Title: Cetacean Mass Stranding Response- protocols, data collection, and outcomes

Many locations throughout the world experience mass strandings of cetaceans with varying frequency.  Response goals, protocols, and outcomes are often dependant upon the species involved, existing stranding response infrastructure, and resources available.  The goal of this workshop is to bring together mass stranding responders and researchers in order to share information that is otherwise available only anecdotally.  A portion of the morning will be dedicated to selected speakers presenting on their agency's and/or group's response protocols, outcomes, and mass stranding-related research.  In the afternoon, we will switch to a discussion format to allow greater networking and information sharing between attendees.  Specific topic areas will include health assessment/ disposition decision-making, specialized equipment, post-release monitoring, and maximizing the science of stranding response.  We will invite selected speakers, but any attendees wishing to present may contact the organizers with a proposed topic. The output of this workshop will be threefold:

1) establish relationships between mass stranding responders around the world to facilitate ongoing data sharing and support,

2) compile existing response protocols and related results (for those willing to share) into a reference document/field manual and

3) potentially develop working groups to address some of the more pressing or complex problems faced by mass stranding responders.

If you are interested in attending please register online at:

http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=591&Itemid=336&workshop=19

If you are interested in presenting your data, protocols, or innovative equipment designs, please email me at: kmoore@ifaw.org

Kind regards,

Katie