Reminder: Please join us for a half-day workshop on Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 8 am -noon titled: "U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act research permitting." The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) oversee issuance of permits for take, import, and export of marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES; FWS only). NMFS has jurisdiction over cetaceans and pinnipeds, except walrus. FWS has jurisdiction over dugong, manatees, polar bears, sea otters, marine otter, and walrus. The Marine Mammal Commission (the Commission) provides independent oversight of the MMPA permitting programs. Each agency will provide an overview of their program for processing scientific research and other permits including how to submit a complete application, review of applications by the agencies (including ESA and other consultations) and the Commission, and important updates for permit holders and applicants. Updates include changes underway to streamline permitting (e.g., updated application instructions, development of standardized research methods, and programmatic ESA consultations). The first half of the workshop will be dedicated to NMFS permits and the second half to FWS permits including CITES. Representatives from each agency will be available for questions. Please register via the conference website: http://www.smmconference.org/WorkshopDescriptions We hope you will join us, Amy Sloan (NMFS), Mary Cogliano (FWS), and Tiffini Brookens (the Commission) Amy Sloan Deputy Chief / Research Permit Program Lead Permits and Conservation Division, F/PR1 NMFS Office of Protected Resources 1315 East-West Hwy, SSMC3 Rm 13824 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Email: Amy.Sloan@noaa.gov