Hi, The following paper has just reached the corrected proof/online early stage in its publication: Lonergan, M. "The targets of management rules for marine mammal populations require justification: a reply to Cooke et al. (2012)" Marine Policy (in press). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2012.02.010 (on the Marine Policy website at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X12000176 ) Abstract: The management of anthropogenic impacts on marine mammal populations involves the setting of targets that are built on assumptions and choices. Scientific methods can be used to investigate the implications of management actions, but the choice of overall objectives and priorities lies outside science. A recent paper (/Potential biological removal and other currently used management rules for marine mammal populations/: /A comparison/ in /Marine Policy/), summarised the characteristics of the main approaches currently used to set conservation management targets for marine mammal populations in order to provide a basis for discussion of the targets they contain. Cooke et al. (/Management rules for marine mammal populations/: /A response to Lonergan/ in /Marine Policy/) responded, giving some important additional information about these management rules. However most of that paper's criticisms were incorrect or misplaced. Specifically, it erroneously treated an example of how PBR could be reworked, to make its abundance explicit, as a proposal to ignore uncertainty in managing populations. This paper addresses Cooke's main criticisms, and suggests that explicit justifications should be an important part of the process of setting targets for the management of marine mammal populations. The paper is a reply to: Cooke J, Leaper R,Wade P, Lavigne D, Taylor B. Management rules for marine mammal populations: a response to Lonergan. Mar. Policy 2012; 36:389–92. which in turn was a critical response to: Lonergan, M. "Potential biological removal and other currently used management rules for marine mammal populations: A comparison." Mar. Policy 2011; 35:584–9. I am happy to send pdfs of my papers. Russell Leaper (r.c.leaper "at" abdn.ac.uk ) is listed as corresponding author on Cooke et al. Regards, Mike. -- Mike Lonergan NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews ________________________________________________________________________________ "The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532"