Dear Friends and Colleagues - This is to let you know about an exciting workshop organized by myself and Naomi Rose on sea pen sanctuaries for captive dolphins and whales! YOU CAN SIGN UP NOW AND RESERVE YOUR ATTENDANCE AT: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/#seapen Thanks, Lori Marino Description Sea-Pen Sanctuaries: Progressing Towards Better Welfare for Captive Cetaceans Date/Time: Saturday, December 12, 2015; 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Organizers and contact email: Lori Marino ( <mailto:Marinolori@outlook.com> Marinolori@outlook.com) and Naomi Rose ( <mailto:naomi@awionline.org> naomi@awionline.org) Description: In this full-day workshop we will explore the potential for the development of sea-pen, retirement sanctuaries or refuges for captive cetaceans in North America. In light of increasingly strong evidence for a failure to thrive in captive cetacean facilities (dolphinariums), a growing number of scientists and other cetacean welfare experts support a science-based plan for transfer of cetaceans from dolphinariums to sea-pen sanctuaries. Sea-pen sanctuaries would provide a more autonomous life for cetaceans who are currently on display and trained to perform and used in captive breeding programs in dolphinariums. But there are currently no established sea-pen sanctuaries for orcas or other cetaceans anywhere in North America. The lack of such sanctuaries restricts the feasibility of arguments to progress to this next phase of captive cetacean welfare. In this workshop we will explore the critical elements needed for an effort to establish North American sea-pen sanctuaries for orcas and other cetaceans by bringing together experts in marine mammal science and veterinary practice, training and husbandry, law, engineering, sanctuary accreditation, including marine mammal captivity experts, who will provide insights and discuss realistic steps towards achieving this overall goal. The first half of the workshop will include brief presentations, highlighting relevant components of this effort, followed by an afternoon session devoted to substantive discussion of critical issues, both logistical and theoretical. Confirmed and tentative participants include: . Lori Marino, Naomi Rose (co-organizers), Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Julie Woodyer, Dave Phillips, Don Baur (tentative), Michael Parks (tentative), Michael Gosliner (tentative), Pierre Gallego (tentative), Courtney Vail, John Hargrove. Others TBD. Cost: $80 (Early Bird); $90 (After September 15, 2015) Lori Marino, Ph.D. Executive Director The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy 4100 Kanab Canyon Road Kanab, Utah 84741 (435) 644-4436 lorimarino@kimmela.org