We would like to invite you to participate in the workshop, *Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species, *preceding the 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Please see below for details. Space is limited so if you are interested, please register at http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article.... * Saving An Individual, Protecting A Population, Conserving A Species * Proponent: Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley, National Marine Fisheries Service Date: 11 October, Full Day Room: 208A Marine mammals that are perceived as "out-of-habitat" or in peril, but are not stranded, pose complex challenges to agencies and groups responsible for determining and implementing the best course of action. Public and political pressures often result in interventions that are not justified based on the health of the population in question. In addition, stranding networks and regulatory agencies may potentially be faced with an increasing number of out-of-habitat cases if marine mammals (or their prey) shift distribution patterns and inhabit "new" areas in response to population-level or ecosystem-wide changes. While protocols for stranding response are well-developed, and some of the same principles apply, protocols for out-of-habitat events are usually developed ad-hoc and based on lessons learned from a handful of prior cases. The ad-hoc nature and resulting inconsistencies of responses to past events highlight the need for specific criteria to help in the decision-making process and to support decisions in the face of dissent. The biennial provides an opportunity for attendees who have dealt with similar situations to gather together to share experiences and help shape guidelines for future use. We propose a 1-day workshop involving international participants and incorporating a range of perspectives from academic researchers, animal welfare and environmental NGOs, and relevant regulatory agencies. The workshop will begin with an overview presentation outlining the structure and goals of the workshop, a presentation on relevant governmental regulations, and 8 20-minute presentations reviewing past case studies. In the afternoon, participants will be separated into breakout groups for about 2 hours to discuss a particular topic. Afterwards, each group would provide a critical review of their topic to all participants. Their analyses will be incorporated into draft guidelines (consensus or range of opinions) to provide criteria for evaluation of future events and determination of the most appropriate responses. A draft report will be circulated to participants for comment. A final version will be distributed following incorporation of comments. Costs: $35 USD prior to 15 Aug; $45 USD after this date. Morning and afternoon refreshments will be served. Please make checks out to "The Marine Mammal Center" and write "Workshop at 2009 SMM Conference" in the memo line on your check. Send checks to: Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program NOAA/NMFS/PR2 Room 13658 1315 East-West Hwy Silver Spring, MD 20910USA Thank you. Barbie Byrd and Janet Whaley