Dear colleagues,
Bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear is the greatest threat to cetaceans today. We need to join efforts to better understand and mitigate the threat working collaboratively with fishers and authorities, as well as make the most of the policy opportunities (such as the new MMPA regulations) to leverage action. 
We would like to cordially invite you to the SMM marine mammal bycatch workshop organized by WWF, NOAA, and the Marine Mammal Commission on Saturday October 28. For more information please contact my colleague Leigh Henry (leigh.henry@wwfus.org).

SMM Marine Mammal Bycatch Workshop

DRAFT AGENDA

Saturday, October 28th

Halifax World Trade & Convention Center

 

8:30-8:45 Welcome and Overview – Randy Reeves, Chair, IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group

8:45-10:30 PANEL 1 Addressing the Challenges – Case Studies in Assessments and Mitigation of Marine Mammal Bycatch (Presentations and Q&A/Discussion)

o   Models and toolkits in data poor situations - Ellen Hines, San Francisco State University

o   Using predictive habitat models to help reduce marine mammal bycatch - Nicholas B. Sisson, Old Dominion University

o   New tools for confronting marine mammal bycatch in fixed gear fisheries—Tim Werner, New England Aquarium

o   Zanzibar dolphin bycatch assessment and mitigation – Per Berggren, Newcastle University

o   Bycatch Assessment & Mitigation in Peruvian Small-Scale Fisheries - Elizabeth Campbell, Pro Delphinus Peru

o   Cambodia –Not Confirmed

10:30-11:00 Break

11:00-11:30 Understanding the New MMPA Import Rule, the Implications & the Opportunities – Carolyn Doherty, NOAA Fisheries

11:30-12:30 PANEL 2 Incentivizing Solutions to the Challenges (Presentations and Q&A/Discussion)

·      Overview of incentivizing tools: transferable bycatch quotas, payments for ecosystem services, market access, labeling schemes – Rebecca Lent, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission

·      Case studies:

o   Market incentives for Vaquita Conservation – Sarah Mesnick, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center

o   Lessons from the Alaska pollock and Atlantic pelagic longline bluefin tuna fisheries – Rebecca Lent, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission

12:30-2:00 Lunch

2:00-3:00 PANEL 3 Mandating and Supporting Solutions to the Challenges through International Agreements (Presentations and Q&A/Discussion)

·      What is and should be done by RFMOS and other intergovernmental organizations to reduce marine mammal bycatch

o   IOTC/Indian Ocean Bycatch - Jeremy Kiszka, University of Florida

o   CMS/ACCOBAMS- Simone Panigada, Chair, ACCOBAMS Scientific Committee and President, Tethys Research Institute

o   IWC – David Mattila, International Whaling Commission

3:00-3:30-Break

3:30-4:30 PANEL 4 – Solving the Puzzle: How Have We Put All the Pieces Together to Drive Meaningful Progress? (Presentations and Q&A/Discussion)

·      Tuna Dolphin – Kate O’Connell, Animal Welfare Institute

·      Driftnet Ban – Mike Gosliner, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission

·      Driving Political Will: Wildlife Crime Model– Leigh Henry, WWF

4:30-5:00 Wrap Up Discussion and Brainstorm – How Can We Put All the Pieces Together to Drive Meaningful Progress on Maine Mammal Bycatch?

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