- MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Francisco Avellà, a pioneer in Mediterranean monk seal research and conservation, has passed away
by Luigi Bundone 06 Dec '25

06 Dec '25

It is with the utmost sadness from our hearts that we inform the MARMAM community of the passing of Francisco (Xisco) Avellà on the 2nd of December 2025. Xisco was the driving force behind the Fondo Para la Foca del Mediterráneo (FFM), and a true pioneer in the study and conservastion of the Mediterranean monk seal. From Mallorca (Balearic Island, Spain) he promoted conservation and awareness projects at the end of the 20th century, helping to protect the last specimens of the western Mediterranean. His work marked a turning point in the preservation of this threatened species. Thanks to the commitment of Xisco and his collaborators, the FFM developed awareness campaigns and population-monitoring programmes along the coasts of Spain and North Africa. Xisco Avellà stands as an example of dedicated environmental activism, and his legacy continues to inspire those working today toward the recovery of this species' sub-populations. The entire monk seal community owes him a great debt for his extraordinary work, which began in the Balearic Islands during his teenage years. His premature departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. Luigi Bundone & Antoni Font -- Luigi Elio Alessandro Bundone PhD Archipelagos-ambiente e sviluppo, Italia Calle Asiago 4 (Sant'Elena) 30132 Venezia Università Ca' Foscari Venezia Mediterranean monk seal Expert/Pinniped Specialist Group/Species Survival Commission/IUCN

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MSc/PhD studentship opportunity in underwater bioacoustics
by Ruth Joy 05 Dec '25

05 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM Community, We are recruiting for a number of NSERC-supported MSc / PhD student projects in underwater bioacoustics at Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada in Environmental Science and Statistics. Please send a CV and 1 page cover letter describing your interests and experience in bioacoustic fields or related research areas that overlap with the potential themes below. *Behavioural and Ecological Contexts for Cetacean Conservation* - Call-type annotation for behavioural linkage. - Acoustic signalling behaviour. - Soundscape influences on signals. - Acoustic indicators for marine mammal habitat selection. - Physiological and behavioural response to acoustic disturbance. - Development of disturbance assessment and mitigation procedures *Detection & Classification* - Incorporating cepstral/spectral multi-resolution inputs. - Neural networks for low/high-frequency marine mammal detection. - Improving detection accuracy in dynamic soundscapes. *Localization & Movement Modeling* - Integration of tracking with movement models - Integration of multiple data inputs to model movement - Extending movement modelling to multi-species - Localisation using multi-hydrophone arrays and/or multiple data sources *Data Integration & Physics-informed ML* - Noise modeling + deep learning integration. - Acoustic signal processing of underwater environments. - Propagation model and process variability, uncertainty quantification, climate-driven sound speed profile changes. *Dataset-Driven Projects* - Data cleaning, labeling, feature extraction workflows. - Model validation against real-world hydrophone measurements. - Ambient noise prediction using remote sensing + AIS. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, nationalities, identities, and lived experiences. We are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment, and we welcome candidates who can contribute to a diverse community of perspectives. We are aiming for a start date of Fall 2026. Please send your enquiries to rjoy [at ]sfu.ca. Thank you.

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ECS Newsletter - final call for abstracts!
by Mariel tendoeschate 05 Dec '25

05 Dec '25

Dear all, As we hope you all know, The 37th European Cetacean Society Conference 2026 (ECS2026) will be held in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, from the 20th - 24th of April 2026. The deadline for abstracts and workshops is upon us - and we will not be extending this deadline this year. No matter who you are, no matter how cool your science is, the deadline is the deadline - so please make sure you submit your awesome abstracts before Tuesday December 9th, 2025 (23:45 Central European Time, GMT+1). We are working with Dundee council, as well as an amazing group of people in Team Scotland, to make the conference a great experience for everyone - and if you have ideas or requirements or would like more information about things like mentoring, student initiatives, language support, or bringing your family; we would like to hear from you! We have summarised some of these initiatives as well as other news updates into a newsletter. You can access the newsletter via this link: ECS Newsletter | Final call for abstracts<https://sway.cloud.microsoft/jLDPu7MVhpHef8ft> We recommend following the ECS social media channels for the most recent updates: https://www.instagram.com/europeancetaceansociety/ https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCetaceanSociety We look forward to seeing your abstracts flow in, and seeing you in Dundee, Scotland, in April 2026! Have a lovely weekend! Cheers, on behalf of the entire LOC for ECS 2026, Carol Sparling & Mariel ten Doeschate ECS co-chairs of the LOC.

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Invitation to Provide Feedback on eOceans 2026 Tools
by Chris Ward-Paige 04 Dec '25

04 Dec '25

*What tools could you use to maximize your impact for marine mammals in 2026?* We’re designing our 2026 tech roadmap and want direct input from those working with whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, and more. We’re hosting *two open Roadmap Brainstorming Sessions* to hear directly from: - Field teams & explorers - Marine mammal researchers - Government and NGO partners - Consultants - Industry and community groups - Anyone needing better tools for sightings, migrations, threats, entanglement, or ship-strike risk data *Our goal:* Build the tools you need to map presence, visualize threats, detect patterns, and communicate science effectively. Your feedback will directly shape our 2026 roadmap — because when was the last time you had a real say in what a technology platform builds for you? *Meeting Details:* 📅 Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 ⏰ Time: Morning or Afternoon session (ADT) — designed to accommodate multiple time zones 💻 Location: Virtual *Interested in attending?* Register here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5bv3KMRXnPiUTMGuEjPBOER1GKyGA6Uy…> *Can’t attend but want to contribute?* Share your ideas here <https://eoceans.co/contact-us> Thank you for helping us build a platform that works for all of us — and for every place and animal we care about. Best regards, The eOceans Team -- *Chris Ward-Paige, PhD* | with *Ireland Moro, Madeleine Platt* Founder & CEO | Science Coordinator *eOceans* chris(a)eoceans.co, science(a)eoceans.co website: eOceans <https://www.eoceans.org/> mobile app: iOS <https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/eoceans/id1495841229> and Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.eoceans.app&hl=en_CA&gl=US> Book a meeting: *here* <https://meetings.hubspot.com/chris-ward-paige> eOceans is located in *Mi’kma’ki*, the unceded and ancestral territory of the *Mi’kmaq People*. This message is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, distributing, copying, or in any way using this message. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete copies you received.

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Movement Ecology - Analyse Animal Movement Data Effectively & Confidently
by Oliver Hooker 04 Dec '25

04 Dec '25

Movement Ecology - Analyse Animal Movement Data Effectively & Confidently *A Practical Course on Analysing Tracking Data* Modern marine-mammal research depends heavily on movement data: satellite telemetry, GPS tags, TDRs, acoustic detections, opportunistic tracks, and photo-ID–derived movement paths. Understanding how individuals move, use space, interact with their environment, and respond to human pressures is central to conservation and ecological inference. https://prstats.org/course/movement-ecology-the-analysis-of-movement-data-m… *Movement Ecology (MOVE09)* is a five-day, live online course that gives movement ecology researchers the tools to transform raw tracking data into rigorous ecological insight. What You Will Learn - The core principles of *movement ecology* and how they apply to large, mobile species where movement is influenced by physical and physiological constraints, prey distribution and behavioural states. - How to analyse movement trajectories: - step lengths, turning angles, path tortuosity - behavioural segmentation (e.g., foraging, travelling, resting) - identifying migration, site fidelity and exploratory behaviour - Methods for estimating *home ranges and utilisation distributions* in including how to interpret isopleths when movement is constrained by coastlines, fronts or oceanographic features. - Techniques for assessing interactions: - dynamic movement metrics - residence time and first-passage time - identifying hotspots, foraging areas and important habitats - How to conduct *resource- and step-selection analyses* using environmental covariates such as depth, chlorophyll, SST, fronts, prey proxies, or human activity layers (shipping, fishing). - How to choose and evaluate different tracking technologies and understand how sampling frequency, location error and behaviour affect analysis. Why This Course Is Valuable for Marine-Mammal Scientists Marine-mammal movement data come with unique complexities: long dive cycles, remote open-ocean habitats, environmental drivers that vary across depth and space, and irregular or error-prone location data. Simple descriptive methods rarely capture the processes driving movement. This course helps you: - Identify behavioural states, core areas, movement patterns and habitat preferences with *statistical confidence*. - Link movement pathways with *oceanographic conditions*, prey availability and anthropogenic pressures. - Quantify differences in space use across seasons, age classes, or individuals. - Produce defensible analyses for conservation, impact assessment, marine-protected-area design, and ecological publications. Course Format - *Five full days*, live online. - A clear mix of lectures, theory and R-based practicals using movement datasets. - Designed for marine-mammal ecologists, conservation scientists, telemetry analysts and graduate researchers who work with location-based or movement data. https://prstats.org/course/movement-ecology-the-analysis-of-movement-data-m… Please email oliver(a)prstats.org with any questions. -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats

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{MARMAM} Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program - 2026 Batten Fellowship
by Caroline Loomis 04 Dec '25

04 Dec '25

Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program - 2026 Batten Fellowship The Virginia Aquarium's Veterinary Science & Research Division is now accepting applications for the Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding Response Batten Fellowship. Fellow Application Deadline: 2/1/2026 For more information, including duties, position requirements, and how to apply, visit https://virginiaaquarium.com/work-with-us or email strandingvolmgr(a)vbgov.com with any questions. Position Overview: Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program (VAQS) Fellows promote the conservation of marine animal species through research, response, rehabilitation, and education. Fellows will be trained in all aspects of stranding response as opportunities allow. Stranding work is unpredictable, therefore experiences will vary by fellowship season. VAQS staff will provide as many learning opportunities as possible during each season. Batten Fellows are also expected to complete a focused research project overseen by a staff mentor. We work with each accepted Batten Fellow to select a project from a set of predetermined options based on their individual background, experience, and interests balanced with the available data and research needs of the program. Fellows are expected to work 400 - 800 hours over approximately three to six months, starting in May/June. This competitive position includes $15 per hour compensation to help offset personal and incidental expenses over the course of the appointment period. Housing in not provided by the Virginia Aquarium. Fellows are fully responsible for fulfilling all requirements of their home institutions to receive academic credit if applicable, and all details of academic requirements must be discussed during the application process. The Fellow is expected to be available 4 - 5 days per week, 8am - 4:30pm. Some weekend and holiday coverage is expected. Thank you, Joanna Daniel Stranding & Research Scientist Office: (757) 385-6489 jdaniel(a)VirginiaAquarium.com Stranding Response Hotline: (757) 385-7575 Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center<http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/> 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451

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Open Be Whale Wise Coordinator Position - The Whale Museum
by Conor Agnew 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

The Whale Museum<https://whalemuseum.org/pages/job-internship-volunteer-opportunities> is seeking a new Be Whale Wise<https://www.bewhalewise.org/> Coordinator! This is a year-round position with 75% employment. Pay ranges from $25 to 30 an hour, includes benefits. The application deadline is January 5th, 2026 or until filled. Location: The preferred location for this position is on-site at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA. We are willing to consider alternative locations within the project areas. Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum (TWM) promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Through education, we increase public knowledge about whales, other marine species and the Salish Sea ecosystem to promote more responsible environmental stewardship practices. The Be Whale Wise program is part of our effort to directly educate people and improve the conditions for Southern Resident killer whales and the ecosystem around them. The Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator is a staff position at The Whale Museum with responsibility to implement and advance that educational mission. Program Goal: Be Whale Wise is a partnership of governmental agencies, non-profits and others in British Columbia and Washington state to educate the boating public about laws and best practices to protect the region's whales and their environment. The Be Whale Wise partnership helps to create consistent messaging and education for vessel operators, coastal residents, and tourists to the region. Be Whale Wise partners accomplish this goal by educating boaters on shore, then reinforcing the message on-the-water around marine mammals through its partner programs. Be Whale Wise core partners include: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Transport Canada, the United States Coast Guard, CETUS Research and Conservation/Straitwatch, and The Whale Museum/Soundwatch. Be Whale Wise Program Objectives: * Educate boaters on Be Whale Wise Guidelines and Federal, State and Local regulations; * Educate boaters on best practices for viewing marine wildlife before they leave the dock; * Ensure communication of coordinated stewardship messages from partners to boaters regarding marine wildlife. Required Qualifications: * Bachelor’s degree in communications and public affairs, environmental education, social sciences, environmental sciences, marine science, fisheries or a related field; * Minimum 2 years of professional experience in one of the above areas; * Experience coordinating and training volunteers; * Experience with event planning and coordination and/or meeting facilitation; * Demonstrated ability to coordinate multifaceted groups and prioritize among competing demands; * Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to interface with the public in a manner that is respectful and professional, sometimes in challenging situations; * Experience with data management and proficiency in common software packages; * Drivers license and willingness to travel regionally for outreach events/partner meetings; * International applicants must have an approved visa and documentation to work in the U.S. at the time of submission; * This position includes seasonal weekend and holiday work as well as office time in The Whale Museum. Preferred Qualities: * Experience with grant writing and grant/budget management; * Experience with social media management and content development; * Familiarity with the marine environment and marine mammal management in Washington State and British Columbia; * Spanish language capabilities. Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator Job Tasks: The Coordinator reports to TWM Research Director and works cooperatively as part of the Museum staff. The Coordinator works closely with TWM leadership and Be Whale Wise partners to coordinate and ensure all aspects of the Be Whale Wise Partnership. The Coordinator is responsible for the organization and staffing of outreach events throughout the region, communication and coordination among Be Whale Wise partners, Be Whale Wise materials, and coordination of volunteers. Details of the Be Whale Wise Coordinator duties are provided below: * Facilitates Be Whale Wise efforts through routine interaction with partners, updating and distributing educational materials, and maintaining distribution database. * Education/Outreach on marine stewardship through planning, staffing and evaluating outreach events, including coordination of the Boater Ambassador Program, managing the program’s website and social media, liaising with regional user groups, and conducting specialized trainings for enforcement agencies, and commercial naturalists and guides. * Coordinates with BWW member organizations and provides feedback on marine wildlife viewing guidelines through education, outreach, and adaptive management strategies. The Coordinator interacts with the region’s on-water vessel education programs including: The Whale Museum’s Soundwatch Boater Education Program and Cetus Society’s Straitwatch Program to ensure consistent messaging, data collection, and analysis. * Represents TWM and Be Whale Wise at relevant stakeholder meetings, conferences, and workshops. Provides expertise on wildlife viewing, marine stewardship, whale-vessel interactions and boater education and monitoring. Networks with regional marine protection programs including state and commercial coordination organizations. * Works with stakeholders to annually adapt current wildlife viewing guidelines. Collaborates with transboundary federal, state, provincial, and local governments, whale watch operators, scientists and NGOs to adjust guidelines as indicated by new scientific findings and shifts in vessel/whale behaviors. * Program Operations: Responsible for end of year program reporting (including data analysis). Oversees program budget and assists with program accounting. Identifies and pursues funding opportunities in collaboration with TWM leadership. * Represents the program through media and public presentations on whale watching activities and marine stewardship under the supervision of TWM leadership. The Whale Museum’s benefit package includes: Health Care (medical, vision, dental), Simple IRA Retirement Plan Contribution, Paid Time Off and Holidays. HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a single PDF file containing your letter of interest, resume and at least three references. Your letter of interest must address (1) examples of accomplishments to illustrate your experience for this role with emphasis on your leadership and outreach/education experience; (2) your philosophy about the position; and (3) insight into what draws you to The Whale Museum's mission and this position at this time in your career. Please email your PDF package to: Be Whale Wise Search Committee, The Whale Museum - email: BWWsearchcommittee(a)whalemuseum.org<mailto:BWWsearchcommittee@whalemuseum.org>. The Whale Museum is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of the ecosystems and communities we serve. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other lived experience.

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Invitation to Join a Frank Conversation About Harassment
by Jeremy Kiszka 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM, Please join the Society for Marine Mammalogy for a conversation about harassment within the field of marine mammal science. This is an opportunity for our community members across all career stages to share their experiences with discrimination, harassment, solidarity or allyship; brainstorm resources or actions to mitigate harassment and create solidarity or allyship; and build a network dedicated to creating positive change. All are welcome and encouraged to join regardless of SMM membership, or career stage. Throughout 2025/2026, we will host six meetings (we already held our first meeting on October 29!), moderated by the DEI Committee, in alternating months and across various time zones to provide the greatest flexibility for the global marine mammal research community. Each meeting will be limited to 25 participants; three meetings will be open only to female-identifying individuals, and three will be open to all regardless of gender identity. The conversations will focus on four topics: experiences with harassment, experiences with power dynamics, experiences with solidarity or allyship, and suggestions to create or improve resources and infrastructure in our community. Participants will have the option to join the conversation verbally or using an online whiteboard tool to type your responses if you do not feel comfortable sharing them verbally. Register here <https://forms.gle/72z78i7z2QBMAdQZA>( https://forms.gle/72z78i7z2QBMAdQZA) for the meeting time that works best for you (remaining sessions listed below) - because space is limited, please commit to attending for the meeting that you register for. If you register and are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the spot to someone on the waitlist. Meeting Times: December 17, 2025 @ 4AM PST [female-identifying only] February 25, 2026 @ 7 AM PST [female-identifying only] April 29, 2026 @ 11 AM PST June 24, 2026 @ 2PM PST August 26, 2026 @ 5PM PST -- *Dr. Jeremy J. Kiszka* President, Society for Marine Mammalogy president(a)marinemammalscience.org https://marinemammalscience.org

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Data set: Bottlenose dolphin sightings collected by citizen scientists in an estuary
by Testa, Jamie 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

Hello MARMAMers, We are happy to share our open access article in Data in Brief with a set of bottlenose dolphin sightings collected by volunteers throughout Chesapeake Bay over 5 years. *Title*: Chesapeake DolphinWatch sightings data (2017–2022): Citizen science reports of bottlenose dolphins observed in the Chesapeake Bay, USA *Authors*: Lauren K. Rodriguez, Jamie C. Testa, Kirsten Silva, Helen Bailey *Abstract*: Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are extensively studied, though little has been published regarding their occurrence patterns in the large and highly urbanized estuary of the Chesapeake Bay, USA. To address this knowledge gap, the Chesapeake DolphinWatch project was initiated in the summer of 2017. Utilizing a citizen science (also known as volunteer science) methodology, members of the public were encouraged to report dolphin sightings through a specialized mobile (iOS and Android) and web-based (https://chesapeakedolphinwatch.org) application. This approach ensured extensive, yet non-invasive and financially-efficient, data collection. The dataset presented here includes bottlenose dolphin sighting reports submitted to Chesapeake DolphinWatch by citizen scientists over five years; from June 28, 2017 through December 9, 2022. These data have been quality checked by researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's (UMCES) Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) in Solomons, Maryland (USA). This dataset holds potential for various applications, such as analyzing the spatiotemporal patterns of dolphin presence within the Chesapeake Bay, investigating the behavior and movements of bottlenose dolphins in the mid-Atlantic, and serving as a comparative benchmark for studies in other estuarine systems. By integrating community engagement with technological platforms, the provided data showcases the invaluable role of citizen science in advancing marine ecological research. *DOI*: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2024.110368 Though it is not newly published, we hadn't yet shared it with the community on this listserv. We hope students and researchers who work with marine mammals and citizen science will find it useful. Warm regards, *Jamie C. Testa (*she/her <https://www.mypronouns.org/she-her>) Project Coordinator for Chesapeake DolphinWatch <https://www.umces.edu/dolphinwatch> University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory <https://www.umces.edu/cbl> JCTesta(a)umces.edu

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Analysing Ecological Data with Detection Error
by Oliver Hooker 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

Analysing Ecological Data with Detection ErrorLearn to analyse ecological field data with detection error using R. Work with point counts, ARU data, N-mixture models, distance sampling and time-removal methods. https://prstats.org/course/analysing-ecological-data-with-detection-error-a… Ecological Data with Detection Error (AEED01)* is a live, practical course designed to help ecologists correctly account for these challenges so that inferences about distribution, presence, abundance, or habitat use are scientifically robust. *Understanding True Patterns When Animals Are Hard to Detect* Field data on marine mammals almost always suffer from *imperfect detection*. Whether you work with line-transect surveys, photo-ID efforts, acoustic monitoring, aerial surveys, or opportunistic sightings, the probability of detecting an individual or group is rarely 1. Environmental conditions, animal behaviour, survey platforms, and observer variability all contribute to missed detections. Why Marine-Mammal Scientists Benefit from This Course Marine mammals present some of the most challenging species to detect: long dive times, elusive behaviour, weather-driven visibility, and vast, dynamic habitats. These challenges make *accounting for imperfect detection essential*, not optional. By completing this course, you will be able to: - Estimate *true occupancy, density, or probability of presence*, rather than raw sightings indices. - Correctly interpret detection-adjusted abundance or occurrence trends, useful for conservation status assessments and management decisions. - Produce reliable spatial or temporal inferences even when detection varies across survey platforms or environmental conditions. - Make monitoring programs more statistically defensible by integrating detection processes into design and analysis. What You Will Learn - Why detection error is particularly important in research. - How ignoring these processes can lead to *systematic underestimates* of occupancy or abundance and misleading assessments of population trends or habitat preferences. - How to apply and interpret statistical models that explicitly account for imperfect detection, including: - *Occupancy and multi-season models* for presence/absence surveys - *Detection-adjusted count or abundance models* - *Hierarchical models* for repeated surveys, acoustic detections, or photo-ID data - Approaches inspired by distance-sampling and removal models - How to incorporate *environmental covariates and* *observer effects*, into detection-error modelling. - How to design surveys or monitoring programs that make it possible to properly estimate both ecological states and detection processes. Course Format & Who Should Attend - Live online delivery combining conceptual explanations, case studies, R-based examples, and guided exercises. - Participants should be comfortable working with ecological data in R, but no specialised modelling background is required. Please email oliver(a)prstats.org with any questions -- Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats

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