The World Cetacean Alliance's first conference will convene in Gloucester. Massachusetts, USA, on 6-7 November 2013. The Alliance's purpose is to work collectively to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises and their habitats. For further information please visit the conference website at: http://www.planetwhale.com/conferences-2013-home <http://www.planetwhale.com/conferences-2013-home> World Cetacean Alliance Agenda /Wednesday 6th November DAY 1 Funding, Science, and Governance SESSION 1. WELCOME 9:00 -- 10:00. Refreshments. 9:30 -- 10:00. Welcome and thanks. Speakers Dylan Walker (WCA Secretariat), Bill Rossiter (co-hosts Cetacean Society International) and Keith Takaoka (Conference supporter BiLLe Fund Ltd) introduce the conference 10:00 -- 10:30. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY: How much do we really know about cetaceans? 10:30 -- 11:00. PRESENTATION. WCA and a crowdsourcing future for whales and dolphins. Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat 11:00 -- 11:30. Refreshments break SESSION 2. PUTTING CETACEANS ON THE MAP! 11:30 -- 12:00. PRESENTATION: Putting cetaceans on the map. Setting our global and regional priorities. Speaker Thorsten Lisker, WCA individual partner 12:00 -- 13:00. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY. Putting cetaceans on the map -- delivering a programme for global change 13:00 -- 14:00. Lunch SESSION 3. FUNDING 14:00 -- 14:45. PRESENTATION: Hitting the jackpot! How the BiLLe Fund Ltd plans to provide vital funding support for the WCA and its partners through a unique donations-based strategy. Q& A to follow. Speaker Keith Takaoka, BiLLe Fund Ltd 14:45 -- 15:15. PRESENTATION: WhaleFest -- global platform of the World Cetacean Alliance and fund-raising opportunity. Q&A to follow. Speaker Ian Rowlands, WhaleFest co-founder SESSION 4. GOVERNANCE: HOW THE WORLD CETACEAN ALLIANCE WILL WORK? 15:15 -- 15:45. PRESENTATION. Developing the roles, responsibilities, and workings of a global partnership. Advice from BirdLife International -- the world's largest partnership of conservation organizations. Speaker John Fanshawe, BirdLife International 15:45 -- 16:00. Refreshments break 16:00 -- 16:15. PRESENTATION. Current structure of the WCA and intro to the workshop. Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat 16:15 -- 17:30. Discussion and workshop activities to determine the working framework for the World Cetacean Alliance. 17:30. Close Evening cinema outing -- BlackFish Movie plus Q&A 19:30pm -- 21:30. See the movie BlackFish at the Gloucester Community Cinema followed by a Q&A with experts and contributors to the film, Dr Ingrid N. Visser and Dr Naomi Rose Thursday 7th November DAY 2 Campaigns SESSION 1: Issues from around the world 9:00 -- 9:30 Refreshments 9:30 -- 10:45. Short talks and discussions on the issues that matter to you This series of short presentations and discussions will highlight the campaigns of the partners and other delegates, followed by a discussion on how the WCA and the partnership intends to provide support for these and other campaigns. Speakers will include: · Patricia Sullivan talks cetaceans in the Middle East. Endangered humpback whales plus captivity · Michael Fishbach (The Great Whale Conservancy) talks blue whales and ship strikes in the USA · Sami Mhenni (Houtiyat) talks interactions between dolphins and purse seine nets and the implementation of dolphin watching in Tunisia · Dr Ingrid N. Visser (Orca Research Trust) talks about the Trust's work in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Antarctica, plus Punta Norte Orca Research's work in Argentina · Floppy (Jo) Halliday (Whale Rescue) talks about the work of the organization in New Zealand More short talks will be announced shortly... 10.45 -- 11.15. Drinks refreshments 11.15 -- 11.45. PRESENTATION AND MAJOR CAMPAIGN FOCUS: Maui's dolphin campaign update Speaker Barbara Maas, Nabu International (via video recording) SESSION 2: Free the Captive Orca -- major campaign focus 11:45 -- 12:00. PRESENTATON: Introducing the captive orca issue and activity Speaker Dylan Walker, WCA Secretariat 12:00 -- 13:15. KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: David Kirby, author of 'Death at SeaWorld', talks about the lives of captive killer whales. Includes Q&A Speaker David Kirby, author 13:15 -- 14:00. Lunch and book signing by David Kirby 14:00 -- 14:05. Activity review 14:05 -- 15:10. PRESENTATION: Freeing Morgan and the WCA orca campaign, including current progress, anticipated impact, and support required. Includes Q&A Speaker Dr Ingrid N. Visser, Orca Research Trust 15:10 -- 15:15. Activity review 15:15 -- 15:30. Refreshment break 15:30 -- 16:30. WORKSHOP. Your thoughts and ideas on how to run the most effective campaign possible. Any resolutions will be passed at the AGM at 17:30. 16:30 -- 17:00. World Orca Day and the Orca Awards! Presented by Dr Ingrid N. Visser 17:00 -- 17:30. Closing session 17:30 -- 18:30. AGM, election of trustees and the interim Global Council, and the passing of resolutions discussed during conference./ * *