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New Perspective Publication on Marine Mammal Vocal Rhythm
by Peter Cook 07 Jul '26

07 Jul '26

Dear Colleagues, We're happy to share our new open-access Perspective paper in BMC Biology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-026-02675-8 This was an interdisciplinary effort bringing together marine mammal physiologists, social ecologists, cognitive neuroscientists, evolutionary modelers, and experts in biorhythms. We argue that marine mammals are productive models for examining the evolution of vocal and social rhythms. Our approach integrates current understanding of the contribution of peripheral physiological and central nervous system mechanisms for creating and maintaining rhythmic vocalizations, and links these with field data examining social coordination across species. Citation: Cook, P.F., Flem, S., Madsen, P.T., Ravignani, A., Gremore, P., Hood, C., Jadoul, Y., Papageorgiou, D., Pedersen, M., Raimondi, T., Rouse, A., Sorensen, P., Videsen, S. & King, S.L. Marine mammals as models for charting the evolution of social vocal rhythm. *BMC Biol* (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02675-8 Abstract In this Perspective, we suggest combining physiological, neurobiological, behavioural, and social data from multiple marine mammal species to create evolutionary models of the emergence of social vocal coordination. Marine mammal sound production mechanisms have evolved to manage vocalizing and breathing in an aquatic environment, potentially releasing functional constraints on the control of vocal timing. Intervals in rhythmic cetacean vocalizations cover a remarkable temporal range, from less than a millisecond in porpoise burst pulses to 10 s in sperm whale slow clicks. Many cetaceans demonstrate temporally coordinated social behaviour, while pinnipeds express high variability in vocal plasticity and social behaviour. The systematic variability of vocal production mechanisms, vocal rhythms, and sociality can be compared phylogenetically to generate models for the evolution of social rhythm in the vocal domain. All the best, Peter (on behalf of co-authors) Peter F. Cook, Ph.D Associate Professor of Psychology and Marine Mammal Science Master's in Marine Mammal Science New College of Florida Research Associate Institute for Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz *(a)pfcooklab.bsky.social*

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Population Genomics and Structure Analysis (PGSA01) – Applications for Marine Mammal Research
by Courses Info 07 Jul '26

07 Jul '26

Population Genomics and Structure Analysis (PGSA01) – Applications for Marine Mammal Research https://prstats.org/course/population-genomics-and-structure-analysis-pgsa0… Delivered by Dr. Nikolay Oskolkov, a computational biologist specialising in population genomics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, and statistical genomics. Learn how to analyse population structure using modern genomic tools, with methods that are highly applicable to marine mammal research, conservation genetics, and population management. Advances in high-throughput sequencing have transformed marine mammal science, allowing researchers to investigate population connectivity, gene flow, demographic history, hybridisation, adaptation, and genetic diversity at unprecedented resolution. While this course focuses on population genomics and structure analysis, the statistical and computational methods are directly transferable to marine mammal research, providing powerful tools for understanding population dynamics and informing conservation and management decisions. What you'll gain * A strong understanding of population genomics and population genetic theory * Practical experience analysing genomic variation using modern software tools * Skills in population structure, ancestry inference, and clustering analyses * Understanding of demographic history, gene flow, admixture, and introgression * Confidence in interpreting genomic patterns within ecological and evolutionary contexts Course format * Live, instructor-led online training * Hands-on coding with real-world genomic datasets * Interactive practical exercises throughout * Strong focus on applied, research-ready workflows Who is this course for? * Marine mammal researchers working with genomic or genetic data * Conservation geneticists and molecular ecologists * Marine ecologists and population biologists * Researchers working with SNP, RAD-seq, whole-genome, or ancient DNA datasets * PhD students and quantitative life scientists Why take this course? Population genomics has become an essential tool in marine mammal research, helping scientists investigate population connectivity, stock structure, dispersal, hybridisation, adaptation, and responses to environmental change. These approaches are increasingly used to support species conservation, identify management units, assess genetic diversity, and understand the evolutionary history of marine mammal populations. This course equips you with the practical skills needed to analyse population genomic datasets using widely adopted tools such as ANGSD, ADMIXTURE, STRUCTURE, NGSadmix, ChromoPainter, fineSTRUCTURE, and F-statistics. Whether you're studying whales, dolphins, seals, or other marine mammals, you'll gain the analytical toolkit needed to extract robust biological insights from genomic data and strengthen evidence-based conservation and management. Learn more & enrol PR Stats course page for Population Genomics and Structure Analysis (PGSA01) https://prstats.org/course/population-genomics-and-structure-analysis-pgsa0… Questions? Email: oliver(a)prstats.org Oliver Hooker Managing Partner [signature_68833404] Advanced Training for Researchers in the Life Sciences coursesinfo(a)prstats.org <http://oliver@prstats.org/> | www.prstats.org<http://www.prstats.org/>

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new publication: The Bridle Mark System on Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Pigmented Facial Features Supplement Photo-Identification.
by Barbara Brunnick Ph.D. 07 Jul '26

07 Jul '26

Help MARMAM community On Behalf of my co-authors, I am happy to share our new open access publication: The Bridle Mark System on Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Pigmented Facial Features Supplement Photo-Identification. Published in Animals, 16(12), 1857. Research on free-ranging animal species, which extend from the breadth of stock identification and population dynamics to fine-scaled analysis of behavior, depends on identifying individuals. Recognizing wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) primarily depends on photographs of distinct patterns of notches which eventually develop on the trailing edge of most dorsal fins. Although photo-identification has advanced to include computer-aided fin-identification software, there can still be error related to dolphins whose identifying patterns are subtle, obscured, or absent (‘clean fins’). Facial pigment patterns on dolphin species were described as bridle marks over a hundred years ago. The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate bridle mark presence, distinctiveness, and permanence as a supplement to dorsal fin photo-identification. A 17-year population census of 860 bottlenose dolphins in Palm Beach Florida, USA includes 458 dolphins with photographic records showing bridle marks. A subset of 30 dolphins, based on an encounter history spanning at least 7 years, was coded using a 17-point system. Results confirmed bottlenose dolphin bridle mark distinctiveness and permanence on all 30 dolphins. Conclusions are that bridle marks can supplement photo-identification as a double-mark system to improve accuracy. This tool is helpful for recognizing calves with clean dorsal fins post weaning and adults with changeable dorsal fin markings. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/12/1857 Feel Free to reach out if you have comments or questions - brunnick(a)taras.org <mailto:brunnick@taras.org> Cheers, Barbara J. Brunnick Ph.D. Research Director Palm Beach Dolphin Project Taras Oceanographic Foundation 4311 North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 561-762-5770

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New publication: Evaluating bias in a targeted SNP kit for cost-effective killer whale population genetics
by Baumgartner Chérine 06 Jul '26

06 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, We are pleased to share our new open-access paper evaluating a cost-effective and reproducible method for killer whale population genetics, now published in Ecology and Evolution. Historically, global data integration for killer whales has been limited by the cross-laboratory standardization challenges of microsatellites, while Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) remains cost-prohibitive for large sample sizes. To bridge this gap, we evaluated the performance and potential ascertainment bias of a custom RNA bait enrichment kit targeting 1,346 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). The 1,346 targeted SNP panel recapitulated broad-scale global population structure, showing a high correlation with the full WGS dataset. However, the panel is slightly less reliable than WGS for detecting fine-scale structure in unrepresented, genetically divergent lineages (specifically lower-latitude populations). We encourage groups looking for an affordable, reproducible way to analyze killer whale population structure to consider this targeted enrichment approach. If you are interested in using this panel, have questions about the custom RNA bait kit, or want to discuss how it might fit your specific dataset, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73887 Citation Baumgartner, C. D., O. A. Filatova, A. D. Foote, E. Jourdain, F. I. P. Samarra, and I. M. Reeves. 2026. “An Assessment of Allelic and SNP Bias in a Genome-Wide SNP Enrichment Kit for Killer Whales.” Ecology and Evolution16, no. 7: e73887. Abstract Genetic studies of killer whales historically relied on markers from mitochondrial DNA or microsatellites, which are cost-effective, but the difficulties in cross-laboratory standardization have limited global data integration. Transitioning to whole genome sequencing (WGS) has advanced our understanding of killer whale population structure and demographic histories; however, the costs of WGS remain a limiting factor for studying many individuals. Targeted Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping provides a cost-effective, reproducible alternative, yet it can be susceptible to ascertainment bias whereby markers discovered in a limited set of reference populations may fail to capture genetic diversity in unrepresented populations. Here, we evaluate ascertainment bias in a custom RNA bait enrichment kit targeting 1346 SNPs, originally identified in a dataset of North Pacific, Icelandic, and Southern Ocean killer whales. Specifically, we compare the relationships among 25 killer whales representing the species' global range inferred from 225,281 unlinked genome-wide SNPs to the same relationships inferred from the 1346 SNPs targeted by the capture baits, with both sets subsampled from WGS data. Comparing principal component analyses (PCAs), the targeted subset recapitulated broad-scale global population structure and clustering patterns consistent with the larger WGS dataset. We found a high correlation between the targeted bait PCA and the WGS PCA (r = 0.961). However, the observed value fell below expectations based on random sampling (p < 0.01). This deviation was likely driven by samples belonging to lineages not included in the original SNP discovery panel, suggesting a small level of ascertainment bias. Consequently, some unique genetic variation in these excluded lineages remains unrepresented, specifically impacting inference of the relationships to and among lower-latitude populations. While this targeted enrichment panel is a robust tool for elucidating major evolutionary differentiation and facilitating cross-laboratory comparisons, it is less reliable for detecting fine-scale structure in unrepresented, genetically divergent populations. Best wishes, Chérine (on behalf of all co-authors) Chérine Baumgartner PhD candidate Theoretical Biology Group ETH Zurich, Switzerland

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New publication: How ocean-going vessels respond to mandatory dynamic speed restriction zones aimed at protecting whales
by Leila Fouda 06 Jul '26

06 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new article in Marine Policy: L. Fouda, A. Mayette, K.L. Indeck, K.T.A. Davies, How ocean-going vessels respond to mandatory dynamic speed restriction zones aimed at protecting whales, Marine Policy 193 (2026) 107224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2026.107224. To date, there has been no close examination of vessel behaviour in response to the implementation of slowdowns in dynamic management zones, other than monitoring compliance with speed limits (which is > 99%). In this paper, we set out to determine whether vessels adjusted their speed in areas bordering such conservation measures to compensate for lost transit time, which may inadvertently increase the threat of lethal ship strikes to whales. We examined vessel speeds in the Dynamic Shipping Zones (DSZs) in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which are implemented to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARW) from vessel strikes. Vessels in zones contiguous to DSZs with active slowdowns travelled ≤ 0.5 knots slower than when no DSZs were active, regardless of the number of contiguous DSZs under speed restrictions. A very small number (3.81%) of vessels treated the DSZs as static areas, travelling < 10 knots throughout the NARW season. Ultimately, although vessels occasionally exceeded the 10-knot speed limit, the average excess speed was small, and the management measures were successful in enforcing reduced vessel speeds with only minor compensations. We hope this paper will be of interest to readers because it examines in detail the potential unintended consequences arising from conservation measures enacted to allow the coexistence of the international shipping industry and marine species, with reduced risk of morbidity and mortality from ship strike. The article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2026.107224 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! Best regards, Leila Fouda Leila Fouda, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)<http://www.unb.ca/pronouns> Murphy Family Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow • Biological Sciences Mobile: 506 271-8932 [University of New Brunswick] [Facebook]/uofnb<https://www.facebook.com/uofnb> [Twitter] @unb<https://twitter.com/UNB> [Instagram] @discoverunb<https://instagram.com/discoverunb/> UNB.ca<http://www.unb.ca/> Leila Fouda Personal Website<http://www.leilafouda.com/> UNB stands on the unsurrendered and unceded traditional Wolastoqey land as established in a series of Peace and Friendship Treaties.

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Publication announcement: Site Fidelity and Residency Patterns of Rough-Toothed Dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Madeira Island Using Photo-Identification
by Claire Raffaelli 06 Jul '26

06 Jul '26

Dear MARMAM community, We would like to announce the publication of our recent article: “Site Fidelity and Residency Patterns of Rough-Toothed Dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Madeira Island Using Photo-Identification" This study presents the first assessment of site fidelity and residency patterns of rough-toothed dolphins in the Madeira region using photo-identification. Our findings provide new insights into the ecology and habitat use of this little-studied species, while establishing valuable baseline knowledge to support future research and conservation efforts. Abstract: The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is distributed in warm waters worldwide, yet its spatial ecology remains poorly understood, especially in the Eastern North Atlantic. This study presents the first assessment of site fidelity and residency patterns for the species in this region, using year-round photo-identification data collected in Madeira Island between 2016 and 2024. A total of 1092 captures from 637 individuals showed that 62.5% were captured only once. The remaining individuals showed that 26.1% were recaptured intra-annually and 19.6% interannually (mean = 3 captures, SD = 1, range = 2–10), with a maximum recapture interval of 8 years. The proportion of distinctive marked dorsal fins was 51.1% (SD = 6.4%). Lagged Identification Rates, based on a model incorporating emigration and reimmigration, estimated that 28 individuals were present in the study area during the summer (July–August), with a mean stay of 6.4 days and an absence of 626 days. The Standardized Site Fidelity Index indicated low association (mean = 0.0057, SD = 0.0065) with the area. Overall, rough-toothed dolphins appear to be mainly transients or occasional visitors, suggesting high mobility and limited temporal association with the southern waters of Madeira, mainly during the summer. These findings provide new insights for guiding conservation strategies for rough-toothed dolphins in the Macaronesia biogeographic region. Citation: Raffaelli, C., A. Sambolino, R. Ferreira, R. Alves, E. Hamard, A. Marçalo, F. Alves, 2026. “Site Fidelity and Residency Patterns of Rough-Toothed Dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Madeira Island Using Photo-Identification.” Marine Mammal Science42, no. 3: e70223. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70223. The article is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.70223 A PDF of the paper can be provided upon request. Best regards, Claire Raffaelli Research Technician MARE – Madeira University of Madeira ARDITI - Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação Edif. Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso - 2 Caminho da Penteada 9020-105 Funchal Portugal

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SMM2026 workshop on Evolving AI Applications in Marine Mammal Science -- Call for participation and speakers
by Ted Cheeseman 05 Jul '26

05 Jul '26

Dear colleagues, We invite you to join us for a full-day pre-conference workshop, "Evolving AI Applications in Modern Marine Mammal Science: From Computer Vision to Generative and Agentic AI," Sunday, October 18, 2026 at the SMM 2026 conference in Puerto Rico. A virtual attendance option will be available. Building on a well-attended 2024 workshop, this session examines the rapidly evolving landscape of AI across our field, organized around three interconnected themes: computer vision (individual ID, abundance estimation, body condition, attribute classification), AI in bioacoustics (real-time detection, call classification, behavioral state inference), and generative and agentic AI (data augmentation, synthetic training data, literature synthesis, research communication). Across all three, we will keep accessibility and interpretability, context, and appropriate use — validation, transparent methodology, awareness of bias and limitations, and data sovereignty — woven through the discussion rather than treated as a separate topic. Confirmed speakers to date include: • Jason Holmberg (Wild Me / Conservation X Labs) — creator and engineering lead of the open-source Wildbook platform, which pairs computer vision with citizen science to individually identify wildlife at global scale. • Charlotte DeBasso (Bio-Inspired Research & Development (BIRD) Lab, USN, NUWC, Newport R.I.) — developing machine learning algorithm for automatic detection of whales based on thermal fluke print signatures. • Ane Liv Berthelsen (Hoffman Lab, Bielefeld University) — using individual-based genetic and phenotypic data to study trait variation in Antarctic fur seals. • Shane Gero (Dominica Sperm Whale Project; Biology Lead, Project CETI; Carleton University) — applies machine learning to decode sperm whale communication and culture from decades of longitudinal field data. • Denise Herzing (Wild Dolphin Project) — four decades studying wild Atlantic spotted dolphins, now applying generative AI (DolphinGemma) and the CHAT interface to explore dolphin communication. • Henry Sun (Duke University Marine Lab) — Low Rank Adaptation fine tuning of diffusion models for generating highly accurate synthetic imagery • …and more to come... We are seeking additional speakers, and we are especially interested in contributions exploring and applying generative and agentic AI in marine mammal science. We encourage speakers to focus less on their specific methods and results, and more on the process of integrating AI into their science — including how their own agency as researchers is shifting as these tools enter the workflow. Talks that surface what is genuinely changing about how we work, where AI is helping, and where it falls short will be most valuable to the group. The format combines invited presentations on methodological advances with facilitated discussion, so participants can gain practical knowledge for conceiving, developing, implementing, and evaluating AI tools in their own research. A core goal is to build collaborative networks and identify opportunities for shared resources, training datasets, and methodological standardization across the community. If you would like to present, or have questions about participating, please contact us: • Ted Cheeseman, BTBEL / Ocean Sciences, UC Santa Cruz & Happywhale — ted(a)happywhale.com • Guy W. Oliver, Institute of Marine Sciences, UC Santa Cruz — oliver(a)ucsc.edu Workshop details and registration information are available on the SMM2026 workshops page: https://www.smmconference.org/workshops/ We look forward to seeing you in Puerto Rico. Ted Cheeseman & Guy Oliver — Dr. Ted Cheeseman Director, Happywhale // Research Fellow, University of California Santa Cruz ted(a)happywhale.com // www.Happywhale.com Support ocean conservation science! https://donorbox.org/donate-to-the-whales-of-guerrero-and-happy-whale Happywhale on NPR: https://n.pr/42W0vjI and https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/07/31/ai-whale-recognition Recent publications: Bellwethers of Change: North Pacific humpback whale climate response: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231462 Humpback whale automated image recognition: https://rdcu.be/cCOtw Multi-species image recognition: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.14167 ** know your whales :) ** — I live and play on unceded lands of the Ohlone.

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Bottlenose dolphin reliance on trawlers in prey-depleted Adriatic Sea regions
by Giovanni Bearzi 03 Jul '26

03 Jul '26

Dear colleagues, we just published an open-access paper showing that bottlenose dolphins in two Adriatic Sea areas have adapted to foraging and scavenging behind operating trawlers, following a fairly high proportion of the fishing fleets during days of trawling. DOWNLOAD: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/mammal-science/articles/10.3389/fmamm.… Bearzi G., Bonizzoni S., Furey N.B., Reeves R.R. 2026. Bottlenose dolphin reliance on trawlers in prey-depleted Adriatic Sea regions. Frontiers in Mammal Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmamm.2026.1855890 ABSTRACT – The Adriatic Sea is one of the areas most exposed to trawling worldwide. The common bottlenose dolphin *Tursiops truncatus*—the only cetacean species regularly present in the northern and central portions of the basin—is known to forage and scavenge behind trawlers. We investigated dolphin occurrence behind three types of trawlers off the Italian regions of Veneto (3000 km²) and Marche (2000 km²), using 8 years (2018–2025) of survey data and 17,755 km of navigation effort from independent research boats. A total of 859 trawlers were checked for dolphin presence/absence across 148 days of trawling. Overall, dolphins were observed in the wake of 24.7% of the trawlers: 41.3% of the bottom otter trawlers (n = 375), 35.1% of the midwater pair trawlers (n = 148), and 1.5% of the beam trawlers (n = 336). Dolphin occurrence behind otter trawlers varied significantly between regions: dolphins followed one quarter of the vessels off Veneto (25.9%, n = 259), and three quarters of those off Marche (75.9%, n = 116). In the sampled regions, the large majority of bottlenose dolphins appear to be strikingly reliant on trawl gear, not only specialising in foraging and scavenging behind operating trawlers, but also targeting considerable proportions of the trawl fleets, possibly in response to severe prey depletion and habitat disruption by fisheries. The net effects on dolphin fitness and demography remain unknown. As trawlers have been causing profound damage to Adriatic ecosystems, the promotion of their continued use is inadvisable, not only to protect dolphins but also to conserve marine biodiversity writ large. - - - - - - - Giovanni Bearzi https://www.dolphinbiology.org/people/giovanni_bearzi.htm

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Bayesian Modelling Using R-INLA (BMIN04) – Applications for Marine Mammal Research
by Courses Info 03 Jul '26

03 Jul '26

Bayesian Modelling Using R-INLA (BMIN04) – Applications for Marine Mammal Research https://prstats.org/course/bayesian-modelling-using-r-inla-bmin04/ Delivered by Dr. Virgilio Gómez-Rubio, author of Bayesian Inference with INLA and an internationally recognised expert in Bayesian statistics and spatial modelling. Learn how to build fast, flexible Bayesian models using R-INLA, with methods that are highly applicable to marine mammal ecology, conservation, and population assessment. Marine mammal datasets are often hierarchical, spatially structured, and collected over long time periods from multiple survey platforms. While this course teaches Bayesian modelling using the powerful R-INLA framework, the methods are directly transferable to marine mammal research, including abundance estimation, habitat modelling, telemetry, passive acoustic monitoring, occupancy studies, and population dynamics. R-INLA provides a computationally efficient alternative to traditional MCMC methods, making sophisticated Bayesian analyses practical for large ecological datasets. What you'll gain * A strong understanding of Bayesian inference and prior specification * Practical experience fitting Bayesian models using R-INLA * Skills to build hierarchical, spatial, and spatio-temporal models * Understanding of model comparison and uncertainty quantification * Confidence in interpreting posterior distributions and Bayesian model outputs Course format * Live, instructor-led online training * Hands-on coding with real-world datasets * Interactive practical exercises throughout * Strong focus on applied, research-ready workflows Who is this course for? * Marine mammal researchers looking to incorporate Bayesian methods into their analyses * Marine ecologists and conservation scientists * Researchers analysing survey, telemetry, acoustic, or environmental datasets * PhD students and quantitative environmental scientists * Anyone interested in applying modern Bayesian statistics to marine ecological data Why take this course? Marine mammal research frequently involves complex datasets that contain spatial structure, repeated observations, imperfect detection, and multiple sources of uncertainty. Bayesian methods provide an ideal framework for analysing these data while producing intuitive estimates of uncertainty. The techniques taught in this course are applicable to a wide range of marine mammal research questions, including habitat suitability modelling, abundance estimation, occupancy analysis, movement ecology, passive acoustic monitoring, spatial risk assessment, and conservation planning. By learning R-INLA, you'll gain the skills to fit sophisticated Bayesian models quickly and efficiently, allowing you to answer complex ecological questions that are difficult to address using traditional statistical approaches. Learn more & enrol PR Stats course page for Bayesian Modelling Using R-INLA (BMIN04) https://prstats.org/course/bayesian-modelling-using-r-inla-bmin04/ Questions? Email: oliver(a)prstats.org Oliver Hooker Managing Partner [signature_68833404] Advanced Training for Researchers in the Life Sciences coursesinfo(a)prstats.org <http://oliver@prstats.org/> | www.prstats.org<http://www.prstats.org/>

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The Marine Mammal Center is Hiring a Monterey Bay Operations Senior Manager!
by Sarah Tatum 02 Jul '26

02 Jul '26

Greetings Everyone, The Marine Mammal Center is Hiring! Click Here to See Details!<https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4289067/Marine-Mam…> Position: Monterey Bay Operations Senior Manager Location of Position: Castroville, California Reports to: Director, Field Operations & Response Position Classification & Expected Hours of Work, and Travel: * This is a full-time, onsite position. * Regular onsite work is required with the option of some hybrid remote work. * Days and hours of work may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center. * Evening, weekend, and holiday work are required as job duties demand. * Rotating on-call duties are required to support after-hours work across the range. * Some travel to satellite facilities and/or fieldwork within California is expected for this position. Compensation Range: $81,120 - $88,000 annual salary. Benefits: * Holidays * Sick Time * Vacation * Medical, Dental, and Vision * Life Insurance * Long Term Disability Insurance * 401k Retirement Plan * Employee Assistance Program Job Summary: The Monterey Bay Operations (MBO) Senior Manager provides direction and oversight for The Marine Mammal Center’s central response region and animal care field office in Castroville. This role is part of the Field Operations & Response (FOR) leadership team, shaping strategy for SLO while contributing to planning across FOR and Animal Operations. This role ensures consistent and efficient operations within the MBO range, across FOR, and across Animal Operations while also connecting MBO to other departments and representing both MBO and FOR across the organization and with external audiences. Areas of responsibility include regional response, animal care, facility and vehicle operations, equipment and inventory, community engagement, higher education partnerships, and media representation, combining program management with strategic oversight to ensure excellence in MBO programs and align with the Center’s mission and strategic priorities. OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint. OUR MISSION The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education. ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org To Apply: Click Here to See Details and to Apply!<https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4289067/Marine-Mam…> Please submit a cover letter and resume and provide a brief description about how your experience aligns with the role. Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. In your cover letter, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. Thank you! Sarah Tatum [Icon Description automatically generated with low confidence] Sarah Tatum (she-her) Human Resources Specialist TatumS(a)tmmc.org<mailto:tatums@tmmc.org> | MarineMammalCenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/> The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965

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