Dear Colleagues,

This is the second announcement of the Indian Ocean Cetacean Symposium, to be held in the Maldives in July 2009. Dates and venue have now been finalized:

Dates: 18-20 July 2009

Venue: Sun Island Resort and Spa, Ari Atoll, Maldives

To register or receive further information (including details of special conference rate at Sun Island) contact Ms. Shahaama Sattar:
sasattar@mrc.gov.mv

For more information about the Maldives:

The past decade has seen a rapid expansion of the cetacean research in the Indian Ocean. This symposium will provide an opportunity for active cetacean researchers from across the region to gather, to present findings, and to plan collaborative research activities. It will also bring together representatives of international organisations concerned with cetacean research and conservation. A major output of the symposium will be a peer-reviewed proceedings volume.

2009 happens to be the 30th anniversary year of the declaration of the IWC's Indian Ocean Sanctuary. One of the objectives of the IOS is to promote benign research on cetaceans, and this meeting will provide a timely opportunity to review such activities.

I hope to meet some of you here in the beautiful Maldives this time next year,

Charles Anderson
Male'
Republic of Maldives