More speaker information has been added!

Whales Without Borders
American Cetacean's 10th International Conference
November 10-12, 2006
Ventura, CA

Deadlines to remember:
Early Bird Deadline: September 20th
Deadline for abstract submission is October 1st
Last day to book a room at the special rate of just $99: October 10th
Photo Contest entries must be received by October 15th

We're pleased to announce that the 10th International ACS Conference will be held November 10-12, 2006, in Ventura, California. This year we are especially delighted to announce that the NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is co-sponsoring the event. CINMS provides important habitat for several whale species. The commitment of CINMS to spreading awareness about the value and resources within the sanctuary waters, and what can be done to protect them provides a perfect compliment to the goal of ACS' conferences.

American Cetacean Society conferences have a long tradition of presenting the latest findings and news about whales and other marine life. We also work to promote discussion and thought about the role and conservation of whales in an ever-changing world, and leave attendees motivated to work together for the good of the whales.

So come, be energized and enlightened, and immerse yourself in the world of "Whales Without Borders".

For more information see the event press release below and visit the ACS website at < www.acsonline.org>.


The Program

Join us as we take a look at Cetaceans’ borders from a wide range of views:

Cetacean Borders – Understanding Their World
        D-tag & other telemetry devices – Mark Johnson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.
        Stable isotopes or genetics – Sean Todd, College of the Atlantic
        From Wind to Whales – Don Croll, Univ. of California at Santa Cruz
Cetacean Borders – Threats to Their World
        Overview of worldwide disease outbreaks – Joseph Geraci, V.M.D.
        Global entanglement & toxins (human impacts on environment)
        Global climate change (the biggie) – Hal Whitehead
Conflict at the Borders – How Humans and Whales Met (Whaling)
        IWC Management from the past to the future
        Scientific Whaling  – Scott Baker, University of Auckland
        Bowhead & Native Whaling  – Steve Maclean, TNC
        How Do We Manage Whaling in the Future?
Human Borders– Political & Cultural Borders
        Law of the Commons
        Wildlife Borders on Land and Sea – Doug Chadwick, Poodle Ranch
        Cultural borders – Luna – Michael Parfit, Mountainside Films
Human Borders – Marine Protected Areas
        MPAs – Theory and Design
        MPAs – U.S. National Marine Sanctuary Program
        MPAs – International
        Whales and MPA’s
Bridging the Borders – challenges and successes
        North Pacific Right Whale – Paul Wade, NMML
        The neglected Minke Whale – Scott Baker, University of Auckland
         YONAH/SPLASH – Dave Matilla, HINMS



Call for Abstracts

Researchers, Educators, Conservationists, and Students are invited to submit abstracts for poster presentations at the ACS conference, Whales Without Borders. The poster session is a great way to share cutting edge research, new methods or concepts in education, and new issues in conservation of cetaceans. 

Students (undergraduate, Master’s, or Ph.D.) can also enter their poster into the student poster contest to be held during the poster session.  Student posters will be judged by a panel of attending scientists in the field and cash prizes will be awarded. 

The deadline for abstract submission is October 1st, 2006.

Prospective authors may direct questions and submit abstracts via email to Kate Sardi at sardika@hotmail.com or by regular mail to: Abstracts must be no longer than 300 words and written in a clear and concise manner.  Students wishing to be entered into the student poster contest should indicate so clearly on their submission, as well as list the school attending and degree sought.


Enter the Photo Contest

We invite amateur photographers to participate in the "Whales Without Borders" photo contest. The winning entries will be displayed during the conference Ventura, CA, on November 11-12, 2006.

Entries must be received by October 15, 2006.

For entry form and guidelines, please visit < www.acsonline.org>


Conference Venue
Ventura Beach Marriott - Special rate of just $99/night for a double room!

Please note that all reservations made at the Marriott help keep our costs, and therefore, YOUR registration costs, down! Please make your overnight accommodations at the Ventura Beach Marriott - be sure to mention ACS to get the great rate of just $99 night! You must make your reservation before the October 10th deadline and before the blocked rooms are all taken.

A limited number of rooms are blocked at a special group rate of $99 per room (single or double occupancy) for Friday November 10th and Saturday November 11th. A handful of rooms are also set aside at the group rate for Thursday and Sunday.



And so much more...
No ACS conference would be complete without our ever-popular Field Trips, Art Show and Silent Auction!


We look forward to seeing you there.



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 Researchers to Discuss Whale Conservation Issues at
International  Conference in Ventura, CA
 
 American Cetacean Society and NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to host “Whales without Borders” 
 
The 10th Annual International American Cetacean Society (ACS) Conference will be held on November 10-12, 2006 in Ventura, California. The conference is being co-sponsored by NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) to provide ACS members, and the general public, with the opportunity to participate in discussions with leading experts in whale conservation biology from around the world. The theme of the conference is “Whales without Borders”. This is an important issue since most large whale species migrate thousands of miles, crossing international boundaries, between their breeding and feeding grounds.
 
As one of 13 national marine sanctuaries around the country, the CINMS is committed to spreading awareness about the value and resources within our sanctuary waters, and what can we do to protect them. “Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary provides important habitat for several whale species, including blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales and gray whales. However, protecting these whales presents us with a unique challenge since it involves collaboration on an international level. Partnering with the American Cetacean Society provides the sanctuary with the opportunity to bring together international whale researchers to educate the public about the challenges of marine mammal protection” said Chris Mobley, CINMS Superintendent.
 
The 10th International ACS “Whales Without Borders” Conference will be held at the Ventura Beach Marriott in Ventura, CA November 10-12, 2006 and will include a photography contest, silent auction, poster presentations, and field trips to the Channel Islands. Abstracts are being accepted for the poster session until October 1, 2006 and the photography contest entries are being accepted through October 15, 2006. For more information about conference registration contact the American Cetacean Society at (310) 548 – 6279 or www.acsonline.org.

The American Cetacean Society protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. Founded in 1967, the American Cetacean Society (ACS) is the oldest whale conservation group in the world. ACS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with an office in San Pedro, California and chapters in Los Angeles, Orange County, Puget Sound (Seattle), Monterey, San Francisco, and the Channel Islands (Santa Barbara / Ventura). ACS members live throughout the United States and in more than 20 countries.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase public awareness of America's ocean and Great Lakes treasures by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one coral reef ecosystem reserve that together encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America's ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.
 





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Diane Alps
Operations Manager/Conference Coordinator
DianeAlps@ACSonline.org

ACS: For and about
whales, dolphins and porpoises!

AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY
National Headquarters
P.O. Box 1391
San Pedro, CA  90733-1391
(310) 548-6279
Fax (310) 548-6950
Email:  info@ACSonline.org
Website:  www.acsonline.org