Can you please post the following. I am pleased to announce registration for the Assessing Bycatch in Fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region. At the upcoming SMM Biology of Marine Mammals is now open. The full day workshop will be held on Saturday 7th December Dunedin, NZ. Fisheries bycatch is the principal threat to many marine mammals. In some cases, bycatch reduction devices have been shown to mitigate the bycatch of non-target species, but the scale of the problem outpaces progress in finding solutions. In particular, bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries is one of the most immediate threats facing many marine mammal species worldwide. While most of the research and development of bycatch reduction methods is focused in developed nations and commercial fisheries, some of the most severe coastal gillnet bycatch challenges are likely to be found in artisanal gillnet fisheries in developing nations and small island developing nations. Efforts to address challenges in these coastal regions are stymied by a lack of information on the extent of the bycatch problem and the status of the species affected, as well as by social, cultural and economic factors that can cause artisanal fishing communities to resist implementing mitigation measures. This workshop will begin together scientists currently working on marine mammal or related bycatch issues in the Pacific Islands region (including the larger central, western, and south Pacific). Workshop participants will (1) summarize what is known about marine mammal bycatch in their region; (2) identify key informational needs and initial actions required to reduce marine mammal bycatch in fisheries, (2) identify regions, fisheries, or situations that are unsustainable; (3) identify regions, fisheries, or situations that are ripe for testing mitigation strategies or develop pilot programs to assess and mitigate marine mammal bycatch. If you are interested in presenting at the workshop, please contact me. I will provide you with the format for oral presentations and written submissions. A report of this workshop will be produced based on the written reports from each participant. The deadline for submission of papers is November 11, 2013. There is a workshop fee to cover costs of space, AV equipment, lunch and coffee breaks. To register go to: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article... Please contact me with any questions. Nina M. Young Office of International Affairs National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East West Highway, # 10631 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Email: Nina.Young@noaa.gov <luis.leandro@noaa.gov> Phone: 301-427-8383