The World Cetacean Alliance's first conference will convene in Gloucester. Massachusetts, USA, on 6-7 November 2013. The Alliance's purpose is to work collectively to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises and their habitats. For further information please visit the conference website at: http://www.planetwhale.com/conferences-2013-home

World Cetacean Alliance Agenda

Wednesday 6th November
DAY 1 Funding, Science, and Governance

 SESSION 1. WELCOME

 9:00 – 10:00. Refreshments.
 9:30 – 10:00. Welcome and thanks.
    Speakers Dylan Walker (WCA Secretariat), Bill Rossiter (co-hosts Cetacean Society International) and Keith Takaoka (Conference supporter BiLLe Fund Ltd) introduce the conference
10:00 – 10:30. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY: How much do we really know about cetaceans?
10:30 – 11:00. PRESENTATION. WCA and a crowdsourcing future for whales and dolphins.
    Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat
11:00 – 11:30. Refreshments break

SESSION 2. PUTTING CETACEANS ON THE MAP!

11:30 – 12:00. PRESENTATION: Putting cetaceans on the map. Setting our global and regional priorities.
    Speaker Thorsten Lisker, WCA individual partner
12:00 – 13:00. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY. Putting cetaceans on the map – delivering a programme for global change
13:00 – 14:00. Lunch

SESSION 3. FUNDING
14:00 – 14:45. PRESENTATION: Hitting the jackpot! How the BiLLe Fund Ltd plans to provide vital funding support for the WCA and its partners through a unique donations-based strategy. Q& A to follow.
    Speaker Keith Takaoka, BiLLe Fund Ltd
14:45 – 15:15. PRESENTATION: WhaleFest – global platform of the World Cetacean Alliance and fund-raising opportunity. Q&A to follow.
    Speaker Ian Rowlands, WhaleFest co-founder

 SESSION 4. GOVERNANCE: HOW THE WORLD CETACEAN ALLIANCE WILL WORK?

15:15 – 15:45. PRESENTATION. Developing the roles, responsibilities, and workings of a global partnership. Advice from BirdLife International – the world’s largest partnership of conservation organizations.
    Speaker John Fanshawe, BirdLife International
15:45 – 16:00. Refreshments break
16:00 – 16:15. PRESENTATION. Current structure of the WCA and intro to the workshop.
    Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat
16:15 – 17:30. Discussion and workshop activities to determine the working framework for the World Cetacean Alliance.
17:30. Close

Evening cinema outing – BlackFish Movie plus Q&A

19:30pm – 21:30. See the movie BlackFish at the Gloucester Community Cinema followed by a Q&A with experts and contributors to the film, Dr Ingrid N. Visser and Dr Naomi Rose

 Thursday 7th November
  DAY 2 Campaigns

 SESSION 1: Issues from around the world
9:00 – 9:30 Refreshments
9:30 – 10:45. Short talks and discussions on the issues that matter to you
        This series of short presentations and discussions will highlight the campaigns of the partners and other delegates, followed by a discussion on how the WCA and the partnership intends to provide support for these and other campaigns.
    Speakers will include:
·         Patricia Sullivan talks cetaceans in the Middle East. Endangered humpback whales plus captivity
·         Michael Fishbach (The Great Whale Conservancy) talks blue whales and ship strikes in the USA
·         Sami Mhenni (Houtiyat) talks interactions between dolphins and purse seine nets and the implementation of dolphin watching in Tunisia
·         Dr Ingrid N. Visser (Orca Research Trust) talks about the Trust’s work in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Antarctica, plus Punta Norte Orca Research’s work in Argentina 
·         Floppy (Jo) Halliday (Whale Rescue) talks about the work of the organization in New Zealand

More short talks will be announced shortly…

10.45 – 11.15. Drinks refreshments
11.15 – 11.45. PRESENTATION AND MAJOR CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Maui’s dolphin campaign update
    Speaker Barbara Maas, Nabu International (via video recording)

SESSION 2: Free the Captive Orca – major campaign focus

11:45 – 12:00. PRESENTATON: Introducing the captive orca issue and activity
    Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat
12:00 – 13:15. KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: David Kirby, author of ‘Death at SeaWorld’, talks about the lives of captive killer whales. Includes Q&A 
    Speaker David Kirby, author
13:15 – 14:00. Lunch and book signing by David Kirby
14:00 – 14:05. Activity review
14:05 – 15:10. PRESENTATION: Freeing Morgan and the WCA orca campaign, including current progress, anticipated impact, and support required. Includes Q&A
    Speaker Dr Ingrid N. Visser, Orca Research Trust
15:10 – 15:15. Activity review
15:15 – 15:30. Refreshment break
15:30 – 16:30. WORKSHOP. Your thoughts and ideas on how to run the most effective campaign possible. Any resolutions will be passed at the AGM at 17:30.
16:30 – 17:00. World Orca Day and the Orca Awards!
    Presented by Dr Ingrid N. Visser
17:00 – 17:30. Closing session
17:30 – 18:30. AGM, election of trustees and the interim Global Council, and the passing of resolutions discussed during conference.