Dear all, At the 30th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Madeira the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) are hosting a workshop titles "T<http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/workshops-0#The%20Joint%20Cetacean%20Protocol:%20lessons%20learned%20and%20looking%20to%20the%20future>he Joint Cetacean Protocol: lessons learned and looking to the future". We have a few spaces left and are particularly keen to attract participants from North Sea bordering countries. For background to the JCP, see the JNCC website: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5657 For more in detail on the workshop, see below or visit ECS workshop page: http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/workshops-0 The workshop will be held on: Sunday, 13th March (full day) Participation fee €25 To register or further information contact: Tim.Dunn@jncc.gov.uk<mailto:Tim.Dunn@jncc.gov.uk> Overview: <http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/sites/default/files/ECS2016%20_workshop%2011%20-%20Communicating%20marine%20mammal%20science_education_Programme.pdf>The Joint Cetacean Protocol (JCP) is an ambitious initiative that assembled effort-related cetacean sightings datasets from all major UK, and some European sources. These data represented the largest cetacean sightings resource ever collated in Europe and comprised: 38 data sources from at least 542 distinct survey platforms; over 1 million km of effort; and covered a 17 year period (1994-2010) in a region from the continental shelf edge west of Ireland to the Kattegat. There were 3 phases of analysis, which aimed to: 1. identify all relevant north-west (NW) European cetacean sightings data available; 2. investigate the power these data had to assess trends/changes in abundance and distribution and how to improve that power; 3. define standards for collection and storage of data; 4. facilitate sharing of standardised cetacean datasets via a web portal; and 5. develop methods for the production of cetacean distribution maps and estimates of both abundance and changes in abundance. Each of these was met with varying levels of success and the workshop will review the outputs of the JCP to date. In doing so, lessons learned from the different analytical phases will be identified and will help scope the need and approach to a new phase of work. In discussing this, existing and potential data providers will be invited to present new datasets and/or data standards implemented and this will be opportunity to build wider European partnerships. The output from the workshop will be a draft scope for a new phase of the JCP, which will include identification of objectives, broad approach (data standards, contribution and analysis) and essential partnerships. Building on and broadening the geographic scope of the JCP brings with it greater potential to improve reporting and assessment for, as examples, the Habitats Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, of European cetacean populations. If you have a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information request please refer to our website page<http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=6077> Dr Kelly Macleod Senior Marine Species Advisor Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Inverdee House, Baxter Street, Aberdeen AB11 9QA Office +44 (0) 1224 266584 Mobile +44 (0) 7964 598 206 Kelly.Macleod@jncc.gov.uk<mailto:Kelly.Macleod@jncc.gov.uk> Please note that I work part-time (Monday-Thursday) _____________________________________________________________________ This email and any attachments, is intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you are not the named recipient then any copying, distribution, storage or other use of the information contained in them is strictly prohibited. In this case, please inform the sender straight away then destroy the email and any linked files. JNCC may have to make this message, and any reply to it, public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. If you have a Freedom of Information/Environmental Information request please refer to our website page. This message has been checked for all known viruses by JNCC through the MessageLabs Virus Control Centre however we can accept no responsibility once it has left our systems. The recipient should check any attachment before opening it. JNCC Support Co. registered in England and Wales, Company No. 05380206. Registered Office: Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1JY. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/