Aquatic Mammals Journal is pleased to announce that we will be publishing two special issues on Animal Welfare in 2018. Welfare is a term routinely used in the media, whether print, televised or social. It can be applied to humans or animals or both. It can be misconstrued or deconstructed. The term is neutral and can refer to a positive or negative situation for one or more individuals. Part A, the first special issue, will present articles that establish what is meant by “Animal Welfare” and where animal welfare can be assessed. Invited articles will discuss and present the science and ethics of animal welfare, focusing on human impacts on animals in the wild as well as animals residing in managed care. Assessing animal welfare is becoming a common concern for several communities, including zoos and aquariums, regulatory agencies, tourism and travel agencies, research scientists, independent agencies and assessors, and more. A discussion of assessment tools and approaches will be included. These special issues are not intended as a forum to discuss whether one setting is better than another. The intent is to focus on animal welfare and to offer perspectives on that topic from all angles, as much as is possible. Part A is scheduled for publication on April 15, 2018. The second special issue on Animal Welfare, Part B, is open for submissions from colleagues to submit a manuscript for consideration. These submitted papers should focus on animal welfare as related to aquatic mammals specifically. While research papers presenting data on the topic would be preferred, discussion topics on the same will also be welcome. Authors are reminded that this issue (like the previous one) is not intended to be a forum for pontificating that one location/setting is better or worse than any other for welfare. The tentatively scheduled publication date for Part B of this special issue set is August 15, 2018. The following timeline is a suggestion for contributing authors to follow. 20 January 2018: Deadline for receipt of all articles to Aquatic Mammals Journal’s Fast Track system (see signature below for link) 31 May 2018: Receipt of revisions of accepted manuscripts 15 August 2018: Tentative ONLINE publication Please note that all articles in both special issues will be published online only and will be available as open access PDFs. These special issues of Aquatic Mammals will be published between the regular issues of the journal. Typical page fees will apply to submitted articles, unless financial sponsorship is secured. This special issue is Guest Edited by: Dr. Heather Hill, Psychology, St. Mary’s University; Dr. Kelly Jaakkola, Research, Dolphin Research Center; and Dr. Rachel Walker, Psychology, University of the Incarnate Word. We look forward to receiving articles from you for Part B of this special issue on Animal Welfare. Let us know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Kathleen, Kelly, Heather, & Rachel Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D. Editor, Aquatic Mammals Journal aquaticmammals@gmail.com www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org to submit a manuscript, visit our: Manuscript Fast track web site at http://am.expressacademic.org/actions/author.php Mailing: P.O. Box 7485, Port St. Lucie, FL 34985