Hello all, We are in the last few days running up to the SMM conference and I wanted to post a final announcement regarding the workshop "Considerations of Mitigation Techniques to Reduce Small Cetacean Bycatch in Fisheries", to be held Saturday, December 10th, 2005 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, San Diego, California. There are spaces remaining for this event and those who have not yet contacted me to add their name to the participants' list are encouraged to do so. With some effort I have been able to keep registration costs down to $20US so as to assist student attendees, while still having two coffee breaks. Registration will take place on Saturday morning at 0800 at the venue (room Elizabeth F, second floor). A variety of international speakers will be presenting lead-off talks, with attendees encouraged to contribute to the ensuing discussions. The agenda is: Workshop Agenda 0900 - Scope of the small cetacean bycatch problem worldwide As this aspect of the topic has been covered in detail by several workshops and scientific committees recently, I think it better to cover topics where much effort is now concentrated 0930 - Why and how are small cetaceans caught in fishing gear? A review of the reasons why, and the ways how, small cetaceans are bycaught in gear. Are small cetaceans caught in nets due to a detection or target classification problem? Why are dolphins and larger whales caught in pelagic trawls? 1000 - 15 minute break 1015 - Bycatch Mitigation Approaches (1) Mechanical methods to reduce bycatch new net technologies to facilitate release or exclusion alternatives to gillnets for some fisheries (e.g., fish "pots" for groundfish) "coated nets" to enhance their detection by small cetaceans (2) Acoustical methods to reduce bycatch "traditional" pingers "responsive" pingers ADDs 1245 - 45 minute lunch break 1330 - Bycatch Mitigation Approaches (continued) (3) Operational methods to reduce bycatch modified net deployment patterns, depths etc. closed areas, seasons, or times 1500 - 15 minute break 1515 - Experiences in the challenges of management and public support of mitigation implementation voluntary implementation legal approaches 1600 - Modelling of Mitigation Effectiveness risk analysis (e.g., when is mitigation no longer necessary, or of sufficient benefit relative to cost? How do we test mitigation effectiveness?) can there be different objectives for mitigation (i.e., zero mortality vs. sustainable removals) 1700-1730 - Wrap up and final discussions Other details can be obtained by contacting me via e-mail or phone, or by going to the web link at the UN site from the SMM conference page. I look forward to seeing you all there! Regards, Dr. Jack Lawson Research Scientist / Chercheur scientifique Marine Mammal Section, Newfoundland & Labrador Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada NAFC, P.O. Box 5667, 80 East White Hills Road St. John's, NL, Canada A1C 5X1 Telephone: (709) 772-2285 FAX: (709) 772-4105 lawsonj@dfo-mpo.gc.ca <mailto:lawsonj@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>