Dear MARMAM Community, We are pleased to announce the following half-day SMM Workshop, scheduled for Sunday, October 18th from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM titled: Response Planning for High-Interest Stranding Events: Managing Public Expectations and Communications While Maintaining Operational Continuity<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.smmconference.org_workshops_-231776735162587-2Da6768648-2Dba5e&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=XrSo32a94SOpR4Z2ssfzsCyZmSCs7Hsmz6ZS1YrKlHc&m=mhrJuiPKGu92Q6wQq0fkB0CtrEW48E8PEuOyD25CqxYWb0D81uV-DajlqAo3GPa-&s=Lif2yhxDnR-ICjBfl-xNFWBS0AekUU_KKDWSADzdlDQ&e=> Workshop Description When the Pressure Hits Building Trust, Managing Communication, and Supporting Responders During High-Interest Stranding Events When high-interest marine mammal stranding events occur, responders are tasked with far more than field operations and scientific assessment. They are suddenly navigating public concern, media attention, stakeholder expectations, social media pressure, and the emotional weight carried by their own teams, all in real time. This workshop explores how proactive communication systems can reduce anxiety, strengthen operational clarity, and build long-term public trust during high-visibility incidents. As marine mammal response operations continue to evolve in an area shaped by rapid information sharing, heightened public engagement, and increased visibility of stranding events, communication systems have become a critical component of operational readiness. This workshop recognizes communication not as a secondary task, but as essential response infrastructure that supports responders, agencies, stakeholders, and the communities they serve. Built around the TRUST Framework. Transparency, Readiness, Unity, Stability, and Trust. Participants will engage with practical tools and real-world strategies designed specifically for the marine mammal response, management, and research community. Through case studies, collaborative discussion, and applied planning exercises, attendees will gain more tools to: * manage communication during rapidly evolving incidents * maintain public confidence while protecting scientific integrity * reduce communication overload and responder stress * strengthen coordination across agencies and stakeholders * create educational and post-incident communication strategies that build lasting community trust Responders already carry the weight of the science, logistics, and animal care. This workshop focuses on the often-overlooked layer of incident response: managing public perception, expectation, and anxiety in a way that supports both the community and the responder. Because in high-interest events, trust is not built during the crisis. It is built before it. Link to register: https://www.smmconference.org/registration/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.smmconference.org_registration_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=XrSo32a94SOpR4Z2ssfzsCyZmSCs7Hsmz6ZS1YrKlHc&m=mhrJuiPKGu92Q6wQq0fkB0CtrEW48E8PEuOyD25CqxYWb0D81uV-DajlqAo3GPa-&s=-uqtyBXaxIDfGw5xk3lPIU0i110SVNwDpk3k2VMRuOU&e=> . We look forward to seeing you at SMM 2026! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions- Alli DePerte, adeperte@amseas.org<mailto:adeperte@amseas.org> (On behalf of Robert A. DiGiovanni, Jr.) Workshop Steering Committee Robert DiGiovanni, Jr., Atlantic Marine Conservation Society Allison DePerte, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society Mendy Garron, NOAA Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Lynda Doughty, Marine Mammals of Maine Keith Matassa, Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance Kristen Epperson, Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance Allison DePerte Research Associate/ Field Biologist Atlantic Marine Conservation Society P.O.Box 932 Hampton Bays, NY 11946 C: 631-317-0030 adeperte@amseas.org<mailto:adeperte@amseas.org> www.amseas.org<http://www.amseas.org> 24-HR Hotline: (631)-369-9829