October 2024 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Mailing list submission - upcoming bycatch and entanglement workshop invitation
by Ellie MacLennan (PGR) 21 Oct '24

21 Oct '24

SMM 2024 workshop announcement and invitation: Disentangling a whale of a problem: How fisher-led approaches are critical to solving entanglement As part of the 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals which will be held in Perth, Western Australia this November, the Scottish Entanglement Alliance<https://scottishentanglement.org/>, the Scottish Creel Fisherman's Federation<http://www.scottishcreelfishermensfederation.co.uk/> and the Mexico Marine Wildlife Rescue Center<https://www.mmwrc.org/> will be delivering a full-day workshop titled 'Disentangling a whale of a problem: How fisher-led approaches are critical to solving entanglement' on Saturday 9th November. A recent international knowledge exchange between Scotland, Mexico and the USA consistently highlighted a lack of (1) inclusion of fishers as citizen scientists, (2) consultation with industry and transparency in policy and management decision-making processes, and (3) understanding of the practicalities of fishing and therefore the suitability of proposed and enforced mitigations in entanglement research. This is pushing some fishing sectors to breaking point, without adding to the understanding of this cryptic threat or scale at which mitigations have or have not reduced entanglement risk. What also became clear during this exchange is that successful mitigation lies in bottom-up, fisher-led approaches, and inclusion of fisher knowledge and culture in future entanglement policy and research will be essential. We will highlight issues and promote discussion around entanglement risk across different regions, fisheries and gear types globally; under-reporting of entanglement events and incentives to improve reporting rates; entanglement response (rescue and necropsy); burdens and risks placed on fishers and disentanglement teams at the forefront of entanglement response; fisheries mismanagement leading to distrust between stakeholder groups, challenges in finding suitable solutions where resources are limited; and the potential for poor policy decisions to lead to increased entanglement risk. We will have a selection of international speakers from across industry, research and rescue, and a number of interactive sessions and panel discussions. For more information about the conference and to register for this workshop, please visit https://marinemammalscience.org/conference/2024-marine-mammal-science-confe… or contact Ellie MacLennan at ellie.maclennan(a)glasgow.ac.uk<mailto:ellie.maclennan@glasgow.ac.uk> Thank you Ellie MacLennan PhD student College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences | University of Glasgow | Glasgow | G12 8QQ E: e.maclennan.1(a)research.gla.ac.uk<mailto:e.maclennan.1@research.gla.ac.uk> T: 07929 762765 My normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 8.45am-5pm The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

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MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE
by Thomas Jefferson 21 Oct '24

21 Oct '24

MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AVAILABLE ¡VIVAVaquita! is a non-profit organization dedicated to working to help save the vaquita from extinction. All funds raised are actively used for research and conservation work on the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), the world’s most endangered marine mammal species, and other endangered cetaceans. The most recent survey indicates the global population of the vaquita may now number less than 10 individuals and is nearing extinction. Visit our website at www.vivavaquita.org and watch a recording of International Save the Vaquita Day at vaquita.day for more details. ¡VIVAVaquita! has hundreds of marine mammal books, reprints, monographs, and journals that are available for a donation to the organization. Below is a sample of some of the more popular items we have (price listed is suggested donation, shipping is extra), but there are many, many more and suggested donation amounts range from US$4-110. To request specific books or a list of additional books available, please contact Tom Jefferson at sclymene(a)aol.com. Bessesen, B. (2018). Vaquita: Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez. Island Press. $12 (NEW). Bjorge, A. and G. P. Donovan. (1995). Biology of the Phocoenids: A Collection of Papers. Pages 552 pp. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. $$17. Burns, J. J., J. J. Montague and C. J. Cowles. 1993. The Bowhead Whale. Pages 787 pp. Society for Marine Mammalogy. $20. Dizon, A. E., A. E. Chivers and W. F. Perrin. (1997). Molecular Genetics of Marine Mammals. Pages 388 pp. Society for Marine Mammalogy. $4. FAO. (1978). Mammals in the seas: Volume I. Report of the FAO Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research. $8. FAO. (1979). Mammals in the seas: Volume II. Pinniped species summaries and report on sirenians. $8. Felando, A. and H. Medina. (2009). The Tuna/Porpoise Controversy: How Tuna Fishermen Were Caught in the Governmenent’s Net and Fought to Survive. Western Sky Press. $15. Hoelzel, A. R. (1991). Genetic ecology of whales and dolphins. Pages 311 pp. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. $10. Hoyt, E. (1984). Orca: The Whale Called Killer. Camden House. $9. Jones, M. L., S. L. Swartz and S. Leatherwood. (1984). The Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus. Pages 600 pp. Academic Press. $45. Klinowska, M. (1991). Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. $7. Kenyon, K. W. (1969). The sea otter in the eastern Pacific Ocean. North American Fauna, 68, 352 pp. $10. Landauer, L. B. (1986). Scammon: Beyond the Lagoon: A Biography of Charles Melville Scammon. Associates of The J. Porter Shaw Library In Cooperation With The Institute For Marine Information. San Francisco. $12. Lavigne, D. M. and K. M. Kovacs. (1988). Harps and Hoods. University of Waterloo Press. $13. Leatherwood, S. and R. R. Reeves. (1983). The Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. $12 (hardcover edition). Leatherwood, S., R. R. Reeves, W. F. Perrin and W. E. Evans. (1982). Whales, dolphins, and porpoises of the eastern North Pacific and adjacent Arctic waters: A guide to their identification. NOAA Technical Report NMFS Circular, 444, 245 pp. $7. Leatherwood, S., R. R. Reeves, W. F. Perrin and W. E. Evans. (1988). Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Eastern North Pacific and Adjacent Arctic Waters: A Guide to Their Identification. Dover Publications. $8. Mackintosh, N. A. (1965). The Stocks of Whales. Fishing News (Books) Ltd. $7. Mann, J., R. C. Connor, P. L. Tyack and H. Whitehead. (2000). Cetacean Societies: Field Studies of Dolphins and Whales. Pages 448 pp. University of Chicago Press. $15. Mitchell, E. D. (1975). Porpoise, dolphin and small whale fisheries of the world. IUCN Monograph, 3, 129 pp. $5. Mitchell, E. (ed). 1975. Review of biology and fisheries for smaller cetaceans. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 32(7): 879-1242. Special issue of journal on dolphins, porpoises, and small whales. $8. Nachtigall, P. E., J. Lien, W. W. L. Au and A. J. Read. (1995). Harbour Porpoises: Laboratory Studies to Reduce Bycatch. Pages 167 pp. De Spil Publishers. $21. National Research Council. (1992). Dolphins and the Tuna Industry. National Academy Press. $11. Perrin, W. F. (1975). Variation of spotted and spinner porpoise (genus Stenella) in the eastern tropical Pacific and Hawaii. Bulletin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 21, 206 pp. $11. Perrin, W. F., G. P. Donovan and J. Barlow. (1994). Gillnets and Cetaceans. Pages 617+ pp. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. $16. Perrin, W. F. and A. C. Myrick. (1980). Age Determination of Toothed Whales and Sirenians. Pages 229 pp. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. $14. Perrin, W. F., R. L. Brownell and D. P. Demaster. (1984). Reproduction in Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Pages 495 pp. Reports of the International Whaling Commission. $19. Ridgway, S. H. (1972). Mammals of the Sea: Biology and Medicine. Pages 812 pp. Charles C. Thomas. $110. Ridgway, S. H. and R. Harrison. (1999). Handbook of Marine Mammals, Vol. 6: The Second Book of Dolphins and the Porpoises. Pages 486 pp. Academic Press. $58. Rice, D. W. (1998). Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Society for Marine Mammalogy Special Publication, 4, 231 pp. $5. Scheffer, V. B. (1958). Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses: A Review of the Pinnipedia. Stanford University Press. $10. Scheffer, V. B. and J. W. Slipp. (1948). The whales and dolphins of Washington State, with a key to the cetaceans of the west coast of North America. American Midland Naturalist, 39, 257-337. $7. Schevill, W. E. (1974). The Whale Problem: A Status Report. Pages 419 pp. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. $8. Scientific Reports of the Whales Research Institute. Most issues available (please designate issues desired). $6/issue. Truitt, D. 1974. Dolphins and Porpoises: A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography of the Smaller Cetacea. Gale Research Co. $22. Twiss, J. R. and R. R. Reeves. (1999). Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals. Pages 471 pp. Smithsonian Institution Press. $13. Wursig, B., T. A. Jefferson and D. J. Schmidly. (2000). The Marine Mammals of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press. $5.

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Chair, Senior Scientist – Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation Program
by Laura Ganley 21 Oct '24

21 Oct '24

*Chair, Senior Scientist – Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation Program* We are looking for an experienced research scientist to join our team as the Chair of our Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation program (KMMCP) in the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium. The Anderson Cabot Center is the Aquarium’s dedicated research arm. The Aquarium is committed to using the deep technical and scientific expertise of the Anderson Cabot Center to protect marine species. By joining the Aquarium, you will have the opportunity to amplify the impact of science as part of this integrated conservation organization. As the KMMCP Chair, you will lead and support a team of 10-12 researchers dedicated to understanding and protecting the North Atlantic right whale. Existing research and staff expertise in this program is primarily focused on individual-based studies, including using photo-identification and biological samples collected from vessel-based surveys and drones to monitor the health and demographics of this species and assess human impacts. KMMCP staff lead the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium and Catalog, which are examples of long-standing collaborations among the community of right whale researchers. We are seeking someone who can guide this passionate team and contribute their own research to support our conservation goals related to protecting marine species. While expertise in the conservation of marine megafauna is preferred, we encourage applicants with a broad range of ecological expertise. This position provides opportunities for growth in programmatic focal areas, including new fieldwork opportunities, data collection methodologies, scientific inquiries, and taxa. This full-time regular position comes with a range of benefits. The position will not start earlier than January 1, 2025. While nine months of annual salary support will be provided, you are expected to lead fundraising efforts for the program and your residual salary, as well as contribute to broader organizational efforts. The typical schedule will be Monday - Friday from 9a - 5p EST. You are expected to primarily work remotely; a computer will be provided, but you will need an adequate workspace and high-speed internet connection. Remote days are only available for residents of MA, NY, RI, VT, NH, or ME. *ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS* 1. Lead the evolution of the scientific and strategic direction of the program, aligning it with broader organizational strategies, priorities, and targeted outcomes. 2. Identify conservation issues and research opportunities where innovative research tools and analyses can improve the efficiency and impact of the program’s conservation science projects and initiatives. 3. Serve as a leader, collaborator, and key spokesperson internally and externally for the program's research and as an ambassador for the organization. 4. Recruit, supervise, mentor, and advise staff, including existing staff with expertise in individual-based studies. 5. Conduct primary scientific research related to your areas of expertise. 6. Contribute to fundraising efforts for staff salaries, research projects, and the whole organization. 7. Supervise financial and reporting/funding requirements for contracts and grants. 8. Other duties as applicable. *QUALIFICATIONS* *Training and Experience* · Ph.D. or equivalent experience required. Post-doctoral training or additional advanced degrees are also desirable. · Highly accomplished scientific researcher with a marine conservation orientation and a recognized authority in their field. · 10+ years of relevant research experience (can include Ph.D. research), with experience leading a lab or program. · Proven track record of developing and maintaining strong collaborations/partnerships in the chosen field of expertise. · Strong record of scholarship in field(s) of expertise. · Demonstrated external thought leadership in field of study, including presenting research at scientific conferences and serving as an encouraged expert on regional, national, and international working groups. · Experience raising significant levels of government and/or private funding to support a large-scale lab/program required. · Evidence that research outputs have contributed to environmental management/policy measures, processes, and/or regulations. *Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities* · Must be dedicated to and skilled at encouraging and maintaining collaborations, both internally and externally, and improving the overall efficiency, reputation, and impact of the organization. · Leadership skills and abilities to lead a multidisciplinary group of staff and colleagues, including research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, graduate students, and interns/volunteers. · Outstanding oral and written communication skills to disseminate research findings, write successful research grants, and serve as an effective ambassador for the organization. · Willingness to travel to national and international professional conferences and workshops to represent the program and the organization. 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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Reminder: Upcoming webinar on data fusion for marine mammal abundance
by Rob Schick 18 Oct '24

18 Oct '24

A reminder (with a fixed link) about an upcoming webinar at 2pm (Eastern Time) on the 25th of October. The webinar is hosted by the North Carolina chapter of the American Statistical Association. The webinar is free, but registration is required. To register: https://bit.ly/mm_data-fusion After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Abstract: Marine mammals are increasingly vulnerable to human disturbance and climate change. Their diving behavior leads to limited visual access during data collection, making studying the abundance and distribution of marine mammals challenging. In theory, using data from more than one observation modality should lead to better informed predictions of abundance and distribution. With focus on North Atlantic right whales, we consider the fusion of two data sources: (i) aerial distance sampling which provides the spatial locations of whales detected and (ii) passive acoustic monitoring, returning calls received at hydrophones placed on the ocean floor. Due to limited time on the surface and detection limitations arising from sampling effort, aerial distance sampling only provides a partial realization of locations. With passive acoustic monitoring, we never observe numbers or locations of individuals. To address these challenges, we develop a novel thinned spatial point pattern data fusion. Our approach leads to improved inference regarding abundance and distribution of North Atlantic right whales throughout Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts in the US. Speaker Bio: Erin Schliep is an Associate Professor of Statistics at North Carolina State University. She completed her PhD at Colorado State University, was a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University, and spent seven years on the faculty at the University of Missouri before joining NCSU. She has research interests in Bayesian statistics, multivariate statistics, and spatiotemporal statistics. She has experience working on large collaborative research projects at the interface of statistics, environmental science, and ecology and has developed and maintained strong working relationships with researchers across disciplines, universities, and government agencies. Citation: Schliep, E. M., Gelfand, A. E., Clark, C. W., Mayo, C. M., McKenna, B., Parks, S. E., Yack, T. M., and Schick, R. S. (In Press). Assessing Marine Mammal Abundance: A Novel Data Fusion. Annals of Applied Statistics. https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.08397 Rob Schick, PhD Senior Scientist Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.

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New Publication: Acoustic Signature of Plastic Mimics Deep-Diver Prey (Greg Merrill)
by Greg Merrill Jr. 18 Oct '24

18 Oct '24

New Publication: Acoustic Signature of Plastic Mimics Deep-Diver Prey (Greg Merrill) Hello Marmam, My coauthors and I are excited to share our latest: Acoustic signature of plastic marine debris mimics the prey items of deep-diving cetaceans Open Access Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X24010464 Abstract: It is largely assumed that odontocetes voluntarily ingest plastic marine debris because they visually mistake it for prey. However, deep-diving whales do not rely on visual systems to forage and instead employ echolocation. Whether or not these whales misinterpret acoustic signals that lead to the accidental ingestion of plastic is unknown. We examined this question by measuring the target strength of prey items (squid, squid beaks) and various naturally weathered and fouled plastics sourced from the North Carolina coastline in situ at sea at 38, 70 and 120 kHz. Here we show that 100 % of plastic marine debris tested (plastics commonly found in the stomachs of stranded whales such as plastic bags, rope, and bottles) have either similar or stronger acoustic target strengths compared with that of whale prey items. These finding supports the hypothesis that consumption of plastic by deep-diving odontocetes is driven by a misperception of acoustic signals. Authors: Greg B. Merrill , Z.T. Swaim , I.G. Benaka , A.L. Bishop , N.A. Kaney , S. Kuhlman , J.C. Matheson , E. Menini , S. Goh , S. Lei , D.P. Nowacek Press Release: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1061581 Contact: gregory.merrill(a)duke.edu Best, Greg Greg Merrill Duke University Nowacek Laboratory University Program in Ecology

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ASMFC Seeks Proposals for Passive Acoustic Monitoring for North Atlantic Right Whales: Proposals Due November 15
by Alexander Law 18 Oct '24

18 Oct '24

To Whom it May Concern, Please consider sharing the linked press release<https://asmfc.org/uploads/file/671279d7pr27PassiveAcousticMonitoringRFP_Oct…> for an RFP for North Atlantic right whale passive acoustic monitoring work from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The RFP is available at https://asmfc.org/files/RFPs/PassiveAcousticMonitoringRFP1_Oct2024.pdf. Applicants must submit proposals via email to Alexander Law, Legislative Program Coordinator, at alaw(a)asmfc.org<mailto:alaw@asmfc.org> by 11:59 PM EST on November 15, 2024. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Regards, ________________________________ Alexander R. Law Legislative Program Coordinator Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1050 North Highland Street; Suite 200 A-N Arlington, Virginia 22201 Phone: (703) 842-0722

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Recent publication on the need to consider recreational vessels in vessel strike risk assessments to humpback whales
by Raphael Mayaud 17 Oct '24

17 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my co-authors and I, we are excited to share our recently published paper in Ocean & Coastal Management highlighting the need to consider recreational vessels in risk assessments of vessel strikes to humpback whales. Abstract Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data have been beneficial in understanding spatio-temporal patterns in marine traffic to inform assessments of vessel-strike risk to large whales. However, AIS does not represent all vessel classes, particularly recreational vessels that are not legally required to use AIS. Growing evidence suggests that recreational vessels do collide with large whales, and so risk assessments relying on AIS data can underestimate the threat and misguide conservation efforts. To address this, we conducted surveys of recreational vessel and humpback whale sightings to build density surface models and estimate relative vessel-strike risk by spatial co-occurrence in an urbanized embayment, Moreton Bay, Australia. We demonstrate that 93% of recreational vessels sighted in Moreton Bay did not use AIS and that vessel strike risk varies spatially according to vessel class (recreational vs. commercial). These results highlight the importance of including recreational vessels into vessel strike risk assessments to provide a more holistic view of vessel strike. Mayaud, R., Peel, D., Smith, J.N., Wilson, C., Bengtson Nash, S., (2024). The need to consider recreational vessels in risk assessments of vessel strikes to humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Ocean and Coastal Management, 259, 107419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107419. You can find the publication available open access through the following link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569124004046 [https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0964569124X00101-cov150h.gif]<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569124004046> The need to consider recreational vessels in risk assessments of vessel strikes to humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569124004046> Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data have been beneficial in understanding spatio-temporal patterns in marine traffic to inform assessments of … www.sciencedirect.com Feel free to email me with any questions at: r.mayaud(a)griffith.edu.au All the best, Raphael

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Makah Tribe Job Posting: Marine Mammal Technician
by Jonathan Scordino 17 Oct '24

17 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM Community, The Makah Tribe is looking to hire a Marine Mammal Technician. The position is grant funded and is posted as temporary for the next year, but is likely to be extended further. We are looking for an applicant who will commit to working at least one year. The applicant needs to be okay with a lot of rain, lousy pay, and living in a remote location in Washington (it is over 70 miles to the nearest movie theatre and 50 miles to the nearest stoplight). On the plus side, the technician will gain experience doing marine mammal surveys; capture and tagging of salmon; field technique skills like boat operations, photo-id, prey sampling, fecal sampling; monitoring acoustic and popup tags; and writing experience in helping to write grant reports, and hopefully peer-reviewed manuscripts and grant applications. The experience the technician will gain will help them grow in their career. Application material and the job description can be found at Makah Tribe Jobs in Neah Bay <https://makah.com/makah-tribal-info/employment/> Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide their CV as well; all applicants must provide a fully completed application and will be removed from consideration if they do not. Please send the application material and CV to hr(a)makah.com. I encourage you to cc me as well ( jonathan.scordino(a)makah.com) with your application material so I can ensure your application is reviewed. Please share this announcement with others you think would enjoy doing this job and with whom I would enjoy working. Please email me if you have any questions. Respectfully, Jonathan Scordino Marine Mammal Biologist Makah Fisheries Management (360) 645-3176

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Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) occurrence and foraging behaviour along the east coast of Australia
by Vanessa Pirotta (HDR) 17 Oct '24

17 Oct '24

Dear MARMAM community, On behalf of my coauthors, I’m pleased to share with you our latest publication on “Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) occurrence and foraging behaviour along the east coast of Australia" Vanessa Pirotta, Daniele Cagnazzi, Brett Dixon, Simon Millar, Jessica Millar, Greg Pickering, Paul A. Butcher, Karen A. Stockin & Katharina J. Peters (09 Oct 2024): Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) occurrence and foraging behaviour along the east coast of Australia, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, DOI: 10.1080/00288330.2024.2409681 Open access here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00288330.2024.2409681#abstract Vanessa Dr. Vanessa Pirotta Marine Predator Research Group School of Natural Sciences Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia X: @vanessapirotta Superstar of STEM 2021-2022 [cid:15c5b1bc-4ab0-48fb-935b-4d4e26830ef5]<https://www.vanessapirotta.com> [cid:648d59db-ef1f-4ae8-80e9-c940d3247b01]<http://www.wildsydneyharbour.com>

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New Publication: Environmental DNA as a complementary tool for biodiversity monitoring: A multi-technique and multi-trophic approach to investigate cetacean distribution and feeding ecology
by Luis Afonso 17 Oct '24

17 Oct '24

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to share with you our latest publication on the use of eDNA as a complementary tool to investigate cetacean distribution and feeding ecology. *Title:* Environmental DNA as a complementary tool for biodiversity monitoring: A multi-technique and multi-trophic approach to investigate cetacean distribution and feeding ecology *Authors:* Luís Afonso, Joana Costa, Ana Mafalda Correia, Raul Valente, Eva Lopes, Maria Paola Tomasino, Ágatha Gil, Cláudia Oliveira-Rodrigues, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Alfredo López, Paula Suarez-Bregua, Catarina Magalhães *Abstract: *The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess the presence of biological communities has emerged as a promising monitoring tool in the marine conservation landscape. Moreover, advances in Next-Generation Sequencing techniques, such as DNA metabarcoding, enable multi-species detection in mixed samples, allowing the study of complex ecosystems such as oceanic ones. We aimed at using these molecular-based techniques to characterize cetacean communities, as well as potential prey on the northern coast of Mainland Portugal. During four seasonal campaigns (summer 2021 to winter 2022/2023), seawater samples were collected along with visual records of cetacean occurrence. The eDNA isolated from 64 environmental samples was sequenced in an Illumina platform, with universal primers targeting marine vertebrates. Five cetacean species were identified by molecular detection: common dolphin (*Delphinus delphis*), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Risso’s dolphin (*Grampus griseus*), harbor porpoise (*Phocoena phocoena*) and fin whale (*Balaenoptera physalus*). Overall, except for the latter (not sighted during the campaigns), this cetacean community composition was similar to that obtained through visual monitoring, and the complementary results suggest their presence in the region all year round. In addition, the positive molecular detections of *Balaenoptera physalus* are of special relevance since there are no records of this species reported on scientific bibliography in the area. The detection of multiple known prey of the identified dolphins indicates an overlap between predator and prey in the study area, which suggests that these animals may use this coastal area for feeding purposes. While this methodological approach remains in a development stage, the present work highlights the benefits of using eDNA to study marine communities, with specific applications for research on cetacean distribution and feeding ecology. *Link: * https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300992 Please feel free to reach out if you want to discuss our work. Thank you, Luís Afonso et al. -- *Luís Afonso* Coastal Biodiversity and Microbiome Ecology and Biogeochemistry *CIIMAR | Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research* *of the University of Porto* Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N 4450-208 Matosinhos | Portugal E-mail: lafonso*(a)ciimar.up.pt <http://ciimar.up.pt/>* <http://www.facebook.com/ciimar.up.pt> * <crodrigues(a)ciimar.up.pt>* * <crodrigues(a)ciimar.up.pt>*

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