Dear ECS and MARMAM members, The following workshop, will be held at the forthcoming ECS Conference, Setúbal, Portugal: Workshop on "BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN'S CONSERVATION: WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM DIFFERENT RESIDENT POPULATIONS?" to be held on Saturday, 6 April 2013 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is catalogued as a high priority species under the EU Habitat Directive (Annex II) and requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for their protection. The bottlenose dolphins Sado population (Portugal) is one of the smallest known resident populations in the world. In 2009, recognizing the uniqueness of the Sado population, the Portuguese Institute for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation approved the Action Plan for the Conservation and Monitoring of the Bottlenose dolphins Population of Sado Estuary (http://roazesdosado.icnb.pt/homepage.aspx - in Portuguese). Therefore, insights into the distribution, population structure and health of this emblematic population, human disturbances impacts quantification and the relationships with non-resident populations, are urgently required for appropriate management measures. The objective of this workshop is to present first results of ongoing projects in the Sado estuary and exchange knowledge and experiences with researchers working towards the conservation of other resident populations of bottlenose dolphins. We expect submissions from people who work with resident populations of bottlenose dolphins, especially those who are in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs - Habitats Directive) or that work in scientific areas (e.g. population structure; human impacts - sound, whale-watching, chemical pollution; MPAs and management) that have relevance for the conservation of this small resident population. We hope that the exchange of experiences among researchers may bring contributions applicable to the Action Plan for the Conservation and Monitoring of the Population of Bottlenose dolphins of Sado Estuary. The presentations will be 15 minutes long. Please send an abstract of up to 300 words by February 28 to carvalho.inesc@gmail.com. More informations: http://www.escolademar.pt/ecs2013/ Best regards, Inês Carvalho, workshop co-organiser Associação para as Ciências do Mar Edifício ICAT - Campus da FCUL - Campo Grande 1749-016 LISBOA