February 2026 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

SUNDAY 19th April Workshop: Under-utilised tools for securing pro-conservation behaviours in a disinterested public
by Andrew Wright 22 Feb '26

22 Feb '26

Dear Marmam, We've had several queries about the date of the following workshop. It is indeed being held on SUNDAY 19th April - ahead of the regular workshops of the ECS. The original posting follows, for your convenience. Marine mammal scientists and advocates for conservation social science, Andrew Wright and Sandra Ploeg, are pleased to announce the “*Under-utilised tools for securing pro-conservation behaviours in a disinterested public: advancing marine mammal conservation goals through human psychology*” workshop that will be held in Dundee, Scotland, on the 19th April 2026, ahead of the European Cetacean Society (ECS) conference. This workshop might be for you if you have you ever: - wondered why some people seem so opposed to marine mammal conservation measures that are necessary to save a species; - been frustrated when all the science points at a real problem unless certain changes are made, but nothing is done; or - looked for new ways to be more efficient in your efforts to achieve lasting marine mammal conservation success. *Overview of the Workshop:* Achieving marine mammal conservation goals often hinges on the adoption of new behaviours by one or more groups of people. This can be hard to secure through regulatory changes for marine mammals as data on their distributions and the full extent of the threats and associated risks are lacking, enforcement can be tricky, especially when regulated activities are offshore, and public awareness is low because many problems are hidden far away under the waves. To overcome this, it is not uncommon that more data is sought. However, such efforts rarely secure immediate marine mammal conservation successes. Conservation projects often focus on evidence about the protected species and its environment, and evidence about human psychology is often underrepresented in the conservation efforts. Instead, securing behavioural changes in the species under management, humans, requires the application of tailored tools and techniques that have been designed based on an understanding of their social structures and motivations, as well as the psychological factors driving both. This is the prevue of the conservation social sciences. Many marine mammal conservation biologists are thus being forced to venture into the relatively new and rapidly developing field of conservation social science, developing interventions and campaigns based on experience, intuition, and human understanding. While some of these interventions work out perfectly, some interventions may fail to have the desired impact due to a lack of understanding of human psychology and how this may influence the effectiveness of the tools being used. Importantly, some social science tools are counterintuitive, but incredibly effective when implemented correctly. Similarly, others can feel more intuitive but can be counterproductive in many situations. This workshop is meant to highlight a variety of social science tools and their proper use for encouraging pro-conservation behaviour. This full-day workshop will combine lectures, discussions and brainstorming sessions to: 1) introduce marine mammal scientists and managers to the human psychological factors that may hinder or strengthen their conservation efforts; 2) provide an overview of tools that can be applied to overcome some of these various challenges to incite pro-conservation behavioural changes necessary for achieving greater success in the conservation of marine mammals; and 3) explore the potential application of those tools to some of the conservation problems brought forward by participants. *Details and Registration Process:* Location: Malmaison, 44 Whitehall Cres, Dundee DD1 4AY (www.malmaison.com) TIme: 11:00 - 17:30 19th April, 20206, to cater to anyone arriving for the ECS conference that begins the following day. Registration will be open at 10:30 (with tea/coffee) Cost: *EUR 40* (coffee breaks, but not lunch, included) for 40 onsite participants - although discounted rates may be possible on a case-by-case basis. Virtual participation: *EUR 20* for no more than 15 additional participants, to facilitate only one group discussion online. How to register: Email Andrew Wright at marinebrit (at) gmail.com by 31st March - but do remember that *spaces are limited*, so allocation will be on a first-come-basis. Regards, Andrew & Sandra Andrew Wright is a marine mammal biologist by training with experience in the conservation social sciences, as well as domestic and international environmental management and policy. He co-founded the Conservation Marketing and Engagement Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology in 2015 and remains active within that community after leaving the Board in 2019. Sandra Ploeg is social psychologist and conservationist. She is currently working as a project leader for conservation of several species, focussing on citizen science, community led conservation and behaviour change.

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New publication: A call to standardize metrics for monitoring baleen whales near marine construction activities
by Angela Szesciorka 21 Feb '26

21 Feb '26

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to share our recent publication in Ocean & Coastal Management: Szesciorka, A.R., Severy, M., Ampela, K., Hein, C., Richlen, M., Haxel, J., Clerc, J. (2026). Application of Standardized Metrics for Monitoring Baleen Whales near Marine Construction Activities. Ocean and Coastal Management, 276, 108147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108147 Article link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1mf1M3RKL07TUs Abstract: Effective monitoring is necessary to protect marine mammal species during the construction of offshore infrastructure. The tools for detecting or monitoring marine mammals span traditional (e.g., visual observers, optical cameras), to newer (e.g., passive acoustic monitoring, infrared cameras, tags), and emerging (e.g., satellite imagery, environmental DNA, dimethyl sulfide concentration) technologies. Some are better suited for use during offshore development; however, peer-reviewed literature does not typically evaluate and report on the performance of these various technologies. We define a minimum set of metrics related to efficacy (i.e., confusion matrix, precision and recall, probability of missed mitigation), detection range (i.e., maximum and reliable detection range, spatial resolution), and data delivery (i.e., detection latency, system reliability, temporal resolution) that we recommend are needed to assess the utility of monitoring technologies for this purpose. Following a literature review of relevant studies, we highlight which publications reported these metrics and used multiple technologies to compare relative performance. We also emphasize the benefits of multi-modal approaches and recommend performance assessments through modeling or large-scale collaborative field testing. These metrics will standardize data collection, reporting, and analysis; promote consistent and comparable results; and foster collaboration among developers, regulatory agencies, and scientists. This may lead to the co-development of technology that achieves multiple goals, has greater application, and can answer research questions while collecting data to fulfill permitting requirements. These metrics may also inform decisions on what systems regulatory agencies might consider using and reduce monitoring costs, which is critical to support the marine sector's rapid growth alongside marine mammal conservation. Feel free to reach out to me at angela(a)szesciorka.com if you would like a PDF of the paper or if you have any questions. Best, Angela Szesciorka, Ph.D. Research Associate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Faculty Affiliate, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University

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New publication: Year-round acoustic presence of fin whales southwest of Svalbard suggests mixed-use habitat for feeding and breeding
by Angela Szesciorka 21 Feb '26

21 Feb '26

Dear colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors, I am very pleased to share our recent publication in Scientific Reports: Szesciorka, A.R., Giordano, P., Bensi, M., Nicolai, A., Russo, A., Giorli. (2026). Year-round acoustic presence of fin whales southwest of Svalbard suggests mixed-use habitat for feeding and breeding. Scientific Reports, 16, 6845. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-21785-x Article link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-21785-x Abstract: Multiple lines of evidence indicate a northward expansion and year-round presence of fin whales especially around Svalbard, an area where highly variable Atlantic Water intrusion is changing the trophic community. Because fin whales are now documented in the high Arctic (≥ 80°N), we hypothesized that this would also increase their presence in lower latitude Arctic regions. We used one year of passive acoustic data collected on a mooring deployed on the continental slope southwest of Svalbard to assess the temporal acoustic presence of fin whales and the relationship with environmental data. Acoustic detections and call diversity were greatest in fall and spring and lowest in summer. The 20 Hz calls were present from July to April and the 130 Hz calls were present from August to April. Both calls peaked in September with smaller, secondary peaks in March. Downsweeps were bimodally present between July and October and between February and June. Linear models indicated more calls when krill and copepod numbers were high and sea ice extent and amphipod numbers were low. A year-round acoustic presence of a potential resident subpopulation of fin whales suggests the region is a mixed-use habitat for foraging and reproductive-related activities. Feel free to reach out to me at angela(a)szesciorka.com if you would like a PDF of the paper or if you have any questions. Best, Angela Szesciorka, Ph.D. Research Associate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Faculty Affiliate, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University

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MARMAN-new study: Isolation, identification and prevalence of oral mycoplasmas in North American pinnipeds (Lena N. Measures)
by Lena Measures 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

I am pleased to announce the publication: Isolation, identification and prevalence of oral mycoplasmas in North American pinnipeds This study reports the occurrence of mycoplasmas (bacteria) in the oral cavity of Canadian phocids and Californian pinnipeds. These findings demonstrate a risk of acquiring mycoplasmal infections, the putative cause of the occupational disease called seal finger, when handling infected live or dead pinnipeds. ABSTRACT: Seal finger is a zoonotic infection that humans acquire from pinnipeds, during dissection, handling or from trauma. This infection is not uncommon among Canadian biologists working with wild pinnipeds. The etiological agent is believed to be mycoplasma bacteria. No comprehensive data on prevalence of oral mycoplasmas in pinnipeds are available. To investigate whether pinnipeds carry oral mycoplasmas, wild (n = 148) and captive (n = 14) phocids in eastern Canada and pinnipeds (n = 38) in a rehabilitation center in California were sampled from 1996 to 1998. Mycoplasmas were cultured, isolated and identified using IFAT (indirect fluorescent antibody test) in a dedicated mycoplasma laboratory and prevalence by sex, age, age-class and species of seal determined. A total of 23l mycoplasma isolates were obtained from sampled pinnipeds. Three species of Mycoplasma (M. phocicerebrale, M. phocae, M. phocirhinis) were isolated and identified from wild gray (Halichoerus grypus) and Atlantic harbor (Phoca vitulina concolor) seals, Mycoplasma phocicerebrale from wild hooded (Cystophora cristata) and harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and from captive gray and harbor seals, including new host and geographic reports. In wild seals, prevalence of M. phocicerebrale was 78% (31/40) in gray, 70% (32/46) in hooded, 44% (11/25) in harbor and 22% (8/37) in harp seals. Two species of Mycoplasma (M. phocicerebrale, M. phocirhinis) were isolated and identified from California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern elephant (Mirounga angustirostris) and Pacific harbor (Phoca vitulina richardii) seals, also new host and geographic reports. Unidentified Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma were also isolated in wild and captive Canadian and Californian pinnipeds. These new data on the prevalence and identification of oral mycoplasmas in sampled pinnipeds indicates that personnel working with these animals in the field or in captive situations should exercise caution. The study can be accessed at https://jwd.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jwdi/62/1/article-p51.xml Dr. Lena Measures Retired research scientist (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) lenameasures(a)gmail.com www.researchgate.net/profile/Lena_Measures

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Optimized Vessel URN Model: Validation and Optimization of Vessel Underwater Radiated Noise Prediction in U.S. Waters
by Vanessa Zobell 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Dear MARMAM community, We’re pleased to share our new report, *Validation and Optimization of Vessel Underwater Radiated Noise Prediction in U.S. Waters*. In collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the U.S. DOT Volpe Center, we conducted large-scale empirical validation of the MARINE-T/JOMOPANS-ECHO vessel underwater radiated noise (URN) model using more than 30,000 vessel measurements collected in Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico. Model optimization reduced prediction error by an average of over 4 dB, with improvements varying by vessel type. We hope this optimized URN model supports spatiotemporal noise mapping used to evaluate marine mammal acoustic exposure, identify areas of high vessel noise–marine mammal overlap, and inform mitigation and conservation decisions. The full report is available here: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88803 <https://lnkd.in/ge2_ezYe> All the best, Vanessa ZoBell -- *Dr. Vanessa ZoBell *(she/her) Postdoctoral Researcher, Scripps Machine Listening Lab <https://sioml.ucsd.edu/people/> Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Ritter Hall 105 *I respectfully acknowledge that I live and work on unceded ancestral land <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://native-land.ca/__;!!Mih3wA!ST3Zg-Sx3Mgt…> of the Kumeyaay <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.kumeyaay.com/__;!!Mih3wA!ST3Zg-Sx3M…> people to whom I owe honor and gratitude.*

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Request for Proposals: Petition for Incidental Take Regulations for G&G in the GOA, 2031-2036
by Kris Lynch 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Dear Colleagues: Through the Gulf of America Proactive Regulatory and Observational Program<https://energeoalliance.org/programs/gom-prop/>, EnerGeo Alliance is inviting proposals to develop an Incidental Take Regulation petition for geological and geophysical activities in the Gulf of America, 2031-2036, consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. For more information, please see the ITR Petition Request for Proposals via the above link. Please contact me with have any questions or expression of interest. Thank you, Kris Kristine Lynch, PhD • EnerGeo Alliance • Regulatory Affairs, Americas • mobile +1 (202) 494-5452

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New version of the R package “whalestrike” available: now includes multiple whale species and vessel types
by Alexandra Mayette 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Dear marmam community, I am pleased to announce that a new version of the “whalestrike” R package is now released (version 0.6.0) https://dankelley.github.io/whalestrike/. This package simulates a ship strike based on a biophysical model (see Kelley et al. 2021. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.12745) and measures the forces exerted on the whale to calculate a probability of lethality. The update includes new parameters for calculating the lethality of 10 whale species and 12 vessel types. The new parameters also allow users to input vessel length instead of vessel mass, based on the new publication by Mayette and Brillant 2026 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0339760. The Shiny app has also been updated to allow users to see in real time the effect of vessel size, type and speed, and whale species. We hope this new tool will be useful for assessing ship strike risk. We would like to thank all the collaborators who have provided whale measurements. If you have any questions, please reach out to alexandram(a)cwf-fcf.org<mailto:alexandram@cwf-fcf.org>. Alexandra Mayette, MSc Research Scientist Canadian Wildlife Federation - Federation Canadienne de la Faune

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New publication: Pathogens and Pathogen-Specific Antibodies in Arctic Endemic Seal Species and Harbor Seals in Svalbard
by Schick, Luca Aroha 20 Feb '26

20 Feb '26

Dear colleagues, On behalf of all co-authors, we are happy to share our recent publication in Marine Mammal Science on Pathogens and Pathogen-Specific Antibodies in Arctic Endemic Seal Species and the Newly Sympatric Harbor Seals in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. ABSTRACT: Climate change associated transformations of Arctic marine ecosystems are having detrimental impacts on Arctic endemic marine mammals. However, warming conditions are providing new habitats for temperate marine mammals, some of which are expanding into Arctic regions, posing a threat of novel pathogen introduction and disease transmission. We analyzed swab samples for Influenza A, morbilli- (Phocine distemper virus, PDV), and herpesvirus nucleic acid and performed microbiological screenings and serological analyses for antibodies for the same viral pathogens, the bacterial agents Brucella spp. and Leptospira spp. and the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma (T.) gondii from ringed (Pusa hispida), bearded (Erignathus barbatus), and the newly established harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Antibodies against Phocine Herpesvirus-1 or antigenetically related phocine herpesviruses (PhHV) were detected in all species. Antibodies against Influenza A were only found in one ringed seal and antibodies against PDV were found in two harbor seals. Twelve harbor seals and two ringed seals tested positive for Herpesvirus DNA by PCR. Brucella spp. and Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in multiple harbor seals and a single bearded seal. Three harbor, two ringed, and one bearded seal had antibodies against T. gondii. Our results indicate an overlap and possible transmission of pathogens between all investigated seal species. The introduction of new pathogens to the Arctic through temperate species' range expansions could have fatal consequences for immunologically naive Arctic seal populations and should be further investigated. The article is available at Schick, L. A., K. M. Kovacs, C. Lydersen, et al. 2026. " Sharing Is Caring?-Pathogens and Pathogen-Specific Antibodies in Arctic Endemic Seal Species and the Newly Sympatric Harbor Seals in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard." Marine Mammal Science 42, no. 2: e70143. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70143 With best regards, Luca ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Luca Aroha Schick (she/her) Certified Veterinary Specialist for Wildlife and Species Conservation Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation Werftstraße 6/ 25761 Buesum/ Germany Phone: +49 511-856 8174 Fax: +49 511-856 8181 luca.aroha.schick(a)tiho-hannover.de<mailto:luca.aroha.schick@tiho-hannover.de> Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) - TiHo Hannover (tiho-hannover.de)<https://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/clinics-institutes/institutes/institute-for…>

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Open Marine Mammal Response Program Summer Positions - The Whale Museum
by Conor Agnew 19 Feb '26

19 Feb '26

The Whale Museum is hiring for two seasonal positions with the Marine Mammal Response Program (formerly the Stranding Network) for Summer 2026! We are seeking a part-time Program Assistant for 12 weeks and a full-time intern for 11 weeks! Applicants are asked to apply by March 13, 2026. To learn more or apply, read below or visit: https://whalemuseum.org/pages/job-internship-volunteer-opportunities. The Whale Museum’s Marine Mammal Response Program: Summer 2026 Program Assistant I. POSITION DESCRIPTION: This program assistant position will assist year-round staff of The Whale Museum’s Marine Mammal Response Program (TWMMMRP) with efforts to provide coverage for all marine mammal stranding calls in San Juan County (SJC), Washington State. SJC comprises over 734 rocks and islands visible at high tide, with a total shoreline of approximately 400 miles. Many of these islands are uninhabited and accessible only by private vessel. Pinniped strandings account for approximately 90% of all responses, most occurring during harbor seal pupping season from June through August. Each year, TWMMMRP receives around 150 reports/year and conducts necropsies and collects Level A data for all calls when possible. The program is overseen by The Whale Museum’s Research Director with daily duties directed by the TWMMMRP Coordinator. The seasonal assistant will assist the TWMMMRP Coordinator in all duties such as: responding to calls by truck or vessel, necropsies, data entry, sample management, lab inventory, and being on-call. They will also be trained in large whale disentanglement and pinniped capture. The ideal candidate will have all the required qualifications and some combination of the preferred and desired qualifications. The candidate will be based on San Juan Island and will be contracted for 20 hours per week for a period of 16 weeks starting May or June 2026. Weekend and holiday work will be required. II. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * Assist with daily TWMMMRP operations, including: monitoring the stranding hotline for reports, conducting health assessments of live seal pups in the field, tagging live harbor seals that are not collected for rehabilitation, transferring injured pups to a local rehabilitation center, surveying and documenting entangled animals, conducting Level A examinations of stranded marine mammals, driving the program’s 21’ Munson landing craft (catamaran hull, twin outboard). * Assist with necropsies of fresh dead marine mammals including: transferring carcasses to the lab space, setting-up, and taking down necropsy supplies, note-taking, photography, prosecting, organizing, archiving and shipping biological samples * Data entry * Assist with equipment maintenance * Involvement in education and outreach * Communicating with a volunteer network of approximately 60 people III. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Applicant must be willing to relocate to San Juan Island, WA for the duration of the position. All TWMMMRP equipment is stored on San Juan Island. * Familiarity with handling small vessels in dynamic conditions * Adaptability and flexibility * Ability to work in a dynamic environment and communicate empathically with others * The drive to learn skills to become a competent field biologist with the goal of applying the skills learned in a future related position * Proficiency in English IV. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Basic photography skills * Data entry skills * Ability to move up to 30 lbs V. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Experience with public communication and conflict resolution * Experience working with animals OTHER POSITION DETAILS: * Pay: $25/hr, 20 hrs/week, 12 weeks * The Program Assistant will be responsible for responding to stranding reports with other TWMMMRP staff and/or volunteers. The waterways around the San Juan Islands are extremely variable depending on weather, tides, and other factors. You must be comfortable aboard a small vessel. * TWMMMRP is a research program of The Whale Museum (TWM). Our office is housed at TWM in the heart of Friday Harbor and lab space is at UW’s Friday Harbor Labs 2 miles away. * The community in the San Juans care deeply about the marine wildlife so you will often find yourself in sensitive situations when handling stranded animals. Sometimes TWMMMRP decisions are met with dissatisfaction, questioning, or anger at our action/inaction in specific cases (e.g. leaving an abandoned pup on a beach where it will likely die). You must be prepared to learn how to manage these interpersonal situations with empathy and confidence. You will always be able to refer the public to TWMMMRP Coordinator or TWM Research Director. * You do not need previous animal handling experience to apply for this position, but you must care about the conservation and research of marine species and be motivated to pursue a career in science or conservation. TWMMMRP recognizes the challenges in acquiring many of the skills required for early-career positions and aims to make this position as open as possible. TO APPLY: Please send the following documents attached as one (1) PDF file to research(a)whalemuseum.org with the subject “[your last name] Summer 2026 TWMMMRP Program Assistant” by March 13 2026. Application review will begin immediately. 1. Your CV or resume 2. A personal statement (1 page max) including: * Why you are interested in the position * Why you would be a valuable asset to our team * How you meet the required qualifications and any other qualifications or experiences you wish to expand upon 3. A list of 3 professional references * Include their name, email, and title The Whale Museum’s Marine Mammal Response Program: Summer 2026 Internship I. POSITION DESCRIPTION: This internship position will assist year-round staff of The Whale Museum’s Marine Mammal Response Program (TWMMMRP) with efforts to provide coverage for all stranded or in-distress marine mammal calls in San Juan County (SJC), Washington State. SJC comprises over 734 rocks and islands visible at high tide, with a total shoreline of approximately 400 miles. Many of these islands are uninhabited and accessible only by private vessel. Pinniped strandings account for approximately 90% of all responses, most occurring during harbor seal pupping season from June through August. Each year, TWMMMRP receives around 150 reports/year and conducts necropsies and collects Level A data for all calls when possible. The program is overseen by The Whale Museum’s Research Director with daily duties directed by the TWMMMRP Coordinator. The intern will support the TWMMMRP Coordinator in duties such as responding to calls by truck or vessel, conducting necropsies, crewing the response vessel, data entry, sample management, lab inventory, and being on-call to field hotline calls. Training in pinniped capture and large whale disentanglement will also be provided. The ideal candidate will have the required qualifications and some combination of the preferred and desired qualifications. This role is based on San Juan Island, requiring 40 hours per week for a period of 11 weeks, beginning June 2026, with weekend and holiday work. This internship is part of The Whale Museum’s Summer Internship Program, providing interns with opportunities to work across other departments such as the Soundwatch Boater Education Program, Be Whale Wise, Sea Sound Remote Sensing Network, Sightings Network, and Museum Collections. Interns will have the chance to explore these areas based on their interests and aptitudes, gaining a well-rounded experience in marine conservation, research, and education. II. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: * Assist with daily TWMMMRP operations, including: monitoring the stranding hotline for reports, conducting health assessments of live seal pups in the field; tagging live harbor seals that are not collected for rehabilitation; transferring harassed or injured pups to a local rehabilitation center; surveying and documenting entangled animals; conducting Level A examinations of stranded marine mammals. * Assist with necropsies of fresh dead marine mammals including: transferring carcasses to the lab space; setting-up, and taking down necropsy supplies; note-taking, photography, prosecting; organizing, archiving and shipping biological samples. * Data entry. * Assist with equipment maintenance. * Involvement in education and outreach. * Communicating with a volunteer network of approximately 60 people. III. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Applicant must be willing to relocate to San Juan Island, WA. All TWMMMRP equipment is stored on San Juan Island. * Ability to maintain calm and positive attitude under pressure and in adverse weather conditions. * Adaptability and flexibility. * Ability to work in a dynamic environment and communicate empathically with others. * The drive to learn skills to become a competent field biologist with the goal of applying the skills learned in a future related position. * Proficiency in English. * Comfort aboard small vessels. IV. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Basic photography skills. * Data entry skills. * Ability to lift up to 30 lbs. V. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: * Experience with public communication and conflict resolution. * Experience working with animals. OTHER POSITION DETAILS: * Pay: $16/hr, 40 hrs/week, 11 weeks * TWMMMRP is a research program of The Whale Museum (TWM). Our office is housed at TWM in the heart of Friday Harbor and lab space is at UW’s Friday Harbor Labs, approximately 2 miles away. Access to reliable personal transportation is strongly recommended to aid in timely transportation between the office and lab. Car or bike is recommended. TWM staff can help you locate a bike on San Juan if you are not able to bring one. * The community in the San Juans care deeply about the marine wildlife so you will often find yourself in sensitive situations when handling stranded animals. Sometimes TWMMMRP’s decisions are met with dissatisfaction, questioning, or anger at our action/inaction in specific cases (e.g. leaving an abandoned pup on a beach where it will likely die). You must be prepared to learn how to manage these interpersonal situations with empathy and confidence. You will always be able to refer the public to TWMMMRP Coordinator or TWM’s Research Director. * You do not need previous animal handling experience to apply for this position, but you must care about the conservation and research of marine species and be motivated to pursue a career in science or conservation. TWMMMRP recognizes the challenges in acquiring many of the skills required for early-career positions. TO APPLY: Please send the following documents attached as one (1) PDF file to research(a)whalemuseum.org with the subject “[your last name] Summer 2026 TWMMMRP Internship” by March 13 2026. Application review will begin immediately. 1. Your CV or resume 2. A personal statement (1 page max) including: * Why you are interested in the position * Why you would be a valuable asset to our team * How you meet the required qualifications and any other qualifications or experiences you wish to expand upon 3. A list of 3 professional references * Include their name, email, and title Thank you!

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New paper: Predation by mammal‐eating Bigg's killer whales may shape the unique social structure of “resident” fish‐eating killer whales
by Olga Filatova 19 Feb '26

19 Feb '26

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