February 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

JNCC MMO Training
by Stephanie Barnicoat 19 Mar '25

19 Mar '25

Hello Ocean Watch will be delivering the JNCC accredited Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training course on 27-28th February 09:00-17:00. The course will be delivered in Mevagissey, Cornwall. The course will include one and a half days of classroom learning about marine mammals, underwater acoustics, impacts of underwater noise, marine mammal mitigation and working as an MMO. Delegates will then put the skills to practice on a vessel launching from Mevagissey harbour on the afternoon of day 2. More information on the course can be found here: https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/mmo-training-course <https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/mmo-training-course?fbclid=IwZXh0bg…> Any questions, or if you wish to book, please email steph(a)oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk Stephanie Barnicoat BSc (Hons), MSc, CMarSci/CSci IMarEST JNCC Accredited MMO Trainer Ocean Watch | Marine mammal observer (oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk) <https://www.oceanwatchmmotraining.co.uk/>

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Northeast USA Student Conference
by SMM NESC 28 Feb '25

28 Feb '25

Hello, The Northeast Student Chapter (NESC) of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) is excited to announce our 3rd Annual Conference, happening on Saturday, March 29th at the University of New Hampshire. We will also have optional social activities on Friday, March 28th, and Sunday, March 30th. We invite undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and postdocs from the Northeast United States (including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) who are interested in marine mammal science to register and attend. Presenting at the conference is not required to attend, so whether you are presenting research or simply looking to learn and network, we’d love for you to join us! Please note that registration is required, and there is a small fee of $30 to help cover food and supply costs. To register, please complete the form here (https://forms.gle/seqM98rCshsj56Ww6) The deadline to register is March 8th. If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to contact us at smmnortheaststudentchapter(a)gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there! Sincerely, The SMM Northeast Student Chapter Leadership Team -- Maia Austin, President Callyan Lacio, Vice President Melanie Smith, Secretary Sydney Ulland, Treasurer *Northeast USA Student Chapter* <https://marinemammalscience.org/professional-development/chapters/northeast…> *The Society for Marine Mammalogy *

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New publication: Snorkelling with orcas (killer whales) in Skjervøy, Northern Norway: Ambivalent encounters in a crowded tourism space
by Sadie Elizabeth Hale 28 Feb '25

28 Feb '25

Dear MARMAM community, I am a social anthropologist researching human-whale encounters, and I am writing to share the recent publication of a research article about the emotional responses of tourists who snorkel with orcas in Skjervøy, Northern Norway. Hale, S. E. (2025). Snorkelling with orcas (killer whales) in Skjervøy, Northern Norway: Ambivalent encounters in a crowded tourism space. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486251319672 Abstract The opportunity to snorkel with orcas (killer whales) near the Norwegian Arctic town of Skjervøy is unparalleled globally, due to the absence of regulations prohibiting the activity, requiring licenses, or limiting the number of boats. Since 2017, the annual arrival of orcas and other large whale species in winter has been attracting increasing numbers of tourists, leading to crowding and sometimes risky situations at sea that are described as a ‘wild west’. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Skjervøy across two winter seasons, the article first describes how whale watching emerged in this low-regulation context, and the consequences of the growing popularity of snorkelling activities. Second, it examines tourists’ self-reported responses to their snorkelling experiences, revealing that many people see encounters with wild orcas as a form of redemption or apology for the ways that humans have mistreated the species, particularly in captivity. The embodied experience of immersion in orcas’ Arctic habitat begins a process of recontextualisation, whereby a species understood to have suffered at human hands is imagined anew according to principles of freedom and autonomy. For other tourists, their awe at the opportunity to observe orcas up close is complicated by feelings of unease about their role in a sometimes-chaotic activity that can disturb the whales, shaped by the experience of sharing the sea space with numerous other tourists and boats. In the final section, the article suggests that these ‘ambivalent encounters’ undermine their hopes for a benign form of human-whale encounter, as the crowding creates an image of humans ‘chasing’ the whales. Highlights • Skjervøy is a unique case study because of its comparative lack of snorkelling and whale-watching regulations. Norway is the only country in the world to offer unregulated snorkelling activities with orcas, which can lead to crowding. • Snorkelling tourists in Skjervøy can feel that the experience somehow atones, or compensates for, humans keeping orcas in captivity elsewhere. • Others have a more ‘ambivalent encounter’, feeling shocked by the number of boats and experiencing conflicting feelings of awe and guilt when snorkelling with whales. The article is open access but if you have any questions or comments, I would be happy to hear from you at: sadie.hale(a)uib.no<mailto:sadie.hale@uib.no>. Thank you and best wishes, Sadie --- Sadie Hale PhD fellow, SEATIMES<https://www.uib.no/en/seatimes> project Department of Social Anthropology University of Bergen [cid:91bc0383-a0cb-4148-98b0-9476a32e4a8e]

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Term Assistant Professor of Biology - University of Alaska Southeast
by David Tallmon 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

The Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) in Juneau seeks applications from qualified candidates for a Term Assistant Professor in Marine Biology, to begin August 2025. This is a one semester, term-funded position. Applicants must have a PhD in marine biology, biology, or a related field (all but degree candidates will be considered). This position will teach ecology courses for the UAS Biology and Marine Biology program, including a 2 credit marine mammal discussion course. Minimum Qualifications: PhD in marine biology, biology, or a related field. Candidates with all but dissertation (ABD) at time of application may be considered with the requirement that the PhD defense be scheduled before starting the position. Position Details: This position is located on the University of Alaska campus in Juneau. This is a full-time, term-funded position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package <https://www.alaska.edu/hr/benefits/support/prospectiveemployees.php>. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be offered a competitive salary based on education and experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. Initial review of applications will begin on March 18, 2025; to ensure consideration, please submit all application materials prior to the review date. Applications must include the following: 1. Cover letter of application. 2. Curriculum Vitae. 3. Statement of your teaching philosophy. 4. Copies of graduate and undergraduate transcripts. Unofficial copies are acceptable at the time of application; official transcripts will be required from the successful candidate upon hire. 5. Names and contact information of three professional references. 📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fdW-1H5gLqewKOutcuQ7jbGLnVUCpfYrTO89dPD…> . ☎️ If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Julia Bovee, UAS HR Coordinator, at jabovee(a)alaska.edu or (907) 450-8262. This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC). https://unitedacademicsak.org/ This position is term-funded and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion. Visit: https://careers.alaska.edu/jobs/term-assistant-professor-of-marine-biology-… David Tallmon (he/him) Professor of Biology University of Alaska Southeast 907 796 6330 I work and reside on the unceded territories of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan people on Lingít Aaní, also known as Juneau, Alaska, adjacent to the ancestral home of the X̱aadas and Ts’msyen peoples.

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Two vacancies for ecological statisticians at BioSS
by Phil Bouchet 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

Dear colleagues, Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland (BioSS) seeks to appoint two permanent positions at a statistician grade, who have an interest in working on interesting applied and methodological research relating to the impacts of offshore renewable energy on seabirds and marine mammals. The Offshore Renewables Group<https://www.bioss.ac.uk/collaborate-us/offshore-renewables> (OSR) in BioSS carries out quantitative research on the impacts of offshore renewable energy on seabirds and marine mammals in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and many other organisations. These positions offer the opportunity to work in a friendly, inclusive team (currently up to 15 staff + 5 PhD students) within three consortia on interesting and innovative long-term projects, which have substantial statistical and software development components. This is an opportunity to be involved in developing interesting statistical approaches using novel ecological data to solve real-world problems relating to the impacts of offshore renewables on seabirds, and contribute to an extensive research portfolio. 1. Funded by the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (OWEC<https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/what-we-do/on-the-seabed/offshore-wi…>), Predators and Prey Around Renewable Energy Devices (PrePARED<https://owecprepared.org/>) is providing critical insight into cumulative effects from large scale developments for key species. Surveys are collecting concurrent data to characterise and quantify relationships between predators and prey in the context of a changing environment. Spatial and movement models have been developed using Hidden Markov Models, Generalised Additive Mixed Models, and Bayesian approaches to investigate broad-scale movements of seabirds and prey, and species distributions with uncertainty. 2. Funded by the Scottish Government Offshore Wind Directorate, the Foraging Ecology of Guillemots and Razorbills in the Non-Breeding Season (Aukestra) project seeks to understand interannual variation in seabird foraging behaviour and energetics. Data collection is being carried out using geolocator tags and the collection of moult feathers for isotope analysis. We will be constructing spatial models and integrating isotope information to investigate variation in seabird distribution and foraging areas in the non-breeding season. 3. Funded by the Scottish Government Offshore Wind Directorate, the Seabird Foraging and Avian Flu (BRAIDS) project is examining the effects of reductions in seabird populations due to the recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak. We are continuing to develop Hidden Markov Models along with spatial metrics of foraging to determine how foraging distributions and ranges may change within a hierarchy of different scales. The research will be used to strengthen the evidence base for environmental impact assessments. These positions will also have links to the Statistical Methodology Theme<https://www.bioss.ac.uk/our-expertise/statistical-methodology> group in BioSS, and the roles will provide the opportunity to work with scientists developing novel statistics approaches. We would also encourage successful candidates to build their own research profiles, linked to the research themes within the OSR Group and wider BioSS. For further details, please refer to the full job advert, available here: https://www.bioss.ac.uk/vacancies/ecological-statisticians-2-vacancies Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Esther Jones (esther.jones(a)bioss.ac.uk<mailto:esther.jones@bioss.ac.uk>) to discuss these positions. The closing date for applications is March 27th 2025 (23:59 UK time). Best wishes, Phil ------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Phil Bouchet | Senior Statistician Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK Email phil.bouchet(a)bioss.ac.uk<mailto:phil.bouchet@bioss.ac.uk>

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New publication on humpback whale yearling behavior
by Julia Zeh 27 Feb '25

27 Feb '25

Hi all, My coauthors and I are excited to share our recent open access paper describing movement and acoustic behavior in humpback whale yearlings: Zeh, J.M., Lammers, M.O., Pack, A.A. Parks, S.E*.* Movement and sound production in yearling humpback whales: age-class comparisons. *Behav Ecol Sociobiol* 79, 36 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-025-03575-7 Abstract: The juvenile period is an important stage of growth and development across animals, often consisting of graded stages of physical and social development. For cetaceans, locomotor and social development are key to survival after weaning; individuals require dive capabilities for successful foraging and navigating their aquatic habitat as well as robust acoustic signaling abilities to mediate complex social interactions. Although adult diving and sound production behavior have been studied, little is known about the development of these abilities of juvenile baleen whales. To address this gap in our understanding of baleen whale ontogeny, we used suction cup sound and movement recording tags deployed on 11 humpback whales (3 calves, 5 yearlings, and 3 adults) on their breeding ground in Hawai’i. We recorded deeper and longer dives and shorter intervals at the surface for yearlings compared to calves, suggesting increased aerobic capacity for diving in yearlings. A contact call commonly produced by adults was recorded on yearling tags but not detected from any of the tagged calves, reflecting development in social signaling with age. These data provide an important preliminary understanding of development and differences across age classes. Based on the tag data, yearlings appear to occupy an intermediate state of development, approaching the dive and sound production abilities of adults, and showing evidence of physiological maturation during the first year of life. Best, Julia Zeh, PhD *Passive Acoustics Branch* Northeast Fisheries Science Center NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce

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Learn ocean acoustics with interactive Jupyter notebooks!
by Wu-Jung Lee 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Dear all, My colleagues and I are excited to host an upcoming education workshop in ocean acoustics, in which we will touch on fundamental acoustic concepts and data practice broadly applicable to marine mammal bioacoustics problems. More information and program links are in the blurb below, a flyer is also attached. Please help us spread the word! Best, Wu-Jung ------------------------------------ 🌊 Sound travels far in the ocean—so can your curiosity. 🔊 Learn ocean acoustics with interactive Jupyter notebooks! Ever wondered how whales chat across vast ocean basins? Or how we can “see” underwater without light to track fish or map the seafloor? If you’ve ever been curious about these questions, the Bridge to Ocean Acoustics and Technology (BOAT) <https://boat-ocean-acoustics.github.io/> program is for you! BOAT workshops give you a hands-on introduction to ocean acoustics—from fundamental concepts to real-world applications—using interactive Jupyter notebooks. No prior background in acoustics needed! Join an upcoming BOAT workshop! 📍 New Orleans <https://boat-ocean-acoustics.github.io/workshop_new_orleans.html>, May 17-18, 2025 (before the ASA/ICA joint meeting <https://acousticalsociety.org/new-orleans-2025/>) 📝 Application deadline: March 21, 2025 ✈️ Financial assistance available for transportation and lodging Who should apply? ✅ Students interested in ocean acoustics, bioacoustics, fisheries, or oceanography ✅ Anyone curious about how sound is used to explore and understand the ocean ✅ Students already working with acoustic data who want to strengthen their skills 💡 Open to students from all disciplines! What topics will be covered? ✅ Sound propagation and scattering ✅ Generation, measurement and analysis of sound ✅ Hands-on experience using ocean sonar and hydrophone datasets Help us spread the word—share this with friends who might be interested! Questions? Contact us at boat.ocean.acoustics(a)gmail.com Come aboard and explore the ocean through sound! -- Wu-Jung Lee, Ph.D. Principal Oceanographer, Applied Physics Laboratory Affiliate Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Washington https://uw-echospace.github.io/ *I often send emails outside of normal business hours to achieve my personal work-life balance. Responses are never expected outside normal working hours.*

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Join The Wildlife Society's Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group!
by Henry, Hannah Aline 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Dear MARMAM Community, Are you passionate about coastal and marine wildlife conservation? Interested in bridging ecology, policy, and management to support wildlife in these dynamic ecosystems? The Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group (CMWG) of The Wildlife Society (TWS) is actively seeking engaged members and collaborators to help grow our community. We welcome students, early-career professionals, seasoned scientists, conservation practitioners, resource managers, policymakers, and anyone passionate about coastal and marine ecosystems. No matter your career stage or background, if you’re interested in coastal and marine wildlife, we invite you to join us. What We Do Our group is dedicated to advancing the science, management, and conservation of wildlife in coastal and marine environments by: * Fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, managers, and policymakers * Supporting early-career professionals and students through networking and mentorship * Promoting research, policy, and management discussions relevant to coastal and marine ecosystems * Providing a platform for knowledge exchange through symposia, webinars, and outreach We are building a vibrant and collaborative community, and we need your ideas, expertise, and enthusiasm. Whether you study, manage, conserve, or simply have a passion for sea turtles, fisheries, marine mammals, seabirds, habitats, or any other aspect of coastal and marine ecosystems, we invite you to be part of this growing network. What Makes Us Unique Our group brings together diverse perspectives across all species, habitats, and scales relevant to wildlife conservation. From researchers studying ecological processes to managers implementing policies and local communities stewarding coastal resources, we recognize that effective conservation requires collaboration across disciplines and perspectives. How to Get Involved * Become an official CMWG member through The Wildlife Society – this grants access to our mailing list/newsletter, Discord community, and other events. * Follow us on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tws.cmwg/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/TWS-Coastal-Marine-Wildlife-Working-Group/6… * Attend our upcoming events, contribute your expertise, and help shape this working group. For more information or to get involved, please contact Hannah Henry, Chair of the Coastal and Marine Wildlife Working Group, at hahenry(a)unc.edu. Please share this message with your colleagues and networks—we look forward to growing a dynamic, engaged community of coastal and marine conservation professionals together! All the best, [https://leapassets.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/small_The_University_Of_Nort…] Hannah Henry Ph.D. Student Earth, Marine, and Environmental Science Coastal Environmental Change Lab<https://cecl.online/> & C-CoAST<https://c-coast.org/> Chair, Coastal/Marine Wildlife Working Group<https://wildlife.org/cmwwg/> [mobilePhone] (407) 883-2352 [emailAddress] hahenry(a)unc.edu<mailto:hahenry@unc.edu> [website] bit.ly/HannahHenry<https://bit.ly/HannahHenry> [address] Mitchell Hall, 104 South Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514

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Postdoc examining copepods and drivers of North Atlantic right whale habitat use at Stony Brook University
by Lesley Thorne 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

We’re recruiting a Postdoctoral Associate (two year position) to work on a study examining changes to drivers of North Atlantic right whale habitat use in Southern New England *Brief Description of Duties:* The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct research in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences <https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/somas/> under the supervision of Principal Investigator, Dr. Lesley Thorne <https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/somas/people/_profiles/lesley-thorne.php>. The selected candidate will examine historical data from waters of Southern New England and New York to assess spatiotemporal changes to the species composition, abundance, distribution and energy density of North Atlantic right whale prey. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong written communication skills as demonstrated by prior peer-reviewed publications. Further information can be found here: https://stonybrooku.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500760&tz=… Open until March 27 Contact lesley.thorne(a)stonybrook.edu with any questions. ...................................................... *Lesley Thorne* *Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research* *School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences* *Stony Brook University* Office: 631.632.5117 www.thornelab.com <http://www.thornelab.com> [image: Stony Brook University logo] <http://www.stonybrook.edu/>

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New publication on habitat utilization of beaked whales in the North Atlantic
by Annamaria DeAngelis - NOAA Federal 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Hi all, We are pleased to announce the recent publication of our manuscript on the habitat utilization of beaked whales in the western North Atlantic: DeAngelis, A.I., Westell, A., Baumann-Pickering, S., Bell, J., Cholewiak, D., Corkeron, P.J., Soldevilla, M.S., Solsona-Berga, A., Trickey, J.S. and Van Parijs, S.M., 2025. Habitat utilization by beaked whales in the western North Atlantic Ocean using passive acoustics. *Marine Ecology Progress Series*, *754*, pp.137-153. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14771 ABSTRACT: Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) are cryptic, deep-diving cetaceans found offshore. Passive acoustic monitoring of this family allows identification to species level and is instrumental in expanding knowledge of their behavior, distribution, and habitat use. From 28 June to 25 August 2016, 2 broadscale shipboard surveys towed a hydrophone array in the western North Atlantic. Concurrently, 11 bottom-mounted recorders collected continuous passive acoustic data along the 1000 m contour during July and August 2016. Five beaked whale species (goose-beaked, *Ziphius cavirostris*; Gervais’, *Mesoplodon europaeus*; True’s, *M. mirus*; Sowerby’s, *M. bidens*; and Blainville’s, *M. densirostris*) were present in both data sets. Beaked whales were commonly detected at the bottom-mounted sites (71% total days present), with sites off the US Mid-Atlantic Bight containing the greatest species diversity. Overall, daily co-occurrence was uncommon (35% of study period). Using the towed array, Blainville’s and Gervais’ beaked whales were found in the Gulf Stream, True’s beaked whales were more common in abyssal waters, and Sowerby’s beaked whales were more common on the continental slope. Goose-beaked whales were present throughout. Using multipath reflections, click depths were examined for 192 beaked whale detection events. Among 3 species tested (goose-beaked, Gervais’, and True’s), only goose-beaked whales were found to significantly forage in proximity to the seafloor. This is the first study of its kind to provide a comprehensive overview of how these whales utilize their habitat across latitudes, longitudes, and depths. Cheers, Annamaria -- Annamaria DeAngelis Research Biologist | Passive Acoustics Branch | NEFSC NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce Office: (508) 955-0250 Fax: (508) 495-2066 NEFSC PSB Passive Acoustics Research Group <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/endangered-species-…>

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