Hi MARMAM, On behalf of all Authors I am pleased to announce publication online in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management: Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Brooks, L., Harrison, P., Burns, D., Holmberg, J. and Calambokidis, J. 2020. Photo-identification of individual humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) using all available natural marks: implications for misidentification and automated algorithm matching technology. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 21: 71-83. [Plus Supplementary Material]. Abstract Misidentification errors in capture-mark recapture studies of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) related to poor quality of photographs as well as changes in natural marks can seriously affect population dynamics parameter estimates and derived estimates of population size when using sophisticated modelling techniques. In this study we used an innovative photo-identification matching system to investigate and examine the long-term stability and/or changes in natural marks on ventral-tail flukes, dorsal fin shapes and lateral body marks from a sample of 79 individual humpback whales, resighted in 2 to 11 years over timespans ranging from 2 to 21 years. A binary logistic mixed effects model, on a pair-matched sample of the 79 individual whales, found no significant differences in the proportions of ventral-tail fluke marks, dorsal fin shapes and lateral body marks, that displayed changes in primary and/or secondary characteristics over years (F=0.939, df=1/156, p =0.334). The results of this study substantiate the value and reliability of using primary and secondary natural marks on the ventral-tail flukes, in conjunction with dorsal fin shapes and secondary lateral body marks as double-tags. This provides a means of maximising observations of individual humpback whales over years, while minimising and managing misidentification errors in the photo-identification matching process, thus significantly improving modelling outcomes. The publication is available for download from https://journal.iwc.int/index.php/jcrm/issue/view/9 Any enquiries regarding the manuscript please contact: trish@oceania.org.au<mailto:trish@oceania.org.au> Regards, Trish Franklin, on behalf of all Authors ........................................................................ Trish and Wally Franklin PhD The Oceania Project PO Box 2003 Hervey Bay Qld 4655 Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: 0418 797 326 Skype: oceania.org.au<http://oceania.org.au/> Email: wally@oceania.org.au<mailto:wally@oceania.org.au> Linkedin:The Oceania Project | LinkedIn<https://linkedin.com/in/wallyfranklin> Web: <http://www.oceania.org.au/> The Oceania Project<http://www.oceania.org.au/> iWhales.org<http://www.iwhales.org/> Songlines - Songs of the eastern Australian humpback whales<http://www.songlinesofthewhales.org/> Social Media: The Oceania Project | Vimeo<https://vimeo.com/oceaniaproject> The Oceania Project | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/oceania> The Oceania Project | SoundCloud<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> Academic: Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre<https://www.scu.edu.au/marine-ecology-research-centre/whales-and-dolphins/whale-and-dolphin-research/hervey-bay-whale-research-project/> Dr Trish Franklin<https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/profile/patricia_franklin/overview?institution=61SCU_INST> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> PhD Thesis<http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> |<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> Google Scholar Citations<https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=RAOLIrMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate> Dr Wally Franklin<https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/profile/walter_franklin/overview?institution=61SCU_INST> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> PhD Thesis<http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> |<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> Google Scholar Citations<https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=2wA6lL8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate> Dr Wally Franklin ORCID<https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3268-6775> Media: Secrets of Humpback whales survival<https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-one-couple-s-adventure-has-uncovered-secrets-of-humpback-whales-survival-20181212-p50ltd.html> https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/protecting-wildlife-through-sound Humpback whales - Spread the Story<https://www.gofundme.com/theoceaniaproject> ........................................................................ Wally Franklin PhD The Oceania Project PO Box 2003 Hervey Bay Qld 4655 Australia ABN 73 052 470 630 ACN 052 470 630 Phone: 0418 797 326 Skype: oceania.org.au<http://oceania.org.au/> Email: wally@oceania.org.au<mailto:wally@oceania.org.au> Linkedin:The Oceania Project | LinkedIn<https://linkedin.com/in/wallyfranklin> Web: <http://www.oceania.org.au/> The Oceania Project<http://www.oceania.org.au/> iWhales.org<http://www.iwhales.org/> Songlines - Songs of the eastern Australian humpback whales<http://www.songlinesofthewhales.org/> Social Media: The Oceania Project | Vimeo<https://vimeo.com/oceaniaproject> The Oceania Project | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/oceania> The Oceania Project | SoundCloud<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> The Oceania Project <http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOceaniaProject> Academic: Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre<https://www.scu.edu.au/marine-ecology-research-centre/whales-and-dolphins/whale-and-dolphin-research/hervey-bay-whale-research-project/> Dr Trish Franklin<https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/profile/patricia_franklin/overview?institution=61SCU_INST> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> <https://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> PhD Thesis<http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/357/> |<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> Google Scholar Citations<https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=RAOLIrMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate> Dr Wally Franklin<https://researchportal.scu.edu.au/esploro/profile/walter_franklin/overview?institution=61SCU_INST> | <https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> PhD Thesis<http://epubs.scu.edu.au/theses/422/> |<https://soundcloud.com/iwhales> Google Scholar Citations<https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=2wA6lL8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate> Dr Wally Franklin ORCID<https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3268-6775> Media: Secrets of Humpback whales survival<https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-one-couple-s-adventure-has-uncovered-secrets-of-humpback-whales-survival-20181212-p50ltd.html> https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/protecting-wildlife-through-sound Humpback whales - Spread the Story<https://www.gofundme.com/theoceaniaproject>