Dear ECS members and participants, We are pleased to announce that the 33rd annual European Cetacean Society conference will be taking place in Ashdod, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, from 5-7 April 2022. This will be the first hybrid event in the history of the ECS, and the first to be held outside of the European borders - we are very excited for this unique opportunity to host you all. The theme of this year's conference is: 'Marine mammal research and conservation efforts - Are we on the right path?' The evolution of marine mammal research goes a long way back, but... are we headed in the right direction? Have we succeeded in our efforts to protect endangered species, their ecosystem functions, biodiversity, and marine mammal habitats while maintaining the ethical treatment of animals? In the upcoming ECS conference in Ashdod, we propose to challenge the conventional approach to marine mammal science and raise critical questions on the past, present, and future to ensure that the shared goal - marine mammal conservation - is, indeed, being aptly pursued. Participants in the 2022 ECS conference are encouraged to present works that relate to this theme or otherwise consider how this issue affects their work. We urge you to keep these deadlines in mind: WORKSHOPS: 3-4 April 2022 (Sunday - Monday) CONFERENCE: 5-7 April 2022 (Tuesday Thursday) · Registration opening date: 01.11.2021 · Workshop submission deadline: 20.12.2021 · Abstract submission deadline: 01.01.2022 · Early registration deadline: 20.02.2022 · Late registration deadline: 01.03.2022 · Decision and notification on final concept: 03.03.2022 Please note that although this will be a hybrid event, priority will be given to those participants who are committing to attend the conference in person, as we wish to encourage vis-à-vis networking which cannot be fulfilled in a virtual setting. We know that these are uncertain times, and we are doing everything we can to make the conference as accessible and safe as possible. We are keeping a close look on any fluctuations in the status of the pandemic across Europe and in Israel and will update you on any decisions or changes made due to the varying restrictions. If at the end, the situation will not allow the conference to take place physically, a fully virtual conference will take place instead during the same dates. Final decision and notification will be made by the beginning of March 2022. Further information about the conference is being added continuously, so please refer to the conference website for updated information - ECS Conference 2022 - Ashdod, Israel | European Cetacean Society <https://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/ecs-conference-2022-ashdo d-israel> We look forward to seeing many of you along our shores! Best wishes, The Local Organizers and ECS Council