We have two updates to share for the workshop "Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species" preceding the 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals: 1. A draft agenda has been prepared and includes the following: * 8 morning presentations by invited speakers to discuss previous case studies involving: small cetaceans, large cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees; comparisons and contrasts with terrestrial wildlife species; and a discussion on the ethics of intervention (i.e., when and why should humans intervene when an animal is perceived as being out of habitat?). * 5 afternoon break-out discussion groups involving all workshop participants to tackle the following topics: Process for embarking on an intervention, Science needs, Species-specific needs, Ethical considerations, and Public interest/participation. 2. The registration fee has been eliminated to enable more participants to join the workshop. Please see below for more details about the objectives and goals of the workshop. If you are interested, please register at: http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article.... Workshop Description: Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species Proponent: Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley, National Marine Fisheries Service Date: 11 October, Full Day Room: 208A Marine mammals that are perceived as "out-of-habitat" or in peril, but are not stranded, pose complex challenges to agencies and groups responsible for determining and implementing the best course of action. Public and political pressures often result in interventions that are not justified based on the health of the population in question. In addition, stranding networks and regulatory agencies may potentially be faced with an increasing number of out-of-habitat cases if marine mammals (or their prey) shift distribution patterns and inhabit "new" areas in response to population-level or ecosystem-wide changes. While protocols for stranding response are well-developed, and some of the same principles apply, protocols for out-of-habitat events are usually developed ad-hoc and based on lessons learned from a handful of prior cases. The ad-hoc nature and resulting inconsistencies of responses to past events highlight the need for specific criteria to help in the decision-making process and to support decisions in the face of dissent. The biennial provides an opportunity for attendees who have dealt with similar situations to gather together to share experiences and help shape guidelines for future use. We propose a 1-day workshop involving international participants and incorporating a range of perspectives from academic researchers, animal welfare and environmental NGOs, and relevant regulatory agencies. The workshop will begin with an overview presentation outlining the structure and goals of the workshop, a presentation on relevant governmental regulations, and 8 20-minute presentations reviewing past case studies. In the afternoon, participants will be separated into breakout groups for about 2 hours to discuss a particular topic. Afterwards, each group would provide a critical review of their topic to all participants. Their analyses will be incorporated into draft guidelines (consensus or range of opinions) to provide criteria for evaluation of future events and determination of the most appropriate responses. A draft report will be circulated to participants for comment. A final version will be distributed following incorporation of comments. Cost: No Fee. Thank you. Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley