Friday, April 10, 2009 *Contacts*: Tanya Grady, PCCS: 508-247-7665, tgrady@coastalstudies.org Carole Carlson, Dolphin Fleet: 508-487-0374, science@whalewatch.com Regina Asmutis-Silvia, WDCS: 508-451-3853, regina.asmutis-silvia@wdcs.org MARINE EDUCATION CONFERENCE SET *(PROVINCETOWN, CAPE COD, MA)* – The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, in partnership with the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, will host a 3-day marine education conference at the Hiebert Marine Laboratory in Provincetown, beginning at 9a.m., April 24 through April 26, 2009. “Today’s naturalists understand that the most valuable aspect of whale watching is its potential to educate people of all ages and from all backgrounds to appreciate, value and understand marine mammals,” said Dr. Carole Carlson, of the Dolphin Fleet and adjunct scientist at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. “The goal of our workshop is to help naturalists, through dedicated seminars and discussion, to translate the whale watch experience to a wider audience and to inspire greater involvement and follow-up activity from those who participated.” The purpose of the conference is to educate naturalist/science educators, interns, volunteers, and those directly involved with whale watch tours or research in the Gulf of Maine region. The conference will include morning lectures that address the status of great whales and seals in the region, physical oceanography and current conservation concerns. Afternoon workshops include; “Plankton and the Ecosystem,” which includes lectures and hands-on identification of multiple species; and “Photo-Identification Catalogues,” how to best use them as both a research and education tool. Primary funding for the conference is made possible with support from the Wendy Joan Shadwell Fund for Whale Watch Naturalist Training and Education, created from a generous bequest from Wendy Joan Shadwell, a long time supporter of PCCS and devotee of whale watching aboard the Dolphin Fleet. The fund was established by PCCS to support ongoing education programs for whale watch naturalists. “Responsible whale watching literally saves whales,” according to WDCS Senior Biologist, Regina Asmutis-Silvia. “It is an economically viable alternative to whaling, a platform for research, and a means to educate millions of people about whales and the importance of the marine ecosystem.” The conference culminates on Sunday with a whale watch tour hosted by Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown, weather permitting. For more information, or to register for the conference, please contact Regina Asmutis-Silvia at regina.asmutis-silvia@wdcs.org. # # # * * *Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS)* is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving marine mammals and ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine through research, education, public policy initiatives, and management strategies. PCCS played a key role in the federal designation of Stellwagen Bank as a national marine sanctuary and Cape Cod Bay as a critical habitat for the North Atlantic right whale. To learn more about our work and our results, visit www.coastalstudies.org. *Dolphin Fleet* *of Provincetown*, locally-owned since 1975, is a commercial whale watch company dedicated to the promotion of responsible whale watching through education, science and high standards of vessel operation. The Dolphin Fleet is recognized world-wide as a leading example of high quality, sustainable whale watching, learn more at www.whalewatch.com. *Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (North America)* *Inc., (WDCS)* is the global voice for the protection of whales and dolphins and their environment. It is based in Plymouth, MA and is the US office of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, a charity registered in the United Kingdom. Among our programs, WDCS works to reduce the threat of vessel strikes and entanglements to whales and promote responsible whale watching world wide as an alternative to whaling. For further information on the extent and scope of the organization's work, or adopting a whale, please visit <http://news.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20080220/%3ca>www.wdcs-na.org. -- Tanya L. Grady Communications Coordinator Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies 508-247-7665 tgrady@coastalstudies.org www.coastalstudies.org