Gainesville, Florida 32610 Office phone - 352-294-4095 Work cell - 352-494-1742 Fax - 352-392-8289 Program web page: http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu<http://aquatic.vetmed.ufl.edu/> "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." -Anonymous ________________________________

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Job Opportunities at Maine Department of Marine Resources
by Murray, Anita 21 Mar '24

21 Mar '24

Dear MARMAM community, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two Marine Resource Scientist II - Acoustic Project Lead positions. We previously posted the job advertisement for these positions, but due to an error in the previous advert we are re-posting a revised job advertisement and have extended the application deadline to August 18, 2023. These positions are part of a new North Atlantic right whale monitoring and research program. This program is being formed with three primary objectives in mind: 1. Collect baseline information on right whale occurrence, distribution, and habitat use in the Gulf of Maine. 2. Contribute to and create new right whale, fishery, and risk assessment models 3. Provide support for innovative gear testing and research, including on-demand fishing gear A link for the Acoustic Project Lead positions is included below along with the job description. These positions will be based at the DMR laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Feel free to contact me (anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov>) or Erin Summers (erin.l.summers(a)maine.gov<mailto:erin.l.summers@maine.gov>) with any questions about these positions. Cheers, Anita Anita Murray, PhD (she/her) Lead, Cetacean Research Program Maine Department of Marine Resources 194 McKown Point Road West Boothbay Harbor, ME., 04575, USA anita.murray(a)maine.gov<mailto:anita.murray@maine.gov> Link to Job Posting: https://mainebhr.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk0xglj/ [cid:image004.png@01D9C930.DE59F1B0] [Logo Description automatically generated with medium confidence] http://www.maine.gov/dmr Public Service Career Diversity Retirement Promotional Opportunities Benefits Over 10,000 Employees Paid Holidays Statewide Locations Training Seasonal Jobs Full Time Part Time HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to complete and submit an online State of Maine Direct Hire Application along with a Cover Letter, and detailed Resume at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/index.shtml#dmr If you are unable to apply online, Direct Hire Application forms can be obtained by contacting the NRSC Personnel Office at (207) 624-6370 or by accessing the NRSC website at: https://www.maine.gov/nrsc/jobs/application.shtml APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Direct Hire Career Opportunity Bulletin DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES State House Station #21, Augusta, ME 04333 - *Offices Located at 32 Blossom Lane, Augusta MARINE RESOURCE SCIENTIST II Acoustics Project Leads (Anticipated Vacancies) Opening Date: July 26, 2023 Closing Date: August 18, 2023 (EXTENDED) Location: West Boothbay Harbor Position #'s: 07200-2724 07200-2725 Position Type: Limited Period Full Time Class Code: 9363 Grade/Salary: Grade 25 $52,582.40 - $70,907.20 Annually* (*This includes the 5.5% salary adjustment) ________________________________ BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION: The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is hiring two positions to lead various passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) projects. The positions will be responsible for planning and designing PAM projects within DMR's passive acoustics monitoring program and setting project goals, protocols, and timelines that address data gaps and management needs. The positions will also be responsible for managing data collection, data storage, data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), acoustic analyses, and statistical analyses using species detection and/or ambient noise data depending on project goals. This position will also supervise a team of Marine Resource Scientist I positions, including dividing up tasks amongst analysts, leading project meetings, overseeing data analysis, and setting priorities and timelines for staff. The positions will also be responsible for disseminating information from the PAM projects by publishing in the peer-reviewed literature, representing DMR at meetings and conferences, and making recommendations to DMR's policy group and Commissioner's Office. These positions may foster and manage collaborations with external partners for various PAM projects as well as seek grant funding opportunities as appropriate. Finally, the positions will work across programmatic lines within the DMR to foster collaboration and maximize DMR's strengths. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES PREFERRED: A high level of supervisory, organization, and project management experience is necessary. Expertise in PAM and cetacean bioacoustics is necessary, including project design, methodologies, and data analysis. The candidate should be able to manage the operation and maintenance of a network of PAM sites, including the ability to troubleshoot acoustic equipment issues and issues that arise during deployment and retrieval of PAM moorings. There is a preference for a candidate with experience in automatic detection performance evaluation, acoustic localization and tracking of cetaceans, acoustic density estimation, calculating species detection range, sound propagation modeling, and/or ambient noise analysis and statistics. Preference will also be given to candidates who have experience working with RavenPro acoustic analysis software, SoundTrap acoustic recorders, LFDCS or other automatic detection algorithms, ArcGIS Pro mapping software, and/or computer programming in R, Python, and/or MATLAB. This position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelors Degree in a scientific, technical, or engineering field or equivalent in directly related work experience and three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of marine resource research and/or management or related field. Preference will be given to previous experience in a supervisory capacity. Equivalent experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: * Work-Life Balance - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. * Health Insurance Coverage- The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($9,893.52-$11,057.52 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/som-health-plan/premium-rates> for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. * Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/health-premium-credit>. * Dental Insurance- The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). * Retirement Plan- The State of Maine contributes 13.00% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee. * Gym Membership Reimbursement- Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. * Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts- Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. * Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness- The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office<https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service>. * Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. * Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including fathers and adoptive parents-receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-m…>. * Voluntary Deferred Compensation- Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. * Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness<https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/>. There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

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Florida Manatee Management Job Opportunity
by Pasawicz, Michelle 11 Mar '24

11 Mar '24

Greetings everyone, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking a Fisheries and Wildlife Biological Scientist IV to aid the Imperiled Species Management Section with implementation of the Manatee Warm-water Habitat Action Plan. This management position will serve in a leadership capacity on one or more regional warm-water habitat partnership teams, facilitate the long-term prioritization of warm-water habitat networks, and coordinate interagency habitat restoration and enhancement efforts. Please follow this link to the job posting to learn more about this opportunity: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/TALLAHASSEE-FISHERIES-&-WILDLIFE-BIO-SCIENTI… Sincerely, Michelle R. Pasawicz Manatee Management Program Coordinator Imperiled Species Management Section Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/manatee/> 620 South Meridian Street - 6A Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 (850) 922-4330 Michelle.Pasawicz(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Michelle.Pasawicz@MyFWC.com>

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MMO, PSO & PAM Training Course 2023
by Tabbi McGhee 15 Feb '24

15 Feb '24

Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is offering its next Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)-approved Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Protected Species Observer (PSO), and Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEst)-approved Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) training courses. JNCC-certified MMOs comply with UK regulations, and PSOs comply with USA regulations, to minimise the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from various offshore operations. OSC's MMO course comprises theory and practice, including binocular and range estimation, and role-play sessions. The PAM course comprises theory and practice using PAM equipment in OSC's workshop facilities and/or onboard OSC's survey vessel (subject to weather). The intention is to run the following course in-person near Edinburgh at OSC's Dunbar headquarters: 5th to 8th September 2023 Prices are exclusive of VAT, which is charged at the current rate. A discounted package price of £700 is offered for participants who wish to attend all three courses (MMO, PSO, and PAM). Course participants will also receive a discount for purchases of marine binoculars or tripod mounts from Opticron - these should be ordered in advance of the course to ensure availability. For further details: https://www.osc.co.uk/training For course registration: https://www.osc.co.uk/jncc-registration Best wishes, OSC training team Tabbi McGhee PA to Directors & Office Manager Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, UK D: +44 (0)3330 235 764 T: +44 (0)1368 865 722 W: www.osc.co.uk . MMO or PAM requirement? We wrote the Book. Now available on Amazon: www.marinemammalobserverhandbook.com

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Job Opening - Aerial Observer, New England Aquarium
by Orla O'Brien 29 Dec '23

29 Dec '23

The New England Aquarium is seeking an experienced aerial observer for surveys in New England focusing on large whales. See below for more information on job description and how to apply. ~~~~~ We are seeking a highly motivated Aerial Observer Research Assistant to participate in aerial surveys for whales, dolphins and sea turtles in New England waters. Duties will include serving as an observer on all aerial surveys; quality checking data; coordination with other observers and the flight crew; and analysis of vertical photographs for the detection and identification of marine mammal and turtle species. The majority of the office work will involve reviewing photographs for marine species. This is a grant funded position with at least 12 months of staffing provided; additional service may be afforded only if additional grant funding is secured. Flying schedules will cover dates throughout the year including weekends and holidays. The successful applicant will be required to attend and satisfactorily complete aircraft and marine safety and survival training. This is a full-time, 1-year, grant-funded position with the possibility for extension. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package. This position is primarily a field work position, requiring some irregular hours and some long days on flight days. Occasional work on weekends and holidays will also be required for fieldwork. The usual hours for non-fieldwork will be Monday - Friday, 9a - 5p with flexibility based on the fieldwork schedule. Non-fieldwork can be conducted remotely. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Participate in all aerial survey activities, including observer logistics, scientific data collection, monthly reporting, photographic and data analysis, and ground contact. - Act as aerial observer on surveys for cetaceans and sea turtles, including participating in aerial photography. - Maintain safety and camera equipment and assist with preparation and in-flight troubleshooting. - Maintain flight and data logs, assist with data quality checking and assurance, assist with summarizing data and writing reports. - Photo-analysis of digital imagery for species detection and identifications, data processing and analysis. - Assist with right whale photo-identification and catalog processing. - Performs other position-related duties, as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS *Minimum Training and Experience* - A or B.S in Biology or related science. - Minimum of two years research experience after college. - Minimum of six months previous aerial and/or boat survey experience. - Demonstrated skill in identifying marine mammals of New England. - Specialized photographic skills including previous experience using digital SLR cameras, especially for wildlife photography. - Photo-identification experience strongly desired. - Participation in right whale, other large whale, and turtle aerial research program. *Knowledge, Skills and Abilities* - Familiarity with digital photography equipment and field use. - Proficient in Microsoft Office programs. Experience with Access and statistical software would be advantageous. - Good communication and coordination skills. - Ability to meet deadlines for data and report deliverables. - Attention to detail for proofing and quality-checking data. - Ability to work without supervision. - Ability to spend long hours performing photo analysis in the office. - Comfortable flying in a small aircraft without experiencing motion sickness. - This position requires regular travel to New Bedford Airport as early as 8am. Candidates must have access to reliable transportation to get to and from the airport. For more information and to apply online please visit: http://neaq.applicantpro.com/jobs/ *New England Aquarium is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC. Here we foster a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to engage and inspire a broad audience with our efforts to protect the blue planet, and we believe a diverse workforce provides experiences, skills, and perspectives that enrich our programs, strengthen problem-solving, add creativity, and enhance our work environment.*

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Job opportunities with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
by Simon Berrow 29 Dec '23

29 Dec '23

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group are an All-Ireland NGO dedicated to the conservation and better understanding of cetaceans in Irish and other waters through increasing awareness, research, education, welfare activities and collaboration. We are looking to recruit two new officers in the new year. *Education and Outreach Officer* to work with existing officers to develop the Education and Outreach Program, with as a priority to coordinate and expand our Local Group. This role will appeal to a candidate with a strong knowledge of marine conservation and interest in ocean literacy and a desire to communicate the importance of marine protection to a variety of stakeholders and audiences from the general public to government representatives. *Project Scientist - Whale Deal *to contribute to a new EU project funded through Interreg Atlantic called Whale Deal which aims to mitigate ship strikes and enhance carbon sequestration in the Atlantic through innovative technologies. The officer will develop IWDG data management, analyse long-term sighting datasets, and assist in the delivery of the IWDG five-year strategy. This role will appeal to a candidate with skills in data management and modelling and a strong knowledge of conservation status of large whales in Atlantic waters. For more information please see https://iwdg.ie/iwdg-is-recruiting/ <https://iwdg.ie/cms_files/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IWDG-Project-Officer-a…> *Closing date*: 30th January 2024 -- -------- Dr Simon Berrow Chief Executive Officer Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co Clare, Ireland, V15 E762 www.iwdg.ie/ http://consulting.iwdg.ie <http://consulting.iwdg.ie> Office; 065 9051763 / Mobile: 086 8545450 Charity Number: CHY 11163 Charity Regulatory Authority No. 20029913

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PhD opportunity at OSU: climate change impacts on blue whales and their prey
by Leigh Torres 28 Dec '23

28 Dec '23

Dear MARMAM community, The Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab,within the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University (OSU), isrecruiting a PhD student interested in marine predator and prey response toclimate change. The successful candidate will join a NSF funded multidisciplinaryproject called SAPPHIRE - Synthesis of Acoustics, Physiology, Prey, and Habitatin a Rapidly Changing Environment. The SAPPHIRE project aims to understand howshifting prey (krill) availability and quality due to climate change willimpact predator (blue whale) health and population resilience. We seek a PhDstudent to lead one of these two projects as their thesis work: (1) Assessrelationships between krill abundance, oceanography, and blue whale behaviorand body condition; (2) Integrate predator and prey physiological data todevelop predictive models of species vulnerability and resilience toenvironmental change. The PhD student will enroll in Fall 2024 and be advisedby Dr. Leigh Torres within the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife andConservation Sciences at OSU. Please read more about the GEMM Lab, theDepartment, required and desired qualifications, the SAPPHIRE project, and Dr.Torres’s letter to prospective students at this link: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/gemm-lab/prospective-studentsProspective students from diverse, minority, and underrepresented communities(including first generation college graduates) are particularly encouraged toapply. Interested candidates should send a 2-page CV and 1-page cover letteremphasizing fit for the project to leigh.torres(a)oregonstate.edu;Applications are due March 15th, and a decision will be made by May 1. Cheers, LeighTorres, Ph.D.AssociateProfessor, Oregon State UniversityTheGeospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab (GEMM Lab)Marine MammalInstitute, Oregon Sea GrantDepartmentof Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation SciencesHatfieldMarine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science DriveNewport,OR 97365, U.S.AWebsite Blog

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New Publication: Interactive bioacoustic playback as a tool for detecting and exploring nonhuman intelligence
by Jodi Frediani 26 Dec '23

26 Dec '23

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors, I am excited to share our recent publication in the journalPeerJ: "Interactive bioacoustic playback as a tool for detecting and exploring nonhuman intelligence: "Conversing" with an Alaskan humpback whale." The paper is open access and available here: https://peerj.com/articles/16349/ Abstract: Here we report on a rare and opportunistic acoustic turn-taking with an adult female humpback whale, known as Twain, in Southeast Alaska. Post hoc acoustic and statistical analyses of a 20-min acoustic exchange between the broadcast of a recorded contact call, known as a ‘whup/throp’, with call responses by Twain revealed an intentional human-whale acoustic (and behavioral) interaction. Our results show that Twain participated both physically and acoustically in three phases of interaction (Phase 1: Engagement, Phase 2: Agitation, Phase 3: Disengagement), independently determined by blind observers reporting on surface behavior and respiratory activity of the interacting whale. A close examination of both changes to the latency between Twain’s calls and the temporal matching to the latency of the exemplar across phases indicated that Twain was actively engaged in the exchange during Phase 1 (Engagement), less so during Phase 2 (Agitation), and disengaged during Phase 3 (Disengagement). These results, while preliminary, point to several key considerations for effective playback design, namely the importance of salient, dynamic and adaptive playbacks, that should be utilized in experimentation with whales and other interactive nonhuman species. The paper is open access and available here: https://peerj.com/articles/16349/ Feel free to email me for a PDF or ask any questions: jodifredi(a)aol.com Best, Jodi FredianiResearch AffiliateMcCowan-Vandeleest Laboratoryof Biobehavioral ComplexitySVM: Population Health & ReproductionUC Davis

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New publication: First aerial observation of Sato's beaked whales (Berardius minimus)
by Hayao Kobayashi 22 Dec '23

22 Dec '23

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to announce our new publication in Marine Mammal Science. Kobayashi, H., Ikuta, S., & Kobayashi, M. (2023). First aerial observation of Sato's beaked whales (Berardius minimus) above the Abashiri Submarine Canyon, Hokkaido, Japan. Marine Mammal Science, 1–8 (Early view). https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13099 On May 8, 2023, we found three groups of whales that appeared to be Sato's beaked whales around the Abashiri Submarine Canyon, Hokkaido, Japan, and successfully captured aerial videos using UAVs. In this paper, representing the first of its kind, we describe the external morphology of these whales in images captured by UAVs. A digest of the aerial videos captured during this survey is available on the YouTube channel of the Tokyo University of Agriculture. https://youtu.be/XNtY4p1t_5o?si=w7wsXNzDBhVv1IAi Best regards, Hayao Kobayashi Tokyo University of Agriculture ********************************************************** Kobayashi Hayao Ph.D. Tokyo University of Agriculture Department of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences Postdoctoral researcher 196 Yasaka, Abashirishi, Hokkaido, 099-2493, Japan. TEL：080-5270-9906 Mail：physeter0809(a)gmail.com **********************************************************

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New publication: "Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source identification and a maternal transfer case study in threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca) of British Columbia, Canada"
by jj_alava＠yahoo.com 22 Dec '23

22 Dec '23

Dear Marman colleagues, I hope everyone is doing well. I am pleased to share on behalf of my co-authors, our new paper on "Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) source identification and a maternal transfer case study in threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca) of British Columbia, Canada". This full text of the article is available as an open-access publication at the following links: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-45306-whttps://rdcu.be/dtYrx Abstract The northeastern Pacific (NEP) Ocean spans the coast of British Columbia (Canada) and is impacted by anthropogenic activities including oil pipeline developments, maritime fossil fuel tanker traffic, industrial chemical effluents, agricultural and urban emissions in tandem with stormwater and wastewater discharges, and forest wildfires. Such events may expose surrounding marine environments to toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and impact critical habitats of threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca). We analyzed skeletal muscle and liver samples from stranded Bigg’s killer whales and endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) for PAH contamination using LRMS. C3-phenanthrenes/anthracenes (mean: 632 ng/g lw), C4-dibenzothiophenes (mean: 334 ng/g lw), and C4-phenanthrenes/anthracenes (mean: 248 ng/g lw) presented the highest concentrations across all tissue samples. Diagnostic ratios indicated petrogenic-sourced contamination for SRKWs and pyrogenic-sourced burdens for Bigg’s killer whales; differences between ecotypes may be attributed to habitat range, prey selection, and metabolism. A mother-fetus skeletal muscle pair provided evidence of PAH maternal transfer; low molecular weight compounds C3-fluorenes, dibenzothiophene, and naphthalene showed efficient and preferential exposure to the fetus. This indicates in-utero exposure of PAH-contamination to the fetus. Our results show that hydrocarbon-related anthropogenic activities are negatively impacting these top predators; preliminary data found here can be used to improve oil spill and other PAH pollution management and regulation efforts, and inform policy to conserve killer whale habitats in the NEP. Citation: Lee, K., Raverty, S., Cottrell, P., Zoveidadianpour, Z., Cottrell, B., Price D., Alava, J.J. 2023. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in threatened killer whales (Orcinus orca) of British Columbia, Canada: Contaminant source identification and a maternal transfer case study. Scientific Reports 13 (2258): 1-14 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45306-w A media release news via the University of British Columbia (UBC) is also available at the following link: Toxic chemicals found in oil spills and wildfire smoke detected in killer whaleshttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https://news.ubc.ca/2023/12/19/toxic-chem… A previous paper on a similar topic regarding contaminants of emerging concern in killer whales from the Northeastern Pacific was also published early this year: Lee, K., Alava, J. J., Cottrell, P., Cottrell, L., Grace, R., Zysk, I., Raverty, S. 2023.Emerging Contaminants and New POPs (PFAS and HBCDD) in Endangered Southern Resident and Bigg’s (Transient) Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): In Utero Maternal Transfer and Pollution Management Implications Environmental Science & Technology 57 (1): 360-374. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c04126 Wishing you all Hally Holidays and a Happy New Year 2021! Juan José ------------------------------------------------------ Juan Jose Alava, Ph.D. (he/el/him/his) Honorary Research Associate Principal Investigator, Ocean Pollution Research Unit (OPRU) Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia AERL 2202 Main Mall | Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada OPRU: https://oceanpollution.oceans.ubc.ca http://oceans.ubc.ca/juan-jose-alava/ https://twitter.com/UBC_OPRU https://www.facebook.com/ubcoceanpollution I acknowledge being grateful and humble located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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