The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS has published its aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for bowhead whales. NMFS has assigned this quota to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. This assignment includes limitations on the use of the quota deriving from regulations of the International Whaling Commission.
For 2016, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and other applicable limitations govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the AEWC.
Seiche Training is holding two underwater acoustics courses in association with University of Bath, UK, and CPD-recognized by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
The first course is UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, on March 30 through April 1, 2016, in Stockholm, Sweden. This three-day course equips delegates with a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of underwater acoustics. It then focuses on developing clear, quantitative understanding of the issues involved in the impact of acoustics on marine wildlife. The following topics will be covered: ocean environments, noise propagation models, sound field modelling, methods of assessment, impacts of noise on marine life, mitigation, environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Assessments, fisheries, JNCC guidelines and emerging studies and technologies across this field.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service seeks public comment on proposed rules that amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations concerning the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals in captivity. These proposed changes would affect sections in the regulations relating to variances and implementation dates, indoor facilities, outdoor facilities, space requirements, and water quality. APHIS also proposes to revise the regulations that relate to swim-with-the-dolphin programs. APHIS states its belief that these actions are necessary to ensure that the minimum standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals in captivity are based on current industry and scientific knowledge and experience. APHIS will consider all comments on this proposed rule that it receives on or before April 4, 2016.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Facebook on January 19, 2016, that they have documented the birth of a new Orca calf born in Puget Sound. The Center for Whale Research has confirmed the birth.
This is the ninth Orca born since December 2014 to the endangered population of killer whales in Washington state inland waters.
This conference will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 – Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at Funchal, Madeira.
The theme of the conference is Into the Deep: Research and Conservation of Oceanic Marine Mammals.
Associated workshops will take place on the 12 and 13 March.
INVITED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Whales that get tangled up in fishing lines and other gear can be stuck towing it around for months or years. Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have found that heavy traps and bulky buoys can cause a whale to feel much more “drag” than loose ropes. And it can tire them out. The researchers published their new findings in the December Marine Mammal Science. Click here for the abstract of this article and to obtain a copy of the article.
There will be a Large Marine Vertebrate Session at the GoMRI Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference. This conference will be conducted from Monday, February 01, 2016, through Thursday, February 04, 2016, at the Marriott Tampa Waterside, Tampa Florida. Click here for registration and other information about this conference.
On December 1, 2015, the journal Marine Mammal Science published an article entitled Status of the World’s Baleen Whales. This review was funded by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. Its abstract reads as follows:
There’s more good new on Pacific Northwest Southern Resident Killer Whale front. An eighth baby has been born. A press release from the Center for Whale research explains:
“Mother is J28, a twenty-two year old female Southern Resident Killer Whale in the Pacific Northwest.
The Center for Whale Research says the seventh calf in 12 months was born into the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.