The Society for Conservation Biology Marine Section has sponsored the following Soc. for Marine Mammalogy workshops so that instead of up to $100 admission to the workshop will cost ONLY $10 FOR THE FIRST 30 REGISTRANTS IN EACH !!! <http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=591&Itemid=336&workshop=31> Top twenty research questions of global importance for cetacean conservation* ONLY $10 for first 30 registrants <http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=591&Itemid=336&workshop=46> Cognition and Self-awareness in Cetaceans: A review of ethical implications for conservation laws * ONLY $10 for first 30 registrants I <http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=articl e&id=591&Itemid=336&workshop=43> ntegrating Marine Mammal Conservation: Human Dimensions and the Practitioner * ONLY $10 for first 30 registrants Don't forget to REGISTER ASAP ! Top twenty research questions of global importance for cetacean conservation Date: Saturday 7the December - Whole Day (lunch included) _____ In 2008/9 an exercise was conducted in the UK to parse a list of 100 urgent research questions that need to be addressed in order to further conservation globally. The results of this exercise were published as an article in Conservation Biology (Sutherland et al. 2009. An assessment of the 100 questions of greatest importance to the conservation of global biodiversity. Conservation Biology 23(3): 557-567), which has since become the journal's most frequently downloaded and cited paper. This paper has also been highly useful for government agencies when prioritizing research and funding. During the exercise over 2000 questions were generated by a select group of academics, NGO representatives and agency officials, which were then ordered by perceived priority during a two-day workshop to identify the final list of 100 questions. In 2011/12 a similar exercise was conducted to produce a list of key research questions for marine conservation-addressing questions on this list will become a key selection criterion for participating in the Society for Conservation Biology's International Marine Conservation Congresses. A few of the questions in the latter exercise are relevant to cetaceans, but none are specific to cetacean conservation. Therefore we propose to hold a two-day workshop to develop a list of questions specifically related to cetaceans to aid agencies, NGOs, and academics prioritize conservation research needs. Relevant questions developed during the previous exercises will be used as a basis for discussion, in addition to new questions proposed by participants. A call-out for questions will be announced prior to the event, and these questions will be compiled by workshop organizers. During the SMM workshop, the list of questions will be discussed, edited and pared down, with a final list prepared on the afternoon of the second day. The top 20 questions will be compiled and submitted as a paper for a relevant journal. A press release will be produced for the results of the exercise, and the subsequent article will be distributed to marine NGOs and agencies. Cognition and Self-awareness in Cetaceans: A review of ethical implications for conservation laws Date: Sunday 8th December Morning Only _____ The ancient Greeks considered dolphins to have human thoughts and undertake human deeds. As a result they were given legal rights equivalent to humans; e.g., killing a dolphin was considered equivalent to killing a person. In contrast, other regions have historically categorized cetaceans as "fish" in terms of welfare and status. In the latter part of the 20th century, much of the world began to think of cetaceans as special; consequently, laws for their protection increased, climaxing in the 1970s. Despite these laws, cetaceans are exposed, sometimes deliberately, to human activities that could cause them stress and trauma, such as captures, exposure to intense noise, and harassment by marine tourism. Recent studies have shown that several species of animal (e.g. great apes and elephants) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) possess sophisticated linguistic capabilities and appear to display levels of self-awareness, using mirror self-recognition tests, equivalent to those of a 4-year-old human. What are the legal implications of this human-level intelligence and awareness of self? Laws and regulations protecting some of these SHILAS (Species of Human Intelligence Level and Awareness of Self) have been enacted in some jurisdictions. Most recently, US federal regulations regarding captive research on chimpanzees mandated larger enclosures and increased social interaction. But for cetaceans, there have been no reviews of legal protections, or of the ethical implications of human activities, since research has indicated unusual levels of cognition and awareness in species such as the bottlenose dolphin. Under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, whales and dolphins are given special protection, but it also allows takes (killing, injuring and harassing) under certain circumstances, including for public display. European law similarly prohibits killing, injuring and harassing of cetaceans , although the Faeroe Islands and Greenland have hunts of cetaceans using methods that have been criticized as inhumane. European states also have regulations for holding cetaceans in captivity. This day-long workshop will have brief presentations highlighting: (i) the current state of knowledge of cetacean cognition; (ii) definitions of ethical treatment and research; (iii) key conservation, research and welfare laws and regulations; and (iv) a comparison with laws for other SHILAs (4 x 20 minutes).There will then be a discussion of the ethical implications of (a) capture and handling methods; (b) regulations for captivity and other tourism activity, notably swim-with-cetacean tourism and provisioning; and (c) invasive studies and experiments (3 hours).Audience: Those interested in cetacean welfare, ethical research , cetacean behavior, conservation and regulation/policy. The proposed product of the workshop will be a series of discussion papers, with the ultimate aim of producing a special issue of an appropriate journal. Integrating Marine Mammal Conservation: Human Dimensions and the Practitioner * Date: Sunday 8th December Afternoon Only _____ Marine mammal conservation is unique because many species are difficult to study due to their pelagic nature, resulting in significant data gaps. All marine mammals are protected in the US under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and some species have additional protection under the Endangered Species Act. However, few species exist only in the US, so conservation plans often must include international cooperation, including First Nations tribes. Marine mammals also frequently interact with industry via competition, by-catch, and critical habitat designation. Many marine mammal species are consumed by subsistence users, and internationally through commercial and scientific whaling exemptions to the IWC. Thus, marine mammal conservation must take a multidisciplinary approach (oceanography, fisheries biology), and integrate priorities of diverse stakeholders (policy makers, industry, subsistence users). This workshop will present the summaries from presentations at the 2013 ICCB symposium that brought together stakeholders in fisheries, indigenous food security, biology, and policy to consider challenges, solutions, and best practices for advancing an integrated approach to marine mammal conservation. A significant outcome of the ICCB symposium was the need for marine mammal biologists and practitioners to understand the human dimensions and implications of their work for local communities. This symposium will include key human dimensions training for biologists and conservation practitioners. The final symposium in this three-part series will occur at the Third International Marine Conservation Congress in 2014. _____
