February 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Organization of an international multi-annotator annotation campaign within the bioDCASE workshop
by Dorian CAZAU 18 Feb '25

18 Feb '25

Dear colleague, To save you some reading time, we will go straight to the point : we are currently organizing a task on the detection of blue and fin whale species from Antarctica for the upcoming bioDCASE<https://biodcase.github.io/> data challenge. Regarding annotated datasets, this first edition will rely heavily on materials produced within the IWC-SORP Acoustic Trends Project (including the famous AcousticTrends_BlueFinLibrary [1]), represented by Brian Miller in our organization team. As you may already know, a critical requirement of such challenges is the high-quality of annotations, and more specifically those involved in the evaluation of models. One particular aspect of annotation quality is inter-annotator variability, which has been shown <https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00889/100094/110389.pdf> to propagate through a model development workflow up to the evaluation metrics, and thus plays a critical role in data challenges. In this context, our team is calling on the international community to participate in a multi-annotator annotation campaign with two main goals : * producing annotated evaluation sets for the bioDCASE task that reach some sort of "international consensus"; * investigating at a larger scale the question of inter-annotation variability between bioacousticians including experts on large baleen whales. Below we give you some practical information : * we know <you don't have time> :) : but considering the potential scale of this work, even only 10 minutes per week during 3 months may provide precious data for this study ! * the annotation campaign will be set up with the web-based APLOSE<https://osmose.ifremer.fr/app/> tool; and all you need is a browser ! * Time period of the campaign: starting on the 1st of March and ending at the end of May. * anybody is welcome to participate, whatever your level of experience! Now, if you feel interested in participating please fill up this excel sheet<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g7qFK9x-U650FtWxJr4aaUA7y0DZAIqlZyU…> , and do not hesitate if you need more information Thank you for reading, All the best, Organization Team of the " Supervised detection of strongly-labelled Antarctic blue and fin whale calls" in bioDCASE<https://biodcase.github.io/>

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Volunteer & Intern Opportunities – Montenegro Dolphin Research
by DMAD Marine Mammals Research Association 18 Feb '25

18 Feb '25

Dear all, We’re excited to announce volunteer and internship opportunities at the Montenegro Dolphin Research project! The application process is ongoing throughout the year. Who We Are MDR-Montenegro Dolphin Research, sister organisation of DMAD, conducts long-term research on marine mammals in Montenegro. Our work focuses on population studies, behavior, habitat use, and human impact (e.g., tourism, fishing, and industrial activities). Alongside research, we actively engage in conservation initiatives and community awareness. More details: montenegrodolphinresearch.org Who Can Apply? We welcome: ✔ Graduates & students looking for research experience (BSc/MSc thesis projects possible) ✔ Anyone passionate about marine conservation, regardless of background ✔ Minimum stay: 2 months (exceptions possible for experienced candidates) What You’ll Do 🔹 Land-based dolphin surveys (3x per week, including sunrise/sunset) 🔹 Boat-based surveys (monthly, possibly more) 🔹 Data collection & analysis (photo-ID, GIS, behavioral studies) 🔹 Theodolite operation & software use 🔹 Conservation & citizen-science activities What You’ll Learn 📍 Field & research skills – Data collection protocols (land surveys and boat surveys), Behavioural studies, Theodolite and Phytagoras operation, Logger 2010 📍 Research skills – GIS mapping, Acoustic analysis (Pamguard and Raven), Population Size Estimation, Survey Design, Photo-ID 📍 Data analysis & scientific reporting 📍 Stakeholder engagement & conservation strategies Fees & What’s Included Volunteers: €1200/month (first 3 months), €1080/month thereafter Interns: €1200/month (first 3 months), €1080/month thereafter ✔ Accommodation & bills ✔ Local transport to the project sites ✔ Fieldwork & training ✔ Scientific support (interns) 🔹 Not included: Travel to/from Montenegro, meals, insurance, personal expenses How to Apply 📧 Send your CV & cover letter to info(a)dmad.org.tr 📌 Include your availability & duration of stay For more info: 🌐 Our Research <https://dmad.org.tr/en/our-researches/> | Internships <https://dmad.org.tr/en/education/internships/montenegro-internships/> | Publications <https://dmad.org.tr/en/publications/>📸 Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/dmadfornature/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/DMADforNature/> Looking forward to having you on board! Best regards, MDR Team

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SEAMAMMS Abstract Submission Deadline - Feb. 23
by Gibson, Quincy 17 Feb '25

17 Feb '25

Friendly reminder: The deadline to submit an abstract for SEAMAMMS is this Sunday, Feb. 23 (11:59 pm). The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) will be held in Jacksonville, FL on April 4-6, 2025 and co-hosted by the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University. Authors will be notified of abstract acceptance and format (oral, speed, poster) by Wed., Mar. 5. The early registration deadline is Mar. 10. SEAMAMMS is a long-standing, regional, scientific marine mammal meeting that is held annually. This symposium is open to all presenters and is student-oriented. SEAMAMMS serves as a significant and supportive venue for graduate and undergraduate students to present their research and network with mentors and experts in the marine mammal field. Preference will be given to marine mammal research conducted in the mid-Atlantic and southeast US or conducted by students and other researchers from this region. Presentation formats include oral, speed talks, and posters; awards will be given to the best student presenter in each format at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The abstract submission form is available on our website (https://seamamms.wordpress.com/) and the registration link will be available later this week. We hope to see you in Jacksonville this April! Quincy -- Quincy Anne Gibson, Ph.D. Associate Professor Coastal & Marine Biology Flagship Program University of North Florida 1 UNF Drive Jacksonville, FL 32224 904.620.5938 www.unfdolphins.domains.unf.edu<http://www.unfdolphins.domains.unf.edu/>

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New Publication: Working with Northeastern United States lobster harvesters to develop acoustic trap retrieval in place of buoys and persistent vertical lines to reduce whale entanglements:
by Regina Asmutis-Silvia 17 Feb '25

17 Feb '25

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our recently published article regarding a collaborative effort to successfully trial on-demand fishing gear in the Northeast US under normal fishing conditions. We particularly acknowledge the involvement and input from the commercial fishermen whose willingness to trial the gear and provide input to improve its efficacy were instrumental in the success of this project. Working with Northeastern United States lobster harvesters to develop acoustic trap retrieval in place of buoys and persistent vertical lines to reduce whale entanglements: Abstract Vertical buoy lines (VBLs) between surface markers and bottom fishing gear frequently entangle large whales. These lethal and sublethal entanglements inhibit North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) recovery. Consequently, the use of persistent VBLs in situations of high entanglement risk off the east coasts of the USA and Canada is periodically prohibited. On demand, acoustic recovery systems make it possible to remove persistent VBLs, reducing entanglement risk, and potentially allowing fisheries to operate in such areas. To address concerns about performance, reliability, and safety, we evaluated numerous on-demand systems under normal fishing conditions. In 2020, conservationists, scientists, engineers, and lobster harvesters designed an experiment to trial on-demand systems in the New England offshore fisheries, using an open and honest dialogue while maintaining the confidentiality of data such as fishing locations. Between 2020 and 2023, 38 captains and their crews completed 5798 hauls using 431 on-demand units representing 10 different prototypes from multiple manufacturers. The geographic area expanded from limited offshore areas in 2020 to inshore, nearshore, and offshore waters in four different lobster management areas in 2022 and 2023. Trawl lengths ranged from 1 to 100 traps per trawl. Recovery success increased from 64% to 90% of hauls through the trials, although challenges remain, especially when fishing in deep waters or high current and tide locales. A parallel study is underway in Canada. The ability to ensure sustainable fisheries while significantly reducing entanglement risk is becoming a reality, with snow crabs and lobsters being sold in Canada and lobsters and Jonah crabs in the USA that were caught using experimental fishing permits and on-demand systems primarily in areas where persistent VBLs are seasonally prohibited for whale conservation. The full paper is available as an open access doc at https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/82/2/fsaf015/8019485 Regina Asmutis‑Silvia Executive Director WDC North America Pronouns: she, her, hers WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Telephone: +1 508 746 2522<tel:+1%20508%20746%202522> whales.org<https://whales.org/>

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Volunteer Opportunities with Cetus' Robson Bight Warden Program - Alert Bay, BC, Canada
by Robson Bight 16 Feb '25

16 Feb '25

Hello MARMAM community, Cetus Research & Conservation Society is a non-profit marine conservation organization. Cetus is dedicated to protecting the lives of whales in the wild through research, education and direct intervention. Cetus was founded in 2005 to address the increasing endangerment of BC’s killer whales due to human activities. We focus directly on one of the three key contributors to killer whale endangerment: vessel traffic disturbance. We work in the field to protect whales and other marine mammals from harassment and harm. As vessel traffic in the region increases, Cetus’ work becomes more and more crucial to their survival. For more information please visit our website: www.cetussociety.org. The Robson Bight Marine Warden Program operates in Johnstone Strait, in the waters around the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, on the traditional territories of the Namgis, Tlowitsis and Mamalilikulla peoples. Cetus is grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from these groups each season. The ecological reserve is designated to protect the critical habitat of the northern resident killer whales. This is a unique area where the whales often come to rub their bodies on specific smooth pebbled beaches. Our marine wardens monitor vessels and marine mammal populations and educate boaters and kayakers about the reserve and their impacts around it. The Robson Bight Marine Warden Program is comprised of a water-based monitoring and educational component, and a land-based monitoring station called Eagle Eye, situated on a cliff opposite the ecological reserve. *Cetus is looking for enthusiastic and hard-working individuals to fill the Robson Bight Marine Warden Program Summer Volunteer positions:* Volunteer positions will be based out of a rustic field camp in Boat Bay on West Cracroft Island, located near Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Positions will be offered between June 24th and September 5th, 2025. Preference will be given to those who can stay for the full 10 weeks. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to be involved with a variety of possible tasks ranging from education and interpretive talks to marine mammal response and data collection. Our programs focus on protecting British Columbia’s northern resident killer whales, and other marine mammal populations while encouraging others to do the same. Volunteers will have the opportunity to spend time on our monitoring vessels, participating in data collection, data entry and on-the-water boater education, as well as spending time at Eagle Eye, participating in giving interpretive talks to visitors, data collection, photo identification of cetaceans and data entry. *Responsibilities include:* - Educating boaters, kayakers, park visitors, and members of the public about the marine mammal viewing guidelines, Be Whale Wise Guidelines (BWWG), marine species at risk, the conservation issues they face and the boundaries of the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve - Collecting and entering accurate data on marine mammals and vessel activity, both on the water and from the land-based monitoring station - Observing and recording cetaceans in support of the BC Cetacean Sightings Network - Assisting with general administrative duties - Camp duties, which include cooking, cleaning, general maintenance, and heavy lifting *What skills and experience will volunteers gain?:* - Educating the public on important conservation issues - Field data collection and entry - Interpretive skills and techniques - Photo identification of cetaceans - Helping on a marine monitoring vessel - Working with Microsoft Access - Living in and tending to a rustic camp *Essential Requirements:* - Fluent spoken English - Interest in marine wildlife and conservation - Flexibility - Ability to work long hours, outdoors, in all weather conditions - The ability to live & work comfortably in a remote coastal wilderness camp setting with staff & volunteers - The physical ability to carry 40 lbs of gear to and from the vessel to base camp (this varies from across the street to down a rocky shoreline). In addition to this, volunteers are required to hike, 3km (each way), from the base camp to the observation site on alternate days, which takes approximately 1 hour (one way) - Positive attitude geared towards teamwork *Additional Information:* These positions are unpaid and carry a cost to the volunteers of $150/week ($1500 for the season) to cover accommodations, extra fuel, and group dinners (volunteers will be responsible for their own breakfasts and lunches). Warden volunteers will need to bring their own tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Tent pads and tarps will be provided as will camp cooking equipment etc. *How to apply:* Please forward your cover letter, resume and two references via email by *March 15th, 2024.* Please indicate your availability. While we thank everyone for their interest, only successful applicants will be contacted. We look forward to hearing from you! *Contact: Stefani Cruickshank, Cetus Research & Conservation Society, Email: robsonbight(a)cetussociety.org <robsonbight(a)cetussociety.org>*

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Proceedings of the 2024 ECS Conference Workshop are now online
by Mark Wessels 15 Feb '25

15 Feb '25

Dear Sir/Madam, Last year at the 2024 ECS conference a workshop was held discussing the welfare of cetacean bycatch and entanglement, and how pathology can help to resolve some of the issues and provide greater understanding. The proceedings from the workshop are now available on the ECS website at the link below; https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/63 The following adapted workshop abstract could be used to inform MARMAN subscribers of the content of the proceedings; Research into the welfare impact of bycatch on marine mammals has until only relatively recently come to the fore driven by concerns raised by animal welfare organisations, the public and the scientific community. An issue commonly cited in recent publications is a relatively poor understanding of bycatch pathophysiology, which is needed to help provide an accurate assessment of welfare impacts on individuals. The lack of observation of the vast majority of bycatch events means pathology has an important role in helping answer some of the questions welfare experts have. The diagnosis of some bycatch events continues to be problematic and little has been done to collate the information to provide better understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved. The workshop aimed to bring together interested parties to discuss the pathology and pathophysiology of bycatch leading to a greater understanding of welfare impacts, highlight new areas for research and assist in building links between pathologists and welfare experts. A suggested injury impact evaluation scoring system was presented and a Delphi style approach was employed during the workshop, to assess the value of this scoring system and garner expert opinion on its applicability to chronic entanglement cases. If you need any further information, please feel free to contact me. Regards Mark Mark Wessels BVetMed, MRCVS Veterinary Pathologist MMPath2023(a)outlook.com<mailto:MMPath2023@outlook.com>

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Obituary for Oswaldo Vasquez
by Phil Clapham 14 Feb '25

14 Feb '25

The In Memoriam piece for our dear friend and colleague Oswaldo Vasquez was just published in The Latin American Journal of Marine Mammals, and can be accessed here: https://lajamjournal.org/index.php/lajam/article/view/1725 Phil Clapham -- Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Seastar Scientific Inc. Vashon Island, WA

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The Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Song
by Knarr Rose 14 Feb '25

14 Feb '25

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce a recent publication in the Open Journal of Animal Science: Rose, N. (2025) The Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Song. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 15, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2025.151001 Abstract: A 1.5-hour recording of six (Gulf of Mexico) captive common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Sea Life Park, Hawaii shows that: 1) they have a song of a sequence of tonal (often slurred) notes. The evidence for their song comes from: a) their emitting songs that were complex (both tonally and rhythmically), b) their likely improvising (as inferred from their most complex songs not being repeated), c) songs based on a theme (used repeatedly), d) a bout of singing (at times) including social creativity, e) songs with a distinct beginning, middle and end section, and f) one song consisting of in part, a theme, 2) their songs are not sung in key (as determined from analysing the beginning tonal value of a note with spectral-frequency analysis), and 3) are sung in bouts, and 4) mostly with tonal-striated vocalizations (in the literature termed squawks and bray calls). Their apparent creativity (likely improvisations) and social creativity are of importance to how they evolved cognitively, to the study of song culture (between populations and delphinid species), understanding their (intra and inter-species) associations, and kinds of relationships, determining individual personalities, and perhaps will provide supporting evidence for their ability to reason. As inferred, they sing without being intentionally manipulative from: 1) their use of Gquic psychology [1] (as explained in this article), and 2) as inferred from their likely having an ability to reason [1] [2] (as deduced from their behavioural ecology (their unique exceptional evolutionary freedom), including their comparatively peaceful composure between conspecifics, in line with the proof of The Peaceful Composure Theorem), suggesting (per The Peaceful Composure Theorem) they have an egalitarian-like society. Their interspecies (displaced) aggression towards smaller odontocete species is shown to be a function of jealousies that emerge from their stronger social bonds than other species, from their compassionate nature, and females and males not pairing up in long-term associations. Species with greater cultural freedom are shown to have a more complex song providing further evidence for species culture not crucial to survival. The conclusive evidence for species culture from my recent publications is of relevance to the scientific community’s acceptance of two new theories of evolution, and Gquic psychology. The loud burst-pulse sounds, chasing, charging and raking behaviours described in the literature could be a play behaviour, ought not be labelled as aggressive behaviours, as inferred from dog mock-fight play behaviour. In regard to future comparative behavioural ecology studies, aggressive animal behaviour should only be defined as an act of displacement (that is shown to commonly occur in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin species (Tursiops aduncus)), or as acts of biting, and hitting. The paper is available in more readable pdf format: https://www.scirp.org/pdf/ojas2025151_11401490.pdf Nicholovich Rose. research_specifics_org(a)yahoo.com

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New Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) spotlight whale habitats needing protection in the NW Atlantic and Caribbean
by Erich Hoyt 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

New Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) spotlight whale habitats needing protection in the NW Atlantic and Caribbean 13 February 2025. 43 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) have been approved and placed on the map in the North West Atlantic Ocean and Wider Caribbean. The new IMMAs highlight habitats for threatened marine life: blue whales, North Atlantic right whales and Rice’s whales, sperm whales, as well as manatees in the south of the region and polar bears in the north. Globally, there are now 323 IMMAs. To date, 79% of the world ocean has been examined for IMMAs, with IMMAs comprising nearly 18% of the surface area. IMMAs are divided into 52% within exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and 48% in international waters on the high seas. Since 2016, the eight-member IMMA Secretariat has engaged 314 scientists from more than 80 countries to join in this work. The North West Atlantic Ocean and Wider Caribbean Region covers a quarter of the Atlantic Ocean from southern Labrador to Venezuela. Species rich, besides the threatened whale species above, there are Risso’s, Fraser’s, and common bottlenose dolphins, dwarf sperm whales, and many species of deep-diving beaked whales. Several species reside entirely in this region including the North Atlantic right whale. The recently identified Rice’s whale, native to the Gulf of Mexico, now has its first IMMA, as do the polar bears, harp and hooded seals in the Southern Labrador Pack Ice Whelping Area IMMA. IMMAs are defined as discrete portions of habitat, important to marine mammal species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. They are not legal designations but independent, peer-reviewed assessments based on criteria supported by the best data. To download the North West Atlantic Ocean and Wider Caribbean IMMA report, go to https://www.marinemammalhabitat.org/resources/documents/ To obtain shapefiles and detailed background information for the 43 approved IMMAs, go to https://www.marinemammalhabitat.org/immas/imma-spatial-layer-download/ For more information, contact Task Force co-chairs: Erich Hoyt, erich.hoyt(a)imma-network.org or Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, disciara(a)imma-network.org — Erich Hoyt

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28th Annual Meeting NWSSMM
by Alexandrea Otto 12 Feb '25

12 Feb '25

We're excited to announce Western Washington University will be hosting the 28th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy (NWSSMM) on Saturday May 3rd, 2025. A registration link will soon follow! Kind Regards, The Marine Mammal Ecology Lab Western Washington University Bellingham, WA USA

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