========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jan 1996 16:41:01 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Net-wrecking dolphins anger Cy Net-wrecking dolphins anger Cyprus fishermen NICOSIA, Dec 29 (Reuter) - Cypriot fishermen will try out hi-tech echo devices to warn off dolphins wrecking their nets and receive compensation from a special fund, a fisheries official said on Friday. "In two or three weeks we will be trying out echo-generating transponders which we will put on boats. It will be experimental," said Cyprus Fisheries Department director Andreas Demetropoulos. Cypriot fishermen have complained for years that dolphins, a protected species, were getting tangled in their nets and ripping them. There have been few reports of dolphins dying in the nets. "There are plenty of them which damage fishermen's nets and we had lots of complaints that their catch was getting away," Demetropoulos said. The dolphins are said to swim away from nets when they hear the echo emitted by the transponders. They have already been tried out with success in Tunisia. Fishermen and the department will also set up a compensation fund for damaged nets, Demetropoulos said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jan 1996 21:41:43 -0500 From: SGASPARI(\)aol.com Subject: population estimates Hi, I am writing a non scientific article about the whales in Baja California. I need to include an updated whale population estimate, particullarly for Blue and Grey whales. The most recent source I have access to, is from the IWC published in "Oceanus" 1989. Could anybody be so kind to indicate me where to find a newer estimate or e-mail me some numbers. Thanks, Stefania Gaspari sgaspari(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 07:16:56 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: Bowhead longevity As the saying goes, "I heard this at a New Year's party..." -- does anyone know anything about stone points, dated on the basis of stylistic comparison with archaeological assemblages to ca 1850s, being found in the blubber of recently-taken bowheads? Interpretation being that bowhead lifespan may be >> 100 years... 3 elements to the story then: 1) stone points in bowhead?? 2) archaeological dating reasonable?? 3) any other interpretations aside from very old whales possible?? Thanks much, Happy New Year, and yes, it was a good party! :-) cheers Jim Jim Moore jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 13:56:46 -0500 From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Pinniped handling >In my experience with pinnipeds, (although not specifically >Fur Seals), this is an unacceptable technique. Carrying a seal >by the hind flipper can cause dislocations and I have been >told, may create a disposition to arthritis. If my observation >is not correct I would like to know. > I am reasonably familiar with the literature relating to health,disease, and husbandry of marine mammals and am unaware of any papers which discuss coxofemoral or other luxations or arthritic sequelae associated with pups being carried by their hind flippers. Alternatively I have observed numerous punctures and lacerations on the bodies of people who have tried to carry pinnipeds (especially fur seals) by their foreflippers or torsos. Ideally the animals should be placed in a container if they are to be transported more than a very short distance but even this requires picking them up, most commonly by their hind flippers, to place them in a trasnsport container. In 23 years of handling hundreds of animals in this fashion I have yet to see my first case of a subluxation or secondary arthritis associated with this technique. I'd appreciate any references on such problems. J.Lawrence Dunn VMD ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 12:04:19 -0500 From: "Eric L. Walters" Subject: marine mammal telemetry I am preparing a report that summarizes telemetry on vertebrates. Part of this report involves marine mammals. If you or someone you know has used telemetry techniques on any species of marine mammals could you email me with the details (e.g. publications, species, geographic location, attachment technique, analysis technique, etc)? I do not monitor marmam so if you could email me directly that would be great. I will post a summary to marmam once I receive all the information. Thank you in advance, Eric Walters Dept. of Biology University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Canada email:ewalters(\)idirect.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 21:19:00 -0500 From: ACELIA(\)delphi.com Subject: Request sea otter info. I would like to post the following information request for a friend. MARMAMers, I am a student at Barnard College. I am interested in any research on food stealing, or prey handling time, specifically in relation to time of day, in sea otters. If anyone knows of any research on sea otters or other marine mammals, I would greatly appreciate those references. In addition, if anyone has any suggested contacts, those too would be appreciated. Thanks ever so much and please respond to my personal email or snail address. Danielle Hessel dmh25(\)columbia.edu Danielle Hessel Box 305 McIntosh Student Center 3001 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jan 1996 18:46:22 -0800 From: Robin Baird Subject: Contacting authors about citing published abstracts??????? I hate to admit I paid so little attention at the Orlando conference two weeks ago, but I just now noticed on the front of the abstract booklet: "NOTICE: As a professional courtesy abstracts should not be cited without permission of the primary author." As far as I'm aware (maybe I should go back and check through other sets of published conference abstracts?) this is the first time such a notice has been put on an abstract book for one of the biennial marine mammal conferences (though I haven't the first two of the early abstract books). While I agree 1) that its best to cite papers in peer-reviewed journals, 2) that information in abstracts may have a higher probability of being incorrect (since it hasn't necessarily gone through the same rigorous review process as journal articles), and 3) that having an abstract in a conference booklet shouldn't be viewed as an acceptable alternative to publishing, I still think its extremely valuable to be able to cite published abstracts. Having to contact authors may impede this process. Mail or phone calls to some countries may be difficult, expensive, or experience long delays, people may not respond to mail, etc. Both Marine Mammal Science and the Canadian Journal of Zoology (the only two journals I have handy) have marine mammal conference abstracts cited in their papers. Personally I'm kinda busy and sometimes hard to get hold of, and if someone wants to cite the abstract I have in the conference booklet, I don't want to have to write back to let to them know its okay (or delay their citing it 'cause I haven't gotten back to them). Also, some people will not see the notice (either not reading it, like me, or getting only a copy of the abstract itself, and not the notice). If someone replies to an inquiry saying "no" to having their abstract cited, it still won't prevent others from citing it because they didn't know about the notice. And if it is only a "professional courtesy", if someone says "no" to citing their abstract, does that mean it is unprofessional to cite it anyway? (and who will enforce this?) Why am I writing this? I'm curious about what Society for Marine Mammalogy members think about such a notice; whether notification should be obtained from authors before citing an abstract. I worry that journals like Marine Mammal Science might start asking whether you have permission from the authors to cite their abstract, for something that, as far as I know, is not a standard for other societies. If you want to express your opinion, send a message to me filling out the form attached at the end of this message, and after 10 or so days I will post the replies to MARMAM (assuming anyone other than me has an opinion about this and wants to have their opinion noted). If you have a really strong opinion about this and want to broadcast it, send your reply directly to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca TTFN, Robin ============================================================================ Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700, MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca ============================================================================ please send your replies to this totally unofficial survey to: rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca (NOTE: please send your reply by January 15, 1996) -------------------------------cut here------------------------------------- ___ Yes, I think you should contact authors about citing their abstracts ___ No, I think you should not contact authors about citing their abstracts ____ I am a member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy ____ Yes I had actually noticed this note on the front of the abstract book before getting your message ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 08:04:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: citing abstracts Citing abstracts: good point, Robin - I'd missed it also. Not only do most journals (grudgingly) permit citation of abstracts, but it is always obvious in the bibliography that they are from a conference, and in some cases the citation is required to end with the word "abstract" in parentheses. This makes it clear to any professional biologist that the work was not necessarily refereed. Furthermore, one presumes that journal reviewers will not permit excessive citation of such material, particularly if a paper's principal conclusions hang on assumptions taken from someone else's (unrefereed) abstract. There are times when the only reference to specific work comes in such form, forcing one to use an abstract or nothing. While papers that rely heavily on gray literature should not be tolerated, prudent and occasional use of abstracts is unavoidable at times, and having to obtain author permission for their use is an unnecessary hassle which is not common in other fields. If investigators make their findings public at a meeting, they should be prepared to see those data cited, albeit in an appropr- iately cautious manner. Phil Clapham Smithsonian Institution clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 06:25:48 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Vietnamese villagers mourn gia Vietnamese villagers mourn giant whale HANOI, Jan 3 (Reuter) - Vietnamese villagers have buried a 6.5 tonne whale found wounded and drifting off the country's central coast. Local official Nguyen Van Muoi said on Wednesday the 13.5 metre (45 ft) animal was spotted in coastal waters last week about 100 km (60 miles) south of Danang with gunshot wounds. The giant mammal died two hours after it was found and the local villagers buried it with traditional funeral rites. "It was a very big ceremony, organised by the village elders. After three years, they'll recover the whale's bones for a shrine. That's the local tradition," he said by telephone. Whales are revered in coastal Vietnam and are not hunted locally. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 14:28:21 -0500 From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Subject: INTERNSHIP IN AQUATIC ANIMAL MEDICINE VETERINARY INTERNSHIP / RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN AQUATIC ANIMAL MEDICINE AT MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM With the assistance of both external and in house funding the Research and Veterinary Services Department of Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation, sponsors a one year internship/research opportunity in aquatic animal medicine. Applicants for the internship should be graduates of an AVMA accredited veterinary college or ECFVG certified. The successful applicant will assist the research, veterinary, and husbandry staffs in the diagnosis and treatment of medical cases from the aquarium's extensive collection of invertebrates, fresh and saltwater fishes, penguins and waterfowl, seals, sea lions, dolphins and beluga whales. In addition the intern will participate in our rescue, rehabilitation, and release program for stranded marine mammals. Collateral opportunities at area academic, government, and private industry laboratories are possible and encouraged. The intern will have an opportunity to develop teaching skills by his/her involvement in the aquarium's veterinary externship program and at informal seminars. The intern will be encouraged to pursue one or more research interests and to prepare the results for presentation at an appropriate meeting or for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Applicants should submit the following material to: J. LAWRENCE DUNN VMD MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM MYSTIC, CT 06355 USA 1. A current transcript from the veterinary school and any post baccalaureate program which he/she has attended. 2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic performance and his/her potential in the clinical and research arenas. 3. A statement reflecting the applicant's goals in the area of aquatic animal medicine and research. 4. A current curriculum vitae or resume. All application materials must be available for review prior to 1 March 1996. The successful applicant will be notified ASAP and must commit to the position by 15 April 1996. The internship period will extend ~ from 15 July 1996 through 1 August 1997 Additional information may be obtained by calling Dr. Dunn at 860- 572-5955 ext. 103 Mon-Thurs 12:00 - 2:00 PM or by e-mail at DUNNL(\)AOL.COM anytime. MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 15:04:01 -0500 From: "Anne M. Jensen" Subject: Re: Bowhead longevity Jim Moore wondered: > >As the saying goes, "I heard this at a New Year's party..." -- does anyone >know anything about stone points, dated on the basis of stylistic comparison >with archaeological assemblages to ca 1850s, being found in the blubber of >recently-taken bowheads? Interpretation being that bowhead lifespan may be >>> 100 years... 3 elements to the story then: > 1) stone points in bowhead?? > 2) archaeological dating reasonable?? > 3) any other interpretations aside from very old whales possible?? > 1) It's true. There are at least 3 points, from at least 2 whales, taken by Wainwright and Barrow, I believe. (I don't have the info in the office at the moment.) 2) The points are most unlikely to date from any later than the late 1890s, since Inupiat had adopted metal endblades even for whaling harpoons, or were using Yankee harpoon guns by then. Based on a cursory examination of the points by Glenn Sheehan, there is no stylistic reason these points could not be considerably older, say from the eighteenth century. 3) Not that I can think of. The whales in question were both very large. For more information, you could contact Dr. Tom Albert at the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management (907-852-0350) or archaeologist Glenn Sheehan at Barrow Technical Services, (907-852-8212). Cheers, Anne Anne M. Jensen | Maritime Archaeological Project-Pingasagruk | "Nothing in science has any Department of Anthropology | value to society if it is Bryn Mawr College | not communicated." Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 USA | -Anne Roe E-mail: ajensen(\)brynmawr.edu Voice: 610-526-5020 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 16:37:47 -0500 From: Dave johnston Subject: IMMA is online...! The International Marine Mammal Association Inc. (IMMA Inc.) is now on the World Wide Web! The URL for our site is http://www.imma.org/index.html. A visit to our web site will provide you with information on several conservation issues, some historical perspectives and our technical resources...ALL AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON! The site is enhanced for Netscape 2.0, but can be browsed using all available WWW browsers. Cheers! Dave Johnston ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 16:50:08 -0500 From: LambertCB(\)aol.com Subject: Gray Whale Census for December 1995, PVIC The number of gray whales migrating past Palos Verdes Peninsula inSouthern California during the month of December was 73. This compares with 65 for the same month in 1994. The census station is located at Point Vicente Interpretive Center, near the Point Vicente lighthouse. The census station is operated 10-11 hours daily by volunteers working in shifts. Compass bearings and distances are recorded at least three times for each whale or pod. Sightings of dolphins, common, bottle-nose, Risso's and white-sided along with estimates of numbers are noted. Other whales including orcas, sperm, Minke and hump-backed are noted but sightings are rare. For addition information see 3 Nov 1995 Gray Whale Census by HugeRhino(\)aol.com by Hugh T. Ryono. Contact me, Clyde B. Lambert (LambertCB (\)aol) for further information. We would like to exchange information with other census stations along the west who are following the migration of gray whales. Thanks. Clyde Lambert ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 12:31:36 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Vietnamese villagers mourn gia In-Reply-To: <199601041428.WAA10878(\)hk.super.net> For further information on the Whale Temples of Vietnam, as well as references to the occurrence of the phenomenon elsewhere in Southeast and east Asia, contact Brian Smith, Fax:1-707-445-3645. Brian is lead author on a paper published in Vietnam and another i n press in a special UNEP issue i. I know that he would be willing to share. On Thu, 4 Jan 1996 r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > Vietnamese villagers mourn giant whale > > HANOI, Jan 3 (Reuter) - Vietnamese villagers have buried a > 6.5 tonne whale found wounded and drifting off the country's > central coast. > Local official Nguyen Van Muoi said on Wednesday the 13.5 > metre (45 ft) animal was spotted in coastal waters last week > about 100 km (60 miles) south of Danang with gunshot wounds. > The giant mammal died two hours after it was found and the > local villagers buried it with traditional funeral rites. > "It was a very big ceremony, organised by the village > elders. After three years, they'll recover the whale's bones for > a shrine. That's the local tradition," he said by telephone. > Whales are revered in coastal Vietnam and are not hunted > locally. > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 05:34:00 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Florida's manatees dying in ne Florida's manatees dying in near-record number ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Jan 3 (Reuter) - Florida recorded its second-highest death toll of endangered manatees in 1995 as 201 of the gentle, slow-moving sea cows died in protected state waters, officials said on Wednesday. Officials said they were alarmed by the high number of deaths, surpassed only by the 206 recorded in 1990 when a fierce cold snap boosted the toll, but were encouraged by indications that deaths resulting from human activity were down. Of the 201 deaths, fifty-five were related to human activity, compared to 70 in 1994, when the death toll was 193. "What we did see in 1995 is a downturn in the number of manatee deaths caused by human activity," said Scott Wright, a scientist at the Florida Marine Research Institute. "That means public awareness is up, many boaters are slowing down and manatees are being better protected." Manatees, which frequent warm, shallow water, are mammals that often drift just below the surface of the water, leaving them prey to speeding boats. Many bear deep scars from boat propellers. The state's population of manatees -- lumbering vegetarians that can grow to 15 feet (4.5 metres) in length and a ton in weight -- has been decimated as the number of registered boats in Florida has doubled from about 400,000 to 800,000 since 1974, officials said. There are believed to be only about 1,800 manatees, whose origins date back 45 million years, remaining in Florida waters, state biologists said. The entire state of Florida has been decreed a manatee sanctuary. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 12:57:57 -0300 From: Marcos Cesar de Oliveira Santos ib - bie 7600 Subject: Re: Contacting authors about citing published abstracts??????? In-Reply-To: Dear Robin, Congratulations for pointing this fact in MARMAM. Thanks for reminding all marmamers that sometimes it is difficult for some researchers, like most of latin americans, to be in contact with the rest of the world. The Conference is one of the fewer opportunities we have to show the rest of the world that we exist, we work hard, and that Brazil is not only a jungle!!! Sure the abstracts sometimes don't have the same treatment as a paper, but as resposible and ethic researchers, each one must respect Marine Mammal Science when attenting for a Biennial Marine Mammal Conference. To all marmamers: Have a wonderful 1996!!! Best regards, Marcos Universidade de Sao Paulo - Brazil marcosos(\)usp.br ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 07:58:06 PST From: Robin Baird Subject: Re: citing abstracts (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 10:43:32 -0500 (EST) From: Keith Ronald On the other hand if you look inside back cover you will find a list of abstract reviewers whose function according to the prelim materials for the conference were going to evaluate the material for presentation at the conference-or am I misreading something./ Any way many International and national meetings where papers are presented have the same notation. As one who has produced tree bibliographies on pinnipeds it was a major expansion of the work to accommodate this bright "grey"literature-but it shouldn't be lost as some of it is original. KR Keith Ronald (kronald(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu) Oceanographic Center Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies Nova Southeastern University 8000 North Ocean Drive Dania, Florida, 33304, USA. Adjunct Professor, Marine Mammals and Environmental Studies. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 10:59:48 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 1/5/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am shortening the summary to include only new items added since my last posting. However, I will post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. Today's summary is the longer version for the first Friday of January 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for June 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov fax: (202) 707-7289 Summary follows: New info and changes since 01/02/96 are bracketed {...}. . Marine Mammals . {Manatee Death Toll. On Jan. 3, 1996, Florida officials reported that 201 manatees had died during 1995, for the second-worst death toll in two decades of study. However, 1995 deaths attributable to human activity -- primarily watercraft use and operation of floodgates and canal locks -- declined slightly from 1994 figures. Increases were primarily in numbers of newborn manatees dying of natural causes and deaths from undetermined causes (due to carcasses too decomposed to determine the cause of death).} [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Japan Certified Under Pelly Amendment. On Dec. 11, 1995, Secretary of Commerce Brown certified Japan under the Pelly Amendment of the Fishermen's Protective Act for expansion of its scientific whaling program in the North Pacific and the Antarctic. President Clinton must report to Congress by Feb. 9, 1996, on any action taken regarding this certification. On Dec. 20, 1995, Japan's Fisheries Agency filed a letter of protest with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce concerning the Pelly Amendment certification. [NOAA press release, Dow Jones News] . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Dec. 18, 1995, Canada's Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin announced that the Atlantic harp seal allowable kill in 1996 will be increased from 186,000 seals to 250,000 seals, and that the government subsidy of C$.20 per pound will be continued. The entire seal carcass must be used, and the killing of young whitecoat seals is banned. In 1995, about 67,000 seals of the 186,000-seal quota were actually killed, due to poor weather and ice conditions and a limited market. On Dec. 20, 1995, the British Columbia Wildlife Federation called for a Pacific coast hunt of harbor seals to protect salmon. {In early January 1996, the Comox Chapter of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia asked the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans for a permit to kill 30 harbor seals killing salmon on the Puntledge River.} [Reuters, Assoc Press] . Gillnet Restriction to Aid Harbor Porpoise. On Dec. 13, 1995, the New England Fishery Management Council voted to recommend closing a 5,000 square mile area off northern Massachusetts and southern Maine to gillnet fishing between March 25 and April 25 to better protect migrating harbor porpoise. [Assoc Press] . Japanese Court Hears Whale Case. On Dec. 12, 1995, a Japanese court heard the suit against British journalist Mark Votier for damages for allegedly breaching an agreement with Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research and releasing pictures in May 1993 of minke whales being killed by Japanese whalers in the Antarctic. [The Daily Telegraph, The Independent] . Accurate Whale Population Counts. In a report in the Dec. 7, 1995 issue of New Scientist, a Cornell University scientist asserts that whale populations might be more easily and accurately assessed by acoustic means than by direct visual observation. [Reuters] . Free Willy. United Parcel Service has arranged to deliver Keiko from Mexico City to the Oregon Coast Aquarium on Jan. 7, 1996, free-of-charge using a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The combined whale, specially constructed container, and water will weigh between 40,000 and 42,000 pounds. [Assoc Press] . ATOC. On Dec. 14, 1995, the California Coastal Commission voted to ask NMFS to reopen its investigation of the three humpback whale deaths after Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) researchers were reported to have stated that determining cause-of-death to marine mammals in the ATOC project area is not part of the ATOC project design. {In late January 1996, the State of Hawaii will hold a public hearing on starting the Kauai portion of the ATOC project.} [personal communication, Assoc Press] . Wandering Manatees. A wandering female manatee remained in Buffalo Bayou in the Houston Ship Canal, TX, until wildlife biologists captured the animal on Dec. 7, 1995, for testing and eventual transport back to its natural habitat. [Assoc Press] . Tuna-Dolphin. On Dec. 7, 1995, S. 1460 was introduced to implement provisions of the Panama Declaration including easing the U.S. embargo on tuna imports while maintaining existing dolphin-safe measures. [NMFS announcement, personal communication, Congr. Record, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 08:33:34 -0800 From: John Trupkiewicz Subject: Re: Florida's manatees dying in ne In-Reply-To: <199601051357.FAA24708(\)guilder.ucdavis.edu> On Fri, 5 Jan 1996 r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > Florida's manatees dying in near-record number > > ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Jan 3 (Reuter) - Florida recorded its > second-highest death toll of endangered manatees in 1995 as 201 > of the gentle, slow-moving sea cows died in protected state > waters, officials said on Wednesday. > Officials said they were alarmed by the high number of > deaths, surpassed only by the 206 recorded in 1990 when a fierce > cold snap boosted the toll, but were encouraged by indications > that deaths resulting from human activity were down. > Of the 201 deaths, fifty-five were related to human > activity, compared to 70 in 1994, when the death toll was 193. > "What we did see in 1995 is a downturn in the number of > manatee deaths caused by human activity," said Scott Wright, a > scientist at the Florida Marine Research Institute. "That means > public awareness is up, many boaters are slowing down and > manatees are being better protected." > Manatees, which frequent warm, shallow water, are mammals > that often drift just below the surface of the water, leaving > them prey to speeding boats. Many bear deep scars from boat > propellers. > The state's population of manatees -- lumbering vegetarians > that can grow to 15 feet (4.5 metres) in length and a ton in > weight -- has been decimated as the number of registered boats > in Florida has doubled from about 400,000 to 800,000 since 1974, > officials said. > There are believed to be only about 1,800 manatees, whose > origins date back 45 million years, remaining in Florida waters, > state biologists said. The entire state of Florida has been > decreed a manatee sanctuary. > Does anyone have any information on what caused the other 146 deaths? Any information on necropsy findings, and infectious agents in particular, would be appreciated. John G. Trupkiewicz, D.V.M. Department of Veterinary Pathology University of California Davis, CA. 95616 jgtrupkiewicz(\)ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 10:10:18 -0800 From: Steve Ladd Subject: MARINE MAMMAL MEDIA PROGRAMS January 5, 1995 MARINE MAMMAL VIDEOS AND CD-ROM AVAILABLE FROM NON-PROFIT DISTRIBUTOR The Video Project is pleased to announce the availability of a number of top-rated video programs and a CD-ROM on marine mammals. The Video Project, founded in 1983, is the nation's non-profit source for over 250 programs on the environment and related concerns. To order any of the programs listed below, or our full catalog, contact: THE VIDEO PROJECT 5332 College Avenue, Suite 101 Oakland, CA 94618 1-800-4-PLANET (1-800-475-2638) Fax: 510-655-9225 E-Mail: videoproject(\)videoproject.org Please add $4.95 shipping for 1 video and $3 for each additional ($19.95 Maximum). California residents add 8.25% sales tax. Inquire re foreign rights and shipping. Visit our new World Wide Web site to browse our entire catalog of programs: http://www.videoproject.org/videoproject/ ********************************************************** PITY THE PILOT WHALE Produced by the Marine Mammal Fund Narrated by James Coburn This powerful video looks at the nature and fate of the world's pilot whales, and how two countries relate very differently to these marine mammals. Produced by the creators of WHERE HAVE ALL THE DOLPHINS GONE?, this video begins with an excellent introduction to the biology and behavior of pilot whales. The citizens of a remote northern island are shown hunting and killing pilot whales. In contrast, New Zealanders are shown rescuing stranded pilot whales. These cultural contrasts inspire a fundamental discussion about how we should relate to these intelligent creatures. 50 Min. * Ages 14 - Adult VHS Sale $59.95 * Item # PIT-025-O ********************************************* ********************************************* WHERE HAVE ALL THE DOLPHINS GONE? Produced by the Marine Mammal Fund Narrated by George C. Scott. This updated version of WHERE HAVE ALL THE DOLPHINS GONE? investigates the current status of dolphins in the world today, portraying their beauty and charm as well as the perils they face. Despite a major consumer victory that led to "dolphin safe" tuna in the U.S., some nations continue to use nets that entrap dolphins, and recent trade agreements could undermine dolphin-safe tuna in the U.S. BEST FILM OF FESTIVAL, U.S. Environmental Film Festival. "Recommended. (A) sobering production that spotlights the tragic plight of dolphins...nicely shot." - Bookist (ALA) 56 Min. * Ages 15 - Adult VHS Sale $59.95 * Item #WHE-235-O ********************************************** ********************************************** THE MIGHTY RIVER Produced by Frederick Back and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Narrated by Donald Sutherland Created by the Oscar-winning animator of The Man Who Planted Trees, THE MIGHTY RIVER presents a powerful history lesson about human impact on our fragile natural resources. Blending wondrous animation, poetic narration and evocative music, THE MIGHTY RIVER traces the history of one of North America's great waterways -- the St. Lawrence -- from its natural beginnings through its early use by native people and European settlers to the present day. In the name of progress, the river is gradually polluted with waste, its wildlife decimated and grand forests cut down. Finally, the river dramatically calls out for rebirth. ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION, Best Animated Short Film, 1993 GOLD APPLE, National Educatonal Film & Video Festival 24 Min. * Ages 12 - Adult VHS Sale $89 * Item# MIG-195-O ********************************************** ********************************************** GIFT OF THE WHALES Produced by Miramar Productions GIFT OF THE WHALES is a modern fable that will help younger children develop an appreciation for marine mammals. Dan, an 11year- old Native American boy, lives in a small village on the Pacific Coast. Dan's life is transformed when his grandfather and a friendly marine scientist introduce him to the beauty of the whales. PARENT'S CHOICE AWARD GOLD APPLE, National Educational Film and Video Festival "Four stars. Highly recommended. " - Video Rating Guide for Libraries "Once in a great while a tape that is truly special comes our way, and this is one." - Children's Video Report 30 Min. * Ages 7 - 12 VHS Sale $19.95 * * Item# GIF-238-O ****************************************** ****************************************** ORCA: KILER WHALE OR GENTLE GIANT? Produced by NTV ORCA: KILLER WHALE OR GENTLE GIANT? follows Hiroya Minakuchi as he studies and photographs orca "pods" in their natural habitat off the coast of Vancouver. He films spectacular scenes of orcas breaching, hunting fish, a birth at sea, a strange "rubbing ritual", and a dramatic underwater encounter with several orcas who come within a few feet of him. ORCA will help develop a greater appreciation for marine mammals and challenge popular misconceptions about these whales. "Highly recommended...has the depth needed to be a valid teaching tool for science yet is fast-moving, interesting, motivating and will be thoroughly enjoyed." - School Library Journal 26 Min. * Ages 8 - Adult VHS Sale $59.95 * Item# ORC-249-O ****************************************** ****************************************** SHARKS: PREDATOR'S OR PREY? Produced by Katina Simmons and the Dallas Museum of Natural History SHARKS: PREDATORS OR PREY? provides a fascinating look at shark behavior and dispels some of the common myths about these feared creatures. Marine scientists explain what's known about sharks, and show how they are a critical part of marine ecosystems, helping maintain nature's balance. But intensive overfishing and other human activities are seriously endangering some shark populations. Mixing humor with hard facts, This video will change misconceptions and create an appreciation for these misunderstood creatures -- before it's too late. BEST DOCUMENTARY HONORABLE MENTION, Texas Associated Press Awards 20 Min. * Ages 10 - Adult VHS Sale $79.95 * Item# SHA-161-O ****************************************** ****************************************** ANCIENT SEA TURTLES: THE LAST VOYAGE? Produced by Steve Cowan Sea turtles roamed the pre-historic oceans of the world, watching the dinosaurs come and go. Now these once abundant creatures may soon be gone forever as a result of commercial exploitation and ocean pollution. With fascinating footage, ANCIENT SEA TURTLES: THE LAST VOYAGE? provides an overview of the extraordinary natural history of sea turtles, including their mysterious migrations and egg-laying habits. The video also vividly describes the major threats to these ancient creatures, portrays the international efforts to save them from extinction, and tells how students can help in this effort. "Four stars. Excellent underwater photography." - Video Rating Guide for Libraries "The science photography of the sea turtles is fascinating." - School Library Journal 25 Min. * Ages 12 - Adult VHS Sale $59.95 * Item# ANC-295-O **************************************** **************************************** WHALES AND DOLPHINS: ZOOGUIDES CD-ROM Produced by REMedia/Sony Electronic Publishing Expert narration, video, animation, and photographs bring the world of cetaceans to life in this beautiful reference and learning guide. All 70 known species of cetaceans are described and illustrated, along with the threats to their survival. Each cetacean family has a library of material that can be easily accessed, including photos, video clips and worldwide distribution maps. Sections include: Introduction, Life Cycle, Ecology, Body Plan, and Species Classification. "***1/2. Rated: One of the top 50 CD-Rom's. Beautiful interactive disc." - MacUser REQUIRES CD-ROM DRIVE PLUS: MAC: 68030 Processor, System 6.07, 4 Mb RAM, Color Monitor PC: 386 Processor, Windows 3.1, 4Mb RAM, Sound-blaster card, Super VGA card, Color Monitor Ages 10 to Adult CD-ROM Disc Sale $49.95 (Specify MAC or PC Version) *MAC Item# WHA-506-MO * PC Item#WHA-506-PO ------------------------END------------------------ Sincerely, Steve Ladd Executive Director ---------------------------------------------------------------- THE VIDEO PROJECT Media for a Safe and Sustainable World 5332 COLLEGE AVE., SUITE 101 OAKLAND, CA 94618 510-655-9050 FAX 510-655-9115 ******************************************* E-MAIL: videoproject(\)videoproject.org http://www.videoproject.org/videoproject/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 14:42:24 -0500 From: Tom McConnell Subject: Blood pH of whales Could anyone help me verify that a whale's blood pH is slightly more acidic than ours. i am basing this on an assumption that to release O2 from oxyhemoglobin needed for muscle activity during a dive,l not only does blood conc. of CO2 and blood temp rise, but pH would be elevated slightly also. Would greatly appreciate the assistance anyone was willing to give. you can e-mail me at: tmcconne(\)neptune.esck12.in.us Bre Willison *********************************************************** ** Tom McConnell tmcconne(\)ideanet.doe.state.in.us ** ** East Noble Schools ** *********************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jan 1996 13:59:02 +1300 From: Terry Hardie Subject: ``FREE WILLY'' WHALE TO START OWN TREK TO FREEDOM 06-Jan-96 01:54 pm Urgent International ``FREE WILLY'' WHALE TO START OWN TREK TO FREEDOM Mexico City, Jan 5 Reuter - Keiko, star of the blockbuster WHALE movie ``Free Willy'', starts his own personal odyssey toward freedom on Sunday as he leaves capitivity in Mexico for a new life in Oregon. The 6m KILLER WHALE, who for 11 years has been star attraction in an amusement park in Mexico City, will be airlifted in a Hercules tranport plane early on Sunday to a specially built aquarium in Newport, Oregon. There, experts hope, they can coax him back to full health and weight in a large salt water tank, end his role as a stunt performer and eventually take the unprecedented step of returning him to the ocean to find his family and a mate. Keiko leapt to stardom in his role as ``Willy'' in the 1993 Warner Brothers movie about a WHALE released from grim capitivity and released at sea with the help of a small boy. In a case of life imitating art, a US group known as the Free Willy foundation, backed with $US2 million ($NZ3.1 million) from Warner Brothers, pulled together funds to build him a better aquarium in Newport, and arranged his transfer. ``The movie ended beautifully but (Warner Brothers worried) that the star of the movie was in a facility that didn't meet his needs,'' David Phillips, director of the foundation, told reporters here on Friday. To offset criticism about a mammal that quickly became the most famous WHALE in the world, Phillips said the movie studio joined Mexico's Reino Aventura amusement park in planning his rehabilitation. Experts deny that Keiko is in bad health but he suffers a skin irritation, is about a ton underweight and has now reached sexual maturity at the age of 15. With cash-strapped Reino Aventura unable to afford him a female companion, Phillips said it became the first amusement park ever to give away a killer -- or oRCA -- WHALE. ``It was almost impossible to find him a mate. We did it out of concern for Keiko, not because of pressure,'' said the park's director general Antonio Quevedo. Starting early on Sunday, Keiko will be lifted into a portable water tank, trucked to the airport and flown in a sling inside the tank aboard a C-130 Hercules for a nine-hour, $US500,000 flight to Oregon. His new home will be a two million gallon salt water pool, built with donations at a cost of around $US8 million. The pool is five times larger than his current one. Phillips said he would be taught to eat live fish and gradually trained to return to sea. Biologists would perform DNA tests to try to trace his family off the Iceland coast. No captive oRCA has ever been returned to the wild, and success is not guaranteed. For Keiko, the gamble may be worth it. If he returns to sea his lifespan could increase to around 40 years because of the natural environment, Phillips said, and there was still a chance he could find a mate and start a family of his own. Reuter mel ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 08:47:34 -0800 From: Robin Baird Subject: Request for funding for MARMAM To date the financial costs associated with running the MARMAM list have been minimal. The e-mail account that this is done through at the University of Victoria is covered by the University. The University is about to change its access policies however, and phone calls to log on to the system will now be on a toll-basis. As such the direct cost of running the list is about to increase. The three individuals who act as co-editors (Dave Duffus, Pam Willis and myself) volunteer their time to moderate the list and help people subscribe etc. Over the last six months we have been in contact with several groups about possible funding support for a lap-top computer and to hire a part-time assistant to help with MARMAM administration and editing. To date we have received a commitment of support for $1,000 Canadian towards a lap-top computer from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. With this recent development and the imminent increase in expenses, we have decided to ask MARMAM subscribers if they are involved with any organizations which may be willing to help fund one or more of the these expenses: - dial-in expenses for accessing the list (est. $600 CAN per year needed) - support towards purchase of a lap-top computer/modem to allow easier access to the list (approx. $2,000 CAN needed) - support towards hiring a part-time editorial assistant (est. $4,000 CAN per year) If you are associated with an organization which may be able to provide all or some of the support needed, please contact one of the MARMAM co-editors. If individuals are interested in making a personal donation to help cover these expenses, it would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much, Robin Baird (rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca) David Duffus (ddvffvs(\)uvvm.uvic.ca) Pam Willis (ui118(\)freenet.victoria.bc.ca) ====================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700, MS7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jan 1996 19:47:21 -0500 From: DLFNDR(\)aol.com Subject: Re: ``FREE WILLY'' WHALE TO START OWN TREK TO FREEDOM I'm very curious as to the opinions of MARMAMers on this situation. Does anyone really feel that Keiko has any reasonable chance of surviving if and when he is returned to the wild? And what are the real odds of being able to locate his original family group. etc? Personally I'm skeptical, and I wonder if Keiko wouldn't be better off just remaining in Oregon, and have the money spent on finding him a companion from Orcas already in captivity. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 19:23:10 -0500 From: Sclymene(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Free Willy MARMAM subscribers, In response to DLFNDR(\)AOL.COM about the future release into the wild of Keiko (aka Willy), I think it is a very sad statement about the priorities of most "whale-enthusiasts." With a great deal of hoopla, at least US$10.5 million is being spent to release a killer whale in poor health and with a potentially contagious skin disease back into the wild, while at the same time two cetacean species (the baiji and vaquita) are quietly going extinct. If one were to examine the scientific and humanitarian reasons for releasing a killer whale into the wild, and pick a candidate, Keiko would have to be near the bottom of the list. And personally, I think that the preservation of an entire species ought to be a higher priority task than that of enhancing the "mental health" of a single individual of a species that probably numbers in the hundreds of thousands worldwide. Is this really the way that people want their limited donations for wildlife spent? Not me. Two out of 79 cetacean species lost in a ten-year period is a pretty scary prospect. Ten million dollars could go a long way towards the conservation of cetacean biodiversity. ******************************** Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Ocean Park Aberdeen, Hong Kong email: Sclymene(\)aol.com ******************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 17:32:34 PST From: Robin Baird Subject: Re: ``FREE WILLY'' WHALE TO START OWN TREK TO FREEDOM (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 16:01:40 -0900 From: ftkbb(\)aurora.alaska.edu (Kimberlee Beckmen) Marmarmers spent a long time discussing how they feel about this (cetacean captive/release) situation. Since it appears you missed those lively exchanges, you should to refer to the archive of messages for the comments made last year. Some very thoughtful opinions were put forth. > >In response to the message by DLFNDR(\)aol.com: >>I'm very curious as to the opinions of MARMAMers on this situation. Does >>anyone really feel that Keiko has any reasonable chance of surviving if and >>when he is returned to the wild? And what are the real odds of being able to >>locate his original family group. etc? Personally I'm skeptical, and I wonder >>if Keiko wouldn't be better off just remaining in Oregon, and have the money >>spent on finding him a companion from Orcas already in captivity. >> > Editor's note: if you want to retrieve past MARMAM messages, you can do so by sending a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: get marmam logXXYY where XX is the year and YY is the month. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 17:56:46 -0500 From: AnmlPeople(\)aol.com Subject: Funding challenge Re the MARMAM funding request, ANIMAL PEOPLE is pleased to send our check for $100 U.S. funds toward the continued support of MARMAM immediately, and challenges all other institutional users to proportionally match it. We're one of the smaller institutional users of MARMAM; $100 is just over a third of our top weekly salary. Please kick in proportionally if you possibly can. In our view, which we're sure is shared by many, MARMAM is the best-run and most useful of the many animal-related online boards we monitor. The MARMAM mailing address, again, is: Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, BC V8P 5L5 CANADA --Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 11:28:27 +0100 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: new seal quotas I have earlier in this forum asked for a source for the statement that the Canadian government has increased the seal hunt in order to protect the cod. I have now got references indicating that this is true from Peter Meisenheimer of IMMA Inc. Without the permission of Meisenheimer I present them here. Brian Tobin on a June 28, 1995 press conference (as transcribed from tape by IMMA staff): "...that if, while they are not the single cause of the collapse of groundfish stocks, are a contributing factor, I think has been confirmed. Their own [fisher's] observation that whatever the role seals have played in the collapse of groundfish stocks, seals are playing a far more important and significant role in preventing, in slowing down, a recovery of groundfish stocks, in my mind is confirmed. And I am here to say, in this special place, where the seal fishery is old and valued, and is important and is well understood, that this government, the Government of Canada, will work with sealers, and will work with this community, and all other communities affected, with fishermen generally, to rebuild a viable, hopefully commercially based, but viable, much expanded seal hunt next year." ---------------- Royce Frith, Canadian High Commissioner to England, wrote in an official letter to the Financial Times of London (13 December, 1995): "Here are the scientific facts addressed at a recent international seal management forum at St. John's Newfoundland: The population of harp seals has doubled to nearly 5m in 15 years. Harp seals have no natural predators; The herd devoured 6.9m tonnes of cod and other fish last year - each seal consumes 1.4 tonnes of fish a year; Cod stocks are at an all-time low, despite fishing boats being tied up for more than four years; If the herd carries on unchecked, there will be no fish left for anyone. And that includes the seals. Canada's response is to restore the balance of nature through seal herd management so fish and seals both flourish." -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 07:16:52 -0700 From: Emily H Young Subject: Re: Free Willy In-Reply-To: <199601080057.RAA39676(\)mustique.u.arizona.edu> Regarding Free Willy: An excellent point about 10.5 million to save Keiko. For that much money you could fund the management of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico for a number of years. The reserve is 7 million acres and includes Scammon's Lagoon and San Ignacio Lagoon and is home to gray whales, black sea turtles, green sea turtles, pronghorn antelope, bottlenose dolphins, etc. etc. Environmentalists need to get their priorities straight. It is fairly obvious why U.S. environmentalists and our "conservation models" are a total failure in the Third World and in the most of the U.S. Serge Dedina Dept. of Geography and Regional Development University of Arizona serge(\)u.arizona.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 17:30:26 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Free Willy In-Reply-To: <199601080044.IAA11989(\)hk.super.net> I couldn't agree more with your perspectives and with your indictment of priorities in such donor-supported campaigns as the one to free Willy. Here in Asia, I frequently receive proposals for worthy, year-long research and conservation projects with total budgets of a few tens of thousands of dollars. And I am sure the entire budget all marine mammal research and conservation work conducted to date in the entire East and Southeast Asian Region (outside Japan) is only a fraction of that spent so far on the Free Willy feel good campaign. What has happened to our priorities? At least the whale-enthusiasts spending their money, and the public's, on this silly project should have to pay with their silence when the baiji, vaquita, bhulan, ......disappear from neglect. Stephen Leatherwood .On Sun, 7 Jan 1996 Sclymene(\)aol.com wrote: > MARMAM subscribers, > In response to DLFNDR(\)AOL.COM about the future release into the wild of > Keiko (aka Willy), I think it is a very sad statement about the priorities of > most "whale-enthusiasts." With a great deal of hoopla, at least US$10.5 > million is being spent to release a killer whale in poor health and with a > potentially contagious skin disease back into the wild, while at the same > time two cetacean species (the baiji and vaquita) are quietly going extinct. > If one were to examine the scientific and humanitarian reasons for releasing > a killer whale into the wild, and pick a candidate, Keiko would have to be > near the bottom of the list. And personally, I think that the preservation > of an entire species ought to be a higher priority task than that of > enhancing the "mental health" of a single individual of a species that > probably numbers in the hundreds of thousands worldwide. > Is this really the way that people want their limited donations for > wildlife spent? Not me. Two out of 79 cetacean species lost in a ten-year > period is a pretty scary prospect. Ten million dollars could go a long way > towards the conservation of cetacean biodiversity. > ******************************** > Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. > Ocean Park Conservation Foundation > Ocean Park > Aberdeen, Hong Kong > email: Sclymene(\)aol.com > ******************************** > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 21:40:57 -0800 From: "William P. (Bill) Russell" Subject: Re[2]: ``FREE WILLY'' WHALE TO START OWN TREK TO FREEDOM At 07:47 PM 1/6/96 -0500, rbaird and/or DLFNDR(\)aol.com wrote: >I'm very curious as to the opinions of MARMAMers on this situation. Does >anyone really feel that Keiko has any reasonable chance of surviving if and >when he is returned to the wild? And what are the real odds of being able to >locate his original family group. etc? Personally I'm skeptical, and I wonder >if Keiko wouldn't be better off just remaining in Oregon, and have the money >spent on finding him a companion from Orcas already in captivity. > I'm certainly no expert, but as a member of the Oregon Coast Aquarium I feel that a return to the wild MUST be the long term goal. I concur with what I think is the implication of this post, that chance of surviving is very low in the short term. But in the long term: who REALLY knows? I feel that that we must try to rehabilitate him and do all we can to prepare him for release. This preparation may well include trying to find him a mate. Eight or ten or twenty years from now we will be in a position to answer the question being asked. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | William P. (Bill) Russell | | P.O. Box 2029 | | Bandon, OR 97411 | | Phone: 503-347-3683 Fax: 503-347-6303 | | brussell(\)harborside.com | | Where the Coquille River meets the Sea | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 18:15:49 GMT From: Richard Norman <9502350n%udcf.gla.ac.uk(\)ukacrl.BITNET> Subject: fur seal handling > At the recent conference in Orlando, I had the good fortune to view a >video about the work being done by John Francis with the San Fernandez Fur >Seals. I thought the video was very well done and I enjoyed it enormously. >However, there was one aspect that surprised me. Two of the people working >with John were shown carrying Fur Seal pups by their hind flippers. In my >experience with pinnipeds, (although not specifically Fur Seals), this is an >unacceptable technique. Carrying a seal by the hind flipper can cause >dislocations and I have been told, may create a disposition to arthritis. If >my observation is not correct I would like to know. But, if this is improper >handling, perhaps the video should be edited so that this technique is not >emulated by inexperienced researchers and rehabilitators. > >Jeff Lederman >Phocid(\)aol.com Dear Jeff, saw your comments re fur seal handling on Marmam. My experience has been that immature and juvenile fur seals can be lifted humanely using a decisive but gentle grasp with the full hand at the level of the tarsal bones on one or both hind limbs. Pups appear confident enough of this purchase to use it as a pivot point for nibbling knees and collaborating workers. I think the distal phalanges, their cartilage extensions and the webs of the hind limb might be damaged if a grasp is made too far distal on the flipper, but in practice such a grip is usually quickly lost because of the taper and slipperiness of this part of the limb. I would imagine your concerns may well be quite justified in phocids (guessing these may be what you normally work on from your email address?!) which obviously use their hind limbs in quite a different way to otariids, but I can't comment on that from experience. >From my dissections of natural mortalities of fur seals, I have been impressed by the strength and flexibility of their pelvic limb. My dissections of phocids have been limited to natural mortalities of leopard seals, and my comment here would be to avoid this style of restraint in this species, but for other reasons. Wished I could have got to Orlando. Cheers, Richard Richard J. de B. Norman BVSc, MVS(WildlifeMed&Husb), MACVSc(MedAustWildlife), MRCVS. Department of Veterinary Pathology University of Glasgow Veterinary School Bearsden Rd, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland, U.K.. Phone: +44 (0)141 330 5787 Fax: +44 (0)141 330 5602 Mobile: +44 (0)385 996 038 Email: 9502350n(\)udcf.gla.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 19:40:00 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Keiko/Free Willy ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Re: Keiko/Free Willy Most people would agree that the moving of the whale "Keiko", the star of Free Willy, to a new modern facility in Oregon is a positive development for his future welfare. However, as a professional involved in the welfare of marine mammals, I can see little point in spending vast sums of money on rehabilitating him to the wild; an experiment with no clear outcome and based on the dubious assumption that he can not be maintained in good physical and psychological condition in captivity. In fact, in successful, modern aquariums, killer whales now regularly and successfully breed and rear their young (see paper in ZOO BIOLOGY No. 14. Duffield, Odell, McBain and Andrews: Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Reproduction at Sea World). I am inclined to agree with some biologists who have voiced concerns at the validity of spending such large amounts on money on the welfare of one animal. Any moneys now put aside for "Keiko's release should now be used to support projects for whales and dolphins in the wild who really are in conservation jeopardy. Finally, I would also point out to Marmamers, who have not seen the posting from last year (August 16, 1995), that Iceland has made it clear that it has no intentions of allowing long-term ex-captive orcas, such as Keiko, to be released off their territorial waters which, I believe, extends two hundred miles off-shore. ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 13:37:09 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: New Orleans manatee update For those readers who were following the New Orleans manatee situation, two stories were posted while we were all at the Orlando conference. Manatee in N.O. canals is playing hide-and-seek (Brian Le, The Times-Picayune, 14 Dec 1995) and Manatee searchers halt hunt (Brian Le, The Times-Picayune, 15 Dec 1995) From those titles, you can probably guess what the end result of the search was. For those wanting a copy of the article(s), please contact me directly. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 06:58:13 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Mass death of dolphins puzzles Mass death of dolphins puzzles Mauritanians By Ibrahima Syla NOUAKCHOTT (Reuter) - The discovery of the decomposing bodies of more than 100 dolphins on the Mauritania coast has puzzled scientists and fishermen in the Arab African country. Fishermen came across the macabre scene on the coastal stretch between the capital Noakchott and Nouadhibou. Local newspapers have dished out horror tales suggesting dragnets from foreign trawlers fishing for sharks killed the dolphins, washed ashore in the last week of December. "Dolphin carcases line the beach for nearly three kilometres," wrote the Mauritanie-Nouvelles in a report from the fishing village of Tiliwitt. "On close examination it appears some of the dolphins had not even been fully grown. By their side, nets and cords which probably dragged them either after their death or as they struggled in agony to get back into the sea. A futile struggle for life," the newspaper added. Government scientists have discounted the dragnet theory, suggesting a virus may have killed the dolphins which form part the rich marine life of Mauritania's Atlantic waters. But even the scientists wonder why such a virus spared fish, birds or other animals depending on the sea for food. "No lesions characteristic of mortal wounds were noticed on the cetaceans and no deaths have been noticed among other marine animals," said Sidi el Moktar Ahmed Taleb, director of the National Oceanic and Fisheries Research Center (CNROP). "An autopsy was carried out on the body of one of the dolphins, which was in an advanced stage of decomposition," Ahmed Taleb said. "Some unusual lesions were found in the digestive tube. But the stomach was empty, suggesting that the animal had not fed for some days." Parasitic infections were also found in the stomach by center researchers who braved bad weather to carry out examinations on other bodies on the beach and at sea. The center is still carrying out further examinations while some specimens have been sent to the University of Rotterdam for more extensive analysis. Fishermen in the area have been pondering the tragedy and have offered probable causes ranging from dragnets to poisoned seaweed or mullets which abound there. But a majority have been categoric in pointing a finger at dragnets. An elderly local fisherman, contradicting the scientists, told the newspaper that the dolphins must have been killed by "turning nets" because there were scratches on their bodies. Fishermen in the area are known to have a special relationship with dolphins who help point them to where to find large colonies of mullet, on which the dolphins feed. Other fishermen speculated shark hunters were the culprits. Sharks are sought for their fins which are delicacies in restaurants around the globe. The rest of their carcases are thrown back into the sea, possibly poisoning the water. Mauritanians, notably fishermen, consider dolphins as part of their national patrimony and the mass deaths have sent a shockwave through fishing communities in the country. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 20:53:52 -0500 From: PAWSORG(\)aol.com Subject: Keiko Move Opportunity for Science I am responding to postings by Serge Dedina, Stephen Leatherwood, William P. (Bill) Russell and others regarding moving Keiko to Oregon. There is no science to indicate that Keiko would not survive a return to the wild. The experiment has never been conducted. For that alone, the potential release of Keiko is an exciting prospect. Since this is a first time study there are no "real" odds of Keiko being able to locate his original family group. etc? We know a fair amount about orca's intelligence, social structure, language, communication abilities and memory retention. We know that they are adaptable animals. They survive in isolation in cramped pools for years. They learn to perform on cue and to change their natural diet. Is science the study of odds or of knowledge? Scientists may be in some danger of forgetting that life is a rather mysterious and always precious commodity to those who possess it. Although we can and do argue the cost effectiveness of animal rescues, I believe that the attention and money lavished on Keiko is well spent if it re-awakens a spirit in people that whales, and other animals, are important. The same people who now respond to the plight of an isolated orca can learn about other endangered cetaceans. In this way, a whale release can be a part of other conservation efforts. Isn't money spent on Keiko far more productive than money spent at SeaWorld, which goes to enrich a corporate beer empire. The politics of Iceland, like politics everywhere, are not frozen in ice. Many people in Iceland want an end to their war on whales. These people have indicated that they would welcome returning orcas. What seems to be true is that Keiko is living in Oregon at a well-funded facility who's stated objective is to release him to the wild. The opportunities for new science surrounding the reintroduction of former captive cetaceans promise to be rewarding. Perhaps some marmamers will want to volunteer! Bob Chorush PAWS, Seattle ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 13:58:51 -0800 From: Peter Watts Subject: Getting the Willies Well. Hasn't MARMAM been buzzing lately. All sorts of snarls and misgivings over the waste of millions of dollars for some mangy has-been movie star, which could have been spent far more effectively on real conservation and research efforts. I agree. But there's a fallacious assumption lurking beneath the outrage: that Keiko is somehow taking money away from more deserving efforts. Frankly, I doubt it; Free Willy money wasn't extorted from NMFS or NRC or NSERC. It's part of a different pie entirely. It comes from the wallets of a public who, for the most part, couldn't tell a research program from a misplaced brain-stem cuddle reflex if one jumped up and bit them on the ass. If anyone should be worried about losing funds to the Free Willy project, shouldn't it be the likes of IFAW and Paul Watson? (Not that they don't have their own valid role to play, of course; only that they drink from a different well, funds-wise.) So, if the question is how to best spend 10.5 million dollars earmarked for marine mammal research, I agree: rehabilitating Keiko is right down there with "Colorising Flipper reruns for posterity" on the priority list. But I don't think that *is* the question. I think the question is really: Would you rather see $10.5 million spent on a rehab megaproject (which will, after all, teach us some things of value), or on more cat calenders, bubble-bath for dogs, and 4-CD epic computer games starring Mark Hammill? Put in that light, Freeing Willy doesn't seem like such a bad choice. (I might also point out that maybe we ought to share a smidgen of blame ourselves if the public can't tell good marine mammal research from bad. Most popular presentations of the field range tend to be patronising at best; at worst, a godsend to insomniacs.) IMHO, of course... __________________________________________________Peter Watts "What separates us from the animals is that *we* don't use our tongues to clean our genitals." ___________________________________--Arnold J. Rimmer (deceased) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 11:06:40 -0800 From: Dan Costa Subject: Keiko and Marine Mammal Conservation? As is often the case there is some truth to many statements being made by both sides about the move of Keiko and the $10.5 million spent to build a facility and move him there. What I find most disturbing is that the public is being led to believe that this is a conservation project. It just isn't. Killer whale populations are not threatened in the wild. There is likely to be minimal if any conservation value in learning how to "rehabilitate and release" a killer whale. The animals that we need to learn how to conduct captive breeding and release efforts are small cetaceans such as Beiji, Vaquita and others. However, I would not put captive release programs at the top of my funding priority, The important thing is too properly manage and protect the habitat of these endangered populations. There isn't much point to a captive release program if there is no habitat left or it is so degraded as to be useless for maintenance of a population. As a biologist the problem I have with the Keiko project and others like it is that it focuses on the plight of individual animals, not on populations. I understand that as a caring human being it is hard not to focus on the plight of an individual animal, but as conservationists and biologists we have to focus on maintenance of viable populations of species. We may learn a lot about rehab and potential release of Keiko, but the question is, is this the best way to spend the money and I think more importantly the message as conservationists that we sell to the public. My concern is that the public believes they are helping marine mammal conservation by contributing to the Keiko effort. I take my hat off to anyone who is able to raise $10.5 million dollars! They have the right to spend it as they please. Whereas I agree with Peter Watts that this money is not taking from the NSERC, NSF, NMFS and other governmental funding efforts. I disagree with him about taking money away from other private foundations funded by public donations. There is a limited pool of public money for donations and I can't help but believe that efforts like the "Free Willy" campaign takes money from other conservation efforts, such as World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy, Center for Marine Conservation, Defenders of Wildlife and other organizations who depend on public donations for support. Sincerely, Dan Costa ============================================================================ Daniel P. Costa Ph.D. e-mail: costa(\)biology.ucsc.edu Professor and Associate Chair of Biology Earth & Marine Science Bldg Rm A316 University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Voice (408) 459-2786: FAX (408) 459-4882 ============================================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 11:07:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Willies (cont) Peter Watts' amusing response to the Keiko debate made a sadly very good point. Like it or not, the closer one gets to actually physically "saving" a whale, the more money will come in from the general public. We experience this with mass strandings of pilot whales; despite the fact that these events, while sad, are a natural occurrence that have probably been going on as long as pilot whales have existed, and that they probably have little impact on the population, people from Kansas and other remote places will send in, unsolicited, their ten bucks in response to news reports. Ask these same folks to contribute to work that, in the larger picture, really matters - such as habitat conserv- ation - and the response is at least an order of magnitude smaller. Same thing with the gray whales in the ice fiasco in 1988. It would have been hard to design a more absurd situation - a Soviet icebreaker coming in from far away, while on the other side of the Bering Strait that year the same Soviets killed around 190 gray whales in their native hunt. By some accounts, two million dollars spent on freeing three individuals from what was essentially a natural event. But the money wouldnt have been spent on anything else, just as the people who gave to Keiko would not, in most cases, give to baiji conservation or anything that really matters. Personally, I believe that the idea that Keiko will inspire people to be interested in cetacean conservation issues generally is a fallacy. All we're doing is reinforcing to the public the notion that individual animal rescue events are worthy of huge fundraising are therefore somehow important in the grand scheme of things. I dont know whether anyone could significantly change the mindset that makes people give to feel-good events rather than the more complex, important stuff; but it wouldn't hurt to try. We owe critically endangered species such as the baiji at least that. Phil Clapham Smclapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 08:34:41 -0800 From: Coalition for No Whales in Captivity Subject: Re: Free Willy Re: Free Willy It is interesting to read the reaction of some Marmamers at the fact that US $8 million have been spent on building a marine mammal rehabilitation tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. There seems to be a general assumption among them, that if this money had not been spend on Keiko's move to Oregon, it would have instead gone to funding research that might have helped save endangered cetaceans in the wild. A nice theory, but highly unlikely. Let's face it. That money basically came from Warner Bros. donating part of the Free Willy movie's profits, and from school children who specifically fund-raised to get Keiko out of his small tank in Mexico City, always in the hopes that this whale will someday be free. Please, don't misunderstand me. I realize that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain funds for any kind of research and the frustration of the scientific community is certainly justified in this regard. Governments are broke, and at least here in British Columbia, funding marine mammal research is unfortunately, at the very bottom of all their lists. But maybe the scientific community should instead be looking for funding from other sources, such as the aquarium industry . Surely aquariums keeping and consuming marine mammals should be interested in fund-raising to pay for research needed to save cetaceans in the wild, especially since profits from displaying captive whales and dolphins continue to increase year after year. One example close to home is the Vancouver Aquarium that made CDN $10 million last year. The aquarium pays a token $1 a year in rent, employs 100 people full time and certainly spends a lot on marketing. It is also very able to continuously fund-raise to renovate its popular marine mammal displays. CDN $8 million was spent on just interior-decorating the beluga tank. And in November 1995, the aquarium announced plans to fund-raise up to CDN $20 million to build a bigger killer whale tank. Shouldn't these generous donations go instead to valuable conservation projects? Regarding the saving of endangered species through research, and with all due respect to the scientific community, it is my believe that research without active political involvement can easily become data collecting dust and not make any difference to the welfare of the animals involved. For instance, in order to save the baiji dolphin from extinction due to land development, wouldn't it make more sense to put more effort on lobbying the Chinese government to preserve their natural habitat, than trying to bread them in captivity? I'm not saying that scientific research is not necessary to help save endangered species, it is. However, although there is endless data already available, I fear that there might be too few people involved in the political process that unfortunately is necessary to create positive results for animals. Annelise Sorg Coalition for No Whales in Captivity 8636 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 5A1 Tel: (604) 266-3900 Fax: (604) 266-1120 e-mail: annelise(\)direct.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 09:58:17 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: shockwaves and whales Dear Marmaners, A hot debate has started on USENET about the potential injury to whales caused by shockwaves generated by seaquakes, seismic airgun arrays, and explosives. sci.geo.geology start (\) article #27836. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 18:21:21 -0800 From: Dan Costa Subject: Is Keiko too Cold? As I know very little about the project, I am curious to find out if anyone involved in the transport of Keiko has considered the potential problem associated with moving an animal acclimated to warm water to fairly cold water. I assume that the Oregon Coast Aquarium has the ability to modify the water temperature of Keiko's holding tank to allow him to acclimate to his new home? This issue comes from my research and that of collegues Terrie Williams, Randy Wells and Graham Worthy who collectively have been examining how cetaceans adjust to variations in ambient water temperature. While animals can adjust to significant variations in ambient temperature in nature this usually happens over a fairly long period of time (weeks to months). Consider being taken from the beach at Puerto Vallarta and finding yourself on the beach without a coat (thick blubber layer) in the Pacific Northwest. Several years ago, a number of us at the Long Marine Laboratory (G. Worthy, D. Casper, H. Rhinehart, myself and others) were involved in the rehabilation of a stranded Kogia (pygmy sperm whale). The animal did not do well (he was listless and unresponsive) until we increased the temperature of the holding tank. Once this was achieved the animal increased his activity level food consumption and general health. We adjusted the temperature up because heat flow measurements (a small disc placed on the skin) indicated that the animal had shut down blood flow to the periphery. Once we increased the water temperature, blood flow (as indicated by the heat flow dics) increased to the skin and extremities. Of specific relevance to Keiko is the potential effect of cold water exposure to the already poor condition of his skin. It is possible that the health of the animals skin might be adversely effected. Like all mammals, cetaceans respond to cold by reducing blood flow to the periphery. They reduce the rate of heat lost by reducing blood flow to the extremities (pectoral flipper, fluke and dorsal fin) and outer surface of the body. If the temperature drop is sufficient, animals may reduce blood flow to the point that it may not provide proper nutrient flow to peripherial tissues. A situation where this might happen would include skin discolorations and or surface lesions. Sincerely, Daniel Costa ============================================================================ Daniel P. Costa Ph.D. e-mail: costa(\)biology.ucsc.edu Professor and Associate Chair of Biology Earth & Marine Science Bldg Rm A316 University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Voice (408) 459-2786: FAX (408) 459-4882 ============================================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 00:10:00 +1100 From: anderson(\)enternet.com.au Subject: Peponocephala electra Stranding Point Plomer, North of Port Macquarie, NSW Australia - 10 Jan 1996 7 Peponocephala electra (Melon-headed whales) have restranded at Crescent Head a short distance north of their original stranding site. At the time of the stranding a number of other whales were 'pushed' back out to sea and are believed to have rejoined a larger pod of approximately 100 whales observed in the area. 2 of the animals did not survive, one being found on a nearby beach this morning. The whales were found at approx 6pm 9 Jan 1996, transported to a nearby area with calmer conditions and returned to the sea early this morning. Late this afternoon the remaining 7 were taken by boat out to sea and released. One of these animals did not survive. The 6 animals which restranded this evening have been transported to a salt water pool and the radio suggests that perhaps another attempt to release them may be made tomorrow. Please be advised that the above information has been obtained from various media broadcasts. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 09:50:15 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: KEIKO: temperature/water treatment ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) In reply to Dan Coasta regarding the pool set-up for Keiko at Oregon and water temperature control. According to the aquarium's magazine OCEAN ALERT (Summer/Fall, 1995) Keiko's pool is: "state-of-art deep water pool 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 25 feet deep filled with two millions gallons of cold sea water pumped from the adjoining Yaquina Bay. The water quality will be regulated by sophisticated sand filters and ozone filtration system to ensure it is always clean". I would guess (and no doubt someone will correct me if I am wrong) that this systems water temperature is that of the intake system (Yaquina Bay). Although, the article does not mention if the facility is an open system (water continuously pumped from the sea, processed, pumped into the tank and then discharge to waste) or closed system (all the tank water circulated through the treatment system with occasional "new" sea water intake). If they are using ozone as their only source of biochemical control on this system I would consider they would have to be replacing a reasonable percentage of circulated tank water with Yaquina Bay sea water. This is due to the fact that ozone can not "break down" ammonia which requires either dilution with new sea water, biological filtration (to move the biochemical process forward in converting ammonia to biochemical molecules that ozone can oxidise) or low level chlorination which also changes ammonia into molecules that ozone also can affect. If anyone has any hard data on this system, I would be interested to have details. ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 18:38:20 -1000 From: Amy E Cutting Subject: Keiko's rehab facility Dear Marmamers, Just curious if anyone knows what the Oregon Coast Aquarium plans to do with Keiko's huge, high-tech, super-stimulating habitat if/when he is released. Is it to be used purely for rehabilitation efforts? Mightn't such a facility be used to conduct physiological, behavioral, even cognitive research with other marine mammals (perhaps the OCA's own sea lions, harbor seals or otters...) while providing them with a healthy, rich and stimulating environment? Perhaps some such future use may help justify the outrageous cost of the Free Willy undertaking. Just a thought...... Amy E. Cutting cutting(\)uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:19:19 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Free Willy In-Reply-To: <199601092106.FAA18729(\)hk.super.net> Dear Ms. Sorg, You have a misconception of what is being done to conserve baiji. One animal is in captivity. He has been there for 16 years. Noone, from the Wuhan Meeting to the Nanjing Meeting to recent meetings and workshops, has advocated captive breeding as the way to save the species. Instead, focus has shifted to placement of as many as possible of the remaining baiji into a "Seminatural Reserve" at Shishou. This is, in the veiw of most, the only hope that the species will survive very long. And if it does not, then even if the extensive efforts already underway to clean up the Yangtze are ultimately successful, they will not benefit the baiji. You may find a summary of the history and current efforts of baiji conservation in a recent issue of "Aquatic Mammals." Your point is taken. Sometimes, what we do not need is more general science. But as lessons in the USA clearly show, unless we do have answers to at least the most nigglesome questions, we have little chance of winning the wars in those smoke-filled rooms where the future of wildlife really is decided. Stephen Leatherwood On Tue, 9 Jan 1996, Coalition for No Whales in Captivity wrote: > Re: Free Willy > > It is interesting to read the reaction of some Marmamers at the fact that > US $8 million have been spent on building a marine mammal rehabilitation > tank at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. There seems to be a general assumption > among them, that if this money had not been spend on Keiko's move to > Oregon, it would have instead gone to funding research that might have > helped save endangered cetaceans in the wild. A nice theory, but highly > unlikely. > > Let's face it. That money basically came from Warner Bros. donating part > of the Free Willy movie's profits, and from school children who > specifically fund-raised to get Keiko out of his small tank in Mexico City, > always in the hopes that this whale will someday be free. > > Please, don't misunderstand me. I realize that it is becoming increasingly > difficult to obtain funds for any kind of research and the frustration of > the scientific community is certainly justified in this regard. > Governments are broke, and at least here in British Columbia, funding > marine mammal research is unfortunately, at the very bottom of all their > lists. > > But maybe the scientific community should instead be looking for funding > from other sources, such as the aquarium industry . Surely aquariums > keeping and consuming marine mammals should be interested in fund-raising > to pay for research needed to save cetaceans in the wild, especially since > profits from displaying captive whales and dolphins continue to increase > year after year. > > One example close to home is the Vancouver Aquarium that made CDN $10 > million last year. The aquarium pays a token $1 a year in rent, employs > 100 people full time and certainly spends a lot on marketing. It is also > very able to continuously fund-raise to renovate its popular marine mammal > displays. CDN $8 million was spent on just interior-decorating the beluga > tank. And in November 1995, the aquarium announced plans to fund-raise up > to CDN $20 million to build a bigger killer whale tank. > > Shouldn't these generous donations go instead to valuable conservation project s? > > Regarding the saving of endangered species through research, and with all > due respect to the scientific community, it is my believe that research > without active political involvement can easily become data collecting dust > and not make any difference to the welfare of the animals involved. > > For instance, in order to save the baiji dolphin from extinction due to > land development, wouldn't it make more sense to put more effort on > lobbying the Chinese government to preserve their natural habitat, than > trying to bread them in captivity? I'm not saying that scientific research > is not necessary to help save endangered species, it is. However, although > there is endless data already available, I fear that there might be too few > people involved in the political process that unfortunately is necessary to > create positive results for animals. > > Annelise Sorg > Coalition for No Whales in Captivity > 8636 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 5A1 > Tel: (604) 266-3900 Fax: (604) 266-1120 e-mail: annelise(\)direct.ca > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 09:50:45 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Keiko Move Opportunity for Science In-Reply-To: <199601091504.XAA25665(\)hk.super.net> Dear Bob Corush, There is lots of "science" that would be "interesting," as you characterize the opportunities associated with the release of Keiko. and perhaps in 10 years those conducting this "experiment" might have something to report about how to release the next animal. By then, you can kiss the baiji goodby! My point had little to do with science, or with the possibilities in this scenario. They had to do with priorities for conservation. Since I began working on the baiji campaign, only a handfull of dollars (US State Department, Ocean Park Conservatin Foundation, IUCN/CSG, WDCS, David Shepherd Conservation Foundation, WWF) have gone into China to help with domestic efforts to save this species. Yet during this time the baiji has been splashed over more than a few fund-raising letters of Western European and North American conservation groups. So, all the articulate rationalizatins in the world do not for me alter the simple fact that grumble though we might, those of us representing the west in teh developing world do little of about conservation anywhere except caw about it. The developing-world's hope for examples, and direct support, from the west have long since been seen as unrealizable. Projects like Free Willie only assure them further that they are on their own. On Mon, 8 Jan 1996 PAWSORG(\)aol.com wrote: > > I am responding to postings by Serge Dedina, Stephen Leatherwood, William P. > (Bill) Russell and others regarding moving Keiko to Oregon. > > There is no science to indicate that Keiko would not survive a return to the > wild. The experiment has never been conducted. For that alone, the > potential release of Keiko is an exciting prospect. > > Since this is a first time study there are no "real" odds of Keiko being able > to locate his original family group. etc? We know a fair amount about orca's > intelligence, social structure, language, communication abilities and memory > retention. We know that they are adaptable animals. They survive in > isolation in cramped pools for years. They learn to perform on cue and to > change their natural diet. Is science the study of odds or of knowledge? > > Scientists may be in some danger of forgetting that life is a rather > mysterious and always precious commodity to those who possess it. Although > we can and do argue the cost effectiveness of animal rescues, I believe that > the attention and money lavished on Keiko is well spent if it re-awakens a > spirit in people that whales, and other animals, are important. The same > people who now respond to the plight of an isolated orca can learn about > other endangered cetaceans. In this way, a whale release can be a part of > other conservation efforts. Isn't money spent on Keiko far more productive > than money spent at SeaWorld, which goes to enrich a corporate beer empire. > > The politics of Iceland, like politics everywhere, are not frozen in ice. > Many people in Iceland want an end to their war on whales. These people have > indicated that they would welcome returning orcas. > > What seems to be true is that Keiko is living in Oregon at a well-funded > facility who's stated objective is to release him to the wild. The > opportunities for new science surrounding the reintroduction of former > captive cetaceans promise to be rewarding. Perhaps some marmamers will want > to volunteer! > > Bob Chorush > PAWS, Seattle > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 06:43:06 -0500 From: "Hendry,Chris;=9115049" Subject: pinniped digestion I am doing research on the functional histology of the harp seal (p. groenlandica) small intestine and I am looking for references concerning the villous length of other mammals, particularly carnivores, and more particularly pinnipeds. I personally have not been able to locate such information on my own, and I would greatly appreciate if someone could direct me to such sources. Thank you in advance. ______________________________________________________________________________ ____ _ _ ___ _ ___ _ / __) | |_| | | \ | | / __) / / "If sponges didn't grow in the ocean, | (__ | _ | | () / | | \__ \ / / imagine how much more water \____) |_| |_| |_|\_\ |_| (___/ /_/ there'd be" - Stephen Wright ______________________________________________________________________________ Chris Hendry chendry(\)ganymede.cs.mun.ca MUN Biology Society (BIOS) chendry(\)nostoc.biol.mun.ca Department of Biology chendry(\)europa.cs.mun.ca Memorial University of Newfoundland bios(\)nostoc.biol.mun.ca ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 09:20:53 -0800 From: Coalition for No Whales in Captivity Subject: Re: Free Willy / Baiji Dolphins >Dear Ms. Sorg, > >You have a misconception of what is being done to conserve baiji. One >animal is in captivity. He has been there for 16 years. Noone, from the >Wuhan Meeting to the Nanjing Meeting to recent meetings and workshops, >has advocated captive breeding as the way to save the species. Instead, >focus has shifted to placement of as many as possible of the remaining >baiji into a "Seminatural Reserve" at Shishou. This is, in the veiw of >most, the only hope that the species will survive very long. And if it >does not, then even if the extensive efforts already underway to clean up >the Yangtze are ultimately successful, they will not benefit the baiji. >You may find a summary of the history and current efforts of baiji >conservation in a recent issue of "Aquatic Mammals." Your point is >taken. Sometimes, what we do not need is more general science. But as >lessons in the USA clearly show, unless we do have answers to at least >the most nigglesome questions, we have little chance of winning the wars >in those smoke-filled rooms where the future of wildlife really is >decided. > >Stephen Leatherwood Dear Mr. Leatherwood: Thank you for the information on saving the baiji dolphins. Would you please post the names and addresses of key people that Marmamers can write to in China (or anywhere else) to help save the baiji dolphins? Also, would you post info on where to send donations for this conservation project? Thanks again. Annelise Sorg Coalition for No Whales in Captivity 8636 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 5A1 Tel: (604) 266-3900 Fax: (604) 266-1120 e-mail: annelise(\)direct.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 10:48:30 -0800 From: howard(\)darwin.UCSC.EDU Subject: new book DOLPHIN CHRONICLES by Carol J. Howard Bantam Books Trade Paperback Publication Date: December 15, 1995 Price: $14.95/Pages: 305/ISBN: 0-553-37778-7 In 1988 a group of scientists began a revolutionary experiment: they "borrowed" a pair of wild dolphins from the sea, studied them in captivity for two years, and then set them free to continue studying the animals in their home waters. DOLPHIN CHRONICLES is the extraordinary story of that experiment, a coast-to-coast odyssey that began when two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins -- dubbed Echo and Misha -- were captured in Tampa Bay, Florida and transported to Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz, California. Scientist and author Carol Howard was involved in all aspects of this project -- as a member of both the capture crew and the release/follow-up team, as one of the dolphins' trainers, and as a researcher who studied their echolocation for her doctoral dissertation. Renowned marine mammalogist Dr. Kenneth S. Norris, director of this "dolphin sabbatical" program and Carol's mentor, has written the book's foreword. "Fresh, beautiful, and elegantly scientific, DOLPHIN CHRONICLES gives us a cascade of insights into our seagoing mammalian kin. Carol Howard's sensitive, dedicated research has produced a glorious book, a must for those who love animals and for those who love the sea." -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of "The Hidden Life of Dogs" "DOLPHIN CHRONICLES gives a true and lively report of research into the intelligence and behavior of a large-brained nonhuman animal species. Emphasizing communication, DOLPHIN CHRONICLES' message will have uncommon appeal for today's networking generation." -- Victor B. Scheffer, author of "The Year of the Whale" and "A Natural History of Marine Mammals" ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 23:09:44 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: EUROPE BEING ASKED FOR CASH TO EUROPE BEING ASKED FOR CASH TO DEVELOP DOLPHIN ALARM By Chris Court, PA News European funding is being sought for an underwater alarm aimed at reducing the horrific toll of dolphins which drown when they become caught in fishing nets. The bodies of 11 dolphins have been found washed up on Cornwall's beaches since January 4 - and the creatures almost certainly drowned after being enveloped in the massive nets of mid-Channel trawlers, according to experts. Dolphins in pursuit of "easy pickings" were probably swept up and drowned when the nets were hauled in, said Cornwall Wildlife Trust chairman Dr Nick Tregenza. Now the trust is to apply for a European Commission grant to develop an underwater dolphin detector and alarm. Dr Tregenza said it would take around six months to develop the device. "If dolphins can be frightened away at just the right time it may be possible to reduce the mortality," he said. He envisaged the electronic device being towed behind fishing boats to detect the dolphins' distinctive high-frequency clicks, which would then trigger a "screamer" to frighten the mammals away. There was a reasonable chance that the problem of dolphin deaths could be solved, he said. Cornish Biological Records Unit spokeswoman Stella Turk said post mortem examinations would be carried out on seven of the dolphins washed up in Cornwall this month. In 1992, when the bodies of more than 100 dolphins were found on the region's shores, post mortem examinations of 30 of them showed that they had all suffocated. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 17:39:05 -1000 From: Stacy Braslau-Schneck Subject: Re: Free Willy In-Reply-To: <01HZTZG55TBE004SGR(\)fuchsia.its.Hawaii.Edu> Dear Marmamers, Might I suggest that the best thing that those involved in conservation issues might learn from the Free Willy events is to promote their own mascot. Whatever it might say about human sympathies, people do seem to respond more to the plight of an individual. Why not start a "Save Billy the Baiji" or "Save Bertha the Bouto" campaings, using individual animals to gain support for the whole species? (A similar practice seems to be working for the "adopt-a-whale" efforts). It may be difficult to get the backing of a powerful movie company etc., but it may promote your cause. Just my two cents' worth of opinion! Enjoy 1996, Stacy Stacy Braslau-Schneck sbraslau(\)uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu PS - Dr. Costa, it *is* very difficult to move from warm Hawaii to (relatively) cold San Francisco! :) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 23:30:26 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NSW: WHALES BEACH THEMSELVES A NSW: WHALES BEACH THEMSELVES AGAIN ON NORTH COAST SYDNEY, Jan 11 AAP - Six melon-headed whales who beached themselves for a second time on the New South Wales north coast last night have been given a temporary home in a hotel swimming pool. The 10 metre by 15 metre saltwater pool at the Mediterranean Hotel in Crescent Head, east of Kempsey, will be the whales' residence until they are ready for another release attempt -- probably not within the next 24 hours, a National Parks and Wildlife spokesman said today. Seven of the whales, which are about two metres long, beached themselves at Point Plomer, between Kempsey and Port Macquarie, on Tuesday night. They were released 12 km out to sea from a police launch and a Seaworld craft yesterday afternoon. But six of the whales beached themselves again two kilometres south of Crescent Head at 6pm yesterday, NPWS operations officer Eric Claussen said. He said they were the same whales that had beached earlier, but the seventh whale, a juvenile, had died from stress when it was released. The whales had to be removed from the beach when NPWS was notified of their return last night. "They were getting battered around in the surf and we had to get them off the beach before high tide," Mr Claussen said. "The only appropriate still water was in the saltwater pool at the Mediterranean Hotel in Crescent Head." They had been transported to the hotel, 5km away, on a NPWS whale trailer and on the trailers of some local professional fishermen, he said. The animals were safely in the pool by about 10pm. "They're in a much better condition than they were when we rescued them," Mr Claussen said. "They're fairly comfortable and stable, their breathing rates are stable and their pulse rates are fairly normal." Volunteers were rostered around the clock to hold the whales buoyant in the 1.5 metre-deep pool, he said. They were using 28 volunteers an hour. "They're mainly locals -- they've been fantastic," he said. Officers from the NPWS would leave this morning to find a suitable release point for the whales then they would be transported to the area. "That will be a slow process. It (the release) won't be within the next 24 hours," Mr Claussen said. He said there was no problem with finding food for the animals because creatures of that size could go two to three weeks without food. The Australian Encyclopaedia says the melon-headed whale, also known as the electra dolphin or small killer whale, had not been recorded in Australian waters until 1959 when a school of 200 was stranded at Crowdy Head, about 65km south of this week's stranding. Most of that group was promptly cut up for fish and lobster bait. They are a very social animal that usually gathers in very large pods, and are found mainly in the tropics and sub-tropics. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 06:17:46 PST From: Robin Baird Subject: Including Names and E-mail Addresses with MARMAM submissions Just a reminder to individuals posting messages to MARMAM. The systems that some subscribers use cannot read e-mail addresses out of the message headers. As such, all postings to MARMAM should include a name and e-mail address at the bottom of the message. Messages which are meant to go to the list subscribers should be sent to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Robin Baird, MARMAM co-editor rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 06:56:01 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - osteology Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Kompanje, E.J.O. 1995. Differences between spondylo-osteomyelitis and spondylosis deformans in small odontocetes based on museum material. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 199-203. Natural History Museum Rotterdam, P.O. Box 23452, 3001 KL Rotterdam, The Netherlands In this article the differences between spondylo-osteomyelitis, which is an infective disease, and spondylosis deformans, a degenerative condition in small odontocetes are discussed. Some cases of spondylo-osteomyelitis are described from museum-material, and a key to differentiate, based on cleaned vertebrae, between the two diseases is given. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 09:18:08 -0500 From: Dave johnston Subject: Comment on Canada's Sealing Policy At the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, held in Orlando, FL from 14-18 December 1995, ninety-seven scientists from at least 15 countries signed a petition entitled Comment on Canada's Seal Policy. The petition stated: > "As professionals in the field of marine mammal biology we disagree > with the Canadian government's statement that North Atlantic seals are > a 'conservation problem.' All scientific efforts to find an effect of > seal predation on Canadian groundfish stocks have failed to show any > impact. Overfishing remains the only scientifically demonstrated > conservation problem related to fish stock collapse. If fishing > closures continue, the evidence indicates that the stocks will > recover, and killing seals will not speed that process." The original petitions can now be viewed publically on the IMMA Web site. The URL for the petitions is http://www.imma.org/petition.html otherwise, click on the 'What's New' icon on the homepage (http://www.imma.org/). Cheers Dave Johnston IMMA Inc. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 12:41:30 +0000 From: "Joanna Bond (Genetics)" Subject: sperm whale skin samples This is a request for help in obtaining samples from sperm whales. My name is Jo Bond and I'm studying in Cambridge for a PhD. My PhD investigates structuring population structuring in the sperm whale using genetic markers (microsatellites). I hope to look at the population structure on a global scale and am therefore interested in sperm whales samples from around the globe. This project uses PCR to amplify the DNA present, for this reason only a very small skin sample is needed. If you have sperm whale samples which you are willing to share could you please contact me. I can use blood and tissue samples although skin (including sloughed skin) is preferable. For my purposes 1ml of blood/ tissue homogenate or a piece of skin 1cm by 0.5cm is ample. If you can help I can send you vials filled with a preservative, once the skin is in this solution it can be posted as normal. My supervisor is a registered CITES scientist and I can pass on the relevant details if needed for custom regulations. If you have any queries it would be quicker to contact me directly. Thank you very much for your help. Jo Jo Bond ---------------------------- Molecular Ecology Group. University of Cambridge, Department Of Genetics, Downing Site, CAMBRIDGE CB2 3EH Tel: 01223 333971 FAX NUMBER: 01223 333992 Email: jb(\)mole.bio.cam.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 06:44:25 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: marine mammal books I'm not sure if these books are still available thru the seller, but if you're interested, it might be worth a try. Item 277. K. Norris (ed) Whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Univ. CA Press, 1966. $60 Item 265. D. Haley. Marine mammals. Seattle, 1978. $22 Item 261. FAO. Mammals in the seas, vol. IV. Rome, 1982. $30 Contact: Sapsucker Books Box 86 Grafton, VT 05146 (802) 843-2347 Books may be reserved by phone 9-5 Eastern Standard Time. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 08:56:40 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. The following is an abstract/summary of an article recently published in Aquatic Mammals. Included is the corresponding author's address; please direct reprint requests accordingly. For subscription information, please contact the editor (Paul Nachtigall) at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or at snail mail address: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, U.S.A. NOTE: The following article did not have a summary provided, so one was created for the purpose of posting. ***************************************************************** Kastelein, R.A. and J. Mosterd. 1995. Improving parental care of a female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) by training. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 165-169. Zeedierenpark Harderwijk, Strandboulevard-oost1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, Holland A proportion of bottlenose dolphin calves die in the wild, and despite recent improvements in dolphin husbandry, a proportion of dolphin calves born in oceanaria is also lost. Although the survival rate will undoubtedly increase due to future technical advances, problems related to the behaviour of mothers and calves will always remain. One female bottlenose dolphin at the Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park drowned 3 successive calves soon after birth. Instead of nosing her calf from a dangerous situation such as entrapment in the corner of a pool, she tried to carry the calf to the centre of the pool in her mouth. The calf was usually drowned. Because this behaviour returned during 3 post-partum periods, a training program was launched with a dolphin calf model to extinguish the abnormal rescue behaviour of this female bottlenose dolphin. A 'no-signal' was used to train the mother to keep her calf away from the pool walls in the correct manner. The model was also used to habituate the mother to her mammae being touched. This paper emphasizes training techniques. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 07:16:40 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - beach feeding dolphins Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Silber, G.K. and D. Fertl. 1995. Intentional beaching by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Colorado River delta, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 183-186. direct reprint requests to D. Fertl, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd, Mail Stop 5410, New Orleans, LA 70123 Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were observed beach-feeding in the Colorado River delta in the northern Gulf of California. While such feeding activity has been well-described for bottlenose dolphins on the Atlantic coast of the United States, our observations represent one of the first reports of beach-feeding by bottlenose dolphins in the Baja California region of the Pacific coastline. A review of the literature shows that reports of beach feeding mostly involve two cetacean species: bottlenose dolphins and killer whales (Orcinus orca). Both of these species live in diverse coastal habitats and demonstrate diverse feeding behavior that probably contributes to the evolution of beach-feeding. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 06:31:43 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NSW: WHALES HEADED FOR BACK CR NSW: WHALES HEADED FOR BACK CREEK SYDNEY, Jan 11 AAP - Six melon-headed whales which spent the morning in a motel swimming pool were tonight moved to a creek at South West Rocks on the state's north coast for rehabilitation, a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesman said. The whales were being moved now and would remain in the creek for probably much or all of tomorrow in preparation for efforts to move them out to sea once again, NPWS officer Lawrence Orel said. He said they were all in good condition but would need the time to recuperate so they were strong enough to go back out to sea when the conditions improved. Big seas today hindered efforts to release them. Although the saltwater pool at the Mediterranean Motel in Crescent Head had been suitable as a temporary sanctuary, it was necessary to return the whales to their natural environment as soon as possible. Mr Orel said earlier today one of the reasons behind the failure of last night'srelease of the whales could have been the high seas that prevented boats taking the whales as far out to sea as they would have liked. The six whales beached themselves last night only hours after seven of them had been rescued when they were stranded near Point Plomer, in the same area, on Tuesday night. One of the whales, the youngest, died. "We'd like the sea to abate a bit before ... we take them out to deep water again," Mr Orel said. "The pool ... is not really suitable for any long-term sort of rehabilitation," he said. Blood samples had been taken from the whales during the morning and did not show any variation on tests done before yesterday's release, he said. "Given the animals have been through an awful lot, they are in reasonable condition," he said. "But the longer they go (before returning to the sea), the more rehabilitation they're likely to need before they're ready to leave." A NPWS representative said earlier today that once the whales were moved to a safe location in the sea they would be held there for a period of time to acclimatise before they were released. They would probably not be released back out to sea before tomorrow or the weekend. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 06:52:10 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - dugong photoID Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Anderson, P.K. 1995. Scarring and photoidentification of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 205-211. Dept of Biol. Sci., Univ. of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 Use of a large sailing catamaran as a mobile platform made possible close approach and photography of dugongs in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Most adult dugongs were found to carry scars, visible as they surface to breathe, that permit repeated identification of individuals. Nine types of commonly observed scars are described. Paired linear scars seen on known females are attributed to the tusks of males, implying that the males use their tusks in intersexual interactions. No scars attributable to boat propellers were observed. Fourteen resightings of five individuals were photographically documented over periods of from 2 to 35 days in small embayments where dugongs were relatively sedentary, but no animals were resighted in more open habitats. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 07:10:46 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - acoustics/behavior study technique Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Dudzinski, K.M.*, C.W. Clark, and B. Wursig. 1995. A mobile/acoustic system for simultaneous underwater recording of dolphin interactions. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 187-193. *Marine Mammal Research Program, Texas A&M University, 4700 Ave U, Bldg 303, Galveston, TX 77551, USA A mobile video/acoustic system was developed that permits real-time synchrous recording of the vocalization and behavioral activities of individual wild dolphins. Manually operated underwater, the system consists of two omni-directional hydrophones cabled through a custom underwater housing into a stereo Hi-8 video camera. Hydrophone spacing on the housing is scaled to the human interaural distance based upon the speed of sound in water. Location of the vocalizing dolphin is based upon associating visual distribution of animals with directions to sound sources as determined by aural psychoacoustics. Examples of the utility and application of this system are presented for free-ranging Bahamian Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 06:59:50 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - Risso's dolphins and pilot whales Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Shane, S.H. 1995. Behavior patterns of pilot whales and Risso's dolphins off Santa Catalina Island, California. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 195-197. 250 Cottini Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 The behavior patterns of two squid-eating odontocetes, short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) are poorly known. Because these species are usually found fairly far offshore, extended studies of their behavior are rare. In whay may be a relatively unusual circumstance, pilot whales and Risso's dolphins gathered in the nearshore waters of Santa Catalina Island, California, 40 km offshore of Los Angeles, to feed on spawning squid during the winter. The daily activity patterns of pilot whales and Risso's dolphins were recorded during a nine winter-long study (1983-91) at Catalina Island. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 06:46:14 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - male bonds in Tursiops Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Connor, R.C. and R.A. Smolker. 1995. Seasonal changes in the stability of male-male bonds in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.). Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 213-216. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA In Shark Bay, Western Australia, males cooperate in alliances of two or three individuals to herd females. In one closely observed alliance of three males, only two of the three males participated in any given herding event, but there were frequent changes, called 'partner changes', in which two males herded together. The frequency of partner changes was strongly seasonal. In each of two consecutive years the frequency of partner changes was high prior to the breeding season but low during the breeding season. We test the hypothesis that the males had fewer opportunities to change herding partners durig the breeding season. This hypothesis was not supported, so we conclude that the high frequency of partner changes prior to the breeding season reflects instability of social bonds. We evaluate these results in reference to hormonal data from a captive study. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 08:25:09 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Texas manatees In the latest issue of Soundings (publication of the Galveston Bay Foundation), there is a popular article about the recent sightings of manatees along the Texas coast. If you are interested in a copy of the article, please contact the authors (and be sure to include your mailing address): Andrew Schiro Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A&M University 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 303 Galveston, TX 77551 schiroa(\)tamug3.tamu.edu or Dagmar Fertl Minerals Management Service 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd Mail Stop 5410 New Orleans, LA 70123 Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 23:36:13 -0600 From: Anne Doncaster Subject: Keiko There seems to be a common theme in the comments from many scientists vis-a-vis Keiko and the money "wasted" on him. The theme is that wildlife species are important, individuals of a wildlife species are not. In terms of humans, most people do not see the two as being incompatible. I think most of us would agree that to discount the life of an individual human, on the grounds that the individual was not a member of an endangered species, would be highly immoral.Is it that a moral hierarchy exists within the animal kingdom in which animal welfare applies only to humans? The protection of the individual animal from human abuse is the mandate of the animal welfare/rights movement and we receive funding from members of the public who share our concern. I suspect,therefore, that the outrage expressed against the funding of Keiko is a general condemnation of the objectives of the humane movement. If so, then all I can say is how have we failed to reach you? However, leaving aside your opinion of the humane movement, if the bottom line is that you want money, wouldn't your time be better spent earning public support rather than uniting in a vitriolic attack on humanitarians who have succeeded in doing so?. Anne D. Anne Doncaster International Wildlife Coalition P.O. Box 461 Port Credit Postal Station Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4M1 Canada Tel: (905) 274-0633 Fax: (905) 274-4477 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 09:13:38 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: FREE WILLY/KEIKO ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Jessica Koelsch, Mote Marine Laboratory, wrote: >So clear this up for me... >WHY are they spending millions of dollars to rehab and >release Keiko if Iceland is not going to permit his release in >his native waters????? No doubt the groups involved will try and put pressure on the Icelandic government to change it's mind. Greenpeace managed to do this to the Shell Oil Company in Europe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Bob Chorush, PAWS, Seattle. wrote: >There is no science to indicate that Keiko would not survive >a return to the wild. The experiment has never been >conducted. For that alone, the potential release of Keiko is >an exciting prospect. Obviously, Bob is not aware of the various releases of other cetaceans, some of which have led to mortality (Gales, N. and Waples, K. (1993) The Rehabilitation and Release of Bottlenose Dolphins From Atlantis Marine Park, Western Australia. Aquatic Mammals Vol. 19. no 2.). Moreover, what about the impact Keiko will have on the ecology of other wild orcas? >We know a fair amount about orca's intelligence, social >structure, language, communication abilities and memory >retention. Most detailed knowledge comes from animals studied on the Pacific north-west (e.g. Olesuik, P.F., Bigg, M.A. and Ellis, G.M. (1990) Life History and Population Dynamics of Resident Killer Whales (Oricinus orca) in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia and Washington State. Report of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue 12). Cambridge: International Whaling Commission) and this information is far from complete. Less is known about animals around the seas of Iceland. Ironically, much of our knowledge on issues such as cognition etc., come from studies on captives. >The politics of Iceland, like politics everywhere, are not >frozen in ice. Many people in Iceland want an end to their >war on whales. These people have indicated that they >would welcome returning orcas. The decision not to allow long-term captive orcas to be released in the waters was based on scientific advise, I quote: "(a.) because such a re-introduction could lead to transfer of "foreign" bacterias or other infectious agents with unknown consequences for the local ecosystem or individual animals; (b.) because of the uncertainty regarding how an animal that has been kept in captivity for most of its life would survive in the wild."(Johann Sigurjonsson. Statement on MARMAM (Marine Mammal Research and Discussion Group), August 16, 1995.). Determining welfare and environment matters purely on popular public opinion is, I believe, a dangerous exercise. >I believe that the attention and money lavished on Keiko is >well spent if it re-awakens a spirit in people that whales, >and other animals, are important. The same people who >now respond to the plight of an isolated orca can learn >about other endangered cetaceans. In this way, a whale >release can be a part of other conservation efforts. Isn't >money spent on Keiko far more productive than money >spent at SeaWorld, which goes to enrich a corporate beer >empire. A lot of the money spent at Sea World (and other parks and aquaria) go on animal care, education, research and the rescue and rehabilitation (where appropriate) of wild animals. Further, there is some evidence that it was the publics direct contact with orcas in marine parks that led to an end to them being consider undesirable predators and a competitors to fisherman (Klinowska, M. (1991) Dolphin and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Cambridge: IUCN.). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- One final point to ponder regarding Keiko, what if they do locate his "family" and they discover they are orcas that primarily hunt and consume marine mammals? What do you do then? Throw the occasional seal into his pool at Oregon so he can get a bit of practice before release :-) ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 18:26:48 -0500 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: Free Willy I think Annelise Sorg's comments provide a valuable restoration of perspective on the Free Willy issue. My only point of disagreement is her assumption that field research on endangered cetaceans should no longer be a high priority - though she is quite right that research without action does not result in conservation. I agree wholeheartedly that urgent attention should be given to the plight of the baiji and vaquita, which we risk losing as entire species, and I can understand the frustration of those who would like to work on this issue but instead see a wider public focus on issues like the Keiko release program. I also agree with those who suggest that this is not an either/or issue. However, I object, as does Ms. Sorg, to the assumption that it is only humane organizations that are at fault here. Ms. Sorg's comment that the Vancouver Aquarium spent $8 million to build its new beluga tank is one I made at the time - and remember that this was not to return an animal to the wild (whatever you may think of that) but to remove further belugas from the Hudson's Bay population. Perhaps the former isn't conservation; but surely the latter isn't either. The net recruitment vs mortality of belugas in captivity hardly suggests that captive breeding would save the beluga even if it needed saving. In fact, at the time the IUCN SSP group released its draft Action Plan for Cetacea; according to that plan all 42 of its top priority projects could have been funded for about $1 million, or one eighth what Vancouver spent on its tank. Only one of these projects, involving the baiji, had any captive component, and that was merely to fence off a portion of the Yangtze (more to keep boats out than to keep the dolphins in, as I recall). I therefore find it ironic that representatives of aquaria or dolphinaria have seen fit to raise this issue here. I hope they will do so closer to home. Further - I should point out that many of the stranding rescues, etc that have also been queried here are not the result of big-money funding drives but of local efforts by volunteers. Perhaps you may think such efforts pointless in the broader scheme of things; but as an exercise in pure human concern for marine mammals - concern that may translate into further efforts, or even votes (and it looks like pro-environment Americans can use all the votes they can get these days - they are not something to sneer at - especially not here. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 13:05:36 -0300 From: Marcos Cesar de Oliveira Santos ib - bie 7600 Subject: Keiko Hi folks! Discussions apart, could someone tell us how was Keiko's transport and how is he now?!?! Thanks a lot. Best regards, Marcos Universidade de Sao Paulo - Brazil marcosos(\)usp.br ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 09:59:06 -0500 From: JTZEE(\)aol.com Subject: Max/Min Temperatures To all MARMAMers, Could anyone tell me the extreme temperature tolerance, both air and water, of Tursiops(particularly gilli) and also for California sealions without a haulout area. Thanx. JTZEE(\)aol.com Jackson T. Zee ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 23:50:03 GMT From: Doug Cartlidge Subject: More FREE Willy The Keiko debate appears to be causing quite a furore, not only on the internet, but the commercial dolphinarium operators P.R companies also appear to be attempting to "assist" in the debate. I sympathise with the predicament Steve Leatherwood finds himself in and applaud his efforts with the Baiji. However would it not be more sensible for those earning millions from exploiting cetacea to have jumped in to help. Their annual profits far exceed those of the Conservation and Animal Welfare Organisations and the "caring professionals" in the captivity industry constantly jump on the conservation bandwagon to suit their own ends. Just a half penny from every bottle of beer sold would help Steve immensely. But all we hear is a cacophony of criticism or abuse whenever voluntary organisations attempt something the commercial industry should have been doing for years. I understand IUCN state reintroduction, or at least assistance, should begin while a population is in its thousands. If cetacea are being kept in barren concrete cages to breed, to help at a later date, as stated on numerous occasions by the caring professionals. Then reintroduction of captive born stock is to be expected "sometime". Before we attempt this unproved experiment (a statement used by the caring professionals) surely we should get it right with a species which is not endangered. For at least 30 years the commercial industry have been "releasing" captive tursiops. When an animal was surplus to requirements, causing problems or going to die in their care, they simply dumped dozens back into the sea, some dying on release. One could ask; Where were the pre-release medical tests? Where was the detraining and proof of it? Where were the viral tests? Where were the genetic tests? Where was the rehabilitation undertaken? What monitoring took place and where is the scientific data from 30 years of the industries dumping etc., It has been stated Keiko has a contagious skin infection and therefore cannot be released, or even moved into a sea pen. If it is so infectious one would assume the tursiops who have been sharing the same water would also be infected by now. Because the Conservation and Animal Welfare movement attempt something the commercial industry has failed abysmally to address, outside of select conferences, we have been criticised, challenged, even abused. But you know what...I for one would rather be doing something positive than sitting back carping and crying because someone else is doing what should have been done years ago. While employed as Curator and Director of Animal Training of Sea World Australia, 1974 - 1976, I put back at least 2 Tursiops. But not one of my colleagues criticised my actions. When I initiated "Into the Blue" those same people not only criticised, they deliberately and maliciously did ALL in their power to stop us. Rumour, half truth and outright lies were repeated daily, even here, by those same caring professionals, and even some scientists, many of whome profit greatly from cetacean exploitation but rarely do more than carp to progress or move forward. YES the Keiko project it is costing a packet, and YES money could always be better spent when someone else is raising it and spending it elsewhere. But isn't it time we tried to put something back into the lives of animals we steal, confine in barren concrete cages and watch, or even applaud, as they slowly change into shadows of their true selves? If the captivity industry cannot even keep a dorsal fin straight what can we expect other than flaccid comment....DC 1996. From; Doug Cartlidge European Cetacean Organisation 7 Meadway Court The Boulevard Worthing Sussex BN13 1PN England Phone/Fax; UK; 01903 241 264 International; 44 1903 241 264 email; dougc(\)mistral.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 09:13:26 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Cornwall dolphin catches If someone out there has some information on a contact person regarding the recent strandings of dolphins {reported to Marmam as "Europe being asked for cash to develop dolphin alarm} thought to have been caught in trawls in Cornwall, I would appreciate hearing from you. A similar situation was published by Kuiken et al. in 1994 in Vet. Record about common dolphins. While some of the dolphins were thought to have been caught in trawls, off the top of my head, I don't think there was any concrete proof. Also, I question whether such an alarm would do any good. Dolphins having interactions with trawl nets is in some respects different from catches in gill and drift nets. Dolphins are aware of the presence of the net, b/c the boats are quite noisy. In addition, sometimes pingers are used to locate fish schools - how would the clicks be detected . During the time I conducted my thesis on dolphin/shrimp trawl interactions, a colleague attempted to collect dolphin sounds, but the sound of boat motors overwhelmed detection of the dolphin sounds. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Please contact me directly at: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 09:29:48 -0700 From: "Skyview Science Dept." Subject: OFFSHORE ORCA RESEARCH TO: ALL MARMAM READERS I hope this doesn't get lost in the sea of Keiko debating, but I could use a few pointers! I'm looking to contact anyone working with the newly discovered offshore killer whale population. Have photo identifications or blood samples been taken from any individuals of this group as of yet? If you have any information or know someone who might, please contact me at: skysci(\)imt.net Thanks! Laura Madden ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 11:05:14 -0600 From: "GreenLife Society: North American Chapter" Subject: International Wildlife Law Conference Apologies at the outset for cross-postings. International Wildlife Law Conference Announcement "International Wildlife Law: Preserving Biodiversity In The 21st Century." Sponsors: The Wildlife Group of the American Society of International Law; the GreenLife Society - North America; the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review; and the Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University. Overarching theme: the legal and political efficacy of wildlife treaty regimes and means to improve the effectiveness of said regimes in the future. Date: Tuesday, March 26, 1996. Time: 9:00am - 6:00pm, informal reception to follow. Location: ANA Hotel, Washington, DC Panels: a. Marine conservation regimes panel (Moderator: William Weiner, Thomas Cooley School of Law, Lansing, Michigan): 1. Alison Rieser, Professor of Law & Director of the Marine Law Institute, U. of Maine School of Law, "Emergence of the Precautionary Approach to Managing Fish Stocks"; 2. Richard McLaughlin, Professor of Law, University of Mississippi, & Director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program, "Settling Trade Related Disputes Over The Conservation of Marine Living Resources: UNCLOS or the WTO?." 3. Dr. Andre Nollkaemper, Faculty of Law, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, "The Bonn Convention and The Conservation of Small Cetaceans." 4. David Vanderzwaag, Professor of Law, Dalhousie University School of Law, Halifax, Nova Scotia, "Marine Conservation in the Arctic: The Legal Seascape After LOSC." b. ICRW panel (Moderator: Sudhir K. Chopra, University of California, Irvine, Dept. of Political Science): 1. Alan MacNow, Japanese Whaling Association, "The Legitimate Province of the IWC in the 21st Century"; 3. Patricia Birnie, London School of Economics, "The IWC and the Regulation of the Taking of Small Cetaceans;" 4. Kieran Mulvaney, Global Oceans Watch, "The International Whaling Commission And The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations." 5. Dr. Allan Gillespie, Univeristy of Waikato School of Law, Hamilton, New Zealand, "The Issue and Ethics of Sustainable Whaling." c. CITES panel (Moderator: David Favre, Dean, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University): 1. Neil Popovich, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, San Francisco, "Enforcement of CITES through Domestic Measures: The Role of Pelly;" 2. John Copeland Nagle, Seton Hall School of Law, "Why Wildlife Disappears As CITES Spreads: Lessons From China And The United States;" 3. Beken O. Kerimbekov, Chief Legal Counsel, Eko Fond, Alma-Ata, Kazakstan, "Implementation of CITES In The Central Asian Republics;" 4. William Burns, GreenLife Society - North America, Madison, WI, USA, "Strengthening European Compliance With CITES." The papers which grow out of this conference will be published in a special symposium issue of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. Registration fees: $50.00, $25.00 for students until February 20; $55.00, $30.00 thereafter. Please make out checks to "Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University." Registration may be effectuated by filling out the form that follows and remitting registration materials and payment to: Dean David Favre, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University, 130 E. Elizabeth, Detroit, MI 48201. For further information, contact Dean Favre at: favred(\)mlc.lib.mi.us, (313) 965-0150. Registration Form: "International Wildlife Law: Preserving Biodiversity In The 21st Century" ANA Hotel, Washington, DC, March 26, 1996 Name: Organizational Affiliation: Address: City, State, Zip: Business Phone: Home Phone: Fax: E-mail address: Classification: _____ Student ($25.00) _______ Non-Student ($50.00). Checks should be issued to the "Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University," and sent to: Dean David Favre, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University, 130 E. Elizabeth, Detroit, MI 48201 William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter (Formerly the Pacific Center For International Studies) 33 University Square, Suite 184, Madison, WI 53715-1042 USA Phone: (608) 256-6312 Fax: (608) 256-6312 WWW site: http://rdz.stjohns.edu/pcis/PCIS.HTML GLSNA Affiliations: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sound Science Initiative The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 12:11:28 -0800 From: Dan Costa Subject: The debate goes on As one of the "scientists" involved in the discussions about Keiko I am continually amazed at how the tenor of debate on MARMAM has once again become so emotional. Anne Doncaster's recent comments illustrate this point. She refers to the "scientists" as having indicated that the money was wasted on Keiko and that the impication that individuals of a species are not important. There seems to be a common theme in the comments from many scientists vis-a-vis Keiko and the money "wasted" on him. The theme is that wildlife species are important, individuals of a wildlife species are not. >From my read of the discussion two points were made. The first is that it isn't one or the other it is a matter of priorities, not that individuals aren't important, but that preservation of endangered species and their population are more important. The concern raised by Leatherwood and others is that we are fighting some very serious battles with respect to highly endangered species. If we loose any of these battles we loose all the individuals of that species forever. I agree that many of us have become biologists or conservationists because of our experience with indivudal animals. However, the issue is not an all or nothing, but we must marshall our resources in the most effective way to win the most important battles. To us "scientists" those critical battles are to save and maintain populations and their habitats and as such it is very disturbing to see whole species dissapear while such monumental efforts are made for a single animal of an unendangered species. As a pragmatist I understand that the most important battles aren't always the most glamorous or the easiest to fight, let alone win. The second point that we "scientists" are trying to make is that biologically speaking individuals are not important. Anne took us to taks as follows: In terms of humans, most people do not see the two as being incompatible. I think most of us would agree that to discount the life of an individual human, on the grounds that the individual was not a member of an endangered species, would be highly immoral.Is it that a moral hierarchy exists within the animal kingdom in which animal welfare applies only to humans? It is important to make the distinction of importance in purely biological terms. From this perspective even an individual human being is not important. I apologize if this is an affront to anyone, but the concept is a basic tennant of biology. This is not to say that there may be "moral" or "ethical" arguments to the contrary. Evolution by natural selection is neither ethical or moral, it just is. I know I am opening myself up to criticism for being an uncaring or unethical "scientist". However, I wish to be clear that one can have ethics and morals that guide the decisions which are made based on sound biological arguements or concepts. Lastly, maybe Anne is more sensitive than I am, but I'm surprised to find that she feels that the "scientistis" have been ...uniting in a vitriolic attack on humanitarians... The reason that the tenor of the debate concerns me is that I think that most of us have very strong moral and ethical convictions and that we have strong feelings for conservation and humanitarium issues. However, we don't share the same clear vision of how this is best achieved. I would prefer to avoid hyperbole and look for common ground. Or if we cannot find common ground, at least articulate the actual issues and points we disagree on, rather than getting into a mud slinging contest. Respectfully, Dan Costa Anne Doncaster International Wildlife Coalition P.O. Box 461 Port Credit Postal Station Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4M1 Canada Tel: (905) 274-0633 Fax: (905) 274-4477 ============================================================================ Daniel P. Costa Ph.D. e-mail: costa(\)biology.ucsc.edu Professor and Associate Chair of Biology Earth & Marine Science Bldg Rm A316 University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Voice (408) 459-2786: FAX (408) 459-4882 ============================================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 14:15:12 EST From: Sylvia Ligammari Collinetti Subject: Tursiops vision? My partner and I have been examining the environmental parameters that affect Tursiops signal reception and have a few questions if anyone would care to comment. Has any research been done into the ranges of light intensity that their eyes are sensitive to? One way to test this would be to use captive, gesture trained dolphins and place them in an artificially lit environment where the accuracy of their response can be compared with varying light conditions (Measured with a luxometer, I think) against normal accuracy rates. I know of work examining visual ranges and Spectrum sensitivity but have read nothing discussing responses to light intensity. Tests indicate that their eyes are sensitive for wavelengths 390nmm(Ultra violet) and 470 nm (Blue-Green). (Griebal & Schmid, 1995- at conference). Sensitivity to Blue-Green makes sense because they are the spectrums that penetrate the ocean the deepest, but why sensitivity to UV? This may simply be an artifact (A spandrel in Gould's terms) from another adaptation or does it serve some useful function within the marine environment? I have been researching UV in the marine environment and near as I can tell it's penetration is little better than IR. Does anyone have any ideas? Jake Weaver. slc8y(\)uva.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 12:48:41 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - Tursiops and oil Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers: Apologies for double-mailing to those of you subscribed to both mail lists. As a courtesy to the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the following abstract or summary of a recently publication in _Aquatic Mammals_ is provided. Included is the address of the contact author - please direct reprint requests accordingly. For those folks interested in subscribing to _Aquatic Mammals_, please contact the editor - Dr. Nachtigall at nachtig(\)nosc.mil or his snail mail address of: P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 ***************************************************************** Smultea, M.A. and B. Wursig*. 1995. Behavioral reactions of bottlenose dolphins to the _Mega Borg_ oil spill, Gulf of Mexico 1990. Aquatic Mammals 21.3: 171-181. *Marine Mammal Research Program, Texas A&M University, 4700 Avenue U, Bldg. 303, Galveston, TX 77551 The behavior of bottlenose dolphins _Tursiops truncatus_ in and near the 1990 _Mega Borg_ oil spill off Galveston, Texas, was assessed via aerial surveys from 15-18 June 1990. Opportunistic observations were made 6-9 days after the initial June 9 spill of an estimated 17.4 million liters of light-grade, Angolan crude oil. Nine dolphin groups were tracked with a video camera for a total of 5.6 hours. Three oil conditions were considered: sheen, slick, and mousse. Results indicate that bottlenose dolphins could detect slick and mousse oils but did not react to lighter sheen oil. Groups hesitated and milled upon encountering slick oil, eventually diving under or in small patches but continuing through extensive areas. These results contrast with experimental results reported for captive dolphins which consistently avoided entering slick oil. Dolphins detected and consistently avoided contact with mousse oil by swimming under or around it. Dolphin group integrity appeared to break down near mousse oil. Observations suggest that dolphins may respond to thick oil types by swimming closer together, decreasing respiration rates, and increasing dive times and rates of reorientation. The greatest concern is that bottlenose dolphins apparently detect but do not detect sheen oil, thereby increasing their vulnerability to potentially harmful exposure to oil chemicals. This study contributes to the limited data base on wild dolphin responses to oil spills and presents a methodological framework for future studies assessing the effects of oil spills on cetaceans. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 10:40:20 GMT+1300 From: "Dr. David Helweg" Organization: Psychology Department Subject: Re: Tursiops vision? > My partner and I have been examining the environmental parameters that affect > Tursiops signal reception and have a few questions if anyone would care to > comment. > > Has any research been done into the ranges of light intensity that their eyes > are sensitive to? One way to test this would be to use captive, gesture Dawson, WW (1980). The Cetacean Eye. Chapt 2 in LM Herman (ed) "Cetacean behavior: mechanisms and functions." NY: Wiley Interscience. Madsen, CJ & Herman, LM (1980). Social and ecological correlates of cetacean vision and visual appearance. Chapt 2 in LM Herman (op cit). Nachtigall, PE (1986). Vision, audition, and chemoreception in dolphins and other marine mammals. Chapt 4 in RJ Schusterman, JA Thomas & FG Wood (eds) "Dolphin cognition and behavior: a comparative approach." Erlbaum. Mobley, JR & Helweg, DA (1990). Visual ecology and cognition in cetaceans. In JA Thomas & RA Kastelein (eds) "Sensory abilities of cetaceans: laboratory and field evidence." Plenum. ------------------------- David A. Helweg Department of Psychology, University of Auckland Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand FAX (+64 +9) 373-7450 email da.helweg(\)auckland.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 13:28:43 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: tuna/dolphin redux Dear MARMAM'ers: This posting is a response to Dr. James Joseph's December 8 posting regarding bycatch in the tuna fishery of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). I apologize for its length, but this issue is very complex and the arguments for and against the two bills currently before Congress regarding the U.S. dolphin-safe policy have undoubtedly confused many people who genuinely want to understand the issue. Dr. Joseph's posting was in response to one by Earth Island Institute on bycatch -- both postings were long and anyone who is contributing in a substantive way to this debate can write no less and do justice to it. Anyway, I will start with a brief summary of the two bills: The two bills before Congress are S. 1420, co-sponsored by Ted Stevens (R-AK) and John Breaux (D-LA), and S. 1460 (even the bill numbers seem designed to confuse everyone!), co-sponsored by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-RI). S. 1420 will directly implement the Panama Declaration (which MARMAM'ers have read about in previous postings), but proposes to change the definition of dolphin-safe to include tuna caught with dolphin sets, as long as no dolphins were observed dead in the nets. It will also lift the embargo on dolphin-deadly tuna, although such tuna will not qualify for the dolphin-safe label. S. 1420 is supported by Center for Marine Conservation, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, and National Wildlife Federation. S. 1460 will implement the positive points of the Panama Declaration, but includes a number of amendments, most notably *retaining* the current definition of dolphin-safe (no setting of purse seine nets on pods of dolphins to catch the tuna swimming underneath) and *continuing to prohibit* the import of dolphin-deadly tuna. S. 1460 is supported by The Humane Society of the United States, Earth Island Institute, The Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and more than 70 other organizations. S. 1460 WILL lift the existing embargoes against dolphin-safe tuna from any nation that does not fish exclusively dolphin-safe. Nation-wide embargoes have punished individual fishers who are fishing dolphin-safe and Senators Boxer and Biden acknowledge this. ALL dolphin-safe tuna, regardless of national origin, will be allowed into the U.S. under S. 1460. S. 1460 also "levels the playing field" for U.S. fishers -- they will once again be allowed to participate fully in the IATTC dolphin conservation program, with their proportionate share of the annual dolphin mortality limit set by the IATTC (current law sets the U.S. dolphin mortality limit at zero). The rest of this posting is more or less a point-for-point rebuttal of Dr. Joseph's posting (I probably just scared off most of you!): >Despite the "dolphin-safe" cannery policies and U.S. embargoes, fishing >on dolphins remains the most common fishing method in the ETP....For >those who are interested in eliminating dolphin sets by non-U.S. >countries, this has created a problem of leverage. Having already used >the weapons of market closure and embargo with little effect, how can >one influence other countries to do what one wants? Throughout Dr. Joseph's posting, he comes to what I consider to be an erroneous conclusion -- that actions taken by the U.S. (the development of the dolphin mortality mitigation measures by NMFS in the 1970s and 1980s, the embargoes imposed under the MMPA, and later the dolphin-safe laws passed in the 1990s) have had "little effect" on the ETP fishery. The purported goal of the embargoes and dolphin-safe laws was elimination of dolphin sets, because dolphin sets result in inevitable mortality and severe harassment. Since dolphin sets have not only not been eliminated but still occur in significant numbers, Dr. Joseph infers that U.S. actions have had little if any effect. I consider this inference to be false because in conjunction with stronger U.S. laws, dolphin mortality has dramatically fallen. Dr. Joseph appears to conclude that mortality has dropped simply because fishers thought, without apparent motivation, that all of that extra work and effort and expensive gear modification that resulted in decreased dolphin mortality were good things to do. This strikes me as deliberately disingenuous. *I* conclude that dolphin mortality has fallen because fishers most definitely have been trying to satisfy the U.S., but by aiming for a lower goal (better performance; that is, lower dolphin mortality per set) than that which the U.S. had established (fewer sets). In other words, the U.S. laws have in fact been the incentive for the lowered mortality per set. ETP fishers were trying to satisfy the U.S. without actually doing what U.S. laws required, since what the laws required (fishing for tuna without setting on dolphins) was even more difficult and expensive to accomplish than improved performance. In short, ETP fishers have been trying to take a short cut to retaining access to U.S. markets and their frustration arises because, not surprisingly (since the law is the law), they have not succeeded. As for continued leverage to achieve what is in fact the goal of the U.S. laws (elimination of dolphin sets) -- to say the U.S. no longer has leverage again strikes me as disingenuous. The reason we're in the situation we're in right now is because ETP fishing nations are STILL trying to regain access to our markets -- if we had indeed lost this leverage, the fat lady would have already sung and Mexico and the other countries involved would have given up already and made good on their threats to go elsewhere with their tuna. The fact is, the U.S. processed tuna market is the largest in the world, and is fully three times larger than the markets of Asia and most of Latin America combined. The second largest market, Europe, is also dolphin-safe. Where will Mexico and Venezuela and Vanuatu sell their tuna, if they make good on their threat to walk away from the IATTC regulations and give up trying to satisfy the U.S.? This is an empty threat and caving in to it sets a very dangerous precedent for future conflicts between international trade issues and U.S. environmental laws. >Despite the continued setting on dolphins, mortality has declined >markedly since 1986 (when Mexico first began full participation in the >observer program). Some have claimed that the dolphin-safe policy is >to be credited for reducing the number of dolphin sets, while others >claim that it is due to improved performance by fishermen in releasing >dolphins. Again -- how does Dr. Joseph account for this improved performance? What was the incentive? Apparently he thinks it just sort of happened, without any attributable motivation. Perhaps I'm missing something in his argument, but I hardly think it was out of the goodness of the hearts of the fishers themselves. I maintain that the MMPA and dolphin-safe policy (which in turn were the result of consumer pressure) WERE the motivation for the improved performance, but as I said above, ETP fishers were trying to satisfy the goal of the policy by an alternate route -- and they have failed to do so. Lowered mortality alone, if it means that hundreds of thousands of dolphins a year are still chased, harassed, traumatized, and stressed, does NOT satisfy the MMPA or dolphin-safe policy. >These claims can be tested by examining trends in the two main factors >that contribute to total mortality: the effort (number of dolphin sets) >and fishermen performance (mortality per set). Since 1986, the >mortality has declined from 133,000 to 3,605 in 1993 and 4,095 in 1994 >- a 97% decrease. During this same time, the number of sets has >declined 27% and the mortality per set has declined 96%. Once again, I think Dr. Joseph is being deliberately disingenuous here. Those who support current dolphin-safe policy have NEVER claimed that the dramatic decrease in dolphin mortality was solely because of a decrease in number of sets -- we have always given due credit to performance and lauded it. As I argue above, while it is certainly true that the dolphin-safe policy of the U.S. has NOT resulted in a dramatic decrease in number of sets, which was its intention, it IS the cause of the decrease in mortality, because (to hammer the point home) the ETP fishers were trying to satisfy what must have seemed to them to be the spirit, rather than the letter, of the law. But the bottom-line is, to dolphin-safe advocates, improved performance is good, but not good enough. Contrary to accusations, we are not demanding perfection; we are simply demanding full protection, not something half-baked. >Under the current U.S. PBR management approach, all stocks would be >below PBR and all but three would be below the Zero Mortality Rate Goal >(ZMRG). In most fisheries, anthropogenic *mortality and serious injury* are the only factors that need to be considered in calculating PBR; that is, marine mammals are either killed or injured by fisheries activities or they are left alone. This is NOT the case in the ETP. Fishery activities kill or injure them OR they survive but are chased and stressed multiple times in their lives OR they are left alone (a distant third, with up to a million dolphins encircled each year). This additional factor of persistent, continuous, anthropogenic stress MUST be accounted for in calculating the PBR and the ZMRG of ETP dolphins. >The La Jolla Agreement of 1992 provided an impetus for this improved >performance by setting limits on dolphin mortality that are to be >ratcheted down each year to under 5,000 by 1999. Again -- how did the La Jolla agreement come about? Did it just spring full-blown from the brow of the IATTC or the individual member nations and fishery participants? Or was it inspired and motivated by the passage of the dolphin-safe laws in the U.S. in 1990 and 1992? I strongly urge Dr. Joseph to explain *why* he thinks performance improved in the ETP and why he thinks the La Jolla agreement came about. Otherwise, I am at a loss to understand how he can say that U.S. policy and laws (both the MMPA and the dolphin-safe laws) have had no effect on the ETP fishery. >The ETP fishery has the highest level of monitoring in the world; most >other tuna fisheries that are presumed to be "dolphin-safe" have none. It is certainly true and highly laudable that the ETP fishery has the highest level of monitoring in the world. However, it does not necessarily follow that high levels of monitoring mean that management practices in such a fishery are acceptable or sufficient. In addition, while it is true that monitoring is definitely at lower levels or even non-existent in other fisheries and that "dolphin-safe" does not mean no dolphins were killed when the tuna in the can was caught, again it does not necessarily follow that things are worse for dolphins in other fisheries or that "dolphin-safe" is an invalid designation. Whether things are worse or better in other fisheries and how to manage them are actually not germane to this debate (although somehow Dr. Joseph is trying to imply they are). Amending current dolphin-safe law with either proposed bill would not affect the incidental take associated with most fishing methods. *Current and proposed* dolphin-safe laws address the fishing methods of setting purse seine nets on dolphins and using driftnets, wherever they may occur. Other methods are not covered by current law, the Panama Declaration, or either bill, and all four focus their strictest requirements on the ETP because it is the only fishery where dolphin sets are known to occur. However, the precautionary principle clearly directs us to give the benefit of the doubt to the animals and the environment in other fisheries and with other methods, and to act accordingly. Monitoring and research must be improved to determine just what is happening in these other fisheries. Protective laws must be passed to address these situations. Yet it hardly follows that loosening things up with dolphin sets (the driftnet provisions remain unchanged in all proposals) means things will tighten up with other fishing methods. As for the definition of "dolphin-safe," it means that the tuna in the can was not caught by methods that deliberately target and harass dolphins and that inevitably lead to (completely avoidable) mortality. Again, in other tuna fisheries, all of which are currently dolphin-safe (except for driftnet fisheries), some dolphins may be killed while many are left alone; however, in the ETP today, some are killed while many survive but are severely harassed. I find distinguishing the former from the latter to be quite valid. >One of our fears, however, is that if there is no incentive to continue >to participate in the IATTC observer program the countries would >abandon the mortality limits and the observer monitoring of the ETP >fishery altogether. Again, as I noted above -- if they did abandon the IATTC conservation program, as they threaten, where would they sell their tuna? How real is this threat? This appears to be blackmail. Even if they had another market, which is highly unlikely, do we want to give in to blackmail, where the forfeit is the integrity and strength of our environmental laws? >The Declaration of Panama would provide this incentive by redefining >"dolphin-safe" to mean tuna caught from sets with zero dolphin >mortality This argument suggests that the new "dolphin-safe" definition would be stronger than the current definition (the specific emphasis on "zero mortality" being the key). I have seen this explicitly stated by the five environmental groups that support S. 1420 -- on December 22, the five groups issued a press release that stated "...the bill would strengthen the popular "dolphin-safe" label for canned tuna by requiring certification by on-board observers in the ETP that no dolphins died in catching that tuna." However, the new definition only requires zero mortality in *dolphin sets.* The press release misleadingly does not clarify this -- the new definition would not cover log or school sets, or other fishing methods (other than driftnets, which are also covered by the current definition). Since the current definition prohibits dolphin sets altogether (and thus, of course, any mortality associated with them), how is the new definition stronger? To claim the new definition is stronger is outrageously misleading. In fact, the new definition *weakens* protection because it legitimizes hundreds of thousands of dolphins annually being harassed and even killed, as long as their deaths are not immediate and observed, which the current definition does not. Again, if I'm missing something here, I certainly invite Dr. Joseph, or anyone representing the five environmental groups that support S. 1420, to clarify their argument. >Preliminary studies illustrated what the tradeoffs in bycatch would be >between dolphin sets and log sets. The 1993 data showed that for every >1 dolphin killed in dolphin sets, 19,542 discarded tunas, 138 mahi >mahi, 25 sharks and rays, 56 wahoo, 3 yellowtail, 7 rainbow runner, I >billfish, and 0.07 sea turtles would be killed in log sets. Again, in my opinion Dr. Joseph is making an erroneous inference here. He infers that fishers must choose between log sets or dolphin sets (i.e. that there are no other choices). In this argument, he appears to make three assumptions: one, log sets are rare when dolphin sets are allowed; two, all dolphin sets, if they are prohibited, will be transformed, one for one, into log sets; and three, non-dolphin bycatch in dolphin sets is negligible. The first assumption is demonstrably false, as the Earth Island posting clearly pointed out -- log sets have always occurred, at some times of the year they are preferred (because the big tuna move inshore seasonally and break the bond with dolphins), and they will continue to occur in significant numbers even if dolphin sets are no longer stigmatized in any way. The second assumption is unlikely; neither bill proposes an immediate prohibition on dolphin sets and even if they did, total sets would undoubtedly decrease (vessels would leave the fishery) and many of the remaining sets would become school sets, not log sets. School sets have intermediate levels of bycatch, levels that could undoubtedly be mitigated (as no doubt log set bycatch could), given some effort and concentration (just as dolphin mortality was lowered with some effort and concentration). The last assumption is untrue; while non-dolphin bycatch is, for most taxa, comparatively low in dolphin sets, it certainly occurs at measurable levels. In addition, one whole major taxon, invertebrates, seem to have far higher bycatch levels in dolphin sets than in log sets! Neither Dr. Joseph nor the five environmental groups ever mention this. Finally, I don't think the choice is between dolphin sets and log sets at all. Log sets are bad news, no matter how you slice it. Eventually, they too should be prohibited or severely restricted. To truly sustain the ecosystem in the ETP, a fishery based largely on school sets should be the management goal (and in fact IS the goal of NMFS research, which is currently focused on the possibility of developing a commercially viable fishery based primarily on school sets). >There is also concern about catching the typically pre-reproductive >tuna in log and school sets vs. the larger adult tuna typically >associated with dolphins. I agree that the effect of catching many juvenile tunas (which are then discarded) in log and school sets in order to catch an equivalent tonnage of adult tunas as are currently caught in dolphin sets (with relatively low levels of juvenile tuna discards) could eventually be detrimental to the tuna population. However, primarily targeting the large adult tunas that associate with dolphins, rather than smaller (although not necessarily pre-reproductive) tunas, is arguably WORSE for the tuna population in the long run. Tunas are relatively long-lived and fecundity typically increases with size in fish. Therefore one could argue (and I believe ecologists do just that) that fisheries targeting the largest adults target the most valuable members of the population. Targeting smaller fish (those caught more often in log and school sets) could be more sustainable in the long-term, if quotas are kept reasonable. These smaller fish currently have minimal reproductive value to the population and suffer from higher mortality than the largest adults anyway. I think it is eminently arguable that removing the most prolific breeders from a fish population could have more negative impact on recruitment than removing small to mid-range size fish. But regardless, let's be frank -- the fishers prefer adult tunas because they are more "meat on the fin" and easier to process, NOT because they think it is better for the ecosystem or tuna population dynamics. >The thrust of the Earth Island argument is that because much of the >U.S. fleet has been forced from the ETP to the western Pacific, that >effort in all types of sets and subsequent bycatches have declined in >the ETP. This assertion ignores several facts. The first is that just >because boats have moved to the western Pacific doesn't mean that their >sets on logs and school fish are now free of bycatch. All that has >been achieved is to increase bycatches elsewhere. Am I missing something here? Earth Island (as Dr. Joseph accurately recounts) only said that effort (and therefore levels of bycatch) has decreased *in the ETP.* Dr. Joseph seems to be accusing Earth Island of saying that effort EVERYWHERE (and therefore bycatch everywhere) has decreased. I fail to see where Earth Island said that in its posting. Perhaps Dr. Joseph is saying that, if effort in the ETP has decreased because of a general movement into the westPac, then effort (and therefore bycatch) must have de facto increased in the westPac -- in short, he is arguing that the bycatch problem has merely been displaced, not eliminated. If this is so, that's an interesting and valid point to bring up, although since Earth Island clearly was talking about circumstances in the ETP only, I fail to see how Dr. Joseph's accusation fits in. >...other factors that have contributed to decreases in the number of >sets over this 20-year period: a) the movement of the U.S. fleet to the >western Pacific during the early 1980's (unrelated to the dolphin >issue) I was not involved with this issue in the 1980's, but it was my understanding that at least one of the factors influencing the movement of the U.S. fleet into the westPac was the dolphin mortality mitigation measures mandated by NMFS (under the MMPA) for the ETP during the 1970's and 1980's -- the "back-down," no night sets, no explosives, and so on. Other factors, which Earth Island DID acknowledge ("Many vessels have left the tuna fishery of the ETP, as a result of both general economics as well as due to dolphin protection restrictions"), also played a role. If I am incorrect in this, again I strongly recommend that Dr. Joseph explain WHY the U.S. fleet moved to the westPac -- he says the movement was "unrelated to the dolphin issue," but fails to say to what it WAS related. >b) the decrease in small seiners (not included in Earth Island's >figures) which was not due to the dolphin-safe policy because these >seiners fished almost completely on log and school sets Again, I ask Dr. Joseph to explain WHY small seiners decreased in number, if it was not related to dolphin-safe policies. >If we compare the average number of sets from the observer data base >before and after 1990, we can better determine the effect of the >dolphin-safe policy on effort. The average number of dolphin sets >declined 27% from the 1986-1989 period vs. the 1991-1994 period, but >there was little change in the number of log sets (+4%) and school sets >(-5%). The change is mostly due to the movement of the U.S. fleet to >the western Pacific. While it is true that these numbers indicate that the effort reduction from immediately pre- to immediately post-1990 essentially came from dolphin sets and not log and school sets, they also demonstrate something counter to Dr. Joseph's implication that if dolphin sets are prohibited, they will all be transformed into log sets. While dolphin sets declined by 27% in this 8-year period, log and school sets essentially remained at the same levels (i.e. the decrease in the former did not translate into a concomitant increase in the latter). And if in fact the change in the number of dolphin sets was mostly due to the exodus of the U.S. fleet from the ETP, why didn't the number of log and school sets also decline to a comparable extent? Is Dr. Joseph claiming that the U.S. fleet never made log or school sets? It would be helpful if Dr. Joseph clarified the cause and effect of these changes. (to be continued) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 14:04:38 PST From: DDVFFVS(\)UVVM.UVic.CA quiet delete marmam pas(\)rc3.mdc.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 14:51:06 PST From: John Endler Subject: Tursiops vision Dear Dr Weaver, A colleague gave me your message about UV in the ocean. The best way to start in this literature is to read the marvelous book by John N. Lythgoe (1979) The Ecology of Vision, Oxford University Press. He has one of the clearest descriptions of visual problems in the ocean that I have ever seen (and on land too). Joseph Levene and Fred MacNichol had a really fine article on penetration of different wavelengths in the ocean in a Scientific American, February 1982. There was a special issue of the journal Vision Research in UV and vision in 1991. You should also look at other papers by John Lythgoe, William MacFarland, Ellis Loew, over the years. I don't know of any work done with marine mammals, however, you might look in G.H. Jacob's book Comparative Color Vision, or his review (I think 1993) in Biological Reviews or Quart. Rev. Biol. One of these two works should give the latest on marine mammals. However, if you know the peak absorbances of the cone pigments you can do a lot of interesting things with it (see John Lythgoe's, Julian Partridge's, and my own papers). It turns out that UV vision is quite common in a wide variety of animals, in fact humans (and other primates) can almost be said to be unusual in NOT seeing in the UV. I couldn't quite understand the comments about the Tursiops only seeing two wavelengths of light--probably those were the cone peak absorbances? This would mean that they had color vision, but probably couldn't discriminate as many colours as we can (we have 3 rather than two cone types). By the way it is invalid to use a "luxmeter" as lux is a measurement designed for human vision and is irrelevant if not positively misleading when used to measure light for any animal with cone pigments different from ours (as most animals are). It is also invalid to use a meter which reads out in watts. One must use a spectroradiometer or radiometer which reads out in micro Moles per meter-squared per second (per nanometer if yo u are getting spectra). See my 1990 paper in Biol. J. Linn. Soc. London for details (sorry, long since out of reprints). with best wishes, John A. Endler Professor of Biology +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Prof. John A. Endler | | Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology | | University of California | | Santa Barbara, California, 93106-9610 USA | | tel: 1+ 805-893-8212 (office) fax: 1+ 805-893-4724 | | tel: 1+ 805-893-8249 (lab) e-mail: endler(\)lifesci.ucsb.edu | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 14:55:24 -0700 From: Leslie Strom Subject: Marketing unglamorous topics It must be terribly frustrating to be conducting vital work on less glamourous topics with no money while fortunes go toward another high-profile and popular project, but look at it in terms of marketing (something I have had to get very good at lately in pursuit of building my business). Spend about 20% of your resources and time on promotion. It's a common business tactic, and should be employed by everyone. Keiko is a symbol whose plight millions of people have responded to with lots of dough to free this one less-than-ideal candidate. Many people sending money are probably getting involved with an issue like this for the first time. This is a wonderful new barely-tapped market of enthusiastic people who want to know more and have some sense of ownership and participation in something that touches them at a fundamental level. And money. Perhaps the start of the Free Willy movement was a fluke but the opportunistic bandwagon-jumping that came after it was not. I've found that marketing and advertising build up in layers, as a long term thing. It also creates a critical mass of sorts, where at some point you don't have to explain your cause each time you mention it. Remember the rain forest, biodiversity, recycling, and endangered species? These were not common public issues twenty years ago, and now every school kid can zealously bore you on the subjects. I can't recommend the mechanics of how to go about marketing up the funds for you to do your work. I can assure you that it doesn't have to involve selling out, getting unduly flashy, or juggling herring, because there are many good examples out there. There are lots of ad agencies who take on pro-bono accounts (and a real challenge might just appeal to their vanities), and talented people at universities and government agencies. ___________________________________________ Leslie Strom / Wide Angle Productions / Seattle lstrom(\)halcyon.com "Start slow, then taper off." - marathoner Walt Stack, 1908-1995 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 13:52:36 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: tuna/dolphin redux II (continued) >The comparison with 1974 does, however, present a cautionary example. >In the early to mid 1970's, excessive effort led to overfishing of the >coastal areas, a decrease in the average size of the tuna caught, and a >lowering of the productivity of the fishery. An international ban on >fishing on dolphins would again concentrate virtually all the effort in >the coastal areas where most log and school sets are made. I do not find this speculation compelling. First, I must repeat once again that neither bill proposes an immediate ban on dolphin sets. One of the main components of the compromise offered by Senators Boxer and Biden in S. 1460 is a longer, more gradual time-frame to achieve zero dolphin sets than is provided for in current law. Second, as I said earlier, even if dolphin sets were eliminated, whether immediately or over the long term, it does not necessarily follow that all former dolphin sets would be transmuted into log sets. Third, it is my understanding that many school sets are made on free-swimming pelagic schools of tuna, not coastal schools. Fourth, as mentioned earlier, NMFS is pursuing research to determine if a commercially viable fishery can be supported solely by targeting free-swimming schools of tuna, which I think is an ideal goal. Even if this goal is an ideal that cannot be perfectly achieved, in my opinion, restructuring the fishing effort so that the dominant fishing method is school sets (rather than dolphin sets as is the current situation) would be better for the ETP ecosystem. >Our point is that anything which causes the number of log sets to >increase will most likely increase the bycatch of other fish and sea >turtles. What I find interesting is that no one disputes that log sets, particularly inshore log sets, are very bad in terms of bycatch, yet neither the IATTC nor the five environmental groups that express strong concern for non-dolphin bycatch are advocating prohibiting or even restricting them. No specific mention of log sets is made in the Panama Declaration or S. 1420. The new definition of dolphin-safe would not do anything to improve the current situation with log sets. Earth Island and The Humane Society of the United States (and the other groups that oppose S. 1420) make no bones about it -- we oppose high bycatch log sets as well as dolphin sets and fully endorse the long-term goal of NMFS research to develop a school set-based fishery in the ETP. S. 1460 requires and appropriates funds for research on the issue of bycatch and developing and refining alternative fishing methods. S. 1420 merely endorses and recommends research -- it neither mandates nor appropriates funds for it. >The Declaration of Panama includes a commitment to continue the >research and to develop a strategy to manage bycatches. From that >point of view, the Declaration advances several ecological concepts >that anyone should recognize as giant steps forward. Dr. Joseph once again is being disingenuous here. The groups that oppose S. 1420 do so with full acknowledgement that there are several positive aspects found therein (see many of our press releases or public statements or, for that matter, the text of S. 1460). Some of the text of S.1460 is borrowed verbatim from S. 1420. The former adds teeth, basically, to the latter's nice words that have no substance behind them. > "4. There is No Available Data to Suggest that Bycatch is > Depleting Any Species, Except Dolphins." > >In my opinion, this is a resounding denial of the Precautionary >Principle, a denial usually associated with industry rather than with >an environmental group. Of all Dr. Joseph's disingenuous comments, I find this to be the most disturbing. While I concur that those who oppose dolphin sets must be careful to apply the precautionary principle (PP) with an equal hand to log and school sets (and I strongly encourage them to do so), I find the IATTC and the five environmental groups that support S. 1420 to be the most flagrant PP violators of all. The PP compels us to give the benefit of the doubt to the dolphins who are repeatedly chased, encircled by nets and severely harassed by boats over and over again in their lives. Preliminary data from research conducted by scientists at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center suggest that there may indeed be negative consequences for these dolphins. This only reinforces our need to apply the PP to dolphin sets. The current dolphin-safe policy is not working in real application; therefore, a compromise, that extends the time-frame to eliminate dolphin sets, returns U.S. fishers to an equal footing with the foreign fleet, and lifts the nation-wide embargoes to allow the import of all dolphin-safe tuna, has been offered through S. 1460, which keeps the already-existing dolphin-unsafe embargoes intact *until proven unnecessary.* NOTHING justifies an all-out backpedal to the days when dolphin sets were assumed NOT to be harmful, which is what S. 1420 does! It is unbelievably NON-precautionary to REMOVE the embargo against tuna caught by dolphin sets UNTIL we determine that dolphin sets are harmful (at which point it would be very difficult politically to reinstate this embargo, as the five environmental groups naively suggest could be done). This embargo, which is already in place and functional, should remain in place until we can determine that dolphin sets are NOT harmful, which S. 1460 proposes. I completely agree that the PP must be applied to log sets and non-dolphin species as well. That is why The HSUS supports a goal to prohibit/restrict log sets and to develop a school set-based fishery and to develop mitigation measures for non-dolphin bycatch. This goal cannot realistically be accomplished overnight -- but its time-frame cannot be allowed to remain completely indefinite either. >What is not cited are the NMFS conclusions that run counter to Earth >Island's arguments: > >1) "Essentially, the dolphin 'bycatch' problem in the ETP has been > solved. The mortality of the dolphin stocks affected by the fishery > is currently far below even the minimum assumed replacement rates > for these stocks." Again, NMFS is referring here to dolphin MORTALITY. In this context, they are not considering harassment. I would urge MARMAM'ers to consider carefully the potentially dire consequences of ignoring the harassment component of the ETP dolphin bycatch issue. Harassment is prohibited under the MMPA except by permit -- whale- and dolphin-watching, feeding in the wild, ATOC, and many other situations fall under this heading. If harassment of ETP dolphins is allowed without permit (and is assumed non-harmful until proven otherwise) through enactment of S. 1420, this could have serious ramifications as far as MMPA prohibition of harassment is concerned. It could even have consequences for the prohibition of harassment under the Endangered Species Act. >4) "A conservative management approach in the face of sparse > information would be to select the harvest strategy that minimizes > bycatch of long-lived, easily depleted species such as the sharks > and sea turtles captured in particular in log sets." Absolutely. I agree with this 100%. Dr. Joseph believes the only way to accomplish this is by legitimizing dolphin sets and allowing them to continue at their present levels (if not slightly increased), assuming minimal log sets as a by-product of this policy. However, there is no evidence to suggest that log sets are minimal at present. Clearly a strategy that specifically addresses log sets would be a better way to reduce log set bycatch, rather than obliquely dealing with them as a by-product of dolphin policy. Restricting their use and eventually prohibiting them or allowing them only under the strictest of circumstances, as well as specifically addressing mitigation measures to reduce bycatch when they are used, would be infinitely preferable to making this false and unnecessary choice between sharks and dolphins. >With the data currently available, we have no way to determine any >additional negative effects caused by the increased bycatches of >juvenile tuna, but it is unlikely that killing millions of >pre-reproductive tunas would have a positive impact on the fishery. As I discussed above, I believe there is actually debate about this and little empirical data to support either conclusion. Is it better to target prime breeders or the recruitment stock? It is my understanding that one of the most common assumptions of fisheries management is that as long as there are even just a few breeders left in a population, population levels will be maintained, because each female fish can produce a large number of eggs at each spawning. This assumption, of course, favors targeting adult fish. However, I also understand that this assumption led to disaster in the north Atlantic cod fishery -- which unceremoniously collapsed when too many adult fish (more than the population could withstand but far fewer than managers had predicted was sustainable) were harvested. Also, Dr. Joseph here contradicts what he admitted earlier, that overfishing in coastal areas (presumably of adult tuna) led to lowered productivity, which was clearly not a "positive impact" of targeting adults. To my mind, the assumption that the largest adults should be targeted almost exclusively ("throw the undersized fish back!") and can be taken almost indefinitely arises from economic priorities (big fish mean big bucks), not ecological ones, and certainly the cod collapse empirically contradicts it. Perhaps the ideal solution is to target a MIX of sizes -- harder to sort and process (not the best solution economically), but possibly best biologically for the population. > "The ETP fishery is an extremely misplaced focus for concern on > the worldwide bycatch problem." > >To me, this statement illustrates the different values held by animal >rights activists vs. environmentalists and ecologists. For the animal >rights activist, the fate of a charismatic mammal such as a dolphin is >paramount. To the environmentalist, the ecosystem and its component >populations are even more important. I would like to believe that Dr. Joseph was not intending to be offensive here, but I'm afraid I cannot. This simplistic and patronizing characterization of Earth Island (and presumably all of its allies) as an animal rights organization, which in turn is a bigoted devaluation of the valid principles of true animal rights organizations, can only be taken as insulting. Earth Island IS an environmental organization -- many of the groups supporting S. 1460 are either environmental organizations (such as the Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife), animal protection organizations (such as The HSUS), or consumer advocacy organizations (such as Ralph Nader's Public Citizen). Only some are true animal rights groups and they would be the first to make that distinction. Earth Island (and The HSUS, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, etc.) is active and effective on a number of wildlife issues, including habitat protection and species preservation. For example, its work on sea turtle protection has been among the most effective efforts by NGOs to save these ancient creatures from extinction. Certainly none of the major organizations that support S. 1460 consider the "charismatic" dolphin to be worth more than sharks or sea turtles OR the ecosystem as a whole. Obviously, if one credits these organizations as being made up of intelligent, informed people, one must accept that these organizations realize that without a functioning ecosystem, the individual animals or species haven't a prayer. This does not mean that an animal protection group such as The HSUS does not at times have different priorities than a more ecosystem-oriented organization, since the former's ultimate focus is animal suffering while the latter's is species survival, but the scientists and specialists working for animal protection groups, if they want to be effective, always keep the "Big Picture" in mind. >For the animal rights activist, the concern about the mortality of >millions of top-level predators is "misplaced", and the spending of >millions of dollars to move one killer whale to a better captive >facility is not. Dr. Joseph has gone beyond disingenuous, to deliberate misinterpretation. Earth Island did NOT say that concern about the mortality of millions of top-level predators is "misplaced." That is simply absurd and he must know it. Earth Island simply said that focusing on the ETP is misplaced if one's primary concern is solving the global bycatch problem. Their point was that bycatch is far worse in other fisheries, which it undeniably is, and that attention would be better placed where damage is worst, which strikes me as a perfectly plausible point. I am not going to respond at any length to his comment about spending millions of dollars on "one killer whale," since that is another issue and has been discussed by others in the recent flurry of Keiko postings. However, he should keep in mind that people give money where they choose -- if he has a problem with the aspect of human nature that tends to want to give money to an animal or a person with a name instead of thousands of nameless animals or people, I would urge Dr. Joseph (and the others critical of the money going to the Free Willy Foundation) to work to change human nature rather than to blame those who try to direct this tendency into something productive, like a capital investment in a facility that will be rescuing stranded and surplus captive marine mammals for years to come. >Yet, here we are presented with fishing alternatives in which we are >attempting to balance the low mortalities of dolphins and the high >mortalities of other marine predators, and attempt to divine the >potential effects on the ecosystem of each alternative while lacking >basic information on marine populations. This is the type of trade-off >that the environmental groups that negotiated the Panama Declaration >had to grapple with. I apologize if I'm over-reacting, but I am greatly offended by Dr. Joseph's implication that only those who negotiated the Panama Declaration understand and try to grapple with these difficult issues. That too is absurd. All of us who work with and/or for marine mammals (which includes just about everyone who subscribes to MARMAM!) are fully cognizant of the difficulties of working with a system about which so much basic information is lacking. In addition, those of us working directly on the ETP tuna fishery issue understand the other trade-offs involved, economic, diplomatic, political, as well as ecological. Frankly, I think it is Dr. Joseph who doesn't understand some of the more perilous political aspects (some of which are discussed at the end of this posting) of this situation and of the positions he supports. >I agree that other sources of sea turtle mortality are likely more >important than the purse-seine fishery. Is that a justification for >inaction or lack of concern? To dismiss the incidental mortality of an >endangered species on grounds that other fisheries cause worse problems >is hardly a conservation-minded strategy. Again, Dr. Joseph is putting words in Earth Island's mouth. As I said earlier, Earth Island is hardly the group to accuse of lacking concern for sea turtles. More to the point, they hardly "dismiss" the problem -- they are merely underlining that they consider it more important first to direct scarce time and resources to problems that are known to be bad (for turtles, that's shrimp fisheries -- for dolphins, the ETP is certainly high on the list, with up to a million dolphins harassed and entrapped each year), rather than to areas that could probably wait awhile. It's called triage, and while harsh, it is often necessary, especially in these hard times when the political and economic tide is against environmentalism. > " ...the IATTC has also failed to set any kind of regulation or > recommendation that sea turtles be released alive or that inshore > log sets be restricted in any way to avoid bycatch of turtles and > other species." > >I would like to see action taken by the member countries to reduce >mortality of sea turtles. I am hopeful that the Declaration of Panama >would bring the issue to the forefront. The solutions are very simple, >and they could eliminate most of the mortality. Dr. Joseph has not really responded to Earth Island's comment. Since the IATTC has set regulations for a number of issues relating to dolphin mortality, why shouldn't it set regulations regarding sea turtle mortality? In every case, it is up to the member nations of the IATTC to carry out its regulations -- the IATTC has no enforcement capability -- so that is not a situation unique to the sea turtle question. Yet although "the solutions are very simple," the IATTC has failed to establish them as regulations. Why? >b) for the dolphins we have estimates of population sizes and we know >that the current mortality is low enough to allow the populations to >recover, and that even the smallest stock is close to 400,000 dolphins The assumption I see made here is that 400,000 is plenty of dolphins to maintain adequate productivity. I find this a very aggravating assumption, since one would think that examples like the passenger pigeon (whose population crashed when there were still hundreds of thousands if not millions of birds, because they were only stimulated to breed when that many inhabited *each* rookery) would have long since disabused us (at least those of us who should know better) that what looks like a lot to humans might not seem like a lot to pigeons, or cod, or dolphins. For all Dr. Joseph or anyone knows, 400,000 dolphins, down from more than a million, might in fact NOT be enough to allow recovery, especially when many of those 400,000 are chased, harassed, traumatized and stressed several times a year (if not a day!). >We do know that the dolphin mortality is sustainable, but we don't know >whether the shark or sea turtle mortality is sustainable. I truly beg to differ. Dr. Joseph must know something I and every other marine mammal scientist do not. How does he know that ETP dolphin mortality, coupled with repeated stress, is sustainable? What data is he using to draw this rock-solid conclusion? > "Allowing a return to the killing of these populations in order > to reduce finfish bycatch is hardly an acceptable environmental > trade-off." > >The phrase "Allowing a return to the killing of these populations .." >implies that there is no mortality today (which is false) and that >there will be a higher mortality in the near future. The environmental >groups that negotiated the Declaration of Panama insisted on lowered >dolphin mortality limits (e.g., in 1996 the limit would drop from 9,000 >to 5,000) and imposing individual stock limits based on the PBR >approach. I agree that the phrase "allowing a return" misleadingly implied that mortality has been eliminated. However, Dr. Joseph may not be aware that S. 1420 DOES NOT SET A MORTALITY CAP, as the Panama Declaration recommended and intended. The reference to the limit of 5000 dolphins per year is only in the hortatory language of the bill (the opening statements and "findings," which contain nothing binding), not the prescriptive language (the language that actually mandates what is allowed and prohibited under the law). Therefore, S. 1420 leaves open the possibility that, should anyone decide at some future time that the dolphin populations can withstand a mortality limit of 10,000 or 15,000 or even 55,000 (the current PBR-calculated limit for all dolphin species combined -- and please see my comment above about the need to factor in stress in this fishery when calculating PBRs), THE LAW WOULD NOT PROHIBIT THAT if S. 1420 becomes the law. >The statement also fails to recognize, that if these efforts had not >been made, the countries participating in the La Jolla Agreement would >have little incentive to continue adhering to any mortality limits or >to allow independent shipboard observers to monitor the mortality. I reiterate what I've said above -- I believe this threat is empty, based on the size of our (and Europe's) market compared to all other combined markets and the fact that these ETP nations are still going to great effort to regain access to our market. > "A proposal, such as the 3Panama Declaration,2 that allows higher > bycatch of severely depleted dolphin populations as a method of > reducing fish bycatch, is scientifically indefensible." > >This statement is false. The Declaration of Panama doesn't allow >higher dolphin mortality, it lowers the limit. For what it's worth, I believe this to be a simple miscommunication -- the ACTUAL dolphin mortality from 1994 and 1995 was well below 5000 and the Panama Declaration sets a cap of 5000 -- so it does set a higher dolphin mortality limit than has actually been observed in the last two years, although the cap is lower than the *quota* currently allowed. > "7. Weakening Dolphin-Safe Restrictions, as Proposed, Would > Actually Increase the Total ETP Bycatch." > >This argument again ignores the fact that the vessels in the western >Pacific are currently setting on logs which result in high bycatches. This is a reiteration of the same confusing statement Dr. Joseph made earlier and my response is the same -- how does what's happening in the westPac restrict what one can say about what's happening in the ETP? It seems to me that Dr. Joseph is saying that if bycatch is increasing in the westPac, one can't say bycatch is decreasing in the ETP. I find this completely incomprehensible. Perhaps Dr. Joseph just didn't read what Earth Island wrote very carefully. I do accept his point that just displacing the bycatch problem is not a solution. On the other hand, where are the data upon which he is basing his unqualified statement that westPac log sets "result in high bycatches?" If he is just speculating that log sets in the westPac result in the same level of bycatch as in the ETP, that's one thing -- but he does not phrase his statement as speculation. It comes across as a documented fact, so I would ask to see a reference. Again, the precautionary principle says we should assume it's bad in the westPac, but Dr. Joseph doesn't seem to be making assumptions but rather statements of fact. >We do know that the Dolphin Mortality Limit of 5,000 will be applied >regardless of how many vessels enter the fishery. Under S. 1420, that is exactly what we DO NOT know. The limit of 5000 is not mandatory. Under S. 1460, however, the 5000 dolphin limit is in the prescriptive language, is mandatory, and the ratcheting down mechanism is clearly described. How things are said in statutes is everything -- good intentions don't win lawsuits. > "The IATTC has failed to implement available methods of reducing > ETP finfish and sea turtle bycatch without sacrificing dolphins." > >I am very interested in testing some technologies and instituting >management policies that could reduce fish and sea turtle bycatch. The >present relationship between the U.S. and the other nations vis-a-vis >the tuna-dolphin issue, however, has made it difficult to find the >willingness and the economic support to start such a program. In an >atmosphere clouded by embargoes, boycotts, and animosities, it is very >difficult to achieve these objectives. I am well aware of the desire of the IATTC to address the non-dolphin bycatch issue and how the emphasis on dolphin bycatch has made it difficult to do so. This issue came up when I visited the IATTC last year and I judged the desire to focus on non-dolphin bycatch mitigation to be sincere. However, while compromise (to move away from the current, untenable situation) is clearly called for, the Panama Declaration and S. 1420 give away too much from the dolphin's side to the side of trade concerns. A more harmonious atmosphere could have been achieved without giving everything away -- especially the dolphin-safe definition and the embargo against dolphin-deadly tuna. S. 1460 steps forward from the full backpedal of S. 1420 to a position that is much more precautionary and still offers plenty to Mexico and the other ETP nations, including an opportunity to export at least 30-40% of their ETP catch to the U.S. (many fishers from these countries already fish dolphin-safe and would be able to export their dolphin-safe tuna). Again, I apologize for the length of this posting, but as you can see, the issues are not simple. I welcome any comments or rebuttals. To wrap this up, I offer one last consideration -- this is NOT just an issue of good or not so good science-based wildlife management. It is most definitely a political issue and international trade concerns are a major factor. U.S. dolphin-safe policy has been challenged twice under GATT, before it was ratified by the Senate, and the challenges were successful both times. We were not bound by these decisions because we had not ratified GATT, but now we have. The U.S. Trade Representative has indicated that lifting the indiscriminate nation-wide embargoes and replacing them with a specific embargo against only dolphin-unsafe tuna would probably bring our laws into GATT compliance. Even if it does not, though, consider this -- if we set a precedent where we agree to significantly alter one of our environmental laws to satisfy our first disputed trade obligation since GATT was ratified, where will that leave our other environmental laws that may present "unfair barriers to trade?" MARMAM'ers should be aware that Venezuela has already filed a challenge to our Clean Air Act, under the new GATT rules -- our government is awaiting the ruling even now. And what about our clean water laws? Our emissions laws? Our driftnet laws? This is bigger than just dolphins in the ETP. Beware of wider ramifications. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com 301/258-3048 phone 301/258-3080 fax ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 11:15:07 +0100 From: tiu simila Subject: guinet Dear Marmamers. Does anyone know the current email/fax/telephone number (or address) of Christophe Guinet in France?? If so, could you send it to me. Thanks Tiu Simila email: tiu(\)nfh.uit.no ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 09:33:05 +0000 From: jgordon%vax.ox.ac.uk(\)ukacrl.BITNET Subject: Re: sperm whale skin samples Dear Joanna, My colleague Jonathan Gordon - who's email I'm just borrowing - is a good person to ask about sperm whale samples. If you don't have any luck, I suggest you try emailing him at this address after the 20th Jan. about this ( when he gets back from a trip). Justin (Matthews) Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 23:49:08 -0800 From: Michael & Nola Kundu Subject: More Keiko.... There are many valid reasons to consider the rehabilitation/release option, not as a humane gesture, but certainly for the possibilties of conducting an unprecendented experiment. After all, isn't that one of the tenets of scientific progress and learning? Oppositional cetologists and researchers, above all, need to be reminded of this fact. As for responses to anti-rehab/release critics; "silent" live releases of various cetacea have already occurred from Naval facilities (including an orca) and aquaria worldwide. The New England aquarium, I seem to recall, even successfully released a larger rorqual (fin?) whale a few decades ago. Pinniped are successfully rehabilitated and released today, even after being administered a regimen of antibiotics and surviving captive-bred infections, viruses, etc. The fear of Keiko infecting a whole pod of free ranging orcas is an unjustified excuse to curtail such an experiment. Clearly the Tursiops sharing his tank in Mexico did not succumb. And ultimately, if a rehab/release were to occur, wouldn't we all agree that it would be best performed on a species that currently boosts a healthy, sustainable population. While the Icelandic government has denied permission to reintroduce Keiko within the waters of their EEZ, it sounds like this is primarily a political position, forged by the influence of Icelandic fishing industries, using the science as a crutch. If so, public opinion could potentially be swayed by the similar tactics that have made this issue so pronounced here. From a pragmatic standpoint, one option to affect a release would be to track (when they're found) his pod and reunite them outside of Iceland's EEZ. ( Has it ever been determined whether Keiko is a resident, transient or offshore orca?) The money spent on Keiko has clearly not come at the expense of, nor from the coiffers of those who would contribute to funding research. While species like the baiji, vaquita, and closer to home, the St. Lawrence beluga clearly also demand attention, the limelight on Keiko's transfer has done more to boost public awareness and interest in whales than any other recent event. That could ultimately benefit all of us. In response to John Dineley's comments about the bulk of knowledge of wild orcas coming from captive orcas, he's avoiding mention of the myriad social structure and behavioural knowledge we've gained from observing wild cetacea. It would be prudent to single out that, for all the data that Sea World has claimed to contibute to the scientific body of orca knowledge, they continue to depict the lifespan of orcas as 30 years maximum...absurd! Michael Kundu Arcturus Adventure Communications Michael & Nola Kundu Arcturus Adventure Communications "Environmental Photojournalism & Fine Photographic Artwork" 1026A 56th Street SE Everett, WA 98203 tele/fax: (206) 513.9021 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 12:51:06 -0800 From: "William P. (Bill) Russell" Subject: Re: Keiko's Current Condition At 01:05 PM 1/10/96 -0300, Marcos Cesar de Oliveira Santos wrote: > >Hi folks! >Discussions apart, could someone tell us how was Keiko's transport and >how is he now?!?! >Thanks a lot. Best regards, > >Marcos >Universidade de Sao Paulo - Brazil >marcosos(\)usp.br > Thank you for asking Marcos. Since I live about 130 miles from his new home, Keiko has been very much in the local press and televison. I have not yet had a chance to see him because I do not have a child to accompany me and that was a requirement the first few days. The dimes and quarters that the children gave may not have been a large part of the financial contribution, but represented a major part of the emotional contribution. The care givers and trainers came from Mexico with him and even brought the same wet suits and toys to make Keiko's new home less strange to him. They will gradually withdraw as the tasks are transferred to the new people. In the television footage, it looks to me like he is less active than I would have expected, but then of course I don't know much about orcas. The skin disease around his left flipper was very obvious in one segment I saw. During one episode he was shown sort of hovering near the surface, apparently with his blow hole exposed. It may be normal, but it is a behavior I had never seen before. This Friday my wife and I are going up to Newport to see Keiko and on when we return on Saturday, I'll report back what I have seen. We will be having lunch and an afternoon meeting with an aquarist on another subject and will seek more information. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | William P. (Bill) Russell | | P.O. Box 2029 | | Bandon, OR 97411 | | Phone: 503-347-3683 Fax: 503-347-6303 | | brussell(\)harborside.com | | Where the Coquille River meets the Sea | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 20:29:34 -0800 From: howard(\)darwin.UCSC.EDU Subject: free Willy Like many others in MARMAM, I believe the effort to improve Keiko's living condition is worthwhile, but I have serious doubts about his release. I have a couple of questions in particular -- if anyone out there knows the answers, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I've heard that Keiko's skin problem is the result of a herpes-like virus and that while it may be treated it probably can't be cured -- and therefore, if he were released, he might pass it on to wild orcas. Is this the case? Or isn't there any way of knowing for sure? I've read various reports of Keiko's age at capture -- "shortly after birth," as a "youngster," at age two... Does anyone actually know how old he was? Was he weaned? Thanks for whatever info you can provide. Carol Howard University of California, Santa Cruz ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 07:07:25 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Airguns, Underwater Explosives and Injury to Whales! Hot debate about the airguns, explsoives and injury to whales getting hotter on USENET: sci.geo.geology Start with message # 27837 and follow these threads: Re: Do Ocean-bottom Earthquakes Injure Whales? RE: Do Man-made Shockwaves Injure Whales? Re: Are Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Killed by Seismic Surveys? David Williams Moby Dick Society davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 08:21:59 -0800 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Morbillivirus affecting baleen whales? Confused reports have been filtering in about an alleged outbreak of morbillivirus in balaenopterids in the Mediterranean. All of the reports are from newspapers, which have variously reported the affected species to be either minke or fin whale (the AP noted that "an earlier report" concerning blue whales should have read fin whales). The stories state that scientists from the University of Ajaccio (Corsica, site of some recent strandings, supposedly of minkes) have identified morbillivirus in the dead animals. Does anyone from the Meditteranean have solid information on this? Phil Clapham ************************************ Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Southwest Fisheries Science Center Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038 tel (619) 546-5631 fax (619) 546-5653 internet: m donahue(\)its.ucsd.edu ************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 09:47:21 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Fwd: Re: Airguns, Underwater Explosives and Injury to Whales! It seems that I have made a mistake by assuming everybody's server was the same as mine. I just recieved the following message: To: davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com Subject: Hot debate on: sci.geo.geology Re: Airguns, Underwater Explosives and Injury to Whales! *********************************************************************** Hello David, You wrote: Start with message #27837 and follow these threads: News article numbers are an entirely local affair; that is, the numbers at one site bear no relationship to the numbers at other sites. So there's no value for anyone outside Netcom in quoting an article number as a starting point, and it's only likely to cause confusion to people at other sites. It may even cause people to miss the very discussion that you're trying to draw their attention to. If you want to unambiguously identify an individual news article you can use the Message-Id from the article header. If you want to draw attention to particular discussion threads then providing newsgroup names and subject lines, as you did, is the way to go. Regards, Mike. moliver(\)pyramid.com ************************************************************************ Maybe the start of the debate can be located by date and time. The first message was posted on 5 Jan 1996 (\) 22:27:51 GMT. David Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 14:05:30 -0500 From: Phocid(\)aol.com Subject: Re: More Keiko.... Michael Kundu said: >>The fear of Keiko infecting a whole pod of free ranging orcas is an unjustified excuse to curtail such an experiment. Clearly the Tursiops sharing his tank in Mexico did not succumb.<< Is a species specific virus or bacteria not a possibility? Even after treatment and apparent recovery, can't some animals still harbor a virus or bacteria? Jeff Lederman phocid(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 15:46:03 -0500 From: Michael Moore Subject: Keiko and infectious disease >>The fear of Keiko infecting a whole pod of free ranging orcas is an unjustified excuse to curtail such an experiment. Clearly the Tursiops sharing his tank in Mexico did not succumb.<< >Is a species specific virus or bacteria not a possibility? Even after treatment and apparent recovery, can't some animals still harbor a virus or bacteria? This issue has been hashed out on MarMam before. We know so very little about infectious disease in wild animals - of course we face a significant risk of introducing a pathogen to a naive population whenever we move animals around the globe. The history of oyster disease outbreaks around the world mirrors the history of oyster introductions around the world. If we could feel comfortable that we knew all the pathogens involved we would then at least be able to make some informed guesses - but we do not. The lesions on Keiko's skin are but a visible mainfestation of unknown risks that we have little idea about. Michael Moore MS 31 Redfield 246 Biology Department Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA 508 289 3228 phone 508 457 2134 or 2169 fax mmoore(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 13:02:30 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Australia-Stranded Whales Australia-Stranded Whales SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Two of seven rare whales that washed up on beaches north of Sydney returned to the sea today after a rest in a hotel swimming pool. The two melon-headed whales last were seen swimming strongly into the Pacific Ocean, said Lawrence Orel of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The tropical melon-headed whales -- named for their round heads -- average 7 feet long and 1,100 pounds. Their numbers are so few that sightings of them are rare. The seven whales beached themselves on the seashore about 250 miles north of Sydney on Tuesday. When volunteers and wildlife workers tried to take them back out to sea the next day, one whale died. Worried the others might die in pounding surf, wildlife officials checked them into a nearby hotel swimming pool, where they recuperated in the clean, still saltwater. They took them Thursday to a sea inlet, where volunteers held them afloat and massaged them. A second whale died on today's second attempt to carry the whales beyond the breakers to the ocean. Volunteers resumed caring for the remaining three. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 14:16:02 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: WHALES N/L 2 SYDNEY WHALES N/L 2 SYDNEY The animals were part of a pod of seven that beached themselves at Point Plomer, between Port Macquarie and Kempsey, on Tuesday night. One of them died during a release attempt on Wednesday. The six were then transported yesterday about 50 km north to Back Creek, north of Kempsey, after spending almost 24 hours in a salt water motel swimming pool at Crescent Head. Mr Orel said the release attempt was made today because all the animals seemed in good health and sea conditions were perfect. The volunteers decided on a beach release rather than from a boat because there was less stress involved for the animals, he said. "We have to remember the compounding stress of the whole ordeal on the animals. We can only hope that we are doing the right things," he said. "No further release attempts will be made today or even tomorrow but we will continue to monitor the situation." The volunteers were performing physiotherapy treatment on the animals at the rehabilitation site to get them strong enough to send back out to sea, Mr Orel said. The physio involved bending the whales' tails to loosen up the muscles, and rotating them onto their sides so they had to use their muscles to roll themselves back to an upright position, he said. "Their condition has improved given there is a lot more flexibility in the animals today compared to the previous couple of days," Mr Orel said. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 15:42:48 -0800 From: rbaird(\)UVic.CA Subject: Change of e-mail address for MARMAM editors Greetings, The e-mail system at the University of Victoria is being changed, so that messages from MARMAM will now be forwarded from marmamed(\)uvic.ca, rather than from a personal e-mail account. Several different individuals are involved in MARMAM management and editing - if you wish to reach someone with questions, you should write directly to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca Please note that my personal e-mail address is also changing from rbaird(\)sol.uvic.ca to rbaird(\)uvic.ca. After mid-March 1996 the "sol" system at UVic is being shut down, and all mail sent to that address will bounce. Robin Baird, MARMAM co-editor ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700 MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 09:20:48 GMT From: NJC Tregenza The report posted from PA news contains some errors. There has been a peak in strandings of common dolphins in Cornwall, SW England, this winter with 15 recorded in January so far, and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust has stated its view, based on several different lines of evidence, that these are due to local pelagic fisheries - which consist at this season of pelagic trawling and purse seining for mackerel (Scomber scombrus), scad (Trachurus trachurus), bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and pilchard, (Sardina pilchardus). Effort in the mackerel fishery is exceptionally high this year because nothern mackerel shoals have moved into Norweigan waters, with the result that 41 Scottish boats have moved to the southwest, joining boats from several states. The Trust has not said that this can be solved, with a dolphin scarer, in 6 months! Apart from the timescale the idea itself has a list of problems, but I don't know of any that make it a non-starter. The chances of reducing trawl bycatches may be higher than for gill nets, because the gear is far less extensive and the boat is always with it. There is EC funded research on mitigation already under way (the CETA-SEL project). Is there other research on mitigation, published or under way? Nick Tregenza njctrege(\)exeter.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 17:28:15 EST From: Sylvia Ligammari Collinetti Subject: Tursiops vision Dear Marmamers, Thanks for the replies and references on Tursiops vision. I knew some of the references, but others I had missed completely in my lit search. My knowledge lies more with cognition, behavior and theories examining evolution of social intelligence, so the help with physiology is much appriciated. I'll leave a bibliography on MARMAM of the references I collect, if people are interested. Yours Jake Weaver The E-mail address was wrong (I'm using my partners account), here is the correct address: slc8y(\)uva.pcmail.virginia.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 20:31:16 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Taiwan police find six tonnes Taiwan police find six tonnes of dolphin heads TAIPEI, Jan 12 (Reuter) - Police in Taiwan have found six tonnes of dolphin heads in a freezer and suspect that a giant crime syndicate may have been responsible for killing the animals, state television reported on Friday. Police said they arrested one man, Wu Wan-chiao, for operating the freezer in the eastern coastal county of Yunlin, but Wu so far has refused to say where the dolphins came from. "We face this incident with a heavy heart and hope to intensify our efforts in this area in the future," an official from the cabinet's Council of Agriculture said on state television. The police suspect that a large crime syndicate may have smuggled and killed the dolphins, state television reported. Taiwan has been criticised in the past for failing to enforce international conservation laws that ban the killing of endangered animals. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 11:36:20 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Frostbitten dolphin dies in Fl Frostbitten dolphin dies in Florida RIVERHEAD, N.Y., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- An orphaned dolphin flown from New York to Florida after getting frostbite died Friday morning, apparently succumbing to the stress of transport and his deteriorating medical condition. Sandy, who was about 1 year old, was put on a plane Thursday and airlifted from the Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation on Long Island to Marineland in St. Augustine, Fla. Okeanos Director Richard Blankfein told United Press International that after the five-hour flight, the sea mammal was reported to be adjusting well to his new surroundings, swimming in a warmer and larger tank. "He seemed to be doing very nicely in the water," Blankfein said. "But transport can be very stressful for dolphins, and his condition was already compromised." An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, he said. Marineland officials could not be reached for comment. Sandy was rescued last summer near Connecticut after he followed his dying mother there. Because the food in the water was unfamiliar to him, he was close to starvation and suffering from pneumonia when Okeanos researchers brought him to their aquarium in Riverhead. By the time a cold snap settled over the East Coast this winter, Sandy was on the road to recovery. Antibiotics, milkshakes, mackerel and herring helped him nearly double his weight to 110 pounds. But the bitter cold gave him a serious case of frostbite while he was swimming in his outdoor tank. Okeanos transferred him to a heated pool, but at 14 feet in diameter, the pool was too small and posed many problems for the growing animal. Researchers determined the situation was life-threatening and decided to move Sandy to the tropical waters of Florida before he came down with secondary infections. They hoped for the best, but were not completely optimistic. "I don't make predictions because I've learned with sea mammals that one minute you think things are going fine,and the next they're dead," Sadove said before Sandy's trip. "So I don't celebrate until they're released and it's over." Blankfein said Sandy's ordeal proves that Long Island needs better facilities for rescued whales, seals, dolphins, porpoises and sea turtles. It plans to build large heated tanks and expand its aquarium. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 09:37:11 -0800 From: "William P. (Bill) Russell" Subject: Re[2]: Keiko's Current Condition At 12:51 PM 1/11/96 -0800, I promised: >This Friday my wife and I are going up to Newport to see Keiko and on when >we return on Saturday, I'll report back what I have seen. We will be having >lunch and an afternoon meeting with an aquarist on another subject and will >seek more information. > First off, I want to emphasize that I speak only for myself. Earth Island Institute, the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation all speak for themselves; just as I speak only for myself. We saw Keiko and it was astounding. We saw the orcas performing at Marineland in Valejo a few years ago, but seeing one under the water was much more impressive. At the risk of anthromorphisizing (sp?), it seems that Keiko is taking a very great interest in viewing humans through the windows, especially in the very small humans. It is said that this is the first time he has had underwater windows and lights in his tank. He spends a lot of time right up close to the window with his eye just a few feet from the smallest human visible to him. To simplify veterenarian procedures Keiko has been taught to enter the med lab to offer a fin for blood sampling. During one period, many people were sorely disappointed as he kept his fin offered for several hours and all they could see was his flukes. There is definately nothing wrong with his appitite. The TV tonight reported that his consumption of fish has exceeded 200 pounds (ca. 100kg) per day. They were bragging that we can offer a greater variety too; in Mexico Keiko got only Spanish Mackerel but here herring and anchovies have been added. This is good news since underweight was one of the reported problems. There was a question on marmam about how rapidly Keiko would undergo the highly advertized temperature change. According to the _Keiko Commemorative Program_ distributed at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, during the flight: "Within the box of water, Keiko remained securely suspended and mostly under water. (Fresh water was used , to protect the plane against the corrosive nature of saltwater.) At the Mexico City airport, the box -- weighing about 42,000 pounds, including the water -- was loaded onto a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft donated and flown by United Parcel Service. The transport team, includingboth Oregon Coast Aquarium staff and Keiko's Mexican trainers and veterinarians, stayed with Keiko throughout the flight, adding ice to the water as necessary to keep it at a cool and constant temperature." One of the Docents at the OCA answered my question by explaining that he was transported in a bag of ice. One of the most important questions I have heard here on marmam is what happens to the very expensive facility when the goal to return Keiko to his family either succeeds or fails. Let me quote from the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation's advert. in the Commemorative Program: "It addition to its use for Keiko, the Foundation will strive to develop the center as the first facility of its kind for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of other dolphins and whales." If there is interest enough, I will quote futhere from the Commemorative Program. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | William P. (Bill) Russell | | P.O. Box 2029 | | Bandon, OR 97411 | | Phone: 503-347-3683 Fax: 503-347-6303 | | brussell(\)harborside.com | | Where the Coquille River meets the Sea | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 14:23:04 -0800 From: "Joan M. Goddard" Subject: Re: Marketing unglamorous topics In-Reply-To: <199601112258.OAA28785(\)vifa1.freenet.victoria.bc.ca> In support of Leslie's posting I would like to report that a 6-year-old first-grader in Newport, Oregon last week organized a club called Save Sea Life Society whose goal is to collect money for projects like stopping ocean pollution. The member ship swelled from three little girls to the whole first grade in a few days, and the teacher proclaimed January as Save Sea Life Month. This was all inspired by the arrival of Keiko. With family memberships in the Newport Aquarium, these children will continue to visit the captive orca and take an interest in the natural environment from which he came. And parents and teachers will continue to capitalize on this focal point for discussion. Can we look at the Keiko thing as a long-term investment in future research and action? These kids will have to carry the ball in a few decades. I'm glad they are getting a head start. Joan Goddard, Victoria, BC ul149(\)freenet.victoria.bc.ca On Thu, 11 Jan 1996, Leslie Strom wrote: > It must be terribly frustrating to be conducting vital work on less > glamourous topics with no money while fortunes go toward another > high-profile and popular project, but look at it in terms of marketing > (something I have had to get very good at lately in pursuit of building my > business). Spend about 20% of your resources and time on promotion. It's a > common business tactic, and should be employed by everyone. > > Keiko is a symbol whose plight millions of people have responded to with > lots of dough to free this one less-than-ideal candidate. Many people > sending money are probably getting involved with an issue like this for the > first time. This is a wonderful new barely-tapped market of enthusiastic > people who want to know more and have some sense of ownership and > participation in something that touches them at a fundamental level. And > money. Perhaps the start of the Free Willy movement was a fluke but the > opportunistic bandwagon-jumping that came after it was not. > > I've found that marketing and advertising build up in layers, as a long > term thing. It also creates a critical mass of sorts, where at some point > you don't have to explain your cause each time you mention it. Remember > the rain forest, biodiversity, recycling, and endangered species? These > were not common public issues twenty years ago, and now every school kid > can zealously bore you on the subjects. > > I can't recommend the mechanics of how to go about marketing up the funds > for you to do your work. I can assure you that it doesn't have to involve > selling out, getting unduly flashy, or juggling herring, because there are > many good examples out there. There are lots of ad agencies who take on > pro-bono accounts (and a real challenge might just appeal to their > vanities), and talented people at universities and government agencies. > > > ___________________________________________ > Leslie Strom / Wide Angle Productions / Seattle > lstrom(\)halcyon.com > "Start slow, then taper off." > - marathoner Walt Stack, 1908-1995 > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 13:24:22 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Keiko In-Reply-To: <199601111515.XAA04487(\)hk.super.net> Dear Anne Doncaster, I hope you never have to face a really vitriolic attack. As for your definintion of what constitutes "humane" we certainly have lots of room for debate, even without evoking some elizabethan chain of being. You miss our point, at least mine. To the extent that the free willy campaign has been billed as a humanitarian gesture towards one animal, I have no argument. Folks can decide for themselves whether or not they wish to spend their money in this way. One does not stop social spending on the arts just because there is spending on science. But the suggestions that this project is a "scientific" one are certainly based on flimsy and highly debatable grounds, and arguments that it is a conservation project are flat misleading and maybe even dead wrong! Certainly it is that part of the Free Willy propoganda that set me off. So, you are mistaken in your reaction. Those of us who oppose this particular project's representation as a boon for science or conservatin are not necessarily insensitive clods out to attach the animal rights movement. Let's keep the argument where it started. Stephen Leatherwood > There seems to be a common theme in the comments from many > scientists vis-a-vis Keiko and the money "wasted" on him. > The theme is that wildlife species are important, individuals of a > wildlife species are not. > > In terms of humans, most people do not see the two as being > incompatible. I think most of us would agree that to discount > the life of an individual human, on the grounds that the individual > was not a member of an endangered species, would be highly immoral.Is > it that a moral hierarchy exists within the animal kingdom in which > animal welfare applies only to humans? > > The protection of the individual animal from human abuse is the > mandate of the animal welfare/rights movement and we receive funding > from members of the public who share our concern. I suspect,therefore, > that the outrage expressed against the funding of Keiko is a general > condemnation of the objectives of the humane movement. If so, then > all I can say is how have we failed to reach you? > > However, leaving aside your opinion of the humane movement, if the > bottom line is that you want money, wouldn't your time be better spent > earning public support rather than uniting in a vitriolic attack on > humanitarians who have succeeded in doing so?. > > Anne D. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Anne Doncaster > International Wildlife Coalition > P.O. Box 461 > Port Credit Postal Station > Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4M1 > Canada > Tel: (905) 274-0633 > Fax: (905) 274-4477 > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 17:00:11 -0500 From: Zozie(\)aol.com Subject: Keiko Greetings Marmamers... While there may be some "value to science" in the Keiko event, there are larger values to advocacy. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. I think the big price tag influences one's response to the effort. If, for instance, the general public can be encouraged to actually give some thought to the issues of cetaceans in captivity, or learn something about orcas and their habitats, or even, more simply, if attention is called to just how widespread the interest in marine species is, Keiko's journey should be counted valuable. On the other hand, if Keiko is just a shill to raise additional money for animal welfare and conservation groups, there are some who will cry foul. But that's not necessarily true. If funds raised by Keiko, directly and indirectly, are used for other perhaps more pressing problems, that's not so bad. If advocates "use" Keiko to contribute to the general awareness of wildlife problems, issues and needs, they are just doing their jobs. One could dream that Keiko's celebrity might loosen up contributions which could then help Leatherwood's efforts for the baiji, or fund research on the golden frog, or the wandering albatross, or the Andean cat. That would be beautiful. NGOs have a task that is not easy. Keiko and the "Free Willy" mentality are legitimate platforms to educate and inspire, to keep the public aware that all the whale problems are not solved, to remind humans that they share the planet with other species. Someone mentioned the gray whale ice stranding and conjured up the Soviet ice breaker churning through Arctic waters... yes. And one could say that was a "waste" of time and money, too, since it was a natural if sad event. But the public got many educating ideas out of that one, besides the rescue of the whales -- two "enemy" nations cooperating, the environment bringing together unlikely comrades, a reminder of the return of the gray whale because of conservation efforts... that was also a valuable platform for advocacy. And of course people get emotional. The issues are pressing. The work requires passion. And stamina. Both in large measure. Years ago the environmentalist/lawyer Alexandra Dawson said something to me that chilled and inspired: "We're not saving anthing," she said, "we're divvying up what's left." And what's left is less than was there when she said that. Can't we all get along? Phoebe Wray zozie(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Jan 1996 21:33:42 -0800 From: Michael Kundu Subject: previous releases On Jan. 13 Jim Bonde commented on my earlier post... >"You also mentioned "silent" releases, as if to imply that there have been >many successful unpublicized release of marine mammals. That is simply not >the case. Out of over 200,000 open water marine mammal exercises by the U.S. >Navy, only nine animals did not return. Six of there were due to weather >conditions. I believe that one case did involve a killer whale..." For the purposes of discussing prior releases/escapes of smaller cetacea and pinnipeds, I would like to ask (willing) MARMAMers involved in, or aware of previous cases, to offer observations, commentary on those incidents. Michael Kundu arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 10:12:53 -0600 From: Andrew Schiro Marmamers, Does anyone know the full citation for this reference? Harvey, E. N., W. D. McElroy, et al. (?). Bubble formation in animals: 117-132. RD; Also, K. Dudzinski is looking for references on bubble emissions from dolphins, whales. She has done a search and found only ten references pertaining to bubble release in dolphins. Thank you in advance. ***** Please respond to directly. **** Thanks. Andrew Schiro Marine Mammal Research Program Dept. of Marine Biology 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 303 Galveston, TX 77551-5923 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 16:33:58 -0500 From: Dave Johnston Subject: Seals and Fisheries, Science and Politics For those who may be interested, the talk presented by Dr. D.M. Lavigne at the Eleventh Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals entitled "Seals and Fisheries, Science and Politics" is now online at the IMMA Web Site. Set your browser for http://www.imma.org/orlando.html for the full transcript of his talk along with corresponding images from his slides. You can also access the talk by clicking on the 'What's New?' button on the IMMA Homepage (http://www.imma.org). Cheers, Dave Johnston IMMA Inc. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 19:35:35 -0500 From: Sclymene(\)aol.com Subject: More Keiko-babble MARMAM subscribers, I was very pleased to hear from Joan Goddard's MARMAM message that a first grader had organized a "save the sea life campaign," inspired by the Free Willy phenomenon. In my opinion, that is exactly what such campaigns can be excellent at - acting as "hooks" using a spectacular, attention-grabbing incident or "personality" to cause people to look deeper into an issue and (hopefully) see the more subtle, and often-times more important, shades. The three gray whales trapped in the ice a few years ago could have done that, but I don't think they really did (much). Captive cetaceans, with proper education programs, can do this as well. My own interest in sea life started from seeing (and touching) animals in marine parks when I was a kid. Back then, I believed that dolphins were "special" creatures that were somehow better and more "intellectual" than other animals. Since then, I have spent thousands of hours with these animals at sea, and learned much more about them. My realization that cetaceans are not really "special" (only special to me) has not in the least lessened the fascination and awe that I feel towards them. But it has demonstrated to me that other, less appealing, animals are just as important and must also be conserved. Free Willy-type campaigns, if conducted properly, can represent excellent "entry-level" moves into environmental consciousness. But, as others have stated, we should recognize that they themselves are not necessarily conservation (or research) projects. The point that I wanted to make last week was that it is disappointing that so many people (adults) don't seem to be moving beyond this shallow-level appreciation of wildlife. I hope that it is evident from what I have said that I am not against either cetaceans in captivity, nor in releasing cetaceans back into the wild. I only think that they each must be recognized for what they can (and do) contribute to the future of wildlife on this planet. Again, I state that for me it is simply a matter of priorities. Most people that I know do not have the resources (time and money) to contribute to every charity that they consider worthwhile. I wish I did, but I sure don't! They must chose the one or two that they see as highest-priority. Thus I think it is not really true that some of the money spent on Free Willy might not have been spent on other, more conservation-oriented projects. The competition by charities for our dollars is intense, judging by the amount of solicitations I get in the mail every day. I think the statement, made by some (basically, that we scientists with our heads in our books don't have a clue how to fund-raise), although not strictly true makes a good point. I, for one, would like to see more cooperation between those skilled at fund-raising and those who can help direct the money towards truly-worthwhile projects for the environment. Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 19:32:15 -0500 From: George Elston Subject: Re: previous releases In-Reply-To: <199601151916.OAA52188(\)osceola.gate.net> On Sun, 14 Jan 1996, Michael Kundu wrote: > > On Jan. 13 Jim Bonde commented on my earlier post... > > >"You also mentioned "silent" releases, as if to imply that there have been > >many successful unpublicized release of marine mammals. That is simply not > >the case. Out of over 200,000 open water marine mammal exercises by the U.S. > >Navy, only nine animals did not return. Six of there were due to weather > >conditions. I believe that one case did involve a killer whale..." > > For the purposes of discussing prior releases/escapes of smaller cetacea and > pinnipeds, I would like to ask (willing) MARMAMers involved in, or aware of > previous cases, to offer observations, commentary on those incidents. > > Michael Kundu > arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com > I haven't heard from Howard Garrett here in some time so I hope he doesn't mind my posting his listing of releases. I kept a copy from his post to this list some time ago. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Howgar(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Cetacean Releases That figure of "12 for 16" was provided by Merritt Clifton, according to his criteria for defining a successful or "genuine" release. Presumably the following entries were among them, and will give a sense of how the cases were described. In Cetacean Releases, only the followup is described as successful, not the release per se. The reader may determine "success". By far the majority of releases were not followed up to determine survival, including 14 dolphins released by the Navy, and 25 released by Sea World. 20 dolphins released by Sea World were followed up. All the Sea World releases were of dolphins held less than 90 days. Space does not permit listing them all. 1993. Flipper a male bottlenose dolphin released off Laguna, Brazil after approximately ten years of captivity (Rollo, 1993). Since release, Flipper has been seen along at least 155 miles of coastline, often in the company of other dolphins. His most recent sighting was in early 1994. Native reintroduction. One dolphin; Captive 10 years; followup successful. 1992. Bahama Mama an adult female bottlenose dolphin inadvertently released after at least seventeen years of captivity (Claridge and Balcomb, 1993). No official followup occurred, however this dolphin was positively photo-identified up to eight months after elease in the company of wild dolphins. Assumed native reintroduction. One dolphin; Captive 17 years; followup successful. 1992. Rajah (male), Nero (male), Frodo (male), Rani (pregnant female), Echo (juvenile daughter of Rani), Mila (female) and Luka (her calf), Nakita (juvenile daughter of Mila), Kia (juvenile) nine bottlenose dolphins in a socially perturbed group released 13 January 1992 off Perth, Australia, after eleven years of captivity (Gales and Waples, 1993). Rajah, the lone male, followed the research boat out to sea and within ten minutes had his first encounter with wild dolphins, two subadults. Rajah seemed to have no problem keeping pace with the wild dolphins... Eleven days later, he approached the research boat excitedly and followed it back into the seapen enclosure. He had lost 18 kg (10.8% of his prerelease weight), which was considered unsatisfactory, and he is now kept permanently in a large netted enclosure within a marina. Mila was recaptured 28 February, and she was reported to have lost 23 kg (14.7% of her prerelease body weight), which was considered unsatisfactory. She also is now kept permanently in the large netted enclosure. Her calf (Luka) presumably died. One of the juveniles (Echo) was recaptured one week after release, having lost 10kg (8.5%) of her prerelease body weight, which was considered unsatisfactory. She too is now maintained permanently in the large netted enclosure. Frodo appeared to be in fine condition on 16 February. Nero was seen at sea on 31 January. Several other sightings of these released dolphins (unidentified as to which ones) have been made as late as September 1992. The authors report that, The major reason for the ambiguity of the results was our inability to effectively track the dolphins whilst they were at sea. Native reintroduction. Nine dolphins; Captive 11 years; 3 recaptured, 1 presumably died, 2 followup successful, and 3 no followup. 1991. Rocky (male), Missie (female) and Silver (male) three bottlenose dolphins released off Turks and Caicos Islands, after twenty, twenty-two, and fifteen years of captivity, respectively (Klinowska and Brown, 1985). In the acclimation seapen, they learned how to apture live fish (McKenna, 1992). Released September 1991. All have been resighted numerous times since then, and Silver has been seen as recently as early 1994. In several of the recent sightings, Silver was in the company of JoJo, a friendly dolphin that swims near Club Med at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Rocky and Missie were captured in the North Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico (probably off Florida), and Silver was captured off Taiwan in the Pacific. Non-native reintroduction. Note: This reintroduction was recently labelled as fraud by marine parks spokespeople in the United Kingdom, but I am convinced that it was conducted responsibly and without intent to deceive. Three dolphins; Captive 20, 22 and 15 years; followup successful. 1990. Echo (male) and Misha (male) two adult bottlenose dolphins released intentionally after two years of research (Wells, 1991; Bassos, 1993), with extensive followup. The dolphins had been captured in 1988 with the intention of studying aspects of their reintroduction following captivity. Released on 6 October 1990 off Bishop Harbor, Tampa Bay, Florida in the vicinity where they had been captured. These two dolphins have been resighted numerous times (recently March, 1994), and they appear to have successfully reacclimated to the wild. Native reintroduction. Two dolphins; Captive 2 years; followup successful. 1987. Joe (male) and Rosie (female) two bottlenose dolphins released off Wassaw Island, Georgia, after seven years of captivity (Coyle and Hickman, 1988). All reports of their activity in the wild indicate that they are in good health and have associations with resident pods. Released July 13, 1987. These dolphins were captured off Mississippi and released off Georgia. Non-native reintroduction. Two dolphins; Captive 7 years; followup successful. 1978. One Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Leo Tg-558M) was captured for the US Navy on 20 January 1977 off Catalina Island, California and escaped 15 January 1978 off Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where it "joined an indigenous herd (confirmed)." One dolphin; Captive one year; followup apparently successful. Other cetaceans 1987. Three pilot whales were rehabilitated at the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA from a stranding which occurred on Cape Cod in December, 1986. They were released at sea off Cape Cod on June 29, 1987. One whale was fitted with a Telonics-built Argos transmitter (satellite tag), and one was fitted with a conventional radio tag. The satellite- monitored whale was tracked by Argos for 95 days, as the whale swam at least 7,600 kilometers. Just three weeks after tagging, this Argos-equipped whale was spotted in a group of more than 100 pilot whales, suggesting that its movements and dive patterns were typical of normal pilot whales. (Mate, 1989). Three whales; Captive 6 months; followup successful. 1967. Pilot whale (Globicephala melaena). After almost eight years of captivity at Marineland of the Pacific, a twenty year old pilot whale named Bimbo was successfully reintroduced to the wild. Captured in January/February, 1960 at a length of 17' 6", he performed well for about three years. When his female pilot whale and dolphin companions died, Bimbo's behavior changed drastically. One day he would be as friendly as ever, the next in a wildly agitated state or apathetic and apparently depressed (Valentry, 1969). It was decided to keep him as an attraction whether or not he performed. After four years of treatment including antidepressant drugs and tranquilizers, Bimbo smashed into a window, flooding spectators. He was released in August, 1967 at a length of 20' 6", ...after much planning and weeks of isolation in a tank for physical tests to make sure he was fit for fending on his own at sea (op. cit.). He was resighted in 1969 near Santa Barbara, CA by a U.S. Navy collector, and again in 1974 near San Clemente identified from photographs by L Cornell and J. Prescott (pers. comm., John Prescott.) One whale; Captive 7.5 years; followup successful. George Elston gelston(\)gate.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 11:07:07 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Dear marmammers, I would like to have some information on ascendent and discendent diving speed of trained or free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. Thanks a lot Caterina Fortuna Tethys Research Institute viale Gadio 2, 20121 Milano Italy e-mail: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it *********************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 29401987 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it *********************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 07:54:11 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Release Info. ===================================== >From: George Elston >posting copy of >From: Howgar(\)aol.com >Subject: Re: Cetacean Releases > >Three bottlenose dolphins released off Turks and Caicos >Islands, after twenty, twenty-two, and fifteen years of >captivity, respectively (Klinowska and Brown, 1985). >In the acclimation seapen, they learned how to apture live >fish (McKenna, 1992). Released September 1991. All have >been resighted numerous times since then, and Silver has >been seen as recently as early 1994. In several of the >recent sightings, Silver was in the company of JoJo, a >friendly >dolphin that swims near Club Med at Providenciales, Turks >and Caicos. Rocky and Missie were captured in the North >Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico (probably off Florida), and Silver >was captured off Taiwan in the Pacific. Non-native >reintroduction. Note: This reintroduction was recently >labelled as fraud by marine parks spokes people in the >United Kingdom, but I am convinced that it was conducted >responsibly and without intent to deceive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- CARIBBEAN DOLPHIN RELEASE BASIC INFORMATION This dolphin release project was called INTO THE BLUE and operated by a consortium of animal welfare and animal rights groups and organisations including: the Born Free Foundation (UK), Bellerive Foundation (Switzerland) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). The three dolphins released were bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). "Rocky" caught in the Florida Panhandle in 1971 and maintained at Marineland in Morecambe in the north of England; "Missie" caught off Biloxi, Texas in 1969 and maintained at Brighton Aquarium in the south of England; "Silver" believed to have been caught waters of Taiwan in 1978 and also housed at Brighton Aquarium. They were moved to the Islands of Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean to a conch farm owned by Chuck Hess - founder of the islands local environment concern group: PRIDE (Foundation for the Preservation of reefs and Islands from Degradation and Exploitation). The conch farm lagoon was made available by Chuck Hess to the groups to serve as a rehabilitation centre prior to the release of the animals. Here they were to learn how to eat live fish, etc. "Rocky" was transported to the conch farm lagoon from the UK on February 11, 1991; "Missie" and "Silver" on March 19, 1991. The animals were moved from the conch farm to a floating sea-pen off West Caicos Island on September 7, 1991. They were released from this to the wild at 1.30.pm on Tuesday, September 10, 1991. All three animals had "freeze branding" on their dorsal fins. The three animals were seen a day after release at this location. However "Missie" and "Rocky" have not been seen since this time by project staff; all sightings after this point were second hand by fisherman and tourists "Silver" was seen after the release from September 16 - 29, 1991 by project staff. He appeared to have some weight lost and health problems (an infection on his rostrum) and was given both food (a total of sixty pounds) and antibiotics by project staff in the wild over this period. He was also associating with a wild "friendly" dolphin that swam in this area called "Jojo". After this time all "Silver"s sightings were also second-hand by tourists and fishermen. I am not aware this animal was ever seen with the animal Jojo since this time (e.g. claimed sighting with Jojo in 1994). A photographic competition for local Turks and Caicos fisherman in January 1992, with a $500 cash prize, failed to produce photographic evidence of the animals continuing to survive in the wild. The ultimate fate of these animals seems to remain unknown. Two television documentaries were made about the project. One was shown on the Discovery Channel in Europe in August 1993 and entitled "Dolphins: Home to the Sea". The second was called "Into The Blue" and shown on terrestrial television in the UK on BBC2, July 9, 1992. This second documentary was the subject of complaints by myself and two others to the UK's Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC). This upheld six of twelve complaints against the programme in areas regarding the general welfare of animals kept in aquaria and the ultimate fate of the release animals. ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 06:16:00 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: EUROPE BEING ASKED FOR CASH (fwd) Forwarded message: From: dickdh(\)rivo.dlo.nl (dickdh) Subject: EUROPE BEING ASKED FOR CASH Good morning, Europe has already given cash to a proposal called CETASEL, inwhich acoustic deterents are proposed as one of the techical aids to reduce the by-catch of small cetaceans in pelagic trawls. Participants: Rijks Instituut voor Visserij Onderzoek RIVO-DLO (coordinator) IJmuiden Netherlands Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park Harderwijk Netherlands Kolmarden Marine Mammal Park Kolmarden Sweden Institut Fran=E7ais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) S=E8te France Danish Institute for Fisheries Technology and Aqua=1Fculture (DIFTA) Hirtshals Denmark Loughborough University of Technology (LUT) Loughborough United Kingdom This research project has been proposed in consultation with the government and the fishing industry and received financial support by the European Commission in 1994. The research aims at preventing by-catches of marine mammals in pelagic trawls by technical means acceptable to the fishing industry and complies the international treaty ASCOBANS ("Agreement on the Conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic and the North Seas"), signed in 1994. The project includes underwater observations from RV "Tridens" on the behaviour of marine mammals in the vicinity of the fishing gears to find out how these animals are captured. In addition laboratory experiments will be carried out to determine how the animals behave when confronted with obstructions of ropes and meshes, and how they use their echo-location system to avoid such obstacles. The researchers hope to find technical means to avoid that the animals enter a trawl (e.g. by making the nets better acoustically detectable with active or passive reflectors), or in the case they still do enter the net, how they can be offered escape routes before they drown without affecting the operation and catchability of the nets. Emphasis is placed at finding solutions that are effective, can be used in commercial practice, and are acceptable to and do not require high investments in the industry. The project started in the beginning of 1995, and the first sea-trials were carried out in March 1995. The first enclosure trial in 1995 on a stranded harbour porpoise showed the animals sensitivity to acoestic "chirp and sweep sounds". In 1996 there are two seatrials planned at the south west coast of Ireland. On the last seatrial an acoustic tracking system will become available to record the animals position (in 3D) with respect to the gear. On January 25 and 26 we evaluate the outcome of the first year. I presume the draft version of our periodic report 1 will become available after this meeting. CETASEL coordinator, Dick de Haan. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 14:39:16 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Morbillivirus affecting baleen whales? To my knowledge, the media bedlam concerning an alleged morbillivirus outbreak among fin whales in the Mediterranean was caused solely by the appearance of the following article: Guibourge', E., J.P. Frodello, N. Terrys, F. D'Oriano & D. Viale. 1996. Les baleines ont-elles la rougeole? Un virus mortel s'attaque a' l'unique espece de baleine de Mediterranee. La Recherche, 283:34-35. I have recently dicussed this with one of the article's authors, Prof. Denise Viale from the University of Corte (Corsica, France), and learned that there is really no hard evidence of morbillivirus infection, or any viral infection at that, in Mediterranean fin whales. Four dead whales were found by Viale's team stranded or floating at sea off the W coast of Corsica between 29 Sep and 27 Nov 1995. Such number is a bit high compared to the stranding record average, however it is not exceptional given that the fin whale population estimate for the W Med is centered around 3,500 individuals. In all cases, specimens were found in advanced decomposition. No internal organs were examined or sampled. Skin samples sent to Dr. S. Kennedy in Belfast turned out to be negative to morbillivirus. It seems like Viale and colleagues conjectured the possibility of viral infection mostly based on the external appearance of one carcass, in which the derma was reddened and had an apparent strong vascular congestion. Furthermore, the presence of large amounts of fat on the beach near the stranding was connected with the possibility of strong fever by the authors. In the article cited above, a photograph of a free ranging fin whale sighted in early November is shown, in which some tiny reddish spots are evident. These reddish spots - which are labelled as symptoms of exanthema in the caption - strongly resemble the bodies of the parasitic copepod Penella. Of course, the possibility of viral disease outbreaks is everpresent, particularly in polluted waters such as the Mediterranean's. This may also perhaps apply to Mysticetes (?) although these are much less affected by organochlorine pollution than Odontocetes (at least as far as the Mediterranean is concerned). It is therefore a very good idea to keep all our feelers out for such eventualities. Mediterranean fin whales have been recently shown to belong to a population which is genetically distict from N Atlantic fin whales, and likely to be reproductively isolated. The possibility of an epizootic spreading among this population is thus particularly worrysome. We should be grateful to teams such as Prof. Viale's for keeping a good eye on this. However in this particular case I think there has been some confusion between evidence and conjecture. Of course this is a subtelty that many media have been very quick to miss. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara *********************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 29401987 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it *********************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 11:46:24 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 1/16/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Marine Mammal Hearing Damage. In mid-January 1996, a study by hearing-impaired students from the American School for the Deaf, Hartford, CT, under the supervision of a marine acoustics specialist from the University of Connecticut's National Undersea Research Center, concluded that noise from fishing vessels may damage hearing of whales and dolphins in the Gulf of Maine. [Assoc Press] . Dolphin Deaths in UK Driftnets. In early January 1996, the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare estimated, based on United Kingdom (UK) data, that the UK tuna driftnet fleet killed 182 dolphins in the Northwest Atlantic during the 1995 fishing season. [Agence Europe via Reuters] . Six Tons of Dolphin Heads. On Jan. 12, 1996, police in Yunlin, Taiwan, found six tons of dolphin heads in a freezer and arrested the freezer operator, who refused to reveal where the heads came from. [Reuters] . Dolphin Mortalities. In late December 1995, more than 100 dolphin carcasses were discovered on beaches along the Mauritanian coast between Noakchott and Nouadhibou. The cause of death was not able to be immediately determined. [Reuters] . Free Willy. On Jan. 7, 1996, United Parcel Service transported Keiko from Mexico City to the Oregon Coast Aquarium free-of-charge using a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The combined whale, specially constructed container, and water weighed between 40,000 and 42,000 pounds. On Jan. 9, 1996, Icelandic officials restated their 1993 decision that Keiko would not be allowed to be released in Icelandic waters due to the possibility of transmittin g contagious diseases to wild whales. On Jan. 12, 1996, Oregon Coast Aquarium officials announced that Keiko's appetite had doubled during the week (200 pounds of fresh fish per day rather than 100 pounds) and that his behavior was becoming more energetic and inquisitive. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 08:58:20 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Italy: fin whale in trouble (fwd) Forwarded message: From: cetacea(\)iper.net Dear Marmamers, Baby fin whale, 7 meters long, very thin. In the same area since December 24th between 30 and 300 meters from the coast. Swimming also into the harbour in an area 8 km long. Often close to the shore in a coastal area where small anchovy fry are found in abundance. Breathing interval 1 week ago: (10-12'), now (3'). Please send us info concerning similar cases and possible intervention and success rate. Fondazione Cetacea on behalf of the Centro Studi Cetacea (C.S.C.), the Italian National Stranding Network. For further info please contact also: Marco Borri Centro Studi Cetacei c/o Florence University-Museo Zoologico "La Specola" +39-55-225325 (fax) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 08:59:26 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Condition for housing bottlenose dolpphins in Italy (fwd) Forwarded message: From: cetacea(\)iper.net Dear Marmamers, NEWS from ITALY by Fondazione Cetacea CONDITIONS FOR HOUSING LIVE SPECIMENS OF Tursiops truncatus. In 1983 the Riccione Dolphinarium, now under the direction of Narvalo Srl, initiated communication with the Government, on three different occasions, for the imposing of a regulation regarding the keeping of dolphins in captivity. Finally in 1994 Fondazione Cetacea, the non-profit organization established in 1988 by the owners of Riccione Dolphinarium for the study and safeguard of Cetaceans, made a proposal on behalf of a Network of Italian facilities for a regulation based on previous drafts in collaboration with the pertaining Governative Institutions. This proposal was prepared by Leandro A. Stanzani of Narvalo Srl and by Alessandro Bortolotto, biologist of Fondazione Cetacea. During this period (for the past two years, to be precise) a few persons, with little scientific knowledge and notably flimsy ethics, have tried to hinder this proposal, putting dolphins kept in Italian facilities at future risk. However all of this has finally come to a conclusion. The Italian C.I.T.E.S. Scientific Committee has recently revised and then approved this regulation for the maintenance of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); This proposal was based both on the drafts discussed within the EEC in 1991 and the version adopted within the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (E.A.A.M.) in 1993. Officers from the Italian Department of Environment and from the C.I.T.E.S. office then transformed this proposal from its draft original to the current regulation. After a final revision the Ministry will convert this regulation into law. P.S.: for further information on Fondazione Cetacea our web site is: http://www.italia.com/showdata/CETACEA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 20:33:26 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Release Info. ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Michael Kundu arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com wrote: >For the purposes of discussing prior releases/escapes of >smaller cetacea and pinnipeds, I would like to ask (willing) >MARMAMers involved in, or aware of previous cases, to >offer observations, commentary on those incidents. For what it's worth; the following publications I would recommend as resource material for on basic cetacean introduction. I would imagine most good university libraries could obtain copies of these articles and publications: Anon. (1992) Capture and maintenance of cetaceans in Canada. A report prepared by the Advisory Committee on Marine Mammals for the Minster of Fisheries and Oceans. Brill, R.L. and Friedl, W.A. (1993) Technical Report 1549: Reintroduction to the Wild as an Option for Managing Navy Marine Mammals, San Diego: Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Centre/RDT&E Division,. Gales, N. and Waples, K. (1993) The Rehabilitation and Release of Bottlenose Dolphins From Atlantis Marine Park, Western Australia. Aquatic Mammals Vol. 19. no 2. IUCN (1987) The IUNC position statement on translocation of living organisms: Introductions, re-introductions and re- stocking. Gland, Switzerland: International Union for Conservation of Nature,. Wells, R.S. (1990) Return to the Wild: Completion of a "Dolphin Sabbatical". Journal American Cetacean Society: Whalewatcher. (3)5. ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 18:53:34 EST From: Timothy Desmond <71020.2171(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Keiko - a blown opportunity Dear MarMamer, I've monitored a lot of the debate over the relative merit of spending $10.5 million on a sick, but famous killer whale who is a terrible candidate for release by any reasonable measure. I've said nothing to this point, because saying anything critical of the save Keiko effort before the funds were in place and Keiko was moved would have jeopardized Keiko's rescue. However, that's done now. I agree with many of the scientists that $10.5 for the rescue of Keiko and his placement at the Oregon facility was a terribly misguided bit of conservation and/or animal welfare activism. The money could and should have been put to much better use. What is so sad about this episode is that 3 years ago the people involved, Earth Island and the Donners, had the option to develop a home for Keiko in Cape Cod that would have doubled as a critical care facility for the hundreds of stranded marine mammals that strand every year on the northeast coast of North America. It would have also served as a general marine research facility serving the local region. This proposal won the support of the local community at the proposed site, local government officials, federal officals, several universities, aquariums, several moderate animal welfare organizations, and many potential private donors. It was fundable, according to the professional fund raisers that Warner Bros. hired, at about the same cost and able to be done in far less time. However, the animal welfare activists couldn't stand not having complete control over the political agenda and the money. A group of animal welfare activist organizations conducted a coordinated attack on that center and killed it. Their primary argument was that it was a display facility and that Keiko would do shows. There were no facilities for entertainment in the design, only a unique combination of pools capable of taking care of large numbers of stranded cetaceans at one time. I know this because I was hired to develop this plan for Warner Bros. and the Donners. So now, Keiko goes to guess what? A captive display facility - where there are very few cetaceans strandings. Many, many marine mammals will die because of the lack of that critical care facility while Earth Island will float the illusion of releasing Keiko as a long standing fund raising mechanism for their agenda. Right now, the marine display institutions have stopped accepting stranded marine mammals in many locations due to the threat of the morbillivirus. So effectively there are even less facilities available for stranded marine mammals. What an opportunity lost! And why? Ask Dave Phillips. There are few if any cetaceans in captivity today that are anything approching decent candidates for release. Howver, many of these animals could do very well in "half way houses" where they could still have good care but have access to the open ocean daily - that is realistically the best of both worlds. But. that doesn't fit the agenda of Earth Island, HSUS and others who will clamor for the release of as many animals as they can to fulfill a political agenda that may be well intentioned but is ultimately misguided. By the way, this new pool for Keiko has no access to the ocean. So, that precludes the option of a halfway house without construction of a whole new set of facilities - whoops more fundraising for Earth Island Institute. The bottom line is that some activist organizations have reached the point where they will start killing more animals than they are saving. In this case, hundreds of nameless whales and dolphins will die on the shores of New England over the next several years because the $10 million to save Keiko was not made available to them at the same time. Frankly, I believe that we need strong animal welfare activist involvement in marine mammal issues. However, they have the same obligation as any aquarium to make sure that, if they say that their mission is to protect the welfare of animals, they don't compromise the welfare of those animals to meet their political, philosophical, and fundraising objectives. In the case of Earth Island Institute, I think that this is as clear a case as there has ever been of such a conflict of interest. Tim Desmond 71020.2171(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 10:36:49 -0400 From: Valerie Madsen Subject: DOMINICA/WHALING Associated Press, 15 Jan 1996 ROSEAU, Dominica -- A spirited debate over the merits of commercial whaling is underway in this Caribbean nation that advertises whale watching in its coastal waters. The Dominica Conservation Association has called for the island's government to give a clear signal that it won't vote with Japan in favor of commercial whaling at this year's meeting of the International Whaling Commission. But the government, faced with a slumping economy and having accepted generous aid from Japan isn't saying much. "Dominica must also let it be known that we are interested in declaring our exclusive economic zone around the island as a whaling and dolphin sanctuary," association President Atherton Martin said last week during a five-day international workshop here on whale watching. The environmental group wants a zone 200 miles wide and stretching from the island of Antigua in the north to Grenada in the south designated as a sanctuary where whales and dolphins can't be hunted. The government of this former British colony of 86,000 people won't say what position it will take at the next whaling commission meeting. Officials said they weren't sure what issues would be on the agenda. Dominica walks a tightrope between pressing economic needs and the desire to encourage sustainable development, Trade and Tourism Minister Norris Prevost said during the workshop. "Tourism will have to be an important pillar in our economic restructuring, and with this is the challenge of our rate of development versus conservation," Prevost said. Dominica's economy is in a slump because its key banana industry is ailing and the country was hit by three hurricanes last year. To climb out of the slump, the government is promoting this lush, mountainous island as an environmental tourism destination and a base for whale watching. Meanwhile, Japan is building a $14.9 million fisheries complex on Roseau's waterfront. Dominica's budget for the fiscal year that began June 30 is $5.6 million. Approximately 90 percent of cars on the island are Japanese models. The only Caribbean nation that practices commercial whaling is St. Vincent and the Grenadines. But Dominica - along with its Caribbean neighbors St. Vincent, Grenada and St. Lucia - have lent a sympathetic ear to japan's call for stepped-up whaling. The four island nations abstained during a 1994 International Whaling Commission vote on creating an Antarctic whale sancruary. The final vote was 23-1, with Japan, the world's largest consumer of whale meat, casting the only dissenting vote. The commission imposed a non-biding global moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. lkdjg;lajnsvjfska;dslkhfas;lfkj ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 06:38:31 -0500 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Keiko's Common Ground Aloha, The Free Willy/Keiko discussion has been intense. Yet, the discussion is full of common ground regarding marketing, research and release of captive cetaceans. What is needed is perspective. 1. The 10.5 million Keiko project is reasonable for the budget to build and operate a facility designed to hold an Orca and comply with Federal Regulaltions. This facility just happens to have EII, a decidedly anti-captivity organization, as a partner. If it was a big name oceanarium owner nothing would be news except that Free Willy would never be free and that would be news. So who bails out Keiko from an innadequate environment, the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation. Common Ground: anyone pays this amount of money to hold an Orca in a legal facility. 2. The statements concerning a better use of the Keiko funds ignore point 1, and are virtually identical to the better arguments used by anti-captivity activists for 15 years. Common Ground: Most of the money spent holding cetaceans captive is better spent in more natural environments saving cetaceans in conflict with humans and developing win win relationships for interaction. 3. People aware of the plight of cetaceans want to save them as individuals and as species. Most people are aware of Orcas, how many people are aware of what a Baiji or Vaquita (sp.?) is. How many movies and television shows have been made about the Baiji? Vaquita? Orca? Common Ground: if more people were aware of obscure species of cetaceans going extinct, EII and others would be able to successfully raise money to save them from extinction. Unfortunately, as many researchers know, it is hard to raise funds to study much less save obscure species in remote (to the western television market) locations. How many people follow MARMAM regularly? 4. Keiko has been made the current focus of the movement which aims to get cetaceans out of tanks and back to their original environments. This movement is growing exponentially as more people become aware of the plight of captive cetaceans. Many researchers feel that they must have access to captive cetaceans to do their research and feel helpless as the public moves toward releasing their subjects. Common Ground: nobody wants cetaceans captive unless it is required for some higher goal that can somehow justify the captivity. Researchers are creative intelligent people who can figure out how to do captive-like research on non-captive cetaceans. I have figured out a program that can do that with dolphins, unfortunately it would be difficult to apply to Orcas. But then, there are a lot of Orca researchers out there smarter than me that just have to get motivated. The anti-captivity movement can provide that motivation. There is a lot of common ground shared by all the participants in this discussion. We need to share that common ground and work together to solve the problems presented in this discussion because the problems are not going to go away by themselves. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 16:40:30 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Fwd: Newswire: Taiwan Police Find Six Tonnes of Dolphin Heads (fwd) Forwarded message: >From (\)UVVM.UVIC.CA:LISTSERV(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Mon Jan 15 15:30:19 1996 Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 15:30:06 -0800 Message-Id: <199601152330.PAA19049(\)ix13.ix.netcom.com> From: hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com (HSUS Wildlife) Subject: Fwd: Newswire: Taiwan Police Find Six Tonnes of Dolphin Heads To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Taiwan Police Find Six Tonnes of Dolphin Heads TAIPEI, Jan 12 (Reuter) - Police in Taiwan have found six tonnes of dolphin heads in a freezer and suspect that a giant crime syndicate may have been responsible for killing the animals, state television reported on Friday. Police said they arrested one man, Wu Wan-chiao, for operating the freezer in the eastern coastal county of Yunlin, but Wu so far has refused to say where the dolphins came from. ``We face this incident with a heavy heart and hope to intensify our efforts in this area in the future,'' an official from the cabinet's Council of Agriculture said on state television. The police suspect that a large crime syndicate may have smuggled and killed the dolphins, state television reported. Taiwan has been criticised in the past for failing to enforce international conservation laws that ban the killing of endangered animals. 07:47 01-12-96 ---- End Forwarded Message ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 00:56:05 +0100 From: Junio Fabrizio Borsani I'm forwarding the following message from Dr. G. Notarbartolo-di-Sciara: A 2-3 month-old fin whale has been observed in close vicinity to the west coast of Calabria (southern Italy) from 25 Dec 1995 to this date. It seems to have been separated from its mother for some reason and it is probably starving. It can be seen virtually every day now, most of the time at the surface. The media have obviously gone beserk over this episode and everybody would like to do something to help. Some of the activities involve the introduction of chum (ground fish and milk) in the water in front of the animal. I also fear that plans will be considered involving the harnessing and towing of the whale towards the high seas, in what I would consider basically a self-gratifying rodeo with most likely deadly consequences for the little whale. I am wondering if there have been precedents of very young (i.e., lactating) mysticetes having been found in similar circumstances, and if there is anywhere in the world previous experience that we may capitalise upon. Any suggestion from experienced colleagues will be very welcome. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Instiute email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it Junio Fabrizio Borsani jfb(\)iol.it ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 17:52:54 -0500 From: JoeGrist(\)aol.com Subject: Dolphin Field School 4th Annual, 1996 DOLPHIN FIELD SCHOOL presented by: Christopher Newport University Overview: The Dolphin Field School is based at CNU's Cape Charles Field Station on Virginia's Eastern Shore. During the field study period, teams of 15 to 25 staff and students carry out systematic observations of the seasonally abundant dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Most days are spent conducting coordinated observations, with evening activities including lectures, seminars, data analysis, and lively discussion of the day's events. Students of the field school staff observation posts, augment research boat crews, analyze photographs and other data, work on special assignments, and support the operation of the field station. This field experience is greatly enhanced by guest lecturers and trips to areas of interest on the Eastern Shore. Benefits: Dolphin Field School students receive hands-on experience with the photographic identification method of scientific inquiry. Participation in this field study also intends to: --allow students to learn field methods of wildlife observation and data recording procedures; --introduce participants to techniques of wildlife behavioral analysis; --reinforce basic ecological concepts by examing interrelationships of dolphins and their environment, and offer an opportunity to become familiar with the lifestyles and living conditions of a coastal marine mammal species. Housing: Dolphin Field School students reside in the Cape Charles Field Station. This 5000 square foot facility with a seperate cafeteria serves as dorm, meeting area, and research labs during the course. These facilities are serviceable and comfortable and provide for adequate hygiene and recreation. Information: For further information on the Dolphin Field School, contact: Joe Grist, Director-Dolphin Field School/CNU, Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, 50 Shoe Lane, Newport News, VA 23606-2998, or phone (804) 594-7126, or email JoeGrist(\)aol.com. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 18:12:17 EST From: lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu Organization: Emory University Biology Dept. Subject: Announcement of Study Group Dear Marmamers, Below is an announcement describing a Study Group my colleagues at Emory University have formed to examine post-conflict behavior in many different species. Most of the work in this area has been done in primatology, but the organizers of this Group would like to exchange ideas with non-primatologists, especially marine mammal behavior experts. So, if you're interested, please read below and email Filippo Aurelli or Darlene Smuchny at the addresses below. Thanks!! RECONCILIATION STUDY GROUP The aim of the Reconciliation Study Group (RSG) is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas about reconciliation and post-conflict research. The RSG now numbers 70+ members; we welcome more to join! We especially encourage non-primatologists to join! We believe that reconciliation and conflict resolution are NOT limited to primates, and we would appreciate the input of non-primatologists to achieve a comprehensive view of these behavior patterns throughout the animal kingdom. We hope that research is carried out on non-primate species. Marine mammals are species in which conflict resolution is likely to occur!!! Another initiative of the RSG is the compilation of a bibliography on post-conflict behavior in primates and other animals. The bibliography is available and is updated periodically with the help of all RSG members. If you would like more information about the RSG, please contact: FILIPPO AURELI (e-mail: aureli(\)rmy.emory.edu FAX: 404-727-7845) or DARLENE SMUCNY (e-mail: ny6(\)cu.nih.gov FAX: 301-496-0630) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 16:14:39 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Univ of Connecticut's Undersea Research Center Need help in contacting the "marine acoustics specialist" from the University of Connecticut's National Undersea Research Center who supervised the recent study done by the hearing-impaired students from the American School for the Deaf in Hartford Ct. Anyone know any names or addresses? Thanks, David Williams davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 09:19:21 +1000 From: Graham Clarke Subject: Loving Whales To Death Dear Marmamers, Australia was one of the first countries to recognise and act to protect whales. The Australian Whale Protection Act, 1980 is, and will continue to be, long after the lifting of the Moratorium, if it ever is lifted, a major contribution to the survival of our whales. Although the editorial herein, appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, 16th Jan, 1996 it does not reflect the feelings of the Australian government or it's people. I am disgusted that this person calls himself an Australian and I present his text here with regret. Graham J. Clarke "Whales in Danger" ---------------------- "Loving Whales to death is no way to save them as a species" by Padraic P. McGuinness ppmeg(\)ozemail.com.au The silly season has really taken off this year, as was evidenced by the recent hysteria of the sentimental whale-huggers about a small group of boof-headed whales which had decided to beach themselves, as frequently happens, on the NSW North Coast. This was a classic demonstration of the foolishness which goes along with much environmentalism; the small voice of the rational marine biologists, who were pointing out that it is neither sensible nor in the interest of the whale species or any sub-class of it to attempt to rescue the animals from the consequences of their own instincts, whether mistakes or not, was reported by the better reporters but hardly noticed. But it served to contrast the environmental rationalism of those who value nature highly with the sentimental environmentalism of those who clearly do not understand the principles of natural selection. As often happens with determined lovers of animals as distinct from nature, the highest stated principles often go along with questionable human behaviour. Thus, on a previous occasion a few years ago when a similar incident took place, and large numbers of earnest people donned wetsuits issued them by the parks and wildlife authorities to help them love the whales to death, many of the wetsuits were not returned but simply liberated, unlike the whales. The whole business is, of course, totally silly. The reasons why whales beach themselves is unknown, but the phenomenon is common. Whether it has to do with anomalies in the magnetic fields at particular places, or the inclination of the ocean floor, or merely that the whole pod of whales is suffering from collective insanity, stupidity, or a bad case of some equivalent of flea infestation, is a serious subject for investigation. The funds wasted on this latest love-in could well have been devoted to such research. It is clear enough that whale populations have survived such incidents since time immemorial. Indeed, the increasing frequency of such incidents is strong evidence that whale populations (even for this small, insignificant and not particularly valued by hunters variety) are rebounding strongly. Another indicator is the increasing frequency of collisions between yachts taking part in the Sydney to Hobart race and whales. It is probable that the attentions paid to these whales only served to prolong their death agonies, with the emotional orgies of those concerned being a kind of vampirism. Once whales are determined to beach themselves, it is virtually certain that they are going to die anyway - if pushed back or forced back into deep water, they are just as likely to determinedly repeat the suicidal behaviour. In such circumstances anyone who wanted genuinely to be kind to the animals would be putting a high-powered bullet into their brains. Instead they have been subjected to enormous stress, surrounded by scores of cooing, affectionate human beings quite strange to the whales; they were (believe it or not) massaged, lifted in slings, carted around in trucks, dropped into motel pools, smeared with zinc cream to avert sunburn, and generally screamed and crooned at, all of which surely killed some of them from stress and heart attack. They were tortured to death. If the whales on beaching had been killed humanely, they might even had had some economic value. Perhaps they could have been turned into whale sashimi for the Japanese tourist trade, and any others who happen to like the taste of whale meat (I don't), or perhaps used for cat and dog food. But it would probably have been simpler to dispose of the carcasses cleanly and simply, as will now be done. It would have been kinder as well as cheaper if done immediately. Instead of the absurdity of the fuss we have just seen being recognised, it is certain that it will be twisted into another reason for opposing the sustainable use of the world's whale population for human and possibly animal food. Of course the abuses of the whaling industry were such as to bring the major species of whales to the brink of extinction, and it is a good thing that that has stopped. But the notion that there is any good reason at all to oppose the taking of a few hundred minke whales every year from a southern hemisphere population of more than three-quarters of a million is merely another example of foolish environmental sentimentalism. It hardly matters whether the main motive of Japan's harvest is scientific or the desire to supply the Japanese market for whale meat; despite the systematic lying by propagandists such as Greenpeace about what the real scientific evidence on whaling is, the evidence generally supports the view that while it is quite premature to allow harvesting of genuinely endangered species such as the blue whale or the right whale, many other smaller species are not endangered. The propagandists deliberately confuse the political decisions made by the general meeting of the International Whaling Commission with the work of its scientific committee. The reality is that no animal in the world, whether a feral pig or a pelagic whale, has ever died a happy death. They are killed and eaten when they are young or become weak with age, or they die in pain and misery from injuries, illness or parasites, or they make a mistake like the whales' beaching. Only humanity could conceive of giving an animal a humane death; and only humanity could be so silly as to believe that it is doing a favour to an animal to try to rescue it from the consequences of its behaviour and environment. -------------------------------------------------------- Graham_Clarke - "WHALES IN DANGER" Information Service -------------------------------------------------------- Home Page - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html -------------------------------------------------------- Sydney - AUSTRALIA - EMail: -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 19:43:26 -0800 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: contacting authors about citing abstracts: survey results SHOULD AUTHORS BE CONTACTED FOR PERMISSION FOR CITING PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS? RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY A notice on the front cover of the abstract booklet from the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals (sponsored by the Society for Marine Mammalogy [SMM] and held in Orlando, Florida in December 1995) read "As a professional courtesy abstracts should not be cited without permission of the primary author". As I mentioned in my first posting on this subject, I first saw this notice several weeks after the conference. As someone who attended the conference and has cited many abstracts in publications, I decided to undertake a totally unofficial survey of MARMAM subscribers (keeping in mind of course that MARMAM is not in any way affiliated with the SMM, but knowing that many SMM members, and others who attended the conference, subscribe to MARMAM). I sent out this survey to MARMAM several weeks ago. Questions asked attempted to address whether: 1) subscribers had seen the notice on the abstract booklet; 2) they were members of the SMM; and 3) they agreed or disagreed with the question of contacting authors prior to citing abstracts. I did not ask whether they attended the conference or submitted an abstract. Fifty-two responses to the survey were received. Seven of 49 (14%) respondents who attended the conference (or did not mention otherwise) were aware of the notice prior to the survey. Forty- seven respondents (90%) indicated they were members of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. Forty-five (86%) of the respondents thought that authors should not have to be contacted for permission, while seven (14%) thought that authors should have to be contacted. Additional unsolicited comments were included on 25 (48%) of the questionnaires. Despite the overwhelming feeling that authors should not be contacted for permission, many respondents indicated other values to contacting authors. These include: 1) determining whether results or conclusions have changed since the abstract was published; and 2) determining whether more detailed or easily- accessible publications are available to cite. It was noted that both of these reasons are primarily to benefit the person citing the abstract, rather than to benefit the author of the abstract, and that authors are not always easy or even possible to contact for such information. It was also suggested that the authors of abstracts where information is known to be invalid should in some way notify the scientific community (via a note in the SMM newsletter or journal) to counter any inappropriate citation of their abstracts. Many respondents indicated that citing published abstracts was extremely valuable, and they were often the only source of information available on a specific topic. It was also noted that published abstracts should not be viewed as a substitute to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and that citations should explicitly note when information comes from an abstract and not a peer-reviewed paper. In discussions with the Board of Directors of the SMM, after I made the original posting to MARMAM, they have noted that Bill Perrin, the editor of the Society's journal (Marine Mammal Science) will be preparing a statement on the reasons why the Board made this decision. This notice will be published in the Society's newsletter. I would like to thank all those individuals who responded to the survey. Robin W. Baird ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700 MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 09:28:21 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: pinniped digestion I am doing research on the functional histology of the harp seal (p. groenlandica) small intestine and I am looking for references concerning the villous length of other mammals, particularly carnivores, and more particularly pinnipeds. I personally have not been able to locate such information on my own, and I would greatly appreciate if someone could direct me to such sources. Thank you in advance. ______________________________________________________________________________ ____ _ _ ___ _ ___ _ / __) | |_| | | \ | | / __) / / "If sponges didn't grow in the ocean, | (__ | _ | | () / | | \__ \ / / imagine how much more water \____) |_| |_| |_|\_\ |_| (___/ /_/ there'd be" - Stephen Wright ______________________________________________________________________________ Chris Hendry chendry(\)ganymede.cs.mun.ca MUN Biology Society (BIOS) chendry(\)nostoc.biol.mun.ca Department of Biology chendry(\)europa.cs.mun.ca Memorial University of Newfoundland bios(\)nostoc.biol.mun.ca ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 09:28:47 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Grants from the ASM To all mammalogists: Please note the attached announcements regarding grants-in-aid of research and the Shadle Fellowship from the American Society of Mammalogists. The ASM Grants-in-Aid of Research Committee would appreciate the dissemination of this information to all students in mammalogy. Thank you, Rick Ostfeld Chair, Grants-in-Aid of Research Committee e-mail: Rostfeld(\)aol.com GRANTS-IN-AID OF RESEARCH =0D Applications are solicited for Grants-in-Aid of Research in mammalogy from funds made available by the Directors of the American Society of Mammalogists. Applicants must be graduate students or upper-level undergraduates who are members of the ASM. Awards (maximum $1,000) will be made in support of an aspect of research except travel to meetings. Individuals may receive a career maximum of two awards. The ASM encourages foreign students, especially those in developing countries, to submit applications. = Completed application forms and two letters of recommendation (one from the research advisor) must be received no later than 25 March 1996. Materials should be sent to Richard S. Ostfeld, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545. Announcements of awards will be made at the end of April 1996. Applicants must use standardized forms available from Richard S. Ostfeld (E-mail: Rostfeld(\)aol.com). = =0D ALBERT R. AND ALMA SHADLE FELLOWSHIP IN MAMMALOGY =0D Applications are solicited for the 1996-1997 graduate fellowship in mammalogy provided by the Albert R. and Alma Shadle Endowment Fund. The fellowship is intended to promote a professional career in mammalogy by allowing the recipient greater freedom to pursue research, but is not a grant in support of a specific research project. Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America and be enrolled as graduate students in mammalogy in a college or university in the United States or have been accepted for graduate work beginning in autumn 1996. = Careers of applicants should have progressed sufficiently to demonstrate the potential of productive and important roles in professional mammalogy. The 1996-1997 stipend is expected to be approximately $3,500. In addition, the University of Chicago Press will provide the nominee with $100 in books to be chosen from current offerings. The award does not preclude support from other sources. Shadle Fellowship nominees will be invited to present the results of their research at the Plenary Session of the 1997 Annual Meeting of the ASM. Completed application forms, a statement of research interests and plans, and three letters of recommendation, postmarked no later then 25 April 1996 should be sent to Richard S. Ostfeld, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545. Announcement of the award will be made at the 1996 Annual Meeting. Applicants must use current standardized forms available from Richard S. Ostfeld (E-mail: Rostfeld(\)aol.com). = --PART.BOUNDARY.0.20848.mail02.mail.aol.com.819663283-- Richard W. Thorington, Jr. MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.BITNET Department of Vertebrate Zoology MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.SI.EDU NHB-390, Smithsonian Institution Voice: 202-357-2150 Washington D.C. 20560 Fax: 202-786-2979 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 08:37:00 PST From: Colla Subject: Grey Whale Calving North of the Lagoons? I am searching for information about grey whale calves born well outside of their typical Mexican calving grounds (San Ignacio, Scammons, Mag Bay). Particularly, descriptions of calvings along the central California coast, San Diego and north. Recommendations of items in the literature as well as anecdotal accounts are welcome. Private e-mail welcome also. Thanks very much. Phil Colla San Diego, CA e-mail: pcolla(\)cts.com phone: (619) 481-3754 fax: (619) 793-4613 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 17:54:33 -0700 From: Leslie Strom Subject: Re: Keiko's Common Ground > 4. Keiko has been made the current focus of the movement which aims to >get cetaceans out of tanks and back to their original environments. This >movement is growing exponentially as more people become aware of the plight >of captive cetaceans. Many researchers feel that they must have access to >captive cetaceans to do their research and feel helpless as the public moves >toward releasing their subjects. Common Ground: nobody wants cetaceans >captive unless it is required for some higher goal that can somehow justify >the captivity. Researchers are creative intelligent people who can figure >out how to do captive-like research on non-captive cetaceans. I have figured >out a program that can do that with dolphins, unfortunately it would be >difficult to apply to Orcas. But then, there are a lot of Orca researchers >out there smarter than me that just have to get motivated. The >anti-captivity movement can provide that motivation. Though I am opposed to orcas spending their lives in captivity, I often thought it would be acceptable to keep a small number for research if it were agreed that they be kept in excellent facilities for a fixed number of years, like four years. The amount of information that could be gathered with an orca that's repatriated to, say a resident population that is easily monitored... this could be the best of both worlds. ___________________________________________ Leslie Strom / Wide Angle Productions / Seattle lstrom(\)halcyon.com Coming in Feb.: Media 100 Digital Online Editing. Free peanut butter sandwiches on site. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 15:51:28 -0800 From: Sam McClintock Organization: En-Vision Inc. Subject: Slow-Recovery of Blue Whale I have been following the Japanese scientific whaling and whaling research for a few months now. Part of this study has come across the Japanese position that the Blue Whale recovery is being hindered by competition within the minke population for food (krill). They have also announced an evaluation/tagging project of blue whales to study them more closely. The problem with this is that the information solely originates from the Japanese. As a cynic (possible realist) the Japanese are just setting the stage for increasing their catch of minke whale. A lot of similar signals have surfaced - i.e. increased "scientific" catches of minke, the FAO meeting in Japan on sustainable problems (in which the subject of whales surfaced a lot), etc. So a couple of questions for the marine biologists out there: 1) Does the minke compete directly with the blue whale for the same food sources? Is the supply of krill so limited as to present a "limiting" problem of population for both species? Is the Japanese position one based on empirical data or is it basically a hypothesis? 2) The Japanese plan to increase their monitoring of blue whales. Does the study itself, e.g. tagging, etc. pose a threat the lives of the blue whale? Would the study (increased ship traffic around the whales) create additional stress on the animal population (such as the stress caused when a human walks near or approaches a wild animal). 3) Could you point me to applicable references and/or researchers in this field? Any assistance (aside from ICR and A. Macnow) would be greatly appreciated. sammcc(\)nando.net (Sam McClintock) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 16:29:24 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NSW: RESCUED WHALE DIES NSW: RESCUED WHALE DIES SYDNEY, Jan 16 AAP - One of three melon-headed whales taken from the New South Wales north coast to Seaworld in Queensland over the weekend died early this morning, a spokesman for the marine park said today. David Luxton said the whale, a juvenile male, died about 2.45am. "It had been showing some signs of recovery during Sunday - it was eating whole fish," he said. "Yesterday it stopped eating and needed support in the water again. "Then last night its heart rate accelerated and it passed away." The main factor in the death was the stress of the stranding, he said. A post-mortem examination had been carried out today but was not expected to show anything out of the ordinary, he said. The two remaining whales, male and female adults, were in a stable condition. It was expected they would be released on the continental shelf, about 20 nautical miles out to sea, in two to three weeks, Mr Luxton said. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 09:15:33 -0500 From: Ari Friedlaender Subject: harbor seals I am looking for any literature on Harbor Seal life history parameters, more specifically in Long Island Sound. If anyone can point me in a good direction I would appreciate it. Thank you very much, Ari Friedlaender Bates College, Lewiston, Maine afriedla(\)abacus.bates.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 15:18:54 +0100 From: Bellerive Foundation Subject: press release January, 18th 1996 Press Release - Bellerive Fondation Italy We got the new that two dolphins, one called CLYDE and the other ANAY, died at the Riccione Aquarium. Clyde, a male Tursiops truncatus, captured in the Adriatic Sea, died 3 months ago and the reasons are yet unknown. He was an agressive animal and had a visible stereotipical behaviour. As a matter of fact, he did not take part to the shows. Anay, a female, born in 1987 and captured two years later at Cuba, died a few days ago. In this case also no reasons have been given yet. Riccione's pool is 4,1m x 2,1m x 1,2m. Fondazione Cetacea, who runs the educational and scientific activities of both Riccione's and Cattolica's dolphinaria, is no other than a coverage to slip through the C.I.T.E.S. conventions to keep on doing pure show activities in the dolphinaria. Fondazione Cetacea strongly opposed the regulation about the captivity maintenance of dolphins approved by the Scientific Commmission C.I.T.E.S. on November 21st 1995. The regulation initially proposed by the dolphinaria, has been modified by experts, choosen and called by the Bellerive Foundation, to a more adequate and strong one compared to the one that leaded to the closing of all dolphinaria in the U.K. Today's regulation, hoping it will be approved by the Minister, will bring a big change in the cetacea captivity maintenance and in the prohibition of new importation. Italy has ratified the Washington Convention in 1983, after the European Community had adopted a REGULATION (1982). Differently from the original Washington Convention, at the European Community level, and at the Italian level, all cetaceans have been included in Annex I - particularly endangered species. According to the Washington Convention, all animals listed in Annex I can NOT be imported, exported and commercialized. Thus, dolphins can not be displayed in dolphinaria, unless the managers prove to have as a prime objective either scientific, or educational or captive breeding activities. For any information contact: Bellerive Foundation Italy Via Lombardini 12 20143 MILANO tel: 39 (0)2 8395475 fax: 39 (0)2 89404093 E-mail: fbelle(\)galactica.it ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 05:57:19 +1000 From: Graham Clarke Subject: Re: Loving Whales To Death Dear Marmamers, Those wishing to reply to: "Loving Whales to death is no way to save them as a species" by Padraic P. McGuinness please post to the author: ppmcg(\)ozemail.com.au (NOT ppmeg(\)ozemail.com.au) OR ME! (Although you can cc. me if you wish) Graham. -------------------------------------------------------- Graham_Clarke - "WHALES IN DANGER" Information Service -------------------------------------------------------- Home Page - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html -------------------------------------------------------- Sydney - AUSTRALIA - EMail: -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 16:29:38 -0500 From: Lori Anne Wark Subject: Free Willy bulletin board For Posting: Keiko, better known as Free Willy, has just arrived at his new digs at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Discovery Online has set up a bulletin board where everyone can post messages to the trainers in Oregon, read daily dispatches from the aquarium, and chat with each other about All Things Whale. So if you're interested in Keiko, whales, the environment, and how the media affect all these things, please join us. Set your web browser to http://www.discovery.com/ and make your way to the "Free Willy" page. Read the latest dispatches, then click on "bulletin board." Hope to see you there. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 13:45:55 -0800 From: Phil Clapham Subject: Noise in the Gulf of Maine Can anyone provide further details of the item in Gene Buck's summary regarding alleged marine mammal hearing damage from fishing vessels in the Gulf of Maine? I'm unaware of this study and I know that a number of people on Marmam (especially those from the Gulf of Maine) would be interested to hear details of methods and results. Tnx. ***************************** Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038 tel (619) 546-5631 fax (619) 546-5653 Internet: pclapham(\)caliban.ucsd.edu ***************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 17:59:53 -1000 From: Eduardo Mercado Subject: mysticete lung size Seeking dimensions of mysticete lungs. For example, volume, approximate "length, width, height", relation to body size. Humpback whale lung dimensions preferred. References appreciated. Odontocete lung dimensions need not apply. Thanks! Eddie Mercado mercado(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 21:32:34 -0500 From: Wende Evans Subject: Steller Sea Lions Dear Marmamers, I am searching for information on the Steller Sea Lion for a collegue of mine. If you work with this animal, have access to anyone who does have information, or any other source that may be helpful, please email to: evansw(\)ocean.nova.edu Thank you for any information that you may be able to provide. Wende Evans evansw(\)ocean.nova.edu NSU Oceanographic Center Ft. Lauderdale, FL ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 10:50:28 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 1/19/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Ballard Locks Sea Lions. On Jan. 17, 1996, Washington State officials announced that no State or Federal funds are available to capture and hold problem sea lions this year and that individual problem animals may have to be killed to protect migrating steelhead trout. In early January 1996, the sea lion called "Hondo" that was held captive for several months in 1995 was spotted in Shilshole Bay near Ballard Locks. [Assoc Press] . Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Research. On Jan. 16, 1996, a three-day workshop began in Anchorage, AK, to discuss the findings of 1995 research funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. Researchers reported that the observed decline and dissolution of the A-B orca/killer whale pod was directly attributable to the oil spill. [Assoc Press] . Captive Dolphins Escape. In early January 1996, a storm destroyed barriers allowing eight captive dolphins to escape from Anthony's Key Resort in Honduras. The missing dolphins were among 12 dolphins exported to Honduras from the United States in September 1994 after Ocean World of Fort Lauderdale, FL, closed. [Assoc Press] . Manatees. In mid-January 1996, Florida biologists counted 2,274 manatees in their annual survey of this species -- this compares to 1,822 counted in January 1995. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 07:50:18 -0800 From: Phil Clapham Subject: MM hearing -- Gulf of Maine Following my enquiry, Gene Buck kindly sent me the full text of the article on marine mammal hearing in the Gulf of Maine, and I post it here for the interest of others. It does not agree with my own experience in the region: more than almost any other feeding area, whales in the Gulf of Maine seem oblivious to boats unless they pose an imminent threat from collision. I'd be interested in the comments of mm bioacousticians. - Phil Clapham > AM-ME--Boat Noise-Whales, Bjt,450 > Noise From Fishing Boats May Damage Hearing Of Whales, Dolphins > PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Noise created by fishing vessels in the > Gulf of Maine may be damaging the sensitive hearing of whales and > dolphins, a new study by hearing-impaired students has found. > The findings suggest that the noise could interfere with marine > mammals' ability to navigate, hunt for food and avoid danger. > The study was conducted by students from the American School for > the Deaf in Hartford, Conn., under the supervision of Peter > Scheifele, a marine acoustics specialist at the University of > Connecticut's National Undersea Research Center. > ``Some of the noise they found would cause some short-term > deafness (in humans) after an eight-hour exposure, according to > OSHA standards,'' Scheifele said. > Scheifele said the study was an important first step toward > understanding the effects of low-frequency noise on whales and > dolphins. > ``The whole problem of noise versus whales is that there's not > much written on it,'' Scheifele said, ``and nobody really knows > what they live in as the norm, much less what is happening when we > put boats into the water. We're at the very, very beginning of > this.'' > Noise pollution in the sea has become a hot new topic in marine > research. A controversial global warming experiment in the Pacific > that sends blasts of sounds through the sea via underwater > loudspeakers was redesigned after critics complained that the noise > created by the project might deafen marine mammals. > Students in the Gulf of Maine study were participating in the > National Undersea Research Center's High School Aquanauts program. > Each year the program recruits different schools from around New > England to participate in marine research and education programs. > After receiving classroom instruction on oceanic acoustics > throughout the year, students used hydrophones to measure sounds > transmitted underwater on Stellwagen Bank, a marine sanctuary and > fishing area in the Gulf of Maine just north of Provincetown, Mass. > Students took a census of whales and dolphins they saw there and > observed their behavior. They also kept track of the number of > fishing vessels in the area and observed their movements. > Whales and dolphins disturbed by noise may or may not swim away > from an area to avoid the sound, Scheifele said. Humpback whales > come to the Gulf of Maine in the summer primarily to feed, and it > may not be realistic to expect them to leave their prime feeding > grounds, he said. > Scheifele and some of his students are now working on a > three-year follow-up study, using subarctic beluga whales in > Canada's St. Lawrence estuary. > Scheifele plans to measure the noise levels from boat traffic > that goes through the area during the year and observe the whales' > behavioral responses. > > > ***************************** Phillip J. Clapham, Ph.D. Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038 tel (619) 546-7176 fax (619) 546-5653 Internet: pclapham(\)caliban.ucsd.edu ***************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 06:42:54 +0100 From: SALM Rodney Subject: tags for dugongs APPROPRIATE RADIO TAGS SOUGHT FOR DUGONGS OFF THE KENYA COAST. We understand that conventional telemetry studies of dugongs use a floating tag harnessed to the tail stock of the animal. This has great potential to attract fishermen to the dugongs in remote areas where they are hunted, so it is not an acceptable solution off the Kenya coast. We are looking for a radio tag capable of emitting a signal to a shore stations within 20 kilometres or to a light aircraft overflying the general area. The challenge is to make the tag sufficiently inconspicuous to avoid attracting the attention of hunters, but effective enough to transmit during the brief time these secretive animals are at the surface. We would be extremely grateful if anyone out there has successfully used radio tags on dugongs or cetaceans that might suit our purposes. Dr Rodney V Salm Coordinator Marine & Coastal Conservation IUCN - The World Conservation Union Eastern Africa Regional Office POBox 68200, Nairobi, Kenya Phone 254 2 890605/12; Fax 254 2 890615; email rvs(\)earo.iucn.ch ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 09:37:16 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Honduras-Dolphins Honduras-Dolphins TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- Eight dolphins shipped here from a Florida marine park 16 months ago were being sought in the Caribbean after they escaped from their pool at a luxury hotel during a storm. Julio Galindo, owner of Anthony's Key Resort in the Roatan Bay Islands off Honduras' northern coast, said Thursday the dolphins had been missing for 10 days and that resort workers were still searching for them. "The strong winds destroyed the natural barriers that kept them in ... and the dolphins will die if we don't find them quickly." Galindo added. He said six of the dolphins were born in captivity, and did not know how to look for food. The missing dolphins were among 12 that were shipped to the Central American resort in September 1994, one month after Ocean World in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was shut down. The Humane Society of the United States had fought to have the dolphins sent to a federally licensed facility in the Florida Keys. But a judge threw out the organization's request for a restraining order to prevent the animals from being shipped to Honduras. The dolphins' fate drew attention after Ocean World received approval from the state in August 1994 to send them to Anthony's Key Resort. The Honduran facility has 11 show dolphins that also swim with tourists. Four of its original 15 have died since the resort opened in 1989. Animal welfare activists have called for a moratorium on marine mammal exports until rules can be written on how to assess foreign parks. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 11:05:51 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Whales among victims still suf Whales among victims still suffering from spill By Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan 18 (Reuter) - A pod of killer whales that swam through spilled oil from the Exxon Valdez in 1989 is still suffering from the pollution and likely will die eventually from the effect, said scientists attending a conference here this week. The A-B whale pod -- the most visible and prominent group of orcas around Prince William Sound -- has shrunk by a third since the Exxon Valdez oil disaster, said Craig Matkin, a marine mammal specialist from Homer, Alaska. "The decline is pretty directly attributable to the spill. It's probably a direct result of being in oil," said Matkin, who said the pod size is now 22 compared to its pre-spill level of 36. The whales are among the still-suffering victims of the nation's worst oil spill, which dumped 11 million gallons into the sound. Matkin said he believes the orcas are doomed because their complex social structure was ripped apart by deaths of females and juveniles. Now some members of the pod spend their days swimming alone, and the normally gregarious animals are likely to die alone, he said. "With the A-B pod, I'm doubtful that they would recover," he said. Matkin released results of his study at a three-day scientific conference held by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, the federal and state panel administering money paid by Exxon to settle goverment lawsuits. Another pod that uses the sound, the transient A-T pod, is also faltering in the spill's aftermath, Matkin said. One theory is that the whales are suffering because of a loss of harbour seals, a prey species for the transient pods. The sound's population of harbour seals -- falling even before the 1989 spill -- is still declining at about 6 percent a year, scientists said. Seabirds, otters and other animals have also suffered declines since the spill, scientists said at the conference, which ended Thursday. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 21:26:29 -0500 From: "Daniel K. Odell" Subject: MM Conference Lost & Found The following items were left behind by conference attendees: 1. Floppy disk, 3.5", DSDD, Label = 'NNFA '95, 96, #1' 2. Moss Landing sweat shirt, hooded, size large 3. Casio barometer watch, broken strap. 4. University of Calgary notepad holder, plastic. If these are yours, let me know. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity and the disk will be erased. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel K. Odell Chair, Conference Committee Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Society for Marine Mammalogy Orlando, Florida, USA - 14-18 December 1995 ------- c/o Sea World, Inc. phone: +407-363-2662 7007 Sea World Drive fax: +407-345-5397 Orlando, FL 32821-8097 USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 12:13:21 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Scientists test safety of unde Scientists test safety of undersea sound experiment SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17 (Reuter) - After several weeks of testing a controversial experiment to measure global warming by transmitting noises deep in the ocean, scientists said on Wednesday they have so far found no change in animal behaviour. Under a plan proposed by scientists at the University of California at San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the low-frequency sounds would be picked up by receivers located around the Pacific Ocean, enabling them to detect long-term changes in ocean temperatures since sound travels faster in warmer water. After environmentalists voiced concern about the possible effect of the noise on whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, project scientists agreed to a preliminary study by independent marine biologists to test whether the signals would have any adverse impact on the animals. The researchers installed a loudspeaker deep in the Pacific Ocean off the central California coast and began the preliminary study in early December, occasionally broadcasting the low-pitched rumbles at 185 and 195 decibels. The marine biologists, headed by Dan Costa of the University of California at Santa Cruz, said on Wednesday that during the first five transmission cycles from the loudspeaker, they had observed no apparent changes in the behaviour of marine mammals in the area. But they said in a statement that more data would have to be collected and detailed analysis done before they could draw any definitive conclusions. During each transmission cycle, which lasted from one to four days, the sound source was turned on for 20 minutes every four hours, the scientists said. The scientists said they had spotted large numbers of whales, dolphins and other animals near the loudspeaker both when the loudspeaker was on and when it was silent. Initial data from 14 elephant seals, each carrying a satellite tag that tracks their position in the ocean, showed no dramatic changes in their migration route from Alaska to California waters, the scientists said. Some environmentalists had expressed concern that the noises could affect animals' migration patterns. The loudspeaker is located 50 miles (80 kms) offshore from Half Moon Bay and 3,200 ft (1,000 metres) under the ocean surface. The first phase of the experiment to test the impact on marine mammals will run at least through September 1996 when a decision will be taken on whether to go ahead with the global warming experiment, during which the loudspeaker will broadcast more regularly. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 10:07:27 -0500 From: "William F. Dolphin" Subject: Re: mysticete lung size re info on lung dimensions (and other organs). You might check: Smith & Pace. 1971. Differential component and organ size relationship among whales. Environ Physiol 1: 122-136 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 09:42:25 -0800 From: KELLY ANN NEWMAN Subject: address Can someone please give me Whit Au's email address? Thanks, Kelly ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 11:40:38 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Congress and you Dear U.S. (and any interested international) MARMAM'ers: A while back, someone asked me to look into getting the e-mail addresses of members of the U.S. Congress, to facilitate communication between the electorate and Congress for those citizens on-line. However, in general, only a few techno-geek members are on-line (at least in their official capacity) and those who are do not share their addresses freely, because I guess they are afraid of the deluge that might ensue. I did learn about a WWW site that allows one to send messages to members, called Public Megaphone, that's as close as we're likely to get to direct e-mail access. So I am posting some information on how you may contact senators and representatives, by all the technology available to us -- snail mail, phone, fax, and Internet. For snail mail, addresses are: The Honorable John Doe U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Doe: The Honorable Jane Smith U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Smith: For phone and fax, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for Senator Doe/Representative Smith. It helps to give the first name and/or state for representatives, as there are several with the same last name. When you get the receptionist in the Congress member's office, you may then ask for a fax number if you want to send a fax. =============================================================== I pulled the following off of the Animal Rights Newsgroup this week: --Begin message Just a reminder, that to get a list of e-mail addresses and phone/fax numbers for members of Congress, call Federal Information at: 800-688-9889 To get copies of bills, send an e-mail message to the House Document Room at: HDOCS(\)HR.HOUSE.GOV List the bill numbers in the "Subject" and in the body say something nice like, "Please send the subject bills. Thank you." The bills will arrive a few days later in the mail! It's a great service and a great way to keep yourself informed. The people in the House Document are very nice, but are very hardworking, so please be "kind" to them! Al Feuer North Miami, Florida 33168-6501 alf(\)dcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us --End message ============================================= I pulled this message off the Animal Rights Newsgroup last month: --Begin message From: John Loch johnloch(\)mtt.com This is an announcement for a new web site called Public Megaphone. The site allows you to send email messages to selected groups of Senators and House members (or the entire Congress + President + Vice President + Hillary). You can send a message to all Republican House members or all Democratic Senators, it's your choice. You message can be sent anonymously if you wish. Please use this powerful tool carefully! Public Megaphone - http://www.mtt.com/theSource/cgi-bin/megaphone.cgi --End message ========================================================== Hope this is helpful to you all. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 13:35:37 -0800 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: finding e-mail addresses and marine mammals in western S. America (fwd) Greetings, If you are trying to find an e-mail address of a MARMAM subscriber, you can retrieve a copy of the subscriber list sorted by the country from which the subscriptions originate. With 1600 or so e-mail addresses to sort through, it is much easier to find a particular person when the list is alphabetical by country! (As long as you know what country the person is in) To do so, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: review marmam (country I am trying to contact researchers who work in Chile or Peru, as I will be making a trip there in March, but found out this way that we have no subscribers from either country. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has spent a lot of time working in either area, particularly during that time of year, regarding which species of marine mammals may be easily seen, and the locations of any hot spots for particular species. Cheers, Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700 MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 12:57:32 -0500 From: Tricia Litwiler Subject: marine mammal strandings and human interaction Please post the following request. MARMAMers, My name is Tricia Litwiler and I am a senior at Allegheny College in PA. I am writing a senior comprehensive project on marine mammal strandings in North Carolina as the result of human interaction, particularly from commerical fisheries. I am focusing on the years 1992 to 1995, and Tursiops truncatus, and I am looking at total number of strandings, seasonal trends, differences between sexes, sexually mature vs. sexually immature animals, and evidence of interaction, including linemarks, ropemarks, missing appendages, and attached gear. I am also comparing these findings to data from Virginia and Texas to look for similar trends. I am requesting any information about marine mammal strandings, particularly Tursiops, or any recommendations on literature that might be useful. Please send any suggestions or information to my personal email, litwilt(\)alleg.edu. I would greatly appreciate any information. thank you very much. Tricia Litwiler Box 1473 Allegheny College Meadville, PA 16335 litwilt(\)alleg.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jan 1996 16:31:13 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: New Directory of Latin American Marine Mammalogists (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Sat, 20 Jan 1996 11:50:49 -0400 From: mignucci(\)caribe.net (Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni) ************************************************************************** This message is for all LATINAMERICAN marine mammalogist and scientists which have conducted resarch on aquatic mammals in Latin America. ("Este mensaje es para todos aquellos mastozoologos marinos LATINOAMERICANOS o que hayan llevado a cabo estudios sobre mamiferos acuaticos en Latinoamerica.") During the marine mammal conference in Orlando, a group of Latin Americans (representatives from Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico) met and decided to bring back the printing of the "Directory of Latin American Marine Mammalogist". The directory was in the process of being produced 5 years ago, but was never finished or published. The purpose of the directory is to facilitate the communication between those who work in the Caribbean, Central and South America and to gather all pertinent data regarding researchers, present it in a "phone-directory" format, including name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail, and study area, and distribute a copy to each researcher included. ("En la conferencia bienial de mamiferos marinos celebrada en Orlando el pasado diciembre, un grupo de nosotros (representantes de Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Venezuela y Puerto Rico) se reunio para resucitar el "directorio de masteozoologos marinos Latinoamericanos". El mismo estaba en preparacion hace 5 anos, pero nunca fue terminado o impreso. El proposito del directorio es el de facilitar la comunicacion entre los que trabajamos en esta area en el Caribe, Centro y Sur America. Tambien es el de recopilar todos los datos pertinentes de los investigadores, presentar los mismos en forma de una guia, incluyendo el nombre, direccion, telefono, fax, correo electronico y area de estudio, y distribuirla a cada uno de los que aparecen en el mismo.") We humbly request that all Latin American marine mammalogist or those who have conducted research in Latin America, to send us a note through e-mail, letting us know of your interest in being included in the directory. We would need to know, preliminarily, your full name, date of birth, institutional affiliation, postal address, telephone, fax, e-mail, country of origin, field of study, species researched, since when do you conduct research on aquatic mammals, and in which countries have you study them. The form will later be sent to you for additional questions and verification of the information, prior to publication of the directory. ("Hacemos un llamado a todos los masteozoologos marinos Latinoamericanos o aquellos que han llevado a cabo estudios en Latinoamerica a que nos escriban una pequena nota a traves del correo electronico, dejandonos saber de su interes en ser incluidos en el directorio. Necesitaremos saber, de primera instancia, su nombre completo, fecha de nacimiento, afiliacion institucional, direccion postal, telefono, fax, correo electronico, pais de origen, disciplina de estudio, especies que estudia, desde cuando estudia mamiferos acuaticos y en que paises los ha estudiado. El formulario se le enviara posteriormente para preguntas adicionales y verificacion de sus datos, antes de que los mismos sean publicados en el directorio.") An example on how to submit the information follows: =46ull name: Juan H. Rodriguez-Perez; Birth date: 23 Jul 1964; Institutional affiliation: CIBIMA, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo; Postal address: Apartado de Correos 4985; City/town: Santo Domingo; Province/county/municipality: Distrito Nacional; Country: Republica Dominicana; Postal code/zip code: 89765; Office's phone: 809-398-5555; Home phone (optional): 809-343-5555; Fax: 809-355-0273; electronic address (e-mail): jhrodrig(\)cibima.uasd.edu.rd; Country of origin: Republica Dominicana; Field of study: fisiologia, comportamiento y ecologia; Species studied: Trichechus manatus, Megaptera novaeangliae; Years studied: 1972-1994; Countries studied conducted at: Republica Dominicana, Puerto Rico, Haiti. ("Un ejemplo de como enviar la informacion se detalla a continuacion:") Nombre completo: Juan H. Rodriguez-Perez; Fecha de nacimiento: 23 Jul 1964; Afiliacion institucional: CIBIMA, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo; Direccion postal: Apartado de Correos 4985; Ciudad/pueblo: Santo Domingo; Provincia/Municipalidad: Distrito Nacional; Pais: Republica Dominicana; Codigo postal: 89765; Telefono de oficina: 809-398-5555; Telefono residencial (opcional): 809-343-5555; Fax: 809-355-0273; Ccorreo electronico: jhrodrig(\)cibima.uasd.edu.rd; Pais de origen: Republica Dominicana; Disciplinas de estudio: fisiologia, comportamiento y ecologia; Especies estudiadas: Trichechus manatus, Megaptera novaeangliae; Anos estudiados: 1972-1994; Paises donde ha llevado a cabo investigacion: Republica Dominicana, Puerto Rico, Haiti. Send your information to: mignucci(\)caribe.net ("Envie su informacion a: mignucci(\)caribe.net") Feel free to let your colleagues know about the publication of this directory, in order to include them if they are Latin Americans or have conducted work in the Caribbean, Central or South America, or send us their name and e-mail or postal address and we will send them a questionnaire. ("Sientase en la libertad de dejarle saber a sus colegas sobre la publicacion de este directorio para incluirlos, y/o envienos el nombre y direccion electronica o postal de estos y le haremos llegar un formulario.") The cost of publishing this directory has not been established, but we need to know if anybody or an organization may be interested in funding, even partially, the printing and mailing of this document. ("Aun no se ha establecido cuanto costara la publicacion del directorio, y necesitamos saber de alguien o alguna organizacion que le interese financiar, inclusive parcialmente, la impresion y el envio de correo del mismo".) If you are interested in just receiving a copy of the directory when printed, send us a message detailing your interest, your name, institutional affiliation and postal address to our e-mail address. ("Si solo esta interesado en recibir una copia del directorio una vez terminado, envienos un mensaje detallando su nombre, afiliacion institucional y su direccion postal a la direccion de correo electronico antes mencionada.") Thank you for your participation and interest. ("Gracias por su participacion e interes") Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni Nilda M. Jimenez-Marrero <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, MA, Coordinador Cient=EDfico Red Caribe=F1a de Varamientos-Caribbean Stranding Network PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, Tel 809-899-2048, Fax 809-899-5500 Emerg 809-399-VIDA (399-8432), E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 09:16:21 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Charity hopes to breed rare Ch Charity hopes to breed rare Chinese river dolphins LONDON (Reuter) - A British-based conservation charity said Friday it had found a rare Baiji river dolphin in China's Yangtse river and taken it to a reserve, where the charity hoped it might eventually mate. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society said there were probably less than 50 of the dolphins left in the increasingly polluted Yangtse, and the species was in real danger of becoming extinct. The captured dolphin, a female, is now in the semi-natural Shishou reserve in Wuhan province. The society hopes arrangements can be made with the Chinese authorities for it to mate with a male dolphin which is the only surviving Baiji in captivity in China. "This is a desperate last attempt to save this precious river dolphin from extinction until a time when the Yangtse can support Baiji once more," said the society's Conservation Director, Alison Smith. The Baiji dolphin -- one of only five species of river dolphin in the world -- has a blueish grey body with a white underside, weighs between 220 and 350 pounds and can grow to a length of eight feet. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 18:10:21 +0100 From: Bellerive Foundation Subject: about the captive dolphins About the captive dolphins We just saw a "funny" article on marmam written by the owner of the most important italian dolphinarium; the Riccione's dolphinarium. The article was written under Fondazione Cetacea's name which is the "scientific name" used by the dolphinarium to be able to keep the dolphins in captivity. It looks like they forgot to tell the truth!!! Please note the Bellerive's report dated May 1995. THE BELLERIVE FOUNDATION THE ITALIAN DOLPHIN ANTI-CAPTIVITY CAMPAIGN The CITES - Italy is the national organism which should monitor and implement the international convention on the Italian territory. The International Secretariat is in Geneva. The Italian CITES is a department of the Minister of the Environment, but it includes as well some members of the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture. The decisions are taken within the Ministry of Environment, while the interventions are made by members of the Ministry of Forestry. The CITES Scientific Commission is in charge of the evaluation of all technical and scientific issues related to the implementation on the Italian territory of the Washington Convention. Italy has ratified the Washington Convention in 1983, after the European Community had adopted a REGULATION (1982). Differently from the original Washington Convention, at the European Community level, and at the Italian level, all cetaceans have been included in Annex I - particularly endangered species. According to the Washington Convention, all animals listed in Annex I can NOT be imported, exported and commercialized. Thus, dolphins can not be displayed in delphinaria, unless the managers prove to have as a prime objective either scientific, or educational or captive breeding activities. The Bellerive Foundation - Italy started its campaign against captivity, in 1992. Its main objective has been to close down existing delphinaria and to have a complete ban on all imports of cetacea. Since the implementation of the Convention in Italy, delphinaria tried in every way to find ways to become "legal" under the CITES Convention. Thus, they created scientific foundations and educational programmes (simply by distributing at the beginning of the shows little booklets). The owners of the delphinaria made thier last attempt to avoid the restriction on imports and commercialisation imposed by the CITES, by proposing, a regulation regarding the specifications for handling, care, transport and detention of captive dolphins. We were informed in May, when this regulation had already the approval of the CITES Scientific Commission, and it needed only the final the Ministry of Environment's evaluation. It seemed possible that this regulation could have been converted into law before the Summer (under the form of a Ministry Decree, thus with instant application). The Bellerive Foundation had to get involved, even though its only objective has always been to ban all imports and to close down the delphinaria. This document in fact had various dangerous shortcomings and faults: It is clearly a translation from the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA) regulation, implemented in the U.S. in the early 80's. The pools size requirements don't seem to be sufficient to grant to the captive dolphins the necessary living space. Generally the formulas to calculate pools capacity are unclear. All the air and water quality parameters are not expressed in terms of precise quantified limits. On the contrary, most of the times, these are expressed in quality terms. The term "show" appears in one article. According to this regulation, the pubblic will be allowed to, as long as there is the supervisor, to swim, touch and feed the dolphins. There isn't any provision for types of exercises allowed; for a vet always on site; and to forbid acoustic disturbance. The last article states that:"The animals should not be transferred to structures which do not comply completely to the present regulation; if an emergency will arise, it will be possible to make an exception, if the structure initially hosting the animal is not suitable, and only if the health of the animal will benefit from the transfer.". To us, this article simply states that even if the dolphinaria will not comply to the rules, if an "emergency" is declared, it will still be possible to transfer and host dolphins in below-standard structures. In general, the terminology utilised is ambiguous and obscure; various terms are not clearly defined. We had to act promptly, considering that the regulation was on the verge to be approved. We realised that in order to convine the CITES Commission to withdrawal thier initial approval, it would have been necessary to have on our side an international recognised expert. Thus, we decided to ask Dr Randy Wells to comment the proposed, and almost approved, regulation, him being a world known expert in cetology, and having worked for the delphinaria. Thus: we produced a Bellerive's comment on this regulation. We have listed all our comments (after contacting two experts from the Tethys Institute - the Italian research institution devoted to the research on wild cetaceans) on the regulation and all the differences between the English version and the translated version (some of these differences completely changed the meaning of the document, as in the case of the swim-with-the- dolphin programs). We sent our documents to all the CITES Scientific Commission Members. we asked Mr Randall Wells a formal comment on the proposed regulation. Mr Wells is an expert both in wild and in captive dolphins, and he is the director of the Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida. His wife is a Marine Mammal trainer. Thus, we thought that their advice could be accepted by all parties involved. Mr and Mrs Wells have made a complete set of comments on the proposed regulation. We have translated Mr Wells's document and have sent a copy to all the CITES Commission Members. It appears clear, from Mr Wells document, that, in order to draft a sound regulation it would be necessary to consult various experts of the different fields. Mr Wells already suggested few. we have proposed to the CITES Scientific Commission to "sponsor" a new regulation for captive dolphin, and then discuss it with all the parties involved (delphinaria's representatives, CITES members, us etc.). All this should happened by the middle of October. we asked the Minister a complete BAN on imports and exports of cetaceans on the Italian territory. Thus, the usual excuses adopted by the delphinaria for importing dolphins (scientific, educational and captive breeding) should be no longer allowable. Thanks to all the appeals sent by the international environmental organizations and to Mr and Mrs Wells' comments on the regulation, the Minister (onorevole Paolo Baratta) has NOT signed the regulation, and he agreed on the interdisciplinary approach. The 21st November 1995, the Scientific Commission C.I.T.E.S. approved the new regulation with Mr. Randall Wells' comments and changes. We hope that the document approved by the Scientific Commission will soon be signed by the Minister. If the Fondazione Cetacea stops trying to change some of the points of the regulation before the Minister signature and improves the regulation already approved by the Scientific Commission, the Bellerive Foundation would be happy to leave the "glory" of this good work to the dolphinarium. Bellerive Foundation Italy E-mail: fbelle(\)galactica.it ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 19:18:37 -0500 From: Tricia Litwiler Subject: Human interaction and marine mammal strandings Dear MARMAMERS My name is Tricia Litwiler and I wrote email a few days ago requesting information on marine mammal strandings and human interaction. I realize now that I need to clarify a few things from my previous email. This past summer I worked for the National Marine Fisheries SErvice in Beaufort, NC, doing strandings work with Vicky Thayer. This is where I collected my data--from the stranding database. I also have data from VA, and am awaiting data from Texas, so what I am really looking for are suggestions or recommendations of literature or sources that might help my comp. I have received several emails already--thank you to those who resonded--please continue to send suggestions--I really appreciate them. I just wanted to clarify where I got my data. Thanks, Tricia Litwiler litwilt(\)alleg.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 14:05:21 EST From: Tony Preen Organization: Tropical Env Studies and Geography Subject: rehab. and release of cetaceans You may recall that six melon-headed whales stranded on the NSW coast of Australia recently. Two survived the several attempts to return them to the sea. Those animals are now recuperating at Seaworld. They will probably be released as soon as they have recovered. There are also plans to tag and track theses animals to determine whether the rescue and rehabilitation was successful ie whether they survive release. The problem is that they may be ready for release before the tracking program can be put in place. I am looking to make contact with anyone who has experience with the rehabilitation and release of small cetaceans, particularly melon-headed whales. What criteria should be used to assess when they are ready for release? What are the potential problems associated with retaining them in captivity another 2-4 weeks while the tracking program is instigated? Any helpful advice that I can pass on to the Seaworld vets ad management would be appreciated. Tony Preen PhD Dept Tropical Environment Studies and Geography James Cook University Townsville 4811 Australia Fax xx61 77 814020 email: tpreen(\)cathar.jcu.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 08:16:45 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Penella and cetaceans I would be interested in hearing from people with information about the occurrence of Penella (parasitic copepod) on cetaceans. Guiseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara posted a message to Marmam recently about these on a free-ranging fin whale. I would like to know if anyone has (or knows of someone with) similiar information on the association with cetaceans and/or the copepod itself. Please post me directly. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 07:26:00 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: marine mammals and oil spill Does someone have some information about whom to contact relative to the scientific conference held by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council? This stems from the recent news clip posting to Marmam regarding Matkin's findings about killer whales and the spill. I would be interested in receiving the official report. Thanks. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 17:17:00 EST From: "Baker, Susan" Subject: FW: Congressional list Marmamers: Naomi Rose just posted a listing of a www site for possible Congressional email contact. Back in September I received the following list of email addresses and web sites from a friend. It is fairly complete. I gather it may be of interest to many of you. Hope it helps. Susan Baker Chesapeake Bay Dolphin Project sxb(\)cu.nih.gov ____________________________________________________________________________ 9-12-95 CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND WEB SITES 104th Congress 1995/96 Note: Web sites appear after the complete list of Senate and House E-Mail addresses United States Senate ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ST PT Name E-Mail Address ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AR D Bumpers, Dale senator(\)bumpers.senate.gov AZ R Kyl, Jon info(\)kyl.senate.gov AZ R McCain, John Senator_McCain(\)mccain.senate.gov CA D Boxer, Barbara senator(\)boxer.senate.gov CA D Feinstein, Dianne senator(\)feinstein.senate.gov CO R Brown, Hank senator_brown(\)brown.senate.gov CT D Dodd, Christopher sen_dodd(\)dodd.senate.gov CT D Lieberman, Joseph senator_lieberman(\)lieberman.senate.gov DE D Biden, Joe joe_biden(\)biden.senate.gov FL D Graham, Bob bob_graham(\)graham.senate.gov GA R Coverdell, Paul senator_coverdell(\)coverdell.senate.gov IA D Harkin, Tom tom_harkin(\)harkin.senate.gov IA R Grassley, Charles chuck_grassley(\)grassley.senate.gov ID R Craig, Larry larry_craig(\)craig.senate.gov ID R Kempthorne, Dirk dirk_kempthorne(\)kempthorne.senate.gov IL D Simon, Paul senator(\)simon.senate.gov IL D Moseley-Braun,Carol senator(\)moseley-braun.senate.gov IN R Lugar, Richard lugar(\)iquest.net KY D Ford, Wendell wendell_ford(\)ford.senate.gov LA D Breaux, John senator(\)breaux.senate.gov LA D Johnston, J.Bennett senator(\)johnston.senate.gov MA D Kennedy, Ted senator(\)kennedy.senate.gov MA D Kerry, John john_kerry(\)kerry.senate.gov MD D Mikulski, Barbara senator(\)mikulski.senate.gov MD D Sarbanes, Paul senator(\)sarbanes.senate.gov ME R Cohen, William billcohen(\)cohen.senate.gov MI D Levin, Carl senator(\)levin.senate.gov MN R Grams, Rod mail_grams(\)grams.senate.gov MN D Wellstone, Paul senator(\)wellstone.senate.gov MO R Ashcroft, John john_ashcroft(\)ashcroft.senate.gov MT D Baucus, Max max(\)baucus.senate.gov MT R Burns, Conrad conrad_burns(\)burns.senate.gov ND D Dorgan, Byron senator(\)dorgan.senate.gov NE D Kerrey, Bob bob(\)kerrey.senate.gov NH R Gregg, Judd mailbox(\)gregg.senate.gov NH R Smith, Bob opinion(\)smith.senate.gov NJ D Bradley, Bill senator(\)bradley.senate.gov NM D Bingaman, Jeff Senator_Bingaman(\)bingaman.senate.gov NM R Domenici, Pete senator_domenici(\)domenici.senate.gov NV D Reid, Harry senator_reid(\)reid.senate.gov OH R Dewine, Michael senator_dewine(\)dewine.senate.gov OK R Nickles, Don nickles(\)rpc.senate.gov RI R Chafee, John senator_chafee(\)chafee.senate.gov SC D Hollings, Ernest senator(\)hollings.senate.gov SD D Daschle, Thomas tom_daschle(\)daschle.senate.gov SD R Pressler, Larry larry_pressler(\)pressler.senate.gov TN R Frist, Bill senator_frist(\)frist.senate.gov TX R Gramm, Phil info(\)gramm96.org TX R Hutchison, Kay senator(\)hutchison.senate.gov VA D Robb, Charles senator_robb(\)robb.senate.gov vascr(\)CapAccess.org VA R Warner, John senator(\)warner.senate.gov VT D Leahy, Patrick senator_leahy(\)leahy.senate.gov VT R Jeffords, Jim vermont(\)jeffords.senate.gov WA D Murray, Patty senator_murray(\)murray.senate.gov WA R Gorton, Slade Senator_Gorton(\)gorton.senate.gov WI D Feingold, Russell russell_feingold(\)feingold.senate.gov WI D Kohl, Herbert senator_kohl(\)kohl.senate.gov WV D Rockefeller, Jay senator(\)rockefeller.senate.gov WY R Simpson, Alan senator(\)simpson.senate.gov Senate Gopher: gopher://ftp.senate.gov:70/ Senate Special Committee on Aging mailbox(\)aging.senate.gov ____________________________________________________________________ United States House of Representatives ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ST DS PT Name E-Mail Address ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AL 2 R Everett, Terry everett(\)hr.house.gov AL 5 D Cramer, Bud budmail(\)hr.house.gov AL 6 R Bachus, Spencer sbachus(\)hr.house.gov AR 4 R Dickey, Jay jdickey(\)hr.house.gov AZ 2 D Pastor, Ed edpastor(\)hr.house.gov AZ 5 R Kolbe, Jim jimkolbe(\)hr.house.gov CA 1 R Riggs, Frank repriggs(\)hr.house.gov CA 3 D Fazio, Vic dcaucus(\)hr.house.gov CA 6 D Woolsey, Lynn woolsey(\)hr.house.gov CA 7 D Miller, George gmiller(\)hr.house.gov CA 8 D Pelosi, Nancy sfnancy(\)hr.house.gov CA 12 D Lantos, Tom talk2tom(\)hr.house.gov CA 13 D Stark, Pete petemail(\)hr.house.gov CA 14 D Eshoo, Anna annagram(\)hr.house.gov CA 15 D Mineta, Norman tellnorm(\)hr.house.gov CA 16 D Lofgren, Zoe zoegram(\)hr.house.gov CA 17 D Farr, Sam samfarr(\)hr.house.gov CA 19 R Radanovich, George george(\)hr.house.gov CA 22 R Seastrand, Andrea andrea22(\)hr.house.gov CA 25 R McKeon, Howard tellbuck(\)hr.house.gov CA 36 D Harman, Jane jharman(\)hr.house.gov CA 37 D Tucker, Walter tucker96(\)hr.house.gov CA 42 S Brown, George E. housesst(\)hr.house.gov CA 48 R Packard, Ron rpackard(\)hr.house.gov CO 2 D Skaggs, David skaggs(\)hr.house.gov CO 6 R Schaefer, Dan schaefer(\)hr.house.gov CT 2 D Gejdenson, Sam bozrah(\)hr.house.gov CT 4 R Shays, Christopher cshays(\)hr.house.gov DE AL R Castle, Michael delaware(\)hr.house.gov FL 5 D Thurman, Karen kthurman(\)hr.house.gov FL 6 R Stearns, Cliff cstearns(\)hr.house.gov FL 12 R Canady, Charles canady(\)hr.house.gov FL 15 R Weldon, Dave fla15(\)hr.house.gov FL 20 D Deutsch, Peter pdeutsch(\)hr.house.gov FL 23 D Hastings, Alcee hastings(\)hr.house.gov GA 4 R Linder, John jlinder(\)hr.house.gov GA 6 R Gingrich, Newton georgia6(\)hr.house.gov GA 8 R Chambliss, Saxby saxby(\)hr.house.gov GA 10 R Norwood, Charlies ga10(\)hr.house.gov GU AL D Underwood, Robert guamtodc(\)hr.house.gov IL 1 D Rush, Bobby brush(\)hr.house.gov IL 4 D Gutierrez, Luis luisg(\)hr.house.gov IL 12 D Costello, Jerry jfcil12(\)hr.house.gov IL 13 R Fawell, Harris hfawell(\)hr.house.gov IL 14 R Hastert, Dennis dhastert(\)hr.house.gov IL 20 D Durbin, Richard durbin(\)hr.house.gov IN 3 D Roemer, Tim troemer(\)hr.house.gov IN 8 R Hostettler, John johnhost(\)hr.house.gov IN 9 D Hamilton, Lee hamilton(\)hr.house.gov KS 1 R Roberts, Pat emailpat(\)hr.house.gov KS 2 R Brownback, Sam brownbak(\)hr.house.gov KY 1 R Whitfield, Ed edky01(\)hr.house.gov KY 3 D Ward, Mike mward2(\)hr.house.gov KY 4 R Bunning, Jim bunning4(\)hr.house.gov MA 6 R Torkildsen, Peter torkma06(\)hr.house.gov MA 9 D Moakley, Joe jmoakley(\)hr.house.gov MD 2 R Ehrlich, Robert rallen(\)lattanze.loyola.edu MD 3 D Cardin, Ben cardin(\)hr.house.gov MI 2 R Hoekstra, Peter tellhoek(\)hr.house.gov MI 3 R Ehlers, Vernon congehlr(\)hr.house.gov MI 4 R Camp, Dave davecamp(\)hr.house.gov MI 7 R Smith, Nick repsmith(\)hr.house.gov MI 8 R Chrysler, Dick chrysler(\)hr.house.gov MI 13 D Rivers, Lynn lrivers(\)hr.house.gov MI 14 D Conyers, John jconyers(\)hr.house.gov MN 1 R Gutknect, Gil gil(\)hr.house.gov MN 2 D Minge, David dminge(\)hr.house.gov MN 3 R Ramstad, Jim mn03(\)hr.house.gov MN 4 D Vento, Bruce vento(\)hr.house.gov MN 6 D Luther, Bill tellbill(\)hr.house.gov MN 7 D Peterson, Collin tocollin(\)hr.house.gov MN 8 D Oberstar, James oberstar(\)hr.house.gov MO 2 R Talent, James talentmo(\)hr.house.gov MO 3 D Gephardt, Richard gephardt(\)hr.house.gov MO 8 R Emerson, Bill bemerson(\)hr.house.gov MS 2 D Thompson, Bennie ms2nd(\)hr.house.gov NC 2 R Funderburk, David funnc02(\)hr.house.gov NC 4 R Heineman, Frederick thechief(\)hr.house.gov NC 5 R Burr, Richard mail2nc5(\)hr.house.gov NC 7 D Rose, Charlie crose(\)hr.house.gov NC 9 R Myrick, Sue myrick(\)hr.house.gov NC 10 R Ballenger, Cass cassmail(\)hr.house.gov NC 11 R Taylor, Charles chtaylor(\)hr.house.gov NC 12 D Watt, Mel melmail(\)hr.house.gov ND AL D Pomeroy, Earl epomeroy(\)hr.house.gov NH 1 R Zeliff, Bill zeliff(\)hr.house.gov NH 2 R Bass, Charlie cbass(\)hr.house.gov NJ 1 D Andrews, Robert randrews(\)hr.house.gov NJ 7 R Franks, Bob franksnj(\)hr.house.gov NJ 12 R Zimmer, Dick dzimmer(\)hr.house.gov NM 3 D Richardson, Bill billnm03(\)hr.house.gov NY 1 R Forbes, Michael mpforbes(\)hr.house.gov NY 2 R Lazio, Rick lazio(\)hr.house.gov NY 7 D Manton, Thomas tmanton(\)hr.house.gov NY 13 R Molinari, Susan molinari(\)hr.house.gov NY 15 D Rangel, Charles rangel(\)hr.house.gov NY 16 D Serrano, Jose jserrano(\)hr.house.gov NY 17 D Engel, Eliot engeline(\)hr.house.gov NY 19 R Kelly, Sue dearsue(\)hr.house.gov NY 23 R Boehlert, Sherwood boehlert(\)hr.house.gov NY 27 R Paxon, Bill bpaxon(\)hr.house.gov OH 2 R Portman, Rob portmail(\)hr.house.gov OH 4 R Oxley, Michael oxley(\)hr.house.gov OH 10 R Hoke, Martin hokemail(\)hr.house.gov OK 5 R Istook, Jr. Ernest istook(\)hr.house.gov OR 1 D Furse, Elizabeth furseor1(\)hr.house.gov OR 4 D DeFazio, Pete pdefazio(\)hr.house.gov PA 7 R Weldon, Curt curtpa7(\)hr.house.gov PA 11 D Kanjorski, Paul kanjo(\)hr.house.gov PA 12 D Murtha, John murtha(\)hr.house.gov PA 13 R Fox, Jon jonfox(\)hr.house.gov PA 15 D McHale, Paul mchale(\)hr.house.gov PA 16 R Walker, Robert pa16(\)hr.house.gov SC 1 R Sanford, Mark sanford(\)hr.house.gov SC 5 D Spratt, John jspratt(\)hr.house.gov TX 1 D Chapman, Jim jchapman(\)hr.house.gov TX 2 D Wilson, Charles cwilson(\)hr.house.gov TX 3 R Johnson, Sam samtx03(\)hr.house.gov TX 6 R Barton, Joe barton06(\)hr.house.gov TX 10 D Doggett, Lloyd doggett(\)hr.house.gov TX 24 D Frost, Martin frost(\)hr.house.gov TX 29 D Green, Gene ggreen(\)hr.house.gov UT 2 R Waldholtz, Enid enidutah(\)hr.house.gov UT 3 D Orton, Bill ortonut3(\)hr.house.gov VA 2 D Pickett, Owen opickett(\)hr.house.gov VA 6 R Goodlatte, Bob talk2bob(\)hr.house.gov VA 9 D Boucher, Rick ninthnet(\)hr.house.gov VA 11 R Davis, Tom tomdavis(\)hr.house.gov VT AL I Sanders, Bernie bsanders(\)igc.apc.org WA 1 R White, Rick repwhite(\)hr.house.gov WA 3 R Smith, Linda asklinda(\)hr.house.gov WA 8 R Dunn, Jennifer dunnwa08(\)hr.house.gov WA 9 R Tate, Randy rtate(\)hr.house.gov WI 1 R Neumann, Mark mneumann(\)hr.house.gov WI 2 R Klug, Scott badger02(\)hr.house.gov WI 8 R Roth, Toby roth08(\)hr.house.gov House Gopher: gopher://gopher:house.gov:70/1 House Web Site: http://www.house.gov/ House Democratic Caucus: http://www.house.gov/demcaucus/welcome.html House Democratic Leadership: http://www.house.gov/democrats/ House Republican Conference: http://www.house.gov/gop/HRCHome.html House Committee on Commerce commerce(\)hr.house.gov House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations slabmgnt(\)hr.house.gov House Committee on Resources resource(\)hr.house.gov House Committee on Science housesst(\)hr.house.gov House Committee on Small Business smbizcom(\)hr.house.gov ______________________________________________________________________ CONGRESSIONAL WEB SITES NOTE: Official web sites only. Political campaign and political party web sites are available through CAPWEB's Political Page (http://policy.net/capweb/political.html) or David Morgan's Congress home page (http://metro.turnpike.net/D/ dmorgan/congress.html ______________________________________________________________________ United States Senate Web Sites ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ST PT Name Web Site ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AZ R Kyl, Jon http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/kyl/kyl.html AZ R McCain, John http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/mccain/mccain.html CA D Boxer, Barbara ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ca/boxer/general/homepage.html CT D Dodd, Christopher http://www.uconn.edu/dodd/dodd.html CT D Lieberman, Joseph ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ct/lieberman/general/ lieberman.html DE D Biden, Joe ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/de/biden/general/biden.html FL D Graham, Bob ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/fl/graham/general/graham.html FL R Mack, Connie ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/fl/mack/general/mack.html IA D Harkin, Tom ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ia/harkin/general/harkin.html ID R Kempthorne, Dirk ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/id/kempthorne/general/ homepg.html KY D Ford, Wendell ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ky/ford/general/ford.html LA D Breaux, John ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/la/breaux/general/breaux.html LA D Johnston, Bennett ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/la/johnston/general/ homepage.html MA D Kennedy, Ted http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/iiip/Kennedy/homepage.html MA D Kerry, John ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ma/kerry/general/kerry.html ME R Cohen, William ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/me/cohen/general/cohen.html MI D Levin, Carl ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/mi/levin/general/levin.html MN D Wellstone, Paul ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/mn/wellstone/general/pdw.htm MO R Ashcroft, John ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/mo/ashcroft/general/ ashcroft.html MT D Baucus, Max ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/mt/baucus/general/b2.html ND D Dorgan, Byron http://www.bps.k12.nd.us/Dorgan/Dorgan.html NE D Kerrey, Bob ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/ne/kerrey/general/kerrey.html NJ D Bradley, Bill ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/nj/bradley/general/bradley.html NM D Bingaman, Jeff ftp://ftp:senate.gov/member/nm/bingaman/general/jb.html NV D Reid, Harry ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/nv/reid/general/reid.html OH R DeWine, Michael ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/oh/dewine/general/dewine.html SC D Hollings, Ernest ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/sc/hollings/general/ hollings.html SD D Daschle, Thomas ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/sd/daschle/general/daschle.html TN R Frist, Bill ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/tn/frist/general/frist.html http://www.surgery.mc.vanderbilt.edu/frist/frist.html VA D Robb, Charles ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/va/robb/general/robb.html VA R Warner, John ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/va/warner/general/warner.html VT D Leahy, Patrick ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/vt/leahy/general/pjl.html VT R Jeffords, Jim ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/vt/jeffords/general/ jeffords.html WV D Rockefeller, Jay ftp://ftp.senate.gov/member/wv/rockefeller/general/ rockefeller.html Senate Democratic Policy Committee: ftp://www.senate.gov/committee/Dem-Policy/general/dpc.html Senate Republican Policy Committee: ftp://www.senate.gov/committee/ repub-policy/general/rpc.html ____________________________________________________________________ United States House of Representatives Quasi web sites are also available for House members under: http://www.house.gov/mbr_dir/membr_dir.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ST DS PT Name Web Site ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AL 5 D Cramer, Bud http://www.house.gov/cramer/welcome.html AZ 1 R Salmon, Matt http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/salmon/salmon.html AZ 2 D Pastor, Ed http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/pastor/pastor.html AZ 3 R Stump, Bob http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/stump/stump.html AZ 4 R Shadegg, John http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/shadegg/shadegg.html AZ 5 R Kolbe, Jim http://www.arizona.edu/kolbe/kolbe.html AZ 6 R Hayworth, John D. http://aspin.asu.edu/~pctp/hayworth/hayworth.html CA 3 D Fazio, Vic http://www.house.gov/fazio/welcome.html CA 7 D Miller, George http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/welcome.html CA 8 R Pelosi, Nancy http://www.house.gov/pelosi/welcome.html CA 9 D Dellums, Ron http://www.house.gov/dellums/welcome.html CA 12 D Lantos, Tom http://www.house.gov/lantos/welcome.html CA 14 D Eshoo, Anna http://www-eshoo.house.gov CA 16 D Lofgren, Zoe http://www.house.gov/lofgren/welcome.html CA 17 D Farr, Sam http://www.house.gov/farr/welcome.html CA 19 R Radanovich, George http://www.house.gov/radanovich/welcome.html CA 37 D Tucker, Walter http://www.house.gov/tucker/welcome.html CA 40 R Lewis, Jerry http://www.house.gov/jerrylewis/ CA 46 R Dornan, Robert http://www.umr.edu/~sears/primary/dornan.html CA 48 R Packard, Ron http://www.house.gov/packard/welcome.html CA 49 R Bilbray, Brian http://www.house.gov/bilbray/welcome.html DE AL R Castle, Michael http://www.house.gov/castle/welcome.html FL 6 R Stearns, Cliff http://www.tiig.ist.ucf.edu/palis/ushr/ district6/stearns.html GA 1 R Kingston, Jack http://www.gasou.edu/first_district GA 8 R Chambliss, Saxby http://www.house.gov/chambliss/welcome.html GU AL D Underwood, Robert http://www.house.gov/underwood/welcome.html IL 1 D Rush, Bobby http://www.house.gov/rush/welcome.html IL 15 R Ewing, Thomas http://www.house.gov/ewing/welcome.html IL 20 D Durbin, Richard http://www.house.gov/durbin/welcome.html IN 3 D Roemer, Tim http://www.house.gov/roemer/welcome.html IN 4 R Souder, Mark http://www.house.gov/souder/welcome.html IN 8 R Hostettler, John johnhost(\)hr.house.gov http://www.house.gov/hostettler/welcome.html IN 9 D Hamilton, Lee http://www.house.gov/hamilton/welcome.html KS 2 R Brownback, Sam http://www.house.gov/brownback/welcome.html MA 9 D Moakley, Joe http://www.house.gov/moakley/welcome.html MD 2 R Ehrlich, Robert http://lattanze.loyola.edu:80/research/Ehrlich/ index.html MD 3 D Cardin, Benjamin http://www.house.gov/cardin/welcome.html MI 3 R Ehlers, Vern http://www.house.gov/ehlers/welcome.html MI 7 R Smith, Nick http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/welcome.html MI 14 D Conyers, John http://www.house.gov/conyers/welcome.html MN 4 D Vento, Bruce http://www.house.gov/vento/welcome.html MN 5 D Sabo, Martin http://www.house.gov/sabo/welcome.html MN 6 D Luther, Bill http://www.house.gov/luther/welcome.html MN 7 D Peterson, Collin http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/welcome.html MN 8 D Oberstar, James http://www.house.gov/oberstar/welcome.html MO 2 R Talent, James http://www.house.gov/talent/welcome.html MO 8 R Emerson, Bill http://www.house.gov/emerson/welcome.html MS 2 D Thompson, Bennie http://www.house.gov/thompson/welcome.html NJ 7 R Franks, Bob http://www.house.gov/bobfranks/welcome.html NJ 13 D Menendez, Bob http://www.house.gov/menendez/welcome.html NY 1 R Forbes, Michael http://www.house.gov/forbes/welcome.html NY 8 D Nadler, Jerrold http://www.house.gov/nadler/welcome.html NY 23 R Boehlert, Sherwood http://www.house.gov/boehlert/welcome.html OH 2 R Portman, Rob http://www.house.gov/portman/welcome.html OH 4 R Oxley, Michael http://www.house.gov/oxley/welcome.html OR 3 D Wyden, Ron http://www.house.gov/wyden/welcome.html OR 4 D DeFazio, Pete http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~pdefazio/index.html PA 16 R Walker, Robert http://www.house.gov/walker/welcome.html TN 5 D Clement, Bob http://www.house.gov/clement/welcome.html TX 21 R Smith, Lamar http://www.house.gov/lamarsmith/welcome.html TX 26 R Armey, Dick http://www.house.gov/armey/welcome.html TX 29 D Green, Gene http://www.house.gov/green/welcome.html VA 9 D Boucher, Rick http://www.house.gov/boucher/welcome.html WA 1 R White, Rick http://www.house.gov/white/welcome.html WA 3 R Smith, Linda http://www.house.gov/lindasmith/welcome.html WI 1 R Neumann, Mark http://www.house.gov/neumann/welcome.html WI 8 R Roth, Toby http://www.house.gov/roth/welcome.html House Web Site: http://www.house.gov/ House Govt.Reform&Oversight:http://www.house.gov/reform/ welcome.html House Judiciary Committee: http://www.house.gov/judiciary/ welcome.html House Resources Committee: http://www.house.gov/resources/ welcome.html House Transportation: http://www.house.gov/transportation/ welcome.html House Democratic Caucus: http://www.house.gov/demcaucus/welcome.html House Democratic Leadership: http://www.house.gov/democrats/ House Republican Conference: http://www.house.gov/gop/HRCHome.html ____________________________________________________________________ Joint Committee Web Sites Joint Economic Committee: http://www.town.hall.org:80/places/jec ______________________________________________________________________ Congressional Black Caucus: http://drum.ncsc.org/~carter/CBC.html ______________________________________________________________________ The above information was compiled from the Senate and House Gophers, CAPWEB, David Morgan, and contributions from individual citizens. It is updated on a continuous basis. The most current version is available on the University of Michigan Library Gopher. Gopher to the University of Michigan Library Gopher or telnet to una.hh.lib.umich.edu Login as gopher. Path: Social Sciences/Government/U.S. Government: Legislative Branch/E-Mail Addresses. Access is also provided through the Documents Center's web site: http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/federal.html and the ULIBRARY Gopher's web interface: gopher://una.hh.lib. umich.edu:70/00/socsci/poliscilaw/uslegi/conemail Corrections/additions to graceyor(\)umich.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 20:38:06 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Re: Bellerive Foundation ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) RE: POSTINGS BY THE BELLERIVE FOUNDATION >The Bellerive Foundation - Italy started its campaign >against captivity, in 1992. Its main objective has been to >close down existing delphinaria and to have a complete >ban on all imports of cetacea. Could the Bellerive Foundation please explain on what grounds they believe all Italian dolphinaria should be closed down. Would it also be possible to have a brief outline on what these new dolphin keeping regulations contain: pool standards, etc. Finally, can Bellerive confirm they were leading members of the Into The Blue dolphin release project. ===================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 15:29:50 -0800 From: "Frederick L. Bach" Subject: BALLOONS The Alliance for a Living Ocean (ALO), an ocean conservation group located at Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, NJ, is waging a vigorous campaign against the release of helium-filled ballons near shore areas. When these balloons deflate and fall into the ocean, they are mistaken by sea creatures like turtles, dolphins, and whales for jellyfish. Bal- loons swallowed by these animals cause an intestinal blockage and result incertain death. The next time you are celebrating with a helium-filled balloon, DON'T LET IT GO. We are particularly interested in cautioning grade school teachers against encouraging their classes to release balloons with messages attached near shore areas. Any help you can give ALO in waging this campaign will be appreciated. If you have any ideas for helping to stop the release of helium-filled balloons near sea shore areas, please send your ideas to fbach(\)igc.apc.org. Thank you. . ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 12:05:18 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: one more time... (fwd) Forwarded message: >From lelF93(\)hampshire.edu Mon Jan 22 09:02:18 1996 hi all. i'm trying to put my research into a spread sheet and have run into some snags. the research pertains to whale-boat interactions on a Hawaiian humpback breeding ground... i am matching behaviors to whether boats were present or absent and i am attaching times to these data points. i need to know how to change 24 hour times into times starting from time zero. for instance if my data collection started at 1:30:26 pm and ended at 4:30:26 pm, i need to change 1:30:26 pm to "0" and then figure out how many hours 4:30:26 pm was after that time zero. i have a few hundred timed data points in between this given, hypothetical time period. i'm sure that there is an easier way than the methods i have tried, which i have simply overlooked. if anyone can help, please email me at lelF93(\)hampshire.edu. thank you, Leverett ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 20:46:18 GMT From: fbelle(\)galactica.it Subject: Press release 2 January, 22nd 1996 We apologize for the error made regarding Riccione's pool size, see press release-Bellerive Foundation launched on MARMAM the 18/1/96 (03:18PM). Press Release - Bellerive Fondation Italy We got the new that two dolphins, one called CLYDE and the other ANAY, died at the Riccione Aquarium. Clyde, a male Tursiops truncatus, captured in the Adriatic Sea, died 3 months ago and the reasons are yet unknown. He was an agressive animal and had a visible stereotipical behaviour. As a matter of fact, he did not take part to the shows. Anay, a female, born in 1987 and captured two years later at Cuba, died a few days ago. In this case also no reasons have been given yet. Riccione's pool is a 25m diameter pool. Fondazione Cetacea, who runs the educational and scientific activities of both Riccione's and Cattolica's dolphinaria, is no other than a coverage to slip through the C.I.T.E.S. conventions to keep on doing pure show activities in the dolphinaria. Fondazione Cetacea strongly opposed the regulation about the captivity maintenance of dolphins approved by the Scientific Commmission C.I.T.E.S. on November 21st 1995. The regulation initially proposed by the dolphinaria, has been modified by experts, choosen and called by the Bellerive Foundation, to a more adequate and strong one compared to the one that leaded to the closing of all dolphinaria in the U.K. Today's regulation, hoping it will be approved by the Minister, will bring a big change in the cetacea captivity maintenance and in the prohibition of new importation. Italy has ratified the Washington Convention in 1983, after the European Community had adopted a REGULATION (1982). Differently from the original Washington Convention, at the European Community level, and at the Italian level, all cetaceans have been included in Annex I - particularly endangered species. According to the Washington Convention, all animals listed in Annex I can NOT be imported, exported and commercialized. Thus, dolphins can not be displayed in dolphinaria, unless the managers prove to have as a prime objective either scientific, or educational or captive breeding activities. E-mail: fbelle(\)galactica.it (Bellerive Foundation) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 09:13:56 -0700 From: Ron Jameson Subject: Contacting Congress I just read Naomi Rose's posting on contacting the U.S. Congress. Here is another site that will open many doors to Congress: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1007/, also both the House and the Senate have web pages that allow direct e-mail contact with those in Congress that have e-mail. This can be done directly from the Web site. Unfortunately I don't have that address with me, but if you have a Web Browser search for United States Congress and you should have no trouble finding the appropriate sites. Ron Jameson ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 11:33:28 -0600 From: Bollich Becky Subject: info on population decline? I am doing a paper for my undergraduate limnology/oceanography class on an investigation into why the populations of seals on the Pacific coast are declining. I have searched the library at my school and did not come up with much. Can someone please tell me of some journal articles or books on this subject? Thank you, Becky Bollich bxb1771(\)ucs.usl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 12:53:11 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MARMAM frequently-asked-questions list ___MARMAM__________________________________________________________ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and ASPECTS OF NETIQUETTE ___________________________________________________________________ This FAQ is sent to all new subscribers to the list. It may also be obtained by sending the following message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca: get marmam faq *Please save this message for future reference!* WHAT IS MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list devoted to topics in marine mammal research and conservation, established in August 1993. Subscribers to the list are from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. The number of subscribers was over 1,500 as of January 1996. Anyone may subscribe to the list. WHAT TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE POSTED TO MARMAM? A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. Commonly seen messages include requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques; current or previously unreported news events, meeting annoucements, job or volunteer opportunities, scientific abstracts, and new books/techniques/products announcements. "Casual" requests for information, requests for volunteer positions/employment, opinion statements offering little or no novel arguements, and humourous anecdotes are examples of messages not posted to the list. HOW DO I POST MESSAGES TO THE LIST? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet. Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text. HOW DO I REPLY TO INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. *NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option.* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/TEMPORARILY SIGNOFF? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send the message: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RECEIVE MARMAM POSTINGS AS A SINGLE DAILY DIGEST, RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send the message: set marmam digests to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RETRIEVE MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MARMAM? All MARMAM messages are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver, where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO SUBSCRIBES TO MARMAM? A list, sorted by country, of all current subscribers to the list may be retrieved along with their e-mail address' by sending the command: review marmam (country to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. HOW DO I GET HELP USING LISTSERVER COMMANDS? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca WHY WAS MY MESSAGE NOT POSTED TO MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited discussion list. Senders of messages are not notified upon rejection of their message nor provided individual reasons why their message was not posted to the list. However, messages not sent to the list typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) OFF TOPIC. Messages which do not pertain specifically to marine mammal research or conservation are not posted to the list. 2) 'CASUAL' REQUEST. Messages which request information which is readily available from other sources, such as your average uni- versity library, are not posted to the list. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. 3) JOB/VOLUNTEER POSITION/INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society of Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', available from Allen Press, PO Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, tel. 1-800-627-0629. (This document will soon be obtainable in e-mail format by sending the message get marmam careers to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. An announcement will be made to this effect.) 4) BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a one week period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. 5) 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Dave Duffus, and Pam Willis) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca ______________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 17:32:18 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: Bowhead whales & stone points A while ago I posted a question about stone points found in bowhead whales and what that might indicate regarding their longevity. Here's a brief synopsis of what I've learned: The stone points (3, from 2 whales, one at Wainright and one at Barrow), are not those described in Burns et al. 1993 [_The Bowhead Whale_ pp. 278-280], who report on an ivory harpoon head with a metal cutting edge found in a whale taken by Wainright hunters: "The harpoon head was similar to others collected on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska in 1927 by investigators from the University of Alaska Museum (Fairbanks). The harpoon head may have been imbedded as recently as 10 or as many as 50 yr ago (C. E. West, personal communication)." I'm not sure when the whale was taken. [thanks to Stuart Innes for the citation]. The whales were both > 16m. At least one of the stone points was set in a whalebone harpoon head that was deteriorating [suggesting it had been in situ for a *long* time]. There is a photograph of it in _Alaska_ magazine (Feb. 1995, p. 20) and _National Geographic_ has a short note on it scheduled to come out in ?March. There is not enough stylistic variation to place the points in time any closer than the last hundred years or so (ie., could be >200 years old, or as young as whenever stone points were last made). That's obviously the rub. Apparently most whalers switched from traditional to metal harpoons as soon as they had the chance and [very roughly] the great majority (or all) had stopped using stone by about 1890, maybe earlier. There seem to be various opinions on the odds that a small group, perhaps on the Siberian side, might have continued using such harpoons well up into this century. However, as best as I can tell those closest to the data think any "normal" use of stone points on *either* side after about 1885 *very* unlikely, and after 1900 about nil. Alternative suggestions were that the points might have been recently-used ceremonial objects or part of some recent revival of traditional methods (a la bowhunters), but as this seems very improbable, the minimal age seems likely to be whenever the last group stopped. There is one native account of a stone point found ca. 1920s/30s, but otherwise the anecdotal record seems fairly blank prior to these recent cases--which is a little odd but could be result of better reporting/monitoring in recent years?? On a related front: some years ago Jeff Bada (Scripps Institute of Oceanography) used amino acid racemization of tissue from baleen whale eyes to estimate ages and got some numbers on the order of >80 or more years (unpublished). He is now gearing up to look specifically at bowhead samples, so stay tuned for those results. And finally, according to Ray Tarpley (TAMU; unpublished data, via Craig George) ONE female bowhead had > 40 corpora albicantia, which given a 4-year IBI and assuming spontaneous ovulation and that say one corpus in four represents a pregnancy (and the calves survived) the animal could be 60+ years old. If a higher percentage of these corpora represent pregnancies then the animal could be considerably older. Bottom line: there's evidence from several directions that bowheads might indeed sometimes live considerably longer than the max 60-80 years currently believed, and we'll be reading more about it in the next few months. How this might affect demographic modeling, and whether one might want to look again at other species (esp. right whales) with these findings in mind ... we'll see! Thanks very much to Craig George, Glenn Sheehan, Igor Krupnik, Bob Brownell, Phil Clapham, Randall Reeves, Stuart Innes & the others who responded/humored my calling ("Hello, I study chimpanzees but got interested in stone points in a whale..."; ain't science great! ). All of them were very helpful; if I've managed to put the pieces together wrong, it's my fault entirely. cheers Jim Moore jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ----------------- Jim Moore Anthro 0532/UCSD/La Jolla CA 92093 / fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 18:42:47 -0500 From: Michael Williamson Subject: WhaleNet seeks Spanish Ed. Materials > > Hello, We at WhaleNet (http://whale.simmons.edu) are building a parallel Spanish language WhaleNet page for educational use. If you or your organization has a Spanish www page and/or Spanish educational materials that we could mount on the web with your credits and contacts, we would appreciate your collaboration with us on this project. WhaleNet is now getting 40,000 hits a day from over 64 countries. If you want to participate and help in constructing this parallel page on marine mammal educational materials please contact me. Whalenet is an NSF funded program and free to the users. MIke Williamson WhaleNet PI Do NOT hit reply. Send messages to me at email: pita(\)whale.simmons.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 16:01:22 -0500 From: David Woolley Subject: Marine Mammal Internship Position Message from: David Woolley (david(\)cetacean.org) The Cetacean Research Unit, a private non-profit based in Gloucester, MA, is looking to fill a series of internship positions for the period summer 1996 - spring 1997. Intern Responsibilities include: Assisting in field data collection and work-up for on-going studies of humpback, fin and other cetacean populations in the southern Gulf of Maine, darkroom and computer work (training provided), as well as public education aboard whale-watch vessels. Applicants should be college students who must have completed at least the sophomore year of college by the start of their internship. Background in biology, zoology or related study a plus. We are seeking 4 interns for summer '96 (May 20- September 1), 3 for fall '96 (August 25-December 21), and 3 for the spring '97 (January 20-May 26). A $1000 fee per intern covers housing costs, utilities, supervisory costs, and educational materials. To apply send resume, cover letter, official transcript and a letter of reference, due March 1. An in-person interview will be arranged for the third or fourth weekend of March. For more information, to send application materials, contact David Woolley, Intern Coordinator, Cetacean Research Unit, PO Box 159, Gloucester MA, 01930, or by e-mail at david(\)cetacean.org. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 06:26:06 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Stenella attenuata stranding (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Tokitae(\)aol.com On January 16, 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service notified Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys (WRFK) of eleven stranded offshore pan-tropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) near Key West, Florida. Upon first response Becky Barron and Denise Jackson, of WRFK, determined that the pod of dolphins, which were believed to be all males, had split into three groups. Five were nearly beached about 300 yards offshore in just 2 feet of water, two were free swimming about a quarter of a mile north, and four others were free swimming in a sheltered cove/marina about 400 yards east. The Floirda Marine Patrol, United States Coast Guard, volunteers from WRFK and staff members from the Dolphin Research Center attended to the five nearly beached dolphins to prevent their complete beaching, while the Coast Guard checked the status of the two groups of free swimming animals. The Coast Guard found that the animals in the cove were still swimming normally and that one of the two animals further north had since beached. This animal joined the other 5 other ailing dolphins after having been "floated" to them on a floatation device. His still free swimming companion later joined the 4 free swimming dolphins in the cove and never attempted to beach. So now, there are 5 free swimming dolphins in the sheltered cove and 6 dolphins being supported in shallow water by a number of volunteers. A decision was made based on the animals' conditions and water temperature to move them to a warmer location near the original stranding site. The new site was actually a warm water outfall for the Florida Keys City Electric's power plant; the temperature in this area was, on average, 72 degrees F. Surf temperature near original stranding site was 61 degrees F. One animal passed away during an attempt to transport on a stretcher via a small Coast Guard vessel and another dolphin expired while "floating" the group one half mile between sites. Late afternoon that Tuesday, volunteers found themselves with 4 dolphins in guarded condition and the 5 free swimming dolphins in a cove nearby. Blood samples were collected and fluids were administered to the four animals. All 4 showed classic signs of stress during tube feedings. Their heartrates dropped, respiratory rates dropped, and they would arch their heads and flukes in the air. Over the period of the next four days, all four animals in the warm water outfall area passed away. The preliminary blood work and necropsy results yeilded that the animals had been stressed for possibly a month. Their fat stores were completely depleated, showed signs of pneumonia, enlarged spleens and various other changes in their body systems. Serum samples were submitted to the University of Miami Pathology Department for Morbillivirus testing. While volunteers were saddened by the loss of the four dolphins that they were working so hard to save, the focus changed to assisting the 5 free swimming animals in the nearby marina. Blair Mase, of National Marine Fisheries Service, determined that she could buy time by offering food to the healthier Stenellas. Mase, Rick Trout of the Marine Mammal Conservancy, Becky Barron of Wildlife Rescue, and Michael Hunt, of Dolphin Research Center, quietly approached the group in kayaks and attempted to feed the dolphins thawed herring. Mase and Hunt were amazed that all five animals immediately ate the dead fish that they were offered! Mase feared that eating too much fish initially could result in impaction, especially if these animals had not eaten in several days, so each animal was limited to just two pounds of fish. As Mase and Hunt, both with empty fish buckets, paddled into shore, the dolphins followed and actually bumped the kayaks trying to evoke more fish. Even with their willingness to eat, it was decided that feeding would be discontinued until the next morning. Morning found the five dolphins in a busy part of the marina where boats were frequently coming in and out. Mase and Hunt quickly entered the kayaks and, using fish as reinforcement, approximated the position of the pod until they were in an area of the cove that was not frequented by boats. This conditioning process was the first step in the volunteers' ultimate goal of getting the dolphins to swim through the narrow opening of the cove and back into deeper water. The next day, all five dolphins, approached the kayaks and practically sat up for fish. One, unexpectedly, took a fish from Mase's hand. Volunteers then set criteria for the "luring" of these wild dolphins. One of the most out going dolphins, named "Nick" because of a characteristic notch in his dorsal fin, was the first to follow the kayaks out the narrow opening of the cove and into the deeper water. After accepting a few fish, he raced back into the cove and joined up with the rest of the pod. It took several more aproximations, but all 5 dolphins finally seperated into the deeper water and raced for the open ocean (For us behaviorists out there... this goes to show that operant conditoning techniques used to "gate train" dolphins in human care can even be used to seperate wild dolphins). Lynne Stringer from Marine Mammal Conservancy and Becky Barron from WRFK went up in an airplane later that day to see if the dolphins came ashore anywhere else, but they were no where to be found. Volunteers felt that the flight was essential to assure that the animals, did indeed, continue towards deeper water. WRFK wishes to thank Blair Mase and Dr. Ruth Ewing of the Nat'l Marine Fisheries Service, Rick Trout, Lynne Stringer, and the Board of Directors of the Marine Mammal Conservancy, Lynn Calero, Pat Clough, Mandy Rodriquez, and Michael Hunt of the Dolphin Research Center, and other Florida Keys Stranding Network members that donated time and funds to this very worthwhile learning experience. end of EMAIL message :) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 06:27:54 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: undersea detonation and dug (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Janet Slater" Dear Marmamers, I am currently researching the potential impact of = undersea detonation and scare charges on dugongs, and am seeking relevant = information or references. This research is background to a management plan which I am preparing for = the conservation of dugongs in an important part of their range called = Shoalwater bay in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Australia). In = this region, dugong are exposed to undersea detonation of charges = attached to 500lb bombs. Prior to detonation, scare charges of 0.5lbs or = "thunder flashes" are fired in the vicinity, but only if "endangered = species" are observed. I understand that scare charges can also have a = negative impact. In this particular region, dugong numbers have declined by 50% in the = past few years, in spite of the presence of excellent seagrass beds and = remoteness of the Bay from human settlement. We know that there is a = high mortality due to gillnetting, and these nets have now been banned in = recent legislation. However, there are no Australian data on impacts = from undersea detonation on dugong, and I would be grateful if anyone has = information for sirenia or other marine mammals on this issue. Janet Slater email: j.slater(\)gbrmpa.gov.au Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority P.O Box 1379, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4810. Phone 61-77-818 731. Fax: 61-77-726093 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 14:59:54 -1000 From: Tori Subject: Hawaii Beaching On Jan. 18,1996 a beaked whale of unknown genus beached and died on Oahu, Hawaii. The whale was towed to Waianae boat harbor for a necropsy. Is anyone aware of the findings, and was the genus established? Gene Nitta are you out there? Tori Cullins cullins(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 12:09:06 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Forwarded mail... Forwarded message: Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 12:04:12 -0800 From: joyce(\)caliban.ucsd.edu (Joyce E. Sisson) INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CETACEANS SPONSORED BY: The International Whaling Commission HOSTED BY: U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center LOCATION: Turtle Bay Hilton, 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii DATE: March 25-30, 1996 REGISTRATION: The deadline for submitting the completed registration form (attached) and payment of the symposium fee (US)$50.00 is March 1, 1996,or as space permits. Checks should be made out to" IWC Climate Change and Cetaceans" and sent with the completed registration form to the address listed below. CONTACT: Dr. Stephen B. Reilly (steve(\)caliban.ucsd.edu) Chairman, IWC Scientific Committee or Joyce Sisson (joyce(\)caliban.ucsd.edu) National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 (619) 546-7064 or 7164 Phone (619) 546-7003 or 7198 FAX SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES: Symposium (March 25-26, 1996) The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center is hosting the International Whaling Commission Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on Cetaceans on March 25-26. This is the second in a series of special meetings convened by the IWC on potential environmental effects on cetacean populations. The symposium will focus on the processes related to global climate change and how these process may effect cetacean populations now or in the near future. It will also attempt to address current views on what changes have been detected and are most likely to occur (in both global warming and ozone depletion) and over what time and space scales, followed by a consideration of what trophic or direct processes would link these changes to the distribution and abundance of cetaceans. In preparing the agenda for this symposium, the conveners have drawn heavily on recent results of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The topics to be discussed during the two day symposium are listed in the agenda below. The symposium will be open to all interested in attending, given space limitations. The deadline for registration and payment of the conference fee of US$50.00 is Friday, March 1, 1996, or as space permits. The fee includes a reception following the first day of the symposium. A student discount is available. Workshop (March 27-30, 1996) A workshop will follow on March 27-30 which will be limited to 35 participants with preference given to symposium speakers and scientists active in relevant fields. The workshop will begin with presentations from a number of existing or completed integrated research programs (CCAMLR, Southern Ocean GLOBEC, SCAR/Antarctic Polar Ice Seals, SCOPEX). Explaining their conceptual and theoretical framework. It will then address information gaps related to physical and biological linkages, and implications for the IWC. The group will generate a report combining information presented during the symposium and results from the workshop that will be presented to the IWC Scientific Committee in June 1996. Contact Steve Reilly for more information. POSTER PRESENTATIONS AND VENDORS: Any individuals, organizations, or companies interested in presenting posters on topics related to the symposium, or displaying or selling goods during the symposium should contact, Joyce Sisson as soon as possible. AGENDA IWC The Effects of Climate Change on Cetaceans Symposium Turtle Bay Hilton, Kahuku, Hawaii (March 25-26, 1996) Monday March 25, 1996 -- Symposium Day 1 8:30A.M. - 5:00P.M. "What environmental changes are most likely to occur and over what time and space scales, given the current increase in greenhouse gasses" I. What changes have been detected? 1. Overview of IPCC Report, including: Global warming and changes in oceanography and in polar ice 2. Climate change, ozone depletion and UV radiation 3. Decade-scale climate regime shifts II. Climate models and theory 4. Model validation and predictions (summary of global patterns) IV Summaries of state of knowledge of cetacean distribution, migration, habitat use patterns 5. Baleen whales 6. Toothed whales 7. Small cetaceans Reception at Turtle Bay Hilton 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 26, 1996 -- Symposium Day 2 8:30A.M. - 5:00P.M. "Given these changes occur, what trophic (or direct) processes would link them to the distribution and abundance of cetaceans?" IV. Marine biotic responses: Overviews of global patterns 8. Overview of IPCC conclusions: responses to global warming 9. Overview of marine biotic responses to ozone depletion V. Observed and predicted ecosystem responses that may affect cetaceans 10. Phytoplankton/ Zooplankton 11. Fishes and cephalopods 12. Pinnipeds and birds 13. Food webs, multispecies/ecosystem models, and system responses 14. Possible adaptations 15. Predicted links to cetaceans (Roundtable discussion to set stage for workshop) GENERAL INFORMATION Getting to the Turtle Bay Hilton: Turtle Bay Shuttle: The Turtle Bay Hilton offers airport shuttle service. Advance reservations must be made by 1:00pm the day prior to arrival. Rates for guests are $26.00 and for non-guests are $31.25. Shuttles run regular between 7:45 and 16:45. They will also provide special shuttles for a maximum of 10 people, but you must call for a quote. Call the Aloha Service Desk at (808) 293- 8811 ext. 36. for more information. Rental Cars: National Rental Car has special rates for participants (808) 833-1054. Prices range from (US) $34.00 a day for a compact car ($204.00 weekly) to $55.00 a day for a minivan ($330 weekly). They offer a variety of other choices within this range. Contact Floyd Murashige for additional information. Limousine Service: North Shore Limousines (808) 293-1447; (808) 293-5956 FAX. Limousine service includes: complimentary bar, sodas and mixers, coffee and tea available upon request. Rates include transfer, 7% airport tax, 4% PUC tax and 15% gratuity. Prices vary according to the number of passengers. For one passenger, the cost is $119.70, for two, $59.85 each, for three, $39.90, for four, 29.93, and for five to 7 passengers, $25.00 per person. Taxi: >From the airport to the Turtle Bay Hilton prices may run about $85.00 each way, prices may vary according to time of day and traffic conditions. Staying at the Turtle Bay Hilton: Participants are responsible for booking and payment of their accommodations. A block reservation has been made for the Conference at the Turtle Bay Hilton. Participants are asked to identify themselves as IWC Climate Change and Cetaceans Conference participants (LC55829) when making their room reservations by phone. The hotel is offering a special room rate of 106.86 including tax for single or double occupancy. The Turtle Bay Hilton is also offering the special Conference rate for the weekends prior to and following the Conference for those wishing to extend their stay in Hawaii. * Check-in time is 3:00pm, check out time is 11:00am. * Rates are based on a single or double occupancy. Maximum of 4 persons per room with additional charge of $25.00 (U.S.) per person for 3rd and 4th person. * Hilton Family Plan allows children to stay free utilizing existing bedding. * All rates subject to 10.17 Hawaii State Tax; inclusive rate above indicates total room rate per night. * Should the category you desire be sold out, the next available category will be confirmed. * Suites are available upon request. * All major credit cards accepted. The reservation must be accompanied by a one night's deposit which must be made no later than 30-days prior to group's major arrival date (February 23, 1996). After the 30-day point, reservation will be subject to availability. Cancellation received after 4:00pm on the day of arrival will be assessed a "late cancellation" charge of one night's room rate plus 4.17% Hawaii State Tax. Make Check/Money Order to Turtle Bay Hilton Golf and Tennis Resort and send to: Turtle Bay Hilton Reservation Department P.O. Box 187, Kahuku, Hawaii 96713 or call (808) 293-8811 Voice (808) 293-9147 FAX International Whaling Commission Symposium- The Effects of Climate Change on Cetaceans Registration Form Turtle Bay Hilton, Oahu, Hawaii March 25-26, 1996 NAME: __________________________________________________________________ AFFILIATION: ____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP: _________________________________________________________ COUNTRY: _______________ PHONE: _______________________ FAX: __________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS: __________________________________ FEES: Symposium registration fee (US)$50.00 Workshop registration fee (US)$50.00 * Fees must be made payable to "IWC Climate Change and Cetaceans". Registration form and fee must be received by March 1, 1996 to: Stephen B. Reilly, Ph. D. Chairman Scientific Committee P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 USA (619) 546-7164; 7064 Voice (619) 546-7198; 7003 FAX ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 18:25:18 EST From: Sylvia Ligammari Collinetti Subject: Tursiops vision ref's Folks, Here's a list of references on bottlenose dolphin vision and related fields, that I've dug up and been sent. They vary in the level of detail, with some only mentioning the topic briefly. The list covers several different disciplines, so I hope it's useful for those who asked to see it. My thanks to those who responded. If anyone has any interesting comments or references to add i'm always interested in discussion. Jake Weaver slc8y(\)uva.pcmail.virginia.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Azzali, M. (1992) New optical and acoustic system to study perception and motor control of a Tursiops truncatus in: Marine mammal sensory systems. ed: Thomsa, J.A., Kastelein, R.A. and Supin, A.Y., Plenum press Dawson, WW (1980). The Cetacean Eye. Chapt 2 in LM Herman (ed) "Cetacean behavior: mechanisms and functions." NY: Wiley Interscience. Dawson, W.W., Carder, D.A., Ridgway, S.H. and Schmeisser, E.T. (1981) Synchrony of dolphin eye movements and their power density spectra. Comp Biochem. Physiol. 68a: pp 443-449 Dral A.D.G (1977) On the retinal anatomy of Cetacea (mainly Tursiops truncatus). in: Functional anatomy of marine mammals, vol. 3, ed R.J. Harrison. New York: Academic Press. 81-134 Herman, 1990 Cognitive performances of dolphins in visually guided tasks. In: Sensory Abilities of Cetaceans Edited by J. Thomas and R. Kastelein, Plenum press. Griebal, U & Schmid A(1995) Spectral sensitivity in the bottlenose dolphin. Abstract from 11th Biennial Conf. Biol. Mar. Mam. pp 47. There may be other work but I am unaware of publications. Herman, L.M., 1991 What the Dolphin Knows or Might Know, In its natural world. In Dolphin Societies: Discoveries and Puzzles: Ed. Pryor, K., Norris, K.S.: Los An. Uni of California Press. Herman, L.M., J.R. Hovancik, J.D. Gory, and G.L. Bradshaw. 1989 Generalization of visual matching by a bottlenosed dolphin: Evidence for invariance of cognitive performance with visual or auditory materials. J. Exper. Psych.: Animal Behavior Processes 15: 124-136 Herman, L.M. and Pack, A. A. (1992) Echoic-Visual cross-modal recognition by a dolphin. in: Marine mammal sensory systems. ed: Thomsa, J.A., Kastelein, R.A. and Supin, A.Y., Plenum press Herman, L.M., M.F. Peacock, M.P. Yunker and C.J Madsen. 1975. Bottlenosed Dolphin:Double slit pupil yields equivilent aerial and underwater acuity. Science 139:650-652 Herman, L.M. and Tavolga, W.N., 1980 The communication system of Cetaceans in: Cetacean behavior:Mechanism and Function, ed. L.M. Herman. New York:John Wiley and Sons. Madsen, CJ & Herman, LM (1980). Social and ecological correlates of cetacean vision and visual appearance. Chapt 2 in LM Herman (op cit). Mobley, JR & Helweg, DA (1990). Visual ecology and cognition in cetaceans. In JA Thomas & RA Kastelein (eds) "Sensory abilities of cetaceans: laboratory and field evidence." Plenum. Mukhametov, L.M. (1984) Sleep in marine mammals. In Borbely, A.A. and Valatx, J.L. (ed) Sleep mechanisms, Springer, Munich. pp227-238 Nachtigall, PE (1986). Vision, audition, and chemoreception in dolphins and other marine mammals. Chapt 4 in RJ Schusterman, JA Thomas & FG Wood (eds) "Dolphin cognition and behavior: a comparative approach." Erlbaum. Pryor, K.W. (1990) Non-Acoustic communication in small cetaceans: Glance, Touch, Position, Gesture, and Bubbles.in: Sensory Abilities of Cetaceans: Laboratory and Field Evidence. Ed: J. Thomas and R. Kastelein, Plenum press. Ridgway, S.H., (1990) The central nervous system of the Bottlenose Dolphin in "The Bottlenose Dolphin. Ed- S. Leatherwood & R.R. Reeves, Academic press Inc. Wursig, B., Kieckhefer, T.R. and Jefferson, T.A. (1990) Visual Displays for Communication in Cetaceans. in Sensory Abilities of Cetaceans: Laboratory and Field Evidence. Ed: J. Thomas and R. Kastelein, Plenum press. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 18:06:49 -0800 From: Jose Alicea Subject: Cathy Steel Address Hi Marmamers! I was wondering if any one has Cathy Steel's E-mail address; Who did a PhD dissertation on manatee vocalization at the Florida Institute of Technology in 1982. Thanks in advance for your response. Jose A. Alicea Moss Landing Marine Labs, CA E-mail: "ALICEA(\)MLML.CALSTATE.EDU" ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 06:05:31 -0500 From: Roberto Pardo Subject: information international congress In-Reply-To: > > Dear MARMERS. > The Hotel Estacion of Buenaventura and The Foundation Yubarta will doing, > on September 1,2,3 and 4. of 1996, an International Congress of > Whale-watching. The idea is to know and exchanges experiences about this > topic. The people interst on assit please contact at the following people: > > Mister. Doctor > Javier Montilla Lilian Florez Gonzalez > Manager Director > Hotel Estacion Fundacion Yubarta > P.O. Box 837 P.O. Box 33141 > FAX 57-9224-34118 TELEFAX 57-2-6611592 > Buenaventura, Colombia. S.A. Cali, Colombia. S.A. > > Or > > Roberto Pardo Angel > Marine Biologist > Director of Whale-Watching Programs > Hotel Estacion > P.O. Box 26513 > FAX 57-2-8838803 > E-mail: ropardo(\)biomarina.univalle.edu.co > Cali, Colombia. S.A. > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 14:30:27 GMT From: Belinda.Gray(\)wcmc.org.uk Subject: West African Manatee Dear Marmam, I am looking for information regarding the West African Manatee, particularly any contacts in Nigeria. I was wondering if anyone out there can help? If you can, please email me at the address below. Many thanks, Belinda Gray World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219c Huntingdon Road Cambridge, UK. CB3 0DL belinda.gray(\)wcmc.org.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 15:56:43 +0000 From: ujhhtpo Subject: Animal Welfare journal Animal Welfare ISSN 0962-7286 Animal Welfare is the only scientific and technical journal bringing together the results of responsible scientific research and technical studies related to the welfare of animals kept on farms, in zoos, in laboratories, as companions or living in the wild. The aim is to publish information that has welfare benefits for individual animals across the whole range of species. Animal Welfare is a focus for the advancement of animal welfare science and technology and helps ensure that relevant knowledge is readily available. Animal Welfare is published for use by all concerned with the management, care and welfare of animals, such as zoologists and veterinarians, animal house curators, zoo keepers, laboratory animal technicians, agriculturalists and stockmen, as well as undergraduates and other students. The journal should also be of value to the legislative and regulatory authorities and other organisations generally responsible for the welfare of animals. ********* Annual subscription rates Volume 5 (1996) numbers 1-4: UFAW members #40/US$80; Individuals #50/US$100 (personal cheques only); Institutions #70/US$140 Special offer...subscribe before the 29 February 1996 at last year's rates: UFAW members #40/US$80 Others including institutions #50/US$100 Make cheques payable to UFAW. INSPECTION COPIES of Animal Welfare (ISSN 0962-7286) are available from UFAW, 8 Hamilton Close, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3QD, UK, tel: 01707 658202 fax: 01707 649279. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: contact Vicky Taylor at UFAW on +44 1707 658202. A full UFAW Publications List is also available. DATE: 23 January 1996 JUST PUBLISHED: Animal Welfare ISSN 0962-7286 Volume 5 Number 1 February 1996 CONTENTS EDITORIAL 1 ARTICLES People's willingness to pay for farm animal welfare 3 R M Bennett On comparing the behaviour of zoo housed animals with wild conspecifics as a 13 welfare indicator J S Veasey, N K Waran and R J Young Rearing pigs in species-specific family groups 25 B Wechsler Space utilization by captive-born baboons (Papio sp.) before and after provision 37 of structural enrichment A L Kessel and L Brent Stress hormone responses of sheep to food and water deprivation at high and 45 low ambient temperatures R F Parrott, D M Lloyd and J A Goode The external locations of harpoon wounds on minke whales taken in Antarctic 57 commercial whaling operations, 1978/79 season P B Best Assessment of motivation in the lizard, Chalcides ocellatus 63 T M Skelton, N K Waran and R J Young Welfare implications of the gas stunning of pigs 2. stress of induction of 71 anaesthesia A B M Raj and N G Gregory REPORTS AND COMMENTS 79 The RSPCA and science Gene transfer and welfare Foot problems The housing of laying hens The welfare of broiler chickens Control of animal experimentation in New Zealand Funding for alternatives work Intensive breeding of farm animals Dog and cat neutering scheme BOOK REVIEWS 85 Laboratory Animals: An Introduction for Experimenters, 2nd edition The Development of Brain and Behaviour in the Chicken Wild Otters: Predation and Populations The Complete Book of Ferrets, revised edition/The Complete Guide to Ferrets Animals in Peril: How 'Sustainable Use' is Wiping Out the World's Wildlife Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles Wildlife Mammals as Research Models: in the Laboratory and Field BOOKS RECEIVED 98 LETTER Alternative therapies 101 Published by Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 8 Hamilton Close, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3QD, UK Tel: 01707 658202 Fax: 01707 649279 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES: UFAW members #40/US$80 Individuals: #50/US$100 Institutions: #70/US$140 These prices are the new prices for 1996, however, if you subscribe before 29 February, the 1996 subscription will be held at 1995 rates. Posted by Vicky Taylor, UFAW. e-mail: trevor.poole(\)ucl.ac.uk Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) 8 Hamilton Close South Mimms Potters Bar Hertfordshire EN6 3QD Tel: +44 1707 658202 Fax: +44 1707 649279 Registered charity number: 207996 UFAW - working for animals since 1926 Please pass on to other bulletin boards whose members may be interested in UFAW publications. Thanks! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 09:44:28 -0700 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Arctocephalus australis Hi everyone. I'm wondering if anyone out there knows of any locations in the world where South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are being maintained in captivity, whether for display or research. This question is purely out of curiosity and not intended to spark controversy on maintaining marine mammals in captivity. I'm completing a Master's degree on the species (I've been working on them in the wild) and would like to contact anyone that has had the opportunity to observe them in a captive situation. I'm currently aware only of the two adult males at Sea World Orlando - at least, the person I spoke to there _thought_ they were australis; could anyone confirm this? Thanks in advance Alana. ****************************************************** Alana V. Phillips Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada email address: murraya(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca ****************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 10:02:25 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: FONDAZIONE CETACEA reply to Bellerive Foundation (fwd) Forwarded message: From: cetacea(\)iper.net =46ONDAZIONE CETACEA Reply to Bellerive Foundation press releases submitted to MARMAM on: - 18 Jan 1996 h. 14:18 - 19 Jan 1996 h. 17:10 To all Marmarmers, The Bellerive Foundation responsibile amongst other things for the so called "Into the Blue" project provides information that needs no comment. News covering our education and scientific programs can be requested directly from the Fondazione Cetacea and through our regular newsmagazine "Cetacea Informa", sent out throughout the world to our members, and more recently through ECS Newsletter no. 22 (pages 5-7) and our Home Page on the Web: . Numerous institutions respected on an international level and also known for their objective view points, keep up scientific cooperation with both the Fondazione Cetacea and Riccione Dolphinarium for the divulging of information. =46or any information on our working practices and ethics you are welcome to contact any of the following institutions: U.I.Z.A. (Italian Union for Zoos and Aquaria) (Prof. Ermanno Bronzini, President) Rome, Italy C.S.C. (Centre for Cetacean Study - the Italian Stranding Network) (Dr. Marco Borri, National Coordinator) Museo La Specola - Florence, Italy Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano (Dr. Luigi Cagnolaro, Assistant director) Milan, Italy WWF-Italy (Pier Lorenzo Florio, Francesco Petretti, Paolo Lombardi ) Rome, Italy E.C.S. (European Cetacean Society) (Dr. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, ECS National Contact Person for Italy = ) Milan, Italy E.A.A.M. (European Association for Aquatic Mammals) (Dr. B. Neurohr, President) N=FCrnberg, Germany UNIVERSITA' DI PISA Dipartimento di Biomedicina Infettiva (Dr. Marco NIGRO) UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA Departamento de Biologia Animal (Prof. ANDREU - Prof. Tony RAGA) C.N.R. / I.R.Pe.M. ANCONA (Ing. Massimo AZZALI) UNIVERSITA' DI SIENA Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale (Prof. Eros BACCI - Dr.ssa Letizia MARSILI) UNIVERSITA' DI PERUGIA Istituto di Fisiologia (Prof. ssa Anna LUCARONI - Dott.ssa Silva COSTARELLI) UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA Dipartimento di Biochimica (Dr.ssa Gloria ISANI) UNIVERSITA' DI PISA Istituto di Patologia Speciale e di Clinica Medica Veterinaria (Prof. Alfredo BUONACCORSI) UNIVERSITA' DI CATANIA Dipartimento di Biologia Animale (Prof. ssa Francesca SAMMARTANO - Dr. Giancarlo RAPPAZZO) UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA Dipartimento di Anatomia Patologica (Prof. SIMONI) UNIVERSITA' DI MESSINA Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biologica (Prof. ssa Ambra DE GREGORIO - Prof. Antonio GALTIERI) UNIVERSITA' DI MILANO Istituto di Radiologia Veterinaria (Prof. Leo LEONARDI) UNIVERSITA' DI MILANO Dipartimento di Biologia (Prof. Giovanni VAILATI, Dr. Giorgio SCARI') =46or any information on our proposal for a regulation covering the keeping of bottlenose dolphins in captivity contact: Ministero delle Risorse Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali (Ministry of Agricultural Resources) Corpo Forestale dello Stato - Ufficio C.I.T.E.S. (Ing. Ugo Mereu) Rome, Italy Ministero dell'Ambiente (Department of the Environment), Servizio Conservazione della Natura, Divisione IIa Dr. Alessandro Russi Rome, Italy =46ondazione Cetacea Via Milano, 63 47036 Riccione (RN) - ITALY +39-541-691557 (phone) +39-541-606590 (fax) Email: cetacea(\)iper.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 14:48:56 -0500 From: Ezequiel Machado Subject: DIRECTORY? Greetings all MARMAMERS! I would greatly appreciate if anyone out there has some information on obtaining a copy of the "Directory of Marine Mammals Research and Conservation". If you have any information on how I can get a copy, please e-mail me at the following address: emachado(\)his.com Thanking you in advance, sincerely, Zeke Machado. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 21:27:56 EST From: Leighton Taylor <71740.2116(\)compuserve.com> Subject: wherabouts of N hemisphere blue whales My colleague David Clark, who is field producer for the IMAX film on baleen whales (involving Roger Payne and others) that is now in production, has asked me to forward the following question: "Is there (and where is it) a place where blue whales can be filmed before they show up along the California coast in June and July? We would like to film them earlier than those months. Thanks for any help you can give us." Thanks from me too, Leighton Taylor 71740.2116(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 16:17:06 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: tuna/dolphin question Dear MARMAM'ers: I have heard that there is a letter/statement by several scientists, similar to the one I first posted a few months ago regarding the tuna/dolphin situation, in circulation on Capitol Hill that supports the Panama Declaration. However, I cannot seem to locate a copy of it. I would be grateful if anyone who knows of this document, if it does exist, would let me know how I might get a copy of it. The statement I posted (and to which 24 MARMAM'ers signed their names) has been circulated on Capitol Hill in connection with lobbying efforts on behalf of S. 1460 and H.R. 2856 (the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills). It was posted on MARMAM and is available to anyone who asks for a copy. In the interest of mutual openness, it would be nice if this document, which purportedly is being used in support of S. 1420 and H.R. 2823 (the Stevens/Breaux/Gilchrest bills) would be made similarly available. Thanks in advance for any information on this. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 13:57:11 -0800 From: "Timothy J. Desmond" Subject: Re: Arctocephalus australis Mundo Marino has several of these animals working in shows and also in exhibits. They also do stranding work with them as well. Contact: Ricardo Bastida, Ph.D. Mundo Marino S.A. Cassila de Correo No. 6 7105 San Clemente del Tuyu Buenos Aires Argentina phone 54-252-21071 54-252-22624 fax: 54-252-21501 The actual park is located several hours south of Buenos Aires in the town of Sa n Clemente del Tuyu. Tim Desmond tdesmond.ix.netcom.com At 09:44 AM 1/24/96 -0700, you wrote: > >Hi everyone. I'm wondering if anyone out there knows of any locations in >the world where South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are >being maintained in captivity, whether for display or research. > >This question is purely out of curiosity and not intended to spark >controversy on maintaining marine mammals in captivity. I'm completing a >Master's degree on the species (I've been working on them in the wild) >and would like to contact anyone that has had the opportunity to observe >them in a captive situation. > >I'm currently aware only of the two adult males at Sea World Orlando - at >least, the person I spoke to there _thought_ they were australis; could >anyone confirm this? > >Thanks in advance > >Alana. > >****************************************************** >Alana V. Phillips >Department of Biological Sciences >University of Alberta >Edmonton, AB, Canada > >email address: murraya(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca >****************************************************** > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 15:39:02 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> Subject: request for help Alexander Von Bismarck, consultant for EIA, requests your help to get papers from the '92 (U.S.?) conference on "Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Mammals", most specifically a paper by R.R.Ross with the same title. Any information would be much appreciated, as soon as possible, (for a paper to be presented at a March conference on the same subject),to him at , or ph:44-171-490-7040, fax:44-171-490-0436. Thank you for your time, William W. Rossiter President Cetacean Society International 71322.1637(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 05:01:38 EST From: Florian Hagelberg <100707.1133(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Ziphiidae research wanted I am a senior student at the University of Hamburg and I am since the beginningof my studies(zoology, fishery science and palaeontology) especially engaged in whales.More than 4 years ago wefounded the "Wal-AG"(this means " whale study-group"),in this forum I am now preparing a report about Ziphiidae. I was interested in this theme because Ziphiidae are not as wellknown as Dolphins. Up to now Ihave based my report on "Natural History of Whales and Dolphins", by Peter Evans, "The whale watchers handbook", by Erich Hoyt and "Handbook of Marine mammals" , by S.Ridgway and R. Harrison. Now I am searching some more recent scientific papers about Beaked Whales. The Zoological records contain references to material not available here (e. g. the scientific journal "Marine Mammals"). I would appreciate to receive some of such special articles or other informations about Ziphiidae. Further i would like information about any other source materials about Beaked Whales. Bettina Wurche 100707.1133(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 15:07:40 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Deaths Deaths Jesse R. White DUNNELLON, Fla. (AP) -- Dr. Jesse R. White, an early advocate for manatees whose advice shaped federal and state marine mammal protection laws, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 61. White left private research in 1967 to become the staff veterinarian at the Miami Seaquarium. In 1987, he became marine mammal veterinarian at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. In 1969-1970, he wrote the state regulations for marine mammal capture and maintenance standards, which were incorporated into the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. White served as a veterinarian and trainer for dolphins in the popular television series "Flipper." ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 15:16:39 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: International Meeting in Chetumal (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 11:14:34 GMT From: bmorales(\)xaway.ciqro.conacyt.mx (Benjamin Morales Vela) Subject: International Meeting in Chetumal * SOMEMMA (Sociedad Mexicana para el Estudio de los Mamiferos Marinos) y ECOSUR (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Quintana Roo) Convocan a la XXI Reunion Internacional para el Estudio de los Mamiferos Marinos Informacion General - Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico - Abril 8-12, 1996 - Fecha limite para envio de resumenes: 9 de febrero de 1996 - Puede hacer sus reservaciones de hotel directamente, a traves de la agencia oficial de viajes de la reunion o si lo desea, nosotros=20 podemos hacer su reservacion. - Todas las tarifas son en moneda nacional (pesos). *********** XXI International Meeting for the study of Marine Mammals Information - Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico - April 8-12, 1996 - Deadline for the submission of abstracts: February 9th 1996 - You can make your hotel reservations directly, or with the meeting=B4s oficial travel agency=20 or we can make the reservations for you. - All rates are mexican money (pesos). *********** * Costos de inscripcion (registration fees): Socios (member) SOMEMMA $ 200.00 No socios (non-member) $ 350.00 Estudiantes (students) 50 % de descuento * Hoteles (Hotels) Hotel Los Cocos (Hotel Sede) Tel: (52)(983)205-42, 212-73 Fax 209-20 $ 200.00 Descuento 15 % Hotel Holliday Inn Tel: (52)(983) 211-00 Fax 216-76 $ 330.00 Hotel Marlon =20 Tel: (52)(983) 294-11, 295-22 Fax 265-55=20 $ 135.00 Descuento 15 % Hotel Casablanca Tel: (52)(983) 212-48 $ 80.00 Descuento 15 % * Agencia oficial de viajes (Oficial Travel Agency): Fomento Internacional de Turismo S. A. Turismo Mision (Mexico D. F.) Srita. Teresa Rosillo / Sr. Santiago Angelino Tel: (52)(5)584 42 21 Fax: 564 32 28 * Envie resumenes o pida mas informacion a (Send your abstracts or ask for more information to): M. en C. Benjamin Morales Vela El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Quintana Roo Apdo. Postal 424, C. P. 77000, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico Tel: (52)(983) 216-66, 200-76 Fax: 204-47 e-mail: Bmorales(\)xaway.ciqro.conacyt.mx * ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 10:37:15 -0500 From: Marthajane Caldwell Gustin Subject: Re: Humpback singers Dear MARMAM'ers: The Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, FL is opening an exhibit on the marine mammals of Northeast Florida. They have asked several researchers to help insure the validity of their exhibit. However, we have a question that we are having trouble answering and were hoping that someone on MARMAM could help. "Do female humpbacks ever sing? or is it that ONLY males sing? or do we not know?" If you have any information that can help us answer these questions please let me know. Thank you in advance for helping us disseminate accurate information. Marthajane Caldwell University of Miami caldwell(\)pop.jaxnet.com This is a simple sig file ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 09:28:26 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: Bowhead/points addendum After posting my initial summary of the stone points stuff, archaeologist Allen McCartney (not on MARMAM) contacted me to get on 'the list' [he's it] for further developments. He mentioned that he's working on size distributions of bowhead bones in archaeological settings, and that most of the remains they've seen are of yearling to several-year old whales; *very* few adults. References below. This is *pure speculation*, but such a catch bias *could* help explain the rarity/absence of stone point records between turn of century followed by 2 in the last 5 years. If stone points mainly went into the smallest size classes, but new hunting methods allowed a shift to largest sizes, and growth rates were very slow, then those carrying stone points wouldn't be exposed to hunting for many years. I am not, even speculatively, suggesting a 90-year juvenile period!!! But something along these lines, coupled with changes in reporting and catch levels, could reduce the _seeming_ anomaly to just a curious but insignificant chance clustering... Just a thought... REFS 1993 (A. McCartney and J. Savelle) Bowhead Whale Bones and Thule Eskimo Subsistence-Settlement Patterns in the Central Canadian Arctic. Polar Record 29:168:1-12. 1994 (Savelle and McCartney) Thule Inuit Bowhead Whaling: A Biometrical Analysis. In: Threads of Arctic Prehistory: Papers in Honour of William E. Taylor, Jr., D. Morrison and J.L. Pilon, eds., Mercury Series No. 149, Archaeological Survey of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, pp. 281-310. 1995 (McCartney) Whale Size Selection by Precontact Hunters of the North American Western Arctic and Subarctic. In: Hunting the Largest Animals: Native Whaling in the Western Arctic and Subarctic, A. McCartney, ed., Studies in Whaling No. 3, Canadian Circumpolar Institute, Univ. of Alberta, pp. 83-108. cheers ----------------- Jim Moore Anthro 0532/UCSD/La Jolla CA 92093 / fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 15:13:04 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: Congress and You I would like to thank Susan Baker for her wonderfully information-rich posting. One more WWW site that I didn't see listed there is: http://policy.net/capweb/congress.html which has all of the e-mail addresses she listed as well as other information about the federal legislature. This address came from Karin Forney. Sorry if she already posted it to MARMAM, but I didn't see it there. Anyway, I am glad that my posting motivated others to provide this information and I apologize for the (obviously wrong!) impression I gave that only a few offices were on-line. It was an impression I was left with after trying the old-fashioned approach of asking a couple of humans (staffers) for this information. I really have to get serious about learning how to navigate the information superhighway directly! Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 12:42:47 EST From: SCHEIFEL(\)UConnVM.UConn.Edu To the Community, I thought that a few comments regarding the article in the Portland Press Heral d concerning noise and whales in the Gulf of Maine might put things into perspe ctive. The article sounds a bit more frantic in some areas than it ought to be . The work was done in a very short time in only one location by a group of se condary school students consequently it is very rudimentary and preliminary. The article specifically targets fishing vessels when, in fact many other sourc es of noise were included. Nowhere in the article does it specify that the ani mals dirctly inhabiting Stellwagen Bank were exhibiting any gross behaviours that related to the noise. One of the great problems with in-situ bioacoustics is that there is literally no good way of determining whether a behaviour perfo rmed by a specific animal is acoustically related. Neverthless acoustic behavi ours have been elicited and recorded in many areas of the world including Stell wagen Bank on rare occasions. Studies (performed by myself and others) do indicate that using an A-weighted s cale and the conditions of background noise in Stellwagen Bank the human ear wo uld undergo some short-term related damage; hence the OSHA standards for simila r noise levels in work places. What makes this study unique is 1) the people p erforming it and 2) the fact that they made some acceptable inferrences based u pon human hearing versus that of cetaceans. Finally (and perhaps most important) we should not become overly frantic in eit her direction (that we are deafening the animals or not affecting them in any w ay) until we learn more about 1) their specific hearing abilities, 2) what act ual noise levels are in the acoustic environments in which they live, 3)wheth er the environments are noise limited or reverberation limited, 4) whether the y are specifically subject to noise that is persistant or transient, and 5) wha t the specific hearing sensitivities are by species. I don't believe that it is truly possible to determine with certainty whether a ny marine mammal is sensitive or oblivious to background noise in the wild envi ronment based upon alleged "acoustical behaviour" at present since the situatio n cannot be adequately controlled to make those kinds of decisions. Your discussion is delightful and welcomed. We are continuing our studies of t he effects of low frequency noise on cetaceans in the Gulf of Maine and the Sai nt Lawrence estuary (here at the National Undersea Research Center at the Unive rsity of Connecticut, Avery Point). Regards, Peter M. Scheifele Bioacoustician ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 16:32:30 +0000 From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Subject: Re: Bonn Convention Can anyone out there, probably someone from an NGO, tell me if any country has formulated a National Policy on Migratory Species which has a section relating to marine mammals? I'd be grateful if you would contact me (\) pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za. Thanx. Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 07:32:10 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Baby monk seal released off Ma Baby monk seal released off Mauritania NOUAKCHOTT, Jan 25 (Reuter) - A baby monk seal, one of the world's most endangered species, has recovered from her injuries after treatment in Mauritania and been returned to the sea, the Mauritanian state news agency said on Thursday. The monk seal was rescued near the northern port of Nouadhibou last October. Named Aziza by a researcher, she had apparently lost her parents in a storm and was lightly injured and suffering from malnutrition and breathing problems. Some 150 monk seals, about half the world's total, live off Mauritania, Western Sahara and Morocco. Aziza was cared for at Mauritania's national oceanographic and fisheries research centre in Nouadhibou with the help of the Dutch Pieterburen dolphin research institute. After nearly four months of treatment, her weight had risen to 50 kg (110 pounds) from 31 kg (68 pounds). Monk seals, so called because folds of skin around their necks recall monastic dress, are among the last members of the seal family living in temperate waters in the northern hemisphere. They are under threat from viral infections, from pollution and fishing which deplete their feeding grounds, and fishermen who kill them because they damage nets and eat fish. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 08:44:42 -0800 From: rice(\)racesmtp.afsc.noaa.gov Subject: wherabouts of N hemisphere blue whales -Reply >From late February through June there are substantial numbers of blue whales off the west coast of southern Baja California, principally from Isla Cedros south to below Cabo San Lazaro. They often range fairly close inshore there--mostly in 30 to 100 fathoms. >From January to March, there are also fair numbers in the southwestern Gulf of California, mainly from Loreto south to below La Paz, again often close inshore. For recent information on the latter area, I suggest you contact: Diane Gendron Dept. de Plancton, CICIMAR-PIN Apdo. Postal 592 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico 23000 Phone: 112-25344 Fax: 112-25322 E-mail: DGENDRON(\)VMREDIPN.IPN.MAX Richard Sears Mingan Island Cetacean Study 285 Green Street St. Lambert QC Canada JP4 IT3 Phone: 514-465-9176 Dale W. Rice RICE(\)AFSC.NOAA.GOV ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 11:06:37 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 1/26/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Climate Change and Whales. On Mar. 25-30, 1996, the International Whaling Commission is sponsoring and the National Marine Fisheries Service is hosting a symposium and workshop in Hawaii on the effects of climate change on cetaceans. [personal communication] . Seal Hunting. On Jan. 22, 1996, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing indignation over Norway's seal hunt as well as seal hunts conducted by Canada, Russia, and South Africa. The resolution also called on the European Commission to ensure that products from Norwegian seals not be sold in European markets. [Agence Europe via Reuters, Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 09:52:54 -0800 From: Toni or Jim Frohoff Subject: Re: DIRECTORY? In-Reply-To: <199601242128.NAA03221(\)mail5.netcom.com> The Marine Mammal Reserach and Conservation Directory will be available within a few weeks. This directory will contain approximately five hundred listings of international people/organizations involved in a variety o aspects of marine mammal research, conservation, education, and other related fields. The directory is also oriented towards facilitating communications between people who are available for volunteer/internship/employment with programs which have a need for such people. To receive a newsletter which describes the directory and how to obtain it, email, FAX, or mail your postal address to: Dolphin Data Base 321 High School Road, NE #374 Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110 USA Phone/FAX: 206-780-2532 email: ddb(\)ddb.seanet.com Lilliana Zuyovich,Dolphin Data Base -------------------------------------------- On Wed, 24 Jan 1996, Ezequiel Machado wrote: > Greetings all MARMAMERS! > > I would greatly appreciate if anyone out there has some information on > obtaining a copy of the "Directory of Marine Mammals Research and > Conservation". > > If you have any information on how I can get a copy, please e-mail me at > the following address: > > emachado(\)his.com > > Thanking you in advance, > > sincerely, > > Zeke Machado. > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 11:33:52 +1000 From: Graham Clarke Subject: Whale Replica Plans FORWARD MESSAGE-------------------- >Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 >To: gclarke(\)magna.com.au >From: mwhoke(\)sat.net (Michael Hoke) > >I have seen classes make a life-size replica of a Blue Whale. My eighth >grade class wanted to do this as a community project to emphasize whales >and other endangered species. Do you have any plans available on this >model and do you know a source where we can borrow artifacts dealing with >whales. We plan to make this a portable museum to move from school to >school, with our students working as docents. > -------------------------------------------------------- Graham_Clarke - "WHALES IN DANGER" Information Service -------------------------------------------------------- Home Page - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html -------------------------------------------------------- Sydney - AUSTRALIA - EMail: -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 21:30:39 -0500 From: "Daniel K. Odell" Subject: MM Conference Questionnaire To date we have received just over 250 of the nearly 1600 questionnaires distributed at the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. It is extremely important that as many conference attendees as possible complete and return their questionnaires to me. The structure of future conferences will depend to a significant extent on the opinions of the attendees. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel K. Odell Chair, Conference Committee Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals Society for Marine Mammalogy Orlando, Florida, USA - 14-18 December 1995 ------- c/o Sea World, Inc. phone: +407-363-2662 7007 Sea World Drive fax: +407-345-5397 Orlando, FL 32821-8097 USA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 23:09:28 +-100 From: Georg Subject: SV: Seals, politics and cannibal cod Seals, politics and cannibal cod Is the large harp seal stock in Newfoundland's waters delaying the recovery of the seriously depleted stocks of Atlantic cod - and thus prolonging the social and economic disaster for the Newfoundland coastal communites? I would like to give some input on this question from two conferences I participated at last autumn. A panel debate following the NAFO/ICES symposium on "the Role of Marine Mammals in the Ecosystem" (Sept. 95) concluded that the harp seal stock might hinder the recovery of cod stocks, while Dr. David Lavigne at a hearing in the European parliament on "Multi Species Management" set up by it's Fisheries Committee (Oct. 95), proposed that the harp seals might in fact help further the recovery of cod by eating cannibals among the cod themselves. The panel debate in Halifax was arranged by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the participants were: William Bowen; Canada, Richard L. Merrick; USA, Tore Haug; Norway, John Harwood; UK, Dough Butterworth; South-Africa and Johan Sigurjonsson; Iceland. The general agreement among these scientists that seals might slow down or hinder the recovery of the cod was based on the fact that although harp seal cod predation is considerable (140 000 tons a year - which is equal to more than 1 billion individual cod ) - it still comprises only a small part of the harp seals diet (3-5 percent). The seals can then live comfortably on a main diet of other species and still eat cod for desert. A decline in cod stocks would therefore not be followed by a dive in harp seal numbers; - predation pressure from seals on cod would be upheld or increased. The panel also agreed that the collapse of cod stocks was caused by overfishing - and that the harp seals were not blame. The panel discussed the possibility that the harp seals also ate fish that prey on cod - but Bowen maintained that there was no indication that this happened on a scale that had any importance in the Newfoundland situation. The issue was brought up as a result of Butterworth's study on the interaction between fur seals and hake-fisheries in South-African waters, which had been presented at the symposium. This study shows that fur seals eat only insignificant amounts of commercially valuable hake, but eat a significant amount of a species of fish that preys on the hake fry. It concludes that a cull of fur seals would be detrimental to the hake fisheries. Butterworth stated that this was a special situation that should not provide a basis for general conclusions. The panel stressed that assessments of the influence of seal predation on fish stocks had to be based on knowledge of the ecosystem in question. At the hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels, David Lavigne presented a brand new and rather sensational theory about seal-cod interaction in Newfoundland waters, in his reply to a question from the irish MEP, Gallagher. He claimed that in eating cod, the harp seal might in fact further the recovery of cod stocks. At the hearing, Lavigne presented himself as professor at the University of Guelph, but he is also known to be the execuetiv director of the international Marine Mammal Association, an affiliate of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). IFAW is known as the main actor behind the anti-sealing campaign s. Lavigne was also invited to take part in the DFO panel debate in Halifax,but declined. Here is Lavigne's answer to the question from Gallagher, on the effect of harp seal predation on the Atlantic cod: (transcript from tape, my recording) "Your question says these harp seals appear to be eating cod, small amount of cod, perhaps of the age 1 to 2 years old, approximately 16 to 20 centimetres in length. This is precisely the sort of awkward situation we scientists find ourselves in because in the marine environment, as we all know, big animals eat small animals that eat smaller animals - all the way down the line - by and large. We know that a major predator of young cod is in fact cod. So this predation of seals on intermediate size cod, could in fact be one of these situations where seals are eating the predators of the juvenile fish that are coming along behind. So you said, could I speculate on the effect on cod stocks. I think doctor Harwood has already answered that question. We really don't know. There are no data and indeed the analysis required to even address it has yet not begun. So we don't know. We haven't even the models, as far as I know, to address whether harp seal consumption on 1 to 2 year olds would have a negative impact on the recovery or would enhance the survival of even younger cod. We simply don't have that kind of information at the present time." Norwegian scientist Odd Nakken, from the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, dismissed Lavigne's theory by replying that small cod of the size eaten by seals, are not know to be cannibals. I would appreciate an evaluation by marmamers of the theory presented by Lavigne. Is Nakken's observation correct? And even if it is not correct, could the occurance of cod cannibalism make it possible to support cod recovery by reducing the spawning stock? If this is true for seal predation - shouldn't it also be true for fisheries? The paper Lavigne presented at the Brussels hearing concluded that: "... the simple minded "common sense" view that fewer seals will mean more fish and larger catches for commercial fisheries may often be wrong." He based his notion on Butterworth's study of interaction between furseals and hake fisheries. In contrast to Lavigne, Butterworth's general opinion, as expressed in Halifax, is that seal stocks often compete with commercial fisheries. For the sake of argument, he presented the following hypothesis, "What if we forget the word seal and imagine them rather as an alternative fishery, using alternative tackle. In a situation where we have two different fisheries based on the same species, we would naturally consider them competitors. The two would have to share the total quota for the species in question, and both parties would have to accept that the fisheries be regulated." At the NAFO/ICES symposium, US scientist Robert Kenny submitted figures showing that marine mammals of the US north-east continental shelf ecosystem, consume two and a half times as much fish and squid as the average annual take by the fisheries. In his paper, Kenny pointed out that "many of the species consumed by cetaceans are likely to be either important target species for commercial fisheries, or linked to such species through the food web" and that predation by marine mammals "is a factor which must be considered in the .... multispecies management models". At the DFO panel debate, Harwood, who also took part at the Brussels hearing, maintained that there is no scientific proof that the number of seals has a direct impact on the fisheries and vice versa, that fisheries have any direct impact on seals. Bowen claimed that there is scientific evidence to show that there is direct competition between seals and fisheries in coastal waters, but that so far, one has not been able to document similar circumstances in open waters. Sigurdjonsson pointed out that lack of scientific proof did not remove the scientists' responsibility to offer advice to management bodies. He said that if the situation off Newfoundland had occurred in Icelandic waters, he would have advised Icelandic authorities to increase seal harvests in order to avoid the continued growth of seal stocks. With over 80% of export revenues coming from the fisheries, one could not afford to gamble by giving wider scope to a potential rival to the fisheries. In his opinion, there was no point in waiting for exact answers from the scientists. Such answers would never come. Merrick pointed out that one did not have sufficient knowledge of the biology of the cod to be able to provide sensible answers to questions about the interaction between seal and cod. At the NAFO/ICES symposium, he presented a paper (Merrick, Richard L; Current and Historical Role of Apex Predators in the Berings Sea Ecosystem, 95) discussing pollock and marine mammal interaction in the Bering Sea Ecosystem. The paper suggested that the reduction in numbers of whales and fur seals in the Bering Sea cosystem, which resulted in zooplankton releases and reduced predation, "could have stimulated the five-fold increase in groundfish biomass during the period between 1960 and 1975". The paper then introduces the big pollock stocks as a possible reason for why the marine mammals stocks are not recovering: "Adult pollock consume considerable amounts of fish, and in particular of the same forage fish .... that marine mammals and sea birds eat. The five-fold increase in adult pollock biomass significantly increased the amount of fish consumed. The continued abundance of groundfish through to the present day, may then have resulted in a chronic depletion of prey available to mammalian and avian predators, and may be the major factor driving the declines of nonfish, apex predators in the Berings sea." He suggested in his oral presentation that a cull of pollock might help the marine mammal stocks to increase. Merricks suggestion that the pollock comprise an obstacle to a marine mammal come back in the Bering Sea, did not cause a great stir. But suggestions by the DFO that 4,7 million harp seals, eating 140 000 tons of immature cod every year, might impede the growth of the cod stocks - has resulted in a lot of noise and anger. At the MARMAM (8. Des 95), Peter Meisenheimer, also from the IFAW affiliate, International Marine Mammal Association, claimed that the DFO, as part of a "perverse campaign", has made "the definitive and utterly false statement that harp seals are limiting groundfish recruitment". In my opinon Meisenheimer is right in saying that there is "no evidence" that seals have a negative impact on cod stock recruitment. But this does not mean that the DFO statement is "utterly false". There is also no evidence that seal predation does NOT have any impact. I visited Twillingate in October; a small fishing and sealing village on the western coast of Newfoundland. The population there has fallen from 4000 to 3000 in less than 10 years. Almost all young people are gone. The unemployment rate is incredibly high. I met a family there who had lost their fishing boat. It was seized by the authorities and sold at an auction. Why? Because they had caught 15 cod in spite of the moratorium on cod fishing. I believe that everyone would agree that any cod fishery is likely to have a negative impact on the recovery of cod stocks, even though this can not be scientificly proven. It is therefore difficult to understand why the harp seal's fishery, taking 1 billion immature cod, should not have the same effect. In New Foundland it is the costal communities and the cod stocks that are in trouble and need the concern of conservationists. Why all this fuss about a seal hunt on a scale lower than the sustainable yield? (The quotes from the DFO panel debate are made on the basis of personal notes as presented in my article "Vismenns ord om selplager" in the newspaper "Fiskeribladet", October 17, 1995) (The papers from the hearing in Brussels on "Multi-species resource managment" might be ordered from the secretariate of the EU Parliament Fisheries Committee, fax +352 4300 4994) Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, P.O. Box 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway fax +760 92414 email: georgb(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 19:35:32 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Re: Bellerive Foundation/Into the Blue ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Re: Bellerive and Into the Blue Project. Bellerive state: >3) The "Into the Blue" project was a W.I.S.P.A., Born Free >Foundation and more international environmental >organizations' project. The Bellerive Foundation >participated to it sending funds without any other >implication or decisional power.,The Bellerive took care of >the editing of the "Into the Blue" movie after Rocky and >Missie's release. According to an information release I have it states that Into The Blue operations were managed by Zoo Check (aka The Born Free Foundation), the Swiss-based Bellerive Foundation and PRIDE, a local Turks and Caicos conservation organisation. Further, William Johnston, a member of the Bellerive Foundation, wrote the film script for the Into The Blue film and attended Into The Blue management meetings on the Turks and Caicos Island. Maybe, the Bellerive Foundation in Italy a different organisation to the Bellerive Foundation based in Switzerland? ==================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 Jan 1996 14:31:49 -0500 From: Tricia Litwiler Subject: Re: Marine Mammal Strandings and Human Interaction Dear Marmamers Sorry to bother everyone again, but I am writing my senior undergraduate project on marine mammal strandings and human interaction, focusing particularly on Tursiops truncatus, and I wondered if anyone knew of any literature, sources, etc. that discuss survivorship rates or the survivorship curve for a population of Tursiops? For instance, at a particular point in a populaton, what percentage or number can be expected to be immature or juvenile males, or mature females? I am trying to do my statistics, and I need to know what I would expect to find in terms of mature vs. immature males/females before I can do my calculations with what I found to be true. Does anyone know if this kind of data exists, and if so, who or where I could contact to get my hands on it? Thanks in advance. Tricia Litwiler litwilt(\)alleg.edu Box 1473 allegheny College Meadville, PA 16335 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 Jan 1996 16:04:39 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Cetacean Branding and Tagging Project Jonah, a New Zealand NGO, is attempting to formulate an objective, practical position on the pros and cons of tagging marine mammals that strand and are susequently released. As PJ plays a role in government policy and research funding in New Zealand they are very interested in understanding the facts. Historically they have sometimes opposed some forms of tagging based on animal welfare criteria, but recent evidence concerning the documentation of post-release survival and basic data on populations has caused them to re-examine the issue. This is an opportunity for an open and respectful exchange between scientists who understand the value of the tools, and an influential, openminded, and concerned NGO. They would welcome the comments of professionals working with projects involving tagging, particularly those associated with small cetacean stranding release/resighting efforts. Specific interests concern the cost/benefit of hot vs.freeze branding (including the animal welfare aspects), hardware attachment techniques and problems, and examples of techniques and results. Replies may be forwarded through me, or directly to: Samantha Bates, Thank you. William W. Rossiter, President, Cetacean Society International, <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jan 1996 21:40:54 -0800 From: Michael Kundu Subject: Washington State H.B. 2528 On Jan. 12 1996, a bipartisan group of Washington state legislators introduced house bill 2528, that would appropriate $350,000 to contract a state study involving the lethal taking of a "statistically valid" quantity of harbor seals and sea lions in WA waters for the purpose of: "determining the food habits and population estimates of harbor seal and sea lions;...focusing on the occurrence of various life stages of anadromous salmonid fish in the stomach contents of the sampled marine mammals;...determine the effects of harbor seal and sea lions on the levels of fecal coliform bacteria in commercial shellfish growing areas." Various groups are preparing testimony (scheduled for Tuesday, 30 January in Olympia, WA) on this bill. Due to it's potential implication on the MMPA (as well as other reasons), it would be of interest to hear MARMAMMer's comments on the; purpose, redundancy, necessity, legality or any other relevant issues related to this bill. Private comments are welcome... Michael Kundu arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jan 1996 08:46:36 -0800 From: Jim Moore Subject: ?Tool use? in orcas I just heard an interesting story, in connection with a news bit about a killer whale: >From the "Eagle" (ABC corporate employee magazine) > >"Life-saver Shamu earns Red Cross citation" > Shamu recently saved a life at Sea World of Texas and earned an >American Red Cross "honorary lifeguard" award for the rescue. During a >show at Shamu Stadium, a bird accidentally splash landed in the killer >whale's pool. Senior trainers Roger Loupe and Mark Lenihan saw Shamu >eyeing the struggling bird and gave the hand signal to "retrieve". Shamu >gently gathered up the bird and brought it safely to Mark, who quickly >towel dried the bird and turned it loose to fly away unharmed. > The water rescue, which was reported by TV stations nationwide, The story is that >There have been several incidents [at SW San Diego] >where orcas have pushed a fish >to the surface of the water and then waited for a sea gull to come down >and get it. When the bird gets close enough to the water, the whale >grabs it by the feet and then "plays" with it until it drowns. I have seen the orcas here playing with a dead seagull on one occassion, so can vouch for the fact that they do sometimes *obtain* seagulls. What is interesting, clearly, is the possibility that the whales actively "bait" the birds. This sounds like spontaneous invention of a tool-using behavior, one that involves letting go of a food item 'for' another ['provisioning' ?], and the fact that it is done for entertainment (not nutrition) is worth noting as well. Sounds quite remarkable to me, worth thinking of as we ponder great apes etc. Because there is *apparently* a perceived PR issue involved, my informant (an employee of SW) prefers not to be identified. I hope that if there is an official policy of not discussing this, Sea World will alter it, recognizing that zoo animals catch and do nasty things to birds & rodents all the time (heaven help the slow sparrow in the bonobo exhibit here) and such behavior is nothing for either the animals or their exhibitors to be ashamed of--heck, they *are* KILLER whales... If there is any information on the invention and spread of this practice, I think it would be of real interest to the tools & cognition folks on both MARMAM and PRIMATE-TALK. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jan 1996 12:50:20 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - stress I read the following paper, and thought that there might be other folks interested as well. Myrick, Jr., A.C. and P.C. Perkins. 1995. Adrenocortical color darkness and correlates as indicators of continuous acute premortem stress in chased and purse-seine captured male dolphins. Pathophysiology 2: 191-204. A 2- to 3-h purse-seine net on dolphins to catch yellowfin tuna, including chase, net deployment, and closed net confinement, generates stressful stimuli. In most mammals, lipid depletion and hyperemia in adrenal cortices indicate a continuous acute stress (CAS) response, causing cortices to darken from beige to reddish-brown within a few hours in lab animals. To investigate suspected dolphin CAS, we examined cortices of 262 male spinner and spotted dolphins that died after varying periods of chase, net deployment, and confinement. About 95% were dark, and a subsample showed sparse or absent lipids and no vascular hemorrhage. This shows that most specimens were affected by CAS long enough to cause lipid depletion and hyperemia. Dolphins asphyxiate underwater in <15 min, insufficent time for CAS signs to occur from entanglement alone. Spotted dolphins showed a significant trend of cortical darkening with lengthening chase and net-deployment periods (P<0.01), but not confinement periods (P=0.82). Thus, they were under CAS as early as chase stage; confinement did not augment the response. Possible roles of CAS in mortality are considered. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jan 1996 12:54:28 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: elephant seals For those interested in elephant seals, the latest issue of _Natural History_ has a great article about movements of these pinnipeds, written by Brent Stewart. You might want to check it out. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 16:28:00 -0400 Reply-To: rlynds(\)fox.nstn.ca From: Ron Lynds Subject: keiko Corinne Goyetche, a thirteen year old Nova Scotia girl, asked me to enter her story on Marmam and let her know the response. Here's Corinne's story in her own words: Fourteen months ago I started what was to be the most exciting project of my life. It involved the famous whale from the movie "Free Willie" named Keiko and a unique inland sea called the Bras D'Or. After seeing the movie I became interested in whales and the cruelty of keeping them in tanks so far from their homes. I decided that I was going to help them (Keiko in particular) and that's what I'm doing. I phoned the 1-800-4- whales number which was seen at the end of the movie. It offered kids a chance to truly free Keiko by sending $10 but that's not exactly what Earth Island Institute had in mind. It seemed their plan was to transfer Keiko to a larger, multi-million dollar TANK at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. I told them about my plan to put Keiko in a natural, but controlled environment called the Bras D'Or in the center of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada which is on the way to his native waters off Iceland. Keiko could learn to hunt for fish and build up his survival skills while being surrounded by nature's beauty where he belongs. When ready , he could be released back to his family pod. Let me tell you a little more about the Bras D'or and my plan. First of all, Nova Scotia ins't too far from Keiko's native waters off Iceland. The Bras D'Or is called a lake but it is really a huge (450 sq. miles) inlet of the North Atlantic Ocean--the same ocean where Keiko was kidnapped years ago. It is almost enclosed--there are only two small outlets to the ocean. There is a protected cove in front of our house and we own property which could be used for a project base. In the cove there would be a large sea pen where Keiko could have medical tests done to make sure he's doing alright at first. Most of the time though, Keiko would be in the main part of the Bras D'Or swimming, deep diving and exploring to regain his strength. Although the waters around Nova Scotia are home to many whales, there are none in the Bras D'Or. This would be like putting Keiko in isolation and decrease the risk of disease transfer. At first my parents wouldn't listen to my plan. But I didn't give up and I convinced them and other adults to help me. And with their help I was able to establish the Bras D"Or Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Sanctuary. All I need is a whale. There's a lot more to my plan but too much to explain in one article. The Bras D'Or is so clean and beautiful that I know Keiko would feel at home here. And there aren't any big cities or many people to bother him. But it's not like there are no people ai all. There are a whole lot of people who want to help like vets, scientists, trainers, government people, activists, and lots of whale experts. The point is that the Bras D'Or is a perfect, natural place to rehabilitate captive orcas so they can go home. Even if Keiko isn't the first whale to be freed via the Bras D'Or, there are lots of other orcas who deserve to go home. Like Bjossa, the whale at the Vancouver Aquarium who just lost her third calf. Or Corky the Orca in San Diego who has been in captivity for 25 years. Or Lolita in Florida who has been missing her family for so long. Or many other lonely orcas who wish they were home which , in many cases, is North Atlantic waters. Even though the people at the Free Willy/Keiko foundation would not give my better, cheaper plan seroius consideration (because they had their own plan) I think it's great that Keiko is in a better , state-of-the-art tank. But don't foget that IT"S STILL A TANK. If they are really serious about trying to free him I feel very strongly that they should SERIOUSLY consider the Bras D'Or as a second stage of Keiko's release. I learned that there are so many politics involved with the release of marine mammals--too many to talk about here. Politics are not important. What is important is that some day I will see all whales and dolphins free! You can contact me at: CORINNE GOYETCHE BRAS D'OR MARINE MAMMAL REHABILITATION SANCTUARY 3080 MARBLE MOUNTAIN ROAD WEST BAY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA B0E 3K0 PHONE 902 345-2149 FAX 902 345-2333 E-MAIL rlynds(\)fox.nstn.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 11:27:19 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: BBC TV - Keiko ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Re: KEIKO DOCUMENTARY: UK's BBC 1 Television. Marmamers in Europe maybe interested to know that the British children's news magazine NEWSROUND EXTRA will be showing a documentary on Keiko's move to Oregon on the UK's BBC 1 channel on FRIDAY, February 2 at 4.55. BST. ==================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 11:33:26 +0000 From: LEONIE HILDEGARD JURITZ Subject: JeffJacobsen's address This is a request for Jeff Jacobsen's address, in connection with humpback acoustics. I have already tried the following without success: jkjl(\)axe.humboldt.edu Any alternative address, email or otherwise, would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance Leonie Leonie Juritz Department of Computer Science University of Wales, Aberystwyth email: lhj95(\)aber.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 08:12:14 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: DISEASE RISK FROM STRANDED WHA DISEASE RISK FROM STRANDED WHALES By Steve Smith, PA News Six huge sperm whales which died after becoming stranded on a North Sea beach will spend a second night on a sandbank before the grim task of burying them begins, health officials confirmed today. The huge mammals - weighing around 20 tons each - were discovered on Cruden Bay beach, 25 miles north of Aberdeen, early on Sunday. Environmental health experts had expected to begin disposing of the corpses today, but the operation has been delayed because of difficulties in moving heavy excavation equipment over the soft sand. An Aberdeen Coastguard spokesman confirmed that staff would guard the site for a second night before burial work begins early tomorrow (TUES). He said: "There is now a greater risk of disease from the whales, so the public are being kept well back from the scene." The whales are lying together on a two-mile stretch of sand on a popular beach beneath the ruined Slains Castle, said to have inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. Police and coastguards have maintained a security vigil on the scene to prevent the public getting too close to the bodies, amid fears for public safety and of people trying to steal parts of the whales as souvenirs. Hordes of visitors again visited the beach during the day to see the whales as they lay in shallow water. Ian Robertson, environmental health director at Banff and Buchan District Council, said there would be no health risk to the public if the 35ft-long whales were buried in huge graves on the beach. He added: "These burial sites would be very deep and above the high water mark. They will not affect anyone visiting the beach, although we may have to put fences around the graves. "We had hoped to begin burial work today, but there have been delays in working out how we will get the correct equipment onto the beach. That has now been resolved and we hope to begin tomorrow when tide conditions are right." Scottish groundings co-ordinator Bob Reid visited the scene this afternoon and removed the whales' lower jaws for research. He wants to discover if any had been sick and why they beached. Sperm whales are uncommon in North Sea waters and the reason why they grounded remains a mystery. According to one expert who visited the scene, it is thought five of the whales may have been escorting a sick member of the school and all six became stranded in shallow water. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 13:31:05 LCL From: Bayram Ozturk Subject: Monk seal in the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea Dear colleagues, Mediterranean monk seal population in Turkey is no longer stable due to several reasons, such as loss of habitats, deliberate killing, incidental killing, food shortage, etc. The most recent census made last year determined 47 individuals in Turkey. In Bodrum Peninsula, only 6 individuals including pups are living in the small islands called Cavus, Kiremit and Kardak. These islets are located only 3.5 n.miles from the Anatolia (Turkish mainland) coast and belongs to Turkey. Since 1991, Monk Seal Protection Project has been conducted in these islets on behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Environment by Istanbul University. Unfortunately, Kardak Islet got occupied by Greek soldiers last Friday suddenly. Later, Greek and Turkish armies started to maneuver in this area. Aircrafts, destroyers, coast guards are all there. We are much concerned that there is great danger for the monk seals living in that area. Monk seals are staying between two armies there! If ANY SEAL DIES there during this military show off, who will be responsible?? Please send your concern about those monk seals to Greek Ministry of Environment in Athens or Greek embassies. Thank you for your attention. Bayram Ozturk Faculty of Fisheries Istanbul University TURKEY Phone&FAX: 90-216-323-9050 email: ozturkb(\)doruk.com.tr ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 15:02:01 -0500 From: TMMC(\)aol.com Subject: job announcement JOB ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION: The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA, is looking for an Assistant Stranding Coordinator. The position will commence January 1, 1995. DUTIES: Handling distressed animal reports, coordinating rescue effort, working with private and public agencies, completing stranding reports for government agencies, mainataining stranding report database, coordinating releases, maintaining rescue equipment and vehicles Successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, computer (MacIntosh) literacy, and will work well with others. Schedule varies, weekends required. Position is full time with benefits. Salary commensurate with experience. The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit marine mammal rehabilitation facility located 8 miles northwest of San Francisco, CA. The Center treated over 500 animals in 1995. Please send resume and cover letter to: Director of Animal Care, The Marine Mammal Center, GGNRA, Sausalito, CA 94965. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 14:21:49 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: SV Seals, politics and cannibal cod Georg Blichfeldt wrote: >The panel debate in Halifax was arranged by the >Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and >the participants were: William Bowen; Canada, >Richard L. Merrick; USA, Tore Haug; Norway, >John Harwood; UK, Dough Butterworth; >South-Africa and Johan Sigurjonsson; Iceland. ********* >At the hearing, Lavigne presented himself as >professor at the University of Guelph, but he >is also known to be the execuetiv director of >the international Marine Mammal Association, an >affiliate of the International Fund for Animal >Welfare (IFAW). ********** >At the NAFO/ICES symposium, US scientist Robert >Kenny submitted figures showing that marine >mammals of the US north-east continental shelf >ecosystem, consume two and a half times as much >fish and squid as the average annual take by >the fisheries. ********** >At the MARMAM (8. Des 95), Peter Meisenheimer, also >from the IFAW affiliate, International Marine >Mammal Association, claimed that the DFO, as >part of a "perverse campaign", has made "the >definitive and utterly false statement that >harp seals are limiting groundfish >recruitment". I find all of these references to various scientists, panel participants, etc. to be very interesting, from someone who is clearly trying to present himself as arguing an objective point of view. While taking great pains to portray Lavigne and Meisenheimer as biased, carefully pointing out their affiliation with IFAW, he makes no mention whatsoever of the affiliations, if any, of Bowen, Merrick, Taug, etc. Lavigne could just as easily have been referred to neutrally as "a Canadian scientist." I am largely unfamiliar myself with the affiliations, if any, of the other scientists/panelists mentioned; I merely point out Mr. Blichfeldt's own obvious bias. If any of the scientists are affiliated at any level with fisheries, fisheries management agencies, or fisheries ministries, I would suggest there is no more reason to accept their portrayal of the situation as unbiased than there is to accept Lavigne's or Meisenheimer's. *********** >I believe that everyone would agree that any >cod fishery is likely to have a negative impact >on the recovery of cod stocks, even though this >can not be scientificly proven. It is therefore >difficult to understand why the harp seal's >fishery, taking 1 billion immature cod, should >not have the same effect....Why all this fuss about a >seal hunt on a scale lower than the sustainable >yield? I do not find Mr. Blichfeldt's analogy about the seals being simply another fishery to be AT ALL apt. A fishery is a commercial industry, not a subsistence way of life that has evolved over millenia. Commercial fishers, should a fishery collapse for whatever reason, can (and arguably must) retrain -- it wouldn't be easy or pleasant and could cause enormous hardship, but nevertheless, I would suggest it is highly unlikely that unemployed fishers would literally starve to death because they have lost their ability to pursue that particular livelihood. However, seals are not participating in a commercial industry. The more apt analogy is to consider them subsistence hunters. Taking away their prey (or taking them away from their prey) means that they die, because they starve (or because they are lethally removed) -- not just that they lose their job or way of life. In addition, competing with another fishery involves coming up with better gear or changing laws or regulations to get a bigger share of the resource or capturing different or bigger share of markets -- it does not involve going out and shooting your competitors. I am not trying to imply in any way that I favor thousands of humans losing their jobs over a sustainable number of seals losing their lives. I do not regard the situation to be that simple or black and white and I am very concerned about the hardships suffered by the people of Newfoundland (and everywhere else in the world where natural resources have been overexploited and poorly managed). However, my perception of the situation as complex also leads me to oppose short-term, quick-fix, needlessly wasteful "solutions," and to consider as astoundingly naive anyone who thinks that shooting a bunch of seals will elegantly solve the problems, now and in the future, of all those fisherfolk in Newfoundland. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 17:05:36 -0500 From: hyson(\)BIX.com Subject: Re: ?Tool use? in orcas In-Reply-To: <01I0MEUP5VUA99ECVB(\)delphi.com> When I was working with the White Marline Porpoise Circus in Port Aransas, Texas, I watched a dolphin there, named Pete (a bottlenose from Florida) do a similar thing. There was a pelican that would steal his fish if we threw them in the wrong direction, so it seemed Pete was tired of this. One day between shows, we noticed about 8 fish, about 2-6 inches under the surface, in a circular ring, fairly evenly spaced. As they would sink, Pete went around to each one, pushing each one in turn, to the surface. The pelican appeared interested and wary. After about 10 minutes of this, the pelican flew and dove for one of the fish -- Pete grabbed him, and took him to the bottom and drowned him. First time I had thought of this as "tool use". This shows that the behavior occurs in tursiops as well. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 09:38:16 +1100 From: Jeff Weir Subject: networking with dolphin researchers The Dolphin Research Project inc. is conducting a long-term study of the Tursiops truncatus population in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia. The focus of the study is to collect data to assist with making well concieved management decisions. We have developed an ID methodology which uses digital shape recognition to ID indiviuals from photos of dorsal fins. I would be useful to make contact with workers who are interested in the techniques or are working on similar ideas. We are also conducting a study of the impact of "dolphin swim" ecotours under a grant from the Federal Dept. of Tourism. I would like to network with groups undertaking similar studies or who are involved with the managment of these types of activities. Jeff Weir. Director Dolphin Research Project, Melbourne Australia. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 18:42:44 -0500 From: JoeGrist(\)aol.com Subject: Dolphin Field School This is a re-posting of an annoucement put out two weeks ago. Thank you to those that have already responded. JDG/DFS CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY'S DOLPHIN FIELD SCHOOL Overview Dolphin Field School (DFS) is conducted from the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESV); that sparsely-inhabited peninsula on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay that adjoins Delaware and Maryland to the north. Cape Charles, at the southern end of ESV, is an important rallying point for migrating dolphins as they return to the Chesapeake Bay and points north for the summer. DFS is an intergral component of a long term project evaluating the use of Virginia and the upper North Carolina coastline by marine mammals. The study area we mainly use is approxiately 20 miles x 20 miles, mostly at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, though we occasionally venture beyond this area. We closely monitor environmental parameters and observe habitat utilization by dolphins along the low-human impact coastlines of ESV as well as the highly-urbanized shorelines to the south and west. The Chesapeake Bay includes areas of intensive commercial and recreational fishing, much pleasure-boating, and deep channels for both military and commercial shipping. Since the impacts of these activities are poorly documented, we are measuring the effects of these and other factors on dolphins. Additionally, we take much data on dolphin behavior. We analyze this data for insights into social affiliation patterns, various behavioral gestures, nursery/mother/calf associations, boat interactions, and other related phenomena. Through photographic identification of individual dolphins (photo ID), with both 35mm photography and computer-interfaced videography, we keep detailed records on individual dolphins in the population. This information is important, especially in light of the 1987-88 dolphin "die off", for appropriate management of this stock of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. Results from our previous work have been presented at regional and international scientific conferences and will be developed as manuscripts for publication in journals as well as being useful for reports to state and federal decision-making authorities. Schedule/Courses DFS 1996 will be conducted during four 3-week terms, between May 14th and August 5th. Students will reside at the CCFS facility during their terms of enrollment. DFS will offer four different courses during the sessions. BIOL 295/395--Dolphin Field Research Methods (Intro course); BIOL 499--Independent Study, Dolphin Research; BIOL295--Survey of Marine Mammals; BIOL495--Dolphin Behavior. Training Students will learn field methods of wildlife observation and data recording procedures, learn wildlife behavioral analysis, as well as become knowledgeable in B/W photography/development, videography, and computer data analysis. MORE INFORMATION For more information about DFS, please contact: Joseph Grist, Director Dolphin Field School/CNU Dept. of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science 50 Shoe Lane Newport News, Virginia, 23606-2998 (804) 594-7126 EMAIL: JOEGRIST(\)AOL.COM or JGRIST(\)CNU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 19:31:00 +73600 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Re: Taiwan police find six tonnes Forwarded message: Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 09:31:31 +0800 (CST) From: Lien-Siang Chou To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion Regarding the news of illegal dolphin carcasses found by the Taiwan police, I was invited to help communicate correct information, including species identification. I offer the following corrections and amendments: 1. The total weight was 12 tonnes (not 6 tonnes) of dolphin body pieces (not head only), which including heads, body trunks, and meat in boxes. 2. This case was discovered in the western (not eastern) coastal county, Yunlin. 3. For 54 individuals, the species could be identified by 52 heads (include 7 whole bodies), and 3 pieces of Kogia (2 piece with left lipper, and one piece with doral fin). These consisted of 15 Tursiops truncatus (gilli type) 19 Stenella attenuata 10 Stenella longirostris 7 Steno bredanensis 1 Delphinus delphis 2 Kogia sp. (at least one Kogia breviceps) 4. In addition, there were187 boxes, about one fourth to third of the whole content, containing only meat, and weighed about 12-15 kg each. All meat was dark red in color. Therefore, it seems unlikly that it came from great whales. Roughtly another one third of content was dolphin carcass piece with blubber, almost all of them belong to the species listed above. 5. I have muscle samples in DMSO from 23 randomly-selected boxes 4 unknown body trunk pieces and 54 identified individuals as well. My students are going to run the DNA analysis in the Molecular Lab. of the department Chairman, Dr. Yao-Sung Lin. It might be a good idea to invite one foreign DNA lab. to duplicate the analysis. Any one interests, please contact me and let me know the budget and process. ** Another illegal case: Based on the statement from the accused in this case, Mr. WU, police uncovered another illegal dolphin meat seller in the eastern coastal county, Taidung. In this case, there were 18 pieces of carcass without heads and they weighted about 500 kg. The fishermen had cut each dolphin into 2-4 pieces. These pieces consist at least 6 dolphins (because 6 truncks with flipper joints). Two of these animals were Lagenodelphis hosei. Identification of the others must wait DNA analysis. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lien-siang Chou Professor Department of Zoology National Taiwan University Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C. Tel:886(Taiwan)-2-366-1331 Fax:886(Taiwan)-2-363-9902 e-mail:chouls(\)ccms.ntu.edu.tw ================================================================== On Sat, 13 Jan 1996 r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > Taiwan police find six tonnes of dolphin heads > > TAIPEI, Jan 12 (Reuter) - Police in Taiwan have found six > tonnes of dolphin heads in a freezer and suspect that a giant > crime syndicate may have been responsible for killing the > animals, state television reported on Friday. > Police said they arrested one man, Wu Wan-chiao, for > operating the freezer in the eastern coastal county of Yunlin, > but Wu so far has refused to say where the dolphins came from. > "We face this incident with a heavy heart and hope to > intensify our efforts in this area in the future," an official > from the cabinet's Council of Agriculture said on state > television. > The police suspect that a large crime syndicate may have > smuggled and killed the dolphins, state television reported. > Taiwan has been criticised in the past for failing to > enforce international conservation laws that ban the killing of > endangered animals. > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 14:51:00 -0900 From: Kurt Byers Subject: Drawings, video needed I recently took a phone call from Ms. Dahvi Waller, who works for Newcastle Communications. Her firm is producing an educational video on endangered species. She is looking for a good drawing of a gray whale, and video footage of the same species. If you can help, please call her at 1 (800) 723-1263. Thank you. Kurt Byers, Communications Manager University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program P.O. Box 755040 Fairbanks, AK 99775-5040 Telephone (907) 474-6702, Fax (907) 474-6285 email: FNKMB1(\)aurora.alaska.edu WWW URL: http://info.alaska.edu:70/0h/UA/UA_Fairbanks/SeaGrant/home.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 21:35:07 -0500 From: JoeGrist(\)aol.com Subject: Research help. Dear MARMAMers, I am currently involved in two research projects, and would like your suggestions and input. 1. The Dept. of Biology, Chem., and Env. Science at CNU is putting together a general overview paper on the movements in and out of the Chesapeake Bay estuary of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. We are looking for any journal or book references on the feeding ecology, such as stomach content reports from necropsies (to show a relationship between their presence and the Bay's fishery), movements in and out of estuaries, and reactions to increasing turbidity and sedimentation of waters. This report is part of a package on conservation that we will be presenting to the 1996 Environmental Symposium on the Chesapeake Bay at VMI in April, 1996. The effects of pollution: sedimentary, chemical, and urbanized (increased boating interactions and harassment) are all topics we will discuss in a presentation session to the conference, with relationship to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and its lack of enforcement in the Bay. Any help is appreciated. 2.I am beginning an exploratory study on the biology, ecology, and distribution of Xenobalanus globicitis on Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, with help from the Smithsonian Institute and CNU. So far, few references on this cetacean barnacle have been located. If anyone knows of any work being performed, or having been performend, on this barnacle and their distribution, PLEASE contact me by email. Joe Grist, Director Dolphin Field School/CNU Dept. of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science 50 Shoe Lane Newport News, Virginia 23606-2998 (804) 594-7126 email JOEGRIST(\)AOL.COM or JGRIST(\)CNU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 18:35:29 CST From: newm9083(\)uwwvax.uww.edu Subject: Rich Osborne's address If anyone knows Rich Osborne's email address, it would be greatly appreciated- I just found out that he finally got hooked up on email! Danielle Newman ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 19:51:53 EST From: Debbie Calderwood Subject: Address Location Dear Marmamers: I am trying to locate an address for Alan Abend, doctorial student at Texas A&M, who is currently in Norway this semester. If anyone could give me his snail mail and e-mail (if he has one) address I would appreciate it. Thanks! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 17:46:34 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: WWF warns Mauritania on dolphi WWF warns Mauritania on dolphin deaths GENEVA, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature on Wednesday warned the Mauritanian government to stop destructive fishing practices, which recently caused the death of more than 130 dolphins. The three species of dolphins were choked to death by seine nets used by the African country's fishermen who were trying to collect eggs of yellow mullet, also called poutargue or mullet roe, for export to Italy and Israel. WWF officials said an inquiry undertaken by the Mauritanian park authorities ruled out viral or bacterial infection, heavy metal intoxication or malnutrition as the cause of death for the 130 dolphins. It instead determined the use of seine nets had caused the deaths. The dolphins were found washed ashore last month in the Banc d'Arguin National Park. "The mass stranding of dolphins on such a scale is absolutely scandalous," said Cassandra Phillips, WWF's Cetaceans Officer. "It is one consequence of the unsustainablefisheries that can spell disaster to an area unique in biodiversity and ecological processes." Phillips said the unchecked fishing could threaten the country's economy. Two-thirds of Mauritania's annual revenue is derived from the fishing industry. The Banc d'Arguin National Park covers an area of 1.2 million hectares along the Mauritanian coastline and is listed as a World Heritage site. It contains desert shore, mudflats, islands and shallow sea. The park serves as a spawning ground and nursery for one of the world's largest concentrations of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, WWF said. The Gland, Switzerland-based organization said the greatest threat to the park's wildlife is posed by large trawlers, which come nearer and nearer to the shore, destroying entire communities of sea-bed wildlife. Traditionally, indigenous people used dolphins to drive mullets into circular fishing nets, but growing competition and demanding export markets have resulted in more unscrupulous and illegal ways of catching fish, WWF said. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:16:18 +0100 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Italian Stranding Network (C.S.C.) fin whale calf update Forwarded by Fondazione Cetacea on behalf of the Italian Centro Studi Cetacei (C.S.C.) the Italian Stranding Network. With reference to the intervention related to the fin whale calf seen many times in the Ionian sea in front of Gioia Tauro and Palmi, we feel it is necessary to make clear that this event has brought about the diffusion of information not always accurate. The Centro Studi Cetacei (CSC), currently involved in Calabria (as on many other similar occasions), is an internal workgroup of the Italian Society of Natural Sciences, a scientific community belonging to a tradition going back to 1857 and operating for more than ten years on the Italian coasts and seas. All Italian cetologists and a great number of researchers surveying the many aspects and problems linked to cetaceans have joined: they number about 40 Universities, public Museums, private Universities, private Research Institutes and other public and private institutions altogether. The aims of CSC were and are: spreading and increasing the knowledge on cetaceans of our seas, knowledge which is fairly limited even on an international level; eventually guarantee the retrieval and the conservation of identified osteologic findings complete with their identification and the corresponding morphometric data. All of this is essential for the scientific community. >From the two original projects of CSC, "Cetacean Strandings Project" and "Stranding Project of Cetaceans in Distress", a series of surveys have arisen in various fields. They range from the environmental monitoring to specific biology, anatomy and the health aspect, all contributing to encourage a deeper knowledge on the topic: studying means knowing, knowing means having the right instruments to program a proper management, protection and safeguard of these animals, which are constantly threatened by the more and more dramatic events occurring in our seas. The CSC is currently made up of local people with certain responsibilities and Zone Correspondents, on every Italian coastal region. It is their work on a national level, as well as owning the specific skills required, that have led to CSC's recognition and entitlements by the Governative Institutions in charge (previously Ministry of Merchant Navy, Ministry of Agricultural Resources - C.I.T.E.S. Office, Department of Environment - Office For The Conservation of Nature, presently Ministry of Public Health). In its ten years of activity, the CSC has recovered more than 2000 stranded cetaceans. The reports written on them are published yearly in the Acts of the Italian Society of Natural Sciences. CSC also made possible the publication of dozens of scientific works, results of corresponding surveys prompted or facilitated by its projects. As far as the Calabrian whale is concerned, the CSC decided on the only correct course of action for this kind of situation, namely the animal follow-up open water study in order to evaluate its behaviour, its conditions and the way to prevent potentially dangerous situations from arising. Therefore, all information spread through any channel and not corresponding to what we hereby state should be considered wrong. Anyway, the fin whale calf has not been recently resighted. For further information please contact: Marco Borri National Coordinator of CSC +39-55-225325 (fax) or Fondazione Cetacea +39-541-691557 (phone) / +39-541-606590 (fax) Email Home page P.S.: Thank you very much to Phil Clapham for his answer. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:09:35 MET-1METDST From: "A.M. VAN GINNEKEN (\) MI" Organization: Erasmus University Rotterdam Subject: 'Tool use' in orcas I am not subscribed to Marmam myself, but generous friends forward all orca related messages to me. This protects my mailbox from overflowing. I have been involved in the study of Southern resident orcas in Puget Sound since the summer of 1987. Yet, I also spend some time in visiting and studying the behavior and well being of captive orcas. It began with the female orca Gudrun, formerly at Harderwijk in the Netherlands, and since November 1987 at Sea World in Florida. My attachment to Gudrun has brought me to visit her 17 times, each visit spanning several full observation days at Shamu Stadium. I can tell you that Taima, Gudrun first calf, now 6.5 years old, should have received that 'Red Cross' award first. She is a good example of a whale, who takes pleasure in 'hunting' seagulls. Yet, to my knowledge, she has never actually killed one. I have friends who visit Sea World every week and keep me posted on events and also stories from employees have convinced me that Taima has never seriously injured a bird. Her games must be very unpleasant for the bird, but as was stated in the message, Taima is a predator of the sea. At first, with a fish saved from her meal, Taima would spyhop and try to lure the seagulls. They would fly low, but not within her reach. The second step for her was to hold the fish at the surface, only touching the surface with her rostrum. This also rarely proved successfull. The third stage was that she would actually throw her fish up and try to catch a bird as it would swoop down low in an attempt to catch the fish. Once, when she had grabbed a bird and was dragging it under a few times, a trainer came and gave her a cue, that asks her to offer him what she has in her mouth. It has been done with fish during the shows. Taima came over to the trainer, handed him the bird and within seconds it took wing, seemingly unharmed. A while ago, Taku, a calf born to Katina on Sep 1993, took an interest in Taima's activities. He was actively trying to gain the similar skill. An interesting aspect may be that Taima has a Pacific Northwest transient father and an Icelandic mother. She may have even more bird hunting instinct than the average captive orca. Astrid van Ginneken ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 14:42:29 LCL From: Bayram Ozturk Subject: Monk seals in Turkish Aegean coasts Dear Colleages, After very critical time in the Aegean Sea, the Greek troops withdrew from the Kardak Island which is one of the monk seal habitats in the Bodrum Peninsula. Although the apparent threat to the monk seals is ceased, there remains a concern as this area will be a critical starategic point for both Turkey and Greece, which may draw some military interference any time in the future. Considering the above situation, we would like to invite all international bodies for studying for establishing a marine park in this water (where monk seals freely travel between Turkey and Greece w/o visa and passport). I have already proposed for establishing a marine park there several times, have been working on it, but again I would like to stress that this zone should be an international marine park for the Mediterranean monk seals and their surrounding environment. I would like to hear any comments of MARMAMers regarding this. Thanks for your concern in advance! Peace on earth, on sea, and for monk seals, Bayram OZTURK Faculty of Fisheries Istanbul University TURKEY email: ozturkb(\)doruk.com.tr ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 11:12:47 -0800 From: Sallie Beavers Subject: Position Available The opening for this position with Dr. Bruce Mate's research group has been extended. Please do not reply to this email. Thank you. ************************************************************************ POSITION AVAILABLE TITLE: Computer Systems Administrator / Programmer POSITION DESCRIPTION: Maintain, upgrade, and program computers and networks for research projects collecting satellite telemetered data from transmitters on marine mammals. Develop software for the data collection, retrieval, compilation, analysis and evaluation of telemetered acoustic, oceanographic, locational and diving behavior data. May require occasional travel, possibly under camping/boating conditions during field studies. This is a fixed term position with renewal at the discretion of the director. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree required. Experience in batch files, scripting, C++ (or other high level programming language), DOS, WINDOWS, UNIX and networking required. Experience with C, PASCAL, preferred. Familiarity with electronic components and assembly preferred. DUTIES: The system administration duties will include: network management, user training, and data base management. Programmer responsibilities include: batch file, scripting, C++, C, and Pascal program maintenance and program development in C++ (or other high level language). Other duties include computer component installation and replacement. SALARY RANGE: $25,200 to $35,000 (Depending on experience) DEADLINE: Send resume which includes three references to COMPUTER SYSTEMS SEARCH TEAM, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, postmarked no later than February 28, 1996. DO NOT PHONE or respond to this email. OSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal opportunity employer and it has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual career couples. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 16:03:51 -0600 From: Bram Couperus Subject: Marine Mammals on CD-ROM Does anybody know how and where to order "Marine Mammals of the World" on CD-ROM (editors: T.E. Jefferson, S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber)? I got a leaflet about this, but there is no address on it. Bram Couperus a.s.couperus(\)rivo.dlo.nl ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 14:05:51 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MARMAM funding support Greetings, A while back the editors of MARMAM submitted a message to subscribers describing the costs of running MARMAM, and asking subscribers if they or their associated organizations may be willing to help fund our expenses. Expenses include dial-in fees, purchase of a lap-top computer, and part-time editorial assistance; totalling an estimated $6,600 in canadian funds. We are very pleased with the response we've received to date, and would like to pass on our appreciation to the following individuals and organizations who have pledged or provided donations, totalling $3,533: Georg Blichfeldt/High North Alliance William Burns/GreenLife Society-North American Chapter Merritt Clifton/Animal People International Marine Mammal Association Alan Macnow/Tele-press Associates Andrew Morse Paul Nachtigall/Aquatic Mammals Keith Ronald Leslie Strom/Wide Angle Productions Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Phoebe Wray/Center for Action on Endangered Species Donations received to date have already been put towards dial-in fees and purchase of a lap-top computer. If you are associated with an organization which may be able to provide additional support, or are an individual interested in making a personal donation to assist in covering expenses, please contact the MARMAM editors at marmamed(\)uvic.ca. Thanks again for your support! Pam Willis Robin Baird Dave Duffus -MARMAM editors ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 10:25:10 -0500 From: AnmlPeople(\)aol.com Subject: ANIMAL PEOPLE web site Thanks to the efforts of Ferrell Wheeler and the Animal Rights Resource group, ANIMAL PEOPLE now has a web site: http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/ap The site is quite incomplete as yet, with only four of our 33 issues to date available at the moment, and those are last summer's issues, but the entire set will be accessible as soon as we're able to get each edition properly formatted. Since each individual issue includes nearly 500k of material, this is obviously a major task. Meanwhile, we're making available what we can make available, and appreciate users' patience as we get the rest done. --Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE. (ANIMAL PEOPLE is a nonprofit monthly newspaper providing independent professional coverage of all the news about animal protection, from animal rescue to zoological conservation. If you give to help animals, you'll especially want our annual report on how each leading group spends donations ($3.00). Subscriptions, U.S. or foreign, are $22/year, $35/2 years, or $50/three years, to POB 205, Shushan, NY 12873. We'll send a free sample issue to anyone who provides a postal address.) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 22:10:25 -0600 From: Anne Doncaster Subject: Re: WWF warns Mauritania on dolphi >WWF warns Mauritania on dolphin deaths > > GENEVA, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature on Wednesday >warned the Mauritanian government to stop destructive fishing practices, >which recently caused the death of more than 130 dolphins. What species of dolphins were involved. As the WWF is taking an interest, I assume the dolphins must have been members of endangered species. Anne D Anne Doncaster International Wildlife Coalition P.O. Box 461 Port Credit Postal Station Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4M1 Canada Tel: (905) 274-0633 Fax: (905) 274-4477 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 13:17:09 +0000 From: Samantha Chalis Subject: Announcement: WORKSHOP ON DISTANCE SAMPLING ============================================================================== DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF DISTANCE SAMPLING SURVEYS An international workshop on line and point transect sampling 17-21 June, 1995. To be held at the University of St. Andrews SCOTLAND, U.K. ============================================================================== COURSE INSTRUCTORS: Prof. Steve Buckland and Mr. David Borchers (Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment, University of St. Andrews) and Dr. Jeff Laake (National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA). ============================================================================== INTENDED PARTICIPANTS: The workshop is intended for scientists who are carrying out population assessments of wildlife. We anticipate a mixture of marine and terrestrial mammalogists, ornithologists and fisheries biologists, plus statisticians who have an interest in the topic. ============================================================================== WORKSHOP CONTENT: The workshop will concentrate primarily on line and point transect sampling methods. Although the basic theory will be covered, the focus of the workshop will be on practical application of the methods. Line and point transects will be covered in detail in separate sessions. Field methods and survey design will be addressed. Participants will be taught how to use the software package "DISTANCE" and are thus encouraged to bring their own data sets for partial analysis on the course. Individual tuition will be given on the analysis of these data. Informal discussion groups will be established for participants with common interests or problems. ============================================================================== FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information on the workshop, please send your name, mailing address and e-mail address to Sharon Cumberworth (E-mail: sharon(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) OR Prof. Steve Buckland (E-mail: steve(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) Mathematical Institute North Haugh St. Andrews Fife, KY16 9SS SCOTLAND. FAX: +44-(0)1334-463748 ============================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 19:30:33 -0600 From: Jorge Brenner Guillermo Subject: E-mail address! Dear Marmers: I'm trying to locate Bruce R. Mate's e-mail address. I believe he is at the Marine Science Center in Oregon State University. Answer to my private e-mail: jbrenner(\)spot.mty.itesm.mx Thank you. Jorge Brenner ITESM-Monterrey ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 16:44:12 +0200 From: LEGAKIS ANASTASIOS Subject: Reply to Ozturk Dear friends, We were very surprised and disappointed to read the recent message (30 January 1 996, 13:31:05 LCL) from Bayram Ozturk, Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul Univers ity, in which he attempts to involve the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus mon achus in the recent conflict between Greece and Turkey. He furthermore urges the members of the network into a mailing campaign, providing incorrect info rmation about the status of the area. We would like to inform you that: 1. In all the available literature that Mr. Ozturk has produced relative to the Bodrum peninsula the above islets have never been mentioned before his recen t message to MARMAM. This is also true in his presentations during internat ional meetings (Council of Europe 1991, UNEP RAC/SPA 1994). 2. In his recent booklet entitled "AKDENIZ FOKU Monachus monachus", August 1992 , he again does not mention anything about this island and in particular in a map of Bodrum peninsula (page 90), the Greek islet Imia ("Kardak" is the nam e that Mr. Ozturk uses for it) is not even included in his study area. 3. The islet of Imia according to international laws and agreements belongs to Greece. 4. Conservation of nature can be realized under status of peace which is the re sult of respecting and upholding international laws and agreements. 5. Relative to his concern about the danger for the monk seals, Greece which ho sts the largest monk seal population in the Mediterranean (IUCN 1993), is con sidering Monachus monachus as a priority species and has taken a leading role in the conservation of this species through a number of conservation measure s (ratification of international conventions, introduction and enforcement of national legislation, establishment of protected areas, guarding of protecte d areas, inclusion of important monk seal habitats into the European Union NA TURA 2000 Network, functioning of a Rescue and Information Network throughout Coastal Greece - in which all Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean are includ ed - , operating the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, conducting research on the biology and ecology of the species, environmental education projects, pu blic awareness campaigns, etc.) Lastly MOm, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, the Greek non-profit and non-governmental organization which since 1988 is ac tively and continuously involved in the research and conservation of the numb er one endangered marine mammal in Europe, welcomes anyone who is interested in the efforts for conserving this species, to unhesitatingly contact us. With respect on behalf of MOm Vrassidas ZAVRAS Chairman of the Board of Directors MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal 53 Solomou Street GR-104 32 Athens Tel. +30.1.5222 888 Fax +30.1.5222 450 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 18:07:16 EST From: Susan Connell <103331.1761(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Arctic Research Project Join two marine mammal biologists on a research expedition 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Drs. Tom Smith and David St. Aubin will be continuing their 25-year long studies of the ecology and biology of ringed seals in the western Canadian Arctic. With Inuit Guides, up to 4 participants will travel by snowmobile and sled across the sea ice to field camps to study the breeding habitat of the ringed seal along the western coast of Victoria Island. The group will stay in igloos and tent camps while assisting the scientists to collect their data. Cost for the 10-day trip during April '96, $8675, including airfare. For detailed information, contact Susan Connell, e-mail 103331.1761(\)compuserve.com , or tel. 860.535.1121. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:21:47 -0800 From: Fred Sharpe Subject: Tracking methods Hello all, I am interested in quantifying the movement, spacing, and orientation of humpback whales over moderate spatial scales (up to about 1.5 miles). Can anyone recommend a method for this type of tracking which could be done from a boat without the aid of a shore based surveyor's theodolite or affixing a tracking tag on the animal. I was thinking about a combination of a compass, GPS, and a high quality range finder operated from a ship's mast. In Southeast Alaska, the terrain is typically steep and forested, making the establishment of a shore based tracking station difficult. In addition, the movement of humpback pods are often extensive and unpredictable, which also reduces the effectiveness of a shore station. Any ideas or references on this problem would be very much appreciated. Sincerely, Fred Sharpe Simon Fraser University fsharpe(\)sfu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 09:17:49 +0100 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: SV: Seals, politics and cannibal cod Blichfeldt wrote: Here is Lavigne's answer to the question from Gallagher, on the effect of harp seal predation on the Atlantic cod: [...] We know that a major predator of young cod is in fact cod. So this predation of seals on intermediate size cod, could in fact be one of these situations where seals are eating the predators of the juvenile fish that are coming along behind. So you said, could I speculate on the effect on cod stocks. I think doctor Harwood has already answered that question. We really don't know. There are no data and indeed the analysis required to even address it has yet not begun. So we don't know. We haven't even the models, as far as I know, to address whether harp seal consumption on 1 to 2 year olds would have a negative impact on the recovery or would enhance the survival of even younger cod. We simply don't have that kind of information at the present time. I'm sorry I can't provide any personal contribution to this problem of whether cod slows down cod recovery. Let's see what Lavigne's own IMMA Inc. says about this. Peter Meisenheimer of IMMA has produced a report called "Seals, cod, ecology and mythology", available from IMMA Inc. . Therein it says: [...] Two months after Brian Tobin's press conference, the prestigious journal Science published a study, two of whose authors are scientists working for the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), in which it is concluded that predators (including seals) generally play no discernible role in the population dynamics of recovering fish stocks (including cod) (Myers, et al. 1995). In news media interviews with the report's authors, it was made clear that they believe that culling seals will have no positive impact on the cod recovery, at all (Strauss 1995). [...] Although the more commonly encountered view is that seals have had a deleterious effect on the cod stock recovery, it is also possible that seals have a positive impact. The reason for this conclusion is, again, the complex nature of real ecological interactions. Seals eat many things, some of which are cod, some of which cod eat, and some of which eat cod. [...] (The Myers et al article is Myers, R.A., N.J. Barrowman, J.A. Hutchings, A.A. Rosenberg. 1995. "Population dynamics of exploited fish stocks at low population levels." Science v269, pp 1106--1108.) One important thing to note here is that the Myers et al article does not mention seals at all. It looks at general population dynamics and concludes that a particular kind of "evil" dynamics is not likely to occur in natural fish populations. (Namely reduced per capita recruitment at low population levels, resulting in a non-stable equilibrium at low abundance.). Hence, any inference drawn from that paper about a particular predator will necessarily be valid for other predators. That is, Meisenheimer claims that the Myers et al article shows that predators generally play no discernible role; Lavigne, on the other hand, indicates that predators (namely cannibalistic cod) may do so. Lavigne and Meisenheimer are fellow scientists working for the same organization (IMMA Inc). Lavigne has mentioned the Myers et al paper in one of his talks, so he knows it. IMMA Inc. has effectively shot themselves in the foot in this debate. I suggest Lavigne and Meisenheimer have a serious talk about the paper and about IMMA Inc's strategy, they can't have it both ways. (Personally, I have a feeling that IMMA Inc's interpretation of the paper is part of the mythology and not of the facts) I would agree with the Halifax panel in that "assessments of the influence of seal predation on fish stocks [should] be based on knowledge of the ecosystem in question" rather than through analogies with what one believes might be similar ecosystems. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 15:54:59 -0500 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Tool Use in Delphinids Aloha Marmammers, Assuming tool use applies to activities interpreted as play, there is a lot of literature involving toys. Because of this, personnel at the University of Hawaii lab at Kewalo Basin in the early-mid seventies assumed that nothing was unusual about the use of toys by the dolphins (T.t.), in particular Puka. But then Puka was no slouch intellectually as she was a subject in Wayne Batteau's successful demonstration for the Navy in the mid sixties that abstract communication using whistles was possible and that the dolphins could "talk" back using the whistles. Puka had two favorite "toys", a frisbee and a "swagger" stick which she clutched between her left flipper and her torso. The use of the swagger stick was the subject of much discussion among the residents and students at the lab. The consensus that evolved was that Puka got a tactile sensation in her flipper "pit" and adjacent areas when she swam with it. She was also known to throw the stick on occasion and carry it on her rostrum or melon. Puka's crowning achievement, at least with these toys, was her ability to throw a frisbee with her rostrum. Puka was extremely accurate with her frisbee. On occasion, and depending on the person(s), Puka would coax people into a game of catch with the frisbee in which she would throw the frisbee to her partner or one of the partners and catch it with her rostrum when thrown to her. She would do this as long as she could trust the other participant(s) and invariably outlast her human companions. Puka could also hit a moving target, even a fast moving target. On one occasion, I had passed her tank twice already finishing things before going to a wedding and could not play frisbee with her due to time constraints. After I had dressed for the wedding I passed her tank to do something and noticed that she was adamant about playing and was not going to take "no" for an answer. When I had to pass the tank again, I snuck up and looked into the tank to see where she was. She was laying in wait. So I backed up as far as I could and ran past the tank as fast as I could. Puka hit me in the middle of the back with the frisbee and all the associated water. What could I do? I stopped, picked up the frisbee and proceeded to play catch with Puka, after all I was already soaked. There was another impressive demonstration of tool use by Puka and this time it involved fish. Puka was not eating and this of course was of concern to the lab management. After a number of students had tried to feed Puka the lab director decided to give it a shot. The lab director was quite innovative and would do all sorts of interesting things to get Puka to eat a fish. And she did, except she also turned the operant conditioning tables on the lab director and began "rewarding" him by eating a fish. Sometimes she would "tease" him by spitting it back up. To make this short, Puka eventually had the lab director balancing three feet over the water on an existing narrow beam 3 inches wide. When he had gotten her to eat her ration, he came back to the crowd that had gathered and stated what everyone was thinking, that he could swear that Puka was training him just like she is trained. We just passed it off as "Well that's Puka". Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.coml ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 11:38:26 -1000 From: "Paul G. Hugel" Subject: S.A.V.E. Maui Program Aloha, I would like to introduce this discussion group to S.A.V.E. Maui Program. For those of you with World Wide Web access our URL: http://nko.mhpcc.edu The(S.A.V.E.)Scientific Analysis & Visualization of the Environment Program was established 1n 1989 by Silicon Graphics Computer Systems. In Partnership with SGI, our S.A.V.E. Maui Program utilizes high performance Iris workstations, & servers to support environmental researchers & their projects based here in Maui. NO KA OI Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit R&D technology transfer based corp. & directs S.A.V.E. Maui activities. Fly in 3D VRML Maui and explore Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, Whales Alive NetForum, Cetacean Nation, marine art & more. A VRML Browser is required to view VRML Maui(Virtual Reality Modeling Language)model please follow the links from VRML Entry Point. Instructions for configuration are available from the download area. To find out more how you can make a difference in your life and join our team of sponsors, & team contact me via the Web or email. Regards, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul G. Hugel President and Chief Executive Officer NO KA OI Foundation paul(\)mhpcc.edu (EMAIL) Maui High Performance Computing Center http://nko.mhpcc.edu (URL) 550 Lipoa Parkway 808.879.5077 (VOICE) Kihei, HI 96753 808.879.5018 (FAX) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 11:19:25 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Penella and cetaceans Just to expand a bit on my previous message, we commonly see parasitic copepods belonging to genus Penella on fin whales in the Mediterranean. We haven't looked into this in a quantitative way, however at the moment I can say that most whales we see each summer show at least a couple of these critters hanging on their backs or sides when they surface. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara On 22 January Dagmar Fertl wrote: > I would be interested in hearing from people with information about > the occurrence of Penella (parasitic copepod) on cetaceans. Guiseppe > Notarbartolo di Sciara posted a message to Marmam recently about these > on a free-ranging fin whale. I would like to know if anyone has (or > knows of someone with) similiar information on the association with > cetaceans and/or the copepod itself. > > Please post me directly. Thank you in advance for your assistance. > > > Dagmar Fertl > > > Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov > > *********************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 29401987 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it *********************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 10:32:37 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: fl-daybook fl-daybook The Florida United Press International Daybook includes: Saturday, Feb. 17 TAMPA -- thru May 12 -- Debut of "Leviathans: Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises" at the Museum of Science & Industry, includes hand-on exhibits. 4801 East Fowler Avenue. Contact: Beverly Littlejohn, (813)987-6313. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 08:58:26 -0500 From: 100600.674(\)compuserve.com Subject: Small cetaceans The EIA are producing a new report on the conservation status of small cetaceans. This will update the findings of our two previous reports "The global war against small cetaceans" volumes 1 and 2 (1991), concentrating on issues and species for which there is significant new information or developments that may affect the future of a species and efforts to conserve and protect them. Any information, published, unpublished or anecdotal will be very gratefully received as will references and contacts. Our initial research will concentrate on by-catches and direct catches in the following areas UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Turkey (inc Black Sea) Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Portugal and the Azores, Iceland Rebecca Johns Environmental Investigation Agency 15 Bowling Green Lane London EC1R 0BD England e-mail 100600.674(\)compuserve.com. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 09:48:48 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 2/5/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am shortening the summary to include only new items added since my last posting. However, I will post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is the longer summary for the first Friday of February 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress New info and changes since 01/26/96 are bracketed {...}. . Marine Mammals . Climate Change and Whales. On Mar. 25-30, 1996, the International Whaling Commission is sponsoring and the National Marine Fisheries Service is hosting a symposium and workshop in Hawaii on the effects of climate change on cetaceans. [personal communication] . Ballard Locks Sea Lions. On Jan. 17, 1996, Washington State officials announced that no State or Federal funds are available to capture and hold problem sea lions this year and that individual problem animals may have to be killed to protect migrating steelhead trout. In early January 1996, the sea lion called "Hondo" that was held captive for several months in 1995 was spotted in Shilshole Bay near Ballard Locks. [Assoc Press] . Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Research. On Jan. 16, 1996, a three-day workshop began in Anchorage, AK, to discuss the findings of 1995 research funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. Researchers reported that the observed decline and dissolution of the A-B orca/killer whale pod was directly attributable to the oil spill. [Assoc Press] . Marine Mammal Hearing Damage. In mid-January 1996, a study by hearing-impaired students from the American School for the Deaf, Hartford, CT, supervised by a marine-acoustics specialist from the University of Connecticut's National Undersea Research Center, concluded that noise from fishing vessels in the Gulf of Maine may damage hearing of whales and dolphins. [Assoc Press] . Dolphin Deaths in UK Driftnets. In early January 1996, the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare estimated, based on United Kingdom (UK) data, that the UK tuna driftnet fleet killed 182 dolphins in the Northwest Atlantic during the 1995 fishing season. [Agence Europe via Reuters] . {Twelve Tons of Dolphin Parts. On Jan. 12, 1996, police in Yunlin, Taiwan, found twelve tons of dolphin parts in a freezer and arrested the freezer operator, who refused to reveal where the parts came from. At least six different species of small cetaceans appeared to be among the remains. Subsequently, an additional illegal dolphin meat seller was discovered in Taidung.} [Reuters, personal communication] . Captive Dolphins Escape. In early January 1996, a storm destroyed barriers allowing eight captive dolphins to escape from Anthony's Key Resort in Honduras. The missing dolphins were among 12 dolphins exported to Honduras from the United States in September 1994 after Ocean World of Fort Lauderdale, FL, closed. [Assoc Press] . Manatees. On Jan. 3, 1996, Florida officials reported that 201 manatees had died during 1995 -- the second-worst death toll in two decades of study. However, 1995 deaths attributable to human activity -- primarily watercraft use and operation of floodgates and canal locks -- declined slightly from 1994 figures. Increases were primarily in numbers of newborn manatees dying of natural causes and from undetermined causes (due to carcasses too decomposed to determine the cause of death). In mid-January 1996, Florida biologists counted 2,274 manatees in their annual survey of this species -- this compares to 1,822 counted in January 1995. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Seal Hunting. In early January 1996, the Comox Chapter of the Steelhead Society of British Columbia asked the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans for a permit to kill 30 harbor seals that were killing salmon on the Puntledge River. On Jan. 22, 1996, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing indignation over Norway's seal hunt as well as seal hunts conducted by Canada, Russia, and Namibia. The resolution also called on the European Commission to ensure that products from Norwegian seals not be sold in European markets. [Agence Europe via Reuters, Assoc Press] . Free Willy. On Jan. 7, 1996, United Parcel Service transported Keiko from Mexico City to the Oregon Coast Aquarium free-of-charge, using a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The whale, specially constructed container, and water weighed between 40,000 and 42,000 pounds. On Jan. 9, 1996, Icelandic officials restated their 1993 decision that Keiko could not be released in Icelandic waters due to the possibility of transmitting diseases to wild whales. On Jan. 12, 1996, Oregon Coast Aquarium officials announced that Keiko's appetite had doubled during the week (200 pounds of fresh fish per day rather than 100 pounds) and that he had become more energetic and inquisitive. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . ATOC. In late January 1996, the State of Hawaii will hold a public hearing on starting the Kauai portion of the ATOC project. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 10:09:05 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Whalewatcher contents For those who aren't members of the American Cetacean Society, these are articles in the recently published issue of Whalewatcher, vol 29(2): Hoyt, E. Whalewatching takes off (pp 3-7) Hoyt, E. The IWC gets involved in whalewatching (p 7) Dedina, S. and E. Young. Conservation as communication: local people and gray whale tourism in Baja California Sur, Mexico (pp 8-13) Duffus, D.A. and R.W. Baird. Killer whales, whalewatching and management: a status report (pp 14-17) Heyning, C. Dr. Randy Reeves: the accidental biologist (pp 18-21) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 09:34:01 -0800 From: Dave Duffus Subject: Arctic Research Expedition >Date: 02 Feb 96 21:07:22 EST >From: Susan Connell <103331.1761(\)compuserve.com> >To: David Duffus >Subject: Arctic Research Expedition > > >Join two marine mammal biologists on a research expedition 250 miles north of >the Arctic Circle. Drs. Tom Smith and David St. Aubin will be continuing their >25-year long studies of the ecology and biology of ringed seals in the western >Canadian Arctic. With Inuit guides, up to 4 participants will travel by >snowmobile and sled across the sea ice to field camps to study the breeding >habitat of the ringed seal along the western coast of Victoria Island. The >group will stay in igloos and tent camps while assisting the scientists to >collect their data. Cost for the 10-day trip during Arpil '96, $8,675, >including airfare and a $500 contribution (tax deductable in th3e US) to the >research project. For detailed information, contact Susan Connell, e-mail >103331.1761(\)compuserve.com , or tel. 860.535-1121. > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 13:47:58 EST From: Kimberly Ballard Organization: College of the Atlantic Subject: winter breeding habits of finbacks Howdy folks... I am a third-year student at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. I have hopes of doing genetic/molecular research on finback whales in their winter breeding grounds for a senior project. Does anyone have information on current research being done regarding this, or any information in general; ie.,locatins, shipping routes/transportation to the locale, etc...I will be estactic with anything you could provide me!!! You can contact me directly at Ballard(\)ecology.coa.edu or snail mail COA 105 Eden St. Bar Harbor, Me 04609. Thank-you for your on-line time! -Kimberly Ballard ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 07:03:59 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: American Cetacean Society There have been a few requests to post information on how to contact the American Cetacean Society to become a member and receive Whalewatcher. American Cetacean Society P.O. Box 2639 San Pedro, CA 90731 Tel: 310-548-6279 FAX: 310-548-6950 If I remember correctly, the dues are app. $30. Single issues of Whalewatcher are listed at $3/issue. I hope this information is useful. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 15:00:11 GMT From: h94jd(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk Subject: Captive Dolphin Escape. ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) >Captive Dolphins Escape. In early January 1996, a storm >destroyed barriers allowing eight captive dolphins to >escape from Anthony's Key Resort in Honduras. The >missing dolphins were among 12 dolphins exported to >Honduras from the United States in September 1994 after >Ocean World of Fort Lauderdale, FL, closed. [Assoc Press] Has any Marmamers got an up-date on this news story? JD ==================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 16:50:02 LCL From: Bayram Ozturk Subject: Monk seals in the Aegean Sea Dear Friends, We thank the people who sent us various comments and suggestions for the monk seal issue in the Aegean Sea. However, we were very disappointed at the reply from Mr. Zavras Vrassidis, Chairman of the Mom/Helennic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal. I did not and still don't want to insert politics to marmam, nor to monk seal protection. Our concern is monk seals, rather than 400 square meter rocky islets, Kardak or Imia (whatever you feel like calling them). However, neither MOm nor Greek authority were not aware of that those islets were monk seal habitat. They have not published any paper on the seals in that area. But, because of this crises, they may start to produce new reports about that area. They never visited those islets because those islets have been under the control of Turkish authority. Since 1991, we have observed seals around those islets. These seals were travelling between Greek and Turkish waters freely until the crisis. Mr. Zavras mentioned that in any of my studies Kardak Islets are not mentioned. It is true that I did now mention the name "Kardak" in my book "Mediterranean monk seals" but those islets are included in the circle showing our study area on the map he mentioned. (Plus, how can I mention ALL those small islets -hundreds of them- in the eastern Aegean Sea?) But we have a publication about this area including those islets along with the photos and video that we took there before 1996. We acknowledge the contribution of all the Greek colleagues for the protection of Mediterranean monk seals. And I'm still optimistic, hoping to work together with our Greek colluagues, if the seals still exist in the Bodrum Peninsula! again selam or yasu Zavras.. Bayram OZTURK Istanbul University Turkey email: ozturkb(\)doruk.com.tr ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Feb 1996 14:18:12 -0800 From: Bob Chorush Subject: PAWS Book Sale MARMAMERS The PAWS Store, a service of The Progressive Animal Welfare Society of Lynnwood, WA is having an online book clearance. There are several titles regarding marine mammals that may be of interest to MARMAMERS. All prices are 25-75% off list price. The entire book list can be accessed from our internet site: http://www.paws.org or, only the books relating to marine mammal issues may be accessed at: http://www.paws.org/store/marine.html All orders can be placed by email and must be paid for by credit card. Bob Chorush Web Administrator PAWS - Seattle email: bchorush(\)paws.org phone: (206) 787-2500 ext 862 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 08:26:21 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: More seals, politics and cannibal cod (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg To: "'marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca'" Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 01:26:11 +-100 Naomi A. Rose, HSUS, wrote in response to my mail titled "Seals, politics, and cannibal cod": >I find all of these references to various scientists, panel >participants, etc. to be very interesting, from someone who is clearly >trying to present himself as arguing an objective point of view. While >taking great pains to portray Lavigne and Meisenheimer as biased, >carefully pointing out their affiliation with IFAW, he makes no mention >whatsoever of the affiliations, if any, of Bowen, Merrick, Taug, etc. >Lavigne could just as easily have been referred to neutrally as "a >Canadian scientist." . The reason why I have presented Lavigne's affiliation to the=20 International Fund for Animal Welfare is that this connection has=20 not been made public by himself nor IFAW. I have recently looked=20 into the IFAW 1993 annual report and with great surprise found out=20 that the organisation where Lavigne is the executive director, the International Marine Mammal Association (IMMA), is mentioned in=20 the list of "affiliated organisations worldwide" - together with IFAW=20 Charitable Trust, IFAW Promotions Ltd., Brian Davis Foundation=20 Inc. and IFAW Trading Ltd. According to the IFAW annual report=20 "one of the (IFAW) directors acts as worldwide chief execuetive=20 director for all affiliates and is employed by IFAW (US) at the=20 international headquarters in the US. Lavigne's superior is then an=20 IFAW director.=20 The background for my surprise? IFAW has regularly - and for years -=20 in their press releases used quotes from Lavigne - and other IMMA=20 scientists as scientific corroboration. Lavigne is then referred to as "leading marine scientist at the University of Guelph", or Lavigne=20 "of the IMMA". Also the media has always presented Lavigne and=20 the IMMA as unrelated to IFAW. And the other way around, when=20 writing for the BBC Wildlife, Lavigne refers to IFAW and there=20 campaigns, and in favourable terms, as he has nothing to do with=20 that organisation. He is also reporting on the trapping controversy=20 between the EU and Canada - supporting the EU fur import ban -=20 another of IFAW's babies. Here he signs as "David Lavigne, Canada". Obviously all scientists have to get their funding from somewhere.=20 There are only two possibilites: private or public funding. In this way=20 there is no scientist that are not in the one way or another are tied to = "interests". This does not mean that they are all biased. The challenge=20 is to be very conscious of the possible impact this may have on their=20 work and to try to avoid such impact. This is obviously more easy if=20 you are able to put some distance between yourself and your funding=20 source. But most important; scientists should be obliged to make=20 known who they are funded by, who they are working for and who they are affiliated with. >I am largely unfamiliar myself with the >affiliations, if any, of the other scientists/panelists mentioned; I >merely point out Mr. Blichfeldt's own obvious bias. If any of the >scientists are affiliated at any level with fisheries, fisheries >management agencies, or fisheries ministries, I would suggest there is > no more reason to accept their portrayal of the situation as unbiased > than there is to accept Lavigne's or Meisenheimer's You are right. I should also have presented where the other scientists mentioned are coming from: W. Bowen: Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada D. S. Butterworth: Dept. of Maths and Applied Maths, Univers. of Cape = Town J. Harwood, NERC Sea Mammal Research Unit,UK T. Haug: Norwegian Institute of Fisheries & Aquaculture R. L. Merrick: National Marine Mammal Laboratory, USA=20 R. D. Kenney: University of RI, Graduate School of Oceanography, USA J. Sigurjonsson, Marine Research Institute, Iceland (The information is taken from the public list of participants at the = Halifax symposium and the EU hearing (Harwood)) Of these seven I guess as least Haug, Sigurjonsson and Merrick=20 might be termed "government scientists". As far as I know none of=20 the seven is affiliated to any interest organisations. But that should=20 not be interpreted as they have no opinions in the field of marine=20 mammal management. Butterworth, Sigurjonsson and Haug are - as=20 I have understood them - strong defenders of "sustainable use". Bowen=20 and Harwood do - in my mind - not give strong signals on where they=20 stand in the conflict between protection and sustainable use. Merrick=20 stated in the panel debate that in his mind good management is the = mangement that serves the marine mammals, and that he=20 supports the management objectives of the US Marine Mammal=20 Protection Act. This statement came as result of my challenge - from the floor - to=20 the panel to reveal their personal stand in the matter of marine=20 mammal management, and to discuss how there attitude would=20 influence their management advice. Harwoods commented that=20 everything a scientist expresses has to be evaluated on the basis of=20 their cultural and social background; and that all scientific advice = will=20 contain an element of subjectivity. His point was well illustrated by=20 the others in the panel - that did not offer big surprises when it came = to=20 the relation between their nationality and attitudes to the management of marine mammals. But! - concerning the scientific basis - they more or less agreed.=20 My bias? Well, I not neutral. I am working for the High North Alliance,=20 (as informed in all my postings), an umbrellaorganisation with=20 organisations for whalers, sealers and fishermen - and some local = communities - from Greenland, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway=20 as members. Our task is to defend their right to a sustainable - I=20 repeat; sustainable, utilization of marine mammals. >I do not find Mr. Blichfeldt's analogy about the seals being simply >another fishery to be AT ALL apt. A fishery is a commercial industry, >not a subsistence way of life that has evolved over millenia. >Commercial fishers, should a fishery collapse for whatever reason, can >(and arguably must) retrain -- it wouldn't be easy or pleasant and = could >cause enormous hardship, but nevertheless, I would suggest it is highly >unlikely that unemployed fishers would literally starve to death = because >they have lost their ability to pursue that particular livelihood. >However, seals are not participating in a commercial industry. The=20 >more apt analogy is to consider them subsistence hunters. Taking > away their prey (or taking them away from their prey) means that they > die, because they starve (or because they are lethally removed) -- not > just that they lose their job or way of life. In addition, competing=20 >with another fishery involves coming up with better gear or changing > laws or regulations to get a bigger share of the resource or capturing > different or bigger share of markets -- it does not involve going out = and > shooting your competitors. >I am not trying to imply in any way that I favor thousands of humans >losing their jobs over a sustainable number of seals losing their = lives. >I do not regard the situation to be that simple or black and white and = I >am very concerned about the hardships suffered by the people of >Newfoundland (and everywhere else in the world where natural resources >have been overexploited and poorly managed). However, my perception=20 >of the situation as complex also leads me to oppose short-term, quick- >fix, needlessly wasteful "solutions," and to consider as astoundingly=20 >naive anyone who thinks that shooting a bunch of seals will elegantly=20 >solve the problems, now and in the future, of all those fisherfolk in >Newfoundland. I do not believe that "shooting a bunch of seals" will "elegantly solve=20 the problems". First and foremost the overfishing by humans has to be = stopped. If this is done - the fish stocks have recovered and you have=20 set up a sustainable management regime that works - then you might=20 start to think about the impact of marine mammals in your multi-species management models. In some ecosystem you will find that marine=20 mammals predation, interference with fishing gear or as hosts of=20 parasites has an negative impact on your fisheries - and reduces the=20 fisheries sustainable yield.=20 We don't favour a seal cull. Seals, and marine mammals in general has=20 always been paramount to the very means of existence of the North=20 Atlantic coastal population. To cull seals would be to waste a valuable = resource. Our aim is that not only the skins should be utilised but also the meat, blubber and intestines etc. But due to the campaigns=20 against the seal hunt in the 70's and 80's, that lead to a collapse=20 in the seal skin market, it is difficult to make the hunt viable. Even=20 today, every single attemt to establish markets is met with new=20 campaigns. It is in fact these campaigns that are turning seals into=20 a pest, thereby bringing up the question of a cull - or a control of the = seal population through contraception.=20 The situation outside Newfoundland is rather special. Overfishing has=20 taken the cod stocks down to a minimum. All cod fisheries are now=20 banned. Still a big harp seal stock of 4,7 million animals eat 140 000=20 tons - or 1 billion cod individuals - annually. The decline in cod = stocks=20 do not have a substantial impact on the development of the seal stock=20 as the cod constitutes only a small part, 3-5 percent of the harp seal=20 diet, so the predation pressure by harp seals are upheld or increasing.=20 If asked managment advice would be to at least control the growth=20 of the seal stock. This is exactly what the canadian government is=20 doing. President of the HSUS, Paul Irwin, wrote , in your autumn 1994=20 newsletter: "'Sustainable use of wildlife' is a bankrupt philosophy=20 that capitalizes on brutality and death. What the world needs for the=20 new millennium is not a philosophy of death but rather a philosophy=20 of life - that glorifies and preserves the lives of all".=20 Naomi, evidently our ways part on the question of sustainable use.=20 Living in a fishing village (Reine, Lofoten Islands) a bit north of the=20 arctic circle, a community that has based its existence on the=20 utilization of living marine resources - commercially - as well as for = subsistence - for more than 800 years, it is difficult to see any other=20 path into the future than a sustainable use of these resource. And=20 we are not willing to - nor able to - go a 1000 years back to a pure subsistence fishery. I am glad to be to able to tell you that in our=20 waters the fish stocks (also the cod) generally are in good shape. The same goes for the marine mammals. For the future of my=20 community - lets work to make it stay that way. And also for the=20 future of the globe - I think it's better that we are staying here as=20 sustainable fishers and hunters - than moving to New York.=20 Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, P.O.Box 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway email: georgb(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 14:11:34 GMT From: Benjamin Morales Vela Subject: International Meeting in Chetumal, deadline for abstracts... ******************************************************************* XXI Reunion Internacional para el Estudio de Mamiferos Marinos 8-12 Abril 1996, Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico Se informa a todos los interesados en enviar resumenes para presentacion de trabajos en la reunion, que debido a que tuvimos problemas con la red de computo durante una semana, la fecha para el envio de resumenes se extiende hasta el dia 16 de febrero de 1996. Gracias por su participacion. ******************************************************************* XXI International Meeting for the Study of Marine Mammals April 8-12 1996, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico We would like to inform interested people to send their abstracts for the meeting by the deadline for submission of abstracts which has been extended to February 16th of 1996. This was due to technical problems with our computer system for the last week. Thank you for your participation. ******************************************************************* Envie sus resumenes a: Abstracts should be sent to: M. en C. Benjamin Morales Vela El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Quintana Roo Apdo. Postal 424, C.P. 77000, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico tel (983) 216-66, 200-76 Fax (983) 204-47 e-mail: Bmorales(\)xaway.ciqro.conacyt.mx ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 18:25:38 +0000 From: Graham Pierce Subject: Postgraduate training in Marine and Fisheries Science ===================================================== Postgraduate training in Marine and Fisheries Science at the University of Aberdeen ===================================================== MSc/Diploma Course ================== This postgraduate course covers the biology, exploitation, and management of the marine environment and its living resources. The teaching resources and range of interests in marine biology and fisheries at the University are combined with specific areas of advanced expertise available at the Scottish Office Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen. The major input from research scientists responsible for providing advice on fishery matters to the UK government is a special feature of this course. *Lecture courses During the first semester and a half, both MSc and Diploma courses consist of an integrated series of lecture modules. There are associated practical exercises, essays and visits. Supporting material in the form of seminars and tutorials is provided throughout. Topics currently taught include: -Marine Environment: physical and biological aspects; environmental quality and pollution -Aquatic animal biology: reviews of fish and shellfish biology -Animal population and community ecology: fish population dynamics; resource ecology, trophic relations and energy flow; marine applications of telemetry and remote sensing -Resource utilization -Fisheries: fisheries exploitation and management; fisheries economics, law and administration; gear technology and fish behaviour -Aquaculture: aquaculture, fish diseases and parasites -Computer and numerical skills *Diploma The Diploma course runs for 9 months. In addition to the lecture courses, students complete a dissertation or short practical exercise. *MSc The MSc runs for 12 months. In addition to the lecture courses, students carry out a period of practical research training, lasting approx. 4 months, culminating in the presentation of a thesis. Research training will be offered in one of the major themes of the course, usually through practical involvement in one of the research groups in the University or Marine Laboratory and often within an existing national or international programme of research. The students will have access to appropriate specialized equipment and facilities and the work may involve participation in one of the Marine Laboratory's regular research cruises. PhD Research ============ The PhD degree is awarded for original research and normally takes 3 years to complete. Research leading to the PhD degree may be based at the University or at one of the collaborating institutions, e.g. the Scottish Office's Marine Laboratory. This provides the student with the benefit of access to a wide base of research experience and facilities. Aberdeen has a long history of research in marine and fisheries biology. It is the location of a major concentration of scientists active in a wide range of relevant fields, including ecology, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, theoretical and practical studies. The particular research interests of staff in the Department of Zoology working in the field of marine and fisheries biology include Cephalopod Biology and Fisheries, Marine Mammal Ecology, Marine Trophic Interactions, Deep Sea Fish Biology, Fish Immunology, Fish Physiology, Growth and Nutrition, Parasitic Diseases of Fish, Neuroendocrine regulation of teleost reproduction and growth, Aquaculture, Estuarine ecology and processes. ==================================================================== For application forms for MSc/Diploma or PhD and more information on - courses - entry qualifications - fees and support schemes - research grants - accomodation and living conditions - English language tuition please write to: Postgraduate Admissions Department of Zoology University of Aberdeen Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen AB9 2TN Scotland UK ================================================================== This information was provided by: Dr Graham J. Pierce Department of Zoology University of Aberdeen Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen AB9 2TN UK Phone 44 (0)1224 272866 Eurosquid World-Wide Web Page: Fax 44 (0)1224 272396 http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi104/ e-mail g.j.pierce(\)abdn.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 20:02:15 -0500 From: Mark Subject: Re: American Cetacean Society > There have been a few requests to post information on how to contact > the American Cetacean Society to become a member and receive > Whalewatcher. > > American Cetacean Society > P.O. Box 2639 > San Pedro, CA 90731 ( USA) > > If I remember correctly, the dues are app. $30. Note: The P.O. Box has been changed to 1391. The annual dues are $35.00, $25.00 for students and seniors, $45 for families, foreign. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 08:47:34 -0800 From: Dave Janiger Subject: American Cetacean Society The new address for the American Cetacean Society: American Cetacean Society P.O. 1391 San Pedro, CA 90733 You can also E-mail me directly and I will mail you out some membership information. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 09:42:54 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Chinese river dolphin draws cl Chinese river dolphin draws closer to extinction BEIJING, Feb 6 (Reuter) - China's endangered Yangtze river dolphin has drawn closer to extinction with the death last month of a large female, apparently electrocuted by fishermen, the China Daily newspaper said on Tuesday. Fewer than 100 river dolphins survive in the mighty Yangtze and could be extinct within 25 years unless action was taken now, the newspaper said. The dolphin was found dying in the lower reaches of the river, the newspaper said. The mammal, which later died, weighed 160 kg (352 lb) and measured 2.45 metres (eight ft) -- the largest ever found. It appeared to have suffered an electric shock, probably caused accidentally by local fishermen, the newspaper quoted professor Zhou Kaiya, of the Nanjing Normal University in southern Jiangsu province, as saying. The Fisheries Bureau is to hold a seminar next week to discuss strenghtening policies to protect the river dolphin, the newspaper said. Since 1986, when the dolphins numbered 300, one natural and two semi-natural reserves have been set up along the Yangtze but the efforts have failed to stop the sharp drop in their population. Meanwhile, zoologists hope that another female white-fin dolphin caught in December after a four-year search will mate with an elderly male in the Tian-e-zhou National Baiji reserve. But the reserve has limited resources and needs 20 pairs to save the species from extinction, the newspaper said. The dolphin's main enemies are water pollution, nets and other fishing tackle and the flourishing shipping business along the Yangtze. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 16:23:59 -0500 From: Jan Hannah Subject: A response to Blichfeldt and Gaure Georg Blichfeldt and his colleague Simen Gaure have recently made a number of accusations regarding, among other things, David Lavigne's involvement with the International Marine Mammal Association Inc. As these matters relate primarily to questions of personal and institutional integrity, rather than to marine mammal biology and conservation, we will limit our comments to the following. IMMA's brochure, which many of you picked up at the recent marine mammal meeting in Orlando, clearly states, "IMMA is funded primarily by the International Fund for Animal Welfare from which it maintains an arms-length relationship." Anyone interested in factual information about IMMA, its philosophy, research and education initiatives, can reach us via e-mail (jhannah(\)imma.org). Janice Hannah Education Coordinator International Marine Mammal Association Inc. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 10:16:04 PST From: "Joyce E. Sisson" Subject: FW: IWC Climate Change and Cetaceans Agenda On Thu, 8 Feb 96 10:10:00 PST Joyce E. Sisson wrote: >INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON >THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CETACEANS >March 25-30, 1996 >Turtle Bay Hilton, Oahu, Hawaii > >The National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center >is hosting the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Symposium on Climate >Change and Cetaceans on March 25-26. This is the second in a series of >special meetings convened by the IWC on potential environmental effects on >cetacean populations. This symposium will focus on the processes related to >global climate change and how these processes may effect cetacean >populations now or in the near future. It will also address current views >on what changes have been detected and are most likely to occur (in both >global warming and ozone depletion) and over what time and space scales, >followed by a consideration of what trophic or direct processes would link >these changes to the distribution and abundance of cetaceans. > >A workshop will follow on March 27-30 and is limited to 35 participants with >preference given to symposium speakers and scientists active in relevant >fields. The workshop will begin with presentations from a number of >existing or completed integrated research programs (CCAMLR, Southern Ocean >GLOBEC, SCAR/Antarctic Polar Ice Seals, SCOPEX) explaining their conceptual >and theoretical framework. It will then address information gaps related to >physical and biological linkages, and implications for the IWC. The group >will generate a report combining information presented during the symposium >and results from the workshop that will be presented to the IWC Scientific >Committee in June. > >Any individuals, organizations, or companies interested in presenting >posters on topics related to the symposium, or displaying or selling goods >during the symposium should contact, Joyce Sisson as soon as possible. > >The symposium will be open to all interested in attending, given space >limitations. The deadline for submitting the completed registration form >and payment of the symposium fee (US) $50.00 is March 1, 1996, or as space >permits. A student discount is available. The Turtle Bay Hilton is >offering a special group discount for participants. > >For more information contact: >Dr. Stephen B. Reilly (steve(\)caliban.ucsd.edu) >Chairman, IWC Scientific Committee >Joyce Sisson (joyce(\)caliban.ucsd.edu) >National Marine Fisheries Service >Southwest Fisheries Science Center >P.O. Box 271 >La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 >(619) 546-7064 or 7164 Phone >(619) 546-7198 or 7003 FAX > >IWC Climate Change and Cetaceans Symposium >March 25-26, 1996 >Turtle Bay Hilton, Oahu, Hawaii >AGENDA > >Monday, March 25, 1996 > >Introductory Remarks > >S. Reilly, Convener, Chairman of Scientific Committee, International >Whaling Commission, United States > >R. Gambell, Secretary to the International Whaling Commission, United >Kingdom > >M. Tillman, Director, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine >Fisheries Service, United States > > >What environmental changes are most likely to occur and over what time and >space scales, given the current increase in greenhouse gasses > >I. What Changes Have Been Detected? > >Overview of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report: Global >Warming - Changes in Oceanography and in Polar Ice >V. Ittekot, University of Hamburg, Germany > >Current Status of Knowledge and Problems Associated with Climate Change, >Ozone Depletion and UV Radiation >I. Isaksen, Institute of Geophisics, University of Oslo, Norway > >Decade-Scale Climate Regime Shifts - A Summary of Oceanic and Atmospheric >Observations for Various Regions >J. Antanov, Climate Change Department of State Hydrological Institute, >Russia > >II. Climate Models > >Model Validation and Predictions (Summary of Global Patterns) >A. Kitoh, Japan Meteorological Agency, Meteorological Research Institute, >Japan. > >III. Summaries of State of Knowledge of Cetacean Distribution, Migration, >Habitat Use Patterns > >Review of Baleen whales >P. Clapham, National Research Council, United States > >Review of Toothed whales >H. Kato, National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan > >Review of Small cetaceans >A. Martin, Sea Mammal Research Unit, NERC, United Kingdom > >Discussion > >Poster Presentations and Reception > > >Tuesday, March 26, 1996 > >Given these changes occur, what trophic (or direct) processes would link >them to the distribution and abundance of cetaceans? > >IV. Marine Biotic Responses: Overviews of Global Patterns > >Overview of IPCC Conclusions: Responses to Global Warming >E. Hofmann, Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion >University, United States > >Overview marine biotic responses to ozone depletion >R. Smith, Center for Remote Sensing and Environmental Optics, University of >California Santa Barbara, United States > >V. Ecosystem Dynamics > >Phytoplankton and Zooplankton > >North Atlantic Phytoplankton >H. Skjoldal, Institute of Marine Research, Norway > >Southern Ocean Krill Stock Variations >I. Everson, British Antarctic Survey, United Kingdom > >Fishes and Cephalopods > >Review of IPCC Report on Fisheries >J. Everett, National Marine Fisheries Service, United States > >North Atlantic Climate and Fish >H. Loeng, Institute of Marine Research, Norway > >Southern Ocean Cephalopods >P. Rodhouse, British Antarctic Survey, United Kingdom > >Pinnipeds and Birds > >Ice, Krill and Penguins >W. Fraser, Polar Oceans Research Group, Montana State University, United >States > >Southern Ocean Pinnipeds >I.Boyd, British Antarctic Survey, United Kindom > >Food Webs, Multispecies/Ecosystem Models, and System Responses > >Sea Mammal Research Unit Modeling Study on Southern Ocean Ecosystems > >North Pacific Climate, Oceanography, Plankton and Predators. >J. Polovina, National Marine Fisheries Service, United States > >North Atlantic Ecosystems >E. Sakshaug, Brattora Research Center, University of Trondheim, Norway > >Adriatic/ Mediterranian Ecosystems >M. Stachowitsch, Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna, Austria > >VI. Possible Adaptations > >Evolutionary Perspective on Possible Adaptations of Cetaceans to Climate >Change >E. Fordyce, Department of Geology, University of Otago, New Zealand > >VII. Predicted Links to Cetaceans > >Roundtable discussion to set stage for workshop. > >Closing Remarks > > >------------------------------------- >Joyce Elaine Sisson >National Marine Fisheries Service >Southwest Fisheries Science Center >P.O. Box 271 >La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 >619-546-7064 (voice) >619-546-7198 (fax) >Joyce E. Sisson > ------------------------------------- Joyce Elaine Sisson National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038-0271 619-546-7064 (voice) 619-546-7198 (fax) Joyce E. Sisson ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 18:45:23 -0500 From: TMMC(\)aol.com Subject: marine mammal center job posting To all concerned, The recent listing for the Stranding Coordinator job at THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER was a mistake. The job has already been filled. Sorry for any inconvenience. Deborah Fauquier, Research Assistant, The Marine Mammal Center ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 21:30:53 -0800 From: Michael Kundu Subject: Sea Shepherd Proposal to NMFS The following press release may be of interest to marmam subscribers.... SEA SHEPHERD SAVES SEATTLE'S SEA LIONS Group's Offer Must Legally Be Considered by State Government Seattle, WA -- On January 26, 1996, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society formally submitted a viable, alternative to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in order to prevent the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) from killing any sea lions at the Ballard Locks this season. "Sea Shepherd has offered to pay this year's costs of temporarily housing and immediate translocation of sea lions to California," says Michael Kundu, Sea Shepherd's Pacific Northwest Coordinator. "Accordingly, we've also obtained legal permission from the San Francisco Bay Commission to return these sea lions to California. We are prepared to take Hondo and his buddies home." In their January 1995 "Letter of Authorization" to the WDFW, NMFS dictated that the agency must not kill sea lions if holding facilities and the appropriate funding is available. "The WDFW has already indicated that housing space is available at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, and NMFS has the proper truck which was used in translocation efforts in 1990 and 1994. Of course the sea lions will return, but we are prepared to bring them right back to California again. We have been very patient and respectful of the expensive-yet-ineffective bureaucratic process up to now, alternatively, our proposal will cost the taxpayer nothing. We've offered to pay for the short-term housing and for the transport -- so what's the delay?" asks Lisa Distefano, Director of International Operations for Sea Shepherd. "Like most people in Seattle, we want this victory for Hondo and his buddies, but most importantly, we want this victory for the preservation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act." "WDFW is legally prohibited from killing any sea lions until they meet all NMFS terms and conditions, and attempt all feasible non-lethal alternatives. >From a legal standpoint, the WDFW is obligated to address our proposal," asserts Kundu. Sea Shepherd anticipates that the relocation of Ballard's sea lions will give the WDFW a very important lesson in predator-replacement ecology. "If Hondo and his merry band are removed from the Locks, other sea lions will eventually step up to the plate and take their place," Adds Kundu, "Our proposal will solve the problem this season, but the real issue is ultimately implementing a permanent solution -- biologists have stated, and we agree, that this solution involves building a sea lion-proof Steelhead barrier and fish refuge at the base of the fish ladder." Sea Shepherd makes this proposal because of the potential precedent-setting implications of a lethal removal at the Ballard Locks. "If they were to kill Hondo, WDFW's actions would effectively unravel the integrity of the whole Marine Mammal Protection Act, the foremost piece of legislation that protects all marine mammals -- Orcas, Humpbacks, Gray whales -- across the country," asserts Kundu. "Ballard is a litmus test; we have a responsibility to work beyond the first, most easily grasped, and in many cases, the wrong solution. Sea Shepherd is dedicated to making sure that sound science and conservation practices are observed in this vital case." The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an international marine mammal protection and conservation organization, has 35,000 members worldwide. Membership information is available from (310) 301-7325, Fax: (310) 574-3163, or by sending an email message to -30- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 10:01:43 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Center for Coastal Studies Internship (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Fri, 9 Feb 96 11:54:57 PST From: nflasher(\)mail1.wn.net (Nancy Flasher) Habitat studies internship, Center for Coastal Studies. Intern will work with physical oceanography and mid-water biological data towards modeling endangered whale habitat characteristics. Prefer graduate student in oceanography, fisheries biology, marine ecology, environmental planning or conservation biology, with an interest in modeling. Internship lasts approximately 12 weeks between mid-May and mid-September. Housing and $75/week stipend provided. Application deadline: March 15. Contact: Center for Coastal Studies, Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657 (508) 487-3622. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 10:59:36 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 2/9/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Polar Bear Gall Bladders. A January 1996 newspaper ad in Canada's Northwest Territories offered polar bear gall bladders for sale by Canadian Inui t hunters. [Greenwire] . International Marine Mammal Symposium. On Feb. 3-4, 1996, an international symposium on marine mammals was held in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. [Dow Jones News] . Manatees. In early February 1996, Florida biologists reported that 47 manatees had died during January 1996, many from cold-related problems. [Assoc Press] . Seal Hunting. After public release on Feb. 6, 1996, in London, UK, of a video tape showing illegal sealing practices off Newfoundland, Canadian authorities were reviewing the case. [Assoc Press] . Free Willy. On Feb. 8, 1996, Mattel, Inc. announced release of an "Ocean Magic Barbie" that comes with a miniature version of Keiko, as well as a dolphin and a seal. [Mattel, Inc. press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 12:24:18 +1000 From: "Ellipse Marine by way of gclarke(\)magna.com.au Graham Clarke" Subject: Sperm whales in Indonesia and the Philippines ----------- FORWARD MESSAGE -------------- From: elmarine(\)dialup.francenet.fr (Ellipse Marine) The Paris-based company I work for, Ellipse Marine, a subsidiary of Canal Plus, is a television production company. We are planning on filming two marine documentaries in Asia this spring and would like one of them to be on sperm whales, squid, and bioluminescence. We have been told that there are populations of sperm whales in Indonesia and the Philippines (based on whaler's journals, etc.) but that primarily for political reasons theses populations have never been studied scientifically. Do you, or anyone you know, have information about these populations? We would need as precise information as is available including numbers, "exact" locations from April to July, individuals who studied these whales, and what reports, if any these individuals wrote based on their observations. I recognize that this is a fairly unusual request, and on behalf of the whole Ocean Voyager crew, thank you for whatever information you might be able to provide. Jill Rachael STEIGER Head of Research ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 09:06:09 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. will not punish Japan for U.S. will not punish Japan for continued whaling By Sonali Paul WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuter) - The United States will press Japan to curb its lethal whale research but will not slap sanctions on Tokyo for killing a growing number of whales in the North Pacific and Antarctic Oceans, President Bill Clinton said on Friday. "At this stage, I do not believe that the use of trade sanctions is the most constructive approach to resolving our differences," he said in a letter to Congress. Friday was the deadline for the White House to let Congress know what it planned to do in response to an official protest by the Commerce Department in December that Japan was undercutting international efforts to protect whales. Without setting specific targets, Clinton said the administration would "vigorously pursue high-level efforts to persuade Japan to reduce the number of whales killed in its research programme and act consistently with the (International Whaling Commission) conservation programme." He said he hoped talks made significant progress before the next Antarctic whaling season, which begins in November. Although the IWC allows whaling for scientific purposes, environmentalists have criticised Japan for selling off the prized whale meat in fish markets. Japan expanded its whale target in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary by one-third to around 400 in 1995, despite complaints by the IWC that its plan was not fully justified. Environmental activists campaigning to save whales hailed Clinton's move to pressure Japan. "Particularly praiseworthy is the president's intention to resolve the issue before the next Antarctic whaling season opens," said Richard Mott, vice president of World Wildlife Fund. "Clinton's direct engagement in this issue holds the first real promise for bringing to an end Japan's rogue whaling." While Japan viewed the Commerce Department's targeting of the research whaling as unfair, an official at the embassyin Washington viewed Clinton's decision as "reasonable." "We continue to keep communications channels open on this issue," said Joji Morishita, first secretary for fisheries and agriculture. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 11:15:02 -0500 From: AnmlPeople(\)aol.com Subject: Canada says "Kill Seals!" OUT OF COD, CANADA TELLS FISHERS "KILL MORE SEALS" (from ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 1996) ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland--Blaming harp seals for a 99% decline in the mass of spawning cod off the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canadian Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin on December 18 moved to appease out-of-work cod fishers in his home province by expanding the 1996 seal killing quota to 250,000--actually higher than many annual quotas during the peak years of the seal hunt in the 1970s and early 1980s. In effect resuming the all-out seal massacres that prompted international protest until clubbing newborn whitecoats and hunting seals from large vessels was suspended in 1983, Tobin also pledged to maintain a bounty of about 15c U.S. per pound for each dead seal landed, and said he would encourage the revived use of large vessels to help sealers attack seal breeding colonies on offshore ice floes. The prohibition on killing whitecoats remains in effect, but only means young seals will be killed not as newborns but as two-week-old beaters, just beginning to molt and crawl. Tobin's announcement came two months after Tobin and the fisheries ministers for the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Russia, and a representative from Greenland, agreed on a joint plan to promote sealing--and one month after international newswires circulated an unconfirmed report that Canada was close to striking a deal to sell up to 250,000 seal carcasses a year to an Asian buyer. The Canadian government has been severely embarrassed by an International Fund for Animal Welfare campaign worldwide to expose the lack of market demand for seal products. A report on seal marketing strategy commissioned by the Canadian government, published in November 1994, confirmed that more than half of seal product income is derived from the sale of penises to the Asian aphrodisiac trade. At that, the average price paid to sealers for seal penises is only $20 to $26. The report found no viable markets for seal meat, oil, or fur. Lack of sales opportunities helped hold the official 1995 Atlantic Canada sealing toll to just 67,000, of a quota of 186,000. But that was before Canada moved from trying to encourage sealing as an industry to the present stance of wanting to kill seals willy-nilly. Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Sea of Slaughter author Farley Mowat in a joint statement quoted Ottawa Citizen coverage of a Tobin speech made on July 7, 1994: "Canada will not consider a return to seal culling on its east coast, despite fishermen's claims that the seals threaten Newfoundland's endangered cod. Evidence of the impact of seals in the destruction of cod was not clear, Tobin said. 'There is no doubt in my mind that man has been a far greater predator,' he said." Tobin argued in his December 18 declaration of war on harp seals that their numbers have doubled since 1983, to 4.8 million, and could reach six million in just five years without a revived massacre. His logic was weakened, however, by his simultaneous claim that up to 287,000 seals a year could be killed before leveling the population. According to Tobin, the seals ate 142,000 tons of Atlantic cod. "There is no scientific data that harp seal populations have increased substantially," responded Watson and Mowat. "There is scientific data to demonstrate that cod is not a major or significant part of a harp seal diet. In fact, the largest predator group affecting cod are other fish species. It is these species that harp seals do prey upon significantly. Removal of harp seals could increase the numbers of fish that prey upon young cod. The ecological complexity of the Grand Banks is not factored into Tobin's decision." Suppressed evidence Guelph University marine mammologist David Lavigne and the International Fund for Animal Welfare anticipated Tobin's announcement of an expanded seal hunt with a December 17 press conference, at which IFAW publicized a British boycott of Canadian salmon to protest Canadian sealing, while Lavigne accused Tobin of suppressing evidence that seals as well as cod need protection. "If [government] scientists aren't allowed to freely discuss their results," Lavigne charged, "they cannot function as scientists." Former Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist Peter Meisenheimer, now with the International Marine Mammal Association, had rebuked Canadian government manipulation of scientific data in a December 6 posting to the Conservation Biology Discussion Group on the Internet. "Every result produced by DFO sceintists who have actually looked for evidence of an impact of [cod] stock recruitment [by harp seals] has shown absolutely none," Meisenheimer said. "In a recent paper in Science, DFO biologists found no evidence. At a recent North Atlantic Fisheries Organization meeting, DFO folks presented an abstract which specifically addressed the issue of seals and stock recruitment and reported no evidence of an impact. Whatever the reason," Meisenheimer continued, "DFO has chosen to ignore the findings of these biologists and has pursued a campaign that is an insult to those who are legitimately concerned with conservation and to many of their own staff. In support of their position, they have used a population model of harp seal abundance that is methodologically biased toward producing a higher result in the recent year; an inappropriate statistical test is employed, apparently because the appropriate test would find no significant difference in population between 1990 and 1994; and DFO public relations indicates that there has been a stepwise annual increase in [seal] populations, when they have no data to show such a finding. Models for grey seals are structured around the assumption of an effect on recruitment and are then used as evidence of such an effect. This has culminated in a release from DFO in which they make the definitive and utterly false statement that harp seals are limiting groundfish stock recruitment. DFO scientists who have made public statements contradicting this claim are rumored to have been officially reprimanded." "The cod population crashed," Watson and Mowat argued, "because of Canadian Department of Fisheries mismanagement," based on falsified science, "in allowing large Canadian drag trawlers a free rein on the Banks. The Sea Shepherds have waged campaigns on the east coast to protect both cod and seals. In both cases, we are protecting them from the same thing--the incompetence of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Brian Tobin managed to hoodwink Canadians with his so-called get-tough policy against Spain," Watson and Mowat added, referring to Tobin's spring order to intercept Spanish trawlers, which came nearly two years after Watson and crew, with Mowat's cash support, intercepted the Cuban trawler Rio Las Casas in the same general area--and five months before Watson served 30 days in jail for the effort. But the Rio Las Casas fished no more after the 1993 encounter with the Sea Shepherds, whereas, Watson and Mowat charged, "Four to five dozen giant foreign trawlers continue to take cod, turbot, redfish, etcetera each day" in the area of the government interception. "The Sea Shepherds will be organizing international demonstrations, advertising campaigns, mobilizing celebrities, and returning to the ice floes to once again protect harp seals," Watson and Mowat pledged. Political timing They also suggested, on December 20, that Tobin might be acting with further political ambitions first in mind. On December 28, Newfoundland premier Clyde Wells, 58, announced his retirement, after heading the provincial government since 1989. Reported the Reuter news agency, "Widespread media speculation suggests that Brian Tobin, the high-profile minister of fisheries and oceans in the Liberal-led federal government and a native Newfoundlander from Cornerbrook, will run for the leadership job." As a former TV reporter, Tobin is well-positioned to feed such speculation while using sealing to keep himself before Newfoundland voters until a leadership convention is convened to pick Wells' successor. Wells said he hoped the convention would be held before the end of March--shortly after the sealing season ends. Friends of Animals noted another aspect of Tobin's timing. "It was only last week," said FoA president Priscilla Feral, "that Canada persuaded the European Council of Ministers to accept a 12-month delay in the implementing their regulation to embargo the import of furs caught by use of cruel trapping methods," which was to take effect on January 1, and now has been postponed to 1997--or may be dismantled. "We recall that the bloody slaughter of harp seal pups on Canadian ice has long been a sensitive issue in Europe, which has a longstanding embargo on their furs, as well. Imagine if Tobin had made his announcement before the European ministers met. Such an offensive announcement might have jeopardized the delicate politics involved in persuading the Europeans to accept the products of cruelty." Seal notes On December 20, two days after Brian Tobin announced the expanded Atlantic Canada seal hunt, the pro-hunting British Columbia Wildlife Federation called for a Pacific coast hunt of harbor seals, ostensibly to protect overfished salmon. Norway set 1996 sealing quotas on December 23. According to Georg Blichtfeldt, secretary for the High North Alliance, who cited government sources, the toll could include 10,900 adult harp seals and 17,500 weaned pups. (ANIMAL PEOPLE is a nonprofit monthly newspaper providing independent professional coverage of all the news about animal protection, from animal rescue to zoological conservation. If you give to help animals, you'll especially want our annual report on how each leading group spends donations ($3.00). Subscriptions, U.S. or foreign, are $22/year, $35/2 years, or $50/three years, to POB 205, Shushan, NY 12873. We'll send a free sample issue to anyone who provides a postal address.) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 11:42:36 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Re: Sperm whales in Indonesia and the Philippines (fwd) Forwarded message: From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 22:35:33 +0000 To those considering replying to the Elipse Marine request DON'T. It is a waste of time!! I had three faxes asking many questions, where to's and how's. I spent time, energy and $ replying, with no return. If you want to help a film company make stlg or $ and put noyhing back, reply, otherwise steer well clear. You can quote me. Vic Cockcroft PEMVGC(\)ZOO.UPE.AC.ZA Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 09:13:53 -0500 From: 100600.674(\)compuserve.com Subject: EIA report on conservation status of small cetaceans To clarify my earlier request for information on the conservation status of small cetaceans, the new EIA report will cover small cets globally and any new information will be most gratefully received. I asked particularly for European info because that is where we are starting our research. We will welcome all replies. Many thanks to all those who have already responded. Hoping to hear from others. Rebecca Johns EIA 15, Bowling Green Lane London EC1R 0BD Tel: 0171 490 7040 Fax: 0171 490 0436 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 17:29:44 -0500 From: Peter Meisenheimer Subject: Re: Canada says "Kill Seals!" At 11:15 AM 2/9/96 -0500, you wrote: >OUT OF COD, CANADA TELLS FISHERS "KILL MORE SEALS" >(from ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 1996) > > > Former Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist Peter Meisenheimer, Although I have worked under contract as a consultant to a number of federal and provincial government agencies in Canada, I am not a former "employee" of DFO. The only government agency for whom I have worked directly (i.e. on permanent staff) as a fisheries biologist is the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Botswana. My most extensive experience of fisheries industry issues has been as an advisor to various commercial fishing companies and organisations in Canada, the U.S. and Africa. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 08:13:32 +0000 From: Paul Waldau Subject: Ancient whaling in southern and eastern Asia I am looking for references to whaling in ancient southern and eastern Asia, particularly in countries other than Japan. There is a little information in Richard Ellis' "Men and Whales", but this concerns only Japan and Korea. Can anyone refer me to sources which refer to whaling along the Asian coasts before, say, 1500, and preferably earlier? Paul Waldau Christ Church University of Oxford Oxford OX1 1DP (01865) 724798 paul.waldau(\)christ-church.ox.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 02:11:16 -0800 From: Fred Sharpe Subject: Humpback whale tracking Hello, I have received many useful recommendations concerning the tracking of whales without the aid of a shore based theodolite. There has also been several requests to post these to the general readership of marmam. To those of you who sent along comments, please let me know if you have any objections to having your posting go out over marmam. Thanks, Fred Sharpe Simon Fraser University fsharpe(\)sfu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 09:02:24 -0500 From: REllis6950(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Sperm Whales and Bioluminescence I read in the National Geographic "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises" that someone has opined that sperm whales might use their sonic emisssions to excite plankton so that it bioluminesces and thus provides light for the whales to see their prey. Does anyone know anything more substantial about this? Has anyone published anything? Where did this idea come from? Richard Ellis ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 07:09:46 -0700 From: Skyview High School Subject: kw genetics Post to MARMAM: I am working on a project involving DNA fingerprinting of killer whales. So far I have been able to get ahold of much information, but no materials to get my experiment underway. If anyone has information or contacts that might help me to locate some orca skin samples, I would really appreciate it if they would get in touch with me. Thanks, Laura Madden skysci(\)imt.net Jeff Kinman Skyview Science Dept. Billings, MT. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 16:01:19 +0100 From: peterle(\)muc.de Subject: capture & release of ROCKY Dear MARMAM, George, etal, In a post to MARMAM regarding previous releases George Elston mentioned a Dolphin named ROCKY in the following excerpt: >1991. Rocky (male), Missie (female) and Silver (male) three bottlenose >dolphins released off Turks and Caicos Islands, after twenty, twenty-two, >and fifteen years of captivity, respectively (Klinowska and Brown, 1985). >In the acclimation seapen, they learned how to apture live fish (McKenna, >1992). Released September 1991. All have been resighted numerous times >since then, and Silver has been seen as recently as early 1994. In several >of the recent sightings, Silver was in the company of JoJo, a friendly >dolphin that swims near Club Med at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. >Rocky and Missie were captured in the North Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico >(probably off Florida), and Silver was captured off Taiwan in the Pacific. >Non-native reintroduction. Note: This reintroduction was recently labelled >as fraud by marine parks spokespeople in the United Kingdom, but I am >convinced that it was conducted responsibly and without intent to deceive. >Three dolphins; Captive 20, 22 and 15 years; followup successful. I am very interested in finding more out about the dophin ROCKY, in particular where he was captured and where/ when last seen. I am wondering if any one can help me with my query or tell me where or whom I could ask. Any leads would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much, Peter Zimmer Munich, Germany Email:peterle(\)muc.de ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 16:01:27 +0100 From: peterle(\)muc.de Subject: marine-acoustics & marine mammals Hello MARMAM et al, I am studying the effects of acoustic and barotraumatic insults on marine mammals. In mid-January 1996 hearing-impaired students from the American School for the Deaf, Hartford, CT concluded that noise from fishing vessels in the Gulf of Maine may damage hearing of whales and dolphins. This study was supervised by a marine-acoustics specialist from the University of Connecticut's National Undersea Research Center. Does anyone know if this person has an Email address or how I may contact him or her or others involved in this project? As the literature on the effects of sonic and barotraumatic insults on marine mammals is rather sparce, if some body has any further information on reports of marine mammal hearing damage or other pathological changes of sonic or barotraumatic etiology which could help me further I would be very grateful. Thank you very much for your time! Peter Zimmer Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet Munich, Germany Email: peterle(\)muc.de ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 12:16:06 -0500 From: Dolphintlf(\)aol.com Subject: Cetacean Bibliographies, etc. Dear MARMAMers, Today substantive updates will be posted for my cetacean fiction and nonfiction bibliographies, audiography, and videography, plus a partially completed children's bibliography, at: http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/literature/fic_main.html I've made significant headway annotating the nonfiction bibliography, but there are still many unannotated titles, and if any of you would like to contribute anything from a sentence or two to a few paragraphs about any of the titles with which you are familiar, I would be most grateful to receive your input. Suggestions for additions to any of the lists--including forthcoming titles--are always welcome, and my thanks go to all of you who have submitted additions and corrections for the current update. I will be gone for the next two weeks, so replies to any messages received will be delayed. Best regards, Trisha ---------------------- Trisha Lamb Feuerstein Indexer and Indexing Instructor Integral Publishing, Lower Lake, California, USA E-mail: dolphintlf(\)aol.com URL: http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/literature/fic_main.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 16:08:02 MET-DST From: gomercic(\)olimp.irb.hr Subject: Nematoda in whales Prof. Dr. Hrvoje Gomercic Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb 10000 ZAGREB, Heinzelova 55, CROATIA Phone: 385 1 23 90 250; Fax: 385 1 214 697 E-mail: gomercic(\)olimp.irb.hr Zagreb, 12 February 1996 Dear Marmamer, I have interest on parasite Crassicauda crassicauda (Nematoda) in whales, in bottlenose dolphin specially. If anyone has some references or prints, I would appreciable if you could send them on my address (it's written above). Cheers, Hrvoje Gomercic ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 21:51:25 -0800 From: Michael & Nola Kundu Subject: locate researcher Marmammers -- I'm searching for anyone who might help me get cetologist Ned Lynas' current address. Last I know, he was conducting rorqual research for the department of Oceans & Fisheries in Bergeronnes, Quebec. Any help would be appreciated. Michael Kundu arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 08:28:33 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NZ rescue teams battle to save NZ rescue teams battle to save stranded whales NELSON, New Zealand, Feb 14 (Reuter) - Rescue teams fought to save 27 pilot whales beached at the top of New Zealand's South Island on Wednesday. Five other whales from an original pod of 32 had died by midday and Department of Conservation (DOC) spokesman Geoff Rennison said rescuers were battling to save the remainder. "We've got 27 live whales and we are busy working with them at the moment," he said in a telephone interview. Rennison said it was unclear how long the whales had been stranded on Farewell Spit or whether they could be saved. The tide was out and they were not covered by water at all. "They're not in the water at the moment, they're on the beach," he said. "All I can say is we've been working with the whales to minimise their shock, cover them up with sheets, put water on them, get them stabilised and hopefully refloat them mid-afternoon." A DOC rescue team and a group of volunteers was onits way to the site to help, and more volunteers had been called for. Shelley Pomeroy, of the Farewell Spit Visitors Centre, said the whales were stranded two km (1.25 miles) from the base of the spit and were discovered early on Wednesday. "My guess is it happened last night and when the tide went out they got caught. The tide goes out very quickly here, and before they knew it they were on their bellies." High tide was at six p.m. (0500 GMT). "As soon as the water reaches the whales, we will move them into a very tight group, hold them until we think conditions are appropriate, and then we will release them to the sea and hope," Rennison said. "We just give it our best shot." About 30 pilot whales grounded themselves at Tapata Creek, near the base of Farewell Spit, in January last year but were successfully guided back to sea by DOC staff and volunteers. UPDATE: NELSON, New Zealand (Reuter) - Rescuers saved 27 whales which ran aground at the top ofNew Zealand's South Island Wednesday but said they feared a much larger group was at risk of becoming beached. Thirteen conservation staff, helped by about 120 volunteers, spent several hours tending the stricken pilot whales and pouring water over them. By early evening the tide had come in and the rescuers successfully refloated the 27 mammals and steered them out to sea. Seven of the original group of 34 whales died earlier in the day. Kaye Stark of the Department of Conservation said there were fears the disoriented whales could run aground again. "Our concern is that they will swim in a semi-circle and strand further down the spit," she said. Radio New Zealand said a much larger group of 150 whales had been spotted farther out to sea, and a plane would be sent up at first light on Thursday to check whether any more of the creatures were in danger. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 17:07:16 +0000 From: ISAAC BLANQUEZ Subject: Scotish sperm whales In-Reply-To: <199602141638.QAA29306(\)spey.st-andrews.ac.uk> Seven days ago, six sperm whales were found dead on the North sea shores near Aberdeen. The cause seems to still remain unknown. I would be very grateful if I could get any information of any forensic tests, if these were done, to reveal the cause of their deaths. Isaac Blanquez ib2(\)st-andrews.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 10:41:21 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Globicephala Melaena in the SE Indian Ocean Anyone aware the population size for Globicephala Melaena along the Southeast Indian Ridge between 100E - 150E? Any habitate studies or any other information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Dave Williams davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 13:51:42 -0500 From: Gene Buck Marmam group: I have a congressional office looking for a ballpark number on the worldwide number of cetaceans (large and small) as a group; even an order of magnitude number would be helpful. Anyone heard of any such estimate or willing to hazard a ballpark estimate that I could pass along. No attribution necessary, but an idea of how you arrived at the number would be helpful. Gene Buck, senior analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 14:05:10 -0500 From: Christian Reilly Subject: neuroanatomy atlas of the dolphin (fwd) Dear marmamers, I am looking for an atlas of the dolphin (Tursiops preferrably, but I am not picky in the least) brain for some work on my master's thesis on processing of acoustic information. If anyone knows of such an atlas floating around, or any work on tract-tracing or imaging of auditory-type pathways, I would be very grateful. Thanks, Christian Reilly Bostin University Marine Program/MBL Woods Hole, Ma 02543 "Constructive Criticism Contructively Received." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 14:34:17 -0900 From: FADELY BRIAN S Subject: Cape fur seal information request I am looking for information regarding the Cape Fria fur seal colony in Namibia: past and current research, history, researchers, how to get there and how to visit, whom to contact? Please send correspondence by e-mail to unas(\)fishgame.state.ak.us or by snail mail to: Una Swain, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation, 333 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK, USA, 99518. Thank you! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 17:33:22 -0800 From: hutchinsona.candw.ag(\)relay.interserv.com Hello everyone, Does anyone know anything about a dolphin marine park to be set up in Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean?? Any info would be appreciated. Anthony ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 11:37:18 -0800 From: Dave Duffus Subject: echolocation in captivity >Date: Sun, 11 Feb 1996 12:58:06 -0800 (PST) >From: Debra L Combs >Subject: echolocation in captivity >To: marmam%uvvm.BITNET(\)uvvm.UVic.CA > >Sender: marmamed(\)UVic.CA > >This message was originally submitted by equus(\)CATS.UCSC.EDU to the MARMAM list >at UVVM. If you simply forward it back to the list, it will be distributed with >the paragraph you are now reading being automatically removed. If you edit the >contributions you receive into a digest, you will need to remove this paragraph >before mailing the results to the list. Finally, if you need more information >from the author of this message, you should be able to do so by simply replying >to this note. > >------------------ Message requiring your approval (7 lines) ------------------ >I am working on a senior essay project and a part of the essay deals >with echolocation. My question is, do bottlenose dolphins stop >ecolocating in captivity? My second question is related--do they stop >due to the captive environmetn--that it is either painful to them or an >annoyance or whatever AND if any of this is true, which I don't think it >is, where I may find any sources on the subject? >Thanks deb--Equus(\)cats.ucsc.edu > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 11:39:13 -0800 From: Dave Duffus Subject: Seals, cod and a paper by Myers et al >X-Sender: sgaure(\)ask.uio.no > >Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 14:16:28 +0100 >To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion >From: Simen.Gaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) >Subject: Seals, cod and a paper by Myers et al >Sender: marmamed(\)UVic.CA > >This message was originally submitted by Simen.Gaure(\)MATH.UIO.NO to the MARMAM >list at UVVM. If you simply forward it back to the list, it will be distributed >with the paragraph you are now reading being automatically removed. If you edit >the contributions you receive into a digest, you will need to remove this >paragraph before mailing the results to the list. Finally, if you need more >information from the author of this message, you should be able to do so by >simply replying to this note. > >----------------- Message requiring your approval (105 lines) ----------------- >Janice Hannah wrote: > > Georg Blichfeldt and his colleague Simen Gaure have recently made a number > of accusations regarding, among other things, David Lavigne's involvement > with the International Marine Mammal Association Inc. As these matters > relate primarily to questions of personal and institutional integrity, > rather than to marine mammal biology and conservation, we will limit our > comments to the following. [...] > >For the record, I'm not a colleague of Georg Blichfeldt. >I'm working at the Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo, >I have never met Georg Blichfeldt, nor have I worked for the >organization which he represents, the High North Alliance. > >Back to the issue. It surprises me that Janice Hannah >can claim that what I wrote related primarily to questions of >personal and institutional integrity. I actually said that IMMA >was misrepresenting a particular paper, i.e. I said their >interpretation was "part of the mythology". To accentuate this >I pointed to a self-contradiction of theirs. >Apparently I wasn't clear enough. I'll try to explain this again, >in slightly different words. >The following deals with the paper > > "Population dynamics of exploited fish stocks at low population levels." > Myers, R.A., N.J. Barrowman, J.A. Hutchings, A.A. Rosenberg. > Science v269, pp 1106--1108, 1996. > >and IMMA's interpretation as described in their technical report 95-01 >"Seals, cod, ecology and mythology" by Peter Meisenheimer. > >First to the paper. Although it doesn't relate to marine mammals >in particular I hope the following very short summary is of some >interest. > >The paper analyses abundance and recruitment data for a number >of fish stocks. It tries to find evidence for reduced per capita >recruitment at low abundance(depensation). It does this by >fitting a particular deterministic model to the data, namely the >depensatory modified Beverton-Holt model. Care is taken >to ensure the results are statistically sound. >In only a couple of cases is depensation detected, the conclusion >is that depensation is not a common phenomenon in fish populations. > >That's what the analysis shows, all the rest are interpretations >of this result. I.e. relating it to possible sources of depensation. > >Now to IMMA's interpretation of the Myers et al paper >(From the report mentioned above): > > "As justification for this the minister observed, "...that whatever > the role seals have played in the collapse of the groundfish stocks, > seals are playing a far more important and significant role in preventing, > in slowing down, a recovery of groundfish stocks, in my mind is confirmed" > (Tobin 1995). As evidence supporting his position, the minister points to > internal government reports he claims document both an increase in seal > numbers and evidence that seals consume large amounts of cod (Shelton et > al. 1995; Stenson et al. 1995, Stenson et al. 1995). > > Two months after Brian Tobin's press conference, the prestigious journal > Science published a study, two of whose authors are scientists working > for the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), in which it > is concluded that predators (including seals) generally play no > discernible role in the population dynamics of recovering fish stocks > (including cod) (Myers, et al. 1995)." > > >To arrive at this interpretation IMMA must implicitly assume that predators >playing a discernible role in the population dynamics of their prey >necessarily must introduce depensation in the prey dynamics. >This assumption is highly dubious, predators may very well play >a role without reducing per capita recruitment at low abundance, this >is acknowledged later in the same report: > > "Although the more commonly encountered view is that seals have had a > deleterious effect on the cod stock recovery, it is also possible that > seals have a positive impact. The reason for this conclusion is, again, > the complex nature of real ecological interactions. Seals eat many > things, some of which are cod, some of which cod eat, and some of > which eat cod." > >And Lavigne acknowledged this when he claimed cod may actually >slow down cod recovery due to cannibalism (he also knows that >depensation has not been detected as he has referred to that paper). >It is also quite clear that human fishing play an important role >without showing up as depensation. Indeed, depensation was in >general not detected in Myers et al's more than 100 fish stocks, according >to IMMA this must mean that predators play no role for any of them, >a quite bold assertion, I'd say. > >In short, the implicit assumption necessary for IMMA's >interpretation is false. > >This is not challenging IMMA's institutional integrity, it's >merely pointing out that IMMA is misrepresenting a particular paper. > >That IMMA's interpretation fits nicely in their primary funder's >campaigns is not necessarily an indication that their integrity >has been compromised. It might be a coincidence. > > >-- >Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo > > > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 13:45:56 -0400 From: Loren Coleman Subject: latest marine mammal "suicide" citations In my book, *Suicide Clusters* (Boston: Faber and Faber, 1987), I briefly examined the origins of the popular theory that strandings of dolphins and whales are examples of animal suicide clusters. I am working on an update on this and wondered if folks could send me any citations they have seen since the mid-1980s regarding this notion. Comments are welcome too. Thank you. Loren Coleman lcoleman(\)usm.maine.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 09:00:29 GMT From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: ROCKY/Dolphin Reintroduction ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) RE: ROCKY THE DOLPHIN CAPTURE AND RELEASE The bottle nose dolphin "Rocky" was captured on the Florida Panhandle on April 4, 1971. He was exported to the UK and housed at Morecambe's Marineland. During his time in captivity he was also over wintered overseas (Gibraltar and South Africa) and Windsor Safari Park. He was eventual "obtained" by the Into The Blue Project who transferred him to a conch farm lagoon on the Caribbean Turks and Caicos Islands on or around January 14, 1991. He was later joined by two former captive animals "Missie" and "Rocky" on March 19, 1991. All three animals where moved from the conch farm to a floating pen off the island of West Caicos on Friday, September 6, 1991. They were released into the waters of the Caribbean at 13.30. local time on Tuesday, September 10, 1991. All three dolphins stayed close to the release sight overnight. At 08.40. they moved and stayed away for 6 hours. They returned to the boats at the release sight but showed no interest in eating live fish released from a fish- trap. After this time Into The Blue Project workers appear to have had no first hand sightings of "Missie" and "Rocky"; all sightings after this time were second or third hand reports from local fisherman and tourists. However, "Silver" was seen after the release from September 16 - 29 by project staff. He appeared to have some weight lost and health problems (an infection on his rostrum) and was given both food (a total of sixty pounds) and antibiotics by project staff in the wild over this period. He was also associating with a wild "friendly" dolphin that swam in this area called "Jojo". After this time all "Silver"s sightings were also second-hand by tourists and fishermen. A photographic competition for local Turks and Caicos fisherman in January 1992, with a $500 cash prize, failed to produce photographic evidence of the animals continuing to survive in the wild. An interesting report was logged in September 2, 1992, in 30 feet of water of the Island of Grand Turk, by a tourist dive party managed by local dive operator Mich Rollings. An animal believed to be "Rocky" was seen with a group of 9 other animals. This encounter was apparently video-taped. However, direct applications by myself to Mich Rollings and other dive organisations on Grand Turk to try and obtain a copy of this tape has be met with no response. The long term fate of the three released animals remain unclear. ==================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 13:14:26 +0100 From: peterle(\)muc.de Subject: Email Address of Darlene Ketten (Harvard?) Hello Marmam, Does anyone happen to know the Email Address of Darlene Ketten (Possibly at Harvard?) as I heard she has done work studying barotrauma in marine mamals. Please excuse this request for I do not know how else to find this address. Thank you very much, Peter Zimmer ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 11:31:08 -0500 From: "Mason T. Weinrich" Subject: Atlantic white-sided dolphin Question Hey folks - Dies anyone out there have real proof that Atlantic white-sided dolphins feed on sand lance (Ammodytes spp)? I know lots of people have assumed that they do, but I can't really find anyone who can point to a stomach content where they were found, or seen a wild dolphin consume one. Anyone out there with proof? Thanks - Mason Weinrich Cetacean Research Unit ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 16:21:29 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: ccs intern listing changes (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:02:49 -0800 To: marmamed(\)UVIC.CA From: CCS Staff Regarding the following listing for a Center for Coastal Studies intern, please note that due to technical difficulties the nflasher email address is no longer in use. Please direct all inquiries to ccswhale(\)maill.wn.net. Inquiries sent after 2/10 were not received at nflasher address. Habitat studies internship, Center for Coastal Studies. Intern will work with physical oceanography and mid-water biological data towards modeling endangered whale habitat characteristics. Prefer graduate student in oceanography, fisheries biology, marine ecology, environmental planning or conservation biology, with an interest in modeling. Internship lasts approximately 12 weeks between mid-May and mid-September. Housing and $75/week stipend provided. Application deadline: March 15. Contact: Center for Coastal Studies, Box 1036, Provincetown, MA 02657 (508) 487-3622. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 13:12:04 -0800 From: Sarah Haavind Subject: Global Distribution of Orca Whales Hi marmamers, We are designing a CD ROM multimedia curriculum on orca whales, particularly the Southern Resident Community of the Puget Sound region. One unit is on population dynamics, and one problem focuses on the global distribution of orcas. I have tapped a few sources for my data, but would be appreciative of anyone able and willing to update/correct or add to this current list. The table below is my summary so far. There is a key for the asterisks (*) at the bottom. They indicate my sources. If there is interest, I'd be glad to post my final table. An announcement of the CD ROM product will also be posted on marmam. Thanks. Sarah Haavind shaavind(\)bbn.com Table of Current Data on the Global Distribution of Orca Whales 1. off Iceland: 300 photo-identified by Marine Research Institute* around Iceland and the Faroe Islands: 1,000 estimated* 6,618 estimated**** (with a 95% lower confidence limit of 3,850) 2. Indian Ocean 15 (photo ided?)* 3. off Norway 300 (photo ided?)* 4. off Britain seen in coastal water - no count**** 5. off Ireland seen in coastal waters - no count**** 6. Mediterranean very rare***** 7. Northwest Atlantic relatively uncommon but as many as 50 seen at a time** 8. British Columbia/Washington State # 305 photo-identified residents 170 photo-identified transients approx. 200 photo-identified offshores 9. Southeast Alaska 286 reported## 183 photo-identified* Prince William Sound 260 photo-identified* off Kodiak Island 182 photo-identified* 10. Patagonia 14(photo ided?)* 11. surrounding Antartica 160,000 (estimated)**** 4000 to 5000 (estimated) * 12. off Japan unknown Sources: * Ken Balcomb, 9/95 # Killer Whales John KB Ford, et. al. UBC Press (1994) ## Status of Living Marine Resources off the Pacific Coast of the US NMFS (1993) ** Orcas of the Gulf Gerard Gormley Sierra Club (1990) *** Shipboard surveys by Sigurjonsson and Gunnlaugsson(1987) **** The Natural History of Whales and Dolphins Peter G. H. Evans Facts on File Publications (1987) Sarah Haavind Educational Scientist & Director of Curriculum Design, Full Spectrum Multimedia Group BBN 70 Fawcett Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617/873-3717 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 17:59:41 -0600 From: "GreenLife Society: North American Chapter" Subject: International Wildlife Law Conference International Wildlife Law Conference Announcement "International Wildlife Law: Preserving Biodiversity In The 21st Century." Sponsors: The Wildlife Group of the American Society of International Law; GreenLife Society - North America; the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review; and the Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University. Overarching theme: the legal and political efficacy of wildlife treaty regimes and means to improve the effectiveness of said regimes in the future. Date: Tuesday, March 26, 1996. Time: 9:00am - 6:00pm, informal reception to follow. Location: ANA Hotel, Washington, DC Panels: A. Marine conservation regimes panel (Moderator: William Weiner, Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, Lansing, Michigan): 1. Alison Rieser, Professor of Law & Director of the Marine Law Institute, U. of Maine School of Law, "Emergence of the Precautionary Approach to Managing Fish Stocks"; 2. Richard McLaughlin, Professor of Law, University of Mississippi, & Director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program, "Settling Trade Related Disputes Over The Conservation of Marine Living Resources: UNCLOS or the WTO?." 3. Dr. Andre Nollkaemper, Faculty of Law, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, "The Bonn Convention and The Conservation of Small Cetaceans." 4. David Vanderzwaag, Professor of Law, Dalhousie University School of Law, Halifax, Nova Scotia, "Marine Conservation in the Arctic: The Legal Seascape After LOSC." B. ICRW panel (Moderator: Sudhir K. Chopra, University of California, Irvine, Dept. of Political Science): 1. Alan MacNow, Japanese Whaling Association, "The Legitimate Province of the IWC in the 21st Century"; 2. Patricia Birnie, London School of Economics, "The IWC and the Regulation of the Taking of Small Cetaceans;" 3. Kieran Mulvaney, Global Oceans Watch, "The International Whaling Commission And The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations." 4. Dr. Allan Gillespie, University of Waikato School of Law, Hamilton, New Zealand, "The Issue and Ethics of Sustainable Whaling." C. CITES panel (Moderator: David Favre, Dean, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University): 1. John Copeland Nagle, Seton Hall School of Law, "Why Wildlife Disappears As CITES Spreads: Lessons From China And The United States;" 2. Beken O. Kerimbekov, Chief Legal Counsel, Eko Fond, Alma-Ata, Kazakstan, "Implementation of CITES In The Central Asian Republics;" 3. William Burns, GreenLife Society - North America, Madison, WI, USA, "Strengthening European Compliance With CITES." The papers which grow out of this conference will be published in a special symposium issue of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. Registration fees: $50.00, $25.00 for students until February 20; $55.00, $30.00 thereafter. Please make out checks to "Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University." Registration may be effectuated by filling out the form that follows and remitting registration materials and payment to: Dean David Favre, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University, 130 E. Elizabeth, Detroit, MI 48201. For further information, contact Dean Favre at: favred(\)mlc.lib.mi.us, (313) 965-0150. Registration Form: "International Wildlife Law: Preserving Biodiversity In The 21st Century" ANA Hotel, Washington, DC, March 26, 1996 Name: Organizational Affiliation: Address: City, State, Zip: Business Phone: Home Phone: Fax: E-mail address: Classification: _____ Student ($25.00) _______ Non-Student ($50.00). Checks should be issued to the "Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University," and sent to: Dean David Favre, Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University, 130 E. Elizabeth, Detroit, MI 48201 William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 33 University Square, Suite 184, Madison, WI 53715-1042 USA Phone: (608) 250-2621 Fax: (608) 250-2622 WWW site: http://nceet.snre.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html GLSNA Affiliations: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sound Science Initiative The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 11:18:47 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 2/16/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Beluga Recovery Plan. On Feb. 14, 1996, Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) officials and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada representatives announced that a recovery plan for the remaining 525 St. Lawrence River belugas had been prepared. The plan contains 56 recommendations with priorities being the reduction of toxic contaminants, protection of beluga habitat, and reduction of disturbances to belugas. [Dow Jones News, WWF press release] . Pelly Amendment Certification Report. On Feb. 9, 1996, President Clinton reported to Congress that trade sanctions would not be imposed under Pelly Amendment authority on Japan for research whaling activities, but that the United States would continue to press Japan to curb its whaling. [Assoc Press] . ATOC. The State Board of Land and Natural Resources is scheduled to vote on whether to approve ATOC operations on Feb. 27, 1996. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Feb 1996 19:52:56 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Seals; science and politics (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 01:21:34 +-100 Jan Hannah, IMMA, wrote (A response to Blichfeldt and Gaure, Feb. 8th)): >Georg Blichfeldt and his colleague Simen Gaure have recently made a = number of accusations regarding, among other things, David Lavigne's = involvement with the International Marine Mammal Association Inc. As = these matters relate primarily to questions of personal and = institutional integrity, rather than to marine mammal biology and = conservation, we will limit our comments to the following. IMMA's brochure, which many of you picked up at the recent marine mammal = meeting in Orlando, clearly states, "IMMA is funded primarily by the = International Fund for Animal Welfare from which it maintains an = arms-length relationship." Anyone interested in factual information about IMMA, its philosophy, research and education initiatives, can reach us via e-mail = (jhannah(\)imma.org). Janice Hannah, Education Coordinator International Marine Mammal Association Inc< My comments: The "question of personal and institutional integrity" is indeed = relevant to the debate on marine mammal conservation and marine mammal = management in general. IFAW/IMMA should be expected to be the first to = recognise this - as they themselves are highly occupied by these issues. = F.ex. in his speech at the recent marine mammal conference in Orlando, = Florida (IMMA home page) Lavigne accuses the Canadian government of = turning their scientists into "oxymorons". (According to my dictionary = oxymorons in this context may be interpreted as meaning something like = "sharp idiots".) "If scientists aren't allowed to discuss their results = freely, they cannot function as scientists", Lavigne said.=20 And on Marmam, 8. Dec. 95, Peter Meisenheimer of IMMA/IFAW tells us that = the DFO (the Canadian Department of Ocean and Fisheries) Scientists, who = have made public statements contradicting the "absurd claim" that "harp = seals are limiting groundfish stock recruitment", "are rumoured to have = been officially reprimanded". The idea that both Lavigne and = Meisenheimer is trying to convey is that the Canadian government = scientists are suppressed and not allowed to give their true opinion, = and that the government then freely can misrepresent the scientific = findings.=20 Scientific information is an important part of the basis for managment = decisions, but has to be complemented by input from the political = sphere. The management objectives are to be developed through a = democratic, political process. In this process values and interests are = the determining factors - and if any expert input is relevant to this = process, it would rather come from political /social science and from = philosophers than from biologists.=20 When marine mammal scientists are given - or take upon themselves - the = task to translate their scientific findings into management advice, they = should make it clear what objectives their advice is meant to further - = and they should give very clear signals to when they leave the field of = science and enters the political battlefield. They should be very = careful that their political standpoint or their value judgments - do = not influence their interpretation of the scientific data. And they = should not allow themselves to be influenced by their employer or their = funding source. They should make public what their affiliations are and = who is funding them - so that their statements can be evaluated from = this background.=20 As already demonstrated - the discussion about the influence of politics = in the scientific sphere is really heated when it comes to marine mammal = management. And naturally - at the core of this debate is the integrity = of the scientists and the institutions they work for or that are funding = their work.=20 The debate on interaction between seals and cod offers some good=20 examples on how the distinctions between science and politics are = blurred: Scientific facts (that as far as I have seen has not been disputed):=20 1) The harps seal stock eat 140 000 tons a year from the depleted cod = stocks in Newfoundland waters. 2) There is (so far) no firm scientific evidence on how this predation = influences the recovery of the cod stocks. What scientific conclusions might be drawn from these facts? A) Harp seals might impede the recovery of the cod stocks - (which was the conclusion of the scientific panel debate in Halifax, = (re. my MARMAM mailing "Seals, politics and cannibal cod, 28 jan)) and = following from this; less harps seals might result in a faster recovery = of cod (this was not explicitly expressed by the panel; my deduction)=20 B)"Harp seals are one of the factors impeding groundfish stock = rebuilding" (Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, "Understanding = the Seal Fishery", fact sheet 1995) C) "All available evidence indicates that seals .... almost certainly = will have nothing to do with the recovery of the cod stock" = (Meisenheimer, Peter. IMMA/IFAW, "Seals, cod, ecology and mythology", = IMMA Web, 1996)=20 D) "DFO make the definitive and utterly false statement that harp seals = are limiting ground fish recruitment" (Meisenheimer, Marmam, Dec 8) E) the statement that "harp seals are limiting groundfish stock = recruitment" is an "absurd claim" (Meisenheimer, Marmam, 8. Dec. 95) F) ".... killing seals will not speed that process (of cod recovery)" = (Conclusion drawn in a petition signed by 97 scientists at the Marine = Mammal Conference, Orlando, Florida, Dec. 1995, presented at the IMMA = Web, my understanding is that the petition was promoted by the IMMA/IFAW = and signed by IMMA/IFAW scientists) G) "The Canadian Government claims that seals need to be killed as they = are affecting the recovery of fish stocks. However independent = scientists say this is completely untrue and could actually harm fish = recovery rates because seals in fact eat a number of predators of cod" = (IFAW Press Release, July 15th, 95) (Note the term "independent = scientists"; my comment) H) "Today the scientific evidence actually suggests that culling seal = populations will "almost certainly" not produce measurable benefits for = commercial fisheries." (David Lavigne, in his paper presented to the = hearing in the EU parliament, Sept. 28th 95)=20 Where there is no firm scientific evidence - there can be drawn no firm = scientific conclusions. As Meisenheimer puts it: "Drawing definitive = conclusions from superficial and incomplete analysis of a problem is = just bad science". (Meisenheimer, "Seals, cod, ecology and mythology") The Orlando petition's cocksure statement that "killing seals will not = speed that process (of cod recovery)" is not based on science. The same = goes of course for the DFO statement that "the seals are one of the = factors impeding ground fish rebuilding" - and Meisenheimer's rejection = of it as "utterly false" and an "absurd claim".=20 That the DFO statement is not based on scientific evidence does not = necessarily mean that the statment in itself is false. What is false is = to claim that it is based on scientific evidence, and in one of the DFO = fact sheets it is actually presented under the heading "scientific = conclusions." However, if forwarded as a reasoned opinion grounded on = evaluation of scientific indications - acompanied with suitable = reservations - their conclusion might make sense. The main indications = is the fact that 140 000 tons of cod a year. Presented in the same form = the Orlando petition statement might also make sense. But it is also = talking about evidence: "If fishing closure continue, the evidence = indicates that the stock will recover, and killing seals will not speed = that process". Evidence that is indicating rather than proving should be = called circustancial evidence, shouldn't it? What kind of evidence are = they talking of? Scientific?=20 Lavigne is in his paper delivered at the EU parliament hearing is also = mentioning "scientific evidence". These make him "almost" certain that = "culling seals would not measurable benefits for commercial fisheries". = But challenged by one of the parliamentarians with the fact the harp = seals eats 140 000 tons of cod a year, he was suddenly far from almost = certain. On the contrary, now he stressed the uncertainty: ".... could I = speculate on the effect on cod stocks? I think doctor Harwood has = already answered that questions. We really don't know . There are no = data and indeed the analyses required to even address it has yet not = begun. So we don't know. We haven't even the models, as far as I know, = to address whether harpseal consumption on 1 to 2 years old would have a = negative impact of the recovery or would enhance the survival of even = younger cod. We simply don't have that kind of information at the = present time." (Transcript from tape) Where there is no firm evidence, we will have to talk about likelihood. The likelihood that the seal consumption of 140 000 tons of cod a year = has an negative impact on cod recovery, should be rather substantial - = when the spawning stock is estimated to be down to 30 to 50 000 tons = (this figure is from the back of my head, can't find the source, please = correct if it is wrong). To say that seal predation of cod at this level = "will most certainly have nothing to with the recovery of cod stocks" = (as Meisenheimer - and Lavigne - did) has to be supported by indications = that the seal predation also might have some positive elements in = relation to cod recovery, for example that the harp seal not only eat = cod but also predators of cod. This is exactly the kind of argument = that the IMMA/IFAW scientists are building their seal/cod interaction = conclusions on: "Although the more commonly encountered view is that seals have had an = deleterious effect on the cod stock recovery, it is also possible that = seals have positive impact. The reason for this conclusion is, again, = the complex nature of real ecological interactions. Seals eat many = things, some of which are cod and some of which eat cod". (Meisenheimer, = "Seals, cod, ecology and mythology") "Your question says these harpseals appear to be eating cod, small = amount of cod, perhaps of the age 1 to 2 years old, approximately 16 to = 20 centimetres in length. This is precisely the sort of awkward = situation we scientist find ourselves in because the marine environment, = as we all know, big animals eat small animals eat smaller animals - = all the way down the line - by and large. We know that a major predator = of young cod is in fact cod. So this predation of seals on intermediate = size cod, could in fact be one of these situations where seals are = eating the predators of the juvenile fish that are coming along behind." = (Lavigne, answer to question from MEP Gallagher at the Hearing on = Multi-species Resource Management in the EU parliament arranged by the = parliaments Fisheries Committee, Brussels 27 and 28 september, = transcript from tape) =20 As far as I have been able to find out, the notion that harp seals - in = Newfoundland waters - should support the cod recovery in eating other = cod predators has no basis in scientific findings. When it comes to = Lavigne's cannibal cod theory - it is to my knowledge contradicted by = scientific facts. (I asked in my initial mailing for marmamer's = evaluation on Lavignes cod cannibal theory, but no one has offered their = opinion so far.) Cod of the size eaten by seals, (1 to 2 years old) are = not cannibals, stated the norwegian fisheries scientist Odd Nakken at = the EU Hearing, (re. my mailing; "Seal, politics and cannibal cod).=20 Lavigne's theory would anyhow be self-contradictory. In its full = consequence - the recovery of cod would be best served if the seals ate = the whole spawning stock. In other words; the less adult cod, the more = cod recruitment. Or maybe the seals are able to single out the real bad = cod, those with the strongest cannibalistic tendencies?=20 Also; - to my knowledge - the former canadian fisheries minister, Tobin, = is right in stating that "there is only major player fishing that (cod) = stock, and his first name is Harp and his second name is Seal". I take = the reservation that he is talking of cod from 1-2 years and up. (The = Tobin quote is taken from Lavigne's article in BBC Wildlife, feb 96: = "Mr. Seal gets all the stick for Atlantic fish dilemma"). Therefore cod = not eaten by seals are not likely to just be swallowed by others = le seals. Back in 1992 they brought another full page advertisement with = lots of seals stating that they did not have cod for dinner - and one = single seal admitting: "Yes, I had one some a couple of months ago". The = text stated that "less than 1% of the harp seal's diet is cod." The = systematic research on harp seal diets was not started at that time, and = this definitive conclusion was buildt on very, very poor and = unrepresentative data. The idea IFAW tried to convey is that seals do = not eat any substansial amount of cod. At the end of advertisement it = says: "To talk to a scientist about this issue call (519) 767-2055." The = phone number led to IMMA.=20 Yes, it might look like IFAW is in need of "independent" scientific = corroboration.=20 What I have criticised is that IFAW and Lavigne has not been open about = that he is part of "the IFAW system". I can document more than twenty = occasions where Lavigne (in writing) has commented upon marine mammal = conflicts where IFAW are involved, never mentioning his affiliation with = IFAW - and the other way around: where IFAW has used Lavigne as = scientific corroboration to support their campaigns, but always without = pointing out that he is in fact is working for them. Even when Lavigne = in his writing is commenting on IFAW's campaigns (suprisingly always in = positive terms) he pretends to view the organisation from an outside = position. (BBC Wildlife, May 1992)=20 The two latest example is the IFAW press release "MPs urges supermarkets = to stop selling canadian fish" (Feb 6th) - and the presentation of = Lavigne's speech at the Orlando conference at the IFAW web site. In the = press release Lavigne is introduced as "one of the worlds leading seal = experts, Dr David Lavigne, of Canada's International Marine Mammal = Association". He is here commenting a video film taken by a Newfoundland = sealer and released by IFAW: "The film raises serious questions about = the monitoring of the hunt and the conduct of the sealers",he is quoted = as saying. He is presented as an authority from outside IFAW, adding = credibility to IFAW's conclusions and demands - drawn from the film.=20 At the IFAW web site Lavigne's Orlando speech is reffered to under the = title: "Leading scientist condemns canadian seal hunt". He is introduced = as "Professor Lavigne of Guelph University ... an internationally = recognised expert on harp seal biology". Not a hint about his = affiliation to IFAW (nor IMMA). IFAW's Director of US Field Operations, = Tom Moliterno, is quoted as saying: "IFAW has been calling attention to = the political motivation behind this government subsidized seal = slaughter for several years. Dr. Lavingne has now adressed the issue = head-on."=20 In the paper Lavigne delivered at the EU hearing he presented himself as = "David Lavigne, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph". No mention = of IMMA nor IFAW.=20 Jay Hannah, IMMA/IFAW, wrote: >IMMA's brochure, which many of you picked up at the recent marine = mammal meeting in Orlando, clearly states, "IMMA is funded primarily by = the International Fund for Animal Welfare from which it maintains an = arms-length relationship."< Yes, I have seen the statement in your brochure, which is the only = reference I have found in any IFAW or IMMA publications addressing the = relationship between the two organisations. I have to say that I found = it a rather ironic, though. The description of the IFAW - IMMA = relationship seems be the parallel to saying that a person maintains an = arm-length relationship to his hand. The "arm-length statement" does not tell the whole story about the = relationship between IFAW and IMMA. It tries to create the impression = that IMMA and IFAW are separate organisations - not tied to each other = through organisational or administrative links. In the 1993 IFAW annual = report IMMA is listed together with IFAW Charitable Trust, IFAW Trading = Ltd, IFAW Promotions Ltd, IFAW(Germany), IFAW (Holland), IFAW = (Australia) Ltd Pty, IFAW (Canada) (Inc), IFAW Political Action = Committee, IFAW USA, Political Animal Lobby Ltd and Brian Davis = Foundation Inc as IFAW affiliates. The 1993 AR states: "While the Assets = of the Fund are held separate from, and are not combined with, those of = the affiliates, cash amounts are intended to support, whenever necessary = or appropriate, IFAW's worldwide animal welfare programme activities." = As already mentioned - one of the IFAW directors "acts as worldwide = chief executive officer of all affiliates". There are no indications = that the status of IMMA within the IFAW system in any different from = that of IFAW (Canada) or IFAW Political Committee Inc.=20 The only way to make an end to the political misuse of science and to = see to that "all the science is presented in it's own right", = Meisenheimer proposes, is "to put the science at a arm-length to the = politics of managment". (Marmam, Dec. 8th). I agree - and and would like = to add that this is also valid for "the politics of campaigning."=20 I will wind up with a direct question to Lavigne and Meisenheimer: Don't = you think that it would be appropriate to mention your affiliation with = IFAW whenever you take part in the marine mammal debate?=20 Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, Pb 123, N-8390 Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway email: georgb(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 19:46:03 -0800 From: kenyarb(\)igc.apc.org Organization: Institute for Global Communications Subject: New Threats to Dolphins New Threats to Dolphins Congress Tries to Weaken Dolphin Protection Laws by Mark J. Palmer and Laura Seligsohn Earth Island Institute A runaway Congress could reverse years of progress on protecting dolphins on the high seas, but Earth Island Institute, along with a coalition of over seventy environmental and animal welfare organizations, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-DC), and Congressmember George Miller (D-CA), are fighting back. Senators Boxer and Biden, the original authors of the dolphin-safe tuna program, have introduced S. 1460, the Dolphin Protection Act (H.R. 2856 by Rep. Miller in the House of Representatives), to continue preventing dolphins from drowning in tuna nets. Three legislative efforts to weaken U.S. policy on dolphin protection have been introduced. The first of these threats surfaced in September 1995, when U.S. Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), joining hands with the so-called Wise Use Movement, took aim at dolphin protections by introducing H.R. 2179. If passed, the bill would repeal the federal definition of "Dolphin Safe" and allow dolphin-unsafe tuna to flood the U.S. market. H.R. 2179 would further allow U.S. tunaboats to once again kill dolphins, setting an international dolphin kill quota as high as 55,000 or more dolphins annually. David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute's International Marine Mammal Project, quickly labeled H.R. 2179 "the Dolphin Extermination and Consumer Fraud Act." H.R. 2179 had barely been introduced when Mexico and several compromise-oriented environmental groups issued the "Panama Declaration" after a series of secret meetings in Washington, DC. The declaration represents an international effort to force Congress to lift the ban on the import and sale of dolphin-unsafe tuna and to change the federal definition of "dolphin safe" in a way that hides the truth from consumers. The current definition of dolphin safe, under the Boxer-Biden Dolphin Protection & Consumer Information Act of 1991, sponsored by Earth Island Institute, prohibits all chasing, capturing, and setting of nets on dolphins. The Panama Declaration, by contrast, redefines dolphin safe to mean no observed dolphin mortality, allows the U.S. tuna fishing fleet and the fleets of countries that want to export tuna to the U.S. to resume setting purse seine nets on dolphins to catch the tuna that swim beneath them, and would permit up to 5,000 dolphins to be killed each year. The actual number of dolphins observed killed by the fishery last year was 4,095, so the Panama quota would allow killing of almost 1,000 more dolphins every year. The Panama deal also calls for allowing dolphin-unsafe tuna imports into the U.S. in the name of free trade, a reversal of the four-year-old U.S. tuna embargo against countries whose fleets' dolphin safety practices are not comparable to our own. Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and John Breaux (D-LA), who have long opposed the dolphin-safe program, introduced S. 1420 in the U.S. Senate in November 1995, to implement the Panama Declaration. In December, Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) introduced the same bill as H.R. 2823 in the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the pro-trade Clinton Administration is currently in support of the Dolphin Death Act, as are five environmental organizations. Greenpeace, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, Environmental Defense Fund, and Center for Marine Conservation are inexplicably supporting drastically weakening dolphin protection. However, U.S. tuna processors are standing firm in their commitment to buy only tuna caught without setting nets on dolphins. The proposed changes in U.S. law could have grave consequences for the dolphins that swim with yellowfin tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. For 30 years, dolphin populations have been horrendously depleted by disastrous fishing practices. Eastern spinner and northeastern spotted dolphin populations are currently estimated at only 44% and 23%, respectively, of original numbers. Even dolphins that are not killed in nets are subjected to chase by high-speed powerboats and to entrapment in nets, both of which are extremely stressful for dolphins. There is growing evidence that the physiological repercussions of this trauma may cause mortality never observed by Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) monitors and cumulative long-term effects that may reduce reproductive success for those dolphins repeatedly chased and encircled. Further, dolphins with injuries, such as torn fins or broken jaws, would not be counted as "observed" dolphin mortalities. Dr. Naomi Rose of the Humane Society of the United States explains, "It is not simply a matter of direct mortality. The concept of 'take' encompasses more than killing. This type of harassment may have serious physical consequences. Considering how severely depleted these populations are ... this is not good management." Proponents of H.R. 2179, S. 1420, and H.R. 2823 argue that there is nothing to worry about. Biologically, however, it is not known what numbers are needed for successful breeding and regeneration of depleted dolphin herds. Thanks to the staff of Senators Boxer and Biden, and Representative Miller and Gerry Studds (D-MA), the bills on the Senate and House floors are being watched closely to block any back-door deals. Earth Island Institute is working to stop passage of S. 1420, H.R. 2179, and H.R. 2823. By contrast, S. 1460 (Boxer/Biden) and H.R. 2856 (Miller) would keep dolphin protections in place. S. 1460 and H.R. 2856 would also help to resolve trade issues by supporting research and observers, as well as giving further incentives to dolphin-safe fishermen by allowing their tuna to be imported from countries that are currently embargoed. Earth Island Institute has been joined in support of dolphins by the Sierra Club, Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, Public Citizen, and dozens of other grassroots environmental groups in support of the Boxer/Biden/Miller Dolphin Protection Act (S. 1460/H.R. 2856). We need your support in fighting the efforts to weaken U.S. dolphin protections. Free trade at the expense of dolphins is a bad deal. What You Can Do: Please write letters to your state Senators and House Representative. * Urge them to SUPPORT S. 1460 and H.R. 2856, the Boxer/Biden/Miller Dolphin Protection Act. * Urge them to OPPOSE weakening current dolphin protections, including S. 1460, H.R. 2823, and H.R. 2179. Senator ______________Rep. _________________ U.S. SenateU.S. House of Representatives Senate Office BuildingHouse Office Building Washington, DC 20510Washington, DC 20515 Capitol Switchboard:(202) 224-3121 Also write a letter to President Bill Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20500, and urge him to stop supporting the Panama Dolphin Death Deal and S. 1420/H.R. 2823! For further information, contact Earth Island Institute, International Marine Mammal Project, 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133; (415) 788-3666. ***** For further information:Mark J. Palmer Earth Island Institute (415) 788-3666 (415) 788-7324 (fax) marinemammal(\)earthisland.org http://www.earthisland.org/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Feb 1996 16:51:42 -0800 From: Fred Sharpe Subject: Whale Tracking Responses Hello, Enclosed are the comments I received concerning the tracking of large whales with out the aid of a theodolite. Thanks again to all of you who responded! Fred Sharpe Simon Fraser University fsharpe(\)sfu.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- QUESTION: I am interested in quantifying the movement, spacing, and orientation of humpback whales over moderate spatial scales (up to about 1.5 miles). Can anyone recommend a method for this type of tracking which could be done from a boat without the aid of a shore based surveyor's theodolite or affixing a tracking tag on the animal. I was thinking about a combination of a compass, GPS, and a high quality range finder operated from a ship's mast. In Southeast Alaska, the terrain is typically steep and forested, making the establishment of a shore based tracking station difficult. In addition, the movement of humpback pods are often extensive and unpredictable, which also reduces the effectiveness of a shore station. Any ideas or references on this problem would be very much appreciated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- RESPONSES: Your proposal looks like the best one - couple of points: 1. GPS positions in SE Alaska are likely to be precise only to ~100 yds at best (often worse - the US military deliberately makes the GPS system less precise than it could be). 2. Gaskin & Watson did work on movements of harbour porpoise in Passamaquoddy Bay, NB, using compass fixes - good paper. Gaskin DE, Watson AP (1985) The harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in Fish Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada: Occupancy, distribution, and movements. Fish Bull 83 : 427-442. 3. We use kelp beds (and floats tied to them) as indicators of bottom topography to follow greys - any use for humpbacks ? Good luck ! William Megill tel: (604) 730 0579 Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation email: megill(\)zoology.ubc.ca 207-2173 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 1V5 world-wide web: http://www.bcu.ubc.ca/~megill/cerf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- It seemed that the satellite telemetry be the best way to do your job for tracking the humpback whale. Good luck. Anli Gao agao(\)uoguelph.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Would a side-scanning sonar be any use? It was quite effective in one study of dusky dolphins in New Zealand, but had the side effect of attracting the animals and therefore polluting a purely behavioural study. Just a thought, I reckon some kind of random line transect with the equipment you mentioned would probably be the most realistic. We had a similar problem with hector's dolphins off steep cliffs (South Island NZ) and designed a study using a combination of light aircraft and boats following a series of transect lines along the shoreline. Never got a chance to use the method though! Too many easier and cheaper places to study the same species. I can dig up the design for you if you like but I imagine its pretty basic. Be interested to hear what you work out. Cheers, Deborah McCutchen or P.S. There are some nifty designs for transects in tough environments on Commerson's Dolphin in Chile. Leatherwood maybe? Can't recall but there are so few on that species probably easy to look up. Don't know if it will help with individual orientation however.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- One system you might be able to use is something which we are considering for fine-scale trail mapping and ground-truthing remotely sensed data in Pacific Rim National Park. This system consists of a handheld laser range-finder, combined with a differential GPS unit. I used one of these range finders at a demo.at the GIS'94 conference, and they appear to be rugged, practical units. I don't have manufacturer's information at hand, but I could dig it up if it would be relevant. The North Shore Search & Rescue team used it for trail mapping, and their application was written up in a recent issue of Earth Observation Magazine (EOM)- a GIS/remote sensing journal. I'd guess that in fiords, satellite coverage for the GPS might be problematic, and I don't know how well lasers reflect off a moving, wet whale. I hope this information may be of some use. Doug Clark Senior Park Warden- Wildlife ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know you said that you didn't want to attach a tag to the anaimals, but I think you'll be hard pressed to get consistent and detailed data on movements. I'm working (with Don Croll and Berniw Tershey) on a tracking system based on acoustic transponder tags (much like the transponder technology used for determining positions of oceanographic devices). WE haven't yet received money to start the work but we hope to have some, and do some testing by late summer. Let me know if you're interested, I could give you some more details - I think it would fit in well with the feeding behaviors that you are documenting. Tom Norris Norris(\)mlml.calstate.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- we use two survey methods that MAY interest you, depending on the amount of detail you need. 1. passive (no signals put into the water) acoustic tracking. we use a tow hydrophone string to get direction data. then move the boat, and/or allow the whales to move about the boat and solve for location. use two boats and get location data right away. cornell and my company (marine acoustics, inc) used the system this past fall off the coast of cal.. it worked very well. this type of system can also be used on the bottom, to cover a fixed area, but you do not want a shore site. 2. aircraft survey. photos, gps, etc. we use a small remote control aircraft (3 hours in the air) to photo whale pods via live RC link. this methods is less disturbing to the whales. the aircraft is very small and not noisy compaired to a boat or manned aircraft. analysis can be completed real-time, photos and gps data are stored on tape and processed after the flight. aircraft can be lanuch from a ship. (never tried it from a boat, yet.). we have used manned survey flights, but i would guess you know about that method. you could also use both systems together, acoustics can location a pod, then the aircraft is lanuched to photo the pod for analysis. this allows you to cover more area with your survey, and stand away from the whales pods. sorry for sounding like a commerical, but this is what we do. hope it gives you some ideas. Lee Shores shores(\)interramp.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- we have developed just such a method using GPS interfaced to computer to log the boats position and photographic or video range finding to determine range. We have used this with fin, minke and sperm whales. Using video is particularly easy as we have written programs to grab frames and make the necessary measurements with a mouse. Unfortunately none of this is written up yet. The theory behind the range measuring method is all covered in my paper on length measruing. Gordon, 1990. Rep. int. Whal. Commn 40, 581-588. Yes you do need an elevated platform. Best Wishes, Dr Jonathan Gordon 0005053311(\)mcimail.com International Fund for Animal Welfare Song of the Whale Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- I think you got it - a laser range finder and a GPS, along with a well written computer algorithym (or hours with a nautical chart) will do it for anytime you want to track a position. It is pretty easy to write a computer routine that will give you an exact position if you take a GPS readout, give a compass bearing, and a distance to a target in a limited scale area. The longitudinal scale stays fixed whereever you go; although the latitudinal will show minor shifts, if you program it for a limited area (like Point Adolphus) the error is so minro it can be ignored. We do this all the time for positions of whales here. The distance needs to be estimated visually, but this can be done with practice using a radar - just keep trying to estimate objects and check the real distance until you are getting consistently correct estimates. It may take a little while, but it works. Best - Mason mason(\)CETACEAN.ORG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Greetings! Leica has released a new version of their laser range-finding binocu lars with a port which is designed to interface with a GPS (Note: their earlier binoculars do not have this option). I used Leica's non-GPS range-finding binoculars for a land-based sea lion/ vessel interaction study, and I was very pleased with them. Their range is only about 1000 m, so this doesn't quite meet your full distance needs. I have obtained readings from a whale's back before a dive, and distances are readily measured off raised flukes from behind. One thing you'll want to field t est before investing in these (they run ~$3,500-4,500, I believe), is how reliably y ou can get readings when only a small portion of the whale's back breaks the surfac e of the water. Although the binoculars will produce good readings on moderately low profile objects, sometimes this may take several readings, since the target need s to have some vertical component. The higher the elevation of the observer -- you mention a mast -- the better; however, the aplified movement of the boat from a mast will probably compromise your ability to steady the cross hairs on more distant targets. If the observer is high enough, then you might be able to get a readin goff the water from where an animal dove, but I suspect even the tallest mast may not provide enough of an angle for animals at the outer edges of the instrument's ra nge (waves might help...). I believe there is a NMFS group which has used these binoculars for whale survey s in the Northeast, so you might want to track them down. If you have any other questions, I would be happy to try to address them. Best wishes, Beth Mathews University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, Alaska Beth_Mathews(\)nps.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- >Fred...the rangefinder may not work, at least optical rangefinders, you >cant get enough of a stable image to get any accuracy in our attempts. the >other option is a speed gun style radar, they sell for about 15000 but are >rentable in the area of 700/month, they rangefind very accurately on small >targets...that with a digital sighting compass for bearing and a gps for >the observer position will give you a good fix....we have been using >estimated fixes, a handheld digital compass, and a gps and tests of our >accuracy are good, and consistent...good luck > >inquire with Dave Duffus ddvffvs(\)uvvm.uvic.ca ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Leica Geovid is a pair of binoculars with a laser rangefinder AND a=20 sort of compass included, so when you press the button, you get direction= =20 (degrees) and distance. COmbined with a good GPS, prefer=A0bly Differential= =20 setup, you should be able to make rater accurate determinations of the=20 positions of the whales. One limitation however, is that the Leica Geovid= =20 only ranges approx. 1.5 km. Good Luck Knud Falk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Hello Fred, You asked about animal tracking from a boat without the aid of a shore-based theodolite or tracking tags. We do acoustic tracking of underwater animals based on their vocalizations, or call sounds. You need to drop four sonobuoys, or modified sonobuoys, and note their locations with your boat-based GPS. Then, you receive and process the radio signals from the sonobuoys, which are transmitting the acoustic signals from underwater. Using a computer to digitize and process the signals, you compute source position as the intersections of hyperbolae defined by the arrival time differences at each pair of hydrophones. The system works for three-dimensional tracking over a distance of about 1.5 times the water depth, or possibly more. If the water is shallow, then you accept 2-D tracking over much greater distances. I should think your interest in distances to 1.5 miles might be reasonable. Let me know if I should provide you with more information. Do you need realtime answers? (If so, your computing requirements probably exceed what you can get from most desktop PCs.) Our last application was in a shallow environment where we did not try for 3-d tracking. With our PC, it took about 5 minutes between hearing a sound and getting the location estimates; there was some need for operator interaction with the computer. Background noise is important. It can confound the sound you are trying to locate. Cordially, Charles Greene Greeneridge Sciences, Inc. 4512 Via Huerto Santa Barbara, CA 93110 U.S.A. TEL & FAX: 805-967-7720 Email: cgreene(\)greeneridge.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- In response to your tracking question. We have had good success developing low budget systems for tracking ground squirrels in the Dakotas. The remote from a TV or garage door opener can be used can be used for plotting distance, with the animals direction taken by sighting through a View Master (recommend "Great Whales: the seven wonders of the world"). Plot positions on Etchasketch. Later scater Melvin Drysdale ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 12:22:18 +0000 From: Sue Muloin Subject: Tourism Hi everyone! Does anyone have any information on Tourism ventures of whales, billfish and/or turtles in the South Pacific? I realise this is a broad topic so any assistance in the form of references, contact persons (including FAX and e-mail addresses) and direct knowledge of existing operations would be greatly appreciated. I am seeking this information on behalf of a colleague of mine who is writing a paper on this topic. All replies can be sent directly to my e-mail address and I will pass the information on to my colleague. Thanks in advance! Regards, Sue Muloin Dept of Tourism James Cook University Townsville, Qld 4811 Australia FAX 61+77+25 1116 PH 61+77+81 4960 e-mail: suzanne.muloin(\)jcu.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 07:54:02 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Forwarded message: >From daemon Tue Feb 20 03:17:47 1996 Message-Id: Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 06:18:51 -0500 To: marmam(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA From: bindert(\)q.continuum.net (Tim Binder) Message from Tim Binder Director of Husbandry Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Posted to MARMAM Tuesday, 20 February 1996 ****POSITION ANNOUNCMENT**** Aquarist/Marine Mammals This is a hands-on marine mammal training position working with beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins. Requires related degree with 3-5 years professional experience working with cetaceans in a public aquarium or similar institution. Strong teamwork skills along with the ability to work effectively in a teamwork setting are essential. Duties to include animal husbandry and training; presentation of public demonstrations and educational programming; and working closely with staff/public. Send resum=E9/references by 26 March 1996 to: Human Resources Mystic Marinelife Aquarium 55 Coogan Blvd Mystic, CT 06355 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 07:58:27 +0100 From: Garcia Hartmann On behalf of the organisation of the Third workshop on cetacean pathology organised by the European Cetacean Society in Portugal next month, we would like to inform all subscribers of marmam with this: LAST ANNOUNCEMENT of the THIRD ECS WORKSHOP ON CETACEAN PATHOLOGY: CETACEAN LUNG PATHOLOGY On thursday, 14 March 1996, the THIRD ECS WORKSHOP ON CETACEAN PATHOLOGY will take place at the Fundacao Calouste Gulbelkian in Lisbon, Portugal, starting at 9:00 hours. The subject of the workshop is CETACEAN LUNG PATHOLOGY, with a special emphasis on lung parasitism. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the current knowledge on lung pathology in cetaceans, including related aspects such as lung anatomy, histology and ultrastructure, physiology and pathophysiology, the role of parasitism and bacterial infections, proper evaluation of findings, etc. Abstracts received so far cover a broad range of subjects, including the effects of parasites on the lung, determination and distribution of lung parasites , detailed lung histology of by-catches and non-parasitic diseases of this organ. Persons planning to attend the workshop shoudl register informally. Contact person: Manuel Garcia Hartmann, DVM Muelheimer Str. 273 47058 Duisburg, Germany Tel: +49-203-33 78 97 Fax: +49-203-305 59 22 E-mail: ha005ha(\)rs1-hrz.uni-duisburg.de ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 18:32:15 GMT From: Ian Barnes Subject: Oil Spill at Milford Haven (UK) WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE Information Centre ----------------------------------------------- ++++ Sea Empress (Milford Haven) Oil Spill ++++ ----------------------------------------------- URL http:\\www.wcmc.org.uk\latenews\index.html The World Conservation Monitoring Centre has placed information on the wildlife and natural environment of the Milford Haven area in Dyfed, Wales, UK. If other organisations with information relevant to this oil spill wish to be linked, or have their information made availble on this site, please contact the WCMC information officer. These pages are under constant review. WCMC provides information services on the conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems, and supports others in the development of their own information management systems. ------------------------------------------------------ For further information, please contact: The Information Officer e-mail: info(\)wcmc.org.uk Tel: +44 1223 277314 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 03:01:15 -0500 From: Phocid(\)aol.com Subject: MMPA Text Can anyone please tell me where on the Net I may find the complete text for the MMPA. Thank you, Jeff Lederman ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 07:46:37 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: more Keiko For those of you who just can't get enough of the Keiko story, the March 1996 issue of LIFE has its cover story on the subject. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 12:48:15 -0500 From: "Richard L. Wallace" Subject: Seeking Back Volumes of Marine Mammal Science In-Reply-To: <199602201556.KAA24385(\)capitoline.cis.yale.edu> I am looking for copies of all issues of Marine Mammal Science, volumes 1-8, preferably at a price other than those offered by Allen Press (a not insubstantial $18 per issue, a little out of my doctoral student budgetary range). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much, Rich Wallace School of Froestry and Environmental Studies ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 16:20:35 +0000 From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Subject: Elipse Marine It seems my message to MARMAM re: Elipse Marine (E M) has caused greater ructions than anyone anticpated! The intent of my message, and I think this came through, was to prevent those of you whom I know personally, and those I don't yet know, from wasting your time and effort responding to something I perceived to be a waste of time. My comments were based on what had happened between E M and myself sometime last year. Since the appearance of my message, E M have contacted me and apologised for the inconvenience and consequences caused by what happened. Apparently, this was and is not their normal modus operandi. The confusion resulted from a number of un-related events, which, in combination, meant that my correspondence was not 'filed'. I believe them! They have assured me that they are instituting new measures to avoid this happening in future, including 'contracts', or something similar, which will safegaurd contributing scientists. I again believe them. Vic Cockcroft pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 18:57:36 -0700 From: Serge L Dedina Subject: Jobs Available in Mexico (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 14:17:42 -0700 (MST) From: Serge L Dedina To: "U of A, Latin American Studies" , ENVIRONMENT IN LATIN AMERICA NETWORK , CLAGNET Subject: Jobs Available in Mexico THE SCHOOL FOR FIELD STUDIES FULL TIME RESIDENT FACULTY POSITIONS AVAILABLE BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO START DATE: JULY 1996 The School for Field Studies announces the opening of a new Center in Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur. The Center will focus on mangrove wetland and tropical estuarine issues in general and specifically on the Bay's fisheries, aquaculture projects, marine mammals, sea turtle populations, habitat destruction, and sustainable economic development. The overriding goal of the Center will be engaging our students in an educational and research program oriented towards the sustainable ecosystem management of natural resources in Magdalena Bay's coastal zone. SFS is the U.S.'s largest private university educational institution designed to give students the opportunity to contribute to critical environmental management issues in various threatened ecosystems. Faculty will give traditional classroom lectures and work in the field with students on applied conservation and resource management issues. This is a unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of both U.S. and Mexican students. SFS utilizes case studies in order to teach students the complex variables involved in management decisions regarding environmental change. Our goal is to have students leave our program with a greater sense of problem solving by looking at the ecological, resource management, social, economic, cultural, and political aspects of an issue. ==================================== COASTAL ECOLOGIST Experience in: Research and Management aspects of near-shore aquatic and coastal ecological processes including: fisheries, shellfish, crustaceans, mangroves, es tuaries, marine mammals,sea turtles, migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, and neo-tropical migrants. Developing strategies for measuring of ecosystem health Ecological applications of estuarine oceanography Conservation Biology ===================================================================== FISHERIES/WETLANDS/ESTUARINE/COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT FACULTY POSITION Experience in: Principles of Fisheries Ecology, Economics, and Management Alternative Fisheries Management Models in Context of Sustainable Development Mangrove Wetlands Management Design/Development of Small-scale Aquaculture Projects Lagoon/Estuarine Management Principles of Ecosystem Management Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Management Natural Resources management in Mexico and Baja California Sur Environmental Impact Assessment in Mexico Integrated Coastal Zone Management =================================================== RESOURCE ECONOMIST/GEOGRAPHER/APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGIST/ RURAL SOCIOLOGIST FACULTY POSITION: Experience in: Principles of Ecological/Environmental Economics Sustainable Development Developing and Analyzing Survey Tools Experience with Fisheries and Wetland Issues in Mexico Maritime Anthropology The Socio-Economic and Political Context of Natural Resource Management in Mexico and Baja California Sur Benefit Cost Analysis Integrated Coastal Zone Management All faculty positions are residential and require faculty to live on site with students. Programs are offered to 32 college students for semester and summer programs. Faculty will teach the equivalent of one and one half courses per semester, oversee student directed research projects, and participate in all daily living activities at the Center. Salary is $25,000 per year. Room and board is provided by SFS. REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. or Masters degree with at least 4 years of applied experience. Relevant work/living experiences in Mexico or a similar ecosystem; at least 2 years teaching undergraduate level with full course responsibility (writing and grading exams, lecturing, etc.); a demonstrated commitment to conservation; experience working with applied conservation/natural resource management issues; and proficiency in Spanish. TO APPLY: Send C.V. and a detailed letter explaining skills and experience to: Bob McCready For more information call: SFS/Mag Bay Search Bob McCready at: A.P. 270 (011 52) 112-53516 in La Paz C.P. 23000 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 17:32:55 -1000 From: "Hilary L. Maybaum" Subject: water quality for captive dolphins Greetings and salutations, I am wondering whether there are any water quality standards for hosting captive dolphins. If not, can anyone recommend what water quality criteria (e.g., temperature, salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliforms, enterococcus, etc.) should exist for dolphins before they are placed into a habitat? Mahalo and aloha, Hilary Maybaum &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& HILARY LYNN MAYBAUM c/o AECOS, Inc. 970 N. Kalaheo Ave., Suite C300 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 Phone (808) 254-5885 Fax (808) 254-3029 "hilary(\)hula.net" ALOHA!! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 05:56:11 GMT From: fishermen(\)igc.apc.org Organization: The Fishermen's Coalition Subject: Re: New Threats to Dolphins Ken Yarborough wrote: >New Threats to Dolphins > >Congress Tries to Weaken Dolphin Protection Laws > >by Earth Island Institute > >A runaway Congress could reverse years of progress on protecting dolphins >on the high seas, but Earth Island Institute, along with a coalition of >over seventy environmental and animal welfare organizations, Senators >Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-DC), and Congressmember George >Miller (D-CA), are fighting back. Senators Boxer and Biden, the original >authors of the dolphin-safe tuna program, have introduced S. 1460, the >Dolphin Protection Act (H.R. 2856 by Rep. Miller in the House of >Representatives), to continue preventing dolphins from drowning in tuna >nets. > A bad B movie? Good guys versus bad guys theatre? If only it were so simple. The Boxer/Miller legislation discussed continues the problems inherent in the present "dolphin safe" status quo. Legislation introduced by Senators Breaux an d Congressman Young (S.1420 and HR2823) addresses these problems and is supported by Greenpeace, the Center for Marine Conservation, World Wildlife Fund , Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Foundation, tuna fishermen, twelve countries, the Clinton administration, the State Department, Commerce Department , Timothy Wirth (undersecratary of state for global affairs) and dozens of groups all across America. Why? Because the marine mammal bycatch reduction program implemented in the eastern Pacific's yellowfin tuna fishery is an environmental success story worthy of support from the U.S. We need to support the efforts of responsible fishermen and programs that work. Considering that marine mammals are present in all the world's oceans and therefore all the world's fisheries, why are we not supporting the only program that has ever succeeded at reducing fishermen's impact on these creatures to biologically insignificant numbers? Do we help dolphins or fishermen who are trying to address all sorts of bycatch issues worldwide if we do not support the most effective bycatch reduction program ever implemented on the high seas? The eastern Pacific's yellowfin tuna fishery covers an area almost three times t he size of the U.S. and there are about 10 million dolphins present in this fishery . Around the U.S., the Marine Mammal Protection Act allows fishermen an allowance for interacations and some kills of marine mammals. If these allowances were mo ved to the international fishery of the eastern Pacific, the U.S. government would a llow a take of about 55 to 60,000 dolphins annually. But the eastern Pacific high se as fleet committed to a higher standard and reached that standard, reducing marine mammal losses to less than 5,000 animals. We need to support this. Call your Congressional representatives in support of Breaux S.1420 and Young HR2823. Oppose Boxer S.1460 and Miller HR2856. The Fishermen's Coalition, 826 Orange Avenu, #504, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 575-4664, Fax: (619) 575-5578, e-mail fishermen(\)igc.apc.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 14:24:39 -0800 Reply-To: wb843(\)freenet.victoria.bc.ca From: "Ron L. Bates" Subject: Seal-repelling devices The following article appeared Feb 21, 1996 in The Times Colonist newspaper (Victoria, B C Canada) and may be of some interest to the group: The Canadian Press Vancouver Devices meant to keep voracious harbor seals away from B C salmon farms farms may also be giving killer whales and porpoises some headaches. And the federal government is ignoring Fisheries Act violations by B C salmon farms that use the loud underwater acoustical devices to harass harbor seals, says independent whale researcher Alexandra Morton. She cites a year-old Fisheries Department study showing such devices had a "highly significant" effect on harbor porpoises. By allowing continued use of the acoustical devices, the department is "forcing whales to abandon increasingly large areas of the B C coast," Morton said. Louis Tousignant, director-general of the fisheries for the Pacific region, refused to comment on Morton's allegations. But John Ford, a Vancouver Aquarium whale researcher, supports her. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:58:52 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: New Threats to Dolphins The Fishermen's Coalition wrote: >The Boxer/Miller legislation discussed continues the problems inherent >in the present "dolphin safe" status quo. Without details, I am not certain to what the Coalition is referring here, but the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills do NOT maintain the status quo. This is a misrepresentation I have seen again and again and it's getting ridiculous to have to keep correcting it. The Boxer/Biden/Miller bills allow the U.S. fleet to return to full participation in the IATTC dolphin conservation program (they once again will have a per-vessel Dolphin Mortality Limit and full rights and responsibilities under the IATTC program -- currently they are at a DML of zero, which they claim puts them at a competitive disadvantage with the foreign fleet). And the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills will lift the nation-wide embargoes and allow dolphin-safe tuna to be imported from anywhere (currently both dolphin-safe and dolphin-unsafe tuna is embargoed from nations with any dolphin-unsafe fishers). The Boxer/Biden/Miller bills also establish the 5000 dolphin mortality cap (to be ratcheted down over time) found in the Panama Declaration -- the current dolphin mortality cap under U.S. law is 0. The Boxer/Biden/Miller bills represent compromise; the Stevens/Breaux/Gilchrest bills represent an unnecessary give-away. >The eastern Pacific's yellowfin tuna fishery covers an area almost >three times the size of the U.S. and there are about 10 million >dolphins present in this fishery. The author of this post shows a dismaying lack of understanding about species ecology when making this statement (another which I have seen made again and again, by various non-biologists). Yes, there are about 9.5 million dolphins in the ETP -- the combined total of several different stocks and species, of which about seven interact with the fishery. The two most frequently set-upon stocks, the eastern spinner and northeastern offshore spotted, make up less than 1.5 million of this total and are severely depleted, to about 1/5 of their original estimated population abundances. Their numbers have at best remained stable in the last five years, show signs of having continued to decline (even WITH the 95% reduction in mortality in those same five years), and most certainly have shown no signs whatsoever of recovery. One obvious interpretation of this is that the continued harassment they have suffered in this time period through the chase and encirclement has affected their productivity. >Around the U.S., the Marine Mammal Protection Act allows fishermen an >allowance for interacations and some kills of marine mammals. Takes of DEPLETED stocks are seriously restricted -- to allow the present level of take (harassment, injury, and death) of these two severely depleted stocks to continue unabated through passage of the Stevens/Breaux/Gilchrest bills sets a very disturbing precedent for the future implementation of the MMPA. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:17:54 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 2/23/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Bering Sea Ecosystem Report. On Feb. 21, 1996, the National Research Council released a report on the Bering Sea ecosystem, suggesting that the two brief, intense pollock fisheries each year may have disrupting effects on feeding patterns of marine mammals, sea birds, and other fish and recommending that the harvest be managed for a less intense fishery over a long time period. [Assoc Press] . Right Whale Deaths. On Feb. 19, 1996, a dead northern right whale calf was spotted 22 miles off the Georgia-Florida coast -- the fourth death for this endangered species so far this year. About 350 northern right whales are believed to exist. On Feb. 22, 1996, a fifth dead right whale was reported by boaters off the Brunswick, GA, coast. [Assoc Press] . Sea Empress Oil Spill. On Feb. 15, 1996, the oil tanker Sea Empress, carrying 36.7 million gallons of light North Sea crude, ran aground on St. Ann's Head in southwest Wales. Gray seals, bottlenose dolphins, and harbor porpoises are threatened by the spill. On Feb. 21, 1996, the tanker was pulled free of rocks by tugs. On Feb. 22, 1996, estimates of spilled crude reached 19 million gallons, exceeding the 11 million gallons spilled in 1989 by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska. Oil was reported to have surrounded two islands in the Milford Haven estuary used by seals and sea birds. The south Wales fishing fleet imposed a voluntary ban on working in 40 miles of coastal waters affected by the spill. [Assoc Press] . Manatees. On Feb. 26, 1996, the wandering manatee captured in Buffalo Bayou, TX in December 1995, will be flown back to Florida. DNA tests indicated that Florida was the more likely origin of this animal. [Assoc Press] . ATOC. The Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is scheduled to vote on whether to approve the Kauai portion of Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) operations on Feb. 23, 1996. [personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:35:49 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: China Dam and Baiji (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 00:28:50 +0700 From: rescet(\)micronet.fr (Brigitte Sifaoui) Subject: China Dam and Baiji Dear friends, As a French NGO dedicated to cetaceans, I introduce myself as a new comer in Internet. We are a network collecting and spreading information worldwide about pollutions, whaling,captivity,drifnets and encounters with whales and dolphins.We attend the IWC meetings too. We just learnt that the baiji, an already very threatened river dolphin is endangered by the Three Gorges dam project. I'm looking for some more information about this plan (where, when, how, etc...). Is there anything we can do ? In the next issue of our newsletter "Riseau-Citacis" (April 96), we'll publish an article about the baiji. I'd like to take profit of this message to thank all the scientists, NGOs and private people involved in the study and the conservation of cetaceans who helped me to gather information for my book. In French the title will probably be "Le Livre des Dauphins et des Baleines" and it will be published in May, Albin Michel publisher.I have good reasons to think that it will be quickly tranlated in English. So many thanks for your help. Kind regards, Brigitte MnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMn Mn MicroNet, l'Internet a Micro Prix. Mn Mn infos(\)MicroNet.fr - http://www.MicroNet.fr Mn MnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMnMn ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:58:11 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Right whale deaths on rise Right whale deaths on rise BRUNSWICK, Ga., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The death off the Georgia coast of a one-month-old right whale calf brings to four the number of the endangered species that have died in the Southeast this year, a wildlife biologist said Thursday. In just two months the 1996 right whale mortality rate for the region already matches the annual 1989 number, the highest rate on record. Discovered Monday approximately 20 miles east of Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast near the Florida border, the 1 1/2 ton calf was recovered by a Georgia Department of Natural Resources research vessel. It was transported to the University of Florida veterinary school in Gainesville to attempt to determine the cause of death. A preliminary diagnosis done Wednesday suggested the calf was healthy and nursing up until and perhaps at the time of death. "The body was so fresh that we had to circle several times before we determined it was dead," said wildlife biologist Barb Zoodsmaof the Georgia DNR's Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program. Nongame Program biologists have been participating in aerial calving surveys since the first of the year. The Monday sighting was made only minutes after Zoodsma and representatives from the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the New England Aquarium had logged-in for the first of several offshore surveys planned this month. "The number of right whale sightings typically decreases in February, and we don't know why," said Zoodsma. "These surveys are part of an effort to learn if the whales are moving farther off shore." The current series of fatalities began Jan. 2 with the beaching of a female calf on Atlantic Beach near Jacksonville, Fla. The cause of death could not be determined. Three weeks later, a 47-foot-long adult male estimated to have been at least 20 years old was recovered 10 miles off Sapelo Island, south of Savannah, Ga. Its skull had been shatteredafter being hit by a ship. A 35-foot-long juvenile female discovered 30 miles east of Jacksonville Beach in Florida Feb. 7 was too decomposed for recovery or diagnosis. The huge mammal earned its name during whaling days when it was considered the right whale to hunt because of the ease with which it could be harpooned, its ability to be floated back to shore, and its high blubber and oil content. Researchers estimate the world population of northern right whales to be approximately 350. The adult male can grow to 55 feet long and weigh between 45 and 55 tons. Females do not reach sexual maturity until nearly 10 years of age, and a slow reproduction cycle means a low replacement rate. "Any mortality is a blow to the population," said Zoodsma. "Four deaths is critical." Vessel collisions are the number one cause of documented right whale deaths, he said, although other documented causes include fishing gear entanglement and still births, but surprisingly few recorded deaths by natural causes. "There are actually no documented cases of natural mortality for juveniles," said Zoodsma. The offshore surveying, underwritten by the National Marine Fisheries Service, will continue daily throughout February as weather and funding permit. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 06:56:41 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Photos This week's recommendation for your best closet photos... sounds like a good cause Thanks, Bill Rossiter, CSI, 71322.1637(\)compuserve.com ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: Brian D. Compton, INTERNET:bcompton(\)unixg.ubc.ca TO: William Rossiter, 71322,1637 DATE: 2/18/96 1:29 PM RE: Re: Photos From: bcompton(\)unixg.ubc.ca (Brian D. Compton) Subject: Re: Photos Dear William, Thanks very much for your reply to my request for cetacean photos. Yes, I did contact the Gloucester, MA Cetacean Research Unit, along with several others including the Cetacean Society International. My request for slides is primarily for immediate research and teaching purposes. I am an ethnobiologist specializing in work with indigenous cultures of British Columbia. I am currently involved with, among others, the Kwakwaka'wakw (or "Kwakiutl") of northern Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland; people who have a history of involvement with several whale species. Along with voucher specimens I employ photographs to help indigenous elders identify with certainty the species that have traditional roles in their cultures. To date I have collected eight Kwak'wala language names for various cetaceans, including five for whales. Additional photos depicting diagnostic aspects of cetaceans that I could show to elders for identification purposes would be very helpful. I also teach a course in the Ethnobiology of British Columbia's First Nations at the First Nations House of Learning at The University of British Columbia. I illustrate many of my lectures on the plants and animals of significance to First Nations peoples with slides I have taken over the last 10 years, or slides I have obtained from other commercial and private sources. Occasionally I am asked to lecture on my area of specialization to local naturalist, anthropological or archaeological groups where I often use slides for illustrative purposes. At some point in the future I may wish to utilize some photographs for publication purposes, primarily in academic journal articles. However, the First Nations groups I am involved with also have expressed interest in the possibility of publishing my results with illustrations for local distribution and use so the possibility exists for a future request for that type of publication release of photographic materials. I would not use any of the slides you may supply for any publication purposes without the consent of the photographer and some type of proper agreement. It seems highly unlikely to me at this time that any such publication use would result in any direct financial gain. I'm sure you are aware that academic journals do not pay authors for submissions, and often require authors to subsidize the cost of printing their work. If any type of other, non-academic publication might seem worth pursuing in the future (e.g., at the request of the Kwakwaka'wakw) I would not use any photographs without the proper arrangements being made first. Following is a list of the cetacean species known to occur within the waters off the British Columbian coast. I am interested in slides of any of these species, notably those whose names are preceded with asterisks. Order Cetacea (Whales) Family Balaenidae (Right Whales) Balaena glacialis Muller (right whale) Family Balaenopteridae (Rorquals) *Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacepede (minke whale) *Balaenoptera borealis Lesson (Sei whale) *Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus) (blue whale) *Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus) (fin whale) *Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski) (humpback whale) Family Delphinidae (Delphinids) Delphinus delphis Linnaeus (Saddle-backed dolphin) *Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray (short-finned pilot whale) Grampus griseus (G. Cuvier) (Risso's dolphin) *Lagenorhynchus obliquidens Gill (Pacific white-sided dolphin) Lissodelphis borealis (Peale) (northern right-whale dolphin) Orcinus orca (Linnaeus) (killer whale) *Pseudorca crassidens (Owen) (false killer whale) Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen) (striped dolphin) Family Eschrichtidae (Gray Whales) *Eschrichtius robustus (Lilljeborg) (gray whale) Family Phocoenidae (Porpoises) *Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus) (harbor porpoise) *Phocoenoides dalli (True) (Dall's porpoise) Family Physeteridae (Sperm Whales) *Kogia simus (Owen) (dwarf sperm whale) *Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus (sperm whale) Family Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales) Berardius bairdii Stejneger (North Pacific bottle-nosed whale) Mesoplodon carlhubbsi Moore (arch-beaked whale) Mesoplodon stejnegeri True (Bering Sea beaked whale) Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier (goose-beaked whale) I am mainly interested in slides that show the primary diagnostic morphological features of the species in question and, therefore, beached specimens or specimens caught by whaling operations, etc. are fine. Slides that show diagnostic behavioral features would also be nice. Please feel free to post this to the scientific network you mentioned, MARMAM. I, too, am an impoverished scientist, so I can appreciate the concerns of the scientists you referred to who may have slides of interest to me. I would at the least seek to properly acknowledge the sources of any slides I may obtain, which is what I have requested when I provide slides of my own photographs for the use of various individuals or groups. Thanks very much for your help. Cheers, Brian D. Compton, Ph.D. Department of Botany & First Nations House of Learning The University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 19:57:20 -0800 From: JESSICA C PETTEE Subject: elephant seal genetics Does anyone know if anyone out there is working on Northern elephant seal genetics in any way? I'm specifically interested in whether or not someone is looking at any part of the mitochondrial DNA. Also, can anyone give me Chip Deutsch's e-mail or snail mail address? Finally, does anyone know of any scientific publications regarding the seal/cod issue in Canada? Thanks, Jessica Pettee jpettee(\)sfsu.edu San Francisco State University Dept. of Biology ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 16:15:12 EST From: "JAYME M. PERRELL" Organization: Southampton College Subject: MAR MAM EDUCATION 2/23/96 I am a psychology/biology undergraduate student at Southampton College. I have volunteered my time and done some research at Zeehondencreche Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center in The Netherlands, as well as with the wonderful organization MOm in Greece. I am currently about to begin a psychology project with sixth graders. I am going to pretest them to see whether they would choose to see marine mammals in captivity or in the wild. I am then going to educate an active group and a passive group about marine mammals. I would like to follow this up with a post test to see if any of the children's attitudes changed through education, and if they changed their minds about animals in captivity. This is my first real venture at educ./psych. research. I look forward to it, but I need to know more about testing attitudes, etc. I was wondering if anyone has any experience in this field (even if it's an idea for a game I could play with the students. The project is set to begin soon, so I would appreciate any information you may have at your earliest convenience. Thank You!!! Jayme M. Perrello e-mail address: jperrell(\)sunburn.liunet.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 06:56:44 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Addresses for Helweg and Borobia? Please, please, would someone pass on David Helweg's address, and any specifics about the late January New Zealand pilot whale stranding prevention effort. This was a significant event. Details about the techniques used, whale behavior, and documentation available would be of enormous help to others involved with stranding respons efforts. Please some more, would anyone pass on Monica Borobia's address (UNEP/Nairobi)? Thanks, Bill Rossiter Cetacean Society International 71322.1637(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 18:20:39 -0200 From: Jose' Azevedo Subject: Dead cetaceans in the Azores On February 7, 2 dolphins washed ashore on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores. One of them was found on the north coast and was observed by me; the other was destroyed by the firemen before I was able to see it. On February 20 a baleen whale was found dead on the north coast of the island. Again, the firemen destroyed it before I could see it. Fortunately, a television crew filmed the specimen, and it was featured in that nigth's news service. On February 22 I was again called to observe two other dead dolphins found in two localities about 10 Km apart. A coleague reported that about two weeks ago another carcass of _Delphinus delphis_ was found at the island of Faial. The three dolphins I oberved were adult common dolphins _Delphinus delphis_, two females and one male, about 2m length. All of them were in a moderate stage of decomposition, inflated, and with some skin begining to peel off the beak and, in one case, off the tail. There were no obvious signs of wounds caused by harpoons, nets or lines. The whale was stated to be about 2.6 - 3m in length, so it was likely a minke whale's (_Balaenoptera acutorostra_) calve. I have requested to see the video tape. Such a large number of dead cetaceans is most uncommon here in the Azores, therefore the public is concerned and the media keeps asking me about the causes of the deaths, especially because large numbers of several species of fish have also been found dead. The cause seems to be the cold, because no other pathology is evident. The simultaneous deaths of the cetaceans and the fish migth be just a coincidence, but... ------------------------------------------------------ Jose' Manuel N. Azevedo Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Acores (http://www.uac.pt) R. Mae de Deus, 9500 Ponta Delgada, Acores, Portugal Phone: + 351 96 65 31 55; Fax + 351 96 65 34 55 Internet: azevedo(\)alf.uac.pt ------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 15:55:19 -0600 From: Bill Roth Dear MARMAMer's My name is Bill Roth and I am a Ph.D. candidate here at the University of Kansas. My dissertation project will examine using dolphin generated whistles as both stimuls and response for receptive and productive labelling and requesting. I have been following the postings on this group for while now and am ready to make a posting of my own. I have a few questions for the group: 1) First and most urgent, is anyone aware of how a researcher new to the field would begin to find funding for a research project? I would be interested in recieving feedback regarding both public (e.g., grants, fellowships, stipends) and private (e.g., not for profit organizations, corporations etc.) opportunities. Being here in Oz the marine (not USMC) funding information would be especially helpful. 2) I have access to most of the modern library search systems for articles in the area of animal language. If anyone has any cites that they feel I would need to be aware of, but may not be able to acces through traditional search methods, I would appreciate hearing about them. 3) Does anyone know what happened to the Sea Systems Corporation of Friday Harbor, Washington? I was planning on purchasing a hydrophone from them but their number is disconnected and there is no new number. This information, or any information regarding where to purchase hydrophones would be appreciated. Thank you for your time in advance and I look forward to hearing from the group. Bill Roth, MA University of Kansas Fax: (913) 749-0219 KU phone: (913) 864-4840 roth(\)falcon.cc.ukans.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 13:08:13 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MARMAM FAQ ___MARMAM__________________________________________________________ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and ASPECTS OF NETIQUETTE ___________________________________________________________________ This FAQ may be obtained by sending the following message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca: get marmam faq *Please save this message for future reference!* WHAT IS MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list devoted to topics in marine mammal research and conservation, established in August 1993. Subscribers to the list are from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. The number of subscribers was over 1,500 as of January 1996. Anyone may subscribe to the list. WHAT TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE POSTED TO MARMAM? A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. Commonly seen messages include requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques; current or previously unreported news events, meeting annoucements, job or volunteer opportunities, scientific abstracts, and new books/techniques/products announcements. "Casual" requests for information, requests for volunteer positions/employment, opinion statements offering little or no novel arguements, and humourous anecdotes are examples of messages not posted to the list. HOW DO I POST MESSAGES TO THE LIST? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet. Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text. HOW DO I REPLY TO INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. *NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option.* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/TEMPORARILY SIGNOFF? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send the message: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RECEIVE MARMAM POSTINGS AS A SINGLE DAILY DIGEST, RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send the message: set marmam digests to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RETRIEVE MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MARMAM? All MARMAM messages are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver, where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO SUBSCRIBES TO MARMAM? A list, sorted by country, of all current subscribers to the list may be retrieved along with their e-mail address' by sending the command: review marmam (country to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. HOW DO I GET HELP USING LISTSERVER COMMANDS? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca WHY WAS MY MESSAGE NOT POSTED TO MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited discussion list. Senders of messages are not notified upon rejection of their message nor provided individual reasons why their message was not posted to the list. However, messages not sent to the list typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) OFF TOPIC. Messages which do not pertain specifically to marine mammal research or conservation are not posted to the list. 2) 'CASUAL' REQUEST. Messages which request information which is readily available from other sources, such as your average uni- versity library, are not posted to the list. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. 3) JOB/VOLUNTEER POSITION/INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society of Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', available from Allen Press, PO Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, tel. 1-800-627-0629. 4) BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a one week period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. 5) 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Dave Duffus, and Pam Willis) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca ______________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 20:11:53 EST From: Jaap van der Toorn <73064.2662(\)compuserve.com> Subject: water quality for captive dolphins Hilary L. Maybaum wrote: > I am wondering whether there are any water quality > standards for hosting captive dolphins. If not, can > anyone recommend what water quality criteria > (e.g., temperature, salinity, pH, ammonia, > nitrogen, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, fecal > coliforms, enterococcus, etc.) should exist for > dolphins before they are placed into a habitat? The European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) published the "E.A.A.M Standards for Establishments Housing Bottlenose Dolphins" in February 1995. These standards indicate recommended minima. The following is a quote from the section on the aquatic environment: a. The coliform bacterial content of the pool should be monitored to be at a consistently low level and must not exceed 500 per 1000 ml. If the average figure is higher than this, the water is considered to be inadequate for the animals and, consequently, special measures must be taken (treatment or renewal of water) immediately. Water samples must be taken monthly and the coliform levels recorded. b. Water samples must be taken daily to check the levels of acidity (pH) and the levels of oxidising agents, and their by-products, which are used to maintain the quality of the water, must be recorded. Only natural sea-water is exempt from these regulations, on condition that no chemical additives are used. The results of these tests must be logged and made available at all times for inspection. c. The salinity of the pool water must be kept between 15 and 36 gms of salt (NaCl) per litre. The pH of the water must be between 7.2 and 8.5. d. The water must never be allowed to freeze nor exceed 28 C. (The following is not part of the EAAM standards.) These general recommendations apply to all types of water purification systems. Nowadays, many facilities are turning towards biological water purification systems or systems combining biological processes with ozonation. (see my 1987 overview of the processes involved for details). In these types of systems, other parameters should be monitored as well: - ammonia and nitrite. These are potentially toxic substances. Although not much is known about the levels that are toxic for marine mammals, it would be safe to assume, that levels recommended for the keeping of fishes are also safe for dolphins. Spotte (1979) recommended levels of below 100 ug/l for both substances. Dudok van Heel and myself (1988) demonstrated that such levels are attainable in marine mammal facilities. - nitrate and phosphate. These substances have no known toxicity even in very high concentrations. Usually phosphates will build up to a certain level and stabilize at that level. Nitrate will continue to build up unless special denitrification filters are used or unless water is replaced occassionally. Aquaria have reported nitrate levels of close to 400 mg/l without any ill effects on fishes. In aquaria, phosphates tend to stabilize at about 6 mg/l. - TOC (total organic carbon). There are no recommended values for TOC, but it is an indicator of filter performance. It should stabilize at a fairly low level (Spotte mentions 6 mg/l for aquaria) - alkalinity or buffering capacity. (buffering is recommended for biological systems, since it greatly reduces pH fluctuations. The alkalinity of natural seawater (a good target value) is 2.1-2.5 meq/l) - if ozonation is used, the water flowing into the pools should be free of ozone. - with respect to salinity, it should be noted that in natural seawater and artificial seawater mixes, with an overall salinity of 35 g/l, the salinity attributed to NaCl is 30 g/l. Salinity is thus not just the concentration of NaCl in the water. Quoted references: S. Spotte( 1979): Seawater aquariums: the captive environment. John Wiley & Sons, New York J.D. van der Toorn (1987): A biological approach to dolphinarium water purification: I. Theoretical aspects (Aquatic Mammals 13(3): 83-92) W.H. Dudok van Heel & J.D. van der Toorn (1988): A biological approach to dolphinarium water purification: II. A practical application: The Delfinaario in Tampere, Finland. (Aquatic Mammals 14(3): 92-106) Hope this helps. Regards, Jaap -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaap van der Toorn 73064.2662(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 16:46:56 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: use of laser range finders for field studies Dear Colleagues, You may recall that about one year ago I inquired on this list concerning the use at sea of the new Leica laser range-finding binoculars. Some of you might be interested to know that during this time Tethys managed to acquire one pair of such binoculars, Leica Vector DAES 1500, which were used to passively plot the movements of fin whales in their Ligurian Sea feeding grounds during summer 1995. Such results are being presented as a poster (G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, M. Jahoda, N. Biassoni and C. Lafortuna, "Reactions of fin whales to approaching vessels assessed by means of a laser range finder") at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the European Cetacean Society in Lisbon (11-13 March). The whales' range and magnetic bearing data, measured with the binoculars, were downloaded through the serial port and stored onto a computer, which simultaneously recorded the vessel's position through a GPS. This technique allowed the description of the whales' reactions to nearby vessels (in terms of changes in horizontal speed) under different disturbance conditions, and these could be meaningfully related to changes in respiration patterns and dive time. Distances to the whales could be measured between 25 and 663 m. A total of 22 whale groups and singles were approached and tracked. Of these, 11 yielded workable data because whales were either alone or in groups containing readily recognisable individuals. Mean track duration was 3 h 14 min (sd = 48 min). Comparisons were made between an initial phase, in which disturbance was minimal (main vessel moving at minimum speed without approaching the whales), and a second phase with higher levels of disturbance (whales approached by the tender to collect biopsies and close-up identification photographs). Disturbed whales increased their speed by 35%, decreased their blow rate by 25%, and increased their dive time by 7%. Finally, plotting the tracks provided a first insight on the whales' behavioural state, allowing the distinction of two different swimming patterns. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly (gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it) if you would like to receive more information. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara ***************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 29401987 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it ***************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 09:17:45 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Re: : echolocation in captivity (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Tue, 20 Feb 96 09:40:24 PST From: ridgway(\)nosc.mil (Sam H. Ridgway) To: marmam(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA In response to the question about dolphins losing their echolocation in captivity, I want to point out that the initial discovery of echolocation was with captive animals in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The pioneering work on echolocation by A. McBride, by W. N. Kellog, by Scheville and Lawrence, and by K. S. Norris was with captive dolphins and the new book by Dr. W. W. L. Au, SONAR OF DOLPHINS Wiley, 1993, cites perhaps hundreds of such studies done with captive dolphins as was virtually all of Au's own work. The development of echolocation in dolphin calves has been worked out with animals born at facilities in this country. If we relied on work with wild animals we would still be almost completely in the dark and might not even accept that the animals have this ability. Because we have been able to keep these dolphins and small whales such as Tursiops, Delphinapterus, Lagenorhynchus, Phocoena, Inia, Orcinus and ask questions of them in carefully designed experiments we now know a great deal about this interesting sensory capability. So, enough of this talk about captive dolphins not having echolocation. Cheers, Sam Ridgway ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Feb 1996 10:27:49 -0500 From: Marthajane Caldwell Gustin Subject: Re: Humpback singers Sorry that this is going out over MARMAM. But I have tried to E-mail this to Peter on two seperate occasions with no success. Greetings Peter Zimmer I have two suggestions, both of which you will probably receive from others. One is a book and one is someone to contact. The book: Richardson, W.J., Greene, C.R. Jr., Malme, C.I., and Thomson, D.H. 1995. Marine Mammals and Noise. Academic Press, San Diego. The contact: Darlene R. Ketten Department of Otolarynology, Harvard Medical School, MEE1, 243 Charles Street, Boston MA, USA 02114 DRK(\)eplunix.mit.eddie.edu Best of luck, Marthajane Caldwell University of Miami caldwell(\)pop.jaxnet.com Marthajane Caldwell University of Miami caldwell(\)pop.jaxnet.com This is a simple sig file ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 22:55:15 CET Reply-To: J.W.Broekema(\)inter.nl.net From: Jan Willem Broekema Subject: Lutra 38 (2), 1995 Dear fellow members, Lutra 38 (2), the scientific journal of the Benelux Society for the Study and Protection of Mammals (VZZ), includes the following papers that may interest you: - Post, K. & E.J.O. Kompanje. Late Pleistocene white whales Delphinapterus leucas from Dutch coastal waters. - Leopold, M.F. & A.S. Couperus. Sightings of Atlantic white-sided dolphins Lagenorhynchus acutus near the south-eastern limit of the known range in the North-East Atlantic. - Kompanje, E.J.O. Find of a shoulderblade of Megaptera novaeangliae in the southern North Sea. (In Dutch) - Smeenk, C. Strandings of Cetacea on the Dutch coast in the years 1990, 1991 and 1992. (In Dutch) For more information please contact: VZZ, Emmalaan 41, NL-3581 HP Utrecht, The Netherlands. --- Jan Willem Broekema please note that my e-mail address is Broekema(\)inter.NL.net and NOT (\)solair1.inter.NL.net (or anything else) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 16:28:01 EST From: Mick Baines <100255.3275(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Sea Empress oil spill Dear MARMAM subscribers, You have probably heard of the disastrous oil spill off the coast of south-west Wales. According to current estimates, over 100,000 tons of North Sea crude oil has entered the marine environment in one of the most important areas for marine wildlife in the region. The area supports internationally important numbers of seabirds as well as grey seals, harbour porpoise, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Two of only three statutory Marine Nature Reserves in Britain have been contaminated. Along many miles of our rocky, cliff bound coastline - the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - coves and beaches are coated in oil and substantial slicks remain in each of the many gullies sheltered from wind and tidal currents. Inter-tidal invertebrates have been seen hanging from their shells or burrows or climbing up the rocks away from the sea. Much of the oil remains offshore and cleaned beaches become re-oiled with each tide. The main vertebrate casualties have been common scoter and guillemots. Many other bird species have been badly affected, including gulls, oystercatchers and red-throated divers. Large quantities of dispersant have been sprayed on the oil from the air and much oil has been dispersed into the water column where it may enter the food chain with potential implications for all species, including marine mammals. There are relatively few grey seals in the area at this time, about 60 are assembled at a moulting haul-out on Skomer Island, with a similar number on Lundy Island. A few are however dispersed around the coast, and we have observed individual seals surfacing in heavy oil slicks and other seals from which a sheen of oil spread when they surfaced, indicating their pelage was oiled. As the oil spread towards Skomer I sailed through affected areas on Earthkind s Ocean Defender: porpoise were observed in the tide-race off Skomer Head. Porpoise have subsequently been reported surfacing in sheen - thin surface layer of oil - in Ramsey Sound. Oil sheen has now spread to Strumble Head, another important area for porpoise. We anticipate any potential impacts on marine mammals will be subtle and less immediate. The Dyfed Wildlife Trust recently completed a four year study of grey seals in the area under contract to the Countryside Council for Wales, including full counts of pup production at more than 200 breeding sites through three consecutive seasons, and photo-ID, cataloguing more than 25% of breeding females. Cetaceans were also recorded during the course of the seal census. Recent data is therefore available on which to base a marine mammal monitoring programme and preparations are under way to monitor impacts on seals and cetaceans, funding permitting. We are presenting posters on the West Wales Grey Seal Census and Cetaceans recorded by the WWGSC at the annual meeting of the European Cetacean Society in Lisbon (11-13 March) and will bring along photos and an update on the oil spill to the conference. If there are any major developments on the oil spill I will post another message here. Mick Baines Dyfed Wildlife Trust 7, Market Street Haverfordwest Dyfed, SA61 1NF UK E-mail: 100255.3275(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 12:41:55 +0100 From: Manel Gazo Perez Subject: Moulting on phocid whiskers (vibrisae) Dear Marmamers, We have just started a review on the moulting of phocid whiskers. Is there anyone who can give any info about the time when it occurs, or if the whiskers moult occurs at the same time of normal moult, how is the process of this moult?. Our special interest is focused on monk seals, but we agree any kind of information or bibliography. Thanks in advanced. Please reply directly to my e-mail adress: manelg(\)porthos.bio.ub.es Manel ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 20:16:23 -0800 From: Fred Sharpe Subject: Bubbles & Rorquals Hello, Does anyone have any observations or references of baleen whales, other than the humpback, producing bubbles while engaging in foraging activities? Thanks for your thoughts on this. Fred Sharpe Simon Fraser University fsharpe(\)sfu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:43:53 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Wandering Manatee Wandering Manatee PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (AP) -- Chessie, the manatee who traveled up the Atlantic Seaboard the past two summers, is back home again -- this time outfitted with a transmitter in case he takes off again. Biologists hope to keep tabs on the endangered species, which is threatened by speeding boats, the destruction of sea grass beds and the development of waterfronts for marinas. The transmitter attached to Chessie will be monitored by satellite. "He stands out because he's only got one gray scar," said Kit Curtin, a researcher who tracks the mammals for the Save the Manatee Club. "About 90 percent of the animals we see have many scars from boat propellers." Despite near-record counts of manatee deaths in Florida the past two years, researchers are seeing more sea cows than ever. They counted a record 2,639 manatees during aerial surveys last week, breaking the previous high set a month before. Chessie has been seen splashing around warm water being discharged by a power plant in Port Everglades. In the fall of 1994, he was rescued from the Chesapeake Bay, which is considered far beyond the range of Florida manatees. After he was returned to Florida and released, he headed north again when the weather got warm. Last summer, he went beyond the Chesapeake and reached Port Judith, R.I., in August. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:52:27 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: China Dam and Baiji (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: 26 Feb 96 14:39:04 EST From: CHRIS CATTON <100541.2716(\)compuserve.com> Subject: China Dam and Baiji (fwd) Brigitte, I worked on a film series on environmental problems in China in 1992, and we did a piece on the Three Gorges for this programme. I am out of touch with recent developments, but you might look at Baruch Boxer China's three gorges dam: questions and prospects - in China Quarterly (1988?) pp94-108 Philip M Fearnside China's Three Gorges Dam: Fatal project or step toward modernization in World Development vol 16 no 5 pp 615-630 The people to talk to (if they are still there) are probe international in the US (or is it canada?) - Fax 4169648239, phone 416 964 9223 Although I would conclude that the dam is a disastrous project, I think its effect on the Baiji is almost the least of the problems. The mass relocation of people caused by the vast reservoir planned will have far greater social and environmental impact. The river is already dammed downstream (by a much lower dam - the Gezhouba) - and so Baiji already cannot swim upstream of the proposed dam site. A change in the river ecosystem is inevitable of course, as a result of a dam on the proposed scale. While it seems a good guess that this will have a negative impact on the few remaining river dolphins, I know of no work that puts a convincing case. These are just short notes, because I expect you will get a better response from people more closely involved - if not come back to me and I will go through my files more carefully. I would be grateful if you could keep me informed of how things develop from time to time Best of luck, Chris Catton ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:56:59 -0200 From: Jose' Azevedo Subject: Another dead cetacean in the Azores Yesterday, little after my previous posting, another dead whale was found in the coast of Sao Miguel, Azores. I have just returned from the place. It was a Sei Whale (_Balaenoptera borealis_), about 12 m long and in an advanced state of decomposition, flacid and white. Again, no obvious causes of death. This raises to six the number of dead cetaceans found in this island in the last couple of weeks. The previous ones were 4 dolphins (at least three of them _Delphinus delphis_) and a Minke Whale (_Balaenoptera acutorostrata_) calf. ------------------------------------------------------ Jose' Manuel N. Azevedo Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Acores (http://www.uac.pt) R. Mae de Deus, 9500 Ponta Delgada, Acores, Portugal Phone: + 351 96 65 31 55; Fax + 351 96 65 34 55 E-mail: azevedo(\)alf.uac.pt ------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:49:00 -0800 From: "William P. [Bill] Russell" Subject: Re: Moulting on phocid whiskers (vibrisae) At 12:41 PM 2/26/96 +0100, Manel Gazo Perez wrote: > We have just started a review on the moulting of phocid whiskers. > Is there anyone who can give any info about the time when it occurs, or > if the whiskers moult occurs at the same time of normal moult, how is > the process of this moult?. > > Our special interest is focused on monk seals, but we agree any kind > of information or bibliography. > I have watched many Northern Elephant Seals molt [we yanks leave out the "u"] and ave never been aware of any whiskers being lost. According to _Elephant Seals_ by Burney J. Leboeuf and Richard M. Laws, three phocids share what they call a "catistrophicmolt;" the two elephant seals and the monk seal. All mammals molt, more or less, but in these three species a layer of skin with the hairs imbedded are shed in great patches. _The Pinnipeds_ by Marianne Riedman is also quite authoritative in regard to the Northern Elephant Seal as the author did her graduate work at UofCalif. at Santa Cruz in Dr. LeBoeuf's program. In neither book is there any mention of molting vibrisae. Dr. LeBoeuf was still at UCSC last I heard; he is the leading authority. If you can not get his e-mail address off the web, contact me privately [ie not on the list] and I'll research it for you. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- | William P. (Bill) Russell | | P.O. Box 2029 | | Bandon, OR 97411 | | Phone: 503-347-3683 Fax: 503-347-6303 | | brussell(\)mail.coos.or.us | | www.harborside.com/home/b/brussell | | Where the Coquille River meets the Sea | =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 14:38:41 +0000 From: Samantha Chalis Subject: WORKSHOP ON DISTANCE SAMPLING - Second Announcement ============================================================================== DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF DISTANCE SAMPLING SURVEYS An international workshop on line and point transect sampling 17-21 June, 1996. To be held at the University of St. Andrews SCOTLAND, U.K. ============================================================================== COURSE INSTRUCTORS: Prof. Steve Buckland and Mr. David Borchers (Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment, University of St. Andrews) and Dr. Jeff Laake (National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA). ============================================================================== INTENDED PARTICIPANTS: The workshop is intended for scientists who are carrying out population assessments of wildlife. We anticipate a mixture of marine and terrestrial mammalogists, ornithologists and fisheries biologists, plus statisticians who have an interest in the topic. ============================================================================== WORKSHOP CONTENT: The workshop will concentrate primarily on line and point transect sampling methods. Although the basic theory will be covered, the focus of the workshop will be on practical application of the methods. Line and point transects will be covered in detail in separate sessions. Field methods and survey design will be addressed. Participants will be taught how to use the software package "DISTANCE" and are thus encouraged to bring their own data sets for partial analysis on the course. Individual tuition will be given on the analysis of these data. Informal discussion groups will be established for participants with common interests or problems. ============================================================================== FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information on the workshop, please send your name, mailing address and e-mail address to Sharon Cumberworth (E-mail: sharon(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) OR Prof. Steve Buckland (E-mail: steve(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) Mathematical Institute North Haugh St. Andrews Fife, KY16 9SS SCOTLAND. FAX: +44-(0)1334-463748 ============================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 11:11:40 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Request for S.D. Hawes thesis (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: 27 Feb 96 17:32:06 JST From: Yoko.Goto(\)F1.hines.hokudai.ac.jp To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.BITNET Dear marmamers, I want a copy of Hawes, S. D.(1989) ' An evaluation of California sea lion scat samples as indicators of prey importance.' This paper is M.S. Thesis of San Francisco State Univ.. If you send me it, I pay the all of costs. Please give me information about it. Thank you! With love, Yoko Goto Division of Marine Ecology Res. Inst. North Pacific Fisheries Hokkaido Univ. yoko.goto(\)f1.hines.hokudai.ac.jp ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 20:41:46 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: G. MELAENA IN THE SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN? Anyone aware of the population size and the areas of major habitat of G. Malaena in the South Indian Ocean? David Williams davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 22:25:19 -0500 Reply-To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk From: Dolphintlf(\)aol.com Subject: Re: research Dear James, In reply to your message concerning a possible research position, I can supply the following file I've created on careers working with marine mammals. It contains several organizations which use volunteer workers and/or researchers. Best regards, Trisha ---------------------- Trisha Lamb Feuerstein Indexer and Indexing Instructor Integral Publishing, Lower Lake, California, USA E-mail: dolphintlf(\)aol.com URL: http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/literature/fic_main.html [begin careers file] Careers with Marine Mammals 1. The best place to start is to obtain a copy of "Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science" for $1.50 from Allen Press, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-1897, USA, (800-627-0629), or you can download it from the Web at: http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/marspec/mmstrat.html 2. Be prepared for tough competition--at the 1995 Gulf of the Farallones research conference in San Francisco, it was stated that there is presently 1 marine biology-related position for every 250 marine biology graduates. 2. Pinky (sdpinkel(\)unity.ncsu.edu) wrote the following about pursuing a career working with whales and dolphins: I am a freshman at NC State, and I am planning to go into cetology, the study of whales and dolphins. I wish to work with the large whales and certain species of dolphin, such as the pacific white-sided dolphin. I was told that the best plan of action in pursuing such a career was to major in biology or zoology and work toward a minor in a marine science. Do not major in marine biology--this works for some, but a degree in biology or zoology can guarantee a job if things don't work out. After recieving your B.A., go on to persue a marine biology Ph.D. It's really up to you how you go about getting the career you want [snip]. 3. There is an extensive cetacean bibliography, which you may also find helpful, at: http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/literature/fic_main.html 4. Volunteer wherever and whenever possible. The following list of programs that offer internships or volunteer work with marine mammals was provided by George Elston (gelston(\)gate.net). Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation Attn.: George Biedenbach/Training Department 610 Surf Avenue Brooklyn, NY 1124? Aquarium of Niagara Falls Intern/Volunteer program 701 Whirlpool St. Niagara Falls, NY 14301 Atlantic Cetacean Research Center Intern/Volunteer Program 70 Thurston Point Road PO Box 1413 Gloucester, MA 01930 Belle Isle Zoo & Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program PO Box 39 Royal Oak, MI 48068-0039 Center for Coastal Studies Intern Review Committee Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 Center for Marine Conservation Intern/Volunteer Program 1725 DeSales St., NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Cetacean Research Unit Intern/Volunteer Program PO Box 159 Gloucester, WA 01930 Chicago Zoological Park Brookfield Zoo Intern/Volunteer Program 3300 Golf Rd. Brookfield, IL 60513 EPCOT Center Trailer #251 Peter Cook Walt Disney World Co. P.O. Box 10,000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000 Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection Florida Marine Research Institute Intern/Volunteer Program 100 8th Ave., S.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5095 Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory Krista Berkland, Intern Coordinator 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96814 Marine Mammal Research Program Intern/Volunteer Program Texas A&M University at Galveston Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 Mirage Hotel Intern/Volunteer Program P.O. Box 7777 Las Vegas, NV 89177-0777 Mote Marine Lab Andrea Davis, Coordinator of Intern/Volunteer Services 1600 Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355-1997 National Aquarium in Baltimore Pier 3 501 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202-3194 National Museum of Natural History Intern Coordinator, Education Office Room 212, MRC 158 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Friends of the National Zoo Research Traineeship Program National Zoological Park Washington, D.C. 20008 Marine Sanctuaries Intern Coordinator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1305 East-West Highway, 12th Floor Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 713-3145, ext. 153 New England Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110-3399 Pacific Whale Foundation Intern/Volunteer Program Kealia Beach Plaza 101 N. Kihei Rd., Ste. 21 Kihei, HI 96753-8833 San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium Education Coordinator 3903 N. St. Mary's St. San Antonio, TX 78212-3199 Theater of the Sea Intern/Volunteer Program P.O. Box 407 Islamorada, FL 33036 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer Program 1011 E. Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99503 Waikiki Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program 2777 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 Whale Museum Craig Snapp, Volunteer Coordinator 62 First Street North P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Whale Research Group Dr. Jon Lien 230 Mount Scio Rd. Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland CANADA A1C 5S7 The Wild Dolphin Project Intern/Volunteer Program P.O. Box 3839 Palos Verdes, CA 90274 [end careers file] ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 09:40:57 +0000 Reply-To: Andy Williams From: Andy Williams Subject: Sea Empress oil spill Please would people be willing to discuss all aspects of this disaster as it affects cetaceans. I have had some discussions by telephone with members and others about the effects on cetaceans in the short and long terms. The main point that seems to be emerging is that we know very little about the effects. I am concerned not only in the long term about toxin build up but also in the short and medium term on the displacement of the resident animals. How this may effect other populations. Was any such displacement observed during the Exxon Valdiz incident? Did anyone carry out any interventions to assist cetaceans or was that not practicable. Should we press governements to put extra safety procedures in place for VLCCs' and other tankers where they are entering SAC as defined by the EC habitats directive? For example where bulk fuel carriers pass through SAC should it be a requirement that they are taken in tow? Clearly having tug and tow situations allows safety margins which could cope with sudden engine or steering gear failure. In my area we have the Solent an area which is to become an SAC. We ahve few cetaceans but there is evidence of a semi resident using these waters and the surrounding waters. This is a small and fragile group. We also have Fawley oil refinery at the mouth of Southampton water. This is a very large crude oil refinery run by Esso. Many small fuel carriers as well as VLCCs' travel to Fawley. We also have many areas of European and international importance for migrating and wading birds. It is my view that we should discuss the idea of having oiled cetacean protocols, and also whether ECS should make a statement seeking greater controls on vessels carrying oil through SACs'. Simultaneously ECS could then write to the European Parliament and the national governments. What do you all think? Could this problem occur in your country? As the body for Europes top cetacean scientists would it carry weight if we made such a call? Do you believe it would be beneficial? Should we have some sort of special debate one evening at ECS to look at this issue? Andy Williams Andysmlr(\)athene.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 14:36:46 EST From: Diane Gendron Subject: Npacific right whale sighting Dear marmers. On monday 19th February, during an aerial survey of blue whales in the Gulf of California, we spent nearly one hour observing a right whale approx 15 miles offshore in the vicinity of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Excellent views and plenty of photographs. To the best of our knowledge, the most recent sighting of a right whale in the North Pcific was the one off San Clemente Island, California, on 24th March 1992. Does anyone know of any more recent sightings? Thanks, Diane Gendro n, Sandy Lanham and Mark Cawardine. DGENDRON(\)VMREDIPN.IPN.MX ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 09:01:53 -0500 From: Marthajane Caldwell Gustin Subject: Re: Research Assistants Dear MARMAM'ers: Yes its me again.... Volunteers Needed for Bottlenose Dolphin Research Project I'm a University of Miami Graduate student researching bottlenose dolphins in Jacksonville, FL. Boat-based photo-identification and behavioral surveys will be conducted twice weekly. Acoustic research starting in Spring of 1996. If you are interested in learning how to study free-ranging dolphins and what to do with the data once it is collected please call me. Possibilities are open to pursue "independent" research projects. For More Information Please Contact: Marthajane Caldwell University of Miami E-mail: caldwell(\)pop.jaxnet.com Snail-mail: Marthajane Caldwell 4837 Dunn Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32218 This is a simple sig file ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 08:43:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: right whales In answer to Diane Gendron's question about right whale sightings, the most recent from the west coast are 24 May 1992 off Cape Elizabeth, Washington (see Rowlett et al. 1994, Northwest Naturalist 75: 102-104) and 3 May 1995 off Piedras Blancas, CA (Rowlett et al in prep, I believe). Including Diane's most recent sighting, there have been only 12 records of right whales off California (including one off Baja) this century, all since 1955. Scarff 1991 (IWC 41: 467-489) makes a good case that the U.S. west coast was never a significant habitat for right whales, even before whaling decimated the population. However, all indications are that the E North Pacific population is exceedingly small and may be on its way out. Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 21:38:21 -0800 From: Carlos Alvarez Subject: Tuna-dolphin debate From the end of the last year, the debate on the tuna-dolphin issue has returned with the participation of different sectors, but in the last days some of the postings deserve a reply. Although the intention of this discussion should be to present information to help others to make decisions, or to take a position, it seems inevitable that some parts are attempting to force the situation towards their own side, although in many cases it is unclear what side is that. Because of this situation, the problem is only discussed partially, or the information manipulated. For this reason I'm commenting on postings by Mark Palmer and Laura Seligsohn of Earth Island Institute and Dr. Naomi Rose of The Humane Society of the United States, presenting arguments based on the scientific knowledge at hand including references which may serve the readers to reflection about different arguments and avoiding speculation. Since it seems like their positions are institutional, for simplicity, I will refer to quotations of each one from now on as EII and HSUS. EII "If passed, the bill would repeal the federal definition of "Dolphin Safe" and allow dolphin-unsafe tuna to flood the U.S. market" "The declaration represents an international effort to force Congress to lift the ban on the import and sale of dolphin-unsafe tuna and to change the federal definition of "dolphin safe" in a way that hides the truth from consumers. The current definition of dolphin safe, under the Boxer-Biden Dolphin Protection & Consumer Information Act of 1991, sponsored by Earth Island Institute, prohibits all chasing, capturing, and setting of nets on dolphins." "However, U.S. tuna processors are standing firm in their commitment to buy only tuna caught without setting nets on dolphins" HSUS "This is a misrepresentation I have seen again and again and it's getting ridiculous to have to keep correcting it. The Boxer/Biden/Miller bills allow the U.S. fleet to return to full participation in the IATTC dolphin conservation program (they once again will have a per-vessel Dolphin Mortality Limit and full rights and responsibilities under the IATTC program -- currently they are at a DML of zero, which they claim puts them at a competitive disadvantage with the foreign fleet). And the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills will lift the nation-wide embargoes and allow dolphin-safe tuna to be imported from anywhere (currently both dolphin-safe and dolphin-unsafe tuna is embargoed from nations with any dolphin-unsafe fishers)." Let us put things on the appropriate perspective here. According to the 1995 annual report of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), in 1994 the US fleet fishing tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) was composed of 25 boats with a total carrying capacity of 11,282 tons, as opposed to the 68 boats adding up to almost 68,000 tons which composed the fleet of two of the major fishing flags in the ETP. This represented over 60% of the capacity for all flags in the ETP. Adding the fleet of another of the countries under embargo, the capacity rises up to over 70%. The question here then is, where is all the "dolphin safe" tuna needed to satisfy the US demand coming from? not from the ETP certainly. Then, if not coming from the ETP, that means that the tuna was caught without any kind of control, in areas where no observer program is running. Therefore, whatever the dolphin mortality has been in the last years in the ETP, we know that for sure, but we DO NOT know about other oceans. On the other hand, is the US tuna fishing fleet so small to include only about 11,000 tons of carrying capacity? I don't believe so, therefore, who in the world can believe that the tuna you buy in the US market is really "dolphin safe" even if caught by US fishing boats? forget about chasing and harassing the dolphins, who can tell that the so called "dolphin safe" tuna in the market didn't kill even more dolphins that those that are precisely documented in the ETP? Maybe this is why we see the contradic tions in statements from different sources such as those quoted above... EII "The Panama deal also calls for allowing dolphin-unsafe tuna imports into the U.S. in the name of free trade, a reversal of the four-year-old U.S. tuna embargo against countries whose fleets' dolphin safety practices are not comparable to our own." HSUS "currently they are at a DML of zero, which they claim puts them at a competitive disadvantage with the foreign fleet" If US tuna fishing practices are so good, why are the companies so worried? Finally in this regard, I wonder why some people still argue with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and other laws at hand. Nobody questions the important role that such legislations have played to reduce dolphin mortality in the ETP, but I don't think there is any justice (if that is the law's goal), neither for the dolphins or the people to ignore things that are so obvious that, to quote Dr. Rose, "it's getting ridiculous to have keep correcting them", unless there is some other hidden agenda. Additionally, most of the mortality that caused the decline in the dolphins stock under consideration happened between 1959 and 1975, although a significant reduction occurred between 1972 and 1975 as a result of the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection act. During those years, the majority of the fleet was composed of US fishing boats and it wasn't until the mid 80's that the composition of the fleet changed to be mostly of non US ships. From 1986 to 1993, the total dolphin mortality was reduced from 133,000 to 3,601 animals and although in 1994 it was of 4,095, this increase was caused by a catastrophic set, which actually obscures the fact that the fleet made an effort to reduce mortality and that otherwise would have been lower than that of 1993. Today, the dolphin mortality level for the different stocks is less than 0.2% the population size for all stocks involved, a mortality caused by A NON US FISHING FLEET OPERATING UNDER THE STRICT VIGILANCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAM. Then my question is why are groups claiming for justice without looking at reality and passing the bill of dolphin mortality to other countries, or is that legal standards only work one way? EII "The proposed changes in U.S. law could have grave consequences for the dolphins that swim with yellowfin tuna in the Eastern Tropical Pacific." Why? Wade (1993. Assessment of the northeastern stock of offshore spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)) stated that "If fisheries kill remains at the current lower level of less than 5,000 per year, the population should eventually increase and recover." So maybe for the following reason... EII "Even dolphins that are not killed in nets are subjected to chase by high-speed powerboats and to entrapment in nets, both of which are extremely stressful for dolphins. There is growing evidence that the physiological repercussions of this trauma may cause mortality never observed by Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) monitors and cumulative long-term effects that may reduce reproductive success for those dolphins repeatedly chased and encircled." but where is that "growing evidence"? maybe here? EII "Dr. Naomi Rose of the Humane Society of the United States explains, "It is not simply a matter of direct mortality. The concept of 'take' encompasses more than killing. This type of harassment may have serious physical consequences. Considering how severely depleted these populations are ... this is not good management."" Is this their evidence? I wonder if Dr. Rose has had the opportunity to observe and record permanent changes on behavior and the physical consequences of the interactions of dolphins with fishing boats. If so, where are those results published? On the contrary, it maybe argued that as in many other mammals, the more those dolphins have gone through the experience of being inside the tuna fishing set, the more they will be able to deal with the situation by the process of learning. In this regard, Pryor and Shallenberg (1991. Social structure in spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) in the tuna purse seine fishery in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. In: Pryor and Norris (eds). Dolphin Societies. Univ. of Calif. Press) who OBSERVED AND RECORDED data during sets, discussing differences in the behavior of dolphins inside the nets, said "It is our surmise that this difference was a result of experience on the part of the animals we happened to observe. There seems to be no doubt that some dolphins in the ETP have learned what to expect when set on and can develop accommodating behavior (Stuntz and Perrin 1979). We think it probable that schools showing the most agitation were those with the least experience; highly agitated schools also showed the most incompetence at backdown, going out of the net side ways, swimming back into the net, and so on, whereas calmer schools sometimes left the net very efficiently, some individuals even slithering over the cork lines before they sank." This considerations seem to be consistent with my own personal observations, not only on board of a tuna boat, but while temporarily capturing bottlenose dolphins with research purposes. The bottlenoses that I was setting on have never been caught and were often very nervous, a very contrasting situation compared with the behavior of individuals of the same species observed in an available video, where the dolphins that have been repeatedly captured in Florida, now swim easily towards the bed presented by the researchers, a situation which substantially evolved with time and experience. EII "Biologically, however, it is not known what numbers are needed for successful breeding and regeneration of depleted dolphin herds." HSUS "Their numbers have at best remained stable in the last five years, show signs of having continued to decline (even WITH the 95% reduction in mortality in those same five years), and most certainly have shown no signs whatsoever of recovery. One obvious interpretation of this is that the continued harassment they have suffered in this time period through the chase and encirclement has affected their productivity." EII presents a vague argument but I will take the two possible meanings that can be inferred from it. First in terms of numbers, that is population density, a problem with successful breeding seems to be making reference to the process known as the depensatory effect, however this process only acts when populations reach such extremely low numbers that the distance between two individuals is so big that they can't actually find each other, a situation quite far from what is occurring with all stocks in the ETP. On the other hand, I have never heard about "depleted dolphin herds" and therefore assume that EII people are making reference to populations or stocks. I already mentioned a citation of P. Wade in reference of his assessments and his opinion that populations will " eventually increase and recover", and the reason he is able to say this is that four are the biological parameters ruling the growth of a population such as the dolphin stock here in discussion: a) the carrying capacity, which is taken for practical purposes as the original population size, which have been estimated by Wade and Wade and Gerrodette (1992. Estimates of dolphin abundance in the Eastern Tropical Pacific: preliminary analysis of five years of data. Rep. Int Whal. Comm. 42:533-539); b) a reasonably good estimate of current population size, which is also available; c) an estimate of the rate of increase which is also available (se Reilly and Barlow. 1985. Rates of increase in dolphin population size. Fish. Bull. 84(3):527-533) and d) the actual rate of mortality associated with fishing, very well documented in this days. Therefore the statement that there is not biological information to make predictions about the recovery of the population is actually wrong. This leads to the statement by HSUS. Certainly, there is not STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT change in the population size based on both the estimates by Wade nor in those by Buckland and Anganuzzi (1992. Estimating trends in abundance of dolphin associated with tuna in the astern tropical Pacifi c Ocean, using sightings data collected on commercial tuna vessels. Fish. Bull. 90:1-12) and the reason we want to have an objective criteria to decide whether there is an upwards or downwards trend or no trend at all is precisely because, Dr. Rose see a downward trend, whereas others see an upward trend. Now, if we don't see a significant recovery after few years of low mortality, is because from the aforementioned parameters, it may take roughly from 40 to 50 years for the northeastern stock of the spotted dolphin to reach about 60% of its original population size, that is, its Maximum Net Productivity Level. This means as well, that to argue that dolphins stocks don't show signs of recovery because harassment has affected their productivity is a weak alternative speculation compared with the explanation of the lag alternative based on actual data and population biology. Finally I want to say that my personal agenda is that of the responsible use of marine resources, and I take the responsibility to stand in this position in front of the tuna-dolphin debate based on the evidence at hand. If EII or the HSUS or anybody else present compelling arguments to change this perspective I will do it and defend it. However, in this case, for years I have only see speculation and complete lack of concern about people and ecosystems. With the information at hand, it is possible to develop and adaptive management strategy, which will allow the fishery to continue with the strict vigilance it has worked the last years, and have clear and concrete alternative handy decisions corresponding with the situation presented by the monitoring system. So far I know this is the management strategy that the IATTC and the parties involved in the International Review Panel are trying to implement. I'm not particularly interested in supporting any political decision to be debated in the US Congress, but I will feel satisfied if the people acting in this arenas are guided by complete objective arguments. Sincerely Carlos Alvarez School of Fisheries University of Washington affiliation is given only for reference, the content of this document doesn't necessarily imply the point of view of the School. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 11:53:04 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Parasites in Kogia and Globicephala (fwd) Forwarded message: From: mignucci(\)caribe.net (Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni) Dear colleages: A group of us in the Caribbean will be describing the parasite fauna of marine mammals found stranded in the area, and after identifying the species, we have worked on detailing if the species found constitute new host records or are already known for the species. In reviewing the literature, we were not able to find references for the parasites of the shortfin pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and for some parasites of the pigmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). We had no problem in finding checklists or mention of parasites found in the longfin pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus), but none for G. macrorhynchsu or little for K. breviceps. In addition, we could not find any reference of Coronula sp. in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Has anyone come accross or know of reference detailing the parasites known for these species? Thanks for any assitance you may provide us. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni and Eric P. Hoberg Caribbean Stranding Network and US National Parasite Collection e-mail address: mignucci(\)caribe.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 16:46:21 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Course in grey whale research techniques (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 21:54:38 -0800 (PST) From: William Megill To: marmam(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organisation, offering seven-day courses in marine mammal research techniques. Courses are open to the general public - no previous experience necessary. Research is focused this year on the feeding behaviour, movements, and abundance of grey whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, killer whales and humpback whales, off Cape Caution, BC, Canada. Courses are taught from a 40' sailboat, sea-kayaks, and from shore. Participants are incorporated directly into the research team for the duration of the course, and have the opportunity to learn techniques first- hand from working biologists. In addition to the field research techniques, the course also includes instruction and hands-on experience in sailing or sea-kayaking. Course cost includes tuition, all meals, return transportation from Port Hardy to the base camp, and tent accomodation. Cost: $1400 (CAD) $1075 (USD) (Student prices available some dates) (call/email for information about kayaking) Dates: Sailing: June 30 - July 6, 6-12, 14-20, 20-26, 28-August 3 August 3-9, 11-17, 17-23, 25-31, 31 - September 6. Kayaking: June 30 - July 7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-28, 28-August 4 August 4-11, 11-18, 18-25, 25-September 1, 1-7. For more information, contact: Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation c/o Adventure Spirit Travel Company 1843 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 2E7 1-800-667-7799 (N America) (604) 736-5188 (elsewhere) email: rdavis(\)direct.ca world-wide web: http://www.bcu.ubc.ca/~megill/cerf ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 20:54:14 -0500 From: "Mr. Leverett E. Litz" Subject: article help i am looking for the following papers, if anyone can help me find ppl to contact or possibly send me copies, i would be most appreciative... Bauer, G.B. 1986. The Behavior of Humpback Whales in Hawaii and Modifications of Behavior Induced by Human Interventions. Unpublished doctoral dessertation, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI. Bauer, G., and L. Herman. 1986. Effects of Vessel Traffic on the Behavior of Humpback Whales in Hawaii. Report to NMFS, Honolulu, HI. Townsend, R.T. 1988. Conservation and Protection of Humpback Whales in Hawaii-An Update. Final Report for the U.S. MMC T-755132495. My snail mail: Leverett E. Litz Hampshire College, Box 540 Amherst, MA 01002 email: lelF93(\)hampshire.edu thanks in advance, Leverett ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 09:30:23 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 3/1/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am shortening the summary to include only new items added since my last posting. However, I will post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is the longer version for the first Friday in March 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 02/23/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Pacific Right Whale. On Feb. 19, 1996, a right whale was identified about 15 miles offshore of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. This is the first confirmed sighting since May 1992, and only the 12th sighting of the species in the eastern north Pacific since 1955.} [personal communication] . {Tuna-Dolphin Hearing. On Feb. 29, 1996, the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2823 and H.R. 2856, concerning international dolphin conservation matters.} [Congr. Record] . Bering Sea Ecosystem Report. On Feb. 21, 1996, the National Research Council released a report on the Bering Sea ecosystem, suggesting that the two brief, intense pollock fisheries each year may have disrupting effects on feeding patterns of marine mammals, sea birds, and other fish and recommending that the harvest be managed for a less intense fishery over a long time period. [Assoc Press] . Right Whale Deaths. On Feb. 19, 1996, a dead northern right whale calf was spotted 22 miles off the Georgia-Florida coast -- the fourth death for this endangered species so far this year. About 350 northern right whales are believed to exist. On Feb. 22, 1996, a fifth dead right whale was reported by boaters off the Brunswick, GA, coast. {On Feb. 23, 1996, NMFS and the Marine Mammal Commission announced that a 15-person Federal task force will investigate recent right whale mortalities.} [Assoc Press] . Sea Empress Oil Spill. On Feb. 15, 1996, the oil tanker Sea Empress, carrying 36.7 million gallons of light North Sea crude, ran aground on St. Ann's Head in southwest Wales. Gray seals, bottlenose dolphins, and harbor porpoises are threatened by the spill. On Feb. 21, 1996, the tanker was pulled free of rocks by tugs. On Feb. 22, 1996, estimates of spilled crude reached 19 million gallons, exceeding the 11 million gallons spilled in 1989 by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska. Oil was reported to have surrounded two islands in the Milford Haven estuary used by seals and sea birds. The south Wales fishing fleet imposed a voluntary ban on working in 40 miles of coastal waters affected by the spill. [Assoc Press] . Beluga Recovery Plan. On Feb. 14, 1996, Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) officials and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada representatives announced that a recovery plan for the remaining 525 St. Lawrence River belugas had been prepared. The plan contains 56 recommendations with priorities being the reduction of toxic contaminants, protection of beluga habitat, and reduction of disturbances to belugas. [Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans press release, WWF press release] . Pelly Amendment Certification Report. On Feb. 9, 1996, President Clinton reported to Congress that trade sanctions would not be imposed under Pelly Amendment authority on Japan for research whaling activities, but that the United States would continue to press Japan to curb its whaling. [Assoc Press] . International Marine Mammal Symposium. On Feb. 3-4, 1996, an international symposium on marine mammals was held in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. [Dow Jones News] . Climate Change and Whales. On Mar. 25-30, 1996, the International Whaling Commission is sponsoring and the National Marine Fisheries Service is hosting a symposium and workshop in Hawaii on the effects of climate change on cetaceans. [personal communication] . Manatees. In early February 1996, Florida biologists reported that 47 manatees had died during January 1996, many from cold-related problems. On Feb. 26, 1996, the {female manatee captured in Buffalo Bayou, TX in early December 1995, was flown to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, FL. DNA tests indicated that Florida was the more likely origin of this animal, although only one Mexican sample was available for comparison. On Feb. 21, 1996, the male manatee that traveled as far north as Rhode Island during the summer of 1995 was spotted at Port Everglades, FL, and its lost satellite-monitored radio transmitter was replaced. In mid-February 1996, FL biologists counted a record 2,639 manatees during aerial surveys. On Feb. 28, 1996, Florida biologists demonstrated new sensors that will be installed in South Florida navigation and flood control facilities beginning in March 1996 to automatically open in the presence of manatees; about 100 manatees have been crushed in water control structures in the past 20 years.} [Assoc Press, Reuters, personal communication] . Seal Hunting. After public release by the International Fund for Animal Welfare on Feb. 6, 1996, in London, UK, of a video tape showing non-sanctioned and possibly illegal sealing practices off Newfoundland, Canadian authorities began reviewing the case. [Agence Europe via Reuters, Assoc Press] . Free Willy. On Feb. 8, 1996, Mattel, Inc. announced release of an "Ocean Magic Barbie" that comes with a miniature version of Keiko, as well as a dolphin and a seal. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Mattel, Inc. press release] . ATOC. In early February 1996, the State of Hawaii held a public hearing on starting the Kauai portion of the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. {On Feb. 23, 1996, the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources approved ATOC operations in Hawaiian waters. The Board required that the ATOC program pay for State monitoring of marine life.} [Assoc Press, personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 09:55:58 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: acoustical oceanography opportunity From: Ted Cranford Subject: Acoustical oceanography opportunity Bioacoustical Oceanography Workshop We will be having an advanced bioacoustical oceanography workshop this coming sumer at the University of California Santa Cruz. The format for this new type of workshop is based on teaching units that we call Advanced Training Modules (ATMs). An ATM is a two-week teaching unit in which students participate in group projects on a particular research topic. During the two weeks, students will attend orientation lectures by workshop faculty members, work with faculty members to design and execute laboratory and/or field experiments, analyze experimental results, and prepare short oral and written reports on their findings. Written reports will be included in the annual report for each workshop. If the findings are of sufficient quality, then students will be encouraged to prepare papers for publication after the workshop. For those of you interested in the report from last summer's workshop, check out our World-Wide Web home page (http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/~marga/bio.html) The workshop is planned for Aug. 4 - Aug. 30, 1996. We plan to invite 15 students for the four-week workshop, and they will have all expenses paid (other than their travel to the workshop). The selected students will be expected to have had adequate training in bioacoustical oceanography prior to the workshop. This means that they will have either participated in a previous workshop or that they can document a comparable level of experience in their application materials. Each invited student will participate in two ATMs of his or her choice. The ATMs and faculty for the 1996 workshop are listed below: Advanced Training Modules for the 1996 Workshop. 1. Laboratory experimental studies of acoustic backscattering from Antarctic krill and Monterey Bay zooplankton (Duncan McGehee, Tim Stanton) (Probably 8/4 - 8/18) 2. Passive acoustic localization and tracking of marine mammals (Chris Clark, Adam Frankel, Kurt Fristrup, Dave Mellinger, Khosrow Lashkari) (Probably both sessions, 8/4 - 8/30) 3. Acoustic studies of cetaceans foraging in their 3-D prey environment (Dan Costa, Don Croll, Chuck Greene, Jim Harvey) (Probably 8/12 - 8/30) 4. Effects of Monterey Bay Canyon topography on zooplankton sound- scattering layers (Chuck Greene, Peter Wiebe) (Probably both sessions, 8/4 - 8/30) 5. Dolphin biosonar (Pat Moore, Terrie Williams) (Probably 8/4 - 8/18) Faculty Members and Their Areas of Expertise. Dr. Chris Clark (Cornell) - Marine mammal bioacoustics Dr. Dan Costa (UCSC) - Marine mammal physiological ecology Dr. Don Croll (UCSC) - Marine mammal and seabird ecology Dr. Adam Frankel (Cornell) - Marine mammal bioacoustics and behavior Dr. Kurt Fristrup (Cornell) - Marine mammal bioacoustics and behavior Dr. Chuck Greene (Cornell) - Bioacoustical oceanography, zooplankton ecology Dr. Jim Harvey (Moss Landing) - Marine mammal behavioral ecology Dr. Khosrow Lashkari (MBARI) - Acoustical oceanography Dr. Duncan McGehee (WHOI) - Acoustical oceanography Dr. Dave Mellinger (Cornell) - Marine mammal bioacoustics Dr. Pat Moore (NOSC) - Marine mammal behavior, biosonar Dr. Tim Stanton (WHOI) - Acoustical oceanography Dr. Peter Wiebe (WHOI) - Bioacoustical oceanography, zooplankton ecology Dr. Terrie Williams (UCSC) - Marine mammal physiological ecology STUDENT SELECTION CRITERIA The workshop will be taught at the advanced graduate level, although postdoctoral students will be encouraged to attend as well. Student selection will be based on statements of intent and letters of recommendation from advisors or colleagues. A workshop steering committee will be responsible for selecting students. Application Procedures: All correspondence and application materials will be transmitted by electronic mail. Please transmit the following information to CHG2(\)CORNELL.EDU as your formal application to the workshop: 1. Name: 2. Mailing Address: 3. Telephone Number: 4. E-mail Address: 5. FAX Number: 6. Sex: Male or Female (NOT YES OR NO) 7. Birthdate 8. Citizenship: 9. Universities Attended: 10. Current Academic Status (e.g., Graduate Student, Postdoc, Professor, Research Scientist): 11. Housing Requirements: Do you require on-campus housing? 12. Do you want university credit? This will not cost you extra, but will cost us. 13. Statement of Interests: Please describe in 500 words or less, 1.) what experience in acoustics, marine ecology, and/or animal behavior you would bring to the workshop; 2.) what your long-term research goals are in these areas; and 3.) how you feel participation in the workshop could further your efforts toward achieving those goals. 14. Please rank the ATM's by your level of interest. We will try to match people with their top choices, but obviously scheduling and space conflicts may prevent people from getting their top two choices. 15. Letter of Recommendation: Please have a letter of recommendation transmitted by e-mail from your advisor, if you are a graduate student or postdoc, or from your departmental chair, if you are a professor or research scientist. Whoever writes your letter should be familiar with the statement of interests that you have submitted and should emphasize how your participation in the workshop will benefit not only you, but also other peers and colleagues at your home institution. All applications must be in by April 15, 1996 to ensure full consideration. We will attempt to have decisions transmitted to all applicants by May 15, 1996. ******************************************************************* Charles Greene Phone: (607) 255-5449 E-mail: CHG2(\)CORNELL.EDU FAX: (607) 254-4780 Director, Ocean Resources & Ecosystems Program, Center for the Environment Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, 2130 Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 ******************************************************************* Charles Greene Phone: (607) 255-5449 E-mail: CHG2(\)CORNELL.EDU FAX: (607) 254-4780 Director, Ocean Resources & Ecosystems Program, Center for the Environment Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, 2130 Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 ------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 11:49:49 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Summer Internships -- Congressional Research Service I am considering hosting two graduate student interns this summer -- two months minimum. One would work on marine mammal issues -- probably tuna-dolphin legislation, APHIS care and maintenance standards for marine mammals in captivity, whale conservation programs, and other related marine mammal public policy issues. The other would work on fisheries matters, probably Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act implementation (if reauthorization is enacted), tuna-dolphin legislation, disaster assistance programs for the fishing industry, fishing capacity reduction programs, and other related fishery public policy issues. Interested persons should be pursuing graduate work in some field related to aquatic or marine science, fisheries, and/or marine mammals. This is an *unpaid* internship, but provides an extensive exposure to how public policy is developed and involves close work with Congress and Executive Agency staff. Anyone interested might call me directly or send me a letter of interest with your current resume and short (6-10 page) writing sample. I can also provide contacts with former interns who can tell you, from their perspective, more about the nature of our work and its relevance to their education and career goals. The Congressional Research Service is one of three support agencies of the U.S. Congress. Our sole duty is to provide confidential, non-partisan, objective public policy analysis to support the legislative work of Members of Congress, congressional committees, and their staff. I coordinate work for CRS on aquatic/ marine living resources -- fisheries and marine mammals, predominantly. Interested persons should make initial contact with me no later than March 29, 1996. Gene Buck, Senior Policy Analyst Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 Phone: (202) 707-7262 Fax: (202) 707-7289 Internet Address: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 18:16:02 -0500 From: Samneph(\)aol.com Subject: Summer Internship ****Summer Student Internship at The Animal Protection Institute**** WHO ARE WE: API is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968, dedicated to informing, educating and encouraging the humane treatment of all animals. Regional, national and international programs focus on issues in the areas of companion animals, wildlife, animal experimentation and alternatives, farm and other domestic animals, marine mammals and humane education. API protects against animal abuse through enforcement/legislative actions, investigations, advocacy campaigns, crisis intervention, public awareness and education. API publishes a quarterly magazine, Mainstream, and a newsletter, Bulletin, six times a year. POSITION: Program Department Intern TERM OF INTERNSHIP: 10 weeks, Summer 1996 (the beginning date is flexible) NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED PER WEEK: 40 STIPEND: $6 to $7.50 per hour INTERN EDUCATION LEVEL: Upper division undergraduate or graduate PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The student will work with the Program Department staff on animal protection/rights issues. The job will involve researching, preparing a strategic program plan(s), and writing reports or articles. The student will be assigned to program staff in the specific area of interest for overall suvpervision but will have an opportunity to work in all areas of program activity at API. To apply, write or call by March 31,1996 to Fran Stricker, Student Intern Coordinator, P.O. Box 22505, Sacramento CA 95822 phone (800) 348-7387 or (916) 731-5521 fax (916) 731-5521 internet: samneph(\)aol.com PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE OR OTHER LISTS THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 21:48:25 -0800 From: Howard Garrett Subject: Report from Orlando Following is an edited report from observers in Orlando of Gudrun's behavior in the last days before she died: Gudrun, the 21-year-old female at Sea World of Orlando, passed away Sunday night, February 25. Since mid-February her appetite had started to drop. On wednesday the 21st, labor started. She was 14 months along in her pregnancy. Labor was hard and difficult and she obviously was too weak to expel her calf so after 7 hours trainers had to assist Gudrun by pulling the calf out. The calf was very macerated and probably dead for several days or a week. That must have caused much toxic material to have entered Gudrun's body. Gudrun became very still and refused to eat. Last Saturday her dorsal fin had collapsed, nd she was rubbed with zink oxide against sun burns. She stayed mainly in one place and ocassionally bobbed her head up and down, which is a sign of discomfort. She seemed to want to be left alone as she backed away from humans. It went down hill with her in the days following the delivery. Sunday afternoon her last day of life she moved several times towards the gate where her handicapped calf Nyar was. She merely drifted over there. They touched rostrums through the gate Although some had the hope it was a feeble sign of recovery, it may have been Gudrun's farewell to her calf, feeling that she was losing the battle. It means that Gudrun was very conscious till the last moment. On Sunday night she took her last breath, approximately at 20:30 h. According to reports from poolside, trainers worked hard to protect her from sunburn and disturbance, but she seemed to suffer a lot. Sadly enough, her handicapped calf Nyar is now without her mother.Perhaps some of the other whales are patient and loving enough to interact gently with her, perhaps Katina. Howard Garrett howgar(\)pacificrim.net ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 21:11:54 -0800 From: Michael & Nola Kundu Subject: Norwegians Cancel Seal Slaughter BT (today) Saturday 2rd March 1996 NO NORWEGIAN SEAL HUNT Bodo: There will be no Norwegian seal hunt this year. The 5 seal hunting vessels which were supposed to partake in this year's seal hunt decided collectively Friday to not participate. The reason is there was too little economic subsidy. The Fishing Department is sorry for the decision, but will not contribute more funds. The fishing boats union (Fiskebateredernes Forbund) claims that it is more economical to let the boats stay at the wharf than to participate in this year's hunt. The basis is that the Fishing Department this year has dealt out one more concession for seal hunting (increased from 4 to 5), and simultaneously reduced the amount for support for the hunting from 10 million kroner to 8 million (ca. USD 1.2 million). Even though the hunt is allowed 17,050 (weaned) babies, the ship owners that the hunt will not be profitable. Information Courtesy Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 09:27:04 +1200 From: mike donoghue Subject: Trawl gear modifications Dear Marmammers Can anyone out there supply me with information on an EU-sponsored initiative to investigate modifications to trawl gear that might reduce the incidental capture of pinnipeds and small cetaceans through an escape device? In New Zealand, we have a serious problem with the capture of a range of marine mammals in deepwater trawl gear, particularly NZ fur seals and NZ (Hooker's) sea lions. I am the Department of Conservation's project manager for a programme to develop and trial a marine mammal escape device, based loosely on the Nordmor grid principle, to facilitate the escape of captured marine mammals. The programme is funded through a levy charged to fishers in those fisheries where marine mammals are incidentally taken in trawl gear. I understand that a number of institutions in Europe are collaborating on a programme investigating both acoustic means of deterring marine mammals from approaching active fishing gear and modifications to gear to allow their escape. We would be very interested in collaborating with any group working in this area, in Europe or elsewhere, and I would very much appreciate any advice or contacts. Please contact me if you can help at: donoghue(\)ihug.co.nz Thanks for your time Mike Donoghue Marine Mammals Policy Species Protection Division Department of Conservation ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 19:21:09 -0100 From: Jose' Azevedo Subject: State of decomposition in cetaceans I am working on the recent strandings of dead cetaceans in the shores of the Azores. I made two previous postings on this subject. The total so far is about 15 animals, mostly _Delphinus delphis_, but also _Balaenoptera_ and sperm whales. Up to now, no explanation was found as to the causes of death. Most of the animals washed ashore are in a moderate to advanced state of decomposition. I can asign them with Condition Codes based on the Standard Protocol on the Appendix 3 of the Proceedings of the 1991 ECS Workshop on Cetacean Pathology, but I need an indication of how long before stranding each of the animals died. Would someone care to indicate methods to determine as precisely as possible for how long the animals have been dead? References, personal observations, anything is welcomed. In this context I only know Schaefer (1972) Ecology and Palaeoecology of Marine Environments, Univ. Chicago Press, and it only gives precise indications for pinnipeds. Thank you in advance, ------------------------------------------------------ Jose' Manuel N. Azevedo Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Acores (http://www.uac.pt) R. Mae de Deus, 9500 Ponta Delgada, Acores, Portugal Phone: + 351 96 65 31 55; Fax + 351 96 65 34 55 E-mail: azevedo(\)alf.uac.pt ------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 21:08:51 -0800 From: Michael & Nola Kundu Subject: Norwegian Whaler Jailed BT Thursday 29th February, 1996 JAILED AFTER WHALE HUNT Bodo: A whaler who in 1994 shot a whale illegally, was in Lofoten court sentenced to 30 days in jail and a 10,000 kroner fine and suspended from the whale hunt for 4 years. That is the first time that anyone has been punished for illegally hunting whales, says Lofotpost (Newspaper). The whaler from Lofoten shot the whale off the coast of Finnmark in the Summer of 1994, after he had earlier taken his whole quote of 7 whales. The court, in making its decision, had taken special note that the whaling profession is tightly regulated and that the fact that the whaler had also shot a whale illegally in 1991. Information Courtesy Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 16:05:55 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: tuna/dolphin Carlos Alvarez wrote: >The question here then is, where is all the "dolphin safe" tuna needed >to satisfy the US demand coming from? not from the ETP certainly. Then, >if not coming from the ETP, that means that the tuna was caught without >any kind of control, in areas where no observer program is running... >forget about chasing and harassing the dolphins, who can tell that the >so called "dolphin safe" tuna in the market didn't kill even more >dolphins than those that are precisely documented in the ETP? I apologize for having to repeat myself (as Congressman Gerry Studds said in the tuna/dolphin House hearing on Thursday, February 29, "we keep revisiting this issue again and again and again and again..."), but clearly some folks aren't reading their e-mails very carefully. I have said before that if MORTALITY is all you are concerned about, then it is germane to point out the possibility that more dolphins are dying elsewhere than in the ETP. DOLPHIN-SAFE DOES NOT MEAN NO DOLPHINS DIED. It means no dolphins were deliberately targeted and encircled (it concerns a fishing method, not incidental mortality per se). The ETP is the only fishery known to deliberately target marine mammals as a fishing method. Upwards of a million (and I have heard recently in testimony and other statements that it is as many as 3 million) dolphins are ENCIRCLED (chased, harassed, traumatized -- Mr. Alvarez dismisses this aspect of the situation lightly, but I don't) every year in the ETP. However many dolphins are killed elsewhere (and I think it safe to say that in no one fishery is it in the millions or even in the hundreds of thousands), they are involved in true incidental mortality -- they are either killed or they are LEFT ALONE. The dolphins in the ETP are either killed or harassed to exhaustion. I hope that there are people out there who find it legitimate to distinguish these two situations. Incidentally, the way to address the dolphin-bycatch problem in the western Pacific (and elsewhere) is to address it DIRECTLY. Similar treaties and regulatory regimes as are found in the ETP must be set up there. As I have said before, it is illogical to imply that loosening things up in the ETP will do anything to tighten things up in the western Pacific! I would also like to point out (again) that the new "dolphin-safe" definition found in the Panama Declaration (and by extension in the Stevens/Breaux/Gilchrest bills) no more guarantees no dolphins were killed when catching tuna than the current definition does. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS PURSE SEINE LOG SETS, SCHOOL SETS, OR ANY OTHER FISHING METHOD OTHER THAN DRIFTNETS. Under the current definition, tuna labelled dolphin-safe may mean dolphins died, but none were persistently harassed. Under the new proposed definition, it will STILL mean dolphins may have died (just not observably in PURSE SEINE SETS ON DOLPHINS ONLY), but will also mean that MANY were harassed and injured multiple times in their lives. >Today, the dolphin mortality level for the different stocks is less >than 0.2% the population size for all stocks involved, a mortality >caused by A NON US FISHING FLEET OPERATING UNDER THE STRICT >VIGILANCE OF AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER PROGRAM. Once again, no one who supports the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills refutes that the reduction in dolphin mortality by the non-U.S. fleet has been impressive. However, the NOAA scientist in charge of the dolphin-safe program in the U.S., Dr. Liz Edwards, testified on Thursday that the depleted stocks of dolphins in the ETP have at best remained stable over the last ten years (which encompasses, according to Jim Joseph's testimony and Mr. Alvarez' statements, the period of time during which the biggest mortality reduction has occurred). There has been no clear sign of recovery, not in TEN YEARS, in spite of sharply reduced mortality. Jim Joseph and Mr. Alvarez explain it by saying that there will be a lag time before recovery is observed, but Dr. Joseph specified an overall recovery time that was much different than the one suggested by Mr. Alvarez -- Dr. Joseph said that it would be 27 to 28 years before the two depleted populations would exhibit a recovery above the 60% depletion level (Mr. Alvarez says 40-50 years -- quite a big discrepancy and frankly, to my mind, indicating no less of a speculation than how Mr. Alvarez apparently judges anything I have said about stress effects). If Dr. Joseph is right (and that's what's in the Congressional record, so I'll go with his guess), and a 27-28 year lag to recovery is to be expected, then those two stocks of dolphins, which are so far remaining stable at approx. 20% of their original estimated population level, are going to have to exhibit an exceptionally high recruitment rate in the final 20 years of this recovery period to reach the 60% mark. >Why? Wade (1993. Assessment of the northeastern stock of offshore >spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)) stated that "If fisheries kill >remains at the current lower level of less than 5,000 per year, the >population should eventually increase and recover." There are several assumptions that are necessary to reach this conclusion, as anyone at NMFS will tell you. It assumes that all mortality is observed (and there are certainly reasons to believe that some mortality is not observed). It also assumes that there are NO effects of stress due to the encirclement process (and again, there is reason to believe that there are effects, as I mention below). Other assumptions: that the low mortality rate seen today will not increase and that the ETP ecosystem has experienced no major shifts (for instance, it assumes that the niche occupied by the spotted and spinner dolphins before their population depletion remains open for them to reoccupy). Take away those assumptions and the kill level would NOT allow a recovery. >Is this their evidence? I wonder if Dr. Rose has had the opportunity to >observe and record permanent changes on behavior and the physical >consequences of the interactions of dolphins with fishing boats. If so, >where are those results published? Mr. Alvarez, and everyone else (including myself), should be careful to comment only on those issues about which they have made an effort to be well-informed. I have never claimed that I studied the dolphins of the ETP first hand, of course; as I have stated many times before, my statements (and those of EII and everyone else who supports the Boxer/Biden/Miller bills) are based on the following papers: Anganuzzi and Buckland. 1995. Preliminary results of the relative abundance of dolphins associated with tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean for 1994. IWC Report No. SC/47/SM 51. (This paper indicates that there has been no observable recovery for spotted or spinner dolphin stocks -- interestingly, in their discussion, the authors never once consider that this might be because there has in fact BEEN NO RECOVERY; rather, they throw out a number of theories wherein a recovery has occurred but just can't be observed.) Chivers and Myrick. 1993. Comparison of age at sexual maturity and other reproductive parameters for two stocks of spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata. Fish. Bull. 91:611-618. Myrick and Perkins. 1995. Adrenocortical color darkness and correlates as indicators of continuous acute premortem stress in chased and purse-seine captured male dolphins. Pathophysiology 2:191-204. Myrick. 1988. Is tissue resorption and replacement in permanent teeth of mammals caused by stress-induced hypocalcemia? In: Biological Mechanisms of Tooth Eruption and Root Resorption. Of course, none of these studies are definitive, but what they demonstrate is that we have essentially NO reason to believe the chase is NOT harmful and that we have some reason to believe that it IS harmful. Or, more flatly -- we don't know what the effects are. So I say, let's be precautionary. Rather than move away from an established process that has been geared toward eliminating this fishing method BEFORE we do the research to provide better evidence one way or the other, let's maintain the process and do the research FIRST, then move away from it (toward allowing encirclement) if no compelling evidence against this decision arises in the next few years. >On the contrary, it maybe argued that as in many other mammals, the >more those dolphins have gone through the experience of being inside >the tuna fishing set, the more they will be able to deal with the >situation by the process of learning. In this regard, Pryor and >Shallenberg...said "It is our surmise that this difference was a result >of experience on the part of the animals we happened to observe..." I hope this is a scary prospect for some of you folks out there. What Mr. Alvarez (and a few others) are saying is that, because there is reason to believe that some of the dolphins become habituated to the process of encirclement (which I won't argue with), what's the problem? Well, then, let's not worry about restricting whale-watching (after all, the whales will get used to the persistent harassment of all those whale-watching boats -- just give those boats a permit and let 'em at it), or restricting projects like ATOC (after all, all those marine mammals will become habituated to the loud sounds that ae persistently emitted into their environment), or restricting oil and gas exploration activities (after all, all those marine mammals will get used to those activities as well...) and on and on. Consider carefully the ramifications of this argument! As I said before, the entire concept of including harassment as a "take" in the MMPA, a triumph of the precautionary principle when this landmark legislation was passed, is under threat here. Interestingly, Dr. Ken Norris recently pointed out that he is concerned about the persistent disruption of the rest cycle of the spinner dolphins with whom humans have come to swim on the big island of Hawaii -- somehow, I can't imagine that human swimmers harassing these dolphins is much more disruptive than the bearing down of an ETP purse seiner on a school of spinner or spotted dolphins, who may be resting, socializing, or foraging. Some of the dolphins may indeed become used to it and do what they can behaviorally to adapt, but high-powered business executives (or fill in any one of a number of stressful professions) get used to stress too, and many still get ulcers and die of strokes and heart attacks at 55 or 60. Once again, I apologize for the constant repetition, but if I've learned one thing from the tuna/dolphin debate of the last several months, it's that some people aren't listening very well. I have tried as best as I can to respond to anything new put out by the supporters of the Panama Declaration -- I have tried not to repeat my arguments without pointing out how they relate to the actual words someone else has just said. I myself am trying to listen to what the "other side" is saying. I apologize if I haven't succeeded. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 07:12:41 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Victim of NZ whale-watch boat Victim of NZ whale-watch boat tragedy named WELLINGTON, March 3 (Reuter) - Police have named a Taiwanese tourist who drowned on Saturday after a boat on a whale-watching trip capsized off New Zealand's South Island. Police said it was still not clear how the accident happened but the Sunday Star Times reported the boat may have hit a whale. The victim was Mei Huei Chen (29) who had been on holiday with friends and family members, police said. They said the boat overturned about three nautical miles off the east coast town of Kaikoura. The dead woman was found trapped inside the upturned craft and efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. The boat was carrying 26 whale-watchers, 25 of whom were foreign tourists, and three crew. The other people on board were thrown into the sea and picked up by other vessels, including boats on dolphin-watching trips. All were wearing life jackets. Police said the dead woman's brother and fiance were also on the boat when it capsized. Her fiance was among five of the survivors taken to hospital with hypothermia and abrasions. An Australian tourist who survived the ordeal, Adrian Gould, told the Sunday Star Times the vessel's rubber pontoons disintegrated when the boat hit something hard at high speed. At the time, the boat had been cruising offshore for 10 minutes in pursuit of a whale located by the boat's sonic detectors. "We were heading south going fairly fast and bouncing around in two to three metre swells when the boat just crashed to a stop. The front pontoons completely blew to pieces," Gould said. "For a few minutes it didn't seem too big a problem because the boat was still on the water...but water kept spilling in the open sides. Then we were lifted by a swell and the boat just tipped up and flipped over," he told the paper. Whale Watch Kaikoura is a top New Zealand tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all around the world. It previously had a good safety record and last year won an international award for eco-tourism. The South Island is a mecca for lovers of adventure sports such as bungee jumping and white-water rafting, but the industry's safety record has come under scrutiny of late. Two Japanese and a Taiwanese were killed in a ballooning accident last October, prompting the Japan Travel Bureau, the world's largest travel agency, to withdraw its support for many of the more risky activities and cut insurance cover. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 07:13:02 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Green groups, Congress split o Green groups, Congress split on dolphin safeguards By Vicki Allen WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The environmental community and congressmen were split Thursday on the best approach to take to protect dolphins from dying in tuna fishing nets. The White House -- backed by an unlikely alliance of some conservative and moderate congressmen and environmental groups including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund -- pushed a bill to allow tuna imports as long as fishermen do not kill more than 5,000 dolphins annually in the Pacific Ocean, where dolphin and tuna tend to swim together. But other environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Humane Society of the United States, at a House Resources subcommittee hearing branded the administration bill a sell-out of dolphins for international trade interests. They backed another bill largely pushed by more liberal Democrats that would adhere to current U.S. standards of "dolphin safe" tuna, meaning fish are not caught inthe kind of nets that also trap and kill dolphins. They said the administration bill would permit chasing and encircling dolphins, amounting to harassment for hours or days that likely would raise mortality and lower birth rates. They also said that would make the "dolphin safe" label seen on U.S. tuna cans a fraud. "As I understand it, 'safe' would now permit doing all kinds of dastardly things to dolphins, including killing them -- as long as no one happens to notice it actually happening," said Rep. Gerry Studds, a Massachusetts Democrat. "While I agree that we need to open our market to other 'dolphin-safe' tuna -- regardless of the national affiliation of the tuna boat -- I adamantly disagree with those who say we must change the definition of 'dolphin-safe,"' said Sen. Joe Biden, a Delaware Democrat who testified against the White House bill. Under-Secretary of State Tim Wirth said the United States must make some changes to "generate the international cooperation required to protect these dolphins further." The White House bill would put into law Latin American countries' current voluntary program for more dolphin-safe fishing. Wirth said the legislation would prompt these countries to keep using precautions to prevent dolphin entrapment in their nets, and would extend protections beyond tuna for the United States, which is about one-fourth of the world market. The United States has a labeling law for cans of "dolphin-safe" tuna not caught in the huge nets, and the tuna industry voluntarily imposed a purchasing ban on tuna from countries using the nets deemed dangerous to dolphin. In 1992, Latin American countries developed a voluntary program to reduce dolphin deaths while still using the nets. With this program dolphin deaths dropped to 3,601 in 1993 compared with nearly half a million annually in the early 1970s. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 09:08:36 +0100 From: Frode Skarstein Subject: Re: Norwegian Whaler Jailed >BT Thursday 29th February, 1996 >JAILED AFTER WHALE HUNT >Bodo: A whaler who in 1994 shot a whale illegally, was in Lofoten court >sentenced to 30 days in jail and a 10,000 kroner fine and suspended from the >whale hunt for 4 years. That is the first time that anyone has been punished >for illegally hunting whales, says Lofotpost (Newspaper). The whaler from >Lofoten >shot the whale off the coast of Finnmark in the Summer of 1994, after he had >earlier taken his whole quote of 7 whales. The court, in making its decision, >had taken special note that the whaling profession is tightly regulated and >that the fact that the whaler had also shot a whale illegally in 1991. > >Information Courtesy Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Could the Sea Shepherd CS inform us as to what species of whale was being hunted here? The term "whale" in this context is vague and potentially misleading. I suppose it was a minke whale? Sincerely, Frode Skarstein Frode Skarstein, Department of Ecology/Zoology, University of Tromsoe, Norway. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 23:24:06 +0200 From: Xavier Roy Subject: Looking for Oswaldo Vasquez Hello all ! I'm looking for an e-mail or a phone number to reach Oswaldo Vasquez or CIBIMA in Samana or Santo Domingo or maybe someone in Dominican Republic who could know if humpback whales arrived early or late this year on Silver Bank. I wonder if they still will be around Dominican Republic during april this year... Thanks by advance for your help. Xavier ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 20:59:25 EST From: LK SIROIS Subject: CETACEA I am a senior at Lewiston- Auburn College, University of Southern Maine. I am currently researching a paper on taxonomy and genetics with regard to cetacea. I have located older reference materials and primary literature most dated prior to 1993. I am interested in recent DNA analysis and the effects on current classifications of species and how this may relate to evolutionary origins. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Katherine Sirois NVZQ06A(\)prodigy.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 21:00:22 -0800 From: Howard Garrett Subject: News report from Orlando STILLBORN WHALE CALF'S MOTHER DIES By Gary Taylor Orlando Sentinel Feb. 26 (c)1996 The Orlando Sentinel One of Sea World of Florida's oldest killer whales died Sunday night, four days after giving birth to a stillborn calf. The death of Gudrun, a 20-year-old killer whale that came to the park from Holland in 1987, leaves the Orlando theme park with seven killer whales, two of which are Gudrun's offspring. She was the fifth adult killer whale to die at this park, said spokesman Nick Gollattscheck. The last was in September 1994 and also involved complications from a birth. Gudrun had been in guarded condition, on antibiotics and under 24-hour watch, since the birth Wednesday night of her dead calf, Gollattscheck said. She had suffered through a seven-hour labor. Gudrun's necrcopsy was under way Sunday night. Gollattscheck said tissue samples would be sent to various labs in hope of pinpointing the cause of death. It will be about six weeks before the results are available, he said. Veterinarians also don't know why Gudrun's calf died. It was born two months prematurely, but sonograms showed it was alive a few days before the stillbirth. The loss of the whale will not affect Sea World's performance schedule, Gollattscheck said. That is especially important because the shows are part of the whales' exercise routine, he said. Like all the other killer whales at Sea World, Gudrun performed under the name Shamu. She had successful births Dec. 31, 1993, and July 11, 1989, and those killer whales are now performing at the park. There have been four other successful killer whale births at the park. "Even with an experienced mom, killer whale births are pretty risky," Gollattscheck said. "The mortality rate in the wild is about 50 percent." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 15:08:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Vasquez Sorry to put this out to the list, but Xavier didnt give his email address and my antiquated system doesnt extract it from Marmam messages. Oswaldo Vasquez is in Cypress and can be reached at vasquez(\)cyta.com.cy (although he's not always the best correspondent!) Silver Bank in April is not a great bet for lots of humpback whales. There will be some there, but probably relatively few. Also, anyone planning on going there should be aware that the Bank is a dangerous place which is poorly charted: coral heads are scattered over the Bank, and the barrier reef on the northeastern perimeter is a maze that can be literally lethal (but it's really the only place to anchor, unless you like being beaten to a pulp by swells and chop). Bottom line: seek advice before going. Phil Clapham Smithsonian clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 15:36:34 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: finding e-mail addresses There are several ways of tracking down e-mail addresses. The MARMAM list should not be used as a way of finding someone's address unless other possibilities have been explored first. We provide here information on two methods. To check the list of MARMAM subscribers for an e-mail address, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: review marmam (country (note the message should be written exactly as above, the country of interest should not be inserted after the bracket) You will then automatically receive a list of the approximately 1800 MARMAM subscribers (from 45 different countries) with e-mail addresses, sorted by country (though commercial accounts seem to be lumped with U.S. addresses, regardless of their origin). There are numerous places you can telnet to to access a 'netfind' program, which will allow you to find someone's e-mail address, providing you know their username (try their last name, or their first initial followed by their last name, e.g. doe or jdoe) and one or two keywords indicating their location (e.g. university hawaii, or nmfs seattle). 'Netfind' is accessible via the following nodes (there are probably others): archie.au (AARNet, Melbourne, Australia) bruno.cs.colorado.edu (University of Colorado, Boulder, USA) dino.conicit.ve (Nat. Council for Techn. & Scien. Research, Venezuela) ds.internic.net (InterNIC Dir & DB Services, S. Plainfield, NJ, USA) eis.calstate.edu (California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA) krnic.net (Korea Network Information Center, Taejon, Korea) lincoln.technet.sg (Technet Unit, Singapore) malloco.ing.puc.cl (Catholic University of Chile, Santiago) monolith.cc.ic.ac.uk (Imperial College, London, England) mudhoney.micro.umn.edu (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA) netfind.ee.mcgill.ca (McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) netfind.elte.hu (Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary) netfind.fnet.fr (Association FNET, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France) netfind.icm.edu.pl (Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland) netfind.if.usp.br (University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil) netfind.mgt.ncu.edu.tw (National Central University, Taiwan) netfind.sjsu.edu (San Jose State University, USA) Once you've telnetted to one of the above nodes, type in 'netfind' at the login prompt. You can then conduct a search, and will be prompted for a username and some keywords. If you have tried both these methods and cannot find an address, then send a message to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca requesting the information, but please include a note saying you have already tried the alternate methods. Pam Willis, Robin Baird MARMAM Co-editors marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 12:10:14 +0000 From: Samantha Chalis Subject: Re: tuna/dolphin (yet again) (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 09:46:57 +0000 (GMT) From: Steve Buckland To: Samantha Chalis Subject: Re: tuna/dolphin (yet again) At the risk of provoking more lengthy patronizing commentary, I feel it is necessary to respond to Dr Rose's comments on a paper I co-authored: > Anganuzzi and Buckland. 1995. Preliminary results of the relative > abundance of dolphins associated with tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean > for 1994. IWC Report No. SC/47/SM 51. (This paper indicates that there > has been no observable recovery for spotted or spinner dolphin stocks -- > interestingly, in their discussion, the authors never once consider that > this might be because there has in fact BEEN NO RECOVERY; rather, they > throw out a number of theories wherein a recovery has occurred but just > can't be observed.) We assume the opposite of what is claimed here. Given the biology of dolphins, and the current kill levels, we expect only small changes in abundance over short time periods. We do NOT assume that, despite our estimates, a recovery is occurring. However, we do question whether a significant decline in recent years for two stocks, the north-eastern offshore spotted dolphin and the northern common dolphin, is real, given the mounting evidence for substantial movements across supposed stock boundaries. In other papers, we have consistently argued that short-term fluctations in estimated numbers of dolphins (up or down) are not reliable indicators of change; rather we look for long-term trends in estimated numbers. Following clear declines in the 1970s, in recent years, we have been unable to detect consistent long-term trends up or down for spotted or spinner dolphins. Biology dictates that there would be a delay between a reduction in mortality levels and a rise in population abundance. Statistics dictate that a further delay would occur before such a rise can be detected. It is certainly too early to determine whether a recovery is taking place, and certainly too early to conclude that it is not. Our trend estimates suggest that for most stocks, dolphin abundance stabilized during the 1980s when kills (and harrassment) were substantially higher than now. Biologically, it would therefore seem likely that recovery will occur if mortality can be held at or around current levels. Only time and continued monitoring can confirm or refute this expectation. Steve Buckland _________________________________________________________________________ Steve Buckland Mathematical Inst Tel. 01334-463787 (+44-1334-463787) North Haugh Fax 01334-463748 (+44-1334-463748) St Andrews KY16 9SS e-mail steve(\)cs.st-and.ac.uk Scotland www http://www-ruwpa.cs.st-and.ac.uk _________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 19:59:29 -0500 From: Sclymene(\)aol.com Subject: Email for Tanabe or Tatsukawa Dear MARMAM subscribers, Does anyone have an email address for Dr. S. Tanabe or Dr. R. Tatsukawa of Ehime University in Japan? I have already tried alternate methods, but with no success. Thanks for your help. ******************************** Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. Flat 1A, Coral Court Parkvale Village Discovery Bay Hong Kong (852) 2987-9508 (tel. or FAX) email: Sclymene(\)aol.com ******************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 13:55:26 -0800 From: US Fish and Wildlife Service - Int'l Affairs Subject: US-Russia Marine Mammal Work '95 U.S.-Russia Environmental Agreement: Marine Mammal Project Following is a summary of 1995 marine mammal activities that occurred under the auspices of Area V "Protection of Nature and the Organization of Reserves" of the U.S.-Russia Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection. The U.S. side of Area V of the Environmental Agreement is coordinated by the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Contact: Steven Kohl, Peter Ward, usfwsia(\)igc.apc.org The Russian side of Area V is coordinated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. Contact: Elena Polyanskaya, tel: (7-095) 254-3655. A contact for Academy of Sciences activities is Anna Lushchekina, tel: (7-095) 124-6000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in partnership with the National Biological Service (NBS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Department of Fish and Game, All-Russian Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), Russian Academy of Sciences, and Russian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources led a comprehensive program of laboratory and field research in 1995. Twenty-seven American scientists and twenty-eight Russian scientists took part in a total of ten exchanges. In April an NBS researcher joined Russian colleagues in the capture and satellite collaring of female polar bears in the Laptev, Barents and Kara Seas to obtain data on their migration and distribution patterns. At the conclusion of the field work the NBS researcher joined Russian and Norwegian polar bear biologists in Moscow to discuss expanding the cooperative research program to include determination of radionuclide levels in polar bears throughout their range. U.S. contact: Gerald W. Garner, NBS, Gerald_Garner(\)mail.nbs.gov Russia contact: Stanislav E. Belikov, VNIIPRIRODA, arctos(\)glas.apc.org In July two Russian scientists visited Alaska for a week to analyze polar bear survey data with NBS staff and prepare manuscripts for publication. Reports were presented at the Tenth International Conference on the Study and Management of Polar Bears in Fairbanks, Alaska. U.S. contact: Gerald Garner, NBS, Gerald_Garner(\)mail.nbs.gov Russia contact: Stanislav Belikov, VNIIPRIRODA, arctos(\)glas.apc.org In August one NMFS specialist joined Russian colleagues in conducting bowhead and gray whale surveys in the Sea of Okhotsk off the east coast of northern Sakhalin Island. U.S. contact: Robert Brownell, NMFS, brownell(\)caliban.ucsd.edu Russia contact: Aleksandr Burdin, Kamchatka Institute of Ecology, burdin(\)marmam.kamchatka.su In August the U.S. National Marine Mammal Laboratory hosted the chief of the Marine Mammal Laboratory of the Kamchatka Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography for three weeks for field studies of northern fur seals on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. U.S. contact: Anne York, NMFS, york(\)orca.akctr.noaa.gov Russia contact: Aleksandr Boltnev, /I=./G=KAMCHAT/S=NIRO/O=DTI/(\)SOVMAIL.SPRINT.COM In September seven U.S. specialists traveled to Kamchatka for one week to attend the Biennial U.S.-Russia Sea Otter Workshop. U.S. contact: James Bodkin, NBS, James_Bodkin(\)mail.nbs.gov Russia contact: Vladimir Burkanov, KAMCHATRYBVOD, burkanov(\)marmam.kamchatka.su In September a U.S.-Russia meeting on walrus and polar bear was held for one week in Kamchatka, Russia to agree on principles for joint conservation and management of the Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population. Twelve representatives from the U.S. attended. U.S. walrus contact: Dana Seagars, FWS, Dana_Seagars(\)mail.fws.gov U.S. polar bear contact: Scott Schliebe, FWS, Scott_Schliebe(\)mail.fws.gov Russia walrus contact: Yuriy Bukhtiarov, ibpn(\)ibpn.magadan.su Russia polar bear contact: Stanislav Belikov, VNIIPRIRODA, arctos(\)glas.apc.org In September the Biennial Project Meeting of the Marine Mammal Project of Area V of the U.S.-Russia Environmental Agreement was held for one week in Kamchatka, Russia. Six Americans attended. U.S. contact: Robert Miller, NMFS, Miller(\)afsc.noaa.gov Russia contact: Valeriy Vladimirov, VNIRO, frol(\)vniro.msk.su In November one researcher from the Russian Academy of Sciences consulted with U.S. colleagues in Washington, D.C. for ten days on the assessment of accumulated radiation doses and their effects in long-lived mammals of the Russian arctic. U.S. contact: Steven Kohl, FWS, usfwsia(\)igc.apc.org Russia contact: Galina Klevezal, klevezal(\)ibrran.msk.su An NBS researcher traveled to Magadan, Russia for one week in December to discuss plans for the creation of a Pacific Walrus International Database with the Institute of Biological Problems of the North. U.S. contact: Steven Arthur, NBS, Stephen_Arthur(\)mail.nbs.gov Russia contact: Yuriy Bukhtiarov, ibpn(\)ibpn.magadan.su Finally, in December the director of the Kamchatka Fisheries Agency (KAMCHATRYBVOD) was hosted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for one week to discuss cooperative efforts in studying harbor seals. U.S. contact: Lloyd Lowry, llowry(\)fishgame.state.ak.us Russia contact: Vladimir Burkanov, burkanov(\)marmam.kamchatka.su ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 13:09:18 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: marine mammal books The following is a list of some marine mammal books currently available thru Donald E. Hahn Natural History Books. To order, call 520-634-5016 or FAX 520-634-1217. You can use VISA or MasterCard as well. Be sure to provide the item number! Happy buying! ***************************** 1379. Andersen, H.T. (ed). 1969. The biology of marine mammals. $35 1401. Bullen, F.T. 1899 (1927). The cruise of the "Cachalot" round the world after sperm whales. $19 1471. Jones, M.L. et al. (eds.) 1984. The gray whale: Eschrichtius robustus. $45 1472. Jordan, D.S. 1898. The fur seals and fur-seal islands of the North Pacific Ocean. Part II. Observations on the fur seals of the Pribilof Islands, 1872-1897, as extracted from the log of St. Paul Island, and as recorded in the daily journal of the commission of 1896 and 1897. $50 1542. Riedman, M. 1990. The Pinnipeds. Seals, sea lions, and walruses. $35 1515. Mitchell, E.D. (ed). 1975. Review of biology and fisheries for smaller cetaceans. $35 1577. True, F.W. 1983 (reprint). The whalebone whales of the western North Atlantic. $40 1585. Whitehead, H. 1990. Voyage to the whales. $22 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 19:09:28 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Marine Mammal Course at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Catherine Combelles The University of Hawaii is pleased to offer a 2 week course from June 10th to June 22d, 1996 the =93Biology and Management of Marine Mammals=94. The course is composed of lectures, laboratory work, and field experiences. Lectures will be held daily, and laboratory work will be performed in a reproduction and growth biology laboratory at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology on Coconut Island. Work with facilities holding captive marine mammals will also be conducted. Each participant in the course will be given unique hands-on opportunities with captive marine mammals that naturally occur in Hawaiian waters, and upon completion of the course, will be awarded a certificate from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). Dr. Shannon Atkinson is the program leader, and some of the invited lecturers include: Dr. Paul Nachtigall, Dr. Whitlow Au, Mr. Bill Gilmartin, Dr. Jay Sweeney, and Dr. Joe Mobley, Mr. Jeff Pawloski, Dr. Brent Stewart, and Dr. Pam Yochem. For a more detailed description of the course, consult our web page at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~zoology/marine.mammal.course.html or http://nic2.hawaii.edu/~zoology/marine.mammal.course.html =20 You can also address any further inquiry to Catherine Combelles, Course Assistant (combelle(\)hawaii.edu). Please feel free to post and/or pass on to others who might be interested and who might not have access to the list. I look forward to answer any questions you might have (please do not reply to the list). Aloha, Catherine Combelles, M.S. Research Associate Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawaii PO BOX 1346 Kaneohe, Hawaii 9674 (808) 956-8625 or 261-8318 (808) 236-7443 (FAX) combelle(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 13:42:24 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: No. Pacific right whales and California sightings Diane and Phil's records are pretty consistent with my understanding. FYI, here is a list of all the sightings in California and Baja California I am aware of this century. I am aware of NO sightings from the Oregon coast. There are sightings from Washington and British Columbia which I have not included here. ______ 1916. 1 baleen plate from alleged stranding near Santa Cruz Island, CA (Woodhouse & Strickley, 1982) 19 April 1924 one 12m female landed near Farallon Islands, CA (Gilmore 1956) 31 March 1955. one 13m animal off La Jolla, CA (Gilmore 1956) 13 May 1959. one 13m animal 16 miles SW Pt Montara, CA (Rice & Fiscus 1968) 11 April 1963. one <9m animal 61 mile SW Pigeon Point (Rice & Fiscus 1968) 10 May 1963. 44 km SSW Farallon Island (Rice & Fiscus 1968) 11 March 1965. one 15m animal 12km SW Punta Abreojos, Baja (Rice & Fiscus 1968) 13 September 1974. 60 km W of Fort Bragg, CA (NMFS POP) 17 April 1981 one 14m animal near Santa Barbara (Woodhouse & Strickley, 1982) 20 March 1982. one adult 1.5 km off Pillar Point (Half Moon Bay), CA (Scarff, J. 1986b. Sci. Rep. Whales Res. Inst. 37:129-153) 5 February 1988. one animal. La Jolla (W. Perrin, pers. comm) 9 May 1990 one animal 17m, 8 miles N of Santa Catalina Island (Scarff, 1991)). 24 May 1992 off Cape Elizabeth, Washington (see Rowlett et al. 1994, Northwest Naturalist 75: 102-104) 3 May 1995 off Piedras Blancas, CA (Rowlett et al in prep, I believe). 19 February 1996. 15 km off Cabo San Lucas, one animal D. Gendron (MARMAM posting) > Including Diane's most recent sighting, there have been only 12 records > of right whales off California (including one off Baja) this century, > all since 1955. Actually, there have been 14 sightings and perhaps 1 stranding. It seems to me noteworthy that most of the sightings have been of single animals and most occurred in late winter or spring (March-May). It is also noteworthy that most of these sightings occurred very close to shore, several from shore observers. > Scarff 1991 (IWC 41: 467-489) makes a good case that the U.S. west coast > was never a significant habitat for right whales, even before whaling > decimated the population. See also Scarff, 1986. Historic and present distribution of the right whale in the Eastern North Pacific. Rep. Intl Whal. Commn 10 (43-63). > However, all indications are that the E North Pacific population is > exceedingly small and may be on its way out. Given the level of whalewatching/fishing/pelagic birding effort along the California coast, particularly during the January-March period, the low level of sightings appears to mirror a very small, perhaps intermittent population here. My studies of Maury's whaling records from the 1840s revealed very dense populations of right whales both in the Gulf of Alaska, and more particularly along the coast of Kamchatka (RWs seen on 90+% of search days) and along the Kurile Islands. I recently nearly finished a new translation of Klumov's 1962 right whale study which records numerous sightings of RWs among the Kurile Islands. I recommend that field surveys for RW occur there, which may be tricky given the sensitive Japanese/Russian relations in the area. It is not clear to me that the E. No. Pacific stock was/is distinct from the right whales found further west. The question of stock identity is is discussed in detail in Scarff (1991) and the accompanying IWC Scientific Committee report. What surprised me from review of the historic whaling records is the apparent abundance of right whales in the North Pacific in the 1840s. Right whales appear to have been more abundant than right whales in the North Pacific. This is also reviewed in Scarff (1991). I hope that the No Pac. right whale is not forgotten in all the justified concern for RWs in the North Atlantic, So. Atlantic and the South Pacific. (and read Robt Webb's excellent book "On the Northwest, Commercial Whaling in the Pacific Northwest 1790-1967" Univ. Brit. Columbia Press. 1988) --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 08:50:17 -0800 From: "James V. Carretta" Subject: Re: No. Pacific right whales and California sightings In response to Jim Scarff's posting of right whale records for California/Baja California, I noted that Jim omitted one record of a whale photographed off San Clemente Island, CA in March of 1992 (Carretta et al. 1994, Marine Mammal Science 10(1):101-105. Additionally, a right whale skeleton (or part of a skull) was apparently unearthed near Crescent City, CA (N41 46 and W124 15) on 27 January 1995. The report states that "large skull fragments were recovered from a sea headwall where they were exposed by wave action, and that the specimen was very old and crumbly." The material was to be transported to the Humboldt State University Vertebrate Museum in March of 1995. It is believed that the carcass was buried sometime in the 1960's because this is the approximate time of the construction of the seawall in which it was found (J. Cordaro, NMFS, pers. comm.). I've not had the chance to travel to Humboldt state to get a look at the specimen. Any further information about this specimen would be welcome. James V. Carretta Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service P.O. Box 271 La Jolla, CA 92038 ph. (619)-546-7181 email: jcarretta(\)caliban.ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 19:49:53 -0800 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: ID'ing Kogia to species, in the field Greetings, I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has a lot of experience with both species of Kogia in the field. The literature implies that it is very difficult to distinguish between Kogia simus and Kogia breviceps in the field. Over the last couple of years I have had 30 or 40 sightings of Kogia, most of which I believe are Kogia simus based on the small size, relatively large dorsal fin, and its position relatively far forward on the back. A couple sightings of larger animals with small fins placed further back are probably Kogia breviceps, based on the literature, and it seems as if there may be behavioural differences as well. As detailed descriptions of the behaviour of either species do not appear to have been published, I would really appreciate hearing from individuals who have a lot of experience with these species. Thanks a lot, Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700 MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 14:59:55 -0500 From: Samneph(\)aol.com Subject: API Summer Internship CORRECTION Regarding the Summer Intern Position at The Animal Protection Institute, we incorrectly listed the phone and fax as the same number. The following is the correct information. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience. Please write or call Fran Stricker, Student Intern Coordinator API phone: (916) 731-5521 or (800) 348-7387 fax: (916) 731-4467 email: samneph(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 08:45:04 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Odontocete attacks (fwd) Forwarded message: From: WayneRG(\)aol.com Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 16:47:03 -0500 The US Navy keeps a database of shark attacks. I am interested if there is a datebase or official records kept regarding cetacean (particularly odontcete) attacks upon and/or injuries to humans. I would be interested even in accidental injuries with trainers at oceanariums such as Seaworld. My curiosity was aroused by a commercial for the new Flipper series. An episode involved an attack of a Tursiops upon a teenager. I want to compare shark attack incidence to odontocete attacks for personal knowledge and for teaching an oceanography courses. Thanks Wayne R. Gilchrest waynerg(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 12:57:51 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Marine Mammals in Israel Hello Fellow MARMAMers: A small group of marine mammal researchers in Israel recently founded "Mahmali" or IMMRAC (the Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center). This center is the first of its kind in the Middle East and exists to centralize relevant literature, establish cooperative efforts with other centers in the Mediterranean or Red Seas, act as a clearinghouse for a database on reported sightings and individual photo-identification of marine mammals, and to educate the public toward a greater understanding and appreciation of marine mammals and their environment. We have received, as donations, a structure to house the volunteers and equipment in Mikmoret, Israel, and several PC computer systems from Intel Corp. We have also begun to build an enclosure to hold marine mammals which are found in distress or washed up on the beach, but still alive. These animals will be rehabilitated and then released back to the sea when healthy. We also have established ties with local fishermen who report sightings, report dead or distressed individuals, and report behaviors of these animals. We are in the process of obtaining a net to help in the capture of distressed animals and already have a number of small boats to aid in transport and other activities. What we are trying to do now is the following: 1) establish an active survey of marine mammals along the coast of the Eastern Mediterranean in cooperation with other coastal countries such as Turkey and Egypt; 2) use TDRs to tract and record depth information on wild dolphins; 3) train volunteers in research and rehabilitation techniques. While we have a number of institutions involved in this research, namely, University of Haifa, Israeli Naval Medical Institute, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute in Haifa, Nature Reserves Authority, Israel Society for the Protection of Nature, The Ministry of the Environment, and the Naval School Mevoot-Yam, we receive no funds other than by donation. We are seeking partners from other countries who would be interested in sharing their expertise in marine mammals with us, perhaps by helping to to train Israeli volunteers in research and handling/rehabilitation techniques. We are also interested in locating partners would could help with our upcoming TDR study on wild dolphins, particularly via donations for purchase of this equipment or of the equipment itself. Anyone interested in helping us with our efforts to increase research activities on marine mammals in the Middle East region should please contact: Oz Goffman, Head Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center Leon Recanati Center for Maritime Studies University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, Haifa, 31905 Israel email via Kari Lavalli, at rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il Thanks for any help! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 19:07:44 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MM posters (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Daniel K. Odell" The new posters for the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals have been received! We will begin shipping posters to all those who ordered them later this month. If you didn't order a poster at the conference and want one, you must contact Pieter Folkens directly at . Dan Odell ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 09:45:26 -0800 From: Paul Wade Subject: ETP dolphin trends I would like to make some comments on the interpretation of trends of ETP dolphin stocks. As a preface, I stand by my statement in my 1993 stock assessment of northeastern spotted dolphins that current mortality should allow recovery, but note the caveat that recovery is dependent on certain assumptions (which Tim Gerrodette and I re-emphasized in Tim's oral presentation of our abstract at the Orlando 1995 MM conference). I agree with most of what Steve Buckland said in his recent posting. I have some comments on how I interpret their paper (hopefully correctly). The paper in question (I will call it A&B 1995) is: Anganuzzi and Buckland. 1995. Preliminary results of the relative abundance of dolphins associated with tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean for 1994. IWC Report No. SC/47/SM 51. Steve Buckland said: >However, we do question whether a significant decline in >recent years for two stocks, the north-eastern offshore >spotted dolphin and the northern common dolphin, is real, >given the mounting evidence for substantial movements across >supposed stock boundaries. I agree about northern common dolphins, as there is substantial uncertainty about whether that stock includes animals further north in U.S. waters. I will stick to spotted and spinner dolphins. First of all, where is there any "mounting evidence for substantial movements across supposed stock boundaries" for spotted dolphins? I am unaware of any evidence for movement across boundaries. If reference is being made to the paper Buckland et al (1995, Modeling the spatio-temporal distribution of dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific, IWC SC/47/SM37), I agree this paper makes claims in the discussion that its results suggests movement across stock boundaries. I believe what the paper actually shows is that oceanographic variables that are correlated with offshore spotted dolphins have a contiuous distribution in some places across stock boundaries. This is circumstantial evidence for the relatively continuous distribution of spotted dolphins across 120 degrees west, which no one disputes -- the stock boundary is not based on a discontinuity in distribution. That paper says nothing about actual movement of animals across stock boundaries. Actual data (skulls from known locations) that directly addresses stocks of offshore spotted dolphins indicates differences in cranial morphology between the stock areas (Perrin et al 1993, Reexamination of geographic variation in cranial morphology of the pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata, in the eastern Pacific, Fisheries Bulletin 92:324-346). Movements of animals discussed in that paper are about possible movements between the west and south, all within the current western/southern stock area, as the paper indicated uncertainty about whether the west and south areas should be one stock or two. There is no evidence noted that would indicate substantial gene flow between the northeastern area and the western/southern area. The figures in A&B 1995 not only show a significant decline of northeastern offshore spotted dolphins from 1985 to the present (Fig 1), the decline is still significant when the stocks are combined (Fig 3), meaning that the decline is not explained away by movements of animals between the stock areas. I agree that the decline could be explained away by substantial movements of spotted dolphins completely out of the area of the fishery. I know of no evidence for such movements out of the area of the fishery. Furthermore, the estimated mortality of northeastern offshore spotted dolphins from 1985 to 1990 was clearly enough to potentially cause a decline during that period, so I do not understand why one should be puzzled that there is statistical evidence of a decline. Mortality as a percent of the northeastern spotted pooled abundance for 1986-90 (730,900, cv=.142, from Wade and Gerrodette 1993) in the years 1985-1990 was 3.6%, 7.1%, 4.8%, 3.6%, 4.0%, and 3.1%, respectively. Given that maximum growth rates are unlikely to be greater than 4% per year, and could be lower (my own estimate was 3.8% in Wade 1994), mortality during this time period clearly had the potential to cause a moderate decline. Additionally, mortality in 1984 and 1985 may have been underestimated, as not all country's fleets were observed in those years; higher mortality per set rates were seen in the first year of observations of all countries, 1986. We all understand that it is not suprising to not detect significant declines until we have enough data, so we need not be suprised to be detecting a decline now that may have occured from 1985-1990, once we have data collected through 1994. Note that the 1987 data point showed a big drop, with no abundance estimate in a later year being greater than the 1985 and 1986 abundance estimates. This information is thus consistent with a decline that showed up first in the data in 1987 with statistical significance shown by data through 1994. I agree that the further drop in the abundance estimates in 1993 and 1994 is slightly puzzling and cannot be explained by mortality since 1991, but as Steve said, fluctuations in any one or two years is not the main issue here, it is the longer term trends. Steve said: >Our trend estimates suggest that for most stocks, dolphin >abundance stabilized during the 1980s when kills (and >harrassment) were substantially higher than now. This is a true statement as far as significant declines, and also is true in the sense that stocks were relatively stable compared to the declines seen in the 1970s. But lets examine this a little more closely. By my reading of A&B 1995, we have 3 out of 7 stocks that declined signficantly in the late 1980s: northeastern spotted, whitebelly spinner ("marginally signif"), and northern common (and we agree that the northern common decline MAY be meaningless). However, the relative abundance estimates of the other stock of spotted dolphins, western/southern, also declined during this period, although it was not a signficant decline. Similarly, the relative abundance estimates of eastern spinner dolphins also declined in the late 1980s, although it was not a signficant decline through 1994 (interestingly, it was a marginally signficant decline through 1993 in their previous A&B 1994 paper, but that may have been spurious as it is not signficant with the addition of the 1994 data point. Or it may be that eastern spinners did have a small real decline which they have recently recovered from enough to no longer be significantly lower than 1985-86). Central and southern common stocks were apparently stable through the 1980s. So we have 3 out of 7 sig. declines, and a total of 5 out of 7 stocks showing a decline (although 2 were not signficant). Again, sticking to spotted and spinner dolphins, all 4 stocks showed declines in the late 1980s to the present (2 signficant). And note that when spotted stocks were combined, there was a signficant decline in total spotted dolphin abundance from the mid 1980s to 1994 (fig 3). So I would conclude that for spotted and spinner dolphins, the trends of all stocks in the late 1980s to the present is not completely certain, but there is more evidence in A&B 1995 for moderate declines during this period than there is for stability. So I would dispute the claim that spotted and spinner dolphins stablized during this period. However, it can be said that they certainly did stablize in the 1980s and 1990s relative to the significant declines of all stocks that occurred in the 1970s. But I would conclude that the mortality levels of 1985-1989 were NOT sustainable. I belabor this point because Steve's comment above implies that this mortality WAS sustainable. Which brings me to my last point. According to A&B 1995, all 4 stocks of spotted and spinner dolphins declined significantly from 1975 (the first year of available data) on, and all 4 stocks in 1994 are still significantly below their 1975 level (and note that my papers indicate that mortality of northeastern spotted and eastern spinner was great enough prior to 1975 that both of those stocks had probably been declining for most of the 1960s and early 1970s). I believe this can be interpreted as a lack of recovery to the 1975 level. In other words, although we may have questions about trends since the early 1980s as far as declines, stability, or moderate increases, I believe what we can state is that no stock has recovered to its 1975 level. And again, there is no evidence of a significant increase of any stock since 1985. Although this may be due to a lack of statistical power, what evidence we have is suggestive of declines, not increases, of all 4 spotted and spinner stocks from 1985 to the present. Paul R. Wade wade(\)racesmtp.afsc.noaa.gov (206) 526-4539 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 10:36:43 -0500 From: "Michele L. BIRINGER" Subject: cetactean strandings MARMAMers, I am a graduate student at Nova Southeastern University working on my master's degree in marine biology/coastal zone managemnet, I am currently researching my thesis on the current methods of rescue and rehabilitation for stranded cetacea and the effectiveness of these methods. I am at the preliminary stage of my research and am looking to make contact with scientists and managers in this field. I need information on methodologies used and survival records for stranded cetacea. Please contct me directly at the following e-mail or direct mail address. Thank you, Michele L. Biringer biringer(\)ocean.acast.nova.edu 3365 College Ave. #308 Davie, Fl. 33314 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 08:31:08 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: request for information (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara Dear Sir, The Cetacean Study Group from the Federal University of Ceara, studies the distribution, abundance, and behavior of cetaceans along the coast of Ceara State, Northeast Brazil. Our program has an enphasis on the conservation of cetaceans threatened due to human activities (fishing, pollution). Dead specimens recovered along the beaches are used for osteological and biological studies. We are trying to improve our library with new papers and recent articles dealing with the biology, ecology, systematics and conservation of marine mammals.We'd like to know if you could contribute with some of your recent papers to our collection. Your help would be appreciated. Thank you beforehand, Sincerely yours, Francisco Avila Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara Rua Soares Bulcao 350 apto 802-a Monte Castelo, Fortaleza-CE, BRAZIL 60325-640 e-mail: gecc(\)ufc.br ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 13:42:36 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Impact of oil spills on cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Thu, 7 Mar 1996 16:28:26 -0500 From: FFELLEMAN(\)aol.com To: MARMAM(\)uvvm.bitnet re Sea Empress spill With regards to recent studies of impacts of oil spills on cetaceans, I recommend contacting Craig Matkin for his work on the orcas in Prince William Sound following Exxon's indellible moment there. As far as what we can do to help prevent such incidents from occurring elsewhere, I offer the following observations. Many of the world's worst oil spills including this recent event in Wales as well as the Braer, Valdez, Torrey Canyon and Amoco Cadiz can be attributed to the lack of adequate and timely tug assistance. Following the Braer spill a report was written by Lord Donaldson which identified the need to improve the level of tug response including the region around Milford Haven. His report, Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping is a valuable document. In addition, I was involved in a task force convened by the Washington State Office of Marine Safety which produced a report recommending the stationing of a rescue tug at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait. Our finding supported those of the BC citizens advisory council on oil spills and various other documents since published under contract to the BC ministry of the environment. You can receive a copy of the Tug Boat Task force report from OMS at (360)664-9110. There is an opportunity see the recommendations of the OMS Task Force implemented as part of President Clinton's desire to lift the export ban on Alaska North Slope Crude. Letters are needed to urge that either a dedicated tug be stationed at the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait or that tug escort be extended throughout the strait before the export ban is lifted. Our concern is that if we ship US oil to Japan we will expedite the arrival of qurestionabley maintained an operated foreign flagged tankers which the US Coast Guard has less authority over. Please write to: Mr. Peter Umhofer Executive Office of the President Council on Envrionmental Quality Old Executive Office Building, Rm 360 Washington, D.C. 20501 Fred Felleman ffelleman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 14:33:30 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MARMAM funding support update Greetings, A while back the editors of MARMAM submitted a message to subscribers describing the costs of running MARMAM, and asking subscribers if they or their associated organizations may be willing to help fund our expenses. Expenses include dial-in fees, purchase of a lap-top computer, and part-time editorial assistance; totalling an estimated $6,600 in canadian funds. We are very pleased with the response we've received to date, and would like to pass on our appreciation to the following individuals and organizations who have pledged or provided donations totalling $3,755: Georg Blichfeldt/High North Alliance William Burns/GreenLife Society-North American Chapter Robert Chambers Merritt Clifton/Animal People Joe Grist Nan Hauser & Hoyt Peckham/Research Vessel Odyssey International Marine Mammal Association Wolfgang Kusser Alan Macnow/Tele-press Associates Andrew Morse Paul Nachtigall/Aquatic Mammals Keith Ronald Leslie Strom/Wide Angle Productions Northern Lights Expeditions Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Phoebe Wray/Center for Action on Endangered Species Donations received to date have already been put towards dial-in fees and purchase of a lap-top computer. If you are associated with an organization which may be able to provide additional support, or are an individual interested in making a personal donation to assist in covering expenses, please contact the MARMAM editors at marmamed(\)uvic.ca. Thanks again for your support! Pam Willis Robin Baird Dave Duffus -MARMAM editors ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 18:33:45 -0500 From: Sclymene(\)aol.com Subject: Info. on dolphin/vessel interactions Dear MARMAM subscribers, I am searching for information on the effects of vessels, especially high-speed ferries, on dolphins. This includes not only effects of dolphin/vessel collisions, but also effects of noise on behavior and physiology. I am aware of most of the published literature on the subject, and have a copy of the new book "Marine Mammals and Noise." I am most interested in newer observations, or unpublished reports that may be difficult to access. If you have any such information please contact me at, or send reports to, the address below. Thank you for your help. ******************************** Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. Flat 1A, Coral Court Parkvale Village Discovery Bay Hong Kong (852) 2987-9508 (tel. or FAX) email: Sclymene(\)aol.com ******************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 10:53:56 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 3/8/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Norway's Seal Hunt Canceled. On Mar. 1, 1996, the Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, representing the five Norwegian seal hunting vessel owners, canceled the annual seal hunt claiming that current $1.2 million (8 million Norwegian crown) state subsidy was too low to make the hunt profitable. [Reuters] . Sea Empress Oil Spill. On Feb. 29, 1996, the British government prohibited fishing in a 300-square-mile area along the Pembrokeshire coastline. [London Independent via Greenwire, Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 10 Mar 1996 10:36:05 -0800 From: Michael & Nola Kundu Subject: Norway Will Kill Seals Contrary to all previous reports, Norwegian sea hunters will continue their bloody seal slaughter this season. A recent report sent to Sea Shepherd confirms that, contrary to their prior statement that the seal hunt would not be continued due to low government subsidies, a number of vessals are leaving at the end of March to harvest approximately 20,000 seals . Sources indicate that..., "There will be a Norwegian seal hunt this year after all. The government today decided to modify their position and that there will be a seal hunt after all this year. There will be 4 boats leaving at the end of the month and can take about 20,000 seals." Information courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 11:58:21 -0500 From: SAWEBSTER(\)DAVIDSON.EDU Subject: Elephant seal interactions with swimmers I am writing up a note on an incident involving an elephant seal and several swimmers in the Bay of La Paz near Los Islotes. The elephant seal approached two swimmers in September 1994 and was extremely interactive with them in the water (eg, rubbing up against them, grasping their arms, etc.). I understand that this type of behavior is extremely unusual for elephant seals and am trying to track down any references or make contacts with individuals that may have knowledge of elephant seal behavior around swimmers in other areas. If you have any information, please write me at sawebster(\)davidson.edu Thank you for your attention, Sarah Webster ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 10:45:47 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Re: Norway Will Kill Seals (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Sam McClintock Michael & Nola Kundu wrote: > > Contrary to all previous reports, Norwegian sea hunters will continue their > bloody seal slaughter this season. A recent report sent to Sea Shepherd > confirms that, contrary to their prior statement that the seal hunt would > not be continued due to low government subsidies, a number of vessals are > leaving at the end of March to harvest approximately 20,000 seals . Sources > indicate that..., "There will be a Norwegian seal hunt this year after all. > The government today decided to modify their position and that there will be > a seal hunt after all > this year. There will be 4 boats leaving at the end of the month and can take > about 20,000 seals." > > Information courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. I am probably one of several others that would appreciate a comment from the Norwegian side of this issue. If any would volunteer, I am particularly interested in the following: Note: If monetary answers are in krone, etc. would appreciate current exchange rate to US dollars in the reply (just to keep accurate). a) What subsidies are being offered? How much? For what? (e.g. Canada only subsidizes the meat, not pelts.) b) How much of the total income due to sealing is coming from subsidies or what is the projected income from the total estimated catch? c) What is the market focus on seal products? What products will be transported to and sold in Norway? Estimated commercial value of seal products (final sales, not income to sealing company). d) What species of seals are being targeted? What age group? (Would prefer an actual average age as opposed to the Canadian classification system, e.g. beaters). I believe the age is usually dictated by the company buying the pelts. e) In what general area do they plan to hunt? f) How will the hunt be conducted? What weapons will be used? Any information would be appreciated. Would really appreciate relatively objective responses with verifiable sources. The issue will be bandied about on this conference and other forums and would dearly love to have a starting point not based on rhetoric from either side. Regards. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 13:52:36 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: right whale washes up on Cape Cod (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lcoleman(\)usm.maine.edu (Loren Coleman) [Boston Globe 11 March 1996] Right Whale Washes up on Cape Cod Beach; Sixth Dead Right Whale This Year By ROBIN ESTRIN Associated Press Writer BOSTON (AP) - The endangered right whale, a species that once numbered in the tens of thousands, is down to around 300. And since January, six have been found dead along Eastern shores. Saturday, a jogger found a partly decomposed 44-foot northern right whale on Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, according to Kathy Shorr, a spokeswoman for the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown. Five right whales - including three calves - washed up dead along the Georgia and Florida coasts earlier this year alone. In all of 1995, only two right whales were found dead, Shorr said Sunday. The most endangered of all the great whales, the right whale has been protected from hunting since 1935 - the longest protection for any whale species. However despite its protected status, the number of right whales is continuing to decrease.The right whale in the eastern Atlantic - off the coast of Europe - is virtually extinct, she said. A separate, similar species exists only in the southern hemisphere. Last year, only about seven new calves were seen. So far this year, about 14 calves have been identified, but three of them have washed up dead, she said. A necropsy - an autopsy for whales - is scheduled to be performed by the New England Aquarium on the latest casualty Monday. Shorr said biologists believe the animal may have been struck by a large ship. The whale's spine appeared to be broken. Although fishing line was wrapped around the whale, biologists don't believe entanglement was the cause of death, Shorr said. She said the whale may be a male that was first identified as a juvenile in 1992. Its age was unclear Sunday. The right whale population recently reappeared in the waters of Cape Cod Bay, where they feed off plankton typically between February and May. The right whales typically spend the summer months in the chilly waters around Nova Scotia. They spend late fall and early winter off the waters of northern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, where the mothers give birth. The animal got its name because it was considered the ``right'' whale to hunt. It was slow, stayed close to the surface and floated when killed, Shorr said. Right whales, along with sperm whales, formed the foundation of the American whaling industry. The whales were killed for their oil and their baleen, a bristle-like material in the mouth for straining food. The oil lit lamps, while baleen, or whalebone, was used primarily for fashion, including corsets and hoop skirts. The whales can grow to 56 feet, weigh 100 tons and live as long as humans. Marine biologists have been trying to figure out why, despite its federal protections, the species is not rebounding. The grey whale, for example, which lives in the eastern north Pacific, was taken off the endangered list after its population swelled to more than 20,000. Of the whales that have been found dead this year, one of them had been killed in a collision with a vessel; the causes were unknown in two others. One of the calves appears to have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; another died as a result of ``barotrauma,'' which occurs when there is a huge shift in the barometric pressure, Shorr said. One-third of all right whale deaths in recent years can be attributed to vessel collisions and entanglements in fishing gear. The rest are unexplained. Because there are so few right whales, genetic inbreeding may be contributing to the population problem, Shorr said. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 05:40:45 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Re: Norway Will Kill Seals (fwd) Forwarded message: From: frodes(\)ibg.uit.no (Frode Skarstein) >Contrary to all previous reports, Norwegian sea hunters will continue their >bloody seal slaughter this season. A recent report sent to Sea Shepherd >confirms that, contrary to their prior statement that the seal hunt would >not be continued due to low government subsidies, a number of vessals are >leaving at the end of March to harvest approximately 20,000 seals . Sources >indicate that..., "There will be a Norwegian seal hunt this year after all. >The government today decided to modify their position and that there will be >a seal hunt after all >this year. There will be 4 boats leaving at the end of the month and can take >about 20,000 seals." > >Information courtesy of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. It is my understanding that the government didn't change its position. Rather, the owner of one of the four initial sealing vessels did. He backed out, leaving only four vessels to share the catch value dependent state subsidy. Apperantly this was initially the other factor in addition to the reduced subsidy that made the sealers decide they wouldn't go this year. But, after the one vessel decided out, the others found economically feasible to go after all. My sources for these interpretations are Norwegian newspapers and radio updates this last weekend. Sincerely, Frode Skarstein Frode Skarstein, Department of Ecology/Zoology, University of Tromsoe, Norway. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 10:52:06 -0100 From: Jose' Azevedo Subject: Dead cetaceans in the Azores This is to update the information sent previously regarding the dead cetaceans found in several islands of the Azores. As of this moment, 21 cetaceans, belonging to about 8 species, have been found dead on several islands. Compared with numbers of 0 to 2 specimens per year in the previous years, this is an alarming figure! In the end of this message I append a table with the basic information about each stranding. No causes of death are known so far. The last specimen found was in a very good condition. It was frozen and I am trying to assemble a team of veterinarians to do a necropsy as decent as possible. ============================================================================ ========= Date Species Island/Coast Locality Cond. Obs. ==== ======= ============ ======== ==== === Feb, 7 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/N Ribeira Grande 4 No direct obs. Feb, 7 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/S Populo 3-4 TL 2m, female Feb, 12 Delphinus delphis Faial/S Porto Pim Bay 3 TL 2.2 m, male Feb, 20 Balaenoptera acutorostrata Sao Miguel/N Ribeira Grande 2 No direct obs. TL 2.6-3 m (calf) Feb, 21 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/S Povoacao 3 TL aprox. 2.3 m male Feb, 21 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/S Faja do Calhau 3 TL aprox 1.9 m male Feb, 21 Stenella frontalis Terceira/SE Riviera, Praia TL 2.1 m, female Necropsy Feb, 23 Phys.macrocephalus Terceira/SSW Negrito 4 TL aprox 8 m Feb, 24 Balaenoptera borealis Sao Miguel/S Faja do Calhau 4 TL aprox 12 m Feb, 25 Phys. macrocephalus Terceira/SSE Contendas 3/4 ? TL 12 m, male? No close exam. Feb, 26 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/S Ponta Delgada 2 TL 2m, male PT 70 Kg Feb, 26 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/N Ribeira Grande 3 TL aprox 2 m female Feb, 28 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/S Vila Franca 3 TL 2 m, female Mar, 1 Delphinidae n.i. Faial/SE Horta Harbour 4 male Mar, 1 Delphinus delphis Sao Miguel/N Santo Antonio 2-3 TL aprox 1.6 m female Mar, 1 Delphinus delphis Terceira/S Porto Martins 2 TL 2.1 m, female pregnant, necropsy Mar, 1 Tursiops truncatus Terceira/S Serretinha 3? TL 3-4 m No close exam. Mar, 2 Balaenoptera physalus? Terceira/N Baixa Vila Nova 3? TL aprox. 25 m No close observ. Mar, 5 Delphinidae n.i. Sao Miguel/N Ribeira Grande 4 TL aprox 2m Mar, 10 Stenella coeruleoalba Sao Miguel/N Calhetas, R.Px. 2 TL 2m, TW 63 Kg female ============================================================================ ========= ------------------------------------------------------ Jose' Manuel N. Azevedo Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Acores (http://www.uac.pt) R. Mae de Deus, 9500 Ponta Delgada, Acores, Portugal Phone: + 351 96 65 31 55; Fax + 351 96 65 34 55 E-mail: azevedo(\)alf.uac.pt ------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 05:42:24 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: morbillivirus questions (fwd) Forwarded message: The following e-mail was sent to me last night, can anyone help? Rich Mallon-Day ---------------------------------------- From: GECC(\)UFC.BR To: R.MALLON1 Sub: Re: Avila & Aline : Morbillivi Dear Ser, The Cetaceans Study Group from the Federal University of Ceara, studies the distribution, abundance, and behavior of cetaceans along the coast of Ceara State, Northeast Brazil. Our program has an enphasis on the conservation of cetaceans threatened due to human activities (fishing, polution). Recently, many cetaceans have been found dead (on strands) without any apparent reason. Concerned about the increasing number of cetaceans deaths in the world caused by morbilliviruses, we would like to know more about this viral infection. Some of our questions are: - How can we detect morbillivirus in dead animals? - What are the vectors of transmission? - What are the chances of human contamination during the necropsy of dead animals? We would be very glad to receive these and more information about morbillivirus. Also we would like to be in touch with research groups working in this field to exchange information and maybe collaborate with their research. Finally, we are trying to improve our library with new papers and recent articles dealing with te morbillivirus. We'd like to know if you could contribute to that. Any information or help will be appreciated. Thank you beforehand, Francisco J. Avila Member of Cetaceans Study Group Soares Bulcao 350, Apt.802-a Monte Castelo, Fortaleza-CE BRAZIL 60325-640 E-MAIL: gecc(\)ufc.br ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 06:23:02 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Fwd: Conference Announcement MEASURING BEHAVIOR '96 International Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research 16-18 October 1996 Utrecht, The Netherlands (The information below is also available on the World Wide Web: http://www.diva.nl/noldus/mb96.html) Workshop Objectives ___________________ The last decade has seen a great deal of advancement in methods for the collection and analysis of behavioral data. Paper and pencil methods have been replaced by computer event recorders. We can now integrate observational data with physiological measurements and input from other sensors. With the advent of digital image processing and pattern recognition, will human observers become redundant? Automated systems are highly time-saving and more consistent in their operation than humans, but they can generate more data than any observer can ever register manually. How do we keep this information flow under control? What are the true benefits from these automated methods? Given that human observers and automated systems each have their advantages and drawbacks, which recording procedure is best for a given behavioral paradigm? Where are we heading for, and what can we expect in the future? Interactive Forum _________________ In order to provide an interactive forum to discuss these exciting aspects of our research field, we are organizing an international workshop around this theme. The meeting is co-organized by Utrecht University and Noldus Information Technology, manufacturer of software and instrumentation for behavioral research. Utrecht University and Noldus have a history of collaboration which illustrates that modern behavioral research cannot do without adequate technology, while software and instrumentation companies need to listen closely to the needs and wishes of their customers. An example is the Eureka project in which Utrecht University, Noldus and several European pharmaceutical companies participate. This project is aimed at the design of techniques for computer-aided recognition of behavioral patterns, in order to automate behavioral tests in the development of new drugs. The first spin-off of this project is the EthoVision system, which is quickly gaining ground as a standard instrument for behavioral research. Bridges Between Disciplines ___________________________ The diversity of behavioral research makes it a very exciting market. The development of generic software tools can form a bridge between disciplines, which are often unaware of techniques already available in other fields. Thus, we have noticed that data analysis methods stemming from ethology are now being used by applied psychologists, and that path analysis techniques originally designed by entomologists are equally useful for behavioral pharmacologists studying rodents. Along this line, we hope that Measuring Behavior '96 will serve as a common ground for crossfertilization of behavioral research disciplines. This is the first time that this workshop will be held - we hope that your response is such that it can become a periodic event! WORKSHOP PROGRAM * Innovative Methods and Applications This refers to plenary sessions in which delegates present new methods and techniques for behavioral research, or innovative applications of existing techniques. Examples of topics are experimental design, data collection (new sensors, telemetry systems, animal marking techniques, observational methods, sampling methods, etc.), data analysis (integration of different data streams, statistics, data visualization, etc.), validation of a computer program for a particular behavioral paradigm, etc. You may submit a proposal for a presentation in one of the following formats: oral paper, poster or demonstration. The presentations are grouped in three main methodological areas: - - Direct Observation: manual scoring of behavior, coding of video tapes, analysis of social interactions and complex ethograms. - - Automated Observation: automatic recording of movement and behavioral patterns, analysis of simple ethograms. - - Behavior and Physiology: acquisition and integrated analysis of behavioral events, physiological signals and other data streams. * User Meeting These sessions aim to provide a forum in which users of Noldus products: - - exchange information and experiences with fellow users, - - learn about the latests product developments, - - view prototypes of new products, and - - discuss product development, release schedules, installation and support procedures, etc. * Technical Assistance, Training and Demonstrations Throughout the workshop, engineers and consultants will be present to provide free assistance and training in the use of software products for behavioral research. * Scientific Tours The workshop program includes two short tours of Utrecht University's new animal research facilities: - - Rudolf Magnus Institute. The institute has recently moved into the newly built "Stratenum". The tour will take you to the animal housing, surgical facilities and observation rooms. There will be live demonstrations of different experimental setups. - - Ethology Station. For those studying primates, this tour is a must. It takes you to the animal facilities, with indoor and outdoor enclosures, which house several large colonies of Java monkeys. Confirmed Speakers __________________ - - V. Baumans (Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL) - - A.R. Cools (Department of Psychoneuropharmacology, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, NL) - - J.M. Koolhaas (Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, NL) - - J. Mos (Department of CNS Pharmacology, Solvay Duphar B.V., Weesp, NL) - - M. Oitzl (Department of Medical Pharmacology, University of Leiden, Leiden, NL) - - F. Sams-Dodd (Pharmacological Research Department, H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) - - B.M. Spruijt (Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL) - - F.J. van der Staay (Department of Gerontopharmacology, Troponwerke GmbH & Co., Cologne, Germany) - - H. de Vries (Projectgroup Ethology and Socio-Ecology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL) - - H.A. van de Weerd (Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NL) REGISTRATION Registration fee* Before 1 August 1996: NLG 200; (students**: NLG 50) After 1 August 1996: NLG 300; (students: NLG 75) Workshop banquet: NLG 75 City tour: NLG 40 * The fee includes lunches and refreshments during breaks. Those who cannot afford the registration fee are kindly requested to present a motivated request for a reduced fee to the Local Organizing Committee at the address below. ** Proof of student status (photocopy of valid student ID card or letter from the Head of Department) must be included with the registration form. ABSTRACTS Submission of Abstracts _______________________ Those who wish to present an oral paper, poster or demonstration should submit the title and abstract of their contribution. All submissions should be received before 1 May 1996. The Program Committee reserves the right to reject submissions which do not fit in the workshop theme or which are of insufficient quality. IMPORTANT DATES 1 May 1996: Submission of abstracts 1 July 1996: Notification of acceptance of abstracts 1 August 1996: Latest date for early registration fee 16 October 1996: Start of workshop ORGANIZATION Program Committee - - Berry Spruijt, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands (chair) - - Jan Mos, Solvay Duphar b.v., Weesp, The Netherlands - - Lucas Noldus, Noldus Information Technology b.v., Wageningen, The Netherlands - - Frank Sams-Dodd, H. Lundbeck A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark - - Franz-Joseph van der Staay, Troponwerke GmbH & Co., Cologne, Germany For program booklet and registration/abstract forms: Measuring Behavior '96 Workshop Secretariat Attn: Rosan Nikkelen P.O. Box 268 6700 AG Wageningen The Netherlands Phone: +31-(0)317-497677 Fax: +31-(0)317-424496 E-mail: mb96(\)noldus.nl Measuring Behavior '96 has its own homepage on the WWW: http://www.diva.nl/noldus/mb96.html. The information there is continuously updated. You can also register electronically. Workshop Site _____________ Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences Utrecht University Stratenum Universiteitsweg 100 3584 CG Utrecht The Netherlands Phone: +31-(0)30-2538800 Fax: +31-(0)30-2539032 Groet, Nicole. Measuring Behavior '96 Workshop Secretariat P.O. Box 268 6700 AG Wageningen The Netherlands Phone: +31-(0)317-497677 Fax: +31-(0)317-424496 E-mail: mb96(\)noldus.nl WWW: http://www.diva.nl/noldus/mb96.html ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 07:33:21 +0800 From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Subject: Re: Globicephala Melaena in the SE Indian Ocean In-Reply-To: <199602151630.AAA17337(\)hk.super.net> Dear Dave Williams, I am not aware of any believable estimatyes of population size for any areas of the Indian Ocean, except a few limited coastal regions. All that was available on pilot whales of the Indian Ocean was summarized in a paper I did in 1991 for UNEP, Leatherwood and Donovan (editors). Cetaceans and cetacean research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Nairobi. United Nations Enviornmne Programme. Marine Mammal Technical Report No. 3. It is available from Monica Borobia, in Nairobi. Good luck, and please keep me posted on what you learn. Stephen Leatherwood PS: Also try Bob Pitman and LIsa Ballance, 1-619-546-7000On Wed, 14 Feb 1996, David Williams wrote: > Anyone aware the population size for Globicephala Melaena along the > Southeast Indian Ridge between 100E - 150E? > > Any habitate studies or any other information would be greatly > appreciated. > > Thanks in advance, > Dave Williams > davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 11:58:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Hazel Sayers Can anyone tell me where I can get in touch with Hazel Sayers, who wrote the paper on shore whaling for gray whales in the 1984 Gray Whale book? Thanks. Phil Clapham Smithsonian clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 16:19:15 -0500 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Captive Echolocation Aloha Marmammers, In all deference and respect to Dr. Ridgway's posting on captive dolphin echolocation a few weeks ago, it should be pointed out that almost all of the work cited in Dr. Whitlow Au's book involves facilities using open walled pens or anechoic tanks for echolocation work. Very little of the later echolocation work was done in cement pools. Debra L Combs query about captive dolphin echolocation was most likely stimulated by anti- captivity activists' observations that a large percentage of dolphins in captivity do not appear to echolocate. This observation has been publicized effectively by Rick O'Barry. The observation should be analyzed more deeply than Dr. Ridgway's posting and Rick O'Barry's public statements and is not effectively viewed in black and white. In my own experience on this subject, two eight foot dolphins lived in two different circular concrete pools of the same 50' diameter and 5' depth. One dolphin had a wooden acoustic baffle suspended from a trans tank support. This baffle could be rotated to cross the diameter of the pool or take on any sort of wedge shape transecting the pool. This dolphin was used in acoustics based experiments and was an avid echolocator. The other dolphin had only concrete lining (and in) her tank and was used in vision based experiments. Although she was rarely witnessed to echolocate, few doubted that she could. It was also quite obvious to many of those at the lab that in her concrete environment, she could see all she needed to know, there was no other dolphin to echolocate upon (since she was in isolation and echolocation also has a social application) and the curvature and hardness of the walls may have returned a painful echo at worst and a mirror effect at best. Her non-echolocation was the subject of numerous discussions. The echolocating dolphin had a dorsal fin that curved to the left, but was also missing half of her left pectoral fin (the assumed cause of the bend). Since then and over twenty five years of observing captive and wild cetaceans, I have never observed a dorsal fin that bent to the right. That some captive cetaceans do echolocate, and some do not, appears to be evident in the numerous bent dorsal fins seen on captive cetaceans, a phenomena almost absent in wild cetaceans. The floppiness of bent dorsal fins appears to be at least partly a nutrition problem and the defining factor in flaccid fin syndrome. In this posting a differentiation is made between a floppy fin and a laterally curved but relatively sturdy dorsal fin. In either case, the direction of the lateral curve is relative to what direction around the tank the captive cetacean swims most regularly, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. This posting suggests that the cause of this consistent swimming behavior for captive odontocetes revolves around the nasal sac complex in the head of the dolphin and its use in echolocation. The nasal sac complex is located between the delphinid melon and the skull in the standard delphinid model and is suspected to be a part of sound emission and focusing in delphinid echolocation. (It should be noted that sound bounces off of air under water.) If the delphinid scull is seen as a parabolic reflector, the nasal sac complex is basically composed of a series of flat air sacs connected with air passages that help focus the sound waves forward thus supplementing the reflector effect. The nasal sacs are composed of a left and right side. They are bilateral, but non-symmetrical vertical mirror images of each other and thought to have evolved from nasal sinuses. In the midst of each side of the nasal sac system is a muscular node that inserts into a grove or socket (depending on genus) next to the skull. This node is sometimes called a "tongue". The "tongue" and grove/socket is thought to be the acoustic energy source for the nasal sac complex. The reflection of emitted sounds off of the air in the nasal sacs and passing through various fat densities in the melon focus this acoustic energy. The right side of the nasal sac complex is larger and many species have a direct fatty tissue connection between the melon and the tongue. The melon has no fat connection with the left side tongue. (The tongue and grove/socket are also larger on the right side.) These size differences account for the shift of the blowhole to the left in the delphinid head. Captive cetaceans have been almost 100% odontocete. The anatomy of the delphinid nasal sac complex when analyzed acoustically shows that the right side (being larger) would involve the generation of lower acoustic frequencies. Lower frequencies provide cruder images but travel farther. Higher frequencies, such as those emitted from the smaller left side in the generalized delphinid model, provide higher resolution and do not travel as far. When in captivity, dolphins and orcas circle the tank in a counter clockwise direction because they tend to use the left side of their nasal sac complex to echolocate- for finer resolution. This allows them to "see" what is in the tank as opposed to what is out at a distance. If a cetacean, or a photo of a cetacean, shows a dorsal fin that curves to the left, that cetacean is most likely captive (remember that photos can be reversed). If the dorsal fin curves to the right, that cetacean most likely has an injured, damaged or missing right pectoral fin. Corky at Sea World San Diego has a dorsal fin that curves to the left but she swims in predominantly a clockwise direction. Analysis of her swimming pattern, though, shows that she swims upside down for three quarters of her circuit in her extremely small holding area. So she is really swimming in a counter-clockwise direction if you realize that her echolocation world is upside down in reference to our surface world. Hypothesis: (injuries and deformities aside) If a dolphin has a dorsal fin that bends to the left, it echolocates and spends most of its time swimming counter-clockwise (their world) in a small environment. If a dolphin has a straight fin, but lives in a small enclosure it does not echolocate or echolocates rarely. A dolphin with a straight dorsal fin in a large environment may or may not echolocate. (A small enclosure is defined as the smallest allowable tank size under APHIS Rules and Regulations.) An echolocating captive dolphin (especially one with a bend to the left in its dorsal fin) that has died will show during the post mortem that the tongue in the left side tongue in groove/socket sound generator shows more use than the right side (whiter and harder- callused). A post mortem on a wild adult dolphin will show even use between sides. Any comments or observations related to this hypothesis would be greatly appreciated. If any Marmammers know of examples that are exceptions to this working hypothesis please provide enough information so that these cases can be documented. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 06:14:06 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Washington State Pinniped Bill (fwd) Forwarded message: From: arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com (Michael & Nola Kundu) Seal & Sea Lion Killing Legislation Dies in Washington State Legislature In January 1996, a Washington State legislative bill to kill harbor seals and sea lions to determine whether..., "pinniped predation on salmon was a significant factor on salmonid decline in Washington waters" was introduced into the House Legislature Natural Resources Committee for public hearings. Proposed by Republicans Jim Buck, John Pennington and Democrats Bob Basich and Brian Hatfield, House Bill 2528, proporting to allocate $350,000 in state tax money to study harbor seals and sea stomach contents by killing an undetermined, "statistically viable" number of these pinnipeds. HR 2528, a poorly written, poorly researched, wise-use authored bill was apparently drafted in ignorance of existing studies, and irresponsibly unmindful that the law, which did not differentiate species' of sea lions, could also effect threatened stellar sea lions which may be pending federal status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Michael Kundu of Sea Shepherd, along with Ben White, Toni Frohoff and Will Anderson representing a number of other international animal welfare and environmental groups, testified on the scientific, ethical and legal consequences of this bill. Their testimony was supported by Steve Jefferies, an employee of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department, who asserted that the bill proposed a unnecessary study, agreeing that the data desired was obtainable through other, non-lethal research methods. Notably, after only a few minutes of initial testimony, the Republican chair called an in-camera partisan recess, reappearing with his group a few minutes later and vote unilaterally in favor of passing H.R. 2528 onto the House Appropriations Committee. Fortunately, H.R. 2528 died in Appropriations. HR 2528 represents a continued attack on the integrity of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in Washington State. Unfortunately, Democrats like Pennington and Basich have been persuaded into supporting state Republicans in their efforts to weaken the MMPA and the ESA. Most notably, the 1994 official Washington State platform formally publicizes the party's objective of..."removing protection for seal and sea lions from under the MMPA." Sea Shepherd is convinced that H.R. 2528 represents the first of many similar bills aimed at weakening the MMPA throughout the country, and hopes that scientists and researchers will remain non-partisan when approached to support similar legislation in the United States. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 11:27:26 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Reseach information Now here's a chance for the REAL experts to help someone in need, instead of the very inexpert me whom she asked...PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO HER. Thanks, Bill Rossiter Cetacean Society International ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- RE: Research information To: 71322.1637(\)compuserve.com From: kristina.berggren(\)mailbox.swipnet.se (Kristina Berggren) Subject: Reseach information Dear Mr Rossiter, I am a Ph.D. student at the Institute of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and am working on a thesis about the histology and chemical composition of fossil baleen whales. For some time, I have been trying to find some information on the histology and chemistry of recent whale bone material, specifically the lipid content of the blubber (whale oil) and, most importantly, of the skeleton. If you have any information on research on these topics, or where to find further references etc, I would be most grateful. My e-mail address is: kristina.berggren(\)mailbox.swipnet.se Thank you for your help. Yours sincerely, Kristina Berggren ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 17:05:54 -0500 From: "Michele L. BIRINGER" Subject: strandings networks MARMAMers, I am looking for a comprehensive list of internatioanl strandings networks and other orginizations that work with live stranded cetacea. If anyone out there has this information please contact me directly at the e-mail address below. Thank you, Michele L. Biringer biringer(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 16:16:30 EST From: jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu Subject: Re: captive echolocation and flaccid fins This is a response to Ken's request for information regarding the relationship between floppy dorsal fins, swimming direction preferences, and echolocation abilities of captive odontocetes. Dear Ken LeVasseur: Have you considered the effect of the fetal folding of the dorsal fin perhaps biasing the direction it will tend to flop in an adult with a weakened fin? Perhaps this affects the prevalence for the fin to flop to the left? Sincerely, Joy Reidenberg, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York, NY 10029 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 17:17:01 EST From: jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu Subject: Sudden Infant Death in a right whale? an article posted on MARMAM from the Boston Globe, by Robin Estrin, stated the following (perhaps a quote from Shorr?): " Of the whales that have been found dead this year, ...One of the calves appears to have died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome..." I am interested if anyone knows the basis for this diagnosis. In humans, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a diagnosis of EXCLUSION, which means that after you have ruled out everything else that could have caused asphyxiation (i.e., suffocation) during sleep, you then have the right to call it SIDS. In otherwords, no one really knows what causes SIDS. Certainly if it is not known in humans, how can it be stated with such confidence in a whale for which we have no immediate behavioral (or physiological, or anatomical) history? Guesses as to the etiology of SIDS range from prenatal cigarette exposure to abnormal motoneuron cell death leading to loss of neural control over the breathing/swallowing coordinations. Up until now, I was under the impression that SIDS was an exclusively human disorder, and that is why it is so hard to find an animal model to study it. One possible explanation for why SIDS is an exclusively HUMAN disorder may relate to the unique problem human infants undergo: their larynx (voicebox) changes position from high to low in the neck, thereby altering the coordination necessary during swallowing and breathing. Anything that affects the coordination of this area during this critical transition may lead to choking during sleep, and perhaps result in SIDS. Prenatal cigarette smoke, among other things, may affect the fetal brain, thereby altering the neural control over this process when the baby reaches one to one-and-a-half years of age. This is the peak time period for SIDS and it coincides with the age at which the larynx begins to lower its position in the neck. How does this relate to a right whale? Whales do not undergo a transition in the position of their larynx (voicebox), and are not exposed to cigarette smoke in utero. Was there evidence of asphyxiation during sleep for this calf? If so, were all other causes ruled out? If you have any information on how this diagnosis was arrived at, please contact me. I am open to new evidence for the etiology of SIDS as well. Thank you! Joy Reidenberg, Ph.D. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy Box 1007 Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York, NY 10029-6574 jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 05:24:32 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sea Lions-Killing Sea Lions-Killing By AUDRA ANG Associated Press Writer SEATTLE (AP) -- Sea lions, blamed for a dramatic decrease in steelhead trout, can be killed if they're caught eating the fish, the federal government said in announcing new rules. The sea lions, protected by law since 1972, have been eating the steelheads at the Ballard ship locks in Puget Sound as the fish try to return to spawning grounds around Lake Washington. Under guidelines announced Wednesday, the state can begin killing the big sea mammals Saturday, although animal-rights groups vowed to file a lawsuit to block the new rules. In a letter to the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Marine Fisheries Service said the state may kill any "predatory" sea lion that has a history of eating steelhead, is oblivious to underwater noisemakers and is seen hunting the fish this season. A sea lion must meet all three criteria before it can be killed, said Joe Scordino, acting deputy director of the service's Northwest Region. So far, five animals have been identified as possible candidates. State and federal biologists blame the sea lions for a big decrease in steelhead returning to spawn over the past decade. So far this year, only 33 steelhead have been counted at the locks, and scientists predict the total run will be fewer than 150 fish. "We don't have the luxury anymore with the size of this run to continue experimenting," Scordino said. In the past, the federal government and the state have tried a range of methods to control the sea lions, including installing barriers and changing water flows at the locks, shooting the animals with rubber-tipped arrows, feeding them bad-tasting fish and setting off firecrackers. Some animals were captured and shipped to California -- and still made their way back. An Animal Care Committee -- made up of veterinarians, marine-mammal caretakers and federal and state marine-mammal biologists -- will develop protocols for killing the sea lions, the service's letter said. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 21:28:58 EST Reply-To: eplunix!drk(\)eddie.mit.edu From: Darlene Ketten In response to Dr. Reidenberg's question (hi, Joy!), the reporter appears to have made a somewhat sweeping statement about a cause of death and I reluctantly suspect that a summary I wrote of my findings in the ear exams on the right whale carcasses that were found in the Florida and Georgia area may have prompted her remark. The following are excerpts from my report that are related to the ears in that calf: The ears do not show evidence of trauma but they have an unusual appearance that may indicate respiratory and middle ear dysfunction. The ears arrived as formalin preserved soft tissue blocks. Both blocks contained intact ears with well preserved nerves and inner ears. There is no indication of fracture or structural disruption. Mineralization of the tympanic and periotic bones was relatively low, consistent with a very young animal or with malnutrition. Tympanic membranes had been removed in both ears......... ........................The most important feature in this calf's ears is the abnormal middle ear anatomy. Both middle ears contained mesenchymal webs with associated amorphous soft tissue. These webs are common in fetal mammal ears. They may mean this was a recent birth and the inner ear material may be a reflection of that state. If this is not a newborn or stillborn, the webs could indicate an unusual inner ear development that may be related to a weakened condition. In a small percentage of humans (<5%), middle ear mesenchymal webs remain after birth. Their presence is often associated with respiratory, middle ear, and mastoid disease. In a recent study of infants who died within their first year from sudden respiratory failure, it was found that the majority had retained mesenchymal webs and that the lungs, trachea, throat, and middle ear were compromised by meconium (intestinal debris, mucus, bile, and epithelial cells swallowed in utero) that had not cleared at birth. It is not clear what exact mechanisms caused the death of these children, but they were subject to chronic infections and breathing difficulties. One possibility is that retaining mesenchymal webs is a secondary effect that accompanies abnormal mucosal and ciliary development that compromises lung function; alternatively, the webs may have a direct effect, acting as harbors for disease organisms. At the moment, only a statistical correlation between webbing and chronic, debilitating infection has been shown in humans. Based on fetal data from Solntseva and my examinations of whale calves (including sperm whale, right whale, and grey wneonates), whales, like other mammals, commonly have fetal webs but resorb in the last quarter before birth. My observations are certainly not a clear indication of disease or debilitation as the cause of death, but it is worth noting that in this calf, the webs remained. If the lungs and trachea are available, I believe it would be worthwhile to have them examined with this observation in mind. OK - if you made it through the tech speak - you can see that respiratory failure and/or infection was brought up. In this case, everyone who is working on the necropsies is trying to assess from their own bailiwick what may have happened to these whales. This report was intended to provide a broad range of observations and any related information to the other researchers and pathologists working on the tissue. It certainly wasn't intended as a diagnosis of SIDS in whales. It seems that a verrrry loose interpretation of the observations may have been reported in rather firm terms in the press - not an unprecedented but still a regrettable event. I hope that clarifies the question about the source of the "diagnosis" (I don't do that kind of work, either). On the other hand - Joy, are you looking at the larynx on this animal....... maybe we should talk.... Darlene Ketten Harvard Medical School Otolaryngology/MEEI 243 Charles St. Boston, Mass. USA 02114 drk(\)epl.meei.harvard.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 17:43:58 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Barotrauma found in Right Whale? In an article which appeared in the Boston Globe on March 11, Kathy Shorr, a spokesperson for the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, said that one of the six Right Whale to die this year along the US Atlantic Coast died of "barotrauma". Does anyone know who determined "barotrauma"? And, how I might get in touch with that person? Many thanks, Dave Williams davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 05:25:16 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Groups allege Navy killed righ Groups allege Navy killed right whales BOSTON, March 13 (UPI) -- Animal rights groups are asking the Navy to either move their war games away from a critical habitate for the endangered northern right whales off Florida and Georgia, or delay them until the whales leave the area in April. The International Wildlife Coalition and the Humane Society of the United States said Wednesday the Navy may have killed as many as five of the world's 300 or so remaining right whales during recent exercises. The Navy so far has refused responsibility for the deaths, said David Wiley, senior scientist for the Massachusetts-based coalition. Navy spokesman Cmdr. Stephen Pietropaoli told The Boston Globe Wednesday it is "unfortunate and premature to be making allegations that the Navy is somehow responsible." Wiley said, however, that the five or six right whales killed in calving grounds were concurrent with gunnery practice and the use of bombs during Naval operations off Florida and Georgia. Wiley said tests indicate at least some of the deaths may be due to concussion from underwater explosions, while others were likely due to ship strikes. "You would have to ignore an awful lot of information to absolve the Navy of any responsibility," Wiley said. "The coincidence of death with Navy exercises is truly alarming," said Sharon Young of the Humane Society of the United States. The two groups called on the Navy to immediately cease all activities until the right whales leave the area in early April. Pietropaoli said the Navy planned to go ahead with planned NATO exercises later this month. The northern right whale is the most critically endangered species of large whale, and is protected under the Endangered Species Act. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 15:13:13 -0500 From: William John Richardson Subject: Bowhead/Beluga/Noise report Final report available, while supplies last: Acoustic effects of oil production activities on bowhead and white whales visible during spring migration near Pt. Barrow, Alaska--1991 and 1994 phases: sound propagation and whale responses to playbacks of icebreaker sound W.J. Richardson, C.R. Greene Jr., J.S. Hanna, W.R. Koski, G.W. Miller N.J. Patenaude and M.A. Smultea, with R. Blaylock, R. Elliott and B. Wursig (1995) OCS Study MMS 95-0051. Rep. from LGL Ltd., King City, Ont., and Greeneridge Sciences Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, for U.S. Minerals Manage. Serv., Herndon, VA. 539 p. Now available on request, while the limited supply lasts, from Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region Librarian/Public Information Room 949 East 36th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99508-4302 phone 907-271-6438 Thereafter will be available on paper or microfiche, for a fee, from NTIS: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Rd. Springfield, VA 22161 phone 703-487-4600; fax 703-321-8547 Reports of most other studies funded by the Minerals Management Service are also available from NTIS. Subscribers to both MARMAM and BIOACOUSTICS-L: please excuse double posting. W. John Richardson, LGL Ltd., environ. res. assoc. wjrichar(\)idirect.com Charles R. Greene, Jr., Greeneridge Sciences Inc. cgreene(\)greeneridge.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 17:47:54 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: worldwide number of cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Mr Stephen Leatherwood Dear Gene Buck, All such attempts have been hopelessly incomlete and misleading. However, if one wished to try, it would be more complicated than just contacting one or two sources. I suspect a serious effort will require a month's committment and critical evaluation. That said, let us know if we can help. IWC has figures on the great whales and some small cetaceans studied to date. NMFS and IATTC on populations in ETP. NAAMCO has some numbers from the NOrth Atlantic. Japanese governmetn has figures on many areas of its fleet's operat;ions. Steve Leatherwood On Wed, 14 Feb 1996, Gene Buck wrote: > Marmam group: > > I have a congressional office looking for a ballpark number on the > worldwide number of cetaceans (large and small) as a group; even an order of > magnitude number would be helpful. Anyone heard of any such estimate or > willing to hazard a ballpark estimate that I could pass along. No attribution > necessary, but an idea of how you arrived at the number would be helpful. > > Gene Buck, senior analyst > Congressional Research Service > > e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 17:52:59 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: northern fur seal travels 100km up river (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Ichiro.Kawabe(\)F2.hines.hokudai.ac.jp Dear Marmamers, March 13, in Japan. Fuji television broadcasted that one northern fur seal ran up about 100 km on Tone gawa river . I saw the northern fur seal is about few years old on TV. Division of Marine Ecology Research Institute of North Pacific Fisheries Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University Ichiro Kawabe kawa(\)f2.hines.hokudai.ac.jp ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 19:40:39 -0500 From: JoeGrist(\)aol.com Subject: CNU's Summer Field Studies. CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY'S Summer Field Studies--FINAL NOTICE! This summer, CNU is offering three areas of study for undergraduate and graduate students, all based from its Cape Charles Field Station, Cape Charles, VA. 1.Barrier Island Ecology: Graduate level course, 3 sem. credits, July 6th-14th, 20-21st. Nine days of field work, running a transect from the ocean, across a barrier island, and into the opposing sound. Students will perform numerous methods of data collection and sampling. Contact Dr. Harold Cones, Dr. Jim Reed, or Dr. Rob Atkinson at (804) 594-7126, or, email HCONES(\)CNU.EDU for more details. 2.Oceanography 302: Undergraduate introductory oceanography course, 3 sem. credits, June 3rd-June 23rd. An overview of physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography, with emphasis on the barrier islands of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. Course to be taught by Ret. Adm. John Chubb, US NAVY. Contact Joe Grist at (804) 594-7126, or, email JGRIST(\)CNU.EDU for more details. 3.Dolphin Field School. Undergraduate field research method courses, introductory and advanced levels, focusing on the migration of the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, throughout the Chesapeake Bay estaury. 3 and 4 sem. hour courses currently available. Four sessions, May 14th-June 2nd, June 3rd-June 23rd, June 24th-July 15th, July 16th-August 5th. Contact Joe Grist, Director of Dolphin Field School, at (804) 594-7126 or email JGRIST(\)CNU.EDU for more details. Thank-you, Joe Grist, DFS Director JGrist(\)cnu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 14:34:30 -0900 From: Kimberlee Beckmen Subject: Marine Mammal Welfare - USA This came to the Wildlife Health List and I thought it would be of interest to Marmam. > >Subject: Marine Mammal Welfare - USA > >Animal Welfare; Marine Mammals; USA > >AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Agriculture Department >ACTION: Proposed Rule > >DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE >Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service >9 CFR Parts 1 and 3 >[Docket No. 93-076-8] >RIN 0579-AA59 >Animal Welfare; Marine Mammals >AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. >ACTION: Notice of meeting. >. ____________________________________________________________ >SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce the second and final >meeting of the Marine Mammal Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee. >DATES: April 1 through 3, 1996, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. >ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the USDA Center at Riverside, >Conference Center Rooms A and B, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, Maryland 20737, >(301) 734-7833. >FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian, >Animal Care Staff, REAC, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD >20737-1234, (301) 734-7833. >SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register notice published on May 22, >1995 (60 FR 27049-27051, Docket No. 93-076-3), we announced our intent to >establish a Marine Mammal Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee >(Committee), chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. >92-463). The Committee will review the current regulations and standards under >the Animal Welfare Act concerning the care and maintenance of captive marine >mammals, and provide consensus language to amend the regulations. The first >meeting of the Committee, which was announced in a Federal Register notice >published on September 8, 1995 (60 FR 46783-46784, Docket No. 93-076-7), was >held on September 25-26, 1995. This notice announces the second and final >meeting of the Committee. > The purpose of the meeting is to bring together members of the Animal and >Plant Health Inspection Service, representatives of the marine mammal public >display community, the marine mammal research community, the animal welfare >community, and members of other Federal agencies with a definable stake in >marine mammal care issues to frame a recommended rulemaking proposal to amend >the current regulatory program concerning care and maintenance standards for >captive marine mammals. > The Committee will determine the final agenda for the meeting at its >beginning. The tentative agenda for the meeting is as follows: >First Day >Morning Session-8:30 a.m. >Establish Agenda for Meeting Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations >Afternoon Session-1 p.m. Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations Public >Comments >Second Day >Morning Session-8:30 a.m. >Establish Agenda for Day >Committee Administrative Issues >Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations >Afternoon Session-1 p.m. >Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations >Public Comments >Third Day >Morning Session-8:30 a.m. >Establish Agenda for Day >Committee Administrative Issues >Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations >Afternoon Session-1 p.m. >Discussion of Marine Mammal Regulations >Public Comments > The meeting will be open to the public. Public participation at the meeting >will be allowed during periods announced at the meeting for this purpose. > This notice is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory >Committee Act. > Done in Washington, DC, this 4th day of March 1996. >Lonnie J. King, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. >[FR Doc. 96-5580 Filed 3-7-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P >______________________________________________________ >The Contents entry for this article reads as follows: >Animal welfare: >Marine Mammal Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee- > Meetings, 9371 > >* * * END OF DOCUMENT * * * > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 10:17:52 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 3/15/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Washington State Sea Lions. On Mar. 13, 1996, NMFS announced guidelines for dealing with sea lions at Ballard Locks in Puget Sound that will allow State managers to kill individual animals 1) with a known history of eating steelhead trout, 2) not deterred by underwater noisemakers, and 3) observed hunting for steelhead trout, beginning Mar. 16, 1996. Five individual sea lions are likely target for action, and an Animal Care Committee will develop protocols for any killing. Animal welfare groups have threatened lawsuits to prevent killing of any sea lions. [Assoc Press] . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Mar. 7, 1996, Canadian fisheries authorities filed charges against four Canadian sealers shown using brutal methods of sealing in a video released earlier this year by animal welfare activists. The Canadian Sealers Assoc. and animal welfare groups welcomed the action. [Assoc Press] . Norway's Seal Hunt. In early March 1996, Norwegian sealers reached a new agreement when one of the sealing vessels withdrew, allowing the government subsidy to be divided among only four vessels. A spring seal hunt will likely begin on Mar. 22, with a harvest of about 20,000 seals anticipated from quotas of 17,050 non-nursing pups and almost 13,000 adults. [personal communication, Assoc Press] . Right Whale Deaths. On Mar. 9, 1996, the carcass of a sixth dead right whale was discovered on the beach in Wellfleet, MA. In all of 1995, only two right whales were known to have died; however, 14 new calves have been identified this year (three of which have died) compared to only seven in 1995. On Mar. 13, 1996, The Boston Globe reported that NMFS is investigating whether increased Navy traffic and weapons testing off Georgia and Florida might be responsible for increased right whale mortality. [Assoc Press] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Mar. 14, 1996, 30 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County -- sixteen since Mar. 12; cause of dead of the apparently healthy adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed bacterial pneumonia in many animals. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 11:10:32 EST From: "TERESA L. DZIEWECZYNSKI" Organization: Southampton College Subject: Information request I am looking for information regarding the cognitive capabilities of the West Indian manatee, especially any studies related to the behavioral aspects of cognition and possible testing methods. I am working on a research project for a marine mammal psychology class and am having difficultly tracking down sources. Any help would be wonderful. Additionally, if anyone knows how I can get ahold of issues of the Florida Scientist, it would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Teresa Dzieweczynski tdziewec(\)sunburn.liunet.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 12:15:23 +0100 From: "R.H. Lambertsen" Subject: Re: Groups alledge Navy killed right whales In response to the 13 March UPI article posted by r.mallon1(\)genie.com, I submit as a topic for debate the standing Special Navigation Notice to Mariners on right whales. This notice is currently operative for the Eastern Seaboard of the United States: SPECIAL NAVIGATION NOTICE NOTICE TO MARINERS NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, has advised that the endangered right whale inhabits areas along the Eastern Seaboard. In the Northeast, right whales inhabit areas within the Ambrose and Boston Harbor traffic lanes in the spring and summer. NOAA has designated Cape Cod Bay and the region east of Cape Cod as Critical Habitat for this species and has identifed Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary as an additional area of importance. The whales also aggregate in the Precautionary Area within the Great South Channel in the spring. Mariners are requested to post a lookout for right whales as they approach these areas and to minimize their exit and entrance speeds to the extent possible to maintain safe handling of the vessel, preferably 5 knots or less, in the channels and precautionary areas to avoid ship-whale collisions. Intentional approach to right whales is prohibited and may rsult in a violation of federal or state laws. >From December to March the coastal waters between Altamaha Sound, Georgia, and Sebastian Inlet, Florida, are the only calving grounds for the right whale. Vessel speeds upon exit and entrance into the ports of Miami, Florida, through Charleston, South Carolina should also be kept at a minimum. Right whale sightings in these areas should be reported to Coast Gaurd Group Mayport via VHF-FM radio or to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (800-272-8363). **************************** This matter is important and possibly critical to the survival of the North Atlantic right whale. Themes for the proposed MARMAM debate include: 1. Is the above Special Navigation Notice adequate? 2. If the above Special Navigation Notice is inadequate, 2.a. What changes (i.e., in wording) are necessary? 2.b. What parallel official strengthening actions are possible? 2.c. What parallel NGO strengthening actions are possible? In my considered opinion, at a minimum, the wording: "mariners are requested to post a lookout for right whales..." must be changed to: "mariners shall keep a lookout for right whales..." In addition, information needed for species identification (appearance and behavior) must be provided. Rationale: International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, l972 (72 COLREGS, which specify the relevant maritime law), mandate that a lookout be posted under any condition of visibility to assist the conduct of steering and sailing: "72 COLREGS Rule 5. Lookout. Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision." Wording in the Special Navigation Notice "to request that mariners post a lookout" thus is a step backwards from international maritime law. Also, it would seem unnecessarily redundant and costly to post a second lookout exclusively for right whales. The __required__ lookout should be given the information he or she needs to identify right whales, so as to help minimize the rate of lethal vessel collisions with this critically endangered species. Dropping bombs on the calving grounds probably won't help. R.H. Lambertsen, Ph.D., V.M.D. rlambert(\)iu.net Ecosystems Technology Transfer, Inc. P.O. Box 6788 Titusville, FL 32782 Member, Species Survival Commission International Union for the Conservation of Nature and former fellow, Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society Scientific Affairs Division North Atlantic Treaty Organization Information copies to: Director, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Albert Gore, Vice President of the United States Secretary General, NATO ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 09:31:16 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Scientists mystified by manate Scientists mystified by manatee deaths FORT MYERS, Fla., March 15 (UPI) -- Marine biologists said Friday they are puzzled by an unknown infection that is killing manatees in the waters of southwest Florida. The state Department of Environmental Protection said at least 33 dead adult sea cows have been found in the past 10 days. Scientists earlier this week set up a makeshift morgue at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel Island, where biologists have been taking samples of each animal's organs, blood and tissue, sending them off to labs for further examination. "We won't know very much about what's killing them until we hear what the labs have to say," said DEP spokeswoman Kathalyn Gaither. The results were expected to be known by early next week. "All we know now is that they all died of pneumonia," said Gaither, but it is not known what caused the manatees to become stricken. The epidemic so far has been confined to a 25-mile stretch near the city of Fort Myers, along Florida's Gulf coast. Officials checked for water and air pollution in the area, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Not since scientists began keeping records 20 years ago have so many manatees died in such a short period. Mortality among Florida manatees is normally 150 to 200 annually. Both males and females have died, and all were well-nourished with no other disease or injury. "This is happening very rapidly," said Dr. Scott Wright, a marine mammal pathobiologist with DEP. "The tissue samples that we've collected are telling us a story that we've never seen or heard before." DEP Secretary Virginia Wetherell said her agency was pulling out all the stops in an effort to halt the rash of manatee deaths. "We're working around the clock to determine the exact cause of death, and hope to learn how we can prevent this from happening in the future," said Wetherell. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 09:34:16 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: We Are Sea Otter Research Group (fwd) Forwarded message: From: shuu(\)vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp (Kaoru HATTORI) Hello! We are Sea Otter Research Group of Japan. This group has been founded on last November. It has four members and all of us are undergraduate students of faculty of veterinary medicine of Hokkaido University in Japan. In Japan, Sea Otters haven't been seen for long time, but they have been making appearance sometimes since they were found in Hokkaido twenty years ago. Although we don't know if these Sea Otters live or not in Japan, in future, we want that, and we will like to help their settlement. So we would like to study about , The ecology of Kuril Sea Otter, that has been unknown enough. why have Sea Otters come back to Japan? where are they from? what will they do in future? and so on. We are going to do Sea Otter research at Bering Isl. in Russia this March. But we couldn't go to Russia for some reasons. So we would like to visit USA, which does many advanced research on Sea Otter, and has advanced ideas for marine mammal protection. We would like to learn about, the state of protection in America the handling method of Sea Otters and observe free ranging Sea Otters. We are going to continue studying Sea Otter in Russia. Now, we want to learn field experience and discuss sea otter biology with other researchers. Would you receive us and tell us about Sea Otters in March? If you can't, we are going to stay in America from 19 on March to 6 on April, would you mind our visiting you and interviewing you? We are sorry we mailed you so late, but our spring vacation is over 8 April. We have little time, so we would like you to answer a letter as soon as you can. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, Kaoru Hattori Laboratory of Wildlife Biology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University kita18jo nishi9chome kita-ku Sapporo 060 JAPAN Fax:011-706-5569 E-mail:shuu(\)vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp PS. You can contact us by writing, Fax or E-mail. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 17:38:31 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Bangladesh villagers cut up be Bangladesh villagers cut up beached blue whale COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh, March 17 (Reuter) - Jubilant Bangladesh villagers struggled several hours to cut up a rare blue whale found dead on a beach near Teknaf, 80 km (50 miles) from Cox's Bazar resort, officials said on Sunday. They said villagers, mostly fishermen, who use oil extracted from whales to treat many diseases, cut up the giant mammal and took the pieces home. They quoted Teknaf residents as saying the 17-meter-long whale apparently washed up on the beach on Friday night and died the next day. Three blue whales have been found on the same beach on the Bay of Bengal over the last 10 years, they said. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 17:39:29 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sperm whales die in New Zealan Sperm whales die in New Zealand stranding WELLINGTON, March 17 (Reuter) - At least two sperm whales were pounded to death by surf on Sunday after running aground on a New Zealand beach, as hundreds of onlookers watched helplessly. Conservation staff said a third whale was showing no signs of life and was also believed to have died in the stranding on a beach near Wellington. Rough conditions ruled out any chance of volunteers going to the rescue of the helpless 10-metre (30 foot) mammals, which died of internal injuries after being battered by the heavy seas. "It's a navigational error...they get caught in the surf and they're unable to escape from it," said Bruce Dix of the Department of Conservation. Whale strandings are relatively frequent in New Zealand but some have happier endings. Last month rescuers successfully refloated 27 smaller pilot whales which ran aground on a spit at the top of the South Island. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 11:27:31 -0500 From: PAGODROMA(\)aol.com Subject: Re: right whale and "barotrauma"? 96-03-11, Loren Coleman forwarded an AP article from the Boston Globe: > another died as a result of ``barotrauma,'' which occurs when >there is a huge shift in the barometric pressure "Barotrauma"? I have never heard of this diagnosis as a cause of death in cetaceans, and my simple mind can't really believe that a huge shift in barometric pressure, no matter how huge, at least on this planet, could be attributed to such deaths, much less proven. In a message dated 96-03-14 08:32:30 EST, Dave Williams writes: >In an article which appeared in the Boston Globe on March 11, Kathy >Shorr, a spokesperson for the Center for Coastal Studies in >Provincetown, said that one of the six Right Whale to die this year >along the US Atlantic Coast died of "barotrauma". > >Does anyone know who determined "barotrauma"? I was reluctant to post a query out of fear demonstrating my own ignorance. However, I can't stand it any more. Anyone care to provide some enlightenment on this subject? Thanks! Richard Rowlett Bellevue, WA, USA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 23:48:55 -0500 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Captive Echolocation Aloha Joy, Your point of fetal folding creating a bias for later dorsal curve is well taken and appears to be an area that may be neglected in birth observations. Do any Marmammers know if the direction of dorsal fin folding is recorded on birth data or records? Not only could this possibly influence dorsal curve but on a similar note would influence the curve of the fluke, both made of cartilaginous types of material. Looking at the tail fluke of a dolphin from behind, the curve can go up at the ends (V shape), be horizontal (or close) or turn down at the ends (A shape). I have only observed one dolphin with a mix of these types of curves. In the seventies, Ingrid Kang-Shallenberger (then at Sea Life Park) told me she had observed that Pacific bottlenosed dolphins invariably had flukes that curved down. I had always assumed that this was due to the need for swimming at higher speeds in pelagic species and indicated the down stroke as the power stroke. Do any Marmammers know if the direction of fluke folding is recorded on birth data or records? As interesting as your posit appears, though, it probably does not (in my opinion) provide an adequate means to explain dorsal curve in captive dolphins. This is primarily because dorsal curve is usually observed in captivity. I have never observed a laterally curved dorsal fin in a wild dolphin that did not also have an injured, damaged or missing pectoral fin on the same side as the direction of the curve. Nutrition problems in captivity may support your supposition as a possible cause for a weakening of the cellular structure and a tendency for this bias effect to be manifested. But there are very strong forces against the side of dorsal fins and dolphins body's when a dolphin swims repeatedly in the same direction inside a small enclosure. For more than thirty years, dolphin trainers and researchers have observed that this direction is counter-clockwise. Dr. Ken Norris explains this phenomenon in his book "The Porpoise Watcher", specifically in regard to a dolphin named Alice. Alice died with a condition of sinistral spinal curvature, a fusing of the vertebrae toward the left side. Dr. Norris states that this condition was due to her swimming in a counter-clockwise direction. Repeated efforts were made to stop this behavior. Unfortunately, Dr. Norris reports that Alice stopped swimming and died without this condition ever being corrected. Sinistral spinal curvature appears to have been a condition that was caused by the use of swimming pools and other extremely small enclosures in the early days of dolphin husbandry. It is unheard of today because Government regulations have required tank dimensions large enough to prevent the fusing of vertebrae. But, it is the position of this and my last posting that holding areas and permanent tank sizes allowed under the current APHIS rules and regulations allow physical stresses enough to cause dorsal fin curve in echolocating captive cetaceans. Those captive cetaceans that do not echolocate or echolocate very little do not get dorsal fin curve. This position is hypothetically based as mentioned in my earlier posting. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 18:21:59 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: worldwide number of cetaceans (fwd) Having once worked in a Congressional Office, I thought I would toss my 2 cents in. Stephen Leatherwood is correct when he says notes that talking about total numbers of cetaceans can be misleading. I presume the number might be in the 10s of millions as a guess, but what does that tell anyone? and what difference does it make whether it is 10 million or 100 million? The information needs to be presented in another manner. Lets take the opportunity to educate the Congressional office. I suggest saying something along these lines: 1) THERE ARE 75 (?) SPECIES OF CETACEANS RANGING FROM THE TINY HARBOR PORPOISE TO THE GIANT BLUE WHALE. ( I am confident most Congressional offices don't have a clue about how many species of cetaceans there are, and probably only assume about a dozen. We care about biodiversity, and so should the CO. A loss o f 1% in the number of species is tragic, whereas annual fluctuations of total cetacean numbers larger than that may be natural occurrences of no great concern.) 2) SOME OF THESE SPECIES HAVE LARGE POPULATIONS, NUMBERING IN THE MILLIONS, SOME OCCUR WITH POPULATIONS IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS, AND SOME SPECIES HAVE ONLY A FEW THOUSAND OR FEW HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS (BAJII, VAQUITA). (Forgive spelling, etc. please) (I vaguely understand cetaceans to be a bit like birds in that a high percentage of the overall number of individuals in a given area consists of just one or two species. Here in central Calif, we have an amazingly diverse fauna of a more than a dozen cetacean species that are regularly seen, but the huge schools of Delphinus delphis and those of Lissodelphis borealis swamp the numbers of the less common cetaceans. That doesn't make the orcas, harbor porpoise, or beaked whaled less worth saving.) 3) EVEN RELATIVELY LARGE MARINE MAMMAL POPULATIONS CAN BE REDUCED AMAZINGLY QUICKLY (The importance of overall population numbers is often overvalued by lay persons. What is important to conservationists is the TREND in numbers, and the magnitude of the THREAT. A single local threat doesn't jeopardize a widespread species, but marine trash, drift nets, huge fisheries as in the Bering Sea, and global warming can jeopardize even the most abundant species. Remember the passenger pigeon and the nearly extinct bison. To pick an example closer to home, how about the Stellar's Sea Lion) --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 15:54:33 IST From: "<" Subject: In Situ UW Video Observations Hello fellow MARMAMers: I would like to know if anyone has tried to, or has succeeded in, attaching an UW video camera to a marine mammals (whale, dolphin, or seal/walrus) so that the animal and its surroundings could be videotaped in situ and at whatever depths the animal travels to? If somebody has done this, what kind of videocamera did they use (low-light Hi-8 mm?) and what kind of housing was used that could handle the extreme depths to which some of these animals dive? Also, how was the equipment retrieved (by pinger)? Please respond directly to me, rather than cluttering the list--even if nobody has done this, suggestions are more than welcome! Thanks! Oz Goffman, IMMRAC Center for Maritime Studies University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, 31905, Haifa, Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 11:07:29 +0100 From: lafo(\)itba.mi.cnr.it Organization: CNR - Istituto Tecnologie Biomediche Avanzate Subject: anatomical data I am preparing a paper concerning striped dolphin morphology as assessed by a non invasive quantitative method based on video analysis of free ranging animals. I am interested in receiving data (either published or unpublished observations) about body mass, length, fluke area, fluke span and fluke chord (or directly fluke aspect ratio) in different cetacean species for a comparative analysis. All contributions will be cited in references and a collection of received messages will be finally reported on MARMAM. Thank you lafo(\)itba.mi.cnr.it Claudio Lafortuna Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche Avanzate, CNR, Milano, Italy ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 21:18:46 -0500 From: DLFNDR(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Groups alledge Navy killed right whales I agree that the wording of the special notice to mariners could be a bit stronger. However, with regard to the Navy, having worked for them on an EIS involving marine mammals, the problem isn't the regulations, it's the attitude of the Navy. They still (with few exceptions) are of the opinion that they are (or should be) exempt from those regulations. Until the Navy is enlightened, and while they are granted exemptions to (or merely ignore) conservation legislation, I fear the problem is with us to stay. I would gladly accept any ideas that might accomplish the task. Leslie Leone dlfndr(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 14:04:56 PST From: Damon Job Subject: Re: Scientists mystified by manatee deaths On: Date: Sun, 17 Mar 1996 09:31:16 -0800 >From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com >Subject: Scientists mystified by manate >Scientists mystified by manatee deaths > FORT MYERS, Fla., March 15 (UPI) -- Marine biologists said Friday they >are puzzled by an unknown infection that is killing manatees in the >waters of southwest Florida. _______________edited for brevity_____________________ I have little knowledge of mammalian pathology, but has anyone thought of the possibility of dinoflagelate infection in manatees? Dinoflagellate-induced diseases seem to be more frequent, at least of fish in eutrophic waters. I think some dinoflagellates appear capable of causing general cachexia which could lead secondarily to pneumonia. ***************************************** Damon A. Job Environmental Research Manager (Marine Mammalogist) Environment and Natural Resources Information Center (ENRIC) Datex, Inc. 2201 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22201 **************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 08:05:08 -0800 From: WCVM Lab Subject: Re: right whale and "barotrauma"? > "Barotrauma"? I have never heard of this diagnosis as a cause of death in > cetaceans, and my simple mind can't really believe that a huge shift in > barometric pressure, no matter how huge, at least on this planet, could be > attributed to such deaths, much less proven. > > > I was reluctant to post a query out of fear demonstrating my own ignorance. > However, I can't stand it any more. Anyone care to provide some > enlightenment on this subject? Thanks! > Barotrauma doesn't have to be due to a change in barometric pressure it just means pressure related injury. For example (at least in terrestrial mammals) a tension pneumothorax is an example of barotrauma; sometimes if a lung is punctured, the air taken in on every breath can escape into the space between th e lungs and the ribcage. If the pressure in this space builds up it can prevent t he lung from inflating and cause death basically by suffocation. I don't know if t his is remotely possible in the right whale situation. Hope this helps answer your question Andrea Osborn Western College of Veterinary Medicine Saskatoon, Sask alo125(\)mail.usask.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 08:55:38 -0500 From: syoung(\)ccsnet.com Subject: right whale and U.S. Navy Right whale deaths and the United States Navy Dave Wiley (International Wildlife Coalition) and Sharon Young (Humane Society of the United States) Recently, there has been some discussion on MARMAM about the death of 5 and probably 6 northern right whales in the waters off north Florida and Georgia. What follows is some of what we currently know (or think we know) about the situation. Dr. Joseph Geraci is reviewing the mortalities, so this information may change. Some of this information was obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service as part of a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Navy has not yet responded to our FOIA request. At least 5 and probably 6 right whales died between early January and late February of this year. These deaths have occurred just outside the boundaries of the designated right whale critical habitat and calving ground. Three of them were calves (one likely to have been a neonatal mortality) and two of them sexually mature adults (one male and one female). Little information is available on the sixth animal. The clustered aspect of the mortalities would suggest the cause to be viral, toxicological or anthropogenic in nature. The deaths coincide in time and space with Naval maneuvers that involve gunnery practice and bombs. We have not found any information that would support a viral or toxicological origin, although such investigations likely continue. Several of the mortalities have unusual characteristics associated with them, although interpretation of these data are always difficult. Prior to 1996, war games occurred primarily around the Navys base in Cuba. This year, games were moved to the Navy base in Mayport, Florida. People who have been involved in such simulation exercises have told us that they are designed to push participants to their limits (i.e. lots of stress, no sleep etc.). Under such conditions, it is doubtful that the presence of right whales would be a priority. In several instances this year, the right whale early warning system has alerted Naval ships to the presence of nearby right whales that the ships own lookouts had not detected. We also note that Virginia, another hot spot for large whale mortalities, is also the home of substantial Naval activity. During our investigations of those deaths (see Wiley et al. 1995. Stranding and mortality of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeanglia, in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions of the United States. Fishery Bulletin 93:196-205), we received several unsigned letters urging us to look into underwater detonations by the Navy as a potential source of those mortalities. While those accusations were impossible to corroborate, we did observe a shore based naval installation engaged in gunnery practice using waters where a few days before we had seen humpback and fin whales. While, in that case, the Navy agreed to institute marine mammal watches prior to gunnery exercises, it would appear that the safety of whales, and complying with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) is not necessarily a Navy priority. What follows is a summary of each mortality event, as well as a letter to the Secretary of the Navy requesting the Navy to: 1 - suspend maneuvers in right whale habitat off the coasts of Florida and Georgia until the cause of the deaths is determined or all right whales leave the area, 2 - re-initiate a formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as is mandated under section 7 of the ESA. 3 - examine its activities as they pertain to the MMPA, which forbids the harassment, injury or killing of marine mammals. Mortality Events On January 2 a small calf was found stranded. It appeared to be a newborn and the cause of death could not be determined. This was the first confirmed death. On January 30 an adult male was found floating 10 miles off Georgia, determined to be a probable ship strike. An examination of the ears found severe trauma, possibly damage from concussion. Whether this condition predated the ship strike (i.e. an injured and deafened animal hit by ship) or was a result of the strike could not be determined. The severe nature of the injuries to the animal by the ship indicated that it was hit either at a rapid speed or head on. If struck by a naval vessel, this is a violation of procedures under the section 7 prudent measures that were to be taken by the Navy. The Navy admits to conducting gunnery exercises a few miles from this carcass on January 17 and 27th. This was the second confirmed death. On February 7 another carcass was found. The Navy declined to assist in efforts to tow the animal to shore for necropsy. No other vessel could be found to help retrieve this large female and her cause of death remains unknown, as the carcass disappeared (somewhat unusual, as they tend to float for long periods). The Navy admits conducting gunnery exercises on February 6th in the general area. This was the third confirmed death. On February 9 the Navy reported another dead whale (originally recorded on February 5 but unreported until the 9th). This was approximately 27 miles to the northeast of the February 7 carcass. This carcass disappeared before it could be retrieved. Although Navy has claimed that this is the same carcass as the February 7 carcass, the location of the carcass was not in the normal drift patterns of the current in the area, or from the drift pattern observed for any other carcasses. It is not clear whether this represented a separate death, although the circumstance might suggest that it is a different animal. On February 19th a survey team spotted a dead right whale calf floating offshore of Kings Bay Submarine Base, Georgia. The Navy once again declined to assist in recovering the carcass, but the Georgia DNR staff recovered the calfs body and towed it to shore. The body was found within the boundary of the area the Navy admits to using for gunnery exercises. Preliminary autopsy indicated that the calf was healthy and had been feeding recently. Its lungs were filled with fluid (with no sign of infectious processes) and some organ hemorrhaging was observed. A detailed examination of the ears from this animal revealed that one of the ears showed signs of brain concussion, potentially due to a blow to the head or extreme stress. The lack of similar damage in the other ear suggested that blast trauma was not involved, as this would likely affect both ears. This was the fourth confirmed death. On February 22nd. another dead calf was spotted near Cumberland Island Georgia, not far from the previous calfs body. A chartered fishing boat assisted in towing it to shore. Necropsy revealed that it, too had fluid filled lungs and a unilateral hemorrhage behind the left eye suggesting effects from external trauma. A pathologist noted changes in the lungs are non-specific, generally associated with acute cardiovascular collapse (i.e. shock). He also noted that the damage behind the eye is unusual and suggests a unilateral traumatic event. With the reported absence of external ocular trauma, these changes are not inconsistent with a concussion event. It was observed to be otherwise healthy (e.g. good fat layer). Loud gunnery sounds were recorded on the 22nd. A more in depth examination of the ears did not confirm the earlier suspicions of a concussion event. However, only a single ear was examined and a definite assessment would require the examination of both ears. This was the fifth confirmed death. So there you have it. As usual, the exact cause of the deaths remains unknown. Evidence both supports and questions the unusual nature of the mortalities. In addition, we should not expect all mortalities to be unusual, as 1-2 deaths per year, particularly among calves, occurred prior to the new Naval operations. What do we know? We have the clustered deaths of a highly endangered species. Evidence supporting a viral or toxicological cause appear to be lacking, leaving anthropogenic interaction the most likely factor in the mortalities. We have a new human activity (Naval operations) that coincides in space and time with the mortalities, and includes activities that could logically be expected to jeopardize animals through explosive trauma, ship strike or stress. We also know that the level of this activity can be expected to increase. Starting immediately NATO will begin international maneuvers in these same waters. This means that an additional 14-18 warships from 6 countries (all of which will be keeping a sharp eye out for right whales) will be operating in waters adjacent to the calving/wintering grounds designated as critical habitat. In addition, they will frequently cross the designated critical habitat as they travel to and from the Naval base in Mayport. While much is being made of the potential for death by explosive trauma, the most likely scenario would involve a ship strike by a Naval vessel transiting the area. The key question becomes; how much uncertainty can be tolerated in making decisions about the protection of an endangered species? The Navy should be (and is) extremely concerned that they not be held responsible for the mortalities and forced to change their activities, if, in fact, they are not the cause (if we were using statistics we would consider this a Type 1 error). We also would not want to make such an error. However, we should be even more concerned about deciding that the Navy is not responsible if, in fact, they are, because for right whales the result of that error is huge. The northern right whale is the worlds most endangered species of large whale. The North Atlantic population, with only about 300 animals remaining, may be the only population with a chance of avoiding extinction. These animals are protected under the ESA and the MMPA, and are one of the most visible symbols of conservation in the United States. The six dead whales represent two percent of the population, and the deaths occurred in only a two month period. Those of us working in the area of fisheries interactions would be appalled at such numbers, if they occurred as a result of commercial activity. It would seem that the entire marine mammal community should be supporting the National Marine Fisheries Service in its attempts to force the Navy to curtail its operations, yet there seems to have been very little concern. Without a great deal of public and scientific involvement, we can expect little success in dealing with the United States Navy. In addition, unless the activities can be stopped, the closing of the US Naval base in Cuba ensures that they will become an annual event. On a separate posting, we have placed a sample letter to the Secretary of the Navy requesting action. It, or the information above, can be used as the basis for your own letters to the Navy, congressional representatives, or the media. =========================== http://www.ccsnet.com telnet://ccsnet.com Cape Cod's Internet Address =========================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 09:11:22 -0500 From: syoung(\)ccsnet.com Subject: right whales and U.S. Navy II What follows is a letter to the Secretary of the Navy relevant to our previous posting about the Navy's potential involvement in the increase in right whale mortality in the southeast U.S. Please use it as a draft for your own, or use the information contained in these postings to formulate your own. 11 March 1996 John H. Dalton Secretary of the Navy Department of the Navy Pentagon Washington, DC 20350 Dear Mr. Dalton, On behalf of the International Wildlife Coalition, representing over 200,000 members, I am writing to express deep concern about the strong likelihood that Naval operations are negatively impacting the worlds rarest species of large whale. Since January of this year, at least 5 and possibly 6 highly endangered northern right whales have been found dead in or near their wintering/calving area off the coast of Florida and Georgia, near an area that has been designated as critical habitat for that species. The large number and clustered nature of these deaths is a cause for great concern. These deaths are concurrent with new Naval operations in the area, which include the use of artillery and bombs. Necropsies conducted on the animals suggest that in at least some of the deaths, concussion may have played a role. The most likely source of such concussion events is underwater explosions. In addition, increased use of the area by military vessels increases the chance that right whales will be struck and killed by such vessels. This is of extreme concern because ship strikes are the leading cause of death for this highly endangered species. Although the Navy may not believe that its actions are responsible for the mortalities, the correlation between Navy maneuvers and an escalating rate of right whale deaths is obvious. While correlation is not the same as cause and effect, prudent behavior would dictate that the Navy cease all operations until the actual cause of the deaths can be determined, or all right whales have left the area. This operational moratorium is extremely important in light of the joint international maneuvers planned for the upcoming weeks. In addition to a moratorium on maneuvers in right whale habitat off the coasts of Florida and Georgia, the Navy should re-initiate a formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as is mandated under section seven of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Navy activities may also violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which forbids the harassment, injury or killing of marine mammals. The northern right whale is the worlds most endangered species of large whale. The North Atlantic population, with only approximately 300 animals remaining, may be the only population with a chance of avoiding extinction. These animals are protected under the ESA and the MMPA, and are one of the most visible symbols of conservation in the United States. The six dead whales referred to in this letter represent two percent of the worlds entire population. We look forward to your taking immediate action to cease Naval activity that may place these animals in jeopardy, to the Navys re-initiation of a formal consultation with NMFS under the ESA, and to the Navys compliance with provisions of the MMPA. Sincerely, Daniel J. Morast President International Wildlife Coalition cc: Mr. William J. Clinton, President of the United States Mr. Ron Brown, Secretary of Commerce Dr. D. James Baker, Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. William Fox, National Marine Fisheries Service Mr. Roland Schmitten, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Mr. John Twiss, Marine Mammal Commission =========================== http://www.ccsnet.com telnet://ccsnet.com Cape Cod's Internet Address =========================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 11:17:29 -0400 From: Scott Coffen-Smout Subject: Vancouver Public Hearing: Canadian Ocean Assessment Apologies for any duplication of this message which is of particular relevance to the Canadian audience. RE: Vancouver Public Hearing: Canadian Ocean Assessment The Independent World Commission on the Oceans (IWCO) has been established to act as a worldwide forum for contributing to coastal zone and oceans policy making. The Canadian initiative of the IWCO is the Canadian Ocean Assessment, a review of Canadian policy and practice, co-ordinated by the International Ocean Institute (IOI) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian Ocean Assessment is reviewing Canadian policy and practices in the sphere of oceans management and development by way of written surveys, invited briefs, reviews of current issue statements from Canadian oceans organizations, and through three public hearings. Issues under review in Canadian oceans policy include the following: * Marine Pollution * Living and Non-living Marine Resources * Coastal Zone Management * Research and Development * Education and Training for Ocean Research and Management * The Oceans Act - Bill C-98 * Principles and Values in Coastal Zone and Oceans Policy * Assessment of Current Canadian Management Practices * Oceans Policy Community Attributes and Leaders in the Ocean Field * Canada's Contribution to International Oceans Management and Development The Vancouver Public Hearing of the Canadian Ocean Assessment will be held from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Friday, 26 April 1996, at the Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, Room # 1800, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Opportunities exist for formal presentations from organizations, governments, industry, and academia, plus informal comments from the audience. Advance notice is required from anyone wanting to be considered for a formal presentatio n. Verbal submissions should be accompanied by a written hardcopy in order for briefings to be included in the final report to the IWCO. A consolidated report on the hearings in all parts of the world will be transmit ted to the World Commission in the autumn of 1996. The final World Commission Report will go to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. It will also be tabled at the UN General Assembly and the General Conference of UNESCO in 1998 -- the Year of the Oceans. We invite and encourage participation in this important exercise. The report th at we will prepare will reflect all submissions received. For further information, contact Scott Coffen-Smout, Project Co-ordinator, Canadian Ocean Assessment, IOI, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3P7, CANADA. Tel: (902) 494-6918; Fax: (902) 494-2034; E-Mail: worldcom(\)ac.dal.ca, or check the IOI web site at the following URL: http://is.dal.ca/~mjwood/index.html. ********************************************************** Scott Coffen-Smout Project Co-ordinator CANADIAN OCEAN ASSESSMENT Independent World Commission on the Oceans c/o International Ocean Institute Dalhousie University 1226 LeMarchant Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3P7 CANADA Tel: +1 902 494-6918 Fax: +1 902 494-2034 E-Mail: worldcom(\)ac.dal.ca WWW: http://is.dal.ca/~mjwood ********************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 18:11:41 +1000 From: gclarke(\)magna.com.au Subject: Marine Mammal List Hi Marmamers, Bill Lem's Marine Mammal list which he compiled and put on the WWW seems to have disappeared. Is it on the move again or is there something wrong at my end? The URL I have is: http://www.tiac.net/users/rhobson/Links/mmlinks.html Thanks, Graham. -------------------------------------------------------- Graham_Clarke - "WHALES IN DANGER" Information Service -------------------------------------------------------- Home Page - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html -------------------------------------------------------- Sydney - AUSTRALIA - EMail: -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 14:36:22 -0900 From: Jeff Rothal Subject: Address?-Ocean Mammal Institute, Lahaina, Hawaii Can anyone provide me with the address of the Ocean Mammal Institute in Lahaina, Hawaii, USA? I've checked the "standard" sources such as _Encyclopedia of Associations_, _Research Centers Directory_, various phone directories, World Wide Web, etc. Thanks in advance. Jeff Rothal Alaska State Library jeffr(\)muskox.alaska.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 13:08:13 -0800 Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was MARMAM%UVVM.BITNET(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: MARMAM FAQ ___MARMAM__________________________________________________________ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and ASPECTS OF NETIQUETTE ___________________________________________________________________ This FAQ may be obtained by sending the following message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca: get marmam faq *Please save this message for future reference!* WHAT IS MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list devoted to topics in marine mammal research and conservation, established in August 1993. Subscribers to the list are from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. The number of subscribers was over 1,500 as of January 1996. Anyone may subscribe to the list. WHAT TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE POSTED TO MARMAM? A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. Commonly seen messages include requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques; current or previously unreported news events, meeting annoucements, job or volunteer opportunities, scientific abstracts, and new books/techniques/products announcements. "Casual" requests for information, requests for volunteer positions/employment, opinion statements offering little or no novel arguements, and humourous anecdotes are examples of messages not posted to the list. HOW DO I POST MESSAGES TO THE LIST? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet. Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text. HOW DO I REPLY TO INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. *NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option.* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/TEMPORARILY SIGNOFF? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send the message: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RECEIVE MARMAM POSTINGS AS A SINGLE DAILY DIGEST, RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send the message: set marmam digests to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RETRIEVE MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MARMAM? All MARMAM messages are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver, where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO SUBSCRIBES TO MARMAM? A list, sorted by country, of all current subscribers to the list may be retrieved along with their e-mail address' by sending the command: review marmam (country to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. HOW DO I GET HELP USING LISTSERVER COMMANDS? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca WHY WAS MY MESSAGE NOT POSTED TO MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited discussion list. Senders of messages are not notified upon rejection of their message nor provided individual reasons why their message was not posted to the list. However, messages not sent to the list typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) OFF TOPIC. Messages which do not pertain specifically to marine mammal research or conservation are not posted to the list. 2) 'CASUAL' REQUEST. Messages which request information which is readily available from other sources, such as your average uni- versity library, are not posted to the list. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. 3) JOB/VOLUNTEER POSITION/INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society of Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', available from Allen Press, PO Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, tel. 1-800-627-0629. 4) BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a one week period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. 5) 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Dave Duffus, and Pam Willis) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca ______________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 16:09:11 -0600 From: "Nora L. Gunberg." Subject: marine mammal I am a senior at Texas A&M University at Galveston, majoring in Marine Biology with an emphasis on marine mammals. As part of a project this semester,I have been assigned to survey professionals in my field regarding the importance of writing skills in their positions. I am targetting marine biologists who work at public sea aquaria. If you hold such a position and would be willing to help me by completing a one page questionnaire, please reply to my e-mail address and I will forward the questionnaire to you. As I am attempting to get information from as many people as possible, I would also appreciate any advice concerning appropriate mailing lists or organizations where I can contact others. Thank you so much for your time, Nora Gunberg (GU8706tamug3.tamu.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 15:36:04 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Re: Barotrauma Richard Rowlett wrote: >>96-03-11, Loren Coleman forwarded an AP article from the Boston Globe: >>another died as a result of ``barotrauma,'' which occurs when >>there is a huge shift in the barometric pressure > >>"Barotrauma"? I have never heard of this diagnosis as a cause of >>death in cetaceans, and my simple mind can't really believe that a >>huge shift in barometric pressure, no matter how huge, at least on >>this planet, could be attributed to such deaths, much less proven. To make the sentence meaningful change the word "barometric" to "ambient". When a marine mammal swims underwater, the volume of air inside the many air spaces of the head and lungs increases or decrease as the surrounding (ambient) water pressure changes. If a rapid and intense alteration in the ambient water pressure does occur, whether man-made or due to nature, barotrauma in the membranes and tissues surrounding the animal's internal air spaces is likely. My group is currently investigating the potential for barotrauma in marine mammals caused by pressure changes in the water column above the epicenter of certain ocean-bottom earthquakes. It appears that severe alterations in ambient pressure is likely above dip/slipped, shallow-focused, submarine earthquakes. But the intensity of the ambient pressure change is not as much related to the magnitude of the earthquake as it is related to the speed of the vertical movement in the seafloor. Ocean-bottom earthquakes which produce rapid vertical movement in the seabed (>.45 g), either up or down, can generated ambient pressure alterations in the water column as high as 600 psi several times per second. I am still looking for whoever diagnosed barotrauma in one of the Right whales. Thanks, Captain D. Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 04:14:50 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: Possible Cause of Manatee Die-off! Dear MARMAMers, Are the mysterious manatee deaths along Florida's southwestern coast and the thousands of dead spanish mackerel that washed ashore at about the same time in Sarasota and Manatee Counties connected? Might this die-off be related to the loss of the Honduran freighter which sunk in the Gulf of Mexico on 6 January? The 234-foot KATHLEEN D sank, drowning 8 of its 9 man-crew, fifteen hours after departing Mobile, Alabama en route to Jamaica. The vessel, known to have serious structural and safety problems, carried 1,300 metric tons of hydrated lime in its cargo hold, and 8 to 10 containers of ???? lashed to its deck. The containers on deck were believed to have broken loose and drifted away. What was in those containers? Did any of them drift into shallow waters near Fort Meyers, break apart and spill their contents into the sea, causing the death of the manatees and poisoning the fish? The results of necropsies performed on the manatees were expected to be known today. There is also a remote possibility that a sealed shipping container from this vessel could have floated with the loop current out of the Gulf of Mexico and around Florida, enter the Gulf Stream and be carried into the coastal waters of Georgia before spilling its contents. The slight chance that this did occur and cause the mortality of the Right Whales should be investigated. However, until evidence to the contrary is offered, the Moby Dick Society continues to support the view that the whales were killed by war games conducted by the US Navy inside the only known breeding grounds of the endangered Right Whale. Captain D. Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 06:06:04 -0800 From: David Williams Subject: 150 Shipping Containers Adrift in the N. Atlantic! Dear MARMAMers; Not only were 8 to 10 containers, filled with ?????, lost off the sunken Honduran freighter in the Gulf of Mexico during the first week of January which could explain the manatee die-off, 90 containers of ????? were lost somewhere in the N. Atlantic off the deck of the Danish-flagged, 440-foot freighter, SKANDERBORG, out of New York bound for the UK. That's not all! On 10 January, the ATLANTIC TRADER, a 300-foot barge towed by the 106-foot tug BRUCE A McALLISTER, outbound from Miami to Charlestron, South Carolina, lost 32 (supposedly) empty containers somewhere in the Gulf Stream off Florida. There's more! On 16 January, while somewhere near the Azores, the Panamanian-flag 856-foot containership, MSC CLAUDIA, out of Germany bound for Boston, lost 21 containers off its deck. These containers were filled with dangerous chemicals, including n-butyl isocyanate and carbonyl iron powder. The Moby Dick Society is concerned that the containers lost off of any of these vessels, especially the MSC CLAUDIA, could be responsible for the die-off of cetaceans and fish which started in the Azores on 7 February and is still going on. (We posted a previous message to this group alerting everyone to the possible connection of containers lost off a Honduran vessel that sunk in the Gulf of Mexico and the mysterious death of 51 manatees on Florida's West Coast.) Shouldn't there be international laws in place concerning the carrying of containers filled with dangerous chemicals on the open decks of vessels? It would seem that anyone wishing to dispose of millions of gallons of hazardous materials cheaply could do so by simply loading them on the deck of any vessel, dump the load at sea, then claim that the hazardous material was lost due to rough weather. Not only would the polluter save a disposal fee by staged such an accident, he would even avoid a small fine. The temptation seems too great to think that such "accidents" don't happen often. Even one container drop over the side could save someone mega bucks if it contained extremely difficult-to-dispose-of toxic material. The Moby Dick Society calls for the Marine Mammal Commision and the National Marine Fisheries Service to form a task force and investigate this obvious danger to the marine environment. Captain D. Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 20:07:35 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Florida manatee die-off may be Florida manatee die-off may be ending TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 18 (UPI) -- There are indications a rash of mysterious manatee deaths along Florida's southwestern coast may be coming to an end, environmental officials reported Monday. Since March 5, 51 endangered seacows have been found dead near the city of Fort Myers, on Florida's Gulf Coast. Scientists had not learned the results of tests on tissue samples taken from the carcasses by midday Monday and said they did not know why the manatees apparently developed pneumonia and died. But a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said biologists believed few additional dead manatees would be found. "We believe that whatever it was that was killing them is phasing out, because the last five carcasses that were retrieved were badly decomposed," said Edie Ousley. "That could be a good indication that whatever it was has run its course," she added. Last week, biologists had set up a makeshift morgue at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico, where they took samples of each animal's organs, blood and tissue and sent them to labs for further examination. The results of necropsies performed on the manatees were expected to be known by Tuesday. Not since scientists began keeping records 20 years ago have so many manatees died in such a short period. Mortality among Florida manatees is normally 150 to 200 annually. Both males and females have died, and all were well-nourished with no other disease or injury, scientists said. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 03:37:39 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: the abstract of Ogata's event (fwd) Forwarded message: From: humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp (Hiroko Wada) The Ecological-Cultural Tourism Assessment & Strategic Planning Meeting for Ogata and other communities and the surrounding regon of western Tosa Bay, Kochi was held as a part of the Opening Ceremonies for the first day of '96 Ogata whale watching from 1st March through 5th March in Ogata, Kochi, Japan. Ogata is the home of Bryde's whale watching which currently attracts more than 18,000 visitors a year. Last year, Ogata's whale-watching industry was blamed for "operating too many boats too close to the whales" by the media. There are also other issues (runoff from land development which may be affecting the whales) which I posted previously to MARMAM. The meeting was hosted by the Ogata Sportsfishing Boat Owner's Association (= the whale watch industry) and the Hata (the area around and including Ogata) Tourism Volunteer Association. About 70 people including local conservationists, representatives from tourism industries and government, and concerned students and citizens attended the meeting to discuss how to use natural resources in this area. In the first part of the meeting, speeches were made by Mitsutoshi Sugimura, director of the Dragonfly Park ("The past and future of the Dragonfly Park"), Nobuyuki Kakegawa, chairman of Ogata Sportsfishing Boat Owner's Association ("Perspective from the whale watching industry") and Erich Hoyt, an author-consultant and one the panelists of the International Meeting of Whale Watching held in Ogata in 1994 ("Possibilities of Hata wide area and strategies") . In the second part of the meeting, a panel discussion was held with 5 panelists. The theme was "How can we use tourism resources?": Erich Hoyt suggested the need for locals to realize their treasure of nature in the area. In his earlier lectures, he proposed Ogata to start ecotourism, a new type of tourism that uses not only whales but also other nature resources in this area sustainably. Ecotourism would provide a good steady income to the area while the conservation, educational and research values of nature were also realized. Katsumi Motoyoshi, who has spread the charm of Kochi whale watching as a designer and representative of 'Whalco,' told us the idea of whale watching that combines education, fun, conservation, research, experience, performance and friendships. He also suggested that it was the time to consider the quality of whale watching. Mitsutoshi Sugimura told the audience of his experience "when you teach children how to conserve nature, they have to enjoy nature first." He added that residents usually appreciated local nature much less than people from outside. Miyuki Myojin, the president of the Kochi School Excursion Promoting Committee, talked about nature-oriented tourism and educational school excursions, saying that operators had the right to refuse unsuitable customers if neccessary. Kakegawa said that Ogata would not accept new whale watch operators unless they took a specified course held once a year and that they would, in any case, limit the number of whale watch operators starting this year. He pointed out the need to define which government (the city government, the Fishery Agency or the Transport Ministry) the whale watch industry belonged, so that it could address any problems to the concerned government. Also, among the issues avidly discussed were the importance of having naturalists, the environmental problems, runoff from the land, the need for longer-term plans, and the impact of boats on whales. Ogata is making a pruceudre of the meeting now. It may take a few months to come out. If you are interested in, please contact to: Ogata Sportsfishing Boat Owner's Association 1942-3 Irino, Ogata, Hata-gun, Kochi, 789-19, Japan Fax 011-81-880-43-1527 I would thank Erich Hoyt for his comments on this abstract. Hiroko Wada Sapporo, Japan e-mail humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp Tel & Fax 011-81-11-642-8052 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 13:28:28 -1000 From: Tori Subject: the final solution ..... (fwd) Though this mat be of intrest, although lengthy Tori cullins(\)hawaii.edu ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 06:48:24 -1000 From: Sessing, J. To: Tori Subject: the final solution ..... NOAA 96-R112 Contact: Brian Gorman FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 206/526-6613 (O) 3/13/96 206/860-8772 (H) Fisheries Service Loosens Rules for State to Capture, Kill Steelhead-Eating Sea Lions The Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service today authorized the state of Washington to kill predatory California sea lions that threaten steelhead trout returning to Seattle's Lake Washington to spawn, saying all other means of deterring sea lions from killing the steelhead have failed. In a letter of authorization to Washington State's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, the fisheries service said that starting March 16, the state may kill any "predatory" sea lion that (1) can be individually identified and has been observed killing steelhead at the locks, (2) has been observed foraging for steelhead at the locks any time after Jan. 1, 1994, when underwater noise-making devices were installed, and (3) is observed foraging at the locks during this year's steelhead season. The season began Jan. 1 and runs through May 31. According to the fisheries service, three sea lions currently meet these standards and thus could be killed if they return to the locks and are observed foraging. Two other sea lions would meet the standard if they are observed to eat a steelhead during this year's season or next. The letter generally endorses the recommendations made late last year by a special task force convened specifically to address the problems of sea lion predation on steelhead at the locks. The 19-member task force was convened under changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act made in 1994 and is composed of scientists and representatives of conservation and fishing organizations, treaty Indian tribes and Washington State government agencies. (more) (2) The changes in the act made possible for the first time "lethal removal" of sea lions at the locks, and in 1994 the state asked the fisheries service for that permission. In January 1995, the state was granted permission to capture and kill sea lions at the locks, but only under special circumstances. Steelhead-eating sea lions could be killed, but only if the state could demonstrate that it was impractical to hold a captured animal temporarily. Captures could take place only if all the sea lions at the locks were together killing at least ten percent of the steelhead passing through the locks during a seven-day period. One animal, designated Number 17 by fisheries service observers, was removed from the locks last season. It was held in captivity for the duration of the steelhead run at a cost of $120,000, including the one-time cost of building a holding pen. Number 17 was released to the wild last June, after an estimated 126 fish swam back to Lake Washington to reproduce. Number 17, which at the time of its capture last year weighed 870 pounds, now weighs about 1100 pounds. It returned to Ballard Locks in early January. "Lethal removal of sea lions is a solution of last resort," said William Stelle, head of the fisheries service's Northwest regional office in Seattle. "But it is clearly the only choice remaining. The alternative is to watch the steelhead returns drop to zero." Stelle said simply removing a predatory sea lion from the locks temporarily, as was done with Number 17, isn't a practical solution. "The cost of temporarily holding a sea lion is not the major factor here," Stelle added. "Any sea lion that is captured and released -- as Number 17 has clearly demonstrated -- is only going to return next year, bigger, more experienced and harder to capture again," he said. For a decade, the fisheries service has attempted to drive away foraging sea lions at the locks, using firecrackers, underwater noises, rubber-tipped arrows and foul-tasting fish. None of these methods has worked. In 1990, six sea lions were captured and trucked to California, where they were released in coastal waters. Three of the animals returned to Puget Sound within 45 days. Scientists with the fisheries service said their chief worry is that sea lions, like Number 17, that exhibit predatory behavior and cannot be deterred by underwater-sound-making devices, will encourage less experienced sea lions to remain at the locks, forage for steelhead and ignore the underwater "acoustic barrier" that has been operating there since December. They said removing predatory animals like Number 17 would reduce the chances of future foraging behavior by other sea lions. (more) (3) The fisheries service says that although other factors may be involved in the diminishing number of adult steelhead returning to spawn, sea lion predation is the primary cause. Historically, steelhead returned to Lake Washington to spawn in substantial numbers, typically around 1,600 a year. But beginning in the mid-1980s, California sea lions started arriving at the locks and eating steelhead at an increasing rate and the size of returning runs has been declining ever since. In 1994, only 70 returning steelhead were counted at Ballard Locks, the lowest return on record. The California sea lion population, by contrast, is robust, numbering as many as 1,000 animals in Puget Sound alone, according to estimates by marine mammal biologists. California sea lions range along the entire West Coast of the United States. Their total U.S. population is thought to be more than 161,000 animals. ### ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 08:29:05 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Grounded whale full of heavy m Grounded whale full of heavy metals - Danish radio COPENHAGEN, March 19 (Reuter) - A sperm whale found dead off the Danish coast last January contained so much mercury and cadmium that its intestine had to be buried at a special dangerous waste site, local North Jutland Radio said on Tuesday. "The amount of cadmium was 20 times higher and the quantity of mercury double that normally found in fish," waste company director Leo Theander told the radio. Surprised investigators are now trying to ascertain the source of the high concentration of toxic metals and whether or not they killed the animal. The whale's intestines alone weighed 1.5 tonnes, but no details were given on its age, sex or total body weight. "It is strange and alarming, for the whale must have eaten it shortly before dying," Theander added. The mammal swam, or was washed, ashore at the northernmost tip of the Jutland peninsula, which juts into the Kattegat and Skagerrak sounds between Denmark, Sweden and Norway. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 20:20:49 -1000 From: "Paul G. Hugel" Subject: Ocean Mammal Institute/S.A.V.E. Maui In-Reply-To: <199603192329.NAA16954(\)mail.mhpcc.edu> Information on the Marine Mammal Institute as well as numerous environmental research programs operating in Maui Hawaii can be accessed from the World Wide Web. Our Silicon Graphics Server is sponsored by Maui High Performance Computing Center and Silicon Graphics S.A.V.E. Program. (Scientific Analysis and Visualization of the Environment). We have an extensive HTML archive of marine mammal websites and feature a VRML guided tour of Maui with links to environmental research and nature tour. Please post to our NetForum regarding environmental issues related to Maui Hawaii. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul G. Hugel President and Chief Executive Officer NO KA OI Foundation paul(\)mhpcc.edu (EMAIL) Maui High Performance Computing Center http://nko.mhpcc.edu (URL) 550 Lipoa Parkway 808.879.5077 (VOICE) Kihei, HI 96753 808.879.5018 (FAX) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Tue, 19 Mar 1996, Jeff Rothal wrote: > Can anyone provide me with the address of the Ocean Mammal Institute in > Lahaina, Hawaii, USA? I've checked the "standard" sources such as > _Encyclopedia of Associations_, _Research Centers Directory_, various > phone directories, World Wide Web, etc. > > Thanks in advance. > > Jeff Rothal > Alaska State Library > jeffr(\)muskox.alaska.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 10:39:52 CST From: "Wesley R. Elsberry" Subject: WWW links, from Lemus and from Elsberry Graham Clarke writes: GC>Bill Lem's Marine Mammal list which he compiled and put on the WWW GC>seems to have disappeared. Is it on the move again or is there GC>something wrong at my end? The URL I have is: GC>http://www.tiac.net/users/rhobson/Links/mmlinks.html I have a link of Bill Lemus' list at my website. The URL for Bill's list is http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/marspec/ms_blem.html However, I also have a set of lists arranged alphabetically, by subject, and by species that you might also wish to check out at http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/marspec.html I appreciate any suggestions for links not already listed, updates to current links, and advice as to old links. Please email me at welsberr(\)orca.tamu.edu. Wesley R. Elsberry, 6070 Sea Isle, Galveston TX 77554. Central Neural System BBS, 409-737-5222, 1:385/385, ANNs, GAs, Alife, AI, evolution, and more. Student in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences. http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry "was not that a beautiful song he was singing just before i took him" -m. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 15:20:26 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: workshop on dolphin/human interactions (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Toni or Jim Frohoff Summary of Workshop on Small Cetacean/Human Interactions: Research and Management 16 December 1995 Held at the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Orlando, Florida, 14-18 December 1995 Convened by: Denise Herzing, Toni Frohoff, Marcos Cesar The following presentations were given: Denise Herzing Interactions with free-ranging spotted dolphins in Bahamian waters Kathleen Dudzinski: Interactions with free-ranging spotted dolphins in Bahamian waters and free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Japan Janet Mann: Interactions with free-ranging bottlenose dolphins and dolphin feeding at Monkey Mia, Australia Toni Frohoff: Interactions with free-ranging bottlenose dolphins in Florida and Belize and bottlenose and spotted dolphins in the Bahamas Anna Barber: Interactions with spinner dolphins in Hawaii Rochel Constantine: Interactions with dusky and bottlenose dolphins in New Zealand Marcos Cesar: Interactions with a lone, sociable bottlenose dolphin in Brazil Barbara Bilgre: Interactions with a lone, sociable bottlenose dolphin in Belize Laurel Bryant: Dolphin feeding in U.S. waters Allison Smith (and Erich Hoyt- not present): Review of international regulations for small cetacean watching and swimming GOAL OF THE WORKSHOP: To address the continuum of dolphin/human interactions in the wild and to share ideas on issues, problems, and successes in research and management. Major categories addressed: Lone, sociable dolphins; groups of sociable dolphins; and feeding of wild dolphins. WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES: (1) To discuss protocols, possibilities, needs, and problems related to research on dolphin/human interactions (2) To discuss management of dolphin/human interactions - what works and what does not work (3) To create a general protocol/regulation sheet for human behavior in the presence of dolphins SELECTED POINTS ADDRESSED DURING WORKSHOP: I. RESEARCH (Objective #1) - Research on human/dolphin interactions can be conducted with the same methodological integrity as research conducted on interspecific interactions with non-human species. A. Conducting research on dolphins in the presence of human swimmers: 1) Studies of intraspecific (dolphin-dolphin) interaction/communication 2) Studies of interspecific (human-dolphin) interaction/communication 3) Methodologies/minimizing observer effects B. Studying the reactivity of dolphins to human activity: 1) Shore-based versus boat-based reactivity studies 2) Assessing short-term versus long-term effects of swimmers/vessels on dolphins 3) Assessing individual versus population effects of swimmers/vessels on dolphins 4) Reliability of behavioral criteria used to assess reactions/effects (i.e., variables such as individual behaviors and activity levels, as well as school size, activity, composition, and socialization). 5) What reactions (positive/negative), do we see from sociable interactions (physical-, behavioral-, habitat-related)? 6) Methodologies/minimizing observer effects C. Important data to collect/research opportunities/research needs 1) Studying dolphins with and without the presence of people 2) Studying interactive dolphin behavior with and without provisioning (when provisioning is already underway) 3) Studying dolphin behavior before swim programs are implemented, then after implementation 4) Examining longitudinal behavioral changes II. MANAGEMENT (Objective #2) A. Undesirable dolphin behaviors: 1) Aggression and sexual behaviors directed towards humans (management through modification of human behavior) B. Undesirable human behaviors: 1) Overzealous/problematic swimmers and boaters a) Management options may include: on-site education, enforcement of human behavior, public/media education, and local government involvement which includes provision of logistical and financial assistance b) In monitored areas, training/educational programs for operators and managers may be equally, if not more important than public education c) Enforcement may be more important than public education as education does not seem to be very effective d) Of all types of vessels, jet skis appear to be particularly problematic C. Protocols for swimmer/boater - dolphin interactions (Objective #3) Most regulations for cetacean/human interactions have been designed for large whales, but guidelines for small cetaceans are becoming more needed as program popularity increases. Some participants said that regulations are not helpful and do not effectively control people, nor could they endorse the interactions. There was a general consensus that educating people does not really work; that you need to have people on boat or on shore to monitor/regulate/enforce. Others said that operators could control people, especially with respect to where/when to put people in the water with dolphins. The majority expressed a need to have legislative back up for regulations so that regulations can be effectively enforced. There was some dispute within the group regarding whether or not regulations for in-water interactions with dolphins were appropriate and effective. 1) Overview of guidelines for appropriate human behavior/activity in the presence of dolphins used previously by others. a. Guidelines which have been useful (i.e. recommendations for boat operators regarding boat operation and placement of swimmers in the water) b. Guidelines which have not been useful (i.e. those which cannot be enforced) 2) Identification and drafting of a set of general guidelines for human/dolphin interactions by workshop attendees NOTE ON THE PROVISIONING OF DOLPHINS WITH FOOD The dangers of provisioning free-ranging dolphins with food was discussed. Attendees expressed concerns that these dangers appear to extend well beyond other types of dolphin/human interactions. Examples encountered in feeding terrestrial wildlife were given (e.g., bears). It was also stated that dolphin feeding occurs more predictably and selectively than most other types of interactions and therefore may be terminated more realistically through enforcement, given appropriate legislative and financial backing. Consequently, provisioned interactions were not addressed in the same manner as other types of interactions and no guidelines were discussed. ETHICS Under what conditions, if any, that interacting with wild dolphins is acceptable was discussed. Some attendees stated that all formal public observation of dolphins should be restricted to shore-based or incidental observations to avoid presenting unavoidable risks to the dolphins. Others stated that boat-based (e.g. dolphin/whale watching) and/or in-water observations and interactions were acceptable given that all possible precautions are taken. Because of the increasing popularity of swimming with dolphins and the extensive historical record of such interactions, the feasibility of prohibiting all such interactions was questioned. Consequently, there was some agreement that developing guidelines for operators, managers, and the public may at least help to mitigate risks, given that the development and dissemination of guidelines was not used as an endorsement of interactive activities. What was generally agreed upon was that the many unique characteristics of different delphinid societies, such as habitat and habitat use, species, gender, age, social composition, as well as seasonality and daily activity, should all be considered in assessment, regulation, and monitoring of dolphin/human interactions. Consequently, research in these areas can contribute to protection of dolphins who may regularly interact with humans. QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED: This workshop definitely raised many more questions than it answered. Some of these include the following: 1) What is the difference between controlled swim-with-the-dolphin programs and dolphin/whale watching in terms of effects to the dolphins? 2) When/where/under what conditions (if ever) is interaction with dolphins acceptable/not acceptable? 3) What is the potential for infections/disease transmission? 4) What research methodologies and methods of analysis are most appropriate? Note: Many of the workshop attendees had extensive expertise in the area of sociable dolphin/human interactions. We recommend that additional workshops allow for extensive time to allow for increased attendee participation. Bibliography: A bibliography of human/dolphin interactions can be obtained via email. Send requests to: frohoff(\)netcom.com. Guidelines: These guidelines are the result of a review of existing guidelines used around the world and to some extent, general agreement among attendees who supported the use of guidelines in regulating dolphin/human interactions. Drafting and dissemination of these guidelines does not condone interactive programs and should not imply that all workshop attendees support these guidelines. Guidelines can be somewhat general but also need to be specifically tailored relative to different people and delphinid species, age and gender, habitats (e.g. shallow or pelagic), local laws, and any other unique characteristics of dolphins. A copy of an international summary of protocols is available through A. Smith and E. Hoyt. Send request to: 100327.1067(\)compuserve.com In Water Guidelines: Small number of people to dolphins in the water No entering water abruptly if dolphin nearby Keep activity minimal, especially if dolphin becomes excited No loud or sudden noises or movements No touching dolphin If touch inevitable (i.e. situation which are not monitored), warn not to touch blowhole, eyes/face, genital region, flippers, dorsal fin, flukes, and not to wrap arms around or restrict dolphin movement in any way. Never chase dolphin Leave immediately if dolphin exhibits sexual or agonistic behavior directed at humans. No presentation of inorganic objects or rope Absolutely no feeding No flash from camera No sunscreen/repellent/jewelry Boat Operator Guidelines: No sudden increase or decrease of speed No cast fishing lines or setting nets nearby Twin engine/screws - do not operate in opposite directions Watch for dolphin before engaging in gear Do not cut off dolphins (i. e. no leap-frogging to get ahead of animals); parallel or behind follows are recommended Do not travel faster than dolphins Do not permit more than one boat near group of dolphins in order to minimize underwater acoustic disturbance. Workshop participants: There were approximately 65 attendees at the workshop with various interests and experience in researching or managing human/dolphin interactions. Special Thanks: To the Marine Mammal Society for providing the opportunity and facility for convening this workshop. Further inquires/ideas: Convenors: Herzing: wilddolphin(\)igc.apc.org Frohoff: frohoff(\)netcom.com. Cesar: marcosos(\)usp.br ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Mar 1996 16:52:00 -0500 From: Michael Williamson Subject: WhaleNet Ed Program Overview WhaleNet WhaleNet is an educational program to enhance interest in science and math education using actual research data and information. WhaleNet is funded by the National Science Foundation. We presently have contacts in over 70 countries and average about 10,000 hits a day. Please take a few moments to review this sheet and visit our WhaleNet site at http://whale.simmons.edu We are always in the process of improvement, so PLEASE CONTACT US >if you want to participate and contribute data and/or information, >if you have whale related educational materials in Spanish or French we are making a parallel Spanish and French WhaleNet pages, >if you want more information. WHALENET INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION Expand Your Educational Horizons with Telecommunications ------------------------------------------------------------ WhaleNet in conjunction with research groups, educational organizations,and whale watch companies, provides a program to enhance the educational opportunities of students in all 50 states, 70 countries, and 9 provinces in Canada. We average 10,000 hits a day. WhaleNet offers, students and teachers, curriculum resources and support, a source of data for interdisciplinary classroom activities , and interactive informational support through WhaleNet/EnviroNet using telecommunications. The use of WhaleNet is free. WhaleNet established Internet communication between researchers and students from around the world so that they can share and use research data, collaborative learning, and personal field experiences to enhance their educationand interest in science. WhaleNet provides a system where students, teachers, and researchers collect and then compile their data on the WhaleNet server. The data is then shared, via WhaleNet, with schools for interdisciplinary curricular activities and student research in their respective classrooms world-wide. WhaleNet is an interdisciplinary program to enhance science education and environmental awareness using telecommunications. WhaleNet, part of EnviroNet, is an enhancement project funded by the National Science Foundation and sponsored by Wheelock College and Simmons College in Boston. Class activities may be supplemented with information and materials made available through WhaleNet. Plans to build a life-sized (55 ft.) inflatable whale that the students can actually walk through are available through W haleNet. Also available are Interactive CD-ROM and curriculum materials and the Elementary Whale Study Curriculum (EWSC) developed by Whale Conservation Institute and the Discovery Channel, and the booklets Whale Watches as Interdisciplinary Teaching Opportunities The World of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises -- Interdisciplinary Curriculum Activities for Pre-K through High School, and Marine Science Activities on a Budget. WhaleNet curricula support continues through the winter months by utilizing information from the humpback southern breeding areas, WCI Patagonia right whale research, and research information on tracking whales, ocean toxics (ECOTOX), and bioacoustics supplied by the voyages of the WCI research vessel Odyssey. WhaleNet: http://whale.simmons.edu If you are interested in receiving more information, participating in the program, or learning more you can contact: Michael Williamson WhaleNet Coordinator, Wheelock College, 200 Riverway, Boston, MA 02215 at 617/734-5200, X256, Fax 617/566-7369, or Paul Colombo EnviroNet, Park Science Bldg., Simmons College, 300 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, 617/521-2665. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 20:14:57 +0000 From: IVHA3(\)cc.uab.es Organization: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Subject: barotrauma in cetaceans I am not the person who diagnosed barotrauma un the whale, but I diagnosed tensinal pneumothorax (which may be considered a form of barotrauma) in two striped dolphins in the mediterranean sea. Pneumothorax was unilateral, the lung of that side being not only collapsed, but also compressed due to the pressure of air accumulated in the pleural space. By opening the pleural cavity the air escaped with pressure. Tha lung was collapsed and did not sink in fixative (had very low content of air. In both cases, a perforation of the pulmonary pleural membrane was demonstrated, but the cause of it was not clearly apparent. I presented these two cases at a workshop on cetacean lung pathology in Lisabon last week. I believe that diving is important in causing this pneumothorax to be a tensional one. If the air comes inside the thoracic cavity during diving, the volume of this air can increase enough when the dolphi n return to the surface, to generate pressure in the pleural cavity. Mariano Domingo, Dept of Pathology Veterinary Faculty of Barcelona (Spain) domingo(\)cc.uab.es ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 20:03:04 +0100 From: Ellipse Marine Subject: Mar mam footage We are planing a documentary on dolphins. To achieve the preparationof one sequence, we are missing ARCHIVES FOOTAGE (from early 60's to our days)of dolphins or any marine mamal involved in BIONIC EXPERIMENTS AND MILITARY OPERATIONS U.S or Russian. The images must show the animal in situation, either tests or training like : torpedo recovery, speed test, animals carying devices, working with divers ...etc. We will, of course buy these images. Please note that we can onlly answer to propositions mailed to the following E.MAIL: 101356.1467(\)compuserve.com Thank you for your help. Best. Jill Rachael STEIGER Head of Research ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 10:18:00 -0400 From: Jenny Christal Subject: mapping marine mammal sightings Hi, I'm trying to find a simple and reasonably inexpensive method of producing sightings maps. I have GPS positions for sperm whale sightings around the Galapagos Islands, and would like to have a system which enables me to select a specific area (as small as a one degree square) and superimpose relevant sightings positions. What I'm aiming for is the sort of clear crisp image suitable for figures for publication/slides etc. I'm sure a lot of marine mammal researchers out there have experimented with different mapping systems. Does anyone have any suggestions for the best software to use, and where it is available? I'd also like to find a source for detailed digitised maps. Please reply directly to me and not to the list. Thanks, Jenny Christal christal(\)is.dal.ca Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia CANADA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 07:53:18 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Mexico and IATTC Observer Program - Query Marmam Group: I'm trying to confirm or refute a rumor I heard yesterday that the Mexican tuna industry has pulled out of the voluntary IATTC observer program. Anyone have any more details or background? Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 10:16:38 MET+DST From: TRAUT(\)cip.physik.uni-oldenburg.de Organization: Univ. of Oldenburg Physics Faculty Subject: Dr.Limpscomb,Dr.Geraci Sorry about that request but I tried every other source in vain. Does anybody know the e-mail or snail-mail address of Dr. Limpscomp and Dr. Geraci (USA or Canada; working on mobillivirus)? Thanks and have a good day, Ilona please answer direct to: TRAUT(\)cip.physik.uni-oldenburg.de ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 08:57:45 +0100 From: Erik Egren Subject: Walrus water salinity Being an occasional external consulting vet to a zoo in Sweden, I get a few questions from the curators I can4t answer straight away. The problem of the moment is planning for a temporary holding of walrus in transit (number and age not known yet)in an enclosure now being used for grey seals. Also the same water/filter system is used in an adjoining pool holding penguins. The major question asked is: What is the minimum water salinity % in a walrus pool? (to avoid corneal edema etc.) Considering the brackish water in the Baltic where our seals come from, salinity% probably has to be raised, but is there a "minimum" %? A quick look at available references give 2.5-3.5% salinity as a desired range. (The aspects of quarantine and suitable health check-ups have not been discussed yet, but comments on that too is welcome) You may respond directly to the e-mail adress below. A summary will be posted when results have been compiled. Erik Aagren, DVM National Veterinary Institute Department of Pathology Uppsala, Sweden E-mail: Erik.Agren(\)sva.se Phone: +46 18 674 000 Fax: +46 18 674 364 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 09:59:38 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 3/22/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Mar. 16, 1996, 52 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County -- sixteen since Mar. 12; cause of dead of the apparently healthy adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed bacterial pneumonia in many animals. By Mar. 18, 1996, manatee mortalities appeared to have ceased. [Assoc Press, personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 13:33:42 PST From: Damon Job Subject: international marine dumping law On: Date: Tue, 19 Mar 1996 06:06:04 -0800 >From: David Williams >Subject: 150 Shipping Containers Adrift in the N. Atlantic! Dear MARMAMers; _________ edited for brevity - DAJ____ >Shouldn't there be international laws in place concerning the carrying >of containers filled with dangerous chemicals on the open decks of >vessels? It would seem that anyone wishing to dispose of millions of .............................. >Captain D. Williams >Moby Dick Society, Inc. >davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com ______________________________________________________________ Well, there is an international law realting to prevention of pollution from ships. The Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973. Enforcement is the problem! ***************************************** Damon A. Job Environmental Research Manager (Marine Mammalogist) Environment and Natural Resources Information Center (ENRIC) Datex, Inc. 2201 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22201 **************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 14:45:06 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Florida manatees -Forwarded I'll send copies of newswire stories. Can others suggest helpful contacts for this fellow, please. Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Received: by mail06.mail.aol.com (8.6.12/8.6.12) id OAA04961 for gbuck(\)crs.loc.g ov; Fri, 22 Mar 1996 14:36:03 -0500 Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 14:36:03 -0500 From: JOwen82504(\)aol.com Message-ID: <960322143603_174961267(\)mail06> To: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Subject: Florida manatees My name is Jonathan Owen, I am a freelance journalist and have been commissioned to write an article about the recent manatee deaths for BBC Wildlife Magazine in the UK. My deadline is in a few days so I would be grateful if you could email me asap with any contact no's/email addresses for useful sources of information and comment for this story. Thanks Jonathan Owen ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 13:06:30 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: northern fur seal up river--correction (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Ichiro.Kawabe(\)F2.hines.hokudai.ac.jp >March 13, in Japan. >Fuji television broadcasted that one northern fur seal ran up about 100 km >on Tone gawa river . >I saw the northern fur seal is about few years old on TV. > >Division of Marine Ecology >Research Institute of North Pacific Fisheries >Faculty of Fisheries >Hokkaido University >Ichiro Kawabe >kawa(\)f2.hines.hokudai.ac.jp Another newspaper has reported that someone caught the animal from near the ocean, then took it to his home near the Tonegawa river, and then the fur seal ran away. Ichiro Kawabe kawa(\)f2.hines.hokudai.ac.jp ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 12:49:14 PST From: Hilary Staatz Subject: More Questions about manatees I teach a year long marine biology and oceanography class. In February, I had the chance to teach a section on manatees. I than took a group down to Crystal River in Florida to snorkel with manatees. I have done quite a bit of research on manatees and I have read Reynolds and Odell's book on Manatees and Dugongs. Below is a list of questions on manatees that I could not find the answers. If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would appreciate it. Also if you have any great articles on manatees, I could always use them. Thank You!!! Hilary Staatz email:Staatzh(\)ccmail.orst.edu Exploring Our Oceans Web site: http://www.orst.edu/instruct/oc199 109 Kidder Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97333 1. Can you sex a manatee skeleton? (Do females have a wider ribcage?) 2. Do manatees have a jacoson organ? (dogs, cats, humans, etc have one) 3. Do manatees have known tastebuds? 4. What are thelumps that I saw on the manatees front flippers? 5. When twins are born, do they both survive? 6. How does a manatee's system handle the fresh & saltwater changes? 7. What about the way they deal with stress? -What are the signs of stress? -Does tagging stress them? 8. Do manatees show and behariors in greiving for a dead calf? 9. What kind of diseases, parasites do they have? 10. Have researchers tried wire around a propellor, to cause less damage to manatees. I appreciate your help! Hilary ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 16:00:57 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Dolphin slaughter in Peru (fwd) Forwarded message: From: annelise(\)direct.ca (Coalition for No Whales in Captivity) Dear Marmamers: Following is a press release written by a group fighting to stop the killing and public display of dolphins in Peru. I was born and raised in Lima and I remember the abundance of dolphins that existed off the coast = of Peru. You could see them just sitting on the beach! I urge you to help. For more information please contact Nina Pardo directly at her e-mail address: dolphins(\)amauta.rcp.net.pe Many thanks. Annelise Sorg Coalition for No Whales in Captivity 8636 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 5A1 Tel: (604) 266-3900 Fax: (604) 266-1120 e-mail: annelise(\)direct.= ca March 21, 1996 DOLPHINS ARE STILL BEING KILLED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION We are CRUZADA POR LA VIDA(Crusade for Life) a non-profit association whi= ch goal is to protect and defend species that are considered vulnerable. We have been working on a Campaign to Save the Dolphins ,along the coast of Peru, from continuous butchery. High captures of dolphins has been registered over the last 20 years, specially in the last 8 years until 19= 94. The scientific data from port surveys (*) done between the years 1991 and 1993 showed a total mortality of an estimated of 15,000 to 20,000 small cetaceans, this does not include, turtles, dolphins and purpoises killed = in drift nets.The slow reproduction cycle and high mortality rate puts this species in danger. Our campaign has created pressure. Nowadays, the killing is done late at night, the organs are extracted from the animal inside the boat, the head and skeleton are thrown into the sea, and the meat, inside dark bags, is carried to the markets where it is sold immediately at sunrise. This situation makes it impossible to carry on monitor activities. Thus, = at this moments it is difficult to have an accurate number of deaths per day= . A clandestine market has emerged; this situation can only be stopped by the authorities in charge. CRUZADA POR LA VIDA is calling for stronger enforcement of the law and increase research. The campaign focuses on two basic issues: (1) The ilegal commerce of dolphin meat, known under the names of "Mucham= e" and "Sea Pig" (2) The problem of Captivity. (1) DO NOT EAT DOLPHINS ! The method used in the killing of these animals USED TO BE by net, harpoo= n and/or beating. When brought alive to port, paper and plastic bags were forced in their blowholes to asphyxiate them. The throat was cut and they bled to death. The Peruvian government passed a law in November 1990 that prohibits the extraction, process and commercialization of cetaceans, but the fishermen continued to kill them. For this reason we planned and organized this campaign.Crusade for Life is working not only to establish stronger legislation but also to make it effective. Peru is one of the few countries in the world where dolphins are killed f= or human consumption. We have other alternative food sources at the same pri= ce or cheaper with great nutritional value. As the problem is based on supply and demand, our objective is to educate the consumer. We feel the killing will stop when the people of Peru are educated on this issue. (*) Explotaci=F3n Ilegal de Peque=F1os Cet=E1ceos en Peru -survey done fo= r the United Nations Environment Program Unit between the years 1991 and 1993. (2) THANKS BUT NO TANKS ! We are also working against the captivity of these marine mammals. There = is a luxury hotel here in Lima, the "Dolphin Hotel" still under construction= by an important economic group of Peru, GREMCO, as its main attraction, they are building a tank for two dolphins. Peruvian law prohibits the "commercialization of cetaceans", concequently they are not allow to capt= ure dolphins from Peruvian water. So this group is going to bring dolphins fr= om Cuba. There are several reasons for avoiding this kind of abusive project: 1) More than 50 % of the dolphins die in the first 24 months of captivity. 2) The drastic diminishing of their life span. Captivity kills. 3) The quality of their life is diminished. 4) The nearly imposible reproduction, and low probability of surviving of the calf. 5) The negative repercusion of the exercise of its innated qualities. The use of their echolocation sonar system in a concrete and steel tank resul= ts in great confusion and stress. 6) The capture of more dolphins from the wild to meet the commercial need= s from the captivite industry. 7) Captive dolphin shows are a form of bad education 8) The captures conseriously disrupt the group structure and coherence. 9) Other kinds of cruelty free entertaintments should be explored for Pe= ru. There is great potential for the development of ecoturism activities, tha= t will permit us to appreciate these animals in their natural habitat. Peru has never before had a captive marine mammal industry. Moreover the precedence that this project could establish is very dangero= us and must be stopped. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE PERU A DOLPHIN SAFE COUNTRY. We sent letters to President Fujimori with more than 7,000 signatures of Peruvian citizens demanding him to interfere in the construction of this project and to stop the killing of dolphins. Unfortunatetly our country h= as a vast history of corruption and little or none interest in this kind of problems. Undoubtly letters from International Institutions will make greater pressure. Richard O'Barry was in Peru and is serving as volunteer consultant to Cruzada por la Vida. He is requesting that all dolphin protectionist's fa= x letters of protest to President Alberto Fujimori. President Alberto Fujimori Care of Cruzada por la VidaFax: (511) 440- 23 99 Your letter will be hand-delivered to President Fujimori. This is an URGE= NT ACTION ALERT. PLEASE RESPOND. PLEASE NETWORK Asociacion Cruzada por la Vida Olga Rey de Michell - President/ Nina Pardo - Campaign Co-ordinator Fax: (511) 440-2399 Phone: (511) 442-5741 E-mail: dolphins(\)amauta.rcp.net.pe Mail address: Av.Pardo y Aliaga 689 Lima 27 - PERU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Mar 1996 16:04:28 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Problems with IATTC (fwd) Forwarded message: From: kenyarb(\)igc.apc.org (Ken Yarborough) March 4, 1996 PROBLEMS WITH S.1420 (STEVENS/BREAUX) AND H.R.2823 (GILCHREST/CUNNINGHAM)= : IATTC -- TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS TURNING OVER DOLPHIN JURISDICTION TO THE INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION (IATTC), QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS FOREIGN INDUSTRY-DOMINATED BODY ABOUND MARK PALMER/EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE 1. THE IATTC IS ALMOST TOTALLY FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THOUGH U.S. TUNA FISHING VESSELS HAVE LARGELY LEFT THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC (ETP) OCEAN. =20 In 1995, the U.S. represented only 18 purse-seine fishing vessels of a total of 168 vessels, but contributed $2,734,000 of the IATTC=B9s total budget of over $3 million. Percentage-wise, the U.S. fleet only represented 9.3% of the total number of fishing vessels but paid over 90% of the IATTC bills! The estimated U.S. catch of tuna in the ETP for 1995 was 35,213 short tons, only 8.2% of the total estimated catch of 430,109 short tons. In 1994, only Japan ($262,761), France ($17,501), Nicaragua ($500), Panama ($500), and Vanuatu ($500) contributed funding to the IATTC. Major beneficiaries of S.1420 and H.R.2823 such as Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela paid nothing. 2. MAJOR FISHING COUNTRIES IN THE ETP ARE NOT EVEN MEMBERS OF THE IATTC.= =20 By far the largest fleet in the ETP are Mexican flag vessels (51 purse seine vessels), yet Mexico quit the IATTC in 1978. Mexico has contributed no funding to the IATTC. Colombia, with 10 such vessels, has never joined, nor contributed in 1994 to the IATTC. Neither S.1420 nor H.R.2823 even require that Mexico and other nations be members of the IATTC to benefit from lifted tuna embargoes=20 and less stringent dolphin protections. The legislation only suggests these nations =B3take steps to become members=B2 of the IATTC. 3. THE IATTC IS A FISHING INDUSTRY COMMISSION, NOT A CONSERVATION COMMIS= SION. The IATTC was established to allocate tuna in the ETP to the many countries fishing in the ETP. It was never intended to protect the environment, nor is it equipped to protect the environment. First negotiated in 1950 between the U.S. and Costa Rica, dolphin protection concerns were not even addressed by the IATTC until 1976, although problems with purse seining killing upwards of 300,000 dolphins each year were documented in the late 1960=B9s. The U.S. responded to the problem with the passage of the Marine Mammal Protect Act in 1972, and has continued to take action in the face of IATTC inaction. The 1994 Annual Report of the IATTC lists four responsibilities for th= e dolphin program -- all of which only require =B3monitoring=B2, =B3study,=B2 =B3analyzing data,=B2 =B3making recommendations,=B2 and =B3encouraging fi= shermen to adopt fishing techniques which minimize the mortalities of dolphins.=B2 = In other words, the IATTC is a scientific information organization, not an enforceable/legally binding regime that protects dolphins. 4. THE IATTC'S CONCERNS FOR BYCATCH IN THE ETP IS PHONY. In its 45-year history, the IATTC has never instituted measures to limit bycatch. It has failed to require the live release of sea turtles caught in purse seine nets. (Most turtles do not die in the nets; they are killed by the boat crews for food.) If the IATTC were truly concerned with reducing bycatch, it could recommend requirements to curtail the number of in-shore log sets, where by far the highest bycatch occurs. The IATTC has completely failed to do so. If the IATTC were truly concerned with reducing the tuna bycatch, it would institute area and time closures on log sets to protect the juvenil= e tuna, as is commonly done in other fisheries. Only when the IATTC determined it could use the bycatch issue in its attempt to reverse progress on adoption of dolphin-safe practices, did it ever bring up the bycatch issue. =20 5. THE IATTC HAS NO ENFORCEMENT POWERS. The IATTC recommends to member nations sanctions against violators of dolphin protection recommendations. However, in the history of the IATTC= , no fines or license suspensions have ever occurred in connection with recommendations of the IATTC. For example, in 1994, 516 infractions were recorded by the IATTC among fishing vessels in the ETP. 81 of these infractions were considere= d =B3major=B2, with recommended fines ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 per = major infraction. Not one fine was collected by any country for these infractions. The IATTC is toothless -- the Panama Declaration and its implementing legislation (S.1420 and H.R.2823) reinforce the lack of enforcement by leaving fines, license suspensions and other sanctions up to individual IATTC member and non-member countries.=20 6. DATA ON IMPORTANT ISSUES, SUCH AS BYCATCH OF SPECIES, IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE IATTC. Recent requests for historical data on observations of bycatch in the ETP recorded by the IATTC have been frustrated -- the IATTC states that the data (data that was gathered primarily with U.S. funding) will not be available for at least six months. Even the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service reports that it does not have access to the data on bycatch. DON=B9T BE FOOLED! OPPOSE S.1420 AND H.R.2823,=20 THE DOLPHIN DEATH BILLS TO BAIL OUT MEXICO=B9S FAILED FISHERIES --=20 Ken Yarborough Earth Island Institute A non-profit environmental group in San Francisco ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 13:49:15 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Stranded dolphin in Israel Shalom fellow MARMAMers: Yesterday, 22 March 1996, a stranded dolpin was sighted 3 kilometers north of Mikmoret (towards Caesaria) on a rocky coast by workers from the Nature Authorities. By the time IMMRAC (Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center) and the Ministry of Environment were notified, the dolphin had died. It was a still-suckling calf, Tursiops truncatus, approximately 5-8 months old (174 cm length), and appeared to be in good condition with 2-3 cm of blubber. It had new scars on its flippers (probably due to the stranding). It also had an inexplicable scar on its dorsal fin and an autopsy revealed that it had fluid (edema) in its lungs, local spots of degeneration on its liver, and white spots on its kidneys. No internal parasites were found. Brain tissue was saved for later analysis and samples were sent off for testing of heavy metal, PCB, etc. contamination. It still had milk in its stomach, but we sighted no female dolphin nearby. Dr. Alon Levi from Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture conducted the autopsy. If anyone has seen similar things in stranded dolphins in their area, please let us know. Thank you. Sincerely, Oz Goffman, IMMRAC Center for Maritime Studies University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 09:53:15 -0800 From: marmamed(\)UVic.CA Subject: Whales, Salt, and Salinas in Mexico (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Serge L Dedina To: ENVIRONMENT IN LATIN AMERICA NETWORK , CLAGNET , "U of A, Latin American Studies" , marmam THE SALINAS IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: THE THIRD PARTNER by Homero Aridjis (Note: This is an English version of an article which first appeared in Reforma, Mexico City, March 10, 1996. Homero Aridjis is president of the Grupo de los Cien Internacional). For nine years Francisco Guzman Lazo served as general director of Exportadora de Sal, S.A., (ESSA, a joint venture 51% owned by the Mexican government and 49% by Mitsubishi Corporation) and for seven years as president of Baja Bulk Carriers, the Liberian-flagged company which does all the deep- sea shipping to Japan, the United States and Canada of salt produced in Guerrero Negro. He has now voiced his concern about the mysterious "third partner" in the "Salitrales de San Ignacio" project. This new saltworks, which was first proposed by ESSA during Carlos Salinas de Gortari's presidency, would be built at the most pristine of the gray whale calving lagoons in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The project would violate existing Mexican laws, because San Ignacio Lagoon is located within the Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve --Latin America's largest protected natural area --, which was established by Mexico in 1988, Based on his broad knowledge of the production methods and productive potential of the existing saltworks at Guerrero Negro, of deep-sea salt shipping, commercial distribution channels, and the nature of supply and demand in the international markets ESSA serves, Guzman Lazo has concluded that THERE IS NO NEED FOR A NEW SALTWORKS IN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR. On the occasion of a public hearing on the project held on February 29 in La Paz, BCS, by the National Institute of Ecology (INE), he called both environmental impact studies -- the original EIS rejected by INE on February 27, 1995, and the new EIS commissioned by ESSA -- "superfluous and costly technical-scientific exercises" In two letters addressed to Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo he has urged the project's cancellation, warning that if it is carried out ESSA's liquidity will suffer, the only public sector company in Mexico which has operated since 1975 without loans, transfers or subsidies will go into debt, needless environmental damage will be caused in a large area around San Ignacio, the volume of salt produced for international markets will increase unnecessarily, provoking a price war among producers, pushing prices downwards and upsetting the stability of ESSA's traditional markets, and the company will inevitably return to its pre-1975 unprofitable condition. Moreover, he has pointed out that "There is no market for the excess salt which would be produced at "Salitrales de San Ignacio," as Japan's salt imports from all its suppliers have remained virtually stationary since 1991, and Mexican exports to Japan have even tended to diminish. ESSA's sales over the past 18 years totalled 92.63 million tons, averaging 5.15 million tons a year, while its annual production capacity is above 6 million tons, leaving sufficient reserves to cover any occasional additional demand. Also, the delivered price of Mexican salt in Japan went down from 3,818 yens a ton in 1991 to 2,508 yens a ton in 1995, a reduction of 35%. Guzman Lazo is convinced that neither of ESSA's two shareholders would be willing to put up the $120 million for "Salitrales de San Ignacio." A source at the Mexican Commerce Secretariat (SECOFI) recently told him that its deputy in ESSA, a trust known as Fideicomiso de Fomento Minero which promotes mining in Mexico, will not underwrite ESSA's expansion plans. Mitsubishi would become majority shareholder if the Corporation were to finance the new saltworks, but it is more to Mitsubishi's advantage for the Mexican government to be majority owner as the government takes care of any financial, social or labor problems which may arise. What Mitsubishi wants is to have the salt in Japan. For strategic reasons Japan cannot depend on a sole source of supply, and other Japanese companies have sea salt ventures in Australia. Mitsubishi's only reason for accepting the project would be to drive down the price of salt. Guzman Lazo argues that putting the company into debt to receive marginal negative profits is unthinkable. nor is there any reason to share the annual net profit of $20 million which ESSA's two partners now receive from its $86 million sales with a third partner who, as majority shareholder, would be entitled to the lion's share of the returns. The arrival of a third partner would mean the government's loss of control over the company and reduce the income from taxes and substantial dividends it has been receiving for the past 20 years. Control would also be lost over a pivotal part of the Baja California peninsula which is vital to national security and sovereignty. A number of questions spring to mind: Who is the third partner and why is he eager to invest $120 million in a project that won't work? Who has $120 million handy in the midst of a nationwide economic crisis? In their eagerness to do business and jeopardize the gray whale, the Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve and the local fishermen, are Mitsubishi and the Mexican government willing to take money of doubtful provenance and further damage their reputations? Does Mitsubishi want to commit hara-kiri at San Ignacio? Is ESSA planning to ultimately replace the existing saltworks at Guerrero Negro with the new one at San Ignacio, causing irreparable environmental harm and turning Guerrero Negro and Isla de Cedros (site of the terminal for shipping salt to Japan) into ghost towns? What will happen after the government has handed over 100,000 hectares to ESSA, turning a large part of the Reserve into a no-man's-land where trucks, ships and planes come and go at will? In the March 1 issue of Reforma, this area is identified as part of a major drug-running route. Cocaine is dropped at Guerrero Negro, to be moved north to Ensenada and Tijuana, on the American border. According to El Financiero (February 15, 1996), one of Mexico's "black holes," where low-flying planes are not picked up by radar, is located "at the meeting-point of the states of Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur, in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon -- the famous gray whale sanctuary ---, Guerrero Negro and part of the Vizcaino Desert." The Mexican government would also do well to clarify whether the fishpacking plant on Isla de Cedros, which formerly belonged to the state-owned Productos Pesqueros Mexicanos, was bought by Raul Salinas de Gortari or anyone else associated with him, and to investigate whether ESSA has been a consultant to the 50,000 tons-a year salt-producing operation on Isla del Carmen, widely believed to be owned by Raul Salinas. Under what circumstances were Raul Salinas de Gortari and his family photographed standing on one of ESSA's crystallization ponds, wearing windbreakers and caps emblazoned with the ESSA logo (Actual, October 1995)?. Guzman Lazo believes the final say on ESSA's expansion project is beyond the scope of SECOFI and SEMARNAP. It has become a matter for the Defense and Interior Secretariats. There are reasons to believe that more than salt (that not only salt) will be laundered at San Ignacio Lagoon. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 09:45:42 +0100 From: Camerman Barbara Subject: Re: Grounded whale full of heavy m In-Reply-To: <199603201635.RAA06812(\)resu1.ulb.ac.be> from "r.mallon1(\)genie.com" at Mar 20, 96 08:29:05 am > > Grounded whale full of heavy metals - Danish radio > > COPENHAGEN, March 19 (Reuter) - A sperm whale found dead off > the Danish coast last January contained so much mercury and > cadmium that its intestine had to be buried at a special > dangerous waste site, local North Jutland Radio said on Tuesday. > "The amount of cadmium was 20 times higher and the quantity > of mercury double that normally found in fish," waste company > director Leo Theander told the radio. > Surprised investigators are now trying to ascertain the > source of the high concentration of toxic metals and whether or > not they killed the animal. > The whale's intestines alone weighed 1.5 tonnes, but no > details were given on its age, sex or total body weight. > "It is strange and alarming, for the whale must have eaten > it shortly before dying," Theander added. > The mammal swam, or was washed, ashore at the northernmost > tip of the Jutland peninsula, which juts into the Kattegat and > Skagerrak sounds between Denmark, Sweden and Norway. > Dear marmam subscribers, Would anybody have more informations concerning this event? I am interested in the cadmium and mercury concentrations, the age and the total body weight of the whale. Any other informations concerning Cd and Hg pollution in marine mammals would also be welcome. Thanck you in advance for your help, barbara CAMERMAN Barbara ULB-Fac.des Sciences Service de Chimie Organique Physique 50 av F.D.Roosevelt - CP 160-08 B-1050 Bruxelles Belgium tel:(32 2) 650.37.87 fax:(32 2) 650.27.98 email:bcamerma(\)ulb.ac.be ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 10:39:32 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Latin American Briefs Latin American Briefs By The Associated Press LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Congress has passed a law making it a crime -- punishable by up to three years in jail -- to kill dolphins and porpoises swimming in Peruvian waters. The law, pushed by environmental groups, covers the catching of dolphins or porpoises, as well as the processing or selling of their meat. The Peruvian organization Crusade for Life, a dolphin protection group, says that an average of 76 dolphins a day are killed off the Pacific coast of Peru. Peruvian fishermen hunt them for their meat, which either is served like steak or dried and served as an appetizer. Although dolphin hunting was already prohibited by Fishing Ministry regulations, the new measure, if signed by President Alberto Fujimori, would strengthen enforcement. The Peruvian Center for Cetacean Studies says that of 46 species of dolphins and porpoises in the world, 18 are found in Peruvian waters. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 10:39:46 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Dolphin Crusader Dolphin Crusader RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- A Venezuelan biologist whose video of mass dolphin killings bolstered support for an American ban on tuna but led to criminal charges against him has fled to Brazil. Aiser Agudo had been in hiding for two years before slipping out of Venezuela last month on a Caribbean cruise ship, helped by an American couple he would not name. He landed on the island of Aruba on February 28. A few days later, his two daughters arrived, and he fled to Brazil with Saida Elina, 1, and Saida Esther, 6. "I am not giving up," Agudo told reporters in Porto Alegre, 1,000 miles southwest of Rio, when he arrived March 15. "I am determined to continue this struggle against the Venezuelan massacre of dolphins." News of his arrival was embargoed until Sunday, so Agudo's request for refugee status could be presented to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. It could take a month before the biologist wins the refugee status that would allow him to ask for political asylum in Brazil. Agudo said Venezuelan authorities wanted to "suffocate" protests against the killing of dolphins that takes place off Venezuela's eastern coast. The biologist documented his charges of the slaughter in a six-minute video filmed on Venezuela's eastern Paria peninsula in 1993. He estimated at least 12 dolphins a month were killed by every fisherman on the country's eastern coast. The indiscriminate killing led the United States to impose an embargo on Venezuelan tuna. Dolphins are found along with schools of tuna and are easily trapped and killed in nets. The meat is then used to lure sharks, which are widely eaten in Venezuela. In 1994, Agudo and fellow biologist Aldemiro Romero were charged with "ecological crimes," and warrants were issued for their arrest. Romero fled to Miami but Agudo went into hiding. Agudo's wife, Saida Josefina Blonder, died of a heart attack last April while the family was in hiding at a rural site far from doctors, Jair Krischke of the Brazilian Movement For Justice and Human Rights said Sunday. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 10:45:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: recent manatee deaths (fwd) Forwarded message: From: jsalkind(\)OPAL.TUFTS.EDU Does anyone have information concerning the necropsy/pathology results on the dead Florida manatees? If so, I would be interested in seeing them. Thanks, Jonathan Salkind Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine 200 Westboro Road N. Grafton, MA 01536 jsalkind(\)opal.tufts.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 16:00:43 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Peer review -- tuna/dolphin issue brief Fisheries/Marine Mammal Groups: I have an 8-9 page "issue brief" document that CRS has prepared for Congress to outline background information on the tuna-dolphin issue and pending legislative proposals. I could use some peer review on this controversial issue to help assure that Congress is getting an objective, non-partisan, balanced summary of this subject. This document can "grow" a bit to include other aspects that I might have missed, but not too much. I need to be as concise as possible on this very complex issue. I'd like all sides of the issue to take a look at this to see if I'm being fair in my representation of its various aspects. Since this document will be constantly updated as this issue moves through Congress, I have no firm deadline for comments -- I will just update as I receive material. Drop me a message if you would like to take a look at this. Gene Buck, senior analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 22:42:55 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Information on norwegian seal hunt marmamed(\)UVic.CA wrote: > > Forwarded message: > From: Sam McClintock > > Michael & Nola Kundu wrote: > > > > Contrary to all previous reports, Norwegian seal hunters will continue > > their bloody seal slaughter this season .................. Sam McClintock wrote: > I am probably one of several others that would appreciate a commentfrom the >Norwegian side of this issue. If any would volunteer, I am > particularly interested in the following: > > a) What subsidies are being offered? How much? For what? (e.g. Canada > only subsidizes the meat, not pelts.) Total subsidizes: 1996: 8 million NKr (norwegian kroner), distrbuted in this way; 4,2 millioner to the vessels for their participation (does not depend of the result of the hunt), and dependend on the first hand value of their catch; up to 2,4 millions to the boats - and then up to 2,7 millons to Rieber - the company buying and processing the skins. The higher the first hand value of catch is - the bigger is the proportion of the 2,4 millons that the boats will get. This is to encourage them to take care of all parts of the animals - and to keep a high quality on the meat and the skins. (1 US Dollar = 6,4 NKr ) (Source: personal contact with the Norwegian Fisheries Directory in Bergen) > b) How much of the total income due to sealing is coming from > subsidies or what is the projected income from the total estimated catch? The great majority of the income is comming from the subsidies - I am trying to find some fresh figures - I'll get back to this. The figures I have been able to find so far are these: 1991: first hand value of seal blubber: (396 tons) ca 550 000 NKr 1991: meat for animal consumption: ca 225 000 NKr (453 tons) (no figures available for meat for human consumption - 11 tons was delivered for this purpose) 1992: value of seal penises from one of the boats (four boats took part): 110 000 NKr (source: the Norwegian Fisheries Ministery: A Social Economic Evaluation of the Seal Hunt, 1994) I can't find anything on the value of the skins for 1991 - but it was probably not very high - the value of the skins will increase with proportion of young seals taken (the skin of old seals is very difficult to sell) - this is the background for why the subsidies is cut with two millions from 1995 to 1996 - (in 1996 the prohibition against taking weaned pups was lifted) > c) What is the market focus on seal products? What products will be > transported to and sold in Norway? Estimated commercial value of > seal products (final sales, not income to sealing company). The market focus is on the pelts. I don't think that there exists an estimated commuercial value of seal products from final sales. > > e) In what general area do they plan to hunt? The west-ice (the Jan Mayen area) and in the East Ice (Russian waters) > d) What species of seals are being targeted? What age group? (Would > prefer an actual average age as opposed to the Canadian classification > system, e.g. beaters). I believe the age is usually dictated by the > company buying the pelts. Hooded seals and harp seals. The Norwegian quota in the West Ice for 1996 have been set at 10 600 adult harp seals and 1 700 adult hooded seals. Up to 50 percent of these quotas may be taken in the form of weaned pups, on the basis of a conversion factor where two pups ar equivalent to one adult. This is in accordance with the recommendations of ICES. Up to half the Norwegian quota of 9 500 adult harp seals in the East Ice may also be taken as weaned pups, but agreements with Russia mean that on pup is considered to be equivalent to one adult in this area. Thus, the total Norwegian harvest in 1996 may be up to 17 050 weaned pups and 10 900 adults. The quotas for the West Ice is set in accodance with advice from ICES - and in the East Ice the quotas is based on advice from the joint Russian/Norwegian seal council (source: 22. dec press release from the Norwegian Fisheries ministery.) > f) How will the hunt be conducted? What weapons will be used? Hakapik or > high power rifles. Hakapik will be used for the weaned pups if the ice conditions is such that you can get close enough to the animal. For the adult seals: always high power rifles. The hunters are obliged to - after shooting the animal - to use the hakapik to ensure that the animal is dead - and then to make it bleed out before skinning it. In practise this means that you kill the animal three times. When you kill weaned seal pups with the hakapik - the regulationis says that you first are to use the blunt end and then drive the sharp end into the brain. All sealers have to take a course to ensure that they know the regulations. There is one government inspector on each boat to monitor that the regulations are followed. > > Any information would be appreciated. Would really appreciate atively > objective responses with verifiable sources. The issue will be andied > about on this conference and other forums and would dearly love to have a > starting point not based on rhetoric from either side. > I hope the answers is satisfying. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance highnor(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 16:52:47 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Whereabouts unknown... (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Tokitae(\)aol.com I am looking for the current address or phone number of Annie Cirino. I know that she is an associate member of IAMTA, but that is about it. I have searched the MARMAM list of subscribers and the 'netfind' service without success. If anyone can help, please email at: Tokitae(\)aol.com Thank you, Michael Hunt P.O. Box 691 Long Key, FL 33001 Tokitae(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 10:06:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NAMMCO meeting (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Kate.Sanderson(\)nammco.no (Kate Sanderson) - For immediate release - NAMMCO MEETS IN TROMS=D8, NORWAY, 27-29 MARCH The Sixth Meeting of the Council of NAMMCO - the North Atlantic Marine=20 Mammal Commission - will be held at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Troms=F8 from= 27 to 29 March 1996. The meeting will be convened by the Chairman, Halvard P.= Johansen from Norway, and will be attended by delegations from the member=20 countries - the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway, as well as=20 observers from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Japan, Namibia and the=20 Russian Federation. A number of international governmental and=20 non-governmental organisations will also be represented at the meeting. For the first time since the NAMMCO Agreement was signed in Greenland in=20 1992, Fisheries Ministers from all four NAMMCO member countries will be=20 attending the meeting. The Chairman of the Fisheries Commission of the=20 Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Korelskiy, will also be present at the=20 NAMMCO meeting in Troms=F8 as a special guest of the Norwegian Government.= The Council of NAMMCO has a standing invitation to the Governments of Canada= and the Russian Federation to join the organisation. NAMMCO has as its aim to contribute through regional consultation and=20 cooperation to the conservation, rational management and study of marine=20 mammals in the North Atlantic. Proceedings of the Council will commence on Wednesday 27 March with a=20 welcome by the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries Mr Jan Henry T. Olsen. The=20 opening session of the meeting will also feature an invited presentation by= Dr Jan Jurgens, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine= Resources of Namibia on Namibia's approach to the management of marine=20 resources, including marine mammals. Among the major items on the agenda of the Council at its 6th meeting will= be the review of the report of the NAMMCO Scientific Committee, which has=20 recently completed requested comprehensive reviews of ringed seals and grey= seals in the North Atlantic. Other species of interest to the Council which= have also been the subject of recent or ongoing assessments generated=20 thorough NAMMCO include: harp and hooded seals, bottlenose whales, pilot=20 whales, killer whales and Atlantic walruses. The Management Committee of NAMMCO will also convene in connection with the= Council meeting, and a major item on its agenda will the review of a=20 proposal from the Working Group on Inspection and Observation for a joint=20 NAMMCO control scheme for the hunting of marine mammals, including common=20 elements for national inspection schemes as well as a proposed NAMMCO=20 international observer scheme. ---------- The opening session of the Council (Wed. 27 March - 0930 to 1130) is open to= the press. To gain admittance, members of the press must first register with= the Secretariat at the Radisson SAS Hotel (Jacob room. 2nd floor) by 0900.= For further information, contact the Secretariat on +47 77 64 59 08 and from= Tuesday 26 March at SAS Hotel, Troms=F8 - Tel.: +47 77 60 00. 00. A press conference will be held at 1200 Friday 29 March at the close of the= meeting. Kate Sanderson, Secretary North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) University of Troms=F8 N-9037 Troms=F8, Norway Tel.: +47 776 45908 (main) 776 45903 (direct) Fax : +47 45905 E-mail: nammco-sec(\)nammco.no / Kate.Sanderson(\)nammco.no (direct) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 13:53:02 -0800 From: Sam McClintock Organization: En-Vision Inc. Subject: Re: Information on norwegian seal hunt Georg Blichfeldt wrote: Quoting Georg Blichfeldt from MARMAM posting: > >Sam McClintock wrote: > > b) How much of the total income due to sealing is coming from > > subsidies or what is the projected income from the total estimated catch? > > The great majority of the income is comming from the subsidies - I am trying > to find some fresh figures - I'll get back to this. The figures I have been > able to find so far are these: > 1991: first hand value of seal blubber: (396 tons) ca 550 000 NKr > 1991: meat for animal consumption: ca 225 000 NKr (453 tons) (no figures > available for meat for human consumption - 11 tons was delivered for this > purpose) > 1992: value of seal penises from one of the boats (four boats took part): > 110 000 NKr > (source: the Norwegian Fisheries Ministery: A Social Economic Evaluation of > the Seal Hunt, 1994) > I can't find anything on the value of the skins for 1991 - but it was > probably not very high - the value of the skins will increase with proportion > of young seals taken (the skin of old seals is very difficult to sell) - > this is the background for why the subsidies is cut with two millions from > 1995 to 1996 - (in 1996 the prohibition against taking weaned pups was > lifted) I appreciate your time in getting this information. I have contacted several pelt companies that operate facilities in both Norway and Canada. I will try to supplement your information with specifics about pelt values and sales in the next month or so. It appears that pelt sales direct to processing companies (not final consumers) totaled over $600,000 Canadian dollars in 1995 from the Newfoundland catches (60,000+ seals), but I am hunting for more information on both sides of the ocean to confirm all pelt sale values. For your/anybody's information: By comparison, the Norwegian subsidies to boats/sealers (total 6,6 million NKr) appears to be considerably more than Canadian subsidies. This is especially so when compared on a seal/monetary unit comparison. I believe that total subsidies for the 60,000+ seals killed in Canada was only about 180,000 Canadian dollars. This went only towards seal meat, not pelts (again, to make sure all of the animal was utilized). I know your stance on these issues (to some extent). But even your -slightly :<)- biased views should be a little pained by what appears as over-zealous subsidies in the Norwegian market (e.g. the tax dollars would have been better spent on university grants or venture capital for small businesses). Would appreciate a source on the "official" Norwegian stance on the subsidies. I believe we could also tolerate a subjective comment on your part regarding the same. Again, thanks for the effort. Segregating objective information (with sources) from subjective comments will go a long way in producing a conversation and debate we can all learn from. Sam McClintock, Director En-Vision Inc. sammcc(\)nando.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 12:52:12 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Seattle sea lion trap is vanda Seattle sea lion trap is vandalized SEATTLE, March 25 (UPI) -- An animal rights group took credit Monday for sabotaging a large, steel trap for capturing sea lions who preying on a declining run of steelhead trout. The floating trap was intended to catch a handfull of predatory sea lions. The animals would have been killed to prevent their return. A group calling itself the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the act in a fax to news media. "The savage death sentence imposed on these innocent creatures is horrendous," the fax said. "Shooting highly sensitive marine mammals in an effort to control the population of steelhead is cruel and misguided." Two sides of a 13-square-foot cage were missing and presumed sunk. The state was scheduled to start trapping sea lions Monday. Established animal-rights groups have been protesting the plan to kill a handful of sea lions, but denied responsibility for the sabotage. "No one I know had anything to do with that. We were out there on a peaceful protest," said Will Anderson of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. The vandalism will not stop officials from executing sea lions who have been identified as repeat predators at the Ballard Locks, officials said. The Ballard Locks is an artificial channel that connects Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. "There are people who are protesting what we do and some have threatened to take dramatic action and I guess this is it," said Bob Everett, regional director of the state Department of Wildlife. The state will find another way to carry out the lethal removal, Everett said. Once caught, the method of execution will be tranquilzer darts, then lethal injection. "The state of Washington's interest is not in killing sea lions, but in protecting fish," Everett said. "We've just run out of ideas." In the early 1980s, the run of spawning fish bound for streams of the Lake Washington basin numbered more than 1,600. Last year, only 126 fish werecounted. Sea lions are blamed for the decline. Several methods of controlling the sea lions have been ineffective. Among the failures: fake killer whale sounds, underwater fireworks and trucking them to California only to have them return. Last year, a cage was built to capture 15 sea lions, but it was deliberately sunk. The latest act has hieghtened tensions, said Brian Gorman, spokesman for National Marine Fisheries Service. "We've had some threats against our personnel," Gorman said. "We're concerned that people are resorting to acts of sabotage and threats of violence. That's not a helpful approach." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 12:52:43 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Manatee death toll continues t Manatee death toll continues to rise TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 26 (UPI) -- More dead manatees were found Tuesday in waters along Florida's southwest Gulf coast, the apparent victims of the same mysterious epidemic that killed scores of the endangered mammals earlier this month. About 20 manatee carcasses have been found since Friday near the city of Ft. Myers, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The manatee death toll in the region since March 5 now stands near 80, marking the first time on record so many of the sea cows have died in such a short period. Mortality among Florida mantees normally runns between 150 to 200 annually. Necropsies indicated the otherwise healthy mammals perished from a pneumonia-like illness that bloodied and scarred their lungs. Marine scientists have not been able to identify the source of the illness, but have said unusually cold weather and an outbreak of red tide in the Gulf of Mexico did not play a role in the deaths. "We've narrowed the source down to a virus or bacteria, but we have not been able to determine the specific virus or bacteria involved, or its source," said Edie Ousley, spokeswoman for DEP. As part of their effort to determine the cause of the epidemic, state biologists have sent tissue samples from the manatee carcasses to laboratories as far away as Holland for analysis. Authorities last week had thought the epidemic was coming to an end, when the number of dead manatees being found dropped from from about 10 a day to one or two daily. But the number of fresh carcasses began rising again on Friday, according to the chief of the Florida Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg. "We are concerned now that there's some continuing mortality from the epidemic," said Ken Haddad. "We just don't have a feel for what this means," he added. The epidemic has so far been confined to a 25 mile stretch near Ft. Myers, and scientists doubt the illness will spread to manatee populations elsewhere in the state. Manatees are an endangered species whose population in Florida waters numbers about 2,600. In previous years, the leading killer of manatees has been motorboat propellers. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 12:52:51 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Whale flock dies off Denmark's Whale flock dies off Denmark's coast COPENHAGEN, March 27 (UPI) -- A flock of 16 sperm whales was found dead along the sandy beaches of Romo island off the west coast of Denmark early Wednesday, Danish public television reported. It was the largest number of whales ever found beached on the Danish coastline, the report said. The 10-meter long (33 feet) marine mammals presumably ran aground in the offshore shallows while searching for food, Thyge Jensen of the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in the west coast port of Esbjerg was quoted as saying. Judging by the gas found in their carcasses, the whales had been dead for at least four days, he said. Adult sperm whales can measure up to 20 meters (66 feet) in length and weigh 50 tons. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 13:16:43 -0600 From: Stan Kuczaj Subject: articles (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 13:12:57 -0600 (CST) From: Stan Kuczaj To: marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet Subject: articles Some time ago I jotted down the following: Williams, Dyer, Randall, & Komen. Killer whales and seabirds: Play, predation and association. Kuttin and Goldbatt. Bait-fishing by dolphins- a documented antecdote. I would like to track down these papers, but have had no luck finding them. I don't know if they are conference presentations, journal articles, books, unpublished manuscripts or what. So if any one can provide a more complete reference, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. Stan Kuczaj skuczaj(\)mail.smu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 13:58:00 PST From: Phil Colla Subject: Large cetacean instrumentation / tagging Marmam'ers: I would like to hear from anyone with experience attaching harmless, temporary instrumentation to large cetaceans for purposes of 1) tracing migratory paths (1 week to 3 month attachment) 2) learning daily rest / activity state patterns (1 day to 1 month) Please contact and we can take this to private e-mail. Thanks very much. Phil Colla pcolla(\)cts.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 16:57:39 -0400 From: Loren Coleman Subject: Help with the "needs" section Marmam'ers: I'm assisting with a proposal for a medium-sized city's aquarium-linked marine mammal stranding rescue unit. While the local Maine effort has been done by volunteers in the past, our aquarium feels a need to add to and formalize this, track the data better and link it to our virtual communications network in the state's schools. I wondered if there are others out there who have gone through this process, and would be willing to share with me your "needs" arguments for why we are all doing this? Obviously we have some ideas, but any help with others' historical, emotional, educational, and other insights would be deeply appreciated. (This funding request is a minor one, and it is doubtful we will be attempting to get funds that others might wish to obtain, as our development focus is local.) Please privately e-mail me. Thank you very much, Loren Coleman, strandings response coordinator for the Gulf of Maine Aquarium, at ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 15:29:51 -0600 From: Juan Carlos Cantz Guzman Subject: Re: IATTC OBSERVER PROGRAM IN MEXICO On 22/3/96 you wrote >Marmam Group: > > I'm trying to confirm or refute a rumor I heard yesterday that the Mexican >tuna industry has pulled out of the voluntary IATTC observer program. Anyone >have any more details or background? > > Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov > > According to the Office of International Affairs of the Subsecretary of Fishery of Mexico, the observer program will continue working as it has up to now. The rumour was that the 50% foreign observers would no longer be used and only Mexican observers would be used in the future but nothing has been decided yet and they say this change will not happen. Hope this helps, Juan Carlos Cantu TEYELIZ, A.C. AHUEHUETES SUR 811 BOSQUES DE LAS LOMAS MEXICO, D.F. 11700 TEL/FAX (525) 251-6096 jccantu(\)mail.internet.com.mx ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 08:15:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Information on norwegian seal hunt (fwd) Forwarded message: From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) Below is some official information on Norwegian seal hunt. >From the Norwegian Government server . For a reference on the "seal invasions" mentioned below, read e.g. "Ecological implications of harp seal _Phoca groenlandica_ invasions in northern Norway", T. Haug and K.T. Nilssen in "Whales, Seals, Fish and Man" (Developments in Marine Biology), 1995 ISBN 0-444-82070-1, pp 545-556. Abstract: In the years since 1978, Barents Sea harp seals Phoca groenlandica have appeared in large numbers in Finnmark, North Norway, in February-May. The size of the "seal invasions" increased dramatically in 1987 and 1988 when large seal herds were observed along the coast of North Norway in January-August. The seal invasions gave rise to seal-fisheries conflicts. In addition to consuming fish (capelin, cod, saithe and haddock), the seals caused substantial damage to gill-nets and gill-net catches. The presence of seals may also have resulted in the emigration of commercial species from traditional fishing grounds to deeper strata or areas unsuitable for fishing. Reduced recruitment to the seal population seems to have prevailed during most of the seal invasion period with particularly dramatic effects in 1986--1988, when first-year mortality may have been almost total. Food shortage, particularly the two important prey species capelin and herring, is discussed as a possible factor contributing to the seal invasions. Seals and seal-hunting - The facts and the myths Norwegian seal-hunting is restricted to two species of seal: the harp seal and the hooded seal. In the North Atlantic, the harp seal population alone numbers close to four million animals. Of these, approximately 900 000 are to be found in areas where Norwegians hunt for seal. The seal populations are growing. Norwegian seal-hunting - sound resource management In order to maintain seal populations at a sensible level they must be culled. That is the reason for Norway to permit seal hunting. The daily energy requirement of a seal corresponds to 2.5-3 kilos of herring or capelin. The large seal populations take a substantial proportion of the fish stocks, also such that provide food for humans. In the North-East Atlantic, the harp seal alone eats as much herring as is caught by Norwegian fishermen. All the various marine species influence each other, directly and indirectly. The responsibility for the administration of these species also entails regard for this balance: before deciding whether to harrvest or protect any stock, the consequences of this for other stocks must also be taken into consideration. This is a generally accepted principle for the administration of all wild species which are not endangered. Norwegian catch quotas for seal are set on the basis of scientific recommendations from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Nature draws its own limits When a stock of animals is not harvested but is allowed to multiply unchecked, sooner or later Nature itself will reach saturation point. As the number of animals approaches this limit, their health will deteriorate: the animals will grow more slowly, they will take longer to reach sexual maturity, their reproductive capabilities will be reduced and they will more easily fall prey to disease. When a seal population becomes too large, some species, such as the harp seal and the hooded seal may migrate over long distances to find food. Sometimes they swim as far in as the coast. This food migration has caused massive "seal invasions" along the coasts. The animals eat large amounts of the fish usually used for human consumption which they find along the coast. In addition to causing extensive damage to fishing gear and fish farms, tens of thousands of seal have drowned after becoming entangled in fishing nets. A traditional means of livelihood Seal-hunting is one of the traditional means of livelihood in the countries bordering the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic. There is therefore a cultural dimension to Norwegian seal hunting in addition to the economic and resource management aspects. Since 1989, Norway has only hunted seal over the age of one year. As the income from this kind of hunting is modest, the Norwegian State has subsidized seal-hunting in recent years. This has been done in order to regulate the seal populations. Traditional seal-hunting must be kept alive today if the seal populations are to be maintained at a reasonable level in the future. High natural mortality rate in the first year of life There is a very high mortality rate among seals during the first year of life. Consequently ecological and economic considerations and sound resource management policy would call for extending seal-hunting to include weaned seal pups, as is already the case in other seal-hunting nations such as Canada, Russia and Namibia. The Norwegian authorities have decided to lift the teporary prohibition on catches of weaned harp and hooded seal pups, i.e. pups abandoned by their mothers, with effect as of the 1996 season. At the same time, the prohibition against hunting of seal pups in the suckling period will be extended. Permission was given to hunt a small number of weaned seal pups for scientific purposes in 1995. Research projects focusing on nutrition and killing methods will be continued as part of commercial hunting in 1995 Regulations and supervision Norwegian seal-hunting is subject to strict, detailed regulations concerning hunting seasons, quotas, methods of slaughter, instruction and training of seal hunters, approval of vessels and supervision. The regulations stipulate that the animals are to be slaughtered as quickly, humanely and painlessly as possible. Approved tools for slaughter are the rifle and a kind of gaff called "hakapik". Hunters are required to attend courses and shooting tests every year before they leave for the sealing grounds. In order to ensure compliance with the regulations, there is an inspector on board each vessel. The inspector is a veterinary surgeon or the equivalent, and he/she reports directly to Norwegian fisheries authorities. Myths surrounding Seals and Seal-hunting "Luxury hunting" Seals have traditionally been hunted for their blubber and fur. Most of the skins are used for common leather products such as shoes, gloves and clothes. Norway does not permit the hunting of whitecoats and suckling bluebacks, whose fur is the most sought after. Parts of the meat and blubber are used for food in the same way as meat from other game or farm animals. The blubber is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which, as modern research has indicated, can play a significant role in preventing the most common cardio-vascular diseases. "Primitive methods of hunting" The only tools of slaughter Norwegian seal-hunters are permitted to use are the rifle and the "hakapik" (corresponds roughly to the Newfoundland gaff). According to seal-hunting regulations, rifles are to be used for the slaughter of adult seals while the "hakapik" is to be used for the young. The "hakapik" is also used on seals which have been shot in order to make sure they are dead. The "hakapik" may look primitive, but it is a simple and effective tool which ensures immediate loss of consciousness and rapid death. According to a 1993 report from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, "clubbing", if correctly carried out, is as good as the usual methods of slaughter, causing the animal to die in the course of a few seconds. During the 1995 season, a research project designed to find even better methods of hunting seal pups was started. Its objective is to investigate whether rifles are as effective for killing seal pups as the hakapik. The project will be continued as part of the ordinary hunt in 1996. Norwegian hunters are required to take courses and shooting tests before the sealing season starts. "The seal is flayed while it is still alive." Films have been shown of seals which appear to be "alive" even after death. Spasms in the body of a dead seal are a natural phenomenon. The seal spends a great deal of time under water and its blood is therefore capable of storing large amounts of oxygen. In addition, a seal's muscles can function for a while without a supply of oxygen. Consequently, the seal's body can display powerful spasms for a long time after its death. "The seal cries." The fluid in a seal's eye protects the cornea and has nothing to do with weeping. This fluid runs out of the eye because a seal's tear ducts are different from those of other animals. "Dependency on the mother" The length of time the young are dependent on their mother is very short; it is only a matter of five or six days from the time the hooded seal pup is born until the mother leaves it to fend for itself. The harp seal suckles its young for less than two weeks. As soon as the suckling period is over, the mother leaves the pup to fend for itself. Norway does not permit hunting of seal pups during the suckling period. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 14:24:20 +0100 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: common/bottlenose dolphin association COMMON / BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN ASSOCIATION Some time ago I sent a message to Marmam concerning an observed association between a common dolphin and a bottlenose dolphin calf. I enclose two abstracts of papers relating to this observation for the many who - at that time - wanted to know more about it. I also would like to thank all the Marmam contributors to this work. Sincerely, giovanni ********************************* Giovanni Bearzi Tethys Research Institute Adriatic Dolphin Project Podjavori 13, 51551 Veli Losinj, Croatia tel/fax + 385 (51) 236348 e-mail: giovanni.bearzi(\)public.srce.hr ********************************* A "remnant" common dolphin observed in association with bottlenose dolphins in the Kvarneric (Northern Adriatic Sea) Giovanni Bearzi Tethys Research Institute, Viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy ABSTRACT In the course of a long-term study focusing on bottlenose dolphin social ecology and behaviour, conducted since 1987 in the Kvarneric (Northern Adriatic Sea), common dolphins - the only other cetacean species observed - were encountered only three times. The same individual common dolphin was photoidentified on all three occasions: the first time (August 1991) with three other conspecifics and the other two times (August 1994 and July 1995) together with bottlenose dolphins. In August 1994 the common dolphin was observed in close association with a bottlenose dolphin calf, apparently taking care of it while its presumed mother - nicknamed Badfin - was engaged in feeding activities with the rest of the group. The 1995 observation also included Badfin and her grown-up calf, in close association, while the common dolphin was coupled with an adult bottlenose dolphin. The behaviour of the four common dolphins observed in 1991 consisted of surface-feeding activities rarely seen in bottlenose dolphins in the area. On the other hand, when accompanied by bottlenose dolphins, the identifiable common dolphin behaved exactly like them. The occurrence of common dolphins in the Northern Adriatic Sea dramatically decreased during the last decades. The "remnant" common dolphin may have been taking advantage of the benefits of a school by associating with bottlenose dolphins. The care-giving behaviour and the observed patterns of association indicate that the bottlenose dolphins may have considered the common dolphin to be a community member. (Presented as poster at the 10th Annual Conference of the European Cetacen Society, Lisbon, 11-13 March 1996) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- A comparison of the present occurrence of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, and common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, in the Kvarneric (Northern Adriatic Sea) Giovanni Bearzi and Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute, viale G.B. Gadio 2, 20121 Milano, Italy ABSTRACT In the course of a long-term study focusing on bottlenose dolphin social ecology and behaviour, conducted in the Kvarneric since 1987, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) were the only cetacean species observed. A total of 879 bottlenose dolphin groups were encountered, compared to three sightings of common dolphins. Sighting frequency for bottlenose dolphins was about 87 times higher than for common dolphins. The first of the common dolphin sightings, in August 1991, involved four adults, while the following two (August 1994 and July 1995) were of a single specimen, found both times in association with bottlenose dolphins. Photoidentification data showed that the same individual common dolphin was present in all three encounters. These observations reflect the almost complete disappearance of common dolphins from the Northern Adriatic Sea, a region in which both dolphin species were historically abundant. (In press. Annales - Anali Koprskega primorja in bliznjih pokrajin 7) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 08:21:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: stranding survey (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Michele L. BIRINGER" MARMAMers, I am a master's student at Nova Southeastern University. I am surveying cetacean strandings for my non-thesis option paper on the effectiveness of current cetacean rescue and rehabilitation methods. If you would care to fill out the following survey form, it would be invaluable in judging the effectiveness of such activities. Thank you very much for your assistance. I will be summarizing the survey and literature review and reporting the results through MARMAM. STRANDING SURVEY I. NAME OF RESPONDENT: II. AFFILIATION OF RESPONDENT: ADDRESS: PHONE: FAX: E-MAIL: III. EXPERIENCE STUDYING CETACEA (MARK ALL THAT APPLY) ___ INTENSIVE (GREATER THAN 5 YEARS FIELD STUDY) ___ MODERATE ( LESS THAN 5 YEARS BUT GREATER THAN 1) ___ LIMITED (LESS THAN 1 YEAR FIELD STUDY) ___ INTENSIVE STUDY OF CAPTIVE CETACEA ___ MODERATE STUDY OF CAPTIVE CETACEA ___ LIMITED STUDY OF CAPTIVE CETACEA IV. WORK WITH STRANDED CETACEA (MARK ALL THAT APPLY) ___ LIVE STRANDED ___ DEAD STRANDED ___ INTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH STRANDED CETACEA ___ MODERATE EXPERIENCE WITH STRANDED CETACEA ___ LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH STRANDED CETACEA EXPERIENCE (MARK ALL THAT APPLY) ___ AS A VOLUNTEER ___ AS A STRANDING COORDINATOR ___ AT STRANDING SITE ___ IN RELOCATING CETACEAN TO REHABILITATION CENTER * ___ AT REHAB. CENTER ___ IN RELEASING CETACEAN ___ OTHER (PLEASE EXPLAIN) V. RESCUE AND REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES PLEASE DESCRIBE, in detail, THE TECHNIQUES USED IN THE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF LIVE STRANDED CETACEA, INCLUDING THE USE OF TAGGING (IF USED) TO FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE RELEASED CETACEAN. VI. LIVE STRANDING RECORDS (1991 - PRESENT) ___ NUMBER OF RESCUES ATTEMPTED WITH WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED ___ NUMBER OF LIVE STRANDED CETACEA RECOVERED ___ NUMBER OF CETACEA DEAD AT STRANDING SITE ___ NUMBER OF THESE ORIGINALLY STRANDED ALIVE ___ NUMBER OF REHAB CENTER CETACEA THAT DIED ___ NUMBER SURVIVING RELOCATION TO REHAB CENTER ___ NUMBER SURVIVING TO RELEASE ___ NUMBER SURVIVING AFTER RELEASE (IF AVAILABLE) ___ NUMBER OF "NATURAL" DEATHS ___ NUMBER OF EUTHANIZED DEATHS ___ NUMBER OF ADULTS STRANDED ___ NUMBER OF SUB-ADULTS STRANDED PLEASE INDICATE THE SPECIES STRANDED, NUMBER OF EACH SPECIES STRANDED, AND THE ABOVE SURVIVAL DATA FOR EACH SPECIES. VII. AGENCIES KNOW TO BE CONCERNED WITH CETACEAN STRANDINGS VIII. OTHER COMMMENTS: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONJECTURE OR GIVE PROOF AS TO THE CAUSES OF STRANDINGS AND/OR EXPAND ON ANY PART OF THIS SURVEY THAT YOU FIND OF INTEREST. * REHABILITATION CENTER: ANY AREA (TANK, NATURAL LAGOON, BOAT BASIN, ETC.) THAT IS USED FOR THE LONG TERM REHABILITATION OF LIVE STRANDED CETACEA. ** I WILL BE SUMMARIZING THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY AND PLACING THE IT ON MARMAM FOR YOUR USE. AGAIN, MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. Michele L. Biringer biringer(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Dr. Dania, Fl. 33304 USA (954) 452 - 6658 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 20:11:07 EST From: Tim Stevens <100236.2066(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Stranded Rough-Toothed Dolphins recovering Marmammers: Two adult (one male, one female) rough-toothed dolphins _Steno bredanensis_ which stranded on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, on Monday were transferred to the Gold Coast Seaworld's rehabilitation centre. The animals were initially very listless and needed to be supported and tube-fed. However, after analysis of blood samples and administration of antibiotics, the animals are reported to be recovering quickly. They are swimming freely and accepting food, and their skin as stopped sloughing. It is expected to release them in about a week. Options for tagging the animals to allow tracking and/or future identification are being examined. Anyone wishing to obtain specific information about these animals should fax Trevor Long at Seaworld on +61 7 5588 2187 or e-mail me privately at 100236.2066(\)compuserve.com Tim Stevens -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Stevens Principal Conservation Officer Queensland Department of Environment telephone: +61 7 3227 7783 PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert Street, Qld 4002 facsimile: +61 7 3225 1909 Australia e-mail: 100236.2066(\)compuserve.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:36:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: morbillivirus questions (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Samuel Sadove Dear Francisco; I have been working with stranded marine mammals since the last 1970's and have been in charge of the New York State Program since that time. During this time I have seen a number of mortality events of which one was due to a morbillivirus event. We have conducted a number of studies on this disease and I have a number of publications that I have collaborated on. The person who would be the best expert to contact would be Padrig Duignan at the University of Guelph. He did his PhD thesis on morbillivirus infections in marine mammals. However to answer you questions briefly I have completed them for you here. 1. To detect morbillivirus virus in a dead animal there are a number of methods depending upon your resources and the condition of the specimen. The first this is to draw blood and have it tested to the various morbilliviruses through a serum neutralization titer. This does not tell you if you have an active infection. However it does tell you if the animal has been exposed to the virus. the second thing is to collect histopathology tissues. Pay particular attention to Lung epithelium, spleen, kidney, bladder and brain. Intranuclear inclusions, and syncytia are very important diagnostic features although not conclusive. the most accurate test is to have immunohistochemistry conducted on suspicious samples. Virus Isolation is the final confirming feature although not totally necessary if the previous results are positive. In addition, virus isolation is the most difficult since it must be from very fresh tissues. 2. The vectors of transmission is not quite an accurate question. With viruses we speak of resevoirs. exactly what the locations of these are (species) is not determined. However, morbilliviruses are highly infective and direct transmission between individuals is the usual transmission method.. 3. I am a bit unsure about you question of transmission during necropsy. If you are speaking of zoonoses then there has not been a case of this reported for the morbillivirsus we have seen in marine mammals thus far. This is a group a virsuses that does not generally cross to man except the form found in man (measles virus). However, there has been an Equire strain recently identified that has crossed to man. I would suggest that standard necropsy proceedures (ie gloves, coveralls etc.) will be more than preventative. As to a contamination of the virus into a sample this is not possible. The virus needs lliving tissue to grow. I hope this is helpful. I would also suggest that you consider other possibilities, particularly if different species are dying. Bioneurotoxins, and bacteriologic events have caused mass mortalities in the past. If you would like further help or copies of reprints feel free to contact me at my email or I have also listed my home phone you are welcome to call me there. Often at the office you will only get my voice mail and that would be a costly message. Good luck Cheers -- Samuel S. Sadove Research Director Puffin Consulting/ Okeanos Ocean Research Foundation email:bphysa1(\)pipeline.com phone:516-722-8160 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 09:56:19 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 3/29/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/~sglegal/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . NAMMCO Meeting. On Mar. 27-29, 1996, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) will hold its sixth meeting in Tromso, Norway, with attendance by delegations from all four member nations -- the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The meeting's agenda includes comprehensive reviews of ringed and grey seals and review of a proposal for a joint control scheme for hunting of marine mammals. [personal communication] . Steller Sea Lion Killed. On Mar. 22, 1996, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game managers shot and killed a Steller sea lion threatening people in Petersburg, AK. The animal had become aggressive after being fed by people for several weeks. [Assoc Press] . IATTC Observer Program. In mid-March 1996 and in frustration with the pace of U.S. action on the Declaration of Panama, Mexican tuna seiners announced, by administrative petition, that they would no long participate in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission's observer program, but would all carry observers in a Mexican national program. The Mexican government has not responsed to the industry petition. [personal communication] . Washington State Sea Lions. On Mar. 22, 1996, an Animal Care Committee recommended gunshot as the preferred method of killing, with lethal drug injection as a second alternative, and on Mar. 25, 1996, two individually identifiable sea lions we identified as targets for action. On Mar . 28, 1996, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (Seattle chapter), the Humane Society of the United States, and Earth Island Institute filed suit in federal court to prevent killing of any sea lions, claiming NMFS has not demonstrated that no feasible alternatives to killing exist. [Assoc Press, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife press release] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Mar. 26, 1996, 81 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County -- 29 dead manatees were recovered since Mar. 19; cause of dead of the apparently healthy adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed bacterial pneumonia in many animals. [Assoc Press, Reuters, personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 14:17:38 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Ballard Locks sea lion press release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION: March 28, 1996 Rachel Querry Toni Frohoff Washington, D.C. Seattle 301 258-8255 206 780-2532 HSUS SUES NMFS OVER BALLARD LOCKS SEA LIONS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Later today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) plans to charge in U.S. District Court here that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in authorizing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to kill sea lions who have eaten a declining stock of steelhead at the Ballard Locks in Seattle. The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and Earth Island Institute (EII) have joined The HSUS in filing this lawsuit. The HSUS, represented by the law firm of Latham & Watkins, will ask the court to set aside the authorization based on numerous legal violations committed by NMFS during the lethal removal approval process. Five sea lions are currently eligible to be killed. Last year, NMFS authorized capture of sea lions at the Ballard Locks. Citing high costs, NMFS did not consider this to be a practical alternative to killing sea lions during this year's steelhead run. The HSUS has offered to help fund the capture and holding of sea lions during this year's steelhead run. Since then, NMFS now cites the difficulty in capturing the animals as a justification for ordering lethal removal rather than capture. According to the lawsuit, NMFS has violated the MMPA by: Purposefully withholding public participation -- The MMPA clearly requires public comment on any proposal to kill marine mammals when they are interacting with a salmonid fishery. Rather than following the public notification and participation requirements in the MMPA, NMFS operated behind closed doors. As a result, the public's ability to comment on the proposal was unlawfully withheld on several occasions over the past two years. This is particularly egregious because of the scientific uncertainty that lethally removing sea lions will have a positive impact on steelhead populations and because of the lack of a comprehensive, long-term plan for the recovery of the steelhead. Inappropriately defining a "predatory" pinniped -- Under the MMPA, WDFW must identify individual animals who are having a "significant negative impact on the decline or recovery" of the steelhead. The authorization would allow the state to kill sea lions regardless of whether the sea lions were having any impact on the steelhead and permits the killing of sea lions who have been seen eating steelhead in the past and who are presently seen engaging in (undefined) foraging behavior. A recent study (December 1995) indicates that foraging behavior is not a clear indication that a sea lion is eating. Thus, the state has failed to demonstrate that a sea lion has had a significant negative impact based on foraging behavior. Not demonstrating that no feasible and prudent alternatives to killing sea lions exist -- WDFW has focused exclusively on deterring sea lion predation while ignoring feasible and prudent alternatives to aid the recovery of the steelhead. Last year, NMFS successfully prevented sea lion predation through the temporary captive holding of one sea lion. WDFW has failed to seek protection for the fish by asking the federal government to grant endangered species status and has declined to take responsibility for development of long-term measures necessary to restore the steelhead. WDFW studies have found that up to 60% of smolt passing through the Ballard Locks may be de-scaled, yet WDFW has not asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change the design of the locks. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ignored an inexpensive and practical plan suggested by a Boeing engineer to erect a sea lion barrier. A U.S. General Accounting Office report states that "Dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers are considered to be the primary factors in the decline of the currently protected salmon runs," yet WDFW has not adopted any habitat enhancement measures. The HSUS and other scientists are confident that the steelhead population will not recover even without sea lion predation as a factor until these alternatives are implemented. In addition to the violations of the MMPA, The HSUS, PAWS and EII charge that NMFS has violated the National Environmental Policy Act by: Not conducting an environmental impact statement -- An EIS is required for any decision that entails an uncertain environmental impact or involves unique or unknown risks, is highly controversial or may have a precedential effect. The current authorization from NMFS to WDFW removes the requirement for captive holding without justification or rationale. The decision entails unique or unknown risks since the potential effectiveness of lethal removal in addressing the short and long-term decline of the steelhead is unknown. Additionally, since this issue has sparked such controversy across the country, The HSUS believes that NEPA requires that NMFS conduct an EIS, with the full public participation that the EIS process provides. The current authorization would also set an important precedent, since, according to MMPA experts, it represents the first government-ordered killing of a marine mammal since the MMPA was enacted. Furthermore, since NMFS has indicated that the sea lions have become more difficult to capture in a humane manner, it is possible that the sea lions may be shot, causing a significant impact on the environment due to the safety risk posed by the use of firearms in a public location and the likely trauma that would result from witnessing a WDFW agent shooting a sea lion. Not making a "finding of no significant impact" (FONSI) statement available for public review for at least 30 days before undertaking the proposed action -- NEPA requires that a FONSI be prepared and comments accepted if a proposed action is, or is closely, similar to, one that normally requires the preparation of an EIS, or the nature of the proposed action is one without precedent. Since this action requires an EIS and sets a precedent, NMFS was required to issue a FONSI and accept public comments. By failing to do so, the public had no prior knowledge of and no chance to comment on the order before NMFS authorized the killing of sea lions. "We believe that the National Marine Fisheries Service has violated the public trust by not following the letter and the intent of the law," says Dr. John W. Grandy, HSUS vice president for wildlife and habitat protection. "The sea lions should not pay for the inability of government agencies to fulfill their responsibility to protect natural resources. The HSUS' nearly three million members ask the court to ensure that no sea lion will lose his or her life in a futile attempt to preserve the steelhead." Mark Berman, program associate for EII, said, "We are outraged that these government agencies have sentenced marine mammals to death when the real problem is human exploitation and mis-management of natural resources. We urge that Governor Mike Lowry grant an immediate stay of execution for Hondo and the other sea lions." "If sea lions die, it will be for the sins of the Army Corps of Engineers. Though no steelhead have been killed by sea lions so far this year, steelhead have been eaten in the past because they are stopped by the Ballard dam. It is the Corps that has killed this steelhead run," said Will Anderson of PAWS. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 11:39:39 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Sea Lion problem (fwd) Forwarded message: From: RogerMalo(\)aol.com As I was reading about the sea lion trap being sunk and the people for and against killing troublesome sea lions, I remembered how problem polar bears are handled in Alaska. I forget which town it is, but polar bears come into town while they wait for the sea to freeze so they can go hunt seals. Polar bears that cause problems are trapped in a culvert trap or by snare and held in a building until the sea freezes and they can be released out onto the ice where they can go their own way without causing people problems. Would it be possible to simply trap the sea lions and hold them in confinement until the fish run is over then release them again? How much would this cost? Is anyone willing to pay the bills? How long a time period would they have to be held for? Is this a realistic solution for the sea lions? Roger ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Mar 1996 12:10:06 +0100 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: fin whale found dead off Leghorn, ITALY Dear Marmammers: forwarded by Alessandro Bortolotto (Fondazione Cetacea) Email Web Site on behalf of the Center for Cetacean Study (C.S.C.)(the Italian Stranding Network): MESSAGE: A male fin whale - Balaenoptera physalus - , 8 meters long, was found dead floating adrift off Leghorn (Tyrrhenian sea) harbour in Italy on March 21st. He was in advanced decomposition and had lots of parasitic copepods (Pennella sp.) on the skin mainly on the underside of the body. Photos available upon request. Anyone wishing to obtain specific information about this animal should fax Marco Borri Centro Studi Cetacei c/o Florence University-Museo Zoologico "La Specola" +39-55-225325 (fax) +39-55-222451 (phone) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Mar 1996 15:18:04 +0000 From: Graham Pierce Subject: Stranded sperm whales Dear colleagues, I am interested in any information which is available about the stomach contents of the sperm whales recently stranded in Denmark. Begon~a Santos in this Department has examined stomach contnts from sperm whales stranded in Scotland over the last 2 years. These had eaten mainly the squid Gonatus - the full results [excluding this year's 6 sperm whales at Cruden Bay] appeared in an ICES poster paper at the 1995 Annual Science Conference. We would be very interested in comparative data (or samples!) from the Danish strandings if they are available. Please contact myself or Begon~a Santos (m.b.santos(\)abdn.ac.uk) Graham Pierce ================================================================ Dr Graham J. Pierce Lecturer in Fishery Science The Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Dept Department of Zoology Marine Laboratory University of Aberdeen PO Box 101 Tillydrone Avenue Victoria Road Aberdeen Aberdeen AB9 2TN AB9 8DB UK UK Phone 44 (0)1224 272866 44 (0)1224 876544 Fax 44 (0)1224 272396 44 (0)1224 295511 e-mail g.j.pierce(\)abdn.ac.uk Eurosquid World-Wide Web Page: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi104/ =============================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 15:57:14 -0800 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: Sea Lion problem (fwd) RogerMalo(\)aol.com wrote: >As I was reading about the sea lion trap being sunk and the people for >and against killing troublesome sea lions, I remembered how problem >polar bears are handled in Alaska. I forget which town it is, but >polar bears come into town while they wait for the sea to freeze so >they can go hunt seals. Polar bears that cause problems are trapped in >a culvert trap or by snare and held in a building until the sea >freezes and they can be released out onto the ice where they can go >their own way without causing people problems. > Would it be possible to simply trap the sea lions and hold them in >confinement until the fish run is over then release them again? How >much would this cost? Is anyone willing to pay the bills? How long a >time period would they have to be held for? Is this a realistic >solution for the sea lions? Roger: This was the number one recommendation of the Task Force convened by NMFS last year. To that end, $120,000 of federal money was made available to build appropriate holding facilities at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (PDZA), which last year and now again this year has room for about 8 or so animals (far more than the 3 who are slated for death). One animal, sea lion #17 (aka Hondo), who is one of the 3, was successfully held for about 4 months last year, was released, and has since returned to the Puget Sound area (although he has not yet been seen eating any steelhead this year -- no sea lion has been seen eating steelhead this year, in fact -- nor has he been seen recently in the immediate Ballard Locks area). Until this year, the principal objection to temporary captive holding was the expense, although the facility at PDZA was a one-time capital investment. In response to the lack-of-funds objection, The HSUS and some other organizations offered to help fund temporary captive holding (to pay for food fish, veterinary services as needed, and part-time PDZA staff time) as a non-lethal alternative, provided that a long-term comprehensive steelhead recovery plan, incorporating the many Task Force recommendations, was initiated. Since that offer was made in early March 1996, the principal objection has changed -- it now seems to be that trying to catch these sea lions becomes more difficult with time -- they become wary of the trap and so on (see NMFS press release of March 13). Your example of the polar bears is interesting -- it seems that the bears do not become too difficult to catch over time. To my knowledge, there are no data to suggest that any sea lions at Ballard Locks avoid the trap after multiple captures -- it is simply being given as a "fact" that they do. It should also be noted that taking Hondo out of the mix last year didn't seem to have any effect on the situation at Ballard Locks -- it was estimated that sea lions ate 11 steelhead last year (most by unmarked sea lions) even without him (several fish were eaten in February, after his capture). This year NO steelhead have so far been eaten...yet this year, NMFS and WDFW claim they MUST kill these sea lions because they have a crisis situation on their hands... It should also be noted that from the time Hondo was captured in January 1995 to the issuance of the March 1996 order to kill, no major changes were made at the Ballard Locks. Hondo was effectively "killed" last year and yet no new efforts were initiated to take advantage of his absence -- no recommended structural changes to the locks were initiated, no efforts to build a relatively simple rigid sea lion barrier and fish refuge were made. Modifications made at the locks by the Army Corps of Engineers have been minor and cosmetic. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 16:08:44 -0800 From: Sam McClintock Organization: En-Vision Inc. Subject: Re: Ballard Locks sea lion press release HSUS Wildlife wrote: > HSUS SUES NMFS OVER BALLARD LOCKS SEA LIONS > > WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Later today, The Humane Society of the United States > (HSUS) plans to charge in U.S. District Court here that the National > Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has violated the Marine Mammal > Protection Act (MMPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) > in authorizing the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to > kill sea lions who have eaten a declining stock of steelhead at the > Ballard Locks in Seattle. I believe I am among quite a few people that have seen a lot of material on the sea lion/steelhead problem, but whose first reaction was "why worry about a few sea lions when compared to the entire steelhead species?" E.g. the killing of a few sea lions appears "trivial" when compared to the maintenance of another species and ecosystem diversity. This press release was the FIRST time I saw more specifics than just the coverage regarding the killing of the sea lions against the protection of the steelhead. In particular, this article covered problems of the steelhead that have nothing to do with sea lions and alternatives to killing sea lions. My attention was further reinforced by the involvement of PAWS, whose record by no means perfect, does try to maintain a balanced stance (realistic reporting) towards animal protection efforts. Part of the problem I have with many of the press releases and press coverage as a whole is that details are few and far between. It would be great if HSUS and PAWS could forward more details on the problems the steelhead and sea lions face, especially: 1. What is the actual status of the steelhead? Endangered? Threatened? Are there other locations the species is viable? What is the status of the sea lion? 2. HSUS say they forwarded an offer to partially fund the capture and holding of sea lions until after the steelhead run. How much was their estimate, how much were they (HSUS) offering? How sure are they of capturing the animals? 3. HSUS mentioned a sea lion barrier. How much would this cost? How practical is it? Would it hamper other activities at the locks? How sure are they it would work (sea lions being a relatively smart animal)? 4. I think we all knew that steelhead's decline was primarily due to human activity/impact. This article mentions the problems, but not how much (in dollars) it would take to refurbish the existing systems so as to make the steelhead a viable species again. Big Question: Is it possible to refurbish the existing waterway? How much will the project cost? If this cost is relatively huge, would the money be better spent elsewhere to protect other sensitive habitats (more bang for the buck so to speak)? COMMENT: If the details backup the suit in general, then it appears that the HSUS and PAWS may have some ground to stand on. However, that part of the suit that suggested an EIS for the killing of five sea lions was kind of silly. As a tactical move in the legal sense it may have been warranted, but for many people who know what an EIS entails, this will seem as though HSUS does not care about the validity of other ways to protect the sea lions, just on paperwork ways of stalling the current proposed program. HSUS should prepare to get dumped on by those opposed to their position on this part of the suit. Sam McClintock, Director En-Vision Inc. sammcc(\)nando.net Any information would be greatly appreciated. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 12:09:44 -0500 From: "Furtado-Neto,Manuel;=9370024" Subject: Marine mammals reabilitation centers Dear Marmans, I would like to get some addresses of research centers or aquariums that work with cetaceans reabilitation and in Canada. Thank you beforehand. Francisco Avila email: gecc(\)ufc.br ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 17:44:11 -0500 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Recently described whales - info request I am writing a short children's book on newly-described animal species for Key Porter Books in Toronto. I would like to include accounts of the recently described Mesoplodon peruvianus and the animal referred to as Mesoplodon sp. 'A' in Carwardine, Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises (Stoddart1995), actually about the only source of information I have on these creatures. I would be very grateful for information, references, contacts or (and I am probably dreaming here) photographs for either of these animals. Also, are their any other beaked whales (or any others) that have either been described since about 1980 or for which enough evidence exists to be reasonably certain that these creatures are, in fact, real? Thanks in advance for any help you can give. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 08:28:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: NAMMCO (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Kate.Sanderson(\)nammco.no (Kate Sanderson) PRESS RELEASE Tromso, Norway 29 March 1996 Sixth Meeting of the Council of NAMMCO The Sixth Meeting of the Council of NAMMCO was held in Troms=F8 from 27 to 29 March 1996. The meeting was attended by delegations from the member=20 countries - the Faroes, Greenland, Iceland and Norway, as well as observers= from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Japan, Namibia and the Russian=20 Federation. The Ministers of Fisheries from all NAMMCO member countries also= attended the meeting, as did the Chairman of the Fisheries Committee of the= Russian Federation. A number of inter-governmental and non-governmental=20 organisations were also represented by observers at the meeting. In his opening address, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Jan Henry T.=20 Olsen, expressed his hope for Canada and the Russian Federation to help=20 further strengthen regional cooperation on marine mammal conservation and=20 management by joining NAMMCO. Dr. Jan Jurgens, Permanent Secretray of the=20 Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia, gave a presentation= on the management of seals in Namibia and expressed his desire for close=20 cooperation between all countries with interests in ensuring the sustainable= utilisation of marine mammals. =20 Among major items dealt with by the Council was the report of the Scientific= Committee. Based on recent work carried out by the Scientific Committee, the= Council agreed to the following conclusions presented by the Management=20 Committee: - It was confirmed that present removals of ringed seals in West Greenland and Canada are sustainable. - Current combined catches of harp and hooded seals in Greenland and Canada are below estimates of replacement yields. The Council was informed that work had begun in the Scientific Committee on= the revision of abundance estimates in the light of results from the=20 comprehensive North Atlantic Sightings Survey for cetaceans (NASS 95)=20 carried out last summer. NASS-95 was planned and organised by the Scientific= Committee of NAMMCO. The Council adopted the joint NAMMCO Control Scheme for the Hunting of=20 Marine Mammals, which includes both common elements for national inspection= of coastal whaling, as well as an international observation scheme for the= hunting of all marine mammals. It is the intention of NAMMCO member=20 countries to implement the Scheme or parts thereof by the 1997 hunting= season. The Council decided further to request the Scientific Committee to focus its= attention on the food consumption of the minke whale, harp seal and hooded= seal in the North Atlantic, with an emphasis on the study of the potential= implications for commercially important fish stocks. As a follow-up to its= recent assessment of the grey seal in the North Atlantic, the Scientific=20 Committee was also requested to review the current state of knowledge of=20 sealworm infestation, and to consider the need for comparative studies in=20 the western, central and eastern North Atlantic coastal areas. The Council identified the importance of accessible and reliable information= on marine mammals. In this connection, it was agreed that in 1996 the NAMMCO= Fund should be used for the development of a major information project on=20 seals and sealing. It was also agreed that NAMMCO should publish the results= of work generated through the Scientific Committee in the form of its own=20 publication series. The Council endorsed the Kyoto Declaration and Plan of Action on the=20 Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security.=20 The Council elected Arnor Halldorsson from Iceland as Vice Chairman. The=20 Faroe Islands offered to host the next annual meeting of the Council in=20 Torshavn in 1997. For further information, contact the NAMMCO Secretariat Tel. +47 776 45908 Fax. +47 776 45905 Email: nammco-sec(\)nammco.no Posatl address: NAMMCO, University of Tromso, 9037 Tromso, Norway Kate Sanderson, Secretary North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) University of Troms=F8 N-9037 Troms=F8, Norway Tel.: +47 776 45908 (main) 776 45903 (direct) Fax : +47 45905 E-mail: nammco-sec(\)nammco.no / Kate.Sanderson(\)nammco.no (direct) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 08:29:31 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Mystery illness still killing Mystery illness still killing manatees TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 28 (UPI) -- Three more dead manatees were discovered Thursday in southwest Florida waterways, bringing to 86 the number killed in the region since March 5 by a mysterious illness. Scientists from as far away as the Netherlands have been working to determine the cause of the epidemic, but so far they have been unable to identify the virus or bacteria they suspect is felling the manatees. "We're not finding any sick manatees, just dead ones," said Joy Mills, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "That's an indication that whatever it is causes them to die quickly." The only common symptoms among the dead manatees has been discolored, fluid-filled lungs, which often are characteristic of pneumonia, officials said. The state of Florida has sought assistance from around the nation in order to put an end to the epidemic, which has resulted in the highest number of manatee fatalities everrecorded in such a short period. More than a dozen scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Biological Survey have committed resources to the project. In addition, marine mammal scientists from the University of Florida, the University of Miami and the Miami Seaquarium were reviewing tissue and blood samples from manatee carcasses. Dr. Albert Osterhaus, a world-renowned virologist from Esterhaus University in the Netherlands, also volunteered his services. Following federal guidelines set by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the state also requested technical advice from a working group that helped put an end to a bottlenose dolphin die-off in Texas and a sea otter mortality event in California last year. The group will act as a sounding board for theories and research initiatives related to the manatee deaths. "This is a tragic situation, but the cooperation and outpouring of support has been overwhelming," said Virginia Wetherell, Florida's top environmental protection official. The manatee deaths have occurred in a 25-mile stretch near the city of Fort Myers, on the state's southwest coast. There are an estimated 2, 600 manatees in Florida waters. Biologists were sampling waterways in the area for toxins or bacteria but had found nothing unusual. Scientists do not believe the illness will spread to other marine mammals, and said there is no evidence to suggest it could infect humans. But they said its possible impact on the population of the endangered manatee may not be known for some time. "This event, and the resulting research, is unprecedented," said manatee pathologist Dr. Scott Wright. "We're breaking new ground here in terms of trying to isolate and identify a fatal marine mammal pathogen. "This is a mystery of nature and it may take months to find the answers," he said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 14:23:35 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sea Lion/Ballard Locks Backgrounder (fwd) Forwarded message: From: arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com (Michael & Nola Kundu) Most marmam readers will already know about the steelhead/sea lion conflict at Seattle's Ballard Locks. This posting is made to provide additional background to the issue, and to open up international discussion about the legitimacy and possible alternatives to the NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) proposed plan of killing of california sea lions at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington. Those who are uninterested in the background information can disregard the second part of this posting. I hope that any researchers who have experienced any similar circumstances, or who can provide evidence or clarification of the 'predator replacement hypothesis' to post them for discussion. In our efforts to convince NMFS that removal, lethal or not, is not the answer, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was the first group to offer to pay for relocation or temporary housing of the Ballard sea lions. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society adamantly maintains that lethal removal of Ballard sea lions will not solve seasonal pinniped predation of steelhead at the Locks. One supporting argument that secondary factors are at the cause of dwindling steelhead numbers is the parallel decline in other salmonid populations in the Lake Washington watershed, coho, sockeye and chinook, whose return cycles do not coincide with the presence of sea lions. Consequently, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) asserts that the lethal removal of 6-10 identified predatory sea lions will result in a stabilization and gradual increase of steelhead numbers. It is estimated that approximately 1300 california sea lions forage in the central Puget Sound region, with a large percentage of these animals present from Port Gardner south to Shilshole Bay. Applying a prevalent tenet of hierarchical feeding among predators, it is expected that the removal of a limited number of sea lions will result in the replacement of these sea lions by younger, less aggressive animals. In fact, it could be argued that by removing the primary predators, the WDFW will be providing the opportunity for more sea lions to learn to feed at the bottleneck of the Ballard Locks. The WDFW has not successfully tested this replacement hypothesis. Passive capture and temporarily housing the principal predators, if accomplished successfully, will provide the WDFW with an opportunity to test the removal/replacement hypothesis without lethal removal. Sea Shepherd, along with a substantial number of the Task Force minority members, suspects that the testing of this replacement hypothesis will provide the necessary evidence that the removal of any sea lions at the Ballard Locks is a misdirected effort at solving the problem of declining steelhead populations in Lake Washington. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society also expresses concern that the application and diversion of public funds to support a lethal take of predatory sea lions. Lethal removal costs, the ensuing litigation and anticipated adverse publicity will contribute to an increased burden on both the WDFW and NMFS's financial resources and will divert funds, resources and attention from the need for those agencies to discover and address the true cause of salmonid decline in the Lake Washington watershed. **************************************************************************** *********** Background: The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), a federal legislation that was enacted in Congress in 1972, has been responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of marine mammals, not just in United States waters, but world-wide. The law has protected migratory species, such as the gray and bowhead whales: it has forced foreign fishing fleets from U.S. waters; it has encouraged other nation's governments to enact similar legislation. Under national political pressure, amendments made in May of 1994 substantially weakened the MMPA; one of these amendments included the following; ["SEC.120. (b)(1) [Amendment to the MMPA] states : A state may apply to the Secretary to authorize the intentional lethal taking of individually identified pinniped which are having a significant impact on the decline or recovery of salmonid fishery stocks which - (A) have been listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq); (B) the Secretary finds are approaching threatened or endangered species status (as those defined in the Act); or (C) migrate through the Ballard Locks at Seattle, WA."] In June of 1994, in an effort to address the predation of a limited number of steelhead trout (Oncorhychus mykiss) by transient california sea lions (Zalophus californianus) at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) applied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for authority to conduct a "lethal take" of sea lions identified to be consuming steelhead at the Locks. NMFS responded to the WDFW by writing the agency a Letter Of Authorization, requiring that a series of terms and conditions be met prior to the lethal removal of these sea lions. In order to meet the criteria established under the MMPA amendments (as outlined in the NMFS's Letter Of Authorization), NMFS established a Pinniped Fisheries Task Force in September of 1994. Membership in this task force was established by extending a general invitation to representatives of various interest groups, (regardless of their scientific or professional background) who expressed an interest in the salmon-sea lion interaction at the Ballard Locks. The Task Force was convened with 21 members including biologists, tribal representatives, government representatives, wise-use supporters, and representatives from animal rights and environmental groups. The group met throughout the year to discuss the matter and hear public testimony on the conflict. With the possibility that the lethal take amendment would be implemented, Sea Shepherd intervened by sailing the Edward Abby into Seattle with an offer to absorb translocation costs and use the vessel to transfer the targeted sea lions back to Californian waters. Our proposal was rejected as NMFS had instead secured $120,000 and built a seasonal holding facility in Tacoma for 8-12 sea lions. That facility currently sits empty. Then in November of 1995, the Task Force released their report, citing a 13-6 vote to recommend that a lethal removal of identified predator sea lions be permitted. In January of 1996, the NMFS headquarters in Seattle, WA, by request of the WDFW, submitted a notice of intent to NMFS that this lethal removal of individual sea lions would be carried out in 1996. In January of 1996, Sea Shepherd again offered to unconditionally pay the entire costs associated with either the relocation, or the temporary housing of identified sea lions at the NMFS-funded facility in Tacoma. Sea Shepherd produced a letter from the San Francisco Bay Commission citing acceptance of sea lion relocation offer. This offer was subsequently followed by conditional offers from other groups to partially fund the temporary housing, yet NMFS refused to consider this non-lethal option. In March of 1996, NMFS re-issued WDFW a modified Letter of Authorization, removing the trigger requirement of "observing sea lions in the act of predating on steelhead" and deleting all requirement to first attempt seasonal capture and holding. NMFS's decision to change its original Letter of Authorization was not fully explained nor tabled for public discussion. In recent days, an animal welfare alliance has filed a complaint in federal courts in an effort to deter NMFS and the WDFW from killing any sea lions. While the court action lacks the effectiveness of a restraining order, it marks the continued attempts by non-government groups to prevent the unnecessary enactment of the MMPA 'lethal take' amendment. The WDFW is currently acting on the authorization by actively searching for 5 identified and tagged sea lions with the intention of killing them by gunfire when they are located. Predation At The Ballard Locks *************************************************** A wide, commercial shipping canal cuts through Seattle, allowing thoroughfare for the large freight and commercial fishing fleets of the open Pacific. This shipping canal contains the Harim. M. Chittenden Locks, nick-named the Ballard Locks. California sea lions were first seen foraging at the Ballard Locks around 1970, but have increased in number at the Locks around 1979, with more regularity (around 6 or 7 animals) in the early 1980s. Sea lion numbers in the Puget Sound numbers are fluctuating; approximately 1200 of these males appeared in the past years. Generally, these sea lions appear in the months from September to May, with the bulk of their foraging activity occurring between December and April. During this time, the sea lions feed on herring, hake, squid, and occasionally, salmon. During the migration of steelhead and other anadromous fish, a handful of large males have set up a "pecking order" in the Locks to take advantage of the unnatural assembly of prey steelhead as they wait at the foot of the fish ladder. This is where the opportunistic foraging takes place. While the sea lions only take a small percentage of the steelhead, pinnipeds are much easier to blame than other, more prevalent causes of salmon decline -- pollution and habitat degradation, smolt mortality due to problems in the Lock's design (including the possible descaling of up to 60% of all smolt traveling out of the barnacle-encrusted Ballard Locks spillway) overfishing by recreational and native gill netters in Elliott Bay, among other causes. And while the Ballard Locks obstruct several other species of salmon -- Sockeye, coho, cutthroat trout and other anadromous fish that travel upstream into the Lake Washington watershed, both the WDFW and many anti-environmentalists wage the argument that sea lions should be killed in order to "protect the survival of the wild steelhead of Lake Washington. This argument is inherently fraudulent and/or ignorant of the true status of this anadromous species. The run is also questionably "wild" steelhead trout, a salmonid species whose "wild", or genetic distinctiveness was compromised by heavy transplantation and hatchery augmentation since 1914. Even now, biologists throughout the region, including personnel from NMFS and the WDFW themselves, admit that the steelhead passing through the Ballard Locks are a genetically mixed, unendangered hybrid salmonid. That is why no current or future efforts are underway to seek federal listing or protection of these steelhaed. Since 1984, the WDFW and NMFS have proposed and attempted many solutions to the sea lion-steelhead interaction at Ballard. Some of the attempts included the use of underwater fire crackers, acoustic harassment, taste aversion using lithium chloride, rubber-tipped arrows and the deployment of a nylon net across the spillway approaching the fish ladder. All of these efforts, including the latter (which subsequently resulted in the entanglement deaths of 2 sea lions), have summarily failed, but the most promising and cost-effective proposal -- to create an artificial series of underwater pinniped-excluding structures for salmon approaching the fish ladder to find cover in -- has not been attempted. The WDFW themselves, in their 1989 Environmental Assessment of this issue, have asserted that the underwater refuge would possibly work, but now it appears that they have decided that lethal removal -- a temporary solution -- is more appropriate. While Sea Shepherd has unsuccessfully proposed to fund the temporary housing this season, we know that it will not mitigate the problem at Ballard permanently. Our objective was to temporarily stave off this inaugural use of the MMPA 'lethal removal' amendment until the appropriate measures (establishment of a pinniped excluding corridor at the fish ladder) can be conducted to create a permanent solution to the interaction. Michael Kundu, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Pacific Northwest Coordinator ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 14:18:11 -0800 From: Sallie Beavers Subject: Job Announcement In-Reply-To: <9603170831.AA23110(\)BCC.ORST.EDU> Please do not reply by email for the following position. Address all snail mail to the Marine Mammal Search Committee. Thank you. RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Must have a B.S. in biological sciences, electrical engineering, or comparable experience. Experience with computers, statistics, whales, and satellite studies preferred. Duties will include office management, data collection/analysis, technical scientific writing and editing, production of graphics/video material, and public sector program responsibilities. Will participate in field studies which may require extensive travel with camping or boat living conditions for extended periods of time. This is a full time position located at Newport, Oregon. Salary range is $19,992 to $28,020. Resumes with references should be sent to the MARINE MAMMAL SEARCH COMMITTEE, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon 97365 no later than April 26, 1996. Please do not phone. Oregon State University is an EEO/AA employer and has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual career couples. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 18:47:10 +1000 From: gclarke(\)magna.com.au Subject: Whales in danger Dear Marmamers, With over 100 hits per day my little whale home page is coming alive. Now, I am getting requests from groups for links to their pages. I am also getting letters from kids and adults who are concerned about the plight of the whales. I have been able to answer most questions but one subject keeps poping up which I cannot answer. "How can I help the whales?" I have a small readership now and I feel certain that some of my readers would be prepared to respond in some way to alerts on threatened ceaceans. The information I get from MARMAM is sometimes overwhelming in it's grief and although these posts are not 'cries for help' I often get the feeling they are. Unfortunately, most events are local and although you may be close to the action most of us are not. It is impossible for me to know to whom I might correspond with reference to the Ballard Locks Sea Lions! I don't live nearby. I don't live in the U.S.A. I don't live on the continent! Maybe the authors do not collect this kind of information, being scientists and not politicians, but some of us are neither. You might say "Why am I here then?" I can only say "Because I can!" Maybe I am an 'untapped resource'. If that is the case there are, now, lots of us and we are increasing at an enormous rate. (I hear that 13,000 US schools are connecting to the Internet!) UNTAPPED RESOURCES UNITE! There... I've done it! It's started. It CANNOT be stopped. There is no country border we cannot cross, no government we cannot overthrow, no polluter, no hunter, no waster we cannot process and recycle. . . . . . . phew! (glad I got that off my chest) It would please me greatly if those of you with this kind of local knowledge attach the email or postal addresses (to whom to protest) to your posts so that we might speak when you cannot. If I have offended anyone please accept my appology. If this is not an appropriate subject please ignore. But don't suggest I go to rec.animals.alt.wildlife.dolphins! And if you have to FLAME me please do it privately not through MARMAM (it's embarrasing). Graham. ------------------------------------------------------ Graham_Clarke - "WHALES IN DANGER" Information Service ------------------------------------------------------ Home Page - http://whales.magna.com.au/home.html ------------------------------------------------------ Sydney - AUSTRALIA - email gclarke(\)magna.com.au ------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Apr 1996 12:41:32 -0500 From: carolyn Subject: Re: Sea Lion problem (fwd) A question regarding the sea lion problem, in reference to Roger Malo's observations with the effective polar bear program and Naomi Rose's information on the availability of space and funds for the same type of program for these sea lions: Could research or educational funds be generated to keep these animals in captivity? My thought is the use of these animals in non-invasive, observational-type behavioral studies on the effect of captivity and environmental enrichment on the normal captive behavior and health of these animals. Opening up a four month research project to undergraduate and graduate students interested in such an experience may help to generate more public and political interest in this area as well. Comments Welcome! Sincerely, Carolyn A. Wert The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine wert.2(\)osu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 11:19:58 +0200 From: Giovanni Bearzi Subject: volunteer research assistant needed RESEARCH ASSISTANT NEEDED (no salary) ================================== Project: Adriatic Dolphin Project, Tethys Research Institute Research: bottlenose dolphin social ecology and behavior Location: Island of Losinj, Croatia, Northern Adriatic Sea Approximate period: 1 May - 15 July 1996 Research topic: survey from cliffs to estimate bottlenose dolphin population parameters and average density in the area Requirements: basic research experience, basic computer skills, determination, constancy, preciseness, tolerance, cleanliness, strong scientific interest and rigorous method of data collection; the applicant should share with the other people at the base duties including housekeeping, cooking and dealing with "eco-volunteers" Language: English (Croatian and Italian would be useful) room & board provided; no salary available; no travel expenses refund unique research experience in a very beautiful area where the local bottlenose dolphin community has been extensively studied since 1987 a scientific library including about 2,000 papers is available at the Adriatic Dolphin Project base Please send a detailed request and curriculum to: giovanni.bearzi(\)public.srce.hr submitted by: ********************************* Giovanni Bearzi Tethys Research Institute Adriatic Dolphin Project Podjavori 13, 51551 Veli Losinj, Croatia tel/fax + 385 (51) 236348 e-mail: giovanni.bearzi(\)public.srce.hr ********************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 11:42:31 EST From: Sally McNeill Subject: Marine mammals and entanglement Our department is currently assessing an Environmental Impact Study for a mussel longline aquaculture project. I would be greatful if any one has any information on or records of incidences of entanglement or entrapment of marine mammals in aquaculture structures, longlines, mooring lines or anchor lines. The area proposed for this project is a bay that is frequented by a number of migratory whale species (Orcas, Southern Rights and Humpbacks) and is a significant area for Tursiops. I would appreciate any info. Look forward to hearing from you. Sally McNeill smcneill(\)nsw.erin.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 13:12:53 -0500 From: Delphin(\)aol.com Subject: Marine mammal Samples for Education? Marmamers- I have recently become affiliated with a zoo in Boise, Idaho. They are in the process of expoanding their education department, which includes a 'discovery room' consisting of taxidermic samples of wildlife. I am interested in learning what needs to be done to procure marine mammal samples for this room. I know that there are regulations concerning the uses of marine mammal remains, and that procuring marine mammal sample would involve paperwork. Could someone give me an idea of how to proceed? Thank you in advance for any help. -Rick Hobson delphin(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 01:13:14 EST From: Tim Stevens <100236.2066(\)compuserve.com> Subject: Rough-Toothed Dolphins to be released G'day Marmammers: The two rough-toothed dolphins which stranded on Queensland's Sunshine Coast have recovered sufficiently to be released soon. It is planned to release the animals some 40 miles off the coast to maximise the chances of survival for this oceanic species. Release is planned for tomorrow (4 April), given good weather and satisfactory results from a final blood sample analysis. Thanks to those of you who responded with suggestions or data requests. Where possible those have been carried out; I'll forward the results to you individually at a later date. The animals have been tagged with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags inserted into the front of the dorsal about 5 cm from the base, and freeze-branded on both sides of the dorsal with the letter "Q" above the numbers "1" and "2" respectively. The letter and numbers are each about 50cm in height. This represents the beginning of Queensland's tagging program for stranded cetacea. I will update you on the outcome of the release attempt as soon as possible. Tim Stevens -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Stevens Principal Conservation Officer Queensland Department of Environment telephone: +61 7 3227 7783 PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert Street, Qld 4002 facsimile: +61 7 3225 1909 Australia e-mail: 100236.2066(\)compuserve.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 01:27:09 EST From: Tim Stevens <100236.2066(\)compuserve.com> Subject: STOP PRESS: Rough Tooth release delayed Marmammers: The release of two stranded rough-toothed dolphins planned for tomorrow has been delayed for at least a week, because a final blood test revealed that the male may have an infection. No further details as yet, I'll keep you posted. Tim Stevens ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 07:26:50 -0800 Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was marmamed(\)UVIC.CA From: David Williams Subject: Possible Cause of Manatee Die-off! (Urgent request: If anyone knows any member of the team investigating the manatee die-off, please inform them of the sinking of this vessel.) In reference to the many questions I received about the possible relation between the vessel which sunk off the West Coast of Florida on 6 January and the recent manatee die-off. The Moby Dick Society does not know if Florida authorities are aware of the potential hazard. They should be. As soon as the report came into our office we posted the information on the Internet's main marine mammal discussion forum, which is forwarded to many Florida authorities. However, no one from Florida has contacted us concerning this information. We do not know the exact location of the sinking. No one does. But it is a standard practice for a captain of a vessels in KATHLEEN D's condition to "hug" the coastline wherever possible. For this reason, the Moby Dick Society suspects the vessel went down somewhere near shore. In addition to the 1,300 metric tons of hydrated lime carried below, the KATHLEEN D had 8 to 10 large shipping containers of unknown material lashed on her deck. These containers of ?????? are thought to have been lost overboard and may have drifted into local waters before they ruptured and spilled there unknown material. In fact, these containers may presently be leaking chemicals which are not only deadly to manatees but also hazardous to people on the West Coast of Florida. The US Coast Guard knew that KATHLEEN D was unseaworthy one week before they allowed the vessel to depart Mobile. When Safety Officers first boarded the ship, they ordered it to stay in harbor. Later, after members of the Honduran Government's Naval Survey and Technical Bureau in Coral Gables Florida made four trips to Mobile, they rescinded the order and allowed the KATHLEEN D to sail on its way to Jamaica. The 234-foot rust-bucket sank 15 hours later, drowning 8 of its 9-man crew and polluting the Florida Coastline with its cargo. The following defects were noted by the US Coast Guard BEFORE THE SHIP SAILED: *STERN TUBE LEAKING *EXTREME RUSTING OF HULL FRAMES AND PLATING *MAIN STEERING GEAR ALMOST INOPERATIVE *NAVIGATION CHARTS NOT CURRENT *FUEL SHUT-OFF INOPERABLE *BILGE FILLED WITH 3,500 GALLONS OF OILY WATER *PLUS 12 OTHER MAJOR SAFETY AND FIRE DEFICIENCIES The Moby Dick Society repeats it earlier request for the Marine Mammal Commission and the National Fisheries Service to form a task force to investigate this obvious danger to the marine environment. Why does the US Government allow unseaworthy vessel to load hazardous chemicals at our docks and then sail, with those chemical aboard, along our shores? Captain D. Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. Office 954-942-9352 Fax 954-942-9352 Mobile 954-242-0768 Internet: davidmds(\)ix.netcom.com or mobydick(\)icanect.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 08:22:16 -0500 From: Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown A page of whale-related www links is maintained at "http:www.whalewatch.com/".If anyone would like to make an addition or a correction to this list, please email to Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown Subject: capturing marine mammals Forwarded message: Dear MARMAM, I'm writing to you to ask for any information that you can provide to me on the capturing of marine mammals for U.S. aquariums and the laws and regulations concerning the capturing of these mammals. I am a student at the Unveristy of Vermont presently enrolled in an animal welfare course. I'm trying to write a paper and prepare a presentation on this topic but are having a difficult time finding informantion. I hope by reseaching this topic I will be able to make others aware of any problems that our marine mammal populations might be facing. If you have any informantion on this subject or know anyone that does, I would appreciate hearing from you. I can be reach on e-mail at cagnello(\)moose.uvm.edu . Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Carl Agnello ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Apr 1996 17:59:00 -0800 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sea Lions Sea Lions SEATTLE (AP) -- Hondo and his Ballard Locks buddies may escape the firing squad after all. The News Tribune of Tacoma, citing unidentified sources, reported today that Sea World in Orlando, Fla., has offered to adopt Hondo and four other sea lions who could face the death penalty for eating too many steelhead salmon. "Sea World has stepped up to the plate," said Jeff Foster, marine mammal expert at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, which also had offered to give some of the sea lions a home. "They're working on getting the permits all squared away." Representatives for Sea World, the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife all declined to comment Wednesday. The federal fisheries service last month gave the state permission to kill up to five predatory sea lions to protect the steelhead at the locks. Among those targeted was a 1,084-pound whiskered behemoth nicknamed Hondo. Every year, as the fish make their way from saltwater Shilshole Bay on Puget Sound to freshwater Lake Union and Lake Washington, they are delayed by the Ballard Locks, where they have to climb a fish ladder. The sea lions, which swim 900 miles up the Pacific coast from southern California during the April-May steelhead run, find the fish easy pickings. The size of the annual steelhead run has declined from 3,000 in the early 1980s, when the sea lions began invading, to a count of 126 fish last year, according to state figures. The state tried everything from underwater noisemakers to rubber darts to try to shoo away the sea lions, without success. Hondo and his pals would be the largest at Sea World, which already houses 80 sea lions and seals, Foster said. Adult male sea lions normally weigh 750-1,000 pounds. Capturing them could be tough. None of the death-row animals has been spotted around the locks recently, and they tend to be wary of traps. For good reason, perhaps. Animal rights activists, who have sued in federal court to block the killings, say life in captivity for sea lions isn't much better than a death sentence. What's more, they contend, other sea lions will quickly replace the captured ones at the locks. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 09:32:11 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: news clip Manatee death toll reaches 97 FORT MYERS, Fla., April 2 (UPI) -- Environmental officials said Tuesday the mystery epidemic that has been killing manatees in the waters of southwest Florida has claimed two more victims, bringing to at least 97 the number killed since March 5. They also said an unusual number of bird kills in the area were not related to the epidemic. All but one of the sea cow carcasses retrieved by authorities were those of otherwise healthy adult animals; a dead one-month-old manatee was discovered Monday. "We don't know if the discovery of the baby is significant or not," said Joy Mills, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The only common symptom has been discolored, fluid-filled lungs, often characteristic of pneumonia, according to officials. FDEP has assigned more than 70 workers to investigate the epidemic along a 25-mile stretch of water near Fort Myers. Marine biologists around the world have been sent organ tissue samples taken from the manatee carcasses, but so far have not identified the virus or whatever is believed to kill the manatees less than four days after infecting them. FDEP has decided to focus on live manatees, according to Mills. "We're taking blood samples from healthy manatees in order to establish a control group," she said. "We want to find out differences between their blood and the samples we've gotten from those that have died." Biologists who tested area waterways for toxins or bacteria have found nothing out of the ordinary, except for an outbreak of Red Tide that authorities said was not responsible for the manatee deaths. The Red Tide, a mass of organisms that give the water a reddish tint and deplete oxygen levels, was blamed for the deaths of dozens of fish- eating, sea-diving loons in the region, however. "The birds were eating fish that had absorbed toxins from the Red Tide," explained Mills. "A significant bird kill is not unusual in Red Tide situations," she added, contradicting a published report that whatever was killing the manatees was also infecting birds. Scientists do not believe the epidemic will spread to other marine mammals, and said there is no evidence to suggest the virus could infect humans. But they were concerned about its possible impact on Florida's population of endangered manatees, which officials thought numbered 2, 600 before the epidemic began. Further to the north along the Gulf coast, researchers were dealing with another epidemic which affected the endangered green sea turtle population. Officials at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium said since November, they have treated 22 of the turtles for spongelike tumors that have grown on the animals' eyes, necks and flippers. They said the disease causing the tumors can be fatal. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Apr 1996 09:19:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Searching for Ph.D Dissertations (fwd) Forwarded message: From: GUANX(\)folly.cofc.edu Dear Marmamers, I am looking for the following two dissertations and I have spent the past couple of weeks searching for them through on-line library search, and with the help of our librarian, I still couldn't locat them. And now I have to ask for your help. Thanks a lot in advance. 1) Wang Ding. 1993. Dolphin whistles: comparisons between populations and species. Ph.D. dissertation, Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China. 2) Richard Petricig. (year?). Bottlenose dolphins in Bull Creek, Hilton Head, SC (not quite recall the exact title). (Dr. Petricig is a recent graduate from University of Rhode Island, but we couldn't locate this dissertation through URI library.) Thanks again, Shane _________________________________________ | | | SHANE (XINGHUI) GUAN | | * * * * * | | GRICE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY | | 205 FORT JOHNSON | | CHARLESTON, SC 29412 | | U. S. A. | | * * * * * | | TEL.(803)762-555O / FAX (803)762-5555 | |_________________________________________| GUANX(\)FOLLY.COFC.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 10:11:10 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 4/8/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I will post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month. Today's posting is the longer version for the first Friday of April 1996. Pleas e note that archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/~sglegal" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . NAMMCO Meeting. On Mar. 27-29, 1996, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) held its sixth meeting in Tromso, Norway, with attendance by delegations from all four member nations -- the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The meeting's agenda included comprehensive reviews of ringed and grey seals, and review of a proposal for a joint control scheme for hunting of marine mammals. [personal communication] . Steller Sea Lion Killed. On Mar. 22, 1996, Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game managers shot and killed a Steller sea lion threatening people in Petersburg, AK. The animal had become aggressive after being fed by people for several weeks. [Assoc Press] . IATTC Observer Program. In mid-March 1996 and in frustration with the pace of U.S. action on the Declaration of Panama, Mexican tuna seiners announced, by administrative petition, that they would no long participate in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission's observer program, but would all carry observers in a Mexican national program. The Mexican government has not responded to the industry petition. [personal communication] . Washington State Sea Lions. On Mar. 13, 1996, NMFS announced guidelines for dealing with sea lions at Ballard Locks in Puget Sound that will allow State managers to kill individual animals 1) with a known history of eating steelhead trout, 2) not deterred by underwater noisemakers, and 3) observed hunting for steelhead trout, beginning Mar. 16, 1996. On Mar. 22, 1996, an Animal Care Committee recommended gunshot as the preferred method of killing, with lethal drug injection as a second alternative, and on Mar. 25, 1996, two individually identifiable sea lions were identified as target s for action. On Mar. 28, 1996, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (Seattle chapter), the Humane Society of the United States, and Earth Island Institute filed suit in federal court to prevent killing of any sea lions, claiming NMFS h as not demonstrated that no feasible alternatives to killing exist. {In early Apri l 1996, Sea World of Florida proposed, and NMFS and WA State's Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have accepted the offer, to permanently hold captive the five sea lions identified for killing in Washington State.} [Assoc Press, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife press release, Sea World press release, NMFS press release] . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Mar. 7, 1996, Canadian fisheries authorities filed charges against four Canadian sealers shown using brutal methods of sealing in a video released earlier this year by animal welfare activists. The Canadian Sealers Assoc. and animal welfare groups welcomed the action. [Assoc Press] . Norway's Seal Hunt. On Mar. 1, 1996, the Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, representing the five Norwegian seal hunting vessel owners, canceled the annual seal hunt claiming that the current $1.2 million (8 million Norwegian crown) state subsidy was too low to make the hunt profitable. In early March 1996, Norwegian sealers reached a new agreement when one of the five vessels withdrew, allowing the government subsidy to be divided among four vessels. A spring seal hunt will likely begin on Mar. 22, with a harvest of about 20,000 seals anticipated from quotas of 17,050 non-nursing pups and almost 13,000 adults. [Reuters, personal communication, Assoc Press] . Right Whale Deaths. On Mar. 9, 1996, the carcass of a sixth dead right whale was discovered on the beach in Wellfleet, MA. In all of 1995, only two right whales were known to have died; however, 14-16 new calves have been identified this year (three of which have died) compared to only seven in 1995. On Mar. 13, 1996, The Boston Globe reported that NMFS is investigating whether increased Navy traffic and weapons testing off Georgia and Florida might be responsible for increased right whale mortality. [Assoc Press] . Climate Change and Whales. On Mar. 25-30, 1996, the International Whaling Commission is sponsoring, and the National Marine Fisheries Service is hosting, a symposium and workshop in Hawaii on the effects of climate change on cetaceans. [personal communication] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Mar. 26, 1996, 81 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County -- 29 dead manatees were recovered since Mar. 19; cause of death of the apparently healthy adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed bacterial pneumonia in many animals. [Assoc Press, Reuters, personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 11:37:55 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Note on Summary archive address I was a bit premature in announcing the new address for where my Friday summaries are archived. The new address announced in my posting earlier today will be effective in two days on April 10th. Until that date, use the archive address provided in former summaries. Sorry for the confusion. Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 13:04:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Duke Marine Lab summer course (fwd) Forwarded message: From: hnearing(\)mail.duke.edu (Helen Nearing) EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MARINE MAMMALS=20 Summer Program 1996 at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment Marine Laboratory MARINE MAMMALS. (Biology 126L=D7/Environment 226L*.) An intensive= examination of ecology, social organization, behavior, communication, anatomy, and management/conservation issues. Laboratory and field exercises consider social organization, communication, data analysis, and life history parameters. Prerequisite: college level courses in introductory biology. Team taught; instructors include: Drs. Andrew Read (Duke University), Randall Wells (UC Santa Cruz), Laela Sayigh and Ann Pabst (UNC, Wilmington), Aleta Hohn (NMFS, Beaufort Lab) Daniel Rubenstein (Princeton University), and John Reynolds (Eckerd College--course coordinator). =20 =09 The biology and management of marine mammals attract considerable interest worldwide and raise ecological, evolutionary, economic, and ethical questions. This course uses a comparative approach (involving contrasts with a local wild horse population) to illustrate key concepts in biology and conservation biology and provide a rigorous, systematic overview of marine mammals, especially those species found in the southeastern United States. For such species, we emphasize the following topics: behavior, ecology, life history, conservation, current research techniques, and key management issues. Evaluation is based on weekly examinations and research projects. =09 =09 Course space is limited and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Room and board will be available for course participants at the Marine Laboratory. The course is offered during Summer Term III (July 22 - August 23). =20 APPLICATION: Required credentials include the completed summer course application and a current academic transcript. Applications may be found at the back of the Marine Laboratory 1996-97 Bulletin or on our web page http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html. =20 =D7number undergraduates use for registration; * number graduates use for registration TO REQUEST APPLICATION MATERIALS CONTACT: Admissions Office Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort NC 28516-9721 phone 919/504-7502; fax 919/504-7648; email hnearing(\)mail.duke.edu or see our web page http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- Ms. Helen Nearing, Coordinator, Academic Programs Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort NC 28516 phone 919/504-7502; fax 919/504-7648 http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 13:05:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Accessible Library databases (fwd) Forwarded message: From: chris Burton Hullo I am looking for details of on-line databases of scientific journals that I can access and search for specific information on marine mammals, specifically whales and dugongs in Australia. I need something that gives abstracts of papers that I can read. Can you help? regards Chris ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 10:45:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: (Fwd) RESEARCH ON MANATEE DEATHS (fwd) Forwarded message: From: kazpool(\)pipeline.com (gpkpool) On Apr 03, 1996 09:32:11, 'Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov' wrote: >Manatee death toll reaches 97 > >FORT MYERS, Fla., April 2 (UPI) -- Environmental officials said >Tuesday the mystery epidemic that has been killing manatees in the >waters of southwest Florida has claimed two more victims, bringing to >at least 97 the number killed since March 5. > F Y I Dr. Carol House is studying the recent manatee deaths at the Plum Island Research Center on the Eastern tip of L.I.,N.Y. Dr. house can be reached via e-mail at her husbands address: JHOUSE53(\)AOL.COM -- GEORGE P. KAZDIN PRES. KAZDIN POOLS AND SPAS PATSY K II SPORTSFISHING CHARTERS SECT' Y. OKEANOS OCEAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION PRES. SHINNECOCK MARLIN & TUNA CLUB kazpool(\)pipeline.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 19:48:38 -0400 Reply-To: rlynds(\)fox.nstn.ca From: Ron Lynds Subject: Bras D'or Lake MARMAM, I've had several inquiries about the Bras D'or Lake since I first wrote to marmam. To get a better idea of the Bras D'or please visit "Soundnet'' the electronic newsletter of the oceania project in Byron Bay, Austrailia. They can be reached at: WWW:http://www.nor.com.au/users/oceania Trish and Wally Franklin have done an incredible job of combining some photos I've sent with my original text. You can find here a map showing the proximity of Nova Scotia to Iceland. What I am researching is the possibilty of Icelandic orcas visiting the waters of the Nova Scotia coast. Can anyone out there help ? Please E-mail me at: rlynds(\)fox.nstn.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 09:47:36 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: pygmy sperm whale stranding - would like update I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me out. I recently had an email buddy ask me about a pygmy sperm whale (seen on TV) that was brought to an aquarium (DC aquarium?) after beaching. My friend said that a protoscope was used to pull out 3-5 BIG pieces of plastic from its gut; the animal was then released with a radio tag. We are curious about the status of this animal. If someone could let me know (I suspect other Marmammers would be interested as well), I'd appreciate it. I hadn't even heard that one had stranded live recently Thank you in advance. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 10:58:11 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: right whales in NY Times I would be interested in hearing from someone with access to the NY Times from 4-9-96 (?). There is apparently a 2-3 pp spread on right whales, and I would like to get a copy of the article if possible. Thanks in advance. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 17:28:31 MET From: Oijen T van Organization: RuG Onderwijs Biologie Subject: Norwegian seal hunting I wrote: > ...the political dicussion (e.g. The Norwegian government states > that the fish consumption of seals endanger the fisheries while > conservationists say that overfishing endangers the seals; for > neither of these opinions is a sound scientific basis). George Blichfeldt replied: > I doubt that the coverments have said that the seals stocks "endanger" > the fisheries. What they have pointed out is that there seem to be some > degree of comepetion between fisheries and seals. I have made a couple > of long mailings to marmam on the issue of competition - concentrating > on the newfoundland situation (at the end of last year). > In my opinion there is a sound scientific basis for both claims. I > belive that it is an established fact that there is some degree of > interaction between fisheries and seals. Therefor the seal consumption > of fish (as well as theire interaction with fishing gear) will influence > the fisheries - as well as the fisheries take of fish will influence the > food base for seals. I agree with George Blichfeldt that there is scientific evidence for "some degree of interaction between fisheries and seals". But the question here is if there is evidence for a substantial negative effect of the consumption by seals on fish stocks which are commercially exploited by Norway. Only then this can be used as at least a factual argument to justify the Norwegian seal hunt. However, scientific literature only contains rough estimates of the yearly consumption of seals (e.g. the article 'Food consumption of the Northeast Atlantic stock of harp seals' by Nordoey et al., 1995). These estimates are compared with the total commercial catch in a certain year (in the article mentioned above 1993). Those who advocate the seal hunt refer to this kind of information when they state that harp seals eat as much herring each year as the total Norwegian catch. In my opinion this conclusion is incorrect. Furthermore, there is no insight in the processes which determine in what way the consumption of fish by seals influences the populations of the target fish-species as well as those of other species. Still, the Norwegian government justifies the seal hunting by stating that otherwise the ecological equilibrium between seal and fish populations would be unbalanced. If somebody has any scientific proof on that, please let me know. The costs of the seal hunt seem much larger than the profits (based on the information gathered by Blichfeldt), and large subsidies are given by the Norwegian government. I wonder what other reasons there may be for the government to let the seal hunt continue. To satisfy the fishermen, who do see the seals as a serious threat, or to maintain the knowledge and social structures connected to the seal hunt? I also agree with Blichfeldt that "the fisheries take of fish will influence the food base for seals." But in the case of Norwegian fisheries, there is no scientific evidence that recent fishing activities are that intensive that seals are strongly negatively influenced. Next to that, Hanja Maij-Weggen of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare states that decline in fish populations in Norwegian waters is completely due to overfishing (debate on seal hunting, Strassbourg, 18 january 1996). There simply is not enough insight in the role of seals (and other organisms) and of several environmental factors influencing the development of fish populations to make such a statement. Tim van Oijen T.VAN.OIJEN(\)BIOL.RUG.NL ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 14:09:21 -0800 From: Dave Wheeler Organization: An Internet Gateway Subject: Re: Information on norwegian seal hunt Apparently-to: dave.wheeler(\)salata.com From: Georg Blichfeldt Subject: Re: Information on norwegian seal hunt Dave Wheeler wrote: > > I wonder if you would answer just a few more questions. > > Please feel free to post to MARAM or to e-mail me at the > above address. I intend to post your response on Usenet. > Will the 1996 income be about the same as the 775,000 NKr > produced in 1991? > > If not, why not? Georg Blichfeldt responded: I have asked the directorate for fisheries in Bergen to provide me with some statistics - which they have not done so far - I'll contact them again - I am sorry to say that before that I am not able to answer your question. I'll get back to you. > hi> 1992: value of seal penises from one of the boats (four boats took > hi> part): 110 000 NKr > hi> (source: the Norwegian Fisheries Ministery: A Social Economic > hi> Evaluation of the Seal Hunt, 1994) > > Does this mean that about 40% of revenue was from penis > sales? I have only fragmented and inadequate information on this issue. I do not know if the figure from this one boat is representative for the other boats. I visited Riebers seal plant in Tromsoe two weeks ago and they told about substansial drop in seal penis prices. They thought the market was filled up. > > c) What is the market focus on seal products? What products will be > > transported to and sold in Norway? Estimated commercial value of > > seal products (final sales, not income to sealing company). > > hi> The market focus is on the pelts. I don't think that there exists an > hi> estimated commuercial value of seal products from final sales. > > Where are the pelts sold? > > What percentage of revenue is from pelts? The market is mainly the far east. Again - I would need more information from the directorate for fisheries. > > > d) What species of seals are being targeted? What age group? (Would > > prefer an actual average age as opposed to the Canadian classification > > system, e.g. beaters). I believe the age is usually dictated by the > > company buying the pelts. > > hi> Hooded seals and harp seals. The Norwegian quota in the West Ice for > hi> 1996 have been set at 10 600 adult harp seals and 1 700 adult hooded > hi> seals. Up to 50 percent of these quotas may be taken in the form of > hi> weaned pups, on the basis of a conversion factor where two pups ar > hi> equivalent to one adult. > > At what age does a pup become a weaned pup? The harp seal pubs are abandond by it's mother after about 12 days, for the hooded seals the periode the pup spends with it's mother even shorter: 8 - 10 days. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance ~~~ Blue Wave v2.12 [NR] ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 18:17:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Native hunt for gray whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: adncstr(\)inforamp.net (Anne Doncaster) Can anyone provide an update on the status of rquests by native groups in the U.S. and Canada to hunt gray whales? Anne Doncaster Anne Doncaster International Fund for Animal Welfare 1316 Oak Lane Mississauga, Ontario L5H 2X7 Canada Tel: (905) 278-3580 Fax: (905) 274-4477 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 13:46:07 -0400 From: Erin Subject: signature whistles Dear Marmamer's I am am undergraduate student who is studying animal language at New College of USF in Sarasota, FL. I am researching signature whistles in Tursiops truncatus. It has been reletivly easy to find published research on length, frequency, occurence, and sex differences of signature whistles. What I am lacking, however, is theory on why signature whistles are used among dolphins (other than a simple "I am here" message). If anyone knows of resources that I amy not have some across or if anyone can help me, please post a message or e-mail me directly at matthews(\)virtu.sar.usf.edu. Thank You, Erin Matthews ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 18:20:26 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Mystery manatee illness spread Mystery manatee illness spreading TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- The mysterious epidemic that has been killing manatees in southwest Florida waterways may be spreading to other parts of the state, environmental officials reported Tuesday. Scientists have not been able to identify the virus or bacteria that has resulted in the deaths of 123 sea cows since March 5. Six new manatee carcasses were discovered in Florida waters Tuesday, and three possible epidemic victims were found outside the southwest region of the state where the illness was thought to be contained, authorities said. Officials speculated warmer weather was leading manatees to leave their winter refuges and venture into waters all over Florida. "It's a free-for-all. These guys swim wherever they want to," said manatee pathologist Dr. Scott Wright. Since the cause of the illness remained unknown, authorities did not know if it was contagious. "We don't know if it's in them or the environment," Wrightsaid. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the latest deaths brought to 216 the number of manatees who have died in the state this year. In just over three months, the total has surpassed what had been Florida's worst year on record for manatee deaths -- 206 in 1990. At the rate they died last month, the state's entire sea cow population, recently estimated at 2,600, would be wiped out in two years. But authorities said that likely would not happen, since the epidemic has infected only adult manatees. The only common symptom among the dead manatees has been discolored, fluid-filled lungs which often are characteristic of pneumonia, according to Wright. Federal, state and private researchers have joined forces to track the manatee killer. Marine biologists around the world have been sent blood and organ tissue samples taken from the manatee carcasses, but tests for bacteria that can cause pneumonia turned up negative. The results from one test for a morbillivirus similar to canine distemper also were negative, as were tests for Red Tide, a toxic algae bloom that has been prevalent along Florida's southwest coast. But some research labs were testing manatee liver samples to see if a previously undetected strain of Red Tide poisoning could account for the deaths. Brain tissues were being checked for pesticides or herbicides, although biologists who tested area waterways for toxins or bacteria found nothing out of the ordinary. Discovery of the cause of the illnesses would not necessarily mean an end to the epidemic, officials cautioned. After a tour of one research lab earlier this week, Gov. Lawton Chiles said, "The bad thing is when they pin down the cause, they may not be able to do anything about it." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 08:31:57 -1000 From: Catherine Combelles Subject: Information on pinniped exhibits My name is Giulia Mo, and I am a biologist working at the Acquario di Genova. I am trying to assimilate information from any aquarium or zoo which houses pinnipeds in an enclosed exhibit unopen to fresh air like ours. I do not have an email address, but if you have any information, please contact me at the following address and fax number. Thank you. Giulia Mo Acquario di Genova Porto Antico 16126 Genova Italy Fax: 39-10-25 61 60 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 09:16:33 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Peru passes law to protect dol Peru passes law to protect dolphins LIMA, Peru, April 10 (Reuter) - Peru's government published a law on Wednesday to protect dolphins after a campaign by environmentalists to save the species whose numbers have fallen as the result of widespread killing. The law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Alberto Fujimori declared dolphins "legally protected" and said fishing for and selling of dolphin meat would bring jail sentences of between two and four years. "This is a great achievement. Now with this law, there will be much greater justice for these animals," said Olga Rey, president of the Campaign for Life Association which fought for the dolphin's protection. The move is the result of an intense educational campaign to make the public aware of the reasons for preserving the species, Rey said. Although dolphin fishing was banned last year, the offence was punishable only by a fine. Dolphin meat, considered a delicacy, is sold commercially on an informal level. In 1993, up to 76 dolphins a day were killed in the country, according to investigations carried out by the association and a United Nations environmental study. But the fishing may have slowed in the last two years as a result of the protection campaign, Rey said. Peru is home to 20 of the 42 species in the world of sea and freshwater dolphins, she said. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 23:48:44 -0500 From: William Megill Subject: Re: signature whistles In-Reply-To: <9604110125.AA18281(\)sun.zoology.ubc.ca> On Wed, 10 Apr 1996, Erin wrote: > I am researching signature whistles in > Tursiops truncatus. It has been reletivly easy to find published > research on length, frequency, occurence, and sex differences of signature > whistles. What I am lacking, however, is theory on why signature whistles > are used among dolphins (other than a simple "I am here" message). If But the "I am here" message is reason enough. Consider what information is actually contained within that message: 1. Relative position (direction and distance) of sender and receiver. This could be important in maintaining an image of the school - remember nobody can see very much in nutrient-rich (hence murky) water, at depth, or at night. 2. Relative velocity (both by integration of the position information over time, and through the Doppler effect) of the two parties. Again, important in maintaining group cohesion and avoiding collisions. 3. Individual identity (here's where the signature part comes in). The above information is only really useful if the identity of the speaker is easy to distinguish from others "talking" at the same time. The frequency modulation of the signature whistle makes it easy to pick out in noise. 4. State of arousal. The added modulation in an excited dolphin's signature whistle would carry information about local goings-on (food/ predator/reproductive readiness) that could be transmitted quickly across the school, and identified by each individual as to who made the signal, and where he/she is. With the first three bits of information, each individual can form an acoustic image of its group, rather than the visual image that terrestrial (visual) animals can form, where each individual looks slightly different (think size, scars, stripe/spot patterns, etc.) The 4th bit of info, which is the starting point for animal communication, no matter what the species/communication system, is not possible without the first three. So the "I am here" message _is_ (IMHO :-) the reason for the signature whistle. > anyone knows of resources that I amy > not have some across or if anyone can help me, please post a message or > e-mail me directly at matthews(\)virtu.sar.usf.edu. There's a bibliography at http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~megill/biblio of titles of all papers published between 1979 and 1991 (at least all those listed in Biological Abstracts...) on marine mammals. There are a few other bibliographies there too that might be of interest to you. Cheers ! William _____________________________________________________________________________ William Megill tel: (604) 552 9101 Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation email: megill(\)zoology.ubc.ca 1843 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 2E7 world-wide web: http://www.bcu.ubc.ca/~megill/cerf ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 10:17:12 -0500 From: "Dr. Jeff Norris" Subject: Re: signature whistles >Dear Marmamer's >I am am undergraduate student who is studying animal language at New >College of USF in Sarasota, FL. I am researching signature whistles in >Tursiops truncatus. It has been reletivly easy to find published >research on length, frequency, occurence, and sex differences of signature >whistles. What I am lacking, however, is theory on why signature whistles >are used among dolphins (other than a simple "I am here" message). If >anyone knows of resources that I amy >not have some across or if anyone can help me, please post a message or >e-mail me directly at matthews(\)virtu.sar.usf.edu. > Thank You, Erin Matthews > You appear to be asking a central question to this debate- what does the call mean and why would a dolphin limit their most common vocalization (if the Cladwells were correct) to repetively saying their 'name'. This has always puzzled me. You should read some of the general literature on communication, including the many papers by Smith on the referent to a call, as well as Cherry's book On Human Communication and H. Wiley's works. Many of Marler's papers also have a direct bearing on the debate. Cheney and Seyfarths book, How Monkeys See the World is an excellent case example in how to fathom what an animal is doing with its communication. It seems to me that this debate should be seen as a two stepped argument: are the calls invariant? What is the referent to the call? To determine if the call is invariant requires asking the animal to determine their repertoire, not a human. We are notoriously inaccurate when describing animals repertoire (the specimen is the authority!). Not surprisingly, we are lumpers and they typically are splitters, to use a taxonomic metaphor. The primate literature is replete with examples of people describing a species repertoire only to find, through playback experiments, that the animals differentiate calls at a finer level than we expected. As to the referent, the early investigators of dolphin whistles also described apparently invariant calls, but instead of saying that the referent was to itself (i.e. signature), Lilly argued that they were alarm calls, while Dreher and Evans argued that they served multiple functions. Determining a call's reference, where it is difficult to determine the source of the call and what both signaller and receiver are doing, is a very difficult task. Until we can determine what the animals differentiate and accurately describe what both signaller and receiver are doing, the signature hypothesis will likely continue to flounder as a peculiarity of the marine mammals communication literature. Dr.Jeff Norris Marine Acoustics Lab Texas A&M University 5007 Ave U Galveston, TX 77551 (409) 740-4555 norrisj(\)tamug3.tamu.edu http://entcweb.tamu.edu/cfba/norris.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 14:41:57 +0000 From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Subject: Whereabouts of Harry Richards I'm trying to establish an address: e-mail snail mail fax for Harry Richards, a South African now living in Holland. If anyone in Holland can help me get into contact with Harry, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. Vic Cockcroft pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 14:13:02 -0500 From: "Dr. Jeff Norris" Subject: I. Kostarnov on signature whistles From: "Igor Kostarnov" Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 18:09:02 +0100 To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion Subject: Re: signature whistles Cc: iak(\)hplb.hpl.hp.com Hi, folks, As far as I spent myself quite a few weeks recording the individual whistles of T. truncatus and more because I worked together with Irina Sidorova who did it for a few years I will allow myself to add few words to the discussion: > > You appear to be asking a central question to this debate- what does the > call mean and why would a dolphin limit their most common vocalization (if > the Cladwells were correct) to repetively saying their 'name'. This has > always puzzled me. As far as we saw (we had quite a few recordings, details are available, but basically there were a few years of research), the dolphins have highly repetitive signalisation only in stressful situation. Being calm, their signalisation is much more variative and you hardly ever will be able to find a train of the whistles. You should read some of the general literature on > communication, including the many papers by Smith on the referent to a call, > as well as Cherry's book On Human Communication and H. Wiley's works. Many > of Marler's papers also have a direct bearing on the debate. Cheney and > Seyfarths book, How Monkeys See the World is an excellent case example in > how to fathom what an animal is doing with its communication. Also there is a paper directly dedicated to this subject puslished in 1992(?) at the Moscow symposium on the marine mammals (I am sorry, I haven't tthe reference handy, but I can provide if required) > > It seems to me that this debate should be seen as a two stepped argument: > are the calls invariant? Definetely not. We had a few cases when an animal changed his signature whistles to another when there appeared a new animal with a similar signature. Also they change them when you vary noise condition, i.e. they are able to shift the frequencies and to increase the length of the different parts of the whistles. In fact, there is too much to say about it just in one mail message. >What is the referent to the call? To determine if > the call is invariant requires asking the animal to determine their > repertoire, not a human. We are notoriously inaccurate when describing > animals repertoire (the specimen is the authority!). Not surprisingly, we > are lumpers and they typically are splitters, to use a taxonomic metaphor. > The primate literature is replete with examples of people describing a > species repertoire only to find, through playback experiments, that the > animals differentiate calls at a finer level than we expected. As to the > referent, the early investigators of dolphin whistles also described > apparently invariant calls, but instead of saying that the referent was to > itself (i.e. signature), Lilly argued that they were alarm calls, while > Dreher and Evans argued that they served multiple functions. Determining a > call's reference, where it is difficult to determine the source of the call > and what both signaller and receiver are doing, is a very difficult task. > Until we can determine what the animals differentiate and accurately > describe what both signaller and receiver are doing, the signature > hypothesis will likely continue to flounder as a peculiarity of the marine > mammals communication literature. Again, having quite a lot of experience of working with this signal specifically, I can comment but basically there are no simple answer. The signals appear in different situations and, although have a few distinct functions, seems to be rather a "tool" than a final result. Anyway, I am open to a more specific discussion. Yours, Igor. > > > Dr.Jeff Norris > Marine Acoustics Lab > Texas A&M University > 5007 Ave U > Galveston, TX 77551 > (409) 740-4555 > norrisj(\)tamug3.tamu.edu > http://entcweb.tamu.edu/cfba/norris.htm >-- End of excerpt from Dr. Jeff Norris -- __________________________________________________________ Igor Kostarnov tel: +44-117-9228197 Hewlett-Packard Laboratories fax: +44-117-9228925 Filton Road telnet: 312-8197 Stoke Gifford Bristol BS12 6QZ e-mail: iak(\)hpl.hp.com United Kingdom iak(\)hpl.hp.co.uk Dr.Jeff Norris Marine Acoustics Lab Texas A&M University 5007 Ave U Galveston, TX 77551 (409) 740-4555 norrisj(\)tamug3.tamu.edu http://entcweb.tamu.edu/cfba/norris.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 17:07:01 EST From: Michael Tillman Subject: Whale Watching Regulations/Guidelines - Info Request The IWC is considering the development of guidelines which member nations might consider applying to respective whale watching enterprises. A small team is preparing a report for US government submission at the next annual meeting of the IWC scientific committee where whale watching will be on its agenda as well as on that of the commission. The report will be an international compendium of existing guidelines and regulations and has been developed so far from readily available information. We are aware, however, that several recent national and multilateral meetings have taken place and also that others are scheduled to meet soon. We are seeking information which would enable us to update and complete the draft report, including (1) the results, findings and recommendations of recent meetings which undertook new discussions of regulations or guidelines and (2) details of other such meetings which are planned for this year. We would also be most appreciative of receiving any current information on Mexican regulations/guidelines, especially for the lagoons. My thanks in advance, Michael Tillman. fax: 619-546-5655 michael_tillman(\)ccgate.ssp.nmfs.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 22:57:40 +0200 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: REPLY: where to search for literature... Finding literature is a difficult, expensive and time consuming task. Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA) has a web sites where to search for abstracts. A free demo access is probably available; full access is expensive! Another source is the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at To date, I did not find any free source of information to be extensively used for abstracts and papers retrieval. I look forward to other replies to the Chris inquiry! In the meanwhile, these web pages may help: JASA indexes and abstracts: ASA meetings with abstracts: --------------------------------------------- Dr Gianni Pavan Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica c/o Istituto di Entomologia Universita' di Pavia Via Taramelli 24 27100 PAVIA Fax +39-382-525234 Email gpavan(\)telnetwork.it Web http://www.unipv.it/~webcib/welcome.html ----------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 18:23:18 +0000 From: Chris Johnson Subject: Re: signature whistles For an interesting recent paper on one function of signature whistles, see Smolker, R.A., Mann, J. & Smuts, B.B. (1993) "Use of signature whistles during separations and reunions by wild bottlenose dolphin mothers and infants" BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, 33: 393-404. (Hi Rachel :) Christine M. Johnson UC San Diego johnson(\)cogsci.ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 15:46:43 +0000 From: Jim Beck Subject: Baiji and others Hello all, I was wondering if any of you could help me find some information. I'm currently taking courses at the Duke University Marine Lab in North Carolina. I am researching the plight of all the river dolphins and trying to learn what conservation measures have been instituted and their degrees of success. I am aware that the Baiji is currently in the most danger but all species are susceptible to population declines from the some causes (i.e. dams, pollution, etc.). Anyhow, have a copy of The Biology and Conservation of the River Dolphins (Perrin et al. 1989). In this collection of papers two semi-naturaly preserves are suggested (Tongling and Shishou). I am having difficulty finding the status/effectiveness of these options. I would greatly appreciate any info on these and other conservation measures. Thanks much in advance, Jim Beck jbeck(\)alpha.albion.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 07:49:58 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: signature whistles *The paper mentioned is: Sidorova, I.E. and V.I. Markov. 1992. Stereotyped signalization of the bottlenose dolphin: role of social factors. In: Marine mammal sensory systems. Edited by J.A. Thomas, R.A. Kastelein, and A.Y. Supin. pp. 563-574. (I'd be happy to make a copy of the paper for the person who originally posted the question. Sorry, I don't have your name or email address in front of me). Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX You should read some of the general literature on > communication, including the many papers by Smith on the referent to a call, > as well as Cherry's book On Human Communication and H. Wiley's works. Many > of Marler's papers also have a direct bearing on the debate. Cheney and > Seyfarths book, How Monkeys See the World is an excellent case example in > how to fathom what an animal is doing with its communication. Also there is a paper directly dedicated to this subject puslished in 1992(?) at the Moscow symposium on the marine mammals (I am sorry, I haven't tthe reference handy, but I can provide if required) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 09:44:23 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 4/12/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal" NOTE THAT THIS IS A NEW ADDRESS, CORRECTED FURTHER FOR A POSTING ERROR I MADE LAST WEEK. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Apr. 11, 1996, officials of Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans announced an early closure of the harp seal hunt because the entire 242,000 seal quota had been killed. Killing of hooded seals was halted in late March 1996 after about 16,000 had been killed -- about twice the 8,000 hooded seal quota. A total of about 60,000 seals were killed in 1995 when bad weather and ice conditions hampered sealers. [Assoc Press] . Peru Passes Dolphin Law. On Apr. 10, 1996, Peru published a new law declaring dolphins legally protected and prohibiting the fishing for dolphin s and selling of their meat. Violations are punishable with a two- to four-year j ail sentence. A 1995 law authorizing fines for dolphin fishing had been ineffective . [Reuters] . NAMMCO Meeting. On Mar. 27-29, 1996, the Council of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) held its sixth meeting in Tromso, Norway, with attendance by delegations from all four member nations -- the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. The Council adopted the joint NAMMCO "Control Scheme for the Hunting of Marine Mammals" including national inspection of coastal whaling and international observation for all marine mammal hunting. The Council requested its Scientific Committee to focus on questions of food consumption by minke whale, harp seal, and hooded seal populations to ascertain any potential implications for commercially important fish stocks. The Faroe Islands will host NAMMCO's 1997 annual meeting. [personal communication] . IATTC Observer Program. In mid-March 1996 and in frustration with the pace of U.S. action on the Declaration of Panama, Mexican tuna seiners announced that they would no long participate in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission's (IATTC's) observer program nor abide by the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) dolphin mortality limits, but had filed administrative petitions to all carry observers in a Mexican national program. The Mexican government has not responded to the industry petition. Subsequently, the Mexican fleet has agreed to carry IATTC observers, but abide by Mexican national mortality limits rather than IDCP limits. [personal communication] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Apr. 10, 1996, 128 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County; cause of death of the apparently well-nourished adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed a pneumonia-like illness whose origin and cause is unknown. An observed illness and death of about 50 cormorants and loons in the same area is not believed related to the manatee deaths. After only slightly more than 3 months of 1996, a total of 221 manatees have died from all causes, surpassing the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 12 months of 1990. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 11:08:44 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - Tursiops beating up Phocoena I am posting this abstract b/c it may be of interest to some folks out there - judging from the attendance at the presentation in Orlando. You'll need to correspond w/ the authors for a copy of the paper. Ross, H.M. and B. Wilson*. 1996. Violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 263: 283-286. * Univ. of Aberdeen, Dept Zool, Lighthouse Field Stn, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, U.K. The majority (63%) of harbour porpoises stranded around the Moray Firth, Scotland, died from trauma characterized by multiple skeletal fractures and damaged internal organs. Surface injuries consisted of skin cuts resembling the teeth marks inflicted by one cetacean on another. The spacings between these matched those between teeth in bottlenose dolphins, of which there is a population in the Moray Firth. Four violent dolphin-porpoise interactions have been witnessed. Reasons for these interactions are unknown and similar documented examples between other mammals are extremely rare. These findings challenge the benign image of bottlenose dolphins and provide a hitherto unrecorded cause of mortality in porpoises. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 10:30:01 -0700 From: Peter Brueggeman Subject: REPLY: where to search for literature... Regarding > Finding literature is a difficult, expensive and time consuming task. > Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA) has a web sites > where to search for abstracts. A free demo access is > probably available; full access is expensive! > Another source is the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at > > To date, I did not find any free source of information to be > extensively used for abstracts and papers retrieval. I look forward to other > replies to the Chris inquiry! > In the meanwhile, these web pages may help: > JASA indexes and abstracts: > > ASA meetings with abstracts: > Discipline-oriented abstracting and indexing databases are commercial endeavors and involve site licensed access. The really useful disciplinary databases for MARMAM interests like BIOSIS (Biological Abstracts), Zoological Record, Aquatic Sciences & Fisheries Abstracts (CSA's database), PsychLit etc are limited to those institutions or individuals purchasing access. Libraries have been purchasing information for their users for years and the advent of electronic information hasn't changed that much for high-value information like abstracting and indexing databases and for electronic research journals. There are some free publisher-oriented databases on the Net where you can search what appears on a topic in a publisher's range of journals. Usually these are less useful because you want to know what is published in a range of journals within a discipline no matter who the publisher is. The only freebie on the Net along these lines is the UnCover database. It has no abstracts or no indexing so your topical search is limited to title keywords. Reach it at telnet://database.carl.org ============================================================= Peter Brueggeman, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library University of Calif San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, Dept 0175C San Diego CA 92093-0175 USA pbrueggeman(\)ucsd.edu; http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/ Telephone: 619/534-1230; Fax: 619/534-5269 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 15:26:02 -0800 From: Kathy Hough Subject: sea otters and clams Dear MARMAMers, Does anyone know of studies which have used the number of discarded shells or otter dig sites in the intertidal to measure sea otter predation on clams (or bivalves in general)? I realize there are several direct ways to study sea otter predation; however, our resources are limited. And, if this method has been used, has it been shown to be a successful index of clam (bivalve) abundance? I am looking for a non-destructive method (i.e. no digging) to measure the relative abundance of clams. This information would then be used, in part, to determine if an area would likely represent important foraging habitat for sea otters. I would appreciate any suggestions re: sources you may have. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Kathy e-mail: khkasper(\)grizzly.pwssc.gen.ak.us ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 15:52:57 +0200 From: Dag Vongraven Subject: Births and surface temps Hi all Marmamers! This message ask questions about cetacean births and ambient temperatures. A couple of years ago I started looking for information on births in wild orcas, after listening to a story told by a local fisherman who was telling about a rare observation of births off the midcoast of Norway. Since I met this fisherman there have been several incidents of entrapped or "pseudo- entrapped" whales in the same region. Since 1992 we've been witnesses to 3 - three - entrapments, all in small and protected fjords or inlets, only one of them which was a true entrapment with a tragic outcome previously reported to the list. My questions rise from the thought that at least two of these "entrapments" could be voluntary and intended. Maybe this happens quite fequently without us observing it, and that orcas and other coastal species seek such habitats to give birth? I seek help from those of you who might have your share of oceanographic insights. Let's imagine a protected inlet with narrow entrances and distinct thresholds, i.e. low rate of water exchange and currents, and a size of 0.1 square kilometers (1800 x 600 feet) and even less, and depths of 5-30 meters (15-100 feet). The other thing you should keep in mind is that we're in Norway, temperate to subarctic waters, in late winter and early spring, when water surface temperatures would be in the vicinity of 10 degrees Celsius (ca. 50 Fahrenheit) and maybe less. Inward radiation could be high, though. Here are my questions: How much would the surface temperature in such a "pond" vary from the surface temperatures of the ocean water a few miles (or feet) out in the exposed coastal water? How much higher could surface temperatures get in the "pond"? How much would this difference in surface temperatures have to be before it would be reasonable to assume that it might have an impact on calf survival? How thick a blubber layer do the orca calves have at birth? To Giuseppe Notarbartolo de Sciara: Did you log any oceanographic or physical events in connection with your observation of the Pseudorca birth off Morocco, and if so, did you eventually compare such events with other areas? To Dan Odell: What have you learned about the calves' growth dynamics during the very first days of their lives? Maybe it's been published? If so, I'm sorry for not checking it out first. I realise that we definetily should have the answer to the questions relating to cetacean morphometrics here in Norway, and I will seek these answers from domestic sources as well. But I'm trying to find all the rest of you out there who might have something to tell. This is a good way to reach you. Thanks. =========================================================================== Dag Vongraven Biologist E-mail addresses: dag.vongraven(\)avh.unit.no (old and soon extinct) dagvon(\)james.avh.unit.no (new and permanent) dag.vongraven(\)fm-st.sri.telemax.no (preferred through May -96) =========================================================================== UNIVERSITY ADDRESS: HOME: Dept. of Zoology Nedre Festberget University of Trondheim - NTNU N-7040 Trondheim N-7055 Dragvoll Tel: +47 73 596030 Tel: +47 73 920821 Fax: +47 73 591309 DAYTIME UNTIL SUMMER -96: County Governor of Sor-Trondelag Environmental Division Tel: +47 73 949253 Fax: +47 73 949255 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 04:46:48 +1000 From: gclarke(\)magna.com.au Subject: Noise Tests off San Juan islands Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 Orca defenders criticize plans for noise tests off San Juans by Danny Westneat (Seatttle Times staff reporter) A team of scientists plans to broadcast loud, high-pitched sounds from underwater speakers this summer in the San Juan Islands, in part to test whether noise harms or disorients killer whales and other sea mammals. The scientists say the pulses of noise, the loudest of which would have the same sound intensity as a jet taking off, likely would not seriously hurt the roughly 100 killer whales, or orcas, that inhabit north Puget Sound waters in June or July. But critics contend the scientists actually have no idea whether the noise will cause temporary or permanent hearing loss in whales, and that the scientists' own proposal concedes the monthlong study may alter behavior patterns of whales swimming up to 4 miles away. The scientists proposing the study are from Woods Hole (Mass.) Oceanographic Institution and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They plan the sound pulses primarily to study the chemical and physical properties of a marine "front," where salt water and fresh water meet and first begin to mix. Patrick Miller, a researcher from Woods Hole, says that most of the noise won't be any louder than that emitted by a fish-finding sonar device. The sound probably can't damage a whale's hearing even temporarily unless the whale "nudges directly up against the sound source, which is virtually impossible," he said. In total, the experiments should be less disruptive - and maybe even less noisy - than the 50 or more whale-watching boats that follow the whale pods every day, the researchers say. But broadcasting sounds into prime orca habitat to see if the whales are bothered is "a bit like pouring poison into a river to see if it's toxic to fish," said Paul Spong, a scientist at OrcaLab, a research group that studies killer whales at Vancouver Island. The research, sponsored by the U.S. Navy, will also use two 6-foot-long underwater robots to analyze water characteristics. The testing area is in Haro Strait, a key waterway for orcas as well as for porpoises, seals and other mammals, which rely on hearing to feed and navigate. "This is like a main highway for the orcas," said Peter Hamilton of Lifeforce, a Vancouver, B.C., ecology group. "Nobody knows how harmful these sounds may be to them. They say the animals can just swim away, but this place is vital to where they travel and live." Though it is extremely unlikely the noises will severely injure or kill a marine mammal, the research could force some mammals, particularly whales, temporarily away from their preferred habitat, according to a review by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The loudest underwater pulsed "ping" will be about 195 decibels, equivalent to about 135 decibels on land, or the approximate sound intensity of a nearby jet engine as heard by the human ear. An outboard motor issues a sound intensity of about 170 decibels underwater, Miller said. The sounds will be broadcast at high frequencies, in some cases out of the range of human hearing but certainly detectable by many marine mammals, the scientists say. The fisheries agency has announced it intends to grant the researchers a permit to do the experiments because the area in question is only a small fraction of orca habitat in Puget Sound. Further, the researchers have agreed to let an independent panel of four Northwest scientists monitor the work and shut it down if it appears the noise is directly harming sea life. Sound to a marine mammal is like vision to humans, said Dan Costa, a professor of biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz, but the scientific community doesn't understand much more than that about it. "If somebody's shining a spotlight, is it going to be a problem for you to see? It depends on how bright it is and whether it's shining in your face, and the same is probably true for a whale confronted by a loud sound," he said. A whale or porpoise traveling close enough to a loud, directed sound may experience sensations ranging from pain to annoyance to nothing at all, Costa said. If it hears the sound and doesn't like it, the mammal typically will respond by swimming somewhere else, said Costa, who has been studying the effect of low-frequency noise blasts on sea mammals in California. "But the answer is, we don't really know what it does to them," he said. "We do know there is so much more noise in the ocean from boats than there is from researchers that if these animals are really that sensitive, then we have an incredible problem on our hands." A plan announced two years ago to study ocean temperatures by broadcasting sound pulses across the Pacific Ocean from California caused a storm of controversy. Since then, oceanographers who routinely use sound waves to measure things in the water have faced scrutiny over whether their work harassed marine mammals. After delaying the project for more than a year and finally agreeing to move the sound emitter away from a marine sanctuary off San Francisco, scientists in the California study began in December to broadcast low-frequency sounds that can be detected as far away as Alaska. Mammals don't appear to be bothered and certainly have not fled the area, but it's too soon to tell whether the noise is having any subtle effects on swimming patterns or other behaviors, Costa said. Miller, one of the scientists proposing the local study, said he grew up, in part, on San Juan Island and wants to do the noise experiments to help protect the region's marine life, not hurt it. Only by testing whether moderate-to-loud underwater sound harms marine mammals can society begin to discuss whether boats, ferries or other noise-makers should be restricted from crucial areas, he said. Other scientists agree. "All those little boats tooling around with their outboard motors are far more disruptive to these animals than our sound emitters," said Bob Spindel, head of the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory and part of the California project team. "And they don't even need a permit." How to comment The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed granting scientists a permit to broadcast underwater sounds that may affect orcas and other marine mammals in the San Juan Islands. To comment, write to: Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Md. 20910-3225. Comment period ends April 29. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 15:24:41 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Driftnets in the Mediterranean ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING THE MEDITERRANEAN DRIFTNET ISSUE Many marmamers perhaps know that the US are threatening an import embargo on all marine products from Italy, unless the Italian Government will not undertake serious action to definitely stop illegal fishing of swordfish with driftnets by Italian vessels. Driftnetting in the Mediterranean has caught now for many years the international public attention mainly because of its large, unsustainable cetacean by-catch. For those who are not familiar with this issue, the illegality of this activity is not in the activity itself (according to the EU common fisheries policy, pelagic driftnetting by EU countries is allowed at this time, providing that the total length of the net does not exceed 2.5 km), but in its modality: most Italian driftnets in fact greatly exceed the prescribed maximum length, up to 9-12 km. So far, Italian authorities have been very lenient in the enforcement of the communitary regulation (with some notable and commendable exceptions), and as a result illegal fishing goes on undisturbed in most of the area. Last year the Government did work on provisions for the re-conversion of the 700-strong driftnet fleet, however the project was given very low priority and progress has been next to nothing so far. Now the likelyhood of an embargo of marine product imports to the US (with a potential damage to the national economy which largely exceeds the income from the driftnetted swordfish market) may indeed provide the shake-up effect needed to induce the Italian Government to actuate such reconversion, to the long-term advantage of everybody, fishermen included. This is quite positive, and all those organisations who fought for this result should be commended, in my opinion. However, the danger exists that the driftnet problem in the Mediterranean will not be solved so easily. Italian driftnetters may chose to re-flag their vessels to other Mediterranean countries that are not bound by the European law, or worse, they could pocket the re-conversion money and at the same time sell their nets - or even just their know-how - to non-European countries. This is apparently already happening. The only way to permanently solve this and many other problems related to the unsustainable use of the Mediterranean marine resources would be to introduce a Mediterranean Common Fishery Policy instead of an European Common Fishery Policy. Something not too distant from this concept, at least as far as cetaceans and driftnets are concerned, would be the coming into force of the "Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Mediterranean and Black Seas", prepared by the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention), and currently under negotiation. One can only hope that many of the range States which are participating to such negotiations will stop squabbling over irrelevant issues and get the job done in a decent time. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara ***************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 72001946 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it ***************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 18:41:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: San Ignacio Lagoon (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Serge L Dedina DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED SALT PRODUCTION FACILITY IN SAN IGNACIO LAGOON, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO On April 3, 1996 an unidentified individual with the e-mail address Donzante(\)aol.com posted a message on the internet regarding the proposed salt production facility in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico. I have provided background information on the project and a brief discussion of past mining/energy projects in gray whale habitat in Baja California Sur. A description of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is also included along with a brief discussion of the wildlife and natural resources of Laguna San Ignacio. Serge Dedina Department of Geography and Regional Development University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 USA ==================================================================== Source: Dedina, Serge and Emily H. Young. 1995. Conservation and Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Washington D.C: U.S. Department of Commerce. NTIS PB96-113154. 70 pp. Available from: Marine Mammal Commission, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Room 512,Washington D.C. 20009, USA 1. Description of Proposed Salt Production Facility, Laguna San Ignacio, Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Currently there are plans by the Exportadora de Sal corporation (ES) that produces salt from the area around Laguna Ojo de Liebre, to develop a 52,150 ha salt production facility in the salt flats around the northern shoreline of the northern arm of Laguna San Ignacio within the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve (Bremer 1994; CIB 1994; Exportadora de Sal 1992; Sudcaliforniano 1993). According to the project EIA prepared by CIB [Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste] in 1994, the total physical area directly impacted by the project (including project-related roads) would be 212,319 ha (CIB 1994:97). The project would also indirectly impact 1,500,000 ha (CIB 1994:94). ES originally initiated operations in and around Laguna Ojo de Liebre in 1954, and received a concession to produce salt in the Laguna San Ignacio area in 1953 (Diario Oficial 1953). Due to changes in the national mining law, and ownership of ES, a new concession was granted to the company in 1992 (Bremer 1994; CIB 1994; Diario Oficial 1992). Currently, ES is 51% owned by the Mexican government and 49% owned by the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan (Borges C. and Sanchez M. 1992; Fuentes A. and Sota M. 1993). ES is currently the leading salt producer in the world, with an annual production of six million tons of salt. The Guerrero Negro facility has a projected annual production capacity of six and a half tons. The San Ignacio project would enable ES to produce an additional seven million tons annually (Bremer 1994; CIB 1994). The primary objective of the San Ignacio project is to enhance productivity and competitiveness of ES by reducing the high costs associated with the double-handling of salt loading and shipping operations at the Guerrero Negro facility (Bremer 1994). Salt produced in Guerrero Negro is now transported via barge to Cedros Island. The salt is unloaded and stored on the island, where it is then loaded onto cargo ships for international export. The difficulty in docking and loading operations at Cedros Island make double-handling an expensive operation. The U.S. $100 million San Ignacio project would be phased over six to eight years and would allow the company to decrease the overall cost of salt production by doubling its overall annual production levels and decreasing handling costs (CIB 1994:11). Project plans include the construction of an approximately two km pier and loading facility between the town of Punta Abreojos and Estero el Coyote. An average of eight large cargo ships per month would dock at the pier to receive salt throughout the year. All housing and administrative units for the proposed facility would be located at Punta Abreojos. Salt evaporation/ concentration would occur on approximately 20,000 ha of salt flats north of the northern arm of Laguna San Ignacio. Additional evaporation/concentration would occur on 10,000 ha north west of the northern arm, and northeast of Estero el Coyote. Two saltwater pumping stations would be placed along the lagoon shoreline. One would be placed at the extreme northern end of the northern arm. The other pumping station would be located directly across from Isla Pelicanos and Isla Garzas on the northern shore of the northern arm of the lagoon. With 10-15 intake valves, these pumping stations would have the capacity to provide 30,000 liters per/second of lagoon water to evaporation/ concentration ponds, depending on production needs. On February 27, 1995, INE President Gabriel Quadri de la Torre, denied ES permission to develop the San Ignacio project on the grounds that it was not compatible with conservation objectives of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. Quadri de la Torre also indicated that the project could adversely impact 14 plant species and 72 animal species including gray whales, antelopes, black brant, and red mangroves (Quadri de la Torre 1995). ES contested INE's decision and asked the agency to review additional project-related information and authorize project development (Bremer 1995). On June 26, 1995, ES announced that it would hire an international consulting firm to prepare a new project EIA in accordance with INE guidelines and seek input from relevant experts in its preparation (ES 1995). 2. History and Description of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Laguna San Ignacio forms part of the 2,546,790 ha Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, the largest protectd area in Latin America (Figure 3) (SEDUE 1989:9). In 1984, SEDUE proposed the formation of a 1.5 million ha biosphere reserve west of Highway One throughout the Vizcaino Peninsula, between Laguna San Ignacio and Laguna Ojo de Liebre (SEDUE 1984). The proposal initiated the implementation of funding to conduct monitoring studies and administrative activities throughout the proposed reserve (SEDUE 1984-1988). In February of 1988, the Director of SEDUE, Manuel Camacho Solis, took a trip to Laguna Ojo de Liebre and announced that De la Madrid would sign legislation to create the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, which would be the largest protected area in Mexico (SEDUE 1988). The reserve proposed by Camacho Solis had been amplified in 1986 by SEDUE staff to include bighorn sheep habitat east of Highway One, the extensive pre-Columbian cave paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco, and portions of the western Gulf of California shoreline (INE 1994). Finally in 1988, on the last day of his administration, De la Madrid signed legislation creating the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve to encourage the con- servation of endangered plant and animal species, and permit compatible human activities throughout its boundaries (Diario Oficial 1988). The creation of the reserve was due in large part to the advocacy of SEDUE staff, the research and administrative staff of the Center for Biological Research (CIB) in La Paz, and the Grupo de los Cien, a distinguished group of intellectuals and artists active in environmental affairs in Mexico (Castellanos 1994; Grupo de los Cien 1988; Ortega et al. 1990) . The declaration of the reserve transferred the responsibility for the management of Laguna San Ignacio from Pesca to SEDUE and established a 363,438 ha nuclear zone, in which human activities are extremely limited or prohibited. In the 2,183,351 ha buffer zone, a wider variety of human activities are permitted. Although development activities within the nuclear zones are not permitted, they can be authorized in the buffer zone as long as they conform to the 1988 General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection. The reserve decree stipulates that new human settlements are not permitted anywhere within the reserve boundaries (Diario Oficial 1988). The reserve extends from just south of the lagoon northward to the northern shore of Laguna Ojo de Liebre, and eastward to the Gulf of California, and includes Isla Natividad, Isla Asuncion, and Isla San Roque along the Pacific Coast (Diario Oficial 1988). In 1994, the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Laguna San Ignacio a World Heritage Site (Sudcaliforniano 1994d). 3. Despription of Wildlife and Natural Resources of Laguna San Ignacio After Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio provides habitat for the second highest number of gray whales and is the second most important location for female-calf pairs in terms of relative abundance during the winter calving/ breeding season (Fleischer 1990; Jones and Swartz 1986). A maximum of 300-400 whales may be present in the lagoon at one time, although the total number of whales that use the lagoon during a winter season is probably much higher (Maravilla 1991:222; see also Jones and Swartz 1986). Research conducted by Jones and Swartz (1986) on gray whale demography and phenology at the lagoon from 1978 to 1982 revealed that, compared with other gray whale habitats, the lagoon is more heavily dominated by single whales than female-calf pairs. They also found that during the late December to late February period, half of the total whale population inside the lagoon (female-calf pairs and single whales) congregated in the area near the Boca del Surgidero ocean inlet up to Punta Piedra, and 20% frequented the middle of the lagoon from Punta Piedra to La Fridera. The remaining 30% were distributed in the upper lagoon from La Fridera to the north end of Isla Garzas. The upper lagoon is used primarily by mother-calf pairs engaged in nursing, resting, and swimming (Jones and Swartz 1986:54). In addition to serving as an important winter home for migrating gray whales, Laguna San Ignacio provides habitat for numerous marine and terrestrial plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered, such as the black turtle (Chelonia agassizi) (Galina et al. 1991; Olguin M. 1990). The shallow waters and mangroves of the lagoon also provide significant habitat for the shorebirds and waterfowl of the Pacific flyway (Danemann 1991; Massey and Palacios 1994; Wilbur 1987). Because of its extensive shallow water habitat and protected mangrove lagoons, Laguna San Ignacio serves as an important hatchery for commercially valuable fish and shellfish species. The shoreline south of the main lagoon entrance contains one of the most important areas for harvesting Pismo clams (Tivela stultorum) along the Pacific Coast of North America (Arizpe C. 1992). The only remaining habitat of the nearly extinct Peninsular pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) is located between the northern shores of the lagoon and Laguna Ojo de Liebre to the north. Unfortunately, despite the lagoon's significance as a habitat for a diversity of life, little research on species other than gray whales and some nesting birds has been conducted there (e.g., Danemann 1991, 1994; Reitherman 1982; Reitherman and Storrer 1981). Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is located throughout the southern arm of the lagoon and along the southern shore of the northern arm of the lagoon from Punta Carey to Punta Piedra. Table 1 provides a list of selected fauna of Laguna San Ignacio and Bahia Magdalena. 4. Description of Past Mining/Energy Activities Around Gray Whale Habitat in Baja California Sur, Mexico In 1976, a state company, Roca Fosforica Mexicana de C.V. (Rofomex) began construction of a phosphate mine on the eastern shore of Bahia Magdalena, six km north of Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos (Cordoba 1981). Project development involved dredging a channel from the Boca de Soledad bay entrance to the plant operations area. A two km channel was dredged through the desert east of the eastern shoreline. A port facility was constructed at the main entrance to Bahia Magdalena, south of San Carlos on Punta Arena, at the southern end of Isla Magdalena. At its inception, Mexican marine biologists expressed their concerns about potential adverse impacts associated with plant construction and mining operations (CIB 1982; Contreras 1994; Cordoba 1981; Vargas 1981; Villa R. 1981). The project EIA was prepared after project construction was initiated (Contreras 1994). Among the concerns raised about the Rofomex mine were the following: (1) the mineral was located in small concentrations (3%) in sandy soils along beaches and in estuaries, which would require the excavation and removal of millions of tons of sand, earth, and mangroves; (2) the site contained highly abundant, terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, including mangroves, which would be adversely impacted by mining activities; (3) residual waste from chemical treatment of excavated materials involving the use of sulfuric and fatty acids, detergents, and other reactive chemicals, and accidental spills at the loading dock and during shipping would pollute Bahia Magdalena and surrounding beaches, posing serious threats to marine flora and fauna, including gray whales; (4) the area of excavation and transport was planned to expand extensively inland and into highly sensitive gray whale habitat and would adversely affect breeding and calving whales; (5) the noise from trucks, earth-moving and drilling equipment, and barge traffic would result in sound disturbance to marine and terrestrial fauna; and (6) the project was primarily extractive and would result in few economic benefits to local communities (CIB 1982; Cordoba 1981). Ultimately, mine dredge-operators could not penetrate an unanticipated subsurface layer of calcium carbonate, repeatedly breaking expensive diamond drill pieces in the attempt to do so, rendering the entire mining operation economically unfeasible (Gonzalez 1994). A project EIA was not prepared until after the project was under construction, even though project plans included the dredging and construction of a breakwater at the Boca de Soledad to facilitate the shipping of materials out of Bahia Magdalena (Contreras 1994). The facility now sits unoccupied. The federal government constructed an electric power plant north of San Carlos (Bahia Magdalena) in 1990 (Comision Federal Electricidad 1990). Designed to operate for 20 years, the plant is part of a national plan to decentralize and improve Mexico's energy program, and to service 78,000 inhabitants of the bay and surrounding areas, as well as to provide energy to pump fossil water from deep wells for the irrigation of large-scale agriculture (Comision Federal de Electricidad 1990; Meza S. 1992;Moreno R. 1994). The Federal Electricity Commission initiated construction without conducting an EIA or receiving approval from SEDUE for the project. A project EIA was prepared after construction of the project was completed (Comision Federal de Electricidad 1990). The facility, which uses two large turbine diesel and heavy fuel burning engines, was put on-line in 1992. Fuel is delivered to the facility via tankers that off-load fuel through a pipeline at the port, that travels three to four km north to the plant. The plant draws subterranean saltwater on-site, converting it into freshwater for plant use. The facility recycles gaseous waste by diverting it through a turbine and combining it with water for conversion into hot water vapor to generate additional energy for on-site use. Mitigative actions listed by the EIA include water and air quality monitoring and the stipulation that no untreated waste can be discharged into Bahia Magdalena (Comision Federal de Electricidad 1990). Plant administrators suspended operations in May, 1994, due to the faulty installation of generators (Moreno R. 1994). No studies have been undertaken to determine the impacts, if any, of plant operations (e.g., from noise and effluent into Bahia Magdalena) on gray whales. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 07:48:24 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Re: manatee deaths -Reply -Forwarded I am forwarding this query from a journalist doing a story for BBC Wildlife -- please reply to him directly. Can anyone provide answers for him on these questions related to the recent manatee deaths in Florida? He's working on a tight deadline of Thursday this week so any immediate response would be most helpful. Thanks. Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Received: by emout09.mail.aol.com (8.6.12/8.6.12) id TAA26360 for GBUCK(\)crs.loc. gov; Mon, 15 Apr 1996 19:35:55 -0400 Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 19:35:55 -0400 From: JOwen82504(\)aol.com Message-ID: <960415193548_272623563(\)emout09.mail.aol.com> To: GBUCK(\)crs.loc.gov Subject: Re: manatee deaths -Reply Thanks, who should I chase for the lab test results, if they are due sometime this week, it might be in time for my deadline! Regarding the bird, dolphin and turtle deaths-do you know how many died, where and which species? Is there any way that I might find out just what was in the 10 containers on the KATHLEEN D? Jonathan ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 14:51:05 BST From: Belinda.Gray(\)wcmc.org.uk Subject: Cetacean landing catches Dear Marmam Can anyone help? I am looking for contact addresses of people who are working on cetacean landing catches in the Philippines or Peru. Thanks. Belinda Gray Species Unit World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. email; belinda.gray(\)wcmc.org.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 08:15:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Search for Ph.D. dissertations - the results (fwd) Forwarded message: From: GUANX(\)folly.cofc.edu Dear Marmamers, About 2 weeks ago I posted a note through Marmam searching for 2 Ph.D. dissertations. Thanks for all who responded me. Here are the results since several people have asked me on these references. For Richard Petricig's thesis, it should be available at the URI library within the next couple of months through interlibrary loan. The thesis has not been catalogued by the library for some reason. Wang Ding's dissertation can be found at the library of the Marine Mammal Research Program at Texas A&M University at Galveston. Since that library is not setup to be a research library, there is no inter-library loan service. So the choices are: 1) Contact Dr. Wang at: River Dolphin Research Department Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Science Wuhan, Hyubei 430072, China Fax: (27)-787-5132 (need country code in front?) 2) Have my librarian request directly from the Chinese Academy of Science. Thanks again for your help. - Shane _________________________________________ | | | SHANE (XINGHUI) GUAN | | * * * * * | | GRICE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY | | 205 FORT JOHNSON | | CHARLESTON, SC 29412 | | U. S. A. | | * * * * * | | TEL.(803)762-555O / FAX (803)762-5555 | |_________________________________________| GUANX(\)FOLLY.COFC.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:58:34 -0400 From: HamblenE(\)aol.com Subject: Sea lions I haven't heard anything new about the Washington sea lion situation since 4-5-96. Does anyone know what has happened? Did they travel to Sea World in Orlando? Any information is greatly appreciated. I am writing a paper about the subject for an environmental ethics class. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide! Elizabeth Hamblen HamblenE(\)aol.com University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 11:40:18 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: SEA WORLD WORKS TOGETHER WITH SEA WORLD WORKS TOGETHER WITH STATE TO SOLVE MYSTERY IN RECENT WAVE OF MANATEE DEATHS ORLANDO, Fla., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Sea World of Florida -- one of the nations leaders in manatee preservation efforts -- is working hand in hand with the state trying to solve the mystery behind the alarming, unexplained deaths of more than 100 manatees in Southwest Florida. In the last 20 years, Sea World of Florida has rescued and treated hundreds of the highly endangered, gentle creatures. Sea World of Florida is the largest facility in the world authorized to treat manatees, with a full staff of highly trained animal care experts. In an effort to help find the cause of the recent wave of manatee deaths, Sea World is teaming up with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other state and national agencies to lend the park's specialized expertise with beached animals. Together, they are capturing manatees in Southwest Florida with specially designed nets and taking blood and other tissue samples for examination. "We're doing anything and everything possible to help save the Florida manatee population from this epidemic, working side by side with other conservationists to discover what could be causing the deaths," said Dr. Sam Dover, a staff veterinarian with Sea World of Florida. "We are happy to volunteer our expertise in treating manatees, which even before this epidemic were in danger of extinction." At least 2,600 of the animals are thought to inhabit Florida's coastal waters, according to the states DEP. Since March 5, 138 manatees have turned up dead on the Southwest Florida coast. A total of 232 manatees have died in the state since the beginning of 1996, state DEP officials say. "This is an unprecedented situation, and the help we're getting from Sea World and other partners is invaluable," said Scott Wright, Florida's DEP chief marine mammal pathobiologist. "Using Sea Worlds resources and technology, we're able to collect blood samples from live manatees in the Southwest Florida region -- this will serve as a control group, which up until now, we didn't have." Although scientists have been working full time on the situation since the beginning, they still have no idea what's killing the animals. But they have determined that its fast-acting since most of the manatees had full stomachs at the time of death, meaning they still had healthy appetites. Necropsies (animal autopsies) revealed that the dead manatees were healthy, and the only symptom they had in common was discolored, fluid-filled lungs which is often characteristic of pneumonia. "Its a horrible tragedy -- this is the single worst die-off we've ever seen with an endangered species in this state," said Florida Governor Lawton Chiles. "The one advantage we have in this situation is that Florida is home to some of the best manatee experts." In Florida, manatees are often in need of help because they are frequently injured by boats and other man-made hazards. In 1993, Sea World of Florida opened the award-winning "Manatees: The Last Generation?" attraction in an effort to inspire and educate the public about how they can help preserve these animals. The naturalistic, river-like setting features a 300,000-gallon manatee habitat in which guests can see the manatees up close and learn first-hand that cooperation, education and awareness are the keys to saving the gentle sea cows from extinction. In 1976, Sea World organized its Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation program in conjunction with the Department of Interior, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Florida DEP. Since then, the park has created one of the most dynamic and far-reaching injured animal rescue and release programs anywhere. In fact, over the last five years, Sea World parks have rescued and treated more than 3,000 marine animals, many of which were released back to the wild after successful rehabilitation. Sea World is a pioneer in methods of conserving and protecting manatees. In 1991, the park designed a wet suit to enable Fathom -- a manatee suffering from broken ribs and lung damage -- to breathe and eat properly during her rehabilitation. In addition, the park is home to many orphans nourished by hand with a bottle specially designed by Sea World to imitate a mother manatee. Sea World of Florida in Orlando is one of nine Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks. Environmental conservation is as much a part of the heritage and culture of Anheuser-Busch as are its commitments to quality and service. The Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks champion this tradition with significant programs that preserve and protect precious wildlife at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and Tampa Bay, and Sea World Parks in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio and Cleveland. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 12:48:58 -0500 From: Stan Kuczaj Subject: acoustic analyses I am interested in learning more about the hardware and software available for analyses of sounds produced by cetaceans. I realize that the range of possible sounds is large, and wonder if there is one system capable of dealing with the entire range. If not, what are the best alternatives? All information will be appreciated. Information about price, strengths and weaknesses, and availability of particular systems is most welcome. Thanks in advance. Stan Kuczaj skuczaj(\)mail.smu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 11:48:26 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Manatee epidemic continues Manatee epidemic continues By JOSEPH CHRYSDALE ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 18 (UPI) -- As manatees continue dying in record numbers off Florida's west coast, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Thursday announced a $15,000 grant to fund further emergency research by the state. Pathologist Scott Wright of the state Department of Environmental Protection said the year's manatee death toll rose to 238 Wednesday night with the discovery of another carcass off Florida's southwest coast. The state's worst year on record for the endangered species was 206 in 1990. Wright said a battery of tests on corpses have either been inconclusive or yielded results for which there is no comparative data. However, there is one consistency among the epidemic victims: "These animals have lung lesions (that) are killing the animals," he said. "Technically, it's not precisely pneumonia (but) pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage." Researchers at the Florida Marine Research Facility have concluded the manatees succumb quickly, as marine and aerial surveys of the waters showed no prevalence of sick animals. All of the dead manatees have been adults, which could impact breeding patterns. The most recent census -- conducted before the epidemic -- estimated there were 2,600 of the seagrass-eating mammals left. Both Wright and research institute chief Ken Haddad said the crisis created an economic crisis of its own, which is being tallied this week. "(Costs) are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars when you start wrapping up all the analyses that have to be completed, and the wear and tear. We're wearing out vehicles carrying manatees," Haddad said, adding it's likely the institute will request at least another $100,000 from the state. Wright said the institute had conducted a year's worth of work in the past four months, with approximately 150 people on the project. But the state has allies from other government and non-governmental agencies, including Sea World of Orlando and the Miami Seaquarium, the universities of Florida and Miami, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Erasmus University of the Netherlands. State scientists are also being assisted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Biological Survey. Funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife disbursement will be used for thousands of pounds of ice to keep carcasses fresh for necropsies, rental charges for aircraft aerial surveys and gasoline for crisis response vehicles. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 12:16:25 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 4/19/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Whale Euthanasia Study. In mid-April 1996, the Foundation for the Study of the Welfare of Whales announced that it is undertaking a study of more humane ways to kill stranded or harpooned whales, in the belief that current methods are incredibly cruel or inhumane. [Assoc Press] . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Apr. 11, 1996, officials of Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans announced closure of the harp seal hunt a month early because the entire 250,000 seal quota had been killed. Sealers are expected to request an additional quota of 37,000 animals. Markets for seal products are reported to have improved with a stronger European market for seal pelts and new markets in North America for seal blubber and meat. On Apr. 16, 1996, Canadian officials announced that they were re-opening the seal hunt after reassessment showed sealers were 65,000 seals short of the 250,000 seal quota. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On Apr. 18, 1996, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans amended and approved by a 9-6 vote, H.R. 2823 (the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act) for full Committee action. [Congr. Record] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and Apr. 17, 1996, 138 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between Charlotte County and Collier County; cause of death of the apparently well-nourished adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed symptoms characteristic of a pneumonia-like illness whose origin and cause is unknown. An observed illness and death of about 50 cormorants and loons in the same area is not believed related to the manatee deaths. After only three and one-half months of 1996, a total of 232 manatees have died from all causes, surpassing the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 12 months of 1990. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Sea World press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 12:29:26 +0000 From: "Furtado-Neto,Manuel;=9370024" Subject: Request for articles on parasites Dear Marmams, The Cetacean Study Group from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil, studies the distribution, abundance and behavior of cetaceans threatened due tohumam activities (fishing, pollution). After examination of dead specimens we observed that some animals were parasited, so we are trying to improve our knowledge with papers and recent articles on parasitology and other diseases affecting cetaceans. I would appreciate if you could send me a copy of your recent articles on this subject. Thanking you in advance for your help. Sincerely yours, Alexandra Fernandes Costa Laboratorio de Ciencias do Mar Universidade Federal do Ceara Avenida da Abolicao, 3207 Fortaleza - Ceara 60.165-082 BRAZIL email: gecc(\)ufc.br ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 09:11:34 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. House panel OKs bill on d U.S. House panel OKs bill on dolphin protections By Vicki Allen WASHINGTON (Reuter) - A House subcommittee Thursday approved a bill to allow imports of tuna caught in ways that do not kill more than 5,000 dolphin annually, easing the current embargo on "dolphin-deadly" tuna. Backers of the bill, including the Clinton administration, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, said it would extend restrictions against the heavy incidental catch of dolphins in tuna nets internationally, reducing dolphin deaths. The bill would codify an agreement among 12 nations including Mexico, Venezuela and the United States that fish in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where tuna often swim with dolphin. The voluntary agreement adopted in 1992 cut dolphin deaths to 3,601 in 1993 compared with nearly half a million annually in the early 1970s, the Clinton administration said. Opponents of the bill, including the Humane Society of the United States, the Sierra Club, and most of the subcommittee's Democrats, said it was a sell-out of dolphins for international trade interests. They said the bill would allow encirclement and harassment of dolphins to net the tuna that swim below, which likely would increase dolphin mortality although the deaths would not be directly observed as the bill specifies. Largely on party lines, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans passed the bill sponsored by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, a Maryland Republican, by 9-6. "This is the beginning of our changing our environmental laws" because of pressure from international trade agreements, said Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat. Miller had promoted an unsuccessful substitute bill that would stick to current U.S. standards of "dolphin-safe," meaning tuna not caught in the kinds of nets that also trap and kill dolphins. "If this bill passes, the only winners will be the Mexican dolphin-killers, who will be able to dump their dolphin-lethal tunaonto U.S. supermarket shelves," said David Phillips, director of Earth Island Institute. Mexico has fought the U.S. embargo against tuna from it and other nations that used dolphin-encircling nets. Miller said a large portion of Mexico's fleet now uses dolphin-safe fishing methods, and that tuna would be allowed into the United States under his bill. Four environmental and wildlife advocacy groups that backed Gilchrest's bill in a statement said it would protect dolphins and lock in an international deal. "The legally binding agreement that is envisioned -- including monitoring, enforcement and incentive measures -- makes it far more likely ... to have fewer and fewer dolphin deaths in coming years," said Nina Young of the Center for Marine Conservation. The Senate so far has not moved on its version of the bill, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, warned that she would move to block a bill similar to Gilchrest's measure. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 17:28:12 -0400 From: "M.L. Lawrence" Subject: Manatee deaths Excusewhat is probably a very ignorant question from a new vet. tech., but just curious as to whether any strain of hantavirus has ever been known to infect marine mammals? The necropsy findings and the rapid demise of the animals reminds me of Four Corners Disease and other strains of hantavirus in humans. Sorry if this is a stupid thought... -- mirslam(\)charm.net Miriam Levinson Lawrence wildlife rehab volunteer and veterinary technician Baltimore, MD ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 20:26:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Abstract: humpback whales Clapham, P.J. 1996. The social and reproductive biology of humpback whales: an ecological perspective. Mammal Review 26: 27-49. Existing knowledge of the social organization, mating system and reproduction of humpback whales is reviewed to assess how our current understanding of this wide-ranging marine mammal fits into the predictive framework developed from ecological studies of more accessible taxa. The small unstable groups characteristic of this species on its summer feeding grounds appear to be a function of an absence of predation and of the patchy, mobile nature of most prey; the absence of territor- iality and the minimal importance of kinship in associations are also predictable consequences of the latter. The mating system is similar to both leks and to male dominance polygyny, in which males display (sing) or directly compete (perhaps sometimes in coalitions) for access to females. However, the rigid spatial structure characteristic of classic leks is absent. The mating system of this species is sufficiently different to merit a novel category, and "floating lek" is proposed. The widespread distribution of females resulting from absence of both predation and resources during the breeding season preclude simultaneous monopolization by males of more than one potential mate. Furthermore, these factors, together with a male-biased operational sex ratio, minimize the possibility of competition among females. The intensity of intrasexual competition among males conforms to predictions derived from information on testis size and from expectation of future reproductive success. Female choice and, to a lesser extent, differential allocation of competitive effort by males, appears likely. Lack of interpopulation variation in social and mating behaviour, and in general reproductive biology, is likely a response to similarity of marine environmental conditions. Year-to-year variation in reproductive rates may be linked to variations in the abundance of prey. The invariably uniparous nature of female humpback whales is to be related to the energetic demands of lactation, and the lower ratio of available energy partitioned to reproduction that is characteristic of larger mammals. The reversed sexual size dimorphism of this species may reflect different selective pressures on males and females. Finally, there is now evidence that, as in some other taxa, offspring sex ratiois related to maternal condition. Phil Clapham Smithsonian Institution clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 01:04:36 -0800 From: Fred Sharpe Subject: Stranded marine mammal carcasses Hello Marmammers, I am interested in the use of stranded marine mammal carcasses by birds and land animals. In particular, I would like to document which species use carcasses and the nature of that utilization (i.e., food resource, roosting site, plucking post, hiding cover, etc.). This information could be useful for land managers, stranding coordinators, or researchers who must address questions concerning the disposal or collection of dead marine mammals. In other habitats, stranded carcasses have been found to provide a food resource for a diverse array of wildlife. For example, studies on salmon carcasses by Cedarholm and Houston (1988) found 17 different species of vertebrates utilizing them as food. Similarly, I have noted a number of species of land mammals and birds utilizing dead marine mammal as food. I would appreciate receiving any observations of birds or mammals utilizing stranded marine mammal carcasses. If possible please include the: Identity and number of species utilizing the carcass: Carcass identity: Date: Location: Stage of decomposition: (fresh, intermediate, advanced) Nature of utilization: (food resource, roosting site, plucking post, hiding cover, etc.) Any references in the literature would also be appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts and assistance, Fred Sharpe Behavioral Ecology Research Group Simon Fraser University Burnaby BC V5A 1S6 Canada fsharpe(\)sfu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 12:40:03 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Driftnets in the Mediterranean (fwd) Forwarded message: From: JOwen82504(\)aol.com Does anyone know when the 90 day period will begin for Italy to stop the illegal driftnetting? A recent decision by the US Court of Intl Trade ruled that the US has to impose sanctions if Italy does not comply within a 90 day period. However, there seems to some confusion as to when this `count down' period will begin. Jonathan Owen ps Regards to Chris Stroud, WDCS, Betsy Dribben, HSUS and Patti Goldman, Sierra Club!! ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 23:09:11 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Sperm Whale Sighting in Eastern Mediterranean Shalom Fellow Marmamers, Case Report of Sperm Whale Sighting by a Yacht in the Eastern Mediterranean: Yoram and Suzette Greenberg owners of the yacht AMONTE observed 8-10 sperm whales for 10 minutes 5 nautical miles east of Rhodes Island on April 7th, at 6:00 a.m. at a depth of approximately 1600 meters. They were sailing around the Greek Islands and their depth finder was malfunctioning--and was constantly pinging. The sperm whales seemed to be attracted to the pinging, as when they turned the instrument off, the whales left the area. The yacht was 14 meters long and they were sailing by motoring. There were two adult whales, each between 15-16 meters in length. These animals got quite close to the ship (about 4 meters) and they were swimming with the current. As far as we know, this is one of the first reports of a large pod of sperm whales in this part of the Mediterranean--most other reports have been of single whales to groups of 5 whales. If anyone else has similar reports of sperm whales in the eastern Mediterranean please let me know--we are trying to map out sightings of these animals in areas where there are few reports. Thanks, Oz Goffman, IMMRAC, Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 17:25:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Mammals and Storm Waves on West Coast (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Peck Euwer We are researching a documentary film on large winter storm waves/swells and are looking into stories concerning marine mammals around California(Channel Islands) and elsewhere on the west coast. In particular what happens to some of the pinnipeds ie. elephant seals when a large winter swell hits their rookery. How do cetaceans breathe in hurricane force winds. Not to mention anything else of interest related to the topic or avenues to explore. Thanks Peck Euwer & Mike Kasic ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 11:22:53 -0400 From: Michael Williamson Subject: Humpback Blubber Thickness Hello, I am seeking information on the thickness of the dorsal side blubber of humpbacks while in the Caribbean around February. Has anyone down any work with animals stranded in the caribbean? Or from the whaling station in the caribbean?\ I would appreciate the info and/or a possible source of the information. Thank you. Mike Williamson ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 22:08:40 -0700 From: William Megill Subject: Grey whale research course: a few dates left (This is a re-post: we have a few dates left for those still interested) The Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organisation, offering seven-day courses in marine mammal research techniques. Courses are open to the general public - no previous experience necessary. Research is focused this year on the feeding behaviour, movements, and abundance of grey whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, killer whales and humpback whales, off Cape Caution, BC, Canada. Courses are taught from a 40' sailboat, sea-kayaks, and from shore. Participants are incorporated directly into the research team for the duration of the course, and have the opportunity to learn techniques first- hand from working biologists. In addition to the field research techniques, the course also includes instruction and hands-on experience in sailing or sea-kayaking. Course cost includes tuition, all meals, return transportation from Port Hardy to the base camp, and tent accomodation. Cost: $1400 (CAD) $1075 (USD) (Student prices available some dates) (call/email for information about kayaking) Dates: (NB: At only four to five participants per course, dates are filling up) Sailing: June 30 - July 6, 6-12, 14-20, 20-26, 28-August 3 August 3-9, 11-17, 17-23, 25-31, 31 - September 6. Kayaking: June 30 - July 7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-28, 28-August 4 August 4-11, 11-18, 18-25, 25-September 1, 1-7. For more information, contact: Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation c/o Adventure Spirit Travel Company 1843 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6J 2E7 1-800-667-7799 (N America) (604) 736-5188 (elsewhere) email: rdavis(\)direct.ca world-wide web: http://www.bcu.ubc.ca/~megill/cerf ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 08:05:50 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: ENVIRONMENT: BLACK SEA DOLPHI ENVIRONMENT: BLACK SEA DOLPHINS FACE EXTINCTION BUCHAREST, (Apr. 21) IPS - Scientists here have warned that dolphins will become extinct in the Black Sea if nothing is done to end the threat posed by pollution and the legacy of years of hunting. "Something must be done to stop the disappearance of the dolphins," says Alexandru Bologa, scientific researcher at the Romanian Institute for Marine Research (IRCM), based in the port city of Constanta, about 250 kilometers south-east of Bucharest. According to Bologa, the dolphin population has dwindled to just one percent of the number recorded 46 years ago. In 1950, he said, one million dolphins belonging to three species lived in the Black Sea. However, their numbers started decreasing soon after. By 1970 there were just 70,000 of these highly intelligent aquatic mammals left, and by 1995 the school had been reduced to 10,000. If the present rate of destruction continues dolphins will cease to exist in the Black Sea by the turn of the century, he said. He blames the pollution of the Black Sea and the cruel massacre of the animals during the former communist regime, under its grimly-titled "program of economic capitalization of dolphins." Romanian researchers have already taken some steps to save the dolphins. This campaign is being supported by a number of regional and international organizations including the Mediterranean Sea Scientific Exploration Group, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). As many scientific reports show, the water in the Black Sea is strongly polluted by a variety of chemicals. One of the biggest sources of pollution is the Danube river. It flows through six countries over close to 3,000 kilometers between its origins in Germany and where it falls into the Black Sea in Romania. In its path it carries various kinds of chemicals that either are dumped by factories and other industrial installations or seep through the earth from large agricultural centers. Shipping in the Black Sea also contributes to the pollution, causing considerable amounts of oil spillage. Ecologists estimate that approximately 30,000 tons of phosphorus and three quarter million tons of nitrates are poured into the Black Sea annually. "This is quite dangerous not only for dolphins, but also for the entire fauna of the sea,"said Bologa, who urges the government to endorse the "polluter pays" principle. "The people who ignore the most elementary rules for protection and contribute to the pollution of water should be sued or fined." According to Bologa, if effective steps are not taken to protect the dolphins, then in the future one will only be able to see live dolphins at the "dolphinarium" (a public amusement center) in Constanta. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 08:08:57 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: EU drift net fishing ban block EU drift net fishing ban blocked BRUSSELS, April 22 (Reuter) - The European Union failed on Monday to make any progress towards banning the use of drift nets for catching tuna, swordfish and salmon, EU officials said. Only Spain and Greece support a long-standing proposal by the EU's executive European Commission to ban drift nets in the northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic by the end of 1997. "The proposal is totally blocked," said one official after a meeting of EU fisheries ministers. EU Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino said she had no plans to present a fresh proposal. Italy pledged that its fishermen in the Mediterranean will obey current rules forbidding the use of drift nets longer than 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles). The United States had warned that it could impose trade sanctions this summer after the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled recently that Italy was breaking international rules. Some officials said Italian fishermen were using nets of up to 20 km to catch swordfish. The European Commission said that a fisheries inspection vessel, first chartered in 1995, will extend its patrols to the Mediterranean this year. Environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, have campaigned vigourously to abolish "curtains of death drift nets" which they say kill thousands of dolphins and other marine mammals annually. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 08:10:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Request for info on Tursiops genetics (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Christina Khodadad Hello, Marmammers: I wouln't normally send out a request through Marmam but I keep running into deadends everywhere else. I am trying to determine what groups are conducting genetics work on the Tursiops located in the Indian River Lagoon and offshore of eastern Florida. If anyone outthere knows of this work and the scope of it, I would appreciate a heads-up. Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 16:03:27 -0400 From: sg(\)monsoon.com Organization: Monsoon Software, Inc. Subject: 1996 International Symposium on Dolphin Assisted Therapy 1996 International Symposium on Dolphin Assisted Therapy Dolphin Discovery (http://www.cancun.com/dolphin.html) and the AquaThought Foundation (http://www.access.digex.net/~sunilg) are pleased to announce that the second Dolphin Assisted Therapy Symposium will be held September 6-8, 1996 in Cancun, Mexico. If you are interested in attending or wish to get additional information, please send a message to Donna Brewer (104027.1147(\)compuserve.com) or Peggy Bartlett (bartlett(\)well.com). Proceedings of last year's symposium are available for examination at http://www.access.digex.net/~sunilg/symposium/95/symposium.html If you are interested in presenting at this year's symposium, proposals are due by May 31. If your proposal is accepted, you will be notified by June 15. Final papers are due by July 31. To submit a proposal or for further details, please send a message to David Cole (aquatht(\)ix.netcom.com) or Sunil Gupta (sg(\)aquathought.com). Please watch the AquaThought Foundation web site for details as they become available: http://www.access.digex.net/~sunilg/symposium/96/announce.html ------------------------------------------------------------ Sunil Gupta Monsoon Software, Inc. - sg(\)monsoon.com AquaThought Foundation - http://www.access.digex.net/~sunilg ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 07:45:23 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: literature request Dear Marmam subscribers, I have been entering my reprint collection into the computer, and ran across the following article for which I have no year or volume number. I was hoping someone might be able to provide it for me. Adler, L.L. and H.E. Adler. Matching to sample by Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Chinese characters and English words. Annals of New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 113-126. Thanks in advance for the assistance. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 11:34:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Whale smuggling attempt defeated (fwd) Forwarded message: From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) The Norwegian daily VG reported Thursday, April 25 that a smuggling attempt of 10 tons of whale meat and blubber from Norway to Japan has been intercepted by Japanese police. The cargo was disguised as mackerel of which Norway annually exports more than 130.000 tons to Japan. The attempt was revealed because the smugglers routed the contraband via Viet Nam, a country which imports next to nothing of Norwegian fish. Head of the Norwegian small whaler association, Steinar Bastesen says to VG (April 26): "If this has happened it is tragic and devastating for Norwegian whaling. Such incidences destroys the possibilities for removing the silly Norwegian export ban." The smugglers, associated with the =C5lesund based company "World Food" according to VG, are under investigation by Norwegian authorities. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 16:22:01 +0100 From: Alasdair Hind Subject: foraging/digestion in phocids Hello, I am finishing a PhD on modeling the energetics of P. vitulina and am looking for information. I am having trouble tracking down quantitative information on prey capture and digestion by phocid seals (P. vitulina in particular). Does anybody know of values for prey handling time or digestion rate ?? Any suggestions would be greatfully recieved (e-mail me directly and I'll post a synopsis back to MARMAM) Thank you, Alasdair. ========================================= Alasdair Hind Department of Statistics & Modelling Sci. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. Tel. +44-141-552-4400 Fax. +44-141-552-2079 e-mail alasdair(\)stams.strath.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 10:58:00 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 4/26/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Canadian Park for Polar Bear. On Apr. 24, 1996, Canadian officials signed an agreement between the federal government and the province of Manitoba to create a 4,430-square-mile Wapusk National Park, primarily to protect polar bear habitat south and east of Churchill, Manitoba. [Reuters] . Whalemeat Smuggling? On Apr. 25, 1996, the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported a failed attempt to smuggle six tons of Norwegian whalemeat to Japan. The whalemeat was discovered Apr. 6, 1996, in a container sent from Oslo, Norway, to Yokohama, Japan. [Assoc Press] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On Apr. 29, 1996, a hearing is scheduled by the Democratic Policy Committee on the power of consumer choice to change corporate behavior on environmental issues, such as dolphin-safe tuna. [personal communication] . Haro Strait Oceanographic Experiment. On Mar. 28, 1996, NMFS published a request from MA Institute of Technology scientists for harassment of marine mammals incidental to a 26-day low-frequency marine acoustic experiment in Haro Strait in Puget Sound, WA, to learn more about the "front" where salt and fresh waters meet. [Fed. Register, Assoc Press] . Washington State Sea Lions. As of late April 1996, none of the five male sea lions identified as problem animals had been seen. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 11:59:44 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Re: literature request In case anyone else was wondering about the article I was asking about - Matching to sample by Tursiops: Chinese characters and English words - the following might be helpful to you. Dagmar Fertl ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Re: literature request Author: Heidi Stinson at ~smtp Date: 4/26/96 12:20 PM The article you requested information on (Adler and Adler) is from 1990, volume 602 of the Annals of the New York Academy of Science. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 16:56:15 -0300 From: Estudiantes Medicina Veterinaria Subject: about sealion Hi, I'm chilean veterinary student and I'm begining my thesis of grade, but I have a problem.... I'm looking for information about capture and anesthesy in sea lion, this because I need take a blood sample and a fat tissue biopsy, but I don't know how... I need make a fast anesthesic induction, because this animal stan in a place very rocky habitat. the place of this work is in the south of Chile. Please HELP ME, (and answer me) (sorry by my english, I speak spanish) Thanks By Susan Christen G. Veterinary student Universidad de Chile e-mail: esc-vete(\)abello.dic.uchile.cl ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 12:22:07 GMT From: Mirand Brown & Martin Field Subject: Australian Humpback Whale Survey - 1996 OBSERVERS REQUIRED FOR 1996 EAST AUSTRALIAN HUMPBACK WHALE SURVEY Volunteer observers are required to help with the 1996 east Australian humpback whale survey conducted at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island, southeast Queensland, Australia (near Brisbane). The surveys have been run since 1980 and are funded by ANCA (Australian Nature Conservation Agency) through the University of Sydney (other collaborating institutions include the University of Cape Town, South Africa and the University of St. Andrews, UK.). The aim of the surveys is to estimate abundance and rate of increase, and to monitor the long-term recovery of this population from commercial whaling. The survey is land-based entirely. Teams of 2-3 observers will sit on a prominent headland and count humpback whales as they move north. The survey runs from 7am-5pm seven days a week, in all weather conditions. To minimise fatigue, the 10-hour day is divided into four watch periods. Observers spend 5 hours each day on the survey, and some time entering the data on computer. Double-counting experiments to estimate the proportion of whales missed are conducted from an adjacent headland. Observers will be trained in the use of a theodolite to track the whales and obtain position data. The survey will run from the 27th May-18th August 1996. Observers are required for a minimum of two weeks (up to 3 months after a two week trial period). No funding is available for remuneration, however food and accomodation will be provided. Observers are expected to make their own way to Point Lookout (easy access from Brisbane) and to pay for their travel expenses, medical and personal insurance. No prior experience or knowledge is required, just lots of patience, good eyesight and an interest in the subject. Whales are unpredictable animals and can be very elusive. However numbers are increasing; the annual rate of increase from the surveys is approximately 10% and the population estimate from the 1993 survey is 2100. Please do not write directly to MARMAM. If you are interested please contact us before the 25th May at the following address: e-mail: "mfield(\)ilink.nis.za" fax: +27-21-477990 with the subject heading "humpback survey" \|/ Martin Field \|/ * & * \_ ______--------. Miranda Brown .--------_____ _/ == __ o__| |__o __ == ------//---' mfield (\)ilink.nis.za `---\\----- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 17:08:35 +1200 From: Ian Wilkinson Subject: DUGONG GROUP, JAMES COOK UNI, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA Dear readers Could anyone put me in touch (E-mail address) with the leader of the dugong rese arch group at James Cook University, Queensland, Australia. Many thanks Dr Ian S Wilkinson Ministry of Fisheries Private Bag 1926 DUNEDIN NEW ZEALAND TEL: 64-3-474-0333 FAX: 64-3-477-6275 E-mail: WILKINSI(\)FISHDN.FISH.GOVT.NZ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 06:52:13 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Incidental take prevention Dear Marmam subscribers, This message came across the sea turtle discussion group. Perhaps someone can help this person. Please send the information directly to that person though. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Incidental take prevention Author: 1world(\)infomagic.com at ~smtp Date: 4/28/96 3:30 PM Hello, I am looking for information on the appropriate screening for a hopper dredges' overflow, skimmer funnels, and dragheads for the prevention of the incidental taking of sea turtles and other marine mammals during operation. Really not sure where to get this information--can anyone help? H. Paige One World Workforce Rt 4 Box 963A Flagstaff AZ 86001 tele/fax 520-779-3639 1world(\)infomagic.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 09:16:33 +1200 From: Terry Hardie Subject: Spinal deformaties Hi, I'm forward this message for a friend of mine. Please reply to the address at the end of the message: Hello MarMammers, My name is Ingrid Visser, and I am working on orca in New Zealand waters. I recently came across one with what appeared to be a spinal deformity. I am now trying to gather information on any sort of spinal deformity, in any cetacean, to see what is out there. Here in NZ we also have 4 Tursiops with malformations of the spine. A couple of them are bent laterally to give an s-shape when viewed from above, and they are also bent perpendicular to give the appearance of a hump when viewed from the side. If any of you have information leading to the where abouts of more of these cetaceans, I would appreciate it if you could please contact me at the address below. In advance I thank you for your help, and I will keep you posted on progress. Ingrid Visser orca(\)iconz.co.nz ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 17:21:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Stranded marine mammal carcasses (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Joel G. Ortega-Ortiz" On Mon, 22 Apr 1996, Fred Sharpe wrote: > I am interested in the use of stranded marine mammal carcasses by birds and > land animals. In particular, I would like to document which species use > carcasses and the nature of that utilization (i.e., food resource, roosting > site, plucking post, hiding cover, etc.). This information could be useful > for land managers, stranding coordinators, or researchers who must address > questions concerning the disposal or collection of dead marine mammals. In the Northern Gulf of California, we have observed Coyote (Canis latrans) and Seagulls (Larus hermanii) feeding on beached carcasses of Long-baked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and blubber of an unidentified whale. This observations and some information on human related causes of death and postmortem human alteration of carcasses in the Gulf of California are presented in: Delgado-Estrella, A., J. G. Ortega-Ortiz, and A. Sanchez-Rios. 1994. Varamientos de mamiferos marinos durante la primavera y el otono y su relacion con la actividad humana en el norte del Golfo de California. Anales Inst. Biol. Univ. Nac. Auton. Mexico, Ser. Zool. 65(2):287-295. Joel G. Ortega-Ortiz Instituto de Biologia, UNAM Laboratorio de Mastozoologia Apartado Postal 70-153 Mexico, DF 04510 MEXICO ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 10:23:11 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Dolphins in HK Waters Genetica Dolphins in HK Waters Genetically Strong: Research HONG KONG (April 29) XINHUA - Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong's polluted waters are genetically strong and show no sign of inbreeding despite the relatively small population, a research has found. Today's Eastern Express reported that DNA analysis has revealed that the dolphins, believed to number between 80 and 200, are not a unique species, but a distinct genetic group. Researcher Lindsay Porter said different sousa dolphin populations in the world are all one species but they have been separated by geography, and through time for so long it is highly likely they are distinct genetic stock. The genetic research will examine 50 tissue samples from sousa species in the region including those in Thailand, Vietnam and China, as well as in Australia and Africa. According to the report, genetic fingerprinting revealed variations among Hong Kong's dolphins, which is believed a good thing for a population because it makesthem more adaptable to changes in the environment. "It is healthy and well that breeding groups are mixing and there is no inbreeding," Porter said. Researchers have samples of sousa tissue from Xiamen in China and are seeking DNA from other populations. Porter plans to scour Chinese waters just outside Hong Kong this summer to assess dolphin distribution, the report said. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 09:56:45 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: cetaceans of Taiwan Dear Marmam subscribers, I am posting the following for a colleague. I know that some of you are interested in the guide "Cetaceans of Taiwan", written by Lien-siang Chou (it is in Chinese). If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, it is $7 U.S. (not including postage) and available through the author. Please contact the author directly for your purchase. When sending a check, remember to include funds for postage. Lien-siang Chou Department of Zoology National Taiwan University Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C. Tel: 886+2-3661331 Fax: 886+2-3639902 chouls(\)ccms.ntu.edu.tw ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 08:20:56 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: sperm-whale-stranding at Romo (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Florian Hagelberg <100707.1133(\)CompuServe.COM> Hej, has anybody any information what happened to the 16 sperm-whales stranded at Romo in March or the adress of somebody who has been there? I heard, that a scientist of the fishery museum Esbjerg ,Thyge Jensen, had been involved. Hope to hear from somebody. Bye, Bettina Wurche University of Hamburg ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 13:40:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: reference Does anyone have a copy of Norsk Hvalfangsttidende (Norwegian Whaling Gazette) for 1926? I am particularly interested in vol 15, page 42. Tnx. Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 08:23:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ACS Poster Announcement (fwd) Forwarded message: From: birdman(\)friend.ly.net (Mark) Call for Abstracts American Cetacean Society 1996 Conference Whales In Today's World: Bridging Science Policy, and People The American Cetacean Society (ACS) will be conducting an international conference on cetaceans in the Los Angeles, CA area November 8-10, 1996. The format will include lectures, posters, panel discussions, workshops, and field trips, and will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Pedro, Ca. Scientists, both professional and student, are invited to submit proposals for poster presentations at the conference (oral presentations are by 'invitation only'). Acceptance of papers will be based on a review process. There will be cash awards for the two best student papers. Guidelines for Submission of Abstracts 1. Information presented must be new and significant. The abstract should contain the study's objectives (be specific), a description of the methodology, the important results, and conclusions reached. 2. Abstracts should be postmarked by August 1, 1996. FAX (one copy) submissions will be accepted if original and copies are postmarked by August 15, 1996. 3. Provide proof of student status if necessary (photocopy of valid ID card). 4. Only one poster submission will be accepted from a primary author. Instructions for Poster Abstract Submissions 1. There will be a proceedings booklet, or program, that will include the abstracts exactly as submitted. The abstract will not be retyped! Make it as neat as possible, as it will be a reflection of your work. 2. Use a laser printer (Courier 12pt font ) or typewriter (Elite type.). 3. Type the abstract in an 'invisible box' 6.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall. 4. The submissions are accepted on a competitive basis and clarity of the work to be presented will be considered. Submit original abstract and three copies to: ACS Poster Abstracts c/o Mark R. Schilling Research Chair, American Cetacean Society 812 Chesapeake Drive Stevensville, MD 21666 USA FAX 410-643-8193 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 19:24:10 -0700 From: "Selna L. Kaplan" Subject: Marine Mammal Films at Underwater Film Festival (San Francisco Bay Area) Sea '96 International Underwater Film Festival (Oakland, CA) The Northern California Chapter of the Underwater Photographic Society proudly announces Sea '96, the 32nd Annual International Underwater Film Festival. It will be held on Saturday, May 18, 1996, 8 PM, at the Paramount Theater of the Arts, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, California. Nearly 3,000 arm-chair adventurers will fill Oakland's historic and majestic Paramount Theatre to view many of the finest underwater movies, slides and prints available. This annual event will feature the latest and most exciting creations from famous underwater cinematographers, photographers, and explorers from around the world. "In Search of Moby Dick" is a personally narrated slide presentation on sperm whales by Flip Nicklin, author of National Geographic's "Whales & Dolphins", and emcee for the night's program. The main event of the evening will be the world premiere of "Sea Stories", a multi-projector slide/music/narration extravaganza by the National Geographic Society. It features the stories of four photographers - Flip Nicklin, David Doubilet, Burt Curtsinger and Emory Cristof - and their encounters with the marine environment. "Saving Inky" is the story by Nick Caloyianis of a stranded pygmy sperm whale, its recovery and successful release by the National Aquarium in Baltimore. "Ocean Oasis" is an exciting, European award-winning video on the sharks, rays, dolphins and reef fish of Cocos Island by Avi Klapfer. "Secret Sea" is a show presented by Texas photographers Burt Jones and Maurine Shimlock, featuring colorful reef images from their latest book. "Predators, Mammals and Us" is a narrated slide presentation of orcas, sharks and humans by Israeli-born undersea adventurer Amos Nachoum. "Waterdance", is a production featuring underwater ballet dancers photographed by Howard Schatz. Sea '96 is also a showcase of the best images of the Underwater Photographic Society, including the winners of our 31st Annual International Underwater Photo Competition. This event is expected to sell out. For ticket information contact SEA '96, c/o Mike Miller, 425 California Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104; or call 415-391-9207 and ask for Mary. The Underwater Photographic Society is a non-profit organization, formed to promote interest and excellence in underwater photography. The chapter members include both amateur and professional photographers and divers from all over Northern California. ----------------------------------------------- {Since this release, another film of diving with an elephant seal in Baja has been added.} For editorial information on this announcement, please contact Susan & Bill O'Neil at 408-974-0685, oneil/apple(\)eworld.com ; or Gil Zeimer at 415-491-1058 / 491-1576[fax], gil(\)zeimer.com . ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 08:27:40 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: SA: NEW PROPOSAL FOR PART-TIME SA: NEW PROPOSAL FOR PART-TIME WHALE PARK ADELAIDE, May 1 AAP - The whale sanctuary in the Great Australian Bight will be significantly enlarged, but only for half the year, South Australian Premier Dean Brown announced today. Mr Brown said the new proposal, which will extend the permanent sanctuary at the head of the Bight to Cape Adieu in the east and westward to the West Australian border, was a victory for the southern right whales that congregate in the area in summer and autumn to breed and calve. However the new conservation zone to operate on both sides of the permanent sanctuary will operate for only half the year and will be made available for mining and fishing for the remaining six months. Mr Brown said the new plan updated last year's plan for just the permanent sanctuary at the head of the Bight and will also include new sanctuary zones for Australian sea-lions. The proposal will not be implemented for two months to allow public comment and to finalise the boundaries and management plans. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 14:25:22 +0100 From: "G.C.Goold" Subject: Kogia Clicks Does anyone have recording of sounds made by Kogia (Pygmy or Dwarf sperm whales). It would assist greatly with my research. John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Gwynedd. LL59 5EY. UK. email oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 19:43:11 EDT From: Tim Stevens <100236.2066(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Steno release waits for weather The two S.bredanensis recovering at Seaworld's rehab facility have now regained their initial stranded weights, and then some, and are feeding and swimming strongly. They will be released as soon as the current gale-force winds and associated heavy seas abate. The animals have been marked as described in a previous posting. I will update the list when the release has occurred. Tim Stevens. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Stevens Principal Conservation Officer Queensland Department of Environment telephone: +61 7 3227 7783 PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert Street, Qld 4002 facsimile: +61 7 3225 1909 Australia e-mail: 100236.2066(\)compuserve.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 09:32:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Histology/epidermis (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Florian Hagelberg <100707.1133(\)CompuServe.COM> Hej, who can help me with informations about histological examinations on the epidermis of whales, especially of sperm-whales? Bye, Bettina Wurche University of Hamburg ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 23:17:13 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Manatee epidemic Dear Marmam Re the current postings on the subject of the epidemic that seems to be devastating the Florida manatee population, I note the involvement of Seaworld in returning manatees to the wild in the course of the epidemic. The extent to which they consider the possibility that their interference (be it good or bad) in these events may risk propagating any communicable disease even more efficiently, is not clear; indeed there may not be a communicable risk... but it's a bit odd that their expressed logic behind their opposition to the rehabilitation and reintroduction to the wild of cetaceans does not seem to extend to that of sirenians. Yours Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 09:49:10 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Dolphins in HK Waters Genetica (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Paul Armstrong Does anyone if this data is published in a scientific journal yet? On Tue, 30 Apr 1996 r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > Dolphins in HK Waters Genetically Strong: Research > > HONG KONG (April 29) XINHUA - Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong's polluted > waters are genetically strong and show no sign of inbreeding despite the > relatively small population, a research has found. > Today's Eastern Express reported that DNA analysis has revealed that the > dolphins, believed to number between 80 and 200, are not a unique species, but > a distinct genetic group. > Researcher Lindsay Porter said different sousa dolphin populations in the > world are all one species but they have been separated by geography, and > through time for so long it is highly likely they are distinct genetic stock. > The genetic research will examine 50 tissue samples from sousa species in the > region including those in Thailand, Vietnam and China, as well as in Australia > and Africa. > According to the report, genetic fingerprinting revealed variations among Hong > Kong's dolphins, which is believed a good thing for a population because it > makesthem more adaptable to changes in the environment. > "It is healthy and well that breeding groups are mixing and there is no > inbreeding," Porter said. > Researchers have samples of sousa tissue from Xiamen in China and are > seeking DNA from other populations. > Porter plans to scour Chinese waters just outside Hong Kong this summer to > assess dolphin distribution, the report said. > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 09:50:04 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Diagnosis of Fatal Manatee Dis Diagnosis of Fatal Manatee Disorder Continues to ... COMTEX Newswire ATLANTA, May 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The cause of the killer disease that since March 1996 has claimed the lives of more than 150 of Florida's endangered manatees has so far eluded a special national team of experts of wildlife biologists and other marine mammal experts. In search of a diagnosis, many collaborators from federal, state and private organizations have been assisting Florida Marine Research Institute scientists with the ongoing investigation by testing the hypotheses most likely to explain the record-breaking number of manatee deaths over the past 6 weeks. Since January 1, 1996, more than 255 manatees have been found dead in Florida's waters. Some 155 of these deaths, however, have inexplicably occurred in Southwest Florida since March 5, 1996, and recent analyses of blood and tissues are providing clues, but have so far failed to determine conclusively the actual cause of death. The February 1996 U.S. manatee population count turned up at least 2,639. This shows that approximately 9.6 percent of U.S. manatees have perished in the first 4 months of this year, a significant loss. Experts are testing three different hypotheses in their search for a cause of death: 1) death caused by a biological toxin, such as that produced by a red tide; 2) death resulting from a disease caused by a virus or bacterium; and 3) death caused by a contaminant, such as a pesticide. It is also possible that a combination of factors is involved. Tissue samples collected from dead manatees have been sent to laboratories across the country with expertise in identifying biotoxins, infectious agents, and contaminants. None of the results received so far have been conclusive. The Florida manatee -- whose gentleness and approachability has endeared it to millions of Floridians and visitors to the State -- is a large herbivorous marine mammal that was listed as an endangered species in 1967. Its recent high death rate was the main topic of discussion at an April 19, 1996, meeting held at the Florida Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla. Biologists from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Biological Service, the University of Miami, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Sea World of Florida presented findings and discussed strategies to coordinate and enhance their fact-finding mission and to determine the cause of these fatalities. The Florida Marine Research Institute has organized an effective team approach to document this highly unusual manatee loss of life. Information has been collected on dates and locations of dead manatees, and environmental data has been gathered, including water temperature, salinity, and counts of the phytoplankton (toxic microscopic marine organisms) that cause red tide blooms, patches of red discoloration in the water caused by trillions of these tiny organisms. This information has been entered into a geographic information database so that clues to the manatee deaths can be identified and analyzed. A preliminary review of existing data has shown that there is a striking correlation between the distribution of dead manatees and sites with high phytoplankton counts; however, a definitive causal relationship between the red tide and the manatee deaths has yet to be firmly established. A review of the Florida Marine Research Institute's red tide data for the last 20 years indicates that in only two years, 1982 and 1996, have the phytoplankton levels been high and persisted into March and April. A favorite spot for Southwest Florida manatees to spend the cold winter months is in the vicinity of the Florida Power and Light plant on the Caloosahatchee River near Fort Myers. In February 1996, more than 400 manatees were sighted congregating at this location. Typically, as the weather begins to warm in late February and early March, these manatees start to make their way back towards the Gulf of Mexico. During the first weeks of the recent die-off, this river proved to be a key area for fatalities. In 1982, however, only 37 manatee deaths were attributed to ingestion of the red tide phytoplankton, which they encountered as they migrated downriver towards the ocean. Some live manatees, exhibiting apparent neuromuscular problems have been rescued in Southwest Florida and taken to a rehabilitation facility at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. The recovery of three females took several days, during which they required assistance to stay afloat to breathe. Caretakers used flotation vests to help keep the disabled manatees from drowning. A male manatee was recently rescued by state biologists and is expected to recover. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Biological Service will continue to assist Florida Marine Research Institute researchers in its efforts to document and understand this tragic manatee die-off, and will identify research and management needs to prevent or reduce such events in the future. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 09:13:59 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 5/3/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I will post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is the longer version for the first Friday in May 1996. NOTE: Previous "First Friday" summaries are archived and available at: http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/ I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 04/26/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . Canadian Park for Polar Bear. On Apr. 24, 1996, Canadian officials signed an agreement between the federal government and the province of Manitoba to create a 4,430-square-mile Wapusk National Park, primarily to protect polar bear habitat south and east of Churchill, Manitoba. [Reuters] . Whalemeat Smuggling? On Apr. 25, 1996, the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported a failed attempt to smuggle six tons of Norwegian whalemeat to Japan. The whalemeat was discovered Apr. 6, 1996, in a container sent from Oslo, Norway, to Yokohama, Japan. [Assoc Press, Greenwire] . Whale Euthanasia Study. In mid-April 1996, the Foundation for the Study of the Welfare of Whales announced that it is undertaking a study of more humane ways to kill stranded or harpooned whales, in the belief that current methods are incredibly cruel or inhumane. [Assoc Press] . Canadian Seal Hunt. On Apr. 11, 1996, officials of Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans announced closure of the harp seal hunt a month early because the entire 250,000 seal quota had been killed. Killing of hooded seals was halted in late March 1996 after about 16,000 had been killed -- about twice the 8,000 hooded seal quota. A total of about 60,000 seals were killed in 1995 when bad weather and ice conditions hampered sealers. Sealers are expected to request an additional quota of 37,000 animals. Markets for seal products are reported to have improved with a stronger European market for seal pelts and new markets in North America for seal blubber and meat. On Apr. 16, 1996, Canadian officials announced that they were re-opening the seal hunt after reassessment showed sealers were 65,000 seals short of the 250,000 seal quota. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Peru Passes Dolphin Law. On Apr. 10, 1996, Peru published a new law declaring dolphins legally protected and prohibiting the fishing for dolphin s and selling of their meat. Violations are punishable with a two- to four-year j ail sentence. A 1995 law authorizing fines for dolphin fishing had been ineffective . [Reuters] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On Apr. 18, 1996, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans amended and approved by a 10-6 vote, H.R. 2823 (the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act) for full Committee action. On Apr. 29, 1996, a hearing was scheduled by the Democratic Policy Committee on the power of consumer choice to change corporate behavior on environmental issues, such as dolphin-safe tuna. {On Apr. 30, 1996, the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries held a hearing on S. 1420, implementation of the International Dolphin Conservation Program.} [personal communication, Congr. Record] . Haro Strait Oceanographic Experiment. On Mar. 28, 1996, NMFS published a request from MA Institute of Technology scientists for harassment of marine mammals incidental to a 26-day low-frequency marine acoustic experiment in Haro Strait in Puget Sound, WA, to learn more about the "front" where salt and fresh waters meet. [Fed. Register, Assoc Press] . Washington State Sea Lions. In early April 1996, Sea World of Florida proposed, and NMFS and WA State's Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have accepted the offer, to permanently hold captive the five male sea lions identified for killing in Washington State. NMFS suspended permission previously granted WA State to kill the five sea lions. As of late April 1996, none of the five male sea lions identified as problem animals had been seen. [Assoc Press, Sea World press release, NMFS press release, Greenwire] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and {May 1, 1996, 155 dead} manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between {southern Sarasota County} and Collier County; cause of death of the apparently well-nourished adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed symptoms characteristic of a pneumonia-like illness whose origin and cause is unknown. An observed illness and death of about 50 cormorants and loons in the same area is not believed related to the manatee deaths. After only {four months of 1996, a total of more than 255 manatees} have died from all causes, surpassing the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 12 months of 1990. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Sea World press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 11:12:38 +0000 From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Subject: Re: Dolphins in HK Waters Genetics To those that are interested: No, the data on humpback dolphin gentics has not yet been published. This work is part of a wider study being undertaken by the Centre for Dolphin Studies, in collaberation with Lindsay Porter and others, on the taxonomy of humpback dolphins. Presently, we (Jaqui Goodwin is the person actually doing the analyses) have tissue samples from W Africa, South Africa, East Africa, the Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong and Australia. Any additional tissue samples would be most welcome. If you need more information please contact: Jaqui Goodwin mijg(\)hippo.ru.ac.za or me, Vic Cockcroft PEMVGC(\)ZOO.UPE.AC.ZA Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 08:15:08 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Ambergris; Dugongs (fwd) Forwarded message: From: hilary(\)hula.net (Hilary L. Maybaum) Aloha MARMAMers: I have 2 queries to toss your way today: (1) REGARDING AMBERGRIS: Is anyone out there capable of determining whether a substance is ambergris? Or could you provide methods for such? Any idea how much sample would be needed or what cost would be? I received this question from someone in Hawaii who apparently found something he thinks is ambergris. Our chemists have not done this type of analysis and I am trying to assist this person in his quest. (2) REGARDING DUGONGS I'm seeking any information on dugongs in Palau. Please send anecdotes or published refs if you can. Much obliged, Hilary Maybaum &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& HILARY LYNN MAYBAUM c/o AECOS, Inc. 970 N. Kalaheo Ave., Suite C300 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 Phone (808) 254-5885 Fax (808) 254-3029 "hilary(\)hula.net" ALOHA!! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 12:10:04 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: pilot whale/human interaction - update requested I thought I posted a message to Marmam earlier this week requesting more information on the incident of the pilot whale grabbing the female swimmer off Hawaii (caught on video) which was written up by Shane et al. in an article to Marine Mammal Science a few years ago (in addition to a letter to the editor regarding the court case). Unfortunately, I think the server at work ate the message before it was posted. I got a phone call regarding the pilot whale incidentafter the past Sunday night TV program about animals attacking people. Apparently, the ruling was overturned by a higher court (?). Can anyone comment on this. I'm amazed (kind of) that the two people involved only got slaps on the wrist (to refresh your memory, the woman only had to sign a paper saying she wouldn't engage in such behavior again for a year - I heard she was out about two weeks later swimming w/ whales; the photographer was fined $10,000 - $5,000 was the amount he got for selling the video to Eyewitness Video). Can anyone comment on this, and let me know whether my friend heard correctly. Thanks in advance. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 08:18:42 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: SA: SUPPORT FOR NEW PART-TIME SA: SUPPORT FOR NEW PART-TIME WHALE PARK ADELAIDE, May 2 AAP - Conservation and minor political groups today welcomed moves by the South Australian Government to enlarge a whale sanctuary in the Great Australian Bight as a good start, but still urged further steps. The Australian Democrats called for the federal government to extend the protection zone into waters it controlled and the Conservation Council said the proposal was a compromise and more needed to be done. Council executive officer Michelle Grady said original advice from scientists and a 16-member panel including representatives from the local community, industry and Aboriginal groups, called for a total exclusion zone from the head of the bight to the Western Australian border. She was also critical of a government decision to extend the protective zone for only six months of the year, allowing access mining and fishing for the remaining six months. Under the proposal, Premier Dean Brown said the permanent sanctuary in the head of the bight would be extended in summer and autumn to Cape Adieu in the east and westward to the WA border. Mr Brown said it was a victory for the southern right whales and the sea lions that congregated in the area to breed and calve. He said the new conservation zone would cover approximately 300 kilometres, compared to the 35 kilometres of the permanent sanctuary. But Ms Grady said a full-time conservation zone was required to protect what was recognised as a unique southern ocean ecosystem. "We don't allow grazing for six months in our national parks, neither could we envisage oil rigs and mineral extraction next to sensitive marine mammal breeding areas," she said. "There is no such thing as a part-time oil rig." State Opposition leader Mike Rann also ridiculed the concept of a part-time park and said it would make South Australia "a laughing stock". "Now, under pressure from environmental groups, eco-tourism groups, miners and fishers, the Premier is set to offer another half-baked compromise which he believes will make everyone happy," Mr Rann said. Democrat MP Mike Elliott said he welcomed the government's announcement but remained concerned that the new conservation zone extended out only to the three nautical mile state limit, with waters beyond that under federal jurisdiction. "Failure to extend these zones would severely limit their effectiveness in protecting our marine mammals," Mr Elliott said. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 16:11:15 +0200 From: peterle(\)muc.de Subject: IAAAM meeting info questions Please forgive this post to MARMAM but I've misplaced all my IAAAM info and was wondering if someone could share some details regarding the IAAAM meeting like ( more exactly than Tennesse) where and when it is this year. Also is it to late for poster submissions ect? Thanks and please forgive this post, Peter Zimmer ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 17:05:16 +0100 From: "Neil John Gemmell (Genetics)" Subject: Post-Doctoral Position With Bill Amos, Cambridge, U.K. A position has recently become available to work on "A molecular analysis of the breeding behaviour and population structure of grey seals" The position is for 2.5 years and start date is negotiable, but should be sooner rather than later. Some experience in molecular biology is essential, preferably in microsatellite typing. Those interested should send me a cv and the names of three referees, preferably by email. Further details can be obtained from Bill Amos at: email w.amos(\)gen.cam.ac.uk - fax. +44 223 333992 - tel. +44 223 333979. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 17:09:29 -0400 From: Richard Ellis Subject: Re: Ambergris; Dugongs (fwd) To HILARY MAYBAUM: (1) REGARDING AMBERGRIS: Is anyone out there capable of determining whether a substance is ambergris? Or could you provide methods for such? Any idea how much sample would be needed or what cost would be? Ambergris is waxy and moist when fresh, dry and brittle when old. The color varies from dull gray through brown to almost black, or may be mottled throughout in alternate bands of light and dark color. There is a characteristic somewhat pleasant earthy odor, intensifed by warming in the hand. It floats, even in fresh water. When slowly heated, it commences to soften at about 140 F, and melts between 145 and 150 F to a dark oily liquid. Test it by inserting a heated wire into it: it will melt around the wire forming a dark, opaque liquid. Touched with the finger when partially melted, it is tacky, it adheres and strings. If the wire to which it adheres is re-heated over a flame, it soon emits a white fume with a characteristic odor, and then burns with a luminous flame. It is very soluble in absolute alcohol, in ether, in fat, or in volatile oils. It may contain squid beaks. >From A. Daugherty's "Marine Mammals of California" (1972) Richard Ellis 17 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 Tel: (212) 243-6950 Fax: (212) 243-6932 e-mail: rellis(\)tribeca.ios.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 19:59:11 -1000 From: Tori Subject: Re: SA: SUPPORT FOR NEW PART-TIME In-Reply-To: <96May3.052512hst.11606(3)(\)relay1.Hawaii.Edu> Is there anyway to obtain a copy of the propsal for the sanctuary enlargement? Tori cullins(\)hawaii.edu On Fri, 3 May 1996 r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > SA: SUPPORT FOR NEW PART-TIME WHALE PARK > > ADELAIDE, May 2 AAP - Conservation and minor political groups > today welcomed moves by the South Australian Government to enlarge > a whale sanctuary in the Great Australian Bight as a good start, > but still urged further steps. > The Australian Democrats called for the federal government to > extend the protection zone into waters it controlled and the > Conservation Council said the proposal was a compromise and more > needed to be done. > Council executive officer Michelle Grady said original advice > from scientists and a 16-member panel including representatives > from the local community, industry and Aboriginal groups, called > for a total exclusion zone from the head of the bight to the > Western Australian border. > She was also critical of a government decision to extend the > protective zone for only six months of the year, allowing access > mining and fishing for the remaining six months. > Under the proposal, Premier Dean Brown said the permanent > sanctuary in the head of the bight would be extended in summer and > autumn to Cape Adieu in the east and westward to the WA border. > Mr Brown said it was a victory for the southern right whales and > the sea lions that congregated in the area to breed and calve. > He said the new conservation zone would cover approximately 300 > kilometres, compared to the 35 kilometres of the permanent > sanctuary. > But Ms Grady said a full-time conservation zone was required to > protect what was recognised as a unique southern ocean ecosystem. > "We don't allow grazing for six months in our national parks, > neither could we envisage oil rigs and mineral extraction next to > sensitive marine mammal breeding areas," she said. > "There is no such thing as a part-time oil rig." > State Opposition leader Mike Rann also ridiculed the concept of > a part-time park and said it would make South Australia "a laughing > stock". > "Now, under pressure from environmental groups, eco-tourism > groups, miners and fishers, the Premier is set to offer another > half-baked compromise which he believes will make everyone happy," > Mr Rann said. > Democrat MP Mike Elliott said he welcomed the government's > announcement but remained concerned that the new conservation zone > extended out only to the three nautical mile state limit, with > waters beyond that under federal jurisdiction. > "Failure to extend these zones would severely limit their > effectiveness in protecting our marine mammals," Mr Elliott said. > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 14:52:51 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: Harbour porpoise skeletons available for research collection Greetings, The Marine Mammal Research Group has nine (9) harbour porpoise skeletons available for donation to any appropriate research collection which is able to cover the costs for shipping from Canada. The skeletons are all of small porpoises (72 - 128 cm in length) and are thus not particularly useful for educational collections. The specimens have been flensed down but have not been cleaned -- thus they would have to be shipped frozen. Please contact Tamara Guenther at tamarag(\)islandnet.com, preferably within the next two days. Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Department of Biology Box 6244 University of Victoria Victoria, B.C. Box 1700 MS 7094 V8P 5L5 Canada Victoria, B.C. Phone (604) 380-1925 V8W 2Y2 Canada Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 10:45:20 -0700 From: "Christopher J. R. Smith" Subject: submersible vehicles' role in marine resource management. I am seeking current info regarding the subject above. Are submersibles being used for the management of marine mammals (i.e., endangered, or scientific studies? Please send reply to e-mail address below. mjsmith(\)oboe.aix.calpoly.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 13:25:22 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: BRF--Norway-Whales BRF--Norway-Whales OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Defying an international ban on whaling, Norway raised its quota Saturday to 425 minke whales for the 1996 season, which begins May 21. The quota, up from 232 last year, is based on a estimated minke whale population of between 110,000 and 120,000 animals. The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling three years ago, citing the marine mammals' declining numbers. Hallvard Johansen, director of resource management at the Ministry of Fisheries, said the quota would not be announced publicly to avoid violence against whalers. He cited an apparent attempt Friday to sink a whaling boat in a northern Norwegian port. Last year's quota was 301 whales, but it was lowered to 232 after the government admitted it overestimated the minke population at 87,000 and reduced it to 76,000 whales. Only 217 whales were killed last year. Several environmental organizations, including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, have asked President Clinton to impose trade sanctions on Norway if it resumes whaling in May. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 18:04:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Whaling I just read the MARMAM posting on Norway's intention to increase its minke whale quota from last year by a fairly substantial amount; this based upon a new estimate of abundance of between "110,000 and 120,000" animals, compared to last year's (corrected) figure of 76,000. Perhaps my mathematical ability is in error (it certainly has been before), but the implications of this are rather interesting. Going from 76,000 to 115,000 (the midpoint of the new estimate) is an increase of about 51%. There are only two explanations for this that I can see: 1) The population has increased by 51% - impossible, since this would require mature females to make up most of the population and to all be pregnant. 2) The technique used to estimate abundance is such that it produces results that swing wildly over large ranges, and is thus fundamentally unsound. I suppose one could argue that the techniques have improved dramat- ically since last year, but I rather doubt that this is the case. Can anyone comment on what's wrong with the above logic? Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 11:38:36 -0700 From: Sam McClintock Organization: En-Vision Inc. Subject: Re: Whaling Phil Clapham wrote: > > I just read the MARMAM posting on Norway's intention to increase its > minke whale quota from last year by a fairly substantial amount; this > based upon a new estimate of abundance of between "110,000 and 120,000" > animals, compared to last year's (corrected) figure of 76,000. > > Perhaps my mathematical ability is in error (it certainly has been > before), but the implications of this are rather interesting. Going > from 76,000 to 115,000 (the midpoint of the new estimate) is > an increase of about 51%. There are only two explanations for this > that I can see: > > 1) The population has increased by 51% - impossible, since this > would require mature females to make up most of the population > and to all be pregnant. > 2) The technique used to estimate abundance is such that it > produces results that swing wildly over large ranges, and is > thus fundamentally unsound. > > I suppose one could argue that the techniques have improved dramat- > ically since last year, but I rather doubt that this is the case. > > Can anyone comment on what's wrong with the above logic? Well, I am sure that the Norwegian government has an explanation for the change (and you will see it shortly from someone on MARMAM). But the bias could be explained if the counts are based on availability of observations (e.g. you can only count what you have valid data for) and if the the observation area or number of "observer hours" increased, they may have grossly underestimated the population. Couple of points: 1) The new proposed catch is still within the replaceable (sustainable) catch limits for the PREVIOUS reported population size, e.g. the minke should be fine as long as no other countries get involved in minke whaling in the Northern latitudes. I continue to have a big problem with no real "teeth" in the enforcement of any multinational agreements, e.g. if other countries decided minke was a great supplement to their diet not a lot you could do about it. 2) Is this a harbinger to trade regulations being relaxed on whale meat? The real money is with trade to Asian markets. I have enough concerns that the Japanese have increased their "scientific" catches (with obvious over- tures to a large commercial harvest), but this could be a signal that the Norwegians expect current bans on whale meat trade to lift, encouraging more Asian market consumption. Sam McClintock sammcc(\)nando.net ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 10:25:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Norwegian Minke Whaling: New Abundance Estimate Gives Higher Quota (Background) (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Norwegian Minke Whaling: New Abundance Estimate Gives Higher Quota 07. May 1996: "The international group of scientists appointed by the International Whaling Commisson (IWC) Scientific Committee has reached agreement on an estimate of a good 110,000 minke whales in the North-East Atlantic," says professor Lars Wall=F8e, Norwegian government scientific advisor on marine mammals, to High North Web News. This information led to the Norwegian authorities on April 4 setting this year's quota to 425 minke whales. "The quota could have been set considerably higher," says Wall=F8e. The quota was established on basis o= f the new quota calculation model developed by the IWC Scientific Commission and recommended by the whaling commission itself. Over the past three years, quotas have numbered between 230 and 300 minke whales. This years hunting season opens May 20. "The degree of certainty surrounding this new stock stimate, which is based on the 1995 counting surveys, is far higher than that of the new estimate based on the previous counts in 1988/89," says Wall=F8e. There are several reasons for his, amongst them, the fact that the count was carried out over the course of one single year, not two, but perhaps more important is the fact that during last year's count more or less continuous records were kept from two independent observer platforms on each vessel. This makes it is easier to detect and take into account variations regarding the various observer's ability to sight whales, and to ascertain such variables as distance and angle in relation to the vessel's course. It also provides a firmer basis for the establishment of how large a percentage of whales within the counting sector are actually seen. The IWC Scientific Committee has been profoundly involved in the development of the 1995 methodology, and the final arrangements for the 1995 counting survey and the establishment of international group of scientists were approved by the Committee. International observers were present on all vessels taking part in the count, including most of those scientists who took part in the group that finally established the estimate. The group is led by an Australian, and is otherwise composed of 2 Britons, a South-African, three Americans and two Norwegians. The group, that held its final meeting last week,will also submit a new, revised estimate for the 1988/89 count to the Scientific Committee for its meeting in Aberdeen in the beginning of June. For further details: http:/www.highnorth.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 10:38:48 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: High North Web openend (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA The High North Alliance has now opened its web site; The High North Web, which wish you welcome to the marine mammal management debate. The site contains arguments, facts and news. In Library you will find more than 250 documents on different aspects of marine mammal managment. Adventurous souls should visit the Argumentation Arcade or try our "Test your knowledge" facility. The News facility brings news produced by High North Alliance or extacts of news from different news media mainly in the North-Atlantic area. web-adress: http://www.highnorth.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 10:40:07 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Artic Parliamentarians: Recommend the Sustainable Use of Marine Mammal Stocks (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Artic Parliamentarians: Recommend the Sustainable Use of Marine Mammal Stocks High North Web, 07. May 1996: The Second Conference of Parliamentarians of the Artic Region recommended in their Conference Statement "the sustainable and rational utilization of the living resources of the sea, including marine mammals". The Conferece was held in Yellowknife, Canada, 14. March 1996. Parliamentarians from Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Iceland Finland, Sweden, the Sami Parliament and members of the Nordic Council, The Weste Nordic Parliamentary Council and the International Artic Indigenous' Peoples Organizations took part in the conference. Also USA is part of the AEPS (Artic Environmental Protection Strategy) initiative, but no US Parliamentarians were present in Yellowknife. The Conference Statement also noted "the need for protection of the environment and preservation of biological diversity in the Artic Region, and for respect for the principles of sustainable and responsible development in the utilization of its natural resources". The statement concluded with asking the eight "artic" goverments to establish the intergovernmental Artic Council "as soon possible". ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 10:41:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: The Gaff on its Way Out? (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA The Faroese Pilot Whale Hunt: The Gaff on its Way Out? 24. April 1996: The first attempts at replacing the gaff with a blunt hook designed to be inserted into the whale's blowhole have been very successful, says veterinary in charge of animal welfare developments in the Faroese pilot whale drive, Justenes Olsen, to High North Web News. The use of the gaff has been strongly criticised by animal welfare and animal rights organisations. During the Faroese pilot whale hunt the whales are run aground and then killed by cutting the blood supply to the brain with knives. If any whales remain in the shallows, then these have to be secured and hauled in towards land. Traditionally, this was done by driving a steel hook, or gaff, into the whale's blubber. The new tool (a blunt hook to be inserted into the blowhole) was tested during two hunts last year. "The whales we examined showed no traces of cuts or bleeding as a result of the hooks," says Justenes. Further testing will be carried out later this year. The anatomy of the pilot whale makes it possible to insert the blunt hook into the blowhole without endangering the skull or vital organs. At the pilot whaler's annual general meeting in Torshavn on April 19, the new method was greeted in a positive manner, but whalers pointed out that the new method had not yet been tried out under all the various circumstances that can occur during the drive. For further information on the Faroese Pilot Wahle hunt and more marine mammal management news: http://www.highnorth.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 16:15:03 +0300 From: Lisa Owen Organization: Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, P.O.Box 2214, Heraklio, Crete, GR-71003 GREECE tel: +30(81)242022, fax: +30(81)241882, tlx: 262268 IMBC GR Subject: Underwater film festivals? I am seeking information on any upcoming conferences/ festivals involving underwater films/ photography (marine orientated or otherwise) - those located in Europe are of most interest, but I would be pleased to hear of American/ Canadian venues too. Web Page URL's are particularly welcome. Thanking you in advance Lisa Owen (lisa(\)imbc.gr) Information Design and Development Dept. IMBC, Crete, Greece ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 18:20:15 +0200 From: Manel Gazo Perez Subject: molting in-utero Dear marmamers I'm trying to obtain info about which species of phocids have their first molt in-utero. I know that this type of molt has been observed in harbour seals and hooded seals. If there is anyone who has more information about other species or has any bi bliographic reference, I will be very gratefull if he/she could send it to me. Please reply to my e-mail address: manelg(\)porthos.bio.ub.es Thanks in advanced, Manel Gazo Dept. Animal Biology University of Barcelona Avgda.Diagonal, 645 08028 Barcelona. SPAIN Fax: 34-3-3198959 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 11:13:44 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: Gaff on the way out? >The new tool (a blunt hook to be >inserted into the blowhole) was tested during two hunts last year. "The >whales we examined showed no traces of cuts or bleeding as a result of >the hooks," says Justenes. Further testing will be carried out later >this year. Just a queston--what is the intent of the new tool? I'm confused as to why one would want to avoid causing bleeding of an animal as it is being pulled onto the beach in order to be >killed by cutting the blood supply to the brain with knives. Is having a blunt probe inserted into the blowhole supposed to be less traumatic for the whale? Apologies if I've missed some past discussion that dealt with this, & thanks for clarification, Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 13:11:56 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: books Avid book readers/collectors: The following marine mammal books are listed in catalog 47 of Donald E. Hahn's Natural History Books (phone 520-634-5016, FAX 520-634-1217). Books can be purchased with VISA, Mastercard or American Express, please include the item and catalog number. Please do not reply directly to this mail list or me if you want a book. This does not serve as an endorsement by me for any of these books. Prices are in U.S. dollars. 1563. Ainley, D.G. et al. 1980. Beached marine birds and mammals of the North American West Coast: a manual for their census and identification. $19 1569. Arsheniev, V.A. 1986. Atlas of marine mammals. $35 1573. Beddard, F.E. 1990. A book of whales. $75 1588. Browne, J.R. 1850. Etchings of a whaling cruise, with notes of a sojourn on the island of Zanzibar, to which is appended a brief history of the whale fishery, its past and present condition. $175 1593. Caldwell and Caldwell. 1972. The world of the bottlenosed dolphin. (hardback) $16 1602. Connor, R.C. and D.M. Peterson. 1994. The lives of whales and dolphins. $25 1627. Francis, D. 1990. A history of world whaling. $30 1631. Gentry, R.L. and G.L. Kooyman. 1986. Fur seals. Maternal strategies on land and at sea. $47 1659. Kenyon, K.W. 1969. The sea otter in the eastern Pacific Ocean. $25 1669. Lilly, J.C. 1978. Communication between man and dolphin. $15 1699. National Marine Mammal Laboratory. 1993. Conservation plan for the northern fur seal, _Callorhinus ursinus_. $11 1706. Phelan, J. 1969. The whale hunters in pictures by Joseph Phelan. $10 1747. Small, G.L. 1971. The blue whale. $9 1751. Stackpole, E.A. 1972. Whales and destiny. The rivalry between America, France, and Britain for control of the southern whale fishery. $25 1774. Zenkovicka, A.B. 1958. Biology and fishery of marine mammals. (in Russian) $24 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 08:23:52 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Whaling (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt > Phil Clapham wrote: > > > > I just read the MARMAM posting on Norway's intention to increase its > > minke whale quota from last year by a fairly substantial amount; > > this based upon a new estimate of abundance of between "110,000 and > > 120,000" animals, compared to last year's (corrected) figure of > > 76,000. Comment: The international group of scientist, appointed by the IWC Scientific Committee, which is behind the estimate for the 1995 counting survey, will also deliver a revised estimate for the 1988/89 counting surveys. > > > > Perhaps my mathematical ability is in error (it certainly has been > > before), but the implications of this are rather interesting. Going > > from 76,000 to 115,000 (the midpoint of the new estimate) is > > an increase of about 51%. There are only two explanations for this > > that I can see: > > > > 1) The population has increased by 51% - impossible, since this > > would require mature females to make up most of the population > > and to all be pregnant. > > 2) The technique used to estimate abundance is such that it > > produces results that swing wildly over large ranges, and is > > thus fundamentally unsound. > > > > I suppose one could argue that the techniques have improved > > dramatically since last year, but I rather doubt that this is the > > case > > > > Can anyone comment on what's wrong with the above logic? Comment: These questions are indeed natural reactions to the available information on the new estimate (for the 1995 counting). I think it will difficult to discuss them in full depth until the report from the group of international scientists is released monday June 24 as an appendix to the report from the IWC scientific committee. The revised estimate for the 1988/89 counting survey are to be found in this report. Sam McClintock wrote: > Well, I am sure that the Norwegian government has an explanation for > the change (and you will see it shortly from someone on MARMAM). But > the bias could be explained if the counts are based on availability of > observations e.g. you can only count what you have valid data for) and > if the the observation area or number of "observer hours" increased, > they may have grossly underestimated the population. Comment: Such circumstances as described here should, as I understand it, ideally not change the point estimate but widen the confidence interval. A wide confidence interval is of course reflecting a higher degreee of uncertainty - and a higher chanse that the population is grossly underestimated - or overestimated! My earlier mailing on this issue (from the High North Web News: http://www.highnorth.no - note that it was an error in this Web adress in that mailing) contains the following statement from the norwegian "chief scientist" Lars Walloe: "The degree of certainty surrounding this new stock stimate, which is based on the 1995 counting surveys, is far higher than that of the new estimate based on the previous counts in 1988/89". Sam McClintock wrote: > Couple of points: > 1) The new proposed catch is still within the replaceable > (sustainable) > catch limits for the PREVIOUS reported population size, e.g. the minke > should be fine as long as no other countries get involved in minke > whaling in the Northern latitudes. I continue to have a big problem > with no real "teeth" in the enforcement of any multinational > agreements, e.g. if other countries decided minke was a great > > supplement to their diet not a lot you could do about it. Comment: Well - we all hope that the last part of the IWC Revised Management Scheme will come into place (the part on inspection) - but the chanse that this management scheme will ever be adopted is very small as the USA along with other IWC members have stated that they will never vote in favour of the adoption of a management scheme for commercial whaling (for documentation see this and other documents at our web site: http://www.highnorth.no/we-th-ri.htm. An adoption of the revised management scheme requires a three-quarter majority. > 2) Is this a harbinger to trade regulations being relaxed on whale > meat? > The real money is with trade to Asian markets. I have enough concerns > that the Japanese have increased their "scientific" catches (with > obvious overtures to a large commercial harvest, but this could be a > signal that the Norwegians expect current bans on whale meat trade to > lift, encouraging more Asian market consumption. > Comment: There is no secret that Norway wants the North East Minke Whale stock removed from the CITES lists and have the international trade opened. Both Norway and Japan has made reservations to the existing listing (Appendix 1) and is therefor in legal terms free not bound by the CITES trade ban on minke whale meat - and free to trade with each other. Anyhow Norway has implemented a voluntary export prohibiton. The Minke Whale is surely no endangered species. In my opinon concerns that free trade in whale meat might provide cover for illegally harvested whale meat are legitimate, but I also believe that it might be possible to find realistic means to meet these concerns. Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance highnor(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 11:52:41 +0000 From: jgordon%vax.ox.ac.uk(\)ukacrl.BITNET Subject: Fin whale strandings Dear all, My colleague and I are are trying to find out about fin whales and morbillivirus (there was some debate on MARMAM re this a while ago). Basically we thought that there had been some case of fin whales stranding in the Med and being found to be infected with morbillivirus. Does anyone know if this is true, and if so are there any references/sources you could point us to reagarding the issue. Please e-mail replies to : luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk Many thanks for your help, Luke Rendell Anna Moscrop Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 19:39:52 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Re: Fin whale strandings Concerning morbillivirus and Mediterranean fin whales I am posting this to the entire list rather than to those who sent the enclosed message, as this may be of general interest. Although there was some talk about possible morbillivirus in Mediterranean fin whales, the source of such rumours (researchers from the University of Corsica in Corte, and one article by them appeared on La Recherche) confirmed later to me (D. Viale, pers. comm.) that samples from the stranded whales turned out negative to morbillivirus. I add that apparently such samples may not have been very useful anyway, as they consisted of pieces of cutaneous tissues from carcasses in advanced decomposition. I hope this answers to the posted question. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara At 11.52 08/05/96 +0000, you wrote: >Dear all, > >My colleague and I are are trying to find out about fin whales and >morbillivirus (there was some debate on MARMAM re this a while ago). >Basically we thought that there had been some case of fin whales stranding >in the Med and being found to be infected with morbillivirus. Does anyone >know if this is true, and if so are there any references/sources you could >point us to reagarding the issue. > >Please e-mail replies to : >luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk > >Many thanks for your help, > >Luke Rendell >Anna Moscrop > >Cetacean Group, >Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, >Department of Zoology, >South Parks Road, >Oxford OX1 3PS > > ***************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 72001946 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it ***************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 09:38:56 EST From: PETER CORKERON Organization: TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT STUDIES AND GE Subject: North Atlantic minkes On minke numbers in the North Atlantic - its my understanding that the 1995 survey series was more extensive than previous surveys (more boats, more people, more coverage, better assessment of duplicate sightings). Perhaps someone involved in NILS 95 would care to comment? However - the population estimates provided don't give standard errors or coefficients of variation. Without these at a minimum, how can we have reasoned discussion on the research and / or conservation implications of the data. Isn't that what Marmam's meant to be about? I'd be curious to see the variance associated with their estimates of g(0) and the %age coverage given too, but realise that's getting a little detailed. I went looking in the High North Alliance's web site for this information and couldn't find it - I checked under News; Recent Additions; and in the Library under International and regional management regimes; and Marine mammal hunts. Couldn't find anything to answer my queries, so if someone from the HNA can provide it, or tell me where it is in their web site I'd appreciate it. There must be a paper ready for the IWC meeting on this stuff, so why not stick it on the web site? And saying that the IWC scientific committee was involved in survey design rather misses the point that there's more to reiviving commercial whaling than (1) survey design and (2) using the algorithm relating population estimates (including variance estimates!) with numbers that can be killed. What about observer schemes and keeping track of whale products? We've just seen yet another example of illegal trading in whale products - the evidence is that the bad old days are still with us. Peter Corkeron Peter Corkeron TESAG James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia Phone:61-77-815561 Fax: 61-77-815581 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 13:11:55 +0200 From: peterle(\)muc.de Subject: Re: Gaff on the way out? I agree with Jim Moore and further I was pondering..... I would think that a far more reasonable question for the welfare of an animal would be which areas are more or less pain sensitive. That is if the issue is truely the animals welfare and not merely to make the act of whaling appear a little more palatable to the general public. It seems to me what is really being considered here is merely a more effective methode of snaging the animals while at the same time giving the illusion of being less cruel and brutal. In all my experiences with cetaceans the blow hole area and ears seem to be most sensitve areas. ie Lack of blood does not equal lack of pain does it? I would assume some one with extensive background and qualifications to make any statements regarding the "Welfare" of these animals should be very well aware of this. Just out of curiosity it would be nice to hear some other MARMAM opinions on this and ...What a veterinarian's qualifications should be to be in charge of animal welfare developments in such a matter as the Faroese pilot whale drive? Or what kind of special (or conflicting) interests in such a matter would still be acceptable? Blithe wrote... >>The new tool (a blunt hook to be >>inserted into the blowhole) was tested during two hunts last year. "The >>whales we examined showed no traces of cuts or bleeding as a result of >>the hooks," says Justenes. Further testing will be carried out later >>this year. Moore wrote... > > Just a queston--what is the intent of the new tool? I'm confused as > to why one would want to avoid causing bleeding of an animal as it > is being pulled onto the beach in order to be >>killed by cutting the blood supply to the brain with knives. > Is having a blunt probe inserted into the blowhole supposed to be less > traumatic for the whale? Apologies if I've missed some past discussion > that dealt with this, & thanks for clarification, > Jim Moore ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 20:48:10 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Manatee epidemic ebbs Manatee epidemic ebbs ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 7 (UPI) -- The mysterious epidemic that is killing endangered manatees off Florida's southwest coast appears to have abated, Florida environmental officials said Tuesday. "It's been 10 days since we picked up a carcass in the southwest area," said Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Edie Ousley. "There has been an obvious slowdown in the manatee die-off." So far this year, 261 dead manatees have been recovered, 157 of them in the area off the southwestern coast. The previous mortality record was 206 for the entire year of 1990. Researchers around the world have joined the investigation into what's killing the animals. A prime suspect is red tide, an algae bloom that infests semi- tropical waters. While researchers have no conclusive proof that red tide is responsible, manatee deaths have abated along with its recession. "We haven't ruled anything out at this point, and...there's no direct evidence linkingred tide to the manatee mortality," said Allen Huff, research administrator at the Florida Marine Research Institute. Researchers said the grass-eating mammals died quickly from lesions that formed in their lungs, and affected mostly adult animals. Huff said despite the epidemic's toll, there was encouraging evidence the population was still strong. The last survey in February counted 2, 639 manatees in all of Florida's waters, but an aerial count Monday showed 600 animals in the so-called "event zone" in southwestern waters. Another survey will be done in about 10 days, he said. As many as 150 people have been involved in retrieving dead manatees and examining them since the crisis began in early March, ranging from state, federal and private workers to researchers at Erasmus University of the Netherlands. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 18:59:47 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: pilot whale/human interaction case--Part 1 > I thought I posted a message to Marmam earlier this week requesting > more information on the incident of the pilot whale grabbing the > female swimmer off Hawaii (caught on video) which was written up by > Shane et al. in an article to Marine Mammal Science a few years ago > (in addition to a letter to the editor regarding the court case). > > I got a phone call regarding the pilot whale incidentafter > the past Sunday night TV program about animals attacking people. > Apparently, the ruling was overturned by a higher court (?). Can > anyone comment on this. Yes. The case is Tepley v. NOAA, 908 F.Supp. 708 (1995 U.S. Dist.Ct. No. Dist.,Calif) LEXIS 18102. Dated November 27, 1995. The case is on LEXIS (where I found it), and should be available in most decent law libraries. I highly recommend people read it. As an attorney, I thought the decision by Federal Judge Susan Illston, was clearly written and quite logical. I know emotions run high on the perceived facts of this case. The judge correctly focused on the facts on the record before her, and the Adminstrative Law Judge's findings. She found there was no substantial evidence for critical findings of the ALJ. Procedurally, Tepley was initially given a civil fine of $10,000, and his companion, Lisa Costello, was fined $2,000 which was waived when she cooperated with NOAA. Tepley appealed for a review before a NOAA Admin. Law Judge who affirmed the fine and made the findings that the judge later determined were unsupported by the evidence. The ALJ essentially made two findings: 1) Tepley's "chase" of the pilot whales constituted "a sustained and serious disruption of normal marine activity", and 2) that Tepley's camera emitted some sound that annoyed the pilot whales. The "attack" of the whale was evidence of an "angry whale" upset by Tepley's actions. The only testimony for these conclusions appears to have come from Dr. Ridgeway. The ALJ was unimpressed by the testimony of Tepley's "expert witnesses": James Watt, Michael Bailey, Kim Sweeney, and Ken Balcomb. Apparently the latter lacked sufficient formal academic qualifications to satisfy the ALJ that their opinions should be given much weight. Tepley appealed the ALJ's ruling to NOAA, which rejected his appeal, and then to the U.S. District Court. It is important to set the stage. Both parties agreed that the court was bound by the decision in United States v. Hayashi, 22 F.3d 859 (9th Cir, 1993), a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals. In that case, the court held that "harassment" under the MMPA to constitute an illegal "taking" must involve direct and significant intrusions upon the life sustaining activities of the marine mammal". The court set the standards as a "direct, serious disruption of a [marine mammal's] customary pursuits". Thus, to win its case, the government would have to establish that there was substantial evidence on the record before the Administrative Law Judge as to all three of the following questions: 1) what is the normal behavior of a group of pilot whales 2) did the animals' subsequent behavior demonstrate the level of direct and serious disruption of normal behavior that constitutes a violation of MMPA, and 3) were the defendant's actions the CAUSE of that change in behavior. The Federal judge found that the record of the Administrative Law Judge supported none of these findings. END OF PART ONE -- READ THE SEQUEL! --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 18:59:52 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: pilot whale/human interaction case - Part 2 We pick up the story at the evidence: 1. WHAT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR? The ALJ had found that Tepley's "chase" of the pilot whales was the strongest argument for harassment. This behavior apparently was evidence of a change from normal behavior indicative of disturbance by the chasing Zodiac. The ALJ believed Dr. Ridgeway that porpoising in pilot whales was not normal behavior. However, the judge found that the pilot whales appeared to have been porpoising when they were first spotted from a distance, and some eventually stopped porpoising when approached by Tepley, while others continued this behavior in the area. Tepley's witnesses appear to have testified that pilot whales did porpoise in the absence of human harassment. In any case, the judge found that the goverment had not shown that Tepley CAUSED the porpoising since the animals were doing that when first spotted from a distance. Note that the government conceded that if Tepley had merely been pursuing the pilot whales, this would be insufficient to support a finding of harassment (footnote 6). The judge also did not buy Dr. Ridgeway's testimony that the pilot whales stopped porpoising because of fatigue from being chased. She called this "speculative, at best." The ALJ had compared Tepley's actions to a "drive fishery" where dolphins are herded by banging pipes under water. The judge cited the whales' approach to the boat as being inconsistent with flight and harassment that might meet the standard of the Hayashi decision. 2. THE NOISY CAMERA The ALJ had relied heavily on the noise of Tepley's camera as bothering the whales. The judge threw this out, saying there was no evidence on the record that Tepley's camera made any noise. The only material in the record appears to have been Dr. Ridgeway's testimony that the camera probably made noise. The judge went on in "dicta" to state that there is nothing in the law which finds that "noise from a camera alone constitutes harassment". "If Congress wanted to enact a regulation that prohibits filming of animals in the wild, or that establishes distance requirements, it easily could have done so." 3. THE WHALE "ATTACK?" Finally, the question was reached as to how to interpret the pilot whale's grabbing of Lisa Costello's leg. The judge found the evidence that this was an attack inconclusive. She stated: "More importantly, it would be quite a difficult endeavor for any trier of fact to determine what significance should be attributed to the actions of whales. To quote the government, such 'anthropomorphic rationalization' cannot be the basis for the severe penalty that was imposed here; yet the ALJ's findings centered on his evaluation of the 'whales' annoyance at the humans' presence.'" 4. BOTTOM LINE The Court in Hayashi found that firing bullets in the area of porpoises to chase them off fishing lines did not constitute harassment sufficient to be a criminal offense under the MMPA. The judge here said if that ain't a crime, this certainly wasn't, particularly in the absence of any direct threat to the pilot whales. CAVEATS: Read the case. It's short and clear. I have no involvement with either side, and know very little about pilot whale behavior. I have not reviewed any of the testimony (I saw the TV show), nor any of the legal briefs, nor talked to any of the parties. The above summary is derived entirely from the published Federal Court opinion. To the extent I have mischaracterized the testimony of Dr. Ridgeway or any others, I apologize, and invite their clarification --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 11:35:02 JST From: Toshio Kasuya Subject: Re: Ambergris; Dugongs (fwd) In-Reply-To: <199605031533.AAA26490(\)ss.enyo.affrc.go.jp>; from "MARMAM Editors" at May 3, 96 8:15 am Ambergris has following characters: 1. Floats in water, 2. Dissolves in pure alcohol, 3. Melts if a needle heated in fire is inserted, 4. Forms a fine thread when the needle is removed, 5. It burns if the needle is put in a small fire, 6. The inside usually has layered structure, 7. The color is usually dark brown to pale brown, and 8. It has strong smell, which remind you with sperm whale feces. Toshio Kasuya, Far Seas Fisheries Res. Inst., 5-7-1 Orido Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424 Japan ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 08:30:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Need Hawaii contacts (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Tony Stokes" As I will be visiting Hawaii from 19-26 July, and possibly beforehand or = thereafter depending upon responses to this notice, I am seeking = opportunities to inspect situations and discuss marine mammal = conservation issues with local marine managers and/or scientists. In turn, I could offer to brief locals on some issues from this neck of = the woods (?ocean). As senior planning officer for conservation on the Great Barrier Reef = Marine Park (Australia) I coordinate our agency's response to marine = mammal issues on the G.B.Reef. Our primary focus at present is the = southern GBR dugong which is 'critically endangered', however I would be = interested in hearing about any marine mammal conservation issue. I would welcome any suggestions. The following details would be useful : = (1) Place & institution; (2) Major foci of proposed discussion; (3) Contact details. Thank you for any assistance. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 08:36:19 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: House panel passes bill to cha House panel passes bill to change dolphin safeguards WASHINGTON (Reuter) - A House committee Wednesday passed a bill to allow imports of tuna caught in ways that do not kill more than 5,000 dolphin annually, easing U.S. barriers to imports of "dolphin-deadly" tuna. The House Resources Committee passed the bill that forged an unusual alliance of the Clinton administration and House Republicans, who said it was a way to put into law the voluntary efforts by Mexico and other Latin American countries to protect dolphin. The bill would label as "dolphin-safe" imports of tuna caught by vessels that encircle dolphins in order to net the tuna that often swim below the mammals in the eastern Pacific Ocean, as long as observers on board do not see dolphins killed in the operation. It would set an annual limit of 5,000 deaths of dolphins caught in nets in the eastern Pacific, where tuna and dolphins tend to swim together. Many Democrats and a number of environmental and wildlife groups said the bill would allow harrassment of dolphins that would cause stress and increase mortality, and was a sell out of environmental protection for trade interests with Mexico. The United States currently has a labeling law for cans of "dolphin safe" tuna, which means fish not caught in the huge nets that also may trap and drown dolphin. The U.S. tuna industry voluntarily imposed a purchasing ban on tuna from countries using nets deemed dangerous to dolphin. The Humane Society of the United States said the bill changes the meaning of the dolphin safe label, "eviscerates dolphin protection and betrays consumers." But wildlife advocates were split on the bill, with Greenpeace calling it the best way to broaden protections internationally and save more dolphins. "The environmental and animal welfare community have the same goal of protecting dolphins, we just have a tactical disagreement," said Gerry Leape, legislative director for ocean issues for Greenpeace, which backed the committee's bill. Other advocates, including the Center for Marine Conservation, have said the bill's enforcement, monitoring and incentive measures will result in declining dolphin deaths. The Senate is starting work on its bill, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, already has threatened to filibuster a bill similar to the House Resources committee's measure. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 08:34:21 +0300 From: Chris Stroud Subject: Re: North Atlantic Minkes >Georg Blichfeldt's comment (on Phil Clapham statement): >The international group of scientist, appointed by the IWC Scientific >Committee, which is behind the estimate for the 1995 counting survey, >will also deliver a revised estimate for the 1988/89 counting surveys. >Comment: >These questions are indeed natural reactions to the available >information on the new estimate (for the 1995 counting). I think it will >difficult to discuss them in full depth until the report from the group >of international scientists is released monday June 24 as an appendix to >the report from the IWC scientific committee. The revised estimate for >the 1988/89 counting survey are to be found in this report. > If it "will be it will difficult to discuss them in full depth until the report from the group of international scientists is released monday June 24" as Mr Blchfeldt says, therefore surely it would be logical, and an act of 'good faith' for the Norwegian Government to restrict the issuing of whaling licences until after the IWC scientific Committee has met and the IWC Commission has had time to examine their report? However, the Norwegian fleet is still, as I understand it, due to set sail before the IWC meeting, on the 21st May, to pursue a unilaterally allocated quota of 425 whales. >Comment: Such circumstances as described here should, as I understand >it, ideally not change the point estimate but widen the confidence >interval. A wide confidence interval is of course reflecting a higher >degreee of uncertainty - and a higher chanse that the population is >grossly underestimated - or overestimated! My earlier mailing on this >issue (from the High North Web News: http://www.highnorth.no - note that >it was an error in this Web adress in that mailing) contains the >following statement from the norwegian "chief scientist" Lars Walloe: >"The degree of certainty surrounding this new stock stimate, which is >based on the 1995 counting surveys, is far higher than that of the new >estimate based on the previous counts in 1988/89". Forgive my ignorance and it may be just the choice of words, but I need a point of clarification here. Does Dr Walloe's statement as quoted above, actually mean that he believes that the certainty of the estimate is improved i.e. has been narrowed and therefore improved - "The degree of certainty surrounding this new stock [e]stimate, which is based on the 1995 counting surveys, is far higher.....", or does Mr Blichfeldt's comments above indicate that the degree of confidence is much wider and therefore there is greater uncertainty? >Comment: Well - we all hope that the last part of the IWC Revised >Management Scheme will come into place (the part on inspection) - but >the chanse that this management scheme will ever be adopted is very >small as the USA along with other IWC members have stated that they >will never vote in favour of the adoption of a management scheme for >commercial whaling (for documentation see this and other documents at >our web site: http://www.highnorth.no/we-th-ri.htm. An adoption of the >revised management scheme requires a three-quarter majority. > The position taken by many other countries, other than those engaged in commercial whaling, is not simply based upon the belief of resolving this issue in the completion of the Revised Management Scheme in terms of just the issue of inspection. There is still much debate about what elements should be included in the RMS, for example is 'humane killing', which is an issue of great importance to many nations such as the UK and New Zealand, an issue that should be addressed through an RMS? Should trade issue be addressed in an RMS? Indeed, many nations may have no inention of voting for a resumption of commercial whaling, and in saying so are expressing their valid view on this issue, but they still attend the IWC in good faith, enabling them to engage in discussions on the debvelopment of the RMS etc in case commercial whaling is resumed in the future despite their positions. In that sense they have much right to express an ethical view, as any whaling nation or group has to continue to press for the resumption of commercial whaling. > >Comment: There is no secret that Norway wants the North East Minke Whale >stock removed from the CITES lists and have the international trade >opened. Both Norway and Japan has made reservations to the existing >listing (Appendix 1) and is therefor in legal terms free not bound by >the CITES trade ban on minke whale meat - and free to trade with each >other. Anyhow Norway has implemented a voluntary export prohibiton. The >Minke Whale is surely no endangered species. > >In my opinon concerns that free trade in whale meat might provide cover >for illegally harvested whale meat are legitimate, but I also believe >that it might be possible to find realistic means to meet these >concerns. > > I am glad that Mr Blichfeldt notes that whale trade can act as cover for illegally caught whale products. I take it that he is refereing to the fact that after the 1995 hunt of 217 minkes the whalers were unable (or unwilling) to sell their whole catch and had to freeze 50 tons. An April 1996 seizure of 6 tons of smuggled Norwegian whale meat in Japan led to the uncovering of a conspiracy to smuggle 60 tons to Japan, (equivalent to, I am not sure how many animals, maybe 30 whales). If this number was right this would represent almost 15% of the Norwegian 1995 catch. That's whales that were not consumed in Norway but earmarked for export. I understand from Norwegian newspapers that there may have been more than 200 tons available. Now how many whales does that represent? Indeed many conservation and protectionist organizations have argued that the unilateral increasing of the Norwegian quota will potentially fuel future smuggling. I would be tempted to go further and say that 'any trade' in whale meat will always tempt the criminal element to attempt to beat the system and earn that few (MANY) more dollars that a such a successful escapade would deliver. The only answer is never to allow such trade to resume. Just some thoughts, not being privy to the discussions of the closed meeting of the Scientific committee in April I would welcome clarification to the "uncertanty", 'certainty' question from Mr Blichfeldt or any one else. Thanks Chris Stroud Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Alexander House, James St. West, Bath, Avon, BA1 2BT Tel: (44) 1225 334511 Fax; (44) 1225 480097 E-mail: CStroud(\)cityscape.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 13:56:47 -0400 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: Whaling (fwd) >These questions are indeed natural reactions to the available >information on the new estimate (for the 1995 counting). I think it will >difficult to discuss them in full depth until the report from the group >of international scientists is released monday June 24 as an appendix to >the report from the IWC scientific committee. The revised estimate for >the 1988/89 counting survey are to be found in this report. I am curious in this case as to why Norway has chosen to announce an increased catch quota before the facts allegedly supporting it become available. >In my opinon concerns that free trade in whale meat might provide cover >for illegally harvested whale meat are legitimate, but I also believe >that it might be possible to find realistic means to meet these >concerns. > > >Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance highnor(\)telepost.no I am also curious as to what these realistic means might be. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 08:41:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Ambergris (fwd) Forwarded message: From: David.Griffiths(\)veths.no (David Griffiths) To the person looking for information on identification of ambergris, the following reference may be of use: G. A. Moniz and G. B. Hammond Identification of ambergris from the new bedford whaling museum by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy J Aoac Int, 79, 423-425, 1996 A new method for the separation and identification of ambrein in ambergris using adsorption chromatography and H-1 and C-13 Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (FT-NMR) is presented. We demonstrated the effectiveness of this method by analyzing an approximately 85-year-old sample of suspected ambergris from the New Bedford Whaling Museum (New Bedford, MA). Results prove that ambrein remains a major constituent of ambergris even after 85 years of storage under ordinary conditions. Dave David Griffiths Department of Anatomy Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine PB 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo Norway Telephone: 47.22.964545 Telefax: 47.22.964764 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 08:43:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: North Atlantic minkes (fwd) Forwarded message: From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) Phil Clapham wrote: >I just read the MARMAM posting on Norway's intention to increase its >minke whale quota from last year by a fairly substantial amount; this >based upon a new estimate of abundance of between "110,000 and 120,000" >animals, compared to last year's (corrected) figure of 76,000. > >Perhaps my mathematical ability is in error (it certainly has been >before), but the implications of this are rather interesting. Going >from 76,000 to 115,000 (the midpoint of the new estimate) is >an increase of about 51%. There are only two explanations for this >that I can see: > > 1) The population has increased by 51% - impossible, since this > would require mature females to make up most of the population > and to all be pregnant. > 2) The technique used to estimate abundance is such that it > produces results that swing wildly over large ranges, and is > thus fundamentally unsound. =46irst, and foremost. The IWC approved group which has worked on the abundance estimate has still not made its report public. The abundance estimates we have seen this far must therefore be considered to have been leaked. (I don't know whether they are correct.) Secondly, last year's corrected estimate of 76,000 was based on a survey in 1989. This gives an average annual increase of (115/76)^(1/6), approx 7%. (provided both quoted figures are correct.) Thirdly, the quoted estimates are point estimates. The abundance estimates come with a quite wide 95% C.I. (of the order +/- 30,000 for the 1989 survey, I don't know about the 1995 survey, but comments by Lars Wall=F8e communicated to us by Mr. Blichfeldt might indicate it's considerably narrower, perhaps as small as +/- 5,000.). =46ourthly, the methodology may have been partly reworked due to objections which were made last year. To my knowledge, the IWC appointed group has also re-evaluated the previous estimates. Comparisons should therefore be made between estimates arrived at with the same methods. (As a side note, the algorithm which is used to compute the maximum safe quota is sensitive to the uncertainty of the estimate.) =46or a deeper study of the methodology you should contact the IWC, they should have all the relevant papers. A brief summary of the method used in the abundance estimate: The basis of the method is line transect sampling. There are some deviations from standard line transect theory. Notably that the probability of detecting a whale on the line is lower than 1.0. It was the determination of this probability (often referred to as g(0)) which caused some controversy last year. Another difficulty is that whales tend to move during the survey, and there is also some uncertainty in determining the exact position of a spotted whale. These and some other aspects of the methods are discussed in the paper "Effective search width in shipboard surveys of minke whales in the northeastern Atlantic: concepts and methods.", by T. Schweder and G. Hagen, pp 13-25 in "Whales, seals, fish and man" (Developments in Marine Biology 4, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 1995, ISBN 0-444-82070-1). This paper also describes how the key parameter g(0) can be replaced with a more direct measure of "effective search width"; essentially the integral of g. Since this year's report is not available yet, I don't know the uncertainties associated with this parameter. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 10:36:39 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: ABSTRACT: Harbour porpoise strandings in BC Baird, R.W., and T.J. Guenther. 1995. Account of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) strandings and bycatches along the coast of British Columbia. Reports of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue 16):159- 168. ABSTRACT Little is known about the biology or status of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. In this study, all available records of stranded or incidentally caught harbour porpoise are reviewed. Eighty-one records of stranded animals, or of animals caught in fishing gear along the BC coast, from the period 1934-1991, are presented. The harbour porpoise is the most frequently recorded cetacean stranding on the coast of BC. Stranding records are concentrated where there are large areas of water ranging in depth from 10 to 100m, usually associated with human population centres. Strandings have occurred throughout the year, but biases in effort preclude the determination of any seasonal or geographic trends. Records exist of animals taken incidentally in three commercial fisheries as well as in Canadian government test and research fisheries. Two animals taken incidentally in fisheries in adjacent US waters have also been recovered in BC. In addition, shark predation has been implicated in the death of one individual. =========================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, B.C. V8P 5L5 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca =========================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 09:53:47 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Robin Williams on signature whistles Hi everyone, I watched Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel last night. When he was talking about the wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned that not only do they have signature whistles (debatable, but generally accepted, I gather), but that they _imitate_ the signature whistles of their group members. Robin Williams seemed to suggest that this was an example of dolphins referring to each other "by name". Can anyone comment on this? If there is evidence of whistle imitation or mimicry, has it been published, and could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks! Alana. ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 13:54:18 EDT From: Winfield Hill Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles Alana V. Phillips said in part: > Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel ... > ... wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned that not only do they have > signature whistles ... but that they _imitate_ the signature > whistles of their group members. I can tell you that a group of dolphins (I believe) seemed to enjoy and did a good job of imitating a telemetry system we were testing in the deep ocean. The system was at the bottom at 3775 meters. It transmitted a omnidirectional signal which swept from 9 to 14.5kHz. We were in a ship (on the surface!) at slant ranges of say 4 to 6 miles. A hydrophone was dropped over the side and lowered to about 18 meters. The received signal was very weak but had a 10 to 20dB snr (4kHz bandwidth) over the ambient (the ship was stopped). The dolphins found the hydrophone (4 inch dia) hanging under the ship and ranged on it with their variable-rate pulse sonar - pinging / clicking. Buzzing past it. We moved the ship and tried again - they followed. Like our hydrophone, they could hear the transmitter on the bottom. They began mimicking the unusual sounding telemetry - and although I could tell the difference by careful listening, they did a good job. We were testing a new design, and the instrument at the bottom was programmed to send different patterns and schemes so we could record analyze later, e.g. 100 to 360 baud data rate, 300 to 500Hz modulation index, 10 to 40kHz/sec carrier sweep rate (alway starting at 9kHz and sweeping to 14.5kHz), and different transmit durations (generally about 1/2 sec or less) and quiet intervals (1/16 sec to 14 sec). All-in all there was quite a variety of sound. Each variant would be repeated for a while, then a pause and a new variant would be sent. The dolphins were highly entertained, and learned to mimick most of the telemetry variants. Wreaked havoc with our measurements! Finally, after almost an hour, if I remember right, they got bored, wandered away and we got some clean recordings. This was described in a paper in Oceans '88. ---- Winfield Hill The Rowland Institute for Science 100 Edwin Land Blvd. Cambridge, MA 02142 USA ----------End of Original Message---------- ---- Winfield Hill The Rowland Institute for Science 100 Edwin Land Blvd. Cambridge, MA 02142 USA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 09:37:38 +0000 From: pemvgc(\)zoo.upe.ac.za Subject: Release of captive dolphins MARMAM readers Has anyone out there any information on specific attempts to release dolphins born and held in captivity? Any information on successes and failures would be appreciated. Please reply to me: Vic Cockcroft PEMVGC(\)ZOO.UPE.AC.ZA Thanks Dr V.G. Cockcroft Centre for Dolphin Studies Port Elizabeth Museum & University of Port Elizabeth P.O. Box 13147, Humewood 6013. South Africa Telephone 27 + 41 + 561051 Telefax 27 + 41 + 562175 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 01:56:33 EDT From: CHRIS CATTON <100541.2716(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles Alana Phillips wrote: >I watched Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel last >night. When he was talking about the wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned >that not only do they have signature whistles (debatable, but generally >accepted, I gather), but that they _imitate_ the signature whistles of >their group members. Robin Williams seemed to suggest that this was an >example of dolphins referring to each other "by name". Robin Williams does refer to dolphins calling each other "by name" over the shots of spotted dolphins, although I think that at that moment he is actually talking about dolphins generally and not spotted dolphins in particular. Certainly Peter Tyack refers to bottlenose dolphins calling each other "by name" in a piece in Natural History Magazine (8/91 p60), and in several other articles. I guess this was the source for the commentary line. It may have been misleading to appear to generalise this to all dolphins over shots of spotted dolphins. I had no involvement with the film, but wrote the book that accompanies the programme. If there is anyone out there who helped, has been promised a copy, and not yet received it, they should get in touch now - with apologies in advance!! Chris Catton 100541.2716(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 10:00:12 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 5/10/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On May 8, 1996, British officials announced that the United Kingdom would not support a resumption of commercial whaling, believing that commercial whaling meets no pressing nutritional, economic, or social needs. On June 24-28, 1996, the IWC will hold its annual meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland. [Reuters] . Threats to Marine Mammals. On May 7, 1996, the Environmental Investigation Agency, a research group with offices in London and Washington, reported that pollution, ozone depletion, and climate change are killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers, concluding that the moratorium on commercial whaling should be extended for at least 50 years. [Reuters] . Sea Lions. On May 6, 1996, the first of five individually identifiable sea lions accused of feeding on steelhead trout was caught near Ballard Locks for holding and eventual transfer to permanent captivity at Sea World in Orlando, FL. [Assoc Press] . Pribilof Pollution Lawsuit. On May 7, 1996, an environmental law firm, Trustees for Alaska, filed a lawsuit challenging federal water pollution permits granted five seafood processors in the Pribilof Islands in February 1996, alleging that such pollution may threaten nearby fur seals. The lawsuit seeks more stringent EPA monitoring of waterwater discharge from the processing plants. EPA has assembled a working group to design a monitoring program. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. On May 4, 1996, Norwegian officials announced that Norway's whaling quota for 1996 would be 425 minke whales, with whaling beginning May 21. In 1995, a total of 217 minke whales were killed from a quota of 232. The higher 1996 quota was justified on the basis that new minke whale population estimates increased population size from 75,000 animals last year to 112,000 animals this year. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On May 8, 1996, the full House Committee on Resources ordered H.R. 2823 (the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act) reported, as amended. [Congr. Record] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and May 8, 1996, 157 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between southern Sarasota County and Collier County. After only a little more than four months of 1996, a total of 2 61 manatees have died from all causes, surpassing the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 12 months of 1990. In early May 1996, GA Dept. of Natural Resources biologists reported the first known manatee birth in Georgia. In early May 1996, the SW Florida manatee mortality event appeared to be abating, with 10 days passing with no new deaths reported. On May 6, 1996, an aerial count found about 600 live manatees in the SW Florida area of the mortality event. [Assoc Press, Reuters, UPI] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 12:55:17 -0400 From: Palacios1(\)aol.com Subject: Crustaceans in the diet of odontocetes I would appreciate hearing from those of you who are aware of literature reporting crustaceans in the diet of odontocetes. Papers of the review kind would be ideal (but anything is welcome). I am particularly interested in references on deep-living Crustacea (Lophogastridae and caridean Decapoda) in the diet of beaked whales. I am also looking for someone willing to identify a few parasites found in the stomach of a Cuvier's beaked whale. I would describe them as whitish in color, about 3-cm long by a few millimeters wide (tapering at both ends), and roundish in cross-section (nematode worms? perhaps _Anisakis_ sp.?). Thanks in advance, Daniel Palacios Palacios1(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 May 1996 06:45:43 -0700 From: HSUS Wildlife Subject: Re: The Gaff on its Way Out? peterle(\)muc.de wrote: >In all my experiences with cetaceans the blow hole area and ears seem >to be most sensitve areas. ie Lack of blood does not equal lack of >pain does it? > >Just out of curiosity it would be nice to hear some other MARMAM >opinions on this... When I read the original posting about replacing the gaff with a blunt hook to be used in the blowhole, I didn't quite understand what the author was trying to say -- that it is better to have a hook shoved into the blowhole and be hauled over the beach by that (no doubt obstructing breathing and causing considerable pain and tremendous stress and anxiety) than to have a gaff driven into the flank or back and be pulled by that? I'm afraid from a welfare standpoint I don't see any difference. It seemed the author was indeed trying to say that because the hook doesn't cause the animal to bleed, it must ipso facto be less painful and more humane than the gaff. There is no logic in that reasoning at all. It might LOOK better to a layperson, but I don't see any biological basis for such a conclusion. The only thing that might in fact be "better" about the hook is that, unlike the gaff, it wouldn't necessarily result in a mortal wound; however, since the animal is shortly going to be killed anyway, that hardly seems germane. Anyway, given that the entire pilot whale drive causes panic, stress, trauma, injury, and of course ultimately death, trying to make one short segment of the whole process more humane seems disingenuous and much more of a political maneuver than anything else. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States hsuswild(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 09:07:50 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Whaling (fwd) Ron Orenstein: I am curious in this case as to why Norway has chosen to announce an increased catch quota before the facts allegedly supporting it become available. The group has finished its report, it has just not released it yet. There's every reason to believe that the Norwegian Government has good contacts within the group. I.e. the report, or at least its major conclusions, is most probably available to the Government, even if it's not available to us. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 16:44:57 -0700 From: "Cara M. Gubbins" Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles In-Reply-To: <199605091813.LAA20124(\)newpost.scs.unr.edu> Marmamers, I am posting this to the whole group because there may be others interested in the signature whistle hypothesis and recent studies that test this hypothesis. Kathleen Dudzinski has been studying the vocalizations of spotted dolphins in the Bahamas (the ones that Robin Williams was swimming with in the show) for several years. She presented a poster at the Marine Mammal conference in Orlando that did not support the signature whistle hypothesis (Kathleen, correct me if I'm wrong!). I don't have the reference right here, but can get it for anyone who is interested. Additionally, Brenda McCowan and Diana Reiss have recently published papers on Tursiops vocal development which also do not support the signature whistle hypothesis. Brenda also presented a talk at the same conference in Orlando that compared hypotheses of vocal communication of bottlenose dolphins. I recommend the abstracts of all these posters and talks and, of course, the papers by McCowan and Reiss. Hope this helps you, Alana, Cara Gubbins On Thu, 9 May 1996, Alana V. Phillips wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I watched Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel last > night. When he was talking about the wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned > that not only do they have signature whistles (debatable, but generally > accepted, I gather), but that they _imitate_ the signature whistles of > their group members. Robin Williams seemed to suggest that this was an > example of dolphins referring to each other "by name". > > Can anyone comment on this? If there is evidence of whistle imitation or > mimicry, has it been published, and could someone point me in the right > direction? > > Thanks! > > Alana. > > > ********************************************************************* > Alana V. Phillips > Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study > University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - > Edmonton, AB you just have to know where > T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! > > email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca > ********************************************************************* > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 14:35:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association Following is a news item carried May 10 by Kyodo News Service: Japanese researchers fertilize whale ova in-vitro+ SAPPORO, May 10 Kyodo Japanese researchers said Friday they conducted the world's first in-vitro fertilization of minke whale ova during a research expedition in the recent southern hemisphere summer. The researchers said the experiment was aimed at comparative research into the protection and cultivation of threatened whale species. It was conducted during the annual scientific whaling expedition in the Antarctic Ocean by the government-affiliated Institute of Cetacean Research between November 1995 and April this year. The researchers said they first extracted the ova from a harvested whale and waited for them to mature before fertilizing them with frozen whale sperm. They said they carried out the operation several dozen times aboard ship during the expedition. Yutaka Fukui, professor at the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, who was a member of the research team, said photos taken under a microscope during the procedure are being analyzed to determine whether it was a success. The procedure relied on methods used in the in-vitro fertilization of cattle, although the time needed for maturation of whale ova is three times that of cattle. Fukui said future experiments will focus on finding the optimum conditions for cultivating the ova. He said researchers wanting to artificially increase whale populations will have to overcome the difficult problem of inserting a fertilized ovum into a female whale. Hidehiro Kato, who heads the Large Cetacean Program at the Fisheries Agency's National Research Institute for Far Seas Laboratory in Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, said it is the first time the first stage of fertilized whale ova has been observed. ''It has tremendous significance for the understanding of the whale's breeding mechanism, which is said to be similar to that of cattle and horses,'' Kato said. The Institute of Cetacean Research was established as a nonprofit organization by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1987 to undertake scientific research on whales following the introduction of a moratorium on commercial whaling. The institute catches a quota of minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean for research purposes. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 15:24:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: climate change and whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: amadsen(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Andrew Madsen) > Threats to Marine Mammals. On May 7, 1996, the Environmental >Investigation Agency, a research group with offices in London and >Washington, reported that pollution, ozone depletion, and climate change are >killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers, concluding that the >moratorium on commercial whaling should be extended for at least 50 years. >[Reuters] > . Is there any data to go along with this assertion that climate change etc. is killing so many whales that an extension of the moratorium is warranted? What sort of studies have been carried out to justify this position? Does anyone have any more information on this matter? ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 14:32:19 -1000 From: Louis M Herman Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles In-Reply-To: <96May9.074800hst.11359(2)(\)relay1.Hawaii.Edu> To clarify and extend further information on vocal mimicry in general and whistle imitation in particular, the follwing references are relevant: A general capability vocal imitation of arbitrary sounds was reported by our group in 1984 in the follwing article: Richards, D. G., Wolz, J. & Herman, L. M. (1984). Vocal mimicry of computer-generated sounds and vocal labeling of objects by a bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 98, 10-28. A general review of dolphin auditory perception, including vocal production and vocal mimicry can be found in: Ralston, J. V. & Herman, L. M. (1989). Dolphin auditory perception. In J. R. Dooling and S. H. Hulse (Eds.) The compartive psychology of audition: Perceiving comlex sounds. Pp.295-328. Hillsdale NJ:Erlbaum. Peter Tyack has writren several articles on signature whistles and on whsitle imitation, and has advanced the idea that imiation of whistles by another may be a way of referring to another or calling another. See; For a geeral review: Tyack, P. (1993). l language research needs a broader comparative and evolutionary framework. In H.L. Roitbalt, L.M. Herman and P. Nachtigall (Eds.) Language and communication Pp. 115-152. Hillsdale NJ: Erlbaum. For a specific article by Tyack, see; Tyack, P. (1986). Whistle repertoires of two bottlenosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Mimicry of signature whistles? Behavioral ecology and sociobiology, 18, 251-257. I'm pretty sure robin williams' remarks generate from being informed about these studies, and that they were simply extended to the capabilities of spotted dolphins (although that capability has not been formally tsted extensively for that species). Hope this helps. Louis Herman Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu HI 96814 lherman(\)hawaii.edu On Thu, 9 May 1996, Alana V. Phillips wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I watched Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel last > night. When he was talking about the wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned > that not only do they have signature whistles (debatable, but generally > accepted, I gather), but that they _imitate_ the signature whistles of > their group members. Robin Williams seemed to suggest that this was an > example of dolphins referring to each other "by name". > > Can anyone comment on this? If there is evidence of whistle imitation or > mimicry, has it been published, and could someone point me in the right > direction? > > Thanks! > > Alana. > > > ********************************************************************* > Alana V. Phillips > Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study > University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - > Edmonton, AB you just have to know where > T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! > > email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca > ********************************************************************* > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 12:35:01 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Stranded Risso's dolphin - request for info Dear Marmammers: forwarded by Alessandro Bortolotto (Fondazione Cetacea) Email Web Site on behalf of the Center for Cetacean Study (C.S.C.)(the Italian Stranding Network): MESSAGE: Sunday, May 12th 1996 - h. 6:00 AM 2 Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus, stranded along the coast of Southern Italy at Gallipoli (LE). 1 female, 305 cm long, found dead along the beach (with milk in the nipples) 1 subadult (?), sex unknown, 220 cm long; in the water supported by volounteers. Is anybody aware of any previous case or could just give us any suggestion ? We manage to find a paper published on Aquatic Mammals: "Successful maintenance and research with a formerly stranded Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)" Nachtigall, P.E., Pawloski, J.L., Schroeder, J.P., and S. Sinclair. Anyone wishing to obtain specific information about this animal should fax Marco Borri Centro Studi Cetacei c/o Florence University-Museo Zoologico "La Specola" +39-55-225325 (fax) +39-55-222451 (phone) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 10:56:13 -0500 From: Denise Herzing Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles >Alana Phillips wrote: >>I watched Robin Williams' show on dolphins on the Discovery channel last >>night. When he was talking about the wild spotted dolphins, he mentioned >>that not only do they have signature whistles (debatable, but generally >>accepted, I gather), but that they _imitate_ the signature whistles of >>their group members. Robin Williams seemed to suggest that this was an >>example of dolphins referring to each other "by name". Chris Canton writes: >Robin Williams does refer to dolphins calling each other "by name" over the >shots of spotted dolphins, although I think that at that moment he is actually >talking about dolphins generally and not spotted dolphins in particular. >Certainly Peter Tyack refers to bottlenose dolphins calling each other "by >name" >in a piece in Natural History Magazine (8/91 p60), and in several other >articles. I guess this was the source for the commentary line. It may have >been misleading to appear to generalise this to all dolphins over shots of >spotted dolphins. > >I had no involvement with the film, but wrote the book that accompanies the >programme. If there is anyone out there who helped, has been promised a copy, >and not yet received it, they should get in touch now - with apologies in >advance!! > Regarding the use of signature whistles in wild spotted dolphin...as stated the idea of signature whistles as individual markers, or clicks in certain species, is resonably accepted. In the group of Stenella frontalis in the Bahamas, I have over the last 10 years collected multiple,(unique and repetitive) whistles from over 40 individual spotted dolphins in this group (in press, Aquatic Mammals). Because of the need to be very selective of situations where the identity of the vocalizer is clear (through bubble stream emissions, proximity to the hydrophone, and from single animals), it is not always possible to determine the source of such whistles in social groups. However, because some of the "unique" whistles of some individuals are known in this group, we have had a few sequences where it appeared that one individual produced both their own whistle follwed by the whistle of another individual present in the group. The two specific incidents I can recall were both during care-taking or "babysitting" situations, where an older juvenile is tending young calves that are temporarily away from their mothers. So although the Robin Williams commentary was certainly a general statement regarding the refined work of P. Tyack and others for bottlenose dolphins, it tentatively appears that it may also apply to this wild population of spotted dolphins. I can be reached directly for more details if anyone is interested. Please expect some delay as I am in the field for most of the summer. Dr. Denise Herzing Denise L Herzing, Ph.D. Wild Dolphin Project PO BOX 8436 JUPITER FL 33468 wilddolphin(\)igc.apc. org PH: 407-575-5660 FAX 407-575-5681 OR Florida Atlantic University Biological Sciences Boca Raton, Fl 33431 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 23:18:43 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Canine distemper virus: Lake Baikal seals Dear Marmam Veterinary Record (1996) Vol 138 pp437-9 (dated May 4 1996): Mamaev L V, Visser I K G +8 others: "Canine distemper virus in Lake Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica)"(27 Refs). The above journal article addresses inter alia the possibility that the infection in Baikal seals (1987/8 onwards) was caused by a vaccine strain of the virus which is used in domestic dogs and and on mink farms in Siberia; a possibility that the authors go on to describe as highly unlikely. Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:56:51 +0100 From: Alasdair Hind Subject: digestion/feeding ref's Hello, I posted a message on Fri, 26 Apr 1996 about foraging/digestion in phocids. I would like to thank all those who replied and am posting a list of the references suggested. thanks, Alasdair. Jim Harvey's paper 1989 J Zool Lon 219: 101-111. Markussen, N.H. 1993. Transit time of digesta in captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Can. J. Zool. 71: 1071-1073. Helm, R.C. 1984. Rate of digestion in three species of pinnipeds. Can. J. Zool. 62: 1751-1756. KASTELEIN R.A., VAUGHAN N. & WIEPKEMA P.R.,1990,The food consumption of Steller Sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus).,Aquat. Mamm.,15 (4),137-144 KASTELEIN R.A., WIEPKEMA P.R. & VAUGHAN N.,1990,The food consumption of Grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus ) in human care.,Aquat. Mamm.,15 (4),171-180 Feeding rates of seals and whales. Innes, S., D.M. Lavigne,... 1987. J. Anim. Ecol. 56 (1): 115 - 130. Parsons JL 1977. Metabolic studies on ringed seals. Msc Thesis, Univ. of Guelph. Krockenberger and Bryden. 1994. Rate of passage of digesta through the alimentary tract of southern elephant seals. J. Zool., Lond. 234:229-237. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 00:49:51 -0700 From: Pieter Folkens Subject: Re: climate change and whales (fwd) Regarding this item from: amadsen(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Andrew Madsen) >>Threats to Marine Mammals. On May 7, 1996, the Environmental >>Investigation >>Agency reported that pollution, ozone depletion, and >>climate change are >>killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented >>numbers, concluding that the >>moratorium on commercial whaling should be >>extended for at least 50 years. > >Is there any data to go along with this assertion that climate change etc. >is killing so many whales that an extension of the moratorium is warranted? >What sort of studies have been carried out to justify this position? Does >anyone have any more information on this matter? The EIA statement contains sufficient hyperbole to raise suspicion that its intent is more to incite public opinion in support of a moratorium extension than forward supportable scientific facts. The fundamental premise of the statement is a stretch. A resumption of whaling would be based on sheer population and MSY figures, not the weather. Nevertheless, pollution is apparently suppressing recovery of some endangered species, but the climate change has not been significant enough to be "killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers." The most recent half millenium of global warming (since "neoglaciation") is insignificant compared to the previous 12,000 years since Homo sapiens first appeared on North America in which the mean sea level rose 130 meters. (This, of course, does not mean that Homo sapiens caused the warming. Also, it has been stable =/- 3 meters since 6500 ybp.) That warming event is even miniscule compared to the late Oligocene-to-early middle Miocene warming period in which an explosion in cetacean radiation culminated in high diversity of odontocete families. I do suspect, however, that a generally warmer climate following the historic unregulated exploitation of marine mammals has somewhat limited the recovery of some cool temperate species into historical anti-polar ranges. Andrew Madsen's questions invite a review of the bigger picture of warming/cooling and cetacean evolution/extinction. I'd be pleased to elaborate on the subject in broad general terms if there is interest, but for the issue as raised by EIA, the 50 years they ask for to deal with climate change has no meaning or relevance. One last thought: with a little more warming a "Northwest Passage" will open and, considering a propensity for some gray whales to venture well east of Pt. Barrow, we may see gray whales in the Atlantic again. Pieter Folkens Alaska Whale Foundation animalbytes(\)earthlink,net \|/ * .-----------^____ _/ ~ |___* __= { ~ ~ `----\\------' ~ ~ `\ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 18:39:25 EDT From: Jaap van der Toorn <73064.2662(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Release of captive dolphins Vic Cockcroft writes: > Has anyone out there any information on specific attempts to release > dolphins born and held in captivity? Any information on successes > and failures would be appreciated. See the following reference: Gales, N. and Waples, K. (1993) The rehabilitation and release of bottlenose dolphins from Atlantis Marine Parks, Western Australia Aquatic Mammals 19(2): 49-59 This release involved 9 dolphins: 5 adults (14-16 years), 3 captive born juveniles (3 years) and one captive born calf (2 months). The calf disappeared 4 weeks post release and is presumed dead. Its mother was recaptured 44 days post release. Of the captive born juveniles, one was recaptured in poor health 12 days post release. The other 2 juveniles disappeared within a few days from the area and have not been resighted. Jaap -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaap van der Toorn 73064.2662(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 11:42:42 +0100 From: Kathleen Dudzinski Subject: Another voice on the Signature Whistle Debate 13 May 1996 Dear Marmamers, I am sending a note to clarify a few points from Cara Gubbins posting to MARMAM on 11 May 1996 about my findings on spotted dolphin vocalizations, in particular whistles. Just as a refresher, this discussion began with a query from Alana Phillips concerning some comments that Robin Williams made in a documentary on dolphins on the Discovery Channel. I did present a poster at the last Biennial conference in Orlando on results from my studies on spotted dolphin vocal and behavioral activities. I include the abstract at the end of this message. While I am able to locate and identify vocalizing individuals in 38% of my recordings, I was not able to collect enough data from specific individual dolphins in two or more behavioral contexts to statistically analyze the presence or absence of signature whistles in this group of spotted dolphins. Based upon information from Caldwell & Caldwell (1971) and Caldwell et al. (1973), and in reference to the work by Peter Tyack, Layla Sayigh and Rachel Smolker on bottlenose dolphins, I do believe that these spotted dolphins probably emit individually distinct whistles (i.e., signature whistles) BUT in a more limited context (I will get to this topic in more detail below.). Denise Herzing has also presented data at several past marine mammal conferences to support the existence of signature whistles in this group of spotted dolphins. My data suggests that spotted dolphin vocal production and their use of vocalizations (all types recorded, including whistles, chirps, screams, whines, etc.) vary with behavioral context, group type and spot class (i.e., relative age category) than with specific individuals or even gender. There are a few 'cautions' that should be included here. All my data were recorded during underwater swim-encouters with these dolphins and were recorded when dolphins were swimming over the shallow sand bar north of Grand Bahama Island. Thus, my data may not reflect situations when dolphins may most use individually distinct calls or signature whistles. I am inclinded to believe that spotted dolphins (and maybe other delphinids as well) use the 'signature whistles' more as contact calls (Dudzinski in prep). Let me explain. Smolker et al. (1993) present data on the use of signature whistles between separated mother and calf bottlenose dolphin pairs in Australia. In a nut shell (and I apologize if this very brief summary omits crucial details of this paper), the the calf produced a signature whistle just prior to rejoining the mother (a reunion if you will). The authors also present anecdotal evidence of a few adults traveling together, one individual separating off then rejoining the others. In this case, the dolphin that separated off produced a signature whistle before rejoining the others. Interestingly, the others seemed to wait for the third dolphin to join them before all continued on their way. In looking at Caldwell et al. (1990), many individuals were recorded during veterinary 'inspection', while being moved and still many others did not have the context noted. For most of the whistles recorded from dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, dolphins were in temporary capture for a long-term detailed study on this study population (e.g., Sayigh 1992, Sayigh et al. 1995). Some researchers would say that the repetitve whistle contour could be indicative of stress in the animal. However, at least with the work on the Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphins, the dolphins do not give behavioral or postural indications of stress. Their whistles are repetitive and one or two contour patterns comprise the majority of their repertoire at the time of recording. I suggest that they were emitting a 'contact call' (using an individually distinct or 'signature' whistle) to get conspecifics to remain in the area or 'wait for them'. This description would fit with the data and interpretation presented in Smolker et al. (1993) for the potential use of signature whistles by free-ranging dolphins. Also, I have observed that juveniles and young spotted dolphins produce a repetitive whistle just before leaving our presence and thus ending a swim-encounter. I can not be certain that this is that individual's 'signature' whistle because of the low numbers of recordings of the same individual across different situations. Because I am underwater when the whistles were produced just prior to departure, I also cannot be sure that the vocalizing individual was rejoining with a mother or other travelinng partners. But the suggested function is there. I hope this clarifies my data for interested parties and presents a slightly different angle on the potential functions of dolphin whistles and vocalizations in general. At this stage in the game, we are gaining much insight into dolphin vocal production and their associated uses for different sounds. I still think we have a long way to go in the study of free-ranging dolphin sounds and their use but the hypotheses now existing certainly provide a forum for lively debate and exchange of ideas among researchers. Thanks for your time and consideration in reading what turned out to be a bit lengthy of a message. Should anyone have more questions or comments for me, you can contact me at the email, snail mail or fax addresses below. Cheers, Kathleen Dudzinski Marine Mammal Research Program dudzinskik(\)tamug3.tamu.edu Texas A&M University (\) Galveston or 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 303 dudzinskik(\)aol.com Galveton, TX 77551-5923 fx: (409) 740-4717 ph: (409) 740-4718 Correlates Between and Trends in the Vocal and Tactile Behavior of the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) -- Potential Message-Meanings Explained Abstract I observed trends in visual, tactile, and vocal behavior of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in the Bahamas by focal dolphin and group follows underwater. In over 1000 whistles there were no indications of specific individual contours or signatures. Squawk vocalizations were detected only during aggressive interactions or during play by juveniles. Screams appeared to be emitted primarily by excited juveniles and calves during play or inquisitive contexts. To date, one vocalization, the chirp, appears to have a similar function to a particular behavior, pectoral fin rubs. Pectoral fin rubs occurred when dolphins joined. Pectoral rubs to other body parts were apparently used to appease excited juveniles, reaffirm social bonds, and bonds of association to others. Similar functions have been documented for the chirp vocalization that is preceded by low frequency clicks and a head-scanning behavior by the chirping dolphin. A single chirp is emitted just after a click train and prior to the vocalizer turning away. It is possible that these two behavior sequences (pec rubs and chirps with turns) provide similar messages but along a graded signal-exchange scale. That is, subtle cues are often exchanged between closely associated individuals while more explicit signs are warranted for dolphins who associate less. Early analyses establish a bias in general vocal activity with behavioral context, as well as implications that specific behavioral units (e.g., rostrum stands) are significantly clustered with certain activities (e.g., foraging). Behavioral units, however, do not appear to be mutually exclusive with particular behavioral contexts. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:20:42 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: need help w/ IWC progress reports Marmam readers, I am in need of assistance from someone with access to the IWC reports from 1982 and 1988. More specifically, I am looking for the page number(s) from the progress reports on cetacean research (found in the beginning of the volume, progress reports are broken down by country). If someone would be able to assist me, I would very much appreciate it; I do not have a library in the area that has these volumes. 1982. New Zealand's progress report on cetacean research June 1979-May 1980. vol. 32. 1988. New Zealand's progress report on cetacean research. vol. 38. 1988. Sweden's progress report on cetacean research. vol. 38. Thank you in advance. All I require are the page numbers for citation. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 22:44:09 -0400 From: "Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Abstract--Strandings in the Caribbean Mignucci-Giannoni, Antonio A. 1996. Marine mammals strandings in Puerto Rico and the United States and British Virgin Islands. Mayag=FCez, PR: Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, 263 pp. ABSTRACT An assessment of marine mammal mortality and strandings was conducted in Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands to identify, document and analyze factors associated to reported mortality events, and to take advantage of the accessibility of specimens to document and analyze life history parameters. It was found that the marine mammal biodiversity for the area consists of 25 species, including 13 delphinids, three physeterids, three ziphiids, five balaenopterids and one trichechid, with three delphinids awaiting documentation. Two seal species were documented, but one was an extra-limital record, and the other is considered to be extinct. Twenty-one of these species were reported stranded or found dead on-shore. The total number of events recorded between 1864 and 1995 was 220 consisting of over 252 individuals. Manatees were the most common species found. An increase in the number of strandings was evident during the past 20 years, averaging 63.1% per year. Between 1990 and 1995, the average number of cases per year increased from 3.5 to 14.2. The seasonal pattern of strandings was found to be uniform, but different between cetaceans and manatees. The highest number of cases was reported for February, May and September in an overall bimodal pattern. The spatial distribution was not even and differed between countries, within countries, and between taxonomic groups and species. Aside from undetermined causes, the ratio of natural causes vis a vis human related causes was of 1:1.5. Between 1990 and 1995, a reduction of the percentage of undetermined cause of death responded to the establishment of a cooperative effort in studying mortality in an organized and systematic manner. The most common natural cause of death category was dependent calf. The most common human-related cause observed were captures, followed by watercraft collisions, entanglement, accidental captures and animals shot or speared. Life history information was gathered in terms of morphometrics, age, parasitology and food habits. Nineteen species of parasites and commensals were obtained, including nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, cyamids, acanthocephalans, cirripeds and fish. Diets of cetaceans included mesopelagic and bathypelagic species of squid, shrimp and fish. The manatee's diet consisted of turtle grass, shoal grass and manatee grass. Evaluation and recommendations to improve on the research conducted were developed, including the development of an strategic plan to obtain baseline data on the biology and life history of marine mammals to be applied to their conservation and management. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD, Coordinador Cient=EDfico Red Caribena de Varamientos-Caribbean Stranding Network PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, Tel 787.899.2048, Fax 787.899.5500 Emerg 707.399.VIDA (399.8432), E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 08:35:25 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: captive release Forwarded message: From: dougc(\)mistral.co.uk (Doug Cartlidge) The European Cetacean Organization (ECO) would like to pose the following question to the scientists and cetacean display industry supporters who are so vociferous in their opposition to the relocation of captive cetaceans for release back into the wild. The two main points of opposition to the relocation and release of captive cetaceans are: 1. The candidates may transmit disease to the wild population; and, once released; 2. may cause genetic dilution or genetic problems within local wild populations. There has been a dramatic increase in the relocation of Cuban, Mexican, Black Sea and US Tursiops into sea pens around the world by the display industry, simply for commercial use in swim-with programmes. This would appear to violate both points of opposition as disease can easily be transmitted beyond sea pens. Some diseases can also be transmitted to wild dolphins through an enclosed captive dolphin facility's untreated waste water and untreated human waste. Following the escape of 8 foreign Tursiops in Honduras, along with the documented sexual activity and temporary loss of US Tursiops in the Bahamas; ECO asks if this is not the same, or potentially worse, than the rehabilitation projects which attracted, and still appear to attract, much criticism and persistent opposition from some MARMAM subscribers. It is clear, following the escape in Honduras, the admitted "mixing" in the Bahamas of foreign Tursiops with the local wild population, that all of the "oversights" dolphin advocates were and still are accused of perpetrating are regularly and increasingly committed....by the commercial display industry. Where are all those criticisms from people who spent so much time and effort suggesting Into the Blue, the Keiko project and similar programmes are wrong and should not be allowed? The danger of these commercial display escapes has existed since the inception of these programs. Why were these projects not intensely criticized like the release programs (and for the same reasons) on every available medium including MARMAM, as were criticisms of the release programs. Unless disapproval is expressed by those concerned, there will be no reason to stop the practice. In light of the above, ECO asks ALL those who so strenuously oppose rehabilitation projects if they have been as vocal in their opposition of the relocation of "alien" captive Tursiops into sea pens around the world. We also ask if those same people would forward copies of their written opposition, which we presume they have sent to NMFS and other non-American regulating agencies and the relevant local governments, as they do so eloquently and persistently during rehabilitation projects. If there does not exist such documentation, then it appears that disapproval of past and future captive release programs are politically motivated rather than scientifically motivated - even though there may be scientific questions that must be mitigated in all future releases. Doug Cartlidge European Cetacean Organisation 7 Meadway Court The Boulervard Worthing BN13 1 PN England Tele/Fax 44 1903 241 264 Email; dougc(\)mistral.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 08:38:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM funding update Greetings, A while back the editors of MARMAM submitted a message to subscribers describing the costs of running MARMAM, and asking subscribers if they or their associated organizations may be willing to help fund our expenses. Expenses include dial-in fees, purchase of a lap-top computer, and part-time editorial assistance; totalling an estimated $6,600 in Canadian funds. We are very pleased with the response we've received to date, and would like to pass on our appreciation to the following individuals and organizations who have provided donations totalling $4,520: Georg Blichfeldt/High North Alliance William Burns/GreenLife Society-North American Chapter Robert Chambers Merritt Clifton/Animal People Joan Goddard Joe Grist Nan Hauser & Hoyt Peckham/Research Vessel Odyssey The Humane Society of the United States International Marine Mammal Association International Wildlife Coalition Wolfgang Kusser Alan Macnow/Tele-press Associates Andrew Morse Paul Nachtigall/Aquatic Mammals Keith Ronald Leslie Strom/Wide Angle Productions Northern Lights Expeditions Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Phoebe Wray/Center for Action on Endangered Species Donations received to date have been instrumental in running MARMAM. If you are associated with an organization which may be able to provide additional support, or are an individual interested in making a personal donation, please contact the MARMAM editors at marmamed(\)uvic.ca. Thanks again for your support! Pam Willis Robin Baird Dave Duffus -MARMAM editors -------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 13:46:51 -0400 From: BJM2(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Robin Williams on signature whistles Alena: In addition to several publications and abstracts on the controversy over the signatutre whistle hypothesis mentioned by Cara Gubbins, there are also some papers on the bottlenose dolphins ability to vocally learn and imitate whistles. These include: Caldwell and Caldwell, 1972 (Cetology) Richards et al., 1984 (Journal of Comparative Psych) Tyack, 1986 (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology) Sayigh et al., 1990 (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology) Reiss and McCowan, 1993 (Journal of Comparative Psych) McCowan and Reiss, 1995 (Journal of Comparative Psych) Hope these help! Brenda McCowan ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 09:53:41 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: climate change and whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) Regarding this item from: amadsen(\)gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Andrew Madsen) Threats to Marine Mammals. On May 7, 1996, the Environmental Investigation Agency reported that pollution, ozone depletion, and climate change are killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers, concluding that the moratorium on commercial whaling should be extended for at least 50 years. [EIA's concerns snipped] Please note that the RMP (Revised Management Procedure), i.e. the calculation algorithm used to compute maximum allowable catch, has been extensively tested, also for possible environmental changes. Quoting Sidney Holt from "Public hearing on multi-species resource management", Brussels 27-28 September 1995 (EU parliament hearing, set up by its fisheries committee.). The RMP was also shown to be *robust* to failure of a basic assumption that throughout the period of implementation of the procedure (taken in the computer simulations to be a century) the environment of the whale population remained unchanged. Simulations showed that even if there were long continuous trends in the external conditions which determine the carrying capacity of the environment for those whales or, alternatively, large abrupt changes in those conditions, the procedure could still be expected to *perform* well, in the senses specified by the IWC: that there would be a very low probability of accidental depletion of the stocks at any time, and a very high probability that stocks that are already depleted would be permitted to recover, while allowing substantial cumulative - and ultimately sustainable - catches over the implementation period. >From G.P. Donovan's description available at the High North Web server at : Some examples of the trials the management procedure had to be able to cope with: - Several different population models and associated assumptions - Different starting population levels, ranging from 5% to 99% of the `initial' population size - Different MSY levels, ranging from 40% to 80% - Different MSY rates, ranging from 1% to 7% (including changes over time) - Various levels of uncertainty and biases in population size - Changes in carrying capacity (including reduction by half) - Errors in historic catch records (including underestimation by half) - Catastrophes (irregular episodic events when the population is halved) - Various frequencies of surveys All in all, it's safe to say that the RMP is robust to a wide variety of perturbations, including the changes EIA is concerned about. (I'm not implying that the RMP may prevent depletion of whale populations due to environmental changes, only that whaling in accordance with the RMP does not constitute an additional threat.) -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 20:25:54 +0000 From: Chris Johnson Subject: Re: Release of captive dolphins >MARMAM readers > >Has anyone out there any information on specific attempts to release >dolphins born and held in captivity? Any information on successes >and failures would be appreciated. > Perhaps someone has already suggested this, but one of the best sources on this topic I think is Carol Howard's *wonderful* new book DOLPHIN CHRONICLES, which tells the story of the collection of, research at UC Santa Cruz with, and subsequent release of Misha and Echo, two male bottlenose dolphins. Besides being a great pleasure to read, this book is a thoughtful account of the complex issues involved, writen by a scientist with heart... I highly recommend it! Chris Christine M. Johnson UC San Diego johnson(\)cogsci.ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 16:54:09 -0800 From: Coalition for No Whales in Captivity Subject: New Peruvian Website Cruzada por la Vida (Crusade for Life) is the group working against the killing and display of dolphins in Peru. Find their new Website at: http://www.rcp.net.pe/DELFIN Adios, Marmameros! Annelise Sorg Coalition for No Whales in Captivity 8636 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6P 5A1 Tel: (604) 266-3900 Fax: (604) 266-1120 e-mail: annelise(\)direct.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 13:11:56 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Marine Mammals course news UNIVERSIDAD INTERNACIONAL MENENDEZ PELAYO First European Course on MARINE MAMMALS: BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION Valencia (Spain), 9-13 September 1996 DIRECTOR: Juan Antonio Raga SCIENTIFIC SECRETARY: Francisco Javier Aznar Department of Animal Biology, University of Valencia Dr. Moliner 50; E-46100 Burjasot, Spain. Phone +34.6.3864375; Fax +34.6.3864372; e-mail FRANCISCO.AZNAR(\)UV.ES NEW WEB PAGEYY Internet: http://bioweb.uv.es/zoologia/course.html ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY: Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo Student Office Plaza del Carmen, 4 E-46003 Valencia, Spain Phone +34.6.3869802; Fax +34.6.3869823 NUMBER OF REFERENCE OF THE COURSE: 7025 LANGUAGE: English (with simultaneous Spanish translation) REGISTRATION: It is limited to a maximum of 100 participants and is subjected to current availability and order of receipt. REGISTRATION FEES: 15,000 pts (120 $). DEADLINE: 6.September.1996 (if places are available) PROGRAM: MONDAY, 9th 08.30 Registration 09.00 Opening session Juan Antonio Raga 09.30 Life history strategies of marine mammals Peter Evans Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK 12.00 Habitat use, home range and site fidelity in marine mammals Arne Bj rge Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway 16.30 Behavioural ecology of Pinnipedia Humberto Luis Cappozzo Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina TUESDAY, 10th 09.00 Interactions between foraging, parental investment and reproductive success in seals: how big should an elephant seal be? Michael A. Fedak Natural Environmental Research Council, UK 11.30 Use of molecular genetic markers to study cetacean populations William Amos Department of Genetics, Cambridge University, UK 16.30 The assessment of marine mammal population size and status Philip S. Hammond Gatty Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews University, UK WEDNESDAY, 11th 09.00 The importance of parasitism in marine mammal populations: effects and applications Juan Antonio Raga Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidad de Valencia, Spain 11.30 Marine mammal health: the pathobiology of war and peace Joseph R. Geraci Department of Pathology, University of Guelph, Canada 16.30 Round Table: Marine mammals, sustainable use and conservation COORDINATOR: Juan Antonio Raga, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidad de Valencia, Spain PARTICIPANTS: Arne Bj rge , Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway Gregory P. Donovan, International Whaling Commission, UK Peter Evans, Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK Xavier Pastor, Greenpeace International , Spain THURSDAY, 12th 09.00 Marine mammals in a chemical world: is pollution a threat? Alex Aguilar Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain 11.30 Environmentalists, fishermen, cetaceans and fish: is there a balance and can science help to find it? Gregory P. Donovan International Whaling Commission, UK 16.30 Marine mamals and ecosystems: ecological and economic interactions Enrique A. Crespo Centro Nacional Patagonico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Argentina FRIDAY, 13th 09:00 Whale watching and cetacean conservation: friends or enemies? Giuseppe Nortarbartolo Tethis Research Institute, Italy 11.30 Management of marine mammals: how much legislation do we need? Christina Lockyer Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, Denmark 13.30 Closing session REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must be universitary students or post-graduates. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION: A registration form will be provided by the Student Office (No of the course: 7025). Once this has been completed, it should be handed into the same ofice together with the following documentation: a) Photocopy of the passport b) Evidence that the applicant is at least a universitary student or graduate c) Two photos 3 x 4 cm. d) Original receipt showing payment of registration fees. Both transfers and cash deposits should be payable to UIMP's special account no 3101275278, BANCAJA, in Pintor Sorolla, 8 (Head Office 63) in Valencia (Spain). ACCOMMODATION Costs of accomodation are not included in the registration fees. You may want to contact to the following address for booking and further information: I.T. TRAVEL, S.A. (Mrs. Rosa Gonzalez). Gran Via Marques del Turia, 6 E-46005 Valencia (SPAIN) Phone: +07.34.6.3956413 Fax: +07.34.6.3952078 Here we show some hotel prices for orientation: Hotel Ingles *** Bed&Breakfast : Double room: 7400 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 4625 + 7% VAT Hall board: Double room: 9200 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 5500 + 7% VAT Full board: Double room: 11400 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 6800 + 7% VAT Hotel Continental ** Double room: 5700 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 5400 pts + 7% VAT Hotel Europa * Double room: 4580 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 3400 + 7% VAT (+ Breakfast) Double room: 5100 pts + 7% VAT Double room for single use: 3700 + 7% VAT The reservations are subject to current availability and order of receipt. The reservation deadline is 1st August, 1996. Hotel prices are per room and day. For booking confirmation you should pay the total price with the credit card or with banker's order to the agency: I.T. TRAVEL, S.A. BANCO CENTRAL HISPANO Branch No 2875. Account No 231/4042928 Avenida Antiguo Reino 51 E-46005 Valencia (SPAIN) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 16:35:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: The gaff on its way out (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Here is my comments to questions and criticism raised as result of the news I forwarded from the High North Web about "the gaff on it's way out" of the Faroese pilot whale hunt. (The first attempts at replacing the gaff with a blunt hook designed to be inserted into the whale's blowhole have been successful. The tool is used to haul ashore the whales that are not successfully beached.) Jim Moore wrote... > Just a question--what is the intent of the new tool? I'm confused as > to why one would want to avoid causing bleeding of an animal as it > is being pulled onto the beach in order to be killed by cutting the > blood supply to the brain with a knife The intent is to find a less painful way to haul ashore pilot whales that are not successfully stranded the last few meters from the shallow water onto the beach. They can not be killed in a secure and efficient manner if they are not properly stranded. Also in slaughterhouses for domestic cattle one try to reduce the stress and pain the animals experience before being slaughtered. Traditionally, the whales that remained in the shallow was hauled ashore by driving a steel hook, the gaff, into the whale's blubber. The pilot whales are hunted for their meat, which has allways been - and still is - a very important part of the diet for the Faroe Islanders. Jim Moore wrote ..... > Is having a blunt probe inserted into the blowhole supposed to be less > traumatic for the whale? Yes, it is. As (I guess) it is supposed to be less traumatic for a oxen to be dragged by it's nose or a cow to be dragged by the neck than having a gaff driven into its flesh. The ring through the oxen nose causes probably much more pain than the blunt hook inserted in the pilot whales blowhole. peterle(\)muc.de wrote: >In all my experiences with cetaceans the blow hole area and ears seem >to be most sensitive areas. How do you measure the sensitivity of the blow hole area? Thickness of skin? Density of nerves? What kind of experience are you talking of. The whales blowhole is obviously very different from an animals nose. There is no bones, nor gristle, in the blowhole area. The skin covering the outer part of the blowhole is very thick. It would be interesting to hear if anyone could give some information about the nerve density in this area. The tissue (in front of the blowhole) that is taking the pressure from the blunt hook (when the whale is dragged onto the beach) look to me like blubber (I have only seen this from pictures, experts - please correct me) peterle(\)muc.de wrote: > Lack of blood does not equal lack of pain does it? What we are talking about here is the lack of inner bleedings and "crushing" of tissue. (Sorry, I do not know the right terms in english). Thia might give some idea about the level of pain. peterle(\)muc.de wrote: > (the blunt hook is ) no doubt obstructing breathing There are two corridors from the blowhole ... peterle(\)muc.de wrote: > It seems to me what is really being considered here is merely a more > effective method of snagging the animals while at the same time > giving the illusion of being less cruel and brutal. What is the background for this opinion? It is very difficult to find a method that is more simple and efficient than the gaff. Part of the background for the research on a wide variety of new methods of hauling whales ashore is the criticism from animal welfare quarters. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance highnor(\)telepost.no For more information about the Faroese pilot whale hunt try the High North Web http://www.highnorth.no ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 10:12:22 -0900 From: Sally Rosenthal Subject: mating Dear Marmam Readers: After recently hearing about several male manatees copulating with a recently deceased female manatee, I was wondering if there are similar anecdotal or published accounts for other species of marine (or terrestrial) mammals. I would greatly appreciate anyone's input. Thank you. Sally Rosenthal Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Thompson Pwky Sarasota, FL 34236 Voice: (941) 388-4441 x 456 Fax: (941) 388-4312 e-mail: sally(\)marinelab.sarasota.fl.us ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 15:07:16 -0800 From: Dave Duffus Subject: Course on Marine Mammals >Date: Wed, 15 May 96 13:40:06 MED >From: Javi Aznar >Organization: Valencia University (Universitat de Valencia) >Subject: Course on Marine Mammals >To: David Duffus > >Dear Dr. Duffus: > >I would be very grateful if you could send the following message to all members >of MARMAM. > >Thank you very much in advance >Yours sincerely > >Dr. F. Javier Aznar > >FIRST EUROPEAN COURSE ON "MARINE MAMMALS: BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION" > > The course "Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation", organised by the >Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo will take place in Valencia (Spain), >between Monday 9th and Friday 13th September 1996. English will be the working >language. > > The aims of the course are three-fold: (i) to show the latest advances >and >current research on the biology of marine mammals; (ii) to discuss risk factors >affecting marine mammal populations; (iii) to focuss on legislation, >management, >and strategies for conservation. These goals will be achieved through selected >topics such as life history strategies, behavioural ecology, population >genetics, pathology, pollution, interaction with fisheries, legislation and >management, etc. > > The course will consist of 12 sessions to be developped on morning and >afternoon lectures. In addition, a round table about "Marine mammals, >sustainable use and conservation" with the participation of several of the >speakers is also scheduled. Several leading scientists are confirmed to >participate. See for details the next Web page, >http://bioweb.uv.es/zoologia/course.html > >Those interested in the course are invited to contact to the Administrative >Secretary: >Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo (Student Office) >Plaza del Carmen 4, E-46003 Valencia, SPAIN >Phone +34.6.3869802; Fax +34.6.3869823 > >For further details, please contact to the Scientific Secretary: >Dr. F.J. Aznar, Department of Animal Biology, University of Valencia, Dr. >Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjasot, Valencia, SPAIN >Phone +34.6.3864375 Fax: +34.6.3864372 >e-mail FRANCISCO.AZNAR(\)UV.ES >Internet: http://bioweb.uv.es/zoologia/course.html > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 09:09:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Necrophilia In response to Sally Rosenthal's query regarding records of male animals attempting to mate with deceased females, the classic reference on this is probably... Dickermann, R.W. 1960. "Davian behavior complex" in ground squirrels. J. Mammal. 41: 403. The story here is worth repeating for the general readership. The note above concerns an observation of a male ground squirrel attempting to mate with a recently road-killed female. The author sent this observation to the Journal of Mammalogy, entitling it "Davian behavior complex". The editors, assuming that this was a legitimate behavioral term, published it. Subsequent to publication, they were horrified to discover that the term was coined from a rather tasteless limerick concerning a hermit named Dave who... well, you get the general idea about his sexual habits. Rumor has it that the author was permanently banned from publication in J. Mamm. thereafter. But it's a pleasant change from whaling discussions, isn't it? Phil Clapham Smithsonian clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 09:57:14 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: The gaff on its way out (fwd) Thanks to Georg Blichfeldt for his answers to my questions about hooking pilot whales in the blowhole. He wrote: >it is supposed to be less traumatic for a oxen >to be dragged by it's nose or a cow to be dragged by the neck than >having a gaff driven into its flesh. The ring through the oxen nose >causes probably much more pain than the blunt hook inserted in the pilot >whales blowhole. This raises an interesting issue, that of appropriate analogy. As a biological anthropologist, much of my research is predicated on the way we use one species as a "model" of another (how good are monkeys as models of human physiology/behavior? How good are humans as models of apes' putative consciousness?). Many people object strenuously to the notion that humans can be used to "model" the subjective experience of apes in captivity ("that a human would suffer from solitary confinement in a small cage is NOT _evidence_ that an ape suffers in an analogousand ethically relevant fashion"). Consider that humans and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor ca 5mya and are extraordinarily similar in physiology and morphology. SO -- what is the objective basis for using oxen to "model" the subjective experience of a pilot whale? They are VERY distant phylogenetically, ecologically, and morphologically; they share ?only? the fact that both are exploited by humans, one domestically and one in the fishery. Please understand that while I am skeptical, I am _not_ attacking the change from gaff to blunt hook (or the use of oxen!!); however I _am_ starting to feel critical of the science upon which the decision was based. Further: >Traditionally, the whales that >remained in the shallow was hauled ashore by driving a steel hook, the >gaff, into the whale's blubber. and >How do you measure the sensitivity of the blow hole area? Thickness of >skin? Density of nerves? What kind of experience are you talking of. The >whales blowhole is obviously very different from an animals nose. .... >It would be interesting to >hear if anyone could give some information about the nerve density in >this area. Sounds like the relevant comparison is between blubber and the nasal area. How indeed one measures sensitivity in another species is a good question. I'm a little disturbed that this policy change, intended to alleviate suffering, was initiated before anyone even thought to *LOOK* at e.g. nerve density (which is probably a poor indicator of "potential to suffer", but probably the best available for making this sort of decision). It doesn't sound to me like much *research* or *formal thought* [in the sense of working out what appropriate analogies and comparisons might be] went into the decision here. cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Those are my principles, and if you Anthro 0532 don't like them... well, I have others. UCSD Groucho Marx La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 11:07:20 -0400 From: MPatch1019(\)aol.com Subject: STCW in Japan I'm an economist doing research on Japanese small-type costal whaling. I'm looking for information on prices and quantities of whalemeat in the Japanese market. I'm also looking for information on the economic costs of whaling, i.e., labor requirements, equipment, variable costs of running an small-type costal whaling operation - fuel, supplies, etc. If anyone has any information, please respond directly to MPatch1019(\)aol.com. I'm grateful for any assistance. Thank you. Martha Patch Washington, DC ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 17:17:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: The gaff on its way out (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Richard C. Connor" Sam Ridgway and Donald Carter mapped the skin surface sensitivity in bottlenose dolphins and found that the skin around the blowhole was one of the most sensitive areas, together with the eyes and snout. I beleive their results are published in the 1990 volume on cetacean sensory systems. The bottlenose dolphins that visit Monkey Mia in Western Australia tolerate being stroked by people, but are absolutely intolerant of being touched anywhere near the blowhole (or eye or fins). The blowhole area is clearly a very sensitive one. I cannot imagine a more traumatic way to deal with the pilot whales than gaffing them through their blowholes. Richard Connor ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 19:31:17 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Atypical Mass Stranding of Ziphius cavirostris in Greece (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 23:32:42 +0300 From: FRANTZIS ALEXANDROS Atypical mass stranding of Ziphius cavirostris in Greece On Sunday 12/5/96, specimens of Ziphius cavirostris started to strand in the san dy beach of Kyparissiakos gulf (West Peloponnisos, South Ionio Sea, Mediterranean Sea). In t he late afternoon, at least 12 individuals had stranded along the coast. Volunteers and local authorities succeded to drive two of them, back to sea. Next morning (13/5/96) t wo more individuals (probably the individuals assisted during the previous afternoon) ca me to strand close to the point of their release. Informed by Greenpeace Hellas, a team of two marine biologists D. Cebrian, A. Na toli, the experienced volunteer L. Papageorgopoulos and myself, arrived in place on the ea rly afternoon of Monday (13/5/96). Although apparently very healthy, During 24 hours we succeded keep in life the last alive individual, who seemed to be strong and hea lthy. Unfortunately, these efforts were condanned to faillure due to the lack of the p roper material support bur also because of wrong handling by unskilled persons that appeared on Tuesday as "the only authorised persons" to take care of the animal. After destoying the sk in of the animal and a new deterioration of the sea conditions, the animal was killed by e uthanasia, late in the evening. Our team examinated 11 of the 12 individuals (8 males, 2 females and 1 uncertain female) and recorded the stranding position of the 12th. The12 specimen were spread, quite homogeneously, in a total distance of 33 km of coast!!! Starting from the northe rn point (Zacharo village: 37 28' 60" N - 21 37' 00" E) the distances to the next individ ual were approximately: 4 km, 4.5 km, 7 km, 0.3 km, 1.2 km, 3 km, 5.5 km, 4.5 km, 1.8 km and 1.5 km (last position at Agrili village: 37 10' 50" N - 21 35' 40" E). The total length s of the 8 male individuals were between 4.40 and 5.20 m and none of them had apparent teeth. Ho wever, most of them had typical tooth scars on their skin. The two females were 4.50 m and 4.70 m long and didn't present any tooth scar. Skin and blubber samples were taken from 10 individuals as well as 1 stomach content. The Ionian Sea presents the biggest depths of the whole Mediterranean Sea (5090 m) as well as depths increasing very steeply close to the hellenic coasts. The above sea area seems to be a good habitat for Ziphius cavirostris, where is considered to be quite frequent, accordingly to stranding data and direct observations. Since 1992, at least 5 Z. cavirostris st randed in the area of Kyparissiakos gulf (3 of them stranded together at the same day). The long sa ndy beach of the open Kyparissiakos gulf presents the isobaths of 10 and 20 m at a distance o f 0.5 and 1 mile from the coast , respectively. Could it be a "trap" for these pelagic anima ls, under bad sea conditions? Or is it just located close to a Z. cavirostris high frequency area? Could such an atypical mass stranding be the result of a virus infection? (for us it doesn't s eem very probable). Is there any evident explanation for the absence of apparent teeth fr om all the males? Could it be a group of subadult individuals? Any ideas from specialists, information and examples of previous recorded Z. cav irostris "mass" strandings and litterature on the subject would be really appreciated. Thank you, in advance. Dr. Alexandros Frantzis Zoological Laboratory tel: ++301/7284634 Dept. of Biology fax: ++301/7284604 University of Athens e-mail: afratzis(\)atlas.uoa.ariadne-t.gr Panepistimioupolis GR 157 84 ATHINA GREECE Personal address: Terpsichoris 21 tel: ++301/8962730 16671 VOULIAGMENI fax: ++301/8941391 GREECE ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 12:32:06 +1000 From: Janet Slater Subject: litigation, marine mammals Dear marmamers Can anyone direct me to judicial cases principally about gillnetting and = marine mammal species ( or other marine creatures such as turtles) but = also other threats such as boat strike (e.g of manatees,dugongs, = dolphins). There has been very little such litigation in Australia. I am researching judicial precedent on regulation of such activities, = especially fisheries interactions with marine mammals. I understand there has been some litigation in the USA on these matters. If anyone knows of relevant cases could you please forward the full case = reference to me (it does not matter if it was a reported or unreported = case). Otherwise I would be grateful for personal contacts especially in = the US of lawyers or organisations involved in wildlife/environmental law = litigation. With thanks, Janet Slater Conservation Planner Great barrier Reef Marine Park Authority P.O. Box 1379 Queensland AUSTRALIA fax (61)(77) 726093. My email address is j.slater(\)gbrmpa.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 08:39:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: fin whale feeding There is a short piece in National Geo this issue (June) which notes that Peter Brodie has determined fin whales concentrate prey in the middle of their open mouths after lunging, by cracking a joint at the tip of the lower jaw and thereby scaring the prey with a very loud noise. Does anyone know if this is published anywhere, and how the observations were made? Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 23:40:08 -0700 From: Pieter Folkens Subject: Re: The gaff on its way out (fwd) For all critical thinking MARMAMmers On 16 May Jim Moore wrote: >Thanks to Georg Blichfeldt for his answers to my questions about hooking >pilot whales in the blowhole. . . . > It doesn't sound to me like much *research* or *formal thought* [in >the sense of working out what appropriate analogies and comparisons might >be] went into the decision here. The decision makers may want to begin with a good hard look at pilot whales. Did anyone else happen to notice Georg Blichfeldt's reply to this comment by peterle(\)muc.de: >>(the blunt hook is ) no doubt obstructing breathing. Blichfeldt replied: >There are two corridors from the blowhole ... Granted all cetaceans have two nares, but all odontocetes (at least last time I checked) have but one blowhole. I suspect a sufficiently stout hook to drag a pilot whale would, in fact, obstruct breathing. I can't help to think about what kind of hook it'd take to drag me around and, frankly, I'm pretty sure it'd obstruct my breathing. Blichfeldt also wrote: >As (I guess) it is supposed to be less traumatic for a oxen to be dragged >by >it's nose or a cow to be dragged by the neck than having a gaff driven >into its >flesh. As a former cowboy I can speak with some authority to this. Cattle are never dragged by the nose and seldom by a rope about the neck. The nose ring was for tying a bull to post from a sensitive part of the body so he'd stay put. (As a kid I was almost trampled at a stock yard by a bull which ripped the ring out of his nose. Obviously it'd be impossible to drag one that way.) We never used a nose ring on the ranch because we thought it was cruel and unecessary. For all you *porpoise cowboys* out there and Faroese short on domestic livestock management techniques: We encouraged a recalcitrant bovine to get along by putting the noose of a lasso around the neck then running the rope along one flank, under the tail across the hind quarters, then forward along the other flank. A couple of tugs, and off it'd go. This comment from peterle(\)muc.de contains more than a little truth: > It seems to me what is really being considered here is merely a more > effective method of snagging the animals while at the same time > giving the illusion of being less cruel and brutal. Yee Haw Pieter Folkens \|/ * .-----------^____ _/ ~ |___* __= { ~ ~ `----\\------' ~ ~ `\ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 17:22:51 -1000 From: Lori Mazzuca Subject: Marine Mammal Biology and Management Course Aloha from Hawaii! This summer we are offering a course specializing in marine mammals! The course is titled: The Marine Mammal Biology and Management Course and will be held at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. If you are interested after reading the following information, then you would need to contact the course assistant (Lori Mazzuca, e-mail: lorim(\)soest.hawaii.edu) for more information and/or application. The dates for the summer course are from 28 July through 9 August, 1996. The deadline for application materials is June 15, 1996. BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE The University of Hawaii is pleased to offer a 2 week course from July 28 to August 9, 1996. The course, Biology and Management of Marine Mammals, is composed of lectures, laboratory work, and field experiences. Lectures will be held daily, and laboratory work will be performed in a reproduction and growth biology laboratory at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology on Coconut Island. Work with facilities holding captive marine mammals will also be conducted. Each participant in the course will be given unique hands-on opportunities with captive marine mammals that naturally occur in Hawaiian waters, and upon completion of the course, will be awarded a certificate from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). COST Enrollment in the program is $2,300. The enrollment fee covers all course, laboratory, and field expenses as well as housing on Coconut Island during the duration of the course. The cost covers 3 daily meals (including hot nightly dinners) and island transportation. Participants will have to pay for their own airfares to Hawaii. Upon acceptance, a deposit of $500 is due by July 1, 1996. The remainder is due prior to arrival. TO APPLY Participation in the course is limited, thus early application is urged. June 15,1996 is the deadline for submission of all application materials. Minimum requirement is a Bachelor of Science with a strong and broad biological background. Priority will be given in the following order: to recently graduated veterinarians, post-doctoral students, and graduate students. Prospective applicants will have to provide transcripts, references, and a cover letter stating relevant educational background and expectations from the course. INSTRUCTOR/LECTURERS Dr. Shannon Atkinson is the program leader, and some of the invited lecturers include: Dr. Paul Nachtigall, Dr. Whitlow Au, Mr. Bill Gilmartin, Dr. Jay Seeney, Dr. Joe Mobley, Mr. Jeff Pawloski, Dr. Brent Sterwart, and Dr. Pam Yochem. VISIT OUR WEB SITE For a more detailed description of the course, consult our web page at: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/~lorim Please feel free to pass on the information to others who might not be able to access electronic information. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR APPLICATION MATERIALS You can address any further inquiries to Lori Mazzuca, Course Assistant (lorim(\)soest.hawaii.edu). We look forward to receiving your application for the summer course. Remember, we must have all application materials no later than June 15, 1996! Aloha, Lori Mazzuca, M.A. Graduate Assistant/Course teaching, administrative, and technical assistant Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawaii PO BOX 1346 Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 USA (808) 923-5003 or (808) 956-8625 (808) 236-7443 (FAX) to the attention of Dr. Shannon Atkinson or Lori Mazzuca or the best way to reach me: lorim(\)soest.hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 07:42:57 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Norway: Sealing Season Over (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Georg Blichfeldt Norway: Sealing Season Over The Norwegian sealing season was brought to an end about two weeks ago, reports the High North Web News 15. May Altogether 16,719 seals were caught by the four vessels taking part in the hunt. In the eastern ice fields, 2910 harp seal pups and 6589 dults were taken. In the western ice fields, the corresponding figures were 5649 harp seal pups and 778 adults, together with 557 hooded seal pups and 236 adults. For information on quotas try this adress: http://www.highnorth.no - and click the "news" button ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 07:45:08 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: IWC and envrionmental threats (fwd) Forwarded message: The International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee treated the question of calculation of sustaiable whaling quotaes and environmental threats in its 1994 report. I would like to add some information from this report to the quotes on the same issue from Sidney Holt, IFAW and Greg Donovan of the IWC Secretariat that Simen Gaure presented in his mail to Marmam May 14. Gaure's mail was a reaction to the claim from the Environmental Investigation Agency that the moratorium on commercial whaling should be extended for at least 50 years because pollution, ozone depletion, and climate change are killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers. The 1994 report of the IWC Scientific Committee concluded that the Catch Limit Algorithm (CLA) (which is part of the RMP) "is robust to a wide range of uncertainty" and that "there would be little advantage in modifying the CLA further to incorporate adjustments to account for environmental change." The Scientific Committee had been asked to take a closer look at the robustness of the CLA to environmental degradation following expressions of concern from some NGOs, and in particular the Environmental Investigation Agency. Justin Cooke of the Centre of Ecosystem Management Studies in Germany, whose work on whale management at present is funded by Greenpeace and IFAW, was charged with addressing these concerns. Cooke concluded, according to the 1994 Scientific Committee Report, that "the interactions between the effects of catches within the limits set by the CLA and external influences on the population are small to moderate, even when the external effects are severe ... If the environmental effects are severe then even reducing catches to zero would do little to mitigate them." In other words, if the environmental catastrophe actually strikes the marine environment, it really won't make any difference to the future of the whale stocks whether there are whalers out there catching them or not. And to those who would use the platform of environmental threats to attack whalers, Cooke says: "It is important that potential adverse environmental threats are addressed in their own right and not merely in the context of catch limits." The action now needed to address these environmental threats should not be to attack fishermen, whalers and sealers, say Norwegian environmental organisations, but to identify and eliminate the sources of contamination. These same environmentalists have formed a united front with Norwegian fishermen to fight pollution, a coalition that has been particularly active in the struggle to contain adverse environmental effects of oil drilling. To me this seems the obvious thing to do also for the EIA. They should redirect the energy of their campaign to stop the Faroese pilot whale hunt and join the pilot whalers in a campaign aimed at those polluters that endanger both whales and whale eaters - as well as fish and coastal communities. The Faroese pilot whale hunt has proved through hundres of years that it is a sustainable practise. To read more about environmental threats and whales, have a look in the Library at our Web Site; - High North Web, http://www.highnorth.no Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance highnor(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 07:46:33 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: jet ski information etc (fwd) Forwarded message: from Ed Bowlby ebowlby(\)ocean.nos.noaa.gov 1) does anyone have refs on effects of jet skis on marine mammals or seabirds? or info on acoustics, such as specific frequencies, both above surface and below surface? 2) there is space aboard a NOAA ship (McArthur) for someone to conduct marine mammal & seabird sighting off the Oregon coast from June 14-25. The ship will be operating from 30 m inshore depths to 160 km offshore range. Contact Bob Emmett, emmettb(\)ccmail.orst.edu for more information. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 11:33:45 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 5/17/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Sea Lions. On May 9, 1996, the second of the five individually identifiable sea lions accused of feeding on steelhead trout was caught near Ballard Locks, WA, for holding and eventual transfer to permanent captivity at Sea World in Orlando, FL. [Assoc Press] . Manatees. In mid-May 1996, the SW Florida manatee mortality event appeared to be abating, with 18 days passing with no new deaths reported. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 14:34:03 +1000 From: Simon Allen Subject: Re: Release of captive dolphins (fwd) > >MARMAM readers > >Has anyone out there any information on specific attempts to release > >dolphins born and held in captivity? Any information on successes > >and failures would be appreciated... Atlantis Marine Park (Western Australia) was closed down some time ago for financial reasons. All captive dolphins (Tursiops) were placed in sea pens and trained for release into the wild. I believe they radio tracked a number of dolphins and the outcome was some success, some failure, many questions marks! For specific details you could endeavour to contact Dr. Nick Gales, he is a vet. and marmam scientist who oversaw the project. I think he lives in New Zealand at the moment, you could check any recent paper by him. A South Australian marine park was also closed down within the last 5-10 years, plenty of public debate ensued re. the fate of the dolphins. They have ended up at Sea World Australia where they are involved in the interactive swim program. I doubt animals will ever be released from there - Sea World Australia has established a breeding program with captive stock and, fortunately, will not be taking any more cetaceans from the wild. Hope this is of some value! Simon Allen School of Marine Science University of Queensland St. Lucia, Q. 4072 AUSTRALIA e-mail: s003667(\)student.uq.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 18:58:11 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: MK6 TDR Calibration? Greetings, I'm would appreciate hearing from any researchers using Wildlife Computer's Mk6 TDRs, particularly anyone who has tried calibrating these units (in terms of testing the accuracy of the depth sensor in a pressure chamber or by lowering the units to a known depth). I'm switching over from several Mk5 TDRs to Mk6s, and had to add a calibration factor for the Mk5s. I'm wondering if any other users have found that the depth sensor for the Mk6s need calibrating (since the heat generated when the TDRs are potted in epoxy can change the calibration). Also would be interested in hearing from anyone who has developed creative methods for analysing the velocity data from the Mk6. Thanks, Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, B.C. V8P 5L5 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 19:08:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (fwd) Forwarded message: From: tjfketos(\)devo.ultranet.com (Chervil Verklain) >Forwarded message: >From: Alan Macnow > Consultant, Japan Whaling Association > >Following is a news item carried May 10 by Kyodo News Service: > >Japanese researchers fertilize whale ova in-vitro+ > >SAPPORO, May 10 Kyodo > > Japanese researchers said Friday they conducted the world's >first in-vitro fertilization of minke whale ova during a research >expedition in the recent southern hemisphere summer. > The researchers said the experiment was aimed at comparative >research into the protection and cultivation of threatened whale >species. > It was conducted during the annual scientific whaling expedition >in the Antarctic Ocean by the government-affiliated Institute of >Cetacean Research between November 1995 and April this year. > The researchers said they first extracted the ova from a >harvested whale and waited for them to mature before fertilizing them >with frozen whale sperm. > They said they carried out the operation several dozen times >aboard ship during the expedition. > Yutaka Fukui, professor at the Obihiro University of Agriculture >and Veterinary Medicine in the northernmost main island of Hokkaido, >who was a member of the research team, said photos taken under a >microscope during the procedure are being analyzed to determine >whether it was a success. > The procedure relied on methods used in the in-vitro >fertilization of cattle, although the time needed for maturation of >whale ova is three times that of cattle. > Fukui said future experiments will focus on finding the optimum >conditions for cultivating the ova. > He said researchers wanting to artificially increase whale >populations will have to overcome the difficult problem of inserting >a fertilized ovum into a female whale. > Hidehiro Kato, who heads the Large Cetacean Program at the >Fisheries Agency's National Research Institute for Far Seas Laboratory >in Shimizu, Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, said it is the >first time the first stage of fertilized whale ova has been observed. > ''It has tremendous significance for the understanding of the >whale's breeding mechanism, which is said to be similar to that of >cattle and horses,'' Kato said. > The Institute of Cetacean Research was established as a >nonprofit organization by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and >Fisheries in 1987 to undertake scientific research on whales >following the introduction of a moratorium on commercial whaling. > The institute catches a quota of minke whales in the Antarctic >Ocean for research purposes. Is this one of the silliest projects ever thought of or what? There is no practical application here. What do these people propose to do with this "breakthrough" in mammalian husbandry? If you want to go out and kill whales for food then just do it and stop pretending that you are doing research. Tom Ford ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 11:08:41 +0100 From: Andrew Schiro Subject: Re: fin whale feeding Phil Peter Bordie published his findings in CJZ in 1993. The reference is: Brodie, P.F. 1993. Noise generated by the jaw actions of feeding fin whales. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71:2546-2550. If you need me to I can send you a copy. Andy Schiro Schiroa(\)mmrp.tamu.edu >There is a short piece in National Geo this issue (June) which notes >that Peter Brodie has determined fin whales concentrate prey in the >middle of their open mouths after lunging, by cracking a joint at the tip >of the lower jaw and thereby scaring the prey with a very loud noise. >Does anyone know if this is published anywhere, and how the observations >were made? > >Phil Clapham >clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 19:09:34 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Faroe Island pilot whale hunt (fwd) Forwarded message: From: dolphin(\)roadrunner.com (C. Scott Taylor) It has been documented in several places that at the beginning of the Pilot Whale hunt or Grind that the town dump receives hundreds of pounds of frozen Whale meat from previous years slaughters. The diet of the Faroese has not, repeat not, been demonstrated to be dependent on the consumption of Whale meat. This is another of the traditions which deserves to be replaced with humane treatment, wise resource understanding and an exploration of reasonable alternatives.Tradition itself is no guarantee of wisdom... The reputaion of Science as a whole has been damaged by just such "dispassionate discussions". Science must place itself in service to the whole, which includes thoughtful consideration of all aspects of experience. This includes feelings, pain, thoughts and imagination. These elements exist, whether measurable or not. What is Objective is Real only to the degree that the Subjective is Real. Respectfully, C. Scott Taylor ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 00:46:03 -0500 From: "Lawrence Carter-Long (by way of Cari Gehl )" Subject: BizWire: 2nd Dolphin Born at Marine World > UPDATE: Second bottlenose dolphin born on Mother's Day at Marine World > Africa USA; First calf born on April 28 continuing to do well > Business Wire, May 13, 1996 19:17 (2K) > Wire Services > > UPDATE: Second bottlenose dolphin born on Mother's Day at Marine World > Africa USA; First calf born on April 28 continuing to do well > > News Editors, Environment & Childrens Writers > > VALLEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--The second of three > expected Atlantic bottlenose dolphin calves (Tursiops truncatus) was > born at Marine World Africa USA yesterday morning at 4 a.m., just in > time for Mother's Day. > > The mother is Stormy, 21, and the father is either Bayou, 21, or > Schooner, 20. > > This is the second time Stormy has given birth to a calf on Mother's > Day. Her previous offspring, Norman, now part of Marine World's Whale > and Dolphin Show, was born on Sunday, May 11, 1991, also Mother's Day. > The sex of the new calf is not yet determined. Newborn dolphins have > fetal folds around their abdomens, which make it difficult to > accurately determine their sex right away. > > Stormy's new calf was born exactly two weeks after Sadie, a > 16-year-old bottlenose dolphin, gave birth to a male calf on Sunday, > April 28. Sadie and her baby continue to do very well, with the calf > steadily growing stronger and gaining weight. > > The park's marine mammal department is continuing its 24-hour watch on > both dolphin calves. A third pregnant dolphin, Terry, 35, is expected > to deliver her calf within the next few days. > > In the wild, the mortality rate for dolphin calves in the first year > is close to 50 percent. In U.S. oceanariums, the infant survival rate > has steadily improved, and survivorship at Marine World now mirrors > that in the wild. > > Note to Editors: Stormy, Sadie and their calves are spending most of > their time away from the front window pool at the park's Marine > Research Center, opting instead to swim in an adjacent pool, which has > no underwater viewing. Trainers anticipate the dolphins will > eventually return to the window pool, but it is up to the animals as > to when. > > Both calves are currently visible from above-pool only. > > Marine World Africa USA is owned by the Marine World Foundation, a > nonprofit organization devoted to furthering people's understanding > and appreciation of the world's wildlife. > > CONTACT: Marine World Foundation > > Annette Lindemann, 707/644-4000, ext. 227 > > KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA > > INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT ENVIRONMENT ENMED > > BW URL: http://www.businesswire.com > > Copyright 1996, Business Wire ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 00:49:36 -0500 From: "Animal Rights Hawaii (by way of Cari Gehl )" Subject: False Killer Whale dies at Sea Life Park The Honolulu Advertiser reports today that "Pono" (pseudorcas crassidens) died of a bacterial infection on Friday, May 10 at Sea Life Park. Pono and his mate, Maluhia, were brought to the park at Makapu'u, O'ahu from the Kamagawa Sea World near Tokyo, in 1992. The only other false killer whales in captivity in the US are at Florida's Sea World. They are known for their learning skills and sociability and are of special research interest to the Navy, which is trying to replicate their incredible sonar, according to Paul Nachtigall, Director of Marine Mammal Research at the University of Hawaii's Institute for Marune Biology on Coconut Island in Kane'ohe Bay on O'ahu. Pono is survived by his widow, Maluhia. Cathy Goeggel Animal Rights Hawai'i POB 61386 Honolulu, Hawai'i 96839 tel/FAX: 808-941-9476 http://envirolink.org/arrs/arh/index.htm ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 01:43:09 -0500 From: Cari Gehl Subject: San Ignacio Lagoon (fwd) The information below was originally posted to MARMAM on Apr. 16, 1996. I have received a request for more information on this matter, specifically on the matter of what species will be affected, and how. I have forwarded the info below to this person and suggested that he contact Serge Dedina directly. Does anyone else have any additional info on this project that might be useful? If so, please contact Jonathan Owen directly at: JOwen82504(\)aol.com or you can e-mail me privately and I will forward it to him as he is not on MARMAM. Thanks for any help on this! Best wishes, Cari Gehl >Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 18:41:59 -0700 >Reply-To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion > >Sender: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion > >From: MARMAM Editors >Subject: San Ignacio Lagoon (fwd) >X-To: marmam(\)uvvm.UVic.CA >To: Multiple recipients of list MARMAM >X-Status: > >Forwarded message: >From: Serge L Dedina > > >DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED SALT PRODUCTION FACILITY IN SAN IGNACIO LAGOON, BAJA >CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO > >On April 3, 1996 an unidentified individual with the e-mail address >Donzante(\)aol.com posted a message on the internet regarding the proposed >salt production facility in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, > Mexico. I have provided background information on the project and a brief >discussion of past mining/energy projects in gray whale habitat in >Baja California Sur. A description of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is >also included along with a brief discussion of the wildlife and >natural resources of Laguna San Ignacio. > >Serge Dedina >Department of Geography and Regional Development >University of Arizona >Tucson, AZ 85721 USA >==================================================================== >Source: Dedina, Serge and Emily H. Young. 1995. Conservation and >Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Washington > D.C: U.S. Department >of Commerce. NTIS PB96-113154. 70 pp. > >Available from: Marine Mammal Commission, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. >Room 512,Washington D.C. 20009, USA > >1. Description of Proposed Salt Production Facility, Laguna San Ignacio, >Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico. > >Currently there are plans by the Exportadora de Sal corporation (ES) that >produces salt from the area around Laguna Ojo de Liebre, to develop a >52,150 ha salt production facility in the salt flats around >the northern shoreline of the northern arm of Laguna San Ignacio within >the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve (Bremer 1994; CIB 1994; Exportadora de Sal 1992; >Sudcaliforniano 1993). According to the project EIA prepared by CIB [Centro de >Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste] in 1994, the total physical area >directly impacted by the project (including project-related roads) would be >212,319 ha (CIB 1994:97). The project would also indirectly impact 1,500,000 >ha (CIB 1994:94). > >ES originally initiated operations in and around Laguna Ojo de Liebre in >1954, and received a concession to produce salt in the Laguna San Ignacio >area in 1953 (Diario Oficial 1953). Due to changes in the national mining law, >and ownership of ES, a new concession was granted to the company in 1992 >(Bremer 1994; CIB 1994; Diario Oficial 1992). Currently, ES is 51% owned by >the Mexican government and 49% owned by the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan >(Borges C. and Sanchez M. 1992; Fuentes A. and Sota M. 1993). ES is currently >the leading salt producer in the world, with an annual production of six >million tons of salt. The Guerrero Negro facility has a projected annual >production capacity of six and a half tons. The San Ignacio project would >enable ES to produce an additional seven million tons annually (Bremer 1994; >CIB 1994). > >The primary objective of the San Ignacio project is to enhance productivity >and competitiveness of ES by reducing the high costs associated with the >double-handling of salt loading and shipping operations at the Guerrero Negro >facility (Bremer 1994). Salt produced in Guerrero Negro is now transported via >barge to Cedros Island. The salt is unloaded and stored on the island, where >it is then loaded onto cargo ships for international export. The difficulty >in docking and loading operations at Cedros Island make double-handling an >expensive operation. The U.S. $100 million San Ignacio project would be phased >over six to eight years and would allow the company to decrease the overall >cost of salt production by doubling its overall annual production levels and >decreasing handling costs (CIB 1994:11). > >Project plans include the construction of an approximately two km pier and >loading facility between the town of Punta Abreojos and Estero el Coyote. An >average of eight large cargo ships per month would dock at the pier to >receive salt throughout the year. All housing and administrative units for >the proposed facility would be located at Punta Abreojos. Salt evaporation/ >concentration would occur on approximately 20,000 ha of salt flats north of >the northern arm of Laguna San Ignacio. Additional evaporation/concentration >would occur on 10,000 ha north west of the northern arm, and northeast of >Estero el Coyote. Two saltwater pumping stations would be placed along the >lagoon shoreline. One would be placed at the extreme northern end of the >northern arm. The other pumping station would be located directly across from >Isla Pelicanos and Isla Garzas on the northern shore of the northern arm of >the lagoon. With 10-15 intake valves, these pumping stations would have the >capacity to provide 30,000 liters per/second of lagoon water to evaporation/ >concentration ponds, depending on production needs. > >On February 27, 1995, INE President Gabriel Quadri de la Torre, denied ES >permission to develop the San Ignacio project on the grounds that it was not >compatible with conservation objectives of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. >Quadri de la Torre also indicated that the project could adversely impact 14 >plant species and 72 animal species including gray whales, antelopes, black >brant, and red mangroves (Quadri de la Torre 1995). ES contested INE's >decision and asked the agency to review additional project-related >information and authorize project development (Bremer 1995). On June 26, >1995, ES announced that it would hire an international consulting firm to >prepare a new project EIA in accordance with INE guidelines and seek input >from relevant experts in its preparation (ES 1995). > >2. History and Description of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja >California Sur, Mexico. > >Laguna San Ignacio forms part of the 2,546,790 ha Vizcaino Biosphere >Reserve, the largest protectd area in Latin America (Figure 3) (SEDUE >1989:9). > >In 1984, SEDUE proposed the formation of a 1.5 million ha biosphere reserve >west of Highway One throughout the Vizcaino Peninsula, between Laguna San >Ignacio and Laguna Ojo de Liebre (SEDUE 1984). The proposal initiated the >implementation of funding to conduct monitoring studies and administrative >activities throughout the proposed reserve (SEDUE 1984-1988). In February of >1988, the Director of SEDUE, Manuel Camacho Solis, took a trip to Laguna Ojo >de Liebre and announced that De la Madrid would sign legislation to create >the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, which would be the largest protected area in >Mexico (SEDUE 1988). The reserve proposed by Camacho Solis had been amplified >in 1986 by SEDUE staff to include bighorn sheep habitat east of Highway One, >the extensive pre-Columbian cave paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco, >and portions of the western Gulf of California shoreline (INE 1994). > >Finally in 1988, on the last day of his administration, De la Madrid signed >legislation creating the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve to encourage the con- >servation of endangered plant and animal species, and permit compatible human >activities throughout its boundaries (Diario Oficial 1988). The creation of >the reserve was due in large part to the advocacy of SEDUE staff, the >research and administrative staff of the Center for Biological Research (CIB) >in La Paz, and the Grupo de los Cien, a distinguished group of intellectuals >and artists active in environmental affairs in Mexico (Castellanos 1994; >Grupo de los Cien 1988; Ortega et al. 1990) . > >The declaration of the reserve transferred the responsibility for the >management of Laguna San Ignacio from Pesca to SEDUE and established a >363,438 ha nuclear zone, in which human activities are extremely limited or >prohibited. In the 2,183,351 ha buffer zone, a wider variety of human >activities are permitted. Although development activities within the nuclear >zones are not permitted, they can be authorized in the buffer zone as long as >they conform to the 1988 General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental >Protection. The reserve decree stipulates that new human settlements are not >permitted anywhere within the reserve boundaries (Diario Oficial 1988). > >The reserve extends from just south of the lagoon northward to the northern >shore of Laguna Ojo de Liebre, and eastward to the Gulf of California, >and includes Isla Natividad, Isla Asuncion, and Isla San Roque along the >Pacific Coast (Diario Oficial 1988). In 1994, the United Nations Scientific, >Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Laguna San Ignacio a >World Heritage Site (Sudcaliforniano 1994d). > >3. Despription of Wildlife and Natural Resources of Laguna San Ignacio > >After Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio provides habitat for the second >highest number of gray whales and is the second most important location for >female-calf pairs in terms of relative abundance during the winter calving/ >breeding season (Fleischer 1990; Jones and Swartz 1986). A maximum of 300-400 >whales may be present in the lagoon at one time, although the total number of >whales that use the lagoon during a winter season is probably much higher >(Maravilla 1991:222; see also Jones and Swartz 1986). Research conducted by >Jones and Swartz (1986) on gray whale demography and phenology at the lagoon >from 1978 to 1982 revealed that, compared with other gray whale habitats, the >lagoon is more heavily dominated by single whales than female-calf pairs. >They also found that during the late December to late February period, half of >the total whale population inside the lagoon (female-calf pairs and single >whales) congregated in the area near the Boca del Surgidero ocean inlet up to >Punta Piedra, and 20% frequented the middle of the lagoon from Punta Piedra to >La Fridera. The remaining 30% were distributed in the upper lagoon from La >Fridera to the north end of Isla Garzas. The upper lagoon is used primarily >by mother-calf pairs engaged in nursing, resting, and swimming (Jones and >Swartz 1986:54). > >In addition to serving as an important winter home for migrating gray whales, >Laguna San Ignacio provides habitat for numerous marine and terrestrial >plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered, such as >the black turtle (Chelonia agassizi) (Galina et al. 1991; Olguin M. 1990). >The shallow waters and mangroves of the lagoon also provide significant >habitat for the shorebirds and waterfowl of the Pacific flyway (Danemann 1991; >Massey and Palacios 1994; Wilbur 1987). Because of its extensive shallow water >habitat and protected mangrove lagoons, Laguna San Ignacio serves as an >important hatchery for commercially valuable fish and shellfish species. The >shoreline south of the main lagoon entrance contains one of the most important >areas for harvesting Pismo clams (Tivela stultorum) along the Pacific Coast >of North America (Arizpe C. 1992). The only remaining habitat of the nearly >extinct Peninsular pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) is >located between the northern shores of the lagoon and Laguna Ojo de Liebre to >the north. Unfortunately, despite the lagoon's significance as a habitat for >a diversity of life, little research on species other than gray whales and >some nesting birds has been conducted there (e.g., Danemann 1991, 1994; >Reitherman 1982; Reitherman and Storrer 1981). Red mangrove (Rhizophora >mangle) is located throughout the southern arm of the lagoon and along the >southern shore of the northern arm of the lagoon from Punta Carey to Punta >Piedra. Table 1 provides a list of selected fauna of Laguna San Ignacio and >Bahia Magdalena. > >4. Description of Past Mining/Energy Activities Around Gray Whale Habitat >in Baja California Sur, Mexico > > In 1976, a state company, Roca Fosforica Mexicana de C.V. (Rofomex) began >construction of a phosphate mine on the eastern shore of Bahia Magdalena, >six km north of Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos (Cordoba 1981). Project development >involved dredging a channel from the Boca de Soledad bay entrance to the plant >operations area. A two km channel was dredged through the desert east of the >eastern shoreline. A port facility was constructed at the main entrance to >Bahia Magdalena, south of San Carlos on Punta Arena, at the southern end of >Isla Magdalena. At its inception, Mexican marine biologists expressed their >concerns about potential adverse impacts associated with plant construction >and mining operations (CIB 1982; Contreras 1994; Cordoba 1981; Vargas 1981; >Villa R. 1981). The project EIA was prepared after project construction was >initiated (Contreras 1994). > >Among the concerns raised about the Rofomex mine were the following: (1) >the mineral was located in small concentrations (3%) in sandy soils along >beaches and in estuaries, which would require the excavation and removal of >millions of tons of sand, earth, and mangroves; (2) the site contained highly >abundant, terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, including mangroves, which >would be adversely impacted by mining activities; (3) residual waste from >chemical treatment of excavated materials involving the use of sulfuric and >fatty acids, detergents, and other reactive chemicals, and accidental spills >at the loading dock and during shipping would pollute Bahia Magdalena and >surrounding beaches, posing serious threats to marine flora and fauna, >including gray whales; (4) the area of excavation and transport was planned >to expand extensively inland and into highly sensitive gray whale habitat and >would adversely affect breeding and calving whales; (5) the noise from trucks, >earth-moving and drilling equipment, and barge traffic would result in sound >disturbance to marine and terrestrial fauna; and (6) the project was >primarily extractive and would result in few economic benefits to local >communities (CIB 1982; Cordoba 1981). > >Ultimately, mine dredge-operators could not penetrate an unanticipated >subsurface layer of calcium carbonate, repeatedly breaking expensive diamond >drill pieces in the attempt to do so, rendering the entire mining operation >economically unfeasible (Gonzalez 1994). A project EIA was not prepared until >after the project was under construction, even though project plans included >the dredging and construction of a breakwater at the Boca de Soledad to >facilitate the shipping of materials out of Bahia Magdalena (Contreras 1994). >The facility now sits unoccupied. > >The federal government constructed an electric power plant north of San Carlos >(Bahia Magdalena) in 1990 (Comision Federal Electricidad 1990). Designed to >operate for 20 years, the plant is part of a national plan to decentralize and >improve Mexico's energy program, and to service 78,000 inhabitants of the bay >and surrounding areas, as well as to provide energy to pump fossil water from >deep wells for the irrigation of large-scale agriculture (Comision Federal de >Electricidad 1990; Meza S. 1992;Moreno R. 1994). The Federal Electricity >Commission initiated construction without conducting an EIA or receiving >approval from SEDUE for the project. A project EIA was prepared after >construction of the project was completed (Comision Federal de Electricidad >1990). > >The facility, which uses two large turbine diesel and heavy fuel burning >engines, was put on-line in 1992. Fuel is delivered to the facility via >tankers that off-load fuel through a pipeline at the port, that travels three >to four km north to the plant. The plant draws subterranean saltwater on-site, >converting it into freshwater for plant use. The facility recycles gaseous >waste by diverting it through a turbine and combining it with water for >conversion into hot water vapor to generate additional energy for on-site >use. Mitigative actions listed by the EIA include water and air quality >monitoring and the stipulation that no untreated waste can be discharged into >Bahia Magdalena (Comision Federal de Electricidad 1990). Plant administrators >suspended operations in May, 1994, due to the faulty installation of >generators (Moreno R. 1994). No studies have been undertaken to determine >the impacts, if any, of plant operations (e.g., from noise and effluent into >Bahia Magdalena) on gray whales. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 12:17:42 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: The gaff on it's way out ....... True communication on the animal welfare issues cannot be built on the assumption that those on the other side is less concerned with ethics than yourself or that they are dishonest. Therefor I find the following remark from Pieter Folkens and "peterle(\)muc" not very constructive: Pieter Folkens wrote: > This comment from peterle(\)muc.de contains more than a little truth: > > It seems to me what is really being considered here is merely a more > > effective method of snagging the animals while at the same time > > giving the illusion of being less cruel and brutal.. The debate is about the potential replacement of the gaff in the Faroe pilot whale hunt with a blunt hook inserted into the whales blowhole. I would like to repeat that from the view of efficiency there is no reason to replace the gaff. To my first paragraph I would like to add that I think that all animal users, included whale hunters, have a tendency to paint their use of animals in a bit too idyllic colours. I my opinion this was also the case with "the cowboy", Pieter Folkens', description of how things are done on the farm - at least if his description was meant to be a general one - not only representing his own farm experience. (My background is also farming.) Animal users should try to be as factual and objective as possible in the description of our practise - even if it is not easy. We should also recognize that all use of animals to provide meat on the plate often - if not always - inflicts some degree of suffering on the animals (I am aware that suffering is a problematic term - difficult to define). The objective of animal welfare is to work towards minimizing this suffering. The view of the british environmental film maker, Brian Leith, (as presented in the Daily Telegraph, 03.08.91) might appeare to be a valuable contribution to the debate on the animal welfare aspect of the pilot whale hunt: " ........ how are the animals killed? The short answer is brutally - involving many minutes, and sometimes hours, of stressful driving into a killing bay followed by the severing of the creature's "neck" artery with a knife. Not as clean as an abattoir slaughter by any standard. But then - next issue - would we really want it to be? If you happen to be a vegetarian it's academic: all animal killing is wrong. But for the rest of us there is a dilemma. Is it better to take an animal from birth and keep it in a cage, crate or shed all if its life and then ship it by road across the nation, or even the continent, to a concrete building where it will be stunned or shot in controlled conditions? Is this what we mean by humane killing? If we want our food animals to have a good quality of life as well as good quality of death, surely the killing of wild, "free- range" animals can never be as clean and efficient as the killing of captive, penned creatures? Surely there must be a pay-off between the freedom the animal enjoys in life and the difficulty we have in finding and killing it." (The Daily Telegraph, 03.08.91: Hung Verdict) The more basic question in the debate of the Faroese pilot whale hunt is of course whether the meat from the hunt is at all needed. No, it isn't, says C. Scott Taylor. C. Scott Taylor wrote: > The diet of the Faroese has not, repeat not, been demonstrated to be > dependent on the consumption of Whale meat. We must assume that the Faroe Islanders have to eat something. They could of course stick to fish and potatoes, which also are local resources. It is not possible to grow cereals or vegetables at these windswept islands situated in the North-Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland. As most others westerners the Faroe Islanders tend to want meat to be part of their diet. I think the following question from Brian Leith is quite relevant: "Is it really better to import pink salami from Denmark?" >From an ecological standpoint it is no doubt that the pilot whale meat should be preferred to the pink salami: " ..... I believe that if we read the small print in our new Green Bible we may discover that the sustainable - and, one hopes, humane - use of a natural resource which swims to your home waters is the very essence of greenness", writes Brian Leith. The advice from C. Scott Taylor that the pilot whale hunt should be replaced with " wise resource understanding" does not give any meaning to me. Isn't it "wise resource understanding" to use a local resource for food in a sustainable, non-polluting, energy efficient way ? C. Scott Taylor wrote: >It has been documented in several places that at the beginning of the > Pilot Whale hunt or Grind that the town dump receives hundreds of > pounds of frozen Whale meat from previous years slaughters. This is not familiar to me. Please document. I do know that two years ago it was a problem of distribution in connection with one particular pilot whale hunt where a considerable ammount of meat was damaged. The conditions was very unfavourable, though: It was far the biggest drive in many years and the weather was very hot. In general the distribution system is very efficient. Finally, I would like to thank Marmamers for offering their view on the possible introduction of a new tool in the Faroe pilot whale hunt. I will pass on these contributions to those that are responsible for the animal welfare aspect of the hunt. Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, highnor(\)telepost.no ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 09:24:54 -1000 From: Tori Subject: hawaii spinner dolphins I am attempting to produce a factual brouchure about the spinner dolphins which frequent Makua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. I want to include the improtance of this sandy shoal area to their daytime activites, such as reproduction and resting. The information needs to be documented and not anecdotal although I would appreciate this for my own info. I would appreciate any references to studies done in this area or other areas that would be relevant. Also, If anyone has reproducible slides of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, close enough for identification purposes to be included in the brouchure, these would also be gladly accepted. These brouchures will be for distribution to the general public and tourists who have not-so-recently began flocking to the area to "interact" with dolphins who frequent it, in an attempt to educate and perhaps instill respect in those who may may not otherwise be aware. Mahalo nui loa, Tori cullins(\)hawaii.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 01:54:18 -0400 From: KulaNaia(\)aol.com Subject: Re: hawaii spinner dolphins Tori, The majority of research on Hawaiian spinner dolphins has been on the population found along the kona coast of the Big Island some refs include: Norris, K.S. and T.P. Dohl (1980) Behavior of the Hawaiian spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris. Fish. Bull. 77:821-849. Norris, K. S. (1991) Dolphin Days: The life and times of the spinner dolphin. W.W. Norton, New York. Norris, K.S., B.Wursig, R.S. Wells, M.Wursig, S.M. Brownlee, C. Johnson and J. Solow (1994) The Hawaiian spinner dolphin Berkeley Univ. Press. There have been several theses/dissertations done by graduate students at Univ, Cal. Santa Cruz including: Brownlee, S.M. (1983) Correlations between sounds and behavior in Hawaiian spinner dolphins, Stenella longirostris. Master's thesis. Marine Science. Ostman, J. (1994) Social behavior and social organization of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, Stenella longirostris. PhD. Dissertation. Biology. Driscoll, A. (1995) The whistles of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, Stenella longirostris. Master's thesis. Marine Science Also a Dissertation on spinners in Tahiti, Poole, M. M. (1995) Aspects of the Behavioral ecology of spinner dolphins (S.l.) in the nearshore waters of Moorea, French Polynesia. Also several papers by Dr. William Perrin dealing mainly with morphology and genetics including : Perrin, W. (1975) Variation of spotted and spinner porpoise (genus Stenella) in the eastern tropical Pacific and Hawaii. Bull. Scripps. Inst. Oceanogr. 21:1-206. Dr. Ken Marten and his associates have identified over 100 individuals from the population found off Oahu. I suggest that you contact him at Earth Trust Inc. for photographs of identified individuals. For information of possible distrubance effects of swimmers on spinners in day time resting areas you could contact Rep. David Tarnas (Hawaii State Leg) and Mr. Gene Nitta of NMFS Honolulu. They have both been very involved in addressing this issue in Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island. Also, Anna Barber at Texas A. & M. is presently completing a master's thesis on this issue. She presented a poster entitled "The presence of spinner dolphins (St.long.) affects human use and sex ratio of swimmers in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii." I hope this helps Ania Driscoll-Lind KulaNaia(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 May 1996 12:11:55 -0400 From: Phocid(\)aol.com Subject: Re: BizWire: 2nd Dolphin Born at Marine World >In the wild, the mortality rate for dolphin calves in the first year > is close to 50 percent. In U.S. oceanariums, the infant survival rate > has steadily improved, and survivorship at Marine World now mirrors > that in the wild. While the numbers may come close to mirroring the wild numbers, are not the causes for the mortalities very different? It would seem to me that a great percentage of deaths in the wild could be caused by predation, severe weather, entanglement, starvation, biomagnification of toxins, etc. Jeff Lederman phocid(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 07:21:43 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Norway-Whaling Norway-Whaling By DOUG MELLGREN Associated Press Writer OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway's whalers are preparing to slip quietly out of their ports to avoid trouble on Monday, when the much-protested hunting season opens. Since resuming commercial whale hunts three years ago despite a global ban, this northern country of 4.3 million people has seen demonstrations, boycott threats, confrontations on the high seas and sabotage. It also angered many by quietly lifting a six-year ban on hunting seal pups this year. The arctic hunt for more than 17,000 pups ended early this month. The protests against whaling have intensified this year with Norway's near doubling of the minke whale quota to 425, up from 232 last year. The United States and several other nations have denounced the hunt, as have an ex-Beatle and his wife. The first minke whales may already be facing harpoons, since fisheries officials said Wednesday that several of this year's 35-40 boats are allowed to start the hunt at will in the North Sea. Last year, 33 boats took part. Norway rejects a nonbinding 1986 ban imposed by the International Whaling Commission. The small, oil-rich country claims the minke whales it hunts are plentiful, and that whaling is a responsible use of its natural resources. It agrees, however, that other, endangered whale species should be protected. Despite defending the hunt, the usually open government appeared skittish about this year's sharply increased quotas, set May 4. It did not announce them, as it routinely did in the past, and only revealed the number after it was leaked to the news media. "I think it shows how afraid they are," said Katarine Brubakk of Greenpeace Norway. "I think they hope that if they don't put it in writing in a news release, it wouldn't cause trouble." Halvard Johansen, director of resource management at the Ministry of Fisheries, denied any concern. "We just didn't see that it served any purpose to announce the whale quota this year. We announced it to those who are involved, the whalers," he said. The result was what one Norwegian newspaper called "environmental hysteria." The United States formally protested on Friday, saying commercial whaling already has brought some species near extinction. A bipartisan group of 23 congressmen asked for U.S. trade sanctions if next week's hunt goes off as planned. Germany's foreign minister demanded an end to whaling and the `gruesome killing of seal pups." New Zealand and England also objected. Activists apparently tried to sink a Norwegian whaling boat at its wharf this month. Greenpeace is asking contestants in the Eurovision Song contest in Oslo today to protest the hunt. Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda urged Norwegians in an open letter this week to "stop or be shamed." The police, the coast guard, and whalers, who fish most of the year, are braced for trouble. Two years ago, Greenpeace ships pursued and tried to board the whaling boat "Senet" in the North Sea. "We don't want any trouble," said whaler Olav Olavsen Jr., whose boat, the Nybraena, was one of several nearly sunk by saboteurs in recent years. "`But if we have to handle trouble, we are ready and able." Opponents want the hunts stopped, saying Norway doesn't know how many minke, the smallest of the baleen whales at about 30 feet, are off its coast. A year ago, Norway admitted that a longstanding estimate of 86,700 whales was wrong. It cut it to 69,600, raised it 76,000 a month later and now estimates at least 110,000 minke off Norway, based on a comprehensive count last summer. Whalers, who sell whale meat for human consumption, want a government ban on export lifted and quotas quadrupled to the levels of the early 1980s, before protests forced Norway to call off the hunt. "We won't be satisfied until we reach a normal, usual hunt of 1,700-1,800 hundred whales a year," Olavsen said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 13:40:49 +0000 From: luke.rendell%zoology.oxford.ac.uk(\)ukacrl.BITNET Subject: Song of the Whale website Dear MARMAM Announcing the arrival of Song of the Whale, the benign research vessel run by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, on the web : http://www.easynet.co.uk/ifaw/pic.htm Song of the Whale has been conducting benign research on marine mammals since 1987, in many locations, and in that time has introduced many people to benign research from her decks. She is in many ways a unique vessel in the field of marine mammal research. The website contains information about the boat and her mission, the techniques she employs, her prolific history of past projects, an ongoing journal of her current transatlantic crossing with information on sightings and acoustic contacts made along the way, and some rather good pictures (and some sounds) taken from the boat (dolphin, sperm whales, fin whales, minke etc). Check it out and let us know what you think! Yours, Luke Rendell Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 15:00:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: livestock, cetacean analogy (fwd) Forwarded message: Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 11:04:16 -0700 From: "Eric S. Howarth" The analogy of cetaceans and land based livestock is a ridiculous leap of logic which causes the whole argument to fail. The whaling advocates cite the fact that the cetaceans returned to the sea substantially before intellect begun its evolution. If this is the case, then cetaceans are no more related to livestock as they are to humans. Whaling advocates believe the large cetacean brain size is an evolutionary result of echolocation or the adaption to elimimnate REM sleep. Therefore, there is no sign of intellect in cetacea. I do not discount these theories as they seem scientifically based. But, whaling advocates (at least from what I read on the highnorth webpage) also state that large brain size is an evolutionary tool of humans that allow them to construct tools of mass harvesting (gaffs, speed boats, propelled explosive harpoons). Where does man draw the line in his ever sophisticated tools of killing? Certainly, if whalers were still out there relying on the wind, oars and throwing harpoons, the take would be less and the issue would not be as prominent. The opposible thumb and intellect should not give us cart blanc to "harvest" any species because we have the means to do so. Just because it has always been, does not justify its perpetuation. Manufacturing economies all over the US have been forced into service based ones. Isn't that a sort of economic evolution? If they don't change, they go extinct. Predators do have the right to take their prey. Intelligence and its resultant tools have made us "super species". We have the power to destroy or preserve the earth. Isn't it enough that we endanger mammals of the sea by using those tools to force them to share their lower level food chains (fish, crustacea, mollusks)? Land prey have been mans domain for a much longer time than sea mammals. The justification for mass production of cattle lies somewhere back in our early pre-history. It probably occured when we picked up that first stick (tool)to bring down some wounded beast or scare off some other predator that caught it. That is where I draw the line. I'm sure vegetarians would differ. With the evolutionary gift of intellect and continually more sophisticated tools, we must become evermore altruistic to the earth and its balance. If the "intelligent" ones don't see this, they will destroy themselves, along with many other species and the existing ecosystem. Then after a period of recovery, some leftover species will replace the open niches. God, I hope its not the cockroaches. Yuck! Regards, Eric S. Howarth Web Page http://www.netcom.com/~ehowarth Cetacean Behavior Lab http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/CBL/CBLhome.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 16:36:04 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Hunting cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu Folks, I have been following the arguments about hunting cetaceans in general and using the gaff specifically. There have been a number of comments about the relative intelligence of cetaceans, their similarity to ungulates (especially livestock), and the cetacean nervous system. My work is specifically aimed at examining cetacean brain-behavior relations, so, I'm going to make the following comments in the hope that some uncertainties will be answered: The analogy between cetacean and ungulate behavior and intelligence is not warranted by any means. It is true that cetaceans derive from the same stem group that eventually gave rise to cattle, but the two groups have been on independent evolutionary trajectories for approx. 60 million years. In that time, cetaceans have adapted to a very different environment than ungulates and have evolved a very different form of intellect and "psychology". Although I am not making any particular endorsement of the use of ungulates for food, I must make the point that the level of brain development, as measured by relative brain size or encephalization quotient, is significantly higher in most cetaceans (and yes, in pilot whales) than it is in ungulates. If we put any stock in the relationship between relative brain size and general intelligence (and all of the awareness and complex cognitive processing that it implies) then we have to conclude that cetaceans are much more intelligent than ungulates. Therefore, if anyone is interested in taking into account relative intelligence in the pro-con issues surrounding hunting cetaceans, please note that: 1) Some cetaceans possess an encephalization quotient equal to that of our own ancestor, Homo habilis. Maybe we should think about whether we would do to H. habilis what we do to these cetaceans. 2) Electrophysiological studies, although limited in scope and number, appear to show that most of the bottlenose dolphin brain is *not* used for basic auditory processing. Much of it is "association" cortex - which - when we apply this criterion to humans - means that there is very complex cognitive processing going on. Remember, bats echolocate and they are not especially highly encephalized. 3) The argument supporting the notion that cetacean brains are large because of lack of REM sleep has been put forth but is not substantiated by any data. Furthermore, a perceived correlation does not allow one to make statements of causal direction. 4) All that we know about cetacean behavior and problem solving ability is consistent with the hypothesis that their big brains are supporting a big intelligence. (Of course, there is variability across species so we're talking in *general*). 5) Finally, everything I have read about innervation in dolphins supports the notion that the blowhole and other head regions are especially highly innervated. if innervation is a criterion for sensitivity - then the blowhole is a highly sensitive region. Given all this, I urge a discussion of the larger issues and more careful consideration of existing data. Maybe it's totally ludicrous to argue about whether to use the gaff or a pole when hunting pilot whales. After all, what about the morality of slitting their throats after they're dragged ashore. Its just that this whole discussion about gaff or no gaff is a little like an executioner seating someone in an electric chair and worrying about whether the straps are too tight..... Lori Marino ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 00:35:55 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Norway-whaling Dear Marmam I've had a look at the High North web site's section re whalewatching. what do other Marmammers think of it? Now that Norway is once again setting out on the high seas with assorted ordnance in pursuit of a species unfortunate enough to be just about the only remaining commercially viable scapegoat/target/"vermin"/moneyspinner worth aiming at, I'm afraid it seems as if things have advanced little since May 1993 when I telephoned the Norwegian Embassy in London and asked whether Norway would be interested in whalewatching of Minke whales rather than whaling. The response to my question was that Minkes weren't suitable for the purpose because they were "too dark". I have since had a lingering mistrust of the whaling nations' supposedly serious and reponsible approach to the problems of the whales and the concerns of so many who oppose whaling. Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 23:16:53 -0400 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: Norway-whaling At 00:35 21/05/96 +0100, you wrote: >, I'm afraid it seems >as if things have advanced little since May 1993 when I telephoned the >Norwegian Embassy in London and asked whether Norway would be interested in >whalewatching of Minke whales rather than whaling. The response to my >question was that Minkes weren't suitable for the purpose because they were >"too dark". >Pete Blathwayt >peteb(\)easynet.co.uk In my experience there seems to be an emotional conflict between whale-watching and whaling. At the 1994 CITES meeting I was involved in a panel discussion on sustainable use of wildlife when a pro-whaler asked me from the audience why our organization gave names to the humpbacks we observe off the New England coast. I pointed out that this sort of thing was also done by scientists and even hunters (who named man-eating tigers, for example). Because I don't usually deal with this aspect of what our organization does, the real import of the question didn't hit me until later - the idea of assigning names to individual whales tended to create a sort of identity between whale and watcher (at least in our minds) that conflicted directly with the view of whales as just another resource to be harvested. Whale-watching encourages people to view whales as living creatures with individual personalities and temperaments. I am not surprised that, revenue-producer though it may be,it is not an activity supporters of commercial whaling want to encourage. The response of the Norwegian Embassy, therefore, doesn't surprise me in the least. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 07:52:13 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: South Africa to review backing South Africa to review backing for whaling ban By Brendan Boyle CAPE TOWN, May 20 (Reuter) - South Africa, a sanctuary for the southern right whale, wants to ease its ban on whaling off its shores by reviewing its membership of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which administers a worldwide moratorium on whale hunting. A confidential document sent to government departments and some conservationists ahead of the IWC's June meeting in Scotland proposes that South Africa should keep a low profile and should decide by the 1997 meeting whether to downgrade its membership to observer status. The document, of which Reuters has a copy, seems set to reopen the emotional debate about the bloody business of hunting the world's biggest mammals. "It is proposed that South Africa should retain its independent spirit in order to protect South Africa's interests and should use its influence to combat extremism in favour of non-whaling," South African IWC commissioner and Department of Sea Fisheries director Guillaume de Villiers said in the paper. De Villiers confirmed the authenticity of the document, but told Reuters it was a proposal and not yet official policy. He said there was no immediate threat to the estimated 2,000 southern right whales that visit the coast mainly between June and November to mate and calve. The whales, which frolic within metres of the shore, draw thousands of tourists every year, many from abroad. "At the moment, in South African waters, all whales are protected. I would be extremely surprised if the government were to open up whaling on our coast," de Villiers said. But veteran Save the Whales campaigner Nan Rice, who condemned the document outright, said South Africa had been a premier whaling nation for 184 years till the late 1970s and owed it to the world to fight for the survival of the whales. "Taking into consideration South Africa's role in bringing some of the great whale species to thebrink of extinction...it should be the moral duty of our country to remain an active member of the IWC. I'm very, very disturbed about this," she said. Deputy Minister of Environment Affairs Bantu Holomisa said he had not been informed officially about the proposal and that it had not been discussed by the government. "At this time you can take it as a non-starter," he said. But Peter Mokaba, chairman of the parliamentary committee on environment affairs, told Reuters South Africa should leave the door open for a return to commercial whaling. "We should not allow a situation where anything is not possible. We must stay with the IWC to see what other countries are thinking, but keep our own options open," he said. The document drafted by de Villiers points to anomalies in policies on mammal conservation and proposes that a clear position should be adopted before the IWC's 1997 meeting. "The approach and policy towards whales should be compatible with general policies towards the utilization of...other mammals such as seals and elephants," he said. Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) director Ian Macdonald welcomed de Villiers' call for a clear division between scientific and emotional arguments about the sustainable utilisation of vulnerable species. "There is a lot of confusion in the minds of government and the public about why we adopt certain policies and we should be clear about these things," he said. South Africa supported the creation of a southern ocean whale sanctuary below the 55th parallel in 1994 and bans all whaling off its own shores, but also supports the harvesting of white rhinos, seals and elephants to finance conservation. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 06:25:42 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Cetacean Intelligence ====================================== Re: Cetacean Intelligence. Any one interested in this unfolding debate maybe interested to refer to the following paper: Klinowska, M. (1992) Brains, Behaviour and Intelligence in Cetaceans in Jonsson, Orn, D. (Editor) WHALES AND ETHICS. Reykjavik, Iceland: University of Iceland Press,. ======================================= John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 17:02:40 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: Atypical Mass Stranding of Ziphius cavirostris in Greece The Ziphius stranding reported by Alexis Frantzis from Greece is very interesting not only because cetacean mass-strandungs are so rare in the Mediterranean. Another report exists in the literature (Tortonese, E. 1963. Insolita comparsa di cetacei (Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuv.) nel Golfo di Genova. Natura (Milano) 54:120-122) of a stranding in the Mediterranean of > 10 Cuvier's beaked whales over a time span of several days and along a stretch of coast of several km. This seems to point to a rather atypical character of mass-strandings for Ziphius, where unity of time and unity of space are not respected (as, e.g., in Globicephala and Pseudorca). If I recall correctly, other similar Ziphius "mass" strandings were reported by Mark Simmonds from the Canary Islands. In that case underwater explosions caused by military manoeuvres were mentioned as a possible cause of the problem. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara ***************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 72001946 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it ***************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 18:17:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Atypical Mass Stranding of Ziphius cavirostris ... (fwd) Forwarded message: From: jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu (Jim Moore) Voice from the ignorant fringe: if most mass strandings reflect/result from social phenomena*, then could these events be telling us something new about Ziphius social organization/communication? We assume "social groups" must be spatially cohesive at a scale we can appreciate, but is it _possible_ that individuals scattered over 10s of km might be in acoustic and hence social contact in a meaningful way, such the latest stranding represents a "pod" ? One handle on that by analogy with other taxa MIGHT be to look at DNA of the co-stranders for evidence of kin relationships... Just a thought... cheers Jim Jim Moore/Anthro/UCSD * This could be either directly or INdirectly "social"-- a) a number of individuals find themselves in topographic/weather conditions promoting stranding, and all strand simultaneously because they were traveling as a social group when they got there, OR b) there's some actual _social_ component, eg group follows one sick one to shore, or all get sick at same time because they are social. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 22:34:20 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: Cetacean Intelligence John Dineley wrote: > Re: Cetacean Intelligence. > Any one interested in this unfolding debate maybe interested to refer > to the following paper: > > Klinowska, M. (1992) Brains, Behaviour and Intelligence in > Cetaceans in Jonsson, Orn, D. (Editor) WHALES AND ETHICS. > Reykjavik, Iceland: University of Iceland Press,. This paper can be found on the High North Web at this adress: http://www.highnorth.no/br-be-an.htm It was first presented at a May 1991 seminar in Reykjavik, "Whales and Ethichs", hosted by the Fisheries Research Institute and the High North Alliance and then printed in the source cited above. The paper was reprinted in 1992 in the High North Alliance booklet "11 Essays on Whales and Man". Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance highnor(\)online.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 19:46:16 EDT From: Jaap van der Toorn <73064.2662(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: captive release Doug Cartlidge writes: > The European Cetacean Organization (ECO) would like to pose the following > question to the scientists and cetacean display industry supporters who are > so vociferous in their opposition to the relocation of captive cetaceans for > release back into the wild. If you have folllowed the discussions about this issue closely, you would have noted that most of the opposition has been against certain operations and approaches, not against release of captive cetaceans perse. Indeed, some release attempts have been widely recognized as well documented and well prepared efforts. Also, some releases have been conducted by members of the scientific (Wells c.s., the release of Echo and Misha) and captive display communities ( Gales and Waples, the release of the Atlantis Marine Park (Australia) animals). See also the Navy report by Brill and Friedl on this issue, which concluded that although the release of marine mammals to the wild is not a feasable option for the management of surplus animals, such releases might constitute useful experiments if conducted properly. > The two main points of opposition to the relocation and release of > captive cetaceans are: > 1. The candidates may transmit disease to the wild population; > and, once released; > 2. may cause genetic dilution or genetic problems within local wild > populations. Although both points have been raised as matters of concern (and they should be), these have not been used as insurmountable stumbling blocks for a possible release of dolphins. The main concern with respect to disease transmission is the introduction of "exotic" diseases into the receiving community. With proper quarantine procedures and intensive health checks by qualified veterinarians, the risk of introduction of exotic diseases can be minimized. Genetic problems need not be a problem, if the animals are being released into the same population/stock they were originally taken from. This issue has been raised with respect to a number of so-called non-native releases. Apart from the genetic aspect there are also other reasons why cetaceans should be released into their original groups, like possible memory of the habitat the possibility that they may be accepted back into their original social group. Both are admittedly hypothetical, but if they do remember something of the habitat and/or are accepted into the group again, this can increase their chances of surviving the release. > There has been a dramatic increase in the relocation of Cuban, Mexican, > Black Sea and US Tursiops into sea pens around the world by the display > industry, simply for commercial use in swim-with programmes. This would > appear to violate both points of opposition as disease can easily be > transmitted beyond sea pens. And then again maybe not. It will only introduce the risk of exotic disease transmission if the animals' healths have not been properly checked prior to the transport. Also, the genetic aspect will only play a role if the dolphins are allowed to roam *outside* the sea pens and interact with a local population of dolphins. Since I do not know which facilities you are referring to (and if I did I will probably not know all the details involving the relocation) I cannot say if proper caution has been taken or not. The simple fact of the relocation in itself does not necessarily constitute a risk. The details of an operation might. And this is equally true for captive display facilities, cetacean retirement facilities and halfway houses in release programs. > [...] > Where are all those criticisms from people who spent so much time and effort > suggesting Into the Blue, the Keiko project and similar programmes are > wrong and should not be allowed? Indeed, both Into the Blue and the Keiko project have been critized, but for very different reasons. The main objections against Into the Blue have been the non-native introduction character of the operation and the poor documentation and follow-up. Some time ago John Dineley has asked on this forum for confirmation of sightings of the animals after the release and so far apparently has received none. The main objection that has been raised against the Keiko project is that an enormous hype has been created for the release of an animal that most people consider to be poor candidate, because he has dermal papillomatosis of a viral origin and he seems to have a compromised immune system. The stated objective of the Keiko project is to release him with his original pod, which would make it a native release, without genetic risks. > In light of the above, ECO asks ALL those who so strenuously oppose > rehabilitation projects if they have been as vocal in their opposition of > the relocation of "alien" captive Tursiops into sea pens around the world. I don't think this is necessary. It is a fairly safe assumption, that the captive industry will be more alert (critical if you will) towards projects, initiated by the "anti-captivity lobby". It is equally safe to assume that there is a similar bias in the anti-captivity groups towards initiatives undertaken by the captive display industry. There are biased views on both sides of the fence. Emphasizing on just one side will get us nowhere and only serves to polarize. --- Jaap --- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaap van der Toorn 73064.2662(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 22:21:08 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Minke Whale estimate, Northeast Atlantic Since I forwarded the news - from the High North News Web - of a new abundance estimate for the North-East Atlantic Minke Whales resulting in an increased quota, there has been a discussion on the Marmam of the origine of this information. Simen Gaure wrote: > The IWC approved group which has worked on the abundance estimate has > still not made its report public. The abundance estimates we have seen > this far must therefore be considered to have been leaked ..... The information about the new estimate was first brought to public knowledge by the Norwegian commissioner to the IWC, Mr. Kaare Bryn from the Ministery of Foreign Affairs, at a prepratory meeting for the 1995 whaling season in Svolvaer May 4. attended by the whalers. The news was picked up by the Norwegian television channel, TV2, and the newspaper "Lofotposten". Bryn said the the new point estimate was somewhere between 120 000 and 130 000 animals - and that there was full agreement in the international group of scientists appointed by the IWC Scientific Committee on this figure. On this background I asked Lars Walloe, Norwegian government scientific advisor on marine mammals, to give a comment to High North Web News. He corrected the figure Bryn had given and told that the new estimate for the North East Atlantic stock is "a good 110 000". The bakcground for this difference is probably that Bryn's figure also included minke whales in the Jan Mayen area, which belongs to the Central Atlantic Stock. Walloe was not willing to give further details about the content of the report of scientific group, but confirmed that there was a full agreement within the group on the estimate. Ron Orenstein wrote: >> I am curious in this case as to why Norway has chosen to announce an >> increased catch quota before the facts allegedly supporting >> it become available. Simen Gaure wrote (in response to Orenstein): > The group has finished its report, it has just not released it yet. > There's every reason to believe that the Norwegian Government > has good contacts within the group. I.e. the report, or at least > its major conclusions, is most probably available to the Government, > even if it's not available to us. The raw data the IWC-SC appointed group is working on stem from a Norwegian counting surveys and Norwegian scientists are of course doing all the work needed to caculate an estimate from these data. (In the 1995 survey it was international observers onboard all boats taking part). This work is then presented to the IWC-SC appointed group. The situation now - as Bryn has presented it in Svolvaer - is that the IWC-SC appointed group on all important points is supporting the calculation methodes (which again was based on detailed discussion and concensus in that group)and results the Norwegian scientists had put forward . It is also important to note that Norway is not obliged to wait for an IWC approved estimate before setting a quota. Under it's objecktion to the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling (with legal basis in the International Convention for the Regulation on Whaling - ICRW) Norway is free to set it's own quota - and there is nothing to be found in the ICRW about what criterias to use when setting a quota under such conditions. Last year Norway based it's quota on a preliminary estimate from norwegian scientist - as the IWC appointed group had not finished it's revision of the estimate from the 1988/89 counting survey. The quota was set at very low level because of the discussion surrounding the estimation at that time. I think it is still clear that in a situation where an IWC approved estimate exists, this will be the basis the Norwegian quota calculation. And even more obvious, in the hypothetical situation where the IWC is setting the catch quotas, (a situation which is highly unlikely to occure) the IWC approved estimate would always constiute the basis for the quota calculation. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance highnor(\)online.no ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 23:30:08 -0700 From: Pieter Folkens Subject: Re: The gaff on it's way out ....... For MARMAMmers following the Faroe Grind discussion: Our species has utilized a tremedously wide variety of schemes for obtaining protein, from canabalism to clear cutting rainforests to grow soy beans. Each culture has determined where to delineate the various issues of morality and good taste. Some societies are vegetarian; others ate their neighbors. Cultures (and religions) imposing their beliefs on others has been pervasive throughout history. In the modern information age many social borders have blurred. Vociferious believers have easier access to cultures which are in direct conflict with their ideas. Today Middle East clerics want France declared a State of Islam and animal rights advocates want the Faroese the whale hunt ended. So what's the correct path? I don't know, but the discussion is fun. In the First Church of Biology the Socratic Method, empirical results and rigirous critical thought is fundamental to the faith. (May I be so bold as to suggest to MARMAM editors that their figment serves as a chapel?) Keepers of the faith must cast out sin where ever it occurs. (But as the Amish believe: hate the sin, not the sinner.) This brings me to my rebuttal of Georg Blichfeldt's response to my "cowboy" piece. He wrote: >True communication on the animal welfare issues cannot be built on the >assumption that those on the other side is less concerned with ethics >than yourself or that they are dishonest. I agree wholeheartedly with that statement. My previous comments were directed more to the nature of the arguments than the ethics of the underlying issue. Jim Moore's very germane comments about appropriate analogies did the same, but were glossed over. I resorted to a distracting analogy of raising cattle to stress Moore's insight and see what response I'd get. Specifically, comparing a hook in the blow hole to a ring in a bull's nose doesn't work as a reasonable argument. The response I got will serve to illuminate the need for all participants in the discussion to pay closer attention to the nature of the arguments. Whaling defenders will gain no advantage using inappropriate analogies while their opponents gain nothing by fabricating or fudging the facts. We human beings have a unique flaw when it comes to defending our belief systems. We suspend our capacity for thinking critically. The Faroe Grind is a culture clash, plain and simple. (Simple?) There are several measuring sticks on which to assess the Faroese hunt in the modern global perspective. In this issue the animal rights advocates are up against a long-held cultural tradition. No matter what is said, no matter how compelling the arguments, the Faroese will never be convinced that what they are doing is wrong. They do, however, believe that the activities of their 'enemies' is wrong, or at least misguided. The bulk of Dr. Blichfeldt's response simply served to underscore the dichotomous situation presented by the Faroese hunt. To which I offer again the farm analogy. When I was a kid the electric cattle prod was used widely, but we didn't own one and I never used spurs while riding horses either. Those who used such devices felt wholely justified despite vociferous complaints from animal activists. Just the same, there is a large contingent of folks who don't like the idea of raising cattle altogether. It's a continuim. Is there any hope of finding a universally acceptable balance? Georg wrote:> >To my first paragraph I would like to add that I think that all animal >users, included whale hunters, have a tendency to paint their use of >animals in a bit too idyllic colours. I my opinion this was also the >case with "the cowboy", Pieter Folkens', description of how things are >done on the farm - at least if his description was meant to be a general >one - not only representing his own farm experience. (My background is >also farming.) Georg is corect here also except that he missed the humor and subtile sarcasm in my ranch analogy and suggestion of how Faroese can move cattle. I will say, however, that there is something to spending summers and autumns on a horse in the High Sierra, the Cascades or the Rockies with good friends, a good dog and other stuff one can't understand if they haven't done it or don't listen to Garth, John and Emmy Lou. (It's sorta close to spending summers in Alaska watching humpbacks and orcas on a reliable boat, with good friends, etc.) It can be dirty, hard work, but you want to labor behind a desk? Happy tails to you! Pieter \|/ * .-----------^____ _/ ~ |___* __= { ~ ~ `----\\------' ~ ~ `\ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 10:00:54 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: news clip - underwater sounds By PEGGY ANDERSEN Associated Press Writer SEATTLE (AP) -- Environmentalists and operators of whale-watching boats say they are concerned that a proposed underwater sound experiment off the coast of Washington state could harm local marine mammals. Scientists want to send bursts of sound through Haro Strait to learn more about the "front" where salt and fresh waters meet in the channel between the San Juan Islands and Canada's Vancouver Island. "The only way you can communicate underwater is using sound. That's what whales have known for millions and millions of years," said Henrik Schmidt, an engineering professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who requested a marine mammal harassment permit for the Navy-funded study. The National Marine Fisheries Service has solicited public comments about the 26-day experiment, which is scheduled to begin June 10. The marine mammals that would be affected include killer whales, also called orcas, harbor seals, and harbor and Dall's porpoises. "Probably the orcas won't even notice we are there," Schmidt said. Others aren't so sure. The strait "is not a vast ocean ... it's a narrow highway that the orcas travel through," said Peter Hamilton of the Lifeforce Foundation, an environmental group in Vancouver, British Columbia. While the researchers' permit application suggests animals that are bothered can just swim away, Hamilton says it will take time for area marine life to learn that the noise is harmful. His group wants the researchers to shut off their equipment when they know whales and other marine mammals are nearby. The Northwest Whale-Watcher Operators Association, whose 18 member companies take people out to observe the whales and other marine life, voted 17-1 to oppose the project -- despite a bylaw that calls for them to support and encourage research. The scientists "just don't know what it's going to do. The industry just doesn't want to take the chance," said group president Roy Sayvetz from the Vashon Island offices of his Island Institute. Also, Sayvetz said, the experiment is planned for the height of the tourist season "when there are more whales around than any other time of year." Patrick Miller, a graduate student in biology both at MIT and at the Woods Hole (Mass.) Oceanographic Institution, has a separate grant from the Office of Naval Research to monitor the experiment's impact on wildlife. He maintains that more noise is made for longer periods by boats -- including whale-watching boats -- and by fish finders, bottom sonars and deterrent devices at hatcheries. "It (the noise) might not bother them (the killer whales and other marine mammals) at all," he said. "They seem to be awfully resilient" about noise from area boat traffic. The fisheries service has noted that most of the sounds planned for the study are at levels so low they do not require authorization. The researchers "are correctly taking a cautious approach" because of recent controversy surrounding acoustic research off the California coast by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the federal agency said. The researchers plan to transmit sound -- in short-term clicks -- from several points for about four hours a day. Two underwater robots will be used to collect data. The frequencies involved in the Haro Strait study will be much lower than those used by Scripps, Schmidt said. The researchers are consulting with whale study groups and trying to keep the process as open as possible, he noted -- to the extent of creating a web page on the Internet (file://sardine.whoi.edu/pub/html/haro.html) for those with an interest in submarine acoustics. The researchers are making every effort to reduce the impact of their experiment, said Miller, who was invited to participate when he raised concerns about the project. In addition, an independent panel of four area scientists will follow the effort and can call for suspending the experiment if there is evidence of harm, Miller said. The permit application suggests that the study's effects on marine mammals could include harassment, temporary or permanent hearing loss, habitat displacement or even death, though it says any harmful effects will be addressed with an effective monitoring plan. Miller said even temporary hearing loss was unlikely. The loudest sounds will register about 195 decibels. That's about the equivalent on land of a 135-decibel jet takeoff, Miller said, though he noted that is an ongoing sound, not short-term clicks like the sounds that will be used for the experiment. "Animals have been shown to respond very differently to clicks ... they have a very different impact than a long-duration sound," he added. An outboard motor registers about 170 decibels -- 110 decibels underwater, he said, contending that only by monitoring the effects of such sounds can society knowledgeably deal with the impact of boat and ferry traffic on marine mammals. Miller said he hopes his research "will give us some idea what levels of sound actually matter to the animals" and help protect them. Schmidt said the research is an environmental study "with no direct military application whatsoever." The salt and fresh water fronts the researchers want to study are similar to those in the atmosphere, but little is known about how they behave and develop, he said. Killer whales pass down the front to feed on salmon drawn by food that is stirred up there, he said. "The behavior of this front plays a very important role for that ecosystem." In the event of a major oil spill, the front would have a role "in determining how oil is mixed with water mass," Schmidt said, noting that 30 tankers a day pass through the strait. "That's a very attractive goal," said Howard Garrett at the Center for Whale Research, which has its headquarters at Friday Harbor in the San Juans. However, he said, he was not sure how the research would help increase such understanding. He noted that the Coast Guard is already quite familiar with area tides and currents. Porpoises likely will be driven from the area by the noise, Garrett said, though killer whales who avoid the area during the study would have no difficulty finding food nearby. The center, which monitors area killer-whale "pods" or family groups, is "taking a sort of noninvolvement stance," but will alert the study participants to any behavioral changes attributed to their activities, Garrett said. "They'll get to play with some very expensive toys and be on a nice island," he said. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 May 1996 09:59:26 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: oil spill Any info on cetaceans being affected by this spill? In particular, is there concern for bottlenose dolphins that were affected a few years ago by the die-off. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************** New Jersey beaches fouled with spreading slick ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., May 20 (Reuter) - An oil spill four times bigger than originally estimated has fouled 40 miles of beaches along New Jersey's southern shore with tar, state officials said Monday. The slick was being carried northward by tides and winds and hundreds of workers, some using heavy machinery, were trying to clean the beaches in time for the Memorial Day weekend, start of the multi-billion dollar tourist season. Most of the beaches were open for crowds seeking relief from record-breaking heat but some were closed until they could be cleaned. The spill occurred in Delaware Bay May 9 when a valve failed during a cargo transfer to barges. The Coast Guard said Sunday it was 42,000 gallons, four times the original estimate. It had reached Atlantic City beaches by Monday morning, said Loretta O'Donnell, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. O'Donnell said booms had been installed at the mouths of Absecon and Brigantine inlets to protect important waterfowl habitat. The biggest concern was the fate of an endangered species, the piping plover. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 11:51:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Response to Klinowska 1992 (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu Folks, In the continuing discussion of cetacean hunting and intelligence it has been suggested that a useful source of information on this issue be found in Klinowska (1992) "Brains, Behavior, and Intelligence in Cetaceans". I recently read Klinowska's paper for the scond time and feel compelled to respond. Here are my points: (I apologize for the length). 1. In her Introduction Klinowska cites a failure to find something extraordinary about the brains of distinguished people in Kuhlenbeck (1978) as a set-up for her general proposition that brain measures are unrelated to intelligence. But these few anecdotal examples are of no consequence because no one is claiming the correlation between measures of brain size and intelligence is perfect. A few anecdotal examples do not diminish the statistical evidence. Furthermore, measures of the relationship between brain size and intelligence are not as valid for intra-species comparisons as they are for inter-species comparisons because of the truncated range of intra-species values. NEVERTHELESS, there is recent evidence by Andreasen et al (1993) and Willerman et al (1991) that the correlation coefficient between IQ and various brain component volumes (as measured by MRI) is .4 - not trivial. 2. Klinowska cites MacPhail (1982) as evidence that exceptions to the brain size-intelligence correlation bring down the whole relationship. Again - no one claims the relationship is perfect. Furthermore, in addition to quantity, *organization* plays a role in intelligence. No proponent of the brain-behavior relationship would claim that quantity is the only important feature. This brings me to my next point regarding the eternally frustrating citation of the spiny hedgehog or ("basal insectivore") as a glaring exception to the brain-intelligence rule because of its supposedly large frontal cortex - so large, in fact, it is claimed to be relatively larger than in humans! This is an entirely innacurate example that is used, unfortunately, repeatedly to make points similar to Klinowska's. The reason it is wholly innacurate is because an examination of the hedgehog brain shows that it does *not* have a tremendous frontal lobe or neocortex. Instead, it has a lot of tissue towards the front of the brain that makes it *look* like huge frontal lobes but in fact is not organizationally the same as frontal neocortical tissue in humans! Given all this, there is an abundance of evidence for an imperfect *but existent* correlation between measures of intelligence and measures of relative brain size. These would be too numerous to cite but I'll mention a few. Passingham (1975) and Masterton and Skeen (1972) have provided convincing evidence that measures of relative brain volume relate to performance on discrimination learning and delayed alternation tasks, respectively. Riddel and colleagues have done the most extensive work in this area and demonstrated, through numerous studies in the 1970's, that there is a significant relationship between indices of learning and encephalization and other measures of relative brain size. Furthermore, found that *encephalization level* - and *not* phylogenetic closeness - predicted performance on various learning tasks in mammals. 3. Klinowska states that dolphins "have not developed the latest stage of brain evolution" because they don't have some features that humans and other land mammals do - yet - at the same time - urges us not to adopt an anthropocentric view of intelligence and brain size! Over and above the glaring contradiction in her statements, one can point to features of the dolphin brain that are not found in other animals as evidence for the dolphin being "more evolved" than the others (if one wanted to play that kind of a scala naturae game). For instance, cetaceans have a unique type of cortical arrangement that includes a paralimbic lobe - something humans and other species do not possess. 4. One of the most glaring weaknesses of Klinowska's paper is her unfamiliarity with the behavioral literature on language capacities and behavioral complexity in cetaceans and primates. She states (using relatively old sources) that the performance of dolphins, chimpanzees, and other primates on language capacity tests show that they are doing nothing more than performing a series of actions for reward (i.e., are performing no better than a pigeon). Klinowska is obviously wholly unaware of the more recent well-controlled experimental work done by Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1993) demonstrating syntactic understanding in a bonobo on a par with that of a 2 year old human child. It is also astounding that Klinowska does not ever cite Lou Herman, who, through first-rate experimental work with captive bottlenose dolphins over many years, is probably the person that has contributed the most to our understanding of language capacities in dolphins. Numerous studies (considered classic by many) of Herman et al show that bottlenose dolphins have a very sophisticated capacity for understanding artificial language in both the auditory and gestural mode. Herman and colleagues have found that their dolphins understand simple rules of syntax. But, again, this is known by *anyone* familiar with the relevant literature - which Klinowska totally ignores. In addition, Klinowska makes the preposterous statement that it is the "performance tricks" of dolphins that have led to the belief that they are intelligent. *No serious scientist studying dolphin behavior and intelligence has ever used their capacity for performing tricks as an important criterion for intelligence in these animals".* Again - it is the body of experimental evidence that has led to the hypothesis that many cetacean species are intelligent. Klinowska also claims that cetacean communication systems are "too limited" to possess any characteristics similar to a complex language such as human language. I am baffled as to how she can make this definitive statement while serious researchers in cetacean communication have been working for decades to understand cetacean communication systems and no one feels they have even gotten close to understanding the complexities of cetacean communication. In addition, one can argue that the very fact that we don't find simple calls in predictable contexts in cetaceans suggests that something more complex is going on. if it were simple - we would have already figured it out! 6. As far as Klinowska's statements about the dolphin's large brain and lack of REM sleep (i.e., Crick andMitchinson's theory) - again - there is no evidence to support it *and* one cannot make causal directional statements from correlational data - plain and simple. I apologize for the length of this missive but, as someone whose research is focused on brain-behavior relationships in cetaceans and primates, I am responsible for replying to information that I view as innacurate and misleading. I agree with Klinowska on one point - that the physiological and behavioral evidence is the hook we should hang our hats on when assessing cetacean intelligence. Yes - but Klinowksa has ignored all of the relevant literature. If she had not done so, she would have come to the conclusion that the physiological and behavioral evidence suggests that cetaceans should not be ruled out as a group of highly intelligent and complex mammals. Thanks for your wading through this. Hope it helps. Lori Marino ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 17:15:14 EST Reply-To: CDM(\)vetmed1.vetmed.ufl.edu From: Chris Marshall Organization: U of F College of Vet. Med. Subject: Intelligence Greetings, I will offer my two cents in the discussion of intelligence, albeit rather reluc tantly. The term "intelligence" has so many connotations that most discussions lead to creating a working definition of intelligence that can be applied comparatively. So far I have seen little agreement on such a definition. Correlation of crude indices such as encephalization quotients, gyration indices, and brain weight wi th intelligence often leads to erroneous conclusions and often an anthropomorphic view of intelligence in other taxa. I also direct readers to Klinowska (1994), Brains, Behavior and Intelligence in Cetaceans (conveniently located on the High North Home Page). Margaret Klinowska has reviewed the literature on this topic well and I encourage readers to examine the cited literature. I would argue tha t we can not put stock into the relationship between relative brain size (or any othe r single crude index) and general intelligence. Searching for an index for intelligence is a vain objective. We can, however, attempt to understand the capabilities of the brain based on structure. For sake of argument, let us limi t ourselves to mammalian brains (since the discussion centers around marine mammals). Glezer et al. (1988) attempted to describe the evolution of the mammalian brains based on the "initial brain" concept which considers the brain structure of hedgehogs to be representative of an ancestral state. Although the "initial brain" concept has many critics, Glezer et al. (1988) hypothesized that mammalian brains can be placed into four isocortical (~cerebral cortex) categori es which represent four parallel or sequential stages of isocortical evolution (conservative, conservative/progressive, progressive/conservative, progressive). The cetacean brain is place in a category to itself (conservative/progressive). Whether or not you buy into the "initial brain" concept, Glezer et al. (1988) cr eated a comparative system that uses many variables to describe mammalian brain structure. Using the criteria put forth by Glezer et al. (1988), the cetacean b rain deviates from the mainstream of mammalian isocortical evolution. We know cetacean brains exhibit a high encephalization quotient, a high gyration index b ut a relatively non-differentiated cytoarchitecture and thin cerebral cortex (Klinowska, 1994). Our work on Florida manatee brains brings an interesting light to this discuss ion. Sirenians are the only marine mammal herbivores in existence. The are considered by some to be slow moving water cows that eat and sleep all day, not a candidate demonstrating a high level of intelligence. Their brains are characterized by a low encephalization quotient (O'Shea and Reep, 1990) and low gyration index (Reep and O'Shea, 1990). If we stop at this level and also put s tock into the correlation between encephalization quotient and intelligence, sirenian s appear to be of low intelligence . However, if we consider the volume devoted t o the cerebral cortex as a relative percentage we find that Florida manatees posse ss a similar percentage of cerebral cortex as some primates (Reep and O'Shea, 1990). In addition, if we examine the internal structure of cerebral cortex of manatees we find that it contains all six layers of neurons considered to be consistent with other mammalian brains (except cetaceans which are missing one layer). The degree of differentiation of cerebral cortex (different number of cortical areas based on cytoarchitecture) is quite high (24 cortical areas). Reep et al. (1989) and Mar shall and Reep (1995). I content that sirenians represent yet another deviation from the mainstream in mammalian brain evolution. Comparisons between sirenian and cetacean brains clearly show that indices such as encephalization quotients and gyration indices can be and often are inconsistent with observations of internal structure complexity. I do not mean to say that sirenian brains are more structurally complicated, more highly evolved, or more intelligent than cetaceans, only that we must be careful of single numbe rs that try to quantify a elusive concept such as intelligence. For more informati on regarding manatee neuroanatomy, behavior and life history visit the WWW site at the University of Wisconsin at hhtp://www.neurophys.wisc.edu/manatee/biblio.html. Literature Cited Glezer, I.I., Jacobs, P.J. and P.J. Morgane. 1988. Implications of the "initial brain" concept for brain evolution. Behavioral Brain Science 11:75-116. Marshall, C.D. and R.L. Reep. 1995. Manatee cerebral cortex: Cytoarchitecture o f the caudal region in Trichechus manatus latirostris. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 45:1-18. O'Shea, T.J. and R.L. Reep. 1990. Encephalization quotients and life history tr aits in the Sirenia. Journal of Mammalogy 71(4):534-543 Reep, R.L., J.I. Johnson, R.C. Switzer, and W.I. Welker. 1989. Manatee cerebral cortex: cytoarchitecture of the frontal region in Trichechus manatus latirostri s. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 34:365-386. Reep, R.L. and T.J. O'Shea. 1990. Regional brain morphometry and lissencephaly in the Sirenia. Brain, Behavior and Evolution 35:185-194 Christopher Marshall Department of Physiological Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine Marine Mammal Studies Box 100144JHMHC University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32610-0144 Email:CDM(\)VETMED1.VETMED.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 16:21:10 EST From: Carolyn Levi Subject: Re: underwater sounds I have appended the correct story of the Haro Strait experiment, which was written up in the AP clipping posted this morning. You can find regular updates on the two web pages cited at the end of this news release. Carolyn Levi, Ph.D. MIT Sea Grant > Date: Wed, 22 May 96 10:59:07 > From: thomson(\)MIT.EDU (Elizabeth Thomson) > To: levi(\)MIT.EDU > Subject: Expedition in Haro Strait > > MIT News Office > Massachusetts Institute of Technology > Room 5-111 > 77 Massachusetts Avenue > Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 > Phone: 617-253-2700 > > ======================================== > Proposed June expedition to use > robotic subs, more to study tidal mixing > ======================================== > > For Immediate Release, May 9, 1996 > > Contact: Elizabeth Thomson, , > (617) 258-5402, or > > Henrik Schmidt, , > (617) 253-5727 or > > David Farmer, , > (604) 363-6591 > > > CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-A proposed expedition next month in waters > off the coast of Washington State would use robotic > submarines and buoys that talk to one another to gather > information that could ultimately aid the cleanup of oil > spills in this and similar areas. The scientists involved > hope to learn more about the tidal mixing of river and ocean > waters. > > The experiment, planned to run from June 10 through July 5 > pending approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service, > involves the transmission of brief pulses of sound. As a > result, the scientists have worked closely with marine > biologists to ensure that there is no potential for injury > to marine mammals. > > The researchers are from MIT, the Woods Hole Oceanographic > Institution (WHOI), the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS), > and the University of Victoria (UVIC), British Columbia. > Professor Henrik Schmidt, associate head of the Department > of Ocean Engineering (OE), leads the MIT and WHOI program; > David Farmer leads the IOS team in Canada. > > THE EXPERIMENT > Surface slicks of foam, seaweed or other detritus in > coastal waters often signify a tidal front, in which two > different water masses--for example, river and ocean > water--meet. Characterized by vigorous mixing, the front > stirs nutrient-rich water up into the surface layer, > attracting a variety of plants and animals. Fronts are > therefore important to the food chain. > > But while scientists understand that the mixing along a > front supports an abundance of life, there are uncertainties > about the way in which the water mixes in the first place. > They hope to solve this puzzle by studying a tidal front at > Haro Strait, a narrow channel between Washington State and > Vancouver Island, BC. To do so they will bring together for > the first time autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), buoys > that talk to one another, and instruments designed to > acoustically image the small-scale structure of the front. > > Understanding the mixing at the front may help protect > Haro > Strait and similar environments. The experimental site > itself is a very busy waterway adjoining the straits of Juan > de Fuca and Rosario, along which numerous tankers carry > Alaskan oil. If a tanker ruptures anywhere in this area, > emergency crews will have to act wisely to save marine life. > They can only do so if they understand how waters in the > strait move and mix the spill. > > The five buoys, which will be tethered to the ocean floor, > will be clustered around the rough location of the front. > Acoustic instrumentation along the length of each tether > will send and receive short pulses of sound. This sound can > be used to detect the front and to communicate with the AUVs > (which also send and receive sound). > > Sound travels at different speeds through waters of > different temperature and salinity. So by tracking the speed > of sound from one tether to another, the scientists hope to > map extreme changes in salinity and temperature. This would > indicate the rough location of the front. > > This technique can't, however, give details about the > front. Enter the AUVs. Once the front is found (its position > changes based on the tides), its location will be > communicated to the AUVs. The robots will then move in to > take detailed measurements of salinity and temperature and > otherwise characterize the area. > > Imaging sonars will be fitted both to the AUVs and a > freely > drifting buoy. "The sonars will acquire images of turbulence > effects on the surface and beneath, providing valuable > insight on the way in which mixing takes place," Dr. Farmer > said. A ship will make detailed maps of the current and > water properties throughout the strait; additional moorings > will provide measurements of tidal current and water > properties over a larger area. > > Data from the AUVs and some of the moorings will be > broadcast to computers in the "nerve center" on shore, where > researchers will review it then send back instructions for > where the subs should go next. "This real-time access to the > data allows us to adapt the experiment as we go along," said > Professor Schmidt. > > Some of the data will be forwarded via the Internet to MIT > and WHOI for analysis by other researchers. "This is > necessary for analyses that require more computational power > than is available in the nerve center," Professor Schmidt > said. If successful, such use of the Internet could allow > future researchers to perform experiments from the office. > > PROTECTING MARINE MAMMALS > The researchers built into the experiment a number of > safeguards to protect marine mammals. For example, mammals > in the area will be monitored closely before, during, and > immediately after the experiment. Those common to Haro > Strait include harbor porpoises, Dall's porpoises, killer > whales, and harbor seals. > > If the monitoring shows that the experiment is having a > significant impact on the animals--say, a radical change in > travel behavior--an independent oversight committee composed > of marine- mammal experts will be alerted. The four members > are from Marineworld and the University of Washington, UVIC, > the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, BC, and the Whale > Museum at Friday Harbor, Wash. This committee "has the > authority to shut us down," said Professor Schmidt. > > The researchers have also adapted the acoustic system so > as > not to startle the animals. "Rather than coming on suddenly, > the sound will start softly then ramp up," Professor Schmidt > explained. "So even if an animal happens by accident to be > right next to the source, it won't be surprised." > > The sounds from the experiment will be similar to those > made by the underwater electronic sonar devices used by > fishermen to locate schools of fish. Professor Schmidt noted > that "whale-watching boats are much noisier than our > experiment will be." The short pulses of sound--the longest > will last two seconds and be broadcast once a minute--will > be transmitted for about four hours a day during the > three-week period of the experiment. > > As standard procedure, the researchers have applied to the > National Marine Fisheries Service for a permit for the > experiment. The permit details all monitoring and mitigation > procedures. > > Patrick J. Miller, a graduate student in the Department of > Biology and WHOI, is leading the monitoring effort. Mr. > Miller is not one of the scientists involved in the formal > experiment. An expert on marine mammals and sound, he heard > about the experiment and recognized that the instrumentation > involved would also likely yield a wealth of data on the > habits of the animals themselves. As Professor Schmidt > notes, "60-70 percent of the time the sound sources won't be > on. We'll just be listening." Mr. Miller and his advisor, > Peter Tyack at WHOI, represent the marine-mammal scientists. > Mr. Miller wrote the application for the permit. > > MIT scientists involved in the experiment, in addition to > Professor Schmidt, are: Professor Arthur B. Baggeroer and > graduate students Pierre Elisseeff, John H. Kim, Jeffrey S. > Willcox, and Yanwu Zhang, all of OE. Principal Research > Engineer James G. Bellingham, Research Engineer John J. > Leonard, Research Specialist Robert J. Grieve, and > Postdoctoral Fellow Bradley A. Moran, all of the MIT Sea > Grant College Program. Max Deffenbaugh, a graduate student > in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer > Science. > > Scientists from IOS and UVIC, in addition to Dr. Farmer, > include Rich Pawlowicz and Ross Chapman. Scientists from > WHOI are Principal Investigators David Herold and Mark > Johnson, and Matthew Grund. > > The Haro Strait experiment is supported by the Office of > Naval Research. Mr. Miller is also supported by ONR, but > through a different grant. The development of the AUV > technology has been funded by ONR, the MIT Sea Grant College > Program, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, > and the National Science Foundation. > > The home page for the experiment is at > . In addition, a > second home page that is under development will allow kids > to get involved. For example, they will be able to track the > movements of the subs (though not in real time). This page > is at . ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 17:21:29 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Pink Dolphin's Death Arouses E Pink Dolphin's Death Arouses Experts' Attention HONG KONG (May 22) XINHUA - Dolphin researchers in Hong Kong are worried about the decreasing number of pink dolphins in the territory's waters. According to Local media, a pink dolphin was found dead on a Lantau beach this week, the second death case found this year. Dolphin researcher Chris Parsons warned that Hong Kong's small population of dolphins could be extinct within the next 10 years. He said there were about 100 pink dolphins left in Hong Kong's waters, but heavy shipping, pollution, over-fishing, building work and reclamation were taking their toll. Twenty-one dead pink dolphins have been found in the past two years, but the total number of deaths is probably at least twice that, he said. "Some are hit by boats, get caught in the propellers or drowned in fishing nets. They also pick up diseases as basically they are swimming around in sewage solution," he said. Experts called on the government and communities to take protective measures for the dolphins. It is learned that plans for a 1,200-hectare marine park for the dolphins near Sha Chau are under public consultation. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 May 1996 18:39:20 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: RE Haro strait Carolyn Levi forwarded the story on the Haro Strait project from the MIT News Office, which states in part: > The five buoys, which will be tethered to the ocean floor, > will be clustered around the rough location of the front. > Acoustic instrumentation along the length of each tether > will send and receive short pulses of sound. This sound can > be used to detect the front and to communicate with the AUVs > (which also send and receive sound). Back when MARMAM was discussing ATOC, I posted a query regarding a recent _Science_ Research News piece: Travis, J. (1994). Dialing up undersea data--long distance. Science. 263: 1223-1224. which talks about the potential for acoustic modems. The article suggested that these might be distributed around at something like 1 to 10km intervals creating an oceanographic sensor network; Josko Catipovic (WHOI) is quoted as saying 'acoustic modems will provide a "global underwater cellular network".' The closing line is: "If [acoustic modems catch on], amidst the bellows of whales and the clicks and whistles of dolphins, oceanographers will increasingly hear the sweet sound of data." The ATOC discussion was focussed pretty much on the [GREATLY exagerrated] direct mortality risks of loud noises--"will ATOC kill whales dead?" sort of thing--and against that backdrop issues of little squeaky modems paled; there was no followup on MARMAM. It looks to me like the Haro Strait technology is the sort of thing Travis was reporting on; so question: Leaving aside the particular application of a small array in Haro Strait, *are* such acoustic modems going to be gaining in popularity? *Is* it possible that in a few years we will see proposals to establish grid networks of _hundreds_ of them along continental shelves? And if so, has anyone looked into the potential biological impact of large-scale, routine use? I ask NOT from a position of "I'm sure it must be nasty, let's stop it and go back to lead lines", but because the Travis article was remarkably insensitive to the issue given that it came out during the ATOC debate and I just sorta worry about that. NB: as I read the MIT release, there will be two sorts of sound involved; sensor pulses that are ramped up (to avoid startling animals), _and_ communication pulses that tell the AUVs where to go and transmit data back to land. Are the later ramped up, and on mainly-off duty cycles? Thanks much, Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 07:56:14 +0200 From: lgygax(\)amath.unizh.ch Subject: Publications in Marine Mammology Dear marmamers, The list of literature on spinner dolphins recently posted on marmam by Ania Driscoll-Lind prompted me to this response on a subject I am wondering about for quite a while. I am currently trying to compile some information in marine mammology, especially on dolphins and porpoises. I am mainly reading papers and follow the literature cited therein. This is often a frustrating process because a huge proportion of the cited work are unpublished MSc, PhD-thesis or some sorts of reports. My current list of what I want to look for comprises about 20 % unpublished documents and I have avoided a lot of those during compilation of the list. I have never seen a field where such citations amount to that proportion and where researchers didn't object to citing such a huge amount of unpublished and therefor largely unattainable information. Somehow I believe if good work has been done - and I think good work IS being done (except for some problems which are in my eyes due to the fact that marine mammology is still a pretty young filed) - it is worth (not to say a must or at least good scientific policy) and possible to publish the results. Can you give me some thoughts about why this is the case in marine mammology, and what your strategy is to actually get the original information in these cases (and I am not talking about 1 or 2 documents but about around 50)? Thanks for your time and thoughts Lorenz Gygax LL GGGGGG Lorenz Gygax room: 36-L-40 LL GG GG Department of Applied Mathematics LL GG G University of Zuerich-Irchel LL GG Winterthurerstr. 190 LL GG GGGG CH-8057 Zurich / Switzerland LL GG GG voice: 41-1-257-58-52 fax: 41-1-257-57-05 LLLLLLL GGGGGGG e-mail: lgygax(\)amath.unizh.ch privat: Dennlerstr. 23, CH-8047 Zuerich, voice: 41-1-493-57-05 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 08:13:35 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Cetacean Intelligence ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: Response to Klinowska 1992 (fwd) >Lori Marino wrote: >One of the most glaring weaknesses of Klinowska's paper is her >unfamiliarity with the behavioral literature on language capacities >and behavioral complexity in cetaceans and primates. She states >(using relatively old sources) that the performance of dolphins, >chimpanzees, and other primates on language capacity tests show >that they are doing nothing more than performing a series of >actions for reward (i.e., are performing no better than a pigeon). >Klinowska is obviously wholly unaware of the more recent well- >controlled experimental work done by Savage-Rumbaugh et al >(1993) demonstrating syntactic understanding in a bonobo on a par >with thatof a 2 year old human child. The area of animal-language, or the issue whether a non-human animal can acquire a comprehension and production of human language, has by dogged by much contention. One problem is defining what is language. There appears no doubt that animals can communicate, yet, when does such communication, either naturally displayed or in the case of trained animals, become a language comparable with human language. Unfortunately, much of the research has concentrated on the animals being involved in tasks of comprehension rather then production of novel and original speech. >Klinowska is obviously wholly unaware of the more recent well- >controlled experimental work done by Savage-Rumbaugh et al >(1993) demonstrating syntactic understanding in a bonobo on a par >with that of a 2 year old human child. Ape language research has been subject to considerable controversy. For example, in the late 1970's Herbert Terrace, a researcher at Columbia University in New York, worked with a chimpanzee called "Nim". Terrace initially believed he had been able to teach "Nim" to use language. However, he later reassessed his work and used his new findings to challenge claims of language acquisition of apes in other projects (Terrace, 1979). Indeed, Savage-Rumbaugh most recent work has focused on the one bonobo (Pan paniscus) and she believes this species of chimpanzee appears to display actual basic language skills similar to young humans (Savage-Rumbaugh and Lewin, 1994). Nonetheless, her work has been heavily criticised by linguists such as Chomsky. As a leading member of discontinuity school of linguistics, he maintains that a human language develops from an innate component; a Learn Acquisition Device. He states that if animals had the capacity for language at a human level and that somehow they had not used until trained by humans it would be an evolutionary miracle (Chomsky, 1991). Whilst, Savage-Rumbaugh admits that she may have been mistaken to refer to her animals producing grammar and considers that in linguistic terms "proto- grammar" may be more appropriate. She states that her research supports the continuity school of linguistics which views human language as a continuum, rooted in our ape-like ancestors (Savage- Rumbaugh and Lewin, 1994). I would also point out the syntactic understanding of a human child at two years old is very limited and a poor analogy in support a theory of a fully developed model of animal language comprehension. >It is also astounding that Klinowska does not >ever cite Lou Herman, who, through first-rate experimental work >with captive bottlenose dolphins over many years, is probably the >person that has contributed the most to our understanding of >language capacities in dolphins. Numerous studies (considered >classic by many) of Herman et al show that bottlenose dolphins >have a very sophisticated capacity for understanding artificial >language in both the auditory and gestural mode. >Herman and colleagues have found that their dolphins understand >simple rules of syntax. But, again, this is known by *anyone* >familiar with the relevant literature - which Klinowska totally >ignores. Lou Herman's work with dolphins is indeed impressive. His research, with a small number of trained, captive animals, has involved dolphin cognition and the use of complex commands given in syntactical sentences. The dolphins do appear to understand and act on very simple word groupings. They also appear to understand modifiers, for example, an animal can be told to inter-act with object on the right of it's pool, while ignoring an identical object to the left, and vice-versa. Herman believes this may demonstrated that his dolphins are able to comprehend sentence structure (Herman, 1991). However, what about the work by Schusterman and Pepperburg?. Work with sea lions by Ron Schusterman (Schusterman and Krieger, 1984) using communication though gesture cues, found two California sea-lions (Zalophus californius) could be trained to have similar abilities to Louis Herman's research bottle-nose dolphins. Irene Pepperburg has also developed "language like" comprehension in an African grey parrot (Psittacus erthacus) called "Alex" including vocal discrimination of object shape, colour and material (Pepperburg, 1993). Where does the sea-lion and parrot fit into the equation of animal intelligence/language acquisition? REFERENCES. Chomsky, N. (1991). Clever Kanzi. US News & World Report, November, 5. 68. Herman, L. (1991) What the dolphin knows, or might know, in its natural world. In K. Pryor. and K. Norris. (Eds.) Dolphin Societies: Discoveries and Puzzles. Oxford: University of California Press. Pepperburg, I.M. (1993). Cognition and communication in an African grey parrot (Psittacus erthacus). Studies on non-human, non-mammalian subject. In H.L. Roitblat, L.M. Herman and P.E. Nachtigall. Language and communication: comparative. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Savage-Rumbaugh, S. and Lewin, R. (1994). Kanzi: The ape at the brink of the human mind. London: Transworld Publishers Ltd. Schusterman, R. and Krieger, K. (1984). California sea lions are capable of semantic comprehension. The Psychological Record, 34, 2-23. Terrace, H.S. (1979). Nim. New York: Knopf. ==================================== John Dineley PO BOX 153 Bedford MK40 2JD United Kingdom. Tel/Fax: 01234-342387 ====================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 07:05:26 -1000 From: "Herbert L. Roitblat" Subject: Re: Cetacean Intelligence In-Reply-To: <96May23.053745hst.11436(4)(\)relay1.Hawaii.Edu> On Wed, 22 May 1996 h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk wrote: > ===================================== > From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) > > > Subject: Response to Klinowska 1992 (fwd) > > >Lori Marino wrote: > >One of the most glaring weaknesses of Klinowska's paper is her > >unfamiliarity with the behavioral literature on language capacities > >and behavioral complexity in cetaceans and primates. She states > >(using relatively old sources) that the performance of dolphins, > >chimpanzees, and other primates on language capacity tests show > >that they are doing nothing more than performing a series of > >actions for reward (i.e., are performing no better than a pigeon). > >Klinowska is obviously wholly unaware of the more recent well- > >controlled experimental work done by Savage-Rumbaugh et al > >(1993) demonstrating syntactic understanding in a bonobo on a par > >with thatof a 2 year old human child. . . . > Indeed, Savage-Rumbaugh most recent work has focused on the > one bonobo (Pan paniscus) and she believes this species of > chimpanzee appears to display actual basic language skills similar > to young humans (Savage-Rumbaugh and Lewin, 1994). > > Nonetheless, her work has been heavily criticised by linguists such > as Chomsky. As a leading member of discontinuity school of > linguistics, he maintains that a human language develops from an > innate component; a Learn Acquisition Device. He states that if > animals had the capacity for language at a human level and that > somehow they had not used until trained by humans it would be an > evolutionary miracle (Chomsky, 1991). . . . > > I would also point out the syntactic understanding of a human child > at two years old is very limited and a poor analogy in support a > theory of a fully developed model of animal language > comprehension. > . . . > > Lou Herman's work with dolphins is indeed impressive. . . . > > However, what about the work by Schusterman and Pepperburg?. > . . . For people interested in this issue I woule recommend the papers in the volument we edited on language and communication. The animal language work is unquestionably controversial, but the controversy does not mean that its conclusions are necessarily wrong. H.L. Roitblat, L.M. Herman, & P.E. Nachtigall. Language and communication: comparative. Mawah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Herbert Roitblat, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology roitblat(\)hawaii.edu University of Hawaii (808) 956-6727 (808) 956-4700 fax 2430 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 08:03:50 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphin Release (fwd) Forwarded message: From: George Elston OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE FROM THE DOLPHIN PROECT At 11:30AM Thursday the 23 of May, two former Navy dolphin, Buck and Luthor, were released into the open ocean near Key West. The dolphin were part of a release program taking place at the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary, Sugarloaf Key, Fl. Before release the dolphin underwent complete physical examinations including blood tests which showed them to be in good health and disease free. They were also chasing and eating five dozen live mullet daily along with other live fish. When last seen Buck and Luthor were less than 100 yards from a pod of 4 wild dolphin and the two groups were makng a beeline for each other. The release was done by Richard O'Barry of the dolphin project. A follow up tracking program is underway. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 16:12:46 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: WWF Whaling Policy Dear Marmamers, "WWF is not an opponent of sustainable whaling on principle, irrespective of whether it is carried out by aboriginal peoples or commercially", writes WWF Norway in a letter to the whaling and fishing municipality of Moskenes in the Lofoten Islands. These are new signals in relation to how the WWF's whaling policy has been put forward so far. Below you will find the letter from WWF Norway in its entirety. For more information about the TV Fund-raising Campaign mentioned in the letter and the role of Moskenes municipality in this campaign, see the High North Web News: http://www.highnorth.no/Meny.map?45,85 (The letter is translated by Robert Walker, N-8392 Sxrvegen. walker(\)online.no. The norwegian original can be emailed from us on request.) Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance adr: N-8390 Reine, Moskenes, The Lofoten Islands, Norway highnor(\)online.no http://www.highnorth.no *********************************************** WWF Verdens Naturfond, World Wide Fund for Nature, Box 6784, St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo verdens.naturfond(\)wwf.no Oslo, 22. May 1996 To Moskenes Municipal Council The 1996 TV Fund-raising Campaign and WWF's Position on Whaling - Further Clarification On April 29, Moskenes Municipal Council replied to WWF's letter of clarification (sent on the same day), requesting that WWF Norway provide a further explanation of WWF's position on whaling. Furthermore, in a letter dated May 8, the Council asks WWF Norway to explain its position on advances made towards the American authorities regarding the implementation of sanctions against Norway designed to put a stop to the minke whale hunt. The Council is of the opinion that such an initiative is attributable to WWF International. It was, however, an initiative taken solely by WWF USA and has not been sanctioned by WWF International. WWF International has the national WWF organisations behind it in the view that as soon as one can ensure a sustainable commercial harvest of the great whales under secure international control, then whaling will no longer be a WWF concern. WWF works to safeguard the biodiversity of the Earth, giving priority to efforts designed to ensure the conservation of endangered ecosystems and species. WWF is thus not an opponent of sustainable whaling on principle, irrespective of whether it is carried out by aboriginal peoples or commercially. It is, however, imperative that the management of the great whales be regulated in accordance with international treaties, since these species migrate over wide areas of ocean and should therefore not be regarded as national resources. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the only legitimate, international body for the management of the great whales. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the world's major network of voluntary conservation organisations. The national organisations are sovereign bodies as long as they adhere to WWF's common goal - to safeguard the earth's biodiversity thus securing its future for coming generations. The WWF network has a joint coordination office in Switzerland, WWF International, which is led by a board consisting mainly of representatives from the national WWF organisations. Naturally enough, in such a large network as WWF, continual debate goes on within the organisation in order to reach common views on individual issues. These are expressed in WWF International's policy. This is also the case when it comes to the whaling issue, and every year the WWF organisations take part in discussions with a view to reaching a united WWF policy. Consequently, the national organisations are under no formal obligation to comply with the views of the network/WWF International. A WWF organisation that complies with the democratic decisions of the network, will, however, have a greater opportunity of influencing the WWF network than one that chooses to stand alone. Obviously, the various WWF organisations will also adopt quite different (culturally determined) positions in international debates, and this will influence their views and statements, even after the WWF network has reached agreement on a common position. The quote by WWF USA's president in the following-up letter of April 29, is a good example of this and also shows that not all WWF organisations stick to WWF's united policy. On calling for US sanctions against Norway recently, WWF USA has taken the issue further than WWF International's policy allows for, but they explain that this is a vent for their deep frustration over the fact that the Norwegian authorities year after year continue to defy the express wishes of the IWC. WWF Norway dissociates itself with WWF USA's line of action in this issue, and will make this clear when we discuss the matter with WWF USA. In the letter of April 29, WWF International's 1992 (not 1993) whaling policy is further cited. The passage referred to has not been included in more recent policy documents, including the 1996 policy, and is therefore not relevant. Policy documents from 1993 and up to the present day, contain no passages that can be interpreted to the effect that WWF International will for ever be opposed to whaling. I hope the above discussion, together with our previous reply, will provide the Moskenes Municipal Council with a satisfactory explanation, and that the borough will now be able to endorse the 1996 TV fund-raising campaign that will be of such importance to many poverty-stricken people around the world. Yours Sincerely, Stig Hvoslef General Secretary ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 09:01:23 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Norway shoots first whale of h Norway shoots first whale of hunting season OSLO, May 23 (Reuter) - Norwegian whalehunters have harpooned the first whale of the country's much-criticised commercial whaling season, the national news agency NTB reported on Thursday. It said the 5,000-kilo minke whale was landed in the southern part of Kristiansand by the whale boat Senet. NTB quoted Senet skipper Arvid Enghaugen, whose ship has a quota of nine whales this year, as saying it was shot in the North Sea on Wednesday. The whaling season began on Monday. The United States protested last week against Norway's whale hunting plans, saying it deeply opposed commercial whaling because it had driven some stocks to near extinction. James Baker, U.S. representative to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), noted that world nations imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982 under IWC auspices. He said the United States recognised that Norway lodged a formal objection to the moratorium and therefore was not technically bound by it, but he called on Oslo "to join the nations of the world in refraining from whaling." The United States believes the process by which Norway calculated its quota of 425 minke whales lacks adequate international oversight since it has not been considered by the IWC's scientific committee or by the commission itself. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 11:35:00 -0700 From: Jeff Jacobsen Subject: Sailing Marine Mammal Class PARTICIPATE IN A SAILING RESEARCH EXPEDITION! This summer Mendocino College, in conjunction with the research organization Pelagikos, will be offering three sections of Natural Resource Studies (NRS) 100, Field Ecology in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Peligikos operates an 84-foot sailing rese arch vessel which will be used during the course of study. The courses (see descriptions below) will coincide with ongoing research that Pelagikos has been conducting in bioacoustics and feeding behavior of blue and humpback whales. This is a unique opp ortunity to engage in this research while attaining one unit of transferable credit to California State University (CSU). The courses will be taught by instructors who have been involved in this research for the past four years. Registration is through Mendocino College. Courses are open to all California residents. NRS 100 FIELD ECOLOGY: WHALE FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND ACOUSTICS An introduction to field research techniques used to detect, document and analyze the general feeding behavior and acoustics of the blue and humpback whales in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This 7-day course will take advantage of the on going activities of the marine research organization Pelagikos and its 84-foot sailing research vessel. Other marine habitats and dynamics surrounding the islands will be explored. Two sections will be offered. Instructor: C. Hawkinson, M.S. Sailing Dates: Section 1: Leave Sunday, July 21; return Saturday, July 27 Section 2: Leave Sunday, August 4; return Saturday, August 10 Cost per student is $1950 NRS 100 FIELD ECOLOGY: WHALE BEHAVIOR This is an intensive 8-day sailing expedition. It will focus on the whale population within the Channel Islands area. In addition to the study of whale behavior, the course will examine the relationship of marine cetaceans to human evolution. This will then be discussed as a metaphor for the specimens approach to scientific study and its resultant effect on our perceptions of the natural world. One section will be offered. Instructor: U. Kaldveer, Ph.D. Section 1: Leave Saturday, September 14; return Sunday, September 22. Cost per student is $2250 All expeditions will leave from and return to Santa Barbara Harbor. Berths are extremely limited; early commitment is encouraged. Costs are exclusive of student transportation. Expedition support is tax deductible. For additional information, please call the executive director of Pelagikos, Urmas Kaldveer, Ph.D., at (707) 462-5671. Pelagikos 3020 Bridgeway, Number 155 Sausalito, CA 94965 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 16:04:26 +0100 From: emmajones Subject: Float or sink? To Marmam readers, I am interested in the fate of cetaceans when they die at sea; do they sink, float, sink and then refloat etc. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has information on the subject or anyone who may have seen floating carcasses themselves at sea. Thanks in advance, Emma Jones University of Aberdeen Zoology Department Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen AB24 3TZ e mail: e.g.jones(\)abdn.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 09:13:54 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Response to Klinowska 1992 (fwd) From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) I wish to thank Lori Marino for the response to Klinowska's article of 1992 on "Brains, Behaviour, and Intelligence in Cetaceans". I appreciate Marino's updated information on this issue. For those of us who are not familiar with this research, it would be of value to have the list of references. While Marino has several good points, I believe the following is a somewhat unjust criticism. NEVERTHELESS, there is recent evidence by Andreasen et al (1993) and Willerman et al (1991) that the correlation coefficient between IQ and various brain component volumes (as measured by MRI) is .4 - not trivial. [...] Klinowska is obviously wholly unaware of the more recent well-controlled experimental work done by Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1993) demonstrating syntactic understanding in a bonobo on a par with that of a 2 year old human child. Since Klinowska's paper was written in 1992, it's not surprising that she was wholly unaware of papers published the following year. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 15:24:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Reply to Gaure + refs for my Klinowska critique (fwd) Forwarded message: From: lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu In response to Simen Gaure's point about Klinowska's lack of familiarity with the 1993 Savage-Rumbaugh et al. study - I stand corrected. Klinowsk'a paper was written one year before the Savage-Rumbaugh paper. Thank you for that correction. However, let me address two points: 1) Despite Klinowska not being responsible for knowing about studies that weren't published at that time, Klinowska still shows an unfamiliarity with the relevant literature on dolphin and ape language that *did* exist in 1992. She does not cite any of the work done by Herman et al. up to 1992 in which it was demonstrated that his bottlenose dolphins can understand complex aspects of a gestural and acoustic artifical language - and, at the very least, at a level above that of a pigeon. Here are some references: This is a good summary of the findings on dolphin cognition and language up until 1986: Herman, L. 1986. Cognition and language competencies of bottlenosed dolphins. In DOLPHIN COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR: a comparative approach (R. Schusterman, J. Thomas, & F.Wood). Pp221-252. Hillsdale, Lawrence Erlbaum. Still more: Herman, L., Richards, D. & Wolz, J.P. 1984. Comprehension of sentences by bottlenosed dolphins. COGNITION, 16: 129 - 219. Herman, L. & Forestell, P.H. 1985. Reporting presence or absence of named objects by a language-trained dolphin. NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS. Herman, L.M., Morrel-Samuels, P., & Pack, A. 1990. Bottlenose dolphin and human recognition of veridical and degraded video displays of an artificial gestural language, J OF EXPTL PSYCH GEN, 199(2): 215-230. As for ape language studies prior to 1992: There are at least a dozen studies cited in Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1993) that were published *prior* to 1992 that discuss the outcomes of studies on ape language. Too numerous to summarize, I will leave it to the reader - but these studies converge upon the tentative conclusion that apes are not simply responding as pigeons do in a Skinner-box when comprehending artificial language systems. Here is the 1993 reference: Savage-Rumbaugh, E. Sue, Murphy, J., Sevcik, R., Brakke, K., Williams, S., & Rumbaugh, D. 1993. Language comprehension in ape and child. MONOGRAPHS OF THE SOC FOR RES IN CHILD DEV, (Serial no. 233) v. 58 (no. 3-4). ____________________________________ As for my previous statement that there are recent studies showing a nontrivial correlation between brain component volumes and IQ in humans, I was not criticizing Klinowska for not knowing about these very recent studies but was simply adding an "aside" to the point that a relation between measures of brain size and "intelligence" should not be dismissed across species when we are now finding evidence for this relationship within even more restricted samples, i.e. within species. Here are the references: Andreasen, N.A., Flaum, M. Sawyze II, V., O'Leary, D., Alliger, R., Cohen, G. Ehrhardt, J. & Yuh, WTC. 1993. Intelligence and brain structure in normal individuals. AMER J OF PSYCHIATRY 150(1) 130-4. Willerman, L., Schultz, R., Rutledge, J., & Bigler, E. 1991, In vivo brain size and intelligence. INTELLIGENCE, 15: 223-8. --------------------------------------- As for the remaining references in my original critique of Klinowska, here they are: Masterton B. & Skeen, L. 1972. Origins of anthropoid intelligence: prefrontal system and delayed alternation in hedgehog, tree shrew, and bush baby. J OF COMP AND PHYS PSYCH, 81: 423-33. Passingham, R.E.1975. The brain and intelligence. BRAIN AND BEH EVOL., 11: 1-15. Riddell, W. & Corl, K. 1977. Comparative investigation of the relationship between cerebral indices and learning abilities. BRAIN, BEH, AND EVOL, 14: 386-98. Riddell, W., Corl, K., & Gravetter, F. 1976. Cross-order comparisons using indices of cerebral development. BULL OF THE PSYCHONOMIC SOC, 8(1) 22-4. Riddell, W., Gravetter, F., & Rogers, 1976. Further investigation of the relationship between brain indices and learning. PHYSIOLOGY AND BEH, 17:231-4. Thanks! Lori Marino ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 11:59:06 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 5/24/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . South Africa and Whaling. On May 20, 1996, Reuters reported that the South African Government was considering various policy options for possibly revising its relationship with the International Whaling Commission, with downgrading its IWC membership to observer status being proposed. [Reuters] . Dolphins Escape. On May 17, 1996, two female dolphins, being held as part of an experiment to reintroduce captive dolphins to their natural habitat, were reported missing and believed to have escaped through a hole cut in plastic fencing around their pen in Brevard County, FL. [Assoc Press] . Sea Lions. On May 22, 1996, the third of five individually identifiable sea lions, accused of feeding on steelhead trout was caught near Ballard Locks, WA, for holding and eventual transfer to permanent captivity at Sea World in Orlando, FL. The fourth sea lion was spotted several miles west of Ballard Locks. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. On May 17, 1996, James Baker, NOAA Administrator, called on Norway to refrain from whaling and expressed concern about illegal exports of Norwegian whalemeat. On May 17, 1996, a bipartisan group of 23 Members of Congress requested that President Clinton impose trade sanctions on Norway. In mid-May 1996, four Norwegian whalemeat buyers (handling 60% of the 1995 market) announced that they are refusing to pay the $1.85 per pound demanded by Norwegian whalers. Norway was reported to have a large stockpile of blubber and whalemeat with little demand. On May 22, 1996, Norwegian whalers killed the first minke whale of the 1996 commercial hunt. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 08:43:36 -0700 From: Dan Costa Subject: Haro straight I am glad Jim Moore has asked the question about other sources of sound in the ocean and other research applications of sound. As I tried to point out in the ATOC debate there are many sources of human produced sound in the ocean and we need to know more about their potential impact. It was for this reason that I and other marine mammalogists got involved in the ATOC project. These issues are not unique to ATOC and are not going to go away when ATOC is over. I continue to be surprised that after all of the concern raised about ATOC that there has been so little interest and concern expressed in the effects of other sound sources in the ocean. I say this not because I want to create another ATOC debate, but to point out that there is significantly more that we need to know and regulators and funding agencies need to be reminded that this is an important issue that people care about. Dan Costa ============================================================================ Daniel P. Costa Ph.D. e-mail: costa(\)biology.ucsc.edu Professor and Associate Chair of Biology Earth & Marine Science Bldg Rm A316 University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Voice (408) 459-2786: FAX (408) 459-4882 ============================================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 23:59:11 -0400 From: Esme/Moti Subject: Animal Language Research Re the discussion on CETACEAN INTELLIGENCE, LANGUAGE, and COMMUNICATION: For those interested in further reading on the subject of ALR (animal language research-- a term coined by the author), you might want to take a look at "The Promise of Animal Language Research" (Hoban, 1986) a comprehensive examination of the field, including a review and critique of the work done by Herman and his colleagues. I have a limited number of copies available on a first come first served basis. (After that, you'll have to get a copy from University Microfilms International). I can be contacted by e-mail at imc(\)netaxis.com during the next few weeks (thru mid June?), but after that will be in transit until I reach Israel to direct research and education at IMMRAC (Israeli Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center). The address in Israel will be: Esme Hoban, Ph.D., Rehov Ma'aleh Ha-ashalim 18, Michmoret 40297, ISRAEL, and the e-mail address, once it's set up, will be: esme(\)netvision.net.il Esme Hoban 133 Indian Hill Rd. Wilton, CT 06897-1325 e-mail imc(\)netaxis.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 11:00:16 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM FAQ ___MARMAM__________________________________________________________ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and ASPECTS OF NETIQUETTE ___________________________________________________________________ This FAQ is sent to all new subscribers to the list. It may also be obtained by sending the following message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca: get marmam faq *Please save this message for future reference!* WHAT IS MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list devoted to topics in marine mammal research and conservation, established in August 1993. Subscribers to the list are from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. The number of subscribers was about 2,000 as of May 1996. Anyone may subscribe to the list. WHAT TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE POSTED TO MARMAM? A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. Commonly seen messages include requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques; current or previously unreported news events, meeting annoucements, job or volunteer opportunities, scientific abstracts, and new books/techniques/products announcements. "Casual" requests for information, requests for volunteer positions/employment, opinion statements offering little or no novel arguements, and humourous anecdotes are examples of messages not posted to the list. HOW DO I POST MESSAGES TO THE LIST? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet. Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text. HOW DO I REPLY TO INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. *NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option.* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/TEMPORARILY SIGNOFF? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send the message: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RECEIVE MARMAM POSTINGS AS A SINGLE DAILY DIGEST, RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send the message: set marmam digests to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RETRIEVE MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MARMAM? All MARMAM messages are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver, where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO SUBSCRIBES TO MARMAM? A list, sorted by country, of all current subscribers to the list may be retrieved along with their e-mail address' by sending the command: review marmam (country to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. HOW DO I GET HELP USING LISTSERVER COMMANDS? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca WHY WAS MY MESSAGE NOT POSTED TO MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited discussion list. Senders of messages are not notified upon rejection of their message nor provided individual reasons why their message was not posted to the list. However, messages not sent to the list typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) OFF TOPIC. Messages which do not pertain specifically to marine mammal research or conservation are not posted to the list. 2) 'CASUAL' REQUEST. Messages which request information which is readily available from other sources, such as your average uni- versity library, are not posted to the list. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. 3) JOB/VOLUNTEER POSITION/INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society of Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', obtainable by sending the message get marmam careers to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca, or available from Allen Press, PO Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, tel. 1-800-627-0629. 4) BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a one week period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. 5) 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Dave Duffus, and Pam Willis) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca ______________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 12:58:11 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Float or sink? (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Adam Pack Dear Emmajones and others: On February 9, 1996 our humpback whale research group of The Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal laboratory and the Hawaiian Center for Whale Research along with groups from the Hawaiian Whale Research Foundation and the Center for Whale Studies encountered a dead humpback whale in waters off Lahaina, Maui. The whale had apparently been a part of a competetive group just prior to the death. Interestingly, the whale was floating on its side during our several hours of observations (until the sun went down). Underwater observations of the dead whale indicated that it was a male and that its blowholes were completely shut. The whale was accompanied by another male whale who was likely a part of the previous competetive group. Our three research groups are currently in the process of preparing a manuscript of these events for publication. On Thu, 23 May 1996, emmajones wrote: > > To Marmam readers, > > I am interested in the fate of cetaceans when they die at sea; do they > sink, float, sink and then refloat etc. I would be interested in hearing > from anyone who has information on the subject or anyone who may > have seen floating carcasses themselves at sea. > > Thanks in advance, > > Emma Jones > > University of Aberdeen > Zoology Department > Tillydrone Avenue > Aberdeen > AB24 3TZ > e mail: e.g.jones(\)abdn.ac.uk > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 16:26:16 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Assessment of pain in animals Some of the recent discussion on harvesting techniques for pilot whales in the Faroes has focussed on whether the whales are more sensitive around the blowhole area. I don't have an answer, but wanted to refer interested marmamers to the following article. It was written with experimental animals in mind but has views which I think might be pertinent to the discussion (I won't summarize it here since Anim. Behav. is readily available.). Bateson, P. 1991. Assessment of pain in animals. Anim. Behav. 42: 827-840. Alana. ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 22:37:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Assessment of pain in animals (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Jim Moore A relevant point that I don't recall coming up yet--chatting with a marine mammal vet yesterday, he said he didn't have any direct information about relative sensitivity of the blowhole area, but noted that when transporting dolphins in a half-full tank they are *exquisitely* sensitive to the waterline relative to the blowhole, for obvious reasons. Once he said that I just kind of felt "Well, DUH" -- for a marine mammal there is probably no part of the body that is more important to monitor. Whether high tactile sensitivity can be considered an indicator re _pain_ is another issue... I'm not a fan of the Faroese hunt, but until it's abandoned--is there a _reason_ that whales standing off from the beach aren't just *shot* in the brain with a large caliber gun, and _then_ dragged in whatever way works? cheers [?] Jim Jim Moore/Anthro/UCSD ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 May 1996 18:47:32 -0500 From: "Howard D. Lebowitz (by way of Cari Gehl )" Subject: Freed Dolphin sightings reported off Keys Reported in the Miami Herald May 25, 1996 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Dolphin sightings reported Activist defends their release By NANCY KLINGENER Herald Staff Writer KEY WEST -- While the first sightings of former Navy dolphins released off Key West were reported Friday and federal authorities prepared to recapture the animals, the man who released them defended his actions as legal, ethical and justified. Ric O'Barry, a former Flipper trainer who has spent decades crusading for dolphin freedom, said he released Buck and Luther off Key West on Thursday because they were ready to live in the open sea again. ``This was done in a responsible way, as a good release,'' he said. ``I feel very good about it. As far as I'm concerned, there were no laws broken.'' O'Barry said he had not been cited for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. He acknowledged speaking with a National Marine Fisheries Service agent after he got back from releasing the two male dolphins Thursday. ``The guy showed up in a helicopter with a badge and a gun, he started harassing me,'' O'Barry said. ``It's the same old crap that I've been getting for the last several years. They never actually show you the law. ``It's an alleged violation,'' O'Barry said. ``It's an allegation, is all it is.'' Mac Fuss, the marine fisheries service enforcement agent who spoke with O'Barry, said the activist is being cited with unlawful transport of a marine mammal. ``He is certainly being charged,'' Fuss said Friday. He said O'Barry asked to go back to his room at the Sugarloaf Lodge when the two talked Thursday afternoon. ``He disappeared before we could hand him the actual citation,'' Fuss said. O'Barry and his allies maintain that the release of captive dolphins is not covered in federal regulations. The fisheries service says releasing a dolphin requires a scientific research permit. ``I'm not doing research. It's not research. It's a healing art,'' O'Barry said. ``That's the heart of the issue. This has nothing to do with research.'' The service spent Friday lining up a team to recapture the pair. At least one of the dolphins was seen chasing a water bike near a Key West motel Friday morning. Another report said one of the dolphins had returned to Sugarloaf. Both have freezebrands on their dorsal fins. ``We're forming a team of experts who share a concern for these animals,'' said Scott Smullen, spokesman for the fisheries service. ``It's likely the animals will respond favorably to recapture efforts. They are habituated to humans and to feeding time.'' Smullen said the dolphins would not be recaptured unless the service was comfortable it would be done without harm to the dolphins. Smullen would not confirm where the animals would go if they are recaptured. One possibility is they would be taken to the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key. Thursday's release was the second time in a week that dolphins without release permits were sent to the open sea. Former Sugarloaf dolphins Bogie and Bacall, originally captured in the Indian River, were released when someone cut the fence last week holding them in a pen on the Indian River. It's a different situation with Luther and Buck, who were originally captured off theMississippi coast, Smullen said. ``We're concerned about the potential impacts that they may have on wild dolphins in the Florida Keys ecosystem,'' Smullen said. ``They're from a different stock of bottlenose dolphins. They could interbreed and genetically alter the native structure of the dolphins in that area.'' O'Barry disagrees. ``They came from the Gulf of Mexico, and that is the Gulf of Mexico,'' O'Barry said. ``There is no empirical scientific documentation that substantiates this claim that they must go back to where they first started.'' O'Barry provided lab results from the University of Miami showing both animals tested negative for the morbilli virus, a highly contagious disease circulating among dolphins and whales. He said anyone who sees the dolphins should leave them alone. ``They may come ashore. They've been around people a lot. The people of Key West should just leave them alone,'' he said. ``Don't panic. Don't feed them.'' O'Barry said the federal agencies are far more critical of his efforts than of the marine mammal park industry's care of dolphins. ``You can abuse them, and you can exploit them any way you want to, and they'll help you,'' he said. ``Yet when you want to release them, they're worried about those two.'' His efforts are ``not even about these two dolphins,'' O'Barry said. ``It's about exposing this promiscuous permitting process.'' *************************************************************** Howard D. Lebowitz howard1(\)bridge.net *************************************************************** "I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." --Henry David Thoreau ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 13:44:42 +1000 From: Simon Allen Subject: dolphin aggression Dear MARMAMers, Having had the opportunity to observe aggressive interactions between provisioned wild dolphins, I am interested in any comments with regard to the following points: *(1). As speculated in the literarure, wild dolphin hierarchies are recognised between dolphins and do not require constant re-affirming (cf. Mech, wolves). *(2). Maternal Rank Inheritance may be applicable to dolphin societies (cf. Holekamp and Smale, primates) *(3). The presence of males is indicative of elevated aggression (cf. Connor et al. Monkey Mia dolphins). I hope this stimulates some thoughtful moments and look forward to a response from any/all of my mentors out there! ...oh, and could any reply please state whether reference is to captive, semi-domesticated, provisioned or wild animals. Smooth seas and best regards, Simon J. Allen School of Marine Science University of Queensland St. Lucia, Q. 4072 AUSTRALIA e-mail: s003667(\)student.uq.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 04:34:00 PDT From: Fred Saunders Subject: Dolphin Tourism Code of Practice I'm undertaking some research into the development of a mandatory code of practice for dolphin tour operators (in the wild) in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Aust. This is as credit towards a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Melbourne. I'm also investigating whether operators should be licenced and on what basis (commercial, eco tourism etc.) licences should be granted. I'm interested in getting a picture of the O/S experience. Any references or leads on this issue from O/S would be appreciated. Thanks Fred Saunders Fred(\)embassy.res.rmit.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 May 1996 06:58:47 -0700 From: Serge L Dedina Subject: Mitsubishi Salt Project, BCS,Mexico This is a copy of a presentation given by Ing. Francisco Guzman Lazo in=20 La Paz, Baja California Sur to the Instituto Nacional de Ecologia=20 regarding the proposed development of the Mitsubishi Salt Mine in the=20 Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Ing. Guzman Lazo= =20 is the former CEO of Exportadora de Sal.=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D Ing. Francisco Guzm=E1n Lazo M=E9xico, 29 de febrero de 1996. =20 APORTACION A LA CONSULTA PUBLICA PARA LA EVALUACION EN MATERIA DE IMPACTO= =20 AMBIENTAL DEL PROYECTO SALITRALES DE SAN IGNACIO EN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR,=20 MEXICO. Agradezco la invitaci=F3n que el Instituto Nacional de Ecolog=EDa, en=20 representaci=F3n de la Semarnap, se sirvi=F3 hacerme para aportar mi=20 experiencia en relaci=F3n a la evaluaci=F3n del Proyecto Salitrales de San= =20 Ignacio en la presente consulta p=FAblica. Durante nueve a=F1os, de 1975 a 1983, fung=ED como Director General de l= a=20 Empresa Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V. , de su filial de transporte=20 mar=EDtimo de cabotaje Transportadora de Sal, S.A. y fui Presidente,=20 durante siete a=F1os, de la compa=F1=EDa Baja Bulk Carriers, S.A. , encar= gada=20 del transporte mar=EDtimo de altura de la sal producida en las salinas de= =20 Guerrero Negro hacia el Jap=F3n, Estados Unidos y Canad=E1. Conozco perfectamente el potencial productivo de las salinas de Guerrero=20 Negro, sus m=E9todos de producci=F3n, el transporte mar=EDtimo de la sal,= =20 tanto de cabotaje como de altura; sus canales de distribuci=F3n comercial,= =20 las caracter=EDsticas del mercado internacional al que concurre Exportadora= =20 de Sal, S.A. DE C.V. , tanto en lo relativo a la oferta como a la demanda. Por lo tanto estoy en posibilidad de aportar mis conocimientos y=20 experiencia en materia salinera a todas las partes interesadas, que=20 concurren a esta consulta p=FAblica, democr=E1ticamente convocada por el=20 Instituto Nacional de Ecolog=EDa. De entrada deseo presentar a ustedes la conclusi=F3n final de mi=20 aportaci=F3n: NO SE REQUIERE DESARROLLAR UNA NUEVA SALINA EN BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, POR=20 LO QUE LOS ESTUDIOS DE IMPACTO AMBIENTAL DEL PROYECTO SALITRALES DE SAN=20 IGNACIO CONSTITUYEN UN INNECESARIO Y COSTOSO EJERCICIO TECNICO-CIENTIFICO. Desarrollar una nueva salina, conforme al proyecto Salitrales de San=20 Ignacio, implicar=EDa incrementar en un 100%, durante el per=EDodo de su=20 desarrollo, la oferta de sal mexicana destinada al mercado internacional=20 de la sal. Este objetivo resulta totalmente absurdo ya que los peque=F1os= =20 incrementos que se pudieran presentar en la demanda pueden ser cubiertos=20 con la capacidad productiva y de almacenamiento acumulativo en pisos de=20 vasos cristalizadores de la salina de Guerrero Negro; es decir:=20 NO EXISTE MERCADO PARA LA SOBRE OFERTA DE SAL QUE SE DESEA PRODUCIR A=20 TRAVES DEL PROYECTO SALITRALES DE SAN IGNACIO. Para conocimiento de todos los participantes de esta consulta p=FAblica, en= =20 forma breve describir=E9 a ustedes: MERCADO INTERNACIONAL DE LA SAL Los estudiosos de estos mercados han detectado 5 principales: 1. El que tiene como gran centro importador a Jap=F3n. 2. El correspondiente a las importaciones de la costa oeste de los=20 Estados Unidos de Am=E9rica. 3. El del flujo de comercio internacional, en los dos sentidos, entre=20 los Estados Unidos de Am=E9rica y el Canad=E1. 4. El mercado de importaci=F3n de los pa=EDses n=F3rdicos y, 5. El gravoso comercio entre los pa=EDses europeos. Cada uno de estos mercados tiene sus propias caracter=EDsticas, las que lo= =20 hacen pr=E1cticamente independientes entre s=ED. Nuestro pa=EDs, M=E9xico, participa en los dos primeros de ellos. Las=20 operaciones productivas de Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V. se iniciaron=20 para atender al segundo de dichos mercados, el de la costa oeste de los=20 Estados Unidos de Am=E9rica, hasta que, en la segunda mitad de los a=F1os= =20 sesenta se iniciaron los env=EDos a Jap=F3n, cambi=E1ndose con el tiempo el= =20 peso espec=EDfico de la demanda a favor de este mercado, a grado tal, que= =20 se redefini=F3 la infraestructura de manejo y embarque mar=EDtimo de sal co= n=20 la creaci=F3n de la terminal de altura de Isla de Cedros, el puerto de=20 cabotaje de Guerrero Negro y la flota mar=EDtima de barcazas y=20 remolcadores. As=ED M=E9xico, a trav=E9s de Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V= .,=20 participa en lo que se llama el: MERCADO INTERNACIONAL DE LA SAL EN EL PACIFICO En los a=F1os sesenta, el Jap=F3n empez=F3 a impulsar fuertemente el desarr= ollo=20 de su industria productora de las materias primas intermedias que=20 utilizan al cloruro de sodio como materia prima b=E1sica: sosa c=E1ustica,= =20 cloro y carbonato de sodio. Al carecer de suficiente producci=F3n propia en su archipi=E9lago, Jap=F3n= =20 inici=F3, a trav=E9s de sus grandes empresas comercializadoras, la b=FAsque= da=20 de la oferta adecuada, en cantidad, calidad y precio, de acuerdo con las=20 caracter=EDsticas impuestas por su propia demanda. Al principio incentivaron m=FAltiples fuentes de suministro, pero=20 finalmente concluyeron que la mejor soluci=F3n para el Jap=F3n la constitu= =EDan=20 las cuatro salinas que operan actualmente en Australia y la de Guerrero=20 Negro en M=E9xico. As=ED se form=F3 el tri=E1ngulo del mercado internacional del Pac=EDfico co= n un=20 gran centro importador de sal en el Jap=F3n y dos v=E9rtices oferentes, la= =20 costa oeste de Australia y Guerrero Negro, a trav=E9s de Isla de Cedros,= =20 en Baja California M=E9xico. El resto de los exportadores de sal hacia el Jap=F3n son en su conjunto=20 totalmente marginales, como tambi=E9n lo son en su conjunto los=20 importadores de la misma =E1rea del Pac=EDfico incluyendo Corea, Taiw=E1n,= =20 Nueva Zelandia, etc. La demanda de sal importada por el Jap=F3n y la oferta que la abasteci=F3= =20 durante los =FAltimos 5 a=F1os, ha sido la siguiente: IMPORTACION DE SAL POR JAPON cifras en millones de toneladasd m=E9tricas y (%s) PAIS DE=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=091995 ORIGEN=09=091991=09=09 1992=09 1993=09=09 1994=09=09(E-M) MEXICO=09=093.39 (43.1)=09 3.41 (44.3)=09 3.19 (43.5)=09=09=20 3.29 (44.1)=091.52 (44.6) AUSTRALIA=09=094.13 (52.6)=09 3.87 (50.3)=09 3.66=20 (49.8)=09=09 3.90 (52.3)=091.70 (49.9) OTROS PAISES=090.34 (4.30)=09 0.44 (5.40)=09 0.49 (6.30)=09=09=20 0.27 (3.60)=090.19 (5.60) TOTAL=09=097.85=09=09 7.69=09=09 7.34=09=09=09=20 7.46=09=09 3.4 Se observa en el cuadro anterior que las importaciones totales de sal por= =20 el Jap=F3n pr=E1cticamente est=E1n estacionadas y no hay tendencia de=20 crecimiento. M=E9xico exporta al Jap=F3n un tonelaje ligeramente inferior a= l=20 50% de su capacidad de producci=F3n destinando el complemento de sus ventas= =20 principalmente a los Estados Unidos y el Canad=E1 y en forma marginal, no= =20 constante, a otros consumidores del Pac=EDfico. Australia a su vez=20 complementa sus ventas exportando en mayor proporci=F3n a dichos=20 consumidores del Pac=EDfico. Sumando las capacidades de producci=F3n de las cuatro salinas australianas= =20 y la mexicana de Guerrero Negro, hay capacidad de oferta sobrada para los= =20 mercados a los que concurren dichos productores. Por lo tanto, Jap=F3n no= =20 requiere de una oferta adicional de 7 millones de toneladas -la que ser=EDa= =20 la capacidad del proyecto los salitrales- pr=E1cticamente igual a su muy=20 estable demanda registrada durante los =FAltimos 20 a=F1os. El =FAnico inter=E9s que podr=EDa tener el Jap=F3n para contar con esta =20 innecesaria sobre oferta de sal industrial, ser=EDa la de obtener una=20 sensible disminuci=F3n de su precio de compra. Sin embargo, cabe se=F1alar= =20 que =E9ste, en t=E9rminos de yenes japoneses se ha ido abatiendo=20 sensiblemente y es similar a lo que ven=EDan pagando desde los a=F1os=20 setenta. Solo por lo que se refiere a los =FAltimos 5 a=F1os el precio C.I.= F.=20 para el Jap=F3n de la sal que han importado se ha abatido seg=FAn los=20 siguientes n=FAmeros: PRECIOS C.I.F JAPON EN YENES POR TONELADA PAIS DE=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=09=091995 ORIGEN=09=091991=09=09 1992=09 1993=09=09 1994=09=09(E-M) MEXICO=09=09 3818=09=09 3512=09=09 =20 3045=09=09 2787=09=09 2508 AUSTRALIA=09=09 3851=09=09 3533=09=09 =20 3127=09=09 2846=09=09 2654 OTROS PAISES=09 3972=09=09 3761=09=09 =20 3385=09=09 3404=09=09 2664 Como se observa, s=F3lo en los =FAltimos 5 a=F1os la sal mexicana, puesta e= n el=20 Jap=F3n ha descendido en precio en un 35%, a=FAn m=E1s que la australiana = que=20 disminuy=F3 un 30%. No hay entonces, ni por razones de demanda, ni por razones de costo de=20 adquisici=F3n, la justificaci=F3n de desarrollar una nueva salina conforme = al=20 proyecto los Salitrales de San Ignacio, ya que la capacidad de producci=F3n= =20 actual de las salinas de Guerrero Negro, ha sido, es y seguir=E1 siendo=20 suficiente para atender en volumen, calidad y precio a los segmentos del=20 mercado internacional en los que participa. La gr=E1fica n=FAmero 1 muestra el volumen de ventas registrado por=20 Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V. desde el origen de sus operaciones en=20 1957, enmarcada por la horizontal superior correspondiente a su capacidad= =20 potencial de producci=F3n actual de 7 millones de toneladas. En el poco=20 probable caso de que se presentaran demandas anuales superiores a dicha=20 cifra, los almacenamientos en pisos, no cosechados, de sal producida en=20 a=F1os anteriores pueden completar perfectamente demandas extraordinarias. Los dos socios actuales de Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V. (Fideicomiso=20 de Fomento Minero con el 51% y Mitsubishi Corporation con el 49% de las=20 acciones) seguramente no estar=E1n dispuestos a aportar, con capital=20 propio, los 120 millones de d=F3lares que se desean invertir en el proyecto= =20 los Salitrales de San Ignacio. Tampoco se justifica el endeudamiento de=20 la empresa para obtener rendimientos marginales negativos. La llegada de=20 un tercer socio que aportara capital fresco ser=EDa inconveniente para el= =20 actual socio mexicano, el Gobierno Federal, ya que perder=EDa el control de= =20 la empresa, reducir=EDa los beneficios que obtiene v=EDa impuestos y los qu= e=20 desde hace 20 a=F1os ha venido recibiendo en forma de importantes=20 dividendos. Se perder=EDa tambi=E9n el control de una =E1rea estrat=E9gica = (el=20 centro de gravedad de la Baja California) que tan importante es para la=20 Soberan=EDa Mexicana y la Seguridad Nacional. Mucho agradezco a todos los participantes la atenci=F3n que le hayan=20 brindado a mis notas anteriores y p=FAblicamente ratifico el ofrecimiento= =20 que personalmente hice a la Secretar=EDa de Comercio y Fomento Industrial y= =20 asu Coordinaci=F3n General de Miner=EDa, de revisar, sin costo alguno para = el=20 Gobierno Federal, el estudio de factibilidad comercial ,=20 econ=F3mica-financiera del Proyecto los Salitrales de San Ignacio que=20 elabor=F3 la empresa Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V. y que ha dado lugar,= =20 entre otras cosas a la importante reuni=F3n de este d=EDa en el foro abiert= o=20 al p=FAblico interesado, por el Instituto Nacional de Ecolog=EDa de la=20 Semarnap. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 11:13:03 -0700 From: wolfgang kusser Subject: Re: Float or sink? At 04:04 PM 23/05/96 +0100, you wrote: > >To Marmam readers, > >I am interested in the fate of cetaceans when they die at sea; do they >sink, float, sink and then refloat etc. I would be interested in hearing >from anyone who has information on the subject or anyone who may >have seen floating carcasses themselves at sea. > >Thanks in advance, > >Emma Jones > >University of Aberdeen >Zoology Department >Tillydrone Avenue >Aberdeen >AB24 3TZ >e mail: e.g.jones(\)abdn.ac.uk > I am not an expert in this field at all but as I understand this issue has recently captured commercial interest. It is assumed in this context that the body of the whale sinks to the ocean floor. It then becomes an focal point of a specific community of organisms breaking down the whale. Because of the unique environment (substrate, temperature, pressure etc.) the enzymes in those organisms (e.g bacteria/fungi) are of considerable interest to the biotech industry and efforts are being made to retrieve samples from large sunken cetaceans. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wolfgang Kusser/Centre for Environmental Health Dept. of Biology/Univ. of Victoria P.O. Box 1700, Victoria B.C., Canada Tel604)472-4079, Fax:472-4075/e-mail:wkusser(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 May 1996 10:48:51 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: RE Haro Strait/acoustic modems A few days back I asked about the relationship between the Haro Strait expts and a proposal I saw some time ago for a massive "underwater acoustic network" of autonomous instruments/relay stations. Henrik Schmidt of MIT kindly provided the following response, which he OK'd for forwarding to MARMAM: >A short note on your legitimate questions on MARMAM: > >1: The Haro Strait effort is in no way a first step in the "underwater >cellular network", an idea which I personally consider heavily oversold >in terms of feasibility and usefulness. In the Haro Strait experiment >acoustic communication is used as a tool, to provide a "tether" to the >AUV-s. Josko C., whom you cite, is not involved at all in this project! > >2. The modems are used for short commands and status reports to/from the >AUV-s and are primarily off-duty cycle. Secondly, the modem signals ARE >RAMPED !! This was a modification which was performed as part of the >pre-mitigation negotiated with marine biologists (involving lowering of >source levels as well). Such pre-mitigation is thoroughly described in >the application to NMFS. > >Finally, this experiment has become a benchmark for direct collaboration >between the oceanography and marine mammal communities in improving our >understanding of both the environment the mammals live in and the effect >the various human uses of it has on their behavior and wellbeing, >including ships, boats, jet-skis etc. Using our extensive acoustic >receiving capability (16-element vertical arrays on each mooring) , the >whole acoustic environment will be extensively monitored passively over >several frequency decades during the entire period of the experiment. >Specifically, we will perform accurate whale tracking during periods >when our sources are operating and when they are not (80% of the time >excluding off-duty cycles), providing the marine mammal scientific >community with a unique data set allowing them to address the various >acoustic harassment issues. Sounds good to me, though it _also_ sounds like the "underwater cellular network" idea is indeed out there and I hope folks in the acoustics community are thinking about it *before* we read of an implementation... cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Those are my principles, and if you Anthro 0532 don't like them... well, I have others. UCSD Groucho Marx La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 08:36:13 +0100 From: Anders.Jelmert(\)imr.no Subject: Re Float or Sink? At Marmam, May 23rd., Emma Jones wrote > To Marmam readers, > I am interested in the fate of cetaceans when they die at sea; do they > sink, float, sink and then refloat etc. I would be interested in hearing > from anyone who has information on the subject or anyone who may > have seen floating carcasses themselves at sea. > Thanks in advance, > Emma Jones Dear Emma Jones. I am still a bit confused on what time-scale you have in mind here. Apparently, it was earlier assumed that most whale carcasses find their way to the abyssal sea floor. (Krogh 1934; Bruun, 1957). However, based on the frequency of posts about strandings at MARMAM, I think this could be modified somewhat. Perhaps this is exactly what you intend to do? There are some recent reports on invertebrate comunities thriving on whale skeletons in the deep ocean basins. You will find an interesting story and numerous relevant refs. in: Bennett et al.(1994) Another approach to this area was given by Butman, et al. (1995.). These autors suggested that whaling could have altered the deep-sea biodiversity significantly, by diminishing an important source of carbon to the sea-floor. That particular paper prompted myself and a collegue to made a comment; Jelmert and Oppen-Berntsen, (1996) on the same issue, as we found such a hypothesis highly implausible. We regard the biomass contribution from pre-whaling cetacean stocks to be insignificant, (two to three orders of magnitude less, by conservative calculation) compared to the contributions from rest of the marine biota. Litterature: Bennett, B.A., Smith, C.R., Glaser, B. and Maybaum, H.L. 1994. Faunal community structure of a chemoautotrophic assemblage on whale bones in the deep northeast Pacific Ocean. Bruun, A.P. 1957. Deep sea and abyssal depth. Pages 641-672 in J.W. Hedgepeth, editor. Treatise on marine ecology and paleo- ecology, vol I. Ecology memoir, 67. Geological Society of America, Washington D.C. Butman, C.A., Carlton, J.T. and Palumbi, S.R., 1995. Whaling Effects on Deep-sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology vol.9 No.2:462-464. Jelmert and Oppen-Berntsen,1996. Whaling and Deep Sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology vol 10 No.2:1-2 Krogh, A. 1934. Conditions of life at great depths in the ocean. Ecological Monographs 4:430-439 Hope this could be of some help. Greetings from wet and cold western Norway. Anders Jelmert Institute of Marine Research, N-5392 Storebo, NORWAY anders.jelmert(\)imr.no ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 16:22:06 EST From: jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu Subject: Re: FLOAT OR SINK Although I am not an expert on this, I have been told by more experienced stranding network members that a whale initially sinks (assuming the lungs are not overly inflated). Depending upon the depth at which it comes to lie, the whale either stays there or eventually rises again. Why? Because the bacteria and other micro-organisms feasting away on the carcass will produce gas and eventually bloat and float the whale. In situations where the carcass lies in 200 feet or more of water (or so I have been told), the pressure is too great for the micro-organisms to form the gas. I don't know why they can't make gas at this depth, but I would be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on this. Best wishes, Joy Reidenberg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___ \~#\_ Joy Reidenberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor __________________________ \~##\_ Box 1007, Dept. Cell Bio./Anatomy _____/############))))))))))))))) \~###\__ Mount Sinai School of Medicine ____/#############==((\))==//////////_- >~#####\___New York, NY 10029-6574____/################========/////////_- /~##/\_=####\_____/\__________/####################\ |=======/////////_- /~#_/ \_=#####################################====/ /=====////////_- /__/ \__==#############################========\/====//////_- \___======================================/////_- e-Mail: \________==========================///_- jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu \____________________JSR_- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 19:07:24 -0400 From: Tokitae(\)aol.com Subject: Body Count: 1 missing, 1 injured May 28, 1996 BODY COUNT: ONE MISSING, ONE INJURED This posting is in response to The Dolphin Project's posting regarding the release of Luther and Buck, formerly cared for by Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. After the illegal dumping of 2 dolphins by the Dolphin Project, the whereabouts of one, Buck, is still unknown. Luther, the second dolphin, has sought out the company of people and has been approaching water crafts for hand outs of food. Both dolphins had been in the care of the Sugarloaf Sanctuary. Contrary to Ric O'Barrys' e-mail message, there is no evidence of The Dolphin Project's alleged tracking program of this "release". O'Barry has indicated that Luther is behaving just as he should. Apparently, approaching boats seeking food is a desirable behavior for a dolphin living in the wild. There have been no confirmed sightings of Buck. Without a verified sighting of an animal it is IMPOSSIBLE to state his fate. Try to reassure the family of a missing child that it's good news that days have passed and we haven't seen the child. I'm sure they comfort themselves at night with the thought that their baby has found a new family that has accepted them and is feeding them well. Some of the factors that bode ill for the dolphins surviving this illegal dumping include that the dolphins were released on Memorial Day Weekend, one of the busiest boat traffic weekends of the year. Compounding the threat of a boating accident, they were released off of Key West, one of the busiest boating areas in Florida. Key West is surrounded by mangrove islands making aerial and boat search extremely difficult. In the past, aerial searches for individual whales and dolphins involved in mass strandings in this area were unsuccessful. Months after the searches, 18 foot carcasses were found in the back country enmeshed in mangrove roots. Some animals were never found. Despite the report that dolphin pods were spotted in the Key West waters at the time of the release. Luther chose to seek out human companionship. Luther has been approaching boats and jet skis and following them, trying to get the attention of the people on board. People have been observed feeding him inappropriate, unsafe food such as; filleted grouper, bait fish and left over chum. NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) personnel are concerned about his physical appearance. Luther has a fresh wound on his right side and dolphin experts, who have touched the dolphin, have observed classic physical signs of dehydration. NMFS has mounted a rescue effort to give Luther the help he is clearing seeking. Dolphin Research Center Grassy Key, Florida Email: Tokitae(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 09:18:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: euthanizing whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: schiroa(\)tamug3.tamu.edu (Andrew Schiro) Jim Moore sent a message asking about more humane methods for the killing of pilot whales. Below is a reference which he and others may find of interest. A thought (If I am wrong please let me know). A medium caliber rifle bullet is loaded to travel at much higher velocities. This single bullet should have a much greater effect on the target than the shotgun slug or buckshot. The energy in the faster projectile should have more effect than the size of the projectile. Blackmore, D. K., P. Madie, et al. (1995). "The use of a shotgun for the euthanasia of stranded cetaceans." New Zealand Veterinary Journal 43(4): 158-159. A 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with either a solid 28 g lead slug or buckshot consisting of nine individual lead pellets with a total mass of 28 g, was used to shoot the heads of one dead common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and five dead long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) varying in length from 2.5 m to 5 m. The dolphin and the smallest pilot whale were shot with both projectiles from the dorsal surface of the head. The projectiles penetrated the head and dorsal surface of the skull, but not the base of the cranium. This site using buckshot was not effective in the larger animals. Two whales between 3 and 4 m in length were shot with buckshot through the lateral side of the head caudal to and above the eye, without penetration of the contralateral side of the head. It is concluded that shooting smaller cetaceans with a shotgun can be effective and safe. Further work is required to develop more suitable projectiles for cetaceans up to the size of mature pilot whales. Andrew Schiro schiroa(\)tamug3.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 09:48:13 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy On Thu, 23 May 1996 Lorenz Gygax said: ... >I have never seen a field where such citations amount to that >proportion and where researchers didn't object to citing such a huge >amount of unpublished and therefor largely unattainable information. > >Somehow I believe if good work has been done - and I think good work >IS being done (except for some problems which are in my eyes due to >the fact that marine mammology is still a pretty young filed) - it is >worth (not to say a must or at least good scientific policy) and >possible to publish the results. > >Can you give me some thoughts about why this is the case in marine >mammology, and what your strategy is to actually get the original ... Personally I think the issue of how few graduate theses are published in marine mammalogy is an extremely important one for our field. The reputation of the field, as well as its impact on other disciplines of biology and science in general, depends almost entirely on what publications are available to the rest of the scientific community. In my opinion one of the reasons why so little is published in mainstream journals is because of the predominance of non-academic funding sources for marine mammal research. That is, that government agencies and conservation organizations fund a large proportion of research that is undertaken on marine mammals, rather than universities and other academic sources. These non-academic sources place much less importance on how much you publish and where it is published - as such many marine mammalogists are not under the same pressure to publish as are more traditional academics. Its a vicious circle, since so little is published (and most of which is, is published in specialized marine mammal journals or edited volumes) the rest of the scientific community continues to have a rather negative view of the quality of marine mammal research, thus academic sources may be less likely to fund requests for marine mammal projects that they do get. How can this be rectified? One way if for graduate supervisors to spend more time pressuring their students to actually publish their work (boy, I may have just pissed off a lot of graduate students!). Somehow I doubt this would work :> Another way would be for conservation organizations and government agencies to recognize the value of publishing the results of studies they fund in mainstream peer-reviewed journals, and start basing some of their funding decisions on the publication record of applicants. Clearly this should not be the primary factor in these decisions, but it should be given some weight. Just my opinion. Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, B.C. V8P 5L5 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 13:36:04 -0500 From: Don Hockaday Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy On Wed, 29 May 1996, Robin W. Baird said: >Personally I think the issue of how few graduate theses are published >in marine mammalogy is an extremely important one for our field. >How can this be rectified? One way ... I agree with these suggestions and contribute a fall-back suggestion that graduate supervisors (and, departments) require an electronic version of all theses on disk along with a release that allows the supervisor or department to *publish* it, in its entirety, as an electronic publication if no progress is made toward traditional publication. The cost is nil and, using Adobe Acrobat (a common Netscape helper), it is as easy as sending it to a printer, can be read on any computer, can printed on a laser printer, and can be made available on the web. This is no substitute for publication in a peer reviewed journal, but it is better than it collecting dust in one library vault. With permission of the journal publisher (if necessary), it might be done anyway after traditional publication. See http://www.panam.edu/dept/csl/project2.htm for an 87 page document that I put on line from a pre-existing Word Perfect (Mac) file in a matter of minutes and practically no effort. Don hockaday(\)panam.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 20:25:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy (fwd) Forwarded message: From: William Megill On Wed, 29 May 1996, Don Hockaday wrote: > On Wed, 29 May 1996, Robin W. Baird said: > > >Personally I think the issue of how few graduate theses are published > >in marine mammalogy is an extremely important one for our field. > > >How can this be rectified? One way ... > > I agree with these suggestions and contribute a fall-back suggestion that > graduate supervisors (and, departments) require an electronic version of > all theses on disk along with a release that allows the supervisor or > department to *publish* it, in its entirety, as an electronic publication > if no progress is made toward traditional publication. The cost is nil > and, using Adobe Acrobat (a common Netscape helper), it is as easy as > sending it to a printer, can be read on any computer, can printed on a > laser printer, and can be made available on the web. This is no substitute > for publication in a peer reviewed journal, but it is better than it > collecting dust in one library vault. With permission of the journal > publisher (if necessary), it might be done anyway after traditional > publication. I'll go one step further: if people would like to make these documents available on the net and send me a URL, I'll set up and maintain a home page to link them all in one place (an e-journal, if you will... :-). If there's a need for it, I'll see about getting some disk space around here somewhere. Votes on what to call such a page ? If nothing better comes along, how 'bout The Electronic Journal of Marine Mammalogy ? Cheers ! William ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 14:50:41 -1000 From: Craig Smith Subject: sink or float (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 14:47:11 -1000 (HST) From: Craig Smith To: jreiden(\)smtplink.mssm.edu Cc: anders.jelmert.(\)imr.no Subject: sink or float I doubt there is a real expert on this topic although I have published several paper of relevance. The reason gas evolution from decay causes less buoyancy at depth is due to decreased gas volume, and more importantly, increased solubility, with increasing pressure. We calculated the effects of increasing depth on gas compression and solubility in the paper cited below. However, without knowing how much decomposition can be sustained by a carcass before massive tissue failure (and release of gas bubbles) occurs, it is not possible to pinpoint the minimum sinking depth required to prevent carcass resurfacing. The US Navy recently found eight intact whale skeletons at depths of 850-1100 meter off the coast of California, suggesting that 850 m at least, is deep enough to preclude floating. Allison, et al., 1991. Deep-water taphonomy of vertebrate carcasses: a whale skeleton in the bathyal Santa Catalina Basin. Paleobiology 17: 78-89. Aloha, Craig Smith ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 09:05:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: papers On publication: At the risk of sounding sententious, I believe rather strongly that: 1) If you don't publish your results in a refereed journal (beit widely read or not), in many senses you may as well not have done the work. This field has rather too many cases of people doing sometimes terrific work who never publish a word; as a result, when they get hit by a truck, the only folks who know about the research are a small handful of close colleagues, or perhaps attendees at a (non-refereed) conference. When one is dealing with endangered species in particular, hoarding data that may have valuable application to management is a crime and does no service to either the animals or to the field in general. 2) Graduate supervisors who do not require their students to publish are not only depriving the scientific community of potentially valuable work, they are also ill-serving the students. It seems to me that a significant part of a graduate education is teaching an individual to be a scientist, and a fundamental part of that is making sure that they learn how to write scientifically, go through the review process, and understand the importance of disseminating their work. Consequently, while I appreciate the good intent of folks who offer to set up electronic "journals" on the Internet for material that hasn't been published elsewhere, this doesn't solve the basic problem since this medium does not subject its material to critical evaluation by peers, and therefore cannot be confidently cited by others. Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 15:13:09 +0100 From: Pedro Alexandre Martins Subject: help in captive dolphin behavior Dear Marmamers, I am a Marine Biology student in Lisbon University and I need assistance to develop an etology work with captive bottlenose dolphins. The work I intend to do regards the use of time in diferent activities such as feeding and resting (to mention some) and observe if there is any particular behavior with the two pregnant females. Since most of the articles I have regarding cetacean behavior are about wild animals I hope some of you can send me (if possible) some articles about dolphin behavior in captivity. If not, please tell me where to look for. Looking forward to hear from you soon, Pedro Martins Postal Adress: Rua Conde de Sabugosa no. 5 - 5 dto. 1700 LISBOA PORTUGAL E-mail: L19502(\)cc.fc.ul.pt ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 08:33:14 -0800 From: Larry Dill Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy (fwd) It seems to me that many of you are missing the point of Lorenz Gygax' original comments on publication of marine mammal research. Although electronic publications can be useful for some purposes, what is really needed are more refereed publications, in journals accessible to a wide scientific audience. Larry Dill Lawrence M. Dill Professor and Director, Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 CANADA Phone: 604-291-3664 FAX: 604-291-3496 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 09:12:21 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: RE Publishing A variety of interesting points raised here. I agree with Phil Clapham that just putting things online isn't THE answer, though perhaps it would be a valuable thing to do with older material--even if "we fix the system" it is hard to imagine too many people going back into their 15-year-old reports to revise them for peer review. One thing that occurs to me is that the nature of marine mammalogy makes it difficult to get traditional academic jobs -- long ship time, slow rate of data acquisition, all those issues -- and that here perhaps we run into a problem with publication [I'm generalizing from primatology to marine mammalogy, so be gentle with me ]. Many granting agencies *refuse* to provide support funds for writeup, and only rarely for analysis; usually it is to go out and "do the work". This actually works out OK if one has an academic position; agencies figure writeup support is sort of 'overhead' on regular jobs. BUT - it could be a real problem for folks on soft money, who need to have A Project going in order to put food on table and kids through school; they are caught in a bind in which the luxury of going to the library, doing the homework needed to polish a paper for peer review, becomes just that--a luxury. So we have the feedback loop--no job, no publish, no job. Rather than make publication a prerequisite for getting grants though (which would only squeeze folks harder), seems to me that funding agencies might set up grants for writeups -- separate grants, awarded on basis of what sort of data one has in the can and *subsequently* on one's record at publishing funded writeups. Seems to me a good argument can be made for marine mammalogy being a special case for such an approach. cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Those are my principles, and if you Anthro 0532 don't like them... well, I have others. UCSD Groucho Marx La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 12:20:09 -0400 Reply-To: George Elston From: George Elston Subject: Re: Body Count: 1 missing, 1 injured (fwd) First I would like to apologize to the readers of MARMAM, for not keepin them apprised of the situation. However, IMHO this post is so full of misinformation I feel compelled to respond to each point. It should also be understood that the DRC is attempting to capture Luthor and IMHO would like to gain possession of this dolphin. On Tue, 28 May 1996 Tokitae(\)aol.com wrote: > May 28, 1996 > > BODY COUNT: ONE MISSING, ONE INJURED > One is not missing, The Dolphin Project is tracking Buck, but in the light of what happened when the location of Luthor became known to DRC and NMFS, it is hoped they will be forgiven for not releasing that data at this time. The injury is a small rake mark. The injury was previously described as prop marks by NMFS and DRC, however since The Dolphin Project has obtained closup video footage of the injury, about the size of a silver dollar and one quarter inch deep, they seem to have fallen back from this position > This posting is in response to The Dolphin Project's posting regarding the > release of Luther and Buck, formerly cared for by Sugarloaf Dolphin > Sanctuary. > > After the illegal dumping of 2 dolphins by the Dolphin Project, the > whereabouts of one, Buck, is still unknown. Luther, the second dolphin, has > sought out the company of people and has been > approaching water crafts for hand outs of food. Both dolphins had been in > the care of the Sugarloaf Sanctuary. The legality of the procedure is still to be determined, that the action was taken without NMFS sanction is admitted. The fact is that according to NMFS criteria there is no way that this Navy dolphin or others like him can be released. NMFS release criteria call for a complete accounting of all behaviors that the dolphin has been trained to perform. The Navy is not about to divulge this information to any party. NMFS criteria also call for the dolphin to be released into their native pod. The Navy capture program in the Gulf of Mexico off of Mississippi where Luthor and Buck were captured decimated the native pod and it no longer exists. Attempts to gain a waiver of these criteria went unanswered from NMFS. The criteria and conditions for release are set by NMFS policy, there is nothing in the marine mammal protection act that pertains to releasing dolphin. Mr. O'Barry is alleged to have "transported dolphin without a permit". Other criteria called for by NMFS were followed, the dolphin were chasing and eating live mullet, and were given a complete physical prior to release and shown to be in good health. The dolphin were released into the Gulf of Mexico, which are their native waters. Luthor was not so much approaching people as were people (DRC and NMFS) approaching Luthor. When Luthors location at a spot frequented by local dolphin to hunt mullet became known, Rick Trout and members of the DRC team attempted to coax him to stay in the area by offering him fish, since the area was shallow and considered a good location for a capture attempt. When it was pointed out to NMFS officials that this was against their own regulations and a direct violation of the marine mammal protection act, they responded that since a capture attempt was planned they considered it appropriate. That there were other boats in the area is true since a local marina is located close by. The owner of the marina had watched Luthor for the three days, prior to his presence being known by NMFS and DRC, and stated that he acted no different than other wild dolphin that came in to feed on mullet. Members of the Dolphin Project tracking team had also observed Luthor in this area prior to the DRC and NMFS arriving and at no time did Luthor exhibit any behavior not consistent with a wild dolphin, he spent 90 percent of his time underwater, catching and eating wild mullet. > > Contrary to Ric O'Barrys' e-mail message, there is no evidence of The > Dolphin Project's alleged tracking program of this "release". O'Barry has > indicated that Luther is behaving just as he should. > Apparently, approaching boats seeking food is a desirable behavior for a > dolphin living in the wild. There is a difference between a dolphin approaching a boat for food, and a boat approaching a dolphin with food. The latter is a violation of the marine mammal protection act. > > There have been no confirmed sightings of Buck. Without a verified sighting > of an animal it is IMPOSSIBLE to state his fate. Try to reassure the family > of a missing child that it's good news that > days have passed and we haven't seen the child. I'm sure they comfort > themselves at night with the thought that their baby has found a new family > that has accepted them and is feeding them > well. As stated earlier, in the light of the actions of NMFS and DRC, Bucks tracking data will not be avaliable untill a later time. Suffice it to say that his location and condition are known, although not to DRC or NMFS, and he is in good health. > > Some of the factors that bode ill for the dolphins surviving this illegal > dumping include that the dolphins were released on Memorial Day Weekend, one > of the busiest boat traffic weekends of the year. Compounding the threat of > a boating accident, they were released off of Key West, one of the busiest > boating areas in Florida. Key West is surrounded by mangrove islands making > aerial and boat search extremely difficult. In the past, aerial searches for > individual whales and dolphins involved in mass strandings in this area were > unsuccessful. Months after the searches, 18 foot carcasses were found in the > back country enmeshed in mangrove roots. Some animals were never found. Well, here we go with the boating accident thing, now implied rather than stated, and the dumping term again. If the readers of MARMAM would think that after working for two years and spending hundreds of thousands dollars, anyone would release two dolphin without caring what happened to them, I have no idea how to convince them otherwise. However, it was the feeding of the dolphin by Rick Trout and others, with the approving eye of NMFS looking on, that kept Luthor in this high boat traffic area on the holiday. > > Despite the report that dolphin pods were spotted in the Key West waters at > the time of the release. Luther chose to seek out human companionship. > Luther has been approaching boats and jet skis > and following them, trying to get the attention of the people on board. > People have been observed feeding him inappropriate, unsafe food such as; > filleted grouper, bait fish and left over chum. Ok, to put it plainly, the fact is that Luthor got his butt kicked. Luthor has always been a bit of a Bully. The small rake mark is evidence of some altercation, and that Luthor did not join up with the pod but went off on his own after release, to me, shows more evidence of his "being invited to leave" rather than choosing to. The fact that it was members of the DRC team and Rick Trout that were feeding him with the blessing of NMFS is omitted here. It is also possible that an intelligent animal would choose to hang back and regroup in an area that had aboundent food supplies (live mullet), before trying to establish a new relationship. > > NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service ) personnel are concerned about his > physical appearance. Luther has a fresh wound on his right side and dolphin > experts, who have touched the dolphin, have observed classic physical signs > of dehydration. NMFS has mounted a rescue effort to give Luther the help he > is clearing seeking. > Once the boat strike story was debunked, DRC and NMFS had to come up with another reason for their capture. A spokesman for NMFS has stated that Luthor is dehydrated. This NMFS employee states that Luthors drooping dorsal fin is a sure sign of dehydration. Not withstanding the fact that Luthors dorsal has always drooped, this will come as quite a surprise to the many other workers in the field who have shown that drooping dorsal fins are not a sign per se of any kind of physical distress. Luthor has been observed doing a bang up (pun intended) job of stunning and eating mullet. He shows no signs of dehydration. The people at DRC would also have to admit that this "sickly, dehydrated, injured" dolphin, "clearly seeking help", out-swam, out-maneuvered, and out-smarted, their entire team in their high speed capture boats, for four hours. BTW - to the DRC people that were in the catch boats - on your way back in, as you made the turn past the Navy base to go into the Bight, after chaseing Luthor all afternoon and finally giving up, Luthor surfaced about 100 yards behind you and about 45 yards off shore. You missed him but others didn't, and there are those that swear that he winked. What this boils down to is that the DRC spent several days violating the marine mammal protection act, along with Rick Trout, and with the tacit approval of the NMFS. The medical data prior to release is being forwarded to selected researchers and participants of this forum for review and the tracking data will also be released for review at an appropriate time. > Dolphin Research Center > Grassy Key, Florida > > Email: Tokitae(\)aol.com > If you think that this type of behavior is aborant in those who are supposed to be protecting marine mammals, Call National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) at 1 (800) 853-1964. Tell them to leave Luthor and Buck alone, tell them to keep others from feeding, chasing, harassing, or otherwise interfereing with these wild dolphin. George Elston gelston(\)gate.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 10:16:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: publishing and funding sources (fwd) On: Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 09:48:13 -0700 >From: "Robin W. Baird" >Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy >Personally I think the issue of how few graduate theses are published >in marine mammalogy is an extremely important one for our field. ..............(edited) Non-academic funding of marine mammalian research is part of the problem. A case in point is the large amount of work done under the auspices of U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce) that is never published in peer-reviewed journals. For the Hawaiian monk seal alone, the unpublished literature at the Southwest Fisheries Service Laboratory in Honolulu is really quite extensive. Personally, I think that all university graduate programs should require graduate students to publish thesis results. Using Adobe Acrobat is a great idea. I plan to put my thesis (vocal communication in the Hawaiian monk seal) in this form on an up-coming web page. ************************************************** Damon A. Job. Marine Mammalogist/Conservation Biologist djob(\)clark.net *************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 15:08:01 -1000 From: Craig Smith Subject: whale falls and biodiversity Dear Dr. Jelmert, I found your comments on the potential significance of whale falls to biodiversity to be interesting. However, the real issue concerning biodiversity is not the carbon-flux engendered in whale falls, but rather the number of habitat islands. By analogy, the flux of organic carbon into the deep-sea from hydrothermal vents is apparently smalll compared to the flux in sinking particles from the surface ocean, but few would argue that hydrothermal vents contribute to deep-sea biodiversity in a variety of interesting ways. Similarly, even though the Hawaiian Islands appear to harbor more species of Drosophila than the rest of the world combined, the flux of carbon through Hawaiian Drosophila is trivial compared to that fluxing globally through fruit flies. Human whaling activities, by reducing the population sizes of whales, must have reduced the frequency of occurrence of whale-fall habitat islands on the deep-sea floor. The reduced habitat frequency and increased spacing between carcasses, rather than reduction in carbon flux, may have caused a diminution of diversity, by causing recruitment failure of species previously able to disperse between more closely spaced whale falls. I would be very grateful to receive a reprint of your comment in Conservation Biology, if one is available. Sincerely, Craig Smith Dept of Oceanography Univ. of Hawaii 1000 Pope Road Honolulu, HI USA 96822 FAX: 808-956-9516 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 17:54:21 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Two dolphins came to vote in Haifa Harbor, Israel Shalom Fellow Marmamers: Wednesday morning 5/29/96 at 5:15 a.m. two dolphins, an adult and a juvenile (Tursiops truncatus), entered Haifa port, the second largest and busiest port in Israel. They were observed by the tower guards. They came all the way into the harbor, to its end, in front of the marine police buildings. These guards notified Nimrod Otets, a naval ranger for the Ministry of Environment about their presence. By 7 a.m., IMMRAC (Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center) volunteers were notified and on the site: Dr. Dan Kerem, Mira Roditi, Aharon Koltuv, and Oz Goffman. We identified the species of the two dolphins and observed their swimming formation (always as a pair). Most of the time, they were submerged. The visibility in the water is less than 50 cm and the depth in this region is 7-8 meters. Because of a national holiday due to Israel's elections, boat traffic in the port was light. At 7:40 a.m. we started taking observations on the behavior of the dolphins, their submerged time, location, etc. The dolphins seemed to be in healthy condition. Perhaps they were a mother and an older calf, but we were unable to determine the genders of the dolphins. We studied the harbor area and decided not try to capture them or stress them in any way. We recalled how Dr. David Ben had herded killer whales out of an estuary (IMMATA conference, 1994), by using an acoustic wall to push the dolphins forward. We made the first attempt to do this at 9:02 a.m. with two Boston whaler like fiberglass boats, one zodiac, and one windsurf board (no sail), using metal clankers (made by the marine police on the spot for us). We only were able to drive them up halfway in the harbor, before it expanded. The dolphins dove under us and returned to the inner harbor at 9:49 a.m. At 10 a.m. we decided to stop the herding attempts but Orit Barnare and Hadass Rapport, Kari Lavalli, Moti Mendelson continued observations on the dolphin's behavior. At 11:57 the dolphins attempted to leave the inner harbor but turned back. We followed them in a boat at some distance. At 12:40 p.m. we decided to add more windsurf boards to our acoustic line, and by 1:45 p.m. 2 additional volunteers joined us to man the surf boards (Amir Yurman, Amir from Sofay Yam, in additional to Mira and Aharon). We devised a plan of action, keeping in mind the importance of maintaining a straight line to herd the dolphins and making continuous noise. At 2 p.m. we made a second attempt at the acoustical herding line again with the two Boston whaler like boats and the 4 surf boards. We started making noise from the very beginning. It took 1.5 hours to herd the dolphins out of the harbor. Years ago there was a similar incident. Some of the dolphins left the harbor on their own after three to five days, while others were entangled and injured. We may have been successful because of our use of small boats, surf boards, and noise makers. IMMRAC would like to thank the following authorities for their help and cooperation: Ministry of the Environment Tel Aviv University Dept. of Zoology Port Authority Haifa Harbor Tug Boat Operaters Israel's Navy Safay Yam the volunteers of IMMRAC If anyone else has had similar experiences with dolphins trapped in busy harbors (where they are not commonly found), please let us know and send us your case reports to: Oz Goffman, IMMRAC University of Haifa Recanati Center for Maritime Studies Mt. Carmel, Haifa, 31905 Israel ----Dan Kerem Kari Lavalli Ehud Spanier Miri Roditi Oz Goffman ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 15:17:39 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: BRF--NZealand-Whaling BRF--NZealand-Whaling WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- New Zealand is pushing for a global ban on the use of high-voltage electricity to kill whales once hunters have caught them. New Zealand will raise the issue at next month's conference in Scotland of the International Whaling Commission. New Zealand and Britain failed in a bid to put the ban to a vote at the commission's meeting last year. The proposal is aimed at Japan, whose hunters use electric lances to kill whales after they have been harpooned. Because of the risk to the crew, hunters cannot use enough electricity to kill the whales instantly, said Jim McLay, the New Zealand representative on the whaling commission. New Zealand researchers have found that the jolted whales suffer for several minutes before dying, McLay said. "New Zealand is not suggesting there are humane ways of killing whales. All whale hunting should be halted," he said. Japan's hunters kill more than 400 whales a year. New Zealand also plans to lodge a protest at the whaling commission meeting against Norway allowing its whalers to take twice as many whales this year as in the past. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 19:20:08 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Electronic journals In-Reply-To: <199605301735.LAA32752(\)maildrop.srv.ualberta.ca> Let us not forget that while electronic journals will no doubt become the wave of the future, currently they are vulnerable to hacking, and therefore the reliability of citing them would be dubious. Also, the electronic medium is not yet available to everyone, so setting up electronic journals to dessiminate research on conservation / management of marine mammals would not help our colleagues in the third world who don't have email accounts (my S. American colleagues do not even have an international phone line). Ironically, these people are often the ones at the forefront of these studies, or who would benefit most from them. IMHO, as always Alana Phillips ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 19:13:07 -0600 Reply-To: "Alana V. Phillips" From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Re: publications in marine mammalogy In-Reply-To: <199605301735.LAA32752(\)maildrop.srv.ualberta.ca> Our lab had an interesting discussion on this topic after reading Lorenz Gygax' original posting. If we might add our two cents' worth... If I recall correctly, Mr. Gygax' original lit search was focussed on aspects of conservation and management of delphinids. It is not surprising that there is a large amount of grey lit on this topic. As Robin and others have already pointed out, in conservation / management studies, funding agencies typically only require an internal report, which would not be peer-reviewed. However, this is not limited to marine mammals; people working in conservation of large terrestrial mammals, tropical birds, amphibians (to name a few examples) also run into the same problem. I think the underlying problem is that for people in conservation and management, decisions must often be made quickly. Usually, there are not the time, money or opportunities to do the type of study that would be deemed acceptable to your average peer-reviewed journal (eg a controlled study with lots of juicy statistics and great p-values... ;-) ). I suggest that it is not "marine mammalogy" that suffers from an excess of grey literature, but the entire field of conservation and management. There are many researchers studying marine mammals in fields such as behaviour, physiology, phylogeny, etc. who do not seem to have the same problem with publishing. For example, in our recent discussion on dolphin signature whistles, most of the work cited was in peer-reviewed journals such as Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. etc. These researchers are not all "academics" either; indeed, many are government and independent scientists. We also suggest that the statement that "academics are the only people lucky enough to be able to publish" is an over-generalization. There are many academics that haven't published for years but somehow retain their tenure. There are also many government scientists and independent scientists that DO regularly get their work out in peer-review literature (e.g. NMFS, CWS, CSIRO etc). In my/our humble opinion, of course. Alana Phillips University of Alberta / Canadian Wildlife Service (can't pigeon-hole me!) ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 23:24:49 -0500 From: Pierre-Henry Fontaine Subject: echolocation hello, I am upgrading a book I wrote in 1988, Biologie et ecologie des baleines de l'atlantique nord, and I would like to know what is new on =E9cholocation. I find only information based on the Norris theory, nothing about Purves and Pilleri(1983) or something different. I find the Purves and Pilleri theory more interesting than Norris'. The shape of the skull of many cetaceans I know seems to me improper to reflect sounds in the melon, for exemple. I would like very much to know if somebody is doing research on the sound production and transmission in toothed whales Pierre Henry Fontaine Quebec pfontain(\)mediom.qc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 08:03:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: publications (fwd) Forwarded message: From: luke.rendell%zoology.oxford.ac.uk(\)ukacrl Folks, Just to add my two-penn'orth to the publications debate. It is something we gripe about regular like in our group (small though it is). We kind of agree with Jim's comments, that basically if one is involved with marine mammal (and other it seems) conservation work of a practical nature, the only source of money appears to be government agencies and suchlike who tend to want an answer to a specific question like "how do seismic surveys affect porpoises off the Orkney Islands" and want it in the form of an internal report. To such agencies, funding write up for publication when they've already got their reports must seem like paying someone simply to advance their own reputation/standing/career, hence their reluctance. This is a crying shame for the field and (from my own experience) incredibly frustrating when lit searching for ones own report. However, paying one's way in the cold light of day (there's a song in there somewhere!) dictates that most of us who do this kind of contract work are going to be unable to afford to take the time out (unpaid) to prepare and publish stuff (I guess it would help if journals weren't so fussy). The idea of an e-journal seems great. It would, I agree, not be citable for reasons of security and lack of review but at least it would let other people know what work was being done. With no pretensions people wouldn't have to put loads of effort preparing stuff, and if people were interested then they could get in touch independently to request copies/reprints etc. Also the idea of a write-up-fund is pretty good I reckon. Maybe the IWC could set something up, taking a percentage of it's funding and inviting proposals??? Cheers, (you can stop yawning now!) Luke Rendell Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 11:28:53 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 5/31/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On May 29, 1996, New Zealand officials reported that, at the June 1996 IWC meeting, this nation will lodge a protest against Norway for doubling its whaling quota and will propose a ban on use of electric lances to kill whales. On May 29, 1996, four European Parliament members (from Britain, Denmark, and France) toured Japanese whaling industry facilities in Oshika, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and sampled whale meat dishes. [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] . Sea Lions. On May 29, 1996, the three individually identifiable California sea lions accused of feeding on steelhead trout that had been caught near Ballard Locks, WA, were shipped to Sea World of Florida in Orlando. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 09:35:55 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: Publications... Alana Phillips writes: >For example, in our recent discussion on dolphin >signature whistles, most of the work cited was in peer-reviewed journals >such as Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. etc. Interesting coincidence -- the latest issue of _Science News_ has a cover story on killer whale vocalizations, transient/resident differences, etc (nifty stuff!). The piece showcases 4 different research groups' findings; two are "concluded from unpublished data" and two cite mainstream publications. Now, to be newsworthy the article might be biased to unpublished works, and I have not tried a statistical analysis of other _Science News_ articles (so the implication I draw from this would never pass peer review!) -- but while I agree 100% that similar issues exist with respect to conservation biology etc, I do think marine mammals might be a little bit more so*. >We also suggest that the statement that "academics are the only people >lucky enough to be able to publish" is an over-generalization. There are >many academics that haven't published for years but somehow retain their >tenure. I'm not sure if this is refering to my earlier comments or not (certainly not my exact words!!). In any case, there sure are such academics; the point is not what some academics can get away with because of funding security, but what some marine mammalogists _cannot_ accomplish because of _lack_ of funding security for anything but fieldwork and Q&D 'grey' writeups. * To the extent that "simple" description of natural history has a hard time getting published in so-called "science" journals, research on large terrestrial animals could be facing the _same_ problem as marine mammalogy--not ideal experimental subjects, long lived and so rate of data return slow, fieldwork makes writeup difficult etc... Not that I have a beef with how the modern synthesis derailed real biology, or anything ;-) cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 10:56:43 +1200 From: Lars Bejder Subject: Impact of tourism on Hector's dolphins!!! Dear Marmamers, I am a postgarduate student at the University of Otago, New Zealand. I doing reseach on Hector's dolphins around the south island of New Zealand. The objectives of my research are: 1. To assess the impact of "dolphin-tourism" on Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay, New Zealand. 2. To develop guidelines under which such tourism should operate. 3. To facilitate ecological comparisons between Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay, SI west coast, Kaikoura, Banks Peninsula and Moeraki. Methodology: Most data for 1 & 2 above is gathered using a spotting scope and surveyor's theodolite from a cliff overlooking the bay. The number of dolphins using the bay, stability of their groups, and the number of calves present are relevant to the question of impacts, and essential for ecological comparisons (3 above). Number of dolphins (and # calves) are gained both from clifftop observation and from surveys from a boat. Abundance, individual residence and group stability would be assessed using photographic identification. I have just completed my first field season - and will be starting analysis of the theodolite data. My question is: does anyone have experience with theodolite analysis - anyone know of any publications thereon - present research using theodolites? Is anyone working on potential impacts of tourism on cetaceans. Looking forward to hearing from you. Lars Bejder. Lars Bejder University of Otago Department of Marine Science 304 Castle Street Dunedin New Zealand Ph: 03 479 7496 Fax: 03 479 8339 Email: lars.bejder(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz Private: Lars Bejder 69 Warrender Street Dunedin New Zealand Ph: 03 471 9660 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 17:47:48 -0400 From: Dolphoto(\)aol.com Subject: 2nd Baby Dolphin Dies at Marine World >From the San Francisco Chronicle, 5/31/96: For the second time in two weeks, a newborn dolphin at Marine World Africa USA has died, officials at the Vallejo park announced yesterday. The baby born to Marine World's oldest dolphin, 35-year-old Terry, died about 10 minutes after being delivered Tuesday evening, spokeswoman Annette Lindemann said. The newborn showed signs of hemorrhaging around its brain stem, indicating that it may have been in a poor position during birth. On May 20, a two-week-old dolphin died after apparently inhaling water. A third dolphin, which was born 2 1/2 weeks ago, is doing we, Lindemann said. At Marine World, dolphins are not named until they are about a month old. Sandy Rosenberg Dolphoto(\)AOL.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 07:56:20 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: ENDANGERED DUGONG NEEDS G QLD: ENDANGERED DUGONG NEEDS GOVT HELP - CONSERVATIONI BRISBANE, May 31 AAP - Dugong numbers in the Great Barrier Reef region between Cairns and Gladstone had fallen by 50 to 80 per cent in the past eight years and the marine mammal was now critically endangered, conservation groups said today. Seventeen national, regional and local conservation organisations meeting this week in Townsville, on Queensland's central coast, today called for immediate action to prevent the extinction of the protected dugong. They said the main threats to dugong were entrapment in gill and shark nets, illegal hunting and loss of seagrass grazing meadows. A prime dugong habitat, the Hinchinbrook Channel near Cardwell, was seriously threatened by the Keith Williams development at Oyster Point, they said. "These magnificent animals are continually being threatened by increased human activity on the coastline," said Queensland Conservation Council spokeswoman Imogen Zethoven. "Federal and state agencies must start work immediately on a dugong rescue plan for the southern Great Barrier Reef area," she said in a statement. "Failure to do so would be in direct contravention of the Australian government's World Heritage obligations to protect threatened species of outstanding universal value." Other necessary protective measures included the exclusion of gill netting from known dugong habitats and increased surveillance to combat illegal netting and hunting, the conservation groups said. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 07:56:29 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. Decides Not to Fund Contr U.S. Decides Not to Fund Controversial Chinese Dam ... WASHINGTON, May 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Environmental organizations welcomed as a conservation victory today's announcement by the U.S. Export-Import Bank that it will not provide at this time financial assistance to China's proposed Three Gorges Dam. They warned, however, that the battle to stop environmental destruction from the dam is far from over. In making its decision, the U.S. Ex-Im Bank said it considered a number of legal documents and on-site research reports from Defenders of Wildlife, which has previously argued overseas applications of the Endangered Species Act before the Supreme Court. Defenders has maintained that U.S. funding would represent a violation of the act because the dam would cause damage to wildlife habitat of endangered species including that of the panda, and lead to the extinction of at least one species -- a river dolphin -- in the relatively near future. Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen said after the bank's decision, "We are relieved that the United States, at least for the time being, is not going to help China construct a technological monster that will decimate homes and wildlife and other resources treasured by people around the world. Flooding the Three Gorges would be like destroying the Grand Canyon. Today's announcement is a victory for people and wildlife. However, we will continue to monitor the project as Ex-Im Bank announced today they might reconsider. Defenders has opposed U.S. participation in the project since the World Bank considered funding several years ago. In 1994, Defenders successfully convinced the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers to end their assistance to its construction. Section 7 of the U.S. Endangered Species Act states that federal agencies must ensure that projects they fund do not jeopardize the existence of any endangered or threatened species. Defenders has argued before the Supreme Court that this obligation applies even when the federal action occurs overseas. According to William Snape, Defender's legal director, "The Ex-Im Bank's participation would represent a clear violation of U.S. law and an abdication of U.S. environmental leadership. The dam is an ecological and economic boondoggle." As proposed, the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China would be "the largest hydroelectric project in the history of the world," according to Ex-Im Bank. It would require the relocation of over one million people, submerge some 326 cities and towns, many of which contain historical treasures, and directly harm the ecological integrity of one of China's last natural beauties. Defenders of Wildlife, with members who have visited the hydroelectric site, reports that much of the habitats of the endangered Chinese river dolphin, Siberian white crane, Giant panda, and Chinese alligator would likely be degraded as a result of the project. In addition to higher water levels that would damage habitat, construction of the dam would result in the damage to bamboo groves and bottom-rooted aquatic plants on which pandas and cranes feed. Various migratory fish stocks on which dolphins feed would also be affected. Other endangered species, including Temminick's cat, the Stump-tailed macaque, and the South China siku deer could also be in jeopardy. lnitial preparations for the dam have already begun, though the Chinese government desperately needs additional funding. Ex-Im Bank said today's announcement would not preclude private U.S. companies from involvement. Highways and cement factories are underway and approximately 50,000 people have already been relocated. Besides opposition from environmental groups, the dam has also raised concerns from human rights organizations because of the project's massive forced relocation efforts. In September 1995, the White House sent a memo to the Ex-Im Bank, stating that "it would be unwise for the U.S. government to align itself with a project that raises environmental and human rights concerns on the scale of the Three Gorges" and that "we are concerned about the project's financial strength" because "the Chinese government's cost estimates are much too low." ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 22:56:31 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: WWF Whaling Policy, Further Clarification Dear Marmamers, WWF Norway has sent a second letter to the muncipality council of Moskenes (Lofoten Islands) concering the WWF whaling policy. The letters intention is to clarify what could be interpreted as conflicting statements. The first letter (on Marmam 24. May) stated that "WWF is not an opponent of sustainable whaling on principle,irrespective of whether it is carried out by aboriginal peoples or commercially". Below you will find the second letter in its entirety. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance highnor(\)online.no ********************************* WWF Verdens Naturfond World Wide Fund for Nature Box 6784 St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo Email: verdens.naturfond(\)wwf.no Oslo, May 31, 1996 To the Moskenes Municipal Council c/o Mayor Geir Wulff-Nilsen Fax no. 76 09 22 73 WWF's Whaling Policy Following the previous round of explanations (our letter of 22/5/96), several questions that require our comments have arisen from a number of different sources. From the past week's media coverage we understand that there is still some confusion with regard to the content of the WWF network's common policy. At present, WWF's policy is concentrated on the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) annual meetings, and our policy document is published prior to these meetings. This document is submitted to each and every national WWF organisation enabling them to comment upon it before it is finally passed by way of consensus. Other WWF publications do not have the same authorization and are naturally enough influenced by their author(s). In the 1996 WWF policy document we find a quote that has caused some confusion: "In addition, WWF sees no benefit to the conservation of whales from commercial whaling, and therefore does not support its resumption." There is a simple explanation to this: WWF is not an industry-based organisation and does not actively support the utilisation of resources. We have taken upon us the task of working to ensure that man's use of nature is carried out in a sustainable manner for the good of generations to come. When WWF supports, or actively works towards, the harvesting of resources, it is in such cases where conservation benefits are attained. An example of this is WWF's support of one of the projects included in the TV fund-raising campaign, known as CAMPFIRE, where help given to the local game resource management/harvesting bodies has contributed to protect the fauna of Zimbabwe. On May 23, the director of WWF International's policy programme, Gordon Shepherd, said to Icelandic TV (STOD 2) that, "WWF's opinion is that currently whaling cannot in any way be shown to be sustainable, and that the moratorium imposed by the IWC should be maintained." This statement has also caused confusion about WWF's position. His statement does not, however, contradict WWF's common policy. WWF supports the IWC majority that wishes to maintain the moratorium as long as negotiations on a new management regime RMS) are in progress. In WWF 's opinion, the RMS is a precondition for sustainable harvesting, amongst other things, an internationally approved inspection system must be applied. It will therefore be difficult to prove that whaling is sustainable before the RMS has been put to use. Since WWF Verdens Naturfond has received several enquiries about this issue, I hope that it is alright with you that I send a copy of this letter to other interested parties. Yours Sincerely, WWF Verdens Naturfond Stig Hvoslef General Secretary ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 21:36:54 EDT From: "Dennis L. Kelly" <73042.1163(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Copy of: Advance Whale Course: Summer Camp July 6-12 ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: Dennis L. Kelly, 73042,1163 TO: MARMAM, INTERNET: marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet DATE: 6/1/96 18:26 AM RE: Copy of: Advance Whale Course: Summer Camp July 6-12 To anyone who is interested: This summer from July 6 - 12 I will be leading an Advance Whale Course: Marine Mammal Ecology in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Island Institute presents this high quality field course focusing on Orca whale observation. This is a rigorous academic experience for college-age students, teacheres and interested adults who already have previous knowledge about general marine mammal biology (recommended age 18 years and older). The course is a week-long intensive exploration of the ecology of Greater Puget Sound's marine mammals through discussion groups, lectures, and participation in original field work. The program includes four days of vessel-based study (weather permitting). In addition, one day is spent touring research facilities on San Juan Island, and a series of in-depth illustrated lectures conducted on the ecology of whales, porpoises, and seals by leading researchers in the region. Four (4) quarters, 400 level credits may be available from Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA. (18 years and above only, costs extra, registration takes place at the camp). Dennis Kelly, Professor of Marine Mammal Ecology at Orange Coast College, will serve as group coordinator and various guest research specialists and Island Institute core staff will serve as instructors and lecturers. Participants will reside on private, 500 acre Spieden Island in comfortable safari-style tents on wooden floors. The institute operates a 43' charter boat, Navigator, which will be used for marine mammal observations. Resident and visiting speakers will present entertaining and informative programs. During free time, sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment will be available, as well as a pool and jacuzzi. Our chef will prepare delicious, healthy meals for participants in the Lodge. Cost: $895 per person, includes room, board, boat trips, and lecturers. ($200 non-refundable deposite required to register). Does not cover transportation cost of individuals to and from pick up site at San Juan Island, City of Friday Harbor. For more information call: Dennis Kelly (714)432-5564 To register contact: Jane Howard, President Island Institute P.O. Box 661 Vashon, WA 98070 (206)463-6722 FAX (206)463-3396 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 18:57:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Sink/Float (fwd) From: emmajones To Marmam readers Thankyou for all the replies to my question. The general response was that most whales sank once dead, but depending on the depth of water, they could resurface. I recieved a number of reports from people who had seen all sorts of floating cetacean carcasses, all invarably in a fairly advanced state of decomposition and often being scavenged by birds and/or sharks. Perhaps these were carcasses which had sunk, but not in deep enough water to preclude the gases evolving from decomposition from refloating the carcasses. It seems feasible that, in deep enough water, the carcass would not refloat, but would it be possible for certain species to reach a neutral buoyancy before hitting the bottom ? Does anyone have any ideas? And it seems that certain species do not sink at all, at least, not in one piece; the right, bowhead and sperm whale continue to float once dead, the latter, even after being blown up apparently. Emma Jones ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 16:23:07 +0100 From: Anders.Jelmert(\)imr.no Subject: Re. Float or Sink On Wed, 29 May 1996 15:08:01 -1000 (HST) Craig Smith Wrote >Dear Dr. Jelmert, >I found your comments on the potential significance of whale falls to >biodiversity to be interesting. However, the real issue concerning >biodiversity is not the carbon-flux engendered in whale falls, but rather >the number of habitat islands. By analogy, the flux of organic carbon >into the deep-sea from hydrothermal vents is apparently smalll compared to >the flux in sinking particles from the surface ocean, but few would argue >that hydrothermal vents contribute to deep-sea biodiversity in a variety of >interesting ways. Similarly, even though the Hawaiian Islands appear to >harbor more species of Drosophila than the rest of the world combined, the >flux of carbon through Hawaiian Drosophila is trivial compared to that >fluxing globally through fruit flies. >Human whaling activities, by reducing the population sizes of whales, must >have reduced the frequency of occurrence of whale-fall habitat islands on >the deep-sea floor. The reduced habitat frequency and increased spacing >between carcasses, rather than reduction >in carbon flux, may have caused a diminution of diversity, by causing >recruitment failure of species previously able to disperse between more >closely spaced whale falls. >I would be very grateful to receive a reprint of your comment in >Conservation Biology, if one is available. >Sincerely, Craig Smith >Dept of Oceanography >Univ. of Hawaii >1000 Pope Road >Honolulu, HI >USA 96822 Dear Dr. Smith. I appreciate your comments on the significance of wale-falls to biodiversity. Your points also gives me an opportunity to elaborate some of the points made in our original comment. I certainly do agree that the size of the carbon-flux _per se_ is not necessarily a good predictor for deep sea biodiversity. However, it was Butman et al.(1995) who suggested that the "amount" of carbon (in the form of whale carcasses transported to the sea-floor), was of importance. Our simple exercise in arithmetic (Jelmert & Oppen-Berntsen, 1996) led us to conclude that the contributions from whales had to be of minor importance when comparing it to the size of other sources. Let me then point to another important property of the dominating carbon source, phytodetritus: It is in itself patchy, both in time and space. This patchiness will also produce habitat islands on the sea-floor in a variety of size and time scales (as observed in some of the papers cited in our commentary). I would tend to suggest that these phytodetritus patches, which are dwarfing the overall contributions from whale-falls, also are more important in determining the diversity in deep-sea biota. Let me then address the purported connection between hydrothermal vent societies and whale-fall societies. In our commentary to Butman et al, we pointed to some obvious differences between the two habitats and their communities. I believe a recent paper also may shed some light on this question. When examining the dispersal of hydrothermal vent organisms, Tunnicliffe and Fowler (1996) found that the predominating dispersal route for the hydrothermal vent fauna was along mid-ocean ridges, rather than along the shortest oceanic routes. In my opinion, their results does not give much support to the "stepping stone" hypothesis. They stated:" Similarity analysis suggest that the distribution patterns of today's vent fauna display the strong imprint of the timing and geometry of ancient plate boundaries." Tunnicliffe and Fowler (_op cit_) also made some comparisons between vent societies and other marine assemblages, and stated: "Present vent communities are distinct from surrounding deep-sea communities and only a few animals inhabit both. Since the first discovery of hydrothermal vent fauna in the Galapagos Rift in 1977, of the 375 recorded species, only 7% occur outside the vent habitat." I do not deny the existence of the fascinating whale-fall biota. It is, as you pointed out, a part of the deep sea biota and hence iodiversity, -not due to its overall numbers, but due to its mere existence. However, based on the present data, I find it more reasonable to associate whale-fall biota with other deep sea assemblages, like those found in methane seeps and similar habitats rich in reduced organic carbon. Finally, let me return to the original question on the effects of whaling. I suppose we both agree that presently we only have "guesstimates" of many of the whale populations, both historically and presently. However, I have seen anecdotal information which suggests a present world-wide population of sperm whales exceeding 1 mill. Also the last estimate for Antarctic Minke whale was exceeding 0.7 mill individuals. Thus the overall numbers of whale-falls may in fact not have been reduced as much as could be inferred if only looking on the reduction of the blue, fin and sei whale stocks. I do not know if it is established that a Minke whale carcass is too small to fuel a whale fall society. Anyhow, Minke whales have a natural mortality of approximately 9% (Allen, 1980). The contribution (in numbers) of whale falls from Minkes are thus twice the contribution from a corresponding standing stock of the larger whales, which have a natural mortality of 4.5% or lower (Allen, _op cit._). I will send you a reprint as soon as I get them. Respectfully Anders Jelmert anders.jelmert(\)imr.no Literature: Allen, K.R. 1980. Conservation and Management of Whales. University of Washington Press, Seattle. ISBN.0-295-95706-9 Butman, C.A., Carlton, J.T. and Palumbi, S.R., 1995. Whaling Effects on Deep-sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology vol.9 No.2:462-464. Jelmert and Oppen-Berntsen,1996. Whaling and Deep Sea Biodiversity. Conservation Biology vol 10 No.2:1-2 Tunnicliffe, V. and Fowler, M.R. 1996. Influence of sea-floor spreading on the global hydrothermal vent fauna. Nature, Vol 379:531-533 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 11:15:46 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Risso's dolphin in captivity message by Alessandro Bortolotto (Fondazione Cetacea) on behalf of the Centro Studi Cetacei (the Italian Stranding Network): Dear Marmamers, does anybody know which facilities/parks in the world are presently housing Risso's dolphin (we are particularly interested in the States and Australia) ? Thanking you in advance, Alessandro Bortolotto Fondazione Cetacea via Milano, 63 - 47036 Riccione (RN) +39-541-691557 (phone) +39-541-606590 (fax) Email (cetacea(\)iper.net> Web Site ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 16:48:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ANTARCTIC WHALE RESEARCH PAPERS (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association Japan's minke whale research program in the Antarctic is a 16 year project. Since its inception in 1988, it has yielded a wealth of data on many aspects of minke whale population dynamics, biology, morphology, nutrition, health, and behavior. About 120 scientific papers have been written detailing the data uncovered to date. Following is a partial list compiled by the Institute of Cetacean Research (The list does not include papers resulting from last season's research expedition, nor a number of papers still awaiting translation): SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION OF THE JAPANESE WHALE RESEARCH PROGRAM UNDER SPECIAL PERMIT IN THE ANTARCTIC (JARPA) 1- List of scientific papers based on data and material obtained during JARPA (* - Only Japanese language available and title is translated.) Fujise, Y., Yamamura, K., Zenitani, R., Ishikawa, H., Yamamoto, Y., Kimura, K, and Komaba, M., 1990. Cruise report of the research on southern minke whales in 1989/90 under the Japanese proposal to the scientific permit. Paper SC/42/SHMi25 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990 (unpublished). 56pp. Fujise, Y., Kato, H. and Kishino, H. 1 1990 Reproductive segregation of the minke whale population in high latitudinal waters with some estimations of pregnancy and sexual maturity rates, data from Japanese research takes in 1987/88 and 1988/89. Paper SC/42/SHMi 10 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990 (unpublished). 20pp. Fujise, Y., Kato, H. and Kishino, H. 1991. Some progress in examination on age distribution and segregation of the southern minke whale population using data from the Japanese research take. Paper SC/431Mi18 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1991 (unpublished). 17pp. Fujise, Y., Kato, H., Zenitani, R. and Kishino, H. 1992. Seasonal and area changes in age distribution and segregation of the southern minke whales in Antarctic areas IV and V using data from the Japanese researches. Paper SC/44/SHB10 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1992 (unpublished). 37pp. Fujise, Y., Ishikawa, H., Saino, S., Nagano, M., Ishii, K., Kawaguchi, S., Tanifuji, S., Kawashima, S. and Miyakoshi H. 1993, Cruise report of the 1991/92 Japanese research in Area IV under the special permit for Southern Hemisphere minke whales. Rep. int. Whal. Commn 43:357-71. Fujise, Y., Zenitani, R., Saino, S., Itoh, S., Kawasaki, M., Matsuoka, K. and Tamura, T. 1993. Cruise report of the 1992/93 Japanese Research under the special permit for Southern Hemisphere minke whales. Paper SC/45/SHB12 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, April 1993 (unpublished). 39pp. Fujise Y. and Kishino, H. 1994. Patterns of segregation of minke whales in Antarctic Areas IV and V as revealed by a logistic regression model. Paper SC/46/SH11 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished). 23pp. Fujise, Y., Zenitani, R,. Kato, H. and Kishino, H. 1994. Age distributions of minke whales in the Antarctic Areas IV and V in 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons. Paper SC/46/SH2O presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished). 22pp. Fujise, Y.: A Preliminary morphometric study in minke whales from Antarctic Area IV using data from the 1989/90 JARPA survey, Paper SC/47/SH7 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995 (unpublished). 15pp. Fukui, Y., Mogoe, T., Terawaki, Y., Ishikawa, H., Fujise, Y. and Ohsumi, S. 1995, Relationship between physiological status and serum constituent values in minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) J. Reprod. Dev. 41:203-8. Fukui, Y., Mogoe, T., Jung, Y.G., Terawaki, Y., Miyamoto, A., Ishikawa, H., Fujise, Y. and Ohsumi, S. 1996. Relationship among morphological status, steroid hormones and post-thawing viability of frozen spermatoza of male minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Marine Mammal Science 12 (1): Hasunuma, R., Ogawa, T., Fujise, Y. and Kawanishi, Y. 1993 Analysis of selenium metabolites in urine samples of minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) using ion exchange chromatography. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 104c(1):87-89. Hori, H., Bessho, Y., Kawabata, R., Watanabe, I., Koga, A. and Pastene, L.A., 1994 World-wide population structure of minke whales deduced from mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. Paper SCW6/SH14 presented to the IWC Scientific Cornmittee, May 1994 (unpublished). 11pp. Ichii, T. and Kato, H. 1990. Food of southern minke whales from Japanese research take in 1987/88. Paper SC/42/SHMi14 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990 (unpublished). 15pp. Institute of Cetacean Research 1995. Finding of blue whales by JARPA in the Antarctic. Paper SC/M95/BW3 presented to the Steering Committee Meeting for Research Related to Conservation of Large Whales in the Southern Oceans, Tokyo, 1995 (unpublished). 10pp. Institute of Cetacean Research 1995. Research activities of the Institute of Cetacean Research May 1994 to April 1995. Paper SC/47/07 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995 (unpublished). 10pp. Ito, S., Takenaga, A., Tsuyuki H. 1990. *Study on oil from Antarctic minke whales (First Report) Blubber oil and fatty acid composition from minke whales taken during 1987/88 research program. Abura Kagaku 39(7):486:490. Ito, S., Takenaga, A., Tsuyuki H. 1993. *Study on oil from Antarctic minke whales (Second Report) Blubber oil and fatty acid composition from minke and dwarf minke whales taken during 1988/89 and 1989/90 research program. Abura Kagaku.42(12): 1007-1011. Kasamatsu, F. and Shigemune, H. 1989. Preliminary Report of the Second Minke Whale Sighting Surveys in Low and Middle Latitudinal Waters in the Southern Hemisphere in 1988/1989. Paper SC/41/SHMi15 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1989 (unpublished). 15pp. Kasamatsu, F., Kishino, H. and Taga Y. 1990. Estimation of Southern Minke Whale Abundance and School Size Composition based on the 1988/89 Japanese Feasibility Study Data. Paper SC/41/SHMi1 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1989 (unpublished). 23pp. Kasamatsu, F., Yamamoto, Y., Zenitani, R., Ishibashi, T., Sato H., Takashima, K. and Tanifuji S. 1991. Report of the 1990/1991 Southern minke whale Research Cruise Under Scientific Permit in Area V. Rep. Int. Whale Commn 43:505-22. Kasamatsu, F., 1993. Studies on distribution, migration and abundance of cetacean populations in the Antarctic waters. Doctoral Thesis. The University of Tokyo. 262pp. Kato, H., Hiroyama, H., Fujise, Y. and Ono, K. 1989. Preliminary report of the 1987/88 Japanese feasibility study of the special permit proposal for Southern Hemisphere minke whales. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn., 39:235-248 Kato, H., Fujise, Y., Yoshida, H., Nakagawa, S., Ishida M., Tanifuji, S. 1990. Cruise report and preliminary analysis of the 1988/89 Japanese feasibility study of the special permit proposal for southern hemisphere minke whales. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 40: 289-300. Kato, H. Kishino, H. and Fujise, Y. 1990. Some analyses on age composition and segregation of southern minke whales using samples obtained by the Japanese feasibility study in 1987/88. Rep. Int. Whale. Commn 40:249-56 Kato, H, Zenitani, R. and Nakamura, T. 1990. Inter-Reader Calibration in Age Readings of Earplug from Southern Minke Whale, with some notes of Age Readibility. Paper SC/42/SHMi12 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990. 8pp. Kato, H, Fujise, Y. And Kishino, H. 1991. Age structure and segregation of Southern minke whales by the data obtained during Japanese research take in 1988/89. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 41:287-92. Kimoto, H., Endo, Y. and Fujimoto, K. 1994. Influence of interesterification on the oxidative stability of marine oil triacylglycerols. JAOCS, 71(5):469-473. Kishino, H., Kato, H., Kasamatusu F., and Fujise, Y. 1991. Detection of heterogenity and estimation of population characteristics from the field survey data: 1987/1988 Japanese feasibility study of the southern hemisphere minke whales. Ann. Inst. Stat. Math. 43(3):435-53. Kishino, H., Fujise, Y., Kato, H. and Taga, Y. 1991. Maximum likelihood procedure for the estimation of the mean age at sexual maturity of minke whales using data from the Japanese research take. Paper SC/43/Mi23 presented to thc IWC Scientific Committee, May 1991 (unpublished). 9pp. Matsuoka, K., and Ohsumi, S. 1995. Yearly trend in population density of large baleen whales in the Antarctic Areas IV and V in recent years. Paper SC/47/SH9 presented to the IWC Scietific Committee, May 1995 (unpublished) 25pp. Matsuoka. K., Fujise, Y. and Pastene L. A. A sighting of a large school of the pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata in the southeast Indian Ocean. Marine Mammal Science (in press). Murayama, T., 1991. Studies on the visual sense of cetaceans. Doctoral Thesis. The University of Tokyo. 88pp. Murayama, T., Somiya, H., Aoki, I. and Ishii, T. 1992. The distribution of ganglion cells in the retina and visual acuity of minke whales. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 58(6): 1057-l06l. Murayama, T., Fujise, Y., Aoki ,I. and Ishii T. 1992. Histological characteristics and distribution of ganglion cells in the retinae of the Dall's porpoise and minke whale. pp l37-145. J. Thomas (eds.) In: Marine Mammals Sensory Systems. Plenum Press, New York, 1992. Naganobu, M., Kato, H. and Fujise, Y. l993. Preliminary oceanographical analyses on the southern minke whale distribution based on the data during Japanese research take in 1988/89. Paper SC/45/SHB15 presented to thc IWC Scientific Committee, April 1993 (unpublished). 13pp. Naganobu, M., Kano, H., Fujise, Y., and Kato, H. 1994. Relationship between oceanographic condition and minke whale density in the Ross Sea based on the data from the l992/93 cruise of Japanese whale research programme under special permit. Paper SC/46/SH17 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished). 21pp. Naganobu, M., Kano, H., Fujise, Y., Nishiwaki, S., and Kato, H., 1995 Relationship between oceanographic condition and minke whale density in the Antarctic Ocean based on the data from the Japanese scientific permit cruise in 1989/90, 1991/92 and 1993/94. SC/47/SH11 presented to the IWC Scientific Comm ittee, May 1995 (unpublished). 8+13pp. Nagasaki, F., The facts, facts' and fiction of scientific whaling. Science and Technology in Japan 8 (31) 36-41. Nagasaki, F., The case for scientific whaling. Nature 344 (6263):189-90 Nishiwaki, S., Kawasaki, M., Kishino, H., and Taga Y., 1992. Abundance Estimates of Southern Hemisphere Minke Whales in Area V from the sightings in the Japanese Research in 1990/91. Paper SC/44/SHB8 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1992 (unpublished) 12pp. Nishiwaki, S., Ishikawa, H., Itoh, S., Matsuoka, K., Yuzu, S., Nagatome,I., Yamagiwa, D., Murase, H., Tanifuji, S., Miyakoshi, H., and Ono, K. 1994. Report of the 1993/94 cruise of the Japanese whale research programme under special permit in the Antarctic Area IV. Paper SC/46/SH15 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished). 42pp. Nishiwaki, S., Matsuoka, K., and Kawasaki, M. 1994. Abundance Estimates of Southern Hemisphere Minke Whales in 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons Using Date from Japanese Whale Research Programme Under Special Permit in Antarctic. Paper SC/46/SH12 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished) 14pp Nishiwaki, S., Ishikawa, H., Itoh, S., Shimamoto, K., Mogoe, T., Kawazu, H., Machida, S., Yamane, T., Ono, K., and Ohkoshi, C. 1995. Report of the 1994/95 cruise of the Japanese whale research Programme under special permit (JARPA) in the Antarctic Area V. Pape SC/47/SH5 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee. May 1995 (unpublished). 38pp. Nishiwaki, S., Matsuoka, K. and Kawasaki, M. 1995. Comparison of parameters to obtain abundance estimates in the Japanese whale research programme under special permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) and the International Decade of Cetacean Research (IDCR). Paper SC/47/SH10 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995. (unpublished) 17pp. Nishiwaki S., 1995. *The practical side of the Japanese whale research programme under special permit in the Antarctic. Geiken Tsushin (News From the I.C.R, in Japanese). 388:1-6 Osumi, S., Kawasaki, M., and Nishiwaki, S., 1994. Biological results of beaked whales surveyed by Japanese research programme under special permit and the need of their research take. Paper SC/46/SM15 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished) 24pp. Okamoto, H., 1988. *Age estimation of young minke whales in the southern hemisphere. Thesis. Tokyo University of Fisheries. 28pp. Pastene, L.A., Kobayashi, T., Fujise, Y., and Numachi, K. 1993. Mitochondrial DNA differentiation in Antarctic minke whales. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 43:349-55. Pastene, L. A., Fujise, Y., and Numachi, K. 1994. Differentiation of mitochondrial DNA between ordinary and dwarf forms of southern minke whale. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 44:277-281. Pastene, L.A., Goto, M., Fujise, Y., and Numachi, K. 1994. Further analysis on the spatial and temporal heterogenity in mitochondrial DNA haplotype distribution in minke whales from Antarctic Areas IV and V. Paper SC/46/SH13 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished) 25pp. Pastene L.A., and Fujise, Y. 1994. An outline, with a progress report, of the photo-identification experiments on southern baleen whales conducted during the Japanese whale Research Programme Under Special Permit in the Antarctic. Paper SC/46/SH21 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1994 (unpublished). 14pp. Pastene, L.A., Goto, M., 1994. Application of population genetics to the management of minke whales. Geiken Tsushin. 384:1-8. Pastene, L.A., Goto, M., and Itoh, S., Spacial and temporal patterns of mitochondrial DNA variation in minke whales from Antarctic Areas IV and V. Paper SC/47/SH6 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995 (unpublished) 23pp. Tamura, T., 1995. *Distribution of minke whale and its prey species in the Antarctic. Master's thesis. Hokkaido University. 55pp. Tanabe, S., Aono, S., Fujise, Y., Kato, H., and Tatsukawa, R. 1995, Persistent organochlorine residues in the Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Paper SC/M95/P13 presented to the workshop on Chemical Pollution and Cetaceans, Bergen, 1995 (unpublished). 6pp. Tanaka, S., Kasamatsu, F. and Fujise, Y. 1992. Likely precision of estimates of natural mortality rates from Japanese research data for Southern Hemishpere minke whales. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 42:413-420 Yamazaki, A., 1993. *Food habit and diet amount of minke whale in the Ross Sea. Thesis. Tokai University. 27pp. Yoshioka, M., Fujise, Y., Kato, H., and Aida, K., 1990. Serum progesterone levels in southern minke whales by reproductive status. Papaer SC/45/SHMi13 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990 (unpublished) 10pp. Yoshioka, M., and Fujise, Y. 1992. Serum testosterone and progesterone 1evels in southern minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Paper SC/44/SHB l 3 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1992 (unpublished). 4pp. Yoshioka, M., Okumura, T., Aida, K., and Fujise, Y. 1992. Development of techniques for quantifying muscle progesterone content in the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Paper SC/44/SHB12 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, June 1992 (unpublished). 4pp. Yoshioka, M., Okumura, T., Aida, K., and Fujise, Y., 1994. A proposed technique for quantifying muscle progesterone content in the minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Can., J. Zool. 72:368-370. Yoshioka, M., 1991. Endocrinological studies on cetacean reproduction. Doctoral Thesis. The University ofTokyo. 130pp. Zenitani, R. 1995. *Study of ear plugs of southern hemisphere minke whales and age assessment. Geiken Tsushin. 386:1-6 2. Scientific works, based on JARPA data and material, presented in symposia and other scientific meetings. (All of the papers are written only in Japanese and their titles are translated here.) Hamada N., Yamazaki S., Toda S., Fujise Y., Zenitani R., 1990. X-ray analysis of ear plugs of minke whales. The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. Hamada N., Yamazaki S., Toda S., Fujise Y., Zenitani R. Yamamoto Y. 1990. Flourescent X-ray analysis of ear plugs of minke whales. The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry. Hasunuma R., Urano J., Ogawa T., Kawanishi Y., Fujise Y. 1992. Analysis of selenium compound in mammal urine. The Chemical Society of Japan, The 63th Annual Meeting. Hasunuma R. Arai K., Ogawa T., Kawanishi Y., Fujimoto A., Fujise Y., 1992. Analysis of selenium compound in marine mammal urine. The 65th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society. Hasunuma R., Miyaishi T., Iwasaki K., Ogawa T., Fujise Y., Kawanishi Y. 1994. Analysis of selenium content in minke whale urine. The 67th Annual meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society. Osaka. Hasununa R., Iwasaki K., Ogawa, T., Fujise Y., Kawanishi Y. 1995. Refining selenium content in minke whale urine. The 69th Spring Meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan. Kyoto. Hasunuma R. Ogawa T., Fujise Y., Fujimoto A., Ohike, T. 1995. Selenium metabolic object in mammal urine. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society. Sendai. Hasunuma Y., Ogawa T., Fujise Y., Fujimoto A., Ohike T., Kawanishi Y. 1996. Selenium content in mammal urine. The 70th spring Meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan. Tokyo. Iwata H., Tanabe S., Yamamoto Y., Fujise Y., Tachikawa ,R. 1991. Vertical distribution and characteristics of atmospheric and sea water pollution by organo-chlorine content. Nihon Suisan Gakkai Shunki Taikai. Tokyo Murayama, T., Fujise, Y., Aoki, I and Ishii, T. 1991. Histological character and distribution of ganglion cells of the retinae of Dall's porpoise and minke whale. International symposium of sensory systems and behavior of aquatic mammals. Moscow, October 1991. Tsuda M., Hasunuma R. Fujise Y., Fujimoto A., Kawanishi Y. 1993. Concentration of selenium and heavy metal in marine mammal urine. The Japanese Biochemical Society. Yarnane T., Itoh S., Ishikawa H., Makita T. 1995. Histology of the Antarctic minke whale adrenal gland. World Veterinary Congress, Yokohama 1995. Yamane T., Ito S., Ishikawa H., Makita T. 1995. Histology of the minke whale adrenal gland, sampled from the research activity in the Antarctic. The 120th conference of the Japanese Society of Vetenarian Science. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 13:04:54 GMT From: SILVIA HILDEBRANDT Organization: Edificio de Ciencias Basicas Subject: Humpback whales at Cape Verde Islands? I belong to the Biology Department of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). We are going to start a project about biological studies at the Cape Verde Islands. We are mainly interested in the distribution of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in that area but we have only found a few papers about this subject. Could anybody give me some references about the distribution of humpback whales at the Cape Verde Islands? Thank you Silvia Hildebrandt Silvia.Hildebrandt(\)biologia.ulpgc.es ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 07:53:17 -0500 From: mfjat(\)uxa.ecn.bgu.edu Subject: Research Grants SHEDD AQUARIUM AQUATIC SCIENCE GRANTS The John G. Shedd Aquarium features one of the world's largest and most diverse collections of aquatic animals in the world. The Aquarium's mission is to promote the enjoyment, appreciation, and effective conservation of aquatic life and its environmennts through education, research,and public display. To advance that goal, the Shedd Aquarium is offering a limited number of support grants for research in the following areas of aquatic science: Wetland Science and Conservation Marine Mammalogy Coral Reef Science and Conservation Reflecting the Aquarium's mission and complementing its research interests, priority will be given to those proposals which include the following concepts: Education: Demonstration of a plan for community education or a communication component beyond peer reviewed publications. Collaboration: Demonstration of a collaborative program which coplements existing research programs and helps to build partnerships. Environmental Relevance: Demonstrated link between the knowledge gained in a zoological setting and its applications in a field environment. The research program emphasis for 1996 is shown below. Typical grant sizes will be $2,000 to $3,000. Topics of Research by Area of Emphasis: Wetlands (Great Lakes region, with priority given to northeastern Illinois): Anthropogenic effects, Assessment, Remediation, & Hydrology Marine Mammals: Sensory Biology, Physiology, & Nutrition Coral Reefs: Anthropogenic effects, Assessment, Remediation, & Fisheries Issues Applications must be received by 26 July 1996. Please submit requests for application materials in writing to: Research Committee Chairman John G. Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 Dr. Jeanette Thomas Western Illinois University 6502 34th Ave. Moline, IL 61265 Tel: 309-441-5220 FAX: 309-441-5220, ext. 0 email: mfjat(\)uxa.ecn.bgu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 09:51:18 -0600 From: Chad Jay Subject: JOB ANNOUNCEMENT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SERVICE **TERM APPOINTMENT** **TERM APPOINTMENT** VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION: RESEARCH WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: NBSB-96-6 GS-0486-09 OPENING DATE: MAY 28, 1996 FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL: GS-0486-09 CLOSING DATE: JUNE 11, 1996 AREA OF CONSIDERATION: ALL QUALIFIED PERSONS LOCATION: WESTERN REGION, ALASKA SCIENCE CENTER, MARINE & FRESHWATER ECOLOGY BRANCH ANCHORAGE, ALASKA Applications will also be accepted from non-status applicants. CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: (703) 358-1771 ADDRESS OF PERSONNEL OFFICE: NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SERVICE 1849 C STREET, N.W. MAILSTOP: ARLINGTON SQUARE-725 WASHINGTON, DC 20240 Travel and relocation expenses for this position will be the responsibility of the selectee and will not be paid by the Government. Please submit transcript or OPM Form 1170-17, List of College Courses. All status candidates who wish to be considered under both merit promotion and competitive procedures must submit two (2) complete applications. When only one application is received, it will be considered under merit promotion procedures only. Applicants who wish to hand carry their applications should deliver them to 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 730, Arlington, Virginia. For more information, call (703) 358-1771. The hearing impaired should contact Relay Service for assistance. Department of the Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. 5 CFR 330, Career Transition Assistance for Surplus and Displaced Federal Employees requires the following order of selection for this position: a) At Bureau option, personnel actions listed in 5 CFR 330.606(b); b) Any well-qualified SSP candidate who applies within the local commuting area (Surplus and displaced employees will be given equal consideration); c) At Bureau option, personnel actions not subject to RPL; d) Qualified RPL candidates in the local commuting area; e) At Bureau discretion, any other former displaced well-qualified DOI f) Well-qualified ICTAP applicants in the local commuting area; g) Other outside applicants (other agencies, nonstatus, etc). AN ELIGIBLE CTAP APPLICANT IS DETERMINED TO BE WELL-QUALIFIED IF HE/SHE MEETS THE FOLLOWING: OPM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE POSITION; ALL SELECTIVE FACTORS, WHERE APPLICABLE; SPECIAL QUALIFYING CONDITIONS THAT OPM HAS APPROVED FOR THE POSITION; IS PHYSICALLY QUALIFIED WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO SATISFACTORILY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION UPON ENTRY; AND IS RATED BY THE ORGANIZATION AT AT LEAST THE MIDDLE LEVEL OF A 3-LEVEL RATING SYSTEM ON ALL QUALITY RANKING FACTORS. This is a term position Not to Exceed 2 years. Relocation expenses are not authorized. STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The incumbent of this position assists the Western Alaskan Marine Mammals Project Leader in laboratory and field research activities related to the ecology, behavior, and energetics of polar bears and Pacific walruses through project planning, aerial, ship-board, and surface population surveys and the subsequent data analysis. He/she captures and tags polar bears and Pacific walruses, and instruments them for remote relocation by subsequent radio-tracking and satellite telemetry technology. Other duties include the maintenance and inventory of field equipment and organizing and making detailed arrangements for field studies. KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES, SKILLS AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS (KASOCS): 1. Ability to contribute to field research plans and development of experimental design; 2. ability to participate in field work; 3. knowledge of data collection, tabulation, and analysis; 4. ability to interact with other Federal, State, and foreign researchers, and; 5. ability to adhere to safety guidelines and policy. Executive Branch agencies are barred from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to the sender. The National Biological Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be made solely on the basis of merit, fitness and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, or any other non-merit factors. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Jun 1996 11:06:59 -0400 From: David Woolley Subject: Internship Position Available This posting is to notify any interested candidates that the Cetacean Research Unit of Gloucester, MA is looking to fill 2 internship positions in the spring of 1997. Interns will be involved in the collection and handling of data concerning southern Gulf of Maine cetacean populations, especially the humpback whale. Interns are involved in a variety of on-going projects covering other species as well. The position runs from January 20-May 26, 1997 and there is a fee of $1000 to cover cost of living. Applicants must have completed the sophmore year of college. For more information contact: ___________________________________________________________ David Woolley/Intern Coord. Cetacean Research Unit PO Box 159 Gloucester MA 01930 508.281.6351 e-mail: david(\)cetacean.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 00:15:38 -0200 From: pedro mendes Subject: digestive system My name is Pedro Mendes and I'd like to receive researches and information about the digestive system of marine mamals, if possible. It may be sent as a word file. Thank you, Pedro Mendes pedromen(\)mandic.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 12:34:30 LCL From: Michel Andre Subject: Biopsy darts My name is Michel Andre, and I belong to the Department of Biology of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. I am interested in getting biopsy darts for genetic studies of wild populations of dolphins. I would appreciate any address available to purchase the darts, or the name (and e-mail) of the people involved in the fabrication of such equipment as soon as possible. Thank you in advance. Michel Andre (MANDRE(\)CMMC.EXT.ULPGC.ES) Michel Andre Canary Islands Marine Mammal Centre (CMMC) Department of Biology, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain E-mail MAndre(\)CMMC.EXT.ULPGC.ES Fax. 34-28 45 14 30 Tel. 34-28 45 34 57 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 13:36:13 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Amazon Manatees Amazon Manatees By PETER MUELLO Associated Press Writer MANAUS, Brazil (AP) -- Overhunting and destruction of habitat are threatening to wipe out the world's only fresh-water manatee. Some scientists fear it could go the way of the Steller sea cow, which was hunted to extinction just 30 years after its discovery in 1741. "This species doesn't exist outside the Amazon," said Dr. Vera da Silva, head of the Aquatic Mammals Laboratory at the National Institute of Amazon Research. "If it becomes extinct here, it will be gone for good." The institute in this Amazon jungle city, 1,800 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro, hopes its research will improve chances for recovery of Brazil's fresh-water manatee. Begun in 1975, the institute's Manatee Project has provided scientists with new information about the habits and makeup of the creature that Brazilians call "peixe-boi" -- Portuguese for "ox-fish." "Back then we knew absolutely nothing about its biology or physiology," da Silva said. "Even now, we don't know how many there are." What they discovered was an unusual and primitive mammal that can't even maintain a constant body temperature. Like a reptile, its temperature varies with the environment. Yet the manatee is uniquely adapted to the warm waters and flood-and-drought cycles of the Amazon. When the water is high and food abundant, an adult eats up to 110 pounds of water plants a day. In the dry season, it can go for six months without food. Scientists also found that the manatee plays a crucial role in the intricate Amazon food chain. "It transforms up to 40 percent of its food into smaller particles and nutrients that feed many fish, micro-organisms and phytoplankton," da Silva said. Like its larger sea-going cousins in the coastal waters of Florida and Africa, the Amazon manatee belongs to a branch of mammals that includes the elephant, the aardvark and the hyrax. Its cigar-shaped body and whiskered face give it a walrus-like appearance. The manatee has been protected in Brazil since 1967, but poaching is a problem. Manatee oil is used for cooking and in home remedies for everything from rheumatism to bronchitis. The meat, fried and stored in its own fat, is a dish much appreciated in the Amazon interior because it keeps for months without refrigeration. Francisco Cavalcanti, a retired but unrepentant poacher, says manatee hides also are sold to tanneries, which use them to make glue, shoe soles, loom parts and gaskets, belts and hoses for locomotives and heavy machinery. "It's better than cowhide, stronger and thicker," he said. Big -- up to 1,100 pounds -- slow and docile, the manatee has no natural enemies except man. When European colonizers came three centuries ago, the Amazon teemed with them. In a 1658 journal, Jesuit priest Antonio Vieira wrote how Indians in the eastern Amazon loaded more than 20 ships a year with manatee meat and oil for Dutch traders. From 1776 to 1778, the Portuguese Royal Fishery near the Amazon River port of Santarem registered the entry of 58 tons of manatee meat and 1,613 barrels of oil. Females with young are the easiest prey. Hunters set wooden stakes in the water to locate the animal, then harpoon it to bring it to the surface. "When it comes up, the hunter shoves two sticks up its nostrils," da Silva said. "The manatee can't breath through its mouth and suffocates." The orphans often are kept as pets in tanks or on a tether through a hole bored in the fan-shaped tail. But few hunters realize how much milk the calves need, and they usually sicken from malnourishment. "They get weaker and weaker, and when they're almost dead someone remembers that INPA exists and donates them to us," da Silva said. The institute keeps up to 20 manatees in concrete-and-glass tanks. Each day, the calves are fed five quarts of formula with milk, butter, egg yolk, melon and vitamins. They may live 45 years, but they never can return to the wild. "They've lost their fear of man, and that is their only chance for survival," da Silva said. INPA hopes to place them in fish farms or in special conservation units. Another idea is to use them to control the spread of water plants. In the late 1970s, the government electric company in the Amazon, Eletronorte, asked for help to clear the reservoir of the Curua-una hydroelectric dam, glutted with weeds that blocked sunlight and reduced oxygen in the water. The institute put 42 manatees in the reservoir, and the plant cover receded. But the followup studies weren't completed, and INPA couldn't prove conclusively that the manatees were responsible for the result. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 16:57:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: JAPAN'S IWC POSITIONS (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association Following are the positions and objectives of the Government of Japan at the upcoming International Whaling Commission meeting: Japan and the 48th IWC Annual Meeting I. OUR BASIC POSITIONS ON WHALING: THE PRINCIPLE OF SUSTAINABLE USE based on the best available scientific evidence has no exceptions from its application. Whaling is not an extraordinary activity but is one applicable area in the conservation and rational utilization of wildlife or fishery resources. SCIENTIFIC FACTS, rather than political and emotional factors, are the basis of any conservation and management measures for natural resources. LEGAL INTEGRITY of the IWC must be maintained through the judi- cious efforts of the responsible contracting nations. In the past, the IWC has adopted several decision which contravene the purpose and objectives of the ICRW (the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling), notably its stated purpose as "a convention to provide proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling indus- try." FOOD SECURITY must be seriously considered. Particular attention should be drawn to the consensus agreement of 95 countries at the International Conference on the Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security (Kyoto, Japan, December 1995). The agreed Declaration includes that the States should, without prejudice to the rights and obligations of States under interna- tional law: * Recognize that the FAO projects a substantial potential shortfall by 2010 of the supply of fish and fishery produc- ts to meet demands from an increased human population, which in turn will adversely affect world food security; * When and where appropriate, consider harvesting at multi- ple trophic levels in a manner consistent with sustainable development of these resources; * Study the effectiveness of multispecies management; * Call for an increase in the respect and understanding of social, economic, and cultural differences among States and regions in the use of living aquatic resources, especially cultural diversity in dietary habits, consistent with man- agement objectives. II. SPECIFIC TOPICS AT THE IWC MEETING, ABERDEEN, UK, 1996 Japan seeks support and understanding on the following points; (1) CORRECTING LEGALLY QUESTIONABLE PROCEEDINGS OF THE IWC: a. THE DECADE OLD MORATORIUM on commercial whaling should be reviewed, as the Schedule of the Convention so re- quired it to be by 1990 at the latest. b. THE SOUTHERN OCEAN SANCTUARY should be abandoned. The Sanctuary adopted in 1994 disregards Article V.2 (a), (b) and (d) of the Convention, which require various specific conditions for the promulgation of new IWC regulations. (2) CORRECTING THE SCIENTIFIC NEGLIGENCE OF THE IWC: a. NEW SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS, such as the population estimates of 760,000 Southern Hemisphere minke whales, should be fully applied in implementing management measures. Currently, these data do not have any chance to contribute to any decision of the IWC. b. THE NEWLY DEVELOPED REVISED MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE for whale resources should be implemented by the IWC, and the effort of its Scientific Committee to finalize the scientific aspects of the Procedure should be ack- nowledged c. SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF RESEARCH TAKE of minke whales should be appreciated as the research has provided val- uable data for its Scientific Committee. Scientific catches of minke whales are legal and have proved to have no adverse effect on the stock. Lethal research is still a indispensable measure to improve the management of whale stocks. (3) CORRECTING SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NEGLIGENCE OF THE IWC: a. COMMUNITY BASED WHALING should be reopened. Currently, for example, four coastal areas in Japan which have a long history of whaling are facing major hardships re- lated to socio-economic impacts caused by the IWC Moratorium. b. AN INTERIM QUOTA of minke whales should be allocated to these communities to alleviate the hardships. (4) JAPAN CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IWC through various ac- tions, including: a. PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC DATA by continuing cetacean re- search programs. These include the IDCR sighting survey in the Antarctic, blue whale research aimed at the restoration of its stocks, and special permit research programs involving the research take of minke whales. b. SUPPORTING THE IWC FINANCIALLY by providing the largest share of annual contributions among all of the con- tracting nations. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 15:05:12 -0700 From: Larry or Lynn Tunstall Subject: Oil-spill rehab center (clipping) >From the San Jose Mercury News of June 1, 1996: CENTER TO CARE FOR ANIMALS HURT IN SPILLS by John Woolfolk, Mercury News Staff Writer Construction began Friday in Santa Cruz on the nation's first full-time center for rescuing marine wildlife injured by oil spills. California Department of Fish and Game and University of California, Santa Cruz officials broke ground with ceremonial gold-colored shovels at the bluff-top site near Long Marine Laboratory. When it is completed next summer, the $5 million, 18,000-square-foot center will be the state's headquaqrters for rescuing oil-soaked sea otters, seabirds and other marine life. Between spills, state and university scientists at the Oiled Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center will study rescue and rehabilitation methods, and diseases afflicting marine life. ...<7 paragraphs skipped>... The Santa Cruz center will be run and staffed by the Department of Fish and Game but will include researchers from UC-Santa Cruz's Long Marine Laboratory. The annual operating cost of $168,500 will be paid from a 4-cent-per-barrel tax on oil companies. Announced two years ago, the Santa Cruz center was to be completed last year but was delayed because of high bids and environmental constraints on the design, said Fish and Game spokeswoman Dana Michaels. NOTE: The full story should be accessible on the Web through the Mercury Center at http://www.sjmercury.com Posted by Larry Tunstall, El Cerrito CA beedleum(\)netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 15:00:40 +0300 From: Anastasios Legakis Subject: Monk seal release MONK SEAL PUP RELEASED BACK TO THE SEA An orphaned monk seal pup was released to the sea on Saturday, April 20th after a 5-month treatment and rehabilitation period at the Seal Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit of the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm) that is situated on the island of Alonnisos in Greece. The pup named Katerina by MOm, was found by fishermen last November on the northern coast of Evvoia island, some 30 miles from Alonnisos. It was alone for at least 2 days and was suffering from very severe dehydration, parasitic infection of the upper part of the gastrointestinal system which was causing haemorragic gastritis and severe anaemia. Two weeks after the recovery from the parasitic infection, she developed respiratory problems, fever and diarroia that resulted to a loss in weight. With the necessary medical treatment she recovered slowly. From January on, her recovery was rapid and within two months, she was eating fish on her own. By mid-April, Katerina had increased in weight from 13 to 53 kilos and veterinary examinations indicated that she was sufficiently healthy to be released. The release is the latest of a series of successful releases of monk seal pups in the area of the National Marine Park of Alonnisos-Northern Sporades. Ten pups have so far been rescued and rehabilitated, a joint effort of MOm and the Pieterburen Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center in Holland. The monk seal, Monachus monachus, is considered to be one of the most endangered species in Europe. Only 500 animals are thought to survive in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Atlantic coasts of Mauritania, former Spanish Sahara and Madeira. Of these, 250 live in Greek waters with the largest population, approx. 40 animals, in the area of the National Marine Park of Alonnisos-Northern Sporades. The protection of the park, established mainly for the monk seals but also for the rare Audouin's gull and Eleonora's falcon, the wild goats of Gioura island, several submerged ancient wrecks and buildings and a variety of other wildlife, is showing signs of being effective. A significant number of monk seal births have been observed during the past 5 years by the team of MOm that is monitoring the seal population. The Society is a non-profit organization established 8 years ago, with 3000 members from Greece and abroad. Its main activities are: the promotion of effective functioning of protected areas for the monk seals, surveillance and wardening of the above areas, monitoring of the monk seal population in Greece, study of the biology and ecology of the species, operation of a national network for rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned or wounded seal pups, environmental sensitization and public awareness and environmental education in all levels of schooling. Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal - MOm 53, Solomou str. 104 32 Athens, Greece tel. 301-5222888, fax 301-5222450 For e-mail contact Dr. A. Legakis, Zoological Museum, Univ. of Athens alegakis(\)atlas.uoa.gr ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 07:46:56 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Climate change biggest risk to Climate change biggest risk to whales, says IWC By Michael Perry SYDNEY, Australia (Reuter) - Global climate change, pollution and the hole in the ozone layer are greater risks to the world's whale populations than whaling, International Whaling Commission (IWC) Chairman Peter Bridgewater said Wednesday. Though resumption of commercial whaling would devastate whale numbers, he said, there were no moves to do so, neither by Japan which conducted "scientific" whaling nor Norway which resumed whaling in May. "I think the threat from all sorts of extrinsic sources to whale populations pose a significantly greater threat than the whaling activities that exist," Bridgewater told Reuters. "We may well see potential for (population) crashes for other reasons (than whaling)," he said ahead of this month's IWC meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland. The IWC must now focus on these new threats, he said. "There is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest there are effectsfrom pollution on whale populations, even though they are highly migratory animals which spend a lot of their time in what we would call remote oceans," Bridgewater said. The Environmental Investigation Agency, a research group based in London and Washington, detailed in May recent cetacean deaths as a result of pollution. More than 1,500 striped dolphins died in the Mediterranean from a virus linked to high levels of pollutants; 750 bottlenose dolphins were killed in the Gulf of Mexico from a combination of pollution, viral infection and toxic algal; while toxic algal killed 14 humpback whales off the U.S. east coast. Bridgewater said whale fat readily absorbed pollutants. "We really need to have a more strategic global program looking at the effects of pollutants on whales," he added. Climate change also posed a risk to whales, particularly in Antarctica, a major whale sanctuary. Ozone depletion over the Antarctic could expose whales to damaging solar radiation, whichcould impact on future whale stocks. "My guess it will take a few years for these effects to come through," Bridgewater said. A report on the effect of climate change on whales is to be presented to the IWC meeting starting June 24. Antarctica's eco-system has been damaged in the past century through whaling, sealing and krill fishing, he said. Shrimp-like krill are a major food source for whales. Antarctica's altered environment may also be adversely affecting whales, he said. To date, whale preservation has focused on a 1982 IWC moratorium on commercial whaling. Currently 12 of about 80 species of whales are protected and populations are recovering. Bridgewater said he believed support for a global ban on whaling remained strong, despite Japanese and Norwegian whaling, moves to allow whaling for some indigenous peoples and reports that South Africa may review IWC membership. Japan kills 400 minke whales each year in the Southern Ocean for "research," whileNorway resumed whaling last month for cultural and commercial reasons, intending to kill 425 minkes. Both countries will face strong criticism in Scotland, Bridgewater said. "Australia will be pushing very hard for both the Norwegians and the Japanese to reconsider their decisions." He said he did not believe the world would again see large-scale factory-ship whaling, but Japan was intent on creating a minke whaling industry. "Japan has made no secret that that is what its long-term objective is," he said. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 19:59:00 +0100 From: "R.H. Lambertsen" Subject: whale falls, biodiversity & ecological impact of whaling Anders Jelmert Institute of Marine Research, N-5392 Storebo, NORWAY Dear Dr. Jelmert, 1. You made the point that you believed that whale falls probably made an insignificant contribution to deep sea biodiversity -- apparently on the basis of calculations of vertical carbon flux contributed by dead whales compared with that contributed by other biota. Hence you would conclude that commercial whaling probably had an insignificant effect on deep sea biodiversity. One on the properties of large whales, however, is that they are in fact large. They are on this basis much more likely to reach the bottom, rather than to be consumed by fish on the way down. Have you sought to take this factor fully into account? Would not the probability of a partical-bound carbon molecule reaching the bottom increase exponentially with partical size? 2. Large body size would also indicate the establishment of a large and hence long-sustained focus of energy and nutrients around a whale carcass on the bottom. Thus the proper comparison here would seem to be with the effect of a focal water supply in a desert, i.e., with an oasis. It is quite obvious, I think, that if the water found in an oasis was distributed evenly across a large desert, then little if any biodiversity would be supported at all. But concentrating the same amount of water in one place will allow a rich flora and fauna to emerge. This is the point that I believe Dr. Smith was making, and which I fully agree with. 3. Another signficant point, which I sought to develop some years ago, is based on the assumption that natural mortality in large baleen whales probably is greater in the nutrient-impoverished lower latitudes. Because large baleen whales in their winter migrations face near if not complete starvation, and because females in that same season also face both the obstetrical risks of parturition and the huge energy demand of lactation (with the associated metabolic risk of ketosis), mortality in these species probably is greater in lower latitudes. On this basis the ecological impact of commercial whaling should not be viewed simply as an impact on vertical carbon fluxes, from the surface to the bottom. The large baleen whales should be viewed as ecological workhorses -- concentrating nutrients and energy in highly productive polar regions, and transporting these, in LARGE packages, to nutrient impoverished lower latitudes. Commercial decimation of large whale populations severely interfered with this ecological function. Based on Laws' (1977) figures, I estimated that the reduction in biomass flux from high to low latitudes caused by past whaling was of the order of 1.1 million metric tons per annum. Again, this reduction was in a biomass that is structured in LARGE packages. Any associated ecological damage done by the depletion of these very large-bodied animals continues to increase to this day. Depletion of such species apparently was met with increases in small-bodied species (penguins, seals, minkes) having little if any similar role in trans-latitudinal transport. Note finally that the above does not even factor in the trophic/atmospheric effects of a biosphere in which the average body size of component species has been decreased. Small birds and mammals have be determined to represent a very significant "leak" in the oceanic carbon pump. Regards, R.H. Lambertsen, Ph.D., V.M.D. Ecosystems Technology Transfer, Inc. P.O. Box 6788 Titusville, Florida 32782 USA References: Lambertsen, R.H. Crassicaudosis: a parasitic disease threatening the health and population recovery of large baleen whales. Rev. sci. techn. Off. Int. Epiz. l992, 11:1131-1141. Laws, R.M. The significance of vertebrates in the antarctic marine ecosystem. In: Adaptations within antarctic ecosystems (G.A. Llano, ed.). Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1977, 411-438. >Dear Dr. Jelmert, > >I found your comments on the potential significance of whale falls to >biodiversity to be interesting. However, the real issue concerning >biodiversity is not the carbon-flux engendered in whale falls, but rather >the number of habitat islands. By analogy, the flux of organic carbon >into the deep-sea from hydrothermal vents is apparently smalll compared to >the flux in sinking particles from the surface ocean, but few would argue that >hydrothermal vents contribute to deep-sea biodiversity in a variety of >interesting ways. Similarly, even though the Hawaiian Islands appear to harbor >more species of Drosophila than the rest of the world combined, the flux >of carbon through Hawaiian Drosophila is trivial compared to that fluxing >globally through fruit flies. > >Human whaling activities, by reducing the population sizes of whales, must >have reduced the frequency of occurrence of whale-fall habitat islands on >the deep-sea floor. The reduced habitat frequency and increased spacing >between carcasses, rather than reduction >in carbon flux, may have caused a diminution of diversity, by causing >recruitment failure of species previously able to disperse between more >closely spaced whale falls. > >I would be very grateful to receive a reprint of your comment in >Conservation Biology, if one is available. > >Sincerely, Craig Smith > >Dept of Oceanography >Univ. of Hawaii >1000 Pope Road >Honolulu, HI >USA 96822 > >FAX: 808-956-9516 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 22:29:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Phonetic Inference in Whalesong (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Nicholas Mitsakakis Organisation: Dept. of Artificial Intelligence, Univ. of Edinburgh. Dear all, I am currently pursuing a research project concerning whalesong. This project involves the use of a Self Organising Map (Kohonen neural network) with the hopes of extracting structures in whalesong functionally equivalent to human phonemes. Since the project is in its initial stage I would be thankful if you could provide me with any information regarding the following: - The humpback whale appears to be most documented for whalesong. Can you suggest alternative sources for whalesong that may serve as better data? - Would you be able to provide me with whalesong data sets, and if not could you please suggest someone that could? - Have you encountered previous research on qualitative classification of marine mammal sounds by means of either neural networks or other techniques? I would really appreciate any information that may be useful to this project, as I have searched extensively without considerable success. Thank you in advance, Nicholas Mitsakakis ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 15:05:17 -0400 From: AnmlPeople(\)aol.com Subject: Oregon orca This may have been asked before, but if it was, we unfortunately missed the answer, and are now receiving reader inquiries about the incident: We understand that several months ago a dead female orca washed ashore in Oregon, and was reputedly full of toxic metals. Can anyone provide details, e.g. date and exact place? Is the cause of death known, and if so, was it related to toxic metal build-up? Does anyone know which pod this orca was from? Appreciating any and all information, __Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE. (>>ANMLPEOPLE(\)aol.com<<) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 00:54:21 -0400 From: Palacios1(\)aol.com Subject: Pseudorca aggression This month's (June) issue of the magazine Rodale's Scuba Diving features an article by underwater photographer Wes Skiles titled "Grand Illusion". It's a "popular science" article about the work of R/V Odyssey in the Galapagos Islands in 1994, and includes the photographer's viewpoint of an agressive interaction between false killer whales and sperm whales. A note on this subject is scheduled to appear in the October issue of Marine Mammal Science. Daniel M. Palacios Palacios1(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 07:43:59 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: climate excuse biggest threat to whale conservation (fwd) Forwarded message: From: animalbytes(\)earthlink.net (Pieter Folkens) Dear MARMAMmers: Michael Perry attributed (by Reuter's) the following to IWC Chairman Peter Bridgewater in a recent MARMAM posting: *Global climate change, pollution and the hole in the ozone layer are greater risks to the world's whale populations than whaling.* The statement may simply serve to muddy the debate over the resumption of commercial whaling. Nevertheless, the statement in and of itself is dangerous, if not insidious, on two levels--scientific veracity and the opportunity it presents to distract from other important issues. I submit that pollution is a most serious and fundamental problem to the health of the world's ecosystems, marine and otherwise. Lumping global warming and general climate change within the purview of the whaling debate is unwise. The climate question is so full of unsupportable scientific inuendos that critics can easily attack the weakness of that argument sufficiently to delay attention to the truly serious issues of pollution and abundance which directly impact the recovery and general health of major whale populations. Like predators on the Serengeti, critics will zero-in on the weakest parts. This statement attributed to Chairman Bridgewater underscores my point: *Climate change also posed a risk to whales, particularly in Antarctica, a major whale sanctuary. Ozone depletion over the Antarctic could expose whales to damaging solar radiation, which could impact on future whale stocks.* The problems with that statement are numerous beginning with the obvious. Solar radiation is fundamentally necessary for whales. Every year as Earth orbits the sun, a period begins in which *solar radiation* significantly increases. It's called summer. Solar radiation gets the food pyramid started. Without it, carbon-based life forms have no source of energy. (I apologize to all who got a *C* or better in high school biology and already new that.) A narrow band of solar radiation--ultra violet rays--has been shown to have a detrimental effect on some life forms, but it has yet to be demonstrated that an increase in UV radiation has any impact on animals which spend 96% or more of their life underwater at a depth sufficient to filter out most light, including UV radiation. Additionally, the most recent report on the ozone hole suggests the hole is actually shrinking. Do we know for sure that a fluctuation in the ozone at the poles is not a natural process occurring over many millenia? During the approximately 50+ million years of Cetacean evolution, whales have experienced at least two significant periods of global warmth much more profound than that which we are currently experiencing. Numerous global temperature oscillations occurred in between with a half dozen warming trends occurring just in the past 10,000 years, each more significant than our current state. We are now in just another relatively minor warming trend. (It has warmed less in the last 4,000 years than it did in the preceeding 2,000 years.) Big deal. So how did cetaceans do in warm periods anyway? Referring to an overview of cetacean and oceanic history by Fordyce, The late Oligocene warming trend began with "explosive rediation of odontocetes and mysticetes -- diversity high at species and family level," and ended with a global thermal maximum in the early Miocene and a "high diversity of family-level archaic odontocetes." Glacial-interglacial/temperate-tropical oscillations apparently contribute to cetacan diversity and speciation. Some tropical species (such as Tursiops and Stenella longirostris) have nearly complete intergrades between very different forms. A significant climate change may genetically isolate some stocks leading to spearate species. This happened before and there is nothing to suggest it won't happen again--except, of course the Environmental Investigation Agency which is declaring the alarm of mass cetacean die-offs due to warm weather. Our world was warmer about a thousand years ago than it is now, but it cooled quite a bit into the 16th century when the current warming trend kicked in. Are Chairman Bridgewater and the EIA suggesting that the last 400 years of warming had a greater detrimental effect on cetaceans than commercial whaling during the same period? I admit that global warming will alter the picture, but it won't end the movie. But pollution--especially in regards to the effects on propagation of basic prey species--is scary. We cannot afford to make outlandish statements intended to incite a reaction because, once analyzed, credibility is lost and concern for the real issues is distracted. Speakers to the issues must use precise words supported by clear, or at least compelling evidence. The IWC needs to concentrate on developing reliable MSY figures, consider the effects of pollution, and diminish its attention to the slow, but inevitable climate oscillations. Respectfully submitted, Pieter Folkens \\| \| Y _ ,~------------------------/ \___^___^._ | ~ ~.~=B0~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.'~=B0^--^_,''/ | (\) _ ~,~.~'~.~,~'~.~,~.~ ~ ~ ~ ~.~ { \_________ \_l ~,~,~,~,~,~'.~.____'-----'__` \ ~ ~ `----------------------\__'--' ` \ ~ ~ ` ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 10:04:17 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 6/7/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is the longer posting for the first Friday of June 1996. I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 05/31/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Release of Former Navy Dolphins. On May 23, 1996, two former Navy dolphins were released into the ocean near Key West, FL. The dolphins were part of a captive release program at Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary, Sugarloaf Key, FL. NMFS authorities consider the release illegal and are preparing to recapture the animals. The individual releasing the animals was initially cited by NMFS for unlawful transport of a marine mammal.} [personal communication] . Dolphins Escape. On May 17, 1996, two female dolphins, being held as part of an experiment to reintroduce captive dolphins to their natural habitat, were reported missing and believed to have escaped through a hole cut in plastic fencing around their pen in Brevard County, FL. [Assoc Press] . {California Sea Lion Shootings. In mid-May 1996, the carcasses of four dead California sea lions were discovered near Half Moon Bay, CA. Three of the animals had been shot in the head, a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.} [Assoc Press] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On May 8, 1996, British officials announced that the United Kingdom would not support a resumption of commercial whaling, believing that commercial whaling meets no pressing nutritional, economic, or social needs. On June 24-28, 1996, the IWC will hold its annual meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland. On May 20, 1996, Reuters reported that the South African Government was considering various policy options for possibly revising its relationship with the International Whaling Commission, with downgrading its IWC membership to observer status being proposed. On May 29, 1996, New Zealand officials reported that, at the June 1996 IWC meeting, this nation will lodge a protest against Norway for doubling its whaling quota and will propose a ban on use of electric lances to kill whales. {In early June 1996, Britain announced that it would join New Zealand in offering a proposal to ban the use of electric lances.} On May 29, 1996, four European Parliament members (from Britain, Denmark, and France) toured Japanese whaling industry facilities in Oshika, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and sampled whale meat dishes. [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] . Threats to Marine Mammals. On May 7, 1996, the Environmental Investigation Agency, a research group with offices in London and Washington, reported that pollution, ozone depletion, and climate change are killing whales and dolphins in unprecedented numbers, concluding that the moratorium on commercial whaling should be extended for at least 50 years. [Reuters] . Sea Lions. On May 6, 1996, the first of five individually identifiable California sea lions accused of feeding on steelhead trout was caught near Ballard Locks, WA, for holding and eventual transfer to permanent captivity at Sea World in Orlando, FL. On May 9, 1996, the second of the five individually identifiable sea lions was captured. On May 22, 1996, a third sea lion, referred to as "Hondo," was captured. A fourth identifiable sea lion was spotted several miles away from Ballard Locks. On May 29, 1996, the three captured sea lions were shipped from Washington State to Sea World of Florida in Orlando. [Assoc Press] . Pribilof Pollution Lawsuit. On May 7, 1996, an environmental law firm, Trustees for Alaska, filed a lawsuit challenging federal water pollution permits granted five seafood processors in the Pribilof Islands in February 1996, alleging that such pollution may threaten nearby fur seals. The lawsuit seeks more stringent EPA monitoring of waterwater discharge from the processing plants. EPA has assembled a working group to design a monitoring program. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. On May 4, 1996, Norwegian officials announced that Norway's whaling quota for 1996 would be 425 minke whales, with whaling beginning May 21. In 1995, a total of 217 minke whales were killed from a quota of 232. The higher 1996 quota was justified on the basis that 1995 minke whale population surveys increased population size from 75,000 animals (last year's estimate based on 1988/89 surveys) to 112,000 animals. On May 17, 1996, James Baker, NOAA Administrator, called on Norway to refrain from whaling and expressed concern about illegal exports of Norwegian whalemeat. On May 17, 1996, a bipartisan group of 23 Members of Congress requested that President Clinton impose trade sanctions on Norway. In mid-May 1996, four Norwegian whalemeat buyers (handling 60% of the 1995 market) announced that they are refusing to pay the $1.85 per pound demanded by Norwegian whalers. Norway was reported to have a large stockpile of blubber and whalemeat with little demand. On May 22, 1996, Norwegian whalers killed the first minke whale of the 1996 commercial hunt. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On May 8, 1996, the full House Committee on Resources ordered H.R. 2823, the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act, reported, as amended. {On June 6, 1996, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ordered S. 1420, the Senate companion to H.R. 2823, reported.} [Congr. Record, Assoc Press, Defenders of Wildlife press release] . Manatees. Between Mar. 5 and May 8, 1996, 157 dead manatees have been recovered in southwest FL between southern Sarasota County and Collier County; cause of death of the apparently well-nourished adults has not been determined, although necropsies have revealed symptoms characteristic of a pneumonia-like illness whose origin and cause is unknown. An observed illness and death of about 50 cormorants and loons in the same area is not believed related to the manatee deaths. After only four and one-half months of 1996, a total of 265 manatees have died from all causes, surpassing the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 12 months of 1990. In early May 1996, GA Dept. of Natural Resources biologists reported the first known manatee birth in Georgia. In mid-May 1996, the SW Florida manatee mortality event appeared to be abating, with 18 days passing with no new deaths reported. On May 6, 1996, an aerial count found about 600 live manatees in the SW Florida area of the mortality event. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Sea World press release, UPI] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 07:59:46 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Charges Against Sea Shepherd Dismissed (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Formal charges filed against Sea Shepherd's International Director of Operations Lisa Distefano, who was charged for the sinking of the Norwegian whaling vessel Senet in January 1994, were dismissed two weeks ago in a Fredriksstad court. Sea Shepherd's attorney, Otto Ruge, managed to have the charges against Distefano dismissed, citing that due process was not followed when charges against her failed to be properly followed by an official delivery of a summons notice. It is reported that police are currently appealing the dismissal. Cited from the Fredriksstad Blad, May 21, 1996 by Fredriksstad Judge Inge Tonholm Reported by Michael Kundu, Pacific Northwest Coordinator Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 17:21:52 +0300 From: Eileen Dillane Organization: Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, P.O.Box 2214, Heraklio, Crete, GR-71003 GREECE tel: +30(81)242022, fax: +30(81)241882, tlx: 262268 IMBC GR Subject: WWW: MEDCOAST '95 ABSTRACTS Apologies for the cross-postings. This announcement will be posted to all relevant mailing lists. ANNOUNCEMENT The Institute of Marine Biology of Crete is pleased to announce the availability, at its site on the WWW, of abstracts from papers presented at the Second International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment (MEDCOAST 95), held at Tarragona, Spain, on October 24-27, 1995. Abstracts can be accessed on-line via the IMBC homepage, (URL= http://www.imbc.gr). Subject areas include the following: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, Biochemical Issues, Historical and Archeological Issues, Beach and Dune Management, Coastal Planning, National and Regional CZM Practices, Socio-economical Aspects, Deltas and Lagoons, Coastal Erosion and Control, Sea Level Rise and Consequences, EIA, Remote Sensing, Data Managment and GIS, Water Quality Issues, Hydrodynamic Modelling, Physical Oceanography and Climatology, Coastal Engineering, Wind Waves. Eileen Dillane (eileend(\)imbc.gr), Information Design and Development Department, I.M.B.C., Crete. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 20:09:38 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: China reserve to lift Yangtze China reserve to lift Yangtze dolphin population BEIJING, June 5 (Reuter) - A nature reserve in China's central Hubei province planned to raise its population of endangered Yangtze river dolphins to between 30 and 50, Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday. Under the plan, the reserve would capture more river dolphins to save them from extinction, Xinhua quoted Liu Fengzhen, deputy director of the Tian'ezhou Nature Reserve on the Yangtze River as saying. Since 1986, when the dolphins numbered 300, one natural and two semi-natural reserves have been set up along the Yangtze but the efforts have failed to stop a sharp drop in their population. Fewer than 100 river dolphins are believed to now survive and they could be extinct within 25 years, China's official media has said. The dolphin's main enemies are pollution, fishing nets and the flourishing shipping business along the Yangtze. In January, a fatally wounded dolphin was found at the lower reaches of the river, apparently electrocuted by fishermen, state media said. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 11:26:44 -0700 From: Alan Macnow Subject: UPCOMING IWC ISSUES FROM: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association TEL: (212) 688-5580 FAX: (212) 688-5857 amacnow(\)igc.apc.org PRO AND ANTI WHALING FORCES SEEK SHOWDOWN AT WHALING MEETING Pro and anti whaling advocates are marshalling their forces to define the future of the International Whaling Commis- sion (IWC) when it holds its annual meeting in Aberdeen, Scot- land June 24-28. The IWC, established by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1946, has been roiled by seemingly irreconcilable differences between those who want to conserve and manage whales for sustainable use and those who want to use the organization as a means of protecting whales from all harm. Under the Convention, the IWC was empowered "to provide proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry." But in recent years, strengthened by the addition of non-whaling countries to IWC membership, to the point where they command a three-quarters majority, anti-whaling advocates have changed the course and complexion of the IWC's actions. This year, most of the contentious issues will come to a head at Aberdeen. The big issue is whether the IWC has the authority to bypass the provisions of the Convention and change its purpose without the consent of all the member nations. The issue has come up before but was not pursued to a conclusion in areas such as the commercial whaling moratorium, humane killing, and studies of small cetaceans. In the past, member nations opposed in principle or practice to measures that did not conform to the provisions of the Convention either filed an objection and were exempted, or went along in a spirit of accommodation. This year the issue will be pressed in several areas. Foremost is the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary (SOWS), a measure prohibiting commercial whaling, but not whale research or aboriginal whaling, in the 13 million square miles of water surrounding the Antarctic. The SOWS, passed in 1994, prevents the sustainable use of such abundant and fast reproducing spec- ies as minke whales. These are not endangered and number over three quarter of a million animals. The SOWS was not approved by the IWC's Scientific Committee, the Commission for the Con- servation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research or any other reputable scien- tific body. A battery of opinions from legal experts contends that passage of the measure was illegal. Sustainable use advocates and many scientists and ju- rists will press hard at this meeting to get the IWC back on the road mandated by the Convention: the conservation, development and optimum utilization of the whale stocks. With the passage of the commercial whaling moratorium in 1982, and at the request of the IWC, the IWC Scientific Commit- tee was assigned to develop a Revised Management Procedure (RMP) that would expedite the rebuilding of depleted whale stocks, ensure against future depletion, and provide a means of utiliz- ing abundant whale stocks at sustainable levels. The Scientific Committee worked for eight years to de- velop and test a faultless procedure. But the anti-whaling ma- jority of the IWC delayed its implementation, causing the chairman of the Scientific Committee to resign in protest. Those who oppose the resumption of whaling, even at sustainable levels, are expected to raise more roadblocks to incorporating the RMP with measures to ensure that catch quotas and research requirements are enforced. Another area of strong contention will be a proposed ban on the use of the electric lance. The lance is used to elec- trocute whales not killed quickly with explosive harpoons. Anti-whaling proponents, however, allege that the device is not fast enough to qualify as a humane killing method. Japan, which uses the electric lance, has data showing that the mean time to death when it is employed is 44 seconds. Adversaries of the proposed lance ban see it as just an- other device to prevent implementation of the Revised Management Scheme. The ban is opposed, too, by those who see the whole humane killing issue as outside of the terms of the Convention. An effort to extend the authority of the IWC to dolphins and other small cetaceans also is expected to face strong oppo- sition at Aberdeen. Three reasons given for opposing it are: The IWC Convention only provides jurisdiction over large whales, not small whales, dolphins or porpoises. The UN Conference on the Environment and Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and a number of other conservation entities recommend regional management over international management for oceanic species with regional habitats, such as most small cetaceans. And third, most countries do not want to see small cetacean man- agement enmeshed in ideological disputes, as at the IWC. Other issues that will be raised at the IWC meeting are likely to be: * The new assessment of Atlantic minke stocks based upon new Norwegian sightings surveys. * The effects, if any, of pollution, global warming, and other environmental factors on the whale populations. -end- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 12:02:46 -0400 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: UPCOMING IWC ISSUES > PRO AND ANTI WHALING FORCES SEEK SHOWDOWN AT WHALING MEETING > The big issue is whether the IWC has the authority to > bypass the provisions of the Convention and change its purpose > without the consent of all the member nations. Those of you who have been on MARMAM for some time may recall (with varying emotions) that Mr. Macnow and I had a lengthy debate on the scope of the convention, the legality of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary and other issues about a year ago. As the issues do not seem to have changed much since then, you may be interested to learn that the entire thread, including some contributions from others, has been placed on our International Wildlife Coalition web site. The specific URL is http://www.webcom.com/~iwcwww/whale_adoption/ro_vs_am.html. I hope readers will not mind if I simply refer them to this rather than trotting out the whole thing all over again. As i recall we did NOT get into the issues of the electric lance and the effect of pollution, but I think we went over the scope-of-the-convention issue to a degree beyond which only a confirmed masochist would wish to penetrate. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 13:06:06 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: South African whales said safe South African whales said safe from policy review By Brendan Boyle CAPE TOWN, June 6 (Reuter) - South African Environment Minister Dawie de Villiers affirmed on Thursday that whales would be safe along the country's coast, even though a government review of its opposition to whaling was under way. De Villiers told the Senate in Cape Town that South African support for the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) comprehensive ban on whaling would be reexamined as part of an overall review of fisheries policy. But he said South Africa was aware of the benefits to tourism of the southern right whales that visit the coast from June to November each year, and "will take no action that will threaten the wellbeing of this precious inheritance." South Africa has not hunted whales for over 30 years. "Given the long history of international exploitation...it would not only be inconsistent, but also foolish to reverse the current situation whereby all whales are afforded full protection in South African waters," said de Villiers. The first word of the South African review came in a policy document sent to a limited number of environmentalists and officials proposing a low profile at the next IWC meeting pending a review of its support of an international whaling ban. "It is proposed that South Africa should retain its independent spirit in order to protect South Africa's interests and should use its influence to combat extremism in favour of non-whaling," South African IWC commissioner and Department of Sea Fisheries director Guillaume de Villiers said in the paper. He told Reuters, however, that while South Africa might reexamine its policy on the sustainable use of prolific whale species elsewhere, it would not consider whaling off its own shores or in the southern ocean whale sanctuary. The environment minister, who is no relation, said on Thursday that South Africa was reviewing many of the policies inherited from the white minority government in 1994. "It is only fair and natural that government should be afforded an opportunity to review past policies also in regard (to whaling) and in the light of the proposed new national fisheries policy," he added. De Villiers is one of six National Party ministers who will relinquish their portfolios at the end of the month, when their white-led party quits President Nelson Mandela's transitional government of national unity. Pallo Jordan, a member of Mandela's African National Congress, will take over the environment and tourism portfolio. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 17:44:29 -0400 From: Cathy Schaeff Subject: seal D-loop PRC (info) Hi, I am currently amplifying the D-loop of some harbor seals using Hoelzel's primers (very conserved sites). Everything is great in that I'm getting beautiful product -- nice clean, plentiful product (for a number of cetaceans too). However, my product for the harbor seals is about 1300 bp (and that is using an annealing temp of 55)!! I know that the D-loop is larger in seals than in say cetaceans (where it runs about 930 bp) but this seems a bit too big. I am about to check the literature but thought that my curiosity might be satiated more quickly via marmam! Anyone able to comment of this? Thanks, Dr. Cathy Schaeff Biology Department 110C Hurst Hall American University 4400 Massachusettes Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016-8007 (202) 885-2175, phone (202) 885-2182, fax schaeff(\)american.edu, email ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 09:03:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ASCOBANS (fwd) Forwarded message: From: ruthk(\)civil.civeng.unsw.edu.au Hi, I'm doing some research on the protections (or lack of) given to small cetaceans - especially dolphins - by international law. I have come across a few references convention entitled, "Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas" which I believe was concluded in 1992. However, after much research, I have not been able to come up with a full text of the Convention. I've searched the WWW and LEXIS - but I've only come up with a summary of the provisions. I was wondering whether anyone else knew of and could give me a reference to it, or if they had an electronic version, if they could email it to me. Thanks. Desperately Dana Kedzier ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 00:49:16 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: ASCOBANS Dear Marmam Dana Kedzier wrote asking for details of ASCOBANS. The UK HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office) published it as: ANIMALS Miscellaneous Series No.2 (1993) Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Sea New York, 17 March 1992 Cm 2119 London: HMSO 1993 (8pp) ISBN 0-10-121192-9 (Pounds Sterling 1.95) HMSO are on the web, at but ASCOBANS doesn't appear listed. Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 21:29:10 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: Upcoming IWC issues Allan Macnow wrote: > > The big issue is whether the IWC has the authority to > > bypass the provisions of the Convention and change its purpose > > without the consent of all the member nations. Ronald Orenstein wrote: > Those of you who have been on MARMAM for some time may recall ... that > Mr. Macnow and I had a lengthy debate on the scope of the > convention, the legality of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary and other > issues about a year ago .... then, you may be interested to learn that > the entire thread ... has been placed on our International Wildlife > Coalition web site. The specific URL is > http://www.webcom.com/~iwcwww/whale_adoption/ro_vs_am.html To the same subject I would like to draw your attention to two papers submitted to last years IWC meeting: "Memorandum of Opinion on the Legality of the Designation of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary by the International Whaling Commission" by Professor William T. Burke, School of Law, University of Washington http://www.highnorth.no/me-of-op.htm and a reply to Burke's paper by Professor P. Birnie: "Opinion on the Legality of the Designation of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by the International Whaling Commission". http://www.highnorth.no/op-on-th.htm Both papers are to be found at the High North Web at the adresses above Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance highnor(\)online.no ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 08:08:01 -0400 From: George Elston Subject: Freedom, justice and Sabotage disclaimer: The following message is posted at the request to Richard O'Barry, replys my be faxed to The Dolphin Project at 305 447 8508. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On May 23rd, I and a team of trained helpers, released two captive male bottlenosed dolphins, Luther and Buck, from the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary, into their natural habitat, the sea. Since then, I have been branded a careless activist who has plopped two unprepared dolphins into a hostile environment, endangering the welfare of these animals and the local dolphin population in general. Not true. On the contrary, Luther and Buck were only released after eighteen months of hard-work and careful attention to protocols I have established in successfully re-adapting over a dozen dolphins to the wild since 1971. They were in my legal custody, having been transferred to me by the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary, so this was no illegal "kidnapping." At the time of their release, Luther and Buck had been catching their own live food for several months in well-documented observations, been declared pathogen-free by a marine mammal veterinarian and the University of Miami lab, and, in my opinion, were ready in every way to reestablish social ties with other dolphins. In fact, I determined that a third dolphin, Jake, had been too traumatized by his training in the U.S. Navy to be a candidate for release, so allowed him to remain at the Sanctuary in retirement. Buck and Luther's progress would have been observed and recorded over a period of time, as they had been painlessly freeze-branded for future identification. Instead, The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), working together with the captive industry, manufactured an "emergency" so they could engineer a re-capture of the dolphins for political reasons, saying they were a danger to the wild population, that Luther was injured, thin, and that the two were still exhibiting "behaviors" of trained dolphins. Luther's "injury" was a simple rake-mark common to wild dolphins. They were "thin", because they were eating a normal diet, not the unnatural diet of fatty herring, to which captive dolphins become addicted. They had been given a thorough medical check-up by our veterinarian of record. And the mysterious "behaviors" they were exhibiting, were re-established by knowledgeable dolphin trainers who lured Luther, not by accident to the Navy base, but with an underwater training device known as a "recall pinger" which they had once been trained to as a homing system; and Buck led Pied Piper style into a cage at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key. In other words, our effort to free Buck and Luther was sabotaged by the captive industry and their errand boy, the National Marine Fisheries Service, an agency under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The argument that their breeding with Key's dolphins would weaken the gene-pool is preposterous. These were Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins from one part of the Gulf of Mexico, released into another part. By nature, dolphins swim and migrate, with males going off to establish their own pods, nature's way of expanding and strengthening the gene-pool. Interestingly, at least nine Atlantic bottlenosed dolphins have been inadvertently released by the Navy into the Pacific ocean, and no one has tried to recapture them for their well-being or danger to the population. Most hypocritically, NMFS which is so concerned about the welfare of these two dolphins, allows up to 20,500 dolphins a year to be killed in tuna nets and hundreds more to be captured and exploited all over the world. Luther, Buck and Jake, captured in the late 1980s, were given to the Sanctuary by the U.S. Navy, which had trained them as "biological weapons systems," to find lost items at sea, and also to kill enemy divers with an obscene device called "the swimmer nullification system", which is placed on the dolphin's snout and discharges a .45 caliber bullet into the "target diver." Not only is such killing against the gentle dolphin nature, the recoil of the charge can break their jaw-bone -- as I believed happened to Buck, who had obviously been abused during his Navy years. After the end of the cold war, the program was defunded, making some of the 100 dolphins available to marine parks and other organizations, such as the Sanctuary. As the former trainer for the six dolphins which portrayed Flipper in the 1960s television series, I am an expert in training dolphins to perform "behaviors." Later, I came to believe that keeping these creatures in concrete pools, making them perform what are basically no more than circus tricks, is against nature. While there is not adequate space to explore the captivity/anti-captivity arguments here, the marine-park industry has labeled me an "activist" in the same way that right-wing politicians breath the word "liberal" -- like some kind of curse upon the earth -- proclaiming that the readaptation of dolphins and whales is unrealistic, dangerous to the outside population and, if it could be done, would take years and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, thus extending the time of captivity and perpetuating their care-taking jobs indefinitely. While not all dolphins have the ability to be released, my experience shows it can be done in less time and cost by qualified individuals. While NMFS charges that I have broken laws by not getting the necessary permits for a release, at the time of this writing, two weeks later, no one has served me with papers, my lawyer's phone-calls are not returned, and I continue to assert that the release was legal, ethical and responsible under the law, and the illegal act was perpetrated when NMFS and their agents recaptured the dolphins. As a final insult to the dolphins, on Friday, June 7, an army of Federal Marshals and agents from the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the Monroe County Sheriff's Dept., the Florida Marine Patrol, other law-enforcement officials and members of the captive industry stormed the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary and dragged Jake kicking and screaming like some AWOL sailor from his placid lagoon, the largest body of natural seawater of any facility in America, back into the Navy where he is now confined to a 30'x 30' pen, leaving his female mate, Molly, in isolation. Richard O'Barry ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 9 Jun 1996 20:53:19 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Senate panel steps up dolphin Senate panel steps up dolphin protections WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuter) - The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday passed a bill that would allow canned tuna to be labeled "dolphin safe" as long as the tuna was netted in ways that do not kill more than 5,000 dolphin annually. Supporters said the bill would reinforce cooperation by Mexico and other Latin American nations to reduce the number of dolphins drowned in nets used for tuna. In 1992, those countries developed a voluntary programme that dramatically reduced dolphin deaths even though they still encircle the dolphins to net the tuna that swim below. Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican and one of the bill's sponsors, in a statement said fishermen have perfected the encirclement fishing method, resulting in fewer than 5,000 dolphin deaths last year from tuna fishing. He said that is less wasteful than huge bycatches of sharks, turtles and other species from other fishing methods. The bill and a companion measure that cleared a House committee was supported by the Clinton administration and some environmental organisations including Greenpeace, who said it would codify the informal agreements by Mexico and other Latin American nations. But critics said it would allow vessels from countries that sell tuna to the United States to chase, encircle and harass dolphins that often swim above tuna in the Eastern Pacific. This would lead to deaths that would not be detected by on-deck monitors watching for direct dolphin kills. Naomie Rose, of the Humane Society of the United States, said the committee's bill was fundamentally flawed because it weakened the definition of "dolphin safe" labels that the U.S. tuna industry voluntarily adopted. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 11:48:38 +0100 From: "Simon J Goodman (Genetics)" Subject: Re: seal D-loop PRC (info) On Sat, 8 Jun 1996, Cathy Schaeff wrote: > Hi, I am currently amplifying the D-loop of some harbor seals using > Hoelzel's primers (very conserved sites). Everything is great in that I'm > getting beautiful product -- nice clean, plentiful product (for a number > of cetaceans too). However, my product for the harbor seals is about 1300 > bp (and that is using an annealing temp of 55)!! I know that the D-loop is > larger in seals than in say cetaceans (where it runs about 930 bp) but this > seems a bit too big. I am about to check the literature but thought that > my curiosity might be satiated more quickly via marmam! > > Anyone able to comment of this? > Many carnivore species have a repetitive array at the 3' end of the D-loop. Individuals can be heteroplasmic for different array sizes and the range of array sizes can vary in the order of 100's of basepairs in some species. This accounts for the observed size of the D-loop in harbour seals. More details can be found in the following references: Hoelzel, A. R. et al (1994): Rapid evolution of a heteroplasmic sequence in the mitochondrial DNA control region of carnivores. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 39:191-199. Arnason, U. & Johnsson, E. (1992): The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 34:493-505. Arnason, U. et al (1993): The nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial DNA molecule of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and a comparison with mitochondrial sequences of other true seals. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 37:323-330. Dr. Simon Goodman Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology University of Edinburgh Kings Buildings, West Mains Road Edinburgh EH9 3JT UK Tel: 0131 650 5515 Fax: 0131 667 3210 Email: sjg(\)mole.bio.cam.ac.uk /Simon.Goodman(\)ed.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 11:46:58 -0400 From: Kim Elmslie Subject: Offshore Orcas I am a recent graduate of the university of Guelph who is interested in studying Offshore Orcas. I am hoping that people will be able to share any information that they might have about what research that is currently being conducted. I can be reached at my e-mail or through snail mail at 12 Westminster Ave Guelph, ON N1E 4C1 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 10:20:19 -0700 From: William Burke Subject: Re: ASCOBANS In-Reply-To: <9606100345.AA10312(\)mx5.u.washington.edu> A very useful source for international agreements on marine mammals, fisheries and other marine matters is compiled by the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission and published by the U.S. Government Printing Office. It is entitled Marine Mammal Commission Compendium of Treaties, International Agreements, and other Relevant Documents on Marine Resources, Wildlife, and the Environment and consists of 3 volumes, about 3500 pages. The first edition is about to be updated through December 1995. This one is also expected to include the parties to the multilateral agreements and, I think, also data on entry into force. This is the most extensive collection of international marine agreements I know about. It also includes other international agreements as well. William T. Burke Professor of Law University of Washington burke(\)u.washington.edu phone 206-543-2275 fax 206-685-4469 On Mon, 10 Jun 1996, Pete Blathwayt wrote: > Dear Marmam > Dana Kedzier wrote asking for details of ASCOBANS. The UK HMSO (Her > Majesty's Stationery Office) published it as: > > ANIMALS > Miscellaneous Series No.2 (1993) > Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Sea > New York, 17 March 1992 > Cm 2119 > London: HMSO > 1993 (8pp) > ISBN 0-10-121192-9 > (Pounds Sterling 1.95) > > HMSO are on the web, at but ASCOBANS doesn't > appear listed. > > Pete Blathwayt > peteb(\)easynet.co.uk > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 23:40:19 -0500 From: Pierre-Henry Fontaine Subject: hearing in toothed whales Dear Marmanners I am still working on the upgrading of my book Biologie et ecologie des baleines de l'Atlantique nord, and I have a new question : All the toothed whales of which I have seen the skull have the petrotympanic bone fixed loosely to the skull by ligaments. It is said it is for better accoustic insulation of the ears(ALLOWING STEREO AUDITION). I have noticed , examining their skulls, that it is not completely true of the sperm whale, in which the contact between ear bone and skull seems more intimate, and not true at all in the case of at least two species of beaked whales(Hyperoodon ampullatus, and Ziphiius cavirostris)in which the petrotympannic bone is wedged between the bones of the skull, as in baleen whales. the beaked whales , being teutophagous and deep divers surely must use extensively their sonar to find their prey. How come their ear seems less wellinsulated accoustically than the one of other toothed whales? Have anyone made research on that? or have logical explanation? Thanks for all the answers to the previous question, hope to read you pfontain(\)mediom.qc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 03:03:06 -0400 From: LLamy(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage I had the privledged opportunity to work as a contractor/trainer for the Navy at its installation in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii from 8/88 to 7/93. Luther, Buck and Jake, the dolphins in question were in my care at sometime or another during my tenure. I have been in the marine mammal training field for 13 years. I would like the opportunity to respond to Ric O'Barry's disclaimer regarding these animals. Jake was never abused or traumatized in any way. While under the Navy's care he was treated like any other dolphin or pinniped; with respect, compassion, positive training techniques and provided with the best quality food and veterinary care. Luther's injury was most probably caused by a moving boat prop rather than a rake mark. The Navy's ceteacans recieve a high quality diet of several species of fish along with daily vitamin supplements. Each animal's diet is scientifically analyized to maintain a healthy weight. Weights are taken each month in order to effectively monitor healthy weight gain or loss. All dolphins participating in open ocean projects are trained to respond to a recall device. It is their choice to respond or not. Any dolphin "inadvertently" released is immediately sought after through massive search efforts which include a costly array of boats, at least one helicoptor, the help of all available staff every day for twelve hours a day for up to two weeks. Luther, Buck and Jake participated in the basic training for a program declassified by the Navy several years ago. It was spotlighted on "The New Explorers" featured on the Discovery channel. None of the dolphins ever participated in a program Mr. O'Barry refers to as the "swimmer nullification system". I think it's noteworthy that although the three dolphins were given the opportunity to participate in open ocean activities, they chose not to venture more than 50 yards from the home pens. Buck was never abused in any way while in the care of the Navy. The shape of his rostrum was normal for him. As in all species, not all specimens are perfect. Luther was found following boats and jet skiers with what appears to be a boat prop injury and was being fed inappropriate food items by humans. Buck was found 75 miles from the "release" site apparently lost and thin. Buck, as an individual of approximatley 16 years of age should have topped the scale at at least 400 pounds. He was found to be close to 100 pounds below that weight. Buck responded to positive training techniques and simply swam through an open gate provided by the facility in Grassy Key. Buck and Luther both had the choice to either live a free life or respond to the care of humans. Just wanted to point out the true facts. Sincerely, Laura Bottaro-Lamy LLamy(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 07:47:01 +0200 From: lgygax(\)amath.unizh.ch Subject: Literature: summary and comments Dear marmammers, about two weeks ago I sent a posting regarding publishing policy in marine mammology. I would like to quickly summarise the postings and add some more thoughts and repeat some questions. In my first posting I complained, that so much work (= information) on marine mammals (especially reports and theses) is not published in peer reviewed journals and thus very difficult to obtain and wondered why this might be the case. Robin W. Baird" agreed that with this lack of publications it is difficult to maintain a good reputation of the field, not to speak of having an impact on any other field. He thinks that the main reason for the lack of publication is that many projects on marine mammals are funded either by private (conservation) or by gouvernment agencies. And these agencies put no pressure on the researchers to publish their results, which might be one reason for the difficulty of getting academic funds as the field is being viewed with suspiscion. Robin sees one way to rectify the problem in that conservation organizations and government agencies recognize the importance of publications and base some of their funding decisions on the publication record of applicants. Don Hockaday added that it might be useful if there is a requirement of an electronic version of theses. Such that - even if they are not published in a reviewed journal - they would at least be available on the net. William Megill volunteered to actually set up a home-page from where to reach such documents. His main worries were how to call this page (e.g. The Electronic Journal of Marine Mammalogy) :-) . Phil Clapham emphasizes the importance of publishing all results and even more strongly so if endangered species are involved, as information is likely to be lost if not published. He also makes the point that publishing should be part of a good graduation program, as it is an important part of the cientific culture. He doubts that the electronic journal is such a good idea, because material is not critically evaluated and might thus not be confidently cited by others. I completely agree with this last point. If it won't be possible (and I agree that this might be a problem) to cite work which is only electronically available, then this doesn't help very much. One reason of publishing in my eyes is, that one is not forced to do the same work again and again. If you can't cite, then you can't base much on this available knowledge. Jim Moore adds, that the electronic version might be an idea for studies already conducted, eventhough he doubts that too many people would go back to their reports and make them available in this way. He thinks one big problem is the long ship time, slow rate of data acquisition and that many granting agencies *refuse* to provide support funds for writeup, and only rarely for analysis. This is especially a problem for people who need to have a project going in order to put food on table and kids through school, which leads to another vicious circle: no job, no publish, no job. He thus proposes that funding agencies provide (seperate) grants for writeups. Larry Dill brings it to the point "what is really needed are more refereed publications, in journals accessible to a wide scientific audience". Damon A. Job. agrees that publication of thesis results should be mandatory and also sees the funding of research by non-academic institutions as one main problem. Alana V. Phillips reports of a discussion she had at their lab. They think that one major problem is that the study subjects are often related to protection and management, where quick decisions are asked for and thus studies are not conducted in a way that would be deemed acceptable to your average peer-reviewed journal. She supports this notion with the fact that there are many researchers studying marine mammals in fields such as behaviour, physiology, phylogeny, etc. who do not seem to have the same problem with publishing. I agree in principal, but even risking to sound a bit too naive and idealistic: if we base protection and or management questions on studies, should these studies not be good enough for publication or the other way round: can we base such decisions on work that could not get past peer-review? I agree only partly with the second point: there are quite a few publications of these fields in reviewed journals but it still seems to me that a lot of background knowledge of marine mammals (where do they occur, what social systems, or group structure are they living in, what do they prey upon) is buried in unpublished scientific work. Often the published studies are asking more specific questions in a more restricted set of conditions. Alana V. Phillips adds in a second posting that quite a few researchers (in the third world) would be cut off from information if it were available on the internet only. And that such documents are vulnerable to hacking, and therefore the reliability of citing them would be dubious. Luke Rendell also makes the point "that the only source of money appears to be government agencies and suchlike who tend to want an answer to a specific question ... and want it in the form of an internal report. To such agencies, funding write up for publication when they've already got their reports must seem like paying someone simply to advance their own reputation/standing/career ...". He likes the idea of an e-journal but agrees that it would hardly be citable but the information could then be transfered through personal contact. This looks like a good idea at first, but on second look we all seem to agree, that there is hardly any time to do the writing up. And looking for each reference by personally contacting the author doesn't really seem very time-saving. It certainly needs more time than a walk to the library where you can get dozens of papers at the same time. Jim Moore addresses something similar than what I said about the background knowledge: "... I do think marine mammals might be a little bit more so [even in the above mentioned fileds there are quite a few unpublished studies] ... To the extent that "simple" description of natural history has a hard time getting published in so-called "science" journals, research on large terrestrial animals could be facing the _same_ problem as marine mammalogy--not ideal experimental subjects, long lived and so rate of data return slow, fieldwork makes writeup difficult etc..." Thus there were quite a few remarks on the why of the situation, but my last questions seemed to be unheard: > Can you give me some thoughts about ... > ... what your strategy is to actually get the original > information in these cases (and I am not talking about 1 or 2 > documents but about around 50)? I hope I didn't uterly miscite anybody but I tried to condense the answers as much as possible such that the resulting piece of writing would still be managable. Thanks to all of you who have contribute! Lorenz LL GGGGGG Lorenz Gygax room: 36-L-40 LL GG GG Department of Applied Mathematics LL GG G University of Zuerich-Irchel LL GG Winterthurerstr. 190 LL GG GGGG CH-8057 Zurich / Switzerland LL GG GG voice: 41-1-257-58-52 fax: 41-1-257-57-05 LLLLLLL GGGGGGG e-mail: lgygax(\)amath.unizh.ch privat: Dennlerstr. 23, CH-8047 Zuerich, voice: 41-1-493-57-05 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 20:25:38 -0400 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Dorsal Fin Bend Aloha Marmammers, Since my last posting about captive cetacean echolocation and its correlation with direction of swimming in a tank due to the known structures of the odontocete nasal sac system, some interesting factors have been brought to my attention. These factors are demonstrated in my own back yard, so to speak (in Hawai'i). At Sea Life Park on Oahu are a number of dolphins with varying degrees of bend to their dorsal fins and in each direction. These cetaceans are most readily observed in the Whaler's Cove tank and include the pseudorca, bottlenose dolphins and the hybrid pseudorca / bottlenose wholphin (their name). Unfortunately, these observations were confirmed after the recent demise of the second pseudorca at Sea Life Park and the remaining pseudorca was behaving, understandably, in a morose fashion. The remaining pseudorca did have a well defined curve to the left in its dorsal fin indicating a tendency to swim counterclockwise in a tank that was small enough to create lateral pressures, during repeated turning motions to the left, that caused the bend. The observations were not long term so it is undetermined by the observer if the current observed bend was due to activity in the holding area or otherwise related to tank size since these bends in dorsal fins have been observed by others to be a transient condition. Both pseudorcas were also imported from a facility in Japan. On the other hand, the hybrid swam consistently in a clockwise direction and had a definite bend to the right in its dorsal fin. This is interesting because of the nature of its being a hybrid. Is something different in the structure of its nasal sac system or is the hybrid's swimming pattern defined by the behavior of dolphins swimming in the much larger Whaler's Cove tank, which is also clockwise. The bottlenose dolphins observed swimming in the Whaler's Cove tank swam are in an area large enough that it is impossible to see underwater from one side of the tank (the hull) to the other (past the island). Of the four dolphins seen interacting in the tank, two had straight fins and one had a slight bend to the right and one with a definite bend to the left. The occasion of these observations was during a time when there were no shows and indicate compatibility requirements among the dolphins allowing minimal staff observations and use of staff elsewhere. The observations were also not conducted with the express approval of the Sea Life Park staff, but include opportunities available to tourists. These observations indicate room for modification of my original hypothesis to include indicators of echolocation in tanks where it is not possible to see from one side to the other due to mild turbidity or size. Under these conditions there would be a need to see with an alternative sense, echolocation, to the other side. At these longer distances high resolution would not be necessary and echolocation would be for orientation and initial recognition, (as opposed to high resolution confirmation) and the dolphins swim in a clockwise direction, allowing better use of the right side of the nasal sac system for longer range echolocation. Dolphins (and at least one wholphin) with bends in their dorsal fins to the right, may indicate a behavioral or physical inability to echolocate. Their swimming pattern in small enclosures replicates the direction in alternative, but larger, enclosures (which are large enough to reduce visibility toward a need for capable cetaceans to echolocate.) This swimming direction is preserved in small enclosures due to habit and thus cause the bend to the right in their dorsal fins. (Original Hypothesis: (injuries and deformities aside) If a dolphin has a dorsal fin that bends to the left, it echolocates and spends most of its time swimming counter-clockwise (their world) in a small environment. If a dolphin has a straight fin, but lives in a small enclosure it does not echolocate or echolocates rarely. A dolphin with a straight dorsal fin in a large environment may or may not echolocate. (A small enclosure is defined as the smallest allowable tank size under APHIS Rules and Regulations.) An echolocating captive dolphin (especially one with a bend to the left in its dorsal fin) that has died will show during the post mortem that the tongue in the left side tongue in groove/socket sound generator shows more use than the right side (whiter and harder-callused). A post mortem on a wild adult dolphin will show even use between sides.) This research allows for more firm scientific observations upon which to base tank size requirements as dictated by causes of physical stress (i.e. bending of dorsal fins). Any observations from other Marmammers regarding this hypothesis will be appreciated. Please respond directly to Cetaman(\)aol.com unless you feel it warrants posting to the whole group. A more refined hypothesis will be included in the next posting. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 11:47:26 +0200 From: Alnitak Project Subject: Cetacean research expedition CETACEAN RESEARCH EXPEDITION The 60 ft. research sailing ship Toftevaag is carrying out since 1992 a research programme on the ecology of cetaceans in South-east Spain. The research focusses mainly on long-finned pilot whales and the common dolphin, using photo-identification as well as studying behaviour with the aid of surface and underwater video. From July to September, the research is open to public participation. Teams of up to eight will join the research team onboard Toftevaag for a nine day period sailing in the region of the Alboran sea. Participation cost is of 93,000 Ptas. and includes participation in field research techniques, tuition, meals and accomodation onboard. The ship's base is Almer=EDa (Spain). Dates are 1-9, 11-19, 21-29 July, August and September. For more details contact Alnitak Marine Research and Education Centre. E-mail: canadas(\)lander.es PROYECTO ALNITAK C/Nalon 16. Urb. LaBerzosa 28240 HOYO DE MANZANARES Madrid (Spain) Home: 34-1-8565199 Mobile: 34-08-636051 Fax: 34-1-8565199 E-mail: canadas(\)lander.es ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 18:20:23 -0700 From: Melissa Miller-Henson Subject: California and the World Ocean '97 ** CALIFORNIA AND THE WORLD OCEAN '97 CONFERENCE** PARTICIPANTS AND SPONSORS SOUGHT MIDDLETOWN, CA, U.S.A. --- The first statewide effort in over 30 years to bring together an international group of participants to improve ocean and coastal resource management along the 1,100 miles of California's spectacular coastline, the California and the World Ocean '97 Conference (CWO '97) will take place on March 24-27, 1997 at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego. PAPERS for presentation are invited to address such subjects as local, state, national, and international governance; ocean and coastal resource economics; habitats and ecosystem management; water quality; fisheries; shoreline erosion and processes; science, research and education; geographic information systems; ports, harbors and shipping safety; tourism and recreation; desalination; oil and gas development, transportation, spill prevention, and cleanup; and mineral resource extraction. ^ The DEADLINE for submitting abstracts is July 12, 1996. Abstracts must be submitted to Orville Magoon, Conference Chair, California and the World Ocean '97, P.O. Box 279, 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown, California 95461 U.S.A. ^ Conference SPONSORS and CO-SPONSORS are being solicited for financial and in-kind contributions to conference operations in order to keep registration fees as low as possible. Current Sponsors and Co-Sponsors include local, State and Federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, private industry, and international institutions. For more information about sponsorship, please call Orville Magoon at (707) 987-0411. ^ The CWO '97 Announcement and Call for Papers is available on the INTERNET through the California Ocean Resources Management Program homepage at: http://ceres.ca.gov/cra/ocean/ To receive a print copy, contact otmagoon(\)aol.com or call Sheila Robertson at (707) 987-2385 extension 208. - 30 - ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:34:04 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: northern fur seals - current population information? Greetings, I'm up-dating a report on the status of the northern fur seal in Canada, for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and am trying to track down the most recent population information available. The report was originally written in 1994 with references up-to-date to the end of 1993 - I am specificially looking for information more recent than 1993. Any suggestions or contacts with individuals with unpublished or currently in press information on this species (or reports which are unpublished) would be greatly appreciated. Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, B.C. V8P 5L5 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 20:36:03 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Jdhampp(\)aol.com I have been asked by the Dolphin Research Center to forward the following reply to Mr. O'Barry's posting. Anyone wishing to reply to this message privately is welcome to use my email address and I will forward all communications to the DRC. The MARMAM posting by Ric O'Barry on June 10, 1996 regarding his illegal release of the former U.S. Navy dolphins "Buck" and "Luther" is filled with inaccuracies and untruthful statements. Once again, Mr. O'Barry is attempting to deceive the public and further his own personal and financial agenda by exploiting the good will and compassion the public feels towards marine mammals in general, and dolphins in particular. The release of "Buck" and "Luther" off the coast of the Florida Keys was not only illegal, but was irresponsible and endangered the lives of these two animals. Both were found in poor body condition, emaciated and with open wounds. FACT: "Buck" and "Luther" were not captured, they were RESCUED. No nets were ever deployed. Rather, the rescue team assisting NMFS offered familiar positive-reinforcement training techniques to which the dolphins responded favorably. FACT: "Luther" and "Buck" both responded positively to the Navy "pinger" which is an acoustic recall device. This clearly demonstrates that contrary to Mr. O'Barry's claims, these animals were NOT ready to be released. If the dolphins immediately responded to standard behavioral conditioning techniques that were supposedly extinguished by Mr. O'Barry, how can he claim that they were ready to live as wild animals? Mr. O'Barry states that the animals were "ready in every way to reestablish social ties with other dolphins". If this was true, why did "Luther" choose to inhabit a busy boat marina and approach humans instead of joining with the dolphins Mr. O'Barry claims were present at the "release" site? Why did "Buck" and "Luther" separate? "Buck" was sighted over 70 miles north of Key West (near Islamorada) alone, and also begging for food from the public. FACT: Prior to the rescue action taken by NMFS and local marine mammal experts, "Luther" approached members of the public with his head up and mouth open begging for food. He consistently remained in the highly populated inshore waters of Key West. In particular, he was found at the Key West Yacht Club, the Sunset Marina, and Garrison Bight. Since this occurred during the busy Memorial Day weekend, there were numerous people and boats on the water. There were NO reports of any other wild dolphins in the vicinity during this time period, "Buck" was nowhere to be seen, and "Luther" was alone. "Luther" was observed to repeatedly put himself in jeopardy by approaching moving boats and jet-skis. This behavior had not changed by the time the rescue team arrived in Key West on Saturday, May 25, 1996. FACT: The wounds on both "Buck" and "Luther" are NOT rake marks which are caused by inter-dolphin social interactions. Rather, both wounds are deep and wide gashes. Three prominent marine mammal veterinarians and numerous marine mammal experts have examined the wounds, and all concur that they are NOT rake marks. The precise cause of the wounds is still unclear, but it is interesting to note that both dolphins have these injuries despite the fact that they immediately separated after they were dumped at sea. Extensive photodocumentaion of the injuries has been conducted by the rescue team, and both video and still photos will be analyzed by additional respected marine mammal experts. FACT: The genetic concerns raised by NMFS are valid. The three Navy dolphins are from the coast of Mississippi. They are not native to the resident community of dolphins of the Florida Keys. The long-term population and genetic studies of bottlenose dolphins by Dr. Randall Wells and Dr. Debby Duffield have shown that this coastal species of dolphin forms discrete home ranges. Dr. Wells conducted the only scientifically valid - and indeed successful - release of previously captive dolphins to the wild . In 1990, Dr. Wells and his colleagues from the University of California at Santa Cruz released two male dolphins (named "Misha" and "Echo") back to their original home waters in Tampa Bay. Dr. Wells followed a strict, peer-reviewed and scientifically valid protocol for the reintroduction of "Misha" and "Echo." In addition, Dr. Wells ensured for long-term follow-up and monitoring, and both "Misha" and "Echo" have been repeatedly sighted over the past five and a half years in their original home range. In a recent press release dated May 30, 1996, it was stated that "both animals have been observed to maintain excellent body condition, to exhibit behaviors considered typical for wild dolphins, to not initiate any interactions with humans, and to interact with dolphins with which they were seen prior to capture.." Dr. Wells states "Well documented research findings on the genetics, social behavior , and ecology of bottlenose dolphins indicate strongly the need to return individuals to their native waters if they are to be released." In contrast, none of Mr. O'Barry's releases have been conducted scientifically or provided adequate resources for follow-up monitoring. Mr. O'Barry always cites his release of "Jo" and "Rosie" in 1987 as a success story, however, no long term monitoring was conducted and it can not be assumed that they survived in the wild. This is consistent with how Mr. O'Barry conducts business. FACT: Mr. O'Barry claims that he observed "Luther "and "Buck" catching their own fish in the enclosed lagoon at Sugarloaf. Where is the data? What was the catch rate? How many calories were the animals able to consume? Furthermore, there is no documentation that catching the fish that Mr. O'Barry threw into their enclosure is in any way relevant to learning to forage for live schooling fish in the open ocean. FACT: Mr. O'Barry claims that he did not release the third dolphin "Jake" because he believes that "Jake" was too "traumatized" by his training at the Navy. However, it has been reported and documented over the past several months that the situation at Sugarloaf was detrimental to the health and welfare of the dolphins. The Sugarloaf management created an unstable and hostile social grouping for the dolphins by keeping the three adult male Navy dolphins in the same pen with a single adult female dolphin (named "Molly"). "Jake" was reported to have been beaten by the other two males, and it would not be surprising if the aggression was caused by the skewed sex ratio. It is important to note that "Buck", "Luther" and "Jake" were previously compatible when under the care of the Navy. FACT: NMFS seized "Jake" under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in response to the suspension and impending revocation of Sugarloaf's public display license by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) for repeated violations under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). APHIS took this action because Sugarloaf repeatedly failed to provide adequate veterinary care, and failed to maintain the dolphins in their enclosure. Over the past several months, "Jake" in particular was reported by concerned citizens to be in grave condition. Despite numerous inspections and warnings by APHIS, Sugarloaf refused to provide the dolphins with proper care. In closing, it is important to make clear that Mr. O'Barry intended to break the law and intended to release the animals into an inappropriate and detrimental situation. If the Navy has "lost" animals as Mr. O'Barry has alleged, the fact remains that they did not intend to abandon their animals at sea. Mr. O'Barry has gained international fame and fortune for his undocumented, unscientific releases of a few animals who have never been heard from again. The public has been duped into opening their wallets and believing that he was the one and only trainer of the famous dolphin "Flipper" when, in fact, he was only one of many trainers who worked with many dolphins for the movie and T.V. series. Mr. O'Barry was only employed in that capacity for a brief period of time, and his "glory days" stopped at the end of the 1960's. He failed to grow with the changing times and use new methods that have greatly improved conditions for dolphins living in human care. We are thankful that "Buck", "Luther" and "Jake" did not become three more innocent victims of Mr. O'Barry's blind ambition. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 08:55:59 -0600 From: Jane Austin Subject: Call for Papers for Telemetry Forum 1997 FORUM ON WILDLIFE TELEMETRY: INNOVATIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND RESEARCH NEEDS CALL FOR PAPERS The Forum will be held at the Snowmass Conference Center in Colorado on 21-23 September 1997, immediately preceding The Wildlife Society's Fourth Annual Conference. The Forum is intended to provide an opportunity for research biologists and engineers to discuss new telemetry technologies and methods, field evaluations of equipment and techniques, and directions future development should take to meet telemetry research needs. Session topics are (1) Innovations in transmitting and receiving systems, (2) Attachment techniques: methods and evaluations, successes and failures, (3) Collection of physiological and environmental data using telemetry, and (4) Data processing and analysis. The separate evening poster session will emphasize demonstrations and hands-on displays. Individuals interested in giving an oral presentation, poster, or demonstration should send a title and brief (2-4 sentences) description of the subject to the contact below by 1 February 1997; a full abstract will be required by 1 May 1997 for those accepted. Please include name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address if available. Contact: Jane Austin, Northern Prairie Science Center, 8711 37th Street SE, Jamestown, ND 58401; 701-252-5363/fax 701-252-4217; email jane_austin(\)nbs.gov. The Forum is hosted by The Wildlife Society and National Biological Service. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 08:57:22 -0400 From: Joe Dlhopolsky Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage (fwd) A report posted to this newsgroup by the Dolphin Research Center on Ric O'Barry's controversial release of Buck and Luther, the following statement was made: >FACT: "Luther" and "Buck" both responded positively to the Navy "pinger" >which is an acoustic recall device. This clearly demonstrates that contrary >to Mr. O'Barry's claims, these animals were NOT ready to be released. If the >dolphins immediately responded to standard behavioral conditioning techniques >that were supposedly extinguished by Mr. O'Barry, how can he claim that they >were ready to live as wild animals? As an experimental psychologist, I know well that extinction training will work with lab rats and pigeons. However, spontaneous recovery is all too easy to demonstrate. All that is needed is a renewed exposure to the conditioning stimulus. In the case of highly intelligent creatures like dolphins, how realistic is it to expect that they could be extinguished from *any* learned behavior, let alone responding to an acoustic recall device? I can't see how this could be a practical condition for release. If so, it would seldom happen. Other than this point, I'm staying out of the fray. I can see good logical and emotional arguments on both sides of the issue. Joe Dlhopolsky joed147(\)i-2000.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 14:54:00 -0700 From: Alan Macnow Subject: WHALING RESUMPTION NOT THREAT FROM: Alan Macnow Tele-Press Associates,Inc. 321 E. 53 Street New York, N.Y., 10022 TEL: (212) 688-5580 FAX: (212) 688-5857 email: amacnow(\)igc.apc.org FOR: Japan Whaling Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RESUMPTION OF WHALING UNLIKELY TO POSE THREAT In 1961, there was good reason to be alarmed at the plight of the whales. The great blue whale, the world's largest mammal, appeared to be hunted to the verge of extinction, like the right, gray and bowhead whales before it. An outpouring of public concern became the basis of the environmental movement, prompting a flood of contributions and pressure to save the whales. Today, thirty-five years later, the call to save the whales still echoes. But a reality check would leave most thoughtful people wondering why the concern persists. Consider: No one has hunted the great blue whale since the Inter- national Whaling Commission (IWC) banned its catch thirty years ago. Commercial catches of right, gray and bowhead whales were banned sixty five years ago. Commercial catches of humpback whales were stopped thir- ty years ago. Commercial catches of Pacific fin whales were prohibited in 1976, pelagic stocks of sperm whales in 1979 and coastal sperm whale stocks in 1986; All other commercial whale catches, even those from non- endangered stocks such as the abundant minke whales, ceased in the 1987-1988 season. Since 1972, the commercial catch of whales was reduced from 32,000 per year to the 215 taken last year from a non- endangered Atlantic minke stock by Norway. That is not to say that depleted whales are no longer hunted. But the numbers taken are too small to impair the stocks' recovery. Traditional native whalers take almost 400 whales each year for subsistence, with American Inuits allowed 67 bowheads, Greenlanders 19 fin whales and 167 minkes, Russians 140 gray whales and St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2 humpback whales. This year the U.S. will ask the IWC for 5 gray whales for the Makah tribe of Washington State. Under the provisions of the IWC's Convention, member na- tions also can take whales for research purposes. Japan is con- ducting a 16-year research study of minke whales. The research requires the catch of 400 minke whales from a 760,000 minke pop- ulation in Antarctic waters and 100 minkes from a 25,000 non- endangered population off its Pacific coast. The catches con- stitute less than one half of one percent of the populations. Almost all of the whale species appear to be increasing steadily in all of the world's waters. There are sightings of increased numbers of blue whales off the California coast and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Australia noted a 12% increase in the number of humpback whales off its coasts. The rare north Atlan- tic right whale rebounded from only 30 whales off the coast of the U.S. in the 1950's to 500 today. And the Pacific gray whale, once thought extinct, has recovered to original popula- tion size. It was recently removed from the U.S. endangered species list. Only the great blue whale of the Antarctic appears to be lagging in its recovery. A number of scientists attribute this to substantial increases in species competing for the same food supply, such as minke whales and crabeater seals. The culling back of some minkes and seals may help the blue whale recovery. Blue whales and other depleted whale species will not be targeted even if commercial whaling is allowed to resume. Strict application of a well-tested procedure to calculate catch quotas does not permit the taking of any stocks which are at 54% or less of their original population sizes. Only one half of one percent of the more abundant populations will be permitted to be taken, a number well below the annual rate of population increase for whales, which ranges from 4% to 14%. It is unlikely, too, that whales will ever be hunted as relentlessly as they were in previous times. Since the mid 1960's, the whole character of whaling has changed. Nations no longer need whale oil, the resource that led to earlier over- exploitation. Now, whales are taken solely for food, by coun- tries that traditionally consumed it in their food cultures. -end- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 10:47:14 -0600 From: Jane Austin Subject: Call for Papers for Telemetry Forum 1997 FORUM ON WILDLIFE TELEMETRY: INNOVATIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND RESEARCH NEEDS CALL FOR PAPERS The Forum will be held at the Snowmass Conference Center in Colorado on 21-23 September 1997, immediately preceding The Wildlife Society's Fourth Annual Conference. The Forum is intended to provide an opportunity for research biologists and engineers to discuss new telemetry technologies and methods, field evaluations of equipment and techniques, and directions future development should take to meet telemetry research needs. Session topics are (1) Innovations in transmitting and receiving systems, (2) Attachment techniques: methods and evaluations, successes and failures, (3) Collection of physiological and environmental data using telemetry, and (4) Data processing and analysis. The separate evening poster session will emphasize demonstrations and hands-on displays. Individuals interested in giving an oral presentation, poster, or demonstration should send a title and brief (2-4 sentences) description of the subject to the contact below by 1 February 1997; a full abstract will be required by 1 May 1997 for those accepted. Please include name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address if available. Contact: Jane Austin, Northern Prairie Science Center, 8711 37th Street SE, Jamestown, ND 58401; 701-252-5363/fax 701-252-4217; email jane_austin(\)nbs.gov. The Forum is hosted by The Wildlife Society and National Biological Service. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 01:33:12 -0400 From: Phocid(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage (fwd) Please enlighten me if I am missing something obvious, but what is the significance of these two dolphins. It seems as though their options are pretty limited. Either they spend their lives in small concrete enclosures or they die in the wild. The criminal act they are paying for was committed years ago. Why have three prominent marine mammal veterinarians and numerous marine mammal experts examined the wounds? Why has extensive photodocumentaion of the injuries been conducted and why will both video and still photos will be analyzed by additional respected marine mammal experts? Marine mammals around the world are dying at an alarming rate. What possible difference will it make if these animals were raked or prop injured? It looks a little like these dolphins are becoming pawns to bust O'Barry's chops. I don't know if O'Barry does good work or not, but compare the damage he could do to that done by one tuna boat, or one toxic barrel thrown overboard. Once again, so many people hours and so much money is being spent on two really poor prospects for anything. Why? Jeff Lederman phocid(\)aol.com Wildlife Natural Care Centre Salt Spring Island, B.C. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 20:31:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: whaling I generally try to refrain from responding to Alan Macnow's postings on this network (since I have considerably better things to do with my day), but his latest press release is so full of falsehoods that it should not pass unchallenged. Macnow says that: 1) Various whale species were all protected many years ago, and includes in this blue, right and gray whales. 2) Virtually all whales except for Antarctic blues are recovering well. 3) The reason blues aren't is - in the opinion of many scientists" - competition from minke whales. First, while the dates of protection that he gives are essentially correct, he ignores the fact that the Soviet Union is now known to have illegally killed huge numbers of animals long after they were protected. Consider the fact that in the southern hemisphere alone, the difference between what the Soviets reported to the IWC and what they actually caught was on the order of a hundred thousand animals. For example the reported catch for humpback whales was approximately 2700, when in fact some 48,000 had actually been killed. The Soviets were also taking right and blue whales during this period despite the bans on hunting that Mr Macnow trumpets so loudly. It is clear that the Soviets were killing essentially anything the crossed their bow, and we know from last year's IWC that this included the N Hemisphere as well, to an extent which is as yet unknown (see the paper by Mikhaliev on Arabian Sea humpback whale catches). 2) The second statement is, to put not too fine a point on it, rubbish. Perhaps Mr Macnow knows something that the rest of us don't about northern right whales in the Atlantic (eastern population essentially extinct, western in serious jeopardy in the opinion of anyone who is working with them; situation in the N Pacific the same). Or eastern gray whales, which may number 250 animals. Or eastern Arctic bowheads (a few hundred, with the Spitsbergen stock in the tens). To say that the N Atlantic right whale has come back from "30 animals" to 500 is outrageous. NO ONE knows what the population was in 1935, and no one I know in the right whale field would say that there are 500 today. More significantly, to deliberately mislead the public by implying that right whales are doing fine is a travesty. This species is in desperate shape everywhere, and many people are working very hard to attempt to develop a conservation effort - and we don't appreciate self-serving lobbyists telling us that we shouldn't have any concern for a critically endangered animal. I would also like Mr Macnow to tell us all on what he bases his statement concerning blue whales. There is zero evidence that N Atlantic blue whales are increasing, and it is clear that the population is small. California blue whales appear to be doing well; but we know very little about this species anywhere else except that it appears to be nowhere very numerous. Does Macnow have some data that the scientific community doesn't? As for the idea that minke whales are directly suppressing the recovery of blue whales, the only "scientists" I know who believe this tedious idea are those attached to the whaling industry. It is a gross oversimplification of basic ecological theory (see review by Clapham & Brownell in this year's IWC volume). I have no argument with the fact that many whale populations appear to be recovering well. But to play fast and loose with facts and blithely ignore the endangered status of the several stocks that are clearly not recovering, is extremely annoying to many people who are working to repair the damage wrought by the whaling industry in past years. Phil Clapham clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 17:01:56 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: WHALING RESUMPTION NOT THREAT My comments below are critical, but to be fair I must emphasize they address the recent posting by Alan Macnow at a _textual_ level; what exactly does it *say*? I'm not taking on the underlying biology, ethics, or any other big issues; just objecting to doublespeak in a scientific forum. Alan Macnow writes: > Today, thirty-five years later, the call to save the > whales still echoes. But a reality check would leave most > thoughtful people wondering why the concern persists. > Consider: [Snip. Essentially, commercial hunts of blue, right, gray, bowhead & humpback ended at least 30 years ago. Fin & pelagic sperm hunts ended in the 70s.] > Almost all of the whale species appear to be increasing > steadily in all of the world's waters. There are sightings of > increased numbers of blue whales off the California coast and > the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Increased, relative to what--their ?near-extinct? status 30 years ago? > Australia noted a 12% increase in the > number of humpback whales off its coasts. Again, relative to what baseline, over what period? > The rare north Atlan- > tic right whale rebounded from only 30 whales off the coast of > the U.S. in the 1950's to 500 today. At last a solid before & after number; but (a) how solid were the 1950s estimates of 30 (is that actual *growth*?) and (b) 500 is critically endangered in anyone's book. > And the Pacific gray > whale, once thought extinct, has recovered to original popula- > tion size. Yes, one success story. > Only the great blue whale of the Antarctic appears to be > lagging in its recovery. Now wait--we got inadequate figures on one population of humpbacks, a dismal picture of N. Atlantic right whales (only after 30 years approaching what many conservationists consider a minimal safe population size), mention of "increases" in 2 blue whale populations, and the gray whale success. What about the rest of the humpbacks, the sperms, the bowheads, southern right whales, and fins? Did I miss something? > A number of scientists attribute this > to substantial increases in species competing for the same food > supply, such as minke whales and crabeater seals. "A number"? There are a number of scientists who believe Noah's Ark really did ride out the Flood with the ancestors of all animals, including dinosaurs, onboard. It's not a *large* number, on the order of 10-30 that I've read of, but they exist. cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Those are my principles, and if you Anthro 0532 don't like them... well, I have others. UCSD Groucho Marx La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:56:07 EST From: PETER CORKERON Organization: TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT STUDIES AND GE Subject: Whaling Ah, IWC season. Its always such a joy, isn't it. There's another side to the posting by Alan Macnow. One of the problems of the latter stage of commercial industrial whaling was the level of illegal take, as we now know for sure. If Macnow's post truly represents the position of the JWA, then it suggests that there's a disturbing denial of this. It fits the pattern demonstrated by Macnow's slagging of Baker and Palumbi's work on illegal whale meat being sold in Japan. The illegal trade represents a serious and ongoing problem for the workability of any programme for managing any whale harvest. If there is to be some vague hope that the whaling industry's discussion of sustainability is more than mouthing platitudes, then we'll see some admission of these past and present problems. There appears to be little evidence of learning from these past mistakes, and a little mea culpa wouldn't hurt. Until that happens, surely the resumption of whaling is likely to pose a threat, to paraphrase Alan. On the tedious revisting of the silly idea that "true" blue whale numbers are being held down by other krill predators - if the JWA truly see this as a serious issue, perhaps they'd care to see the Japanese Antarctic krill fishery shut down :-) Cheers Peter Peter Corkeron TESAG James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia Phone:61-77-815561 Fax: 61-77-815581 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 10:54:10 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: obscure papers Following hot on the heels of my last request re castor oil (many thanks again to all those who have already responded so helpfully) I have another posting. Sincerest apologies to those who, if they're very unlucky, will receive this posting 4 times in their already crowded inboxes! Is anyone in a position (and willing) to send me copies of the following papers: Goertner, J.F. (1982). "Prediction of underwater explosion safe ranges for sea mammals." Naval Surface Weapons Centre, NSWC TR 82-188. O'Keelfe, D.J. (1984). "Guidelines for predicting the effects of underwater explosions on swimbladder fish." Naval Weapons Centre, technical report NSWC TR 820326 Richmond, D.R., Yelverton, J.T. and Fletcher, F.R. (1973). "Far- field blast injuries produced by small changes." Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research, DNA 3081T Yelverton, J.T., Richmond, D.R., Fletcher, E.R. and Jones, R.K. (1973). "Safe distances from underwater explosions for mammals and birds." Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research, DNA 3114T Mate, B.R. and Harvey, J.T. (1986) (Eds). "Acoustical deterrents in marine mammal conflicts with fisheries." Report of a workshop held February 17-18 1986, Newport, Oregon. Griffiths, D.J., Oritsland, N.A. and Oritsland, T. (1987). "Marine mammals and petroleum activities in Norwegian waters, Number 1." Rpporteur Og Meldinger Fra Fiskeridirktoratets Havforningsinstitutt, B, Bergen, 179pp (assuming this is written in English!) The fact that I am having to put out this request is hauntingly reminiscent of recent discussions through MARMAM re the quantity of data that resides in the form of unpublished reports (by unpublished I mean not in the main stream science journals which most academic libraries subscribe to). John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 12:12:30 -0700 From: Forsyth Kineon Subject: low frequency database catalogue Dear MARMAM Subscriber: I apologize to those who also subscribe to the Biocoustics list serve for the cross posting. The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS, NOAA), in conjunction with the U.S. Navy, is compiling a catalogue of acoustic data that have been collected on cetaceans which emit low-frequency calls (primarily < 1 kHz). Sperm whales are also of interest in this study, even though much of their communication is in the higher frequencies. The purpose of this joint project is NOT to collect actual data, but rather, to produce a summary paper to determine whether data have been collected in a certain area on a certain species. If data have already been collected, but remain unanalyzed, we may be able to secure funds and direct those funds to individuals maintaining those data sets for detailed analysis. This particular information would be of interest for those needing funding, and those funding agencies who might be able to get information less expensively, as they will only be funding data analysis and not data collection. A further advantage of this service is a reduction in duplication of studies and data. For all interested parties, it is an advantage to have a compilation of all existing data sources. Attached is a short questionnaire that has a series of multiple choice questions as well as a space to fill in other responses not covered by the text. Published data, as well as gray literature and unpublished data can all be included in this questionnaire. One last request would be to append any names of individuals who you think might have data sets. Thank you very much for your time. Upon completion, a copy of this report will be sent to you, if requested. Please e-mail the responses back to the e-mail address listed below, rather than replying to the network. Sincerely, Forsyth P. Kineon Research Biologist ************************************************************************* Forsyth P. Kineon, MMA National Marine Mammal Laboratory 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. Seattle, Washington 98115 (w) 206/526-4045, (fax) 206/526-6615 (h) 206/726-9309 (e-mail) kineon(\)afsc.noaa.gov ************************************************************************* Questionnaire 1) Address: Name: Address: Phone: Fax: Internet address: 2) Information concerning the data sets: (If this table is too scrambled from the internet transmission, please feel free to make up your own, including the following variables: Frequency range, No. of hours, Date, Species and Location (as specific as possible)) Frequency No. of Range Hours Date Species Location 3) Where are these data stored if it is different from the above address? 4) What is the format of your data set? (Mark all that apply) A) _ Published _ Unpublished _ Raw Data _ Published, but have more ideas for analysis B) _ Auditory recording _ Computer tabular data _ Computer geo-referenced data _ Computer data _ Field log or journal _ maps, annotated or thematic _ Other (please specify) 5) Availability of data sets? _ Published and available _ Published, but requires approval for further access _ In press or in prep. _ Unpublished but available _ Unpublished and requires approval for access _ Confidential/privileged 6) Do you have any future planned studies? 7) If so, where would these acoustic experiments occur, and what species will be targeted? 8) Would you be interested in obtaining funds to analyze the data if they are unanalyzed? 9) Do you wish to receive a copy of this study when completed? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 03:07:16 -0400 From: KingFsher(\)aol.com Subject: New Wildlife Ecology Digest Greetings, I am in the process of developing a weekly digest for conversation, thoughts, and general postings concerning wildlife ecology... To receive this digest, please send e-mail to: kingfshr(\)northcoast.com with the subject: "Subscribe to WED." Any questions can also be sent to this address... Let's hope this develops into a great resource for all! Thanks, David Doyle (kingfshr(\)northcoast.com) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 07:57:38 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Freedom, justice and Sabotage ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage Joe Dlhopolsky stated: >As an experimental psychologist, I know well that extinction >training will work with lab rats and pigeons. However, spontaneous >recovery is all too easy to demonstrate. All that is needed is a >renewed exposure to the conditioning stimulus. In the case of >highly intelligent creatures like dolphins, how realistic is it to expect >that they could be extinguished from *any* learned behavior, let >alone responding to an acoustic recall device? I can't see how this >could be a practical condition for release. If so, it would seldom >happen. Certainly spontaneous recovery can occur after the extinction of a behaviour. However, there are protocols that can be applied that could avoid such problems. I would suggested that those interested in this area consultant Kazdin (1989). Behavior Modification in Applied Settings, Fourth Edition. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. Most clinical psychologists (and experience marine mammal trainers) should be familiar with this text. Jeff Lederman stated: >Please enlighten me if I am missing something obvious, but what >is the significance of these two dolphins. It seems as though their >options are pretty limited. Either they spend their lives in small >concrete enclosures or they die in the wild. The criminal act they >are paying for was committed years ago.........It looks a little like >these dolphins are becoming pawns to bust O'Barry's chops. I >don't know if O'Barry does good work or not, but compare the >damage he could do to that done by one tuna boat, or one toxic >barrel thrown overboard.... First, O'Barry appears to have broken federal laws in releasing these animals. The US NMFS had little choice than to recapture these animals. If they had not, then other individuals, groups and factions would have seen this as a clear mandate to release animals back to the wild without recourse to conform to the appropriate animal welfare and environmental protection legislation. I am sure that most would agree that animal welfare and environmental legalisation should be rigorously enforced whether it be the deliberate dumping of toxic chemicals or the inappropriate introduction of flora and fauna. Second, I do not believe that most rational people believe that being kept alive and well cared for in a captive environment is a particularly bad option when compared to starving to death in the wild. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 12:54:36 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: South Africa holds the line on South Africa holds the line on whaling - for now CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuter) - South Africa will maintain its anti-whaling stance at next week's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Scotland, commissioner Guillaume de Villiers said Wednesday. But he urged legislators at a meeting of parliament's committee on environment affairs and tourism to review the policy before the 1997 IWC meeting. "In suggesting a revision, I am not necessarily saying the policy must be changed. It is up to the new government to review the policy and decide whether it is satisfied," he said. De Villiers said the Department of Sea Fisheries had proposed a more conservative mandate to the cabinet than outlined in a secret first draft which was leaked to the media. The first draft included a proposal that "South Africa should retain its independent spirit...and should use its influence to combat extremism in favor of non-whaling." De Villiers said Wednesday: "The document was toned down in favor of conservatism before it went to cabinet." He told the committee that South Africa would have to evolve a consistent approach to the sustainable use of living natural resources such as elephants and whales. South Africa has one of the world's healthiest elephant populations and regularly culls excess animals. A recovering population of Southern Right Whales visits the Cape coast every year to calve and mate, drawing thousands of tourists from South Africa and abroad. De Villiers told Reuters after the meeting that while South Africa accepted a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ban on ivory trade, the country still supported a managed trade in elephant products. At the same time, however, South Africa leaned toward preservation in the international debate on whaling and opposed any trade in whale products. "We need to develop a consistent policy that can be applied to all large mammals, including whales, elephants and seals, too." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 17:55:26 -0400 Reply-To: George Elston From: George Elston Subject: NMFS Assault Disclaimer: This message is posted at the request of The Dolphin Project any comments may be faxed to The Dolphin Project at 305 447 8508. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This document was written by Shaney Frey. It has been sent to all the pertinent government officials in Washington along with the documentation. We have posted it here because some of you may find it very enlighting. The National Marine Fisheries Service Assault by Shaney Frey The capture and treatment of two Navy dolphins, Buck and Luther by National Marine Fisheries Service as told to the public by NMFS is not the true story. This agency now has the third and last of the three Navy dolphins in custody and has covered itself in a cloak of secrecy and deception... I wanted proof, as National Marine Fisheries Service has consistently claimed for two years, that a special release permit is required by law to release captive dolphins. I wanted proof since this agency of our government has made untrue statements to the media concerning these dolphins and their medical conditions. I called NMFS and asked that I be sent a copy of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. I received a copy of the Code of Federal Regulations, revised as of October 1, 1991. As I read through this book of codes, my shock rapidly turned to horror. I had assumed, in my apparent ignorance, that the Marine Mammal Protection Act protected marine mammals. Not so. The MMPA regulates marine mammals: How many can be killed in one year; how many can be captured for scientific research; how many can be captured for public display. The language is chilling. The quotas for each calendar year: Spotted dolphin - Incidental take: 16,570,000 dolphins may be taken if they are interfering with a commercial fishing operation; acceptable spotted dolphin death count for the year-20,500. The yearly mortality quotas include the spinner dolphin, the common dolphin and thousands of seals. I am certain the general public is not aware of this form of marine mammal protection. If we intend to manage oceanic wildlife as well as we manage our land-locked wildlife, we are - or rather, they are - in deep, deep trouble. We grumble on about sustainable wildlife populations while human population is exploding all over the globe. Let us put our own house in order before we interfere with the lives of intelligent, other-world species. When the shock receded, I realized I still had no proof that a permit is needed to release captive dolphin back into the ocean. I went back to the phone and called NMFS again. "The regulations you sent do not have what I am looking for", I told them. NMFS said, "No, it was not in that publication, it would be found somewhere else." "Please send me the something else", I said. Well, NMFS told me that I really should call APHIS-they are the ones who take care of permits for release. I called APHIS and they laughed. There is no such permit regulation and NMFS is the agency in charge of permits. I was given two names to try at NMFS. I called NMFS once again and was passed around for a few minutes and then was told someone would call me back. She did. I repeated for about the tenth time my request for a copy of the regulation governing a captive marine mammal release permit. For forty minutes I was given a wonderful lecture on the responsibilities of caring for captive marine life, the difficulties therein, successes and failures, problems and solutions, and all the unanswered questions. When she finally wound down, I asked once again for a copy of the forementioned regulation. "Is there such a regulation?" I asked her. She said, "Yes, finally, in May, 1996, such a regulation went into effect." I requested a copy. Something is very wrong here. For two years, NMFS has been saying that a permit was needed to release the three Navy dolphins. But NMFS always became uncommunicative when pressed for details. Now - today - they tell me that such a regulation went into effect just last month, May, 1996. I'll believe it when I see it. And I state to you now, that NMFS is lying to the public about how and why they rushed out to recapture Buck and Luther as soon as they were released. NMFS lied to the public when they said Luther was badly injured and not eating in the wild. The local people in Key West witnessed Luther following mullet and eating. The boat propeller injury was a minor rake mark. They lied when they said that he wandered into the Navy base water where they 'rescued' him. They did not tell the public that a Navy recall pinger was used to reel him in - all the Navy dolphins are trained to respond to the pinger. The pinger was used with Luther, with Buck, and a third time to remove Jake, the third Navy dolphin, from Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. One would think they were after a drug lord, arriving with police and swarms of officials as they stormed the Sugarloaf grounds. Jake responded to the pinger, NMFS caught him, dumped him into a U-Haul truck and carted him off - screaming at being taken from the best friend he ever had, Molly, a wise old female dolphin - to the Navy base at Boca Chica. Molly went to the farthest, most private part of the canal and mourned the loss of her friend. Buck, Luther and Jake are not quarry rocks that can be hauled from place to place. They are sensitive, caring, feeling mammals who are being harmed mentally and emotionally by this callous handling by government officials. Jake and Luther are now being held in small medical pens where they barely have room to turn around. On Friday last, NMFS gave an interview in which the spokesperson asserted that Buck was in grave condition with three wounds on his body, that he was severely dehydrated and ill. They also claim that this gravely ill dolphin swam some sixty miles up to Grassy Key to the very place they wished him to be and he docily entered the gate. They don't tell the public that the Navy pinger was used to bring Buck in. I saw Buck up close on Saturday, the day after NMFS statement. He has one very suspicious clean straight cut on his side. One wound, not three. He is not dehydrated. He does not have the characteristic depression at the base of his skull that is the mark of a seriously dehydrated dolphin. Please investigate the conduct of the National Marine Fisheries Service. If, indeed, the NMFS is guided by a Marine Mammal Protection Act, where is the protection? By what authority does a government agency have free rein to lie to the public? Why does NMFS appear to be locked hand in hand with the captive dolphin industry? It seems to be fine with them to capture dolphins. But don't ever try to set them free! Shaney Frey ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1996 17:55:47 +0200 From: Diego Asensio Subject: Alnitak Project. Hello. My name is Diego Asensio and I represent Whale Watch Espa=F1a. We have combined with the Alnitak project; Richard and Ana Sagarminaga; that we will use my e-mail or phone numbers since when they move to the coast they will not be able to recieve any e-mail or phone calls except on their cellular. You may find our website at Whale Watching Web/ Whale Watching Worldwide/ Europe/ Spain at www.physics.helsinki.fi/whales/ Besides the Alnitak Project, we are offering Robert Baden Powell trips, and, (not yet on the web), probably we will include a couple more of offers before summer break. Please feel free to contact if you need any information about our associatio= n. Thank you very much Diego Diego Asensio. Whale Watch Espa=F1a. c/Princesa 3 dpdo. /of. 508 28008 Madrid. Tel/Fax: (91) 541 8907 e-mail:dga(\)super.medusa.es ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 13:23:37 PDT From: Randy Brill Subject: Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- AGENCY RETURNS THREE DOLPHINS TO NAVY At the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Navy has agreed to re-assume responsibility for the care and maintenance of three Atlantic bottlenose dolphins formerly with the Navy Marine Mammal Program. Two of the dolphins are being flown back to San Diego from Key West, Fla. this afternoon on a Navy aircraft. The Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Division (NRaD), which manages the Navy's Marine Mammal Program, assumed custody of the animals from NMFS this morning shortly before the aircraft left Naval Air Station Key West with the two dolphins and five NRaD personnel. Eleven Navy civilian employees, including two veterinarians, have been in Florida for varying time periods the past several weeks assisting NMFS in rescuing two of the dolphins which were released into the open sea west of Key West. The group included personnel who had trained and cared for these animals previously in San Diego and one trainer who had worked with other Navy dolphins in the Key West area. Luther, the first animal to appear after release, was reported to be begging for food from boats in the Key West area during Memorial Day week-end. The Navy personnel on-scene were successful in attempts to get him to exhibit previously learned behaviors, including boat-following, allowing his return to a safe enclosure without the use of nets or any other capture devices on May 30. The animal readily responded to an acoustic device used by the Navy to recall dolphins, and demonstrated other trained behaviors, including those that assist Navy personnel in performing physical examinations and medical procedures. The second released animal, Buck, appeared 70 miles north of Key West June 4. He also eagerly responded to previously learned behaviors and boat followed to Grassy Key and voluntarily entered an enclosure at the Dolphin Research Center (DRC). Since NMFS assumed custody of the animals, personnel from NRaD and DRC have provided primary care to the three dolphins. -more-DOLPHINS RETURNED TO NAVY/Page 2 All three dolphins have had complete physicals by Navy and internationally recognized veterinarians supporting NMFS, plus a private-practice vet brought in by NMFS. All agreed that the three animals are in sub-standard health, particularly exhibiting malnutrition and dehydration. Buck, the animal currently being cared for at DRC, was in the worst condition, with very sub-standard blood chemistry and anemia in addition to lack of proper nutrition and hydration. He was nearly 100 pounds underweight from the standard weight for a dolphin of his age. He also has a second-degree laceration (a large, deep cut through the skin layer and into the blubber layer) from some unexplained source thought to be connected with his release. It is nearly identical to, and at a corresponding spot on his left side, to first- and second-degree lacerations suffered by Luther. Luther's wounds are on his right side. The lacerations are completely inconsistent with rake marks occurring naturally during dolphin-to-dolphin encounters related to mating or territoriality, and they are also inconsistent with wounds suffered by dolphins hit by boat propellers. When Luther was first recovered, his wounds were already healing naturally. Navy veterinarians have assisted that process by treating him with topical medications and antibiotics. When Buck was recovered from the wild, his wound was severely infected, with the infection spreading into normal healthy tissue, and it was not healing. Antibiotics are being administered to bring the infection under control; veterinarians anticipate at least 10 more days of treatment will be required. Buck will remain at DRC until he is pronounced fit to travel, then he will be returned to San Diego. Although the other two dolphins remain in sub-standard health, the Navy elected to transport them because there were no readily available facilities in the local area to provide the level of care required. The Navy has state-of-the-art marine mammal care capabilities in San Diego that approximate human acute-care hospital facilities. The three dolphins were determined to be excess to the Navy's operational and research requirements in 1994, and were offered for transfer to qualified public display and research institutions, particularly in lieu of collection of other dolphins from the wild. In November 1994 NMFS authorized the Navy to transfer the three animals to a group that included the Humane Society of the United States and Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. The transfer was based solely on a public display permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Not anticipating that they would be returned, the Navy will have to consider appropriate courses of action relative to the animals, once they have been restored to good health. For further information, please contact Tom LaPuzza, Public Affairs Officer, (619) 553-2724. **************************************************************************** Randy Brill NCCOSC RDTE DIV 351 53420 CRAIG RD SAN DIEGO CA 92152-6267 phone (619)553-0897 fax (619)553-5691 email: brill(\)nosc.mil **************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 18:25:26 +0500 From: "Dr. Eric C. Kindahl" Subject: Query- Marine Mammals Courses etc. Dear MARMAM Readers: I am a conservation biologist at the University of Maine at Machias (UMM), and I am seeking information on college-level courses, research opportunities, internships, or volunteer opportunities involving any aspect of marine mammal biology. UMM has two very active programs in marine biology (B.A. in Biology with concentration in Marine Biology and B.S. in Environmental Studies with concentration in Marine Ecosystems), but currently we do not sponsor any opportunities that focus specifically on marine mammals. I would like to make information about such opportunities available to our students who are interested in doing further work in this area. If your institution or organization teaches any undergraduate level courses or offers any research opportunities, internships, or volunteer work on any aspect of marine mammal biology, please send me information about your course by e-mail or snail mail. Thank you very much! -------------------------------------------------- Dr. Eric C. Kindahl Assistant Professor of Biology Division of Sciences University of Maine at Machias 9 O'Brien Avenue Machias, ME 04654 U.S.A. Phone: (207) 255-3313 ext. 301 FAX: (207) 255-4864 e-mail: ekindahl(\)acad.umm.maine.edu -------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:05:23 -0600 From: Anne Doncaster Subject: Eastern Arctic Bowhead hunt Re Phil Clapham's comments on Alan Macnow's posting, I wonder if MARMAMERs are aware that according to a column by James Hrynyshyn, Apr. 29/96 (sent by Keewatin Div. BD EDLC, whatever that is) Canada has granted a permit to take an Eastern Arctic Bowhead. David Kritterdlik the president of the Keewatin Wildlife Federation is quoted as saying that it will cost $100,000 to "launch" this summer's harvest. The hunt is tentatively scheduled to take place in Repulse Bay on July 15. The article says that the latest DFO study puts the population at 500-600 whales and growing! Anne Doncaster Anne Doncaster International Wildlife Coalition Box 461 Port Credit Postal Station Mississauga, Ont., L5G 4M1 Tel: (905) 274-0633 Fax: (905) 274-4477 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 22:19:00 EDT From: James Hrynyshyn Subject: full bowhead story Further to (and to slightly correct) Anne Doncaster's note, here is the story (a distinct from a column)I filed to Northern News Services earlier this spring. Bowhead hunt to cost $100,000 by James Hrynyshyn OTTAWA -- Killing a bowhead whale isn't just politically, technically and ecologically tricky, it's down right expensive. David Kritterdlik, the president of the Keewatin Wildlife Federation, says it will cost $100,000 to launch the first legally sanctioned bowhead harvest in the Eastern Arctic this century. The money is needed to buy six boats and pay for flying the whale's meat and blubber to communities around Nunavut. The hunt, tentatively scheduled to begin July 15 in the coastal Hudson Bay hamlet of Repulse Bay, was originally set for nearby Coral Harbor, but ice conditions forced the change, says Kritterdlik. The hunters are hoping not to use any federal support for the project. "The main thing is this will be an Inuit initiative," he explained last week at an Ottawa meeting of Nunavut Tungavik Inc. "It will be a community event and everybody will be involved." He then asked NTI directors to donate $20,000 to the hunt. NTI president Jose Kusugak, like all other directors, supports the revival of the bowhead harvest. But he warned that it won't be easy to handle, either financially or politically. Biologists consider the bowhead an endangered species and many scientists and environmentalists oppose the killing of even one whale. The latest study by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans puts the eastern bowhead population somewhere near 500 or 600 whales and growing. That's only a tiny fraction of the estimated population in the early 1800s, and the figures are very rough. But they're good enough for the department, said Iqaluit area manager Gary Weber. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement gives the Inuit the right to kill one whale, as long as proper conservation and safety practices are followed. Environmentalists, including Anne Doncaster of the International Wildlife Coalition in Toronto, aren't satisfied the bowhead population can stand the loss of even one whale. "I don't think that there's any question that the stock is severely depleted," she said. NTI directors weren't impressed by the critics. They agreed to look into finding the money. Kritterdlik said he will ask all 27 Inuit hunters and trappers associations to contribute $1,500 each. The Nunavut Wildlife Management Board and other Inuit associations will also be asked to help. Kusugak suggested some of the money could be recouped through the sale of media access to the hunt, but that issue and other logistics will be discussed at a June meeting of the Keewatin Wildlife Federation. -30- James Hrynyshyn Ottawa, Ontario, Canada voice: 613.992.4511 or 992.4511 / /_/ /\ \/ /\/ \/ / /_/ \/ /\/ e-mail: jamesh(\)achilles.net _/ / / / \ / / / / / / / / / / website: achilles.net/~jamesh/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 21:00:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: WHALING RESUMPTION NOT THREAT (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association TO: MARMAM Readers Wow! Is my face red! I mistakenly inverted the N. Atlantic right whale sequence. The correct numbers should be 50 and 300, not 30 to 500. Please accept the correction - - and my apologies. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 23:16:09 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" I have no intention of becoming personally involved in the controversy about the recent release of dolphins by Roc O'Barry in Florida. However, I wish to take exception with the notion that none of his dolphin releases in the past was successful. I participated actively, both as an environmental activist and government officer, of the release of the last bottlenose dolphin kept captive in Brazil, in which Ric actively participated in the animal's "de-training". Judging from the many re-sightings of this individual dolphin that lasted for several months, I dare saying it was successful. In that specific occasion, enough surveying effort was put in place as a follow-up to the release. Many Brazilian researchers did follow the case, and at least one, Mario Rollo, to my recollection produced very interesting information. So if you want to argue about this recent release, fine, but don't try to make it an issue against previous - and future - releases based in what you DON'T know. Jose Palazzo, International Wildlife Coalition/Brasil ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 00:42:03 -0500 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Fwd: Greenpeace Says Norway's Whale Meat Glut Means No Need For Hunt Subject: 6/12 Whale Meat Glut: No Need for Hunt Date: Wed, 12 JUN 96 17:57:18 GMT ---------- Original-TO: World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET) Original-TO: The.Greenbase(\)green2.greenpeace.org ---------- NORWAY'S WHALE MEAT GLUT SHOWS NO NEED FOR HUNT: GREENPEACE OSLO, 12 June, 1996 -- (GP) Norwegian whalers are killing whales at their highest rate in a decade. But no one is buying the meat. Norway's national radio news reported on 10 June, that only 56 out of 202 whales caught this year have been sold. "This is no surprise," said Katrin Brubakk of Greenpeace Norway. "Norway's whalers could not sell all of last years catch and had between 30 and 60 whales still in cold storage at the start of this year's hunt. Clearly where whale meat is concerned, Norwegians are just not buying it." Last year's catch was 218 minke whales; this year's quota was sharply increased to 425. Norway calls its whaling small scale and traditional and has forbidden export of whale products since this would make the hunt obviously commercial and increase international opposition. A meeting of the Norwegian government and the whaling industry was held on 11 June to try and resolve the problem of the growing whale meat mountain. Norwegian authorities have set a minimum price which wholesale buyers must pay for whale meat but buyers are refusing to purchase it saying that, due to the weak market they can't make a profit. Individuals close to the whaling industry are suggesting that either the minimum price be lowered or the government must subsidise the industry to store unsold products. "The idea of further government aid for whaling is grotesque," said Brubakk. "The government already pumps huge amounts of money into public relations. Why don't they just accept the obvious -Norway has no need for the hunt and no need for whale products." -end- Contact: Kalle Hesstvedt, Greenpeace Norway: +472-220-5101 John Frizell, Greenpeace International: +441 273-476-839 ---------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) , , ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' _..`--'__.. / / __.' . (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 00:41:56 -0500 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Fwd: Norwegian whaling >>From The Vancouver Sun - Monday, June 10, 1996 >By Nicholas Schoon - The Independent > >LOFOTEN ISLANDS - Fears of a widespread return to commercial whaling are >being provoked by the news that Norwegian whalers are landing hundreds of >butchered minke whales this week, having harpooned their largest catch in a >decade. > >Norway's renascent industry may pave the way for other countries to join the >slaughter, imperilling one of the environmental movemnet's greatest >victories - the 1987 moratorium by the International Whaling Commission on >killing the huge marine mammals. > >Only one real problem lies in the whaler's path - a 300-tonne mountain of >blubber, stored at minus 30 C in a warehouse, just north of the Artic >Circle. Norwegians do not eat blubber and can find no other use for it. > >The stockpile is an embarrasment to Norway, particularly as it is about to >harvest another 100 tonnes from this season's catch. > >The Japanese eat blubber, and would pay vey high prices for it. > >The whalers would love to export it there, but the Norwegian government bans >international trade because of the likely world reaction. > >Norwegian goverment ministers are, however, looking into ways of dropping >the trade ban. Jan Olsen, Norway's fisheries minister said: "Something is >happening. It is moving in favor of us." > >Norway is a member of the IWC, which holds its annual meeting in Scotland at >the end of the month. > >The Norwegian ambition is to convert the anti-whaling majority of nations >within the IWC to drop their opposition - which is why its government spent >thousands of dolloars last week flying a party of British journalists to the >Lofoten Islands, a remote but prosperous region above the Artic Circle that >is the heart of the nation's industry. > >Norway has played a long, clever game to preserve its industry, and has been >much more sucessful in doing so than Japan and Iceland, which also want an >end to the moratorium. > >Norway filed an official objection to the abn within six months of it coming >into force, which gives it the legal right to ignore it. > >But it also bowed to international pressure and ceased commercial whaling in >1987 pending research into the state of the minke whale population in the >north-east Atlantic. > >The hunt resumed in 1993, with a quota of 296 minke whales. This year's >quota has risen to 425, and that number has almost been caught already since >the opening of the season in last month's calm weather. > >An international minke sighting survey last year produced an estimate for >the north-east Atlantic of around 110,000 whales - much higher than the >previous estimate of about 70,000. Norway's fisheries ministry says it could >set a quota of 600 hundred without posing the slightest threat to the >population, but wants to avoid sudden expansion and chaos in the whale-meat >market. > >The industry is small, with a total turnover of only a few million kilograms >a year, but it carries an immense political charge on the international scene. > >Only 31 fishing boats are licensed to catch whales this summer, taking >around 14 each. Each has a government inspector on board. > >Minke, which weigh about eight tonnes each, are the smallest of the great >whales. > >Whalers shoot them with a small harpoon. According to the Norwegian >government, in the 1994 season just under 30 per cent died instantly and the >average time after impact was three minutes. > >They are butchered on board. The offal and skeleton are thrown over the >side, with blubber and meat being kept on ice. > >This year the whalers are earning nearly $13 a kilogram for the meat, a >little less than last year, but in the shops it costs at least four times that. > >Truls Soloy, a skipper with a quota of 10 whales said: "It's more exciting >than fishing. We've achiebved what we hoped for and our fight to resume >whaling has always been based on serious argument." > >His greatest hope is for an international trade in whale products. >Foreigners who think whaling is barbaric are seen as ignorant, interfering >or misinformed. > >-David > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) , , ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' _..`--'__.. / / __.' . (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 00:41:53 -0500 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Marine Mammal Update, June 1996 (fwd) International Marine Mammal Project's Marine Mammal Update, June 1996 VAQUITA PORPOISE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION The vaquita, also called the Gulf of California harbor porpoise, is on the brink of extinction. These extremely rare cetaceans who live only in a small area of the Sea of Cortez off Mexico's Baja California are rapidly decreasing in number due to commercial gill net fishing. The vaquita is not hunted as a food source; it is drowned incidentally in nets set to catch fish, such as the totoaba, which is also endangered. Gill nets are particularly deadly, indiscriminately trapping sea life in mile-long curtains of tightly-woven invisible monofilament. Gill nets have been said to "strip-mine" the ocean. If gill net fishing forces the vaquita to become extinct, it will be "the first extinction of a cetacean species and only the second marine mammal to disappear from the West Coast since the Stellar sea cow (a manatee-like animal) was hunted to extinction in the 1700s." (Sacramento Bee) In 1993, a sanctuary was created to protect the vaquita, but biologists assert that the management plan does not remove gill net fishing from the vaquita's most vital habitat. As of 1993, there were only an estimated 225 vaquitas living; at least 35 are killed each year in the nets. The Mexican government must take immediate steps to save the vaquita from disappearing from the earth forever . --from the Sacramento Bee, Monday, May 20, 1996, article: "Vanishing Vaquita Alarms Scientists" by Tom Knudson; also from material previously published by IMMP. WHALE HUNTING SEASON BEGINS IN NORWAY Norway's much-protested whalers have readied their exploding harpoons for the start of hunting season on Monday, May 20. They aim to kill 425 minke whales, ignoring the International Whaling Commission's worldwide ban on commercial whaling and almost doubling the kill quota from last year's 232 deaths. D. James Baker of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. commissioner to the whaling commission said the United States "is deeply opposed to commercial whaling, which has caused drastic declines in a number of species and driven some stocks to near extinction." A bipartisan group of 23 members of the U.S. Congress has asked for trade sanctions to be brought against Norway if this year's expanded hunt proceeds as planned. --from two untitled Associated Press wire articles dated May 17 and 18th. SEA LIONS: "SHIP 'EM TO SEA WORLD," VICE PREZ SAYS The effort to save the sea lions at the Ballard Locks continues. (Please see IMMP's first report on this issue.) The Humane Society of the U.S., Earth Island Institute and the Progressive Animal Welfare Society are suing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for authorizing the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to kill sea lions who have allegedly been eating a declining population of steelhead trout at the Ballard Locks in Seattle. The groups contend that this would violate both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Vice President Al Gore recently stepped into the controversy and asked August Busch, owner of Sea World, to offer to house the sea lions in Sea World's captive display facility in Orlando, Florida. Last week, the NMFS captured two of the sea lions and plans to send them to Sea World as soon as a third animal is captured. The groups suing the NMFS are greatly concerned about permanently removing sea lions from their natural habitat. In addition, the NMFS has yet to provide any legal basis for moving the animals to this private captive facility. It is simply time to stop scapegoating marine mammals for worldwide fisheries declines due to human-caused problems-- including poor fisheries management practices, overfishing, faulty locks construction, and siltation of rivers caused by clearcutting and other forms of environmental degradation. ******************* compiled by Lena Strayhorn International Marine Mammal Project Earth Island Institute 300 Broadway, Suite 28 San Francisco, CA 94133 tel.: (415) 788-3666 fax: (415) 788-7324 email: marinemammal(\)igc.apc.org WWW: http://www.earthisland.org/ -- Earth Island Institute Ken Yarborough http://www.earthisland.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) , , ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' _..`--'__.. / / __.' . (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 08:58:20 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Fwd: Greenpeace Says Norway's Whale Meat Glut Means No Need For (fwd) Forwarded message: From: sgaure(\)math.uio.no (Simen Gaure) It says in a Greenpeace press release: >Norwegian authorities have set a minimum price which wholesale >buyers must pay for whale meat [...] This is a quote bold assertion. The minimum price of approx $1.85/lb has been set by the fishermen sales organization. This can't reasonably be said to be "Norwegian authorities". I believe what Greenpeace is really trying to tell us is that there's little profit in whaling, contrary to what most other anti-whaling groups claim. To the point that there's frozen whale meat in stock, and hence no need for whale meat. An analogous argument suggests that there's no need for wheat harvesting since there are stocks of wheat in both Europe and the US. Most people wouldn't agree with this, hence I suggest the mere existence of stocks isn't sufficient to back Greenpeace's claim. Then to a statement from The Vancouver Sun - Monday, June 10, 1996, brought to us by Cari Gehl. >This year the whalers are earning nearly $13 a kilogram for the meat, a >little less than last year, but in the shops it costs at least four times that. As pointed out above, this is not true. Most of the meat this year has been bought by whole sale buyers for the minimum price of $1.85/lb, i.e. below $4/kg. The minimum price last year was slightly below that. The price in the shops for last year's frozen meat is approx $20/kg. (ICA/Ullevaal, Oslo, two weeks ago. The price has been fairly stable since last year.) Fresh meat was somewhat more expensive, but nowhere near $52/kg. I don't have any retail prices for this year's hunt yet. >Whalers shoot them with a small harpoon. According to the Norwegian >government, in the 1994 season just under 30 per cent died instantly and the >average time after impact was three minutes. Here are some figures from the 1994 season: (From ) Official report 1994 : Traditional hunting : 28 vessels, 206 animals, 53% males, 68% of the females were pregnant. Killing times (All signs of life ceased) : Instantaneously (<10sec) : 59% > 10 minutes : 11% > 15 minutes : 4% longest : 27 minutes (harpoon worked loose, reshoot) average : 185 sec Scientific hunting : 4 vessels, 73 animals, 36% males, 24% of the females were pregnant. Killing times (All signs of life ceased) : Instantaneously (<10sec) : 47% > 10 minutes : 5% > 15 minutes : 4% longest : 50 minutes (broken harpoon line, reshoot). average : 199 sec -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 09:26:00 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Brazil Dolphin Release ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) I was interested in the recent posting by Jose Truda Palazzo Jr regarding the introduction of the dolphin "Flipper" in Brazil after a number of years in captivity. It seems that some post-release research was undertaken. Has anyone any information where this information has been published? Is this animal still being seem on a regular basis? >Jose Truda Palazzo Jr wrote: >I have no intention of becoming personally involved in the >controversy about the recent release of dolphins by Roc O'Barry in >Florida. However, I wish to take exception with the notion that none >of his dolphin releases in the past was successful. I participated >actively, both as an environmental activist and government officer, >of the release of the last bottlenose dolphin kept captive in Brazil, in >which Ric actively participated in the animal's "de-training". >Judging from the many re-sightings of this individual dolphin that >lasted for several months, I dare saying it was successful. In that >specific occasion, enough surveying effort was put in place as a >follow-up to the release. Many Brazilian researchers did follow the >case, and at least one, Mario Rollo, to my recollection produced >very interesting information. So if you want to argue about this >recent release, fine, but don't try to make it an issue against >previous - and future - releases based in what you DON'T know. >Jose Palazzo, International Wildlife Coalition/Brasil ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 22:48:36 +0900 From: Hiroko Wada Subject: Is whale meat safe? Dear Marmamers, I learned from articles of stranded whales on MARMAM, magazines and books that at least some of the whales are contaminated with heavy metals and chemical. I noticed that many Japanese media pick up whaling issue around this time of the year but few reported the level of whale meat pollution. I don't think that Japanese who buy whale meat at extremely high price realize that it might be polluted. I would like to know the level of pollution in whale meat and whether having whale meat is safe in terms of human health. Contaminated meat reminds me (and probably many Japanese) of a disaster a few decades ago. There was a panic in Japan when people found fishes in southern coastal area are heavily polluted with mercury. Many suffered (and still have suffered) and some died. So far, no indication has been made yet regarding whale meat despite reports on contaminated whales. Whaling is a critical issue and I would really like to know ALL the TRUTH, including the level of pollution, to decide which way we should go as one of the species on the earth. I am not an expert and I would appreciate if anyone has suggestions. Hiroko Wada Sapporo, Japan e-mail humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp Tel & Fax 011-81-11-642-8052 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 10:33:06 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Behaviour: Extinction & Recovery (fwd) >> >===================================== >> >From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) >> > >> >Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage >> > >> >Joe Dlhopolsky stated: >> >>As an experimental psychologist, I know well that extinction >> >>training will work with lab rats and pigeons. However, spontaneous >> >>recovery is all too easy to demonstrate. All that is needed is a >> >>renewed exposure to the conditioning stimulus. In the case of >> >>highly intelligent creatures like dolphins, how realistic is it to expect >> >>that they could be extinguished from *any* learned behavior, let >> >>alone responding to an acoustic recall device? I can't see how this >> >>could be a practical condition for release. If so, it would seldom >> >>happen. >> > >> >Certainly spontaneous recovery can occur after the extinction of a >> >behaviour. However, there are protocols that can be applied that >> >could avoid such problems. I would suggested that those interested >> >in this area consultant Kazdin (1989). Behavior Modification in >> >Applied Settings, Fourth Edition. Pacific Grove, California: >> >Brooks/Cole Publishing Co. Most clinical psychologists (and >> >experience marine mammal trainers) should be familiar with this >> >text. >> > One more time ... Pardon my ignorance, but what's with this "spontaneous recovery after the extinction of a behaviour?" If a behavior is truly exctinct how can it possibly recover? I would be quite surprised to hear that passenger pigeons, Stellar sea cows and wooly mammoths (not to mention basilosaurus or T. rex) had "spontaneously recovered." I thought "extinction is forever," but then I'm coming from an evolutionary/ecological perspective. By saying that a behavious is "extinct" do you mean repressed or not displayed or that the critter is just out of practice? How is behavioral extinction defined or determined? -- jbII Jack Baker jdbaker(\)ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 12:33:54 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 6/14/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Release of Former Navy Dolphins. {Between May 30 and June 4, 1996, the two former Navy dolphins were recaptured by NMFS and Navy personnel. On June 7, 1996, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture suspended the license issued to the operators of the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Subsequently NMFS requested and the Navy agreed to re-assume responsibility for care and maintenance of the two recaptured dolphins and a third dolphin recovered from the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. On June 13, 1996, two of the dolphins were flown back to Navy facilities in San Diego, CA.} [personal communication, Reuters, Navy press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 15:26:22 EST From: Laurel Bryant Subject: Unsafe Conditions at Sugarloaf PREVIOUSLY RELEASED 6/7/96 DOLPHIN REMOVED FROM UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT SUGARLOAF Responding to concern about the health and safety of dolphins being held at Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary in Sugarloaf Key, Fla., the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) joined to remove a dolphin from the public display facility on June 7, due to repeated violations of federal animal welfare requirements there. The former U.S. Navy dolphin known as "Jake," one of several dolphins displayed at Sugarloaf, was removed following charges the facility had failed to comply with provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Since September 1995, APHIS has cited Sugarloaf on several occasions with AWA violations that include the failure to use qualified veterinary personnel, and the failure to conduct necessary physical examinations and blood tests. These violations led the Department of Agriculture to suspend Sugarloaf's AWA license to publicly exhibit dolphins, and to file a complaint seeking both civil penalties and revocation of the facility's license. NMFS removed Jake under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), that allows for the removal of dolphins held at public display facilities that do not possess avalid AWA license. Sugarloaf's remaining dolphins, "Sugar" and "Molly," remain at the facility. Since both animals were captured from the wild prior to enactment of the MMPA in 1972, the provisions of the statute do not apply to either dolphin. "It's unfortunate that the Sugarloaf situation escalated to this level, but we felt that actions by the facility seriously jeopardized the welfare of the dolphins there, and left us with no alternative but to remove Jake and place him in a safe environment that offers proper veterinary care," said National Marine Fisheries Director Rolland Schmitten. The rescue was a coordinated effort between NMFS' parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, APHIS, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Florida Marine Patrol, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, and several nationally-known marine mammal experts and organizations. Concerns about the welfare of Sugarloaf's dolphins grew in recent weeks amid reports of inadequate care at the facility and reports that Jake's health had deteriorated. Reports from concerned citizens indicated that the animal was lethargic and displayed wounds suggesting that the animal had been attacked and injured by other dolphins at the facility. These concerns rose dramatically two weeks ago when Sugarloaf personnel deliberately released its other former Navy dolphins, "Luther" and "Buck," into open waters about 30 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to the release, NMFS and APHIS were planning to remove all three of the Navy dolphins from the unsafe conditions at Sugarloaf. The unauthorized release was in open defiance of NMFS, which requires a scientific research permit for such releases under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. According to NMFS scientists, it is unclear whether formerly captive marine mammals can successfully return to the wild and forage for food, avoid predators and socially interact with wild dolphins. As such, a research permit is required to ensure that individual dolphins are suitable candidates for release, and includes protocols and documentation for rehabilitating an animal to ensure adequate reconditioning from human dependence. A permit also requires post-release tracking to ensure the animal has regained those skills to survive in the wild. Sugarloaf's release of Luther and Buck prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving personnel from NMFS, other marine mammal experts and organizations, Florida Marine Patrol, U.S.. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy. Both dolphins were recovered, one which was observed in a local marina begging for food from passing boaters. Veterinarians observed that the dolphins had been injured, each displaying wounds and showing signs of serious dehydration. "We are relieved that Luther and Buck are now safe and under the care of qualified marine mammal veterinarians," said Schmitten. "We hope people will stop exploiting public sentiment about releasing marine mammals to the wild and take seriously the need to develop scientifically-sound methods of training dolphins to survive in the wild after spending years in captivity. To do otherwise is negligent and irresponsible." ### Contact: Scott Smullen Scott_Smullen(\)ssp.nmfs.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 20:00:55 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Behaviour, Extinction & Recovery ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) re: Behaviour: Extinction & Recovery >Jack Baker wrote: >One more time ... >Pardon my ignorance, but what's with this "spontaneous recovery >after the extinction of a behaviour?" If a behaviour is truly extinct >how can it possibly recover? I would be quite surprised to hear that >passenger pigeons, Stellar sea cows and wooly mammoths (not to >mention basilosaurus or T. rex) had "spontaneously recovered." I >thought "extinction is forever," but then I'm coming from an >evolutionary/ecological perspective. By saying that a behavious is >"extinct" do you mean repressed or not displayed or that the critter >is just out of practice? How is behavioral extinction defined >or determined? You are right, the problem here is a matter of terminology. Biological extinction whether it is Stellar sea cow, etc. is, of course, for ever as regards terminologies for ecological sciences, etc.. The term "extinction" in behavioural psychology mean something a little different. If a particular trained/learned behaviour does not receive reinforcement (reward) it will gradually diminish in frequency, eventually it may cease altogether. This is called extinction. "Spontaneous recovery" can occur during this process of extinction. For example: you present a cue (discriminative stimulus) linked to the behaviour but do not present a reward. During this situation of extinction you can have a situation where you perceive a behaviour has become extinct, i.e. the subject doesn't display this particular behaviour to cue, only to have it re-surface in the subjects behaviour further down the line. It should be mentioned that in such recovery situation the behaviour is generally displayed with less magnitude. The biggest problem is if this situation is inadvertently reinforced the behaviour will be influenced by a situation of intermittent reinforcement. This is a very powerful reinforcement schedule, more so than continues reinforcement. Some psychologists believe this is the key to the power of the attraction to continue to play on human gaming slot machine even if the rewards are few and far between (intermittent reinforcement). The problem of spontaneous extinction alluded to earlier by Joe Dlhopolsky's Marmam posting relates to such behaviours trained and linked by some form of cue. The removal of a cue such as, in this case, a dolphin returning and following a boat to a sound cue (a pinger) would be better achieved by training an incompatible behaviour for the same cue (a differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour). This results in the cue (pinger) no longer eliciting the original behaviour, e.g. boat following. As I stated, the Kazdin book (Kazdin, A.E. (1989). Behavior Modification in Applied Settings, Fourth Edition. Pacific Grove, California. Brooks/Cole Publishing Co) and many other books on applied clinical psychology can explain this and other behavioural modification terms and techniques perhaps better than my above simplistic and generalised effort. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 15:29:03 -0400 From: Joe Dlhopolsky Subject: Re: Behaviour: Extinction & Recovery (fwd) >Pardon my ignorance, but what's with this "spontaneous recovery after the >extinction of a behaviour?" If a behavior is truly exctinct how can it >possibly recover? I would be quite surprised to hear that passenger >pigeons, Stellar sea cows and wooly mammoths (not to mention basilosaurus >or T. rex) had "spontaneously recovered." I thought "extinction is >forever," but then I'm coming from an >evolutionary/ecological perspective. By saying that a behavious is >"extinct" do you mean repressed or not displayed or that the >critter is just out of practice? How is behavioral extinction defined or >determined? Sorry to have used extinction without defining it. Behaviorially speaking, extinction occurs when an organism stops performing a previously learned response. Period. Not addressed are the *reasons* why a response is no longer produced: whether it was "unlearned", repressed, forgotten, etc. One might argue that because the response is no longer reinforced (in the case of instrumental conditioning, which involves reward) or associated with the conditioning stimulus (in classical conditioning), the animal ceases to "waste its time" performing a response to no effect. Spontaneous recovery has been amply demonstrated in lab studies for decades and is practically a law of behavior. This occurs when an organism again emits a previously extinguished response under conditions similar to the original learning or association. If the animal *never* experiences the circumstances under which the response was performed, it could be claimed that the response was permanently extinguished. However, use of the Navy pinger with the released dolphins re-introduced the original conditions. It was no surprise to me that the dolphins responded to it. It does come as a surprise that one poster to MARMAM suggested that spontaneous recovery can be eliminated. I am not familiar with the studies cited, so I can't offer an argument one way or the other. However, claims of the type, "we did not show . . ." fall suspiciously into the realm of proving the null hypothesis, which everybody knows is not acceptable in the current paradigm of science. Joe Dlhopolsky joed147(\)i-2000.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 14:17:30 EST From: Laurel Bryant Subject: Dolphins Return to Naval Veterinary Care In San Diego FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/13/96 DOLPHINS RETURN TO NAVAL VETERINARY CARE IN SAN DIEGO Two of the three former U.S. Navy dolphins previously held at the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary in Sugarloaf Key, Fla., known as "Luther" and "Jake," are returning to their former home at the Navy's marine mammal program in San Diego today, the National Marine Fisheries Sevice announced. Agency officials said the third trained dolphin, known as "Buck," will make the trip after he recovers from a lack of care, substantial weight loss, and wounds he sustained when he was released and abandoned in the wild for nearly two weeks. The dolphins have been temporarily held by the fisheries service at two separate facilities within the Florida Keys, in response to recent events at Surgarloaf. Buck and Luther were recaptured from the wild by the fisheries service after Sugarloaf deliberately released them into open waters 30 miles from its facility on May 23 without adequate training or the physical condition necessary to survive in the wild. On June 7, officials seized Jake from the Sugarloaf facility after the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service suspended Sugarloaf's license for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including failure to use qualified veterinary personnel, and the failure to conduct necessary physical examinations and blood tests. "Although we're extremely disappointed with the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary's negligent care of the dolphins, and their abandonment of Luther and Buck, we are relieved that all three dolphins are now receiving expert veterinary care," said National Marine Fisheries Service Director Rolland Schmitten. In addition to health examinations and tests performed by Navy veterinarians during the past several days, all three dolphins were examined yesterday by an independent veterinarian selected by the fisheries service. Both Luther and Jake were found to be in stable health and ready for transport with minimal risk. Buck, however, is clearly in need of additional recovery time and veterinary care before he can be transported. After examining all available alternatives, the fisheries service decided that assigning custody of these three dolphins to the U.S. Navy's marine mammal program is in the best interest of their health and welfare. In making this decision, the fisheries service gave considerable emphasis to the Navy's extensive experience in the care and handling of these particular animals, and the fact that the Navy's marine mammal program has the resources and the qualified personnel, both experienced marine mammal veterinarians and trainers/handlers, to ensure that these three dolphins are provided the best of care. After a week in the wild, Luther appeared in waters near Boca Chica Naval Air Station more than 50 pounds underweight and with a six-inch laceration on his right side near the dorsal fin. Buck was spotted off Marathon Shores, Fla., after nearly two weeks in the wild, where he followed rescue boats into an enclosure. Buck is extremely underweight and has a laceration in front of the dorsal fin. Buck remains in serious condition. Jake is also underweight, but is responding well to care provided since his seizure at Sugarloaf. The fisheries service is in the process of investigating Sugarloaf personnel for their violations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. "Perhaps in the future a qualified team will submit a legitimate scientific proposal to release captive dolphins into the wild that can pass scientific peer review and agency scrutiny. Most importantly, a release proposal must ensure that such animals are prepared to survive in the wild," said Schmitten. The rescue operation for Luther and Buck was conducted with the assistance of the U.S. Navy, the Dolphin Research Center, the Marine Mammal Conservancy, and other stranding network volunteers. The Navy provided a team of experienced marine mammal experts to care for Luther and Jake while they were held temporarily in a lagoon near the Boca Chica Naval Air Station. The Boca Chica Naval Air Station provided support and security personnel to ensure the safety of these dolphins. The Dolphin Research Center is providing expert care for Buck during his recovery. ### NOTE: All NOAA press releases, and links to other NOAA material, can be found on the NOAA Public Affairs World Wide Web home page, http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs. Contact: Scott Smullen Scott_Smullen(\)ssp.nmfs.gov (301)713-2289 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 14:00:19 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Japan hopes anti-whaling tide Japan hopes anti-whaling tide turning at IWC By Paul Eckert TOKYO, June 14 (Reuter) - Japan sees emerging signs before this month's meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that the world whaling body is moving away from a rigid anti-whaling stance, a Japanese official said on Friday. "Conditions have changed considerably in a favourable direction since last year's IWC meeting," said an official of Japan's Fisheries Agency. A IWC Scientific Committee survey showed stocks of minke whales are at 760,000, enough to permit the culling of some 2,000 annually, said the official, who declined to be indentified. The political atmosphere is also improving for Japan, which wants to resume commercial whaling, banned since a 1982 IWC moratorium, he said. "Japan is not expecting an immediate policy change at the IWC, but we have gradually gained understanding of our stance," he said by telephone. He cited as an example South Africa which is reviewing its previous anti-whaling stance, suggesting "the door could be open to a resumption of some whaling." Germany's parliament has also recently shown a slight change in its stance, backing away from support for an absolute ban, the official said. At the annual IWC meeting, to be held this month in Scotland, the Japanese government intends to reiterate its basic position that marine resources should be preserved for sustained utilization and that each country's food culture should be respected, he said. As it has in recent years, Japan will also call for a review of the 1994 IWC resolution establishing a whale sanctuary in the Antarctic Ocean. Japan caught 440 minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean between November and March under an IWC policy that allows "research whaling," the Fisheries Agency said. The survey harvest was larger than the 300 minke whales it has taken annually since it joined the global moratorium in 1987. Citing U.S. and Russian requests that the IWC allow small quotas of grey and bowhead whales, respectively, for indigenous minorities, Japan will request an annual catch quota of 50 minke whales for its Pacific coastal whaling communities, the official said. Similar Japanese requests have been repeatedly rejected in the past, he said. Japan's dwindling and aging population of whalers, all but put out of work by the moratorium, eke out a living thanks to government policy allowing them to catch species which do not fall under IWC restrictions. Although in Japan whaling is not the emotive issue it is in Western countries, Japanese environmentalists have criticised Tokyo's claim that whaling is a deep part of the country's culture. Japanese research whaling is thinly disguised commercial whaling because most of the meat ends up as an expensive delicacy in Japanese restaurants, activists say. Modern whaling by big factory ships in the Antarctic has nothing to do with Japanese tradition of hunting from small rowboats, Japan's environmental groups say. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 23:42:53 -0300 From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" Subject: Re: Brazil Dolphin Release There are no recent sightings of the Brazilian 'Flipper' though it is assumed that the freeze branding which allowed easy identification has already faded. Jose Palazzo, iwcbr(\)ax.apc.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 10:32:19 GMT0BST From: "SAMANTHA.C......KING" Organization: University of Wales, Swansea Subject: eco-tourism Dear Marmamers, I am interested in the effects of eco-tourism on cetaceans, and wondered if anyone knows of any previous research on the subject, particularly involving the Monkey Mia dolphins, and the cetaceans around the canary islands. Thanks Samantha King Bn9a4csd(\)Swansea.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 22:56:30 +0200 From: Alnitak Project Subject: Cetacean Research Expedition Dear all: We posted two days ago a messagge about our cetacean research expedition along the south eastern coast of Spain (see messagge below). Some of you have put forward some questions, which we answer here: - 93.000 Pesetas means around 715-750 U.S.$ - The language spoken onboard depends on the nationality of the participants in the expedition, and it can be spanish, english, french or dutch. We will be at this e-mail (canadas(\)lander.es) until the 26th of June. From then onwards you can reach us always at the telephon number 34-08-636051 (onboard the ship). If you can't contact us by phone, you can also contact some travel agencies such as Wolf Trail (Holland), Whale Watch Spain, Nuba or A=F1os Luz (Spain). >CETACEAN RESEARCH EXPEDITION > >The 60 ft. research sailing ship Toftevaag is carrying out since 1992 a research programme on the ecology of cetaceans in South-east Spain. The research focusses mainly on long-finned pilot whales and the common dolphin, using photo-identification as well as studying behaviour with the aid of surface and underwater video. From July to September, the research is open to public participation. Teams of up to eight will join the research team onboard Toftevaag for a nine day period sailing in the region of the Alboran sea. Participation cost is of 93,000 Ptas. and includes participation in field research techniques, tuition, meals and accomodation onboard. The ship's base is Almer=EDa (Spain). Dates are 1-9, 11-19, 21-29 July, August and September. >For more details contact Ana Ca=F1adas or Ricardo Sagarminaga. >Alnitak Marine Research and Education Centre. >E-mail: canadas(\)lander.es >=20 PROYECTO ALNITAK C/Nalon 16. Urb. LaBerzosa 28240 HOYO DE MANZANARES Madrid (Spain) Home: 34-1-8565199 Mobile: 34-08-636051 Fax: 34-1-8565199 E-mail: canadas(\)lander.es ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 16:59:23 -0800 From: Ken Yarborough- Earth Island Institute Organization: http://www.earthisland.org/ Subject: Scientists Against Dolphin Death Act Scientists Speak Out Against Dolphin Death Act Lapses in Congressional Testimony Cited FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 12, 1996 Contacts: David Phillips Mark J. Palmer (415) 788-3666 Dr. Albert Myrick (619) 286-0561 Dr. John Hall (510) 937-1556 Two prominent marine mammal scientists are speaking out against misleading and discredited testimony made by supporters of H.R.2823 and S.1420, bills labeled by opponents as the "Dolphin Death Act." This legislation will in fact harm dolphins and do nothing to protect other species in the fishery, such as sea turtles and immature tuna, according to these scientists. They have been joined by a third scientist, a member of the National Academy of Scientists tuna/dolphin panel, in denouncing the proposed evisceration of dolphin protection laws. H.R.2823 by Representatives Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) [phone 202-225-5311, fax 202-225-0254 ] and Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) [phone 202-225-5452] and S.1420 by Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) [email: senator_stevens(\)stevens.senate.gov] and John Breaux [email:senator(\)breaux.senate.gov] (R-LA) would seriously weaken U.S. dolphin protection laws by lifting the embargo against imports and allow sales of dolphin-deadly tuna while changing the federal definition of "dolphin safe" to allow chasing, harassing, injuring and encircling dolphins with nets, as long as no dolphins were "observed" killed outright. H.R.2823 was approved in May by the House Resources Committee; S.1420 was approved on voice vote Thursday, June 6th, by the Senate Commerce Committee. In recent Congressional hearings, supporters of H.R.2823 and S.1420, including the U.S. Department of State and the organization Center for Marine Conservation, have argued that the new definition to allow chase and encirclement would not harm dolphins and that setting tuna nets deliberately on schools of dolphins would avoid harming other species such as sea turtles and immature tuna. But Dr. Albert Myrick Jr. and Dr. John Hall contend these statements are couched in dubious science and hence make serious errors. Dr. Albert Myrick, the author of extensive field studies on the traumatic effects of chase and capture on wild dolphins, submitted in a written statement to Congress: "...the (Center for Marine Conservation) testimony is a particularly excellent example of criticism that is irresponsible, illegitimate, and unprofessional. It has misrepresented the evidence by the use of reporting errors, omissions, and misstatements and cavalier disposition of important pieces of research reports..." Myrick points out that: "Although these studies have not yet provided definitive answers concerning the full extent to which (Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean) dolphins have been and continue to be affected, their results implicate fishery stress as being associated with dolphin dental resorption, hypocalcemia, delayed sexual maturity and reduced pregnancy rates, darkened adrenal cortices and non-entanglement mortality, and enhanced analgesic behavior in the nets." Myrick concludes that: "If the dolphins died from stress in the nets, then at least some would be expected to have died before they reached the nets (and sank unobserved). Furthermore, additional stress mortalities would be expected to have occurred among dolphins after their release from the nets." Dr. John Hall, a marine mammal specialist and active fisherman, in a letter to President Bill Clinton, disputed the claims that setting nets on schools of dolphins would protect other species: "As a marine biologist who has been involved in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery for almost 30 years (since 1970) I want to assure you that implementing the Panama Declaration through H.R.2823 and S.1420 will NOT reduce bycatch (dolphins, fish and sea turtles) in the tuna purse seine fishery." "In order to reduce bycatch of fish and sea turtles," Dr. Hall's letter continues, "we need to work to close those areas of the Gulf of Panama to purse seining during that portion of the year when small tuna are most prevalent there." "Signing a bill based on H.R.2823 and S.1420 ... will result in the deaths of tens of thousands of additional dolphins and untold mortalities of fish, sharks and sea turtles," Dr. Hall concluded. In an earlier statement, Dr. Roger Payne, who has studied whales and dolphins around the world as President of the Whale Conservation Institute, contends that: "I feel strongly that any legislation which fosters or legitimizes the practice of setting nets on dolphins is wrong ... The new definition (of Dolphin Safe) ignores the effects on dolphins of direct injuries, as well as the physiological effects from stress of repeated capture." Over 7 million dolphins have been killed in the tuna fishery in the past three decades. Dolphin safe laws of the United States have helped reduce the deliberate targeting and killing of dolphins in the tuna fishery. As these scientists attest, the arguments for changing the definition of dolphin safe or for allowing continued encirclement of dolphins have no valid scientific basis. ***************** Earth Island Institute is a nonprofit environmental organization that has been active in marine mammal conservation since 1988. The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute works to protect dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals around the world. VIDEO AVAILABLE: Video footage of wild dolphins and the deadly effects of purse seine tuna nets on dolphins is available. ***************** WHAT YOU CAN DO * Please call your U.S. Senators at the U.S. Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 and tell them to OPPOSE S.1420 and support S.1460 * Call your Congressperson at 202-225-3121 and tell them to reject H.R, 2823 and support H.R. 2856 * Call Newt Gingrich, House Speaker at 202-225-0600 and tell him the same thing, he can stop H.R. 2823 * Call the President at 202-456-1111 and tell him to withdraw his support for the dolphin-death bills S.1420/H.R. 2823. ***************** International Marine Mammal Project Earth Island Institute 300 Broadway, Suite 28 San Francisco, CA 94133 tel.: (415) 788-3666 fax: (415) 788-7324 email: marinemammal(\)igc.apc.org http://www.earthisland.org/ -- Earth Island Institute Ken Yarborough http://www.earthisland.org/ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 21:49:56 MDT From: "PAM J. STACEY" Subject: cetacean births I am writing up an account of a killer whale birth I observed awhile ago. I've come across a few published references to cetacean births, but not many. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has any published or unpublished references on the subject, or anyone who has seen a birth in the wild. I'm especially interested in the behaviour of individuals immediately after a birth in the group. Thanks! Pam Stacey stacp(\)augustana.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 16:16:02 +0100 From: Nicholas Mitsakakis Subject: Information for humback whalesong Dear all, I am involved in a research project about humpback whalesong. I am going to use a Self Organising Map in order to analyse the song and make inference about its primary units. I am going to process first the signal and converse it into a sequence of vectors which then will be used as inputs to the map. Because at the moment I don't know many things about the form and the determining features of the song I am thinking to try to use either a 15-channel FFT or cepstral analysis. These methods have already be used for phonemic mapping of human speech with a Self Organising Map (Kohonen). I would like to ask your oppinion about this decision, as well as any other information about the features which could be used as characterising and determining the primary units (analogous of phonemes?) of humpback whalesong. Any help would be very important for me. Thank you in advance, Nicholas Mitsakakis nichm(\)aisb.ed.ac.uk Department of Artificial Intelligence University of Edinburgh ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 00:49:30 -0400 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Freedom, justice and Sabotage Aloha Marmammers, Although many have addressed the subject Freedom, justice and Sabotage, no one has responded to the inaccuracies of Laura Bottaro- Lamy's first post in which she - Just wanted to point out the true facts. Her account of the Navy dolphin program differs from the accounts that I was able to read about in the newspapers as well as people that I have interviewed regarding that program. If I recall right, and the gray cells are not as reliable as they used to be, was not the 8/88 to 7/93 time period when Ms. Bottaro-Lamy was at NOSC (soon NRaD) Kaneohe right after Rick Trout blew the whistle on the Navy dolphin program for cruelty and non-compliance with federal regulations. If this was, then the investigation showed his accusations were vindicated at least at the Kaneohe facility. The head veterinarian there was reprimanded (and possibly suspended from duty for a period of time). But the Navy was cleared for any system wide irregularities and the Kaneohe facility was closed in 1993 when Ms. Bottaro-Lamy left. The inadequacies of the Kaneohe facility were highlighted to anyone with a keen eye in the video scenes recorded there for "The New Explorers" on the Discovery channel which Ms. Bottaro-Lamy mentions in her post. The kitchen facilities were completely sub-standard and it comes through to anyone who can review the video again. Other violations can be noted but some would call them nit-picking. Regarding Ms. Bottaro-Lamy comments on "inadvertently" released dolphins (during open ocean projects) she fails to mention one reason for the two week deadline to find these escaped dolphins. Many of them have Anti-Foraging Devices (AFDs) on their rostrums. AFDs have evolved over the years and all wrap around the rostrum. I am told the most recent design uses small clips similar to those used on back-packs with a thin coated wire running through the jaw opening between teeth so it can not be shaken off. Photos exist of Navy dolphins with the older Velcro (c) AFDs on their rostrums. These AFDs keep the dolphins mouth shut so it cannot feed and they cannot rake each other. Since dolphins get water through physiological processes associated with feeding, they will die of dehydration if they do not eat for two weeks. This fact leaves little room for choice on the part of the dolphin to return as Ms. Bottaro-Lamy claims unless the choice is to die rather than return to the Navy program (and these options would be fairly obvious to the dolphin). Having an AFD placed on ones rostrum would appear to be a pretty traumatic experience for a dolphin new to the experience. Of course trauma does abate with experience - a psychological process called habituation. New dolphins go through a lot of traumatic experiences in the Navy's dolphin program to which they must habituate. Some would call this abusive. This makes them tuff sailors though, only they do not get paid for their perceptions of risking life and limb. They just habituate. Randy Brill from NRaD has discounted Ms. Bottaro-Lamy's claim that any of the injuries on the dolphins were propeller marks in his recent press release. Of course, Ms. Bottaro-Lamy did not have that information when she made her claim, which makes me wonder why she made the claim that the injuries were rake marks. Finally, Ms. Bottaro-Lamy makes an ambiguous statement about the program that the three dolphins she cared for were involved in for basic training. She also says that the program was "declassified by the Navy several years ago". These kinds of statements have prompted many people to try to tell me that the entire Navy dolphin program has been declassified. This is not true. According to east coast journalists that I have interviewed, the Navy's dolphin program is one of the blackest of the black budget programs the US military has, and remains so. My own investigation of the Navy's dolphin program points to the program's classification due to a scientific question that the Navy does not want scientists asking or discussing in public and in the context of the Navy's dolphin program. The Navy classified its dolphin program when Wayne Batteau developed his dolphin / man communication system using whistles, basically a whistle / word (or phrase) system. Batteau mentions in his final report that work toward what today would be a phoneme based communication system was the next step. Batteau then died mysteriously just before the contract was completed. The mystery involves information from John Lilly's experiences with the Navy's dolphin program and press exposure of the project prior to Batteau's death. I have also interviewed project staff that report that all evidence of Batteau's program was destroyed within a month of his death. Something never done previously or since. Of course, the Navy dolphin program had never been classified before either or since. The Navy's dolphin program is still one of the blackest of the classified programs in the US military. Peter Markey's report on the project after Batteau's death is not even acknowledged to exist. Anybody want the contract numbers? Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 08:28:03 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: reply to cetacean births Weilgart and Whitehead wrote up an account of a sperm whale birth in the wild (J. Mammalogy). Let me know if you need the citation or paper itself. G. Notarbartolo di Sciara presented a poster at the Orlando conference with info on a false killer whale birth at sea. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ I am writing up an account of a killer whale birth I observed awhile ago. I've come across a few published references to cetacean births, but not many. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has any published or unpublished references on the subject, or anyone who has seen a birth in the wild. I'm especially interested in the behaviour of individuals immediately after a birth in the group. Thanks! Pam Stacey stacp(\)augustana.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 10:30:20 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Video cameras on marine mammals Shalom fellow MARMAMers: Several months ago, I posted a query about using UW video cameras directly on marine mammals. This is a compilation of the information I received about this topic: 1) National Geographic Television has been successful at attaching a videocamera set up, called the "crittercam", to fur seals, sea lions, whales, sharks, turtles, and hippos. It is apparently attached via a line which is attached on one end to the camera and on the other to a dart. The dart is shot into the animal's skin. The line disintegrates after a time and the camera can be retrieved. Alternatively, the camera can be glued directly onto the animal. Greg Marshall at National Geographic is the inventor of the system and his address is: Greg Marshall National Geographic Television 1145 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-4688 202-429-5238 telephone 202-429-5222 fax 2) Benthos in Cape Cod, MA may make UW camera systems good up to a depth of 1000 m. More information about them and their systems can be found at http://www.benthos.com//video.htm 3) Jim Harvey of Moss Landing Marine Labs in CA is training captive sea lions to carry videocameras and follow whales around. I have no address for him. 4) Terrie Williams has attached cameras to the dorsal fins of dolphins to study their swimming patterns. Her address is: Terrie Williams Department of Biology University of California at Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Hope this information helps anyone who is interested. Oz Goffman Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center Center for Maritime Studies University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, 31905 Haifa Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il fax: 972-48-240-493 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 04:39:41 -0400 From: LLamy(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Freedom, Justice, and Sabotage In regard to Mr. LeVasseur's post: I'd like to respond to his comments regarding me. I never met Rick Trout. I do not recall any of the veterinarians being reprimanded or suspended. (For what?) There are many projects and programs. I only made mention to one. I never said all of the programs were declassified. I was never involved in a search for a dolphin wearing a device Mr. LaVasseur refers to as an "AFD". I responded to what Mr. O'Barry claimed to be rake marks. I admittingly could be wrong about boat prop injuries, but Mr. Brill clearly states the injuries were also inconsistent with rake marks. Laura Bottaro-Lamy LLamy(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 12:09:20 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: manatee sighted off Mississippi Manatees are sighted infrequently in the northern Gulf west of Florida. I thought everyone might be interested to know that an adult manatee was sighted off Gulfport, Mississippi one mile offshore in seven feet of water on Saturday, 15 June. I've asked whether any scars werevisible on the animal, but the sighting was made at 7:15 in the evening. The animal was sighted following a boat (sail, I believe). Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 16:59:59 -0500 From: Michael Barnwell Subject: Effects of toxic metals on marine mammals I am currently starting a project in Mobile Bay of the Gulf of Mexico on the levels of heavy metals in bottlenose dolphins and their several of their prey species in the area. I have found plenty of information on the effects on other marine animals, but very little on the effects of metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, chromium, and selenium on marine mammals. If you have any knowledge of any articles on this subject, please drop me a message. Michael K. Barnwell Biology Dept, Jacksonville State Univ. Jacksonville, AL 36265 st0143(\)student-mail.jsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 23:24:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Indigenous harvest of marine mammals (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Recent postings regarding the innuit Bowhead hunt in Alaska and the possibility of resumed gray whale harvests by Indigenous Pacific tribes bring up a thread that I have not yet seen discussed in detail on MARMAM. I am curious to what extent members of the research community have formulated observations, opinions, or comments on the possible implications on research, eco-tourism, marine mammal populations etc., if aboriginal groups across North America and elsewhere were to resume traditional, or even small-scale commercial harvests. Perhaps this will spur a new discussion topic...? Michael Kundu Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 15:59:15 +0200 From: Kate Sanderson Subject: NAMMCO Conference proceedings published To MARMAM subscribers - The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission - NAMMCO - is pleased to announce the publication of the proceedings of the International Conference on Marine Mammals and the Marine Environment as: The Science of the Total Environment - Volume 186, nos 1,2, 1996 SPECIAL ISSUE: Marine Mammals and the Marine Environment. A collection of papers presented at the International Conference on Marine Mammals and the Marine Environment, Lerwick, Shetland, 20-21 April 1995. Edited by=20 Kate Sanderson, NAMMCO, University of Troms=F8, N-9037 Troms=F8, Norway=20 and=20 Geir Wing Gabrielsen, Norwegian Polar Institute, Troms=F8, Norway To obtain an information flyer with details on how to obtain this volume, which can also be purchased as a single volume for Dfl 102.00, send your name and mailing address to NAMMCO (details below), or see Elsevier Science's own ordering information at http://www.elsevier.nl/ The proceedings are comprised of the following papers: CONTENTS Assessing and managing man-made impacts on the marine environment - the North Sea example R. Ferm (Sweden) Sources and pathways of persistent polychlorinated pollutants to remote areas of the North Atlantic and levels in the marine food chain - a research update=20 M. Oehme, M. Schlabach, R. Kallenborn and J.E. Haugen (Switzerland; Norway) Environmental pollutants in marine mammals from the Norwegian coast and= Arctic=20 J. Utne Skaare (Norway) Organochlorine residues in marine mammals from the Northern hemisphere - A consideration of the composition of orgnaochlornie residues in the blubber of marine mammals W. Vetter, B. Luckas, G. Heidemann and Karl Sk=EDrnisson (Germany;= Iceland) Overview and Regional and Temporal Differences of Heavy Metals in Arctic Whales and Ringed Seals in the Canadian Arctic R. Wagemann, S. Innes, P. R. Richard (Canada) Lead, cadmium, mercury and selenium in Greenland marine animals R. Dietz, F. Riget and P. Johansen (Denmark) Mercury in pilot whales: possible limits to the detoxification process=20 F. Caurant, M. Navarro and J.C. Amiard (France; Spain) Hepatocyte vacuolation and autolytic changes in the liver of pilot whales, Globicephala melas, stranded on Cape Cod, MA, USA M. Moore and J. Stegeman (U.S.A.) An overview of exposure to, and effects of, petroleum oil and organochlorine pollution in grey seals, (Halichoerus grypus) B. Munro Jenssen (Norway) The impact of the Braer oil spill on seals in Shetland A. Hall (U.K.) Effects of the Braer oil spill on the Shetland seafood industry J. Goodlad (U.K.) Human health and diet in the Arctic J. C. Hansen (Denmark) Exposure of Greenlandic Inuit to organochlorines and heavy metals through the marine food chain: an international study=20 G. Mulvad, H.S. Pedersen, J.C. Hansen, E. Dewailly, E.Jul, M.B. Pedersen, P. Bjerregaard, G.T. Malcom, Y. Deguchi, J.P. Middaugh (Greenland; Denmark; Canada; USA; Japan) Health implications for Faroe Islanders of heavy metals and PCBs from pilot whales P. Weihe (Faroe Islands; Denmark; USA) Implementation of international environmental commitments: the case of the Northern Seas S. Andresen (Norway) "Commons" concerns in search of uncommon solutions: Arctic contaminants, catylysts of change? N. Doubleday (Canada) =09 ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Kate Sanderson, Secretary North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) University of Troms=F8 N-9037 Troms=F8, Norway Tel.: +47 776 45908 (main) 776 45903 (direct) Fax : +47 45905 E-mail: nammco-sec(\)nammco.no=20 Kate.Sanderson(\)nammco.no (direct) ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ =09 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 10:03:19 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Indigenous harvest of marine mammals (fwd) >From Simen Gaure Michael Kundu wrote: >I am curious to what extent members of the research community have formulated >observations, opinions, or comments on the possible implications on >research, eco-tourism, marine mammal populations etc., if aboriginal groups >across North America and elsewhere were to resume traditional, or even >small-scale commercial harvests. For the stock of bowhead whales which Alaskan inuits hunt there's an article in Rep Int Whal Commn 46:345-364 (1994), by Givens, Zeh and Raftery "Assessment of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Stock of Bowhead Whales Using the Baleen II Model in a Bayesian Synthesis Framework". Unlike in the Norwegian quota calculations, I don't think the Revised Management Procedure is used for this hunt, but I believe the catch is anyway well below safe limits in this case. An interesting point in the assessment of the bowhead stock is that Bayesian Synthesis has been shown to be inherently indeterminate. See e.g. "Bayesian Synthesis or Likelihood Synthesis - what does the Borel Paradox say?", by T. Schweder and N. Lid Hjort, Memorandum from Department of Economics, University of Oslo, #13, March 1996. I'm not certain to what extent this has been discussed in the IWC sci.comm. I believe it was known in 1994/95 that Bayesian Synthesis might be a dubious method, but that the sci.comm. then found a satisfactory solution to the controversy. Perhaps someone who was present may inform us? For the gray whale stock off the west coast which the US will seek permission to hunt this year, I don't know where this has been assessed. Provided safe quotas are agreed upon and enforced, in the context of ecology I believe it's fairly irrelevant whether the hunt is commercial or traditional. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 08:11:34 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. whaling dispute brews ahe U.S. whaling dispute brews ahead of world meeting By Sonali Paul WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuter) - A bid by the United States to let a Native American tribe hunt gray whales to revive their cultural traditions could spark an international dispute next week, environmentalists said on Monday. Anticipating less than unanimous support for the request at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, beginning on June 24, U.S. Commerce Undersecretary James Baker said he planned to focus attention on the issue. While whale protection treaties ban commercial whaling, they allow aboriginal groups like the Makah tribe of Washington state to kill limited numbers of whales if the people need the meat to eat or to sustain their culture. The Makahs want to take five gray whales a year for cultural reasons, not for food, U.S. officials and environmentalists said. "The precedent this could set is extremely worrying," said Ginette Hemley, the World Wildlife Fund's director of international wildlife policy. "We should be reviewing what other approaches might satisfy that cultural gap they're facing." Although the United States has targeted Japan and Norway for defying commercial whaling bans, it stands fully behind the Makah tribal council's request. "There is no commercial aspect to it," said Baker, who is the U.S. commissioner to the IWC. "It's done under a numerical quota, and permits the stock to still continue to grow." The IWC allows Russian natives to kill up to 140 gray whales a year and lets Eskimos kill a small number of endangered bowhead whales. Baker told reporters that the Makah, who had hunted whales for hundreds of years, stopped killing them in the mid-1920s when the mammals came close to extinction. The gray whale came off the endangered list in 1994, and there are now about 21,000 gray whales. Environmentalists are split on the issue, with some saying the Makah plan should be allowed to go ahead."We think there are other big fights to occupy us next week," said Gerry Leape, a campaigner for Greenpeace, the environmental group which is battling Norwegian whalers. The U.S. government could be sued by the tribe if the IWC does not approve the plan, because under a 19th century treaty with the U.S. government, the Makah have a right to whale. Animal welfare activists say the Makah tribal elders and the tribal council are split on the issue. In an advertisement in a local newspaper, sponsored by animal rights groups, the tribal elders questioned the legality of the council's decision to propose a whale hunt, which was never put to a vote before the tribe. Makah representatives were not available for comment, and planned to issue a statement only after the IWC meeting. Environmentalists plan to work with the Australian and New Zealand delegations as well as some European governments, which oppose whaling and have raised concerns about the Makah proposal, to try to stall or reject it. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 08:36:13 EDT From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Sub shock test DEIS A Draft Environmental Impact Statement entitled "SEAWOLF SHIP SHOCK TEST" is available from: L.M. Pitts, Head, Environmental Planning, Department of the Navy, Southern Division, NFEC, POB 190010, 2155 Eagle Drive, North Charleston, SC 29419-9010. Public comments on this DEIS began 14 June 1996 and must be postmarked no later than 31 July 1996. "This DEIS evaluates the environmental consequences of shock testing the SEAWOLF submarine at an offshore location. The submarine would be subjected to a series of five 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) explosive charge detonations of incrementaly increasing intensity sometime between 1 April and 30 September 1997. The DEIS evaluates a "no action" alternative and analyzes in detail the two alternative areas offshore of Mayport, Florida, and Norfolk, Virginia. Alternatives are compared with respect to project purpose and need, operational criteria, and environmental impacts. Most environmental impacts would be similar at Mayport or Norfolk. These include minor and/or temporary impacts to the physical and biological environments and existing human uses of the area. However, the number of marine mammals potentially affected by the detonations would be about eight times lower at Mayport than at Norfolk. Thus, the preferred alternative is to shock test the SEAWOLF off Mayport, Florida, with mitigation to minimize risk to marine mammals and turtles. If the Mayport area is selected, the shock tests would be conducted between 1 May and 30 September to minimize risk to sea turtles, which are more abundant at the Mayport areas during April." We hope that you agree that the USN may benefit from your comments, while there is still time. The deadline for response postmarks is 31 July 1996 William Rossiter / Cetacean Society International ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 12:29:27 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: suckerfish/remora on cetaceans Marmammers and ECS folks, I am interested in hearing from those of you with observations of suckerfish (remora) on cetaceans. I am looking for information on: cetacean species location of the sighting (general is fine) # suckerfish on the cetacean relative size and position of the suckerfish on the cetacean body If you have photos that you would be willing to send, I would appreciate access to those as well. Flip Nicklin has already provided me with a few to study. I am especially interested in video footage that will show the fish and any of its movements on the cetacean. I am aware of most published observations (including photographs in books) as well as mainstream video, but if you think I may not have seen the photo, video, or account, I would be most appreciative if you'd get in touch with me. As a general interest point, I currently have the following cetacean species documented as having been seen with suckerfish on them: Stenella longirostris (spinner dolphin), Stenella frontalis (Atlantic spotted dolphin), Stenella attenuata (pantropical spotted dolphin), Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin), Delphinus spp.(common dolphin), Megaptera novaeangliae (humpback whale), and Physeter macrocephalus (sperm whale). Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you. Apologies to those of you who are receiving this message twice because of cross-posting. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 20:32:33 -0400 From: George Elston Subject: Re: Freedom, Justice, and Sabotage In-Reply-To: <199606171605.MAA38074(\)osceola.gate.net> There has been a flurry of charges and statements of "Facts" in the wake of the release by the Dolphin Project and recapture by NMFS and DRC of Luthor and Buck. I was tempted to once again answer the misstatements made in the past week but to what avail. We can all make statements and call them "FACTS", but just as you can call a pig a duck, the pig will never quack, and a fact is only a fact if supported by data. I suggest that we all act in a more scientific fashion and start dealing with data, this way the readers of MARMAM can make their own decisions as to what is fact and what is rhetoric. Let us first look at the question of legality. All posts from DRC and "Press Releases" from NMFS have referred to the "Illegal dumping" of these dolphin. In an attempt to move this discussion to a higher plane I submit the following as simply data. I will provide reference locations for all this data so that readers need not take my word, but may, as doubting individuals, check the original source. The Marine Mammal Protection Act is available as a public document at http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/text/ it consists of 11 chapters, covering all aspects of the relationship of the federal government to the regulation of marine mammals. I can find no mention anywhere in this document of any regulation or criteria for the release of captured animals. There are regulations covering capturing, keeping, harassing, transporting, etc., but not a single regulation concerning releasing captive marine animals. If I have missed something in this document I welcome the readers of MARMAM or officials of NMFS to please point out the exact chapter and subsection that applies. The MMPA is not the only source to check for regulations governing marine mammals. NMFS can and does make amendments to the MMPA. These amendments are open for public revue and discussion and are by law posted in the FEDERAL REGISTER. All final regulations are also by law posted to the Federal Register. The Federal Register is available via subscription or by public access from the Government Printing Office at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html . A search of the federal register up to this year also showed no amendment to the MMPA or regulation by the NMFS concerning the release of captive marine mammals. At this point however the search becomes more interesting, a search of the Federal Register for 1996 reveals this: ------------------------------------------------------------------- From [Federal Register: May 10, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 92)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 21925-21939] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 21925]] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 15 CFR Part 902 50 CFR Parts 216 and 222 [Docket No. 960419116-6116-01; I.D. 122492C] RIN 0648-AD11 Marine Mammal Special Exception Permits to Take, Import and Export Marine Mammals; Update of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Approval Numbers AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. *****EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective June 10, 1996.***** Sec. 216.35 Permit restrictions. The following restrictions shall apply to all permits issued under this subpart: (e) Captive marine mammals shall not be released into the wild unless specifically authorized by the Office Director under a scientific research or enhancement permit. ------------------------------------------------------------------- So it seems there is NOW a regulation covering the release of captive marine mammals, and it went into effect June 10, 1996, just after Luthor and Buck were released at the end of May 1996, perhaps it should be called the O'Barry amendment. If I have missed something in the regulations I invite correction. George Elston gelston(\)gate.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 08:09:50 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Freedom, Justice and Sabotage ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) >George Elston wrote: >So it seems there is NOW a regulation covering the release of >captive marine mammals, and it went into effect June 10, 1996, >just after Luthor and Buck were released at the end of May 1996, >perhaps it should be called the O'Barry amendment. >If I have missed something in the regulations I invite correction. I understand that the reauthorised Marine Mammal Protection Act contains the following regulation: "Anyone selling, purchasing, exporting, or transporting a marine mammal must notify the Secretary (NMFS) at least 15 days before taking action.." Further, according the a release from the NMFS: "...officials seized Jake from the Sugarloaf facility after the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service suspended Sugarloaf's license for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including failure to use qualified veterinary personnel, and the failure to conduct necessary physical examinations and blood tests." While there seems to be an argument over whether or not there was specific regulations relating to release of marine mammals. This shouldn't detract from the fact that various regulations involving the welfare of dolphins appear to have been broken by O'Barry and the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 11:56:35 PDT From: "Paul E. Nachtigall" Subject: Aquatic Mammals Volume 22, Issue 1 -table of contents ------- The next issue of AQUATIC MAMMALS, journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, is currently at the printer and will be mailed shortly. Its table of contents is presented below: CONTENTS: GOODSON, D.: BOOK REVIEW - Marine Mammals and Noise COX, M., GAGLIONE, E., PROWTEN, P., and NOONAN, M.: Food preferences communicated via symbol discrimination by a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) DI-MIGLIO, N., ROMERO-ALVAREZ, R., and COLLET, A.: Growth comparison in striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France KASTELEIN, R.A., POSTMA, J., VAN ROSSUM, T. and WIEPKEMA, P.R.: Drinking speed of Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) pups McFARLANE, R.A., Gross pathology of the Weddell seal (leptonychotes weddelli) in the Vestfold Hills, East Anarctica JEFFERSON, T.A.: Morphology of the Clymene dolphin (Stenella clymene) in the northern Gulf of Mexico KAMMINGA, C., COHEN, S., and SILBER, G.K.: Investigations on cetacean sonar XI: Intrinsic comparison of the wave shapes of some members of the phocoenidae family KUTTIN, E.S. and KALLER, A.: Cytoisospora delphini N. Sp. causing enteritis in a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Inquiries about Aquatic Mammals, the journal of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, should be addressed to: Paul E. Nachtigall, Editor Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology P.O. Box 1106 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 email - nachtig(\)nosc.mil ------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 12:17:24 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: albino cetaceans A few months ago, there were some postings relative to a sighting of a white humpback whale off Australia. That resulted in postings on additional reports of melanistic cetaceans. I can't remember if anyone posted having seen or read about a true albino. I got a report yesterday from a reliable source that an albino (white w/ red eyes) Tursiops was seen in Louisiana waters (near New Orleans, I think - I have to get a map out first - too many small bodies of water associated with this state). I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in this subject. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 06:43:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: albino cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Dorete Bloch" In the paper: Bloch, D. 1992. "Studies of the long-finned pilot whale in the Faroe Islands, 1976-1986." there is descriptions of ablinistic and miscoulored pilot whales. The paper has appeared in the Faroese journal: Frodskaparrit 38-39: 35-61. Sincerely Dorete Bloch ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 13:48:40 +0100 From: "Neil John Gemmell (Genetics)" Subject: Genetics research assistant sought Temporary employment is available in the molecular ecology laboratory of Dr. Bill Amos. The successful applicant will be employed to assist with current investigations on the biology of fur seals. Duties will include DNA extraction, PCR microsatellite analysis and computer data entry. The ideal candidate will be capable of working independently and have some experience in molecular biology, although this is not essential. Salary will be approximately 130 pounds a week. The start date and duration of employment are negotiable, but the total duration will not exceed 20 weeks. Applicants should contact Dr. Neil Gemmell for further details. Neil Gemmell Department of Genetics University of Cambridge Cambridge CB2 3EH England Phone: (01223) 333971 Fax: (01223) 333992 e-mail: njg(\)mole.bio.cam.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 09:28:12 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Albino Cetaceans. ===================================== From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: albino cetaceans >Dagmar_Fertl wrote: >A few months ago, there were some postings relative to a sighting >of white humpback whale off Australia. That resulted in postings >on additional reports of melanistic cetaceans. I can't remember if >anyone posted having seen or read about a true albino. I got a >report yesterday from a reliable source that an albino (white w/ red >eyes) Tursiops was seen in Louisiana waters (near New Orleans, I >think - I have to get a map out first - too many small bodies of water >associated with this state). I look forward to hearing from anyone >interested in this subject. There has been a couple of "albino" cetaceans maintained in captivity. The most famous was a white Tursiops called the "Carolina Snowball". She and her calf were captured for display at the Miami Seaquarium. This animal was captured on August 4, 1962 in the waters of Helena Sound, Carolina by the Seaquarium's head of capture operations, Captain William B. Gray. There is an account of this animal in the following: Gray. W.B. (1974). FRIENDLY PORPOISES. London: Thomas Yoesloff Ltd / Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co. Inc. Gary wrote a number of other books regarding his career at the Seaquarium, but their titles elude me for the moment. The former curator of the Seaquarium, Craig Philips, also published a book on this work at this facility which further recalls the "Carolina Snowball". The book was published in the UK under the title of "THE CAPTIVE SEA". I am unsure of the publishers. I recall it was published during the mid-sixties. An female albino orca was caught and displayed at the Canadian aquarium, SeaLand of the Pacific, on Vancouver Island in the early 1970s. There probably more information regarding this in Hoyt, E, (1990). ORCA THE WHALE THE CALL KILLER. London: Robert Hale. ================================= John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 10:12:26 -0700 From: Kent Osborn Subject: Re: Albino Cetaceans: Orcinus orca. The female _Orcinus orca_ mentioned in John Dineley's discussion: >From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) > >Subject: albino cetaceans >> >An female albino orca was caught and displayed at the Canadian >aquarium, SeaLand of the Pacific, on Vancouver Island in the early >1970s. There probably more information regarding this in Hoyt, E, >(1990). ORCA THE WHALE THE CALL KILLER. London: Robert >Hale. actually had Chediak-Higashi syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder with multiple defects which has been reported in a variety of species, including humans, mice (beige mice), mink (Aleuthian mink), foxes, cattle, bison, tigers and Persian cats as well as the killer whale. The defects include color dilution/partial albinism, high susceptibility to infections associated with defects in neutrophils and natural killer cells, and a hemorrhagic tendency associated with defective platelets. Cells with various types of cytoplasmic granules are affected, including melanocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes, hepatocytes, renal proximal tubular epithelium, central nervous system, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, ducts of various glands, thyroid follicle epithelium, type II alveolar epithelial cells and mast cells. The basic defect may involve defective microtubule function. References regarding this particular animal include: 1) Taylor RF and RK Farrell. 1973. Light and electron microscopy of peripheral blood neutrophils in a killer whale affected with Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Fed. Proc. 822:abs 3403. 2) Ridgway SH. 1979. Reported causes of death of captive killer whales (_Orcinus orca_). J Wildl Dis, 15:99-104. ********************************************************************* Kent Osborn, DVM, PhD INTERNET: kgosb(\)scripps.edu Department of Animal Resources, MB-18 The Scripps Research Institute 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 * PHONE:619.554.4364 * FAX:619.554.9864 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 21:09:37 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Rocket launches Dear Marmam The journal "Sea Technology" Vol 37 #5 pp68-9 (May 1996) ("Rocket Launches may 'Harass' Animals; NOAA Approval Sought"), reports concerns that USAF Titan I and Titan II launches scheduled for next year from Vandenburg AFB may (with sonic booms) incidentally disturb a small number of harbor seals, elephant seals, Californian sea lions and northern fur seals on nearby shores and on the northern Channel Islands. It notes that under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the USAF is required to obtain a permit from NMFS to incidentally disturb the animals; and that such permit may include requests to re-time launches to avoid the harbor seal pupping season and to monitor the effects of the launches. Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 21:45:55 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: FEATURE - Whaling commission f FEATURE - Whaling commission faces new moratorium battle By Helen Smith LONDON, June 19 (Reuter) - Fourteen years after agreeing a global moratorium on commercial whaling, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will come under pressure to ease the ban when it meets next week. The gathering, which starts in the Scottish city of Aberdeen on Monday, could be acrimonious. The ban's staunchest supporter, the United States, will put itself in a tricky position by asking for special exemption allowing a North American Indian tribe to revive a ceremonial whale hunt. The IWC's whaling ban agreed in 1982 was largely a political decision, because by then most of the big whaling countries had severely curtailed their catches. As time passes it is proving increasingly difficult to defend. "It isn't a question of how many whales there are, it is whether they should be killed at all," said an IWC spokesman. Norway and Japan, where whalemeat is eaten, do not see it that way. They are pushing for a relaxation of the moratorium, arguing that whale populations would not be damaged by limited hunting. Some countries, albeit hesitantly, are beginning to support them. Norway was the only country to opt out of the moratorium. Japan has openly flouted it under the guise of whaling for permitted "research." The United States was appointed to police the ban, wielding its financial might and the threat of trade sanctions. The North American Makah tribe wants to hunt five grey whales a year to revive a ceremonial tradition it dropped in the 1920s after the whales had been hunted almost to extinction. The Makah, who used to hunt the 50-foot (15-metre) whales in eight-man canoes using hand-held harpoons, say they are entitled to catch the whales under an 1855 treaty and are only asking to save the government embarrassment. The U.S government is torn between its commitment to upholding tribal rights and its forceful anti-whaling stance. The Makah argue that stocks of grey whales have recovered and, at 23,000, are no longer on the endangered list. This is also the argument used by Japan and Norway for their hunting of minke whales, the population of which numbers several hundred thousand. The IWC moratorium allows exemptions for aboriginal groups which rely on whaling for subsistence. Environmentalists argue the Makah have managed without whalemeat for 70 years. "The precedent this could set is extremely worrying," said Ginette Hemley, director of international wildlife policy at the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF). "We should be reviewing what other approaches might satisfy that cultural gap they're facing." Australia, New Zealand and some European governments are expected to oppose the U.S. request. But Japan has already cited it as justification for its own plans to ask the IWC meeting for an annual catch quota of 50 minke whales. Norway has set its own quota of 425 minke whales for this year's catch. In its campaign to win support for its whaling industry, it flew a group of journalists to the Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle and showed them a mountain of whale blubber. Though Norwegians love whalemeat, they do not touch the blubber that makes up 50 percent of the creature. For the Japanese on the other hand, blubber is a delicacy, fried and served as sashimi. Oslo, afraid of further vilification, will not allow the blubber to be destroyed, nor will it permit its export. Instead, tonnes and tonnes of whalemeat are being frozen in readiness for the moment when the moratorium is lifted and it can be shipped to Japan. That is unlikely to be this year. No government has actually submitted a proposal for lifting the ban. But Japan and Norway are convinced things are moving their way. "International public opinion is much less of a problem than just a few years ago," said Norway's whaling commissioner Kaare Bryn. The whaling countries tookheart when a leaked document showed that South Africa favoured a relaxation of the moratorium, though the government later backtracked. South African commissioner Guillaume de Villiers has urged his government to take a "clear position" on the hunting of minke whales. He linked conservation of whales to elephants, an endangered species which is nevertheless culled in some areas. Denmark, whose Faroe Islanders annually catch hundreds of pilot whales, which are not protected by the IWC, by chasing them on to the beach, also says it is sympathetic to traditional whaling. Apart from such controversies, the IWC meeting will look at a number of issues linked to whale conservation, including the rapidly growing whale-watching tourist industry. The WWF estimated that more than four million people went on whale watching trips somewhere in the world in 1992. Harmless though it may seem, the IWC fears the industry could be posing a new threat to endangered whale populations. The increase in boat traffic can affect the behaviour of whales and could disturb their breeding patterns, said Martin Harvey of the IWC. The boats bring pollution and noise -- distressing to whales who are believed to have highly tuned hearing enabling them to communicate using eerie, underwater cries. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 19:00:43 -1000 From: Frederic Martini Subject: marine mammals and hagfish I am working on a chapter on hagfish ecology and am wondering about predation on hagfish by marine mammals. I have heard rumblings about predation by harbor porpoises in the northeast (Gulf of Maine) but have not seen anything in print. 1. Can anyone provide more substantive information on this or other odontocete predation on Atlantic or Pacific hagfish? 2. Also it would seem possible that gray whales could consume hagfish either accidentally or on purpose (given the biomass potential). Have any hagfish shown up in stomach content analyses? 3. Finally, has anyone encountered predation on hagfish by elephant seals or other pinnipeds? Thanks for any ideas you might have. With best wishes, I remain, Sincerely, Ric Frederic Martini, Ph.D. email: martini(\)maui.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 09:42:34 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 6/21/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Dolphin Injury Appeal Denied. On June 20, 1996, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied an appeal of a lower court award for medical expenses and punitive damages relating to pain and suffering from a dolphin bite at the now-closed Ocean World, formerly located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. [Assoc Press] . Wandering Manatee. On June 12, 1996, the same manatee that ventured as far north as Rhode Island in 1995 crossed the Florida-Georgia border swimming north. [Assoc Press, Dept. of the Interior press release] . Norwegian Whaling. On June 14, 1996, forty Greenpeace protesters blocked four whaling vessels from leaving port for four hours near Kristiansand, southern Norway. [Reuters] . ATOC. On June 14, 1996, the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a permit for the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to use the undersea cable they had installed off Kauai prior to learning that a permit was required. The cable is part of the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. [Assoc Press] . Sea Lion Problems. On June 12, 1996, the Fishermen's Alliance of Monterey Bay held a news conference to announce they are petitioning Congress for relief from increasing sea lion abundance that threatens their fish catch or for a return of sea lion management to the State of California. [Assoc Press] . PCB Barge Removal. On June 12, 1996, a Canadian court refused to issue an injunction sought by environmental groups to halt a Canadian government plan to raise the Irving Whale oil barge containing more than 9 tons of PCB-contaminated fluids from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The environmental groups fear raising the barge, which sank in 1970, would rupture its structure and release the fluids; these groups would rather the government pump the fluids from the barge before attempting to raise it. [Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling. On June 11, 1996, NMFS published revised and updated regulations for aboriginal subsistence whaling, including provisions applicable to potential whaling by the Makah Tribe, Washington State. [Fed. Register] . Steller Sea Lion Research Aborted. On June 5, 1996, a 115-foot scallop vessel, hired by NMFS for a month of research on Steller sea lion physical condition and diet at several Aleutian Island rookeries, suffered a mechanical failure and was damaged at Yunaska Island in the Aleutians. The research program for 1996 was halted and will be resumed in 1997. [Assoc Press] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On June 17, 1996, NOAA Administrator James Baker announced that the United States will support the Washington State Makah Tribe's request of the IWC to hunt and kill five gray whales for ceremonial and subsistence purposes annually. [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 20:45:22 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: Indigenous harvest of marine mammals (fwd) Michael Kundu wrote: > >I am curious to what extent members of the research community have formulated > observations, opinions, or comments on the possible implications on > research, eco-tourism, marine mammal populations etc., if aboriginal groups > across North America and elsewhere were to resume traditional, or even > small-scale commercial harvests. Interesting question, although my comment is on a slightly different point. During the 70's and 80's many advocates of full protection for whales argued for a ban on whaling by making an essentially economic argument that the value of non-consumptive uses (whale-watching, films, books, etc.) far exceeded the value of consumptive uses. Implicit in this argument was the premise that these two types of uses were completely incompatible. However, during this same time frame, the phenomena of "friendly" gray whales emerged and seems to have spread both in the number of whales and geographic occurrence. Yet all the while, the Soviets then Russians continued to kill about 165 gray whales per year from apparently the same population up on their summer feeding grounds in the Chukchi Sea. There are differences between this historic situation and any renewed whaling on the Washington Coast. Obviously, the proximity of the hunting and whale-watching are closer in the new case. In addition are new species going to be involved? (The traditional whalers at the Ozette site in Washington took humpbacks for about 50% of their catch.) I don't mean this to be an argument in favor of resumed traditional whaling. I just hope that arguments made in opposition to such actions acknowledge that there is some experience with the questions posed. --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 15:45:22 EST From: Irma Lagomarsino Subject: Public Scoping Meeting The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be holding a public scoping meeting on the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) for anticipated rulemaking under the Take Reduction Plan (TRP) provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A draft TRP will be developed by the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team and forwarded to NMFS by August 1996. The draft TRP will recommend strategies to reduce the incidental taking of marine mammal stocks in the California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery for swordfish and thresher shark. The immediate goal of this TRP is to reduce, within 6 months of its implementation, the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals taken in the fishery to levels less than the Potential Biological Level levels established for the stocks. The purpose of the scoping meeting is to receive public comments in anticipation of an EIS or EA that may be prepared for the Final TRP and any regulations that may be necessary to implement the TRP provisions. Any EIS or EA prepared would examine the environmental impacts of management alternatives considered in the TRP to reduce incidental taking in this fishery, as well as assessing, the impacts of the TRP and implementing regulations on the human environment. The scoping meeting is scheduled to coincide with the first day of the last meeting of the TRT on June 25-27, 1996. All TRT meetings are open to the public. The scoping meeting will be held on June 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the JAMS/Endispute offices in the Santa Monica Business Park, 3340 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 1050, Santa Monica, California. NMFS is also requesting that written comments be submitted by mail or fax, until August 12, 1996. Scoping comments should be sent to Ms Irma Lagomarsino, NMFS, Southwest Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Requests for more information about the meeting can be obtained by calling Ms. Lagomarsino at (310) 980-4016. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 15:26:52 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Albino Cetaceans. From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: albino cetaceans Thanks to those who pointed out that the orca I cited was in fact white (not albino) and suffered from Chediak-Higashi syndrome. I was a little unsure as to call either of the animals I cited as "albino" hence the use of quotation marks in my original posting. I can not find any reference in Gray's book that mentions the white Tursiops, "Carolina Snowball" (Gray. W.B. (1974). FRIENDLY PORPOISES. London: Thomas Yoesloff Ltd / Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co. Inc.) being an albino e.g. "pink" eyes, etc. Gray cites anecdotal reports that this animal had been seen in the wild for 15 years prior to capture and display at the Miami Seaquarium. He reports the animal died after three and a half years at this aquarium. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 >================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 09:09:30 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Sea Wolf explosion project Marmammers, We are interested in hearing from anyone with information relative to the Seawolf project that is testing Sea Wolf class nuclear submarine hull vulnerability to explosives. We recently requested a copy of the environmental impact statement relative to the project. We would like to know what became of overflights that were to be done by Continental Shelf Associates to assess protected species populations off Jacksonville, Fl and Norfolk, VA. If you have information that might be of assistance to us, please contact: Robert_Avent(\)smtp.mms.gov or Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996 16:10:05 -0500 From: Andrew Schiro Subject: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales This came across a behaviour ecology news group. Mabye someone here can help this person. I have a manuscript by Roger Payne and Hal Whitehead titled "Tailing behavior in southern right whales Eubalaena australis" which describes this from Argentina. I think that this was published but I do not know where or when. ****************************************************************** From: Tim Sutton Hi all. I was watching a group of southern right whales which come to our marine reserve every year to breed and calve today. In addition to the usual breaching and blowing activities, I noted on whale in particular was holding it's tail out of the water for long periods of time (probably 5 minutes or more) this behaviour continued periodically for at least two hours. THis is not to be confused with 'tail thumping' or other more usual behaviour seen in these whales. One explanation that I was given for this behaviour is 'tail sailing', where the whale uses it's tail as a sail to gently drift through the water. Has anyone heard of or observed this behaviour before? Does anyone have a different explanation for this behaviour? I would appreciate any other comments about interesting behaviour patterns observed in southern right whales. Regards, Tim Sutton De Hoop Nature Reserve Cape Province South Africa *********************************************************** Andrew Schiro Marine Mammal Research Program schiroa(\)tamug.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 07:20:51 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Albino Cetaceans. (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "James G. Mead" Frank S. Essapian, in an article published in Norsk Hvalfangst-Tidende (Norwegian Whaling Gazette) (1962, no. 9, pp. 341-344) described "Carolina Snowball", a 7' 8" female Tursiops truncatus that was captured with a normal colored calf, in Saint Helena Sound, South Carolina on August 4th, 1962. Essapian said that Carolina Snowball had pink eyes and was a complete albino. It was captured by Captains Gray and Hanson and kept in the Miami Seaquarium until it died, May 4th, 1965. There was at least one other "whitish" animal captured by Marineland of Florida on February 1, 1964 near Horseshoe Beach, Florida (about 20 miles southest of the mouth of the Steinhatchee River). She was named "Lily" and was still alive at Marineland in 1981. There are photographs of her eyes in the files of the Marine Mammal Program at the Smithsonian Institution which reveal a normal brown pigmentation of the iris (i.e. she was not a true albino). ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 22:47:31 -1000 From: Lori Mazzuca Subject: Re: Albino Cetaceans. (fwd) In-Reply-To: <199606221424.EAA02619(\)mano.soest.hawaii.edu> My aplogies for not following all of the responses regarding the albino cetaceans. In case no marmamer has responded about the Santa Barbara Coast along California, there is at least one tursiops, possibly more. I recall an article in the Santa Barbara news press as well as other information put out by the marine mammal stranding network. Contact Peter Howorth for more information. (Santa Barbara telephone area code: 805) I am sorry I do not have telephone numbers and/or email. If you have trouble reaching him, I have several Santa Barbaran pals who are marine mammal lovers and would be happy to help you out with contact on the subject matter. Aloha-Lori (lorim(\)soest.hawaii.edu) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 18:49:07 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Radioactive nucleids in Cetaceans Riccione, June 22nd 1996 Dear Marmamers, we have recently started a collaboration with the University of Parma with the aim of monitoring the presence of radioactive nucleids in Cetaceans' tissues. Unfortunately we weren't able to find much literature except for a few publications on the European Cetacean Society's proceedings and the following paper: Calmet, D., Woodhead, D. and Andr=E9, J. M. (1992) Pb 210, Cs 137 and K 40 in three species of porpoises caught in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 15 (2): 153-169 Is anybody aware of any publication dealing with this topic ? Thanking you in advance, Alessandro Bortolotto cetacea(\)iper.net Alessandro Bortolotto =46ondazione Cetacea via Milano, 63 - 47036 Riccione (RN), ITALY +39-541-691557 (phone) / +39-541-606590 (fax) Email Web Site ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 23:12:27 -0500 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Fwd: Makah Elders Speak Out Against Whale Hunt >Makah Elders Speak Out Against Whale >Hunt > > >June 15, 1996 > >Contact: Will Anderson, (206)787-2500, extension 841. > >Alberta Thompson, Makah Elder, (360) 645-2544. > > >TRIBE'S ELDEST RESIDENTS WRITE PUBLIC LETTER PUBLISHED IN WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER > >In the June 16, Sunday edition of the Peninsula Daily News, several Makah >elders, including the eldest living Makah, spoke >out in a one-half page ad against the Makah Tribal Council's plan to kill >five gray whales per year. The Makah Tribal Council >(MTC), the corporate representatives of the Makah Nation, is petitioning >the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for an >annual quota when it meets in Aberdeen, Scotland on June 24. The MTC has >stated that it retains an option to enter into >commercial whaling, and may whale regardless of the IWC decision. > >Will Anderson, working in the Advocacy Department of the Progressive Animal >Welfare Society (PAWS), traveled to the >Makah village of Neah Bay after requests by PAWS and several other >organizations to meet with MTC officials and >representatives were met with silence for over a year. "After spending time >in Neah Bay, I discovered that the whaling proposal >is very controversial among the Makah. When it became obvious that elders >were among the opposition, PAWS offered to >coordinate the funding for a newspaper ad that the elders could use to say >whatever they wished. The words are theirs," stated >Anderson. > >The nine organizations sponsoring the ad are: Animal Protection Institute, >Animal Welfare Institute, Cetacean Society >International, Chicago Animal Rights Coalition, Friends of Animals, The >Humane Society of the United States, International >Wildlife Coalition, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, and Whale and >Dolphin Conservation Society. > >A previous ad, Open Letter To The Makah Nation, requested the Makah to not >fulfill the 1855 Treaty that explains Makah >whaling rights. It was signed by 240 organizations from around the world. >That signature list has grown to be in excess of 300 >environmental and animal welfare groups. > >Bob Chorush >Progressive Animal Welfare Society PAWS >Box 1037, Lynnwood, WA 98046 >(206) 787-2500 ext 862 >fax (206) 742-5711 >bchorush(\)paws.org > > > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 21:50:13 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. to seek ``tribal'' exempt U.S. to seek ``tribal'' exemption from whaling ban By Helen Smith LONDON, June 23 (Reuter) - The United States is expected to trigger a storm of protest when it seeks an exemption from the International Whaling Commission's global whaling ban at the group's annual meeting in Aberdeen starting on Monday. The United States is the staunchest supporter of the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling and uses its financial might to police the ban with the threat of economic sanctions. But a request from the Makah tribe of North American Indians to resume catching grey whales has put Washington in an invidious position, since the United States is equally committed to upholding tribal rights. The United States will have to ask for permission for the Makah, who live in the northwestern state of Washington, to catch five grey whales while opposing calls from Norway and Japan for an easing of the moratorium. The request is expected to raise acrimony and debate about theclause in the 14-year-old IWC moratorium that permits "aboriginal" whaling. This allows tribes that rely on whaling for sustenance to continue their traditions. But environmentalists say the exemption has become farcical. Siberian tribespeople use Kalashnikovs and anti-tank guns to hunt whales and the Inuit tribespeople of Greenland hunt them with fishing boats and explosive harpoons. The Makah have not made clear whether they intend to catch their five grey whales in the traditional manner, using eight-man canoes and hand-held harpoons, and environmentalists have been quick to point out that the Makah have survived without whales since 1926. The tribe says it is entitled to catch the whales under an 1855 treaty with the U.S. government and is asking for permission only to save Washington embarrassment. But Washington is not going to find it easy. Japan has already linked its request for a catch-quota of 50 minke whales for its Pacific coastal communities to the U.S. plea. Like Norway, Japan argues that its whalers are following ancient traditions and should be exempted from the ban. Japan, the world's biggest consumer of whalemeat, has killed some 300 minke whales annually since 1987 under the guise of permitted hunting for "research." Norway will ask the IWC's scientists to approve its estimates of the size of the minke whale population in the northeastern Atlantic to justify its own quota of 425 whales for this year. Last year, the IWC forced Norway to revise down its estimate of the minke population to 75,000 from 85,000. IWC scientists now accept the population has jumped and believe the stocks stand at around 112,000. But many IWC members do not consider recovery in whale populations a good enough reason to resume hunting. They believe whales simply should not be hunted and some countries want a stop to the the catching of whales for research. Even though the IWC is dominated by anti-whaling nations, both Japan and Norway say they believe support is growing for their calls to ease the moratorium. A leaked document recently showed that South Africa was considering support for an end to the moratorium, although its representative at the IWC, Guillaume de Villiers, has since backtracked. "Japan is not expecting an immediate policy change at the IWC, but we have gradually gained understanding of our stance," said a spokesman for Japan's Fisheries Agency. Some 300 delegates from 30 countries are expected in the Scottish city of Aberdeen for the week-long meeting, the IWC's 48th annual conference. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 06:08:24 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: phamiltn(\)tiac.net (phamiltn) In response to: >From: Tim Sutton > >Hi all. > >I was watching a group of southern right whales which come to our marine >reserve every year to breed and calve today. In addition to the usual >breaching and blowing activities, I noted on whale in particular was >holding it's tail out of the water for long periods of time (probably 5 >minutes or more) this behaviour continued periodically for at least two >hours. THis is not to be confused with 'tail thumping' or other more usual >behaviour seen in these whales. One explanation that I was given for this >behaviour is 'tail sailing', where the whale uses it's tail as a sail to >gently drift through the water. > >Has anyone heard of or observed this behaviour before? Does anyone have a >different explanation for this behaviour? I would appreciate any other >comments about interesting behaviour patterns observed in southern right >whales. I can't speak for southern right whales, but we do have one northern right whale that is consistently found doing head stands. It appears to be different from the sailing phenomenon in that she doesn't seem to move, but will remain in one place with her tail high out of the water for 10-15 minutes at a time. One uninformed observer even reported her as "a dead whale floating with its tail out of the water". She has been doing this for over 10 years. No idea how to explain the behavior. Who knows what goes on inside the head of a right whale! Philip Hamilton Right Whale Research New England Aquarium ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 10:07:33 +0200 From: Jens Paulsen Subject: Summary of 6th NAMMCO Meeting To MARMAM subscribers - Please find below the Executive Summary from the Sixth Meeting of the NAMMCO= =20 Council: SIXTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL Tromsoe, Norway, 27-29 March 1996 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION NAMMCO - the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission - was established by an= =20 Agreement signed in April, 1992 by the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and= =20 Norway. The objective of the Commission is to contribute through regional=20 consultation and cooperation to the conservation, rational management and=20 study of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. The Sixth Meeting of the Council of NAMMCO was held in Tromsoe, Norway from= =20 27 to 29 March 1996. The meeting was convened by the Chairman, Halvard P.=20 Johansen (Norway), and attended by delegations from the member countries as= =20 well as observers from the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Japan, Namibia=20 and the Russian Federation. A number of inter-governmental and=20 non-governmental organisations were also represented. For the first time since the NAMMCO Agreement was signed, the Ministers of= =20 Fisheries from all NAMMCO member countries attended the meeting. Also=20 present at the Sixth Meeting of the Council in Tromsoe was the Chairman of= =20 the Fisheries Committee of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Korelsky. OPENING PROCEDURES In his opening address to the Council, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries,= =20 Jan Henry T. Olsen, expressed his desire for the further strengthening of=20 international cooperation on marine mammal conservation and management by=20 the addition of other countries in the region as signatories to the NAMMCO= =20 Agreement. The Council of NAMMCO also reiterated its invitation to the=20 governments of Canada and the Russian Federation to join the Commission. The Government of the Republic of Namibia was represented for the first time= =20 by an observer to the meeting of the Council. Dr Jan Jurgens, Permanent=20 Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia, gave= =20 a presentation to the Council on the management of Cape fur seals in=20 Namibia. Dr Jurgens also expressed his desire for continued close=20 cooperation between all countries with interests in ensuring the=20 conservation and sustainable utilisation of marine mammals. REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE The Scientific Committee of NAMMCO, which is currently chaired by Professor= =20 Tore Haug (Norway), met from 5-9 February 1996 in T=F3rshavn, Faroe Islands,= =20 and its report was presented to the Council.=20 By-catch data & grey seal catch data The Scientific Committee noted the importance of obtaining data on the level= =20 of by-catches of marine mammals for population assessments, and the Council= =20 agreed to the recommendation that member countries establish a system for=20 reporting such data. It was also recommended that a system for recording=20 catch statistics in the Norwegian grey seal hunt be established, while all= =20 NAMMCO member countries were requested to record statistics of grey seals=20 killed at fish farms and in fishing gear. The Secretariat would be=20 responsible for investigating the standards required for reporting such=20 data, in liaison with the Data Group of the Scientific Committee. NASS-95 & cetacean abundance in the North Atlantic The Scientific Committee has initiated work on the revision of abundance=20 estimates in the light of results from the comprehensive North Atlantic=20 Sightings Survey for cetaceans (NASS 95), which was coordinated by a=20 planning group under the Scientific Committee and carried out in the summer= =20 of 1995 through national surveys conducted by the Faroes, Iceland and= Norway.=20 The Scientific Committee Working Group on Abundance Estimates will review=20 analyses and where relevant also analyse data from NASS-95 to ensure their= =20 compatibility, both between NASS-95 survey areas, as well as with data from= =20 other sightings surveys, in order to provide a basis for calculating=20 abundance estimates for the relevant cetaceans stocks in the North Atlantic. The Working Group will also coordinate the production of a table showing=20 stock levels and trends in stocks of marine mammals in the North Atlantic,= =20 as requested by the Council at its fifth meeting in 1995. Research recommendations The Council endorsed the Scientific Committee's recommendations for further= =20 research on harp seals, hooded seals, ringed seals and grey seals, as=20 outlined in the Report of the Scientific Committee. REQUESTS FOR SCIENTIFIC ADVICE The role of marine mammals in the ecosystem In order to advance understanding of the role of marine mammals in the=20 ecosystem, the Council requested the Scientific Committee to focus its=20 attention on the food consumption of the minke whale, harp seal and hooded= =20 seal in the North Atlantic, with an emphasis on the study of the potential= =20 implications for commercially important fish stocks.=20 Sealworm infestation As a follow-up to its recent assessment of the grey seal in the North=20 Atlantic, which was carried out by a special Working Group with the=20 participation of scientific experts from Canada, Iceland Norway and the UK,= =20 the Scientific Committee was requested to further review the current state= =20 of knowledge of sealworm infestation, and to consider the need for=20 comparative studies in the western, central and eastern North Atlantic=20 coastal areas. PROPOSALS FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT The general Management Committee proposes measures for conservation and=20 management and makes recommendations to the Council for scientific research.= =20 The Management Committee, under the chairmanship of Einar Lemche=20 (Greenland), convened in conjunction with the Council meeting in Tromsoe. Atlantic walrus The Management Committee was informed of progress made in Greenland with=20 respect to last year's recommendation from NAMMCO for Greenland to take=20 appropriate steps to arrest the decline of the walrus along its west coast.= =20 Measures taken included limitations on the number of people permitted to=20 hunt walruses as well as on the size of vessels from which walruses may be= =20 hunted. DNA analyses of walrus stocks in West and East Greenland are planned= =20 for 1996. Ringed seals The Management Committee noted the conclusions of the Scientific Committee= =20 on the assessment of ringed seals in the North Atlantic, which was carried= =20 out by the Scientific Committee Working Group on Ringed Seals, with the=20 participation of invited experts from Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia.=20 Three geographical areas had been identified for assessing the status of=20 ringed seals, and abundance estimates were only available for Area 1=20 (defined by Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, eastern Hudson Strait, Labrador Sea,= =20 Lancaster, Jones and Smith sounds). While recognising the necessity for=20 further monitoring of ringed seal removals in Area 1, the Management=20 Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee's conclusions that present=20 removals of ringed seals in Area 1 can be considered sustainable. Harp seals in the Northwest Atlantic The Management Committee noted that a new abundance estimate for Northwest= =20 Atlantic harps seals of 4.8 million was available, based on a pup production= =20 estimate for 1994 of 702,900. The Management Committee also noted the=20 conclusion that the Northwest Atlantic population of harp seals has been=20 growing at a rate of 5% per year since 1990, and that the 1996 population=20 was estimated to be 5.1 million, with a calculated replacement yield of=20 287,000.=20 It was concluded that catch levels of harp seals in Greenland and Canada=20 from 1990 to 1995 were well below the calculated replacement yields in this= =20 period.=20 Hooded seals in the Northwest Atlantic Noting the Scientific Committee's review of available analyses of hooded=20 seal pup production, which recognised that calculations are dependent on the= =20 particular rate of pup mortality used, as well as the harvest regimes, it=20 was concluded that present catches of hooded seals in the Northwest Atlantic= =20 (1990-1995) were below the estimated replacement yields of 22,900 calculated= =20 for a harvest of pups only, and 11,800 calculated for a harvest of 1-year=20 and older animals only. JOINT NAMMCO CONTROL SCHEME FOR THE HUNTING OF MARINE MAMMALS After review and revision by the Management Committee, the Council adopted= =20 the Joint NAMMCO Control Scheme for the Hunting of Marine Mammals. The=20 Scheme, which was developed by the Working Group on Inspection and=20 Observation in response to recommendations from the Management Committee,=20 includes both common elements for national inspection of coastal whaling, as= =20 well as an international observation scheme for the hunting of all marine=20 mammals in NAMMCO member countries.=20 The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure a common standard in the control=20 systems of member countries, as well as to provide NAMMCO with the=20 opportunity of monitoring the extent to which national regulations for the= =20 management of marine mammals are upheld in member countries. In developing= =20 the Provisions for the Joint NAMMCO Control Scheme, emphasis was placed on= =20 creating a scheme which is both reliable and practical. It is the intention of NAMMCO member countries to implement the Scheme=20 either as a whole or in part in 1997, once specific guidelines for the=20 procedural and administrative aspects of the Scheme have been further=20 developed through the Management Committee. HUNTING METHODS The Working Group on Hunting Methods was established as a permanent Working= =20 Group in 1994 with the purpose of providing advice on hunting methods for=20 species of marine mammals relevant to NAMMCO member countries.=20 The report of the latest meeting of the Working Group, held in Copenhagen,= =20 23 January 1996, was presented to the Council, which endorsed its suggestion= =20 for the Secretariat to compile a comprehensive list of existing regulations= =20 related to equipment, hunting methods and hunters in member countries. This= =20 could be used as a basis for further discussions in the Working Group on the= =20 possible development of standards of equipment and hunting methods for forms= =20 of marine mammal hunting common to two or more member countries. ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS International Conference on Marine Mammals and the Marine Environment NAMMCO arranged and hosted the International Conference on Marine Mammals=20 and the Marine Environment, which was held in Lerwick, Shetland (UK) 20-21= =20 April 1995. The Conference focussed on the sources, levels and effects of=20 chemical pollution in the marine environment and marine mammals, as well as= =20 the consequences of marine pollution for coastal communities. A total of 20= =20 papers were presented under the four main theme sessions of the Conference.= =20 The Conference concluded with an open discussion on the main issues, led by= =20 a panel of invited experts. The proceedings of the Conference have been published as a special issue of= =20 the journal The Science of the Total Environment (Vol. 186/1,2, July 1996), = =20 edited by the Secretary of NAMMCO, Kate Sanderson and Geir Wing Gabrielsen= =20 of the Norwegian Polar Institute. THE NAMMCO FUND=20 The NAMMCO Fund was established in 1993 with surplus funds from NAMMCO's=20 first year of operation. The Fund is used to support information projects=20 which contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the conservation and= =20 rational utilisation of marine mammals. Decisions of the Fund are made by a= =20 Board consisting of one representative from each member country.=20 Since its establishment, the Fund has supported a variety of projects, most= =20 of which have been in the form of publications. At the Sixth Meeting of the= =20 Council, member countries agreed to continue their contributions to the Fund= =20 in 1996 and 1997, with a total amount of 200,000 Norwegian kroner each year.= =20 The Council agreed that in 1996 the NAMMCO Fund should be used for the=20 development of a major information project on seals and sealing. EXTERNAL RELATIONS NAMMCO has established working relations with a number of relevant=20 inter-governmental organisations. The following were represented at the=20 Sixth Meeting of the Council: the Agreement on the Conservation of Small=20 Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS), the International Council= =20 for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the International Whaling Commission= =20 (IWC), the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the North-East= =20 Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Nordic Council of Ministers, and = =20 the Nordic-Atlantic Cooperation Of special significance for NAMMCO is ICES, to which NAMMCO has forwarded a= =20 number of requests for scientific advice. A formal Memorandum of=20 Understanding between NAMMCO and ICES is presently being developed through= =20 negotiations between Secretariats. Since its last meeting, NAMMCO has also established working relations with= =20 the Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on the Conservation and Management of= =20 Narwhal and Beluga. Among international meetings at which NAMMCO has been represented over the= =20 past year was the International Conference on the Sustainable Contribution= =20 of Fisheries to Food Security, hosted by the Government of Japan in December= =20 1995 in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).= =20 The Conference adopted the Kyoto Declaration and Plan of Action on the=20 Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security, which was endorsed= =20 by the Council at its Sixth Meeting in Tromsoe. DATA, INFORMATION & PUBLICATIONS Database in the Secretariat The Secretariat has now established a database for all relevant marine=20 mammal species in the North Atlantic. Further data still needs to be=20 compiled and validated, and standards for data submission must be=20 established. The Scientific Committee Data Group will advise the Secretariat= =20 on these matters. A comprehensive reference database is also being compiled= =20 in the Secretariat, which includes relevant titles from the social as well= =20 as natural sciences. Publications The NAMMCO Annual Report for 1995 is now available in published form. The=20 Secretariat will continue to publish the proceedings of meetings under the= =20 Commission on an annual basis. =20 The work of the expert group on the Atlantic walrus, which was initiated by= =20 the Scientific Committee for its meeting in January 1995, was revised,=20 edited and published in late 1995 with financial support from NAMMCO as: =20 E.W. Born, I. Gjertz & R.R. Reeves, Population Assessment of Atlantic=20 Walrus, Meddelelser No. 138, Norwegian Polar Institute, Oslo. It was agreed that NAMMCO should publish review editions of work generated= =20 through the Scientific Committee in its own publication series. The series= =20 would begin with assessments carried out by the Scientific Committee at its= =20 1996 meeting on ringed seals and grey seals. =20 General information A general information brochure on NAMMCO was produced and distributed=20 internationally in 1995. Plans are to establish a NAMMCO web site in 1996,= =20 as well as to begin production of a regular newsletter. The Council noted the importance of reliable and factual information for the= =20 general public on marine mammals and their conservation and management, and= =20 suggested that the Secretariat should take active steps to produce such=20 information, for example in the form of fact sheets on various topics=20 related to NAMMCO's work.=20 OFFICE-BEARERS The Chairman of the Council is elected for a two-year period. Halvard P.=20 Johansen was elected Chairman for 1995-96. The next election of Chairman=20 will be conducted at the Seventh Meeting of the Council in 1997.=20 The Council elected a Vice-Chairman for the first time at its Sixth Meeting.= =20 The Vice-Chairman for 1996/97 is Arn=F3r Halld=F3rsson (Iceland). FUTURE MEETINGS The Faroe Islands offered to host the next annual meeting of the Council in= =20 T=F3rshavn in 1997 (dates to be confirmed). The next meeting of the Scientific Committee will be in late February 1997= =20 at the headquarters of the Secretariat in Tromsoe, Norway. SECRETARIAT For further information, contact the Secretariat: North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission c/- University of Tromsoe N-9037 Troms=F8, Norway Tel.: +47 776 45908 Fax: +47 776 45905 Email: nammco-sec(\)nammco.no Jens Paulsen NAMMCO email:jensp(\)nammco.no ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 23 Jun 1996 22:09:14 -0700 From: Alan Macnow Subject: IWC BREACHED WHALING TREATY amacnow(\)igc.apc.org FROM: Alan Macnow Consultant, Japan Whaling Association WHALING COMMISSION BREACHED TREATY WITH WHALE SANCTUARY ACTION The International Whaling Commission (IWC) breached its own treaty when it designated 13 million square miles of ocean around the Antarctic as a sanctuary for 80 percent of the world's whales, according to legal expert Douglas M. Johnston, Professor Emeritus of the Law School of the University of Vic- toria in Canada. The treaty, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Convention), contains specific re- quirements for establishing regulations, many of which were vio- lated when the IWC took the sanctuary action in 1994. Prof. Johnson is not alone in his criticism of the IWC. A bat- tery of legal experts also found that the IWC acted improperly in preventing the sustainable use of abundant species of whales in the Antarctic area, particularly the fast-growing population of minke whales which now number over 760,000. The other criti- cs include Prof. William T. Burke of the Law School of the Uni- versity of Washington, Daniel J. Popeo of the Washington Legal Foundation, former Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. Bruce Fein, and international law expert Prof. Richard J. McLaughlin of the Univ. of Mississippi. The opposition view comes from Prof. Patricia Birnie of the U.K., who argued at last year's IWC meeting in Dublin that the whaling Commission could do anything it wants, even to the ex- tent of over-riding or ignoring its own treaty mandates, if that is the will of the majority. And what the majority dictates can- not be appealed because the IWC lacks a dispute settlement me- chanism. Prof. Birnie said that the Convention rules can be changed in an evolutionary manner by the majority of the members of the IWC. In a paper to be released at this year's IWC meeting in Aber- deen, Scotland, Prof. William T. Burke disputes Prof. Birnie's assertions. The underlying Convention, and particularly its rules, can only be changed with the consent of all of the parties to the agreement, he states. Failure to do so violates the rights of the parties to the agreement. Without unanimous agreement, all signatory nations are required to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Convention. Last year, Prof. Burke examined the issues and found that pas- sage of the Antarctic sanctuary provision violated the objec- tives, purpose and provisions of the Convention. A total ban of whale harvesting of all whale stocks, regardless of the dif- ferent population levels in the vast area covered by the sanctuary, clearly contravened the purpose of the Convention. The Convention's purpose is "to provide for the proper conserva- tion of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly devel- opment of the whaling industry." As all of the depleted and endangered species were already fully protected from exploita- tion by hunting bans and a commercial whaling moratorium, fail- ure to allow sustainable utilization of abundant species con- travened the purpose of the Convention. The 1994 vote for the sanctuary ignored the provisions of the Convention which required all regulations to comply with the following requirements: (a) "be such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of the Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources"; (b)"be based on scientific findings" (c) "take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry." All of the legal experts , except Prof. Birnie, agreed with Prof. Burke that the sanctuary measure had not met any of these requirements. As noted, the measure would defeat the objectives and purposes of the Convention. It was deemed not necessary both because the whales in need of protection were already given protection, and because the Scientific Committee of the IWC had developed a faultless procedure to allow the taking of abundant species of whales at levels well below their replacement rates through reproduction. And the sanctuary, of course, would pre- vent any utilization at all, much less the "optimum utilization" called for by the Convention. One of the most damning indictments of passage of the measure was the IWC's failure to provide a scientific basis for the sanctuary. The sanctuary was not endorsed nor recommended by the IWC's Scientific Committee, which never even had a chance to study it before passage. The issue of the legality of the whale sanctuary will come up for debate at the IWC's annual meeting in Aberdeen. -end- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 07:20:13 -1000 From: Adam Pack Subject: Re: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales (fwd) In-Reply-To: <96Jun24.030504hst.11474(5)(\)relay1.Hawaii.Edu> We have also observed "head stands" and tail extensions held for several minutes by humpback whales off the Big Island and Maui. The whale did not appear to be using its tail as a sail as no significant movement was observed. As I recall, the whale off the Big island was part of a larger group which was milling. The extension lasted long enough that I remember commenting to my colleague Sue Lynn Konopka-Reif, now of Pacific Cetacean Group to get out her paint brushes and canvas and put the camera away. In your observation with the Southern right whale was the animal a singleton or part of a larger group? Do you have any clues as to the gender of the whale? Adam A. Pack, Ph.D. Senior Research Coordinator and Field Director Hawaiian Center for Whale Research and Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory pack(\)hawaii.edu On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, MARMAM Editors wrote: > Forwarded message: > From: phamiltn(\)tiac.net (phamiltn) > > In response to: > > >From: Tim Sutton > > > >Hi all. > > > >I was watching a group of southern right whales which come to our marine > >reserve every year to breed and calve today. In addition to the usual > >breaching and blowing activities, I noted on whale in particular was > >holding it's tail out of the water for long periods of time (probably 5 > >minutes or more) this behaviour continued periodically for at least two > >hours. THis is not to be confused with 'tail thumping' or other more usual > >behaviour seen in these whales. One explanation that I was given for this > >behaviour is 'tail sailing', where the whale uses it's tail as a sail to > >gently drift through the water. > > > >Has anyone heard of or observed this behaviour before? Does anyone have a > >different explanation for this behaviour? I would appreciate any other > >comments about interesting behaviour patterns observed in southern right > >whales. > > I can't speak for southern right whales, but we do have one northern right > whale that is consistently found doing head stands. It appears to be > different from the sailing phenomenon in that she doesn't seem to move, but > will remain in one place with her tail high out of the water for 10-15 > minutes at a time. One uninformed observer even reported her as "a dead > whale floating with its tail out of the water". She has been doing this for > over 10 years. No idea how to explain the behavior. Who knows what goes on > inside the head of a right whale! > > Philip Hamilton > Right Whale Research > New England Aquarium > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 12:05:25 -0400 From: CTombach(\)aol.com Subject: Cetacean Field Course - Students Wanted Study the Whales of the St. Lawrence, Canada We Still have a few positions available for students to attend a 2-4 week course studying and aiding in research of the cetaceans in the area. Courses will be offered starting 1 July 1996 through mid-September 1996. Students will learn scientific field research techniques, operation of equipment (sonar, GPS, onboard computer, boat operation, hydrophone, parabolic microphone, digital recording devices, trawling equipment), data collection and analysis. Lectures covering topics related to research work are given frequently throughout the course. Current projects include: Minke Whale abundance study through capture-recapture techniques and photo-identification; Minke Whale Site Fidelity; Blue, Fin, Humback, and Minke breathing ecology; Acoustical analysis of rorqual whale songs (and this is just a few). Prey utilization and analysis of rorqual whales. Observations of the animals is conducted from shore stations as well as from boats. Species frequenting the St. Lawrence at our site include: Blue, Fin, Humback, Minke, Beluga, Harbor Porpoise and occasionally Sperm and White-Sided Dolphins. Information packets will be mailed out to interested parties. For an information packet via e-mail or snail mail please write to: Christina M. Tombach Field Director ctombach(\)aol.com 167 Route 138 Grandes Bergeronnes, QC G0T 1G0 Canada ph/fax (418) 232-6422 Please include: Full Name, Address, Phone Number, Level in School (if attending a University/College), profession or major, and a brief paragraph explaining why you are interested in the course. Previous experience with cetaceans not required. Course work in biology or related field helpful, but not required. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 11:49:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: albino dolphins (fwd) Forwarded message: Try: Essapian, F.S. 1962. An albino bottle-nosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, captured in the United States. Norsk Hvalfangst-Tidende, Nr. 9, 341-344. This reference talks about the "pink" eyes. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ______________________________________ I can not find any reference in Gray's book that mentions the white Tursiops, "Carolina Snowball" (Gray. W.B. (1974). FRIENDLY PORPOISES. London: Thomas Yoesloff Ltd / Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co. Inc.) being an albino e.g. "pink" eyes, etc. Gray cites anecdotal reports that this animal had been seen in the wild for 15 years prior to capture and display at the Miami Seaquarium. He reports the animal died after three and a half years at this aquarium. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 >================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 14:07:17 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: APN--Return of the Whales APN--Return of the Whales At the whaling industry's peak in the mid-18th century, whaling stations known as "armacaoes" -- traps -- appeared every 125 miles along Brazil's seaboard. In those days, when 400 to 600 whales were killed each year off the coast of Santa Catarina alone, overhunting was already evident. Right whales gradually vanished off Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Parana states. By the 1890s, fisherman reported just six kills a year off Santa Catarina. That number dwindled to three by 1950. A decade later, only one whaling station remained in operation -- the armacao at Imbituba, 60 miles south of the state capital of Florianopolis. In 1973, marine biologists pronounced the right whales extinct in Brazil and the Imbituba station -- where 350 whales were slaughtered a year at the turn of the century -- finally closed its kilns. Eight years passed, and scientists wrote off any possibility the creatures might return. But navy Adm. Ibsen Camara, the vice commander of Brazil's armed forces and the only outspoken critic of whaling during the 1964-1985 military regime, thought otherwise. With a $1,000 grant from the University of Miami, he called Palazzo -- then a first-year biology major at college -- and asked him to look for the whales off the shores of Santa Catarina. For more than a year, the portly, spectacled 18-year-old cut classes and exams and spent weekends camping on beaches up and down the state searching for the whales, to no avail. With his grant money running out, Palazzo tried the island of Sao Francisco do Sul in September 1982. Fishermen had told of seeing a great black fish swimming close to shore. It was 8 a.m. and he was walking along the beach when a spout offshore caught his eye. "This big, black thing was rising and falling in the water," recalls Palazzo. "It was a whale, and she had a nylon gill net caught in her fin. I fell down on my knees and started to cry." In 1986, Palazzoreceived an $8,000 grant from the World Wildlife Fund to study the whales and to teach conservation to fishermen, using books and slide shows. "There was a radical change in the fishermen's behavior," he says. "They understood how important it was to save the whales and they began to volunteer to protect them." A year later, the government imposed a whaling ban. Offenders were punished with five-year prison terms and the seizure of their boats and equipment. Last year, Santa Catarina Gov. Paulo Afonso declared state waters a whale refuge and ordered state police to patrol for clandestine whalers. Today, scientists say the right whale population is growing by 8 percent a year. But its future is hardly guaranteed. Environmental groups facing shrinking donations are cutting outlays. In May, the International Wildlife Coalition -- Palazzo's main sponsor -- halved its $30,000-a-year funding. Meanwhile, the equipment needed to monitor the whales grows costlier and results, not surprisingly, are slow. To track the whales, Palazzo wants to tag them with high frequency transmitters that can be monitored by satellite. But each tag costs $3,000, and the satellite hookup $1,000. "It's futile to protect them here and leave them exposed in other areas," he says. "We need to discover their migration paths to keep whalers away from them on the high seas." One big enemy is the Japanese whaler. Every year, Japanese ships go to Antarctica and hunt countless endangered species. Meanwhile, lobbyists from Tokyo exert pressure on the International Whaling Commission to end the 1986 worldwide ban. A more subtle threat to the whales is the contamination of their marine environment with organochlorine compounds, such as DDTs and PCBs. Studies show that arctic waters act as a sink for organochlorines. The contaminants tend to accumulate in the whale's blubber, and mothers pass their toxic load on to their babies through their milk. Each generation of whales starts out with more toxins than the previous one, a process known as bio-magnification, says Allison Smith of the British Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society in Bath, England. Whales with high concentrations of organochlorines are susceptible to diseases that normally wouldn't affect them, she says, posing a risk of major die-offs. "What will ultimately decide the fate of the whales will be what the average person throws away in his kitchen sink or trash can," she says. But Palazzo remains enthusiastic. Recently, he has been working to start a tourism agency that he hopes will attract whale watchers from around the world. The revenue, he says, will be put back into the project. He works around the clock, spends weekends away from his wife and two children and has spent all of his inheritance to keep the whale project going. Will he ever give up? "No way," Palazzo says. "To meet a right whale is to face 60 million years of evolution. They've managed to survive allthis time. We can't just let them die off now." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 21:04:00 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Brucella in Marine Mammals Dear Marmam This from Veterinary Record (1996) Vol.138, pp583-586 "Isolation of Brucella species from cetaceans, seals and an otter" G. Foster, K.L. Jahans, R.J. Reid, H.M. Ross ABSTRACT Brucella organisms which differed from the recognised species of the genus, were isolated from nine seals, eight cetaceans and one otter. A method is described for the isolation of Brucella species from sea mammals and the first isolations of Brucella species are recorded from an Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), two striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and a European otter (Lutra lutra). There were differences in the culture media required for the primary isolation of the organisms and in their dependency on carbon dioxide. Subcutaneous lesions, when present, always yielded a confluent growth. The organisms were isolated from seven of 14 spleen samples and also from the mammary glands, uterus, testes and blood and the mandibular, gastric, iliac, sub-lumbar and colorectal lymph nodes. (9 Refs.) Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 15:56:05 -0400 From: Mario Alberto Cozzuol Subject: Re: marine mammals and hagfish At 19:00 20/06/96 -1000, you wrote: >I am working on a chapter on hagfish ecology and am wondering about >predation on hagfish by marine mammals. I have heard rumblings about >predation by harbor porpoises in the northeast (Gulf of Maine) but have not >seen anything in print. > >1. Can anyone provide more substantive information on this or other >odontocete predation on Atlantic or Pacific hagfish? > >2. Also it would seem possible that gray whales could consume hagfish >either accidentally or on purpose (given the biomass potential). Have any >hagfish shown up in stomach content analyses? > >3. Finally, has anyone encountered predation on hagfish by elephant seals >or other pinnipeds? > >Thanks for any ideas you might have. With best wishes, I remain, >Sincerely, >Ric >Frederic Martini, Ph.D. >email: martini(\)maui.net > > Dear Frederic, Time ago, when I working in Patagonia, Argetnina, people working with stomach contents of dolphins indetify hagfish eggs from a Lagenorhynchus obscurus dolphin stomach. I think it was presented in a meeting and an abstract shoul be available. You shoul contact Dr. Enrique Crespo or Lic. Laura Reyes from Centro Nacional Patagonico in Argentina, the e-mail is crespo(\)cenpat.edu.ar. I hope it will be of some help. Dr. Mario A. Cozzuol Laboratorio de Paleontologia Departamento de Ciencias Biomedicas, UNIR Caixa Postal 444 78900-970 Porto Velho, RO, Brasil Work tel.: +55 69 2168572 Home telefax: +55 69 2221786 E-mail: mario(\)ronet.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 22:37:35 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Aquatic Mammals - Back Issue Availability (fwd) Forwarded message: From: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil (Paul E. Nachtigall) ------- Dear Colleagues, Earlier this year we received a number of requests for back-issues of the journal Aquatic Mammals. At that time we were unable to offer the full volume 21 for 1995. Those issues (volume 21.1, 21.2, and 21.3) have recently been reprinted in the full original condition and are now available for $95.00 U.S. If you would like to order these issues please send a check in U.S. dollars to: AQUATIC MAMMALS P.O. Box 1106 Kailua, Hawaii 96734 USA Subscriptions for this year's issues are also available for $95.00 U.S. Members of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals receive a reduced rate of $50.00 U.S. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Paul E. Nachtigall, Editor ------- ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 22:23:14 +0000 Reply-To: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org From: Jim Scarff Subject: Re: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales > From: Andrew Schiro > Subject: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales > This came across a behaviour ecology news group. Mabye someone here can > help this person. I have a manuscript by Roger Payne and Hal Whitehead > titled "Tailing behavior in southern right whales Eubalaena australis" > which describes this from Argentina. I think that this was published but I > do not know where or when. > > Hi all. > > I was watching a group of southern right whales which come to our marine > reserve every year to breed and calve today. In addition to the usual > breaching and blowing activities, I noted on whale in particular was > holding it's tail out of the water for long periods of time (probably 5 > minutes or more) this behaviour continued periodically for at least two > hours. THis is not to be confused with 'tail thumping' or other more usual > behaviour seen in these whales. One explanation that I was given for this > behaviour is 'tail sailing', where the whale uses it's tail as a sail to > gently drift through the water. > > Has anyone heard of or observed this behaviour before? Does anyone have a > different explanation for this behaviour? I would appreciate any other > comments about interesting behaviour patterns observed in southern right > whales. >From what I gather, this is a pretty common behavior in Argentina. Roger Payne has a brief description of it in his recent book, "Among Whales" (Scribner, 1995) at pages 119-120: "In right whales, one of the most unexpected uses [of the flukes] is as a sail. The whale holds its tail smartly up in a strong breeze for as long as twenty minutes at a time, so that the whale's body is pushed by the wind through the water. Sailing bouts may last for hours, but they occur only during winds of between nine and nineteen miles per hour. In lighter or stronger winds right whales do not attempt to sail." --------------------- Jim Scarff 1807 M.L. King Way #A Berkeley, CA 94709 (415) 703-1440 (w) e-mail: jscarff(\)igc.apc.org Home Page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 16:07:06 -0700 From: Barbara Lagerquist Subject: job announcement The following is a job announcement for a research assistant position at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Please respond by mail to the Marine Mammal Search Committee at the address listed below. Do not respond via e-mail. Research Assistant. Must have a B.S. in biological or computer science. Preference will be given for experience with marine mammals, fund raising and grant management skills, video production, computers, technical writing, computer graphics and/or statistics. Must be willing to spend extended time away from home doing field work from small boats or research vessels. Must be able to work well in a team environment, be a self-starter, and have good people skills. This is a full time position located at Newport, Oregon. Salary range is $19,992 - 28,020. Resumes with references should be sent to the MARINE MAMMAL SEARCH COMMITTEE, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365 no later than 12 July 1996. Please do not phone. OSU is an EE0/AA employer and has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual career couples. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 14:38:15 -0400 From: CPDesigns1(\)aol.com Subject: Re: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales (fwd) I recall Roger Payne stating that some female right whales will hold their flukes aloft in order to avoid the aggressive advances of males intent on copulation. This may account for some observed instances of non-sailing whales which hold their flukes aloft for extended periods of time. It also occurs to me that some whales may be thermoregulating when they hold their flukes aloft, with the flukes acting as a heat exchanger for either heat loss or heat gain... perhaps not the most likely explanation, but not altogether out of the question. Finally, the earliest account of which I am aware that mentions right whales with raised flukes comes from MOUNTAINS IN THE SEA by Martin Holdgate. This book follows a group of Englishmen who set out to explore Gough Island in the South Atlantic. While spending time at Tristan da Cunha in 1955 the following was noted- "In sharp contrast to such serious studies, Michael spent a good deal of time in watching whales. There can be few places in the world where this pursuit is as easy as at Tristan, for, during the early spring months, many Southern Right Whales frequent the shallow waters along the coast, and breed there. They cruise slowly, in and around the kelp, in groups of up to seven animals. One female in particular was recognisable by a white patch on her side, and Michael was able to watch her on a number of defferent occassions. One habit which excited great interest was often seen among whales in the kelp. A whale would turn and dive slowly, its huge tail flukes standing well clear of the water. Usually the whole animal did not submerge, and the flukes stayed in sight for minutes at a time, before slowly subsiding as the animal came back onto an even keel. Now nobody knows quite what this performance is for. Some have said that the whale is rubbing barnacles off its head against the sea bottom, and when Michael saw a whale remaining stationary with the waves rising and falling against its side, it did seem that it was anchored against something firm. But the performance is indulged in so often that it is hard to believe that it is always an anti-barnacle campaign, and it frequently takes place in water too deep for even a whale to span." As an aside, this population of right whales was decimated by whalers just a few years after this account was written. I believe there have been some recent sightings of right whales once again in Tristan's waters, so perhaps this population is beginning to recover. Steve King cpdesigns1(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 23:19:30 -0400 From: KBHULL(\)aol.com Subject: Misha and Echo Reintroduction Update : June 25 1996 MISHA AND ECHO REINTRODUCTION UPDATE: JUNE 25 1996 As part of the first scientific experiment of its kind, two bottlenose dolphins, Misha and Echo, were reintroduced into Tampa Bay, Florida, after two years in captivity. The project was undertaken by Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Chicago Zoological Society to evaluate the reintroduction of captive dolphins to the wild. Regular, systematic monitoring during the first year after release, and opportunistic searches thereafter have shown the animals to be thriving in their native waters, and fully integrated into the local dolphin societies. Misha's most recent sighting, on May 18th 1996, was five and a half years after release; Echo was seen most recently three years after release. Misha and Echo were captured during July 1988 in Tampa Bay, Florida, and then used for echolocation research in California at Long Marine Laboratory. In October 1990 they were reintroduced back into Tampa Bay after a brief acclimation period in a seapen at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. The release protocols were planned prior to the capture, and all of the work was conducted under federal permit. Important considerations went into the selection of subjects and location for this capture-release experiment (Wells 1989). Tampa Bay was selected as the capture-release site because: (1) a six-year (1988-1993) dolphin census program in Tampa Bay, sponsored by the National Marine Fisheries Service, enabled us to monitor ranging and social association patterns of the dolphins in the area and provided a basis for comparison to the patterns of the subjects selected; (2) southeastern Tampa Bay is largely undeveloped, decreasing chances of human and boat interaction after release and increasing the probability that adequate resources would be available to support the reintroduced dolphins; (3) the capture-release site was close to the well-known and actively-studied Sarasota dolphin community; and (4) the capture-release site was easily accessible from a field station on the North end of the Sarasota area and South end of the Tampa Bay area. Two young male bottlenose dolphins independent from their mothers were chosen because: (1) young dolphins are generally easier to train; (2) young males tend to form long-term pair bonds (Wells et al. 1987) and we hypothesized that this might lead to development of a bond in captivity that would benefit the animals upon release; (3) because they were independent of their mothers they were known to be capable of fending for themselves in the capture of live prey; and (4) young males nearing sexual maturity may leave their home ranges for periods of time (Wells et al. 1987) and therefore capture in 1988 and release two years later might approximate a natural pattern. One of the most important considerations was returning these dolphins to their native waters, where they would presumably be familiar with the resources, predators, environmental features, social system, and where they would return to the appropriate genetic stock. Behavioral observations of Misha and Echo's surfacing positions, activity budgets, and dive durations were conducted both in captivity and in the wild following reintroduction. They surfaced together more often at Long Marine Lab (LML) and Mote Marine Lab (MML) than out in the wild (Bassos 1993). When they did surface synchronously, the preferred surfacing position was one dolphin, Echo, slightly ahead and to the right side of the other dolphin, Misha, at all three locations. Their activity budgets differed from captivity to the wild. We observed much more milling and resting in captivity as compared to more traveling, foraging, and socializing in the wild (Bassos 1993). Different energetic and social requirements are suggested for these observed differences. In the wild, feeding peaked in the morning and socializing peaked in the afternoon, similar to trends found with other wild dolphins (Bassos 1993). Mean dive durations both in captivity and in the wild were within the range observed for other dolphins (Bassos 1993). Overall, Echo was sighted on 32 days and Misha on 62 days since their release. The pair bond they developed in captivity was maintained for the first month, then the dolphins gradually became integrated, as individuals, into the local dolphin society. All of Echo's (during the first five months after reintroduction) and Misha's sightings were within a geographical region that conformed to the home ranges of their close associates, and included the areas where Misha was found in 1984 and 1988. Echo's sightings after 1 April 1991 were over 40 km to the north of his release site and within 4 km of his capture site in 1988. After Echo's return to the home range near his original capture site he was observed with one dolphin he was captured with in 1988. On subsequent sightings he was observed with regular associates frequently observed in the northern Tampa Bay home range. The dolphins appear to have successfully reacclimated to life in the the wild. They displayed typical behavioral patterns observed for other wild dolphins, and their ranging and social association patterns were similar to those of their most frequent associates. Their body condition has been excellent each time they have been observed. They have not not been observed to interact with humans. Systematic follow-up monitoring was considered crucial in identifying their successful reacclimation. Factors attributed to this success appeared to be: (1) release of a natural functional social unit; (2) release of two young dolphins; (3) release back into their native waters; (4) release after relatively short period of time in captivity; and (5) acclimating them in a seapen before release. REFERENCES CITED AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SOURCES: Bassos, M.K., R.S. Wells. 1996. Effect of pool features on the behavior of two bottlenose dolphins. Marine Mammal Science, 12(2):321-324. Bassos, M.K. 1993. A behavioral assessment of the reintroduction of two bottlenose dolphins. M.S. thesis, University of California, Santa Cruz, 84pp. Bassos, M.K., R.S. Wells, and K.S. Norris. 1991. Assessment of the readaptation to the wild of two young male bottlenose dolphins after two years in captivity. Proceedings: Ninth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, December 5 - 9, 1991, Chicago, IL (abstract). Howard, C.J. 1995. Dolphin Chronicles. Bantam Books, New York. 304 pp. Wells, M. 1991. Reintroduction of two captive bottlenose dolphins back into the wild. Proceedings: 19th Annual IMATA Conference, November 4 - 8, 1991, Vallejo/Concord, CA (abstract). Wells, R.S. 1991. Annual permit report to National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD. Wells, R.S. 1990. Annual permit report to National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, MD. Wells, R.S. 1989. Return to the Wild: Completion of a "Dolphin Sabbatical". Whalewatcher 23(4):3-5. Wells, R.S., M.M. Wells, and K. Bassos-Hull. 1996. Return to the wild of two bottlenose dolphins after two years in captivity. 24th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, 15-18 March 1996, Albfiera, Portugal (abstract). Wells, R.S., M.D. Scott and A.B. Irvine. 1987. The social structure of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. Vol. 1, pp. 247-305 in H.H. Genoways, ed. Current Mammalogy. Plenum, New York and London. WMFE-TV. 1992. Releasing dolphins. 30-min documentary produced by Robert Giguere, Jr. WMFE-TV Channel 24, 11510 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Fl 32817-4699. Kim Bassos Hull Randall S. Wells Sarasota Dolphin Research Program C/O Mote Marine Laboratory 1600 Thompson Parkway Sarasota, Florida 34236 Phone: 941-388-4441 Fax: 941-388-4312 Email: KBHULL(\)AOL.COM ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 14:56:34 EDT From: "Ross, Graham" Subject: Right whale sailing Further to the messages of Tim Sutton, Andrew Scarff and Steve King on tail-sailing in right-whales, I offer a tentative hypothesis that tailing may be associated with feeding, at least on occasion. Of some 20 or 30 incidental observations of right whale individuals or groups in Algoa Bay, South Africa, which I noted of over several years, all six observations of tailing behaviour occurred "close-to shore" or in shallow bays. My impression has been that tailing whales are often behind, or close to, the backline, in water that is probably about 10-15 m deep. In this situation, a whale with its tail in the air would have its head very close to the bottom. One possible attraction to this part of the surf zone was suggested by comments several years ago from Dr. Tristram Wooldridge (University of Port Elizabeth) who studied the behaviour of schooling mysids in the surf zone along the eastern Cape coast. From memory, some species at least (the genus Mesopodopsis comes to mind) move from the upper levels of the surf zone at night to the outer part of the surf zone, where they form quite dense shoals close/on the bottom during the day. These shoals may be available as food to a whale drifting slowly along in the tailing position; wind could assist the whale's drift, and may allow some directionality. Testing this hypothesis requires direct observation of feeding, but some clues as to whether it is even feasible could be obtained by observation of water depths where tailing behaviour is recorded, and whether suitable prey are present at the appropriate depths in localities where right whales perform tailing behaviour. As a last thought, if right whales do "sail" as a pastime, could it be derived from feeding behaviour as suggested here? Graham J B Ross Australian Biological Resources Study Australian Nature Conservation Agency GPO Box 636 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Australia gross(\)anca.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 09:33:03 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: radionuclides Recently, there was a posting regarding radionuclides in marine mammals. It might interest that person to know of a paper (one page) in Herpetological Review (v. 5, 1974) by Hillestad et al. entitled "Pesticides, heavy metals and radionuclide uptake in loggerhead sea turtles from South Carolina and Georgia". ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 08:20:38 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Photos of Extinct Species (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Walton Beacham <103657.2706(\)CompuServe.COM> We are publishers of "Beacham's International Threatened, Endangered, & Extinct Species" on CD-ROM. This was reviewed and recommended in Zoo Biology, Vol. 15, No. 2 1996 pp 195-197 and in the January 1996 issue of Choice, academic review journal. We are in production of release 3 of the CD-ROM and are trying to fill in some gaps of missing images of extinct species and/or their habitats. Do you have access to or do you know of a source for images of Mustela macrodon (Sea Mink)? As we have collected over 2,500 images for this ongoing project, I am sure you can appreciate the daunting task of photo research. Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Deborah Beacham Photo Researcher ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 08:21:13 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: anomalously white cetaceans (fwd) Forwarded message: With regard to recent marmam notes ... for those folks interested in anomalously white cetaceans, I and Steve Leatherwood did a note that listed records up to that time, described several of the possible explanations for anomalously white animals, and provided a number of references: Hain, J. and S. Leatherwood. 1982. Two sightings of white pilot whales, and summarized records of anomalously white cetaceans. J. Mammalogy 63(2): 338-343. Jim Hain jhain(\)whsun1.wh.whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 15:17:41 EST From: Carol Fairfield Subject: Info requested on marine mammal meetings I am trying to compile information on major marine mammal meetings which are held on a regular basis (every year or two), such as the meetings of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, the European Cetacean Society, European Association for Aquatic Mammals, Reunion de Trabajo: workshop [Workshop of Experts in Aquatic Mammals from S. America].... I assume there are more, especially outside the US. Information requested includes timing of meetings; address/phone/internet address for the society or the organizers; focus of meeting; frequency of meetings; and any information on awards that are presently included as a part of these meetings. (I have this information for the Society for Marine Mammalogy.) Please respond directly back to myself at: carol_fairfield(\)ccgate.ssp.nmfs.gov I will post a compilation of information received to this bulletin board. Thanks so very much for your input and information. ________________________________________________________ Carol Fairfield Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service/NOAA 1335 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA (301)713-2289; fax (301)713-0376 Internet: carol_fairfield(\)ccgate.ssp.nmfs.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 16:15:45 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Whaling Whaling By AUDREY WOODS Associated Press Writer ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) -- The United States and Russia appealed to international whaling regulators Tuesday to permit small whale hunts by an American Indian tribe and the Chukotka people of Russia's polar regions. Japan also is seeking permission to kill 50 minke whales in the North Pacific this year to alleviate the hardship of some whaling communities. Although the 39-member International Whaling Commission called a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986, some indigenous groups are allowed to kill a few whales for subsistence and cultural reasons. "Whales are the central focus of our culture today, as they have been since the beginning of time," said Marcy Parker, a council member of the Makah tribe of the northwest Olympic Peninsula. "Even though we haven't hunted the whale on the ocean in 70 years, we have hunted the whale in our hearts and in our minds." The United States is proposing a five-whale annual quota for the Makahs. They want to hunt gray whale, which once were nearly extinct but have recovered. Initial responses from countries including Japan, Norway and France, indicated strong support for the U.S. proposal. But there was considerable doubt among some nations, including Mexico and Australia. They question the Makahs' need for whale as food -- especially given the tribe's broken history of whale hunting. Mexico was concerned about what it called a "proliferation" of requests for aboriginal quotas, and said countries might use them to get around the moratorium, designed to protect dwindling species. Nations will debate the U.S. proposal further, as well as a separate request from Russia, before voting later in the conference, which ends Friday. Russia asked for a five-whale catch for the indigenous Chukotka people in northeastern Siberia, whose traditional religion reveres whales. They want to kill bowheads, which are an endangered species. Some commission members expressed reservations about the need, although the United States and Japan have declared their support. The Chukotkas already have a quota of 140 gray whales. The Chukotkas experienced food shortages because of a decline in reindeer. Whale meat has become important for nutrition, the Chukotka representative, identified only as V. Etylin, told the commission. Japan wants an "interim relief allocation" of 50 minke whales in the North Pacific, which is in a separate category from aboriginal whaling. U.S. officials oppose the Japanese request, saying it has a commercial aspect. Japan was able to take more than 400 whales this year due to a provision in the 10-year-old non-binding moratorium that allows killing a limited number of the huge sea mammals for scientific research. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 15:04:24 -0700 From: Barbara Lagerquist Subject: job announcement The following is a revised version of a job announcement I posted 25 June, providing more detail. This is for a research assistant position at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Please respond by mail to the Marine Mammal Search Committee at the address listed below. Do not respond via e-mail. POSITION AVAILABLE TITLE: Faculty Research Assistant (This is a different job than the one advertised several months ago, which was filled.) POSITION: Has office management, data collection/analysis, and public sector program responsibilities. May participate in marine mammal research projects. Work includes grant management, aspects of fund raising, computer analyses of data, technical scientific writing/editing, production of graphics/video material, working with graduate students and the public and possible field work. Extensive travel (including camping and boat-living) may be required for extended periods of time. This is a full time, fixed term position with annual renewal at the discretion of the director. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in a biological or computer science. Preference will be given for experience with: marine mammals, fund raising and grant management skills, video production, computers, technical writing, computer graphics and/or statistics. Must be willing to spend extended time away from home doing field work from small boats or research vessels. Must be able to work well in a team environment, be a self-starter, and have good people skills. Candidates who have a proven track record or evidence of prior direct work experience combining office management, marine mammal data analysis, fund raising and technical writing will be given preference. DUTIES: Provide office management; write/edit grants, solicitations, and publications; help with fund raising; organize equipment and data; assist in marine mammal studies; analyze data; provide statistical summaries; take good photographs, edit videos; participate in stranding network; and assist graduate students. SALARY: $19,992 - $28,020 per year, depending on experience. DEADLINE: July 12, 1996. DO NOT TELEPHONE. Send resume which includes two references to: MARINE MAMMAL SEARCH COMMITTEE, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365. OSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal opportunity employer and has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual career couples. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 10:21:02 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: yuck, tar in cetacean stomachs Marmam readers, We are interested in hearing from those of you with information (published or not) on tar in cetacean stomachs. You may reply directly to us if you wish, or the discussion group. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov and Andy Schiro schiroa(\)tamug.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 22:48:16 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NSW: RARE ALBINO HUMPBACK WHAL NSW: RARE ALBINO HUMPBACK WHALE OFF NSW COAST SYDNEY, June 27 AAP - An elusive albino humpback whale not seen for almost two years is believed to be migrating north along the New South Wales coast. The whale, thought to be the only of its kind, could be near Byron Bay on the state's north coast this weekend, NSW Environment Minister Pam Allen said today. Ms Allen urged whale watchers to maintain a lookout for the whale, which was last seen in October 1994 after being initially spotted in Queensland waters in October 1992. "In effect it is like having a tagged whale which can be easily monitored," she said in a statement. "It has caused intense interest in the scientific community ... it is unlikely there are two albino whales." The whale is believed to be a 13-metre long male, approaching 10 years old and weighing 40 tonnes. Ms Allen said "any day now" southern right whales would appear of the NSW coast and warned anyone breaking laws on whale watching faced possible jail terms or fines. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is currently studying the migration patterns of whales and anyone sighting them is asked to contact the service. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 22:49:44 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: House committee protests U.S. House committee protests U.S. gray whale hunt plan WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The House Resources Committee Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a U.S. plan to allow the Makah Indians to hunt five gray whales a year. The plan would allow the north Washington state Makah to hunt under an international whaling ban waiver that permits hunts by aboriginal groups who have traditionally killed whales. The Clinton administration is seeking approval of its proposal this week in Scotland at an International Whaling Commission meeting, which is sharply divided on the issue. Environmentalists say the proposal should be rejected because the Makahs have not hunted whales for 70 years and do not need the meat for food, but instead to revive an old cultural practice. "The Makah assertion of purely cultural needs is not adequate to justify acceptance of the proposal and raises questions that merit considerable review," World Wildlife Fund said in a statement Wednesday. While Congress would be hard-pressed to overturn the Makah plan if the IWC approved it, the Resources Committee wanted to "send a message to the commission and to our own delegation," said Democratic staff director, John Lawrence. "We felt it was highly inappropriate for the administration to go off to an internationl conference to propose this kind of policy without consulting us," he said. "This was an endangered species just two years ago," said Rep. George Miller, the top Democrat on the committee, warning that the proposal could undermine international efforts to protect whales, especially in Japan. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 10:30:12 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 6/28/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Yangtze River Dolphin Aid. On June 26, 1996, a group of Japanese aquarium officials and biologists donated 1 million yen to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology for protecting the endangered Yangtze River white flag dolphin. [Dow Jones News] . Dolphin Deaths. On June 23, 1996, FL Marine Mammal Stranding Network scientists reported that eight dead bottlenose dolphins had washed up on Bay County, FL, beaches during the past week. Cause of death was suspected to be either a virus or red tide toxins in fish upon which the dolphin feed. [Assoc Press] . Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Expansion. On June 21, 1996, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe pledged $5 million toward expansion of the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium. The funds will be used to construct a beluga whale habitat mimicking the Alaska coast. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. In mid-June, 1996, Norwegian news reports stated that only 56 of 202 minke whales killed this year have been sold, and that whalemeat equivalent to at least 30 whales was still in cold storage from the 1995 harvest. [personal communication] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On June 25, 1996, Russia requested IWC approval for an annual quota of five bowhead whales for native inhabitants of the Chukotsk region. In addition, Japan requested IWC approval of an "interim relief allocation" for killing 50 minke whales in the No rth Pacific to alleviate economic hardship in coastal whaling communities. On June 24, 1996, the IWC approved as adequate Norway's estimate of 118,000 minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. On June 26, 1996, the United States and Australia announced that they were submitting a joint resolution seeking to ban Japanese killing of whales for research purposes. On June 27, 1996, the IWC voted 16-8 (with 5 abstentions) on a proposal to ban Japanese use of electric lances -- the proposal was rejected having failed to gain the three-fourths majority required for passage). In addition, the IWC voted 8-16 (with 5 abstentions) on the Japanese request for killing 50 North Pacific minke whales by coastal whaling communities, thus rejecting the proposal. On June 27, 1996, the United States announced that it had withdrawn its request for an annual aboriginal whaling quota of five gray whales for the Makah tribe in Washington state. On June 28, 1996, the Norwegian delegation walked out of the IWC annual meeting. The IWC had approved a resolution calling on Norway to respect the 1982 moratorium on commercial whaling, enforce measures to control whalemeat smuggling, and provide information on stockpiles of whale products. A separate IWC resolution was approved prohibiting Norway from lifting an export ban on whale products. Norwegian delegates protested that the IWC was overstepping its powers. [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 15:26:41 CST From: "Jason P. turner" Subject: Flensing Dolphin Heads Marmam readers, I was wondering if anyone had found an efficient means of flensing skulls in mass quantities (30-50 at one time). We have employed the use of Dermestid beetles for some time, but they cannot keep up with the emormous work load we are handing them. We have had some preliminary success with freshwater saturation in shallow troughs to which insect larvae were exposed. We will also try emersing the skulls in a saltwater lagoon. If anyone else has found any other successful techniques, please leave a message on Marmam, or you can contact me personally. Thanks, Jason Turner --------------------------------------------------- Jason Turner Texas A&M University, Galveston Physiological Ecology Research Lab 4700 Ave. U, Building 303 Galveston, TX 77551 U.S.A. 409/740-4425 voice 409/740-1358 FAX ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 09:52:11 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: Re: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales Message from Hal Whitehead Re: sailing in right whales I just found the messages on "sailing" in right whales, some of which referred to the work that Roger Payne and I did on this. During his field research at Peninsula Valdes Roger and his colleagues observed and studied sailing. I was involved with some lab. analysis in the mid 1970's. Roger was very much the principal person in this (I have never seen a right whale despite years of sea time in many parts of the world). I don't think I even have our manuscript, but the major conclusions, as I remember them, were: Only a few individuals sailed They did so at specific wind strengths (medium) This is separate from other tail-up activities in right whales Whales would sail down-wind, swim up, and sail down again The speed of sailing was consistent with that expected from hydro- and aero-dynamics: thrust on the tail from the wind, drag on the body from the water. However lack of knowledge of currents made the speed measurements somewhat iffy (they were speed over the bottom, not through the water)--this may have been rectified since. Roger planned to put this analysis in his scientific book on right whale which I believe was supposed to be published by Chicago University Press. For more information, try to get in touch with him or Vicky Rowntree (ROWNTREE(\)BIONIX.BIOLOGY.UTAH.EDU, I think). Hal Whitehead Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax CANADA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 07:37:30 -0500 From: jim hain Subject: Re: albino dolphins (fwd) In-Reply-To: <9606241906.AA21867(\)whsun1.wh.whoi.edu> ---------- X-Sun-Data-Type: text X-Sun-Data-Description: text X-Sun-Data-Name: text X-Sun-Content-Lines: 55 X-Sun-Content-Length: 1896 For the folks with interests in anomalously white cetaceans, I and Steve Leatherwood put out a note sometime ago which summarized information up to that time, and also described several of the explanations for white animals: Hain, J. and S. Leatherwood. 1982. Two sightings of white pilot whales, Globicephala melaena, and summarized records of anomalously white cetaceans. Journal of Mammalogy 63(2): 338-343. This might provide a starting point for updating reports and references. Jim Hain, NEFSC/NMFS, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA. ************************************************ Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 11:49:22 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: albino dolphins (fwd) To: Multiple recipients of list MARMAM Forwarded message: Try: Essapian, F.S. 1962. An albino bottle-nosed dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, captured in the United States. Norsk Hvalfangst-Tidende, Nr. 9, 341-344. This reference talks about the "pink" eyes. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ______________________________________ I can not find any reference in Gray's book that mentions the white Tursiops, "Carolina Snowball" (Gray. W.B. (1974). FRIENDLY PORPOISES. London: Thomas Yoesloff Ltd / Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Co. Inc.) being an albino e.g. "pink" eyes, etc. Gray cites anecdotal reports that this animal had been seen in the wild for 15 years prior to capture and display at the Miami Seaquarium. He reports the animal died after three and a half years at this aquarium. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 >================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Jun 1996 21:15:10 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Whaling Conference Whaling Conference By AUDREY WOODS Associated Press Writer ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) -- The United States today withdrew a proposal for limited whaling rights for an American Indian tribe, but said it would try again next year. The Makah tribe of Washington state, supported by the United States, asked the International Whaling Commission meeting this week to approve an annual five-whale quota to renew their ancient whaling culture. The Makah request for an exemption from a worldwide moratorium was in a special category that allows small kills by aboriginal peoples for cultural and subsistence reasons. They were opposed by countries and animal rights observer groups who questioned the tribe's need for whale as food and believed its broken culture of whale hunting disqualifies it from the special category. The dispute became a major issue at the conference. "We remain convinced that the Makahs' demonstrated need for this quota fits within the IWC definition of aboriginalsubsistence whaling," said U.S. delegation chief D. James Baker. But he said a few commissioners had reservations, so the delegation and Makah representatives jointly decided to defer the request until next year. Earlier today, Japan lost its ninth consecutive attempt to win approval for traditional whaling communities to kill 50 whales in spite of a worldwide ban. The whaling commission rejected Japan's perennial request by a vote of 16 to 8. Japan objects to the 1986 ban on commercial whaling and campaigns for a return to hunting at a level that does not drive whale populations dangerously low. It kills several hundred whales each year under a provision that allows limited kills for scientific research. Since the ban was imposed, Japan has sought the commission's approval to allow the killing of 50 minke whales annually to alleviate hardships of some north coastal communities. Some opponents, including the United States and New Zealand, say the plan is commercial and is not acceptable. Some supporters, including such Caribbean nations as St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda, say food from the sea is critically important to the economic security of coastal communities, and if safeguards against exploitation exist, Japan's needs should be considered. New Zealand, one of the strongest opponents of whaling, said it would never accept breaches of the moratorium and that the commission should stop holding out false hopes to Japan. New Zealand negotiator J.K. McKlay, said he had visited one of the Japanese communities in March and found it to be prosperous, with a tourism industry. The source of the community's distress, he said, "was the inability to continue a centuries old whaling tradition and pass that tradition on to future generations." "Right around the world there are communities that have ceased traditional practices for all sorts of conservation, cultural, and other reasons," he said. Although there are 39 nations in the commission, they do not always attend or vote. There were five abstentions on the Japanese request. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 06:34:18 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: reply to "albino" humpback whale Marmamers, In regards to the recent newsclip posting "NSW: RARE ALBINO HUMPBACK WHALE OFF NSW COAST", I haven't heard from anyone who has been able to verify that this indeed an albino individual (pinkish eyes have not reported). If someone has information to the contrary, I would be interested in hearing from you. At this time, I'd also like to thank all of you who have responded to my posting regarding albino and anomalously white cetaceans. The list I am putting together (for white cetaceans, and not necessarily albino) is quite interesting. Since Hain and Leatherwood published their paper in 1982, three species have been newly reported as albino (though most probably are just anomalously white): rough-toothed dolphin, humpback whale, and dusky dolphin. My coauthors and I would be interested in hearing from you if you still haven't had a chance to write us about your sightings of albino or anomalously white cetaceans (it does not need to be a new species, b/c we are also interested in the locations that these animals have been sighted). Again, thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to this topic. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 05:22:04 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: HK Holds Symposium on Protecti HK Holds Symposium on Protecting White Dolphins HONG KONG (July 1) XINHUA - A three-day symposium on protecting Chinese white dolphins opened here today. Eight overseas dolphin and cetacean specialists, together with local experts from companies, institutions and government departments, are to present their theses on the subject. In his welcoming address, Lawrence Lee, director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that the symposium will focus on issues that threatened the continued survival of the Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong waters. To give the dolphins a fighting chance of surviving in the 21st century all major threats must be identified, he said. He noted that the issue came up following the decision to build the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. Large scale reclamation and associated development works had potential impact on these dolphins whose population was so far little known. A number of research studies and conservation work have been or being carried out by the government to help protect these endangered mammals, he said. According to Lee, the first two day's talk sessions of the symposium are to focus on the status of cetacean knowledge, Hong Kong marine environment, human influences and management aspects. He said that the group discussion on the third day will center on topics about fishery interactions with human dimensions, water quality and population issues, dolphin watching, marine traffic and noise, and habitat loss. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 20:31:00 PDT From: Phil Colla Subject: Inquisitive Blue Whales Does anyone have experience with inquisitive blue whales? A colleague of mine was "mugged" by two very inquisitive, adult blue whales and is interested in contributing his u/w photographs and observations to any pending research or publication efforts. The encounter lasted 25 minutes. Please reply by private e-mail. Thank you. Phillip Colla Research associate, Hawaii Whale Research Foundation pcolla(\)cts.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 09:46:01 -0500 From: Victoria Mireles Subject: Marine Mammal Protection Act Marmam Group: I am an intern for Gene Buck, Senior Analyst, Congressional Research Service, and I am seeking to interview people regarding prevailing attitudes towards marine mammals in the context of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). If you or your organization would like to participate, or if you would like to know more about the survey, please contact me via e-mail or phone. Thank you. Victoria Mireles, Intern Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service Phone: (202) 707-7226 E-mail: vmireles(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 12:33:55 -0800 From: Alison Sanders Subject: manatees and dolphins MARMAMERS, I'm looking for information on close associations between manatees and bottlenose dolphins (or any dolphin species, for that matter) in the wild. Has anyone documented or heard of such a thing? I'd appreciate any information. Please reply to asanders(\)sfsu.edu thanks, Alison Alison M.Sanders SFSU Dept. of Biology 36 Minerva Street San Francisco, CA 94112 phone:(415)584-9111 email:asanders(\)sfsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:11:16 -0700 Reply-To: dbain(\)u.washington.edu From: David Bain Subject: 1997 Symposium on Information Processing by Aquatic Mammals The Marine World Foundation will be hosting the 1997 Symposium on Information Processing by Aquatic Mammals in Vallejo, California, from April 6 through 11, 1997. The symposium continues the series of meetings previously held in Harderwijk (1994) and Moscow (1991). Symposium topics will include sensory systems, cognition, and communication of marine and other aquatic mammals. Relevant work on other species is also welcome. Attendance at the symposium will be limited to participants who contribute oral or poster papers. A formal call for papers will be issued next month, and abstracts will be due January 15, 1997. If you wish to receive more information, send your name and mail and e-mail addresses to dbain(\)u.washington.edu. David Bain Conference Chair dbain(\)u.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 19:25:08 -0400 From: Kathryn Lockwood Wallace Subject: smuggling whale meat I am trying to put together an extensive report on whale meat smuggling incidents that have been recorded or apprehended in the last 5 to 10 years. If anyone has information on specific whale meat smuggling incidents or can point me towards good sources, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance, Sincerely, Katie Wallace Reply to: klw1(\)acpub.duke.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 21:55:46 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Whaling Conference Whaling Conference By AUDREY WOODS Associated Press Writer ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) -- World whaling authorities have denied a Siberian indigenous group the right to hunt a rare species, prompting Russia to accuse its opponents of hostility. The International Whaling Commission also called on Norway to end its commercial whale hunting. Russia asked the whaling group to permit its Chukotka people to kill five bowhead whales annually under a special category permitting aboriginal people to hunt a few whales. Russia argued that the Chukotka needed the whales for food and to help rebuild traditions undermined by the Soviet government. They already have the right to hunt 140 gray whales a year, which are no longer listed as endangered. The bowhead is classified as endangered. At the end of the International Whaling Commission's five-day annual conference Friday, the regulatory body almost succeeded in reaching a consensus in favor of Russia's request, but delegations from Mexico and Australia held out. Russia accused Mexico and Australia of bias, saying they were both determined to inflict damage on the Russian economy and harm its native peoples. The other delegates assured Russia that their decisions were based on the issue at hand and not meant to be hostile. Russia dropped the request. The commission passed a resolution demanding that Norway to end its commercial whale hunting and report on the size of its whale-meat stockpiles and its efforts to clamp down on illegal exports. Norway objects to the commission's non-binding worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling. It resumed hunting in 1993, despite protests by many other nations and anti-whaling groups. "We are not going to comply," Norwegian commissioner Kare Bryn said. "It is a matter of extreme irritation ... to be faced with this sort of resolution year after year." Bryn and most of his delegation walked out, leaving a delegate to vote against the resolution, which passed 18 votesto nine. Norway does not kill whales at its 1970s level of about 1,800 a year, but takes several hundred minke whales annually. Japan, too, objects to the moratorium and kills several hundred whales each year under a provision that allows a limited kill for scientific research. The commission called on Japan to stop hunting in an Antarctic whale sanctuary. Japan persists, despite repeated international protests. The commission also passed a resolution against a Canadian plan to permit the indigenous Nunavut people in the Northwest Territories kill one bowhead whale. Canada, which withdrew from the commission in 1982, had an observer at the conference who objected to the resolution, saying the aboriginal peoples of Canada have a right to harvest marine mammals. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 21:56:14 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Norway storms out of IWC meeti Norway storms out of IWC meeting By Helen Smith LONDON, June 28 (Reuter) - Norway stormed out of the International Whaling Commission and a disgruntled Russia dropped a request for an exemption from the whaling ban on Friday, the last day of a divisive annual meeting. The Norwegian delegation at the meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, was infuriated by a resolution passed by the IWC censuring it for continuing to hunt whales, and by what it sees as the dominance of anti-whalers in the Commission. The IWC voted in a resolution ordering Norway to honour the organisation's 1982 moratorium on global whaling, to clampdown on smuggling of whalemeat and to provide information about its stockpiles of meat and blubber, delegates said. Norway, which opted out the 1982 moratorium and has set a catch quota of 425 minke whales for this year, was also told it could not lift a ban on exporting whale products. In a long and angry speech, Norway's IWC commissioner, Kare Bryn, accused the IWC of overstretching its powers and acting like a dictatorship. His delegation returned to the conference after a couple of hours. "We just wanted to make a protest. We want to continue to work with the IWC and change things from within," Norway's IWC commissioner Kare Bryn told Reuters by telephone. The resolution censuring Norway is passed by the IWC every year and has become almost a ritual. "It was a signal that this process has to stop. It's too late for this year, it's much more directed at next year and the year after," said Bryn. The IWC moratorium set zero catch limits for all whaling nations with the intention of resuming hunts once whales were no longer under threat of extinction. But as whale populations have recovered, anti-whaling nations have shifted their stance in favour of outlawing whale hunting altogether. Norway and Japan, which catches some 300 minke whales a year under the guise of "research," accuse the IWC of breaking its treaty and they claim to have growing support. But anti-whalers still hold a strong majority in the IWC. Russia on Friday dropped a request that Siberian whalers from the Chukotska peninsula be allowed to catch five bowhead whales after it became clear that it would not get the required three-quarters majority in a vote for approval. The United States on Thursday withdrew a similar request for the North American Indian Makah tribe to catch five grey whales, saying it would reintroduce it next year when it had come up with some answers to concerns raised by IWC delegates. Russia said it would not repeat its request. The IWC permits "aboriginal whaling" by cultures with a long history of whaling who rely on the meat for sustenance, but delegates were not convinced the Makah tribe really needed the whales since they stopped their hunt in 1926. The Chukotska whalers already have a quota allowing them to catch 140 grey whales, but last year they caught only 85. Delegates were concerned that the whalers would sell meat from the endangered bowhead whales in defiance of the IWC moratorium, or that, like the grey whale meat it would be used to feed foxes on Siberian fur farms. The IWC also agreed on a resolution committing it to investigate environmental threats to whales, which scientists say are now more of a danger than hunting. But even this was not an easy ride, because Japan and Norway objected to elements that would restrict the killing of whales for research. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 13:05:34 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: more white cetaceans Marmamers, I forgot to add two species to the recent additions to the white cetacean list (for those of you keeping track): Heaviside's dolphin Atlantic white-sided dolphin Dagmar Fertl ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 13:32:12 EDT From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Paper request (Forwarded request sent to Cetacean Society International) We are seeking a copy of an article from a Symposium on cetaceans which is unavailable in Australia and hope that you may be of assitance: "SYMPOSIUM on the biology and conservation of small cetaceans of the Southeast Phillipines in June 1995, UNEP" Please respond with details of availability for loan or purchase, with payment details, to: Librarian, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, POB 1379, Townsville QLD 4810, Australia, fax 61-077-726093, *Email ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 11:40:51 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 7/3/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is longer the first Friday posting for July 1996 (posted on July 3, 1996). NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 06/28/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Manatee Mortalities. On July 2, 1996, state and federal scientists announced that red tide has been determined as the cause of a record 158 manatee deaths during March and April 1996 in southwest Florida. Thus far in 1996, a total of 304 manatees have died, exceeding the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 1990.} [Assoc Press] . Yangtze River Dolphin Aid. On June 26, 1996, a group of Japanese aquarium officials and biologists donated 1 million yen to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology for protecting the endangered Yangtze River white flag dolphin. [Dow Jones News] . Dolphin Deaths. On June 23, 1996, FL Marine Mammal Stranding Network scientists reported that eight dead bottlenose dolphins had washed up on Bay County, FL, beaches during the past week. Cause of death was suspected to be either a virus or red tide toxins in fish upon which the dolphin feed. [Assoc Press] . Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Expansion. On June 21, 1996, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe pledged $5 million toward expansion of the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium. The funds will be used to construct a beluga whale habitat mimicking the Alaska coast. [Assoc Press] . Dolphin Injury Appeal Denied. On June 20, 1996, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied an appeal of a lower court award for medical expenses and punitive damages relating to pain and suffering from a dolphin bite at the now-closed Ocean World, formerly located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. [Assoc Press] . Wandering Manatee. On June 12, 1996, the same manatee that ventured as far north as Rhode Island in 1995 crossed the Florida-Georgia border swimming north. [Assoc Press, Dept. of the Interior press release] . Norwegian Whaling. On June 14, 1996, forty Greenpeace protesters blocked four whaling vessels from leaving port for four hours near Kristiansand, southern Norway. In mid-June, 1996, Norwegian news reports stated that only 56 of 202 minke whales killed this year have been sold, and that whalemeat equivalent to at least 30 whales was still in cold storage from the 1995 harvest. [Reuters, personal communication] . ATOC. On June 14, 1996, the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources approved a permit for the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to use the undersea cable they had installed off Kauai prior to learning that a permit was required. The cable is part of the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. [Assoc Press] . Sea Lions. On June 12, 1996, the Fishermen's Alliance of Monterey Bay held a news conference to announce they are petitioning Congress for relief from increasing sea lion abundance that threatens their fish catch or for a return of sea lion management to the State of California. {On June 28, 1996, the Humane Society of the United States, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, and Earth Island Institute amended a previous complaint filed to challenge the authorization to kill sea lions at Ballard Locks. The amended complaint challenges the legality of transferring three sea lions to captivity a t Sea World of Florida without public review.} [Assoc Press] . PCB Barge Removal. On June 12, 1996, a Canadian court refused to issue an injunction sought by environmental groups to halt a Canadian government plan to raise the Irving Whale oil barge containing more than 9 tons of PCB-contaminated fluids from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The environmental groups fear raising the barge, which sank in 1970, would rupture its structure and release the fluids; these groups would rather the government pump the fluids from the barge before attempting to raise it. [Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling. On June 11, 1996, NMFS published revised and updated regulations for aboriginal subsistence whaling, including provisions applicable to potential whaling by the Makah Tribe, Washington State. [Fed. Register] . Steller Sea Lion Research Aborted. On June 5, 1996, a 115-foot scallop vessel, hired by NMFS for a month of research on Steller sea lion physical condition and diet at several Aleutian Island rookeries, suffered a mechanical failure and was damaged at Yunaska Island in the Aleutians. The research program for 1996 was halted and will be resumed in 1997. [Assoc Press] . Release of Former Navy Dolphins. Between May 30 and June 4, 1996, the two former Navy dolphins that had been released near Key West, FL, were recaptured by NMFS and Navy personnel. On June 7, 1996, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture suspended the license issued to the operators of the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Subsequently NMFS requested and the Navy agreed to re-assume responsibility for care and maintenance of the two recaptured dolphins and a third dolphin recovered from the Sugarloaf Dolphin Sanctuary. On June 13, 1996, two of the dolphins were flown back to Navy facilities in San Diego, CA. [personal communication, Reuters, Navy press release] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. On June 24-28, 1996, the IWC will hold its annual meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland. In early June 1996, Britain announced that it would join New Zealand in offering a proposal to ban the use of electric lances. On June 17, 1996, NOAA Administrator James Baker announced that the United States will support the Washington State Makah Tribe's request of the IWC to hunt and kill five gray whales for ceremonial and subsistence purposes annually. On June 25, 1996, Russia requested IWC approval for an annual quota of five bowhead whales for native inhabitants of the Chukotsk region. In addition, Japan requested IWC approval of an "interim relief allocation" for killing 50 minke whales in the North Pacif ic to alleviate economic hardship in coastal whaling communities. On June 24, 1996, the IWC approved as adequate Norway's estimate of 118,000 minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. On June 26, 1996, the United States and Australia announced that they were submitting a joint resolution seeking to ban Japanese killing of whales for research purposes. {On June 26, 1996, the House Committee on Resources, by a voice vote, approved a sense of Congress resolution expressing strong opposition to the Clinton Administration's decision to support whaling by the Makah.} On June 27, 1996, the IWC voted 16-8 (with 5 abstentions) on a proposal to ban Japanese use of electric lances -- the proposal was rejected having failed to gain the three-fourths majority required for passage). In addition, the IWC voted 8-16 (with 5 abstentions) on the Japanese request for killing 50 North Pacific minke whales by coastal whaling communities, thus rejecting the proposal. On June 27, 1996, the United States announced that it had withdrawn its request for an annual aboriginal whaling quota of five gray whales for the Makah tribe in Washington state. On June 28, 1996, the Norwegian delegation walked out of the IWC annual meeting. The IWC {voted 18-9 to approve} a resolution calling on Norway to respect the 1982 moratorium on commercial whaling, enforce measures to control whalemeat smuggling, and provide information on stockpiles of whale products. A separate IWC resolution was approved prohibiting Norway from lifting an export ban on whale products. Norwegian delegates protested that the IWC was overstepping its powers. {In addition, the IWC approved a resolution against a Canadian plan to permit indigenous Nunaviut of the Northwest Territories to kill one bowhead whale annually. In the face of significant criticism, Russia withdrew its proposal that its Chukotk a people be allowed to kill five bowhead whales annually.} [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] . Tuna-Dolphin Controversy. On June 6, 1996, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ordered S. 1420, the Senate companion to H.R. 2823, reported. [Congr. Record, Assoc Press, Defenders of Wildlife press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 22:29:00 +0800 From: Chris Parsons Subject: Re: smuggling whale meat In-Reply-To: <199607030456.MAA28895(\)hk.super.net> On Tue, 2 Jul 1996, Kathryn Lockwood Wallace wrote: > > I am trying to put together an extensive report on whale meat smuggling > incidents that have been recorded or apprehended in the last 5 to 10 > years. If anyone has information on specific whale meat smuggling incidents > or can point me towards good sources, I would greatly appreciate it. > Thank you in advance, Sincerely, > Katie Wallace > > Reply to: klw1(\)acpub.duke.edu > Although it was not exactally smuggling as such, we did have an incident in Hong Kong in 1990. Daimaru, a large japanese owned department store was openly selling whalemeat on it's shelves, until one of the local green groups reported it. Bill Amos looked at it's DNA and identified the meat to be from Minke whales and if my memory serves me right, from the North Atlantic. The meat had come over from Japan illegally, as Hong Kong is a CITES singnatory. When taken to court, however, the case was dropped and daimaru wasn't even fined. The reason for this was quoted to me as :we had no local expert witness who could testify that it was really whale meat", despite the fact that Bill Amos's testimony and findings were presented in court. I hope this is of interest to you, Chris Parsons ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 19:31:14 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: ABSTRACT: Organochlorines in cetaceans from western North America W.M. Jarman, R.J. Norstrom, D.C.G. Muir, B. Rosenberg, M. Simon and R.W. Baird. 1996. Levels of organochlorine compounds, including PCDDS and PCDFS, in the blubber of cetaceans from the west coast of North America. Marine Pollution Bulletin 32:426-436. Mailing address for W.M. Jarman: Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA. ABSTRACT Levels of organochlorine compounds (PCDD, PCDF, PCB and organochlorine pesticides) were determined in cetaceans collected from the west coast of North America between 1986 and 1989. The samples included gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) and Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) collected in British Columbia, and harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) collected in British Columbia and central California. TCDD and TCDF levels ranged from 1 to 8 ng/kg and 2.0 to 109 ng/kg, respectively. The highest levels of PCDDs were found in the harbour porpoises; the levels of 1,2,3,6,7,8- HxCDD in the samples from Victoria, Campbell River and Qualicum River were 128, 128 and 62 ng/kg, respectively. Five other 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and dibenzofurans were detected in the cetaceans at levels ranging from 1 to 10 ng/kg. In addition to the 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners, several non 2,3,7,8- substituted congeners were detected. The patterns of the PCDDs and PCDFs in the British Columbia porpoises were consistent with implication of chlorophenols as the source of the PCDDs and PCDFs, which were either present in wood chips used in bleached kraft paper mills, or came from direct contamination by chlorophenols. No PCDDs or PCDFs were detected in the California samples. One false killer whale sample had exceptionally high levels of DDT compounds (1700 mg/kg DDE, 120 mg/kg DDT and 40 mg/kg o,p'-DDT) and Toxaphene (89 mg/kg). PCB levels in the cetaceans were highest in the false and killer whales (22 to 46 mg/kg GM) and lowest in the Risso's dolphin (1.7 mg/kg). Levels of DDE in the British Columbia harbour porpoises were 6.0 mg/kg, and probably reflect the accumulation of global background levels of DDE. ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Box 6244 Victoria, B.C. V8P 5L5 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 10:05:20 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Red tide killed dozens of Fla. Red tide killed dozens of Fla. manatees - researchers By Jim Loney MIAMI, July 2 (Reuter) - An unusual combination of cold weather and a red tide in coastal waters of southwest Florida caused an unprecedented rash of deaths among the state's endangered population of manatees this year, researchers said Tuesday. An intensive four-month search by an international team of experts determined that 158 manatees were killed in March and April by ingesting brevetoxin, a poison produced by a micro-organism known as red tide, experts said. Researchers said a unique combination of factors caused the deaths -- unusually cold winter weather that drove large numbers of manatees south, where they congregated in warmer waters at the same time that red tide, normally found well offshore, moved into coastal areas. "This was truly a unique event. We have red tides every year in Florida yet manatees aren't dying like flies," said Dr. Thierry Work, a researcher with the National Biological Service. Marine mammal experts initially were mystified by the manatee deaths. They speculated the deaths could have been caused by a virus or bacteria or by a water-borne toxin. Red tide was one of the initial suspects. But the event appeared to differ from past red-tide- related incidents in that relatively young, healthy manatees were killed quickly and without the apparent symptoms of red tide poisoning. However, researchers found evidence of brevetoxin in the liver, kidneys and other organs of the dead manatees, leading them to the conclusion that the animals had died from ingesting, and possibly breathing, the red tide toxin. "We found the highest concentrations of brevetoxin in the kidneys of the affected animals," said Daniel Baden, a professor of marine biology at the University of Miami. "This suggests the brevetoxin was ingested with food." In humans, neurotoxins affect the nervous system, causing the victim to lose muscle control and stop breathing. Researchers believe the effect is similar in manatees. The Florida manatee, a leathery aquatic mammal that averages 10 feet (three metres) in length and 1,000 pounds (450 kg), dates back at least 45 million years. It has hovered on the edge of extinction for years, yet has no natural enemy save humans. Each year dozens of manatees are killed by speeding boats, disease or cold weather. The last survey of Florida's manatee population indicated about 2,600 remain. A spate of manatee deaths is not unprecedented, but there has never been one this large. In the winter of 1976-77, and again in 1990, several dozen manatees were killed by cold spells. In 1982, 39 manatees died as a result of red tide. Researchers said the manatees evidently were not able to detect the elevated levels of red tide in the water and there are few options available to prevent a similar die-off. "We are faced with the possibility that this may happen again," said Work. "This is a natural event." ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 00:40:04 -1000 From: Mike Osmond Subject: Whale lice and emaciation Dear Marmammers, I am looking for any observations or publications dealing with heavy concentrations of whale lice on humpback whales. I am also interested in ascertaining how quickly an injured or affected humpback may show signs of emaciation. My e-mail address is whale(\)maui.net With thanks, Mike Osmond ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 15:12:29 -0700 From: Clayoquot Biosphere Project Subject: "tagged" whale reported Reported off Bamfield, west coast Vancouver Island, B.C., by sports fishing boat, approx. 15ft "whale" (species not known) with "tag" on dorsal fin. Does this make sense to anyone? Jim Darling Research Director CLAYOQUOT BIOSPHERE PROJECT P.O. Box 67, 451 Main Street Tofino, B.C., Canada V0R 2Z0 Tel: (604) 725-2001 Fax: (604) 725-2433 Biosphere: Complete range of all living things within their natural habitat of soil, water and air. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 19:41:49 +0100 From: Nicholas Mitsakakis Dear all, I am being currently involved in a research project related to the humpback whalesong. I would like to ask you about any reference concerning the hearing sensory system as well as the sound production system of the whale and, more specifically, the humpback whale. Any information would be really helpful. Thank you in advance, Nicholas Mitsakakis nichm(\)aisb.ed.ac.uk Department of Artificial Intelligence University od Edinburgh ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 13:38:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Information Request (fwd) > > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I am interested in finding out about any marine mammal research that is > > currently taking place in Scotland. I am also interested in the name and > > location of any facilities there that house marine mammals. > > > > I would be very grateful for any information or if someone could just point > > me in the right direction. > > > > My e-mail address is: > > Whisssper(\)aol.com > > > > Thank you in advance > > Patricia > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 15:14:00 -0700 From: Jeff Jacobsen Subject: Summer Sailing Marine Mammal Classes I am re-posting this due to several requests of interested students that are not California residents. The classes ARE OPEN to out of state residents for an additonal fee of $127.00. PARTICIPATE IN A SAILING RESEARCH EXPEDITION! This summer Mendocino College, in conjunction with the research organization Pelagikos, will be offering three sections of Natural Resource Studies (NRS) 100, Field Ecology in the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Peligikos operates an 84-foot sailing rese arch vessel which will be used during the course of study. The courses (see descriptions below) will coincide with ongoing research that Pelagikos has been conducting in bioacoustics and feeding behavior of blue and humpback whales. This is a unique opp ortunity to engage in this research while attaining one unit of transferable credit to California State University (CSU). The courses will be taught by instructors who have been involved in this research for the past four years. Registration is through Mendocino College. Courses are open to all California residents. Out of state students can participate for a fee of $127.00. NRS 100 FIELD ECOLOGY: WHALE FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND ACOUSTICS An introduction to field research techniques used to detect, document and analyze the general feeding behavior and acoustics of the blue and humpback whales in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This 7-day course will take advantage of the on going activities of the marine research organization Pelagikos and its 84-foot sailing research vessel. Other marine habitats and dynamics surrounding the islands will be explored. Two sections will be offered. Instructor: C. Hawkinson, M.S. Sailing Dates: Section 1: Leave Sunday, July 21; return Saturday, July 27 Section 2: Leave Sunday, August 4; return Saturday, August 10 Cost per student is $1950 NRS 100 FIELD ECOLOGY: WHALE BEHAVIOR This is an intensive 8-day sailing expedition. It will focus on the whale population within the Channel Islands area. In addition to the study of whale behavior, the course will examine the relationship of marine cetaceans to human evolution. This will then be discussed as a metaphor for the specimens approach to scientific study and its resultant effect on our perceptions of the natural world. One section will be offered. Instructor: U. Kaldveer, Ph.D. Section 1: Leave Saturday, September 14; return Sunday, September 22. Cost per student is $2250 All expeditions will leave from and return to Santa Barbara Harbor. Berths are extremely limited; early commitment is encouraged. Costs are exclusive of student transportation. Expedition support is tax deductible. For additional information, please call the executive director of Pelagikos, Urmas Kaldveer, Ph.D., at (707) 462-5671, or email him at urmas_kaldveer(\)redwoodfn.org. Pelagikos 3020 Bridgeway, Number 155 Sausalito, CA 94965 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 12:28:21 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: albino spermwhale (fwd) > Ciao Dagmar, > > Your quest for the albino cetaceans is probably over by now. > > But I have just finsihed reading a French magazine called Terre Sauvage. On > the n.108 issue (july-august) there is an article on spermwhales : among > other terrific pictures by Flip Nicklin, there is one of an albino calf > swimming with the mother. > > I am posting this to the list as the pictures are really great - worth > having a look. > Terre Sauvage can be bought in Europe and Canada, otherwise their fax number > is: (1)4435.6060 > > > Eleonora de Sabata > edes(\)RMnet.IT > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 23:36:14 -0300 From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" Subject: Re: 'Sailing' behaviour in Southern Right Whales (fwd) While I have observed many "sailing"displays in right whales off Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, here in their breeding area of Southern Brazil we have not observed a single such event in fifteen years. I have seen tails up, but never approaching the duration (several minutes) observed in Patagonia. Our coastline here, unlike Valdes, does not have steep changes in depth close to shore - would depth have anything to do with it? Besides, in our core study area off Santa Catarina there is only one mating group recorded - would the females not feel it necessary to avoid male approaches? Thanks for discussing "our"whales around here. Jose Palazzo, Brazilian Right Whale Project iwcbr(\)ax.apc.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 19:21:35 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Whale meat market, Norway 3 July 96 the Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff (by Gene Buck) reported that "only 56 of 202 minke whales killed this year have been sold, and that whalemeat equivalent to at least 30 whales was still in cold storage from the 1995 harvest". The enclosed article from High North Web News, 5 July 96 ( http://www.highnorth.no/Meny.map?48,87 )provides an update on the market situation for minke whale meat in Norway. Norwegian Minke Whaling: No Problems Selling Meat, but Blubber Mountain Growing "At present Norwegian minke whalers have no problems finding a market for their meat," says Harald Dahl of the Norwegian Fish Sales Organisation to High North Web News. "The meat bought by the production companies is distributed immediately," he says. According to Dahl, who is in charge of the whale meat auctions at the Fishermen's Sales Organisation, there is also no longer any more meat left in storage from last summer's whaling season. Due to a dispute between the Fishermen's Sales Organisation and the dominant group of whale meat buyers over the fixed minimum first-hand price of whale meat, the buyers refused to buy the meat for a period in June and the Fishermen's Sales Organisation considered a temporary hunting stop. The conflict was solved, however, with the fixed minimum price being upheld, and the Fishermen's Sales Organisation granting the whale meat buyers just short of one million Norwegian kroner in subsidies for the storage of whale blubber. It is the Fishermen's Sales Organisation that has the authority to set the minimum price, which for this season has been set at NOK 26.50. The last catches have been auctioned off at close on NOK 30, with NOK 31.50 being the highest bid so far. There is no market for whale blubber in Norway. The Norwegian government has implemented a voluntary ban on the export of whale products and consequently the blubber mountain is steadily growing. The whalers are obliged to take the blubber ashore. Of the 1996 quota of 425 minkes, just under 100 have yet to be taken. The season was set to close on July 8, but has been extended until July 15. This year, more of the meat has been sold from the production companies directly to the consumers. This way the price of first class whale meat is kept at about NOK 70 compared to the 120 to 150 kroner that has to be paid in supermarkets and fish and game shops. Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, Po. Box. 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway email: highnor(\)online.no ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 16:54:36 -0500 From: Nicole Lynn Couillard Subject: information request Dear marmammers: I am beginning a research project regarding the effects of man-made noise on cetaceans. Unfortunately, I have found little information so far. I would appreciate it if you could share any information you may have about research that has been done or is currently being conducted on this subject. Thank you in advance, Nicole L. Couillard My email address is: nlcouill(\)midway.uchicago.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 21:45:49 IST From: OZ GOFFMAN Subject: Choking in dolphin Shalom Fellow Marmamers: I wish to report a strange case of a dolphin choking on a fish and ask whether or not anyone has seen a similar thing. We are studying the behavior of a solitary female dolphin in Nuweiba, on the Sinai Pennisula. This dolphin, as well as the two Bedouins with whom she has developed a particularly close association (Abeidallah and Muhammed), have been featured in Newsweek. The dolphin allows a great many people to swim with her and touch her, but displays a particular preference for Abeidallah and Muhammed, both of whom have hearing disabilities, and both of whom swim with her every day for several hours. Her normal routine is to swim with them early in the morning, swim with tourists the rest of the day (including them, as they regulate the number of tourists and show the tourists the games she plays with them), and then she goes off at night to find fish and rest. This past week, Abeidallah went to Jordan and Achmed, another Bedouin from the same tribe, went swimming with Holly early in the morning. When he reached her, he saw that she was gasping or choking and behaving strangely. He went and got Muhammed who approached Holly, noticed the same abnormal behavior and opened her mouth. He didn't see anything there, but reached into her mouth and found a fish lodged in her throat. He pulled the fish out and noticed it was quite large. Holly then was okay. Has anyone who has observed dolphins or has fed them in dolphinariums, aquariums, etc. ever seen a dolphin get a fish lodged in its throat and have difficulty breathing afterwards? If so, what did they do about it and how did the dolphin respond? Holly allowed Muhammed to stick his arm down her throat, without anyone holding her or restraining her, but then he has developed a very close relationship with her over the last 1.5 years. I would also be very interested in just hearing about rehabilitation programs for cetaceans in Europe and the U.S. in general and would ask that those people involved in them please contact me at my email address below. Thanks. Oz Goffman, Director, IMMRAC email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 16:30:56 -0400 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Re: FLENSING DOLPHIN SKULLS AND BODIES Aloha Marmammers, Jason Turner recently asked for information on an efficient means to flense 30 to 50 dolphin skulls. The following suggestions apply to flensing complete skeletons of smaller cetaceans in general and allow the flensing of a complete 8 foot T.t. skeleton in one or two hours by two experienced workers. (The efficiency of this method should not stop the worker and observers from stopping to examine the evolutionary wonder that is being revealed during the flensing process. It does allow more time for observation.) This method works on cetaceans up to 15 - 18 feet long. A flensing is done after the post mortem is completed. Tools: Thick rubber gloves (dishwashing OK - medical rubber gloves are too thin), a small T-gaff - 6 to 9 inches long, a pair of pliers with good teeth and grip, a scalpel, a knife sharpening stone, and a small hunting type knife with a blade three times longer than the blubber is thick on the species to be flensed. Samples: Get a sample skull or really good pictures of a skull of the same species that is being flensed. Examine vertebrae from a skeleton of the same species. View an assembled skeleton of the same species if possible and take pictures. Look for any frail or delicate bones. Also look for any sharp bone areas. The Knife: As much as most people thinking about flensing a skeleton as large as a dolphin's would think of using a long bladed knife these are dangerous and do not allow the control needed to produce museum quality skeletons. This level of quality is not nicked by blades or blade tips. The handle of this knife should not get slippery when wet. The blade should not bend and the tip should be rounded off to between an eighth or quarter inch radius - depending on knife design. This keeps accidental tip nicking from happening. Remove or reduce in size the hand guard if the knife has one. Working on an eight foot T.t. would use a knife blade about four inches long. Reduce the size of the blade if you have to, but reintroduce the concave and the edge near the point. This knife will be used on the head and body. The Trick: The fastest way to separate a cetacean skeleton from surrounding tissue is to use your hands - not a knife. Hands work quickly and do not cut bone. The knife is to gain access to the skeleton for your hands. Muscle and sometimes fat (rarely blubber) easily separates from bones. Cutting too close to flat areas of skeletons sometimes prevents or reduces the effectiveness of using your hands. This technique even works on the skull so leave as much meat as possible on the skull when finding the foramen magnum. The hardest part is getting a grip on the soft tissue to be removed so leave as much soft tissue as possible in difficult areas. The skin and blubber are usually very tough and make good tissue to gaff or grab with the pliers. Plan your strategy ahead of time while analyzing pictures or samples. Avoid sharp bones, they can cut your hand. In some areas you can use your hand if you move with the sharp edge not against it. Procedure: Separate the head from the body at the foramen magnum. Put the head aside as you practice on the body. Stand it on the flat surface you created by separating it from the body so it will not roll around or fall off something and damage the specimen. The Body: Use the knife to cut through the blubber at points where the bones come closest to the surface - e.g.. dorsal of the spinal column. This will create long cuts through the blubber, exposing the muscle. Making two cut lines along each side or the dorsal chevrons makes it easier to cut the blubber off the ends of bone closest to the surface. Sharpen the knife blade repeatedly during this process - as soon as it feels like it is loosing its edge. (If you have two knives, the gaffer can sharpen one while you work on the body.) Use your hands to feel the difference between soft tissue and bone. Once cut lines are connected and cut through to muscle, insert your strongest hand into a cut near the center of a cut line, find the bone and move your hand along the bone separating muscle from bone. Move your hands in both directions from the dorsal fin all the way down to the column itself and locate the lateral spurs and ribs. This may help you find where to make the side cuts if you have not already done so. Once the side cuts have been made, hook the gaff into the anterior end of the blubber / muscle mass and while the gaffer pulls on the soft tissue move your hands along any bones you come to and separate the muscle mass, etc., from the bone. When the process gets difficult or your hand meets resistance, cut through the soft tissue from the inside out coordinating with the gaffer in a safe manner. Move on to the other areas of the body. A lot will be on the job learning. The Head: Look at the sample skull real well to see how close you can cut the skin and blubber to any bones. Make cuts through the skin and blubber near all bones closest to the surface and connect the cut lines. The entire melon can come off with very little cutting inside the parabola. The soft tissue at the back of the skull can also come off easy with gaff and hand but remove it later so the head can stand while working. The scalpel is to be used in the eye, ear and jaw base area where bones are very thin and skinny. Disarticulate the jaw with the scalpel. The throat / tongue can be cut out with the knife. At this stage one worker can finish the skull / jaw while the other disarticulates the spinal column into manageable lengths. Number and label all parts with non-degrading labels. Place skeleton in beetle pit. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com Dolfinman(\)gnn.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 09:09:13 BSC From: Andre Barreto Organization: UNIVERSIDADE DO RIO GRANDE - RS - BRASIL Subject: Sailing Whales I noticed that people are only refering to this sailing behaviour in right whales (I might have missed some posting) but at least another whale have this behaviour. Claudia Bethlen, who is researching humpback whales (Megaptera novangliae) in the Archipelago of Abrolhos in northeastern Brazil, said that the whales there do the same kind of thing. As they are photoidentifying the whales, they are specially happy when the whales do that. She said that tha whales usually (they didn't quantify it) do this in shallow water, but she said that didn't remember noticing this behaviour with any special wind condition. See you in the Web, Andre S. Barreto | Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinhos | Depto. de Oceanografia - FURG (posasb(\)super.furg.br) | C.P. 474 Rio Grande RS | 96201-900 | Brasil __________________________|_____________________________________ | "Hours can become centuries, just as words can become lies" | | Margaret Armem | |________________________________________________________________| ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 7 Jul 1996 07:29:18 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: Abstract: Babysitting in sperm whales ABSTRACT: H. Whitehead. 1996. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 38: 237-244. "Babysitting, dive synchrony, and indications of alloparental care in sperm whal es." Young sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) serially accompany different members of their social group at the surface while the majority of the group is foraging at depth. The presence of a nearby larger whale is likely to increase the survival prospects of the young animal. In studies off the Galapagos Island s, first-year calves were less likely to be seen at the surface alone than were lar ger whales, and groups containing calves showed less synchronous diving behaviour -- shorter intervals with no larger whales at the surface -- than those without calves. Th is difference in diving synchrony was not solely the result of behaviour by individ uals assumed to be the mothers of calves (as they spent a disproportionate amount of time accompanying them). Thus babysitting in sperm whales seems to be a form of allo parental care. Its benefit may have been an important factor in the evolution of sociali ty in female sperm whales. Hal Whitehead Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 20:05:02 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Employment Opportunity (fwd) > > > > Sea Otter Aquarist > > Ideal candidate will have min. 2 yrs. exp. working w/marine mammals in > > a captive environment preferably with animal training experience > utilizing > > operant conditioning. SCUBA certification mandatory. Excellent customer > > service skills. FT position (Fri-Tues work schedule, W/Th off.). > > Excellent benefits. Apply to: Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row, > > Monterey, CA 93940, Attn: Human Resources or e-mail: adavis(\)mbayaq.org > > EOE/Committed to Diversity > > > > Anne M. Davis > Human Resources > Monterey Bay Aquarium > 886 Cannery Row > Monterey, CA 93940 > > e-mail: adavis(\)mbayaq.org > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 23:57:51 -0500 From: MR WILLIAM T MILLER Subject: Re: Choking in dolphin This is a response to the Director of the IMMRAC, Oz Goffman. You asked if anyone "...who has fed dolphins or has fed them in dolphinariums, aquariums etc ever seen a dolphin get a fish lodeged in it's throat and have difficlut breathing afterwards?" I am biological assisstant at the Universty of Florida Vet School and am working on joint Vet/Wildlife project. My previous job, however, was a technician at the Florida Museum of Natrual History in the Dept of Mammalogy. I was specially doing curatorial work on the cetacean collection. A large part of my duties was to go through the Necropsey reports for all the cetacean specimens and record various bits of data. These were reports of wild doplhins stranded along Floridas coast line. This was two years ago but if I remember correctly-the records spanned between twenty and thirty years and there were several dolphins who's cause of death was listd as choking. In these cases a large fish had been found lodged in the dolphins esophagus. I believe there may have been no more than 5 at the most of incidents I came across. But apparently this is not an unheard of misfortune in the existence of wild doplhins. I hope this is of use to you. William Thomas Miller University of Florida College of Vet Med Dept. of Pathobiology brpk56a(\)prodigy.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 11:32:14 -0300 From: Natalie Jaquet Subject: Abstract: sperm whales Jaquet, N. and Whitehead, H. (1996). Scale-dependent correlation of sperm whale distribution with environmental features and productivity in the South Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series 135 : 1-9. The purpose of this study was to investigate sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) distribution in relation to underwater topography, temperature gradients and primary and secondary productivity. The influence of these factors over different spatial scales (80 - 640 nautical miles) was examined, and the importance of food resources in determining sperm whale distribution was assessed . The data were collected during a survey around the South Pacific. Principal component analyses were used to assess the relationship between the environmental measures recorded and to relate them to sperm whale density. The first principal component was considered as an index of secondary productivity, the second as an index of underwater topography, and the third as a contrast between deep and surface productivity. Sperm whale density was correlated with the first and the second principal components over spatial scales equal to or greater than 320 nautical miles. This result indicates that sperm whales are generally distributed within large areas which are characterized by high secondary productivity and steep underwater topography. The size of these areas may reflect the distances over which the groups of whales move in search of food. The absence of correlation over smaller spatial scales suggests that factors other than the distribution of food resources also influence sperm whale distribution over these scales. Nathalie Jaquet Biology Dept., Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada E-Mail: njaquet(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 12:08:16 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Re: information request In-Reply-To: <9607062212.AA27942(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk> Dear MARMERS, I am putting out this posting in response to the recent request by Nicole Lynn Couillard for information re effects of man made noise on cetaceans. Embarrassed apologies if this appears to be blowing my own trumpet, but I have a paper coming out next month in the JMBA (Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom) entitled "Acoustic assessment of populations of common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, in conjunction with seismic surveying" - you can all breathe in now! It had been my intention to let this one slip quietly into the literature and see what came up. Given the level of interest in 'noise pollution' and the fact that this Journal may not be in wide circulation stateside, I feel (almost) compelled to announce it. The abstract follows at the bottom of this message. If anybody is interested, please delay email requests for reprints until mid August, otherwise I will almost certainly have misplaced names/addresses by the time the reprints come. I feel happier blowing someone else's trumpet, so check out "Marine Mammals and Noise" by Richardson et al (1995) Academic Press ISBN 0-12-588440-0. I've recently purchased my own copy after it was recommended to me and find it has that rare quality of a book on (bio)acoustics in that it is difficult to put down. At 50 pounds sterling (80 dollars?, sorry I'm from that quaint little country across the water) it's also not bad value. My congratulations to the authors on an excellent text, with a very extensive reference list. I've also recently come across an abstract in JASA 96(5), 3268 by Bruce R. Mate et al entitled "A change in sperm whale distribution correlated to seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico". If anyone out there has an email address for Bruce Mate could they drop me a line, I'd like to discuss their paper further. John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK. email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT OF POPULATIONS OF COMMON DOLPHIN, DELPHINUS DELPHIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEISMIC SURVEYING. Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis (bairdi), were monitored acoustically across a survey area of 2747 km2 (800 square nautical miles) during a three month period before, during and after an oil industry 2D seismic reflection survey. Over 900 hours of audio survey data were collected and analysed, along with GPS positional data, to reveal trends in presence and distribution of animals. The presence of dolphins was determined from vocalisation events on the survey recordings. Dolphin presence was assessed by a system of percentage acoustic contact. Percentage acoustic contact with common dolphins was highest before and after the seismic survey, showing a clear southwesterly skew within the survey area and a probable southwesterly migration of animals between September and December. Acoustic contact with dolphins during the seismic survey also showed a southwesterly skew within the survey area, although percentages were lower. Monitoring during the period of seismic activity was restricted to the immediate vicinity (1 - 2 km) of the seismic vessel, so percentage contact most likely reflects the response of dolphins to such immediate activity. The overall result suggests an avoidance reaction by common dolphins to air gun emissions, although certain observations suggest tolerance to these sounds outside a kilometre radius of the guns. ---------------------------------------- On Sat, 6 Jul 1996, Nicole Lynn Couillard wrote: > > Dear marmammers: > > I am beginning a research project regarding the effects of man-made noise > on cetaceans. Unfortunately, I have found little information so far. I would > appreciate it if you could share any information you may have about research > that has been done or is currently being conducted on this subject. > > Thank you in advance, > Nicole L. Couillard > > My email address is: nlcouill(\)midway.uchicago.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 23:56:59 -0700 From: GreenLife Society Subject: Cetacean Occasional Papers GreenLife Society - North American Chapter Occasional Papers On Cetaceans The GreenLife Society - North American Chapter, a think-tank with a focus on international wildlife law and conservation issues, announces the publication of two new papers in its International Environmental Law & Policy Occasional Paper Series (IELPOPS): =B7 "The International Whaling Commission in the 1990s: Problems and Prospects," GLSNA International Environmental Law & Policy Occasional Paper Series, No. 6, Feb,, 1995. This paper examines the IWC from a historical perspective, assesses the judiciousness of the resumption of commercial whaling, including a critique the Revised Management Procedure, and proffers several suggestions on how to strengthen the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling should the moratorium be lifted.=20 =20 =B7 "The International Whaling Commission and the Regulation of Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Uses of Small Cetaceans: A Critical Agenda for the 1990s," GLSNA International Environmental Law & Policy Occasional Paper Series, No. 5, Feb., 1995. This paper examines one of the most controversial and pressing issue facing the IWC: whether the organization has legal competence to regulate the taking of small cetaceans. The paper examines the dangers faced by the world=92s small cetacean species and provides extensive legal analysis on the competence issue, utilizing the text of the ICRW, customary international law, and principles of equity. Copies of the papers are available for $15.00 apiece, which includes shipping and handling; overseas customers should add $2.00 for shipping. Orders may be placed by phone, fax or e-mail. We will invoice academic institutions, government agencies and non-profit organizations. For a complete list of Center papers, please contact us. GreenLife Society - North American Chapter, 700 Cragmont Ave., Berkeley, California 94708, USA, (510) 558-0620 (phone/fax), e-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org William C. Burns =09 Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter=20 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA =09 Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 =09 WWW site: http://nceet.snre.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html =09 GLSNA Affiliations: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sound Science Initiative The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 13:49:44 -0700 From: Forsyth Kineon Subject: last call - low frequency database catalogue cross-posting, Bio-acoustics list. Dear MARMAMers About a month ago I sent out a questionnaire requesting descriptions of data bases from low frequency whale calls. I have received a number of responses, and will be producing a document by the end of September. This message is a last call for those of you who have printed out my request, but have put it aside. Please fill it out and send it back. If you know its on your desk but don't know where, look half-way down through the pile on the left hand corner. If you would like another questionnaire, please e-mail me back. My address is at the bottom of this message. Again, I appreciate the responses I have already received. I would, however appreciate more, since this is to be a comprehensive document. Sincerely, Forsyth P. Kineon ************************************************************************* Forsyth P. Kineon National Marine Mammal Laboratory 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. Seattle, Washington 98115 (w) 206/526-4101, (fax) 206/526-6615 (h) 206/726-9309 (e-mail) kineon(\)afsc.noaa.gov ************************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 21:30:06 -0300 From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" Subject: Dolphin Refugee ACTION ALERT FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS - PROFESSOR IGNACIO AGUDO GRANTED UN REFUGEE STATUS, BUT STILL NEEDS HELP! Dear colleagues, As you may already know, Professor Ignacio Agudo, a Venezuelan Biologist, researcher and environmentalist, was criminally harassed and persecuted in his country due to his campaign (together with Prof. Aldemaro Romero) against the intentional killing of dolphins for bait. With the help of human rights activists and environmentalists from Venezuela, the USA, Aruba and Brazil, Prof. Agudo, his two small daughters and their nanny were able to escape from Venezuela and reach Brazil, where he sought refugee status. We are very pleased to inform that Prof. Agudo was officially recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Comission for Refugees. HOWEVER, we have just learned that the Brazilian government, under pressure from Venezuelan bureaucrats, is about to refuse its agreement to such recognition (thereby selling out on the rights and safety of the human beings involved due to trade interests), even AFTER the UNHCR decision upon reviewing the case. It is clear from the UN decision that Prof Agudo is a victim of undue abuse and persecution for political reasons. FAXES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED to tell the Brazilian Minister of Justice - the final decision-making authority on the matter - that Prof. Agudo's plea for safe haven in Brazil, already supported by many Brazilian scientists and institutions, is also supported worldwide. The UNHCR received hundreds of letters from concerned friends in many countries in support of Prof. Agudo. We URGENTLY need to let the Brazilian government know that the world is still watching. PLEASE FAX the Brazilian Minister of Justice, Dr. Nelson Jobim, at 0055-61-3226817, requesting that Brazil IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE PROFESSOR IGNACIO AGUDO AS A REFUGEE, GRANTING HIM AND HIS FAMILY RESIDENCE UNDER SUCH STATUS, in accordance with the UNHCR decision. Even if you cannot send a fax, please write the Minister at: Ministerio da Justica, Esplanada dos Ministerios Bloco T, 4o. andar, 70054-906 Brasilia/DF, Brazil. On behalf of the Brazilians hosting and supporting Prof. Agudo and his family, I wish to express our sincere thanks for allof you who wrote to the UNHCR, and our hopes that many more people will once again help us to put an end to this long story of abuse and persecution of a man whose only crimes were courage and integrity. Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. Brazilian Right Whale Project/International Wildlife Coalition iwcbr(\)ax.apc.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 10:58:09 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Images of Whales of the Northwest Atlantic This message is on its second leg of being forwarded. Please respond to the email within the text if you are able to help this person out. Thanks! ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: Images of Whales of the Northwest Atlantic Author: Ann Bull at ~mms-no-gomr-1 Date: 7/10/96 10:54 AM Hello, My name is Daniel Barnhart and I am a US Coast Guard Living Marine Resources Enforcement Instructor stationed in Massachuesetts. I am interested in obtaining images of whales of the Northwest Atlantic for a presentation I am preparing. I am especially interested in images of the Northern Right Whale. If you have any you are willing to share or know of a location on the WWW that I could download some images please let me know. I can be reached at cgnrftc(\)capecod.net or phone 1-508-968-6474. Thank you ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 16:04:03 -0300 From: "Susan Christen G." Subject: SOLAMAC Dear Marmmers: I have news for all peoples interested in come back to Chile... in next october will the meetting and congress in aquatic mammals, the text is: 7TH MEETING : SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIALISTS IN AQUATICS MAMMALS AND 1ST CONGRESS OF THE SOCIETY LATIN AMERICAN OF SPECIALISTS IN AQUATIC MAMMALS (SOLAMAC) Dear colleague: In Vina Mar, Chile, between the 22- 25 of October is carried out l to 7th Reunion of work and the 1st Congress of the SOLAMAC. This event has 2 instances: 1. A centered in the investigation in marine mammals, through a program of free communications (orals and panels), conferences, round tables, videos, etc. 2. Another centered in generating a space of exchange of experiences between authorities, administrators and other institutions tied to the conservation and handling of the marine mammals and their ecosystems. The official languages will be the Spanish and the Portuguese. In this circulate you we sent the record of inscription and the format for the summary. RECORD DE INSCRIPCION Last name. .................................................... Names........................................................... Institution....................................................... Address.......................................................... Telephone...................................................... Fax................................................................. Electronic mail.................................................. Specialist........ Student......... Observer........... Title of the work................................................. Oral presentation......... Panel or Poster......... Video......... Audiovisual required= material........................................ INSCRIPTIONS Categories up to 15 July later 15 July US specialists 100 US 150 US students 25 there won't be Observers US100 US 150 Sending the record of inscription and the stump of I deposit (deposit in the N=BA 101-00325-00 of the Bank from Chile) or check to: Doris Ekelund Oliva Fondo de Investigacion Pesquera Bellavista 168, piso 21 Valparaiso =20 Chile=20 FAX: 56-32-2322617 For more information call to: Jose Yanez Museo de Historia Natural Casilla 787, Correo central Santiago, CHILE PHONE: 56-2-6814095 FAX: 56-2-6817182 e-mail: inach(\)reuna.cl (Anelio Aguayo) Susan Christen Grandjean Fac. Cs. Veterinarias y Pecuarias Universidad de Chile schriste(\)abello.dic.uchile.cl ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 13:47:20 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Peter Larkin Peter Anthony Larkin Peter Larkin passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 1996 at the age of 71. Beloved husband of Lois, loving father of Barbara (Fo'ad), Kathleen (Kevin), Patricia (Vic), Margaret (Bruce) and Gillian. Grandfather (Poppo) to Khandan, Shamsi, Shayda, Jessica, Caroline and Emily. Also leaves sister Joyce, uncle Stan and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A greatly respected and loved professor and administrator at the University of British Columbia; Peter was known throughout the fisheries world for his expertise and leadership. Last year he received the Order of Canada, and in June 1996 also became a member of the Order of British Columbia. Private family funeral. Everyone welcome to a reception / celebration in Peter's honour: Friday, July 19, 1996 - 4:00-6:00 p.m. Cecil Green Park House, University of British Columbia, 6251 Cecil Green Park Road, Vancouver In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larkin Lecture Series, c/o Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British Columbia, 6248 Biological Sciences Road, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 Phone: (604) 822-8181 IF MEMBERS WISH TO SHARE REMEMBRANCES AS A WAY OF HELPING US ALL SHARE OUR MEMORIES OF PETER AND HIS WORK WHICH TOUCHED SO MANY OF US, I WILL PASS THEM ON TO HIS FAMILY. Pamela Rosenbaum Marine Mammal Research Unit University of British Columbia consortium(\)zoology.ubc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 11:07:42 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 7/12/96 -- Info for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Tuna-Dolphin. On July 10, 1996, the House Committee on Resources reported H.R. 2823 (amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean), with further amendments (H. Rept. 104-665, Part 1), with referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means for a period ending not later than July 23, 1996. [Congr. Record] . Japanese Research Whaling. On July 5, 1996, the whaling mother ship, Nisshin Maru, and three catcher boats left Yokosuka, Japan for two months of research whaling in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The objective includes killing 100 minke whales. [Reuters] . Norwegian Whaling. In early July 1996, Norwegian new reports stated that there was no longer any whalemeat left in storage from the 1995 season. Whalemeat sales had been suspended for a period in June 1996 due to a dispute between whalers and whalemeat buyers over the price of whalemeat. With slightly less than 100 minke whales still to be harvested from the 425 whale quota, the close of the whaling season was extended from July 8 to July 15. [personal communication] . Sea Lions. In early July 1996, NMFS officials reported that they are investigating reports that as many as 30 California sea lions may have died (some by gunshot) recently in Puget Sound, WA. On July 8, 1996, a former commercial fisherman was sentenced to a month in prison and fined $3,000 for shooting a California sea lion in January 1993 near Long Beach, CA. [Assoc Press] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. After Australia and Mexico affirmed that they could not join any IWC consensus favoring the request, Russia withdrew its proposal that its Chukotka people be allowed to kill five bowhead whales annually. [personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 10:32:03 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 7/19/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Sea Otters. On July 18, 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public hearing in Monterey, CA, on a new draft recovery plan for California or southern sea otters. The draft plan proposes to no longer list th e CA sea otter as threatened on the endangered species list after its population exceeds 2,650 animals for three years, possibly by the year 2003. A total of 2,278 CA sea otters were counted earlier this year. [Assoc Press] . Walrus Poaching. In mid-July 1996, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents found 70 headless walrus carcasses along the beaches of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. Agents believe illegal ivory poachers took only the heads; others suggest heads were legally scavenged after dead walruses washed ashore. This is a substantial increase over the 6-10 carcasses seen in recent years. [Assoc Press] . Tuna-Dolphin. On July 17, 1996, the House Committee on Ways and Means ordered H.R. 2823 (amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean) reported. [Congr. Record, Reuters] . Norwegian Whaling. On July 15, 1996, Norway's whaling season ended with whalers having taken 381 whales of a total quota of 425. [Reuters, personal communication] . International Whaling Commission Meeting. Other resolutions approved by the IWC during its June 24-28, 1996 meeting included one requesting Japan to halt its scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, one endorsing IWC involvement in the development of whale watching, one calling attention to the plight of endangered small cetaceans, and one encouraging further non-lethal research on links between marine pollution, global climate change, and whale populations. The IWC also expressed concern that Canada may issue a license for aboriginal hunting of endangered bowhead whale in Eastern Canada. [personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 16:59:09 EST From: lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu Organization: Emory University Biology Dept. Subject: Request for information on strandings and laterality Dear MARMAMERS, I am interested in collecting some information from stranding databases on laterality (i.e. bias towards left or right side) in cetaceans. I'd like to ask your help on this. I have a couple of requests. First question is: 1) I intend to look at the proportion of individuals (by species, of course) that have stranded with their bodies right-side-down and the prop. that stranded left-side-down. Does anyone know of any reason why this might *not* be a valid measure of laterality in cetaceans? What constraints are there on this issue that one might be unaware of? 2) *If* this seems like a worthwhile endeavor - could anyone suggest stranding databases that I could access for this purpose? Basically, all I would need to do is go through files of previous strandings, get some information on the general conditions, and then pull out any information I can on whether the animal(s) stranded on the left or right side. I could do this by photographs or by file descriptions. I'll assume that once an animal is stranded it typically is not tipped over to the other side by rescuers or passers-by - but I could be wrong. So, any help in this direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Sincerely, Lori Marino lmarino(\)biology.emory.edu Lori Marino Dept. of Biology Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (404) 727-7582 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 08:15:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: WhaleNet's new URL (fwd) > Notice-- > > WhaleNet is changing over to a new server and will be using > > http://whale.wheelock.edu > > Please make note of this in your links and bookmarks. Thank you. > > Mike Williamson pita(\)whale.simmons.edu > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > J. Michael Williamson > Wheelock College > Principal Investigator-WhaleNet > Associate Professor-Science > voice: 617.734.5200, ext. 256 > fax: 617.566.7369 > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 12:51:28 BSC From: Andre Barreto Organization: UNIVERSIDADE DO RIO GRANDE - RS - BRASIL Subject: Re: Request for information on strandings and laterality In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 18 Jul 1996 16:59:09 EST from On Thu, 18 Jul 1996 16:59:09 EST said: > >1) I intend to look at the proportion of individuals (by species, of course) >that have stranded with their bodies right-side-down and the prop. that >stranded left-side-down. Does anyone know of any reason why this might >*not* be a valid measure of laterality in cetaceans? What constraints are >there on this issue that one might be unaware of? > I think that the currents near the beach might be VERY important in this matter. MOst of the time that I've found dead stranded cetaceans they were paralel to the water line. That makes sense if you think that this is their greatest crosssection, and waves would exert a greater force there. Following the same line of thought, you might assume that a strong nearshore current would put the body in line with it. And then the cetacean would strand on its left or right side acording to the current and not its preference for left or righ. And even after that the waves could roll it around, making things even more complicated. Of course this is valid only for dead strandings. Live ones might have some "choice" on the side they stay. See you on the Web, Andre S. Barreto | Laboratorio de Mamiferos Marinhos | Depto. de Oceanografia - FURG (posasb(\)super.furg.br) | C.P. 474 Rio Grande RS | 96201-900 | Brasil __________________________|_____________________________________ | "Hours can become centuries, just as words can become lies" | | Margaret Armem | |________________________________________________________________| ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 13:36:00 -0700 From: "Stark, Kimberle" Subject: Skin diseases Marmam group: I am interested in locating information on skin diseases (especially Erythema nodusum) noted on small cetaceans, particularly for Tursiops and Stenella species. I am trying to find out what skin conditions have been diagnosed and if successful treatment was administered. If anyone has information it would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! ---Kim S. E-mail address: kimberle.stark(\)metrokc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 19:19:39 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Headrearing Otaria Pups. From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) HANDREARING SOUTH AMERICAN SEALION PUPS. Does any readers of the Marmam list have a proved formula and protocol for hand-rearing the South American sealion (Otaria flavescens). Any information on this matter would be gratefully received. John Dineley ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 09:32:47 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: Reintroduction of cetaceans Hello MARMAMers: Many of you are aware of the events surrounding the Welcome Home Project, wherein two female Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Bogie and Bacall) were to be returned to their natal habitat in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Both dolphins were illegally released into the lagoon when a person or persons unknown cut a hole in the outer perimeter fence of the sea pen in which they were being held, sometime between 2200 hrs on May 16 and 0800 hrs on May 17. The HSUS offered a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of this person or persons; there has been no response. Despite an intense search effort by the Welcome Home Project staff for the first month after the release, neither dolphin was recovered, nor has either been observed begging, in distress, or stranded in the second month post-release. Pre-release photographs of both dolphins' dorsal fins have recently been mailed to dolphin researchers at Florida Tech University in Melbourne, Florida, in the hope that they may compare any future photographs taken of lagoon dolphins to these pre-release photos in an attempt to identify Bogie and Bacall and establish their status over the long term. A scientific research permit application was being prepared for the National Marine Fisheries Service at the time of the release incident. This permit application has been completed and was submitted, albeit informally, to NMFS on Tuesday, July 16, because the Welcome Home Project personnel and The HSUS felt it was important to contribute this document to the on-going efforts of NMFS and others to develop general protocols for the reintroduction of long-term captive cetaceans. I am in the process of mailing copies of the application to various interested parties for review and comment. This posting is to offer to send a copy of this permit application to any MARMAMer who is interested in cetacean reintroduction or in what the Welcome Home Project was all about; please e-mail me directly with your name and address if you would like to receive a copy. Your constructive comments and review would be greatly appreciated by the document's authors (myself, Nancy Yates, and Dr. John Hall), as well as, undoubtedly, by NMFS. Thank you. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 15:24:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: cetacean reproduction Dear Marmamers I am looking for data on artificial insemination of small cetaceans. In particular, I would appreciate hearing from facilities that have done semen collection, to learn about methods and results. Any suggestions as to relevant articles would also be appreciated, including recommendations on general small cetacean reproductive physiology. Thanks for your help. Dr. Cecile Gaspar, Dolphin Quest French Polynesia dqfp(\)mail.pf ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 22:18:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: asian cetaceans (fwd) > Dear Marmamers, > > here are three abstracts on Southeast Asian Cetaceans from the latest volume > of Asian Marine Biology > > > **************************************************************************** > *************** > Records of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) from Taiwan, > Republic of China. > Asian Marine Biology 12 (1995): 111-118. > Wang, J.Y., Chou, L.-S., Yao, C.-J., Neimanis, A.S. and Chou, W.-H. > > Contact Address: Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main > Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. > > Abstract > > Recent strandings and previous records of Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius > cavirostris, in Taiwan are described. The chronology and distribution of the > events and the external morphology and appearance, stomach anatomy and > contents, and reproductive characteristics of specimens are presented. > > **************************************************************************** > ************** > An annotated checklist of cetaceans recorded from Hong kong's territorial waters > Asian Marine Biology 12 (1995): 79-100 > Parsons, E.C.M, Felley, M.L. and Porter, L.J. > > Contact Address: The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Cape d'Aguilar, Shek > O, Hong Kong. > > Abstract > > There are records for Hong Kong territorial waters either suggesting or > confirming the presence of fifteen species of Cetacea: three members of the > Balaenopteridae (Monke whale, Bryde's whale and Fin whale); one of > Phocoenidae (Finless porpoise); one of Physeteridae (Pygmy sperm whale); and > ten of Delphinidae (Bottlenose dolphin, False killer whale, Fraser's > dolphin, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, Long-beaked common dolphin, > Pantropical spotted dolphin, Spinner dolphin, Striped dolphin, Rough-toothed > dolphin and Risso's dolphin). Of these, only two appear to be present year > round in Hong Kong waters: the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin and the > Finless porpoise. > > **************************************************************************** > **************** > Records of small cetaceans in Chinese waters: a review. > Asian Marine Biology 12 (1995): 119-139. > Zhou, K., Leatherwood, S. and Jefferson, T.A. > > Contact Address: Department of Biology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing > 210097, People's Republic of China. > > Abstract > > There are confirmed records of 22 species of small cetacean in Chinese > waters (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). The list includes a few cold > temperate speciesn and nearly all of those warm temperate and tropical > species known from the Indo-Pacific region. Three species previously > reported (Irrawaddy dolphin, Short-beaked common dolphin, and Harbour > porpoise) are herein removed from the list, based on critical review of > information supporting the identifications. One or more of these three, as > well as additional species of beaked whales, may ultimately be shown to > occur in Chinese waters. In China, small cetaceans of many different species > are suffering from problems associated with habitat loss/degradation and > kills in fisheries. Effective conservation efforts are needed to avoid the > loss of stocks and even species. > > E.C.M. Parsons cparsons(\)hkucc.hku.hk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 10:01:43 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Blue Whales Blue Whales OFF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, Calif. (AP) -- Large numbers of giant endangered blue whales have gathered offshore, drawing dozens of marine biologists who want to know why. Aboard six ships, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other experts are working on a three-week project this summer to tag and track the whales electronically. Three blue whales were tagged and followed last week, but scientists have seen many more. "This is cetacean soup out here," said Fred Benko, owner of a private charter boat that shuttles scientists to and from their research area. The mammals, some up to 100 feet long, have congregated about 20 miles west of the Channel Islands, which are about 25 miles southwest of Santa Barbara and 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Scientists first noticed the increase in blue whales in local waters in 1991, and a 1993 study indicated about 2,000 blue whales along the California coast. Preliminary research suggests that the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary contains the most concentrated blue whale population in the world. The animals have been listed as endangered since 1966, victims of the overzealous whaling industry in the first half of the century. Scientists believe there once were 400,000 blue whales roaming the world's oceans, but now only about 12,000. The blue whales feed on krill, a small, bright-red crustacean similar to shrimp. But since the Channel Islands are hardly the only place where krill thrive, researchers wonder what else might be drawing the whales to the area. To tag the whales, scientists use a crossbow to fire a dart into blubber on the creature's back. A computer records the depth and length of every dive the whale takes. "It's important for me that people know that they have a treasure out here," said sanctuary manager Ed Cassano. "This is something everybody should be proud of. It's the jewel in the crown." ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 10:02:03 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Engineers develop sensors to p Engineers develop sensors to protect manatees LONDON (Reuter) - American engineers have developed manatee detectors to save the endangered aquatic mammals from being killed in the locks and gates of Florida's canals and waterways. New Scientist magazine said Thursday that engineers from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, Fla. designed two types of detectors which will halt the moving gates and allow the animals to pass unharmed. "The animals are more at risk than you would think," Andy Clark, head of the project told the magazine. "When manatees hear the rumble of the gate opening, they think the salad bar is about to open." Sixteen manatees were killed by closing gates in Florida in 1994. The state at the southeastern tip of America is their main habitat, but fewer than 3,000 of the endangered species live in Florida waterways. Clark explained that the two types of sensors, for both vertical and swinging lock gates, are attached to the gates and send signals that differentiate between sharp shocks caused by debris in the water and softer moving objects such as the manatees. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 13:23:55 -0500 From: Don Hockaday Subject: Re: Engineers develop sensors to p >Engineers develop sensors to protect manatees Does anyone on MarMam have information on these sensors and whether they might be used to monitor manatee presence/movements? Don Hockaday hockaday(\)panam.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 09:32:00 PDT From: Phil Colla Subject: remoras To the person who recently posted about remoras on cetaceans: please contact me if you wish to discuss remoras on blue whales. We recently encountered some blues, some that were covered with remoras and some that had very few. Phillip Colla Research associate, Hawaii Whale Research Foundation. pcolla(\)cts.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 06:03:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: ACS call for abstracts (fwd) Forwarded message: From: birdman(\)friend.ly.net (Mark) Call for Abstracts American Cetacean Society 1996 Conference Whales In Today's World: Bridging Science Policy, and People The American Cetacean Society (ACS) will be conducting an international conference on cetaceans in the Los Angeles, CA area November 8-10, 1996. The format will include lectures, posters, panel discussions, workshops, and field trips, and will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Pedro, Ca. Scientists, both professional and student, are invited to submit proposals for poster presentations at the conference (oral presentations are by 'invitation only'). Acceptance of papers will be based on a review process. There will be cash awards for the two best student papers. Guidelines for Submission of Abstracts 1. Information presented must be new and significant. The abstract should contain the study's objectives (be specific), a description of the methodology, the important results, and conclusions reached. 2. Abstracts should be postmarked by August 1, 1996, although later entries during August will be considered . FAX (one copy) submissions will be accepted if original and copies are postmarked by August 31, 1996. 3. Provide proof of student status if necessary (photocopy of valid ID card). 4. Only one poster submission will be accepted from a primary author. Instructions for Poster Abstract Submissions 1. There will be a proceedings booklet, or program, that will include the abstracts exactly as submitted. The abstract will not be retyped! Make it as neat as possible, as it will be a reflection of your work. 2. Use a laser printer (Courier 12pt font ) or typewriter (Elite type.). 3. Type the abstract in an 'invisible box' 6.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall. 4. The submissions are accepted on a competitive basis and clarity of the work to be presented will be considered. Submit original abstract and three copies to: ACS Poster Abstracts c/o Mark R. Schilling Research Chair, American Cetacean Society 812 Chesapeake Drive Stevensville, MD 21666 USA FAX 410-643-8193 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 09:06:02 -0300 From: Paulo Henrique Ott Subject: anomalies in the skull of cetaceans I would appreciate hearing from those of you who are aware of literature reporting anomalies in the skull of cetaceans, specially in the region of the rostrum. I have found a few specimens of franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei - Platanistoidea) with deformities in the tip of the rostrum in southern Brazil. I'm also looking for someone that could send me a copy of a paper from a Spanish bulletin: "CASINOS, A. and PUIGDEFABREGAS, J. N. (1981). Noves dades sobre anomalies cranianes a Inia geoffrensis (Cetacea, Platanistidae). Bull. Soc. Catalana Biol. 5/6, 223-228". I'm having some difficulties to get this paper here in Brazil. Thanks for your help. Paulo Henrique Ott ================================================== Paulo Henrique Ott GEMARS Rua Felipe Neri, 382/203 Porto Alegre, RS 90440-150 Brazil e-mail: phott(\)conex.com.br ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 13:07:45 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: sea otter news Otters rebound, no longer endangered MONTEREY, Calif., July 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering removing the Southern sea otter from the federal list of endangered species because the critter's survival is no longer threatened, officials said Friday. But environmentalists warn that one bad oil spill could still wipe out most of the population. As the first step toward removing the otter from the federal list in 1999, wildlife officials are proposing a hands-off management of the otter and a discontinuation of projects that promote the animal's reproduction, said agency spokeswoman Susan Saul. The proposal says "basically it's time to stand back and let the sea otters expand," Saul said. The otters once populated the West Coast by the thousands, but hunters seeking their pelts had diminished their population to only a few hundred survivors by the turn of the century, prompting lawmakers to ban otter hunting starting in 1911. When the federal Endangered Species Act was passed in 1977, the otters were listed as threatened with about 1,700 animals. Since then, however, their numbers have grown to 2,400. A hearing was held Thursday in Monterey to solicit public comment about the otter's fate and the agency will receive written comments into September, Saul said. All the input will be taken into consideration as wildlife officials work on a revision of the otter's protection plan. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 08:50:16 EST From: Robyn Angliss Subject: Proposed List of Fisheries for 1997 The National Marine Fisheries Service published the proposed List of Fisheries for 1997 (LOF) on July 16, 1996 (61 FR 37035). The LOF, which is required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, classifies all U.S. commercial fisheries based on the level of incidental serious injury and mortality of marine mammals. The following is the press release associated with the proposed LOF for 1997. Comments on the proposed List of Fisheries must be recieved by the Office of Protected Resources by October 15, 1996. A copy of the Federal Register notice can be obtained by writing to the Office of Protected Resources (address below). Alternatively, anyone with a web browser can access the complete text of the Federal Register on the World Wide Web in either text format or Adobe Acrobat format. The GPOs Federal register site is: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html The University of California has a mirror site at: http://www.gpo.ucop.edu/search/fedfld.html Thank you in advance for any comments you wish to provide! rpa --------------------- 1997 LIST OF FISHERIES, RECLASSIFICATION OF MAINE/MID-ATLANTIC LOBSTER POT/TRAP FISHERY PROPOSED; COMMENTS SOUGHT The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on the proposed 1997 List of Fisheries that classifies each fishery according to its interaction with marine mammals. As part of the proposed changes, the fisheries service is also considering refining the regulations to promote increased state/federal coordination of Marine Mammal Protection Act registration requirements. In addition, the fisheries service is seeking comment on a proposed reclassification of the Gulf of Maine/Mid-Atlantic Lobster Pot/Trap Fishery from Category III to Category I. In the 1996 List of Fisheries, the fisheries service discussed the need to propose reclassifying the fishery to Category II. A review of data from 1990 to 1994 noted a high level of interactions with marine mammals including a critically endangered northern right whale, 11 endangered humpback whales, and six minke whales. Additional entanglements of northern right whales in lobster pot gear during the past two years also have been reported. The U.S. Congress requires an annual List of Fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The 1994 amendments to the Act are designed to reduce marine mammal mortality during commercial fishing operations. The fisheries service is seeking to reduce the paperwork burden on both commercial fishermen and the agency. Information already collected as part of a state fishery registration program, or other federal vessel registration program, could be used to fulfill the requirements of registration under the MMPA. For those fisheries where registration under the MMPA can be successfully coordinated with another registration program, the fisheries service will consider waiving the $25 registration fee. The fisheries service is committed to working with New England and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce this burden on both fishermen and fisheries managers. The proposed 1997 list evaluates U.S commercial fisheries based upon a two tiered, stock-specific approach that first addresses the total impact of all fisheries on each marine animal stock and then addresses the impact of individual fisheries on each stock. This approach is based on the rate, in numbers of animals per year, of serious injuries and mortalities due to commercial fishing relative to the Potential Biological Removal level (PBR) for each marine mammal stock. PBR is defined as the maximum number of animals that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population. Tier 1: If the total annual mortality and serious injury across all fisheries that interact with a stock is less than or equal to 10 percent of the PBR of such a stock, then all fisheries interacting with this stock would be placed in Category III. Otherwise these fisheries are subject to the next tier to determine their classification. Tier 2-Category I: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the PBR level. Tier 2-Category II: Annual mortality and serious injury in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the PBR level. Tier 2-Category III: Annual mortality and serious injury in a given fishery is less than or equal to 1 percent of the PBR level. The MMPA regulations require all commercial fishermen, regardless of category, to submit a report to the fisheries service within 48 hours of the end of each fishing trip if they have injured or killed a marine mammal incidentally in the course of fishing. Comments on this proposal should be sent to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Comments must be received by Oct. 15, 1996. ------------------------------ Robyn Angliss Marine Mammal Division Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 08:57:30 +1000 From: Janet Slater Subject: Re Engineers develop senors We are interested in more information on these sensors. We would like to = determine if they can be used for detecting dugongs in areas of the Great = Barrier Reef Marine Park when certain activities are planned which may = have an impact on the animals. If anyone has a contact for the Engineers who developed the receptors, = could they forward it to me please? with thanks Janet Slater Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority P.O Box 1379 Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia phone: 61 077 500 731 j.slater(\)gbrmpa.gov.au ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 04:26:12 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: US Navy low frequency active sonar (FWD) TO: Interested Parties FR: Joel Reynolds, Senior Attorney, NRDC JReynolds(\)nrdc.igc.apc.org DT: July 22, 1996 RE: *** MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ALERT *** U.S. Navy Issues Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement on Low Frequency Active Sonar Program On July 18, 1996, the U.S. Navy published in the Federal Register a formal notice initiating an EIS process on its development and implementation of a new anti-submarine warfare system that depends on the generation of enormously high volume/energy sound for the detection of quiet diesel electric and nuclear submarines in regional conflicts around the world. Called Low Frequency Active Sonar ("LFA"), this previously undisclosed system is being developed for deployment on a global scale, in both deep ocean and shallow coastal waters, using 70 ton transmit systems that generate sound in the range of 250 dB below 1000 Hz. Last year, after learning that the new system had been tested along the coast of California without public knowledge, NRDC wrote the Navy expressing concern about the potential marine impacts of this system and inquiring about the permit status of the project under a range of federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"). During a series of meetings with the Navy, it became clear that, despite the scope and potential environmental impacts associated with the LFA program, no EIS had been prepared, either on individual LFA exercises or on the LFA program as a whole. The Navy has now agreed to prepare a programmatic EIS on LFA. In addition to the full range of issues covered by an EIS, this EIS will address in depth the potential impacts of low frequency sound on the marine environment, "including potential auditory, behavioral, and physiological impacts on marine mammals and other marine creatures." According to the Navy, the EIS will cover the largest geographic area of any EIS ever undertaken by the Navy. Written comments may be submitted until September 4, 1996, and scoping hearings will be held in various locations during the month of August. (A list of addresses and dates is attached.) I am writing both to notify interested parties about the project and to encourage public comment. Given the classified nature of the project and the potentially significant implications of LFA for the marine environment, the broadest possible public scrutiny and comment is needed, particularly from interested members of the environmental and scientific communities. For further information, contact NRDC at (213) 934-6900 (tel.); (213) 934-1210 (fax); Jreynolds(\)nrdc.org (internet). Written comments by September 4, 1996 to: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Code N874 c/o Clayton Spikes ((703) 418-1866) Marine Acoustiics, Inc. Suite 901 2345 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 Public scoping meetings to be held at: 7:00 p.m. August 6, 1996 Granby High School Auditorium 7101 Granby Street Norfolk, VA 7:00 p.m. August 8, 1996 Roosevelt Junior High School 3366 Park Boulevard San Diego, CA 7:00 p.m. August 13, 1996 Washington Intermediate School 1633 South King Street Honolulu, HI ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 22 Jul 1996 09:57:44 +0100 From: Samantha Chalis Subject: Three year postdoctoral post (fwd) _______________________________________________ U N I V E R S I T Y O F S T A N D R E W S _______________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Statistician (Research staff, grade 2, 1A or 1B) ___________________________________________________ A statistician is required to work on wildlife population assessment projects. The successful candidate will either carry out or supervise (depending on experience and background) a two-year project to quantify discard rates on commercial fishing vessels. Model-based methods for estimating discard rates will be developed and implemented, and advice on strategies for sampling cruises will be formulated. There will be many opportunities to participate in other wildlife assessment projects. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in fisheries assessment, or some other field of wildlife population assessment. The post is for three years in the first instance. The successful applicant will join an active and international research group in the Statistics Division within the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. The Division comprises 12 academic and research staff and was awarded a research rating of 4 by the UFC in the last research assessment. The activities of the Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment (RUWPA) are funded by several international and government agencies, and centre on the development of population assessment methods, population management models and spatial models for animal abundance. Salary will be at an appropriate point on grade 1B (14317-15986 pounds) or 1A (14317-21519 pounds) for research staff or, for an exceptional candidate, grade 2 (19848-26430 pounds). Application forms and further particulars of the post are available from the Head of Personnel Services, University of St Andrews, College Gate, North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, Tel: 01334 462571 (24hrs), Fax: 01334 462570, E-mail: Jobline(\)st-andrews.ac.uk, to whom completed application forms, accompanied by a cv and letter of application, should be returned to arrive no later than 16 August 1996. Please quote Ref. No. VK76/AMC1. Please note that application forms should be obtained from and returned to the Personnel Services Department at the above address. However, if you wish to discuss details of the post in more depth, please contact either Prof Steve Buckland directly on 01334 463787 (e-mail steve(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) or David Borchers on 01334 463806 (e-mail dlb(\)dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk). More information on RUWPA and its work is given at: http://www-ruwpa.cs.st-and.ac.uk _________________________________________________________________________ Steve Buckland Professor of Statistics Mathematical Inst Tel. 01334-463787 (+44-1334-463787) North Haugh Fax 01334-463748 (+44-1334-463748) St Andrews KY16 9SS e-mail steve(\)cs.st-and.ac.uk Scotland www http://www-ruwpa.cs.st-and.ac.uk _________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 13:36:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Oil & whales OIL AND LARGE WHALES I recall hearing something about gray whales dying following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and these deaths being linked to the event. If anyone has details, particularly a citation of something published on this, I would be very appreciative of a response. Phil Clapham Smithsonian Institution clapham(\)simnh.si.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 22:08:24 +0000 From: "Michael L. Torok" Subject: Harbor Seal Investigator List The Harbor Seal Investigator List (HSIL) contains contact information for persons interested in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) research. The list is updated quarterly, and distributed via email to all list members. I have recently sent out a request for updated information from all current list members. If you are a list member and did not receive the request, please forward your updated information to me at the email address listed below. For those not currently on the list who would like to be included, please send the following information to me at the email address listed below: Name: Title (if applicable): Affiliation Name: Affiliation Mailing Address: Affiliation Phone Number(s): Affiliation Fax Number(s): Email address(es): Detailed Description of Research Interests: For those without a formal affiliation, please provide your personal contact infomation. Regards, Michael Torok ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. PGP public key available upon request. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 09:06:29 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: mm and oil (fwd) > Phil, > > See: > > Loughlin, T.R. 1994. Tissue hydrocarbon levels and the number of > cetaceans found dead after the spill. Pages 359-370 _in_ (Loughlin, > T.R., ed). Marine mammals and the Exxon Valdez. Academic Press, San > Diego. > > > Loughlin concluded that the number of stranded gray whales (n=26) was > attributed to the timing of the search effort coinciding with the > northern migration of gray whales, augmented by increased survey > effort in the study area associated with the oil spill. > > (I can bring a copy with me next week if you are interested in those > pages. Just send me an email or give me a call.) > >Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov > ___________________________________________________ > In reply to: > > OIL AND LARGE WHALES > > I recall hearing something about gray whales dying following the Exxon > Valdez oil spill, and these deaths being linked to the event. If > anyone has details, particularly a citation of something published on > this, I would be very appreciative of a response. > > Phil Clapham > Smithsonian Institution > clapham(\)simnh.si.edu > > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 11:06:22 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 7/26/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Baiji Dolphin Death. On July 23, 1996, the Xinhua News Agency reported that a rare baiji dolphin, captured from the Yangtze River near Wuhan in December 1995 and placed in the Tian'erzhou Natural Reserve, died on June 23, 1996, after becoming entangled in a protective net. [Assoc Press] . Blue Whale Research. On Aug. 2, 1996, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists will conclude a three-week project studying an annual gathering of large numbers of blue whales in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, CA. [Assoc Press, Greenwire] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 08:55:23 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphin's death won't change e (fwd) Dolphin's death won't change eco push BEIJING, July 25 (UPI) -- Examination of a nearly extinct Yangtze River dolphin showed the animal died from suffocation after being hopelessly entangled in nets surrounding a reserve along the Yangtze River, China's Fisheries Bureau said Thursday. The 10-year-old dolphin -- found dead last month -- was the only one living in the Tian-e-zhou National Baiji Reserve after its capture last December, said Li Qianyun, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture. "The death of the dolphin from such an unforeseen tragedy just illustrates how hard it is to protect it, even when all intentions are good and research on protection is solid," Li told the official China Daily. Although Li estimated there are only 100 of the animals left alive in the Yangtse, reserve workers said they will try to capture two to three groups of dolphins within the next two years and relocate them in the 13-mile reserve section of the river. It took three years of searching before researchers found the female dolphin near the central industrial city of Wuhan and placed it under observation. Experts contend the dolphin is one of the world's 12 most endangered animals. Without special protection and at the present rate of decline, the 25-million-year-old species will completely vanish in 25 years, they said. The 7.5-foot Baiji (white fin) dolphin normally swam with a pod of black finless porpoises in the reserve, until this April when it began to leave the pod more often and swim at the course entrance. The dolphin may have been in estrous during the spring, Li said, and was probably weakened by the serious flooding conditions in the reserve. "Before its death, the dolphin was frail and ailing, and experts experienced great difficulty treating it in the water," Li added. The Baiji dolphins live only in the heavily polluted middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. They are not only threatened by fertilizers and pesticides running into theriver, but a decline in fish stocks and the construction of giant dams such as the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 14:41:54 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: manatee sensors In reference to the recent newsclip on Marmam about sensors being tested to help manatees avoid being crushed in spillway gate locks, it might interest some folks to know that an article was published 1 March, 1996 in the Pensacola News Journal about this. A few names were mentioned, so perhaps those of you trying to locate contacts can get in touch with these folks somehow. Apparently Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution did a demo with a plump tomato (I can send you a copy of the article if you like). The people doing this are: Andrew Clark, director of the engineering division, and Pat Turner, an engineer. It was tested during a meeting of a task force at the South Florida Water Management. Also mentioned is Dena Dickerson, a research biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station in Mississippi. Hope this info helps someone. Dagmar Fertl Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 16:28:16 +0100 From: "R.H. Lambertsen" Subject: Re: Oil & whales >OIL AND LARGE WHALES > >I recall hearing something about gray whales dying following the >Exxon Valdez oil spill, and these deaths being linked to the event. >If anyone has details, particularly a citation of something published >on this, I would be very appreciative of a response. > >Phil Clapham >Smithsonian Institution >clapham(\)simnh.si.edu Phil - It does not fit your exact needs, but some years back my colleagues and I did a contract for the North Slope Borough, in which we examined in detail the feeding apparatus of the bowhead. The data acquired led me to conclude that Joseph Geraci's work on the effects of oil on baleen whales was technically unsound. The basic problem is that Geraci et al. conveniently assumed that one could model the function of the mouth of "baleen whales" with simple hydraulic equations. But if you think about this a minute, it is obvious that reliance on simple hydraulic pressure to drive seawater filtration actually would be MALadaptive (due to the bow wave problem), at least for the balaenids, which of course are the most endangered of the large whales. Geraci's basic assumption on these grounds was as inappropriate biologically as was the gross extrapolation found their report, which equated balaenopterids and balaenids. Here's the abstract of the technical monograph produced by the Ecosystems group. (available from Dr. Thomas Albert at North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management): Summary and Conclusion The feeding mechanism of the bowhead whale is the most critical element of the survival strategy of this species, allowing prey capture for growth, maintenance, locomotion, reproduction and lactation. Yet as a filtration system this mechanism puts the bowhead at risk of ingesting oil and other forms of pollution associated with industrial development in the Arctic. We initiated a study of the functional morphology of the mouth os the bowhead whale to better understand the basic biology of this species and its feeding-related susceptibility to pollution. Whales harvested by Eskimo hunters for subsistence purposes were examined. Using conventional measurement tools, stereophotography, close-range photogrammetry, and quantitative histological methods we describe individual baleen plates, their attachment to the skull, the diameter and length of baleen bristles, the three dimensional shape of the cranium, and the contour and surface profile of a baleen rack. In the course of this research we evaluated a method proposed by an earlier research for standardized measurement of baleen. We found it possible in conjunction with the annual hunt of bowhead whales to obtain new information important to the adequate protection of this species. Sutdies both of a functional and anatomical nature demonstrated the capability of the lower jaw and lip to rotate outward. Our photogrammetric results also demonstrated the convex shape of the external surface of the anterior portion of the baleen racks. These and other findings indicate that low hydrodynamic pressures developing along the outside surface of the baleen apparatus may be critical to the normal function of the mouth in this species. This we interpret as a possible adaptation to mimimize the amplitude of pressure waves which must develop in front of the swimming whale during feeding and which would tend to prompt effective evasive action by euphausiid prey. On this basis we conclude that earlier studies of the effects of oil on cetaceans that consider only hydraulic pressure as powering baleen function need to be reevaluated. The primary reference is: Lambertsen, R.H., Hintz, R.J., Lancaster, W.C., Hirons, A., Kreiton, K.J, and Moor, C. 1989. Characterization of the functional morphology of the mouth of the bowhead whale, __Balaena mysticetus__, with special emphasis on feeding and filtration mechanisms. 38 Figures, 12 Stereograms, 6 Tables, 134 pp. Final report of Ecosytems, Inc. to the Department of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 69, North Slope Borough, Barrow, Alaska 99723. Additional publications are: Kreiton, K.J., Hintz, R.J. and Lambertsen, R.H. Creation of a three dimensional model of a bowhead whale baleen rack using close-range photogrammetry. Ibid 5:67-75. Kreiton, K.J. Stereophotogrammetrics of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus. Masters Thesis, University of Maine, Orono. 112 pp. Lambertsen, R.H. Hintz, R.J. and Kreiton, K.J. Use of close-range photogrammetry in characterizing the functional morphology of feeding in bowhead whales. Proceedings of the 1990 joint American Congress on Surveying and Mapping and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Technical Papers 5:86-95, l990. The Marine Mammal Commission, MMS and certain other agencies were appraised of the need to do better. Please keep us informed what, if anything, you find out about the dead gray whales. Rick ______________ R.H. Lambertsen, Ph.D., V.M.D. Ecosystems Technology Transfer, Inc. P.O. Box 6788 Titusville, FL 32782 USA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 12:59:24 -0700 From: GreenLife Society Subject: Nunavut and Whaling We are currently drafting a series of articles on the latest IWC meeting and wish to include some information related to a resolution passed on Canadian whaling practices related to the taking of bowheads from the area of the Davis Strait and Hudson Bay stocks. Any information about this issue, including relevant contact persons in Canada would be greatly appreciated. William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 WWW site: http://nceet.snre.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html GLSNA Affiliations: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sound Science Initiative The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 06:32:37 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphins save swimmer (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Oz Goffman Shalom fellow Marmamers: On Tuesday, July 23 at 6 p.m. in the evening, the diving boat Jadran, which operates in the Gulfs of Aqaba and Suez, was sailing north from Ras Muhammed to Sharm el-Sheikh bay. At Marsa Bereka, the crew observed a pod of 5 dolphins and stopped the boat to swim with them. Three people entered the water to swim with the dolphins: the owner, Dani Hermon, the English dive instructor Harry Hayward, and an American-British guest, Martin Christopher Richardson. Dani and Harry only remained a short time in the water, but Martin stayed longer. After returning to the boat, the people onboard the Jadran heard a scream and rushed to the side of the boat to see Martin being thrown out of the water 1-1.5 m. They realized he was being attacked by a shark or sharks and launched a zodiac to rescue him. As Harry approached Martin in the zodiac, he saw 3 dolphins swimming around Martin, as if protectively surrounding him. They were also slapping their fins and flukes on the water's surface, creating a lot of splashing and noise. This seemed to scare off the shark from a further attack and has been reported as a behavior that dolphins engage in when protecting themselves against attack from killer whales. Martin was badly wounded with deep bites on his back, shoulder, and chest. He was taken to the Jadran where his massive bleeding was controlled and then was delivered into the care of a local Sharm el-Sheikh diving doctor (Dr. Magdi) and rushed to the Egyptian army hospital in El Tur. As of Friday, he was reported in good condition with one broken rib, pneumothorax, and deeps cuts. The dolphins clearly saved this man, of their own free will, from a further attack. Only two other reports of shark attacks have come from this region. Does anybody else know of any similar reports of dolphins protecting or saving humans from attacking sharks? Oz Goffman IMMRAC, Israel ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 27 Jul 1996 08:35:23 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: sperm whale nomenclature discussion (fwd) The topic of the "proper" name of the sperm whale has been discussed recently on MAMMAL-L, and I thought it might be of interest to MARMAM subscribers. Forwarded message: Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 12:00:01 -0400 Sender: Mammalian Biology To: Recipients of MAMMAL-L digests ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 13:30:06 -0400 From: Bob Griffin Subject: Sperm_whale_specific_name I would appreciate it if someone would provide a reference, or their opinion, on the proper specific name for sperm whales. Is it Physeter catodon, or Physeter macrocephalus? The name macrocephalus appears to be favored by sperm whale researchers, who apparently feel that "big head" is a good name for their animal. But somewhere (I cannot now remember where) I picked up the idea that catodon is actually correct. In a paper I am writing, I prefer to use proper naming convention, rather than succumb to the appreciation old biologists have for old names. Reply to the message base or me, whichever you prefer. Bob Griffin Univ. of RI Graduate School of Oceanography bgriffin(\)gsosun1.gso.uri.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 22:02:47 -0400 From: Steve Sheffield Subject: Sperm whale nomenclature > > >Bob: > In regard to your message on sperm whale nomenclature, I consulted my copy of Wilson and Reeder (1993), Mammal Species of the World (2nd ed.), and it says that both P. catodon and P. macrocephalus were used by Linnaeus in his 10th edition in 1758, but that P. catodon has line priority. I take this to mean that both are correct, but that one name (catodon) appeared in the same text just before the other one did. So, I can see why there is not a clear consensus on this issue. Anyway, I found three citations on the topic for you to consult if you wish - Schevill (1986) Marine Mammal Science 2(2):153-157, Holthuis (1987) Marine Mammal Science 3(1):87-88, and Schevill (1987) Marine Mammal Science 3(1):89-90 (the last two appear to be replies to each other on the topic). Hope this helps out. > >Regards, > >Steve Sheffield >ENTOX/TIWET >Clemson University >P.O. Box 709, One TIWET Dr. >Pendleton, SC 29670 > > > >At 01:30 PM 7/25/96 -0400, you wrote: >> I would appreciate it if someone would provide a reference, or >>their opinion, on the proper specific name for sperm whales. Is it >>Physeter catodon, or Physeter macrocephalus? The name macrocephalus >>appears to be favored by sperm whale researchers, who apparently feel that >>"big head" is a good name for their animal. But somewhere (I cannot now >>remember where) I picked up the idea that catodon is actually correct. In >>a paper I am writing, I prefer to use proper naming convention, rather >>than succumb to the appreciation old biologists have for old names. >> >> Reply to the message base or me, whichever you prefer. >> >>Bob Griffin >>Univ. of RI Graduate School of Oceanography >>bgriffin(\)gsosun1.gso.uri.edu >> >> > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 13:41:17 +0200 From: Lars Werdelin Subject: Re: Sperm whale nomenclature Mammal Species of the World does indeed say the things noted by Steve Sheffield. However (and perhaps unfortunately i this case) the ICZN does not make provision for line priority or page priority (Article 24, principle of first reviser, (a)): If two or more names, different or identical, or two or more nomenclatural acts, are published on the same date, whether in the same or different works, whether by the same or different authors, and in the case of names whether based on the same or different types, and when they are subsequently considered to be synonyms or found to be homonyms, their relative precedence is determined by the first reviser. In the present case this means that catodon may appear first in Linnaeus 1758, but if the next guy along decided that it is synonymous with macrocephalus and the latter is the valid name then that is what goes. This makes some logical sense: if the author of the name(s) didn't make a decision, go to the next younger publication, if no decision is made there, go to the next younger publication and so on. That's the principle. Apparently there has been some sort of argument over this between Schevill and Holthuis. I am not a marine mammal person so I do not know the substance of this argument. However, application of the principle of first reviser should really lead to an unambiguous result if carried out strictly. In this regard, check also Husson & Holthuis (1974) Zoologische Mededelingen 48:205-217. Lars Werdelin ************************************** Lars Werdelin, Senior Curator Paleozoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History ************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 06:57:11 -0700 From: Rick L Spaulding Subject: Re: Sperm_whale_specific_name According to Jones et al. 1992. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional papers, The Museum of Texas Tech University, which is considered the "official" accepted list of mammal names, the sperm whale is indeed Physeter macrocephalus. Hope this helps. Rick Spaulding Univ. AZ rick(\)aruba.arizona.edu ------------------------------ End of MAMMAL-L Digest - 25 Jul 1996 to 26 Jul 1996 *************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 07:44:01 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Friendly Dolphins? From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) >Oz Goffman IMMRAC, Israel wrote: >The dolphins clearly saved this man, of their own free will, from a >further attack. Only two other reports of shark attacks have come >from this region. .............Does anybody else know of any similar >reports of dolphins protecting or saving humans from attacking >sharks? I do not have specific information on dolphins "saving" humans from shark attack. However, I should point out that there are a number of reports that demonstrate that not all dolphins are as kindly disposed to humans. Dolphins have been reported to have attacked swimmers; a man was killed last year in Brazil by a dolphin. There is at least one account of a "friendly" dolphin pushing a distress swimmer back out to sea, rather than the safety of land. Further Reference: Lockyer, C. (1990) Review of incidents involving wild, sociable dolphins, world-wide in S. Leatherwood, Dr S. and R.R. Reeves, (ed.) The Bottlenose Dolphin. San Diego: Academic Press. St John, P. (1991) Educating a Wild Dolphin. Aquatic Mammals. Vol 17, no 1. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 28 Jul 1996 23:05:50 EDT From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Baby pink Dolphin in Danger of Die. Please note: The following message was received by Cetacean Society International and we forward it in the hopes that one or more experts might reply (directly to referenced email addresses please, but copy to <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com>). Thank you Bill Rossiter CSI <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- From: Alberto Suarez, INTERNET:asuarez(\)mutis.colciencias.gov.co TO: (unknown), 71322,1637 DATE: 7/24/96 11:24 AM RE: Baby pink Dolphin in Danger of Die. Sender: asuarez(\)mutis.colciencias.gov.co Received: from mutis (mutis.colciencias.gov.co [157.253.116.90]) by dub-img-7.co mpuserve.com (8.6.10/5.950515) id KAA28520; Wed, 24 Jul 1996 10:58:49 -0400 Received: from 157.253.116.215 by mutis (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id KAA02580; Wed, 24 Jul 1996 10:02:40 +0500 Message-ID: <31F5F327.39C4(\)colciencias.gov.co> Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 09:55:51 +0000 From: Alberto Suarez Reply-To: asuarez(\)mutis.colciencias.gov.co X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.0 (Macintosh; I; 68K) To: 71322.1637(\)compuserve.com Subject: Baby pink Dolphin in Danger of Die. X-URL: http://elfnet1a.elfi.com/csihome.html URGENT!! S.O.S URGENT!!! S.O.S URGENT!!!! URGENT!! S.O.S = URGENT!!! S.O.S URGENT!!!! URGENT!! S.O.S URGENT!!! S.O.S = URGENT!!!! URGENT!! BABY PINK DOLPHIN (ORPHAN) SERIOUSLY LOOSING WEIGHT AND IN DANGER OF = DYING!!!! Dear sirs: = My name is Alberto Suarez (Vet Med) and I=B9m looking for help to one = little Pink Dolphin. (Please excuse me for my english!!!!). This message is to request some help for one little baby Dolphin, who = was rescued from fishers hands in the Meta river (COLOMBIA). His mother died and this little mammal was acquired by =B3YAMATO=B2 = FOUNDATION near to Puerto Gaitan (META, COLOMBIA). Actually in this place, this dolphin receive some attention, but his = correct nutritional formula has not been established yet. This baby is = loosing weight quickly, and still we don=B9t know which is the correct = formula and the correct way to feed it. Actually his nutrition is as follows: 4 baby=B9s bottles (each one of 500c.c.) on the day as follows: = 7:00am-11:00am-3:00pm-7:00pm. each baby bottle contains: liquefied fish+5gr of Soya fix+ Water. = In the first baby bottle of the day we add Aminoacid complex, Vit E 400 = U.I. and Sunvite(mineral multivitaminic complex) and each third days we = add Vit C of 500mg. All the latest products has been elaborated by SUNDOWN Laboratories. Main features of =B3MOMOTARO=B2(a name of our Dolphin): Class: MAMMAL = Sp: INIA ; Sub Sp: GEOFFRENSIS Commun Name: DOLPHIN OR TONINA Age: 6 MONTHS Approximately.( He did=B9nt has teeths yet) Sex: MALE Date of capture: May 30 of 1996 Place: San Miguel (META,COLOMBIA) SOME MEASURES: July 2 of 1996. Weight 20 Kgs lenght from snout to tail: 116 cms lenght from snout to flipper: 35 cms Thickness of armpit: 65 cms lenght from snout to air hole: 23 cms Internal lenght of the flipper: 26 cms Coprological exam: parasital eggs negative. PLEASE: If you know the formula, the elements of composition and how we = can provide this food to =B3Momotaro=B2, OR if you Know who can help us, = please send me any information to the following e-mails: To: Alberto Suarez Gomez. Vet Med. asuarez(\)mutis.colciencias.gov.co asuarez(\)bacata.usc.unal.edu.co = Or to the following Fax numbers: (91)-2117667 ; (91)- 2748912 Santa Fe = de Bogota or YAMATO FOUNDATION (986)-641207 in Villavicencio (Meta, = COLOMBIA) Or by Air Mail A.A.(P.O.Box): 120551 Santa Fe de Bogota.D.C. Colombia. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 15:24:19 -0400 From: CTombach(\)aol.com Subject: Suction Tagging Marmammers, Does anyone have personal experience with, or information on negative physical effects of suction tags on cetaceans? We are researching pros and cons of VHF tagging and would like to know about lingering effects such as scarring, wounds, etc. Please respond to me directly. If there is interest I will post the results to Marmam once compiled. Thank you in advance, Christina M. Tombach Field Director Centre ORES Etudes Cotiere ctombach(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 13:15:55 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Friendly Dolphins? Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 10:31:33 -0600 To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion From: bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu Subject: Re: Friendly Dolphins? Hello MARMAMMERS, John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) wrote in response to Oz Goffman... >I do not have specific information on dolphins "saving" humans from >shark attack. However, I should point out that there are a number of >reports that demonstrate that not all dolphins are as kindly disposed to >humans. Dolphins have been reported to have attacked swimmers; a >man was killed last year in Brazil by a dolphin. There is at least one >account of a "friendly" dolphin pushing a distress swimmer back out to >sea, rather than the safety of land. I think it is a valid point to make that dolphins are "wild animals", but I also think that the reference to the Brazil dolphin, Tiao, should be put into perspective. She did not attack human swimmers as a random act of violence. Tiao was responding to aggressive actions from the two swimmers who were harassing her and shoving popsicle sticks down her blowhole. Her response was totally justified. Also, the dolphin references listed at the end are valid to read about descriptive observations of "friendly" dolphins, but remember that "friendly" is a term humans have placed on them. Dolphins will benignly interact with people, and I have observed on several occassions that aggressive responses by dolphins are usually to preceding behaviors by humans. =================================================================== Barbara A. Bilgre | 4422 42nd Street #4 Cetacean Behavior Lab, San Diego State University | San Diego, CA 92116 Belize Dolphin Project, Oceanic Society Expeditions | USA bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu | | PH: (619) 284-7335 "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery." - Bob Marley | Fax: (619) 284-7335 =================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 16:16:14 -0400 From: "Michele L. BIRINGER" Subject: stranding survey summary MARMAMers, Several months ago I sent out a survey on MARMAM pertaining to stranded cetaceans and survival rates. I would like to take this oppertunity to thank all who replied. But I still need more data on stranding survival rates to complete my paper. If anyone wishes to obtain a copy of this survey please contact me at the e-mail address below. If you have a completed copy of the survey, please return it at your earliest convenience. All surveys received before 08/31/96 will be included in the paper. The results (as of 07/29/96) follow: I. Number of surveys received: 25 II. Respondents experience studying cetaceans: In feild in captivity Intensive (>5 yrs.) 11 3 Moderate (1-5 yrs) 7 2 Limited (<1 yr) 3 3 III. Respondents experience with stranded ceatceans: Cetaceans LIVE DEAD BOTH Intensive 2 7 Moderate 2 6 Limited 2 2 3 IV. Experience as: Volunteer: 13 Stranding coordinator: 17 At stranding site: 20 In relocation: 8 At rehab. center: 8 In release: 7 Other: Lab/scientific work with dead cetaceans, Veterinary work at site and/or rehab. center Necropsies Training of public and government officals V. Stranding records 1991-present Number of rescues attempted: 216 Number of live stranded cetaceans recovered: 149 Number of dead cetaceans: 1,193 Number of the dead originally stranded alive: 45 Number of rehab. center cetaceans that died: 44 Number surviving relocation: 55 Number surviving to release: 10 Animals remaining in rehab. center: 1 Number surviving after release: no adequate data Number of euthanized deaths: 9 Number of non-euthanized deaths ('natural'): 974 Number of adults stranded: 87 Number of sub-adults stranded: 29 age class of others unknown Percentage of rescues in which a live stranded cetacean was recovered: 69% Percentage of dead cetaceans originally stranded alive: 3.77% Percentage of rehab. center cetaceans to die: 80% Percentage of rehab. center cetaceans to survive to release: 18.18 VI. Commonly stranded Cetacea: Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) * Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borialis) Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustis) Killer whale (Orcinus orca) Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus) Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) Rhisso's dolphin (Grampus griesus) Sperm whale (Physter macrocephalus) Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) Spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) Pacific white sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) False killer whale (Psuedorca crassidens) Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) short finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) *** Includes species known as Delphinus capensis. VII. Agencies known to be concerned with stranded cetaceans, by region: Australia: National parks and Wildlife Service Australia Nature Conservation Agency, Project Jonah (Aust. & NZ), and ORRCA USA: NOAA, NMFS, The Marine Mammal Center, Mote Marine Labs, Smithsonian Inst., US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea World (San Diego and FLa.), Dolphins Plus, >the dolphin research center, Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marineland, and the New England Aquarium. Canada: Dept. of Fish. and Oceans, Stranded Whale and Dolphin Program of British Columbia, Environment Canada. Italy: Center for Cetacean Study, Fondazione Cetacea, and Emilia-Rogmagna. Israel: IMMRAC, Ministry of the Environment, and the Society for the Protection of Nature Hong Kong: Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Dept., Ocean Life Park. Netherlands: Ecomare, Dolphinarium Harderwijk. Belgium: Belgian Royal Institute for Natural Sciences. Thank you angain, to all of those who have responded to my survey. Michele L. Biringer biringer(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu Nova Southeaster University Oceanographic Center 8000 North Ocean Drive Dania, Fl. 33304 USA Phone: (954) 452-6658 Fax: (954) 476-4888 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 14:04:04 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: Re: Friendly dolphins? John Dineley wrote: >I do not have specific information on dolphins "saving" humans from >shark attack. However, I should point out that there are a number of >reports that demonstrate that not all dolphins are as kindly disposed >to humans. Dolphins have been reported to have attacked swimmers; a >man was killed last year in Brazil by a dolphin. This particular incident apparently involved serious harassment of this sociable dolphin by some swimmers, including trying to obstruct the dolphin's blowhole; in self-defense, the dolphin subsequently attacked and killed one of the swimmers. I do not necessarily hold that free-ranging dolphins would NEVER act aggressively or injuriously toward humans, but reference to this particular incident seems inappropriate here, as the aggression was provoked (until it was provoked, I understand this dolphin's behavior toward people was benign). In fact, I imagine that reported incidents of aggressive or harmful behavior toward humans from captive dolphins far outnumber those from free-ranging dolphins. To be strictly fair, this may simply be an artifact of the increased frequency of interactions with humans experienced by captive dolphins vs. free-ranging dolphins. However, I imagine the freedom to control the encounter enjoyed by free-ranging dolphins would result in a far lower incidence of aggressive or harmful behavior even if they did interact with people as often as captive dolphins do. Furthermore, behavior that may result in harm, such as pushing a distressed swimmer away from shore, should not necessarily be considered non-solicitous. Such behavior from the dolphin's point of view may be "meant" solicitously, if for instance, it is trying to prevent the person from beaching as it might a fellow dolphin. Additionally, "mischievous" behavior from a highly sociable dolphin, such as that reported in Lockyer (1990) for Donald, should also be considered separately from aggressive or injurious behavior, as it is not necessarily harmful (although it would be unnerving!) and again, from the dolphin's point of view, is almost certainly not "meant" to be injurious. The truly aggressive behavior described for the dolphin Percy (Lockyer 1990) was apparently provoked as well -- Lockyer describes people subject to it as exhibiting "overzealous attention." Her account was unclear to me; is anyone aware if Percy ever exhibited aggression spontaneously and unprovoked? To my knowledge, the incident in Brazil is the only known deliberate killing of a human by a dolphin in recorded history. Mr. Dineley mentions "a number of" incidents of non-solicitous or harmful behavior -- other than the Brazilian mortality and the examples of Donald and Percy from Lockyer (1990), are there others to which he refers? Do MARMAMers know about others? I think this question may have been asked before, but I don't recall what the response was. If someone recalls if and when this was discussed before, I would appreciate being directed to the appropriate dates, so I can look it up in the MARMAM archives. Lockyer's review is pretty thorough through the late 1980s. It seems to me Mr. Dineley was trying to imply that the "friendly wild dolphin" is a myth. Lockyer's review doesn't necessarily come to this conclusion. I would argue that the vast majority of free-ranging dolphins show good common sense and simply avoid humans, something captive dolphins, of course, are not in a position to do. I would also argue that when free-ranging dolphins do choose to interact with people, they almost always behave benignly. The rare occurrences of aggressive or functionally non-solicitous behavior (such as pushing swimmers away from shore) seem to be the result of "familiarity breeding contempt" going either way -- that is, the dolphins exhibit these behaviors after hanging around people for awhile and either being provoked to aggression by humans or learning human limits and testing them the way they might those of other dolphins. It seems to me that when dolphins are not overly familiar with people (that is, are not "sociable"), they treat them either with caution or solicitously. Again, I'm not saying I believe free-ranging dolphins are incapable of deliberately injuring a human; I'm the last person who would want to oversimplify or mythify (?) these animals. They are wild animals and should always be treated with appropriate caution. But I certainly wouldn't agree with anyone trying to imply that free-ranging dolphins, whether sociable or not, are at all prone to aggressive or harmful behavior toward humans. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 06:47:53 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: newsclips/magazine articles Dear readers, There always seems to be a good response to posting where you can find cool marine mammal news and articles, so here goes: 1. Marten et al. 1996. Ring bubbles of dolphins. Scientific American 275(2): 82-87. (August issue) 2. The July/August 1996 issue of Wildlife Conservation has two articles about marine mammal biologists. One is on Randy Wells' work in Sarasota, the other about Patricia Majiluf and her work on South American fur seals in Peru. 3. The August issue of Natural History has an article about leopard seals vs. penguins in its section on animal behavior "Antarctic mismatch". 4. BBC Wildlife's July 1996 issue has many newsclips on marine mammals. One that is too long to post to Marmam is "Taking issue: whale poker". It's about whaling and sanctuaries. Dagmar Fertl ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 15:14:32 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Norwegian whaling Marmam: I am trying to verify or refute a rumor I heard today that Norway had extended the commercial minke whale hunt beyond July 15th and that additional whales, beyond the 381 reported killed by July 15th, had been taken. Can anyone give me an update on when the commercial harvest ended and what the final total kill was? Thanks. Gene Buck, gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 00:19:56 -0300 From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" Subject: Re: New Web Site on Brazil The Brazilian Right Whale Project, the Sotalia Dolphin Project and its coordinating institution, IWC/BRASIL, are pleased to announce the arrival of a new Home Page on marine wildlife-related conservation activities in Brazil, whalewatching and marine mammal protection in Southern Brazil. MARMAM participants will be most welcome at http://www.via-rs.com.br/iwcbr . Jose Palazzo, Brazilian Right Whale Project iwcbr(\)ax.apc.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 17:00:53 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Friendly Dolphins? From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: Re: Friendly dolphins? >Naomi Rose wrote: >This particular incident apparently involved serious harassment of >this sociable dolphin by some swimmers, including trying to >obstruct the dolphins blowhole; in self-defence, the dolphin >subsequently attacked and killed one of the swimmers. I do not >necessarily hold that free-ranging dolphins would NEVER act >aggressively or injuriously toward humans, but reference to this >particular incident seems inappropriate here, as the aggression >was provoked (until it was provoked, I understand this dolphin's >behavior toward people was benign). In fact, I imagine that >reported incidents of aggressive or harmful behavior toward >humans from captive dolphins far outnumber those from free- >ranging dolphins. The incident in Brazil was indeed the result of an animal being provoked. However, the reference I cited - St John, P. (1991) Educating a Wild Dolphin. AQUATIC MAMMALS Vol 17, no 1. - mentions an apparent unproved attack on a swimmer. As for animals in captivity, this was not the area of discussion. However, in the same paper cited by Dr. Rose, Lockyer states, as regards comparison of the behaviour of sociable wild dolphin vs captives: "The behaviour of wild sociable dolphins thus appears very similar to that of captives, given the environmental restriction of the latter" Page 346 - Lockyer, C. (1990) Review of incidents involving wild, sociable dolphins, world-wide in S. Leatherwood, and R.R. Reeves, (ed.) The Bottlenose Dolphin. San Diego: Academic Press. >It seems to me Mr. Dineley was trying to imply that the "friendly >wild dolphin" is a myth. It is a myth in the sense that these animals are not always benign and friendly. Dolphins are large and powerful wild animals. My advise to members of the public considering swimming with untrained, wild dolphins is DO NOT DO IT. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 17:11:11 -0700 From: Toni or Jim Frohoff Subject: Re: Friendly Dolphins? In-Reply-To: <199607312330.QAA01921(\)mail5.netcom.com> I would like to make a comment in regard to the discussion about lone sociable dolphins and attacks on humans. St. John (1991) and others have reported some attacks which were apparently unprovoked. However, it is a fundamental scientific error to assume that a stimulus does not exist simply because it is not observable to the observed. Not that any of those involved in this discussion have done this, but I mention it as an obvious, but an easily overlooked problem in animal behavior research. For example, my colleagues and I conducted quantitative sequential statistical analysis on the behavior of a lone sociable dolphin relative to the behavior of human swimmers. We found that patterns of dolphin behavior emerged following human actions which were not readily apparent from qualitative observation. Had we not conducted quantitative analysis, we might have inferred that the threat displays and other antagonistic behaviors observed were not related to human activity. I am interested in knowing of any other similar incidences encountered in studying cetacean behavior. Toni Frohoff ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toni Frohoff Dolphin Data Base Email:frohoff(\)netcom.com Jim Frohoff 321 High School Rd, NE #374 Bainbridge Isl, WA 98110 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 12:36:40 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Abundance of Northeast Atlantic minke whales From Simen Gaure On May 6, Phil Clapham in this forum raised some questions about the abundance estimates of the northeastern atlantic minke whale. Specifically he enquired about explanations for the apparent large increase in abundance. At that time the abundance estimates had not been made public, so the questions could not be fully addressed. The report of IWC's scientific committee (SC) is now available. The SC established a working group(AEWG) to work on the 1995 estimate, and to re-evaluate the 1989 estimate. The AEWG consisted of 9 members: Polacheck(chair), Butterworth, Cooke, Hammond, Laake, Oien, Palka, Schweder and Smith. The AEWG agreed upon the following estimates (taken from Table 2, page 21 of the report of the SC; 95% CI in brackets): 1995: 118,299 [96,681; 144,750] 1989: 67,380 [46,572; 97,485] The 1995 figures includes more survey blocks; adjusted down to the same area the 1995 point estimate is approx 112,000. The point estimates imply an average annual increase of approx 9%, this is probably above what one should expect. The report of the SC lists a number of plausible explanations for this: 1. The extrapolation from the 1990 experiment to the 1989 survey data may introduce negative bias; 2. the 1989 estimate may have been negatively biased because the covariates it was agreed should be included in the 1995 estimate could not be incorporated in 1989 to the same extent; 3. the number of minke whales in the survey area may have increased in 1995 from immigration; 4. a natural rate of increase in the population during the 6 year period - for the lower 95% confidence interval for the 1995 abundance estimate this represents an annual increase of around 2%; 5. the 1989 and 1995 estimates may not be different statistically if the CV is under-estimated from unaccounted sources such as potential greater variability in dive sequences than is exhibited in the data from the eight minke whales used in the analysis. 6. the 1995 estimate of minke whale abundance is a more reliable estimate because it was derived from a designed survey with independent teams of observers and did not depend on extrapolation from independent observer data collected in a different year as was the case for the 1989 estimate. The Committee last year (Rep int Whal Commn 46) had agreed that analysis of the 1989 data was problematic. The report also states: The AEWG agreed that the data collection and analysis methods on which these [new] estimates are based are a substantial advance on previously used methods for North Atlantic minke whales. Nonetheless, as is always the case, the method could be further improved for use in the northeastern Atlantic and elsewhere When interpreting the estimates one should also keep in mind the following passage from the report: [...] the objective of the work in recent years [has] been to obtain an estimate of abundance adequate for use in the CLA of the RMP, not to obtain a 'perfect' estimate. I might add that the original work on the 1989 survey with an estimate of 86,736 [60,500; 117,500] (SC/44/NAB12, available as Rep int Whal Commn 43:323-331, the one suffering from the programming error), concludes in the section "Excluded biasing factors": On balance, of the excluded biasing factors, we believe that those causing the proposed estimate of g(0) to be positively biased are likely to dominate those causing it to be negatively biased. Consequently, the abundance estimates presented in Tables 6 and 7 are likely to be conservative estimates of minke whale abundance in the Northeastern Atlantic. I hope this constitutes a satisfactory illumination of the issue. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 09:43:13 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Norwegian whaling From Simen Gaure Gene Buck wrote: I am trying to verify or refute a rumor I heard today that Norway had extended the commercial minke whale hunt beyond July 15th and that additional whales, beyond the 381 reported killed by July 15th, had been taken. Can anyone give me an update on when the commercial harvest ended and what the final total kill was? Thanks. According to an NTB news release dated July 16, 1996, the commercial hunt ended July 15, the total catch was 382. The same news release says that two vessels in Vestfjorden had their season prolonged for "special reasons". According to an NTB news release dated May 20, 1996, the hunt in Vestfjorden is scientific, the quota is 21 animals, their remaining quota was 8 animals. This might be the background for the rumour you've heard. All the commercial vessels, except those hunting in the North Sea, took their entire quota. Due to unfavourable weather conditions in the North Sea during the season the vessels there only caught 23 out of their quota of 45 animals. I have not verified this information. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ======================================================================== Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 11:50:01 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cetacean Intradermal Skin Testing (fwd) Forwarded message: From: DUNNL(\)aol.com I am trying to confirm a suspected hypersensitivity in a bottlenose dolphin with intradermal skin testing. As yet I have been unable to achieve a reaction with a histamine positive control. Has anyone out there utilized this technique on cetaceans? I have one report from an unpublished thesis where Freunds complete adjuvant and a mycobacterial extract produced severe local reactions but thus far haven't located any other refs. Thanks in advance for your help. J.L. Dunn VMD Mystic Marinelife Aquarium ------------------------------------------------------------------- To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Please include your name and e-mail address in all submissions. To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 23:18:12 -0600 From: bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu Subject: Cetaceans in the Caribbean Dear Marmam Subscribers, A collegue and I are interested in any published references on cetacean sightings in the Caribbean, as well as any personal accounts. Most of the literature we have already located refers to sightings in the northern or eastern Caribbean. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please reply to the e-mail address at the bottom of this message and not directly to the server. Thank you in advance for your help. =================================================================== Barbara A. Bilgre | 4422 42nd Street #4 Cetacean Behavior Lab, San Diego State University | San Diego, CA 92116 Belize Dolphin Project, Oceanic Society Expeditions | USA bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu | | PH: (619) 284-7335 "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery." - Bob Marley | Fax: (619) 284-7335 =================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 22:34:31 -0600 From: bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu Subject: Re: Friendly dolphins? Hello again, I agree with many aspects of the response that Naomi Rose has written in regard to harmful "friendly" dolphins. I spent two years in Belize conducting a field study on free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (I always hesitate to use the term "wild" dolphins) and some of the research included underwater observations. The dolphins in Turneffe Atoll (where the study was located) NEVER acted aggressively or agonistically toward any of the swimmers in the water. I feel it is important to clarify that aggressive acts are purposefully meant to hurt another person (or animal) and agonistic acts are behaviors that may unintentionally hurt another person (or animal) such as rough play behavior. In Turneffe, I noticed three types of dolphin responses to in-water encounters with human swimmers: 1) dolphins completely avoided the swimmers, 2) dolphins were curious but wary and wouldn't approach to closely or for long periods of time (the most frequent response), and 3) dolphins would closely approach and observe us as we observed them (no physical contact EVER occured). While in Belize, I also had an opportunity to observe and film a "sociable" or "friendly" dolphin called Pita. For background information you can refer to the article by Dudzinski, Frohoff and Crane in Aquatic Mammals (1995) 21(2): 149-153. I had the opportunity to observe Pita acting both aggressively and agonistically toward people. I believe most of the aggression was because Pita had become possessive of objects or people and other swimmers were trying to interfere. The agonism was observed mostly in relation to over-stimulation by too many swimmers in the water, swimmers attempting to leave the water, and when Pita began to rough-house with "favorite" or preferred swimmers. I also interviewed several people in Belize who spent time with Pita and discovered that Pita had apparently attacked a passive swimmer after the dolphin was in an aggressive encounter with a bull shark. One thing I have noticed about Pita is that she will always perform a warning signal before she becomes aggressive. Cues preceding agonistic behavior are less clear but usually involve an increase in the activity level of the dolphin. Currently, Frohoff, Sanders, Crane and myself are preparing a manuscript on the sequential analysis of Pita's agonistic behavior in response to preceding human behaviors. It seems likely that other studies of this nature will indicate appropriate swimmer behavior and assess warning signal cues that may reduce the occurence of injurious encounters in the water with free-ranging dolphins. With regards, =================================================================== Barbara A. Bilgre | 4422 42nd Street #4 Cetacean Behavior Lab, San Diego State University | San Diego, CA 92116 Belize Dolphin Project, Oceanic Society Expeditions | USA bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu | | PH: (619) 284-7335 "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery." - Bob Marley | Fax: (619) 284-7335 =================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 11:14:32 -0900 From: "Dr. David Duffy" Subject: Bottlenose Dolphin morbilliviruses Readers with Web access might wish to check: Taubenberger, J. K. et al. 1996. Two morbilliviruses implicated in Bottlenose Dolphin epizootics. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2 (3), see URL ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 12:28:43 +1000 From: Simon Allen Subject: Re: Friendly dolphins? In-Reply-To: <199607271334.XAA17369(\)student.uq.edu.au> "...not all dolphins are as kindly disposed to humans" is an objective enough statement. I think it would suffice to say that any interaction with free-ranging (or "wild") animals is bound to have it's ups and downs due to; (a) the animals behavioural/physiological state, (b) our behaviour, and (c) our tendency to miss or misinterpret signals sent to us. This does not suggest that dolphins are overtly aggressive or take away from the awesome experiences that 99% of encounters seem to give, however, if you can't read the signs, don't take the risk! ...and returning to the original issue; Oz Goffman wrote: (snip) > surrounding him. They were also slapping their fins and flukes on the > water's surface, creating a lot of splashing and noise. This seemed to > scare off the shark from a further attack and has been reported as a (1). Is there evidence to suggest that the shark did not withdraw of it's own accord after initial strike (as they do in most attacks on humans)? (2). Can it be shown that the dolphins were looking after the human and not just their own interests? (3). Shark species identification (from wounds?) may be useful. ...personally, I am in favour of the dolphins doing the saving, it makes for a better story and it's good for objective old science! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Simon Allen School of Marine Science University of Queensland St. Lucia, Q. 4072 AUSTRALIA e-mail: s003667(\)student.uq.edu.au You will never discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore... ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 21:14:00 EST From: "Patricia St. John" <0004129062(\)mcimail.com> Subject: Friendly Dolphins, redux This is in response to the posting of Wed. July 31, by Toni and Jim Frohoff regarding friendly dolphins. In my paper, published in Aquatic Mammals, I wrote about a situation involving a free-swimming male dolphin named JoJo. I did also included a short paragraph about a second free-swimming dolphin, nicknamed "Ben" who was also a frequent visitor to the Club Med, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos location. Although I, myself, never had the opportunity to observe this animal, his notoriety greatly preceded him. I did have the chance to interview four people who had been unfortunate enough to have encountered him, one within just a few short moments of that meeting. She was a nurse who had arrived just that morning, to do a six months tour at the resort, named Turkoise. I was rushed to the infirmary by the management, so that I could interview her about the encounter. Ben, a Tursiops truncatus, with a misshapen melon which had a distinctive crease traveling laterally across the top, had gained a nasty, and well deserved reputation for unprovoked attacks on people. He would appear at infrequent times, more often than not select and single out one lone swimmer, attack several times, and once again return back to the deeper sea. At first, JoJo was given the blame for these events, but the dolphin's coloration and physical appearance were so distinctly different from that of JoJo, that Ben became almost as well-known, at least among the native populations. I last was on the island in 1989, and so have no idea whether or not Ben is still coming in for his raids. I can not claim to have been an eyewitness to these attacks, as I have already explained was the case. But I did interview three individuals, all who lived on the island, all Caucasian, two adults and one ten year old male child who had previously been beaten up by the dolphin in unprovoked attacks. And, as already stated, I also had the opportunity to interview, in depth, a fourth person, the nurse who had just been attacked, which gave me the chance to actually view the massive trauma that had been visited upon her body. She kept asking me why the dolphin had done this to her. I had no answer to give. Unlike JoJo, who used to come into that area on an almost daily basis, and who usually suffered the most aggressive physical contact by self-interested tourists, Ben was reported to have always come in, attacked and left, as quickly and covertly as he'd arrived. While I am in possession of some unusual video that I took of JoJo playing with a nurse shark and two divers, I also understand that later the next day, he was seen near Pine Cay, killing a tiger shark and then getting into a fight with a bull shark, which he lost, for possession of the corpse. I suppose that hunger won out over the desire to play. The report was made by someone who was said to have a reputation for veracity. It is my opinion that all animals who are native to the wild, even if born in captivity, ought to be treated with the same respect and caution one would give to a talented and intelligent survivor. It serves no purpose for we humans, in seeking to find companionship on this planet, to maintain an anthropomorphic attitude in creating potential concepts of behavior as to dolphin behavior or psyche, regardless of whether or not they have permanent or transient smiles. It is my opinion that dolphins in the wild should be admired from afar, unless unusual situations warrant otherwise, and that the "Flipperization", as well as the near canonization of that species can only bode ill for them insofar as public contact is concerned. Patricia St.John P.O. Box 246, Bridgewater, CT 06752, USA Email: 412-9062(\)MCIMail.com, F: 860-354-5948, T: 860-354-5948 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 22:55:35 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: House Approves Dismantling of House Approves Dismantling of Dolphin-Safe Tuna ... WASHINGTON, July 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Most conservation groups warn that House passage today of legislation weakening standards for labeling tuna cans will prevent consumers from knowing whether tuna is "dolphin-safe" and lead to dolphin deaths. Defenders of Wildlife and a coalition of eighty other groups adamantly opposed the bill, H.R. 2823 sponsored by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), because it would weaken the definition of "dolphin-safe" tuna, relax tough U.S. enforcement measures, and directly threaten the highly imperilled spotted and spinner dolphin populations. A companion bill (S. 1420) is expected on the Senate floor after the August congressional recess. "Today, Congress took a huge step backwards and allowed special interests and trade politics to dictate environmental legislation in this country. This bill would dismantle one of the most popular consumer programs ever, and would completely ignore the concerns of thousands of school children and others across America whose demands for an end to dolphin killing led to the current law," said Defenders' President Rodger Schlickeisen. "Children can tell that harvesting tuna by chasing, harassing, encircling, and injuring dolphins and separating nursing calves from their mothers is not safe for dolphins. They seem to understand truth-in-labeling better than most members of Congress." Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Island Institute, Sierra Club and many other groups supported an amendment to H.R. 2823 offered by Representatives George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) that would have retained the integrity of the "dolphin-safe" label by providing consumers with a notice on tuna cans about whether the tuna has been caught without intentionally setting nets upon them. Harassment and injury of dolphins is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. However, the Gilchrest bill changes the definition of the "dolphin-safe" label to allow intothe U.S. market tuna that was caught by methods that encircle, harass, and chase dolphins in order to catch accompanying tuna, as long as no "observed" dolphin deaths occur. Studds and Miller offered an amendment on the House floor to retain the present definition, but it failed by a vote of 161-260. The Gilchrest bill was written in response to Mexican demands that the United States change its tuna-dolphin policy after an international tribunal ruled that current U.S. law is inconsistent with General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) standards. It would implement an international agreement, known as the Declaration of Panama, which was signed last October by the United States, Mexico, and nine other countries. The Declaration of Panama mandates weakened U.S. dolphin protection laws including the 1990 Dolphin Consumer Protection Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. "The Gilchrest-sponsored, White House- supported bill is simply bad legislation that authorizes deliberate killing of depleted species of dolphins. The dolphins and American consumers lose, while foreign lobbyists and special interests win," claimed Defenders' legal director William Snape. Conservationists say the Gilchrest bill's definition of "dolphin-safe" does not take into account the various harmful effects of chasing and encircling dolphins with nets or the fact that many dolphins will die in the nets, though "unobserved." Under current U.S. law, tuna fishermen in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) can set nets on schools of tuna not accompanied by dolphins and on floating objects such as logs to avoid setting nets on dolphins. The Gilchrest bill advocates setting nets on dolphins again, arguing that alternative methods result in high mortality levels of other species like sea turtles and juvenile tuna. However, the federal government's own scientists have admitted that sea turtle bycatch levels are a result of fishermen killing for food, and that the tuna population has not been significantly depleted as a result of juvenile tuna being caught. Defenders and its coalition support bipartisan legislation sponsored by Studds and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) which would retain the present dolphin-safe standard but would change the current law's trade provisions to create an incentive for responsible Mexican tuna fishers to practice dolphin-safe methods. The Miller/Studds bill is consistent with both NAFTA and the GATT/WTO requirements. On the Senate side, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has introduced the conservation legislation. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 22:55:43 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Dolphin-Tuna Dolphin-Tuna By H. JOSEF HEBERT Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The familiar "dolphin safe" tuna label, a symbol of the campaign to safeguard dolphins from commercial fishing nets, is under assault in Congress as overly restrictive and in need of change. The House was expected to vote today on redefining "dolphin safe" and lifting the import restrictions that led to the dramatic reduction in dolphin deaths in recent years. Mexico, which has a large fleet of tuna boats, has pressed the United States to lift the import ban, promising a commitment to dolphin protection. The legislation has the support of the Clinton administration, but environmentalists are divided. Some say it once again would put thousands of dolphins in jeopardy and mislead consumers into thinking that dolphins would be protected. Other environmental groups argue that dolphin protection is best achieved internationally and that U.S. import ban has outlived its usefulness. They argue that if Congress does not ease its tuna import policy, it would mean the end of international efforts begun last October with a tentative agreement among 13 nations in Panama to protect dolphins and other marine life. The House bill would allow canneries to continue to use the "dolphin safe" designation even if the tuna is caught by deliberately forcing dolphins into nets so that tuna that often accompany the popular mammals are easily caught. This method of tuna fishing was specifically outlawed as part of the import ban and the tuna labeling requirements after it was found to have led to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of dolphins. As recently as 1991, as many as 125,000 thousands dolphins were killed in tuna nets in the eastern Pacific where the yellow fin tuna usually follow dolphin for reasons that scientists still do not fully understand. Last year confirmed dolphin deaths were put at just over 3,000. The prospect of a wholesale slaughter of dolphins no longer is a matter of concern because nations such as Mexico have committed to minimizing dolphin deaths, argues Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md., chief sponsor of the House bill. "Dolphins will continue to be protected," agrees Suzanne Iudicello of the Center for Marine Conservation. "The question is whether you want to sacrifice the entire (marine) ecosystem because one or two or 10 animals are frightened." She echoes the views of other environmental groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the World Wildlife Fund, the National Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace as well as the Clinton administration. In a letter last week to a number of House Democrats, Vice President Al Gore called the House legislation "essential to the protection of dolphins" in the eastern Pacific from southern California to Chile. Gore said it would ensure that the tentative dolphin and other marine life protection agreement reached last October would be implemented as hoped. Otherwise, it likely would fall apart, he suggested. As part of that agreement, Mexico and other nations promised to: -- Cap dolphin deaths at 5,000 per year. -- Have observers on tuna ships. -- Work to reduce the deaths of sea turtles, small fish and other species that long have been part of the tuna business. This agreement on an international level "sets the stage for eliminating dolphin mortality altogether," Gore said. But some vocal critics within the environmental community strongly disagree. The widespread resumption of encircling dolphins to get to the tuna will lead to thousands of additional dolphin deaths, argues Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute in San Francisco. "They say it's OK to chase dolphins, harass dolphins, injure dolphins as long as in capturing them you don't see any dolphins dead in the net and then it's dolphin safe," says Palmer. He said these tuna fishing practices lead to thousands of deaths after dolphins are released -- fatalities never officially counted. But Gilchrest called his legislation "an environmentally balanced approach" to protecting not only dolphin but other marine life killed by tuna fishing. ------ The bill is H.R. 2823. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 08:52:43 +0100 From: Jonathan Lidgard Subject: disturbance studies I am currently analysing data for a study on the effects of human disturbance on maternal behaviour in the grey seal at a breeding site in Lincolnshire, England. I would be most grateful for any useful contacts or references on the effects of human disturbance on marine mammals, particularly pinnipeds. Regards Damian Lidgard email:jclid(\)globalnet.co.uk c/o Brackenborough Arms Hotel Cordeaux's Corner, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 OSZ, England, UK tel:(int:+44) 1507 609169 fax:(int +44) 1507 609413 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 06:59:26 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: US Navy Low Frequency Active Sonar From: Hal Whitehead Low Frequency Active Sonar and Cetaceans Given the task of killing as many of the world's cetaceans (whales and dolphins) as possible, there are a number of options that should be considered. A huge PCB release would be quite effective, as would a twenty-fold increase in drift-netting (for the smaller species) coupled with intensive commercial whaling (for the larger ones). Another option that should be seriously considered is the use of a number of very intense mobile sound sources. Cetaceans sense their environment and communicate largely through sound. They can be easily disturbed and injured by loud noises. A deaf whale or dolphin is unlikely to survive for long or to reproduce effectively. Sounds travel particularly well in the ocean and so a very loud sou rce can affect animals over a large range. For maximum destructive ability, the following design criteria should be considered: - the source should be extremely loud (perhaps 250dB). - it should operate at a frequency most cetaceans can hear, but low enough to have a substantial effective range (low frequency sounds travel especially well in the ocean). A frequency of a few hundred hertz might be optimal. - the source should be mobile so that concentrations of Cetaceans all around the world can be targeted. - the system should be operated by an agency with the ability to deploy a number of these systems simultaneously and quickly where needed. - if this agency can keep its operations secret from the radical environmentalists who wish to protect cetaceans and other ocean life, so much the better. A slight drawback of this plan is that our understanding of the effects of sound on cetaceans is rather limited, so the effectiveness of these sound sources in destroying cetacean populations cannot be predicted accurately. However, there is a fair likelihood that they will be very effective. Added benefits include the debilitation of other m arine creatures, and the detection of submarines. Therefore, for anyone interested in the destruction of cetaceans and other ocean life I recommend a serious consideration the United States Navy's Lo w Frequency Active Sonar Program, which, according to the limited information available, seems to meet these design criteria. Hal Whitehead, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA 31 July 1996 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 08:50:45 GMT0 From: h94jd(\)luton.ac.uk Subject: Friendly Dolphins? From: John Dineley (H94JD(\)alpha2.luton.ac.uk) Subject: Re: Friendly Dolphins? >Barbara A. Bilgre wrote: >I had the opportunity to observe Pita acting both aggressively and >agonistically toward people. I believe most of the aggression was >because Pita had become possessive of objects or people and >other swimmers were trying to interfere. The agonism was >observed mostly in relation to over-stimulation by too many >swimmers in the water, swimmers attempting to leave the water, >and when Pita began to rough-house with "favorite" or preferred >swimmers. I also interviewed several people in Belize who spent >time with Pita and discovered that Pita had apparently attacked a >passive swimmer after the dolphin was in an aggressive encounter >with a bull shark. These observations seem to support similar incidence reported by Lockyer's study of dolphin/human interactions with sociable, friendly dolphins (1990). In the UK, we had the opportunity to study a wild, sociable bottlenose dolphin named "Freddy" who took up a home range in and around the fishing port of Amble on the north Northumberland coast of England. This animal was the subject of a longitudinal study by my colleague Peter Bloom. See: Bloom. P. (1991) The dairy of a wild, solitary, bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) resident off Amble on the north Northumberland coast of England from April 1987 to January 1991. AQUATIC MAMMALS. Vol. 17, no. 3. This animal would also display aggressive behaviour from time to time. These incidents followed the same pattern as outlined with Pita and seemed directly related to high levels of boat and swimmer activity directed at the animal. Many of the incidence of aggression with "Freddy" seemed to be sexual behaviour by the animal directed at swimmers in the water. Some swimmers, unfortunately, encouraging such behaviour. This seemed to be related to a belief that a dolphins erection , far being a display of sexual intent or dominance, was instead just being used as additional sensory receptor to examine the surrounding area and a sign of trust!. These problems were compounded by media reports of the "health benefits" of swimming with wild dolphins; that dolphins have never hurt or harmed people and in fact often saved people from drowning. A tragic irony of this was that on August 17, 1989 a man drowned whilst trying to save his son who had been swept in to Amble harbour. "Freddy" was foraging in the area at the time but ignored the man and the frantic rescue effort to save him taking place around him. To combat these problems a programme of public education was undertaken involving leaflets, notice boards and lectures. Codes of practice were drawn up for boating activity and swimming; people were advised, among other things, to leave the water at any signs of sexual activity from "Freddy". These measures seemed to go some way to the protect "Freddy" from harassment and abuse, although incidence of aggression towards swimmers did still occur from time to time they have been sigficantly reduced. "Freddy" disappeared from this area of coastline during 1992. His ultimate fate unknown. ================================================== John Dineley, Consultant - Animal Behaviour and Welfare, PO BOX 153, BEDFORD, MK40 2JD. United Kingdom. Telephone/FAX: 01234-342387 ================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 09:48:32 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: ABSTRACT: ATOC and the effect of political pressures on science thought MARMAM subscribers might be interested in the following..... Kineon, F.P. 1996. Acoustic thermometry of ocean climate: a case study in the effect of political pressures on science. M. Marine Affairs Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle. 100pp. Abstract One of the more controversial issues in the environmental community involves anthropogenic sound in the ocean. Sources of anthropogenic sound include: SONAR (SOund NAvigation and Ranging), vessel traffic, seismic exploration, pile driving, military experiments and civilian experiments involving tools such as acoustic tomography. Sounds produced by these sources are controversial because there are little data to determine impacts upon marine organisms. Regardless of this meager data base, research is hindered by a lack of funding, the general difficulty of studying marine organisms, and the restrictive nature of some United States (U.S.) legislation (e.g. Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act) Some sources of anthropogenic sound are restricted by statute, while others do not appear to require permits. The dearth of data, coupled with the lack of an avenue to obtain further information, and regulatory inequity, exemplify the contradictory policies surrounding man-made sources of sound. Anthropogenic sound in the marine environment has come into the public arena due to a heightened awareness of marine activities and their effects. In 1990, a feasibility test designed to determine whether sound signals could be detected over great distances was announced. This experiment, referred to as the Heard Island Feasibility Test (HIFT), occurred off a remote island in the Southern Ocean. Some marine mammal experts, as well as Greenpeace, raised objections to this experiment where sound would be projected loudly enough presumably to be heard half way around the world. However, since the experiment was taking place a great distance from the United States and the newspapers did not carry the story until the experiment was in progress, there was little public comment on the Heard Island experiment. The present focus of attention on anthropogenic sound involves the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) experiment, conceived by the same group of principal investigators involved in the Heard Island study. ATOC is a two year test aimed at establishing the feasibility of measuring temperature change in the oceans to verify current climate change models. The experiment will operate two sound sources of California and Hawaii. It is essential that the sound produced be loud enough to travel through thousands of kilometers of ocean to meet the experimental design criteria of accounting for local variations in temperature. The present controversy that surrounds the validity of the ATOC experiment, as well as the potential harm to marine fauna, is caused by: the intensity of the sound source, the innovative hypothesis of the project, and the proximity of the California and Hawaii locations to formally designated marine sanctuaries. Beneath the principle of ATOC lies the relatively newly introduced science of acoustic tomography (AT), in which low-frequency sound waves projected over long distances are used to measure variations in the physical properties of the oceans. ATOC will use AT as a powerful tool for studying global climate change through verifying climate change models. A new set of concerns about the effect of human-generated sound on marine animals has been raised by AT causing the AT experiment ATOC to become contentious, even though such research offers the prospect of better understanding global climate change. Environmentalists have challenged proposed AT experiments, arguing that they pose a threat to whales and other marine mammals. AT researchers have responded that there is no evidence that AT is harmful, and that there are many other natural and human sources of high-energy, low-frequency sound in the marine environment that have not aroused such concerns. Government agencies that are responsible for approving permits to conduct AT experiments are hampered by a dearth of data concerning the effects of such sound on marine animals. Moreover, there is a lack of a coherent policy framework for evaluating the environmental impacts of AT research. The current case-by-case approach to permitting AT experiments has produced continual challenges in which the same issues are raised, but left unresolved. A growing public discontent has lead to criticism beginning to spread to all forms of anthropogenic sound in the ocean. The need to create a coherent and equitable policy surrounding anthropogenic ocean sound becomes evident as controversy increases. Many individuals are concerned about the health of the ocean and want to learn more about how it functions. Subsequently, there are many stakeholders in the ATOC experiment. Physical oceanographers are concerned with how sound travels through the oceans. Behaviorists who study marine mammals, are interested in what type of response or potential physical damage these projections of sound will create. Fishery biologists and fishermen, similarly, are interested in the effects of anthropogenic sound on fish. Climatologists are concerned with the question of global warming and what can be learned from sound regarding this topic. Environmental groups want the ocean and its flora and fauna to be preserved for future generations, and are proponents of responsible management of the resources towards that end. Government agencies want already instituted laws to be adhered to. Finally, there is the Strategic Environmental Research Defense Program (SERDP) that funds ATOC through the Advanced Research Projects Agency. SERDP is a program established by Congress that mandates the Department of Defense to spend money on environmentally relevant issues. The impetus behind this study is the author's experience compiling the Environmental Assessment for HIFT, and participating as a marine mammal observer on the experiment. The politics, misunderstandings of the science, and controversial scientific hypotheses involved with both HIFT, and later intensified through ATOC, prompted my desire to facilitate a more fundamental understanding and structured set of policies in which to explore the ocean realm by means of sound. This paper seeks to define the controversy surrounding the ATOC experiment as an example of human-generated sound in the ocean and stake holder interactions. The ATOC study becomes instructive as a case analysis because it provides an example of the effects of public controversy on a scientific experiment. The first chapter provides context by: characterizing human-generated sound in the ocean; reviewing the history of sound research in the marine environment; reviewing the history of sound research in the marine environment; analyzing research results on the effects of sound on marine animals; providing an overview of the applicable environmental laws, and describing the case study, ATOC. The second chapter discusses ramifications of the controversy that surround the study by characterizing why ATOC is controversial, and addressing the harm this experiment has caused to the individuals involved and society as a whole. Chapter Three examines the causal factors that led to the emerging controversies. Chapter Four consists of a policy analysis focused on decisions made surrounding ATOC. This analysis includes alternative solutions, and through criteria, suggests the best plan to avoid future conflicts. Conclusions reached through this analysis were derived from current literature, and interviews with many professionals in the marine mammal research realm, environmental organizations, physical oceanographers, acousticians, policy specialists, and academicians. The broader perspective implicit in this thesis will optimistically be considered with necessary future policy surrounding all anthropogenic sound in the ocean. With over fifty years of research and an enhanced effort to understand ocean noise in the past five years, it is time to lay the foundations for such a policy. ************************************************************************* Forsyth P. Kineon, MMA National Marine Mammal Laboratory 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E. Seattle, Washington 98115 (w) 206/526-4101, (fax) 206/526-6615 (h) 206/726-9309 (e-mail) kineon(\)afsc.noaa.gov ************************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 13:53:57 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 8/2/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is longer the first Friday posting for ...... NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 07/26/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Dugong Harvest Ends. On Aug. 1, 1996, aboriginal community leaders agreed to stop hunting dugongs along Australia's Great Barrier Reef.} [Assoc Press] . Baiji Dolphin Death. On July 23, 1996, the Xinhua News Agency reported that a rare baiji dolphin, captured from the Yangtze River near Wuhan in December 1995 and placed in the Tian'erzhou Natural Reserve, died on June 23, 1996, after becoming entangled in a protective net. [Assoc Press] . Blue Whale Research. On Aug. 2, 1996, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists will conclude a three-week project studying an annual gathering of large numbers of blue whales in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, CA. [Assoc Press, Greenwire] . Sea Otters. On July 18, 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held a public hearing in Monterey, CA, on a new draft recovery plan for California or southern sea otters. The draft plan proposes to no longer list the CA sea otter as threatened on the endangered species list after its population exceeds 2,650 animals for three years, possibly by the year 2000 or shortly thereafter. A total of 2,278 CA sea otters were counted earlier this year. [Assoc Press, Greenwire] . {Wandering Manatee. On July 17, 1996, the same manatee that has migrated northward along the Atlantic coast for at least the last two years lost its satellite tracking transmitter near Beaufort, NC. On July 29, 1996, a manatee was reported in Chesapeake in the Rock Creek area of Anne Arundel County, MD.} [Assoc Press] . Walrus Poaching? In mid-July 1996, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents found 70 headless walrus carcasses along the beaches of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. Agents believe illegal ivory poachers took only the heads; others suggest heads were legally scavenged from dead walruses. This is a substantial increase over the 6-10 carcasses seen in recent years. [Assoc Press] . Tuna-Dolphin. On July 10, 1996, the House Committee on Resources reported H.R. 2823 (amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean), with further amendments (H. Rept. 104-665, Part 1), with referral to the House Committee on Ways and Means for a period ending not later than July 23, 1996. On July 17, 1996, the House Committee on Ways and Means ordered H.R. 2823 reported. On July 31, 1996, the House voted 316-108 to approve H.R. 2823, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to support International Dolphin Conservation Program in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. These amendments would repeal tuna import sanction provisions, implement the Declaration of Panama, and allow tuna to be labeled "dolphin-safe" as long as no dolphins were observed to have been killed.} [Congr. Record, Reuters] . Japanese Research Whaling. On July 5, 1996, the whaling mother ship, Nisshin Maru, and three catcher boats left Yokosuka, Japan for two months of research whaling in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The objective includes killing 100 minke whales. [Reuters] . Manatee Mortalities. On July 2, 1996, state and federal scientists announced that red tide has been determined as the cause of a record 158 manatee deaths during March and April 1996 in southwest Florida. Thus far in 1996, a total of 304 manatees have died, exceeding the previous annual record of 206 deaths in 1990. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. In early July 1996, Norwegian new reports stated that there was no longer any whalemeat left in storage from the 1995 season. Whalemeat sales had been suspended for a period in June 1996 due to a dispute between whalers and whalemeat buyers over the price of whalemeat. With slightly less than 100 minke whales still to be harvested from the 425 whale quota, the close of the whaling season was extended from July 8 to July 15. On July 15, 1996, Norway's whaling season ended with whalers having taken 381 whales of a total quota of 425. [Reuters, personal communication] . Sea Lions. In early July 1996, NMFS officials reported that they are investigating reports that as many as 30 California sea lions may have died (some by gunshot) recently in Puget Sound, WA. On July 8, 1996, a former commercial fisherman was sentenced to a month in prison and fined $3,000 for shooting a California sea lion in January 1993 near Long Beach, CA. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 10:26:17 -0600 From: bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu Subject: Re: Friendly Dolphins? John Dineley mentioned a very positive attempt to control harassment of "Freddy" as well as to decrease the incidence of injury to swimmers and the dolphin. >To combat these problems a programme of public education was >undertaken involving leaflets, notice boards and lectures. Codes of >practice were drawn up for boating activity and swimming; people were >advised, among other things, to leave the water at any signs of sexual >activity from "Freddy". These measures seemed to go some way to >the protect "Freddy" from harassment and abuse, although incidence >of aggression towards swimmers did still occur from time to time they >have been sigficantly reduced. A behavioral modification program with Pita was first recommended to me by Toni Frohoff who has a great deal of experience dealing with swimmer and dolphin interactions in captivity. My collegue, Alison Sanders, and I began modification of swimmer behavior and we noticed that Pita's behavior also changed. I first want to state that we never had swimmers in the water with dolphins unless we were conducting some kind of research. We used very explicit guidelines for in-water interactions. To record Pita's behavior, we put 3 swimmers in the water at one time with her. Two were observers or "test objects" and the third was a cetacean "specialist" familiar with Pita's behavioral patterns. The "specialist" recorded underwater video footage. All swimmers were asked to remain passive around Pita. They could swim slowly, float, vocalize or beep their watches, but no one was allowed to perform water acrobatics, reach toward Pita, or touch her. We subjectively noticed that Pita's demeanor in our presence changed. We would visit her for about 1.5 hours every 8-10 days or two weeks apart. Pita would go into a rest state in our presence, and she decreased her agonism toward swimmers when they tried to exit the water. However, I also had the opportunity to observe Pita with other groups that were not using guidelines or rules and when up to 18 people were in the water with her at one time. Her activity levels increased and she was more agonistic and occassionally aggressive. I believe that any in-water activities with dolphins (or any animal for that matter) should be strictly regulated and that guidelines should be developed for encounters. At the last Marine Mammal Conference in Orlando, there was a workshop held to assess situations with human-dolphin interactions. Toni Frohoff, Denise Herzing and Marco Cesar put together the workshop and speakers and moderated the discussion that followed. A summary of the workshop was posted over MARMAM for those who are interested. One thing that we agreed upon was that we need to develop standard guidelines for interacting with dolphin in-water and that each situation may have special considerations which would require modification of the standard guidelines. We also discussed holding another human-dolphin workshop, possibly over a weekend. I wanted to find out if there is enough interest to form another workshop that would last more than 3 hours. If interested, please contact me directly at the e-mail or snail mail address down below. =================================================================== Barbara A. Bilgre | 4422 42nd Street #4 Cetacean Behavior Lab, San Diego State University | San Diego, CA 92116 Belize Dolphin Project, Oceanic Society Expeditions | USA bbilgre(\)sunstroke.sdsu.edu | | PH: (619) 284-7335 "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery." - Bob Marley | Fax: (619) 284-7335 =================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 10:32:33 +0200 From: John Potter Subject: Low Frequency Active Sonar & marine mammals Low Frequency Active Sonar (LOFAS) as a tool of cetacean genocide. I read Hal Whitehead's marmam submission with considerable interest. He makes quite a credible case that LOFAS, of sufficient power and frequently used in the right locations, could be a formidable weapon against cetaceans. While relatively few would be physiologically injured, the long-term effect on behaviour might be much more substantial. This would make it very difficult to attribute the subsequent fatalities specifically to the sonar system. Since the programme will undoubtedly be very expensive, this will make budget justification difficult. There are additional reasons why LOFAS may fall short of the mark; 1) A few hundred Hz is only going to be really effective against the large cetaceans, primarily Baleens, since the smaller ones generally do not hear well at these frequencies. 2) The cost will probably be astronomical, and a cheaper option might be to use a less structured sound source of equal or superior intensity, such as caused by an explosive release of high-pressure gas. This is cheaper to use and a large bank of such 'acoustic guns' can be linked together to create a very high dB level. The geophysical surveying industry has been trying this type of system out for a long time now, and perhaps there is evidence from that endeavour which can be brought to bear to improve the LOFAS environmental impact estimate. 3) Air guns are only one cheap alternative. Explosives are another. A few really big packs of explosive (perhaps a few tons) could also be used to great effect, repeated sporadically at various times and choice locations. In conclusion, it seems that the evidence that LOFAS will perform as Hal anticipates is too weak and inferential to justify the inevitably high cost, particularly when alternative acoustic methods may be more cost-effective. I would think it unwise to fund the programme as a cetacean-killer until a great deal of additional study is carried out on cetaceans to discover more about their use of and vulnerability to low-frequency sound. As it happens, the US is already doing quite a lot of these things. _____________________________________ Dr. John Potter Head, Acoustics Research Laboratory c/o Dept. of Physics, National University of Singapore 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 ------------------------------------- Tel: (+65) 772 6754 Fax: (+65) 777 6126 email: phyjp(\)nus.sg _____________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 17:33:58 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: NMFS, the MMPA and rescuing free-swimming cetaceans in distress Greetings, Some of you may recall a discussion over this list from February 1995 regarding the subject of "rescuing free-swimming cetaceans in distress", and whether such actions could legitimately be considered a function of stranding networks. The discussion started when I was officially cited for violating the MMPA, after having captured a neonate harbour porpoise that was being harassed by two Pacific white-sided dolphins off San Juan Island, Washington state. The porpoise was captured, in conjunction with the local stranding network, as its probability of survival was considered minimal; National Marine Fisheries Service Enforcement, however, considered this a violation of the MMPA, not falling under the auspices of the stranding network. I protested the citation, arguing that trying to rescue the porpoise fell under the "intent" of the MMPA in regards to stranded animals. I am writing now to let MARMAM subscribers know the outcome of this protest, since individuals involved with stranding networks elsewhere in the U.S. may occasionally find themselves in similar circumstances - i.e., when faced with a free-swimming marine mammal which is clearly in distress, can it legally be captured under the auspices of a stranding network, or does it actually have to be on a beach? In response to my request of a review of the case, I received a letter from Jay S. Johnson, Deputy General Counsel for NOAA, Washington, D.C., dated September 18, 1995. The letter stated: "After reviewing the case file, I find there is no useful purpose in discouraging marine mammal scientists from trying to assist an animal in distress. I have decided, therefore, to expunge the written warning." I do not mean to imply that people should go out and "rescue" free-swimming cetaceans at their whim! The actions I refer to were undertaken after consultation and approval from the local stranding coordinator and after working out the logistics required for such an attempt (including finding a suitable facility to hold the porpoise and transportation to that facility etc). The one thing we should have done differently (in hindsight) was to contact the appropriate NMFS representative prior to beginning the rescue attempt. Actions in such instances may have to be taken quickly however, and it should be recognized that it may not always be possible to contact the appropriate person for on-the-spot permission (e.g., evenings, weekends, holidays, or lack of communication equipment when in the field etc). Since such events may occur in the future, regional stranding coordinators may wish to develop appropriate policies for dealing with them. Cheers, Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Biology Department Box 6244 Dalhousie University Victoria, B.C. Halifax, Nova Scotia V8P 5L5 Canada B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Aug 1996 09:47:39 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cooperative feeding in mysticetes (fwd) Forwarded message: From: kopelman(\)nyc.pipeline.com (Artie Kopelman) Dear collegues, I have two related requests: (1) I've been searching my mind and my files trying to remember and/or find the original description of cooperative feeding in Humpbacks. Any one out there know the reference or have a reprint of it? (I think it's a paper by Phil Clapham, but my mind keeps drawing blanks after that) (2) In that vein, yesterday I observed what might be cooperative feeding in B. physalus, but am struck by question of whether what I've seen is truly cooperation or simply a small opportunistic feeding aggregation without true cooperation. Here's a question for discussion: What criteria should be used to clearly identify cooperative feeding? Thanks, Artie Kopelman ------------------------------------------------------------------- To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca Please include your name and e-mail address in all submissions. To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Aug 1996 16:31:21 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Dolphins saving human from shark attack Shalom Fellow Marmamers: I've been following the discussion of friendly dolphins after my initial posting about the shark attack and the rescue by the dolphins and the Jadran crew. Here is an update on the information: 1) It was definitely a shark attack. Martin was bitten not less than four times. He is in better shape now and is awaiting a skin transplant on his back and chest area. He was able to smoke a cigarette 24 hours after the attack and hasn't stopped smoking since then! 2) The attack took place at a depth of 400 m, quite a ways away from shore ("in the blue")--not at a shallow depth, like one would have when swimming with a solitary dolphin or with captive dolphins. 3) The dolphins were bottlenose dolphins--there were 5 in the pod, one of which was a calf. So it could be a female pod. 4) When the three people went into the water, they swam with the dolphins without fins or masks--so they were not as agile underwater as they could have been, nor as equipped as many people are when they are swimming with captive or solitary dolphins. 5) Martin was left alone in the water (his choice). The dolphins initially disappeared on him. 6) Martin saw the shark attack him from the depths. He said he was bitten four times. In one of the attacks, Martin said that he punched the shark on the snout. 7) We do not yet know the species of the shark. The doctors in the Egyptian hospital in El Tur said that it was only one shark and by the size of the bite marks, they believe it was between 4-5 meters (we are looking for someone who is a professional to help identify the species from the bite wounds). 8) It was the dolphins' choice to return and to help Martin. They were not close to him at the time of the attack. They probably took some risk to do this, as there was a calf in their pod. They were not fed by the boat. 9) From my experience, I know that solitary dolphins can become aggressive after a period of time. I was swimming with a solitary dolphin 4 years ago in Eilat and he rountinely bit and pinned people down. The solitary dolphin we are currently investigating in Nuweiba is now starting to also show aggressive behavior--including biting, tail slapping, and ramming. This could be due to the increase in the number of swimmers that she encounters on a day to day basis. 10) Two and half years ago, there was a case of a group of divers that finished their dive, returned to their boat and then saw dolphins. They jumped back into the water to swim with these dolphins (without their gear) and the dolphins moved on about their business, leaving the site. A mako shark appeared and began to circle the swimmers. One of the swimmers freaked out and the other swimmers encircled her and swam slowly to the boat. The dolphins were within sight, but they did nothing, despite the fact that this female swimmer was very disturbed. They were not attacked by the shark. It is very hard to observe dolphins in the wild, but the information we get from such encounters in very important. There should be some formal rules, across country lines, such as not swimming in the open ocean (in the blue), not chasing the dolphins by boat or by snorkeling gear, not bothering these animals when they are resting, etc. It seems that most of the incidents where dolphins act aggressively towards humans occur when humans disturb or put too much pressure on solitary dolphins. Many of these swimmers are also not aware of or pay attention to the body language of the dolphin, which frequently will indicate that the dolphin is becoming annoyed. We see with our solitary dolphin, subtle and not so subtle changes in swimming behavior, mouth snapping, etc. that indicate she has had enough. One other thing about this attack: someone asked if the dolphins were fed by the people on the boat. As far as we know, nobody feeds marinee animals/mammals in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez as the rules and regulations of the Egyptians/Israelis are very stringent on such things. So there is not lure/enticement for these animals to approach humans other than curiosity. Hope this answers any questions, Oz Goffman, Director IMMRAC email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 16:36:59 -0700 From: Larry or Lynn Tunstall Subject: Nails used to keep sea lions off docks >From the July 31, 1996, issue of the West County Times (Contra Costa County, Calif.), credited only to "wire reports": BOAT OWNERS' REACTION TO SEA LIONS IS POINTED MONTEREY - Sea lions have worn out their welcome as far as Monterey Bay boat owners are concerned, and now face a new threat -- beds of nails designed to keep them off docks and decks. Boats and floating docks in the marina are bristling with two-by-fours with nails driven through them and left point up. Officials with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals say the new ploy may violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The information is being turned over to the state Department of Fish and Game and the National Marine Fisheries Service. +++++ Posted by Larry Tunstall, volunteer docent Lake Merritt Waterbird Refuge, Oakland CA beedleum(\)netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Aug 1996 11:24:40 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: House Approves Dismantling of (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Shaun . Gehan" <71112.403(\)CompuServe.COM> >> WASHINGTON, July 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Most conservation groups warn >>that House passage today of legislation weakening standards for labeling tuna >>cans will prevent consumers from knowing whether tuna is "dolphin-safe" and >>lead to dolphin deaths. What a fine piece of journalism this is. Well, having been informed by the "U.S. Newswire" where "most conservation groups" stand on this issue, I feel safe in saying that most environmental groups support the Gilcrest legislation. So does organized labor. So does the president. So do a vast majority of members of Congress. So do all the nations in the world who fish tuna in the international waters of the eastern tropical Pacific. Do we get a sense of this from this piece of propaganda masquerading as a news story? No, what a piece of garbage. While the writer of this piece hides his or her true intent and agenda behind a mask of psuedo-impartiality, I am not afraid to state who I am and what my position is. I work for a trade union which represented thousands of displaced American crewmembers on formerly U.S.-flag tuna vessels engaged in this fishery. Those still employed in the industry in 1992 lost their jobs when the unilateral U.S. ban on encirclement led many of the more economically strapped owners to sell their boats to foreign buyers and others to retrofit and relocate to Guam and Samoa, where they employ largely non-American crews. We also represent the workers (mostly women, mostly latina and African American) at the former Pan Pacific cannery in L.A. Under Stevens-Breaux-Gilchrest legistation implementing the international accord known as the Panama Declaration, negotiated by Clinton, many of our displaced workers will once again have jobs. Now my biases are known, I am going to vent my anger and frustration with the zenophobia which has crept into this debate, exemplified by dark comments like: >> The Gilchrest bill was written in response to Mexican >> demands that the United States change its tuna-dolphin >> policy after an international tribunal ruled that current U.S. >> law is inconsistent with General Agreement on Tariffs and >> Trade (GATT) standards. Those wily Mexicans, subverting our environmental laws and undermining the American way! The only thing missing from this "article" (but certainly not from the opponent's of the Declaration rhetoric or the floor debate by Miller supporters) is NAFTA, which has absolutely nothing to do with this in any way shape or form. Why can't people who continue to support the 1992 dolphin laws simply be honest about why they do so? It is legitimate to argue that dolphins, as relatively intelligent marine mammals, deserve special protection relative to other types of marine life? But to pretend there is no down side to the "dolphin-safe" fishery either takes psychotic self-denial or a willingness to say anything to prevail in this debate. The last thing people who might honestly not know should know is that the 1992 laws (MMPA amendments and the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act) cannot stand regardless of what happens in the Senate, unless -- as is very unlikely anytime in the foreseeable future -- the U.S. pulls out of the GATT. The boycott provisions of the law have been ruled an "unfair trade practice" and the World Trade Organizations will impose trade sanctions against the U.S. if the treaty fails. [I admit, it is a funny unfair trade practice which solely disadvantaged our own nation's workers, but that's the way it goes.] That is why GATT oponents, including Nader groups like Public Citizen and the Citizen Trade campaign (with whom I personally work with in the NAFTA debate to find true inequities in the agreement, such as TED rules, lax Mexican management of straddling stocks, lower seafood and worker safety protections in the fishing industry, etc.) have become sudden friends of dolphins. They want an issue to fight the trade battle -- a good fight, the wrong issue and a cynical tactic. I am proud that my brothers and sister in labor are supporting our workers, while continuing to fight unfair trade agreements on the merits. I'll let Greepeace, the CMC, EDF and the others defend the positive ecological benefits of this new law. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 16:44:10 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Liver sphincters in Cetacea Riccione, August 5th 1996 Dear MARMAMERS, The Italian Fondazione Cetacea is carrying out a dissertation work in cooperation with the University of Milano (Prof. G. Vailati) about the histologic structure of the liver in Cetacea. A striking feature in the liver of some Cetacea is the presence of prominent muscular sphincters in the portal vein branches. These sphincters are formed by various valves, composed of circular smooth muslce bundles and noted in the portal triads of the liver. These sphincters have been described in the following species: Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, harbor porpoise, Hawaiian spinner dolphin. but are not noticeable in the following ones: Amazon river dolphin, Dall's porpoise, beluga, gray whale. Does anybody know anything further about the presence of this particular feature in Cetacea liver , for instance in which other species these liver sphincters have been described ? Thanking you in advance, Alessandro Bortolotto For any information please reply directly to our email listed below. Fondazione Cetacea via Milano, 63 - 47036 Riccione (RN) +39-541-691557 (phone) +39-541-606590 (fax) Email Web site Mirror site ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 16:42:44 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: ivf in Cetacea: request for info Riccione, August 5th 1996 message forwarded by Alessandro Bortolotto (Fondazione Cetacea, Italy) Dear MARMAMERS, we are starting a research program on dolphins reproduction to study some aspects of sperm biology in order to set up protocols for sperm cryopreservation to be used for artificial insemination. Furthermore we are interested in methods to evaluate the fertilizing potential of male dolphins in relation to age, season and captivity and we would like to assess the feasibility of using zona free hamster ova to test the fertilizing potential of fresh as well as frozen dolphin sperm. Our aim is also to carry out sperm chromosome study and marine mammals cytogenetic. We have a fair amount of experience in semen manipulation and in the field of in vitro fertilization and embryo culture in cattle and we should not have any difficulty in the laboratory part of this research, moreover our concern is in attaining dolphin semen. The Fondazione Cetacea in Riccione is interested in promoting such research and has got an agreement wih Narvalo Srl, the society that runs both Riccione and Cattolica dolphinaria, for placing their 4 male dolphins at our disposal provided that the animals can be trained for artificial semen collection. In this respect I am writing to seek advice or collaboration for: - information on training methodology for dolphin sperm collection; - revision of our experimental protocol; - the possibly of attaining any frozen dolphin semen to start as soon as possible in setting up the penetration test in vitro; - Moreover, the possibility of us arranging a long term visit to facilities currently operational or interested in this field to start a cooperation in the field of marine mammal reproduction, we will be more than glad to spend our sabbatical year under your supervision. Of course we will be financially supported by our own Italian Institution and we may be able to provide support for an eventual common research project. Thanking you in advance, sincerely yours Prof. Fausto Cremonesi, Universit=E0 di Milano (Italy) Istituto di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia Veterinaria via Celoria, 10 - 20100 Milano +39-2-70600154 (phone) +39-2-2367788 (fax) Email Please reply directly to the following addresses: =46austo Cremonesi Universit=E0 di Milano or Alessandro Bortolotto =46ondazione Cetacea -- Alessandro Bortolotto =46ondazione Cetacea via Milano, 63 - 47036 Riccione (RN) +39-541-691557 (phone) +39-51-606590 (fax) Email Web site Mirror site ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 13:30:01 -0400 From: Dean Wilkinson Subject: Report Available The report of a workshop conducted by the Marine Mammal Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the issues involved in releasing rehabilitated marine mammals back to the wild is available from NMFS. At least in part because of misunderstandings about our use of the term rehabilitation, it should be noted that this report applies to stranded animals only and does not apply to the issue of release of long-term captive marine mammals. The report also is not the release guidelines that are in development, but it did serve as a departure point for developing those guidelines. The report is: Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release of Marine Mammls: An Analysis of Current Views and Practices and was edited by D.J. St. Aubin, J.R. Geraci, and V.J. Lounsbury. Copies are available from: Dean Wilkinson Office of Protected Resources, F/PR2 National Marine Fisheries Service 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Dean.Wilkinson(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 14:58:21 -0500 From: Andrew Schiro Subject: address changes Marmamer's The e-mail addresses for many at Texas A&M University have changed. if you had previously sent mail to someone at tamug3.tamu.edu or tamug2.tamu.edu, the address has most likely changed to arctic.tamug.tamu.edu. Please check to see if you need to update these addresses. The forward is temporary and will expire! Also, The WWW addresses for GulfCet and the Marine Mammal Research Program have changed. The addresses are as follows: The MMRP - http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/~mmrp The GulfCet Project - http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/~gulfcet Andrew Schiro Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A&M University schiroa(\)arctic.tamug.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 15:15:56 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: news clip - whale traps 08/03/96 0157 Whale Traps By MICHAEL TIGHE Associated Press Writer BOSTON (AP) -- In a threat to the palates of gourmets everywhere, Northeast lobstermen may have to pull up their gear because endangered whales are dying entangled in trap lines. The National Marine Fisheries Service is deciding whether to close areas such as Cape Cod Bay and the Gulf of Maine to lobster catching for several months a year while the endangered humpback and North Atlantic right whales feed and mate there. More than 30 whales have become stuck in lobster lines in East Coast waters over a five-year period. Twelve of the most endangered whales have died. The proposed restrictions threaten to limit not only the livelihood of the 12,000 to 14,000 lobstermen from Maine to New Jersey, but also some of the best seafood in the country, pitting lobster-lovers against whale-huggers. "If they try to restrict these guys from fishing when they normally fish, or in areas they normally fish, that hurts," said Bill Adler, executive director of the 1,100-member Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association. What Alaska is to salmon, New England is to lobsters -- home of the best. Lobstermen landed 34,931 tons of the large-clawed Atlantic variety in 1994, the last year for which figures are available. The restriction would likely hike lobster prices that are already rising because of lower ocean temperatures. Lobster prices have risen by nearly $2 pound this year to $4.75. The tougher restrictions are contained in the agency's proposed 1997 List of Fisheries, classifying each fishing site by its effect on marine mammals. Lobster waters would move from a category 3 to the highest category of 1, meaning that lobster catching poses a high risk of death or injury to endangered species. Lobstermen and others can submit comments on the proposal before Oct. 15. The fisheries service will make its decision by Jan. 1. Whale activists say the federal restrictions would be long overdue. The fisheries service "has historically refused to deal with this situation," said Max Strahan of Boston-based GreenWorld, which has sued federal and state agencies to enforce laws protecting endangered species. More than 30 whales entangled themselves in lobster gear from 1990 to 1994, the fisheries service said. Of that total, 11 humpbacks died or suffered serious injuries and one right whale died. "No more right whales can be allowed to be killed if their species can be expected to survive," Strahan said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 14:35:41 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re: news clip - whale traps I don't know if it would be cost-effective, but wouldn't the whale/lobster pot problem be eased if there was some way to get the buoys well below the surface? I suspect it'd be *technologically* feasible to put a pinger-activated spool on the traps, so that a fisherman could 'release' a float line only when retrieving the trap (NB, if release signals were coded this would also prevent trap piracy). Alternatively, a float line light enough for a whale to easily break, with heavy hauling line either spooled on the trap or some sort of pulley system for hooking the heavy line up from the surface... This _sounds_ like a problem that doesn't *have* to be... cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 21:06:28 -0400 From: CarolSR(\)aol.com Subject: Looking for Boyd, Croxall, Lunn or Reid Does anyone have e-mail addresses for I.L. Boyd, J.P. Croxall, N.J. Lunn, or K. Reid of the British Antartic Survey? I have a couple of questions about their paper "Population demography of Antartic fur seals: the costs of reproduction and implications for life-histories" published in Journal of Animal Ecology, 1995, 64, P. 505-518. Please respond to my e-mail address: CarolSR(\)aol.com Thank you! Carol Sanders-Reed recent graduate of U. Mass Boston PS. I have searched the Marmam list and used another method to search on the world wide web. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 20:08:51 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: "cooperative" feeding vs "group" feeding Artie Kopelman posed the question yesterday on how to discriminate "cooperation" in feeding mysticetes. Personally I think it is extremely important to discriminate between "cooperative foraging" (which implies a functional relationship) and "group foraging" (purely a descriptive term). Many organisms may live in groups for reasons other than energetic benefits (e.g., many songbirds forage in groups as a mechanism to avoid predators, female lions forage in groups to protect cubs from infanticidal males, etc), and foraging in groups may occur due to these other benefits. Alternatively, individuals may forage in groups simply because of concentrations of prey supporting large numbers of individuals without undue competition. "Cooperation" should involve some sort of coordination of activity, allowing an increase in individual energy intake rates, or a decrease in variability in energy intake rates. This could result from an increase in prey encounter and/or capture rates, or decreasing the costs associated with capturing large or difficult-to-handle prey. In order to demonstrate cooperation, individual energy intake rates for individuals foraging alone versus those foraging in groups, should be determined. A couple references which talk about cooperative foraging (including one example in a cetacean) follow. Baird, R.W., and L.M. Dill. 1996. Ecological and social determinants of group size in transient killer whales. Behav. Ecol. 7: in press. Bednarz, J.C. 1988. Cooperative hunting in Harris' hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus). Science 239: Bertram, B.C.R. 1978. Living in groups: predators and prey. Pages 64-96 in Behavioral ecology - an evolutionary approach, 1st edition. Edited by J.R. Krebs and N.B. Davies. Sinauer, Sunderland, Mass. Clark, C.W. and M. Mangel. 1986. The evolutionary advantages of group foraging. Theor. Pop. Biol. 30:45-75. Giraldeau, L.-A., and D. Gillis. 1988. Do lions hunt in group sizes that maximize hunters' daily food returns? Anim. Behav. 36:611-613. Packer, C., and L. Ruttan. 1988. The evolution of cooperative foraging. Am. Nat. 132:159-198. Packer, C., D. Scheel and A.E. Pusey. 1990. Why lions form groups: food is not enough. Am. Nat. 136:1-19. Pitcher, T.J., A.E. Magurran and I. Winfield. 1982. Fish in larger shoals find food faster. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 10:149-151. Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Biology Department Box 6244 Dalhousie University Victoria, B.C. Halifax, Nova Scotia V8P 5L5 Canada B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 21:37:26 -0400 From: Slam Subject: Re: news clip - whale traps I am the one suing Massachusetts and federal agencies to force them to stop the entanglement of Northern Right Whales and other endangered whales in fixed fishing gear. It is, of course, possible to re-engineer fishing gear, as that used in lobster fishing, to stop whales from being entangled. The buoy lines simply have to go. The problem is that NMFS and Massachusetts have no desire to do this and are trying to create a crisis to justify their doing nothing. It is important for anyone with a suggestion on how to re-engineer lobster gear to let me know any idea that they have on this subject. Because of our litigation to stop the killing and injuring of Northern Right Whales by sgip traffic and fishing gear entnaglements, the opportunity now exists to get something done. An appeal: Anyone one with any information (including pictures) of whales entangled in fishing gear or injured by a vessel strike should let me know ASAP. You can help save the Northern Right Whale from extinction with your information. Warning: With less than 300 Right Whales left and their remaining population declining and if the killing of Northern Right Whales is not stopped soon, it will the U. S. - and not Japan - that will kill off a species of whale. Max Strahan. national Campaign Director GreenWorld ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 05:10:36 EDT From: Mick Baines <100255.3275(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Whale traps Here in west Wales, UK we also have a thriving lobster and crab fishery using pots and we occasionally get leatherback turtles and grey seals entangled in the buoy ropes. I have watched grey seals deliberately wrapping rope around their bodies by rolling while holding the rope in their mouths - my guess is they do that to scratch themselves, just as they allow the surf to roll them on pebble shores, particularly during their annual moult. I doubt that any elaborate, potentially unreliable and expensive system such as remotely activated spoolers will appeal to fishermen, but there is a simple expedient that may greatly reduce the risk of entanglement by marine mammals - use less rope! When an excess length of rope is deployed it floats about on the surface creating a hazard to both wildlife and boats. A shorter length results in greater tension in the rope and therefore less risk of entanglement. It may not always be possible to achieve a sufficiently short line length, especially where there is a great tidal range and strong currents - in these cases a second-best solution is to attach a weight to the line at less than the depth at low water. Mick Baines Dyfed Wildlife Trust 100255.3275(\)compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 07:33:22 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Table of Contents - Marine Mammal Science - July 1996 Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers, As a favor to the Marmam list editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science, the following is a list of the table of contents for Marine Mammal Science 12(3), July 1996. Abstracts for the papers will be posted separately; no summaries for the notes will be included. Apologies to those of you on both discussion groups for cross-posting. ______________________________________________________________________ Assessment of heterogeneity in sighting probabilities of humpback whales within viewing range of Cape Vidal, South Africa. (K.P. Findlay and P.B. Best), pp. 335-353 Estimates of the numbers of humpback whales observed migrating past Cape Vidal, South Africa, 1988-1991. (K.P. Findlay and P.B. Best), pp. 354-370 Epidemiology of poxvirus in small cetacans from the eastern South Pacific. (M-F van Bressem and K. van Waerebeek), pp. 371-382 Counts of growth layers groups in centum and dentine in ringed seals (_Phoca hispida_). (R.E.A. Stewart, B.E. Stewart, I. Stirling, and E. Street), pp. 383-401 Genetic substructure of the Pacific harbor seal (_Phoca vitulina richardsi_) off Washington, Oregon, and California. (M.M. Lamont, J.T. Vida, J.T. Harvey, S. Jeffries, R. Brown, H.H. Huber, R. DeLong, and W.K. Thomas), pp. 402-413 Behavioral significance of underwater vocalizations of captive leopard seals, _Hydrurga leptonyx_. (T.L. Rogers, D.H. Cato, and M.M. Bryden), pp. 414-427. - - NOTES - - Using annual approximations of birth rate in models for species with multiannual reproductive cycles. (J.W. Testa), pp. 428-433. Cetaceans of the Cape Verde archipelago. (F. Reiner, M.E. dos Santos, and F.W. Wenzel), pp. 434-443. On the specimen of the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, _Mesoplodon ginkgodens_, from the Galapagos Islands. (D.M. Palacios), pp. 444-446. Stability of fluke marks used in individual photoidentification of male sperm whales at Kaikoura, New Zealand. (S.J. Childerhouse and S.M. Dawson), pp. 447-451. Interactions between cetaceans and longline fishery operations around South Georgia. (J.R. Ashford, P.S. Rubilar, and A.R. Martin), pp. 452-456. Fastest documented migration of a North Pacific humpback whale. (C.M. Gabriele, J.M. Straley, L.M. Herman, and R.J. Coleman), pp. 457-464. A device for data retrieval and recapture of diving animals in open water. (E.A. Baranov), pp. 465-467. Violent interspecific sexual behavior by male sea lions (Otariidae): evolutionary and phylogenetic implications. (E.H. Miller, A. Ponce de Leon, and R.L. DeLong), pp. 468-475. Age estimation of grey seals (_Halichoerus grypus_) using incisors. (K.E. Bernt, M.O. Hammill, and K.M. Kovacs), pp. 476-482. Extreme temporal variation in harbor seal (_Phoca vitulina richardsi_) numbers in Glacier Bay, a glacial fjord in southeast Alaska. (E.A. Mathews and B.P. Kelly), pp. 483-488. Aerial behavior in fin whales (_Balaenoptera physalus_) in the Mediterranean Sea. (L. Marini, C. Consiglio, B. Catalano, T. Valentini, and G. Villetti), pp. 489-495. - - Letters -- Scientific Correspondence -- C. Laughlin. Probable sighting of _Tasmacetus shepherdi_ in the South Atlantic. pp. 496-497. D.M. Palacios. Earlier observations of presumed Galapagos sea lions, _Zalophus californianus wollebaeki_, from coastal Ecuador. -- Memories -- Deaths reported. A.A. Berzin, April 1996, Vladivostok, Russia. M.C. Tavolga, February 1996, Sarasota, Florida, USA. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 07:41:50 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - humpback whales Findlay, K.P. and P.B. Best. 1996. Assessment of heterogeneity in sighting probabilities of humpback whales within viewing range of Cape Vidal, South Africa. Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 335-353. (Mammal Research Institute, c/o S A Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa) The migrations of humpback whales on the African east coast were monitored between 1988 and 1991 at Cape Vidal, South Africa. Shore-based surveys of the northward migration were undertaken each winter, and a survey of the southward migration was undertaken in 1990, from an approximately 60-m-high vantage point on a headland. Independent-observer surveys were carried out in both 1990 (22 d) and 1991 (51 d) to determine the proportion of the population within the survey area that were being missed by observers using a single mark-release model. Results were stratified into three distance intervals from the shore and three sighting condition intervals; there were constant sighting probabilities from the south tower under different sighting conditions, while those from the north tower increased slightly as sighting conditions improved. Sighting probabilities from both towers were highest in the intermediate distance interval and decreased in both the inshore and offshore regions. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 08:23:11 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - leopard seal vocalizations Rogers, T.L., D.H. Cato, and M.M. Bryden. 1996. Behavioral significance of underwater vocalizations of captive leopard seals, _Hydrurga leptonyx_. Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 414-427. (Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia) Two groups of underwater vocalizations were identified in a three-year study of two captive leopard seals, _Hydrurga leptonyx_ (one female and one male at Taronga Zoo, Sydney). This was supplemented by recordings over three months from a male at Marineland, New Zealand. The sexual state of the seals at Taronga was deduced from serum hormonal concentrations: the female was considered to be in estrus at specific times during the breeding season. The seal at Marineland, New Zealand was assumed to be sexually mature on the basis of size and age. Of 12 different underwater sound types recorded, six were produced by the seals at Taranga Zoo during agonistic interactions (local calls) and were heard through most of the year. The other six sound types were produced by lone seals. These broadcast calls were produced by the female only when sexually receptive, and by the mature male during December and January, months believed to be the breeding season of wild leopard seals. We propose that underwater acoustic behavior is important in the mating system of this species, and that broadcast calls are used by mature females to advertise their sexual receptivity, and possibly by mature males in search of mates. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 08:16:11 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - genetics of Pacific harbor seal Lamont, M.M., J.T. Vida, J.T. Harvey, S. Jeffries, R. Brown, H.H. Huber, R. DeLong, and W.K. Thomas. 1996. Genetic substructure of the Pacific harbor seal (_Phoca vitulina richardsi_) off Washington, Oregon, and California. Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 402-413. (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, P.O. Box 450, Moss Landing, CA 95039) Genetic substructure among groups of Pacific harbor seals, _Phoca vitulina richardsi_, along the western coast of the United States was investigated using mitochondrial DNA sequences. Blood and tissue samples were removed from 86 seals inhabiting Puget Sound and the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. A 320 base-pair segment of the control region was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. These data indicated a high level of diversity. Thirty variable sites were found that define 47 mitochondrial haplotypes. Among groups of _P. v. richardsi_ sampled, 5 haplotypes were shared, but most (42) were unique to a locality. Haplotypic frequency and an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) revealed significant differences (P = 0.001) among regions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated Puget Sound seals possess unique divergent lineages not found in seals from the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. These lineages may represent haplotypes from north of Washington, which is consistent with late reproductive timing of harbor seals from Puget Sound. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 08:08:55 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - growth layers and ringed seals Stewart, R.E.A., B.E. Stewart, I. Stirling, and E. Street. 1996. Counts of growth layers groups in centum and dentine in ringed seals (_Phoca hispida_). Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 383-401. (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Cres., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N6) We compared counts of growth layer groups (GLGs) in the dentine of undecalcified, unstained cross-sections and in the cementum of decalcified, stained longitudinal sections of canine teeth from 144 ringed seals (_Phoca hispida_). Although there was a statistically significant correlation until approximately 10 GLGs, about 75% of paired readings at <= 10 centum GLGs disagreed. After 10 GLGs, the number of GLGs in the cementum usually was greater. The maximum GLG count in cementum was 33, compared to a maximum in dentine of only 19. Interobserver differences in median counts were not statistically significant using cementum or dentine counts. Regression analysis revealed that for cementum in female seals, readers differed at higher counts (P<0.05), and for dentine, there was a constant difference of about 0.6 GLGs (P<0.05) for male seals and 1.1 GLGs (P<0.05) for female seals. Counting GLGs in the cementum of decalcified and stained longitudinal sections provided higher counts and more agreement between readers, and it was the better of the methods examined for ageing ringed seals. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 08:00:21 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - poxvirus in cetaceans van Bressem, M-F and K. van Waerebeek. 1996. Epidemiology of poxvirus in small cetacans from the eastern South Pacific. Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 371-382. (Centro Peruano de Estudios Cetologicos (CEPEC), casilla 1536, Lima 18, Peru) The prevalence of 'tattoo' skin lesions, characteristic of poxvirus infection, was examined in 339 small cetaceans captured in gillnet fisheries off coastal Peru: 196 _Lagenorhynchus obscurus_ (34.7%, CI 29.0%-41.8%), 54 _Delphinus capensis_ (61.1%, CI 46.6%-74.1%), 77 _Phocoena spinipinnis_ (62.3%, CI 50.5%-73.2%) and 12 offshore _Tursiops truncatus_ (41.6%, CI 15.2%-72.3%). Sexual variation in tattoo prevalence was significant only in _P. spinipinnis_ with males two times more infected than females. Prevalence of poxvirus infection was correlated with the body length class in all species. It peaked around weaning age, supposedly in part due to the loss of maternal preotecion, and then gradually decreased as immunity developed in the delphinids, but remained high in the porpoise. This pattern is indicative of an endemic infection equivalent to a children's viral disease. The generalized distribution of the tattoos in several animals suggests that viremia may occur. Indications are that the incidence of the disease in _L. obscurus_ and _P. spinipinnis_ may have increased since 1990, however additional research is needed to confirm this trend. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 07:49:57 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - migrating humpback whales Findlay, K.P. and P.B. Best. 1996. Estimates of the numbers of humpback whales observed migrating past Cape Vidal, South Africa, 1988-1991. Marine Mammal Science 12(3): 354-370. (Mammal Research Institute, c/o S A Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa) A recovery-monitoring program of the African east coast humpback whale population was carried out through shore-based visual surveys from Cape Vidal, northern Natal. Surveys of the northward migration were undertaken each winter from 1988 to 1991, and a survey of the southward migration was undertaken in 1990. Independent observer surveys were undertaken during June 1990 and during the entire 1991 survey. Hourly densities of groups sighted each day were adjusted for groups missed by observers with distance from the shore and under different sighting conditions. Densities were multiplied by 24 h and the mean group size of the survey year to give resulting daily densities of individuals, which were summed to provide totals of whales sighted during each year's survey. The best estimate of population size was 1,711 (made during the northward migration of 1990), although this is likely to be biased downwards by a proportion of the population passing outside outside of observers' view. Bootstrapping of the 1991 daily data resulted in CVs between 11.4% and 12.2%. The numbers sighted show the population to have undergone considerable recovery since protection in October 1963. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 09:08:23 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sea lions to track whales Sea lions to track whales By LIDIA WASOWICZ UPI Science Writer SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Assuming whales act more naturally when surrounded by friends than strangers, researchers said Monday they are training sea lions to become their spies of the deep. A 400-pound, 17-year-old male named Beaver and his 190-pound, eight- year-old female sidekick, Sake, will take on the mission of videotaping and tagging their great marine mammal pals under the ocean waters off Monterey Bay. "The idea is that when you study whales by introducing artificial things into their environment, such as man or machine, you change their behavior," said James Harvey of San Jose State University/Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, who is coordinating the revolutionary project. "But whales are used to seeing sea lions, so by getting sea lions to be our filmmakers, we should be able to record what the whales are doing without any undue outside influence." With six years training under his blubberybelly, Beaver will be the first to scale the ocean depths on hand and acoustic command -- perhaps as early as this winter -- aiming his video camera at his fellow sea creatures, gathering footage of the secretive giants at work, play, love or war, as never before seen by man. "We've got a biased view of what whales do because most observations have been done from shipboard," said Jenifer Hurley of the Moss Landing Lab, who leads a team of 25-plus behavioral trainers. "In reality, whales spend 90 to 95 percent of their time under the sea. We need to know what's going on down there." Getting unprecedented footage of whales frolicking or fighting several hundred feet below sea level will greatly add to the small body of knowledge about the beasts' little understood behavior, said Dan Costa, associate professor of biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where the sea lions have been in training. Their credentials put to shame those of human divers or mechanical submersibles: in addition to causing less distraction, the sea lions can descend comfortably to -- for humans -- forbidding and expensive depths, maneuver smoothly alongside their giant compatriots and return swiftly to the surface with their treasure trove of data. Beaver, the more experienced, was graduated last week from the Long Marine Laboratory at UC Santa Cruz to a 22-by-26-foot-long, 20-foot-deep floating pen anchored 300 feet offshore of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The sea-worthy spy is undergoing one to six daily training sessions of up to half an hour each within view of the Monterey Bay Aquarium visitors and staff. Once acclimated to his new surroundings, Beaver will move out into the open ocean for further training. He will wear a harness and camera pack, practice retrieving objects and tagging a model fiberglass whale and learn to get in and out of a boat that will ultimately carry him to his field work. "Sea lions respond well to training and, we think, can learn the complex skills involved in swimming beside whales while wearing a harness with a video camera or carrying a tag in their mouths and affixing the tag to the side of a swimming whale," Hurley said. "The equipment the sea lions carry will allow instantaneous recording of depth, time, sounds and speed of the whales along with the video image." The scientists plan to use the sea lions to film 20 to 40 migrating gray whales off Monterey Bay and the feeding behaviors of humpback whales in the Gulf of the Farallones, off the Golden Gate, near San Francisco. "Underwater recordings will be used to analyze diving patterns, speed and underwater behaviors of gray whales, and depth, speed and feeding behaviors of humpbacks," Harvey said. In another phase of the research, Costa and Hurley will learn more about the natural diving physiology of the sea lions themselves: how much oxygen the burly creatures consume during dives, how much energy they expend, how they regulate body temperature to conserve energy during dives. "We're curious to know how sea lions manage to plunge hundreds of feet below sea level and then energetically search for food all the while holding their breath and expending a huge amount of calories," Hurley said. "We want to know the limits of the performance of these athletes of the sea and how they accomplish their incredible diving feats," Costa said. A clearer insight into these and other poorly understood marine mammals will shed light on how they fit into the ocean habitat and how their lives are affected by natural events, such as an El Nino current, as well as by unnatural activities, such as human fishing practices, the scientists said. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 10:16:31 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: newsclip - Coast Guard and right whales 08/06/96 Coast Guard-Whales BOSTON (AP) -- The Coast Guard must overhaul its vessel and aircraft operations along the Eastern Seaboard because they threaten the world's most endangered whales, the National Marine Fisheries Service said. The service's opinion provides more protection for all great whales -- including the humpback, sperm and North Atlantic right whales -- that feed and reproduce off the East Coast. The opinion, which has the power of law under the Endangered Species Act, focuses on the North Atlantic right whales, the most endangered marine mammal in U.S. waters. There are believed to be less than 300 left on the planet, and 12 are known to have died in the last year solely from human actions. "Each mortality will further inhibit recovery of this species," the opinion said. "Despite 50 years of protection, it cannot be shown that this population has made any steps towards recovery." All great whales except the gray whale are protected by the Endangered Species Act. The opinion, issued July 22, requires the Coast Guard to make 11 changes to its nonemergency operations, including reducing vessel speed, developing technologies to prevent collisions with whales and implementing a warning system off the New England coast for ships traveling through known whale habitats. The Coast Guard has agreed with the requirements, Margaret Lorenz of the service's endangered species division said Monday. Coast Guard officials did not immediately return phone calls for comment. Activists dedicated to protecting endangered species said the opinion was a first step in forcing federal and state agencies to protect whales. "Much more must be done to achieve an implemented conservation effort in the U.S. coastal waters that will effectively stop the killing and injuring of ... endangered whales," said Max Strahan of Boston-based GreenWorld. Lorenz said her agency is also developing an opinion aimed at Navy operations along the East Coast. In addition, the service is considering whether to close areas such as Cape Cod Bay and the Gulf of Maine to lobster catching for several months a year while the humpback and right whales feed and mate there. "We're looking at every federal action that we know of," she said. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 12:31:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Pinniped BP measurement (fwd) Forwarded message: From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Has anyone out there conducted non invasive blood pressure measurements in pinnipeds (phocids)? Assistance on instrumentation and technique will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. J.Lawrence Dunn VMD Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Mystic, CT. USA 06355 860-572-5955 ext 103 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 17:59:36 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: MARMAM's first three years Today is MARMAM's third anniversary, having been started August 6, 1993. MARMAM was originally established to try to increase and improve communication regarding marine mammal research and conservation issues. Has MARMAM fulfilled its purpose? For its first 8 months, MARMAM was an un-moderated list, all submissions sent to the list were immediately passed on to subscribers. In response to increasing numbers of inappropriate messages, we switched MARMAM to a moderated list on April 13, 1994. To date there have been over 4,400 submissions come across the list, from over 1,300 different individuals (an average of about 4/day). There are currently over 2,000 subscribers to the list from at least 47 different countries around the world, and the number of subscribers continues to increase slowly. How can MARMAM be improved? More submissions from scientists (who the list was originally set up for), more postings of abstracts of published papers or books, more discussions of current research issues, and more submissions (and subscriptions) from individuals outside of North America (over 70% of all subscribers live in North America) would all improve the value of the list. We would like to thank all those contributing to the list; obviously its success depends almost entirely on the quality and quantity of messages submitted. I would also like to personally thank the other co-editors (Dave Duffus, Kerry Irish, Pam Stacey and Pam Willis) for their assistance with running the list. Robin Baird, MARMAM co-editor ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Research Group Biology Department Box 6244 Dalhousie University Victoria, B.C. Halifax, Nova Scotia V8P 5L5 Canada B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (604) 380-1925 Fax (604) 380-1206 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 14:23:42 BSC From: Luciano Dalla Rosa Organization: UNIVERSIDADE DO RIO GRANDE - RS - BRASIL Subject: address request Dear Subscribers: Does anyone out there have an E-mail address for Juan Antonio Raga, from Spain? Fax number and snail-mail address would also be appreciated. Please respond directly to: musmamif(\)super.furg.br Thank you very much. Luciano Dalla Rosa P.S. I have tried all available sources, including Marmam List. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 18:49:53 -0400 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Subject: Copper as an algaecide in dolphinarium. Aloha Marmammers, This request is forwarded from alt.animals.dolphins ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- We dose a solution of copper sulphate and citric acid into the pools at Sea World, Durban, South Africa. This is in an attempt to control algal growth. We keep copper levels at 0.5 ppm. We are concerned about heavy metal poisoning in the dolphins, particularily their livers. Does anyone have any information on this type of toxicity? When does copper become effective, and when is it toxic ? What alternatives are their to copper ? We also use ferric chloride in very small doses as a flocculant. Could this affect the animals health ? Looking forward to replies ! Gabrielle Harris. Assistant Curator : Dolphinarium SEA WORLD, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 12:24:44 EST From: robert_avent(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Lobsters and cetaceans I love whales and lobsters both (in different ways, of course) and I agree totally with Jim Moore. Every field oceanographer has some experience with or at least knowledge of, rigging techniques to avoid the present perceived conflict. With a knowledge of whale behavior (dive depth and time, interaction with the bottom, behavior when snagged, etc.) and fishery gear characteristics and use (soak time; float, line, and trap conformation, etc.), a little ingenuity should go a long way. Something as simple as a corrosible links might be designed to have gear dissasemble itself over time (freeing the animal) and still hold equipment together over a fairly long soaking. The "weak line", timed buoy release, and other methods should effectively resolve this problem without exorbitant cost and effort. Recent lobster price fluctuations are probably greater than the cost of simple gear change, gear loss, and extended time of deployment. Pingers, transponders, and acoustic releases, while effective, are likely too expensive and the're overkill anyway. The use of GPS navigation should lead a lobster guy to within a few meters of his unseen traps at an initial price of, say, $500. Get with it NMFS. This shouldn't be TED's revisited. Bob Avent Robert M. Avent, Ph.D. (MS 5430) Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico Regional OCS Office 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70123 504/736-2899 robert_avent(\)smtp.mms.gov ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: news clip - whale traps Author: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion at ~smtp Date: 8/5/96 7:10 PM I don't know if it would be cost-effective, but wouldn't the whale/lobster pot problem be eased if there was some way to get the buoys well below the surface? I suspect it'd be *technologically* feasible to put a pinger-activated spool on the traps, so that a fisherman could 'release' a float line only when retrieving the trap (NB, if release signals were coded this would also prevent trap piracy). Alternatively, a float line light enough for a whale to easily break, with heavy hauling line either spooled on the trap or some sort of pulley system for hooking the heavy line up from the surface... This _sounds_ like a problem that doesn't *have* to be... cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 06:21:13 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: newsclip - entangled right whale Rare whale in trouble off Mass. coast BOSTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Fog hampered efforts Tuesday by marine scientists to find a rare right whale caught in some life-threatening nets off the coast of Massachusetts. The distressed 30-ton leviathan was spotted Monday by the captain of a whale-watching expedition on a trip to Stellwagen Bank, a marine wildlife sanctuary 20 miles offshore where the mammals feed. Kathy Shorr of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Mass., said visibility was only about 50 feet in fog Tuesday, making it "exremely difficult" to spot any whales in the area. The Center's Dr. Charles "Stormy" Mayo said right whales are the rarest in the world, with fewer than 300 left. "The most dangerous entanglement is a net around the mouth because the animals stop feeding and can't free themselves," Mayo said. He said the whale would eventually starve to death. A Coast Guard helicopter searched for the animal later Monday but was unable to spot it. The Coast Guard was standing by Tuesday to help bring rescuers to the whale if it was located. Mayo said if it can be found, the center would send its rapid response team and surface boats to the scene. He explained the team would attach floats to the gear in which the whale was entangled and let the animal swim until it becomes exhausted and stops. Rescuers would then try to remove the nets. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 06:29:34 -0700 From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Study of whale dandruff shows Study of whale dandruff shows kinship By SUSAN MILIUS UPI Science Writer WASHINGTON, August 5 (UPI) -- Studying whales' equivalencientists said Monday they have at last figured out some of the kinship patterns in the groups of sperm whales once called harems. "The beautiful thing about whales is that they are constantly sloughing skin," said Jonathan Wright from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. When a whale dives, it leaves behind its version of dandruff, flecks of dark old skin, some pieces no bigger than a human fingernail, some more the size of the palm of a hand. Collecting bits of shed skin gives scientists tissue samples for genetic analysis without invasive sampling like shooting darts into the animals. Wright, Hal Whitehead and other colleagues used sloughed skin for the most ambitious genetic analysis yet of kinship in the clusters of older female and young sperm whales that swim together in the warmer latitudes. The study, published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, focused on so-called pods of 10 to 30 sperm whales, which scientists "used to think of harems," Wright said. However, he dismissed the term as an imprecise leftover from an era when almost all biologists were male. The modern view of the sperm whale lifestyle recognizes that females spend their lives swimming in tropical or near tropical waters in pods with young of both sexes. Males eventually peel away from the pod, sometimes joining bachelor groups for while. They mature into solitary adults, cruising farther and farther north toward the Arctic and Antarctic. A male journeys back to the tropics to mate every five or six years, according to the current estimate. Researchers now have evidence about what happens next, thanks to the new genetic analysis. A visiting male seems to mate with several of the females in a particular pod before moving on to another pod. The new analysis also confirmed that the youngsters in a pod are related to the adult females, as if several moms and their kids started swimming together for a while. And for the first time, researchers have genetic evidence about when the males leave, which seems to be at age five or six. This information of kinship may help the biologists who study so- called altruism in animals, Wright said. Whales indeed do things that would be called altruistic in a human, including suckling the baby of another female as well as babysitting and defending other female whales' offspring. These acts of "kindness" might make sense if the helpful whale had some genetic connection with the animals that benefit, Wright said. The new evidence for tight kinship in a pod of sperm whales fits well with what scientists know about family values in other whale species, said Cathy Schaeff, whale biologist and professor at American University in Washington. "Whales are very social," she said. In orcas, for example, "the moms are responsible for the mates of their sons," she said. Young whales trail along with their mothers, finding mates when the mothers visit another group of orcas. Recognizing just how sperm whales find their mates and how families stick together will help conservationists figure out how to preserve genetic diversity in the population, Schaeff said. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 18:09:10 GMT From: "Allen,Penelope" Subject: Blue Whales Can anybody tell me whether the 'large numbers of giant endangered blue whales gathered offshore of the Channel Islands, California' (posted to Marmam on 22/7/96) are still present (in large numbers)? I would be most grateful for any up-to-date information on this situation. Please reply direct to me at the following e-mail address: Penny.Allen(\)bbc.co.uk Many thanks, Penny Allen (PhD) BBC Natural History Unit Broadcasting House Whiteladies Road Bristol, BS8 2LR, UK ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 17:01:23 -0400 From: Stejacorca(\)aol.com Subject: address request P.B. Best Dear subscribers, Does anyone out there have the E-mail address of Dr. Peter B. Best, South Africa? A fax number would also be appreciated. I've tried all kind of sources, including the Marmamuser-List, but without any success, so you're my last hope. Please respond directly to: stejacorca(\)aol.com Thank you very much for your effort, Stefan Jacobs ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 11:51:55 EDT From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Sound Policies This is a plea by Cetacean Society International for your expert involvement in an issue booming for attention; the development of the Environmental Impact Statement for the U.S. Navy's Low Frequency Active Sonar System (LFA). 235dB pulses at between 75Hz and 1kHz, transmitted from mobile and towed arrays, are the U.S. Navy's solution to finding the quieter new Russian submarines, and older, virtually silent, deisel models in the hands of many forces. Any ocean, any depth, any time; this is a worldwide operation. What else might be impacted by this extraordinary level of anthropogenic sound has not been an issue, until now. The System exists, and has been secretly tested since at least 1993. Under pressure primarily from NRDC the Navy has reluctantly initiated an EIS on the project. This EIS will allow public and expert comment; an opportunity to assess the Navy's awareness of environmental impacts, and suggest areas of ignorance, inquiry and mitigation requiring further study. Meanwhile the tests will continue, but that may face a legal decision. What does this level of sound and repetition do to habitats and populations in the marine environment? Will this impact be significant, even illegal under various laws and treaties? The Navy will need to answer these and other questions, and they will be looking for expert help. So is CSI, but we can't pay. Non-profit means poor; we are involved because of personal commitments and concerns, not because it's our job. CSI is a resource for information and communication, and very willing to be upstaged by NRDC and any other organization. CSI offers a confidential outlet or channel for those who might not want to get officially involved or comment publically. CSI needs answers, at least to the following: How do very loud but natural underwater sounds such as earthquakes slides, and iceberg calving compare to the LFA? How can you communicate to the public what this sound may feel like? Heavy metal music is a whimper by comparison, and fans pay for the pain. Most people won't stand under a Concord on takeoff and that is still not loud enough. What metaphorical equivalents are there? What evidence exists of physical trauma caused by loud sounds, and what might be necessary to define a threshold to policy makers concerned with endangered species or critical habitats? What evidence of population dispersal, habitat degradation, prey resource collapse, significant behavioral alterations, and other negative impacts from loud sounds exists? Are odontocetes blissfully unaffected because of hearing ranges, or do other factors impact them? Could the mysterious booms widely reported off the East coast of the U.S. for years been LFA tests? Will the LFA draw in every oversexed blue whale, or scatter them in awe? The Magellan Sea Trials were held off the California coast last year. Can the LFA be negated anyway by a target submarine that transmits an appropriate wave cancellation signal? Is it all for naught as with other weapons that generate countermeasures? Does NEPA require that an EIS be complete before futher tests can be conducted, or is this a national security exemption? Get involved. In the process the impact of anthropogenic sound may become a little clearer to us all, perhaps just in time. ATOC, the Seawolf Shock Test and others are just ripples. The LFA is a major wave. It's time for some Sound Policies. To help please contact: Bill Rossiter, President, Cetacean Society International, POB 953, Georgetown, CT 06829 USA, ph/fx 203-544-8617, <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> For information please contact: Joel Reynolds, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council, 6310 San Vincente Blvd., Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90048, 213-934-6900, fx+1210 Thank you, Bill Rossiter ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 11:52:07 EDT From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: SEAWOLF DEIS Extension The postmark deadline for comments to the U.S. Navy Draft Environmental Statement for the SEAWOLF submarine Ship Shock Test has been extended until 17 September 1996. Please contact L.M. Pitts, Head, Environmental Planning, Department of the Navy, SD/NFEC, POB 190010, N Charleston, SC 29419-9010 for a DEIS to review. Public Hearings to be held 19 August, Silver Springs, MD/ 20 August, Norfolk, VA/ 21 August Altantic Beach, FL, and details available from CSI (below) on request. Bill Rossiter Cetacean Society International 203-544-8617 <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 11:00:06 -0400 From: "Andrew B. Johnson" Subject: request for vaquita info. Dear MARMAMers, I am seeking information on the status of current research and conservation activities with the Gulf of California harbor porpoise or vaquita (Phocoena sinus). In particular, I would like to obtain contact information for persons involved with vaquita, as well as sources for printed materials (reprints, research project descriptions, fisheries interactions reports, etc.). Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please reply to my personal e-mail address. Thanks. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew B. Johnson ANIMAL CARE SOLUTIONS 178 Marlborough Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8G4 "=8Aenhancing the care of animals (613) 234-9290 in applied settings." andyj(\)hookup.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 11:40:48 -0400 From: Ale Bocconcelli Subject: Re: news clip - whale traps At 02:35 PM 8/5/96 -0700, you wrote: >I don't know if it would be cost-effective, but wouldn't the whale/lobster >pot problem be eased if there was some way to get the buoys well below the >surface? I suspect it'd be *technologically* feasible to put a >pinger-activated spool on the traps, so that a fisherman could 'release' a >float line only when retrieving the trap (NB, if release signals were coded >this would also prevent trap piracy). Alternatively, a float line light >enough for a whale to easily break, with heavy hauling line either spooled >on the trap or some sort of pulley system for hooking the heavy line up >from the surface... This _sounds_ like a problem that doesn't *have* to >be... >cheers >Jim > >-------------------------------------------------------------- >Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and >Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, >UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] >La Jolla CA 92093 >fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu >Jim: it is fairly easy to eliminate buoys and line on the surface and it is done in several parts of the world to avoid theft of traps, nets and fish. The trap string (several traps connected by a line) lays on the bottom, at each end there is a loop of floating line that comes up a few feet from the bottom. The position of this "ends" is recorded by the fisherman on the GPS or LOran . When is time to retrieve the gear the fisherman goes back to the gear position and using a grapnel and line hooks up the end line loop and recovers the pot strin g or net. Alessandro Bocconcelli Administrative Officer Center for Marine Science Research University of North Carolina at Wilmington 7205 Wrightsville Avenue- Wilmington, NC 28403-7224 USA 910 256 3721 Fax 910 256 8856 bocconcellia(\)uncwil.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 13:34:39 +0100 From: Graham Pierce Subject: Guide to identification of fish bones Dear colleagues The purpose of the mail is to announce the forthcoming publication of Watt, J., Pierce, G.J. & Boyle, P.R., A guide to the identification of North Sea fish using premaxillae and vertebrae. This will be in the ICES Co-operative Research Report series. This volume has been a long time in production but should be published towards the end of this year or early next year. It was designed to assist in diet analysis, particularly for seals. Please note that its geographical scope is limited to the North Sea. It would be helpful if anyone who might be interested in obtaining a copy could mail me, since there is still time to influence the number of copies which will be printed. Yours sincerely Graham Pierce ================================================ Dr Graham J. Pierce Lecturer in Fishery Science Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK Phone 44 (0)1224 272459 Fax 44 (0)1224 272396 e-mail g.j.pierce(\)abdn.ac.uk WWW http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi104/ AND Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB9 8DB, UK Phone 44 (0)1224 295522 or 876544 Fax 44 (0)1224 295511 e-mail piercegj(\)marlab.ac.uk ================================================ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 15:11:51 +0000 From: Luke Subject: Pictures wanted for marine mammal database Dear all, My name is Luke Rendell and I am currently working within the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit here in Oxford Uni, constructing a database mainly of marine mammal sounds. Although it is primarily sound based, we are also including pictures in this package. I am writing to MARMAM to ask if any of your members have pictures of the following species which they would be willing to contribute. We are digitising the images for storage on a CD, so would only need the physical slide/print for a short time. The project is non-commercial. If anyone is willing to contribute or would like to know more then please drop me an e-mail at luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk The species we are short of pictures are : Walrus Pan-tropical spotted dolphin Bearded seal Bowhead whale Beluga Narwhal Bryde's whale Sei whale I know beggars can't be choosers, but we are also particularly interested in whole body or underwater shots, aswell as any pictures clearly showing identification features, of north atlantic marine mammals. Many thanks for taking the time! Yours, Luke Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 17:23:33 -0700 From: Karen S Barton Subject: IWC proceedings 5 August 1996 Dear Marmamers; I am conducting some research on whale conservation and I am trying to get any information on the 1996 IWC proceedings in Aberdeen, Scotland. It would be ideal if I could get a hold of the proceedings from the meetings, but I haven't had much luck thus far. If someone could point me in the proper direction, either through an e-mail address, or a citation, it would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Karen S. Barton Geography Dept. University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 520-621-1652 ksb(\)u.arizona.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 17:33:14 +0100 From: jenny jones Subject: California Sea Lions About 18 months ago I visited the US to research a film about the Ca sea Lion and its relationship with humans up and down the west coast of America. I met with many people and spoke to more over the 'phone. The story was great but unfortunately the BBC decided not to go ahead with the series for which it was intended. My thanks to all of you who helped - you know who you are! Now there is a small possibility of re-starting this project, so I wondered if I could ask the group for updates. The last posting I saw on the mailing list told of the possibility of the "Seattle Five" going to sea World in Florida. Has this happened, and if so, could anyone out there supply details? I would appreciate any news that you have, both of those individuals and of the situation generally (I saw the posting which mentioned nails used to repel the animals in Monterey). In particular, I would like to contact Bob DeLong, whose address I have mislaid. Whilst on the subject, I am also looking at urban wildlife in the LA area. Any stories of Sea lions marching up Sta Monica Blvd. etc would be most welcome. -- jenny jones Producer/director LONDON jenny(\)kiwis.demon.co.uk +44 181 964 1498 +44 836 538873 (mobile) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 11:28:31 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: SURTASS/LFA At the public scoping hearing in San Diego last night, an attorney from NRDC read a passage from [acc to my notes] "Guidelines for Navy divers exposed to LFA" that described consequences to a diver exposed for 15 minutes to 160dB. The good news is that the accute relapses requiring hospitalization stopped after a day or so (and his retirement soon after might have been coincidence, the passage didn't explicitly connect the events). What I found worrisome is that months after the exposure he is apparently still suffering chronic problems including depression. At a time when there is active debate among animal behaviorists regarding the "reality" of depression in nonhumans (do you have to have consciousness to be depressed? do *"they"*?), let alone the possible physiological consequences of the putative phenomenon (did Gombe chimpanzee Flint die of depression after his mother died, or of the same illness that killed her? [& is it an either/or choice?]*), I find it pretty unlikely that a 1 or 2-year research effort conducted as part of the EIS is going to confirm or exclude risks of such physiologically-mediated psychological problems in marine mammals. I find it, in fact, incredible in every sense of the word. cheers Jim * Goodall, 1986 _Chimpanzees of Gombe_ [Harvard Univ Press]; see 'depression' in subject index -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 10:51:24 -0700 From: "William F. Perrin" Subject: Workshop report on SE Asia marine mammals "Report of the Workshop on the Biology and Conservation of Small Cetaceans and Dugongs of Southeast Asia", UNEP(W)/EAS WG.1/2, 1996, 101pp., edited by W. F. Perrin, M. L. L. Dolar and M. N. R. Alava [report of workshop in Dumaguete, Philippines, 27-30 June 1995] has been published by UNEP in Bangkok. Ordering information available from Ms. Unchalee Kattachan at kattachan.unescap(\)un.org ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 21:04:49 -0700 From: Larry or Lynn Tunstall Subject: More on sea lions and nails (clipping) >From the San Jose Mercury News, August 7, 1996: SPCA QUESTIONS USE OF NAILS AROUND BOATS TO DETER SEA LIONS by Dan White, Mercury News Staff Writer MONTEREY -- An apparently disgruntled group of Monterey marina boat owners has been placing boards full of sharp nails all around their boats to keep sea lions away. Use of the nails -- placed on two-by-fours with the points facing up -- doesn't necessarily violate the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, said Joe Cordaro of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The act -- which includes provisions for jail time and a $20,000 fine for harassing sea lions -- is designed to stop people from harming pinnipeds and other ocean creatures. "The law is pretty explicit," Cordaro said late last week. "Owners of private property can use any measure they deem necessary to protect it from marine mammals as long as the animals are not seriously injured or killed." Monterey City Councilman David Potter said Monday he had seen several boats with nail boards around them. "A sea lion vaulting out of the water," he said, "would have had a minimum of 20 to 30 puncture wounds and have to tear himself away.... It was intended to be mean and hurtful." The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has photographed several nail boards at the marina, and Cordaro said he knows of at least one fisherman who openly uses a nail board. "The way the act is worded," Cordaro said, "we don't have the authority to recommend that he remove the object." Cordaro also said he has received no reports of injuries related to the nails. He said it is unclear whether the animal would jump off the boat after it felt the first prick from the nail or hurt itself and keep trying to board the boat. "If we saw blood from a wound, we would definitely investigate," he said. "The question is, could (sea lions) get caught on the nails and do some serious tissue damage when they're trying to escape?" said Lisa Hoefler, director of operations for the SPCA of Monterey County. An influx of more than 1,000 sea lions appeared in the waters off Monterey around Memorial Day, apparently following a food source and possibly a warm-weather pattern. Tourists and wildlife gawkers loved them, but they quickly became a source of irritation for property owners because of their smell and tendency to pile their squirming bodies over piers and boats. Reports of defecation and property damage worsened the situation. Hoefler said there are non-violent deterrents to keep sea lions away. But a few of the methods have been used to no avail: The sea lions have knocked over and sat on human-shaped dummies and have squashed fences. The SPCA is gathering information on the nail boards to give to the National Marine Fisheries Service, said society representative Maia Carroll. Meanwhile, many of the visiting sea lions, which were supposed to have begun a mass departure more than a week ago, remain. Although the number of sea lions has dropped, Jim Harvey of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory said there are still 1,000 in the area. He says some of the ones that left have returned. "There is no mass exodus," Harvey said. He said the young animals will probably stay until later this month, when large male sea lions start returning from their breeding territories in Baja and Southern California. He said the large animals will outnumber, outside and out-hunt the young ones, which are relatively inexperienced at fishing. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 15:58:44 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: LFA Sonar and dB caution! Dear All, It's nice to see the US Navy Low Frequency Active Sonar System come up for public debate re environmental impacts, and I'm sure there will be lively discussions about this. I'm sure most are already aware of a potential cockup with the use/misuse of the term dB when describing the 'loudness', sound pressure levels, or intensity of the sound produced by this system, but I thought it appropriate to post a note of caution. At this stage details of the system seem to be very stetchy, no doubt due to the clasified nature of the project. The few releases that we have seen consistently describe the output in dB with no reference units. As such, the use of the term dB is meaningless and we cannot compare any such numbers to 'standing under concorde engines' or such like. I have a copy of the NRDC 10 page release and, whilst the contents are interesting, dB's are quoted throughout with no reference units. Dont' get me wrong, I'm not being critical of anybody, but this is an important point which all should be aware of. Underwater acoustics generally (in fact almost invariably these days) uses 1 micropascal as the standard reference unit. Therefore, when the system is quoted as having output levels exceeding 230 dB at frequencies between 75 Hz - 1 kHz I assume this to mean 230 dB re 1uPa - although this point needs to be confirmed. Also, is this peak sound pressure levels or ... ???? Airbourne acoustics tends to use a standard reference unit of 20 micropascals. Therefore, if one reads that a sound of 110 dB is like standing next to a pneumatic drill, this most probably means that a sound of 110 dB re 20uPa is like standing next to a pneumatic drill. I'm trying my best to keep things simple, but here comes the important point: 230 dB re 1uPa is NOT 120 dB greater than 110 dB re 20uPa For those of you thinking "I always did hate maths" and "what the hell does re 1uPa actually mean in English" then look below. Sound pressure level is calculated in dB's as dB's = 20 log (Sound Pressure / Reference Pressure) (1) e.g. 100 dB re 1uPa = 20 log (100,000 / 1) 100 dB re 20uPa = 20 log (2,000,000 / 20) logs are to the base 10 This totally arbitrary example using sound pressure levels from sources in air and water is laboured to tedious extreme below: Sonar System X produces peak sound pressure level of 100 dB re 1uPa at 1 metre from the sonar Loadspeaker Y produces peak sound pressure level of 100 dB re 20uPa at 1 metre from the 'Woofer' (For those hiding under the desk don't worry about the 1 metre bit, it's just that if one wants to compare the source levels of two sound sources one must do so at equivalent distances. Obviously if one walks away from a pneumatic drill, or swims away from an active sonar, it will seem quiter because sound levels decay with distance from source). The actual sound pressure (i.e. the actual pressure of the sound wave) produced by sonar X at 1 metre is 10^(100/20) = 100,000 micropascals (0.1 Pascal). This is obtained by simply rearranging the dB equation (1). The actaul sound pressure produced by loudspeaker Y at 1 metre is 20 x (10^(100/20)) = 2,000,000 micropascals (2 Pascals) Hopefully this example shows that 100 dB referenced in two different ways is clearly not the same thing in terms of the underlying sound pressures. Therefore, please be careful before comparing sonars to jet engines. Having said all this, however, sonar output in excess of 230 dB re 1uPa is extremely loud. Seismic sources (which I've been looking at) typically have a range of source levels between 200 - 250 dB re 1uPa at the low frequency end (about 50 Hz). The navy system is probably more of a contiuous source, rather than a transient explosion, which makes it potentially even more disruptive on cetacean audition. Incidentally, I wish people would stop refering to air guns as only 'low frequency sources'. Whilst they are designed specifically to produce a loud low frequency pulse, there is considerable high freqency energy in the blasts as an inevitable consequence of the transient nature of the bubble collapse and cavitation (ever tried doing an FFT of a unit impulse?). OK, they're not quite as bad as that, but if you don't believe me - drop your hydrophone a mile or two from a gun array, replace the lowpass filter with a high pass filter (try 3 kHz) and hold the headphones a few inches from your ears. I'm hoping to show these high frequency components in a future paper. I guess it's time for me to sign of before we all fall asleep. To all those professional acousticians I apologise for my ineptitude/brevity and simplicity, but hope you will agree that the point I've been trying to get across is valid. Therefore please refrain from rebukes such as "what about rms levels? .... surely Watts/metre^2 would be more appropriate? .... what about intensities which are proportional to the squares of the pressures? .... hey, don't forget 1 Hz bandwidth analysis .... etc etc." I know, I know! Please be kind! I shall now crawl back under my own desk, but if anyone out there has some decent technical info on the LF Sonar System I should be most grateful to receive something. OK I really am signing off now. Regards All John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Angelsey. LL59 5EY. UK. email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Aug 1996 10:21:33 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: dB's and airguns Many thanks for the kind words about my dB posting. Re aiguns, I'm afraid I have to disagree with the upper frequency end. I've been looking at the output from an array of Texas Instrument Sleeve guns at considerable horizontal distance from source. I'm still at the stage of having my calibrations confirmed so please don't take my absolute figures as gospel at this point (that said I'm pretty confident they're correct). My recordings are all high pass filtered so I have the advantage of looking at kilohertz components. At 2.5 kilometres from source, in 100 metres water depth we're looking at rms sound pressure levels in the initial blast of about 130 dB re 1uPa at frequencies of about 20 kHz (actually I'm looking at power spectral density in dB re 1uPa^2/Hz, but when I take the square root the results seem to come out almost the same). Just in case my calibrations are wrong, I can put this into perspective with a relative comparison. The airguns are being recorded from a hydrophone towed 180 metres behind a 55 ft power vessel (doing some 8 - 10 knots), therefore are being recorded above the background noise from engine/propeller. PSD of this background noise on recordings is about 110 dB re 1uPa^2/Hz in the 20 kHz region, one can see that the seismics is some 20 dB above this. If others disagree that this is a 'likely' level of background engine/prop noise then I'll leave them to make there own decisions. However, the fact remains that seismic at 20 kHz (2.5 km from source) are some 20 dB above it ( <-- see how easy it is to forget reference units!). John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK. email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------- On Mon, 12 Aug 1996 GRai(\)aol.com wrote: > Dr. Gould's reply is extremely illuminating and well thought out. I have > worked with air guns in the course of seeking replication of pyrotechnic > shocks (for testing and qualification purposes) that occur in space vehicles > when separation of stages occur. You are certainly right about higher > frequencies existing in shocks emitted by air guns under water. We have > measured up to 8 kHz but not much higher, as the result of our tests with two > different models manufactured by Bolt Industries in Connecticut. Some models > fitted with the appropriate nozzles may go higher but I would not expect > anything to an appraciable extent in the 20 kHz and up range. In fact, my > recommendation was to incorporate magnetostrictive transducers into a > pyrotechnic shock simulator to reproduce the higher frequencies (up to 200 > kHz) present in pyrotechnic shocks but not present in shock waves induced > underwater by air guns. > Sort of like a woofer/tweeter combination in a high-fidelity system, isn't > it? > > Dr. Gould---I would be interested in your spectrum measurements when you > completed them--I would appreciate your relaying the reults to > > Dr. Daniel R. Raichel > Acoustics Research Center > The Cooper Union > 51 Astor Place > New York, New York 10003 > USA > > e-mail: raiche(\)cooper.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 20:19:45 +0900 From: "Tadasu K. Yamada" Subject: Black Sea Marine Mammals Dear Marmamer's, I am sending the folowing message on behalf of Dr. Bayram Ozturk in Turkey. Please contact him directly if you have any questions. Tadasu K. Yamada National Science Museum Tokyo ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Proceedings of the First International Symposium on the Marine Mammals of the Black Sea" is now available. The symposium was held in Istanbul in 1994, involving representatives from all the Black Sea riparian countries. The subjects ranged from pathology to dolphin fisheries, monk seal conservation to marine pollution. Please get in touch with Bayram Ozturk at the following address if you are interested. Thank you! Dr. Bayram Ozturk Faculty of Fisheries Istanbul University Ordu Cad. No:200 Laleli - Istanbul Turkey Phone and fax: +90-216-323-9050 email:ozturkb(\)doruk.com.tr Tadasu K. Yamada Curator of Marine Mammals Dept. of Zoology National Science Museum, Tokyo 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 169 JAPAN Phone : +81-3-3364-2311 ext.7168 / +81-3-5332-7168 Fax : +81-3-3364-7104 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 12:58:36 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: More LFA Sonar Now that the ball is rolling (actually creaking along slowly) re the US Navy Low Frequency Active Sonar, I'd like to take this opportunity to throw in a few more words and openly invite comment/correction from others. We have no technical specs for the sonar, but have been told that source output is some 235 dB (presumably re 1uPa) at frequencies between 75 Hz and 1 kHz. Whether this refers to peak sound pressure levels, rms levels or intensities is not known. Apparently the duty cycle is 10% which I take to mean that for every 10 units in time, the sonar is transmitting for 1 unit. Whether we are looking at discrete bursts of essentially continuous wave energy, or broadband impulse generated shock waves which (like most seismic sources) produce their highest sound levels in the low frequency range below 1 kHz (but also produce higher frequency components), is not clear. One advantage here is that, not knowing anything, I can assume what I like. For convenience sake, lets assume that the sonar is transmitting a continuous wave signal at 500 Hz, with a source sound pressure level of 235 dB re 1uPa at 1 metre (I'll even refrain from guessing peak or rms for reasons below). How loud is this to a cetacean nearby? Audiograms for several dolphin species have been ascertained, and a nice composite graph for several species is shown in Whitlow Au's book "The sonar of dolphins" Springer-Verlag 1993. These audiograms show the hearing threshold of the various species, i.e. the lowest sound pressure levels they can hear across a range of frequencies. The data were obtained from trained behavioural responses to continuous tone signals, although I don't have the original papers and am unsure as to whether the thresholds refer to peak or rms levels of the sound waves (if anyone wants to send me reprints then feel free!). Whether peak or rms should make very little difference in this discussion given the large differences we are about to encounter. I'm also assuming that the duration of the sonar output 'pulse' is sufficiently long to elicit a steady state response from the dolphin auditory system. Anyway, peak hearing sensitivity (i.e. lowest thresholds) typically occur in the 20 - 100 kHz region, and are in the order of 40 dB re 1uPa. At lower frequencies dolphins are less sensitive but can still hear, reading off the curve for Tursiops (Bottlenose dolphin) we get a hearing sensitivity of about 100 dB re 1uPa at 500 Hz. Assuming that our sonar source level is 235 dB re 1uPa at 500 Hz, and that the dolphin audiograms are referenced to a similar type of signal, that gives us a sound pressure level of 135 dB re 1uPa over threshold for Tursiops at 500 Hz at 1 metre from source. Of course, if the sonar is a large towed array system (don't know that either) then 1 metre is the distance from a notional centre which actually has little practical meaning. Even if the sonar were a point source, one is unlikely to find animals 'soaking up the vibes' at 1 metre range. Consider more realistic cases say 10 metres, 100 metres and 1 km from source, and assume the sonar is operating in deep oceanic water (primarily so that I can be lazy and use free field spherical spreading loss). Now sound attenuation along the path length can be estimated from -20log(r), i.e. -20log(10) = -20 dB, -20log(100) = -40 dB and -20log(1,000) = -60 dB. Therefore the sound pressure levels at 10 m, 100 m and 1 km from source are 235-20 = 215 dB re 1uPa, 235-40 = 195 dB re 1 uPa and 235 - 60 = 175 dB re 1uPa respectively. This now puts our dolphin at 115, 95 and 75 dB over hearing threshold at the respective ranges. I would invite behaviourists and physiologists etc to give us an idea of what this would actually mean to the animal. At close range are we getting to the threshold of pain? OK, so far I've been talking about dolphins as we know most about these. No audiograms exist for large whales (at least not to my knowledge). It might, however, be reasonable to assume that hearing sensitivity curves for large whales are similar in shape to those of dolphins, except that the entire curves would likely be shifted down in frequency by an order of magnitude, based on the fact that their vocalisations tend to be at an order of magnitude lower frequency. If this is indeed the case, then peak hearing sensitivities will approach the 500 Hz region where the sonar is operating. Therefore a large whale might have a hearing sensitivity to continuous tones of 40 dB re 1uPa. Taking our 10m, 100m and 1km ranges from source once more, the increased sensitivity means that our whale is experiencing sound pressure levels 175, 155 and 135 dB re 1uPa over threshold. Consider also that if the sonar were operating in shallow water then spreading loss is no longer spherical, as sound is channelled by top and bottom boundaries. Generally speaking spreading loss will be less than in deep water, and a rough approximation is to assume -15log(r). I am omitting absorption losses as these are pretty negligible at such low frequencies (except when ranges become tens or hundreds of kilometres). Incidentally, shallow water doesn't necessarily mean the stuff you can paddle in. If the proposed horizontal transmission ranges are considerably greater than the water depth then you essentially have a shallow water duct. For such high source level emissions, 200 metres depth is shallow in my book. If I'm dropping clangers with my calculations I hope someone will correct me with all speed. If not, perhaps others would like to comment on what such over-threshold sound pressures might mean to large whales. I know what my gut reaction would be, but would rather hear it from others better qualified to comment (please post comments on the list). Going back to the 10% duty cycle, this is considerably higher than the seismic surveys I've been dealing with, where duty cycle would be at most 1%. Perhaps more sound more of the time (from the sonar) will be a source of increased 'annoyance' to whales? Perhaps someone would like to be brave enough to take us through the calculations showing what such source levels mean to a Navy diver. Also, I too would like to know how this output compares with a jet engine or pneumatic drill. I have no adequate data/references for such airbourne sounds, and would have to sit down and think about it in any case. I know that there are clever souls out there who can do these tasks in their sleep. Come on folks, help me out! I'm spending far to much time with email at the moment, and not enough getting on with my work. Finally, to be fair, I have some sympathy for the Navy position in that they don't particularly want details of their new defence system bill posted for all to read. Having said that, however, the chances are that the 'bad guys' on the other side (whoever and wherever thay may be) probably know a lot more about the system already than us civilians are ever likely to - and are probably preparing counter-measures as we speak. One might also do well to consider that, as the cat is already halfway out of the bag, it probably does more harm than good to force speculation through lack of basic information. Respectfully John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK. email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 14:35:30 -0800 From: Dave Duffus Conference Announcement >From June 6th to 9th, 1997 the Society for Conservation Biology will be holding its Annual Meeting at the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.. The meeting will include a wide range of topics discussed as regular conference papers, in symposia and special sessions, in panel and other discussions and as research posters. A major theme of the 1997 meeting will be marine conservation biology, held under the banner of the First Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology. Of additional interest to readers of this list will be a Symposium on the Conservation of Cetaceans. Invited and contributed papers and posters will address the theme of conservation needs for the future. We will consider aspects of technique and technology, current and emerging research needs in biology of the organisms, habitat issues, and in management. Consult our homepage at http://geography.geog.uvic.ca/dept/announce/scb_page.html for conference information and contacts, or see upcoming SCB newsletters (also Murphy and Duffus in the last issue of CoOnservation Biology), or contact the program chair at SCBprog(\)office.geog.uvic.ca.. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 17:59:07 -0400 From: "Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Premature births Dear Marmamers: We are working on a paper which documents two cases of "premature-births" in sperm whales. Literature search have only yielded reference to sperm whales being born at about 400 cm in length and 1100 kg in weight. We have had no luck in finding in our University libraries reference to premature births in cetaceans. The two animals we worked in Puerto Rico (one salvage/necropsy and the other a rescue) measured 277 and 293 cm, respectively. Both had signs of an open unbillicus and meconium in the stomach. We would like to bring up to the consideration of the Group the following two questions: 1. Does anybody have any reference or knowledge of sperm whales calves measuring less than 400 cm (other than still-born or fetuses)? 2. Does anybody have any references on other cases of premature birth in cetaceans? We would be very thankful for any help provided. Please correspond directly to our address at mignucci(\)caribe.net. Gracias! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD, Coordinador Cientifico Red Caribena de Varamientos-Caribbean Stranding Network Catedratico Auxiliar-Universidad de Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, Tel 787.761.3624 Emerg 787.399.VIDA (399.8432), E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 15:34:29 -0700 From: Jose Alicea Subject: Peixe Boi project E-mail Hi marmam friends! I would like to get in contact with the people from the Peixe Boi project in Brazil. There E-mail address would be perfect or any other way of comunication. Thanks Jose A. Alicea Moss Landing Marine Laboratories Moss landing, California USA E-Mail "Alicea(\)MLML.calstate.edu" ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 06:51:20 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: Comments on Navy's sonar program These are my comments on the Navy's Low Frequency Active sonar program. The Navy will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for their program, even though this extremely loud sonar has been deployed for years already. Public scoping meetings will be held very soon in Norfolk, VA; San Diego, CA; and Honolulu, HI. Written comments need to be submitted by Sept. 4. I encourage anyone concerned about the marine environment to make themselves heard. Comments on EIS of U.S. Navy's LFA program 1 August 1996 My name is Linda Weilgart. I am a research associate in Biology at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. I have studied acoustic communication in free-ranging whales for over 14 years . My M.Sc., Ph.D., and post-doctoral training were all focused on the area of whale acoustics. There are few scientists who have spent more time at sea studying sperm whales sounds than I have. Although, as a scientist, I am expected to express myself in dispassionate terms, the Navy's proposal to use 250 dB, <1000 Hz sound sources, and moreover, to use such sound sources throughout the world's oceans, is stupefying. An intensity level of 250 dB is *10 trillion* times louder than the intensity level (120 dB) several whale species have been shown to clearly avoid in several studies. Deploying such a massively loud sonar system can only be seen as an all-out assault on the marine environment. While there are great gaps in our knowledge of the impact of noise on marine mammals, we can be reasonably sure that sounds of this tremendous intensity will be very harmful, certainly to some species. Most whales and dolphins depend on sound for almost all aspects of their survival. It is ludicrous to expect that these already stressed marine mammal populations will be able to cope with an enormous addition to their already noise-polluted environment. The report by the National Research Council's Committee on Low Frequency Sound and Marine Mammals, "Low Frequency Sound and Marine Mammals: Current Knowledge and Research Needs" (1994) states that "at this time, essentially nothing is known about the auditory after-effects of exposure to intense sound in marine mammals, fish, or invertebrates." It states that "...high intensity sounds may result in damage to...organ systems of...prey animals. There is laboratory evidence that such sounds can affect egg viability and growth rates of fish and invertebrates." The report also refers to extensive field studies on migrating grey and bowhead whales which showed that received intensity levels of only 120 dB caused detectable avoidance in these whales. Unfortunately, damage from very intense sound may not be obvious at sea, especially in the short-term. Marine mammals are intractable animals to study in the wild. Auditory damage is almost impossible to detect in free-ranging large whales. Gradual deafness can be easily misinterpreted as a growing tolerance or habituation to noise. Whether through outright auditory damage or the more insidious psychological stress which can accompany elevated noise levels, underwater noise of such magnitude as the Navy proposes will likely seriously threaten marine life. In the EIS, I expect to see a thorough treatment of the possible ranges over which a sound source of this magnitude will be detectable above a, for instance, 80 dB ambient noise level. Sound propagation models should be calculated for various different circumstances, e.g. in temperate or polar seas, various bottom contours and ocean depths, etc. Because these sounds will be penetrating vast areas of ocean over thousands of miles, I do not see any realistic or dependable way any mitigative measures, such as detection or avoidance of sensitive species, will appreciably reduce this threat. Marine mammals, especially if silent, can easily escape detection even at short ranges. Certainly sensitive areas should be stringently avoided, but this will not be enough. The only mitigative measures of any real consequence in helping to safeguard marine species are to substantially reduce (by several orders of magnitude) the intensity, and secondarily, alter the frequency, of these sonar systems. The Navy's proposed LFA sonar system may be able to detect a few submarines, but in the process will be playing Russian roulette with our ocean ecosystem upon which we depend for our survival. Linda Weilgart Department of Biology Dalhousie University HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 15:35:28 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Peer Review -- Report on Norwegian Whaling Marmam Group: I am seeking peer review comments on a 7-page draft report for Congress on Norwegian whaling. The Congressional Research Service conducts objective, non-partisan public policy analysis for Congress, and I seek peer review comments to help ensure that my writings are objective, comprehensive, and non-partisan. If you would like to read this short report and provide comments, please send me an e-mail message. I will send you the report, via e-mail, shortly thereafter. Any comments should be returned to me no later than Sept. 6, 1996 to be most helpful. Thanks to all for your input. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov fax: (202) 707-7289 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 13:49:27 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 8/16/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . National Marine Life Center. On Aug. 13, 1996, officials of the National Marine Life Center signed an agreement with Town of Bourne, MA, officials to lease land to build a $12 million facility dedicated to rehabilitat ing stranded whales and other marine mammals. The Center plans to open in 2000. [Assoc Press] . Coast Guard Threat to Whales. On Aug. 5, 1996, NMFS officials ordered the U.S. Coast Guard to modify its vessel and aircraft operations along the Atlantic coast to reduce the threat to endangered whales, and the Coast Guard has agreed to comply. [Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Wandering Manatee. On Aug. 11, 1996, an unconfirmed manatee sighting was reported at the Annapolis Cove marina in Lake Ogleton, MD. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 18:15:03 +0000 From: "Michael L. Torok" Subject: Harbor Seal Investigator List The latest HSIL has been sent to all list participants. Approximately a dozen copies of the HSIL were bounced back to me with 'unknown recipient' tags. If you have not received your copy, please contact me via email at the address listed below. Regards, Michael Torok ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. PGP public key available upon request. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 12:43:44 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: whaling and biodiversity Two articles were recently published in _Conservation Biology_ that might be of interest to folks. They talk about whale carcasses and chemoautotrophic bacteria. The latter paper was published as a response to the former. Butman, C.A., J.T. Carlton, and S.R. Palumbi. Whaling effects on deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10: 462-464. Jelmert, A. and D.O. Oppen-Berntsen. 1996. Whaling and deep-sea biodiversity. Conservation Biology 10: 653-654. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 13:42:20 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: LFA Pearls of Wisdom At this point I would like those considering making an input to the debate re LFA Sonar, if there is to be a debate at all, to pause for another moments thought. I borrow the following words from a private message sent to me: ----------------------------------------- There's a lot of information on LFA out there that hasn't made it's way onto the net yet, and I don't think that's healthy. Part of what's damming it up is the fear of getting sucked in to an ATOC-like nightmare of inflammatory postings. There are some very smart people involved with the EIA and MM monitoring of LFA, fear not. And yes, they are at least several steps ahead of us in their cognizance of the issues. The net debate will have to progress a lot further before we can give them any seriously new material for thought. I think you'll see them enter the fray only if the debate matures to the point of raising interesting new issues and proves itself a stable forum immune from hysteria. --------------------------------------------- I think the above is self explanatory and I need say no more on this. Fortunately the information so far has all been constructive and informative. Now that we have seen some rough order calculations on what potential over-threshold sound pressure marine mammals are likely to encounter, perhaps what we need are some rational arguments as to what this actually means to the animals concerned. If possible quote references in the literature. No doubt there are other issue's I've not even thought of, and as long as these are put forward in a rational way, I'm sure all will be interested to hear them. I've been posting to both MARMAM and Bioacoustics-L lists, although a lot of the good technical info has tended to come back on the Bioacoustics list only. Therefore MARMAM only subscribers may only be getting half the picture. Never fear, I believe that archived messages can be accessed on the web site: ftp://ftp.ornith.cornell.edu/pub/bioacoustics-l If this is incorrect I hope the list editor will post the appropriate correction. Finally, it is not my intention to become in any way a pivotal figure in this debate, although I do seem to have acted as a catalyst. Believe me I would far rather sit back and watch the 'big guns' take it forward, although I'll happily forward messages from people who wish to remain anonymous. So remember folks - keep it constructive and useful, and we may all learn something! John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 13:17:21 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: LFA Sonar Dear All, I am forwarding some comments about Sonar sent to me re the LFA debate. Although the author remains anonymous, rest assured it's someone who knows their stuff! John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk --------------------------------- Been following the LFA discussion with some interest. I note the apparent source level of this system seems to be varying daily depending on the point of view of the writer. I see it has achieved a new high of 250dB !!!!! If the system is anything like current sonar systems it will transmit tonal type signals, with pulse lengths of 0.5-2 seconds duration, amplitude weighted to give slow rise and fall times. The useable range of frequencies will cover, at best, one octave, although I believe the USNLFA system has a range of arrays available. The transmit array is always a vertical array to give a beam narrow in the vertical plane but omnidirectional in the horizontal plane. This minimises reverberation from the surface and seabed. Suggest you get a copy of Principles of Underwater Sound by Urick where he describes the basic design parameters for a sonar system. Just put in the frequencies being bandied about and design your own LFA system. I am surprised that no one else has carried out a basic sonar design to look at the system needed to obtain usuable sonar performance within the constraints of that which is practicable. 250dB is just so far beyond the practicable that any arguments associated with such a statement are immediately brought into question. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 23:03:11 CET Reply-To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk From: Jan Willem Broekema Subject: Scientific American To those interested: The August issue of Scientific American includes a story by Ken Marten, Karim Shariff, Suchi Psarakos & Don J. White called 'Ring Bubbles of Dolphins' (pages 64-69). The authors describe the use of air a play tools by dolphins off the coast of Hawaii. For more information see http://www.sciam.com --- Jan Willem Broekema ECS Computer Support Group http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 16:47:25 -0400 From: Cetaman(\)aol.com Subject: Batteau Paper Availability Aloha, A long lost copy of Batteau's 1967 Final Report to the U.S. Navy titled: MAN/DOLPHIN COMMUNICATION has recently surfaced. In this copy even the pictures come out well. This paper contains an appendix with the schematics for Batteau's Man to Dolphin translator - the electronic device which was able to change the spoken word into whistles. Unfortunately, the Dolphin to Man translator is not included, but an appendix and schematic for a recording device for matching dolphin signals with the generated signals is included. The report is a part of American history dealing with dolphins. The e-mail address for requesting a complete copy of the report is: dolphin(\)roadrunner.com This e-mail address should only be used to order the report which will cost $30.00 complete. Aloha, Ken LeVasseur Cetaman(\)aol.com Dolfinman(\)gnn.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 09:45:37 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: LFA Sonar One point I should have clarified in my last posting. I won't forward any material to the lists without the author's permission. Therefore rest assured that any private correspondence will be treated in confidence. John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 07:12:32 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: news clip - Hong Kong's dolphins 08/12/96 EXP--Dying Dolphins HONG KONG (AP) -- A flash of bubblegum pink split the silt-brown seas, cutting a path through disposable lunch boxes and other foul-looking scum bobbing around on top. "Yes!" Bill Everett, the boat operator, shouted gleefully. More pink flashed up ahead and Everett beckoned the helmsman to approach a little, very slowly. Everett, who owns the tourism company Dolphinwatch, has seen Chinese white dolphins in the Pearl River's brackish waters hundreds of times, but he still gets excited. So he should. The dolphin, which in Hong Kong is really pink, will soon disappear from the British colony's waters, killed off by pollution, experts say. The dolphins, known officially as the Indo-Pacific Humpback or Sousa Chinensis, are also found off South Africa and Australia. They come in three main shades: purply-blue, gray and green. However, only in Southeast Asia are they pink, and only in Hong Kong do they assume a bubblegum hue. Experts estimate that only 100 to 200 of the pink variety are left in western Hong Kong's shallow, muddy waters and their numbers are dropping fast. So far this year, eight dead dolphins have washed up on the colony's shores, with photos of their rotting carcasses sometimes appearing in newspapers the next day. Last year, 10 dolphins, between 5 percent and 10 percent of their estimated population, were found dead. Experts say the real annual death rate is probably much higher, perhaps touching 20 percent, since dolphins' bodies may sink or float out to sea. There have been dolphin sightings in neighboring China's waters but not many, according to Lyndsay Porter, a dolphin researcher. New research suggests that the dolphins are being killed by chemicals discharged by China into the Pearl River, which runs through the rapidly industrializing southern Chinese province of Guangdong and flows into the dolphins' habitat off Hong Kong. The chemicals include the pesticide DDT, still used in China but banned in many other countries, and toxins used in the production of plastics. They lodge in the dolphins' body fat and are passed to baby dolphins in their mother's milk, said Chris Parsons, a marine biologist who has studied the Chinese white for three years. Autopsies on dolphin carcasses found toxins concentrated at 150 parts per million, as well as high levels of poisonous mercury, lead and cadmium, meaning "the dolphins are basically toxic waste," Parsons said in an interview. Without radical remedies, the Hong Kong dolphin will be extinct within five years, he said. "Pollution levels are going to get higher and higher and China needs to soon do something pretty drastic about its environmental pollution," he said. Nor is the threat confined to chemicals. Hong Kong's new multibillion-dollar airport is being built smack in the middle of the dolphins' habitat, on land reclaimed from the sea off Lantau Island in western Hong Kong. Dredging, blasting and oil spills during construction are stressing the dolphin and contributing to its rising death rates and falling fertility rates, Parsons said. The stress factor will likely get worse once the airport opens in 1998, as the sound of jumbo jets taking off and landing wreaks havoc with the sensitive hearing dolphins use to navigate in muddy waters. Under pressure from conservationists, the government proposed establishing a marine park for the dolphins. But the park will be built around an airport refuelling facility and will be so small an adult dolphin could swim its length in four minutes, conservationists say. Catherine Kan, a Hong Kong government marine conservation officer, says the government is concerned about the dolphins, but that conservation needs to be balanced against economic growth Preserving the dolphin "may be a low priority," she said. The dolphin has been chosen as the mascot for ceremonies next year when Hong Kong returns to Chinese sovereignty, but there are no signs yet that this will lead to more efforts to save it from extinction. Said Everett of Dolphinwatch: "I hope it makes it as far as the transition" on July 1, 1997. On Everett's boat, Japanese tourist Kago Atsuka cooed in delight as more pink flashes broke the surface. "It's like ballet -- very pretty and cute," she said. "I hope that this government does something to help it. And I hope the next government does something as well. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 23:53:15 -0500 From: ROBERT POWELL Subject: U.S. Navy's dolphin program Aug. 18, 1996 I am a professional screenwriter and college screenwriting instructor. My current project centers around 2 dolphins, trained, then given away by the U.S. Navy. My problem is that info. on the Navy's program is very hard to come by. Any suggestions that you might be able to make will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Robert Powell green_tiger(\)prodigy.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 16:05:06 +1200 From: Lars Bejder Subject: Conference in Chile Dear marmars, It has been brought to my attention that a conference is to be held in Chile some time in October (The 8th Reunion de Trabajo de Especialistas em Mamiferos Acusticos de America del Sur). I was hoping to get the precise dates on the conference and some details thereon (objectives, list of parcipitants ....). Can anyone give me a contact e-mail of the convenor? Thank you Lars Bejder Department of Marine Science University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand E-mail: lars.bejder(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 10:35:17 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: old name! new name? I'm trying to figure out what species was the sulphur bottom whale in the 1940's. Thanks in advance for the help. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 08:36:34 -0700 From: "William F. Perrin" Subject: looking for book I would like very much to locate a copy (to buy) of S. H. Ridgway (ed.) 1972, Mammals of the Sea, Biology and Medicine, Charles Thomas, Springfield, IL. Mine was "borrowed" several years ago, and I've not been able to locate a replacement. Many thanks. Bill Perrin, wperrin(\)its.ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 21:24:59 EDT From: Maddalena Bearzi <103131.2200(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: request dolphin information along Yucatan Pen. Dear Marmams, Does anyone out there have any information concerning dolphins, particularly Tursiops truncatus, along the Yucatan Peninsula? I would be grateful if you can help me by letting me know if you have any pertinent materials or information. Please respond directly to: e-mail: 103131.2200(\)compuserve. com Thank you very much for your effort, Maddalena Bearzi ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 07:59:27 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: old name=new name Many thanks for the billions of responses I have received about my question about the sulphur bottom whale. For those of you who wrote to me also wanting to know what it is - blue whale. Again, lots of thanks. I guess I'll need to come up with a more difficult question next time. We could make a Jeopardy game out of it. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 11:43:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Australia-Stranded Whales Australia-Stranded Whales PERTH, Australia (AP) -- Alerted by loud crying sounds, hundreds of Australian volunteers rushed to the ocean and saved some 200 long-finned pilot whales from stranding on rocky coastline before dawn today. Western Australia's Department of Conservation and Land Management said the mammals strayed into dangerously shallow water Tuesday night after breaking away from a larger pod off Dunsborough. The town is 100 miles southwest of Perth on the country's southwest tip. The department said 14 whales died as hundreds struggled in the water, bleeding and emitting loud cries. "There was a lot of blood and a lot of thrashing and erratic movements and squealing," said wildlife officer Bob Fitzgerald. Rescue coordinator Kim Williams said more than 500 volunteers took turns in the water to keep most of the whales buoyant and away from the rocks. Small boats then herded them back out to sea where wildlife officers hope they will rejoin the main pod. Long-finned pilot whales grow to a maximum of 21 feet. They migrate along the Western Australian coast during the Southern Hemisphere's winter. Several species of whales often strand themselves on the Australian coastline. Scientists are unsure why. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 10:48:10 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: Re: LFA Pearls of Wisdom John Goold wrote: >Fortunately the information so far has all been constructive and >informative. Now that we have seen some rough order calculations on >what potential over-threshold sound pressure marine mammals are likely >to encounter, perhaps what we need are some rational arguments as to >what this actually means to the animals concerned. If possible quote >references in the literature. > >............ > >So remember folks - keep it constructive and useful, and we may all >learn something! I certainly agree that the debate (any debate) should remain rational and constructive, but I have a couple of political-type comments on the above. One, while it is important to have as much factual, research-supported information available and involved in this discussion as possible, so that the agencies can make the most informed decision as possible, this brings up the old paradox with marine mammals. With so little known about them (particularly, in this case, how sound affects them), "the best scientific information" is not always very good, making science-based decisions somewhat problematic. Sometimes a rigid emphasis on science-based decisions results in poor environmental policy, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. In a debate like this, intuition, educated guesses, and a strong insistence on caution in the face of ignorance seem very legitimate to me. Two, I am all for education as well -- I always look forward to learning something when issues like LFA come down the pike. However, I would argue that the principle reason for debating this issue on MARMAM or Bioacoustics-L, even though both are primarily for scientific and academic discussions, is to inform policy decisions -- in other words, learning something should come a distant second to the main purpose of the debate, which should be to provide as much information as possible to guide policy-makers toward making a decision that is best for the marine environment and its inhabitants. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 19:10:52 +0000 From: Neale Monks Subject: Using sound to hunt? Dear All, This may or may not be a simple question to answer: have marine mammals (specifically, cetaceans) been *proved* to use sound to immobilise prey? I know about locating prey, but I mean to actually stun the target. I'm a palaeobiologist working on ammonites and belemnites, and one of the oddities of cephalopods is their inability to hear sounds. They have very sophisticated eyes and balance organs, and some have an equivalent to the lateral line. But none has ears. An old paper (I think Packard [Biological Review, no.47, 1972]) made the suggestion that coleoids lost their ears so that they wouldn't be as easily overcome by sound blasts. I'm sure this was just a thought, and he had no evidence. Even so, would targets having ears be a pre-requisite to cetacean sonic hunting? Appreciate any thoughts, Neale. -------------------------------------------------------------------- >From Neale Monks' Macintosh PowerBook, at... Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD Internet: N.Monks(\)nhm.ac.uk, Telephone: 0171-938-9007 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 18:22:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphins and Twins (fwd) > From: Steve/Beth George > Casting an inquiry net... > > Several years ago (10-15), I saw/heard about information on > bottlenose dolphins' angry reaction to human women; pregnant with twins. > The study cited that there were few twin dolphins born, because when the > dolphins hear three heart-beats from one body, they get very agitated and > attack the "Offender". Could anyone point me towards any > literature/research dealing with this situation? > > Thanks, > Steve George > > > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 19:47:13 -0400 From: TPlatt1070(\)aol.com Subject: tuna/dolphin article Pacific Fishing Magazine, July 1996, page 6 Dolphin Safe Concerns All Fishermen By Teresa Platt America s dolphin safe policy virtually eliminated the U.S. purse seine fleet from the eastern Pacific yellowfin tuna fishery in less than three years and subjected U.S. tuna seiners to pressures that few fleets could survive. The remaining boats now unload in Bangkok, not Puerto Rico, and pay for shipyard work in Singapore, not San Diego. Ironically, their foreign successors in the eastern Pacific have embraced the dolphin conservation methods that California skippers pioneered but were forbidden to use. In doing so, they have reduced dolphin mortalities to levels that eliminate any threat to the mammals growing populations, surpassing the standards that domestic U.S. fleets must meet. Yet their catch is still embargoed from American markets, and American tuna seiners are still barred from using the successful methods -- which would enable them to come home. Meanwhile, the dolphin safe label can be used on fish that is caught by far dirtier fisheries which take a much higher ecological toll on marine life, sometimes including dolphins. Now Congress is considering legislation to straighten out this mess. Leading conservation groups and the Clinton administration support the change. But powerful animal rights organizations, using Hollywood spokesmen and Free Willy symbolism, are working to block this effort because it would allow seiners once again to use a fishing method they abhor: encirclement and release of dolphins to capture the prized yellowfin tuna that follow them. These mistaken saviors are pushing their own legislation which would continue the rules that have done so much damage already to fishermen and to fisheries conservation and management. If you fish, this fight is your fight. If such failed conservation regimes are allowed to stand, no fishery is safe. Moreover, many Americans still mistakenly believe that the nation s dolphin safe policies and product labels worked. That ignorant view lends support to other crude and costly adventures in eco-labeling. If eco-labeling is ever going to succeed (either for marine ecosystems or humans who harvest food from them) it will require a much better grasp of how fisheries actually work. Eco-labeling is now spreading to other fisheries. The main eco-activist group behind the dolphin safe disaster has spawned a turtle safe shrimp campaign. In a separate (and hopefully smarter) effort, World Wildlife Fund and Unilever, a $50-billion a year multinational are promoting worldwide councils to define and label sustainable fisheries and disrupt sales of identified eco-underachievers. Before we move on to new labels of sustainability, let s fix what went wrong with dolphin safe, the first and the dirtiest of the eco-labels. The International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (IDCPA, S.1420, H.R.2823), introduced by Senator Breaux and Congressman Gilchrest, strengthens the dolphin safe label to mean what it says. It also builds on the achievements of foreign fishermen who participate in the successful dolphin conservation under the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission s (IATTC), by lifting U.S. embargoes for participating countries. Under this program, eastern Pacific tuna fishermen reduced dolphin mortalities from a peak of 134,000 in 1986 to below 4,000, or 0.04 percent of the 10 million dolphins present in this 8-million-square-mile tuna fishery. Little of this fishery s 300,000 tons of tuna can be sold as dolphin safe because the present definition allows only tuna that is caught without encircling dolphins during the entire fishing trip. Eastern Pacific fishermen, who catch large tunas associating with dolphins, will never get the label. Ironically, they receive the label if they abandon the area or substitute any nonencircling-type gear, even if those choices cause massive dolphin losses or unsustainable bycatch of fish and other creatures. The IDCPA addresses this debacle, redefining dolphin safe to a set-by-set performance-based standard verified by on-board observers. Fish from sets where 100 percent of the encircled dolphins are released unharmed will qualify as dolphin safe, a gold star for perfect performance. This ensures consumers that no dolphins died in production of the tuna and supports fishermen in dolphin-release efforts. It also allows the harvest of clean schools of very large tunas, keeping the fishery healthy. The bill would correct another problem in present U.S. policy as well. Based on the flawed concept that there are 10 million marine mammals in the eastern Pacific and none anywhere else in the world, the dolphin safe label is presently given to fishermen in other oceans who operate under barely any scrutiny or enforcement. The effect? They must hide their marine mammal kills -- instead of seeking help to reduce them -- or be blacklisted. Trying to comply with the current no encirclement policy, some skippers fish on immature tunas, which associate less with dolphins. If the entire fleet were to fish this way, yellowfin production could be reduced by as much as 60 percent. And because small tunas associate with a variety of other fish, sharks, billfish and turtles, the discards at sea increase from 0.1 percent of the catch for fishing on dolphin-associated mature tunas to 20 to 30 percent of the catch for fishing on non-dolphin-associated baby tunas. While other fisheries work to reduce bycatch, dolphin safe mandates eastern Pacific fishermen to dramatically increase bycatch and impact juvenile tunas in order to avoid a biologically insignificant impact on dolphin stocks. The U.S. tuna seine fleet is a small community, no match for the powerful media players who oppose the IDCPA. Fortunately, a diverse group of allies has stepped in. They include Alliance for America, American Sportfishing Association, Center for Marine Conservation, Defenders of Property Rights, Greenpeace, National Fisheries Institute, People for the West, Seafarers International Union, Western States Coalition, World Wildlife Fund, many other groups and the governments and tuna industries of twelve countries. Still, U.S. commercial fishermen have too much at stake to stay silent as this bill is debated. If the Breaux-Gilchrest legislation passes, U.S. vessels will fish sensibly again in the eastern Pacific and fishermen everywhere will benefit. We are all vulnerable to the same kind of final solution that hounded the U.S. tuna fleet off the eastern Pacific. Your fishery could be next. To survive, we all need laws that balance the needs of harvesters with the complexities of ecosystem management and the concerns of an aware and involved public. If eco-labeling is to be the law, let s make sure the labels are friendly and fair to all -- fishermen, fish, Flipper and the whole menagerie we meet at sea. Teresa Platt manages The Fishermen s Coalition in Coronado, California (619-575-4664, tplatt1070(\)aol.com). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 19:44:01 -0400 From: TPlatt1070(\)aol.com Subject: eastern Pacific basics A tuna tale: Managing a fishery to increase positives, reduce negatives BY TERESA PLATT Whether on land or on sea, animals are present in all food harvesting operations. A farmer looking through the fields before harvesting his crop sees rabbits, opossums, mice, rats, birds, foxes, skunks and snakes. These animals flee as the combines come through the fields but there is accidental and unavoidable mortality. The ocean is no different. As farmers of the sea, fishermen use various equipment designed to harvest specific fish. Non-targeted animals flee or are released unharmed. However, there is accidental and unavoidable mortality of non-target species. A challenge for every fisherman is to design and use equipment and methods which selectively catch the target fish the fisherman wants while minimizing non-targeted bycatch (unwanted catch) and discards (rejects returned to the sea) where our discards become something else s lunch. The Basics If you were to design a program to reduce the bycatch in a fishery, you would want to answer a few basic questions: 7 How many affected animals are there in this fishery? 7 How much does their population increase every year naturally (births less natural mortality or net reproductive rate )? 7 How many animals are people killing accidentally every year? 7 Is this number so high that it is negatively effecting the animal populations? 7 Can we reduce the number of animals accidentally killed without putting fishermen out of business? 7 Can we reduce the numbers of animals accidentally killed without substituting gear and equipment that will have a different or greater negative impact on the ocean s inhabitants? A Case Study Over the last thirty years, one area of the world has received a great amount of attention due to an unwanted bycatch of dolphins during fishing operations. The eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) yellowfin tuna fishery, an 8 million square mile area stretching from California to Chile and out to Hawaii, is the traditional fishing grounds for the U.S. tuna fleet and eight to nine other countries. This multi-country fleet has operated under the conservation programs of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) since 1949. Because of the presence of this conservation program, this fishery boasts one of the world s most comprehensive marine databases. In terms of science, this is a wonderful accomplishment. But this can be negative in that anyone can take numbers and generate hysteria. Putting It In Perspective So let s put the numbers in perspective. The eastern Pacific is the half of the Pacific Ocean that abuts the west coast of North America, Central and South America. Within this area is the yellowfin tuna fishery in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP). 7 The ETP yellowfin tuna fishery covers over 8 million square miles of ocean, an area almost three times the size of the United States. 7 The ETP produces about 800 million pounds of skipjack and yellowfin tuna (lightmeat tuna) per year, about 20 to 25% of the world s canned tuna supply. 7 The ETP is the world s largest yellowfin tuna fishery and produces about 30% of the world s yellowfin tuna, a delicious and prolific fish which lives to about five years and can grow to weigh 400 pounds. 7 The ETP is home to approximately 10 million dolphins which are commonly found swimming in association with large yellowfin tuna. The ETP is also home to many other whales and dolphins not generally found swimming in association with dolphins. It is also home to uncounted other fish, sharks, billfish, rays and turtles. 7 The fishermen use a seine net in this fishery to encircle the tuna like a fence. Seine, like the river in France, is French for a net which hangs. 7 The bottom of the seine is pursed so the catch cannot escape. Like in a drawstring purse, cables close the bottom of the net, so the nets are called purse seines and the boats which use them are called purse seiners. 7 The fishermen back the boat up ( backdown ) and maneuver the net to carefully release any dolphins unharmed before putting the fish on board. 7 The fishermen herd (average time: 20 minutes), encircle and release over a million dolphins a year in this fishery. 7 Because the area is so large and the dolphins so numerous, if the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act were applied equally to this international fishery, an allowance for accidental kills of approximately 55,000 dolphins annually in this fishery would be considered biologically insignificant. 7 The estimates of dolphins accidentally killed in this fishery has varied over the last thirty years from guesstimates of hundreds of thousands annually to estimates of tens of thousands to counts by on-board observers of approximately 4,000 in recent years, or 0.04% of the abundance of the dolphins found in this fishery. This is completely sustainable and a fraction of what is allowed U.S. fishermen fishing domestically within the 200-mile limit of the United States. 7 Additionally, protections by stock of dolphins are in place, ensuring that takes remain below 0.2 percent of any stock of dolphins. This allowance is scheduled to decrease to 0.1 percent of each stock of dolphins in the near future. Education Plus Commitment Equals Stunning Results Educating the fishermen on the correct gear and how to use it has resulted in one of the cleanest, most efficient fisheries in the world. Fishing for tuna swimming in association with dolphins results in discards of less than 0.1 percent of the catch. Marine mammal mortality is a fraction of what is experienced in many other fisheries and it is recognized that substitution of other gear would result in higher dolphin mortality. Additionally, concentrating the fishing on the dolphin-associating mature and large yellowfin tuna (average 50 pound fish) keeps the fishery healthy and avoids overfishing the resource. Avoiding all dolphin interaction ( dolphin safe as currently defined) forces the fishermen to fish on small yellowfin (average 10 pounds) which scientists estimate will reduce the production of yellowfin tuna by 30 to 60 percent. Additionally, focusing the fishing on smaller tunas which do not generally swim with dolphins, results in unacceptably high discards of as much as 30 percent of the catch. These discards include many other fish, billfish, sharks and sea turtles. Dolphin safe needs to be redefined as a gold star for perfect performance by the fishermen in releasing dolphins unharmed. This definition encourages fishermen to continue improving their performance at releasing the involved dolphins unharmed while catching very clean schools of very large yellowfin. This redefinition lets the fishermen earn a living while keeping the fishery healthy. Simply put, marine mammals are present in all the world s oceans and therefore all the world s fisheries. An allowance for interaction and some mortality allows fishermen to earn a living and supply the world with a food product. If we are to continue to make progress in addressing environmental issues, we need to base our fisheries policies on fact, not fantasy, and support rational, scientifically based conservation programs in every ocean of the world. Teresa Platt and The Fishermen s Coalition works to educate the public about responsible fishing practices and to celebrate and secure seafaring communities. Platt also serves on the board of National Animal Interest Alliance and the executive committee of Alliance for America, an organization dedicated to restoring people and common sense to the environmental equation. The Fishermen's Coalition, 826 Orange Avenue, #504, Coronado, CA 92118 Tel: (619) 575-4664, Fax: (619) 575-5578, email: tplatt1070(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 12:22:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: MarmamNews web site Since January 1992 I have been archiving newswire articles concerning marine mammals. Soon after Marmam began, I began posting these articles to Marmam. As Marmam has grown it has become necessary for the editors to limit the number of these articles which are posted, sometimes I found 10 in one day. I have just finished creating a world wide web site where I can post some of this archive, I am limited to 2 megs of disk space. So far I've posted all of the 1996 articles. Until I can find a soloution to this disk space limitation I might only be able to post back to 1994. The U.R.L. for the site is http://members.aol.com/marmamnews I would like to thank the editors of Marmam for allowing me to use the name MarmamNews for the site. Rich Mallon-Day r.mallon1(\)genie.geis.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 10:52:18 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: Re: LFA Pearls of Wisdom --- Begin forwarded message > Naomi A. Rose wrote: > > I certainly agree that the debate (any debate) should remain rational > and constructive, but I have a couple of political-type comments on >the above. One, while it is important to have as much factual, > research-supported information available and involved in this >discussion as possible, so that the agencies can make the most informed >decision as possible, this brings up the old paradox with marine >mammals. With so little known about them (particularly, in this case, >how sound affects them), "the best scientific information" is not >always very good, making science-based decisions somewhat problematic. > Sometimes a rigid emphasis on science-based decisions results in poor >environmental policy, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. In a debate >like this, intuition, educated guesses, and a strong insistence on >caution in the face of ignorance seem very legitimate to me. The deployment of the LFA is one aimed at making our nation safer and protecting the lives of those protecting ours. Within this regard, it would be prudent to develop the technology best suited for this - if LFA is part of this so be it. But I agree with Dr. Rose with regards to the opinion on marine mammals and ecosystems. You should start with a sound as possible scientific base, but in this case you have a few problems: 1) The LFA has not been deployed extensively (relative) and is a new factor in an already hard to study environment. A considerable amount of research will be conducted after the fact. Environmental impact statements, at least part of it, will be pure speculation. 2) If the LFA poses a problem with a specie(s) among the ecosystem, it may not show up for a long time, well after the animal(s) have migrated away from the testing site. 3) Perspective only - the scientific resources necessary to tag/monitor and follow-up on impacts does not appear to be in place, so no amount of screaming for the research is going to matter right now. 4) If a population of rare species happens to be in an area, and the LFA injurs one of the most productive members of the group (either sex), you have damage in a population that stretches for generations and which may not be in a position to handle the damage. While I would not want to critically hamper a system capable of saving lives and possibly avert wars, I believe the Navy and US Govt can take a certain amount of steps to make sure the US Gov't is not doing something very stupid e.g. akin to pumping out thousands of tons of CFCs into the atmosphere after you've already been put on notice that it has the potential to create a problem. Very similar arguments here if you care to take a look. And now there is not much doubt that CFCs harm the ozone layer (if you bother to read the real research and not tune into Rush). Anyone remember DDT and the bald eagle? etc. etc. etc. far too many times for comfort. A) The Navy should ascertain that the technology being developed is not one that has potential counter-threats easily developed, such as active (decoys or destructive interference) or passive (shape, material) devices that would render the LFA inaffective. Hate to find out that LFA is a problem to marine ecosystems while you were also finding out that the system can be countered easily (and with less money and effort). B) The Navy can limit deployment in real world scenarios to ones in which a threat level is present until scientific research of the impacts of LFA is complete. C) During test and research scenarios of the LFA itself, sites should be chosen that have no migratory/habitation paths of depleted or sensitive species. Picket ships typically employed in test scenarios can also monitor marine movements to suspend operations should large populations come into the training area. D) If feasible different operating modes of the LFA should be tested to find the least amount of impact on marine ecosystems while maintaining effectiveness of the technology. E) Make sure that marine biologists are in the area to monitor immediate reactions to the LFA and that they have the resources (which can be Navy) to track populations that wander near the test sites. Though many of you will hate to hear this, if the Navy believes this is the answer and can prove their case, then some non-endangered species will have to be exposed and monitored. It behooves the scientific community to minimize the damage. If some non-endangered species are hurt doing this, relatively small price to pay to make sure irreversible damage is not done. A nuclear weapon from a boomer or massive oil spill from a torpedo also does a lot of damage, so the LFA may be solving environmental problems also (lest we forget Kuwait on topside wartime fiascos). Sam McClintock sammcc(\)nando.net ---- End Forwarded Message ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 11:23:11 -0700 From: Paul Wade Subject: ETP dolphin abundance basics A comment on "10 million dolphins in the ETP". These ETP cetacean abundance estimates are taken from Wade and Gerrodette, 1993, "Estimates of cetacean abundance and distribution in the eastern tropical Pacific", Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 43:477-493. Abundance of dolphin stocks that are the primary focus for setting on by the tuna fleet: northeastern spotted (730,900), western/southern spotted (1,258,900), eastern spinner (631,800), whitebelly spinner (1,019,300), northern common (476,300), and central common (406,100). Total of those 6 stocks is 4,562,800. 93% of the incidental mortality in 1995 was of those 6 stocks (Hall and Lennert, IWC SC/48/SM4). When discussing the impact of the tuna fishery, it is really only meaningful to discuss those above numbers (and other related estimates). The majority of the fisheries mortality historically has been of just 2 stocks, northeastern spotted and eastern spinner, so the most relevant abundance estimates to consider are thus 730,900 and 631,800. Those 2 stocks are considered depleted under the U.S. MMPA. Those 2 stocks still have the highest mortality rate as a percentage of abundance of any of the stocks, but it is currently at a low level (less than 1%, 0.15% and 0.11%, respectively) that most scientists, I would guess, believe should be sustainable and, if maintained, should lead to eventual recovery of those 2 stocks. One can get a number greater than 9 million if one adds in the abundance of other species and stocks of dolphins that are not involved in the fishery to any great extent (meaning fishers rarely if ever intentionally set on schools primarily composed of these species/stocks), which includes striped dolphins, Fraser's dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, and southern common dolphins. Total abundance of all 8 species (including at least 13 population stocks) is then 9,576,000. If you throw in all other species of cetacean (at least 14 more species), you can get a total abundance of all cetaceans (22 species) of 9,962,400 (still less than 10 million). All managers that I am aware of (including those that manage yellowfin tuna) attempt to manage on a stock by stock basis. Sincerely, Paul R. Wade wade(\)racesmtp.afsc.noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1996 13:57:44 GMT+0200 From: MISS SEE PLON Organization: Rhodes University Subject: Reproduction Dear Marmamers, I am currently doing my M.Sc. on Kogia and are looking for some good, RECENT, accounts on reproduction in marine mammals (cetaceans in special). Furthermore, I would like to know if anyone knows about any papers on sperm motility and viability in cetaceans and on sperm morphology in seals and sirenians; although I have searched extensively I haven't found anything so far. You can reply directly to: G95P5349(\)giraffe.ru.ac.za Thank you very much. Stephanie Plon Stephanie Ploen Department of Zoology & Entomology Rhodes University P.O.Box 94 Grahamstown 6140 SOUTH AFRICA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1996 10:40:16 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 8/23/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Right Whale Protection. On Aug. 7, 1996, NMFS proposed to prohibit all approaches within 500 yards of any North Atlantic right whale to better protect this endangered species by minimizing human contact. This proposal would not restrict closer approaches to other whale species. [Fed. Register] . Take Reduction Team for Right and Humpback Whales. On Aug. 6, 1996, NMFS announced formation of a Take Reduction Team to address concerns that fishery interactions with northern right whales and humpback whales are resulting in excessive mortality. The four fisheries of concern are the Gulf of Main/U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot fishery, the mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery, the southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fishery, a nd the Gulf of Maine sink-gillnet fishery. The Take Reduction Team will prepare a Take Reduction Plan. [Fed. Register] . Wandering Manatee. On Aug. 18, 1996, crabbers along the Elizabeth River near Portsmouth, VA, reported seeing a manatee, indicating the animal may be migration southward. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 16:39:29 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Dolphins and healing > From: rudelb(\)embratel.net.br (Georg Rodenbach) > > Rio de Janeiro, 22.08.86 > > > my daughter Daniela (20) spend the month July in Key Largo in an internship > program on dolphin human therapy. > Danieal is interested to participate in the future in building up such a > program in Brasil where we are living. > As well she wants to learn to be dolphin trainer. It seems that no > activities exist in Brasil. Please help us to find out people with the > same interest. Thank you very much Georg Rodenbach > >> Diretor Regional da America Latina Leste ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 19:31:23 +0100 From: Nicholas Mitsakakis Subject: Sound production system of cetaceans Dear all, Since I am doing a research project on the classification of humpback whalesong units, I am interested in some information about the way different cetaceans produce sound. I am more interested about mysticets since I have already found some references about odontocetes. Any information on the above would be very useful for me. Nicholas Mitsakakis nichm(\)aisb.ed.ac.uk Department of Artificial Intelligence University of Edinburgh ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 02:06:55 -0700 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Fwd: Newswire: Albanians kill rare sea lion, and want reward Hi - Does anyone have any further info on this incident? If so, please respond by private e-mail or post to MARMAM, as appropriate. Thanks and best wishes, Cari Gehl >Newswire: Albanians kill rare sea lion, and want reward > > TIRANA, Aug 21 (Reuter) - Albanian fishermen have killed a >rare sea lion and are demanding $3,000 for its corpse, which is >being stored in a refrigerator, a leading Albanian biologist >said on Wednesday. > Ferdinand Bego said there was no doubt the sea lion was a >member of an endangered species, but added: ``We don't know >exactly which species because these animals are so foreign to >our region.'' > The fishermen caught the animal in their nets off the coast >of north-western Albania, and initially played with it. > ``But we began clubbing it when it tried to leave,'' one of >the men said on national television. > ``Then one of our friends who was drunk fired on it when it >tried to escape. He killed it after two hours.'' > Officials of Albania's Environmental Protection Committee >have urged police to seize the rare catch so it can be embalmed >or its skeleton exhibited in a museum, Albania's ATA news agency >said. > >(c) 1996, Reuters Limited. > > Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) , , ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' _..`--'__.. / / __.' . (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do or do not - - there is no try." Yoda ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 02:06:51 -0700 From: Cari Gehl Subject: Re: Comments on Navy's sonar program Hi everyone - This was posted to another list. If anyone can help, please contact Jonathan at the address listed below or e-mail him at: JOwen82504(\)aol.com Thanks much! Cari Gehl > >Dear all, > >I am writing an article about acoustic pollution for BBC Wildlife, looking at >ATOC and the Low Frequency Active Sonar projects, and would be grateful for >any information or suggestions that people may have. > >Many thanks > > >Jonathan Owen > >Snail mail stuff to: > >35 St Dunstans Road >London W6 8RE >UK > > > Cari Gehl (skyblew(\)primenet.com) , , ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' _..`--'__.. / / __.' . (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do or do not - - there is no try." Yoda ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 20:33:47 -0400 From: CPDesigns1(\)aol.com Subject: Re: blue whale or blue/fin hybrid Greetings- The latest issue of the American Cetacean Society's newsletter reports the, "xrecent discovery of meat samples from protected whale species in both Japanese and Korean markets. The most sensational find was a genetic match that could only have come from the highly endangered blue whale or a rare blue/fin whale hybrid." I am producing a book on blue whales for Smithsonian Press and would very much appreciate knowing the original source for this report or any other information relating to this story. Many thanks in advance- Steve King cpdesigns(\)aol.com P.O. Box 2660 Alameda, CA 94501 510-521-7914 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 06:10:00 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov *********************************** The following is posted for Kathleen M. Dudzinski. Please address all replies and inquiries directly to her at the following address(es). Kathleen is not subscribing to MARMAM for the summer months. A copy of Dudzinski's dissertation (215 pages) can be obtained from theauthor. The abstract is listed below. Please send your address and $16.00 (to cover copy and S&H costs) to Dudzinski for a copy. Email: Kathleen M. Dudzinski 157 Curtis Street, Meriden, Connecticut 06450. ABSTRACT for Dudzinski dissertation (August 1996): Communication and Behavior in the Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis): Relationships Between Vocal and Behavioral Activities. This work presents a description of behaviors and vocalizations of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) in Bahamian waters. The objective is to elucidate mechanisms of intraspecific communication in these dolphins by interpretation of associations between vocal structures, social context, and observed behaviors. The ultimate goal is to evaluate communication and behavior of spotted dolphins in order to eventually understand how an aquatic mammal's sensory abilities permit it to adapt to an environment foreign to terrestrial mammals. While this work does not yield the Rosetta stone to dolphin communication, it does provide a beginning description of associations among their intraspecific interactions, behaviors, and vocalizations.To facilitate this work, I developed a system that allowed concurrent recording of underwater vocal activity and behavior among dolphins. With this system, the vocalizing dolphin could be identified for approximately 38% of all recorded vocalizations, thereby facilitating examination of relationships between an individual's vocalizations, behaviors, age, and gender. Behavior units varied with behavioral activity, group type, and age, but not gender. Some behaviors and vocalizations were produced only by particular ages. For example, melon-to-genital contact was observed between mother/calf dyads, while screams were recorded only from calves and juveniles. Vocal type varied significantly with behavioral activity, group type, andspot class: whistles and chirps were observed mostly during social and play activity, and click trains more during inquisitive and forage modes. No evidence for signature whistles was indicated from the data, although their presence and potential use as contact calls is suggested from anecdotal observations. Spotted dolphins use vocal, visual, and tactile pathways for signal exhange. Behaviors and vocal signals were used concurrently, apparently to maximize or enhance a message. Behaviors and vocalizations were also used separately, but with similar functions. For example, a click train with a chirp produced while one individual approached another appeared to indicate the same message as a pectoral fin to pectoral fin rub between individuals that joined after a separation. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 03:34:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: MarmamNews web site I'd like to thank all of the people who have written me concerning the MarmamNews web site. I am aware that AOL allows me to have five different "screen names" with 2 megs of disk space apiece, but I already am using the other four for web sites. One of the others that I am using is for the Atlantic Dolphin Research Cooperative.... http://members.aol.com/adrcnet Thanks again, Rich Mallon-Day r.mallon1(\)genie.geis.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 13:54:14 +0100 From: Mike Thomson Dear Colleagues, The WWW site of the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete (www.imbc.gr) will not be available until September 2, because of website maintenance and system up-grading. from IMBC via AquaTT. ******NEW CONTACT DETAILS****** Mike Thomson - Manager - AQUA TT 29-30 Usher's Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland Ph: +353 1 679 9355 Fax: +353 1 670 8647 E-mail: mike(\)aquatt.ie OR Sarah Allan - Administrative Officer - AQUA TT E-mail: sarah(\)aquatt.ie ******NEW CONTACT DETAILS****** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 03:34:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sea lion paparazzi to keep tab Sea lion paparazzi to keep tabs on whales LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuter) - U.S. marine biologists have trained a pair of sea lions to tag and photograph elusive whales as they cruise through the Pacific depths, New Scientist magazine reported on Thursday. James Harvey and Jennifer Hurley of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in California say their sea lions, natural companions of many species of whale, can go where no man or woman has ever gone before. "Any diver knows that when a whale gets going you can't keep up," Harvey told the magazine. "That is why we know only about five percent of what whales do." The sea lions -- 17-year-old Beaver and nine-year-old Sake -- have undergone six years of training for their mission. Beaver once worked for the U.S. Navy and Sake is an amusement park veteran. Harvey said they could accurately tag whales with a radio transmitter, and could also swim all the way around one of the giant mammals, filming it with a video camera. Their first assignment, later this year, will be documenting humpback whale migration off Monterey, California. The article did not spell out exactly how the sea lions manage to tag the whales but said in training they were taught to stick a radio transmitter on to a plastic model of a whale using suction cups. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 13:43:50 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Free Willy? Or keep Willy? I'm hoping that someone out there familiar with the Keiko situation can provide me with an update on the progress of the animal. I heard from someone recently that there is now talk of keeping Keiko at his current facility since he has become such a tourist attraction. Thanks for any information. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 10:21:48 -0500 From: sbf(\)ccsnet.com Subject: Discovery Channel film Dear MARMAM - About two weeks ago, I sent a return message to MARMAM concerning a film I'm producing with October Films, London England for the Discovery Channel series "SciTrek". It's about how we use technology to study, observe, track, preserve, conserve, and occasionally recue whales - of all kinds. We're working with The Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA and have become "their crew" for the duration of the project. Central to the film is a whale rescue sequence, an entanglement perhaps - and we are standing by very hard right now for that event, whenever it occurs between now and a long time from now - or maybe next week - who knows? In any event, once we have that sequence we'll fill out the rest of the film with examples/sequences of applications of technology which enable better and closer relationships with whales - and which demonstrate, through their complexity, the wonder of what whales do themselves simply as a matter of course. For example, how do right whales differentiate between different types of plankton? We need fancy technology to do it most of the time - In any event, I would like very much to hear of any entanglements at all - Hawaii, West Coast, Baja, Northeast, Middle Atlantic, and Carribean. The Center for Coastal Studies is Federally contracted to rescue whales, and has the support of the Coast Guard. Is there someone on the West Coast like that? As well, we would like very much to hear about novel ways technology is used to provide insight into the lives of whales. The film project will undoubtedly take some time, so we have some opportunity to do something unique and interesting. If there's a better way to do this, or this isn't something you're comfortable posting, please do let me know so I can make other efforts. Thanks! PAUL GASEK Stony Brook Films 1002 Stony Brook Road Brewster, MA 02631 508-896-2562 FAX 896-5265 SBF(\)CCSNET.COM =========================== http://www.ccsnet.com telnet://ccsnet.com Cape Cod's Internet Address =========================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 10:10:54 -0400 From: Robyn Angliss Subject: MMPA Annual Report now available The Office of Protected Resources is happy to announce that the 1995 Annual Report to Congress on the Marine Mammal Protection Act is now available. This year's report includes chapters on the following topics: - The new regime to govern interactions between marine mammals and commercial fisheries - NMFS' marine mammal stock assessment program and stock assessment reports - Dolphin interactions with commercial tuna fisheries in the eastern tropical Pacific - Marine mammal interactions with other human activities (includes information on small take authorizations, the Herschel-steelhead conflict, and incidental harassment) - Updates on conservation and recovery programs - A description of ecosystem activities - Details of the Alaska Native take of marine mammals - 1995 activities of the permit programs - A description and update on the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program - Updates on international programs and activities - Updates on ongoing and new legal actions If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Annual Report, please contact Doretha White via email (Doretha.White(\)noaa.gov) or regular mail (address below). ----------------------------- Robyn Angliss Office of Protected Resources - F/PR2 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301/713-2322 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 16:45:46 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Recent deaths of cetaceans along Israel's coast Shalom Fellow Marmamers: >From January 96 to August 25, we have had 14 dead cetaceans wash ashore from Gaza Strip to the Lebanon/Israel border. Some of the dolphins stranded themselves on the beach, some were found by the Israeli Navy in the sea, and some were caught in fishing gear. Most of these cetaceans were Tursiops truncatus, juveniles, but one may have been a juvenile Stenella. One sperm whale washed ashore in July between Gaza Strip and Ashkelon-- it was 10.5 m long and had been dead for a number of days. In the last 7 days, 4 dead dolphins were found: 2 of them were in a very bad state (1 crossed the border to Lebanon without a visa and was lost forever), 1 was a calf, and the last was a juvenile that had been attacked by a shark (it wasn't a typical attack--the head region was mauled as was the front dorsal region before the dorsal fin). This last dolphin was brought to shore by other dolphins, as observed by the Israeli Navy patrol boats. Our coastal population of dolphins is rather small compared to the western Mediterranean countries--numbering from dozens to about 100 individuals. Thus, this number of deaths, which is higher than the previous 3 years, may be alarming. We have, as yet, found no causes of death like excess amounts of pesticides or morbillivirus, but we are still waiting for our samples to be fully analyzed by the Oceanographic Institute in Haifa and the Kinneret, and the Koret Veterinary School. We have been lucky to have the help of a great many volunteers who have combed the beaches for these animals, as well as the Navy, the fishermen, and the Ministry of Environment, and the Natural Authorities. If anyone else is seeing unexplained deaths of dolphins (mostly Tursiops) in the Mediterranean, please contact me. Thanks. Oz Goffman, Director IMMRAC email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il fax: 972-48-240-493; or 972-48-413-033 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 12:05:40 AKD From: jtobias(\)fak_jnu02.afsc.noaa.gov Subject: fwd: Alaskan Stranding Network Comments By: Jim Tobias(\)PRMD(\)FAK Originally To: SMTP[MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA] Originally From: Jim Tobias(\)PRMD(\)FAK Original Date: 8/27/96 11:56 AM Comments: Please post this message to MARMAM. Thanks, Jim Tobias National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region -------------------------[Original Message]-------------------------- Dear MARMAMERS: The NMFS Alaska Region is in the process of reviewing and updating a list of Alaskan Stranding Network volunteers. If you have been involved with the Alaskan Stranding Network in the past and/or wish to become active in the Alaskan Stranding Network, please send the following information to the NMFS Alaska Regional Office: Name: Organization: Title: Volunteer Area: Address: Phone#: Email Address: Previous Stranding Experience: MARMAMERS may mail or email responses to: Jim Tobias National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region 709 W. 9th St. Juneau, AK 99801 Jim.Tobias(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 16:36:24 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: WWF Whaling Policy Dear Marmamers, In my May 24. posting to Marmam I claimed that written statements from WWF Norway conveyed new signals in relation to how the WWF's whaling policy has been put forward so far. But these signals has now been contradicted from the WWF International headquarter. The following article stems from the High North Web News - http://www.highnorth.no (which also contains two earlier reports on the subject). The letters reffered to in the article are to be found in the High North Library - ( http://www.highnorth.no/cl-of-ww.htm ) - as well as the other documents reffered to (in the "save-the-whale" department on the WWF shelf) Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance Pb 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway highnor(\)online.no WWF Whaling Policy: IWC Approval of No Decisive Importance The announcement made by WWF Norway earlier this summer that "whaling will no longer be a WWF concern" once it has been placed under "secure international control" has now been repudiated by WWF International. There is no consensus on such a standpoint, writes Gordon Shepherd, Director of WWF's International Policy Unit, in a letter to the Norwegian whaling community of Moskenes. Shepherd makes it quite clear in his letter that even given a situation where the Whaling Commission has completed its work on the management regime and has subsequently allocated commercial whaling quotas, WWF will not necessarily accept the harvest. "WWF, as a conservation organisation must adhere to the precautionary principle and cannot commit itself in advance of necessary conditions being met," writes Shepherd,without providing an account of what these conditions entail. WWF Norway's correspondence with the Moskenes Municipal Council earlier this summer bore promise of a shift from a fundamentalistic standpoint opposing all commercial whaling as such, to an emphasis on sustainability criteria. These signals led to the whaling and fishing community of Moskenes, North Norway, deciding to take part in the national TV fund-raising campaign in support of conservation goals to be held in October, after first having been sceptical to WWF's involvment. But now, subsequent to Sheperd's explanation, which is not on line with WWF Norways representation of the common WWF whaling policy, the Moskenes Council Executive Committee concludes that WWF's whaling standpoint is "not based on ecological arguments and is not consistent with the basic principles of conservation". The Municipal Council has therefore, contrary to normal practice regarding the annual TV-campaign, decided not to take responsibility for the local organisation of the event. This may result in several other coastal communities following suit. At present four Municipal Councils have given notice that they will not be taking part in the fund-raising campaign. WWF Norway is one of 6 organisations assigned to administer the collected funds. The annnual fund-raising event receives considerable attention from the Norwegian general public and acts, in addition to the funds raised, as a show window for the organisations that are entrusted to administer the funds. Shepherd's letter comes as a blow to WWF Norway, who also came out as the loser in 1992, after a confrontation regarding the revision of WWF International's whaling standpoint. At the time, WWF Denmark stood side by side with WWF Norway. The conflict ended up with a policy declaration announcing that WWF would remain opposed to commercial whaling even if "the IWC were to adopt a Revised Management Procedure (RMP) which could guarantee that whaling was only carried out on a truly sustainable basis". "We fear that the policy stated ... may immediately diminish our possibilities for doing conservation work in large parts of the Arctic where people will not respect our position .... and endanger the whole concept of sustainable utilisation of nature", wrote WWF Denmark in an internal communique. The most authoritative members of the WWF family, the USA and England, are, however, fervent opponents of incorporating whales into the sustainable use concept, claiming that "whales are for watching" only. - To Defuse the RMP - WWF's support for the 1994 IWC resolution that endorsed the new quota calculation model, the RMP, was however, regarded as a step towards including whales in the principles maintained by WWF with regard to the management of other wildlife resources. Criticism from other anti-whaling groups was however dismissed with assurances that support of the RMS was a necessary tactical move in the long-term task of keeping the commercial whalers at their moorings. "WWF opposes the Revised Management Procedure, but believes that the only option available now is to defuse the RMP by having it put to one side", wrote Director of WWF UK, Robin Pellew, in a Letter to the Editor of the Daily Mail in spring 1994. He refers to the fact that "the International Whaling Commission was originally established to 'regulate' whaling." Should the Whaling Commission perform openly as an anti-whaling body, it might result in the whaling nations resigning from the organisation. "Pro-whaling countries must be denied any excuse to leave the IWC, which could lead to the worst possible scenario of unsustainable 'cowboy' whaling", wrote Pellew. - Environmental Threats - Recently, WWF has placed great emphasis on the argument that one cannot predict the effect that potential environmental threats might have on the whales, and has used this as justification for their continued opposition to whaling. In their declaration regarding WWF International's whaling standpoint, dated April 1996 and entitled "Whaling and the IWC" it says, "There are a number of particular conservation concerns which must be taken into account in the case of whaling. Especially important are ... the increasing evidence of additional threats to whales apart from whaling, including marine pollution, habitat degradation, depleted stocks of prey species, ozone depletion and climate change." Against this background it is surprising that Shepherd, in his letter to Moskenes Municipal Council says that WWF "accepts that there is no need to revise the RMP (the IWC Revised Management Procedure) on the grounds of these threats". End ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 12:19:29 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Lawsuit re: right whale conservation > > > >>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jonathan Ettinger > >>July 15, 1996 (617) 832-1000 > >> > >> FUND JOINS LAWSUIT TO STOP THE KILLING OF WHALES > >> > >>BOSTON -- Richard Max Strahan, known in some circles as "The > >>Prince of Whales," has expanded his ongoing lawsuit against the > >>U.S. Coast Guard to prevent the extinction of several threatened > >>species of whales. The Fund for Animals, a nationwide animal > >>protection group headquartered in New York City, has joined in the > >>suit, which now includes claims against the U.S. Commerce > >>Department, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric > >>Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service. > >> > >>The case, STRAHAN V. LINNON, Civil Action No. 94-11128DPW (U.S. > >>District Court for the District of Massachusetts), was originally > >>filed by Mr. Strahan, who has historically been a major advocate > >>for the protection of the Northern Right Whale, to force the Coast > >>Guard to stop the harassment and killing of endangered whales in > >>U.S. coastal waters during vessel operations, especially during > >>the Coast Guard's own vessel operations. Mr. Strahan had also > >>successfully petitioned the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to adopt > >>a rule prohibiting vessels from coming within 500 yards of any > >>Northern Right Whale. > >> > >>At a hearing on Wednesday, June 19, Judge Douglas P. Woodlock > >>allowed Mr. Strahan's motion to add claims against the Commerce > >>Department, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric > >>Administration, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. These > >>claims stem from the Commerce Department's failure to comply with > >>Congressional mandates under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and > >>the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to take action to save the > >>Northern Right Whale, Humpback Whale and other endangered whales > >>from being killed and injured in U.S. coastal waters. For example, > >>the Amended Complaint alleges that, despite an order from Congress > >>to create, by February 1995, "take reduction teams" to prevent the > >>killing of endangered whales in gill nets and lobster gear and > >>otherwise, the Commerce Department has failed to do so. Likewise, > >>the Amended Complaint alleges that the Commerce Department has > >>failed to develop specific plans to prevent endangered whales from > >>becoming entangled in fishing gear, although Congress previously > >>ordered through the recently revised MMPA that the plans be > >>developed by March 1996 for the Right Whale and June 1996 for > >>other endangered whales. It also alleges that the Commerce > >>Department has failed to enforce the Endangered Species Act and > >>the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as required by law, to stop the > >>killing and injuring of endangered whales in U.S. coastal waters, > >>and asks the Court to order the Commerce Department to do so. > >> > >>Mr. Strahan states, "In the three years prior to the filing of the > >>suit, the Coast Guard had killed two Northern Right Whales during > >>its routine, non-emergency operations." Given that experts > >>currently estimate that there are fewer than 300 Northern Right > >>Whales remaining in the Atlantic Ocean, a population which > >>continues to decline, NMFS has officially conceded that "the > >>incidental mortality of even one [Northern] Right Whale could > >>jeopardize the continued existence of the population." Mr. Strahan > >>adds, "This year alone, at least six Right Whales have been > >>killed, one of whom washed up on the beach in Wellfleet, > >>Massachusetts with a spine that had been severed by a boat." Mr. > >>Strahan alleges that despite the severe threat to the survival of > >>these critically endangered whales, the Coast Guard and Commerce > >>Department have not taken any meaningful steps to comply with > >>their statutory responsibilities to protect these critically > >>endangered whales. > >> > >>In May 1995, the Court issued an injunction ordering the Coast > >>Guard, among other things, to enter into a "Section 7" > >>consultation with NMFS, under the terms of the ESA. According to > >>Mr. Strahan, NMFS simply produced a document that claimed that the > >>chances of a Coast Guard vessel striking a whale again was too > >>remote to worry about. However, according to Coast Guard reports, > >>on October 9 of last year, within a month of NMFS' decision, the > >>Coast Guard cutter RELIANCE struck and probably killed a Humpback > >>Whale during routine, non-emergency operations, off the New > >>England coast. Those on board the cutter saw the whale directly in > >>front of the cutter, "felt a shudder" from the collision, and then > >>saw no further sign of the whale. The Court has ordered NMFS to > >>complete its evaluation of the incident by July 22, 1996. The > >>Court's schedule also requires the Coast Guard to complete its > >>review of its operations by October 31, 1996. A draft report is > >>scheduled to be released on July 31. > >> > >>Mr. Strahan has also sent a notice of his intent to bring suit > >>against the U.S. Navy, claiming it killed several Northern Right > >>Whale mothers and calves during exercises off the Georgia coast in > >>February of this year. Autopsies of two of these whales revealed > >>that they had died from explosions in their immediate vicinity. > >>According to Mr. Strahan, in response to his notice the Navy has > >>unofficially agreed to stop conducting such exercises off the > >>southeast coast when whales are nearby. Mr. Strahan states, "This > >>concession is not nearly adequate, but is a start in the Navy's > >>accepting its legal duty to not harm endangered whales during the > >>course of its activities." > >> > >>Mr. Strahan and The Fund for Animals are represented by Jonathan > >>Ettinger and Wendy Jacobs at the Boston law firm of Foley, Hoag & > >>Eliot. > >> > >> -- 30 -- > >> > >> > >Cari Gehl > >skyblew(\)primenet.com > > > > > Cari Gehl > (skyblew(\)primenet.com) > , , > ("\''/").____. .- -' ' " `-._ > `9_ 9 ) `-. ( ). `- . __ ') > (_Y_.)' .__ )___`._ . ``-.._ --' > _..`--'__.. / / __.' . > (l).-' ' ((l).' ((l.-' > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > "Do or do not - - there is no try." Yoda > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 12:27:43 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Peer Review -- 25 year perspective on marine mammal protection Colleagues: One of my summer interns, Victoria Mireles of Northeastern Illinois Univ. , has completed a draft report for Congress presenting a 25-year perspective on marine mammal protection in the United States. I am seeking peer reviewers to provide comments on this report to make it more comprehensive, more objective, and factually correct. I am particularly looking for suggestions of additional illustrative examples to use in the various sections in the report. I would like to have any peer review comments by the end of September, if possible. As with previous drafts, I find peer review comments exceptionally helpf ul in bringing up points that neither I nor my intern has discussed and in correcting our misconceptions about complex relationships or understandings. Your participation in the peer review process improves the service we provide to Congress substantially. If you would like to read and comment upon the draft of this 15-page report for Congress, please send me an e-mail message. I will return the draft to you via e-mail early next week. Thank you for your assistance on this project. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 16:23:51 +0000 From: harland_e Subject: Dugong population Hi Does anyone have information on the population levels and distribution of the dugong around the Seychelle islands and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean? References to any published work would be particularly welcome. Thanks Ed Harland Harland_e(\)dra.hmg.gb e-mail - Harland_e(\)dra.hmg.gb Tel - +44 1305 212522 Fax - +44 1305 212116 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 11:38:58 -0400 From: Mark Subject: ACS 1996 Conference The American Cetacean Society (ACS) is proud to announce its 1996 conference: Whales in Today's World: Bridging Science, Policy & People November 8-10, 1996 Double Tree Hotel San Pedro, California Invited Speakers Include: Christopher Clark Carol Carlson Sylvia Earl Ken Balcomb And more..... Lecture Topics Include: Future of Whaling Contemporary issues and crisis Sounds and stresses in the sea Human-Whale Interactions Conference Extracurricular Activities Include: Poster sessions on issues related to cetaceans Photo show and sales related to cetaceans and other marine mammals Field trips to local marine mammal facilities Friday Night reception sponsored by Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Cost (includes registration, reception, and banquet) Non Member $165 Member $145 Student $95 One Day (banquet and reception not included) $80 For more information, or to be placed on the mailing list to receive a registration packet (available in September), send a postcard to ACS National, P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA 90733 or contact ACS by e-mail (acs(\)pobox.com). ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 15:25:52 LCL From: Michel Andre Subject: barnacles pulling out dolphin teeth Hi there, Two weeks ago, a common dolphin stranded alive on the coast of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, at mid day. Actually it didn't get to beach itself, but remained in very shallow waters, a few meters from the coast. From a small boat, it was possible to get very close to it. Its upper jaw presented an old injury and a piece of the tip was missing. On the lower jaw, four (4) barnacle type organisms were sticked altogether mid way of the jaw. On the other side of the lower jaw, two identical organisms were also observed, but presenting a much reduced size. The rescue team had no difficulty to pull out the four big "barnacles". They came altogether, pulling out with them 6 teeth. No bleeding was observed. The two smaller "barnacles" could not be removed. Each big "barnacle" had a size of 10 cm and a diameter of 2-3 cm. During the operation, the dolphin remained quiet, breathing normally. Once liberated, it swam away to the open sea. At 02:00 pm the next day, it was found dead on the beach. Have anyone heard about or seen this kind of parasite before? Thank you. Michel Andr=E9 _________________________________________________________________Michel Andr=E9 Canary Islands Marine Mammal Centre (CMMC) Department of Biology, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain E-mail MAndre(\)CMMC.EXT.ULPGC.ES Fax. 34-28 45 14 30 Tel. 34-28 45 34 57 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 08:30:29 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: How to contact Albanian researchers? Hello, does anyone know how to contact Ferdinand Bego, the Albanian biologist mentioned in the recent newsclip about the sea lion found in Albania? Or the Albanian Environmental Protection Committee, also mentioned? I have looked in the directories for SMM and the two European societies, and have tried various search engines on the web... Also, does anyone have any further information about the sea lion? For example, what species does it appear to be, what sex/age, is there any attempt to conserve tissue samples for analysis? Thanks in advance, Alana. ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 05:16:35 GMT Reply-To: Susan_Jordan(\)newscom.com From: Susan_Jordan(\)newscom.com Organization: NewsCom Subject: LFA Deadline To all concerned parties, please note that the deadline for comments on the Navy's Low Frequency Active (LFA) Sonar project is September 4th. It is extremely important that the Navy receive feedback from as many concerned and informed scientists and individuals as possible. All comments should be sent to: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Code N874 c/o Clayton Spikes Marine Acoustics, Inc. 2345 Crystal Drive Suite 901 Arlington, Va. 22202 Ph:703-418-1866 Fx:703-418-1042 Sincerely, Susan Jordan 310-545-1947 or Susan_Jordan(\)Newscom.com. We are compiling a file of scientific comments on LFA. If you would feel comfortable sharing your comments,please forward a copy to the e-mail address above. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 17:25:10 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: Abstract: Kinship in sperm whales K.R. Richard, M.C. Dillon, H. Whitehead,and J.M. Wright. 1996. Patterns of kinship in groups of free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalu s) revealed by multiple molecular genetic analyses. Pro ceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 93: 8792-8795. ABSTRACT Mature female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) live in socially cohesive groups of 10-30, which include immature animals of both sexes, and with in which there is communal care of the young. We examined kinship in such groups using analyses of microsatellite DNA, mitochondrial DNA sequence, and sex-linked markers on samples of sloughed skin c ollected noninvasively from animals in three grou ps off the coast of Ecuador. Social groups were defined through photographic identification of individuals. Each group contained about 26 membe rs, mostly females (79%). Relatedness was greater wit hin groups, as compared to between groups. Particular mitochondrial haplotypes were characteristic of groups, although all groups contained more tha n one haplotype. The data are generally consisten t with each group being comprised of several matrilines from which males disperse at about the age of 6 years. There are indications of paternal r elatedness among grouped individuals with different mitochondrial haplotypes, suggesting long-term associations between different matrilines. HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 17:25:09 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: ABSTRACT: Sperm whale feeding success and scale Whitehead, H. 1996. Variation in the feeding success of sperm whales:temporal scale, spatial scale and relationship to migrations. Journal of Animal Ecology 65: 429-438. Abstract: 1. Variability in a measure of the feeding success of sperm whales, defecation rate, was calculated over temporal scales ranging from 5h to 4yr, and spatial scales ranging from 100-5,000km. 2. Sperm whale feeding success was not obviously linked to any sub-annual environmental cycles, with the possible exception of time of day. 3. Variability in feeding success over temporal scales of 1-64d, and spatial scales of 100km, was about 60% of the long-term mean, but reached 13 0% of the long-term mean over time intervals of 2-4 yr and distance intervals greater than 500km. 4. During periods of days characterized by low feeding success groups of sperm whales moved greater distances. 5. Migration over ranges of about 300-1,000km allows sperm whales to maintain high biomass and low reproductive rates in an environment which, at any location, contains long, unpredictable periods of food shortage. HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 14:30:00 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 8/29/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Beaufort Sea Oil Lease Sale Modification. In mid-August 1996, Alaskan Native whalers reached agreement with the Minerals Management Service on removing offshore areas from Kaktovik southeastward to the Canadian border from Beaufort Sea Lease Sale 144 to avoid damage to whaling, fishing, and seal hunting. [Assoc Press] . Polar Bear Death. On Aug. 23, 1996, a 26-year old male polar bear died at the San Diego Zoo, possibly from rickettsia and associated salmon poisoning contracted from live trout stocked in the polar bear exhibit. [Assoc Press] . Canadian Aboriginal Whaling. On Aug. 17, 1996, Inuit in Repulse Bay killed a bowhead whale form the Hudson Bay/Davis Strait stock. On July 23, 1996, Inuit in western Canada killed a bowhead whale from the Bering-Beaufort-Chukchi Sea stock. [personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 22:26:04 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Pollutants in dolphins Shalom Fellow Marmamers: We just received the first autopsy results from the calf that died along the coast of Israel this week. It had milk in its 3rd stomach and the milk had a 0.7 microgram/milligram level of DDE in it. Does anybody that works regularly with pollutant levels in mammals have an idea of what this would do to a juvenile animal? Could it be the cause of death alone, or would it merely reduce the animal's ability to rebound from illnesses or other day-to-day "bugs" out there? We really do not have the expertise here to assess this result and would greatly appreciate hearing from somebody who does. Thank you very much. Oz Goffman, Director IMMRAC, Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 16:39:33 +0200 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: Request for Pete Schroeder's Email/fax Riccione, 30th August 1996 Dear MARMAMERS, we recently forwarded a message on MARMAM dealing with info about IVF in Cetaceans. Is anybody aware about Dr. Pete J. Schroeder's Email address / phone and fax numbers ? Sorry to use MARMAM but we have been trying to find out his address both on Internet and on the Society for Marine Mammalogy's directory without any success.. Thanking you in advance, Alessandro Bortolotto =46or any information please answer directly to the following addresses: Alessandro Bortolotto =46ondazione Cetacea via MIlano, 63 - 47036 Riccione (RN) +39-541-691557 (phone) +39-541-606590 (fax) Email =46austo Cremonesi Universit=E0 degli Studi di Milano Istituto di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia Veterinaria +39-2-2367788 (fax) Email ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 09:26:43 -0800 From: Dave Duffus The recreational use of gray whales in southern Clayoquot Sound, Canada. Applied Geography 16(3):179-190, 1996 D.A. Duffus, Dept. of Geography, Univ. of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. Many whale species are increasingly the focus of recreational use, and thus spatio-temp;oral variability in whale populations is a key issue in sustaining and managing whale-watching. The present paper reports preliminary observations on the meso-scale spatial and feeding behaviour of the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in southern Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada. Whale behaviour at this scale is a key area of concern in the management of whale-watching. During the period 1991-94, the foraging tactics and movement patterns of the whale population were studies. Although the ecology of gray whales is little understood factors that may underlie their spatial behaviour are discussed. Over the 3 year period, the whales gradually moved further from the main commercial whale-watching port at Tofino, necessitating a significant increase in travel distances for the whale-watching fleet, from only 10 km in 1991 to as much as 30 km in 1994. The implications of this for the management and sustainability of whale-watching are discussed. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 17:09:05 +0100 From: Colin MacLeod Subject: Function of Teeth in Beaked Whales Dear Marmamers, I am interested in looking at possible functions of teeth in beaked whales. In relation to this I was wondering what theories have been proposed to date ? and if there is any consensus on the possible function of teeth in beaked whales ? If anyone could provide references for publications on this subject (litrature seaches so far only produced Heyning 1984 on functional morphology involved in fighting in M. Carlhubbsi) I would be very grateful. Thanks for your help. Colin MacLeod ============================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "Like Kicking Dead Whales Down The Beach: Thornwood, Adj. Describes a slow, difficult, Glasgow, and disgusting process." G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ============================================================================ == ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 20:30:51 -0400 From: "Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Manatee rescue A manatee calf was rescued in Puerto Rico on 28 August 1996. The calf, a female, was found floating 5 miles west of Joyuda on the west coast of the Island. A fisherman, Santos Palermo, found the animal in the middle of "trash" swirls off Cayo del Ron while fishing. He found the animal alone and their were no signs of any other manatees nearby. "I have fished all my life in this area, and never have seen manatees there; I have seen them next to our fishing village, but never in Cayo del Ron or that far from shore," Santos Palermo said. The fishermen brought the animal to shore and called the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources' Fisheries Laboratory, who in turn alerted the Caribbean Stranding Network, a local research and rehabilitation organization deputized by the Commonwealth and Federal governments to attend these cases in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Network traveled to the site and moved the animal to its facility on the south coast of Puerto Rico for treatment. Upon examination by the Network's staff and by veterinarian Luis E. Figueroa, the animal was found to be 1.18 m long and of about a week of age. While in good condition, prophilatic antibiotics and electrolytes were administered. A special formula of soy-bean milk is being fed every three hours. This is the sixth calf the Network has rescued in Puerto Rico, of which two were immediately released back to their mothers and one was re-introduced to the natural environment after three years of being raised in captivity. The Network has also assisted in over a dozen manatee rescue and rehabilitation cases in Colombia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. [][][][][[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD Scientific Coordinator--Caribbean Stranding Network Assistant Professor--Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net Tel 787-761-3624, Fax 787-764-2610, Emergencies 787-399-8432 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 19:51:44 -0400 From: "Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Change of address The Caribbean Stranding Network (CSN, Red Caribena de Varamientos in Spanish), is a non-profit marine mammal research and rehabilitation organization, with participants in over 7 countries in the Caribbean. The CSN has moved its central offices and facilities in Puerto Rico from the southwest coast in La Parguera to San Juan in the north coast of the Island. The CSN central offices are available for consultation and assistance in case of stranded whales, dolphins or manatees in any of the countries part of the Caribbean Basin. The CSN new address is PO Box 38030 San Juan, PR 00937-1030 USA. The emergency phone number to report cases of stranded animals is 787-399-8432. Its fax number is 787-764-2610. Mortality and stranding cases may also be reported through e-mail at mignucci(\)caribe.net. Those interested in participating with the Network's efforts are welcome to write for further information. [][][][][[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD Scientific Coordinator--Caribbean Stranding Network Assistant Professor--Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net Tel 787-761-3624, Fax 787-764-2610, Emergencies 787-399-8432 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 11:02:27 -0700 From: David Williams Subject: Specs on the US Navy's LF Sonar Unit This message is sent to the subscribers of both MARMAMED(\)UVic.CA and esc-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk. Sorry for the duplication. For specifications on the US Navy's new towed sonar see: Active Long Range Variable Depth Sonar Thomas Lee Siwecki Sea Technology November, 1991 pp 23 - 27 I will fax this article to you if you are planning on writing the Navy about any potenial harm to the marine environment by this unit. Captain David Williams Moby Dick Society, Inc. PO Box 10771 Pompano Beach, FL 33061-6771 Office 954-946-5551 Fax 954-946-1807 E-mail davidwms(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 13:00:40 +0000 From: jgordon%vax.ox.ac.uk(\)ukacrl.BITNET Subject: Video footage for marine mammal database My name is Kirsten Young and I am working with Jonathan Gordon on a marine mammal database at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of Oxford University. The Sea Animal Noise Database is to be compiled for the Defence Research Agency and includes marine mammal acoustics, stills, video footage and text for the purpose of species identification. We also hope to use this material for an educational package comprehensively describing Atlantic marine mammal species. At present I am gathering video footage showing idenitification features relevent to that species. We have a great deal of footage of certain species but I would like to ask anyone if they are interested in contributing video. The DRA is a government research agency branching from the Ministry of Defence in the UK. It has the right to pass information from the database to other government departments but material is not to be used for commercial purposes. The following species are those which I need footage of : Blue whale Bowhead whale Bryde's whale Beluga Narwhal Pilot whale (long finned) Pilot whale (short finned) Killer whale False killer whale Pan-tropical spotted dolphin Rough toothed dolphin Bearded seal Walrus White-sided dolphin Melon-headed whale White-beaked dolphin Sei whale Northern bottlenose whale Grey Seal Also possibly, Harp seal Common dolphin Striped dolphin If anyone has video of any of these species and is willing to allow us to use it please contact me - Kirsten Young c/o luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk I will repl;y to any messages with a list of other contributers. Thanks Kirsten Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS Song of the Whale website : http://www.easynet.co.uk/ifaw/pic.htm ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 06:58:10 -0400 From: Richard Ellis Subject: Re: Function of Teeth in Beaked Whales >I am interested in looking at possible functions of teeth in beaked whales. >In relation to this I was wondering what theories have been proposed to >date ? and if there is any consensus on the possible function of teeth in >beaked whales ? Try McCANN, C. 1974. Body Scarring on Cetacea -- Odontocetes. _Sci. Rep Whales Res. Inst.Tokyo_. 26:145-55. He maintains that it's all from fighting, except for those scars caused by squids that are reluctant to be eaten. It's a rather superficial discussion -- and, I think, largely erroneous -- but it's a reference nonetheless I don't think there's any "consensus," but in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we have to supppose it has something to do with the males using their teeth on one another. It's always been difficult for me to imagine how a ziphiid is going to produce parallel scars with its teeth located (in some species) so high (posteriorly) in the jaw. Richard Ellis 17 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 Tel: (212) 243-6950 Fax: (212) 243-6932 e-mail: rellis(\)tribeca.ios.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 16:03:15 +0800 From: Chris Parsons Subject: Re: Pollutants in dolphins In-Reply-To: <199609010057.RAA51794(\)uvaix3e1.comp.UVic.CA> > > > On Thu, 29 Aug 1996, Oz Goffman wrote: > > > > > Shalom Fellow Marmamers: > > > > > > We just received the first autopsy results from the calf that > > > died along the coast of Israel this week. It had milk in its 3rd stomach > > > and the milk had a 0.7 microgram/milligram level of DDE in it. > > > Does anybody that works regularly with pollutant levels in mammals > > > have an idea of what this would do to a juvenile animal? Could it > > > be the cause of death alone, or would it merely reduce the animal's > > > ability to rebound from illnesses or other day-to-day "bugs" out there? > > > We really do not have the expertise here to assess this result and would > > > greatly appreciate hearing from somebody who does. > > > > > > Thank you very much. > > > > > > Oz Goffman, Director > > > IMMRAC, Israel > > > email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il > > > > > Is this value really 0.7 ug/mg (i.e. 700ppm)? or should it be 0.7 ug/g? I presume the value is recorded as lipid weight to remove the dilution effect of stomach juices. We've found DDE levels of c. 4.5 ug/g in the stomach of an Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin, with a total-DDT concentration of about 19 ug/g (PCBs 2.5 ug/g). Which we though seemed quite high. In humans the tolerable daily intake of DDT is 20ug/kg body weight/day as a comparison- we're currently trying to estimate the daily uptake of organochlorines through milk lipid for hump-backed dolphins living in Hong Kong using this value as a guideline. Yours, Chris Parsons (delphis(\)hk.super.net) Dolphin Research Group Hong Kong ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 10:20:33 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: newsclip - falling walruses 08/30/96 Falling Walruses By T.A. BADGER Associated Press Writer ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- As many as five dozen walruses fell to their deaths this week from high bluffs in a southwestern Alaska wildlife refuge, leaving biologists wondering why. The mysterious behavior appears to be unique to a single part of the 4.3-million-acre Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, where the walruses have been plunging to their deaths for three years. "We're still trying to figure out why this is happening," refuge manager Aaron Archibeque said Thursday. Between 41 and 60 walruses died Tuesday after dropping off cliffs up to 100 feet high above a haulout, or beach area, at Cape Peirce, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. The animals were part of a huge herd of non-mating walruses that gather at the haulout each summer to eat and sun themselves. Cape Peirce, about 460 miles southwest of Anchorage, is the busiest mainland haulout in North America, with as many as 12,500 walruses visiting at one time. Late Tuesday morning, biologists monitoring the herd said they spotted 225 walruses making their way up a slope leading from the beach to the cliffs. The workers were able to turn back 155 of the giant tusked pinnipeds, but about 70 had already reached the cliff's edge and were left alone for fear of scaring them. In the next five and a half hours, 45 walruses reportedly fell off the cliffs and either died or suffered serious injuries. "They tried to take a shortcut back to the haulout and ended up tumbling off the cliff," said Joel Miller, a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in Anchorage. By Wednesday morning, even more walruses had fallen. One of the federal workers videotaped several walruses sliding helplessly down a steep grassy slope before dropping about 15 feet onto other walruses, rocks or sand. Two others managed to stop their momentum before the edge and inch their way back up the slope. Archibeque said that because of their weight -- which can exceed 2,000 pounds -- the walruses can die or suffer massive internal injuries in even a relatively short fall. At least 42 walruses fell off the same cliffs in 1994 and at least 17 more last year, Archibeque said. Based on the first two years, biologists theorized that the walruses headed to higher ground to get more protection from high winds and stormy weather. But this year, Archibeque said, the weather was warm and clear with calm winds. Archibeque said a high sand dune that discouraged movement up to the cliffs has blown away in recent years, and that walrus traffic has created something of a path that may be attracting others. "I'm not sure if it's curiosity or if it's getting too crowded in the haulout that they keep moving up there," he said. "But they seem to be pushing further and further that way." Archibeque said this is the first time this kind of behavior has been documented, but given the small numbers involved and the healthy walrus population in Alaska waters, federal managers aren't concerned from a biological standpoint. "It's more that from the human side that people are concerned about walruses dying," he said. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 09:04:51 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: Dolphins on TV again Starting Sunday, 1 September, TBS will be airing a four-part series "Dolphins in Danger". I'm not sure about the exact time it begins (8 pm, CST??). Be sure to check your local TV listings and set those VCRs. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 13:05:38 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re[2]: Navy LFA Debate (fwd) > > > > The Navy has offered some limited information about the Low > Frequency Active Sonar program. Here are some examples of information > obtained by NRDC through the Navy's SPAWAR Command: > > > > (1) LFA operates in the lower end of the acoustic frequency > > spectrum, because active acoustic echo ranging is the only effective > > long-range quiet submarine detection method. > > > > (2) Variable power source > > > > (4) Duty cycle is 10% or less. > > > > (5) Mysticete whales are "most likely to be affected by the low > > acoustic frequency (classified)" > > > > (6) Three zones established around source: 160 dB, 140 dB, and 120 > > dB. > > > > (7) 160 dB zone has 1.1 nautical mile radius around source. > > > > (8) Between August 1988 and July 1994, the Navy conducted 22 LFA > > field exercises, The Navy states that they were conducted "without > > known adverse impact on marine mammals." Further, "no abnormal > > avoidance behavior has been observed, but curiosity approaches have > > been observed." > > > > (9) Other exercises have been conducted since then, including > > Magellan II off the coast of California (late summer 1994), > > Mediterranean Sea (1993), Gulf of Oman (1995), in connection with LFA > > MILDET Proficiency Training Exercise (LFA-14) and Encounter Exercise > > (1996), in connection with LFA MILDET Proficiency Training Exercise > > (LFA-15)(1996), and in connection with RIMPAC-96 (1996). > > > > > > (10) Navy has concluded that no "takes" by harassment or otherwise > > would occur from operation of LFA. Therefore, no permits have been > > obtained either under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the > > Endangered Species Act. > > > > Any comments? > > > > Joel Reynolds > jreynolds(\)NRDC.org > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 12:15:16 +1000 From: Elizabeth Cotterell Subject: Re: cetacean evolution I am currently researching the evolution of cetaceans, concentrating on the Mysticetes vs the Odontocetes and their divergent evolution, for an Honours essay. I was stimulated to study this area by a Milinkovitch paper (1995) discussing his theory that sperm whales are more closely related to baleen whales than to other toothed whales. It is this area that is of particular interest to me. I have a number of papers by Fordyce, Barnes and Milinkovitch (as well as some others), but was wondering if anyone has any other information which may be of relevance. Especially about the sperm whale-baleen whale "link" and any opposing ideas or papers. Any information can be sent to me at the following address:- ECotterell(\)zoology.uq.edu.au Thanks in advance, Elizabeth ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 14:05:53 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - gross pathology of the Weddell seal Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ***************************************************************** McFarlane, R.A. 1996. Gross pathology of the Weddell seal (_Leptonychotes weddelli_) in the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica. Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 27-33. Namina Road, Murrumbateman, N.S.W. 2582 Australia Summary: A long term monitored population of Weddell seal (_Leptonchyotes weddelli_) that hauls out on the fjord and coastal sea ice of the Vestfold Hills, near Davis (68 31'S, 78 12'E) Antarctica was monitored throughout the Antarctic summer of 1990-1991 for examples of morbidity and mortality concurrent to primary research projects of the Australian Antarctic Division. Ocular, skin and respiratory disease and postpartum discharges and diarrhoea were observed and pup mortality was investigated by post mortem investigation. Other literature describing pathology in the Weddel seal is reviewed. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 18:17:27 -0500 From: lxv(\)h-s.com Subject: The Marine Mammal Center The Marine Mammal Center in Rodeo Beach, CA is seeking an Executive Director. Responsibilities include oversight of all administrative, fundraising and development, operational, program, and financial functions. The successful candidate will have significant nonprofit management experience, strong financial skills, and proven fundraising success. Compensation $60,000. Recruitment open until position filled. EOE. Forward resume to Lane Varden at Heidrick & Struggles. email: lxv(\)h-s.com fax: 415/981-0482 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 13:43:15 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - drinking speed of walrus pups Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ***************************************************************** Kastelein, R.A., J. Postma, T. van Rossum, and P.R. Wiepkema. 1996. Drinking speed of Pacific walrus (_Odobenus rosmarus divergens_) pups. Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 21-26. Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard-oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, Holland Summary: Two walrus pups were raised on formula offered in a trough. Their drinking speeds were recorded between the age of 9 and 12 months. There was a difference in the individuals' average drinking speed (15 and 22 ml/sec), which was probably caused by psychological factors. The drinking speed decreased (in one animal significantly) when the formula's temperature dropped below 20 degrees Celsius. To investigate whether the drinking speed was constant during a feed, the amount of formula offered was varied. In both animals the average drinking speed was not related to portion size, if not too small an amount of formula was offered (i.e. >= 2000 ml). After a night time fast of 18 hours, the drinking speed of both animals was slightly higher than during the remaining 2 feeds. In both animals the drinking speed increased during the 3 month study. Transformation of the drinking durations a day into suckling, suggests that walruses of the age studied here need to suckle 45-80 minutes a day. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 13:36:01 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - growth in striped dolphins Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ******************************************************************** Di-Meglio, N.*, R. Romero-Alvarez, and A. Collet. 1996. Growth comparison in striped dolphins, _Stenella coeruleoalba_, from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France. Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 11-21. * Laboratoire de Biogeographie et Ecologie des Vertebres, EPHE, Universite de Monpellier II, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France Abstract: The growth of striped dolphins stranded on the coast of France has been studied using non linear growth models. Individuals from the Atlantic reach a longer total body length than those from the Mediterranean Sea. Although there is no significant sexual dimorphism for the Mediterranean specimens, males are longer and heavier than females in the Atlantic. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 13:27:32 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: book review available Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ************************************************ Goodson, D. 1996. Book review: Marine Mammals and Noise. _Aquatic Mammals_ 22(1): 1-2. Underwater Acoustics Group - Bioacoustics and Sonar, Electronic & Electrical Engineering Department, Loughborough University, LE11 3TU, UK. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 12:55:03 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - food preferences communicated by CA sea lion Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ******************************************************************* Cox, M., E. Gaglione, P. Prowten, and M. Noonan*. 1996. Food preferences communicated via symbol discrimination by a California sea lion. Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 3-10. * Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208, USA Abstract: This study investigates the food preferences of a single California sea lion (_Zalophus californianus_). Through operant conditioning the sea lion was taught to associate arbitrary, abstract symbols with different food types. The symbols were then used in paired comparisons to permit the sea lion to indicate and obtain its preferred food. Results indicated a preference for food that are high in nutritional value and low in moisture. Knowledge of food preferences gained in this manner may be useful in improving the reinforcement process, providing environmental enrichment, and enhancing animal-human communication. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 12:49:36 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - Clymene dolphin morphology in Gulf of Mexico Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) ******************************************************************** Jefferson, T.A. 1996. Morphology of the Clymene dolphin (_Stenella clymene_) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 35-43. Present address: Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong No abstract/summary was provided, a paraphrased version follows. The article provides new data on external and skeletal morphology of this species from the northern Gulf of Mexico. No clear patterns related to sex or maturity were observed in the location of the moustache or the placement of the eye stripe in relation to the moustache. Clymene dolphins are sexually dimorphic. The average length of adult males (184.9 cm) was greater than that of adult females (177.3 cm), a highly signficant difference (t-4.369, df=46, P<0.001). Males are also heavier than females. Girth at the anus did not show evidence of sexual dimorphism. Tooth counts indicate that a large number of teeth are missed in field counts and that observers can add 4-6 to field counts (presumably teeth that have been lost and those small, often buried, teeth near the tip of the rostrum) to approximate actual numbers. With caution, upper toothrow vs. preorbital width can be used to separate adult skulls of _S. clymene_ from those of _S. coeruleoalba_ and _S. longirostris_. Palatal grooves of _S. clymene_ skulls are distinct (at least 0.5 mm deep, generally greater than 1.0 mm) out to at least 1/2 the length of the rostrum. In addition, a raised boss is not observed in skulls of Clymene dolphins. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 17:24:10 -0400 From: George Roundtree Subject: Pollutants in Tursiops Dear marmamers: I would appreciate any reference sources concerning pollutants in Tursiops. I am planning study of the dolphins in the Elizabeth River, VA, as a graduate project This supposed to be the most polluted river that conects to the Chesapeake Bay. I am planning to look at water quality, health of prey species, and the stranding literature and any strandings that come available. I am currently working with two other researchers on Tursiops tailslaps. We are looking at tailslaps as a communication modality. Any current references or even documented anecdotal information would be appreciated. Any information on the power/force generated by a tailslap would be especially appreciated. Thanks, George H. Rountree III Biology Dept Christopher Newport U. 50 Shoe Lane Newport News, VA 23606 groundtr(\)cnu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 09:26:02 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) **************************************************** Kamminga, C.*, A.C. Stuart, and G.K. Silber. 1996. Investigations on cetacean sonar XI: intrinsic comparison of the wave shapes of some members of the Phocoenidae family. Aquatic Mammals 22(1):45-55. * Delft University of Technology, Information Theory Group, P.O. Box 5031, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands Abstract: A comparison of the acoustic waveforms of three different species, _Phocoena phocoena_, _Phocoena sinus_ and _Neophocaena phocaenoides_ of the subfamily _Phocoeninae_ is made with the species _Phocoenoides dalli_ of the subfamily _Phocoenoidinae_. The comparison is based on the successful mathematical modelling and identification of the clicks. As remarkable as it may seem, the polycyclic sonar signals of these species have the same basic wave shape in common, despite their somewhat longer time-duration frequency bandwidth product in relation to a Tursiops type click which lasts only a few cycles. In-depth analysis for the type of sonar click of the _Phocoeninae_ subfamily reveals both a representation by a single pulse and a decomposition into a main pulse, followed within 16-20 micro second after onset by an important reverberation. Both pulses can be modelled by the Gabor time function. For the _P. dalli_ species we find a decomposition into three elementary pulses together giving rise to the unusual time duration of the click of 100 micro seconds. The time difference between those first two pulses of the click - with identical dominant frequency - is conjectured to be an important parameter in the identificaiton of the acoustic behaviour and is probably attributable to a morphological distinction inside the animal's head. This supports acoustically the subfamilial partition. Cluster analysis applied to the two highest ranking parameters of the click description, i.e. dominant frequency and either time duration or frequency bandwidth reveals a striking overlap in similarity in the click structure of the three members of the subfamily _Phocoeninae_ and a distinguishing characteristic for the subfamily _Phocoenoidinae_. A cluster of clicks for _Tursiops_ (open water) is added to this scatter plot as a reference to species with a different (higher) relative frequency bandwidth. As a linear, non-parametric measure of similarity in waveform, the cross-correlation factor for normalized frequency scale between _P. sinus_, _P. phocoena_ and _N. phocaenoides_ is calculated as 0.73 and 0.76. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 17:26:29 -0700 From: Jim Moore Subject: Re[2]: Navy LFA Debate (fwd) >> > (6) Three zones established around source: 160 dB, 140 dB, and 120 >> > dB. >> > >> > (7) 160 dB zone has 1.1 nautical mile radius around source. The ATOC EIS stated that mysticetes in general showed behavioral avoidance at 120dB. I received a copy of a scoping comment by Reynolds (NRDC lawyer) that states the estimated LFA source level of 230dB would "exceed by BILLIONS of times the level at which gray whales reportedly show avoidance of low frequency sound." [emphasis added] As a non-acoustician who was impressed with how confused the ATOC debate got over the issue of measuring dB in water, and who is currently impressed by the notion of overshooting a known threshold by a factor of 1,000,000,000 -- can anyone comment on the level here? Are we really talking about such a large overshoot? And can we calculate the source radius for 120dB, the known behaviorally-relevant intensity?? >> > (10) Navy has concluded that no "takes" by harassment or otherwise >> > would occur from operation of LFA. Therefore, no permits have been >> > obtained either under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the >> > Endangered Species Act. Um, in light of the above, this conclusion *does* seem a LITTLE premature... cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore Those are my principles, and if you Anthro 0532 don't like them... well, I have others. UCSD Groucho Marx La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 08:20:12 +0900 From: "Michael L. Torok" Organization: Zayante Research Associates Subject: HSIL Info I have recieved a number of requests from persons who do not wish to appear in the Harbor Seal Investigator List (HSIL), but would like to receive a current copy. To simply receive a copy of the HSIL, send and email message to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com and include the words "Send HSIL" Subject header of your message. You can include anything you like in the text of your message, or leave it blank. A current copy of the HSIL will be automatically malied back to you. For those interested in being included in the HSIL, send the following information to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com: Name Affiliation Name Affiliation Address Affiliation Phone/Fax Number(s) Email Address(es) Detailed Research Interests For those without a formal affiliation, simply include your mailing address,etc. ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. PGP public key available upon request. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Sep 1996 17:37:41 -0400 From: Sam McClintock Organization: En-Vision Inc. Subject: Re: Re[2]: Navy LFA Debate (fwd) MARMAM Editors wrote: > > > The Navy has offered some limited information about the Low > > Frequency Active Sonar program. Here are some examples of information > > obtained by NRDC through the Navy's SPAWAR Command: > > > Any comments? SPAWAR, as with any Navy command, generally has a report that accompanies any such summary. Given the nature of the "beast," the report was probably given either in two sections or two releases, one classified, the other unclassified. What report generated these comments? The Navy would not make them out of thin air (water), it would be uncharacteristic of that command structure. You can only make general comments that may or may not be relevant from this summary (which is maybe what the Navy wants). All I can say right now is that without knowing the level of effort made by the Navy in observing and/or documenting damage to marine ecosystems, it is impossible to know whether the summary above is appropriate or misleading. E.g. I COULD say "if they only had one marine biologist on staff, looked at only a limited number of animals, and made no attempt to track exposed animals for post-test followups, then the summary above is predominantly speculation" but I can't tell from this. Sam McClintock sammcc(\)nando.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 09:24:54 -0400 From: "Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni" Subject: Hooded seal rescued in the Caribbean A young hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) was rescued yesterday (4 Sep 96) in St. John, US Virgin Islands by the National Park Service and the Caribbean Stranding Network (CSN). The seal, a male measuring 116 cm and weighing approximately 40 kg, was found in the morning on a beach next to Maho Bay Resort in the Caribbean island. Locals and National Park Service personnel captured the animal in the mid-afternoon and was transported with the help of a Coast Guard helicopter to Puerto Rico for initial rehabilitation by the staff of the CSN, a non-profit marine mammal research and rehabilitation organization. The seal was found to be in good shape, although dehydrated. CSN personnel administered profilactic antibiotics and electrolytes to stabilize the animal and prevent any bacterial infection. Today, the animal will be offered fish, in the hopes that he will take them on his own, avoiding tedious tube-feeding of a fish-gruel. The final destination of the Canadian seal will be determined later during the week when the CSN will contact Canadian officials regarding returning the seal back to one of its possible original locations (Newfoundland, Labrador, etc.). This is the second case of a hooded seal in Caribbean waters, the first being documented in July 1993 in the town of Camuy in Puerto Rico. The animal, a 116 cm, 30 kg male, which also stranded alive and was rescued by the CSN, was shipped to Sea World of Florida for rehabilitation. Sadly, the animal died 4 months later due to an infection in the brain. The CSN hopes to return the seal safely back to Canada after stabilizing its condition. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD, Coordinador Cientifico Red Caribena de Varamientos-Caribbean Stranding Network Catedratico Auxiliar-Universidad de Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras PO Box 38030 San Juan PR 00937 USA, Tel 787.761.3624 Emerg 787.399.VIDA (399.8432), E-mail mignucci(\)caribe.net <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 11:59:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Utrish dolphinarium releases t Utrish dolphinarium releases two tamed dolphins ... KRASNODAR, North Caucasus, September 5 (Itar-Tass) - The Utrish dolphinarium of the Russian Academy of Sciences released Dicky and Bella, two dophins, into the Black Sea. The experiment is conducted to investigate re-adaptation of various animals to natural environment after a prolonged stay in captivity. Dolphin Dicky is 14 years old. It weigts 215 kilogrammes, and its length is 270 cm. Dicky lived in captivity for six years. Researchers recently brought to it another dolphin which grew in natural conditions so that the second would help the first to adapt better to life on the high seas. Dicky was glad when it learnt that his mate was she-dolphin Bella. They spent in dolphinarium some time. Researchers made markings on the animals' fins: Dicky has white bands, and Bella -- a marking in the form of the Roman figure five. Then, they were released into sea. Incidentally, the Associated Press news agency reports that actress Briditte Bardot who asked the U.S. administration to stop sending monkeys into space, recaptured two dolphines which had been released into sea by the U.S. navy. The dolphins apparently did not acclimatise to the wild. They were spotted off the Florida coast, popping up beside boats and screeching for tidbits. Both had gashes probably caused by boat propellers. Bardot appealed to U.S. legislators to stop funding of the joint U.S.-French-Russian Bion project, which sends monkeys into space to study the effects of weightlessness. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 09:29:38 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - infection in bottlenose dolphin Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is an abstract/summary for a recent publication in _Aquatic Mammals_. This posting is posted on behalf of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the corresponding author's address for reprint requests (please do not direct them to me). If you have questions regarding the society and how to receive its journal or to submit a manuscript, please contact Dr. Paul Nachtigall at: nachtig(\)cod.nosc.mil. Apologies to those of you subscribed both to Marmam and ECS-mailbase for the cross-posting. Thank you for your continued interest in _Aquatic Mammals_ and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. Dagmar Fertl (Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov) *************************************************** Kuttin, E.S. and A. Kaller. 1996. _Cystoisospora delphini_ N. Sp. causing enteritis in a bottlenosed dolphin (_Tursiops truncatus_). Aquatic Mammals 22(1): 57-60. Laboratory for Marine Mammals Research, Tel-Aviv University Abstract: A new species of Cystoisospora causing enteritis in a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is described. The protozoal-infectin was successfully treated with Resprim Forte. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 14:28:14 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 9/6/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is longer the first Friday posting for September 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 08/29/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Hawaiian Humpback Whale Sanctuary. On Sept. 4, 1996, the House passed H.R. 3487 to amend and reauthorize the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, including provisions outlining how consideration of the possible inclusion of Kahoolawe Island waters in the Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary should proceed.} [Assoc Press, Congr. Record] . {Farallon Islands Fur Seals. On Aug. 28, 1996, wildlife biologists at the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, CA, reported the first documented northern fur seal birth on the Farallon Islands in more than 170 years. In addition, two adult males were discovered on the island with harems of female fur seals. The Farallon Islands had been abandoned as a fur seal breeding ground in the early 1800s due to extensive hunting.} [Assoc Press] . {Sea Otter Subsistence Petition. In late August 1996, Homer, Alaska, tour operators began circulating a petition asking the Alaska Sea Otter Commission to restrict Native subsistence hunting for sea otters in parts of Kachemak Bay after adverse reactions from tourists observing Native hunts.} [Assoc Press] . Beaufort Sea Oil Lease Sale Modification. In mid-August 1996, Alaskan Native whalers reached agreement with the Minerals Management Service on removing offshore areas from Kaktovik southeastward to the Canadian border from Beaufort Sea Lease Sale 144 to avoid damage to whaling, fishing, and seal hunting. [Assoc Press] . Polar Bear Death. On Aug. 23, 1996, a 26-year old male polar bear died at the San Diego Zoo, possibly from rickettsia and associated salmon poisoning contracted from live trout stocked in the polar bear exhibit. [Assoc Press] . Canadian Aboriginal Whaling. On {Aug. 15, 1996,} Inuit in Repulse Bay killed a bowhead whale form the Hudson Bay/Davis Strait stock; {the carcass was recovered on Aug. 17 after sinking in 250 feet of water. This whale was harpooned 14 times and shot numerous times; the hunt was reported to have cost C$100,000.} On July 23, 1996, Inuit in western Canada killed a bowhead whale from the Bering-Beaufort-Chukchi Sea stock. [personal communication, Nunatsiaq News] . National Marine Life Center. On Aug. 13, 1996, officials of the National Marine Life Center signed an agreement with Town of Bourne, MA, officials to lease four acres of land to build a $12 million facility dedicated to rehabilitating stranded whales and other marine mammals. The Center plans to open in 2000. [Assoc Press, Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Right Whale Protection. On Aug. 7, 1996, NMFS proposed to prohibit all approaches within 500 yards of any North Atlantic right whale to better protect this endangered species by minimizing human contact. This proposal would not restrict closer approaches to other whale species. [Fed. Register] . Take Reduction Team for Right and Humpback Whales. On Aug. 6, 1996, NMFS announced formation of a Take Reduction Team to address concerns that fishery interactions with northern right whales and humpback whales are resulting in excessive mortality. The four fisheries of concern are the Gulf of Main/U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster trap/pot fishery, the mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery, the southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fishery, a nd the Gulf of Maine sink-gillnet fishery. The Take Reduction Team will prepare a Take Reduction Plan. [Fed. Register] . Coast Guard Threat to Whales. On Aug. 5, 1996, NMFS officials ordered the U.S. Coast Guard to modify its vessel and aircraft operations along the Atlantic coast to reduce the threat to endangered whales, and the Coast Guard has agreed to comply. [Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Dugong Harvest Ends. On Aug. 1, 1996, aboriginal community leaders agreed to stop hunting dugongs along Australia's Great Barrier Reef. [Assoc Press] . Blue Whale Research. On Aug. 2, 1996, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists will conclude a three-week project studying an annual gathering of large numbers of blue whales in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, CA. [Assoc Press, Greenwire] . Wandering Manatee. On Aug. 11, 1996, a manatee was reported but unconfirmed at the Annapolis Cove marina in Lake Ogleton, MD. On Aug. 18, 1996, crabbers along the Elizabeth River near Portsmouth, VA, reported seeing a manatee, indicating the animal may be migration southward. {On Sept. 1, 1996, a manatee was sighted in eastern Chesapeake Bay, near Bodkin Island. Biologists suggest that more than one manatee may have migrated northward this year.} [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 13:48:52 LCL From: Stacy Braslau-Schneck Subject: BCN SF Bay News Roundup [Sep 5 11 am PDT] ---------------------- Forwarded by Stacy Braslau-Schneck/BAY/PVN on 09/06/96 01:48 PM --------------------------- clari.local.california.sfbay.briefs Subject: BCN SF Bay News Roundup [Sep 5 11 am PDT] Date: 09/05/96 11:50:52 AM Copyright: Copyright 1996 by Bay City News Federal wildlife officials say the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco is the site of the first documented fur seal pup birth in the area in more than 170 years. A Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary spokesman said yesterday tha t the discovery of the pup, apparently born this summer on the islands, is especially significant since northern fur seals are a dwindling species. Once a breeding ground for hundreds of seals, the Farallon Islands became a favorite 19th century site for hunters killing the animals for their valuable pelts. The seals abandoned the islands as a breeding ground in the early 1800s. Scientists have documented recent northern fur seal births only in Alaska and on the Channel Islands off the Santa Barbara coast. People eager to view the graceful creatures, however, will probably have the best luck at a zoo; the Farallon Islands are now accessible only by special permit to researchers. (Forwarded by Stacy Braslau-Schneck Stacy_Braslau-Schneck(\)notes.providian.com) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 17:32:27 -0400 From: Efdfso(\)aol.com Subject: Sea Otter Recovery Plan The Draft Revised Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan was released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a 90-day comment period in July. The comment period closes September 24, 1996. For those who may wish to comment, or for those who just want to know more about the issue of sea otter recovery planning, Friends of the Sea Otter has a couple of versions of paper we can send out. One is a two-page Special Alert that picks out our principal concerns with the Plan as drafted, and suggests appropriate action for the USFWS. The other 16+ page paper has my detailed comments on the Recovery Plan. These detailed comments, however, are not freestanding -- you really need a copy of the Plan too if you want to fully follow along with them. A copy of the Draft Recovery Plan itself can be requested from the USFWS (Ventura, CA office) by calling 805-644-1766. Interested MARMAM folks can get my 2-page Alert or the 16-page detailed comments by e-mailing a request to me at EFDFSO(\)AOL.COM. Make sure I get your postal mailing address when you make your request. You probably should figure on contacting me by 13 September if you want to see my comments before responding to the USFWS with your own; otherwise, you might not meet the 24 September deadline for comments. Ellen Faurot-Daniels, Science Director, Friends of the Sea Otter. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 10:46:51 +0000 From: Luke Subject: Steller Sea Lion Escapes? Dear MARMAM, This is the same message as I posted before but I forgot to say reply to e-mail : luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk My colleague Anna Moscrop and I are interested to know if anyone out there knows of a Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) escaping from the Eastern USA in the past twenty years. A lone female has been living on the coast of Cornwall, England for that time and local naturalists are interested to know it's possible origins. It is known not to have originated from any European aquaria. Also a completely different request - we'ld much appreciate any references on Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) behaviour people can remember Many thanks, Luke Rendell Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS U.K. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 12:29:14 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: LFA Billions Jim Moore Wrote: > The ATOC EIS stated that mysticetes in general showed > behavioral avoidance at 120dB. I received a copy of a scoping > comment by Reynolds (NRDC lawyer) that states the estimated > LFA source level of 230dB would "exceed by BILLIONS of times > the level at which gray whales reportedly show avoidance of low > frequency sound." [emphasis added] As a non-acoustician who > was impressed with how confused the ATOC debate got over the > issue of measuring dB in water, and who is currently impressed > by the notion of overshooting a known threshold by a factor of > 1,000,000,000 -- can anyone comment on the level here? I don't have a copy of the ATOC EIS (wouldn't mind one for posterity if anyone's feeling generous). However, I've just jumped forward several hundred pages in my copy of Marine Mammals and Noise (Richardson et al 1995) and found a section that may be relevant. Top of page 353 states: "About 50% of the gray whales exhibit avoidance behaviour when the broadband received level of drillship sounds is 117 dB re 1uPa ....., or approx 106 dB in a 1/3rd octave band." As this is talking about broadband noise levels I assume we're dealing with sound intensities rather than direct sound pressures (I sense puzzled exclamation/question marks appearing above some folks). I'll come back to this soon. SO to get on with the "billions of times over" which was the point of this message, what is probably being referred to is the underlying sound intensities - rather than the decibel levels. In this case billions of times over is perfectly feasible, and was the reason for adopting a logarithmic decibel scale in the first place. This way, people don't have to deal with such large numbers of zeros. To proceed, sound intensity in decibels is given as: I(dB) = 10 log (Sound Intensity / Reference Intensity) Those who don't miss a trick will remember my first posting, where dB's were quoted as 20log(Pressure/Ref Pressure). If you're wondering how the 20 became 10, intensities are proportional to the squares of the pressures. When going from intensity to pressure the squared bit comes out and multiplies with the prefix to give 20 log ..... Sound intensity is the power transferred by the sound wave per unit area normal to the direction of propagation, and is measured in Watts per metre squared. In other words imagine an empty picture frame 1m x 1m stood vertical is the sea facing a sound source, and visualise the sound waves passing through the frame - that's the intensity. The reference intensity is usually 1 uPa in water, but this is actually a little confusing since 1 uPa (1 micropascal) implies a measure of pressure rather than intensity. What the reference actually means in the case of intensity is "the intensity of a plane wave of rms pressure equal to 1 uPa". I can also sense the looming question "What's this 'rms' business?". RMS stands for root-mean-square, and it's kind of an average. For instance, take the mains electricity supply of 240 Volts - this is actually the rms voltage and is calculated as peak voltage x 1/root2 (one over the square root of two). If you turn this around you'll find peak voltage of the 50 Hz sinusoidal supply to be about 340 Volts. Ha! Just realised I walked straight into that one - most of you are Americans I think? Believe your mains supply is 110 Volt, assume that's an rms level too. So by my previous definition, your peak voltage should be root2 x 110 = 155 volts. Please DON'T check this for me by plugging your oscilloscope probes into the wall socket, don't want to be held responsible for a sudden spate of electrocution deaths amongst marine mammal scientists! Now I seem to recall we were discussing acoustics and LFA Sonar somewhere. Oh yes - Just to bore you further, the actual acoustic intensity of the reference wave can be calculated using the following formula: ------ I = p^2(t) / (rho x c) where: I = sound intensity in Watts per metre squared ______ p^2(t) = time average of the sound pressure squared rho = density of medium (1,000 kg/m^3 for pure water) c = sound velocity in medium (about 1,500 m/s) Using this equation, we can determine the actual intensity of a 1uPa reference wave, taking p = 1uPa, rho = 1000 and c = 1500. I = 0.000001^2 / (1000 x 1500) = 0.000000000001 / (1,500,000) = 6.7 x 10^-19 Watts per metre squared We can see that there are quite a few zeros appearing! A reference intensity of 1uPa is very small. For those wondering where the initial five zeros came from, remember that 1 micropascal must be expressed in absolute SI unit of Pascals before substituting into the equation (1uPa = 0.000001 Pa). So, once more attempting to return to the point, we have 50% of our gray whales avoiding sound intensity of 117 dB re 1uPa.... The Navy still seems unwilling to come clean and give us a reference for the LFA source levels, but if we were to assume that it means a source sound intensity of 230 dB re 1uPa, then we can find out how many watts/m^2 LFA source intensity is above the watts/m^2 required to make gray whales avoid. Using source levels is pretty unrealistic, since we're unlikely to be dealing with a point source, and are supposedly looking at effects some distance away. Anyway, given our new found knowledge of sound intensity I'll proceed on this basis regardless: LFA Source Level 230 dB re 1uPa..... I(dB) = 10 log (Sound Intensity / Reference Intensity) 230 = 10 log (Sound Intensity / 6.7 x 10^-19) Sound Intensity = (6.7 x 10^-19) x 10^(230/10) = 67,000 Watts per metre squared Gray Whale Avoidance Level 117 dB re 1uPa..... 117 = 10 log (Sound Intensity / 6.7 x 10^-19) Sound Intensity = (6.7 x 10^-19) x 10^(117/10) = 0.00000034 Watts per metre squared Therefore LFA source intensity in watts per metre squared as assumed here is about 200 billion times the sound intensity required to cause gray whale avoidance. To put this in context the lower limit of human hearing corresponds to an intensity of about 10^-12 Watts per metre squared - reference pressure 20uPa. This corresponds to 0 dB re 20 uPa... on the subjective loudness scale, and was the reason for this choice of reference level. Briefly looking at a text book I see that intensity of 70 dB re 20uPa is equivalent to standing in a room with loud conversation taking place. This conversation (70 dB re 20uPa...) corresponds to an intensity of 10^-5 Watts per metre squared, i.e. some 10 million times the reference intensity. It's easy to see, therefore, that when dealing with linear intensities (rather than logarithmic representations) lots of zero's can be involved. My book states that intensity of 130 dB re 20 uPa at the human ear is the threshold of pain. According to my reckoning, this corresponds to 10 Watts per metre squared (10 trillion times the reference intensity). One must be very careful when making comparisons between sound levels in air and water, however absolute measures such as watts per metre squared are likely to cause much less confusion than the infamous decibel - even given the huge numbers involved. Now that I've gone absolute, I might as well go all the way. I've given 10 Watts per metre squared as the intensity for pain in the human ear. Previously I have derived the absolute source intensity of LFA (given all the assumptions) from 230 dB re 1uPa as 67,000 Watts, using the reference intensity of 6.7 x 10^-19 Watts per metre squared. As I've reached absolute units of Watts per metre squared, reference intensities are no longer important and direct comparison of power levels is possible. Therefore, given that LFA source output could be 67,000 watts per metre squared, and that intensity for human pain is 10 watts per metre squared, LFA Source output could be 6,700 times the absolute intensity quoted for human pain - although this statement itself may be misleading (see below). There are still a lot of unknown quantities, and remember we are not so much concerned with source intensity as intensities at realistic horizontal distances from source to which cetaceans are expected to be exposed. The performance of the human ear in water is not the same as it's performance in air, given the large impedance differences of air and water. The information I have shows sensitivity of the human ear underwater to be less sensitive than it is in air across the entire hearing range. Interestingly the ear has greatest sensitivity underwater to tones of 800 Hz. Also, we do not know the dynamic range of the cetacean auditory system, and hence at what level a sound is perceived as painful - although we have heard informed speculation from some experts that it may be similar to the human dynamic range (perhaps a bit greater). However, using absolute units of power, we may get a little closer to some answers. Anyone care to take up the Gauntlet? (even if just to tell me I'm completely wrong!). If I am to be proven wrong then I think we owe it to the debate that the "error of my ways" be exposed on the list for the benefit of all (for those behavioural scientists tuned in I think this last statement is an example of altruism). Perhaps the most important lesson to remember is that a Decibel (dB) is a dimensionless number, which simply expresses the difference between a measured level and a reference level on a logarithmic scale. Reference units are EXTREMELY important, and without which the use of the term dB means nothing in absolute terms. I have to say that the Navy is making matters much worse by simply not giving us a meaningful technical spec on source output. Further it is important to remember that, when dealing with such large numbers, glibly tweaking the LFA source levels up or down 20 dB, actually makes a hell of the difference to the power levels. Consider the following two (hypothetical) statements: NAVAL ENGINEER: "LFA Sonar source intensity is 230 dB re 1uPa (rms plane wave and all that)" Source Intensity = 6.7 x 10^-19 x 10^(230/10) = 67,000 Watts per metre squared = 67 Kilowatts per metre squared CONCERNED ENVIRONMENTALIST: "I hear that the new Navy Sonar system has an output of about 250 decibels!!!" Assuming the same reference units: Source Intensity = 6.7 x 10^-19 x 10^(250/10) = 6,700,000 Watts per metre squared = 6.7 Megawatts per metre squared Incidentally this last (glib) example of mine is not intended in any way as disrespect to the environmental lobby. It's important that people are concerned, and let's face it, 230 dB and 250 dB are both very loud which ever way you slice it! However, I thought the difference was summed up rather nicely a week or so back in a net posting by Dr. John Potter (and I quote): > So now we have source values ranging from 220-250 dB. A factor > of 1,000 in power. So what do you think, that LFA puts out 80 > kW, or 80 MW of power? I'd put my money on the lower end of > the range, since the higher end could light up a sizeable town > and boil the water, but who knows? Incidentally, by this statement my figure for intensity at 250 dB re 1uPa... seems to be out by a factor of ten. No doubt the error is all mine, I'm writing this on the wing and probably being over simplistic (or just plain wrong!). Confused? That seems to be the name of the game! It would really help matters a lot if we could just get some basic technical info off the Navy re source levels and directivity - obviously a tall order! See you around the net. ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 12:33:27 -0400 From: Richard Lawrence Subject: GIS/Remote Sensing Symposium 1997 (Telemetry Applications) The GIS/Remote Sensing Working Group of The Wildlife Society is organizing a preproposal for a symposium to be held during 1997's The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting in Snowmass, Colorado. The symposium format will emphasize, but will not be entirely limited to radio-telemetry integration with/into GIS/Remote Sensing Applications. The meeting will be held in late September or early October 1997. Any interested, potential presenters can query me at rilawren(\)syr.edu, or Karl Didier at kadidier(\)syr.edu. At this time, we are primarily interested in presenters and titles/subjects of intended presentations. Thanks for your interest, and I look forward to talking with you soon. Dick ============================================================= | Richard K. Lawrence | | | 1 Forestry Drive |"If there is one thing I cannot | | SUNY-ESF |stand, it's intolerance!" | | Syracuse, NY 13210 | | | (315)470-6985/6990 | -me- | | rilawren(\).syr.edu | | |http://web.syr.edu/~rilawren | ============================================================= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1996 02:54:13 -0500 From: "Sean Todd, Whale Research Group" Subject: ABSTRACT - humpback behaviour and underwater explosions Dear Marmam subscribers, Colleagues might want to know that the below article is scheduled for press in the September issue of CJZ: Todd, S., Stevick, S., Lien, J., Marques, F., and Ketten, D. 1996. Behavioural effects of exposure to underwater explosions in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 74(9):1661-1672. Humpback whale entrapment in nets is a common phenomenon in Newfoundland. In 1991-92, unusually high entrapment rates were recorded in Trinity Bay, on the north-east coast of Newfoundland. A majority of the cases occurred in the southern portion of the bay close to Mosquito Cove, a site associated with construction operations (including explosions and drilling) that presumably modified the underwater acoustic environment of lower Trinity Bay. This study reports the findings of the resulting assessment conducted in June 1992 on the impact of the industrial activity on humpback whales foraging in the area. While explosions were characterized by high energy signatures with principal energies under 1 kHz, humpback whales showed little behavioural reaction to the detonations, in terms of decreased residency, overall movements or general behaviour. However, it appears that the increased entrapment rate may have been influenced by the long term effects of exposure to deleterious levels of sound. ------------------------------ Sean Todd, Whale Research Group, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Nfld., Canada, A1B 3X9. 709-737-8414 "Once Fa-yen was asked, 'what is the first principle?'; he answered, 'If I should tell you, it would become the second principle'" - Zen mondo ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 06:11:45 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: African marine mammals I am currently working with the editor of the African Wildlife Resource (http://www.wolfe.net/~scat) to establish a section on marine mammals. We have put together a list of species occurring in African waters according to the FAO marine mammal guide. I am interested in hearing from folks involved with research, conservation, and management of marine mammal species in Africa. I am mostly familiar with folks studying in South Africa, but not in other African countries. If you are a researcher that studies marine mammals in Africa (or study a species somewhere else that occurs in Africa), I would love to have your help in putting together descriptions of the species and research efforts. This is the first time that either the editor or me have taken on a venture like this, so I hope you will be gentle. Thank you in advance for your assistance and interest. Please direct inquiries to: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 07:01:36 +0000 From: hwhitehe(\)is.dal.ca Subject: Book: The Conservation of Whales and Dolphins To MARMAM: I just received a copy of the recently published: "The Conservation of Whales and Dolphins: Science and Practice" edited by M.P Simmonds and J.D. Hutchinson. 1996. Wiley. 476pp It looks very useful (18 chapters by experts on different aspects of cetacean conservation). Price in Canada was C$79.95. Hal Whitehead Dept. of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia CANADA HWHITEHE(\)IS.DAL.CA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 17:54:36 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: More LFA Billions Hello again folks, Just a few more comments to follow my last posting re sound intensities. Firstly, before people throw up their hands in horror at the numbers I've been flashing about, I've been advised to reiterate the fact that I've been dealing only with (potential) source levels for LFA sonar. Sound intensity decays quite rapidly with increasing distance from source, following an inverse square law (in an unbounded medium, i.e. deep water, we refer to this as spherical spreading). Take my source sound intensity of 67,000 Watts per metre squared (from 230 dB re 1uPa..), this is the sound intensity at 1 metre range from source, and is visualised as a flux through a 1 metre squared cross section at that distance from the source (which is unrealistically assumed to be a point). Surface area for a sphere is given by 4 x pi x r^2, where r is the radius of the sphere. Therefore at 1 metre from the centre the spherical area is 12.56637 metres squared. Source level is usually quoted at 1 metre from source, so this is the range at which 67,000 watts per metre squared applies. As the sphere expands, this finite amount of energy is spread ever more thinly across a vastly expanding spherical wavefront. This brings me to the second point, my estimate of source intensity of 67,000 watts was not fundamentally flawed. Dr. John Potter was quoting radiated power at the source, whereas I was quoting source level (at 1 metre from source). I've already stated that source level is spread across a sphere of 12.56637 metres squared, and intensity is measured in watts per metre squared. So extrapolating back to source we get 12.56637 x 67,000 = 841,947 Watts of radiated power. Anyway, using spherical areas I'll run through intensity at a few discrete distances from source: Radiated Power = 841,947 Watts 1 Metre Range --------------- Spherical Area = 12.56637 metres squared Intensity = 841,947 / 12.56637 = 67,000 Watts per metre squared 10 Metres Range --------------- Spherical Area = 1,256.637 metres squared Intensity = 841,947 / 1,256.637 = 670 Watts per metre squared 100 Metres Range ---------------- Spherical Area = 125,663.7 metres squared Intensity = 841,947 / 125,663.7 = 6.7 Watts per metre squared 1 km Range ----------- Spherical Area = 12,566,370 metres squared Intensity = 841,947 / 12,566,370 = 0.067 Watts per metre squared All the above assume spherical spreading, which we can probably get away with up to about 1 km from source. Beyond that, especially in shelf seas of 100 - 200 metres depth, spreading losses are likely to decrease because the sound is ducted by top and bottom boundaries. That's another story! (but one I hope will be thoroughly addressed in the EIS). Incidentally, all the above can be done far more easily using the -20log(r) rule with dB's. E.g. Source intensity = 230 dB re 1uPa.. (at 1 metre from source). If we want the intensity at 100 metres range through spherical spreading we simply do: Intensity dB((\)100m) = 230 - 20log(100) = 230 - 40 = 190 dB re 1uPa.. If you work out the actual intensity of 190 dB re 1uPa.. you get: Intensity = (6.7 x 10^-19) x 10^(190/10) = 6.7 Watts per metre squared In other words exactly what we achieved by the other method. IMPLICATIONS FOR CETACEANS -------------------------------- If the 120 dB avoidance for Gray Whales is correct, we could have a problem. We've seen from the above that even 1 km from source, LFA sound intensity could be well above this level. Also, if source intensity were 235 dB re 1uPa.. or higher, things could be proportionately worse. Just by way of example, I'll assume source intensity of 230 dB re 1uPa.., and -15log(r) spreading loss for long ranges (no longer spherical). As large ranges are involved, sound absorption also must come into play, and an absorption figure of a=0.0005 dB per metre is estimated as a rough average from the frequency range of interest (75 Hz - 1 kHz). Spreading loss and absorption loss act together to attenuate a signal: Received Intensity(dB) = Source Intensity(dB) - 15log(r) - ar i.e. 120 dB re 1uPa.. = 230 dB re 1uPa.. - 15log(r) - 0.0005r Unfortunately the above is not trivial to solve for r, but playing about with the numbers a bit you find that r = 74 kilometres comes pretty close. In other words, given the above propagation conditions, intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa.. occurs at about 74 kilometres from source; and is the intensity at which Gray Whales apparently show an avoidance reaction. If source level were increased to 235 dB re 1uPa, given the same propagation conditions, the 120 dB range would increase to some 82 kilometres. These ranges are all rather hypothetical, but give a rough approximation of what might be expected. Shallow water propagation is complex, and the above simple expression may alter considerably. Propagation in shallow water is something best measured directly for a given location, and I believe is done so during the course of Naval Operations. Such 'mitigation' should be a part of the EIS recommendations, so that minimum safe distances for marine mammals can be determined for a given location. Hopefully the folks who have done these studies of noise effects on Gray Whales and the like will have something to offer (perhaps they're involved with the EIS). 120 dB re 1uPa.. is quite a low intensity level by comparison with what I would expect to make whales uncomfortable. However, how does that compare with known hearing thresholds? Intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa.. equates to about 6.7 x 10^-7 Watts per metre squared. We have audiograms for several dolphin species, all of which seem to be similar. Down in the hundreds of hertz range, lower hearing threshold appears to be about 100 dB re 1uPa (rms sound pressure level), which equates to about 6.7 x 10^-9 Watts per metre squared. Therefore, if gray whales had the same sensitivity as dolphins (which is highly unlikely), sound intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa.. might be only as noisy as a whisper - if we extrapolate to the human perception of loudness. This is perhaps a reasonable indication that large whales are much more sensitive to lower frequency sounds (if they can show avoidance to such levels). In one of my earlier postings, I hypothesised that whale audiograms might be similar in shape to dolphins', but shifted down in frequency by an order of magnitude. This put maximum sensitivity in the LFA frequency range, max sensitivity being about 40 dB re 1uPa (rms pressure levels). This equates to some 6.7 x 10^-15 Watts per metre squared. That (hypothetically) puts Gray whale perception of 120 dB re 1uPa.. at 100,000,000 (one hundred million) times their perception of minimum audible intensity. Again, extrapolating to human sensation, this is not enough to cause pain, which requires 10 trillion times minimum audible intensity, but registers as a step above loud conversation (it actually says "door slamming" in my data book next to this level). Hope this is food for thought. I also hope my calculations are correct (although I'm sure they'll be swiftly corrected if not). I'm really flagging here, so if anyone else has something worthwhile to offer, let's hear it! Sorry this message has turned out to be another epic. Yours Apologetically ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 15:24:06 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Re: The dB sweepstakes In-Reply-To: Glad to see that at least someone disagrees with my estimate for range at which large whales might be affected by LFA Sonar! Unfortunately it seems I've been far too kind to the Navy. When re-checking my figures I realised the absorption loss of 0.0005 dB per metre was over estimated by a factor of 10. This should have been 0.00005 dB per metre, and makes a BIG difference. Plug this into the following equation (as previously used) thus: 120 = 230 - 15log(r) - 0.00005r Playing about with the numbers gives 120 dB range at about 500 kilometres. Therefore I concur with John Potter's rough estimate of range at which intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa^2 occurs. As Grey whale avoidance reaction has been shown to intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa^2, the practical upshot of the above is that there is potential for disturbance of large whales anywhere within a 500 kilometre radius of a LFA Sonar Transmitter. I would think this (conservative) estimate cause for comment by the behaviourists/physiologists (but won't be holding my breath!). ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Thu, 12 Sep 1996, John Potter wrote: > Announcing a macabre new environmental game, guess the dB level at X00 km > from the USNLFA, given only the barest of information and some conflicting > clues. > > Here's my entry: > > If I start at 230 dB [re intensity arising from 1 microPascal^2 (\) 1m] and > ignore directionality, say this is in the main lobe direction. Note that > the source(s) could physically produce 215 dB at the transducer surfaces, > but 230 dB referenced to 1m, because the source(s) are almost certainly > physically big and spread over a large two-dimensional area. > > To detect subs at long range, you need a signal maybe in the 500-1 kHz > range. Lower than 500 Hz, diffraction round a small sub will minimise it's > scattering cross-section and make it hard to see (ka ~ 12 at 500 Hz for a > 6m diameter boat). Above 1 kHz, you pay too much in absorption at large > range. > > To get good long-range transmission, say we put it at 800m depth, in the > deep sound channel. We'll estimate the first 800m to be spherical > spreading, -20logR, giving -58 dB. Then say up to 2 km we assume -15logR > decay (-10logR is cylindrical, and although the propagation is now ducted, > there are still some losses at the edges of the duct, so strike a medium > decay between cylindrical and spherical). That gives us -6 dB, bringing > the level down to 166 dB. This is close enough to the Navy's stated 160 dB > at 2 km to be in reasonable agreement and indicate that we're on the right > track, more or less. > > OK, then go out to 200 km, about the operational range claimed for the > Siwecki sonar proposal outlined in Sea Technology 5 years ago, and which > may be the root idea which led to the new USNLFA system. Continuing with > our hybrid spreading of -15logR provides another -30 dB. But by this range > absorption is taking its toll. At 1 kHz, absorption accounts for a further > -12 dB, and -4 dB (\) 500 Hz. So we've got a total drop of -106 dB (\) 1 kHz, > and -98 dB (\) 500 Hz. If this signal is to backscatter off a submarine > (target strength perhaps -10 dB) and be received back at the source range > (perhaps by a different vessel from the one towing the source), we'll drop > another -106/-98 dB at 1kHz/500 Hz on the way back, which provides only > 8/24 dB of returned signal at 1kHz/500 Hz. This is likely to be about > 45-55 dB below the background ocean noise in sea state 4 (typical ocean > weather). Depending on the signal processing employed (pulse compression, > matched field etc.) and dimensions of the receiver array (which control > angular resolution and can suppress noise from all but the 'look' > direction) target strengths of -30 to -40 dB might be detected. In other > words, my rough calculations indicate that the system would have to be > louder than 230 dB, or decay less quickly than I have supposed, in order to > provide the 105 n.m. range of the Siwecki concept in sea state 4 or above. > Indeed, the Sea Technology article quoted a 248 dB proposed source. So if > the LFA works out to 105 n.m. I'm probably being conservative on the levels > at large range. > > At 500 km range, continuing with -15logR spreading and absorption gives > levels of 100 dB (\) 1 kHz and 120 dB (\) 500 Hz. The lower frequency is well > within the big whales' hearing, and around the avoidance level for Greys, > as is well known. Depending on the critical ratio (effective ratio of > bandwidth discrimination over centre frequency) for the various animals who > might be affected, 100 dB at 1 kHz is probably close to the background > noise and unlikely to be a problem. So the issue at 500 km, if there is > one, would be with deep-diving animals (because we've assumed propagation > in the deep sound channel now, and there will be a big reduction in signal > strength near the surface) who hear well at 500 Hz or so. There may be few > of these, but there are some. > > If this is in the right ball-park, we're talking 250,000 km^2 of ocean > producing whale response. Around 1% of a major ocean basin for one > transmitter system. And the USN really don't think there'll be any > 'takes'? Unless the reauthorisation of the MMPA changed it, a 'take' > includes a simple overt reaction. Now this definition might be argued by > some as ludicrously over-sensitive, but nevertheless that's the US law. > > Note that if the system is close to 1 kHz and with narrow bandwidth, the > absorption might save it from causing appreciable impact at 500 km. That's > one reason why knowing the centre frequency and bandwidth is so important, > not only because it allows identification of the impacted animals, but > because absorption effectively frequency-strips the signal at large ranges. > > I've yet to see the EIS, but that will contain another entry for the > sweepstakes, hopefully based on more concrete specifications. > > > _____________________________________ > Dr. John Potter > Head, Acoustics Research Laboratory > c/o Dept. of Physics, > National University of Singapore > 10 Kent Ridge Crescent > Singapore 119260 > ------------------------------------- > Tel: (+65) 772 6754 > Fax: (+65) 777 6126 > email: phyjp(\)nus.sg > _____________________________________ > > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 16:22:57 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Norway: Expected Increase in Minke Whale Quota Dear Marmamers, enclosed you will find an article from the High North Web about an expected increase in the Norwegian quota for next years minke whale hunt. Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, Po Box 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway e-mail: highnor(\)online.no http://www.highnorth.no Norway: Expected Increase in Minke Whale Quota Professor Lars Wallxe, the Norwegian governments advisor on marine mammal management issues, will advice the government to increase the minke whale quota in 1997, reports the newspaper Nordlands Framtid September 11. The advice is based on the latest IWC estimate for the Northeast Atlantic stock. The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries hopes to set the quota for the 1997 season not later than January 1997. The Norwegian government has committed itself to use the precautionary IWC quota calculation model (the Revised Management Procedure) to set whaling quotas and Wallxe says that his advice will take this model into account. Wallxe indicates that he might recommend an annual quota of 800-900 animals, with a gradual increase in due time. This years quota was 425 whales. According to Wallxe a quota of 800-900 will still be far from what he believes to be the maximum sustainable yield. He said that there is no reason to believe that the annual catch of 1700 whales during the two decades from the beginning of the 1960`s to approximately 1980 was not sustainable. Based upon the international survey conducted in 1995 the international group of scientists appointed by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission reached in May 1996 consensus on an estimate of 118,000 minke whales in the area of the Northeast Atlantic and the Jan Mayen island. These figures will be used to set the quotas for the next five or six years, says Halvard Johansen at the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries. The quota for the 1996 season was set in May, only a few days before the opening of the season. "We awaited the results of the survey", explains Halvard Johansen. He hopes that the quota for the 1997 season will be set not later than January 1997. Johansen also links the quota decision to the future possibilities of export of blubber. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 12:58:26 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Antarctic Environmental Protection Bill (U.S.) (Fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 07:43:31 -0700 (PDT) From: The Antarctica Project CONGRESS PASSES ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BILL! On September 10th, the House voted to approve the amended version of H.R. 3060, "The Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996." This was preceded by Senate approval on September 4th. The bill implements the United States' obligations under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which, among other things, prohibits mining in Antarctica for a minimum of 50 years and establishes new standards for environmental protection for 10% of the earth. H.R. 3060 will be signed into law by the President within 10 days of transmittal. Passage of this bill is a major success. The Antarctica Project and members of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition have spent five long years spent negotiating with Congress and the Administration to obtain the strongest possible language to protect the Antarctic environment. This legislation originally passed the House with virtually unanimous support on June 10th. However, the bill that was approved by the Senate had an amendment attached (by Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska) which directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to report to Congress on the amount of funds it spends on Arctic research and Antarctic research. The House therefore had to approve the amended version of the bill. H.R. 3060 amends the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 to make the existing law governing U.S. research activities in Antarctica consistent with the requirements of the Protocol, and extends the law to cover all U.S. citizens and companies. NSF would remain the lead agency in managing the Antarctic research program, and in issuing regulations and permits governing flora and fauna. Importantly, the bill mandates that National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures must be used to meet the Protocol requirement for comprehensive assessment and monitoring of the effects of both governmental and non-governmental activities on the environment, prior to their occurrence. NEPA will be a strong vehicle for ensuring greater transparency and accountability. EPA is directed to promulgate regulations to govern environmental impact assessment procedures for non-governmental activities. In addition, H.R. 3060 requires NSF and EPA to work together to promulgate regulations for waste disposal, and prohibits open burning. Finally, the bill amends the Antarctic Protection Act of 1991 to continue indefinitely a ban on Antarctic mineral resource activities, and amends the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (the bill which implements MARPOL) to implement the marine pollution provisions of the Protocol. The passing of this law is an important step towards the international entry into force of the Protocol. U.S. ratification will catalyze the ratification processes in the remaining three countries which have not ratified (Finland, Japan and Russia). We are very hopeful that international ratification and entry into force of the Protocol will occur by the ATCM in Christchurch, New Zealand, next May. For additional information, please contact The Antarctica Project by e-mail: "antarctica(\)igc.apc.org," phone: 202-544-0236, fax: 202- 544-8483; 424 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:41:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. protests Canadian whale h U.S. protests Canadian whale hunt WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The United States issued a strong protest Wednesday to the Canadian government for allowing a whale hunt without international approval. Canada authorized its native people to hunt two bowhead whales this year, despite pleas by the International Whaling Commission to stop issuing permits for killing the endangered animal without the commission's nod. "The IWC expressed particular concern about the prospect of whaling in the eastern Canadian arctic, where bowhead stocks are still highly endangered and are not known to be recovering," U.S. commissioner to the IWC, James Baker, said in a statement. Canada left the IWC in 1982, saying that it had no longer had a direct interest in the whaling industry. "Clearly this is no longer the case," said Baker, who is also administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Canada's unilateral whaling quotas call into question its commitment to international management of living marine resources," Baker's statement said, urging Canada to rejoin the IWC. The commission allows limited whale hunts by aboriginal people to keep up their cultural traditions. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 12:54:46 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - heavy metals, pilot whales, and Faroese A few months ago, I posted a short news piece from Marine Pollution Bulletin talking about a link between heavy metals in pilot whales and health implications in the Faroese people. I received many email messages from folks asking where this paper was published. It was recently published in The Science of the Total Environment (vol. 186: 141-148). I've included a copy of the abstract for your information. The corresponding author is P. Weihe, Dept. of Occupational and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Sigmundargota 5, FR-100 Faroe Islands, Denmark. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ______________ Weihe, P., P. Grandjean, F. Debes, and R. White. 1996. Health implications for Faroe Islanders of heavy metals and PCBs from pilot whales. The Science of the Total Environment. 186: 141-148. In the Faroe Islands marine food constitutes a considerable part of the diet. In addition to the fish, both meat and blubber from pilot whales are included in the diet. Muscle tissue of pilot whales caught in the Faroe Islands contains an average mercury concentration of 3.3 microgram/gram (16 nmol/g), about half of which is methylmercury. In some years an evenly distributed annual catch of pilot whales would make the average dietary intake of mercury close to an excess of the Provisional Temporary Weekly Intake of 0.3 mg recommended by WHO. In one out of eight consecutive births, the mercury concentration in maternal hair exceeded a limit of 10 microgram/gram where a risk of neurobehavioral dysfunction in the child may occur; the maximum was 39.1 microgram/1. Mercury concentrations in umbilical cord blood showed a similar distribution with a maximum of 351 microgram/1. The large variation in mercury exposure is associated with differences in the frequency of whale dinners. The average PCB concentration in pilot whale blubber is very high, i.e. about 30 microgram/gram. With an estimated daily consumption of 7 g of blubber, the average daily PCB intake could therefore exceed 200 microgram, i.e. close to the Acceptable Daily Intake. In Scandinavia, the average daily PCB intake is about 15-20 microgram. To obtain an improved scientific basis for public health action, two major prospective studies have been initiated. A birth cohort of 1000 children has been examined at approximately 7 years of age for neurobehavioral dysfunctions associated with prenatal exposure to mercury and PCB. Preliminary analyses of the data show that several neurobehavioral tests are associated with mercury exposure parameters. With emphasis on prenatal exposures to PCB, another cohort has been generated during 1994-95, and this cohort will be followed closely during the next years. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 09:20:26 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: research grant The following was posted to the Animal Behavior Society discussion group. _________________________________ From: Katherine Wynne-Edwards Subject: ABS Research Grants CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: ABS Research Awards The ABS Research Awards Committee announces the 1997 competition for funds to support student research. Only student members of ABS are eligible to apply. We anticipate that funds will be available to support at least six students at a level of no more than $1,000 ($U.S.) each. The DEADLINE for receipt of completed applications is 13 JANUARY 1997. No late applications will be accepted. Applications will be reviewed by two or three referees and funded projects will be announced by April 1, 1997. The preferred method for receiving and submitting application materials is at http://biology.queensu.ca/~wynneedw/ABSform.html through the world wide web and any browser. (PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS http ADDRESS IS CORRECTED FROM THE ONE PUBLISHED IN THE AUGUST 1996 NEWSLETTER. USE THIS ADDRESS!) For those who prefer not to submit electronically, paper versions can be downloaded from the http address or are available upon request from Dr. Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards by mail: Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6 or by e-mail: wynneedw(\)biology.queensu.ca Please mark the envelope or subject line "ABS Awards". ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 18:12:58 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: LFA billions (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:30:15 -0700 From: Jim Moore Thanks to John C. Goold for clarifying [well, addressing ] the LFA sound intensity issue. I won't pretend to have a handle on the physics, as he says someone else is undoubtedly checking his figures. I do want to focus on implications of his calculations. He noted that: >playing about with the numbers a bit you find that r = 74 >kilometres comes pretty close. In other words, given the above >propagation conditions, intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa.. occurs at >about 74 kilometres from source; and is the intensity at which >Gray Whales apparently show an avoidance reaction. The "Information Paper" distributed at the San Diego public scoping mentions the system's "potential capability to provide surveillance coverage in coastal regions where quiet diesel-electric submarines primarily operate." I don't know how the Navy defines "coastal" but Dr. Goold's calculations suggest that a source within 74km of shore would essentially push any cetacean with a 120dB avoidance sensitivity out to (74km + X) where X = source distance from shore. I would *guess* that the Navy would deploy as far from shore as possible (to avoid wasting detection range, if nothing else); we don't know what the tactically effective range is so no point speculating further. The point is that *if* X < 74km, then coastal deployment may mean erecting a sonic barrier to migrating whales that extends from the coastline to 74 + X km offshore. If X > 74km, there would be a nearer-shore corridor. The figure 74km of course could go up or down by a dozen km or so ... Point #2: The Information Paper mentions "mitigation measures such as detection and avoidance of sensitive species". Right - detection and identification at ranges of up to 70km +/-??? Of course, if his _corrected_ estimate is the right one, >As Grey whale avoidance reaction has been shown to >intensity of 120 dB re 1uPa^2, the practical upshot of the above >is that there is potential for disturbance of large whales >anywhere within a 500 kilometre radius of a LFA Sonar >Transmitter. the above logic holds, with the only change being that we're *definitely* talking about a sonic barrier across the continental shelf. cheers Jim -------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Moore The secret of success is honesty and Anthro 0532 fair dealing. If you can fake those, UCSD you've got it made. [Groucho Marx] La Jolla CA 92093 fax 619 534-5946 jjmoore(\)ucsd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 21:53:19 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: WWF Whaling Policy Dear Marmamers, enclosed you will find an article from the High North Web News on yet another round of clarification from WWF Norway concerning WWF whaling policy. I am sorry to say that it is, at least to me, less clear now what WWF whaling policy really is than before all the attempts of clarification. Maybe someone from the WWF would like to answer the questions posed at the end of the article? Just to make it clear, I am the editor of the High North Web News. Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance Po Box 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway e-mail: highnor(\)online.no High North Web: http://www.highnorth.no WWF Norway: Norwegian Minke Whaling - No Doubt About Sustainability "We have no doubt that today's (Norwegian) minke whale harvest is sustainable ... in the light of the current whale counts," reads a passage in what is at present the last of a series of letters from WWF Norway to the whaling community of Moskenes (dated August 27) aiming at providing an explanation of WWF's whaling policy. In the letter, WWF Norway states once again that their objections against Norwegian whaling will no longer apply once the IWC's new management regime is in place and is respected by Norway. The new regime is designed to ensure the sustainability of the harvest. Thus WWF Norway distances itself from WWF International. The latter has been spreading suspicion about the IWC's latest estimate claiming that it was "commissioned" and that it is not reliable owing to the participation of Norwegian whalers and scientists in the counting surveys and in the processing of the results. WWF International has also made it clear that the organisation will not commit itself in advance to accepting the IWC's new management regime. On the contrary, in an article in the publication "Pilot" (UNEP, 1996), Cassandra Phillips, the organisation's "cetacean officer", and conservation coordinator Elizabeth Kempf announced that the organisation "believes that the indefinite moratorium should be upheld." According to WWF's International Policy Statement published prior to this year's IWC meeting, "WWF sees no benefit to the conservation of whales from commercial whaling, and therefore does not support its resumption." So, are we to understand that WWF only accepts hunts that provide "conservation benefits?" Not according to WWF Canada. Outlining their position on the Canadian east coast seal hunt (1996), they state "that sustainable harvesting and full utilisation of wildlife is ... fully compatible with WWF's mission." At the IWC meeting in Aberdeen this summer, press releases from both WWF International and WWF Norway highlighted the two organisations' divergent views on Norwegian minke whaling. In a press release dated June 28, WWF Norway stated that the organisation is "glad that the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission has now arrived at an estimate for the north-east Atlantic minke whale stock," and that they are satisfied that the committee has conscientiously examined the critical questions that have been raised with regard to the calculation models. WWF International, however, is far from satisfied. In their press release, that was distributed 4 days earlier, Cassandra Phillips, WWF's whaling coordinator, said, "It seems clear that the (Scientific) Committee does not really know how many whales there are in this population." She was referring, amongst other things, to the major difference between the revised estimate of 65,000 which was based on the 1989 survey, and the estimate of 112,000 based on the 1996 survey. She declares that "whale populations cannot grow at such a rate," more than implying that the high numbers resulting from the 1995 counts are based on deception: "The data were collected by Norwegian observers, three quarters of whom were whalers, calculations were done by the Norwegian computer centre and the computer programme needs more tests." In the same press release "member of the Scientific Committee," Vassili Papastrovrou is quoted, claiming that Norway "needed a new higher estimate of over 100,000," in order to maintain today's whaling quotas based on the IWC's quota calculation model. He implies that it was this need that determined the result arrived at by the Scientific Committee, and that the estimate does not reflect the actual situation in the north-east Atlantic. What is not mentioned is that Papastrovrou is on the payroll of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. The press release also avoids telling us that the stock estimate based on the 1995 counts, together with the reviewed estimate based on the 1989 survey, were not submitted to the Committee for approval by Norwegian scientists, but by an international group of 7 scientists appointed by the Scientific Committee itself. Of these, 2 were from Norway and the others from nations who do not go whaling (England, USA, Australia and South Africa). The chairman of the group was, Tom Polacheck, an American, but representing Australia in the IWC Scientific Committee. The group took part in the development of methodology and in the planning of the 1995 survey. Four of them also took part on board whaling vessels as observers. Not all the observers collecting data were Norwegians, as claimed by Phillips. 20% were from other countries. Statistical analyses have been performed in order to disclose any variations between the different observer groups' ability to sight whales. These analyses do not confirm any suspicion of deception. As far as the difference between the two stock estimates for 1989 and 1995 are concerned, the international group of scientists says that they are not directly comparable. In its report, the Scientific Committee points out a number of "plausible reasons" for the differences, maintaining that the 1995 estimate is "the more reliable" of the two. Even after several rounds of explanations regarding WWF International's whaling policy, there are still a considerable number of unanswered questions like, for instance, What is the reason for the IWC's opposition to whaling when it is not linked with the IWC moratorium? What criteria must be met before WWF can accept the lifting of the moratorium? And last but not least, will WWF be able to accept any kind of commercial whaling, or is their opposition of a more fundamentalistic nature? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 21:23:32 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Norwegian attitudes towards whale watching (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 22:09:10 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Dear Marmamers, Better late than never. I have finally found the time to give a response to Peter Blathwayt's and Ronald Orenstein's notion, presented on Marmam back in May, that the Norwegian authorities do not support the development of the whale watching industry . Well, they do! The pioneer within whale watching in Norway, Whale Safari Andenes, has got substantial financial support from both the municipal, county and state level. The idea behind the support has been to encourage whale watching as part of regional and local economical development. (Orenstein' and Blathwayt's mail are to be found underneath) Orenstein states that in his experience "there seems to be an emotional conflict between whale-watching and whaling". In his opinion whalers do not like whale watching because "whale-watching encourages people to view whales as living creatures with individual personalities and temperaments". In my mind he turns things upside down. It was WWF Sweden who initiated the establishment of Whale Safari Andenes in Norway. Their director, Jens Wahlstedt, stated to the Swedish newspapers that it was a question of "whale watching or slaughter". Another organisation involved in the establishment of this enterprise, the swedish Centre for Studies of Whales and Dolphins, has stated that the goal was to change the attitudes towards whales in Northern Norway. (Please note that this intention was not shared by the swedish organisations' locally based Norwegian partners, who now controls the company) One of the most common arguments used against whaling is that whaling is not necessary because it is possible to earn more money from whale watching and that whalers could easily switch from whaling to whale watching. In the debate about Makah whaling the resumption of the Makah whaling is presented as a threat to the whale watch industry: "If this happened the entire whale-watching industry could be endangered, whale lovers say. Whales could stop to be friendly to research and tourist expeditions because they would see boats loaded with people as potential predators", writes the Philadelphia Inquirer. (Aug. 05. 1996.) The newspaper points out that Mexico led the opposition against the US proposal on a grey whale quota for the Makahs at the IWC and that Mexico "has developed a lucrative whale-watching industry attracting tourists to the grey whales spawning grounds". As far as I know whalers have no objection to whale watching as such, but they can't accept it as a tool to attack their living and their culture. They fully accept whale watching as an additional way of making money from whales. According to Peter Blathwayt a person a the Norwegian embassy in London should have stated that minke whales are not suited for whale watching because they are too dark. I think the embassy employee's conclusion is correct - although his argument might be a bit dubious. Anyhow, minke whales are difficult to spot - and the conclusions of the research by the Centre for Studies of Whales and Dolphins says that from the Northern Norwegian coast it is not possible to develop a profitable whale safari business from minke whales. The only whale population that so far have given a basis for profitable whale watching are the male sperm whales outside Andxy. Today there are three companies exploiting this resource, although two of them have seen much of the profit yet. Also the third and the biggest on, Whale Safari Andenes, had a deficit last year (due to bad weather), but this season is more promising. They believe that they will reach a new record, more than 10 000 passengers in one season. Whale watching in Andenes has a very positive spreading effect on the local economy. In the area where I live, the Lofoten Islands, and where most of the minke whalers are living, it has - unfortunately - not been possible to develop a profitable whale watching business. An attemtp in the eighties by Centre for Studies of Whales and Dolphins to develop whale watching from the Lofotens based on killer whales, was not successfull. The High North Alliance has had an interesting correspondance with Greenpeace discussing Norwegian minke whaling. It can be found at our web site at this adress: http://www.highnorth.no/th-ec-pe.htm Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance, Po Box 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway e-mail: highnor(\)online.no Ronald Orenstein wrote: > > At 00:35 21/05/96 +0100, you wrote: > >, I'm afraid it seems > >as if things have advanced little since May 1993 when I telephoned the > >Norwegian Embassy in London and asked whether Norway would be interested in > >whalewatching of Minke whales rather than whaling. The response to my > >question was that Minkes weren't suitable for the purpose because they were > >"too dark". > >Pete Blathwayt > >peteb(\)easynet.co.uk > > In my experience there seems to be an emotional conflict between > whale-watching and whaling. At the 1994 CITES meeting I was involved in a > panel discussion on sustainable use of wildlife when a pro-whaler asked me > from the audience why our organization gave names to the humpbacks we > observe off the New England coast. I pointed out that this sort of thing > was also done by scientists and even hunters (who named man-eating tigers, > for example). Because I don't usually deal with this aspect of what our > organization does, the real import of the question didn't hit me until later > - the idea of assigning names to individual whales tended to create a sort > of identity between whale and watcher (at least in our minds) that > conflicted directly with the view of whales as just another resource to be > harvested. Whale-watching encourages people to view whales as living > creatures with individual personalities and temperaments. I am not > surprised that, revenue-producer though it may be,it is not an activity > supporters of commercial whaling want to encourage. The response of the > Norwegian Embassy, therefore, doesn't surprise me in the least. > -- > Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) > International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) > Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 > Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net > Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 > Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 12:47:52 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 9/13/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Norwegian Whaling. On Sept. 11, 1996, Norwegian press reported that the government's advisor on whaling may advise the government to increase its minke whale quota in 1997 to 800-900 animals, with a gradual increase over time. The quota decision is linked to future possibilities for exporting minke whale blubber. [personal communication] . Canadian Aboriginal Whaling. On Sept. 11, 1996, the U.S. government issued a strong protest to the Canadian government for allowing aboriginal whaling without international approval. [Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 11:06:22 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: conference - marine pollution 2nd Call for Papers Deadline: October 15, 1996 IOPS Third International Ocean Pollution Symposium 6 - 11 April, 1997 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution Ft. Pierce, Florida USA About IOPS The mission of IOPS is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among the worldwide community of scientists involved in marine pollution and oceanic disposal research. The meeting series ( originally called International Ocean Disposal Symposia (IODS ) ) began in the mid 1970s and focused on the scientific aspects of ocean waste disposal. At the conclusion of 8IODS in October 1988, the series name was changed to the International Ocean Pollution Symposia ( IOPS ). The 1st and 2nd IOPS were held in Puerto Rico in 1991 and Beijing in 1993, respectively. Symposium Objectives Enhance the scientific aspect of pollution processes in marine environments Generate recommendations and guidelines for future studies of marine pollution research and monitoring Encourage scientists from developing countries to gain firsthand knowledge that will be useful in designing research programs leading to a better understanding of marine pollution processes and in developing practices in marine waste management Additional Information: Visit our web site: http://www.fit.edu/~duedall/iops or Dr. Iver Duedall Organizing Committee Chairman FAX: 407-984-8461 EMAIL: iops(\)fit.edu or Tsen Wang, Ph.D. 3iops Symposium Chairman Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution FAX 561-467-1584/e-mail: wang(\)hboi.edu Registration Information: Susan Costilow, Conference Coordinator J. Seward Johnson Marine Education and Conference Center Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 5600 U.S. 1 North Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 U.S.A. FAX: (407) 465-5743 EMAIL: costilow(\)hboi.edu Abstracts (Subjects related to marine pollution: science, monitoring, management, policy, and economics) Send abstract, 200 words or less, by 15 October 1996 to: Prof. Iver W. Duedall, Organizing Committee Chairman Division of Marine and Environmental Systems Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida 32901 U.S.A. FAX: 407-984-8461 or EMAIL: iops(\)fit.edu Please indicate your preference for oral or poster presentation. The Organizing Committee will review the abstracts and contact the authors by October 31, 1996. For abstract preparation, see the following example or see the iops homepage. It is preferable to send the abstract by e-mail. IMPINGEMENT OF ORGANIC-RICH, METAL CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF FLORIDA, USA John H. Trefry Division of Marine and Environmental Systems Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, Florida 32901-6988 USA Many coastal tributaries and waterways in Florida, USA, are being stressed by inputs of fine-grained, organic-rich sediments that are often contaminated with heavy metals. Deposits of a few centimeters to >3 m have accumulated where sand and shell were once the typical bottom material...(200 words) Journal Publication A special issue of the journal Chemistry and Ecology ( Gordon & Breach Publications ) will be devoted to publication of papers meeting review requirements of journal editors. Authors wishing to have their papers considered for publication must bring their completed manuscripts to the Symposium. Priority will be given to short ( less than 10 journal pages ) well prepared manuscripts. Specific manuscript requirements will be sent to authors after their abstracts have been accepted. Locale The symposium will be held at the J. Seward Johnson Marine Education and Conference Center of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) in Ft. Pierce, Florida. HBOI, a well know marine research institution, is located on the Treasure Coast of east central Florida, and is easily accessible from several airports. The region benefits from a mild climate and rich biological diversity. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 11:25:46 -0700 From: "Joan M. Goddard" Subject: Re: BCN SF Bay News Roundup [Sep 5 11 am PDT] In-Reply-To: <199609062251.PAA23574(\)vifa1.freenet.victoria.bc.ca> I would like to be guided to references or resource persons knowledgeable about the renewed use of the Channel Island and the Farallons by northern fur seals as rookeries. I am reviewing the northern fur seal hunt in the 19th and 20th century, and have found no references to earlier pupping off California. References to histories would also be welcome. The only two I am aware of are Peter Murray, The Vagabond Fleet, and Briton Cooper Busch, The War Against the Seals. Also, any biological or historical references to the fur seal hunt in this century in the South Atlantic and around Cape Horn by Canadian sealers would be welcome. Lewis and Dryden's Marine History, and Mattson's articles on fur seal hunting are the only published references I have, aside from Busch. I have a feeling that this subject is fertile ground for further research. I have already copied vast amounts of correspondence that would throw some new light on it. Joan Goddard ul149(\)freenet.victoria.bc.ca 3974 Lexington Ave. Victoria, BC V8N 3Z6 Canada On Fri, 6 Sep 1996, Stacy Braslau-Schneck wrote: > ---------------------- Forwarded by Stacy Braslau-Schneck/BAY/PVN on 09/06/96 > 01:48 PM --------------------------- > clari.local.california.sfbay.briefs > > Subject: BCN SF Bay News Roundup [Sep 5 11 am PDT] > Date: 09/05/96 11:50:52 AM > Copyright: Copyright 1996 by Bay City News > > > Federal wildlife officials say the Farallon Islands off the coast of San > Francisco is the site of the first documented fur seal pup birth in the area i n > more than 170 years. > A Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary spokesman said yesterday t ha > t the discovery of the pup, apparently born this summer on the islands, is > especially significant since northern fur seals are a dwindling species. > Once a breeding ground for hundreds of seals, the Farallon Islands became a > favorite 19th century site for hunters killing the animals for their valuable > pelts. The seals abandoned the islands as a breeding ground in the early > 1800s. > Scientists have documented recent northern fur seal births only in Alaska and > on the Channel Islands off the Santa Barbara coast. > People eager to view the graceful creatures, however, will probably have the > best luck at a zoo; the Farallon Islands are now accessible only by special > permit to researchers. > > (Forwarded by Stacy Braslau-Schneck > Stacy_Braslau-Schneck(\)notes.providian.com) > q ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 20:13:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: MARMAM Frequently Asked Questions - PLEASE READ! ___MARMAM__________________________________________________________ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ MARMAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and ASPECTS OF NETIQUETTE ___________________________________________________________________ This FAQ is sent to all new subscribers to the list. It may also be obtained by sending the following message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca: get marmam faq *Please save this message for future reference!* WHAT IS MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list devoted to topics in marine mammal research and conservation, established in August 1993. Subscribers to the list are from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. The number of subscribers was over 2,000 as of September 1996. Anyone may subscribe to the list. WHAT TYPES OF MESSAGES ARE POSTED TO MARMAM? A wide spectrum of message types are found on MARMAM, all related to marine mammal research and/or conservation. Commonly seen messages include requests for information regarding current or recent research projects, publications, or research techniques; current or previously unreported news events, meeting annoucements, job or volunteer opportunities, scientific abstracts, and new books/techniques/products announcements. "Casual" requests for information, requests for volunteer positions/employment, opinion statements offering little or no novel arguements, and humourous anecdotes are examples of messages not posted to the list. HOW DO I POST MESSAGES TO THE LIST? All messages meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca or marmam(\)uvvm.bitnet. Messages should include the sender's name and e-mail address within the body of the text. HOW DO I REPLY TO INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS? Messages meant soley for a particular subscriber and not for MARMAM may be sent directly to that subscriber using his or her e-mail address, which will appear in the header of the message and/or in the body of the message. Subscribers are asked to include their e-mail address within the body of their messages, as not all subscribers receive headers including this information with their messages. If your reply is of general interest to the subscribers, please reply to the list, otherwise you should reply directly to the individual posting the original message. *NOTE: Many subscribers will find that use of the 'reply' option will reply to MARMAM, not to the intended recipient. Please check your header when using the 'reply' option.* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/TEMPORARILY SIGNOFF? All messages not meant for MARMAM subscribers should be sent to the listserver (listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca). As the list-server is an automated service, it is important that commands be sent without errors or extraneous text. To subscribe, send a message to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca which says: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastnamename To unsubscribe, send the message: signoff marmam If you want to temporarily discontinue your subscription without signing off the list, send the message: set marmam nomail to continue it, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RECEIVE MARMAM POSTINGS AS A SINGLE DAILY DIGEST, RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUAL MESSAGES? To receive marmam messages daily as a single file, send the message: set marmam digests to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. To change this setting to individual messages, send the message: set marmam mail HOW DO I RETRIEVE MESSAGES PREVIOUSLY SENT TO MARMAM? All MARMAM messages are archived and are retrievable by sending the message: get marmam logxxyy to the listserver, where xx = year and yy = month (e.g. get marmam log9601). HOW DO I FIND OUT WHO SUBSCRIBES TO MARMAM? A list, sorted by country, of all current subscribers to the list may be retrieved along with their e-mail address' by sending the command: review marmam (country to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. Subscribers not wanting this information available to others can send the command: set marmam conceal to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. HOW DO I GET HELP USING LISTSERVER COMMANDS? A list of common commands for different listserver functions (subscribing, retrieving files, etc.) is obtainable by sending the message: help to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca. A more detailed list of listserver commands may be obtained by sending the message: info refcard to listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca WHY WAS MY MESSAGE NOT POSTED TO MARMAM? MARMAM is an edited discussion list. Senders of messages are not notified upon rejection of their message nor provided individual reasons why their message was not posted to the list. However, messages not sent to the list typically fall into one or more of the following categories: 1) OFF TOPIC. Messages which do not pertain specifically to marine mammal research or conservation are not posted to the list. 2) 'CASUAL' REQUEST. Messages which request information which is readily available from other sources, such as your average uni- versity library, are not posted to the list. A specific request, with a brief description of what the information is to be used for, is most likely to stimulate feedback from other subscribers. 3) JOB/VOLUNTEER POSITION/INTERNSHIP WANTED. Requests for employment or volunteer opportunities are not posted to the list. Persons seeking such positions are encouraged to monitor MARMAM for opportunities, which they can apply to directly. Students interested in careers in marine mammal science are encouraged to consult the Society of Marine Mammalogy's 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science', obtainable from Allen Press PO Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, tel. 1-800-627-0629. 4) BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. Messages of a duplicative nature which do not contribute new information are generally not posted to the list. Exceptions include event-related postings, such as conference information, job openings, and surveys. New subscribers are strongly encouraged to monitor MARMAM for a one week period before submitting messages to the list, or to review recent archived messages, to reduce the number of duplicative submissions. 5) 'FLAMES'. Messages which are derogatory or serve to insult rather than contribute to the discussion at hand are not posted to the list. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS? Questions and concerns about MARMAM can be sent to the list editors (Robin Baird, Kerry Irish, or Pam Stacey) at marmamed(\)uvic.ca ______________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 22:20:41 -0700 From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Subject: Norwegian attitudes towards whale watching (fwd) A few comments to respond to Georg Blichfeldt posting about whale watching as an alternative industry to whale harvesting: Blichfeldt reports; >" Makah whaling the resumption of the Makah whaling is presented as a threat to the whale watch industry" Members of the Washington State Whale Watching Operator's Network (WWON) have expressed a concern that struke gray whales eluding their Makah hunters may come to consider small tour operators (ie., zodiac operations and sea kayak touring groups) as potential aggressors. The industry concern in this region is that the possibility of aggression from these grays, however remote or limited, may be a liability that could require operators to take on additional insurance coverage. This economic impact is added to the potential cost to these regional operators of boycotts by international groups. Each of these concerns are valid evidence that the Makah whale hunt could be in conflict with whale watching in this region of the world. Blichfeldt also states; >"According to Peter Blathwayt a person a the Norwegian embassy in London should have stated that minke whales are not suited for whale >watching because they are too dark. I think the embassy employee's conclusion is correct..." Minke whales are one of the prime whale watching species encountered in the St. Lawrence/Saguenay River Estuary of Quebec Canada, and contrary to Mr. Blichfeldt's comments, they are very easy to spot and observe, their foraging habits and transverse white flippers make excellent identification markings for neophyte whale watchers. In areas like Tadoussac, Quebec and Telegraph Cove, British Columbia, whale watching has become one of the dominant sources of regional income. While the Lofoten Islands may not yet have had a suitable whale watching industry developed to date, this may be because the activity generally requires the presence of a large, accessable population center nearby for logistical purposes. Michael Kundu Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 11:11:53 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: U.S. protests Canadian whale hunt Dear Marmamers, a Reuter new release, forwarded to Marmam Sept. 12, claims that "the International Whaling Commission (IWC) allows limited whale hunts by aboriginal people to keep up their cultural traditions". This not is not all clear anymore in the light of the unsuccessful attempt by the US this year to achieve a grey whale quota for the Makah Indians under the aboriginal subsistence category. Also Russia failed in gathering the needed support for a bowhead quota for the Chukotka inuits. The arguments used against the Makah hunt was that they could not demonstrate "a continuous nutritional need" for whale meat. No wonder, when they have been forced to a long break in their tradition because commercial whalers delpleted the stock. Now the grey whale stock is back at pre-explotation level and there should be no obstacles to the revival of the Makah Indians longstanding whaling tradition. Aslo the canadian inuits have had pause in their whaling activities and it therefore likely that the same argument would be used against the resumption of their hunt as against the Makahs. "The Inuit see the IWC as an obstacle, not an aid, to effective management of whale stocks." wrote Rosemari Kupanat, President of the Inuit Tapirisat, the Canadian Inuit Council, in a letter to the Canadian government t, Feb. 24, 1994). She strongly warned the Canadian government against succumbing to the pressure to rejoin the IWC. The IWC "has come to be dominated by the protectionist anti-hunting sentiment, and it has lost any hope of instituting a rational or scientific whale management regime", she wrote. To me it is really difficult to see how the US can demand that Canada becomes an IWC member, when they are not able to get the whaling commission to accept the quota claims they forward on behalf on their own indiginous people and secure their rights. The Makah Indians right to whaling is a treaty right. This treaty the US government is obliged to respect. In the same way the Canadian inuits has a right to whaling under their land claims. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance Pb 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway e-mail: highnor(\)online.no web site: http://www.highnorth.no r.mallon1(\)genie.com wrote: > > U.S. protests Canadian whale hunt > > WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The United States issued a strong > protest Wednesday to the Canadian government for allowing a > whale hunt without international approval. > Canada authorized its native people to hunt two bowhead > whales this year, despite pleas by the International Whaling > Commission to stop issuing permits for killing the endangered > animal without the commission's nod. > "The IWC expressed particular concern about the prospect of > whaling in the eastern Canadian arctic, where bowhead stocks are > still highly endangered and are not known to be recovering," > U.S. commissioner to the IWC, James Baker, said in a statement. > Canada left the IWC in 1982, saying that it had no longer > had a direct interest in the whaling industry. > "Clearly this is no longer the case," said Baker, who is > also administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric > Administration. > "Canada's unilateral whaling quotas call into question its > commitment to international management of living marine > resources," Baker's statement said, urging Canada to rejoin the > IWC. > The commission allows limited whale hunts by aboriginal > people to keep up their cultural traditions. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 09:12:26 -0400 From: Julie Gauthier Subject: lipid content of blue and humpback whales Dear MARMAMers, I am looking for data on blubber lipid content on blue and humpback whales,= =20 preferably sampled on their feeding grounds. I have found references to a=20 few animals but not for a reasonable sample size. I was wondering if=20 anyone out there would have such information. =20 If not, would anyone have Dr. Christina Lockyer's e-mail address or fax? =20 Dr. Lockyer may have this kind of information and I only have her mailing=20 address. =20 This would be very appreciated, Julie Gauthier Universit=E9 du Qu=E9bec =E0 Montr=E9al Montr=E9al, Qu=E9bec, Canada c2656(\)er.uqam.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 10:14:02 -0400 From: Roberto Schlatter Subject: Lags Dear Marmammers: Currently we are working in the inclusion of several species of small cetaceans to the CMS APPENDIXES (The Bonn Convention). I would like to request any information on Lagenorhynchus obscurus (Dusky dolphin). Particularly interested in possible migrations and current available data on culling and indirect mortalities. Please send any comments on this issue to this mail: rschlatt(\)valdivia.uca.uach.cl or to the following address: Instituto de Zoologia, Universidad Asutral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. Thank you in advance for your help. Best regards, Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1996 08:43:24 -0400 From: JOwen82504(\)aol.com Subject: Re: Comments on Navy's sonar program Dear all, I am writing an article (for BBC WILDLIFE) updating the current situation regarding the ATOC and LFA acoustic research projects and their potential effects upon marine mammals and would be grateful if people could email me directly with any info or comments that they may wish to make. Jonathan Owen ps. I previously sent a message with a similar request to Marman in mid-August, but have just returned from a trip to the US to find that my email has not collected messages during my absence. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 22:14:33 -0700 From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Subject: Clarification on Makah Gray Whale Hunt In a recent posting, Georg Blichfeldt of the High North Alliance writes; >"a Reuter new release, forwarded to Marmam Sept. 12, claims that "the International Whaling Commission (IWC) allows limited whale hunts by >aboriginal people to keep up their cultural traditions". This not is not all clear anymore in the light of the unsuccessful attempt by the US this year >to achieve a grey whale quota for the Makah Indians under the aboriginal subsistence category." Some clarification is necessary on the Makah whale hunt controversy. The US delegation to the IWC, led by NOAA Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere James Baker, elected to withdraw their request for an indigenous 5-gray whale quota for the Makah Band of Washington, USA. The request to the IWC was not defeated, as Blichfeldt asserts. At the 11th hour, it was strategically withdrawn by the US delegation and hence, never formally presented for IWC consideration. The withdrawal of the US request in 1996 was reluctantly agreed to by the members of the Makah tribal council present at the IWC. Reasons for the US withdrawal of the request varied: a US Congressional Resolution from the House Resources Committee condemning the US' delegations initial support of the proposal showed compelling evidence that the majority population of US citizens oppose the whaling request, and that the Stevens Treaty of 1855 could potentially face federal legal challenges if the Makah proceeded with their hunt. Additional factors included dissension about the desire or need to recommence a whale hunt by Elders of the Makahs people, assertions that the tribe had not taken steps to sufficiently address concerns by those who would be potentially impacted (i.e., regional tourism and recreation providers, citizens of Washington, hospitality industry); extensive lobbying by international advocacy groups, and most poignantly perhaps, an underlying belief by many, many groups that minority proponants on the Makah council are primarily requesting the resumption of aboriginal whaling as a vehicle to initiate a small-scale indigenous-led commercial whale trade off the US coast, in order to circumvent IWC protocol. There are also broad concerns that the Makah, who haven't killed a whale for over 70 years and do not retain the technical knowledge to hunt whales, have no present, ongoing nor cultural "needs" for whale meat The Makah live only 3.5 hours away from metropolitan Seattle, WA; there are modern grocery stores, hotels, marinas and businesses operating on the reservation and a forthcoming $7.2 million dollar taxpayer-funded luxury marina in Neah Bay, and the tribal council has been ineffective in justifying to the IWC nor their neighbors in the US how the resumption of a gray whale hunt would benefit their culture. Detailed accounts about the Makah whaling controversy can be found at the Sea Shepherd Internet site; Michael Kundu, Pacific Northwest Coordinator Sea Shepherd Conservation Society arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com Michael & Nola Kundu Arcturus Adventure Communications "Environmental Photojournalism & Fine Photographic Artwork" 1026A 56th Street SE Everett, WA 98203 tele/fax: (206) 513.9021 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 15:05:54 +0000 From: seaworld(\)neptune.dbn.lia.net Subject: (Fwd) Pseudomonas auroginosa Tursiops. ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: Self To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA Subject: Pseudomonas auroginosa Tursiops. Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 13:48:24 Does anyone have any information regarding the possible antibiotics to use in a resistant Pseudomonas auroginosa infection in a Tursiups truncatus (Bottlenosed dolphin). We would like to do antibiograms on drugs that are specific to this condition that we may not have tested for. We have used Gentamycin, Amicacin, Baytril, and Cephalosporins as the dolphin had a systemic infection initialy. She has been coping well for two weeks, but her culture showed increased growth today. Corrina Pieterse (Vet). Seaworld Durban. seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 14:39:48 GMT From: SILVIA HILDEBRANDT Organization: Edificio de Ciencias Basicas Subject: cetacean d-loop sequences Dear marmamers, Searching for mitochondrial D-loop sequences of different cetacean species I have seen that this region has about 940 bp in most of the species (i.e. genus Balaenoptera, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps...). However, the D-loop sequences for Globicephala macrorynchus and Tursiops truncatus published by L.A. Siemann in GenBank have only 400 bp. Does anybody knows if these are the complete D-loop sequences for these two species? In case they are, does anybody knows the reason for such a big difference in the number of bp between the species I mentioned? I would also appreciate if someone could give me the e-mail address of Dr. Liese A. Siemann. I have tried several search tools but I could not find it. Thank you very much, Silvia Hildebrandt ******************************************************************* Silvia Hildebrandt Dpto. de Biologia Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Apdo. de Correos 550 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) SPAIN Tel. ++ 34 28 454473 FAX ++ 34 28 452922 e-mail: Silvia.Hildebrandt(\)biologia.ulpgc.es ******************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 07:44:00 EST From: Phil Clapham Subject: Abstract - humpback whales Clapham, P.J. & Brownell, R.L. Jr. 1996. The potential for interspecific competition in baleen whales. Rep. int. Whal. Commn. 46: 361-367. Purported changes in the abundance and reproduction of baleen whales following large-scale commercial exploitation have been linked to interspecific competition, and this phenomenon has been implicated by some observers in the apparent failure of some species to recover. Here, we examine the evidence for competition among mysticetes from an ecological perspective, both generally and in two cases (blue and northern right whales) for which competition has been cited as an inhibitory factor. We find little direct evidence of either of the two generally recognized types of competition (exploitative and interference). That interference competition is rare is suggested by the lack of territoriality in most species and the apparent absence of agonistic interspecific interactions. This is further supported by ecological considerations of probable resource partitioning based upon feeding apparatus and body size. The hypothesis that changes in biological and demographic parameters in Southern Ocean populations reflect the occurrence of "competitive release" is intuitively reasonable, but sufficient data on levels of prey biomass and predator consumption are currently lacking, and the validity of many of the purported changes is in question. In addition, information on the status of many populations is insufficient to confidently assess whether or not recovery is occurring. Although the potential for exploitative competition exists, the influence of any form of competition on recovery is currently impossible to determine: the range of alternative explanations is too wide, and existing data are too poor to allow us to discriminate among them. Filling the many gaps in our knowledge of this issue will be difficult, but such an effort should be attempted if competition is to be considered or excluded as a major factor affecting the recovery of exploited populations. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 15:49:12 +0900 From: "Tadasu K. Yamada" Dear MARMAMers, People in Shimoda Aquarium want to know what, when and where is the longest record of keeping Pseudorca crassidens in captivity. As far as they traced; A Pseudorca called "Makapu" in Sea Life Park, Oahu Hawaii deied in 1991 lived 9408 days in captivity. On Sept. the 17th. Shimoda Aquarium cerebrated the 9409th day since Dec. the 15th. 1970 when they introduced a female pseudorca "Jumbo". Any informaytion on longer record of Pseudorca in captivity is welcome to my address: yamada(\)kahaku.go.jp Tadasu K. Yamada Curator of Marine Mammals Dept. of Zoology National Science Museum, Tokyo 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 169 JAPAN Phone : +81-3-3364-2311 ext.7168 / +81-3-5332-7168 Fax : +81-3-3364-7104 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 10:35:46 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: newsclip - Japan takes 77 minke whales Japan ``research'' mission returns with 77 whales TOKYO, Sept 17 (Reuter) - Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru returned to a Tokyo port on Tuesday with 77 minke whales caught during a two-month "research" mission to the northwest Pacific, fishery ministry officials said. The whale carcasses will be unloaded in several days and shipped to warehouses throughout Japan. Some of the whale meat will eventually be distributed to people in whaling villages and some will be auctioned. The 7,440-tonne Nisshin Maru and three catcher boats set sail from Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, in July with the aim of catching 100 minke whales. The catcher boats were expected to return home on Wednesday. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) adopted a resolution in Jule in Aberdeen, Scotland, calling on Japan to stop research whaling. Activists say Japanese research whaling is thinly disguised commercial whaling because most of the meat ends up as an expensive delicacy in Japanese restaurants. Environmentalists have criticised Tokyo's claim that whaling is a deep part of the country's culture. However, no protesters were seen at the ship's return. Japan has conducted research whaling in the Antarctic since 1987 and in the northwestern Pacific since 1994. Japan has killed about 300 minke whales annually in the name of scientific research since since it joined the global moratorium in 1987. Japan, the world's biggest consumer of whalemeat, says successive research missions to the Antarctic have shown that stocks in some areas have recovered enough to justify the resumption of commercial whaling. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 13:29:30 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Makah whaling and conservation From Simen Gaure There are a couple of points I wish to have clarified about Makah whaling. Michael Kundu recently wrote about the reasons for the US withdrawal of their planned request for a gray whale quota: "Additional factors included dissension about the desire or need to recommence a whale hunt by Elders of the Makahs people [...]" I was of the impression that it was the Makah's council which requested the quota. I.e. the representatives of the Makah tribe. Does the above mean that Makah Elders form another representative body which in this issue disagrees with the council? Mr. Kundu notes in another article that the Makah whale hunt conflicts with various commercial enterprises in the region. "The industry concern in this region is that the possibility of aggression from [wounded] grays, however remote or limited, may be a liability that could require operators to take on additional insurance coverage. This economic impact is added to the potential cost to these regional operators of boycotts by international groups." Kundu also notes a couple of objections to the hunt of a purely legal nature. I still haven't seen anything about the ecological impact of this hunt, i.e. its relevance for conservation. Is this hunt just an ordinary conflict of business interests, or is it a conservation issue? If someone has information about this, it would be welcomed. E.g. abundance statistics for recent years, mortality rates, birth rates, etc. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 09:23:34 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: Clarification on Makah Gray Whale Hunt Dear Marmamers, Michael Kundu of Sea Shepherd claims that the reason for why the US delegation did not - as announced - forward a proposal for a whaling quota to the Makah Indians at the IWC meeting was not a lack of support among the IWC members - but that the US government by second thoughts no longer thinks that Makah whaling is a good idea. Kundu has to have sources that are not available to the rest of us. The US Delegation stressed that the proposal was not taken off the agenda, but would be raised again next year. There are no statements from offical sources that indicates that the US government does not fully support the Makah request for a whaling quota. With Australia, UK, New Zealand, Mexico and Netherland openly opposing the Makah whaling quota - there was no way the US could have achieved the needed three quarter majority of the IWC assembly. Kundu mentions that Makah elders is opposing the hunt. The story about the two Makah women that was taken to the IWC meeting in Aberdeen by animal rights and animal welfare groups are to be found at our Web site at this adress: http://www.highnorth.no/th-di-la.htm One of them have tried a number - without sucess to be elected to the Makah Tribal Council. They do not represent the Makah Tribe. For more background for the Makah whaling claim, have a look at our web site: http://www.highnorth.no/th-ma-in.htm Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance Pb 123, N-8390 Reine, Norway highnor(\)online.no Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications wrote: > > In a recent posting, Georg Blichfeldt of the High North Alliance writes; > > >"a Reuter new release, forwarded to Marmam Sept. 12, claims that "the > International Whaling Commission (IWC) allows limited whale hunts by > >aboriginal people to keep up their cultural traditions". This not is not > all clear anymore in the light of the unsuccessful attempt by the US this > year >to achieve a grey whale quota for the Makah Indians under the > aboriginal subsistence category." > > Some clarification is necessary on the Makah whale hunt controversy. > > The US delegation to the IWC, led by NOAA Undersecretary for Oceans and > Atmosphere James Baker, elected to withdraw their request for an indigenous > 5-gray whale quota for the Makah Band of Washington, USA. The request to > the IWC was not defeated, as Blichfeldt asserts. At the 11th hour, it was > strategically withdrawn by the US delegation and hence, never formally > presented for IWC consideration. The withdrawal of the US request in 1996 > was reluctantly agreed to by the members of the Makah tribal council present > at the IWC. > > Reasons for the US withdrawal of the request varied: a US Congressional > Resolution from the House Resources Committee condemning the US' delegations > initial support of the proposal showed compelling evidence that the majority > population of US citizens oppose the whaling request, and that the Stevens > Treaty of 1855 could potentially face federal legal challenges if the Makah > proceeded with their hunt. Additional factors included dissension about the > desire or need to recommence a whale hunt by Elders of the Makahs people, > assertions that the tribe had not taken steps to sufficiently address > concerns by those who would be potentially impacted (i.e., regional tourism > and recreation providers, citizens of Washington, hospitality industry); > extensive lobbying by international advocacy groups, and most poignantly > perhaps, an underlying belief by many, many groups that minority proponants > on the Makah council are primarily requesting the resumption of aboriginal > whaling as a vehicle to initiate a small-scale indigenous-led commercial > whale trade off the US coast, in order to circumvent IWC protocol. > > There are also broad concerns that the Makah, who haven't killed a whale for > over 70 years and do not retain the technical knowledge to hunt whales, have > no present, ongoing nor cultural "needs" for whale meat The Makah live only > 3.5 hours away from metropolitan Seattle, WA; there are modern grocery > stores, hotels, marinas and businesses operating on the reservation and a > forthcoming $7.2 million dollar taxpayer-funded luxury marina in Neah Bay, > and the tribal council has been ineffective in justifying to the IWC nor > their neighbors in the US how the resumption of a gray whale hunt would > benefit their culture. > > Detailed accounts about the Makah whaling controversy can be found at the > Sea Shepherd Internet site; > > > Michael Kundu, Pacific Northwest Coordinator > Sea Shepherd Conservation Society > arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com > Michael & Nola Kundu > Arcturus Adventure Communications > "Environmental Photojournalism & Fine Photographic Artwork" > 1026A 56th Street SE > Everett, WA 98203 > tele/fax: (206) 513.9021 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 14:24:35 -0500 From: Paco Ollervides Subject: Marine Mammal Acoustics conference in South America? Felllow Marmarmers: I am trying to get information on the upcoming marine mammal acoustics conference in Peru or Chile?. Could someone please email me the dates and location of this meeting. thank you in advance sincerely Paco Ollervides 5007 Ave. U ollervif(\)tamug.tamu.edu Bioacoustics lab (409)740 4541 Texas A&M Galveston, TX 77551 ----------------------------------------------- Francisco "Paco" Ollervides Marine Acoustics Lab | Center for Bioacoustics Texas A&M University (\) Galveston 5007 Ave. U, Galveston, Tx 77551 voice: 409-740-4541 home 409-762-63-02 fax: 409-740-5002 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 19:23:30 EDT From: Jaap van der Toorn <73064.2662(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Bacall sighting? Dear Marmam subscribers, According to a short news item in the Miami Herald (September 14, 1996), Bacall, the one of the dolphins that was inadvertently released into the Indian/Banana river complex on May 16, 1996, was sighted, with a calf last week. (Point your Web browser to http://www.herald.com/keys/docs/013292.htm for the whole article; it is copyright protected so I cannot forward it to the list without prior permission). The information in this article is rather flimsy. The only thing that is clear is that there is no photographic evidence available of this possible encounter with Bacall. Does anyone have more detailed information about this? To be more precise, can anyone answer the following questions? 1) Where was she sighted? 2) According to the information available to me at this point, Bacall was sighted on May 17 and 18, but has not been seen since (last communication about this was early August). Has she been positively identified between then and last week's sighting? 3) Was she alone or in the company of other dolphins? 4) If in the company of other dolphins, what indication was there that the calf was hers? 5) What was the approximate age of the calf (a few days, a few weeks, a few months)? 6) Has the search effort been increased and have the search crews loaded cameras with them? 7) Has there been any sighting of Bogie, since the last confirmed sighting at June 2nd? Thanks for any additonal information. Jaap -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaap van der Toorn e-mail: 73064.2662(\)compuserve.com Home page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jaap/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 00:18:42 -0400 From: Mark Subject: ANNOUNCE: ACS conference CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT American Cetacean Society - 1996 Conference - WHALES IN TODAY'S WORLD: Bridging Science, Policy & People November 8-10, 1996 Double Tree Hotel San Pedro, California ACS continues its tradition of presenting scientific information in an understandable and accessible format for the public. This conference will explore some of the complex issues surrounding cetaceans today. It will include field researchers, educators, and the public. Early registration rates until October 1 , 1996. Invited speakers and planned topics include: FUTURE OF WHALING Bob Brownell - The Future of the International Whaling Commission. Phil Clapham - How Scientists Can Influence Whaling Policy CAPTIVITY Bernd Wursig - Swim with Dolphin Programs. Mike Glenn - Improvements/Benefits of Captive Environments for Marine Mammals. Ken Balcomb - Potential of Release of Captive Orcas to the Wild. CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND CRISES Dave Wiley - Conflicts Between Marine Mammals and Humans. Randy Reeves - Threatened Status of River Dolphins. Karen Steuer - Upcoming Legislation in Washington, D.C. re: Marine Mammals. SOUNDS AND STRESSES IN THE SEA Christopher Clark - Importance of Acoustics to Whales. Darlene Ketten - Hearing and Hearing-Related Disease in Whales. Carol Carlson - Potential Impact of Whale Watching on Whales Worldwide. WORKSHOPS (include) Whale Identification and Research Marine Mammal Strandings Careers in Biology Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Issues ACS - Cetacean Curriculum WhaleNet - Student/Scientist Interactive Internet Program Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Cetacean Conservation Resources Stephen Birch Aquarium - Marine Mammal Curriculum Whale Watching as an Effective Teaching Tool Student Activism SPECIAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES Poster sessions on issues related to cetaceans Photo show and sales related to cetaceans and other marine mammals Field trips to local marine mammal facilities Friday Night reception sponsored by Cabrillo Marine Aquarium FEES (includes registration, reception, and banquet, discount before 10/1/96) Non Member $165 posted after 10/1/96 - $190 Member $145 posted after 10/1/96 - $170 Student $95 posted after 10/1/96 - $120 One Day $80 (banquet and reception not included) posted after 10/1/96 - $125 For more information, or to receive a registration packet, send a postcard to ACS National, P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA 90733, or contact ACS by e-mail (acs(\)pobox.com), phone (310) 548-6279, or FAX (310) 548-6950. Look for conference info on the web at- http://www.acsonline.org/confflyr.htm & http://www.Friend.ly.Net/user-homepages/b/birdman/acsrgstr.htm Posted by: birdman(\)friend.ly.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 23:55:31 -0700 From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Subject: Response on Makah Hunt Questions from Blichfeldt & Gaure >Simon Gaure writes..."I was of the impression that it was the Makah's council which requested the quota. I.e. the representatives of the Makah >tribe. Does the above mean that Makah Elders form another representative body which in this issue disagrees with the council?" >Georg Blichfeldt adds..."Kundu mentions that Makah elders is opposing the hunt. The story about the two Makah women that was taken to the >IWC meeting in Aberdeen by animal rights and animal welfare groups. One of them have tried a number - without success to be elected to the >Makah Tribal Council. They do not represent the Makah Tribe." Anthropologic records show that Elders from North American Indigenous bands -- particularly in the Pacific northwest -- were traditionally the matrilineal leaders and offered insight and direction in most tribal matters. Their wisdom and judgment were historically respected by tribal members. While the Makah (and most other indigenous groups in the USA and Canada's First Nations) have now opted for a more corporate structure (i.e., similar to a business council), the Makah now have democratic elections, and not unlike other western societies, only about 30-40% of tribal members bother to vote. The issue of whaling is not handled as a referendum; the decision to propose a recommencement was made solely by the council without formal consultation to more than a handful of business-savvy executives within the tribe. In reality, the Makah Elders represent as many members of the Makah tribe as do the Council. They express the silent voice of many others who fear persecution by those who currently hold the political power. >Blichfeldt adds..." The US Delegation stressed that the proposal was not taken off the agenda, but would be raised again next year. There are no >statements from official sources that indicates that the US government does not fully support the Makah request for a whaling quota." Blichfeldt is partially correct in that the US Delegation has stated that they still intend to present the Makah proposal in October 1997, but Blichfeldt should be reminded that James Baker's (NOAA Undersecretary and IWC Commissioner) caveat recommendation to the tribe (and the national press) was that the 'Makah Council needs time to adequately convince the people of the US and Congress to support their desire to resume a whale hunt'. The Clinton Administration's support of the Makah Hunt was made solely on the basis of the Stevens Treaty; the subsequent unanimously adopted Congressional Resolution condemning Baker's support is compelling evidence that the US does NOT fully support the Makah request. I suggest that instead of heeding the High North Alliance or Sea Shepherd on this matter, that interested parties contact either US Congressman George Miller of California or Jack Metcalf of Washington or any other member of the United States Congress House Committee on Resources. >Gaure adds..."I still haven't seen anything about the ecological impact of this hunt, i.e. its relevance for conservation." Economy, politics, public perception, legality -- all these matters should be considered just as relevant, but ecological impact does indeed come into play here. The IWC has estimated current eastern Pacific gray whale stocks at approx. 23,000, while pre-exploitation numbers were estimated between 15,000-24,000. While the Makah have requested only 5 whales, the Nootka people to the north (pop. approx. 6,000) have expressed an interest to begin once the Makah start whaling. Rumours have also surfaced that 3 other Washington tribes and 2 SE Alaskan tribes will follow suit. This increased potential mortality, including the new aboriginal quotas requested world-wide (as had already surfaced at the 1996 IWC) suggests that cetacean ecology will become adversely impacted, and that the recently de-listed eastern gray whale may soon need to "dive" back under federal protection by the US ESA. Additionally, the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission reports that, in the past 3 years, their strike-to-landed success rate on bowheads was approximately 75% of whales hit (1993 hit/52 landed/41; 1994 hit/46 landed/34; 1995 hit/57 landed/43). The Aleutians have had decades to refine their technique and effectiveness; it is highly anticipated that, if they were to begin a gray whale hunt, any other aboriginal group merely beginning whaling (and learning anew the killing technique) will have a greatly reduced rate of success, subsequently adding to the incidental mortality and escape of wounded whales in the Pacific northwest. It's clear that the Makah whale hunt will certainly become the new IWC litmus test on the issue of contemporary aboriginal whaling, particularly at a time when recent indigenous harvests of highly endangered cetacea like the bowhead are renewing the controversy on the matter. I am confident that Marmammers understand why pro-whaling advocates like the High North Alliance's Blichfeldt and Gaure will now lead the opposition against anti-whaling groups like Sea Shepherd, nevertheless, I'll continue to do my best to present our groups' information from a factual, in-situ perspective (unlike Blichfeldt & Gaure, I have the privilege of living only 2.5 hours way from Neah Bay in Washington State) Michael Kundu, Pacific Northwest Coordinator Sea Shepherd Conservation Society arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 09:34:19 BSC From: Monica Muelbert Organization: UNIVERSIDADE DO RIO GRANDE - RS - BRASIL Subject: Robin Best Award The Robin Best Award was created by the Society for Marine Mammalogy on behalf of Robin's family and is supported by the Robin Best Memorial Fund. Robin Christopher Best was a Canadian researcher working at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia - INPA) in northern Brazil. The purpose of this award is to stimulate and encourage the advancement of Aquatic Mammal research in South America, where Robin lived and worked. This award is presented to the best student presentations (oral and poster) at the Biennial Meeting of Aquatic Mammals Specialists from South America. This award was presented for the first time during the last SA meeting which was held in Florianopolis, Brazil from 24-28 of October of 1994. The Robin Best Award will be presented again during the next South American meeting this coming October in Vina del Mar, Chile. In order to be eligible for the Robin Best award competition, the student must be registered as a full time student at an Institution of higher education and should submit proof of student status. There will be 3 categories: undergraduate, graduate degree at the MSc level and graduate at the PhD level. Anyone interested in being reviewed for the award should contact the organizing committee for the SA meeting (INACH(\)REUNA.CL) or Patricia Majluf (PMAJLUF(\)AOL.COM) and Monica Muelbert (PGCFSEAL(\)SUPER.FURG.BR). xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Monica M. C. Muelbert (M2) PGCFSEAL(\)SUPER.FURG.BR FURG - Dept. Ciencias Fisiologicas Tel.: (0532) 31-1900 ext. 174/159 Caixa Postal 474 Fax : (0532) 30-2126 96.201-900 Rio Grande RS BRASIL ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 14:28:44 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: Re: Bacall sighting? Jaap van der Toorn wrote: >The information in this article is rather flimsy. The only thing that >is clear is that there is no photographic evidence available of this >possible encounter with Bacall. Does anyone have more detailed >information about this? The sighting was made by Dolphin Alliance president Joseph Roberts. Mr. Roberts believes that he positively identified Bacall with a calf, from about 50 ft away, and to my knowledge, he did not have binoculars, nor a camera. I also believe the sighting was made from shore (not from a boat). >To be more precise, can anyone answer the following questions? > >1) Where was she sighted? The sighting was apparently made just below the Route 192 causeway, which is about seven miles north of BC-38. >2) According to the information available to me at this point, Bacall >was sighted on May 17 and 18, but has not been seen since (last >communication about this was early August). Has she been positively >identified between then and last week's sighting? No positive sightings of either dolphin have been reliably reported since the June 2 sighting of Bogie. >3) Was she alone or in the company of other dolphins? >4) If in the company of other dolphins, what indication was there that >the calf was hers? Mr. Roberts did not indicate that there were any other dolphins present. >5) What was the approximate age of the calf (a few days, a few weeks, >a few months)? Mr. Roberts did not report an age for the calf; however, it would have been difficult to estimate a calf's age from shore at a distance of 50 ft or more. >6) Has the search effort been increased and have the search crews >loaded cameras with them? There is no dedicated search effort going on any longer. No one qualified in photoidentification is available for such a dedicated effort, and given the lack of easily identified markings on either dolphin, it would take such a person, and a very intensive search effort, to get the positive photographic evidence needed. However, Mr. Roberts is interested in pursuing such a search effort himself; he will of course need permission from the National Marine Fisheries Service for Level-B harassment. It is my understanding that he is currently seeking such permission. Both the National Marine Fisheries Service and Dr. John Morris of Florida Tech (who has an on-going research program studying the Indian River Lagoon dolphins) have good pre-release photos of the dorsal fins of Bogie and Bacall. The local stranding authorities are still on the alert to examine any stranded animals in case they are Bogie or Bacall. Other than the efforts of some unauthorized individuals, these are the only arrangements that have been made to verify the presence of Bogie and Bacall in the Indian River Lagoon. Because they are not well- marked, and because they are apparently not behaving aberrantly (which would make them easier to identify), and because no one who is qualified is available for a dedicated photo-ID search, that's all that seems possible for the moment. Although The HSUS certainly hopes that Bogie and Bacall (and Bacall's calf) are alive and well, it is my belief that the sighting of Bacall reported by the Herald is highly questionable, as a matter of science. The main diagnostic characteristic Mr. Roberts used in his ID was a left lean in Bacall's dorsal fin; however, there are numerous dolphins in the lagoon with this characteristic. There are undoubtedly several females with calves in the lagoon at this time as well; there is also a reasonable probability that Bacall lost her calf (for any number of reasons), meaning that the presence of a calf is not a good identifier. Also, identifying a dolphin with poor natural markings from 50 ft away and from shore is something even someone with years of photo- and field identification of bottlenose dolphins might find difficult. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 14:23:07 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Makah whaling and conservation From Simen Gaure Michael Kundu writes: The IWC has estimated current eastern Pacific gray whale stocks at approx. 23,000, while pre-exploitation numbers were estimated between 15,000-24,000. While the Makah have requested only 5 whales, the Nootka people to the north (pop. approx. 6,000) have expressed an interest to begin once the Makah start whaling. Rumours have also surfaced that 3 other Washington tribes and 2 SE Alaskan tribes will follow suit. This increased potential mortality, including the new aboriginal quotas requested world-wide (as had already surfaced at the 1996 IWC) suggests that cetacean ecology will become adversely impacted, and that the recently de-listed eastern gray whale may soon need to "dive" back under federal protection by the US ESA. Hmm, let's make some very rough computations. There are a lot of unknowns, but I suppose these can be filled in by various people. Whenever possible/reasonable, I've tilted the assumptions in the direction of Kundu's conclusion. So, the gray whale population is approx 23,000. I found a figure that the population has grown on average 3% annually. This was from an informal source (International Harpoon #4, 1995, at ), and the growth rate may have been larger when there were fewer whales, so to be sure, let's assume it's off by a factor of 3. (I don't allege that the IH is inaccurate, just that it doesn't provide a ready primary source.) I.e. a growth of 1%, or approximately 200 animals annually. (If anyone has a reference, it would still be welcome. Our university library doesn't have the IWC journal.) The Makah tribe (population approx 1500) requests 5 whales. Assume the Nootka tribe similarly wants 20 whales. (I.e. that the quota is proportional to the size of the tribe.) I have no idea how large the 5 rumoured tribes are, but for good measure let's assume they request 20 whales each. That's a total of 125 whales. The world-wide aboriginal quotas mentioned are not, as far as I know, on the eastern pacific grey whale, so they're not relevant in this computation. Add 40% to account for whales killed or mortally wounded but not landed and we're at 175 whales. It's below 200. I can't see how this suggests, as Kundu asserts, that the hunt will have an adverse ecological impact, soon leading to a decline so dramatic that the gray whale population becomes endangered, but I may have got some numbers or assumptions entirely wrong. Or I may have missed some rumours. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 05:12:10 EDT From: WDCS <100417.1464(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: book details To: MARMAM In response to a request for more information about The Conservation of Whales and Dolphins: Science and Practice edited by M.P.Simmonds and J.D. Hutchinson : 476 pages published by John Wiley and Sons in July this year, Marmammers may like to note the following: Contents: - An introduction to whales and dolphins - International Law and the Status of Cetaceans - The ethics and politics of whaling - Directed kills of small cetaceans worldwide - Incidental captures of small cetaceans - Fisheries interactions: The harbour porpoise - a review - Ecological interactions between cetaceans and fisheries - Organohalogen and heavy metal contamination in cetaceans; observed effects, potential impact and future prospects - Cetaceans and environmental pollution: the global concerns - Habitat loss and degradation - Underwater noise pollution and its significance for whales and dolphins - Whales and climate change - Infectious diseases of cetacean populations - The river dolphins: the road to extinction - Science and precaution in cetacean conservation - Defining future research needs for cetacean conservation - The New Zealand experience - One country s response to cetacean conservation - Conservation in practice: agreements, regulations, sanctuaries and action plans. The contributors come mainly from both the field of cetacean science and conservation organisations and include: Peter Reijnders - Dutch Institute for Forestry and Nature Gregory Rose - Environmental Law Unit of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Jonathan Gordon - University of Oxford, UK Paul Thompson - University of Aberdeen, Scotland Chris Stroud and Alison Smith - respectively, Campaigns Director and Conservation Director here Andrew Read - Duke University, North Carolina Cassandra Phillips - World Wide Fund for Nature Sue Mayer - until recently Director of Science at Greenpeace UK Malcolm MacGarvin - University of Aberdeen, Scotland Seamus Kennedy - Veterinary Sciences Department, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland Paul Johnston - University of Exeter, UK Michael Earle - Fisheries Adviser to the Green Group in the European Parliament Hugo Castello - Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences Mike Donoghue - New Zealand Department of Conservation s Protected Species Policy Division The editors, Mark Simmonds and Judith Hutchinson were, respectively, Reader in Wildlife Conservation and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Greenwich, UK and in their preface they note: [This book is intended to make] a comprehensive review of...threats and [conservation] initiatives ... and is intended for anyone with an interest in conservation matters: academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students and lay people . The book - which was peer reviewed - is available from John Wiley and Sons Ltd., Baffins Lane Chichester, West Sussex, UK PO19 1UD Fax +44(0)1243 770225 Attention: Jo Shawyer e.mail: gbjwsjs2(\)ibmmail.com or cs-books(\)wiley.co.uk Cost: 60 pounds sterling + 2 pounds postage in UK and 3 pounds elsewhere ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 15:20:24 +0300 From: Chris Stroud Subject: Norwegian Whaling Quotas I read with interest Mr Blichfeldt's posting that Professor Walloe will be advising the Norwegian Government to increase the Norwegian minke whale quota in 1997 to somewhere in the region of 800-900. Not only is this move to establish such quotas again premature, but based on a potential limited presentation of the facts. I contend that this statement is a political move in order to help pressurise the Norwegian Government into attempting to downlist the NE Atlantic minke whale from Appendix 1 of CITES at the forthcoming June Meeting of the Parties, and so maintain the political momentum within Norway to resume large scale commercial whaling. Such a level of whaling is dependent upon a resumption of the export trade to Japan. What I believe we are seeing here is an attempt to convince the Norwegian Government that they, the Norwegian lobby groups and the Norwegian scientific community that could be considered 'interest groups', can 'push' this issue and there will be no global backlash. If there is no international pressure then of course Norway can go into the forthcoming CITES meeting with much more confidence. Also, raising the whaler's expectations of a return to the 'heyday' of commercial whaling will also maintain the internal pressure on the Norwegian Government to see this issue through. In response to the article one must remember that it is Norway who is, unilaterally, setting quotas. When, and if, the IWC ever sets quotas for the NE Atlantic minke whale based on the RMP, it will not be "take[ing] this model [the RMP] into account" as Professor Walloe puts it, but will be using this specific model to generate the final catch quota. However, it shall be doing this within the framework of the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) which is yet to be completed. The elements of the RMS that had not yet been decided upon are of the utmost importance. They include the policing of observer vessels for surveys. Most parties accept there need to be inspectors/observers on board the whaling vessels during a hunt, but what about during initial survey work? This element of the whaling programme is as important as the output of quotas and the control of trade in whale products. During the 1995 Norwegian surveys, several vessels had all Norwegian crews, all of which were whalers. It has been suggested that these crews recorded observations seven times larger than other observers in adjacent areas. This may be due to the whaler's 'special ability' to spot whales, but, to my knowledge no base-line studies were carried out to evaluate whether a correction for such bias should be applied. The opportunity for abuse in observational data collection has, of course, not escaped people's attention. A small variance in the recording of the actual distance to a whale from a sighting vessel can have dramatic effects on the final calculation of abundance. The RMS is therefore an integral part of any future whaling programme. The Norwegian Government is acting prematurely in licensing commercial whaling and is undermining the collective decision making process of the IWC by ignoring the need to develop water-tight procedures for any future control programme. If the Norwegian Government had truly "committed itself to use the precautionary IWC quota calculation model" would it be yet again be setting quotas outside of the IWC. It is still recognized by every other member-nation that it is only the IWC that has the right to set such quotas and until it decides to do so, Norway can not claim that it is being precautionary with this continued unilateral disregard for the IWC decision making process. Professor Walloe is quoted as saying that there is no reason to believe that the annual catch of 1700 whales during the two decades from the beginning of the 1960`s to approximately 1980 was not sustainable". I have hunted through the IWC records and can only find Norwegian scientists who claim that the hunt was sustainable at this level during this period. Indeed the IWC scientific committee seem to have believed that the population was decreasing during this period. Indeed, in 1985, analysis of scientific evidence by members of the IWC's Scientific Committee showed that the NE Atlantic minke whales may have been reduced to as little as 30% of their original numbers, and the stock was defined as 'protected' by the IWC that year. On the question of numbers, I also advocate that Norway are failing to be 'precautionary' in leaping to set such high quotas on yet another 'provisional' Norwegian estimate. We should recall a few points which might put this discussion in context. Norway had adamantly claimed for a number of years that there were somewhere in the region of 86,700 minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. However, one cannot have failed to note that under immense scientific pressure the Norwegian Fisheries Ministry admitted that the quota of minke whales allowed to be caught in 1995 was to be reduced to 232 from 301 because it had "misjudged stocks due to a computer programme error". After realising that such errors are possible would it not have been politic for the Norwegian authorities to halt this headlong dash to reinstate the level of hunt exploited in the 1960s and 70s. It would seem not according to Professor Walloe. Professor Walloe goes on to say that the quotas are based on the estimate produced by "the international survey conducted in 1995 [by] the international group of scientists appointed by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission reached in May 1996 consensus on an estimate of 118,000 minke whales in the area of the Northeast Atlantic and the Jan Mayen island". In my recollection there was some dispute over whether there was actual consensus on the estimate, but apart from that I do not think that the IWC actually said that there were '118,000 minkes'. Recollection of this year's IWC seems to indicate that the IWC scientific committee actually came out with two provisional estimates for the population of NE Atlantic minkes. During the deliberations of the working group on abundance estimates for the NE Atlantic minke whale several estimates actually emerged. Indeed the Norwegian Computing Centre (NCC) produced two estimates of approximately 65,000 for the 1988-89 survey and 112,000 for the 1995 survey. The numbers generated are compared against simulation tests to obtain a reliable estimate of abundance. The aim of the simulation trials is to run the estimation procedures on simulated data generated from hypothetical surveys, to check that the estimate of abundance yielded by the procedure agree with the 'true' abundance of whales in the simulation. However, this procedure does rely on all scenarios being tested adequately. The IWC Scientific committee have developed some 434 different data sets, covering 38 scenarios. There are also another 36 data sets for testing of duplicate identification rules. The NCC estimation procedure was run against only 4 of the 400 plus data sets. One must question where is the precaution in this failure to test one's hypothetical procedure against only a bare minimum of data sets, especially when only the largest of discrepancies between true and estimated abundance would be recognisable from such limited tests? Another paper presented to the IWC (SC/47/NA14rev) also provided an estimate for the 1988-89 survey. This figure was 42,500, and can also be compared with the NCC estimate. The estimate procedure was accepted by the scientific committee but no attempt was made to reconcile the two widely varying estimates. Even if we were to ignore both the fact that the NCC estimates have not been fully tested, and the fact that another acceptable estimate exists for the 1988/89 survey data, would we not be right to consider the large variations in the NCC estimates from 1989 and 1995? Add to this that the IWC believed the population to have been declining up until at least 1985 and we have what appears to be a very dramatic turnaround if the NCC figures are to be believed. If we really want to get picky, we could take a closer look at the NCC estimate for the NS block of the North Sea in 1995, which comes out at 20,000. The NASS89 survey generated an estimate of 5,580 and the SCAN94 survey gave a figure of 3-4000. Were the SCAN's researchers who sat the IWC scientific committee a little embarrassed to be shown up by the Norwegians or maybe they have 'missed' the comparisons? Before anyone thinks they have seen this all before, they have. I have attempted to summarise Annex N of the Scientific Committee report for 1996, where these points are much more clearly presented. What these points do attempt to illustrate, however, is that there is a precautionary approach that could be followed if there was the political will to do so. Other scientists and governments should ask themselves why the Norwegian Government does not seem to wish to follow such a precautionary path? The article that sparked off this response goes on to say, "Johansen also links the quota decision to the future possibilities of export of blubber". If this is an accurate translation, and I do not doubt the High North Alliance's English abilities, does it mean that the Norwegian authorities feel that a quota is to be decided upon an economic value of a potential export market? That is 'higher quotas will be delivered IF a market is obtained'. If this is the remit then this is the 'politics of science' at its worst. But then again maybe one should not expect any better or any worse from some members of the IWC. If we look back to ten [10] years ago when, in the plenary discussions that year (1986), Norway was already trying to water down the moratorium decision. Norway is recorded as saying that whilst it felt that the 'Scientific Committee programme provides for a good basis for the work...[it] .may need to be modified later to form a simpler plan so that adjustments and acceleration can be accommodated as time goes on'. Interestingly Norway went on to note that "setting goals for management will always be policy orientated, and therefore a political act in the sense that it will involve elements of arbitrary choice rather than scientific reasoning". However, in the meantime, it seems that this 'arbitrary choice' is going to cost the lives of several hundred more whales in 1997. Chris Stroud Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Alexander House, James St. West, Bath, Avon, BA1 2BT Tel: (44) 1225 334511 Fax; (44) 1225 480097 E-mail: CStroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk Chris Stroud Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Alexander House, James St. West, Bath, Avon, BA1 2BT Tel: (44) 1225 334511 Fax; (44) 1225 480097 E-mail: CStroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 11:37:35 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 9/20/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . New Arctic Agreement. On Sept. 19, 1996, eight arctic nations (including the United States), meeting in Ottawa, Canada, signed a new agreement creating an Arctic Council for improved cooperation to better manage arctic development and to protect the arctic environment including polar bears and other arctic marine mammals. [Reuters] . Citizens Against Government Waste Report. On Sept. 19, 1996, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released a report identifying what the group considers to be examples of pork-barrel projects included in fiscal year 1997 appropriations bills. Several marine mammal programs were specifically identified. [CAGW press release] . Japanese Research Whaling. On Sept. 17, 1996, the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru returned to Tokyo with 77 minke whales killed during a 2-month research cruise in the northwest Pacific. An objective of the cruise was to catch 100 minke whales. [Reuters] . Sea Lion Task Force. On Sept. 16-17, 1996, the Sea Lion Task Force met in Seattle, WA to review the situation at the Lake Washington Ship Canal (Ballard) locks, and reported that no steelhead trout were observed to have been eaten by sea lions during the 1995-96 season. [Assoc Press] . Whales in Captivity? On Sept. 16, 1996, the Vancouver Aquarium (British Columbia, Canada) and opposing interest groups met to express their views on whether the Aquarium should be allowed to continue exhibiting whales, in preparation for consideration by the Vancouver Parks Board of a bylaw amendment that would prohibit bringing whales, either wild or captive-bred, into the Aquarium. [Assoc Press] . Protesters Convicted. On Sept. 13, 1996, two animal rights activists were convicted in North Orange County Municipal Court of trespassing for chaining themselves to a dolphin exhibit at Knott's Berry Farm, CA, during a May 1995 protest of alleged dolphin mistreatment. Sentencing will occur on Oct. 4, 1996. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 12:51:18 -0400 From: Robert Kenney Subject: ABSTRACT: Northeast US cetaceans and fish stocks Kenney, R.D., P.M. Payne, D.W. Heinemann, and H.E. Winn. 1996. Shifts in Northeast Shelf cetacean distributions relative to trends in Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank finfish abundance. Pp. 169-196 in: K. Sherman, N.A. Jaworski, and T.J. Smayda, eds. The Northeast Shelf Ecosystem: Assessment, Sustainability, and Management. Blackwell Science, Boston, MA. A significant decrease in the standing stocks of Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine herring and mackerel during the 1960s precipitated a series of ecological responses by the finfish and cetacean fauna of the Northeast Shelf. A population explosion of sand lance followed the decline in the commercial pelagic fish stocks in these regions. Humpback whale distributions shifted from the northern Gulf of Maine to the southwestern Gulf in the late 1970s and early 1980s, reflecting a shift in diet from herring to sand lance. After a crash in Massachusetts Bay sand lance populations in 1986, piscivorous humpback and fin whales were largely replaced by planktivorous right and sei whales. The abundance of white-sided dolphins increased in the Gulf of Maine during the mid-1970s concurrent with a decline in the abundance of white-beaked dolphins. We hypothesize that white-beaked dolphin densities decreased after the decline of herring stocks, despite the increased abundance of sand lance, and that the white-sided dolphin replaced the white-beaked dolphin after the increase in sand lance densities. During the 1980s, the distribution of harbor porpoise also shifted away from Georges Bank waters. We suggest that harbor porpoise shifted their distribution inshore after the complete collapse of the Georges Bank herring stock by 1980. This resulted in increased harbor porpoise density in coastal and nearshore Gulf of Maine waters, with a subsequent increase in incidental take in the Gulf of Maine bottom-gillnet fishery. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 20:36:30 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Postdoc available for cetacean pathologist in NZ! (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 11:31:52 The Pathology and Pathophysiology of Stranded Cetaceans in New Zealand MURF Postdoctoral Fellowship Available for Cetacean Pathologist January 1997 to December 1998 $42,500 per annum Closing date for applications : 30 October 1996 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health Faculty of Veterinary Science Massey University Palmerston North NEW ZEALAND Massey University Cetacean Investigation Centre is committed to the investigation of the biology, biophysics and pathophysiology of cetaceans. An exciting post has been made possible by the support of the Massey University Research Fund. The aim of the project is to carry out detailed pathological examination of stranded cetaceans with ancillary tests to establish the health status and possible reasons for strandings in New Zealand waters. The Department of Conservation is collaborating with the Faculty of Veterinary Science by providing stranded cetaceans for full post mortem examination. Where carcasses cannot be transported, field examination will be undertaken. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake cetacean necropsies and will be supported by clinical pathology, microbiology, virology, parasitology and molecular biology laboratories. The laboratories are well-equipped for conducting a full range of analytical and investigative techniques. The Department has 14 academic staff and 14 technical assistants. The Department interacts collaboratively with the university Departments of Physiology and Anatomy, Ecology and Physics as well as other universities and research institutes both nationally and internationally. Within the Departments of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Physiology and Anatomy, and Physics, other cetacean research is ongoing. Since 1992, studies have been carried out on humane slaughter techniques and use of the electric lance in whales. At present this work is developing to involve magnetic resonance and impedance imaging and in addition there are studies of the anatomy of the head and eye of cetaceans and digestive tract of seals. Applicants should have a PhD, preferably in Veterinary Science, and experience in diagnostic pathology. Previous work with marine mammals would be an advantage, however the ability to organise and coordinate, work with a team and collaborate with those in the field and other research institutes is considered to be especially important. Applications should arrive no later than 30 October 1996. Further details and an application form are available from: Ms L Hensman (MURF Cetacean Postdoc) Human Resources Section Massey University Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North, New Zealand For further information on the project in the first instance please contact Jane Hunter, project coordinator. Dr J E B Hunter Senior Lecturer Dept. Veterinary Pathology and Public Health Massey University Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North New Zealand Tel +64 6 356 9099 ext. 7894/7995 Fax +64 6 350 5636 Email J.E.B.Hunter(\)massey.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 13:14:34 +0300 From: Chris Stroud Subject: Makah and cological comments Simen Gaure writes: > >Hmm, let's make some very rough computations. >There are a lot of unknowns, but I suppose these can be >filled in by various people. Whenever possible/reasonable, I've >tilted the assumptions in the direction of Kundu's conclusion. > >So, the gray whale population is approx 23,000. >I found a figure that the population has grown on average >3% annually. This was from an informal source >(International Harpoon #4, 1995, at ), >and the growth rate may have been larger when there were fewer >whales, so to be sure, let's assume it's off by a factor of 3. >(I don't allege that the IH is inaccurate, just that it doesn't > provide a ready primary source.) >I.e. a growth of 1%, or approximately 200 animals annually. >(If anyone has a reference, it would still be welcome. > Our university library doesn't have the IWC journal.) > >The Makah tribe (population approx 1500) requests 5 whales. >Assume the Nootka tribe similarly wants 20 whales. >(I.e. that the quota is proportional to the size of the tribe.) >I have no idea how large the 5 rumoured tribes are, but for good >measure let's assume they request 20 whales each. That's a total of >125 whales. >The world-wide aboriginal quotas mentioned are not, as far as I know, >on the eastern pacific grey whale, so they're not relevant in >this computation. >Add 40% to account for whales killed or mortally wounded but not >landed and we're at 175 whales. It's below 200. > >I can't see how this suggests, as Kundu asserts, that the hunt will >have an adverse ecological impact, soon leading to a decline so >dramatic that the gray whale population becomes endangered, but >I may have got some numbers or assumptions entirely wrong. >Or I may have missed some rumours. > Dealing only with the 'numbers game' here and not commenting on the rights and wrongs of the Makah debate the following is included for discussion. Looking at the IWC scientific committee report for 1996, I thought that the current Russain catch was from the same stock as that proposed for the Makah, that is the eastern Pacific gray whale. The Makah were also talking about a quota of 5 landed but 10 struck, on the basis that they would have to learn hunting techniques all over again. Considering the fact that the official Russian report to the IWC SC/48/AS22 indicates that between 225 and 700 bullets were used on each whale and also one whale one was shot with automatic rifle fire (130 rounds) and 10 rounds from an anti-tank gun, we may be right to summise that there may have been quite a few struck animals that were not landed. I must add that the Russian delegation stated that the report was translated wrongly when describing the use of 'Kalaschnikov', but no explanation of what method was supposed to have actually been used was forthcoming The quota allocated to the Russians is currently set at 140. But even if we accept only the 85 that they took last year, on Simen's calculations that puts the potential kill at 260. If they were to take their 140 landed (I can not recall if struck and loss figures were given for this year's Russian kill) that would be 315. The scientific committee report (IWC/48/4) also mentions that a study of gray whales wintering in the Laguna San Ignacio talks of there being significantly lower numbers of single whales compared to 1982. They also report that there are fewer cow and calf pairs counted in 1996 compared to the early 1980s. However, the report also notes that 'there have been no similar studies in other breeding/calving lagoons, so it is not known if this pattern of decline has been repeated elsewhere". I do however, agree with Michael Kundu's comments that 'Economy, politics, public perception, legality -- all these matters should be considered just as relevant' as ecological issues, when discussing the Makah application. Chris stroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk Chris Stroud Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Alexander House, James St. West, Bath, Avon, BA1 2BT Tel: (44) 1225 334511 Fax; (44) 1225 480097 E-mail: CStroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 12:21:10 -0500 From: Paco Ollervides Subject: Conference in South America I received the information from the conference in Chile. I thank all who answered me, and here is the information: 7TH MEETING : SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIALISTS IN AQUATICS MAMMALS AND 1ST CONGRESS OF THE SOCIETY LATIN AMERICAN OF SPECIALISTS IN AQUATIC MAMMALS (SOLAMAC) Dear colleague: In Vina Mar, Chile, between the 22- 25 of October is carried out l to 7th Reunion of work and the 1st Congress of the SOLAMAC. This event has 2 instances: 1. A centered in the investigation in marine mammals, through a program of free communications (orals and panels), conferences, round tables, videos, etc. 2. Another centered in generating a space of exchange of experiences between authorities, administrators and other institutions tied to the conservation and handling of the marine mammals and their ecosystems. The official languages will be the Spanish and the Portuguese. In this circulate you we sent the record of inscription and the format for the summary. RECORD DE INSCRIPCION Last name. .................................................... Names........................................................... Institution....................................................... Address.......................................................... Telephone...................................................... Fax................................................................. Electronic mail.................................................. Specialist........ Student......... Observer........... Title of the work................................................. Oral presentation......... Panel or Poster......... Video......... Audiovisual required= material........................................ INSCRIPTIONS Categories up to 15 July later 15 July US specialists 100 US 150 US students 25 there won't be Observers US100 US 150 Sending the record of inscription and the stump of I deposit (deposit in the N=BA 101-00325-00 of the Bank from Chile) or check to: Doris Ekelund Oliva Fondo de Investigacion Pesquera Bellavista 168, piso 21 Valparaiso =20 Chile=20 FAX: 56-32-2322617 For more information call to: Jose Yanez Museo de Historia Natural Casilla 787, Correo central Santiago, CHILE PHONE: 56-2-6814095 FAX: 56-2-6817182 e-mail: inach(\)reuna.cl (Anelio Aguayo) Susan Christen Grandjean Fac. Cs. Veterinarias y Pecuarias Universidad de Chile schriste(\)abello.dic.uchile.cl ----------------------------------------------- Francisco "Paco" Ollervides Marine Acoustics Lab | Center for Bioacoustics Texas A&M University (\) Galveston 5007 Ave. U, Galveston, Tx 77551 voice: 409-740-4541 home 409-762-63-02 fax: 409-740-5002 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 18:33:18 +0200 From: cmeyer5(\)gwdg.de Subject: Dolphinarium Dear all, I am seeking information about the suitability of shopping malls for housing dolphins. A big shopping mall has recently been opened in Oberhausen, Germany. There are rumours that a dophinarium is planned to be built within this mall, and it can be expected that this issue will be hotly debated. I know that the Edmonton Shopping Mall (Alberta, Canada) has a dolphinarium, and I know that animal welfarists are continuously campaigning against this facility. I guess that similar or comparable facilities exist in other places throughout the world, too. I want to collect arguments pro and contra such facilities, and therefore I would like to ask those of you whom it might concern to provide me with information material as soon as possible. In particular, I am interested in: -- legal provisions for keeping dolphins in other countries -- minimum housing standards, ethological and veterinary implications for housing dolpins....evaluation of a shopping mall's suitability for housing dolphins -- effects of the environment (shopping mall etc.) on dolphins -- public attitude toward this sort of dolphinaria in other countries -- animal welfare group campaigns in other countries Please forward any information that you consider necessary. Thank you very much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr.med.vet. Christiane Meyer Opferbach 5 37077 Goettingen Germany phone: +49-551-205189 email: cmeyer5(\)gwdg.de ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 17:09:25 +0100 From: Pete Blathwayt Subject: Helminths in Harbour porpoises... (Abstract) Dear Marmam Veterinary Record (1996) Vol 139 pp 254-7 Brosens L, Jauniaux T, Siebert U, Benke H & Coignoul F "Observations on the helminths of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and common guillemots (Uria aalge) from the Belgian and German coasts" ABSTRACT Between February 1990 and July 1991, 18 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and 248 common guillemots (Uria aalge), found dead along the Belgian and German coasts, were examined for their burden of helminths. A total of three species were found in the guillemots (one cestode, one nematode and one pentastomid), and six species in the porpoises (one trematode, one cestode and four nematodes). Among the guillemots the burden of helminths was not statistically different between juvenile and adult birds. The deaths of the birds were apparently not related to the parasite infections. In contrast, the adult porpoises were more heavily parasitised than the juveniles, except for one young porpoise stranded on the Belgian coast. In the porpoises, four species of parasites had a pathological effect and Torynurus convolutus was responsible for the death of one animal from the Belgian coast and three from the German coast. (29 Refs) Pete Blathwayt peteb(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 15:54:06 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Makah and (e)cological comments [Simen Gaure posting for Anders Jelmert who has technical difficulties. I stand corrected on the point that other nations hunt on the same population of grays.] On 9/20-96, >>Simen Gaure writes: > >>Hmm, let's make some very rough computations. >>There are a lot of unknowns, but I suppose these can be >>filled in by various people. Whenever possible/reasonable, I've >>tilted the assumptions in the direction of Kundu's conclusion. >> >>So, the gray whale population is approx 23,000. >>I found a figure that the population has grown on average >>3% annually. This was from an informal source >>(International Harpoon #4, 1995, at ), >>and the growth rate may have been larger when there were fewer >>whales, so to be sure, let's assume it's off by a factor of 3. >>(I don't allege that the IH is inaccurate, just that it doesn't >> provide a ready primary source.) >>I.e. a growth of 1%, or approximately 200 animals annually. >>(If anyone has a reference, it would still be welcome. >> Our university library doesn't have the IWC journal.) One possible source for the IH-numbers could be: "Our Living Oceans" Report on the status of U.S. living marine resources, 1993. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO - 15 Under the chapter Pacific Marine Mammals, subheading Gray Whale it says: Still listed under ESA as endangered is the western stock of North Pacific gray whales. The eastern North Pacific or "California" sto= ck was heavily exploited by Yankee whalers in the last half of the 19= th century. The 1987/88 stock size,20,869, is belived to be equal to = or larger than the estimated size of the 1846 population of 15,000 to 20,000, but below estimates for a carrying capacity of 24,000. Population growth rate was 3.3%/year between 1967 and 1988, despit= e a subsistence catch of 167 whales per year by the former Soviet Union" [...] snip >>The Makah tribe (population approx 1500) requests 5 whales. >>Assume the Nootka tribe similarly wants 20 whales. >>(I.e. that the quota is proportional to the size of the tribe.) >>I have no idea how large the 5 rumoured tribes are, but for good >>measure let's assume they request 20 whales each. That's a total of >>125 whales. >>The world-wide aboriginal quotas mentioned are not, as far as I know, >>on the eastern pacific grey whale, so they're not relevant in >>this computation. >>Add 40% to account for whales killed or mortally wounded but not >>landed and we're at 175 whales. It's below 200. It is in fact quite close to the susbtistence catch by former Soviet Union, when the stock still had a NET GORWTH RATE of 3.3%. >>I can't see how this suggests, as Kundu asserts, that the hunt will >>have an adverse ecological impact, soon leading to a decline so >>dramatic that the gray whale population becomes endangered, but >>I may have got some numbers or assumptions entirely wrong. >>Or I may have missed some rumours. (Hopefully explained in the 1994 report, which I am missing), a quite strange switch in the terms or geography have taken place. While the 1993 report NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO -15 are talking about a "Still listed under ESA as endangered is the *western* stock of North Pacific gray whales." (*My emphasis*) And then the report continues on the *eastern* or *California* stock. But it appears that the 1995 report NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO -1= 9 have not only removed the eastern North Pacific stock from the ESA-list, it has removed it from existence. Gray whale is not mentioned under the chapter dealing with Hawaii /California/Mexican waters, and is not mentioned in table 23-1. I would greatly appreciate information on this. On 9/21-96, Chris stroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk wrote: >Dealing only with the 'numbers game' here and not commenting on the >rights and wrongs of the Makah debate the following is included for >discussion. >Looking at the IWC scientific committee report for 1996, I thought that= the >current Russain catch was from the same stock as that proposed for the >Makah, that is the eastern Pacific gray whale. >The Makah were also talking about a quota of 5 landed but 10 struck, on= the >basis that they would have to learn hunting techniques all over again. >Considering the fact that the official Russian report to the IWC SC/48/= AS22 >indicates that between 225 and 700 bullets were used on each whale and = also >one whale one was shot with automatic rifle fire (130 rounds) and 10 ro= unds >from an anti-tank gun, we may be right to summise that there may have b= een >quite a few struck animals that were not landed. I must add that the >Russian delegation stated that the report was translated wrongly when >describing the use of 'Kalaschnikov', but no explanation of what method= was >supposed to have actually been used was forthcoming >The quota allocated to the Russians is currently set at 140. But even= if we >accept only the 85 that they took last year, on Simen's calculations th= at >puts the potential kill at 260. If they were to take their 140 landed (= I >can not recall if struck and loss figures were given for this year's >Russian kill) that would be 315. The eastern North Pacific stock of gray whales the latest NOAA Tec= h. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-19 (listed under Marine Mammals of the Alaska Reg= ion) has a minimum population ( calculated as the lower 20th percentile= of the log-normal distribution of population estimate) of 21,715 anim= als and has a PBR (Potential Biological Removal) of 434 animals. >The scientific committee report (IWC/48/4) also mentions that a study o= f >gray whales wintering in the Laguna San Ignacio talks of there being >significantly lower numbers of single whales compared to 1982. They als= o >report that there are fewer cow and calf pairs counted in 1996 compared= to >the early 1980s. However, the report also notes that 'there have been n= o >similar studies in other breeding/calving lagoons, so it is not known i= f >this pattern of decline has been repeated elsewhere". >I do however, agree with Michael Kundu's comments that 'Economy, politi= cs, >public perception, legality -- all these matters should be considered j= ust >as relevant' as ecological issues, when discussing the Makah applicatio= n. This is quite understandable. I seriously doubt you will find much biological scientificly sound support for your position. >Chris stroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk >Chris Stroud >Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) >Alexander House, James St. West, Bath, Avon, BA1 2BT >Tel: (44) 1225 334511 >Fax; (44) 1225 480097 >E-mail: CStroud(\)WDCS.cityscape.co.uk Regards Anders Jelmert Institute of Marine Research Austevoll Aquaculture Research Station N-5392 Storeb=F8, Norway anders.jelmert(\)imr.no ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 15:42:48 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Norwegian Whaling Quotas From Simen Gaure, Chris Stroud wrote: > During the 1995 Norwegian surveys, several vessels had > all Norwegian crews, all of which were whalers. It has been suggested that > these crews recorded observations seven times larger than other observers > in adjacent areas. This may be due to the whaler's 'special ability' to > spot whales, but, to my knowledge no base-line studies were carried out to > evaluate whether a correction for such bias should be applied. The > opportunity for abuse in observational data collection has, of course, not > escaped people's attention. My copy of the report of the scientific committee doesn't mention any such potential adverse bias in the data. It says about the data collection (AEWG is the Abundance Estimate Working Group appointed by the IWC sci.comm. in '95): The AEWG reviewed the sighting survey plans of the Institute of Marine Research (Bergen) and provided advice on details of the data collection procedure prior to the 1995 survey. Four members of AEWG participated in the 1995 Norwegian Independent Line Transect Survey (NILS95) and summary reports from seven survey participants describing their experience were presented to AEWG. These reports dealt with potential problems in the data collection and implementation of the survey protocol that could have had implications for the analyses. The AEWG reviewed these reports and the data collected, including a large number and variety of summary statistics. Based on this review, the problems identified were either (1) corrected in the data prior to the finalisation of the analyses; (2) taken account directly in the analyses; or (3) judged to be of minimal consequence in the estimation. The AEWG agreed that the data were acceptable for use in estimating minke whale abundance. It was new to me that there was potential for severe bias problems with the data due to ethnological factors. I suppose the Steering Group coordinating the further analysis of the methods has been notified about this, if Mr. Stroud could point to the document submitted to the IWC about this it would be easier to comment on. If this is so recent that the IWC hasn't been notified yet, I'll attempt to obtain a response from some members of the AEWG. (Provided I receive a more specific description of the problem.) > Professor Walloe is quoted as saying that there is no reason to believe > that the annual catch of 1700 whales during the two decades from the > beginning of the 1960`s to approximately 1980 was not sustainable". I have > hunted through the IWC records and can only find Norwegian scientists who > claim that the hunt was sustainable at this level during this period. > Indeed the IWC scientific committee seem to have believed that the > population was decreasing during this period. Indeed, in 1985, analysis of > scientific evidence by members of the IWC's Scientific Committee showed > that the NE Atlantic minke whales may have been reduced to as little as 30% > of their original numbers, and the stock was defined as 'protected' by the > IWC that year. A more recent analysis can be found in "Relative Abundance Series for Minke Whales in the Barents Sea, 1952 to 1983", by T. Schweder, Rep Int Whal Commn 44:323-332 (1994). Quote (p. 331): The stock appears to have been fluctuating around an almost constant level. The estimated significant decline of 30% from 1952 to 1983 has not been continuous, as claimed by Holt (1993). The number of minke whales in the Barents Sea appears to have peaked around 1970, at a level higher than in 1952 and it appears to have been increasing again towards the end of the period, after having reached a low around 1980. He further notes (p 332): The shock given to the stock from the large catches after the 2nd World War in the Barents Sea, and from the increased catches in the Vestfjorden/Lofoten area from the late 1930s, might have produced a decline in the stock in the 1950s. Any increased number of recruits produced by a density dependent response would lead to an even higher recruitment level when they reached maturity. This might explain the increase seen in the stock in the 1960s. Schweder argues that the method he uses (Acceptable Catcher Days, ACD) is superior to other CPUE-based methods for estimating relative abundance series. The work also gives an abundance in 1983 relative to 1952 of 70%, with a 95% CI of 52%-94%. The mean annual catch was around 1400 during this period, according to the paper. I don't know whether the committee has agreed to this analysis. Does Stroud have any objections to this paper, apart from Schweder's nationality? > On the question of numbers, I also advocate that Norway are failing to be > 'precautionary' in leaping to set such high quotas on yet another > 'provisional' Norwegian estimate. It's not a Norwegian estimate. The report of the sci.comm. says: "All members of the AEWG were active participants throughout the process, making substantial contributions to the actual analyses and contributing to at least one of the 41 working papers presented to the meeting. These contributions were combined and synthesised into the final report and estimates of abundance." [p. 17] The AEWG was multi-national, and was lead by an American, Mr. Polacheck, as previously pointed out by Mr. Blichfeldt in this forum. But, anyway, the nationality of the scientists is fairly irrelevant, what matters is the quality of the science. > In my recollection there was some dispute over whether there was actual > consensus on the estimate, but apart from that I do not think that the IWC > actually said that there were '118,000 minkes'. Mr. Cooke, a member of the working group, disagreed on June 23 (Annex N1) to something he had agreed to in January, stating that he felt the committee was pressured into accepting an estimate which it had not been able to verify or reproduce. The working group describes Cooke's annex N1: In addition, Annex N1 does severe injustice to the other members of the AEWG and is misleading to readers who did not participate in the process. While strongly supporting the right of scientists to express and alter their views, the AEWG believed that the manner in which it was done in this case to be unacceptable and an impediment to the work of the Scientific Committee. (p 18 of the sci.comm. report) Of course, the sci.comm. doesn't say there were 118,000 minkes. It says that an estimate based on the 1995 survey gives a point estimate of 118,299 with a 95% CI of [96,681: 144,750]. It further says that it finds the methods used to obtain this estimate to be good enough for the purpose of using the estimate as a basis for computing catch limits, but it points out a couple of areas for further investigation. > Recollection of this > year's IWC seems to indicate that the IWC scientific committee actually > came out with two provisional estimates for the population of NE Atlantic > minkes. During the deliberations of the working group on abundance > estimates for the NE Atlantic minke whale several estimates actually > emerged. Indeed the Norwegian Computing Centre (NCC) produced two estimates > of approximately 65,000 for the 1988-89 survey and 112,000 for the 1995 > survey. And the sci.comm. report states (p 19) about these estimates: The 1995 estimate of minke whale abundance is a more reliable estimate because it was derived from a designed survey with independent teams of observers and did not depend on extrapolation from independent observer data collected in a different year as was the case for the 1989 estimate. The Committee last year (Rep Int Whal Commn 46) had agreed that analysis of the 1989 data was problematic. > The numbers generated are compared against simulation tests to obtain a > reliable estimate of abundance. The aim of the simulation trials is to run > the estimation procedures on simulated data generated from hypothetical > surveys, to check that the estimate of abundance yielded by the procedure > agree with the 'true' abundance of whales in the simulation. However, this > procedure does rely on all scenarios being tested adequately. > The IWC Scientific committee have developed some 434 different data sets, > covering 38 scenarios. There are also another 36 data sets for testing of > duplicate identification rules. > The NCC estimation procedure was run against only 4 of the 400 plus data > sets. One must question where is the precaution in this failure to test > one's hypothetical procedure against only a bare minimum of data sets, > especially when only the largest of discrepancies between true and > estimated abundance would be recognisable from such limited tests? The report of the sci.comm. comments on this too. The main point is that the 400 trials were designed to test the statistical properties of mathematical models. This testing was carried out by Cooke. The task of verifying that some software actually is an implementation of a model is an entirely different matter, and it was in this process, i.e. in verifying that NCC's software gave results which were compatible with those of Cooke's software, the 4 trials were used. This was one part of the verification process. Quoting p 16: The AEWG agreed on a small set of simulation tests to be conducted for verification given limitations imposed by the computing time requirements of the software developed by the NCC. In addition, more extensive simulation testing of the general performance of the methods was conducted with the less computationally intensive implementation developed by Cooke. On p. 19 the test of the "hazard probability" method is elaborated: These tests were carried out using Cooke's software which was agreed by the AEWG to be a sufficiently similar mathematical estimator to the NCC software for the purpose of addressing this question. The report also states about simulation comparison between NCC and Cooke software: [...] This had resulted in an agreement in the numerical results to within two decimals when the methodological differences in the implementation were removed. Mr. Stroud confuses the testing of statistical properties of a mathematical model with the verification of a computer programme's correctness with respect to its specification. It's two separate tasks, requiring very different methods. Also, on p. 16 of the report: The AEWG agreed that the the software had been sufficiently validated for use in estimating minke whale abundance. > Another paper presented to the IWC (SC/47/NA14rev) also provided an > estimate for the 1988-89 survey. This figure was 42,500, and can also be > compared with the NCC estimate. The report of the sci.comm, p. 20: The AEWG reaffirmed its view that because of differences in methodology, apparent differences between the NCC and Cooke estimates for 1989 cannot be used as a justification for questioning the validity of the 1995 estimate. Cooke asserts in Annex N1 that the methodological differences were minor, but in Annex N2, Butterworth shows that this is not the case, one single difference yields an abundance difference of approx 12%. And, according to the report, analyses to reconcile differences between comparable estimates should be undertaken during the coming year. So, let's wait. > Even if we were to ignore both the fact that the NCC estimates have not > been fully tested, and the fact that another acceptable estimate exists for > the 1988/89 survey data, would we not be right to consider the large > variations in the NCC estimates from 1989 and 1995? I've addressed this a couple of weeks ago in this forum. And above too. The 1995 estimate is generally considered to be more reliable. And, indeed, after all the criticism of the 1989 estimate this shouldn't really come as a surprise. > Add to this that the > IWC believed the population to have been declining up until at least 1985 > and we have what appears to be a very dramatic turnaround if the NCC > figures are to be believed. According to the 1994 paper by Schweder quoted above, there wasn't a continuous decline up to 1985. There was a decline from 1950 to around 1960, then an increase to 1970, and then fluctuations to 1983. Remember also that these old abundance estimates are obtained by CPUE models, and as such are less reliable than survey based estimates. (E.g. it has been suggested that massive underreporting of catch has taken place, this would typically bias a CPUE estimate downwards.) > If we really want to get picky, we could take a closer look at the NCC > estimate for the NS block of the North Sea in 1995, which comes out at > 20,000. The NASS89 survey generated an estimate of 5,580 and the SCAN94 > survey gave a figure of 3-4000. Were the SCAN's researchers who sat the IWC > scientific committee a little embarrassed to be shown up by the Norwegians > or maybe they have 'missed' the comparisons? I don't think any real scientists are embarrassed by this, according to Cooke's Annex N1 this is "puzzling to outside observers", not to scientists. The scientific committee notes that there may be several reasons for this discrepancy, amongst them the fact that the minke whale is a migratory species, i.e. that it's entirely possible that there are 4000 whales in an area at one point in time, and 20,000 in the same area at another time. Minke whales actually move around in the ocean. Indeed, the scientific committee points out that the difference goes the other way in the Kola region, with around 14,000 whales in the 1989 estimate and 1,000 in 1995. I.e. one shouldn't compare estimates from different years for sub-areas such as the North Sea or Kola. > Before anyone thinks they have seen this all before, they have. I have > attempted to summarise Annex N of the Scientific Committee report for 1996, > where these points are much more clearly presented. The report also discusses these points, and it describes Cooke's Annex N1 as "misleading", and it states that "The Committee *agreed* that the estimates of abundance presented in SC/48/NA1 are adequate for use in the RMP." (p. 21, spelling error corrected.) I.e. adequate for computing catch limits with IWC's catch limit algorithm. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 07:09:01 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: marine mammals in the Red Sea I am posting this for a colleague. Please do not reply to me regarding the question. ***************************** Dear MARMAM members, I am currently looking for any and all information on marine mammal research ongoing in the Red Sea. Also, if there is current marine mammal research being conducted in the Red Sea, what and where is the base of operations?? Please direct all replies to: Kathleen Dudzinski Her email address is: dudzinskik(\)aol.com (Please, notice that the prefix to the email address includes a "k" at the end of her name. Hard to believe, but true ...... there is another, unrelated "dudzinski" on AOL.) Dudzinski can also be reached at the following snail mail address: 157 Curtis Street, Meriden, CT 06450 Thank you in advance for your time, consideration, and replies. Sincerely, Kathleen ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 22:11:24 +1200 From: Barry Fenn Subject: Cetacean 'communication' questions . Greetings, Please excuse me for asking what may seem like some excessively 'lateral' questions here, but I haven't been able to find any definitive answers in the published literature of the field: In 1974 Dr. Sterling Bunnell briefly put forward the hypothesis that those cetaceans which utilise high-resolution sonar for perception might also be able to synthesize at least low-resolution echo-returns as a means of analog communication - a little like acoustic "Chinese characters". This implied that their complex vocalisations could in fact be simulations of the wave front that would return from a sonar pulse reflected off some virtual object; presumably along with clues by which a virtual range could be calibrated 'as if' the receiving individual had sent out that original pulse. Has this hypothesis been definitively refuted? The work of C. Scott Johnson and others suggests that the delphinid melon functions as a lens for both the reception and transmission of sound; with the oil-filled tubules there perhaps serving as a fine-scale acoustic filter array. Is there any indication of enough neural control within the melon to allow this area to be used as a 'screen' through which this sort of virtual echo-perception return might conceivably be created? Have we studied cetacean sounds in any way such that this sort of short-range complexity would actually be observable? For instance, have the vocalisation of a species like T. truncatus been monitored and analysed by means of a dense array of receptors, rather than just a single hydrophone? Thanks, Barry barry(\)cs.auckland.ac.nz (Barry Fenn) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - barry(\)cs.auckland.ac.nz (Barry Fenn) - - Barry Fenn University of Auckland - External Coordinator Private Bag 92019 - HyperMedia Unit Auckland, New Zealand - - Fax: +64 9 373 7453 ph. +64 9 373 7599 ext. 6689 - ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 11:41:27 +0200 From: Mariano Domingo Organization: U.A.B. Subject: Course on cases of cetacean pathology The CRAM (Centro Recuperacion de Animales Marinos de Catalunya) organize the course "Cases of Cetacean Pathology". The course (14 teaching hours) will be held at the Veterinary School of Barcelona (Spain), on 13th (afternoon), 14th, and 15th (morning), of December 1996. The language of the course is Spanish. Topics discussed include: (1) Necropsy procedures (2) Pathology of systemic morbillivirus infection in the striped dolphin (3) Toxoplasmosis in four striped dolphins, (4) Aspergillosis in three dolphins (5) Chronic morbillivirus infections (6) Caseous necrotizing lymphadenitis in a striped dolphin (7) Nocardiosis in one striped dolphin (8) Fibrinopurulent bronchitis in a striped dolphin (9) Pneumothorax in striped dolphins (10) Paraotic sinusitis due to Stenurus sp in a Risso's dolphin, and (11) Common lesions found at necropsy. Interested persons should contact the office of CRAM for preregistration Tel: 34 3 7524581 Fax: 34 3 7525710 Additional information can be obtained from domingo(\)cc.uab.es Mariano Domingo Dept. of Veterinary Pathology Autonomous University of Barcelona 08193 Bellaterra, Spain Email domingo(\)cc.uab.es ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 08:54:18 +0100 From: Isaac Blanquez Subject: Tame grey seals. In-Reply-To: <199609221912.UAA26067(\)nje.earn-relay.ja.net> Hi, Marmarmers! I am a young marine biologist at St Andrews University,UK, and I just happen to come across with something I think is pretty unusual. Yesterday, Sunday, during equinox low tide, I went for a walk round Eden estuary, where I know there is a small colony of grey seals, and out of pure curiosity, I went in the water (freezing!) to see their response, but somehow I managed to be the observed rather than the observer, and 11 seals of varying sizes decided to swim about me as close as one yard, and after 15 minutes of freezing but enjoyable torture, I manage to touch them. My question is whether any of you know if it is usual for wild seals to get so tame with humans, as even establish such contacts. Maybe is that I was lucky, or the it is the normal behavior of this animals. Thanks in advance, Isaac Blanquez Marine Biology, St Andrews, UK. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 21:53:33 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: The Makah Hunt Dear Marmamers, Michael Kundu of Sea Shepherd claims that the Makah people is not behind the Makah council's decision to resume whaling. To me the process seems perfectly democratic I will comment here on some of the points Kundu brought up: Michael Kundu wrote: > The issue of whaling is not handled as a referendum; My comment: The Makah Tribal Council, which is eleceted by all voting members of the tribe, is given the power to decide on issues such as the resumption of whaling, but if a certain number of signatures are gathered, then a referendum must be held. There has been no known attempt to pursue this option on the whaling issue. Kundu wrote: > the > decision to propose a recommencement was made solely by the council > > without formal consultation to more than a handful of business-savvy > >executives within the tribe. My comment: The whalng issue was discussed at a general Council meeting attended by 200 people before the Council made up their mind. The resumption of whaling was at this meeting strongly supported. > In reality, the Makah Elders represent as many members of > the Makah tribe as do the Council. My comment: What is your sources? Why are they then not elected? One of the two Makah women that traveled to Aberdeen to protest the hunt - has tried to be elected to the council a number of times without succeding. What is for sure is that some Makah elders do not share their opinion. In a press release from the Makah Tribal Council one of the elders, Charlie Peterson, aged 79, states "It (the hunt) gave me a sense of identity.... I would like to see the hunt come back. It's second nature to our children - they need a chance to do it again." A petition agaist whaling, signed by the two protesting women, got only 5 co-signatures. Kundu wrote: > They (the elders)express the silent voice of many > others who fear persecution by those who currently hold the political > power. Are you saying that the right of free speech is not respected in the Makah community???? That is not in accordance with the fact that some of the members of the Makah tribe are indeed not silent but very vocal in their protest against the hunt. They do not seem to fear any persecution. What kind of persecution are you talking of? Please document!! >Blichfeldt should be reminded that James Baker's (NOAA Undersecretary >and IWC Commissioner) caveat recommendation to the tribe (and the >national press) was that the 'Makah Council needs time to adequately > >convince the people of the US and Congress to support their desire to >resume a whale hunt'. Where is this quote from? I will again recommend an article on our web site describing the decision process http://www.highnorth.no/th-di-la.htm (Just to make it clear: I am the author of the article (it is not signed)) Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance Po Box 123 N-8390 Reine Norway email: highnor(\)grei2ekk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 08:58:55 -0500 From: mfjat(\)uxa.ecn.bgu.edu Subject: PLEASE POST PLEASE POST THE FOLLOWING COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT ON MARMAM: COURSES OFFERED BY WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT THE JOHN G. SHEDD AQUARIUM IN CHICAGO: Fall 1996: Animal Training: Zool 575, Saturdays 12-4, 24 Aug - 19 Oct at Shedd Aquarium, Mr. Ken Ramirez, Head Trainer, instructor. 3 sem hr. Demonstrations with marine mammals at the aquarium. Marine Mammalogy: Zool. 416G, Fridays 1-5, 25 Oct - 13 Dec at Shedd Aquarium, Dr. Jeanette Thomas, Professor, instructor. 3 sem hr. Ethogram projects on marine mammals at the aquarium. Laboratory at Mammal Collection of Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. Spring 1997: Bioacoustics, Zool 583, Fridays 1-5, 14 Feb - 28 Mar at Shedd Aquarium, Dr. Jeanette Thomas, Professor, instructor. 3 sem hr. Survey of animals that produce sounds. Students record variety of sounds and analyze using pc based sonogram, oscillogram, and power spectrum analyzer. Biological Studies in Zoos & Aquaria, Zool. 584, Fridays 1-5, 4 April - 16 May, at Shedd Aquarium, Dr. Jeanette Thomas, Professor, instructor. 3 sem hr. Field trips and discussions with researchers from local zoos. Prerequisites: graduate standing or senior biology or psychology major Courses offered each year, with credit transferrable to all other universities or colleges. To register contact: Dr. Jeanette Thomas Biology Department Western Illinois University 6502 34th Ave. Moline, IL 61265 309-441-5220 tel, ext. 0 fax email: mfjat(\)uxa.ecn.bgu.edu Dr. Jeanette Thomas Western Illinois University 6502 34th Ave. Moline, IL 61265 Tel: 309-441-5220 FAX: 309-441-5220, ext. 0 email: mfjat(\)uxa.ecn.bgu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 09:44:33 EDT From: Peter Kelly <100353.313(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: TONGA, research projects? Peter Kelly 100353,313(\)compuserve.com Chairman Marine Watch Christchurch New Zealand Hi, I am returning to New Zealand from a trip to England. I am staying in Tonga for one week on the way back. I will be in Tonga with my partner (editor of the Marine Watch newsletter) from the 1/10/96 untill the 9/10/96. Last year our group was looking into the possiblility of involvment with the ongoing whale research taking place in Tonga. Lack of funds put an end to that then. I would be very interested in hearing more about this research (as may other marmammers) and if it would be possible to see or help at your base during our brief stay. It would at least be nice to meet anyone connect with this research, as we hope to return for a longer working trip with you at some later stage. Any info appreciated Cheers Peter Kelly =;-) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 11:09:06 GMT From: Nick Tregenza Subject: Common dolphins 'feigning death' The following observation was made from a fishing boat, while it was moving very slowly hauling the net, by a cetacean bycatch observer - A common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, was seen lying on its side about 10m from the boat. It showed no visible movement. Two other common dolphins were seen to swim closely around it for about two minutes until it suddenly swam rapidly away. The observer interpreted this as a game of feigning death. It's easy to imagine how such a behaviour could arise without any conceptualisation of what the behavior represented to another dolphin. Has such behaviour been observed by others? Nick Tregenza ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr N.J.C. Tregenza Beach Cottage, Beach Terrace Long Rock, Penzance Cornwall, TR20 8JE UK njctrege(\)exeter.ac.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 14:24:40 -0900 From: "Dr. David Duffy" Subject: Re: The Makah Hunt While I don't presume to speak for Native Americans, it appears more usual for Elders to speak as a group, rather than individuals, on matters of significance to a tribe. It would also be very unusual for a Tribal Council to go against a Traditional or Elders' Council, if the latter were opposed to something. Since such councils almost uniformly strive for a return to the old ways, I would guess they would be pro-whaling. A Native friend pointed out that it has not been unknown for otherwise sincere conservation groups to prepare speeches for isolated elders. I trust this did not occur here. David Duffy Alaska Natural Heritage Program University of Alaska Anchorage afdcd1(\)uaa.alaska.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 00:25:28 +0100 From: Colin MacLeod Subject: Scarring in Risso's Dolphins and other odontocetes Dear Marmammers, I am trying to find out how long scars caused by tooth rakes remain unpigmented (white) in Risso's dolphins. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has observed this species over a number of years either in captivity or in the wild and would be willing to provide me with a figure (a minimum/maximum figure will do) as to how long it takes scars to repigment and become indistinguishable in colour from the surrounding tissue. I would also be interested to hear from anyone who has similar observations on other species of odontocete cetaceans again either in captivity or in the wild. Thanks in advance for your help. Regards, Colin. ============================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "Like Kicking Dead Whales Down The Beach: Thornwood, Adj. Describes a slow, difficult, Glasgow, and disgusting process." G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ============================================================================ == ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 19:58:39 -0700 From: "Michael Kundu, ARCTURUS Adventure Communications" Subject: Re: The Makah Hunt >David Duffy states...,"It would also be very unusual for a Tribal Council to go against a Traditional or Elders' Council..." I agree. There were 7 tribal elders who originally signed a publicized letter condemning the hunt (reprinted in a regional newspaper). With this initial declaration of disagreement by prominant members of the tribe, it is curious that the tribal council did not take steps to address these elder's objections. It is reported to me that the Makah Council has even taken legal action (by way of a total restraining order) to restrict any public statements of objection from one of these elders. Clearly the days of when tribal business councils respected the wisdom of their elders has now become ancient history in the Cape Flattery region. >Additionally...,"A Native friend pointed out that it has not been unknown for otherwise sincere conservation groups to prepare speeches for isolated elders..." Sea Shepherd had absolutely no hand nor involvement in preparing or drafting comments made by the Makah Elders. I can also assure Marmammers that, to the very best of my knowledge, none of the other animal advocacy groups involved in this matter made any attempts to influence the Elders' words and testimonies. Michael Kundu Sea Shepherd Conservation Society arcturus(\)arcturus.seanet.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 09:54:44 +0100 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: Diet, Whistle & Click ? Dear All I have a couple of requests that I hope subscribers may be able to help me with: 1) What is the typical diet of common dolphin, (Delphinus delphis)? Is it specific or cosmopolitan/opportunistic ? 2) Does anyone have data/references on sound source level of common dolphin whistle and echolocation click components at frequencies between 6 - 22 kHz ? Information on whistle directionality would also be helpful, although I expect directionality of both whistles and low frequency click components to be poor. If it helps to put these questions in context, I've been monitoring the distribution of common dolphin across a large survey grid off the West Coast of the UK using passive acoustics. Although primarily a study to look at acoustic disturbance, a strong migrational pattern has emerged two years running, which seems well correlated with dispersal of a frontal system. During September dolphin distribution is strong but noticeably skewed towards the area of the front (Celtic Sea Front - for the benefit of European people). Come October most of the animals seem to have migrated offshore, and infra-red satellite images show the front to be totally dispersed by this time. Although a neat conclusion, direct correlation of thermal image data and dolphin distribution might be a little vague in the absence of biological - food chain data. I suppose this begs a further question: 3) Does anyone have experience of similar phenomena elsewhere ? I'm interested in information from around the world, although obviously some 'local' knowledge would be advantageous to this particular study. Published references would be useful. I'm interested in the whistle/click source data to get a better handle on my acoustic detection ranges which, given some recent personal communications, may be further than I had previously thought. Thanks for any help. ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 12:05:37 -0300 From: Natalie Jaquet Subject: Digestion rate in pilot whales Hi, I am looking for information concerning digestion rate of captive pilot whales, or any other teuthophagous species. If you know of any study or any reference, I would greatly appreciate if you could send them to me. My E-Mail address is: njaquet(\)is2.dal.ca Thanks a lot Nathalie ---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- Nathalie Jaquet Biology Department, Dalhousie University Halifax, N.S., Canada, B3H 4J1 FAX: (902) 494 37 36 Tel: (902) 494 21 68 E-Mail: njaquet(\)is2.dal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 16:28:47 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Norwegian 1996 Minke Whale Quota Dear Marmamers, after having contributed to the notion that the 1996 minke whaling quota is likely to be increased to 800 animals, I feel obliged to forward the following article from High North Web News, that makes it clear that it is not at all clear what is likely, except that there will be an increase ..... Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance Po Box 123 N-8390 Reine Norway e-mail: highnor(\)online.no Norway 1996 Minke Whaling Quota: Further Speculations Next years minke whaling quota will be between 650 and 700 animals, reports the Norwegian newspaper Lofotposten referring to "well informed sources". The government adviser on marine mammal issues, Lars Walloe, is not willing to confirm the figure. He says to the High North Web News that he has not yet given his advice to the government. He also says that a quote that appeared in another Norwegian newspaper earlier this month indicating that his advice will be around 800 animals has been misunderstood. "This figure was mentioned as part of a general discussion of what level of takes that would be sustainable", says Walloe. "But my advice will be based on the quota calculation model developed by the International Whaling Commissions Scientific Committee which is extremely conservative". This years quota was 425 whales. "One thing is for sure", says Walloe, "even the most conservative application of the IWC calculation model gives a quota well above 425 animals". ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 14:00:43 +0200 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: SALES BAN PLACED ON MEAT FROM BEACHED WHALE Dear Marmamers, The enclosed article is forwarded from the Daily News from Iceland, September 20, 1996, available at http://www.centrum.is/icerev/20sep96.html SALES BAN PLACED ON MEAT FROM BEACHED WHALE The fin back whale helped back to open water after swimming into the harbour at Sandgerdi, southwest Iceland last Thursday only to be found washed ashore and dead a day later, has been declared unsafe to eat by health authorities. The whale's meat weighs 4.7 tons and valued at US$15,000 was available for sale in fish markets yesterday morning. However, public health authorities immediately banned the sale of its meat saying that it had not been examined and that the animal was probably sick. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 11:36:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: SA: Govt proclaims marine park SA: Govt proclaims marine park ADELAIDE, Sept 26 AAP - The South Australian government today proclaimed the Great Australian Bight Marine National Park, formalising arrangements to protect sensitive whale breeding grounds and the habitats of endangered Australian sea lions. Premier Dean Brown said the 124,732 hectare park would complement areas already protected including the 19,633 hectare whale sanctuary. Under the proclamation's terms fishing and mineral exploration would be allowed six months of the year but excluded during the breeding season and at any time when whales were in the region. Mr Brown said it represented a significant milestone in the protection of marine species and marine habitat and was a decision that would gain local and international acclaim. "The Great Australian Bight has long been recognised as an important breeding ground for South Right whales and for its wild and scenic beauty," he said. "Each year over 60 Southern Right whales come to the bight to calve, nurse their young and mate. "This stunning natural feature has attracted growing interest from around the world. "The head of the bight provides one of the few places where excellent land-based whale viewing opportunities are virtually guaranteed for much of the year." Mr Brown said he believed the Southern Right whale would, in time, stand as a symbol of the state's commitment to a sustainable environment on land, rivers and the sea. "We are now seeing a new era of environmental and conservation awareness," he said. "The Great Australian Bight represents some of the greatest diversity of marine species in temperate waters. "Our action will ensure a sustainable future for the region for generations to come." ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 13:01:10 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: More on Norwegian Whaling Quotas From Simen Gaure I forgot a point in my last posting. It provides further information on two of Stroud's points. Chris Stroud wrote: > It has been suggested that > these crews recorded observations seven times larger than other observers > in adjacent areas. This may be due to the whaler's 'special ability' to > spot whales, but, to my knowledge no base-line studies were carried out to > evaluate whether a correction for such bias should be applied. > The opportunity for abuse in observational data collection has, > of course, not escaped people's attention. A small variance in the > recording of the actual distance to a whale from a sighting vessel > can have dramatic effects on the final calculation of abundance. > > [Skip to Stroud's other point] > > If we really want to get picky, we could take a closer look at the NCC > estimate for the NS block of the North Sea in 1995, which comes out at > 20,000. The NASS89 survey generated an estimate of 5,580 and the SCAN94 > survey gave a figure of 3-4000. Were the SCAN's researchers who sat the IWC > scientific committee a little embarrassed to be shown up by the Norwegians > or maybe they have 'missed' the comparisons? The report of the sci.comm. notes on p. 20, as part of a possible explanation for the North Sea "inconsistency" (i.e. in addition to the possibility that minke whales swim around in the ocean.): (3) An average instead of a vessel specific bias correction factor for radial sighting distance was used in the abundance estimate because analyses of the distance experiments indicate that, when the variance between days for individual observers was taken into account, there was no significant added variance due to observers, vessels or platform (SC/A96/AE34). (4) If abundance in the North Sea was overestimated in 1995 as a result of the use of an average distance bias correction factor, underestimation of abundance in other survey blocks would be expected and the net effect will be approximately unbiased. Put simply, a bias correction factor for distance measurement errors has been used, although not a baseline study (i.e. based on data collected by the survey vessels during the survey), but separate experiments. I have not read the SC/A96/AE34 referenced above. Just my opinion on this bias issue: I wouldn't think it's entirely clear to an "all whaler crew" whether they should underestimate or overestimate the distance to sighted whales in order to bias the final abundance estimate upwards. I.e. should they pretend their whales are close to the vessel, or that they can spot whales that are far away? Many whales close to the vessels tend to narrow the effective search width, and thereby bias the abundance estimate upwards. That is, if Stroud's implicit assertion is correct, that the distances have been meddled by "all whaler crews", one should expect narrower effective search width on these vessels (under comparable weather conditions). On the other hand, if it's correct that whalers have better ability to spot whales, one would probably expect a wider effective search width. If it's a combination, it's harder. If Stroud can provide the data backing his assertions, we could have a closer look at them. (Or is this the baseline study which is missing?) Then to Stroud's assertion that on certain vessels the number of observations were seven times larger than on neighbouring vessels and that this was due to deliberate bias of the observers which has not been accounted for in the analysis. In contrast to the distance meddling (which can be done by the two observer platforms agreeing in advance to systematically bias the distances), adding this many hypothetical whales most probably involves communication between the two observer platforms during the survey. (Their records of positions and times are compared in the analysis.) As I understand it, this would be a grave violation of the survey protocol, and unless Stroud has some hard evidence, his assertion is nothing more than harassment. I must add that I'm not familiar with all the details of the surveys, so if anything of the above is incorrect I apologize to this forum. Just one question to Stroud. When you refer to "all whaler crew", does that mean that all the people aboard the vessel were whalers, or was e.g. the computer operator not a whaler? -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 00:02:02 -0700 From: Pieter Folkens Subject: Makah, A view from the radical middle The question of Makah whaling is particularly interesting because it is driven by a triad of equally vociferous belief systems. * Those opposed are against whaling in any form, locality or degree. * Those supporting whaling have no particular affection for the Makah, but would like nothing better than to catch the US Government in a contradiction-- allowing whaling from its own shores while opposing Norwegain whaling. * The Makah, I believe, are driven less by a desire to go whaling than a deep-seated cultural belief and in asserting their own tribal authority. The first two camps engage in the discusion on Marmam and latch on to all sorts of arguments supporting their respective positions, some of which are suspect. Numbers for one. I believe the pre-exploitation stock size estimates of the eastern Pacific gray whale is off by quite a bit. I can share my thoughts about this at another time, but modern stock estimates compared to historical norms is not the fundamental issue here. American Indian rights is (or should be) a major focus and could use some enlightening in this forum. Despite my own opposition to Makah whaling, I feel it necessary to point out a few items about northwest indigenous peoples and whaling. For example, if the stock is near pre-exloitation levels and all indigenous peoples were allowed to resume whaling to the degree they did during past 4,000 years, the impact on the stock would be inconsequential. The aboriginals probably helped the Steller's sea cow towards extinction, but had no serious effect on great whales. Also, the remaining "tribes" are significantly smaller than their "pre-exploitation" levels. (I put tribes in quotes because most northwest aboriginals are not organized in terms of tribes, but rather moieties, clans, bands and houses.) Michael Kundu wrote: the Nootka people . . . have expressed an interest to begin . . . Rumours have also surfaced that 3 other Washington tribes and 2 SE Alaskan tribes will follow Beached whales were used by all peoples in the historic Northwest, but because of the danger and abundant alternatives, whales were not high on the menu. In the southern part of that region, the Quinault and Clallam were the only Coast Salish who practiced whaling and without much ritual preparation or enthusiasm. But it was a big deal for the Island Nootka and Makah (southern Nootka) and they certainly had great cultural involvement. For the Nootka, whaling was the noblest calling. It was reserved for chiefs and required major ritual preparation. For the Makah whaling was prestigious, intensly ritualized and a strictly inherited privilege. Whale meat was an important, if not dominant, subsitence resource and a preferred food of Nootkans and Makah (unlike the Salish). The three groups in Southeast Alaska--Tsimshian, Haida and Tlingit --did not regularly engage in whaling (sealing yes). Tlingits, especially in the Chatham Strait and Frederick Sound area, did engage in commercial whaling while employed by Americans. I don't think this would come under native rights. Kundu also wrote: Anthropologic records show that Elders from North American Indigenous bands -- particularly in the Pacific northwest -- were traditionally the matrilineal leaders and offered insight and direction in most tribal matters. , , , The Aleutians have had decades to refine their technique While it is true they were matriarchal, this was more regarding possessions-- songs, fishing areas, stories, crests, names, etc. Political power, often expressed through the payoff party (aka potlatch), was still a male thing. Although they had plently of old women to offer comments, criticism and advice, true elders, councils, chiefs and shamans were generally male. For that matter, whaling was exclusively male. Also, I think he meant the Inuits, not the Aleuts. As for the Makahs, they, like all North American aboriginals endured one of the nastiest persecutions in human history. The Northwest peoples--particularly the Tlingits and Kwakuith--had a surprising penchant for taking on the government(s) peaceably though the courts, and usually won. The government is having a difficult time getting around the treaties nowadays. I believe the Makahs have the legal right to go whaling if they want. This does not mean that it is appropriate in the modern era, nor fair--Lakota can no longer engage in Buffalo hunts, Haida no longer come to California to collect Pomo house slaves, Mormons can't have more than one wife. The Makah are asserting themselves, feeling a communal power and authority once compromised. They want cultural independence and whaling is one way of asserting it. To stop them, anti-whaling forces must negotiate with those holding legal power in the Council. In the 1870s Americans tried to negotiage with the Nez Perce who refused to give up their land. They were eventually forced off and were decimated. That can't be done anymore. We would do better to understand the deep spiritual motivations behind the Makah desire to resume whaling. This issue is a conflict of belief systems and respect, not biology and MSY numbers. It may become one of the toughest conundrums environmentalists and the government have ever encountered. Pieter Folkens \\| \| Y _ ,~------------------------/ \___^___^._ | ~ ~.~ ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.'~`^--^_,''/ | (\) _ ~,~.~'~.~,~'~.~,~.~ ~ ~ ~ ~.~ { \_________ \_l ~,~,~,~,~,~'.~.____'-----'__` \ ~ ~ `----------------------\__'--' ` \ ~ ~ ` ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 12:05:31 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: killer whale captures in Argentina (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sara Heimlich-Boran Dear Colleagues: I thought the following was worth forwarding to the MARMAM list. It comes from WILDLIFE ECOLOGY Digest (WED) #21, for which further information is listed at the end of this message. Sara Heimlich-Boran ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________ Topic #4 From: Gabriela Bellazzi (orca(\)interlink.com.ar) Subject: Orca's Capture (Action Alert) *** ACTION ALERT*** ACTION ALERT*** ACTION ALERT***=20 Killer Whales capture in Argentina in spite of the ignorance of their population Orcas situation in Argentina: During the course of 10 years of research along our country's Atlantic coastal w aters, five communities of Killer Whales have been identified. The size of these herds is generally not known, with exception of the fourth and best known community, whose habitat encompasses the south of the Province of Buenos Aires, Rio Negro and the north of Chubut. In thesewaters 17 individuals have been identified. This group is known by the name "Community of Northern Patagonia" and their domain extends for 400.000 square Kilometers. On December 1995, the Mar del Plata Aquarium in our country, made a petition to the office of Fishing and Natural Resources of the Province of Buenos Aires, requesting authorization for the capt ure of one specimen of= Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca) in the Bay of Samboromb. Being informed of this request by an Action Alert from the "Foundation Fauna Arg entina of Mar del Plata" , Juan Carlos Lopez (researcher) and I,Gabriela Bellazzi (conservationist), launched the campa ign "Orcas Libres (Free Killer Whales) which consists of divulging information about these cetaceans and creating aware ness of how their health and life expectancy is adversely affected by being in captivity. This campaign is complem ented by a signatures and letter drive from national and international institutions. In answer to our call, representatives of our Nation became interested in our ca use and introduced a resolution for legislation to curtail the capture of Killer Whales in our waters. We have conta cted the sub secretary of Fishing, Dr. Sergio Lorusso, who told us off the record, that he would not grant the authoriz ation for the capture. It appears that the prime objective of our campaign is about to be accomplished. We have however met a new hurdle: There is a good chance that the capture of the Killer Whale may be declared of "Municipal interest" by the township of Mar del Plata. If this becomes official, it could be used by the Aquarium as a significant argument to force the acquisition of the capture permi t through other channels. It is for this reason that we summon you to join forces with us. Please send us your letters of support and also send a letter to the authorities in charge (addresses below), stating your opposition t o the capture and also to the resolution of said capture being declared "Of Municipal Interest". We thank you in advance for your support. Gabriela Bellazzi Campaign coordinator Please send letters of support to: Campana "Orcas Libres" 11 de Septiembre 1774, 7=BA B (1426) Buenos Aires, Argentina Phone/ Fax: (54- l ) 788-9241 E-Mail to: orca(\)interlink.com.ar Please send letters of opposition to: Sr. Intendente de la ciudad de Mar del Plata: Prof. Blas Aurelio Aprile Hipolito Yrigoyen 1627 (7600) Mar del Plata, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina Fax: (54-23) 94-8456 ___________________________________________________________ David Doyle Date: 9/14-9/22/96 Moderator: David Doyle (Senior Wildlife Ecology Student, Humboldt State University, California, USA) =20 WED Home Page: http://home.aol.com/wedigest (With 200+ links to other wildlife/ecological websites!) Mail to the WE Digest should be sent to kingfshr(\)northcoast.com with the followi ng instructions: To post messages: Type "Post to WED" and include your post. To subscribe: Type "Subscribe WED". To unsubscribe: Type "Unsubscribe WED". To ask questions and/or give comments to moderator: Type "Q&C" and include your questions and/or comments. To receive a current index to topics in back issues: Type "Send WED Index". To receive back issues: Type "Send WED #n" and include issue #(s) you want. ____________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 15:28:15 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2nd Annual International Wildlife Law Conference (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 20:37:41 -0700 (PDT) From: GreenLife Society ** Our apologies for cross-postings. CALL FOR SPEAKERS: 2D ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE LAW CONFERENCE The 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference will take place on April 8, 1997 in Washington DC. The conference, sponsored by the American Society of International Law's wildlife section, the GreenLife Society - North America, the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy and the Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University, will utilize the same three panel format as at last year's conference. The panels for the conference are as follows: 1. The precautionary principle and International Wildlife Treaty Regimes; 2. The International Whaling Commission and the Aboriginal Whaling Exception 3. The Impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Present and Future We are currently seeking speakers for each panel. Speakers will be accorded 15-20 minutes for presentations. They will also be accorded the opportunity to publish longer versions of their remarks in a special symposium issue of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy. Please contact us as soon as possible if you're interested in speaking, or require additional information. Please also contact us if you're interested in being placed on our mailing list for registration materials when they become available. GreenLife Society - North America 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA (510) 558-0620 (Ph./Fax) E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW: site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 17:40:53 -0700 From: Howard Breen Subject: BC Orcas & porpoises re: Aqua. Enviro. Assmt. I'm the Georgia Strait Alliance (a BC marine conservation coalition) alternate sitting on the British Columbia environmental assessment of salmon aquaculture in the province, which got underway mid-September. I am looking for email contacts of anyone with a working knowledge of BC orcas and porpoises. Especially, interactions between cetaceans and existing aquaculture facilities on the BC coast. The industry hopes to expand tenfold upon completion of the EA. Interests include (but not limited to): *High-powered acoustic deterrents used to frighten off sea lions, & seals (inadvertently changing routes of cetaceans). *Introduction of organic wastes, food waste, anti-foulants, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones etc. into BC waterways from the acquaculture industry. *Loss of food-species due to interspecific competition between wild and cultured fish; indigenous species predation (shrimp/rawn kills) attributed to net-cage lighting etc. *Diseases being reported in cetaceans which might be attributable to cultured fish production. *Adverse aquaculture impacts on sea mammals outside of BC. *Siting pen-sites in or near orca migrating routes or sleeping areas. To date, I've been in some communication with Alexandra Morton. Unfortunately, she is not email-capable due to her being in the Broughton Archipelago. Howard Breen ====Howard Breen==== GEORGIA STRAIT ALLIANCE Urban Salmon Stream/ Salmon Farm Campaigner MICEC & Fish Farm List(s) Coordinator VOICE: h) 604.247.7467 w) 604.753.3459 FAX: h) 604.247.7467 w) 604.753-2567 EMAIL: HBreen(\)Island.Net SNAIL MAIL: h) RR1 S27 C14 Gabriola Is. BC VOR 1XO w) GSA: 195 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G5 GSA WEBSITE: http://www.island.net/~gsa GSA Fish Farm Discussion List: send to: majordomo(\)onenw.org message: subscribe fishfarm ACT NOW FOR A BLUE REVOLUTION!! MICEC Discussion List: send to: majordomo(\)onenw.org message: subscribe micec ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 12:41:47 +0000 From: Luke Subject: Pseudorca crassidens - vocalisations Dear MARMAM I'm trying to get hold of literature concerning the tonal (whistle) emissions of the false killer whale. Thus far I've only been able to find things about their echolocation. I would greatly appreciate help if anyone out there knows of an elusive paper ot two. While we're on the subject, does anybody out there have any recordings of this species - I'm doing some analysis of whistles we recorded off Grenada and would very much like to compare our recordings with those of psuedorca in other sea areas. Please direct any replies to luke.rendell(\)zoology.ox.ac.uk - I will collate them and repost for general information. Cheers, Luke Rendell Cetacean Group, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS U.K. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 10:52:35 -0400 From: Keith Ronald Subject: Marine mammals couse offered. "Marine mammals, in commerce, conflict and confrontation" is again offered by the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University. A full credit course for those interested in the ecology, conservation and interaction of these curiously unknown mammalian species with humans. Distinguished guest speakers will present case studies on local and global levels. Marine Mammals and Man: 1996 -In competition,conflict and commerce (CZMT-0885) Thursday Nights, Oct. 10 to Dec. 19th: 18:30-21:30 Session Topic ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 (Oct10) Organizational meeting: general introduction to subject; audio-visual display of materials 2(17th) Marine mammal management, resource value, population information, predictions, mortality & destructive agencies; seals, sea-lion, walrus, sirenids, cetaceans, polar bear 3(24th) Cetaceans; North American examples (bottlenose dolphin,pilot whale); general descriptions - 1 4(31st) Student project proposals 5(Nov7) The human, marine mammals, Interactions, and politicos -2 6(9th) Field Trip to Miami Seaquarium 7(14th) Case histories - orcas, bowheads, and others 8(21st) Origins, evolution, distribution, and conservation of Sirenids - 3 9(28th) Case histories - pinnipeds - true seals and fur seals 10(Dec5) The great white bear and world conservation of marine mammals 11(12th) Student presentations and evaluations 12(19th) Student presentations continued, and course summary 1 - presented by Professor Watson 2 - presented by Professor Lavigne 3 - presented by Professor Reynolds III Coordinator-professor - K. Ronald Contact: Richard Dodge, NSU Oceanographic Center (dodge(\)ocean.nova.edu) 8000 North Ocean Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33004 954.920.1909 Fax 305.947.8559 Keith Ronald (kronald(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu) Oceanographic Center Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies Nova Southeastern University 8000 North Ocean Drive Dania, Florida, 33304, USA. Adjunct Professor, Marine Mammals and Environmental Studies. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 15:32:15 +0100 From: Andrew Schiro Subject: Re: Scarring in Risso's Dolphins and other odontocetes I was interested in this some time back. I did a little checking and could not come up with a very good answer from anyone. If you do I would love to know. I did come to the conclusion for myself that much of the coloration change in the "scaring" in Risso's at least is also a general color change associated with age. I looked long and hard at these animals at sea, in slides and in a calf which stranded at approx 1 week old and lived for about two years. The animals starded out perfectly grey and appeared to turn white with age (even the calf in areas where he was not scaring) kind of like both spotted dolphin species. Anyway good luck and I would love to know what you hear Thanks Andy Andrew Schiro Marine Mammal Research Program Texas A&M University at Galveston 4700 Avenue U, Bldg 303 Galveston, TX 77551-5923 schiroa(\)tamug.tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 16:08:28 -0400 From: CYNDIVER(\)aol.com Subject: Re: blisters on tursiops I volunteer at a marine lab in Florida and a tursiops was recently found stranded with numerous shark bites and a very strange "blistering" over the surface of his body. The blisters are oval, about an inch by an inch and a half, and are raised. They occur fairly regularly, about every 3 inches or so starting just over the ventral flippers and extending back to the tail. The few that have opened appear to have a thick , white, fatty substance inside. Cultures have been taken, no results yet. The dolphin is too weak to swim and is being held by volunteers and tube fed. It is anemic from loss of blood from the bites. No one there has seen these bump like blisters before. Any ideas? One of the volunteers has suggested that perhaps it is a response to a toxic substance such as from jellyfish. Or it may be viral/fungal. I will update as I have information. 9/23/96 Results are back from the lab and it is not bacterial or fungal. The blisters are slowly resolving, and do not appear as puffy or as big, although the number remains the same. The dolphin is showing increased alertness and attempts to swim, and is now eating fish. Cynthia A. Bailey, Ph.D. CYNDIVER(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 12:55:39 -0500 From: Pierre-Henry Fontaine Subject: information on osmoregulation Dear marmamers, I am still working upgrading my book and CD on whales(Biologie et ecologie des baleines de l'Atlantique nord) and I would like to know what are the most recent theories concerning the way cetaceans osmoregulate. What I have found has to do with the fractionning of the kidneys in lots of reniculi to augment the surface of filtration. I wonder if some system a little like the salt glands one can find in the marine birds or reptiles has been found in cetaceans. Ther was a possibility that such structures could exist in the gut of cetaceans. Has somebody done research about that? thanks a lot in advance Pierre-Henry Fontaine 115 lavigueur, Quebec,QC,G1R 1A9 CANADA pfontain(\)mediom.qc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 13:15:58 +0900 From: "Michael L. Torok" Organization: Zayante Research Associates Subject: Harbor Seal Investigator List The next update to the HSIL will be out the first week of October. For those interested in being included in the HSIL, send the following information to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com: Name Affiliation Name Affiliation Address Affiliation Phone/Fax Number(s) Email Address(es) Detailed Research Interests For those without a formal affiliation, simply include your mailing address,etc. ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. To receive a copy of my PGP public key, mailto:mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com with "Send PGP key" as the subject. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 13:30:47 -0700 From: "Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE" Subject: Culture vs. cruelty Pieter Folkens posted as regards the dispute over the Makah bid to hunt whales, "This issue is a conflict of belief systems and respect, not biology and MSY numbers. It may become one of the toughest conundrums environmentalists and the government have ever encountered." On the contrary, it's a tough conundrum only if one puts political correctness ahead of humane consideration. When it comes to respect for what's good and worthwhile in Native American culture, I doubt that there are many of us who have paid respects in a more emphatic way than Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, who was a medic behind the siege lines in 1973 at Wounded Knee, and I paid some noteworthy dues myself in that regard, going behind the siege lines at Akwesasne in 1980 to get the Mohawk side of that story. It's perhaps also worth mentioning that Watson is half Native American himself, while ANIMAL PEOPLE has always had Native American staff. But there is a bottom line here: the proper degree of respect for an inhumane practice is zero. The proper degree of respect for a cultural tradition which depends upon cruelty is zero. The element of Native American culture that attracts my respect and admiration is the recognition of kinship with animals. One does not needlessly spear kin--or cause suffering to any being--simply for the sake of preserving tradition. So doing is to profane the relationship, and the tradition, thereby sacrificing whatever respect might otherwise be accorded to it. I don't personally respect a Makah whaler (or Norwegian or Japanese whaler, or a Canadian sealer) any more than I do a Caucasian pigeon-shooter at Hegins or a cross-burning Ku Klux Klansman. Such people vestigally represent traditions as anachronistic and obscene as slavery and suttee. What is valuable in Native American culture and rural culture (from which I come) will be better and stronger for expunging cruel practices from each; and if it is an act of "cultural imperialism" to stand up and point out the cruelty to be expunged, so be it. Cruelty is--or should be--a far worse crime than speaking out against it. Yet the highest ideals of most if not all cultures do oppose killing without need and inflicting avoidable suffering, and I would be surprised if these ethics were not also part of traditional Makah teaching. I would prefer to think that in denouncing Makah whaling ambitions I am reminding the Makah that what they propose is an offense against their own highest values as well as against mine, albeit perhaps not recognized by ancestors who were actually economically dependent to some extent on whale-killing, and that today's Makah, as people living in a time that affords more options, could demonstrate allegience to the spirit of their traditional teachings, not just the shape and form of old ceremony, by abandoning whale-killing, at which point the values worthy of respect would be reinforced. Incidentally, it is human nature to invent a religous and cultural imperative for whatever economically expedient activity we undertake that otherwise profanes our values, whether it's human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, the forementioned slavery and suttee, witch-burning, cross-burning, or the so-called female circumcision practiced in North Africa. It is to the credit of the whole human race that we have managed to transcend religious and cultural pretexts for atrocity to the extent that we have--and noting that every culture still has a long way to go, no culture has any moral entitlement to continue atrocity simply because it has invented a religious or cultural excuse for doing so. --Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE. anmlpepl(\)whidbey.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:28:07 +0100 From: David Griffiths Subject: Circadian rhythms in orca movements Does anyone have any information, in particular references, on the depth distributions of free-living killer whale individuals or groups, and whether this varies with time of day? David Griffiths Department of Anatomy Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine PB 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo Norway Telephone: 47.22.964545 Telefax: 47.22.964764 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 10:36:05 +0000 From: seaworld(\)neptune.dbn.lia.net Subject: THANKS FOR RESPONDING Recently we put a message on marmam requesting information about what drug to use when dealing with a Psuedomonas auriginosa. We would like to thank all the kind people who responded. It seems that the drug of choice, by popular suggestion would be TOBRAMYCIN. Regards Dr Corrina Pieterse Assistant Curator: Health Vet at SEA WORLD Durban, South Africa. seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 21:20:10 -0400 From: GaryR41776(\)aol.com Subject: Bottlenose dolphin births I'm Gary Robbins, (garyr41776(\)aol.com), science writer for the Orange County Register in Southern California. I'm researching a story that explores whether dolphins -- particularly bottlenose dolphins -- favor specific sections of a coastline when giving birth. And, if they do so, why. A local researcher believes that bottlenose dolphins favor Southern California's Crystal Cove for birthing, apparently because the cove is fairly shallow and sheltered. I would also like to know whether anyone has witnessed dolphins floating at the surface, facing a female dolphin, while she gives birth. The aforementioned researcher says he has witnessed this on 8 occasions over the past 12 years. He has yet to publish his findings in a peer-reviewed journal. I already have spoken with Randy Wells in Florida and R.H. DeFran in San Diego. Any help would be greatly appreciated....Gary Robbins, telephone: (714) 953-7970. Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 22:29:45 -0400 From: Eric Bittman Subject: Re: Circadian rhythms in orca movements i don't have any such information, but it's not correct to refer to a rhythm as circadian until and unless you demonstrate that it is endogenously driven, i.e., persists under constant environmental conditions. If you can place orcas in such circumastances and they continue to show the behavior with a period of close to 24h, you can refer to the rhythm as circadian. Otherwise, it is proper to refer to it as diurnal. Eric L. Bittman Professor of Biology University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 (413)545-4344 (FAX: -3243) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 09:41:01 +0200 From: tiu simila Subject: Re: Scarring in Risso's Dolphins and other odontocetes >Dear Marmammers, > >I am trying to find out how long scars caused by tooth rakes remain >unpigmented (white) in Risso's dolphins. I would be interested to hear >from anyone who has observed this species over a number of years either in >captivity or in the wild and would be willing to provide me with a figure >(a minimum/maximum figure will do) as to how long it takes scars to >repigment and become indistinguishable in colour from the surrounding >tissue. > >I would also be interested to hear from anyone who has similar observations >on other species of odontocete cetaceans again either in captivity or in >the wild. > >Thanks in advance for your help. > >Regards, > >Colin. > >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D > >Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. >F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "Like Kicking Dead Whales Down The Beach: >Thornwood, Adj. Describes a slow, difficult, >Glasgow, and disgusting process." >G11 7UA. >U.K. >Tel: 0141 337 2209 >International: +44 141 337 2209 >Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk > >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D >=3D=3D > Hello Colin! I did a survey on permanence of scars on killer whales some years ago. I presented the results as an ICES paper. I have not looked at the stuff for a while but I think the whole paper is kind of primitive. I will resume writing a better version after new years, though. However, I will send you that paper so you can see how it looks like. My experience is that if the white scars do not change colour within two yeras, they will remain white. We have several orcas which have had white scars for 10 years...However, others have become black after a year or two (possibly within a shorter time since it is not possible to keep exact track timewise). It beats me why the scars behave differently and why some even heal completely without any pigmentation. It is a nightmare in a photo-ID project. I guess that the depth of the scar and even age of the animal could have an influence, but this is only guessing. It would be interesting to hera whatever you find out about the Rissos and I will try to rememeber to send you a new copy of my paper, when I have rewritten and analyzed it a bit. However, if you do not hear from me just take contact again. Many greetings Tiu Tiu Simil=E4 email: tiu(\)nfh.uit.no ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 4 Oct 1996 21:50:36 -0400 From: rahenke(\)Capital.Net Subject: Makah Whaling and the wider debate From: Janice Henke Re: Makah Whaling and the wider Debate Date: Oct. 4, 1996 Comment on Merrit Clifton's Objection to Makah Resumption of Whaling, and on the current status of the global debate Because I have observed the various objections to resumption of commercial whaling as well as attempts to defend the practice over the past fifteen years in the context of the International Whaling Commission, I have formed some opinions about the various arguments which may be interesting to others who now observe or participate in the eternal debate. I find Mr. Clifton's arguments against the Makah resumption of aboriginal subsistence whaling (a category of usage separate from commercial whaling) to be at once typical of other animal rights objections and at the same time, entirely inappropriate to even this small segment of the whaling debate for the following reasons: There are customs, beliefs and traditional activities in every culture which are offensive to outsiders, and there are no universally agreed upon compromises to those which satisfy all value systems. Human cultural diversity is a fact of life and we will never like all or even much of it. Clifton's objection to proposed Makah whaling is similar to some of the arguments put forth at the June 1996 IWC meeting, in which protesters declared that this particular use is cruel, economically unnecessary, culturally meaningless, and demeaning even to the user group, ad infinitum. While Clifton objects to the Makah "spearing" whales, it is fairly safe to assert that although their plan is to become educated in proficient use of the penthrite grenade harpoon, he and his colleagues would still object to the killing of these animals,whether they die instantly or within 3 minutes or less. They will not let themselves be trapped into admitting that even an instant death by explosive device would be humane, because "cruelty" as defined by these advocates is any form of animal death for human benefit. As for his assertions that he and Paul Watson have the right to object to Makah plans because each has helped Indian cultures and causes in times when they were beleagured, well, so what? This discussion was in the context of Paul claiming to be "half Native American" and Clifton having Native American staff on the publication for his organization. These are not valid reasons why either his or Watson's arguments should be considered legitimate, meaningful objections to Makah whaling plans. They are based on cultural preference for some Native American values and beliefs, while they emphatically reject others. Clifton chides the Makah for some of their traditional rituals and for wishing to bring the tribe back to original subsistence activities in order to unite themselves in a rejuvenated cultural whole. His ethnocentric picking and choosing what he likes and hates about Makah traditions is irrelevant in the extreme to the wider global debate about whether or not the Makah should receive IWC member support for their request. The United States government policy is to support the Makah request for the following reasons: The proposed quota of 5 gray whales per year will not have an adverse effect on a fully recovered population of some 21,000 animals. The U.S. government and the Makah Nation have a treaty agreement in which the Makah are entitled to take gray whales. Until the time when the gray whales were removed from the endangered species list, the Makah refrained from asking that their treaty rights be honored. Now that the population is recovered from the former ravages of uncontrolled harvest by (white) commercial hunters, the tribe apparently feels it is time to honor their rights under the treaty. Although they do not have to wait for IWC approval, by law, the tribe was good enough to give the U.S. government delegation to IWC an opportunity to speak on their behalf and to make the request. Unfortunately, thanks to Paul Watson's "finding" of some dissidents among the tribe, and to his influence on a Washington State freshman Congressman, the Makah delegation was embarrassed by media coverage of "tribal lack of unity" and by a House Resources Committee resolution objecting to the plan for resumption of Makah whaling (as a favor to the freshman committee member to aid his re-election). The U.S. delegation, observing these two embarrassments and noting the animal-rights derived objections to Makah whaling in the room, decided to withdraw the request at IWC for the time being. It would have been voted down. The International Whaling Commission is composed of some 34 nations who are pledged to abide by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling; this treaty, formed in 1946, calls for all decisions to be based in science, not in cultural and political preference, and to further the conservation of whales and the orderly development of the whaling industry. Although the Makah have no desire to be part of the whaling industry, they, like other aboriginal groups, feel they should be supported in their request to take a biologically safe number of whales for their own subsistence use. At this time, native communities in Alaska, the outer reaches of the Chukchi Penninsula in Russia, in Greenland, and the Caribbean, all take whales with IWC support. Alaskan Eskimo villagers support the Makah request to resume their traditional harvest, and have offered to assist them in training with the penthrite grenade harpoon. Debate in the IWC over any additions to aboriginal subsistence whaling is always replete with objections from those who, like Merritt Clifton, feel that the practice is unnecessary and cruel, serving no worthwhile purpose. This form of objection is also used by the "like minded" majority of voting member nations, who have used a variety of cultural preference arguments to prevent the safe resumption of commercial whaling, or to grant interim relief allocations to Japanese villages whose people have suffered greatly since imposition of the whaling moratorium in the 1987 season. Those of us who are outsiders watching this process, inevitably find ourselves taking sides. Because there are no absolutes in the form of a universal ethical standard which can fairly guide culturally diverse humanity, it has been suggested that the ICRW be re-examined and strictly adhered to in the decision making process of the International Whaling Commission. The treaty addresses the original, and I would suggest, the only, valid standard upon which to make decisions about the use of whales. It is concerned with conservation of the great whale species so that they shall never become extinct, and it is concerned that the whaling industry shall continue and prosper, because people's livelihoods and cultures are traditionally dependent upon successful whale conservation. This concern, of course, also applies to aboriginal subsistence use of whales in perpetuity. An important point is that the treaty recognizes that human needs regarding whale use are relevant and important in the decision making process. In consideration of the whaling debate as a global decision making process which needs to be done in a fair manner with due consideration to whale species perpetuation, what else can be ethically applied, besides biology and human need? Who are we to say that one group's need to consume this resource in a sustainable manner is less worthwhile than another group's need to go whale watching? Both are possible under a scheme of sophisticated whale conservation, which has been developed over the years by the world's most intensely interested marine scientists. And, given the concept of equally worthwhile cultures in a diverse world, who among us can find it ethical to hinder either sustainable consumptive use or non-consumptive appreciation of whales? It is regrettable that since the 1980s, the IWC debate has become so polarized on this issue that the concept of a democratic process (voting 2/3 majority required to change the ICRW Schedule) has been perverted by the green forces' admitted purchase of "like-minded" IWC memberships, in order to accomplish the commercial whaling moratorium, and an "Antarctic Sanctuary". Neither of these actions was recommended by the IWC Scientific Committee, and over the years, such behavior has resulted in the loss of Canada and Iceland as members. Now that scientific justification of the resumption of commercial harvest of at least minke whales has been repeatedly stated, IWC majority members assert their cultural preference to stall forever and prevent a vote to resume even safe harvest of minkes. This appears to many observers to be a violation of the treaty, of the rights of its whaling nation members, and of human rights in general. Many Americans are now questioning the wisdom of our country's continued participation in this illegal and unethical process. The narrow debate over the Makahs' right to resume whaling is a partial reflection of the entire flavor of global discussion of whales and whalers. It leaves a distinctly bad taste in the mouths of those who champion both human fairness and respect for scientific opinion. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 11:21:37 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Volunteer assistants required Dear MarMam subscribers: I am posting this on behalf of a colleague. Please reply directly to her address, given at the bottom of the posting, and NOT to my address or to Marmam. Thanks! Alana Phillips (apologies for cross-postings...) --------------- Forwarded message ---------------------------- From: Patricia Majluf ===== VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Project: An assessment of competition between marine wildlife and the artisanal fisheries in Southern Peru. This study aims to identify conflict areas between the artisanal fisheries and marine wildlife (i.e. where penguins are most likely to be caught in nets or where encounters with seals occur most often). A pilot study around a medium-sized port: San Juan (15o22'S, 75o12'W) will be conducted from Dec 1996 to July 1997. The port of San Juan is located near the two largest seal and penguin colonies in Peru (Punta San Juan and Punta San Fernando). Areas of high fishing effort will be determined by deploying observers and global positioning systems (GPSs) on a sample of fishing boats. Fur seals, sea lions and penguins from Punta San Juan will be radiotracked at sea using VHF transmitters. The time spent by these animals within the fisheries range of action will then be examined and compared to the use of the same areas by the fisheries. Fisheries-wildlife range overlap will be assessed using a geographical information system (GIS). Volunteers will work either radiotracking animals at sea from mobile land bases, or going out on fishing boats recording positions and fishing effort. Study periods: Fur seals (Arctocephalus australis): Dec 1 - Jan 15 Sea lions (Otaria byronia): Jan 16 - Feb 28 Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldtii): June 1 - July 15 What is offered: food and accomodation in the field. Volunteers must be able to stay at least the 6-week study period. Travel to the field station is NOT included. The project is based at Punta San Juan, a guano bird reserve 500 Km S of Lima and 80 km away from Nazca. Experience with Excel (or similar spreadsheet applications) would be an asset. Knowledge of basic Spanish is helpful but not mandatory. Those interested please send CV and short intention letter to: pmajluf(\)aol.com ---------------------------------- Dr. Patricia Majluf Proyecto Punta San Juan Wildlife Conservation Society Fax (Lima): +51 - 1 - 447 - 8887 ---------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 16:45:18 -0400 From: Paulo Andre de Carvalho Flores Subject: Marine Sotalia Dear coleagues, I have worked in southern Brazil with a population of the marine Sotalia=20 fluviatilis since 1991. Our research methods include systematic,=20 year-around boat surveys and photoid. I=B4m interested in keeping contact with researchers and/or institutions=20 working with the species, mainly the marine form. I have already been in touch with friends Fernado Trujillo Gonzalez (Colombia) and groups=20 within my home country. Best, Paulo Flores paflores(\)mbox1.ufsc.br ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 15:38:25 -0400 From: Thomas McIntyre Subject: Web site for U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act The Office of Protected Resources, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service is pleased to announce that an electronic version of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, is now available at: http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/prot_res.html We recommend that this edition of MMPA be used for information purposes only and that persons needing a copy of the Act for scholarly or legal endeavors consult the official published version in the United States Code available from the United States Government Printing Office. Thomas McIntyre Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910-3226 Thomas.Mcintyre(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 17:14:02 -0700 From: San Diego Natural History Museum Subject: use of natural history education collections This is by way of being a survey of usage policies for specimens of U. S. Federal trust species (species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and/or CITES). Please reply off-list. This is primarily for dedicated educational collections with overall policies for lending and out-of-house use. 1. Under the provisions of 50 CFR 21.12(b), do you restrict the off-site use of the specimens? What language do you use in wording your restrictions? 2. Do you distinguish between public and private schools in your lending policies? If so, have you ever faced the threat of discrimination charges? 3. Do you have any kind of two-tiered or other system for non-exempt vs. exempt institutions asking for the use of these specimens? 4. Do you have any other experiences with the restrictions on educational use of Federal trust species that you care to relate? All information is welcome. Thank you for your time. Cheers, Sally Shelton Director, Collections Care and Conservation President-Elect, SPNHC ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | San Diego Natural History Museum | | P. O. Box 1390 | | San Diego, California 92112 USA | | phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248 | | email LIBSDNHM(\)CLASS.ORG | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 21:26:48 +0900 From: Hiroko Wada Subject: information needed on Baird's Beaked Whale Dear MARMAMers, I am posting this on behalf of my friend who is doing cetacean research in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan. On whale watch tour in Eastern Hokkaido, we can see mostly Minke whales but Baird's beaked whale watch may be possible in the future, too. She is trying to record the sound of Baird's Beaked Whales by a hydrophone but not sure how it is like. Could anyone suggest the papers or give her information on the sound of Baird's Beaked Whales? Since she doesn't have a computer, please respond me. Thank you, Hiroko Wada Sapporo, Japan e-mail humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp Tel & Fax 011-81-11-642-8052 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Oct 1996 07:31:29 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - Delphinus and seismic surveying I am posting the following abstract for a colleague. Please direct inquiries to him. Goold, J.C. 1996. Acoustic assessment of populations of common dolphin _Delphinus delphis_ in conjunction with seismic surveying. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 76: 811-820. University of Wales Bangor, School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL59 5EY Common dolphin, _Delphinus delphis (bairdi)_, were monitored acoustically across a survey area of 2747 km (^2) during a three month period before, during, and after an oil industry two dimensional (2D) seismic reflection survey. Over 900 h of audio survey data were collected and analysed, along with GPF positional data, to reveal trends in presence and distribution of animals. The presence of dolphins was determined from vocalization events on the survey recordings. Dolphin presence was assessed by a system of percentage acoustic contact. This was highest before and after the seismic survey, with common dolphins showing a clear south-westerly skew within the survey area and a probable south-westerly migration of animals between September and December. Acoustic contact with dolphins during the seismic survey also showed a south-westerly skew within the survey area, although percentages were lower. Monitoring during the period of seismic activity was restricted to the immediate vicinity (1-2 km) of the seismic vessel, so percentage contact most likely reflects the response of dolphins to such immediate activity. The overall result suggests an avoidance reaction by common dolphins to air gun emissions, although certain observations suggest tolerance to these sounds outside a 1 km radius of the guns. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 3 Oct 1996 11:15:00 -0700 From: Marcie Tarvid Subject: Information request about nasal mites I am requesting information concerning nasal mites in marine mammals. Specifically, I am interested in those that affect or have been encountered in northern or southern sea otters, Enhydra lutris. I understand that they have also been encountered in various seals and sealions. If anyone has information along the lines of transmission, treatment and eradication pertaining to those marine mammals it may be useful to us also. Any information pertaining to infestation of other mustelids would be great too. My questions are as follows and if info is only available relating to seals and/or sealions please don't hesitate to send it: 1. Has anyone been able to eradicate nasal mites in otters(or other marine mammals)? If so, what was the treatment regimen (drug, dosage and duration)? 2. How was it determined that the nasal mites were completely eradicated? 3. What were the outward symptoms of infestation and how was health or behavior compromised? Has there been any secondary infections attributed to the infestation by the mites? If so, how severe were these secondary infections? What was the specific nature of the infections? 4. If a known animal was infested, has there ever been a reoccurrence of the symptoms during the animal's life span? If so, was there a pattern to the occurrence of symptoms, ie. during stressful situations, or at specific times through out the year? 5. Concerning sea otters or any marine mammal species, do you feel or know that these mites would be easily transmitted if an infested otter was placed in close proximity or housed with a healthy otter that had never shown any outward symptoms of mites? My primary concern relates to assessing the potential risk that these parasites may pose if exposed to captive animals that are apparently free of them. Is this a naturally occurring problem in the wild? Is it highly transmissible as I have heard? Is the risk to captive animals greater due to chronic re-exposure from tank mates? What type of physical trauma or physiological damage is caused by these mites? Is the damage permanent? 6. On a related subject, has anyone experienced success with the elimination of acanthocephalan migrans after they have penetrated the g.i. tract and entered the visceral cavity, assuming of course that the peritonitis was successfully treated? I would greatly appreciate any information on this topic, including scientific references, personal knowledge or experiences, and advice. Thank you in advance for your help concerning this mite(y) problem. Marcie Tarvid Sr. Sea Otter Aquarist Monterey Bay Aquarium 886 Cannery Row Monterey, CA 93940 (408) 648-4824 email: mtarvid(\)mbayaq.org ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 21:33:06 -0600 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Change of address for Peru volunteer positions Hi everyone, Last week I posted an advertisement for volunteer positions in Peru (marine mammals and birds / fisheries interactions). For those people intending to apply: Please use the following email address ONLY: psjuan(\)aol.com Please do NOT use the address given in the posting (which was pmajluf(\)aol.com), or my address. Thanks very much! Alana Phillips == Sincere apologies for cross-posting, once again == ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 14:12:43 EST From: Tony Preen Organization: TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT STUDIES AND GE Subject: Govt response to dugong decline Environment Minister warns on dugong kills Alarmed by the decline in dugong populations, the Australian Federal Government has put fishing groups on notice to change their practices to stop the killing of dugongs "or else." Environment Minister Robert Hill told the Great Barrier Reef Dugong Review Group in Townsville on 4th October he was prepared to establish sanctuaries for the endangered mammals if necessary. He said he was considering listing dugongs as an endangered species, which would provide him with more moral and legal clout to protect the mammals. Senator Hill said the fate of the dugongs in the southern Great Barrier Reef is precarious and he called for all government agencies and interest groups to develop an agreed emergency response plan within the next four weeks. He said he would not hesitate to use his legislative powers to protect the mammals if a quick and effective response was not forthcoming. He said "The Commonwealth has various options available to it - including creating sanctuaries under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act or taking action under the Endangered Species Protection Act and the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act." Senator Hill announced $600 000 of funding into studies for the conservation of dugongs. President of the Queensland Commercial Fishermens Organisation, Ted Loveday, said a blanket closure was the wrong way to go. "From our point of view, sanctuaries for the purpose of protecting them are not needed," Mr Loveday said. "We have got a whole range of alternatives, including a rigid monitoring system, usage of different nets, specification of different nets and seasonal area closures." Mr Loveday said it was correct for Senator Hill to take a tough stance on the issue. "Everyone will be pleasantly surprised by the options we will put up, " he said. "We got a lot of approval at the review group even [on the 4th October]". On 4th October an alliance of conservation groups announced the nomination of gill-netting as a "key threatening process" to dugong survival. Australian Director of the Humane Society International, Michael Kennedy, said the nomination was the first step under the Federal Endangered Species Protection Act towards outlawing gill-netting. Scientists and conservation groups believe that gill netting had contributed greatly to a massive decline in dugong numbers along the Queensland coast. North Queensland Conservation Council spokeswoman Margaret Moorhouse said 70 percent of reported stranded, dead dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in the past 18 months were killed by gill nets. Source: Courier Mail 5/10/96 Tony Preen Department of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography James Cook University Townsville, 4811. Australia email: tpreen(\)cathar.jcu.edu.au fax: xx 61 77 814020 tel: xx 61 77 814325 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 10:09:33 -0700 From: San Diego Natural History Museum Subject: Federal and international permits workshop (fwd) Please excuse cross-posting. Please forward or distribute this reminder notice as appropriate. The deadline for early registration is mid-November. FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PERMITS: a workshop for natural history museums and collectors 29-31 January 1997 sponsored by the San Diego Natural History Museum and co-sponsored by the Association of Systematics Collections San Diego, California, USA Confusion and controversy often surround the process of applying for and maintaining valid collecting permits. In many cases, the process is not well understood, new laws and regulations are not well publicized, or there is confusion about different agencies and responsibilities. This bilingual (English and Spanish) workshop will address these problems by bringing together scientists, agency representatives and collectors from several countries to examine the problems and provide clarification. Permit agency representatives will be available at a "permits bazaar" to answer individual questions and to facilitate on-site permit applications. Topics to be addressed include: *The roles, responsibilities and requirements of permitting agencies: Canada, the U.S.A., Mexico, Central and South America *International regulations and treaties affecting global scientific collecting *Issues related to the Biodiversity Convention, collecting, and national sovereignty laws *Issues specific to vertebrate, invertebrate, botanical, microbiological and paleobiological collecting *The roles of scientific and avocational collectors The official languages of the workshop will be English and Spanish. Simultaneous translation facilities will be provided for speakers of these languages. Participants with other translation needs should contact the workshop coordinator. All proceedings will be printed in the language in which they are submitted, with abstracts in the other language. Individual translators will be available as needed. Wednesday will feature presentations by a variety of speakers, representing the issues confronting governmental agencies, universities, museums, and private or avocational collectors. An icebreaker reception at the San Diego Natural History Museum will be held Wednesday evening. Thursday morning will conclude the formal presentations. Representatives of permitting agencies will be available all afternoon on Thursday to answer questions and to facilitate applications for permits. A reception and keynote address will be held Thursday night. On Friday morning, a moderated plenary session will allow questions to be discussed by all parties. Proceedings of the workshop will be mailed three to six months after the workshop. The registration fee of $250 US includes the cost of the translation facility, receptions, coffee breaks, and all handouts and proceedings. The costs of other meals, transportation, lodging and on-site permit applications are not covered in the fee. A list of hotels and motels in the area will be sent to registrants. An all-day whale watching tour for a limited number of workshop participants has been scheduled for Saturday, February 1. Registration for this trip is separate from the conference registration. For further information and registration forms, please contact: Sally Shelton Director, Collections Care and Conservation extension 226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | San Diego Natural History Museum | | P. O. Box 1390 | | San Diego, California 92112 USA | | phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248 | | email LIBSDNHM(\)CLASS.ORG | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 15:19:12 -0400 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: Makah Whaling and the wider debate A few comments on Janice Henke's post: > There are customs, beliefs and traditional activities in every culture >which are offensive to outsiders, and there are no universally agreed upon >compromises to those which satisfy all value systems. Human cultural >diversity is a fact of life and we will never like all or even much of it. This is certainly true - but it is also true that there is no hard-and-fast rule as to the appropriate reaction of a multicultural society to the specific practices of any one part of it. There are certainly local cultural traditions that have been unfairly suppressed, and native Americans have been the victims of this as much as any. However, it does not follow from this that every cultural expression of every group should be permitted or facilitated; the good of society in general is involved as well. To give a reductio ad absurdem (and I am in no way comparing the Makah traditions, or whaling, to the following), some cultures have practised headhunting and slavery; some today practice clitoridectomy, a practice many find repellant and inexcusable. Merely because a practice is part of a local culture should not, for that reason alone, isolate it from criticism or insulate it from restrictions or controls. Further, no culture can claim exclusive ownership of wild resources, whales included, or can bar others from expressing their views as to how, or if, such resources should be exploited. Whether or not the views of those who oppose Makah whaling should carry the day, they certainly can be legitimately presented and discussed. Ms. Henke's opinion (if I understand her correctly) that merely putting forward such views is an affront to human rights of those feeling otherwise goes far beyond this. > As for his assertions that he and Paul Watson have the right to object >to Makah plans because each has helped Indian cultures and causes in times >when they were beleagured, well, so what? I would in fact argue that anyone has the right to object to Makah plans, or anyone else's plans, that affect resources shared by all - just as the Makah have a right to object to Mr. Watson's plans. > The U.S. >government and the Makah Nation have a treaty agreement in which the Makah are >entitled to take gray whales. In legal terms this raises a paramountcy argument; The ICRW contains no language dealing with its relationship to other treaties. If the Makah treaty requires the US to allow them to whale despite IWC decisions then there is in effect no reason for this to be before the IWC at all; if it is superseded by the ICRW then that right is in suspension until the IWC decides otherwise. >Unfortunately, thanks to Paul Watson's "finding" of some dissidents among >the tribe, I am curious as to why the author feels the need for quotes here. If there are Makah elders opposing the request, does that deprive them of their position within the tribe? Are their views not to be heard or listened to? Debate in the IWC over any additions to aboriginal subsistence >whaling is always >replete with objections from those who, like Merritt Clifton, feel that the >practice is >unnecessary and cruel, serving no worthwhile purpose. Does the author feel that such objections are never of relevance? She may not agree that Clifton's objections apply in this case, which of course she is free to argue - but does she feel that factors such as humane treatment, need and purpose (with respect to verall ICRW objectives) should not even be on the table? > Those of us who are outsiders watching this process, inevitably find >ourselves taking sides. Because there are no absolutes in the form of a >universal ethical standard which can fairly guide culturally diverse >humanity, it has been suggested that the ICRW be re-examined and strictly >adhered to in the decision making process of the International Whaling >Commission. There have also been suggestions that a treaty signed in 1946 needs re-examination and re-interpretation in the light of present-day concerns. The treaty addresses the original, and I would suggest, the >only, valid standard upon which to make decisions about the use of whales. >It is concerned with conservation of the great whale species so that they >shall never become extinct, and it is concerned that the whaling industry >shall continue and prosper, because people's livelihoods and cultures are >traditionally dependent upon successful whale conservation. The words after "because" above are nowhere to be found in the ICRW. The ICRW does not address cultural issues at all, but refers in its preamble only to the safeguarding of whale stocks for "future generations" - a statement that I would describe as culture-neutral and open to the interpretation that if future generations decide not to use whale stocks in the way earlier generations did they are free to make that decision without forgoing the importance of whale conservation. This concern, >of course, also applies to aboriginal subsistence use of whales in >perpetuity. An important point is that the treaty recognizes that human >needs regarding whale use are relevant and important in the decision making >process. Again the treaty does not quite say this; it notes that "increases in sizes of whale stocks will permit increases in the numbers of whales which may be captured" - not must be, or should be, but may be. > Many Americans are now questioning the wisdom of our country's continued >participation in this illegal and unethical process. May I suggest that this is wishful thinking? Has anyone conducted a poll on this point? What percentage of Americans feel that the US should drop out of the IWC or favour whaling? This point may have nothing to do with whether Makah whaling is, or is not, a good idea - but I am not fond of this sort of argument by imaginary consensus. -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 13:08:30 -0700 From: "Naomi A. Rose" Subject: position announcement POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Humane Society International (HSI) is looking for a wildlife biologist for a research project in a tropical marine region. The position will involve several months in a remote field location. Extensive boat handling and maintenance skills are absolutely required. Experience in behavioral observation of marine mammals and telemetry is a must. Spanish language abilities and scuba diving certification are ideal. Graduate students are welcome to inquire. Please contact Naomi Rose at narose(\)ix.netcom.com for more information regarding salary and project details. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 14:40:48 -0500 From: Richard Connor Subject: Recent Abstracts Two abstracts Reprint requests to snail-mail address: Richard Connor Biology Dept. UMASS-Dartmouth 285 Old Westport Rd. North Dartmouth, MA 02747 1) Connor, Richard C. & Smolker, Rachel A. 1996. 'Pop' goes the dolphin: a vocalization male bottlenose dolphins produce during consortships. Behaviour 133: 643-662. Summary Studies of dolphin communication have been hindered by the difficulty of localizing sounds underwater and thus identifying vocalizing individuals. Male bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.; speckled form) in Shark Bay, Western Australia produce a vocalization we call "pops". Pops are narrow-band, low frequency pulses with peak energy between 300 and 3000 Hz and are typically produced in trains of 3-30 pops at rates of 6-12 pops/s. Observations on the pop vocalization and associated behavior were made as part of a long-term study of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay. During 1987-88 seven dolphins, including three males, frequented a shallow water area where they were daily provisioned with fish by tourists and fishermen. The three males often produced pops when accompanied by single female consorts into the shallows. Fortuitously, the males often remained at the surface where pops were audible in air, enabling us to identify the popping individual. All 12 of the female consorts in the study turned in towards males at a higher rate when the males were popping than when they were not popping. All 19 occurrences of one form of aggression, "head-jerks", were associated with pops. We conclude that pops are a threat vocalization which induces the female to remain close to the popping male during consortships. 2) Connor, Richard C.; Richards, Andrew F.; Smolker, Rachel A.; Mann, J. 1996. Patterns of female attractiveness in Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins. Behavior 133: 37-69. Summary Hormonal profiles of captive individuals show that bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) are seasonally polyoestrous, but little is known of reproductive behavior among free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. In Shark Bay, Western Australia, we have documented for the first time patterns of female attractiveness that may correspond to multiple oestrous cycles. Male bottlenose dolphins in stable alliances of 2-3 individuals form temporary consortships with individual females. Consortships often are established and maintained by aggressive herding. Consortships are associated with reproduction and are a useful measure of a female's attractiveness. Following reproduction, females may become attractive to males when their surviving calf is about 2 - 2.5 years old or within 1-2 weeks of losing an infant. Individual females are attractive to males for variable periods extending over a number of months, both within and outside of the main breeding season. The duration of attractive periods is greater during breeding season months than during the preceding months. Males sometimes are attracted to females for periods exceeding the reported duration of rising estrogen levels during the follicular stage of the oestrous cycle. Males occasionally have consorted or otherwise been attracted to females in several unusual contexts, including late pregnancy, the first two weeks after parturition, and the day after the loss of a nursing infant. Individual females were consorted by up to 13 males during the season they conceived, supporting predictions of a promiscuous mating system in bottlenose dolphins. Thus, consorting is a strategy by males to monopolize females, but not a completely successful one. Multiple cycling by female bottlenose dolphins may be a strategy to avoid being monopolized by particular males. Given the duration and agonistic nature of many consortships, the benefits to females of such a costly strategy are not obvious. Multiple cycling may reduce the risk of infanticide by males or allow females to mate with preferred males after being monopolized by less desirable males. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 13:27:08 +0200 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Makah Whaling and the wider debate From Simen Gaure Some comments on Orenstein, Henke, and the ICRW. Henke: This concern, of course, also applies to aboriginal subsistence use of whales in perpetuity. An important point is that the treaty recognizes that human needs regarding whale use are relevant and important in the decision making process. Orenstein: Again the treaty does not quite say this; it notes that "increases in sizes of whale stocks will permit increases in the numbers of whales which may be captured" - not must be, or should be, but may be. Treaty, Article V.1.d: [amendments to the schedule] shall take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry. So, indeed, Henke is right. The treaty does recognize that human needs regarding whale use are relevant. Something more than a re-interpretation is necessary to exclude whalers and whale meat consumers from the group "consumers of whale products and the whaling industry." The treaty is available at the High North Web at Orenstein: What percentage of Americans feel that the US should drop out of the IWC or favour whaling? I don't know about dropping out of the IWC, I suspect that a majority of Americans can't tell the difference between the International Whaling Commission and the International Wildlife Coalition. Anyway, according to a poll presented in "11 Essays on Whales and Man," 2nd ed, High North Alliance, 1994, in the US there's a four to three majority "oppos[ing] the hunting of whales under any circumstances". That leaves quite a few people who might agree to whaling under certain circumstances. The poll says little about which circumstances. I don't know about other Americans' views on US policy. The same poll indicates that people in both whaling and non-whaling nations shares the view that international control is needed, although the IWC is not mentioned explicitly. It's unclear to me whether people regard regional management authorities such as NAMMCO as "international". The USA is already regulating its whaling operations in Alaska through a regional management commission (AEWC), so the US isn't that unfamiliar with whaling management outside the IWC. The summary of the poll is available at the High North Web at -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 20:50:14 -0700 From: GreenLife Society Subject: Re: Makah Whaling and the wider debate Some thoughts on Ron's comments: At 03:19 PM 10/5/96 -0400, Ronald Orenstein wrote: >A few comments on Janice Henke's post: > >> There are customs, beliefs and traditional activities in every culture >>which are offensive to outsiders, and there are no universally agreed upon >>compromises to those which satisfy all value systems. Human cultural >>diversity is a fact of life and we will never like all or even much of it. > >This is certainly true - but it is also true that there is no hard-and-fast >rule as to the appropriate reaction of a multicultural society to the >specific practices of any one part of it. You assume that Native Americans consider themselves to be part of a "multi-cultural society." I know many leaders who make the argument that as sovereign antions, as recognized by treaty law, they are not part and parcel of American society. Also, it's a bit galling to hear someone make the argument that they have to conform to the wishes of a society that stole their land and compelled them to become part of OUR culture. This is one of the fundamental issues that I don't think the debate so far has addressed. There are certainly local >cultural traditions that have been unfairly suppressed, and native Americans >have been the victims of this as much as any. However, it does not follow >from this that every cultural expression of every group should be permitted >or facilitated; the good of society in general is involved as well. To give >a reductio ad absurdem (and I am in no way comparing the Makah traditions, >or whaling, to the following), some cultures have practised headhunting and >slavery; some today practice clitoridectomy, a practice many find repellant >and inexcusable. Merely because a practice is part of a local culture >should not, for that reason alone, isolate it from criticism or insulate it >from restrictions or controls. This ostensibly culturally sensitive caveat is always proffered, right before folks take away one of these rights. What is missing here Ron is any kind of balancing of the interests involved here, and I don't think your admittedly extreme example does not to guide us in this balancing test. > >Further, no culture can claim exclusive ownership of wild resources, whales >included, or can bar others from expressing their views as to how, or if, >such resources should be exploited. On what legal basis do you make this argument? See Doubleday's article in the BC International Law Journal a few years ago for a fairly persuasive counter-argument. Whether or not the views of those who >oppose Makah whaling should carry the day, they certainly can be >legitimately presented and discussed. Ms. Henke's opinion (if I understand >her correctly) that merely putting forward such views is an affront to human >rights of those feeling otherwise goes far beyond this. That's fine, if both sides are going to begin the colloquy in the spirit of appreciating the saliency of the respective positions. However, when you start, as you did, with the argument that no one group has no claim to exclusive ownership of wildlife resources, for example, or that the Makahs, Inuits, etc. are part and parcel of a multicultural society which many wish they were not conscripted into, then I'm not so sanguine that the dialogue is really going to devolve into anything other than a monologue. I'm usually in Ron's camp in most issues, but I think we have to address issues of cultural imperialism also, and this may be a quintessential example. > >> As for his assertions that he and Paul Watson have the right to object >>to Makah plans because each has helped Indian cultures and causes in times >>when they were beleagured, well, so what? > >I would in fact argue that anyone has the right to object to Makah plans, or >anyone else's plans, that affect resources shared by all - just as the Makah >have a right to object to Mr. Watson's plans. > >> The U.S. >>government and the Makah Nation have a treaty agreement in which the Makah are >>entitled to take gray whales. > >In legal terms this raises a paramountcy argument; The ICRW contains no >language dealing with its relationship to other treaties. If the Makah >treaty requires the US to allow them to whale despite IWC decisions then >there is in effect no reason for this to be before the IWC at all; if it is >superseded by the ICRW then that right is in suspension until the IWC >decides otherwise. Ron, this doesn't take into account the criteria established by the IWC Technical Committee for aboriginal subsistence whaling. It's not a U.S. law vs ICRW argument, but rather how the IWC treats aboriginal subsistence whaling. > >>Unfortunately, thanks to Paul Watson's "finding" of some dissidents among >>the tribe, > >I am curious as to why the author feels the need for quotes here. If there >are Makah elders opposing the request, does that deprive them of their >position within the tribe? Are their views not to be heard or listened to? > > Debate in the IWC over any additions to aboriginal subsistence >>whaling is always >>replete with objections from those who, like Merritt Clifton, feel that the >>practice is >>unnecessary and cruel, serving no worthwhile purpose. > >Does the author feel that such objections are never of relevance? She may >not agree that Clifton's objections apply in this case, which of course she >is free to argue - but does she feel that factors such as humane treatment, >need and purpose (with respect to verall ICRW objectives) should not even be >on the table? > >> Those of us who are outsiders watching this process, inevitably find >>ourselves taking sides. Because there are no absolutes in the form of a >>universal ethical standard which can fairly guide culturally diverse >>humanity, it has been suggested that the ICRW be re-examined and strictly >>adhered to in the decision making process of the International Whaling >>Commission. > >There have also been suggestions that a treaty signed in 1946 needs >re-examination and re-interpretation in the light of present-day concerns. > > The treaty addresses the original, and I would suggest, the >>only, valid standard upon which to make decisions about the use of whales. >>It is concerned with conservation of the great whale species so that they >>shall never become extinct, and it is concerned that the whaling industry >>shall continue and prosper, because people's livelihoods and cultures are >>traditionally dependent upon successful whale conservation. > >The words after "because" above are nowhere to be found in the ICRW. The >ICRW does not address cultural issues at all, but refers in its preamble >only to the safeguarding of whale stocks for "future generations" - a >statement that I would describe as culture-neutral and open to the >interpretation that if future generations decide not to use whale stocks in >the way earlier generations did they are free to make that decision without >forgoing the importance of whale conservation. > > This concern, >>of course, also applies to aboriginal subsistence use of whales in >>perpetuity. An important point is that the treaty recognizes that human >>needs regarding whale use are relevant and important in the decision making >>process. > >Again the treaty does not quite say this; it notes that "increases in sizes >of whale stocks will permit increases in the numbers of whales which may be >captured" - not must be, or should be, but may be. > >> Many Americans are now questioning the wisdom of our country's continued >>participation in this illegal and unethical process. > >May I suggest that this is wishful thinking? Has anyone conducted a poll on >this point? What percentage of Americans feel that the US should drop out >of the IWC or favour whaling? This point may have nothing to do with >whether Makah whaling is, or is not, a good idea - but I am not fond of this >sort of argument by imaginary consensus. >-- >Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home) >International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home) >Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court Messages: (416) 368-4661 >Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net >Office: 130 Adelaide Street W., Suite 1940 >Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3P5 > > William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html GLSNA Affiliations: Union of Concerned Scientists, Sound Science Initiative The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 14:19:08 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Distinguishing between Tursiops species Shalom Fellow Marmamers: On many occasions we have either seen in the wild or in beached animals spots on the abdomen of bottlenosed dolphins along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This spots differ in size and number from Tursiops aduncus that is more common in the Gulfs of Eilat and Suez and in the Red Sea. We are confused about distinguishing between T. truncatus and T. gilli, although our field guides say that T. gilli is not found in the eastern Mediterranean. Does anybody know if Tursiops truncatus are always white on their abdominal surface or do they exhibit different color morphs? The spotted Tursiops that we find are more common in the southern part of Israeli's/Egypt's Mediterrean coast (from Gaza to Suez). If anybody has seen similar spotting in Tursiops (other than T. aduncus) let us know. We would also like more information on T. gilli and T. aduncus, as we have very little in our field guides. Thank you. Oz Goffman, Director IMMRAC Center for Maritime Studies University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:05:55 +0900 From: "Michael L. Torok" Organization: Zayante Research Associates Subject: HSIL Sent The October-December, 1996 update of the Harbor Seal Investigator List was emailed to all participants on October 7. If you did not receive your copy, please contact me. Others who wish to obtain a copy of the HSIL may do so by sending an email message to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com with the words "Send HSIL" as the subject header. For those interested in being included in the HSIL, send the following information to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com: Name Affiliation Name Affiliation Address Affiliation Phone/Fax Number(s) Email Address(es) Detailed Research Interests For those without a formal affiliation, simply include your mailing address, etc. Regards, Michael Torok ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. To receive a copy of my PGP public key, mailto:mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com with "Send PGP key" as the subject. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:31:53 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - geographical variation of harbor porpoise Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science. Please do not direct reprint requests to me; I have provided the address of the author to be contacted for inquiries. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************* Gao, A.* and D.E. Gaskin. 1996. Geographical variation in metric skull characters among proposed subpopulations and stocks of harbor porpoise, _Phocoena phocoena_, in the western North Atlantic. * Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Abstract: A total of 433 skulls of harbor porpoises, _Phocoena phocoena_, were examined to evaluate geographical variation within the western North Atlantic, using analysis of covariance and discriminant analysis based on 45 measurements of skull components. The relationship between condylobasal length and body length was sigmoid in both sexes. Condylobasal length is generally less in adult males than in adult females. Despite some overlap, morphological differences between different regions and even adjacent local stocks could be recognized by ANCOVA and discriminant analysis. The percentage of correct classification by discriminant functions was 65.2% for the four regional samples: (1) North Canadian Atlantic (which includes Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland), (2) Bay of Fundy, (3) Gulf of Maine - New York, and (4) Maryland - South Carolina. It was 65.9% for the four local geographical areas (10s of km) within the Bay of Fundy; Quoddy-region porpoises revealed a closer relationship with the southwestern Nova Scotia population than with other adjacent stocks. The results at this level imply that gene flow is restricted to some degree even among closely adjacent geographical units. Management of this species should aim, therefore, for conservation of a variety of local stocks. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:20:12 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - movements and dive patterns of Baikal seal Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science. Please do not direct reprint requests to me; I have provided the address of the author to be contacted for inquiries. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************* Stewart, B.S.*, E.A. Petrov, E.A. Baranov, A. Timonin, and M. Ivanov. 1996. Seasonal movements and dive patterns of juvenile Baikal seals, _Phoca sibirica_. Marine Mammal Science 12(4): 528-542. * Hubbs-Sea World, Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, California 92109, USA Abstract: The Baikal seal (_Phoca sibirica_) is confined to Lake Baikal in southern Siberia. The breeding distribution of seals in winter, when the lake is frozen over, is fairly well known, whereas their movements and foraging behaviors have been relatively unstudied. With satellite-linked radio transmitters, we have documented the movements and dive patterns of four juvenile Baikal seals from autumn through spring. The seals moved extensively in the lake, each covering minimal distances of 400-1,600 km between September and early May. They spent little time hauled out from September through May and, apparently, dived continuously. Dives were mostly to depths of 10-50 m, though a few exceeded 300 m. Most lasted between 2 and 6 min, within theoretical dive limits, although a few exceeded 40 min. The exceptionally long dives occurred while the seals were in areas of extensive ice cover, suggesting that they were, perhaps, under ice-pilotage in search of breathing holes rather than foraging dives. Otherwise, the dive performances of these Baikal seals were, relative to body mass, similar to those of other well-studied phocids. Movements and dive patterns of seals appeared to be primarily associated with seasonal and diel movements of their primary prey, _golomyanka_ and sculpins, and secondarily correlated with patterns of ice formation and thaw. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 08:02:26 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - antarctic fur seal dive data Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science. Please do not direct reprint requests to me; I have provided the address of the author to be contacted for inquiries. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************* Boveng, P.L.*, B.G. Walker, J.L. Bengtson. 1996. Variability in Antarctic fur seal dive data: implications for TDR studies. Marine Mammal Science 12(4): 543-554. * National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg. #4, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, USA. Abstract: We analyzed 19 dive records obtained from female antarctic fur seals (_Arctocephalus gazella_) during three austral summer breeding seasons on Seal Island, Antarctica, to assess the extent of individual variation and the potential for using time-depth recorder (TDR) statistics to detect annual changes in six measures of foraging behavior. We report the mean values and typical variability among individuals for dive duration, dive depth, proportion of time submerged, transit time, vertical distance dived, and diving intensity. Dive duration was the least variable and vertical distance dived was the most variable among individual seals. The results were used to estimate the sample sizes required to detect - with acceptable precision and power - differences in the six measures between sites, years, or species. Statistics that vary most among individuals require the largest sample sizes to reliably detect a given percentage difference between annual means. Interestingly, we also observed the most significant interannual differences in those same statistics. These results emphasize that specifying the magnitude of the (interannual, intersite or interspecific) difference that is biologically significant to the study population is an important, though sometimes difficult, component of TDR survey design. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 07:52:00 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abtract - isotopes and diet determination of manatees Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science. Please do not direct reprint requests to me; I have provided the address of the author to be contacted for inquiries. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************* Ames, A.L., E.S. van Vleet, and W.M. Sackett. 1996. The use of stable carbon isotope analysis for determining the dietary habits of the Florida manatee, _Trichechus manatus latirostris_. Marine Mammal Science 12(4): 555-563. * University of South Florida, Marine Science Department, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA Abstract: The sloughed skin from three captive manatees at Lowry Park Zoological Garden (Tampa, Florida) was examined over a period of one year to determine its stable carbon isotopic composition. The food consumed by these manatees in a controlled diet was also sampled and its carbon isotopic composition values determined. The sloughed skin carbon isotopic composition values from the captive manatees were enriched by an average of +4.1% relative to lettuce (generally >98% of the diet) the animals consumed. Carbon isotopic composition values of the skin were shown to be related to changes in carbon isotopic composition values of the lettuce. The stable carbon isotopic composition of internal tissues (liver, kidney, and blubber) and skin from dead, stranded manatees was also determined. These values were compared to values of vegetation that manatees are known to eat in the wild. The stable carbon isotopic composition values of the internal tissues and skin of wild manatees were consistent with the range of stable carbon isotopic composition values of their expected diet. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Oct 1996 14:01:04 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: abstract - morbillivirus Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase subscribers, The following is posted as a courtesy to the Marmam editors and the editor of Marine Mammal Science. Please do not direct reprint requests to me; I have provided the address of the author to be contacted for inquiries. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ******************************************************************* Duignan, P.J.*, C. House, D.K. Odell, R.S. Wells, L.J. Hansen, M.T. Walsh, D.J. St. Aubin, B.K. Rima, and J.R. Geraci. 1996. Morbillivirus infection in bottlenose dolphins: evidence for recurrent epizootics in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Marine Mammal Science 12(4): 499-515. * Dept Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Abstract: Morbillivirus infection is widespread among odontocetes of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Serologic evidence of infection in bottlenose dolphins, _Tursiops truncatus_, was first detected during an epizootic along the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987. Here, we report recurrent epizootics in the coastal dolphin population since at least the early 1980s based on serological surveys and regional stranding frequencies. The first observed epizootic of this series occurred in the Indian and Banana Rivers in 1982 and was followed by others on the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987-1988 and in the Gulf of Mexico between 1992 and 1994. This temporal pattern of infection is likely facilitated by the population size and its fragmentation into relatively discrete coastal communities. Introduction of morbillivirus into a community with a sufficient number of naive hosts may precipitate an epizootic, depending on the potential for transmission within the group. Propagation of an epizootic along the coast is probably determined by frequency of contact between adjacent communities and seasonal migrations. Morbillivirus antibodies were also detected in serum from offshore bottlenose dolphins. The sero-prevalence in the latter may be higher than in coastal dolphins because of their close association with enzootically infected pilot whales (_Globicephala_ spp.). Occasional contact between offshore and coastal dolphins may provide an epizootiologic link between pilot whales and coastal dolphin communities. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 09:53:04 -0400 From: "Daniel K. Odell" Subject: Society for Marine Mammalogy home page The Society for Marine Mammalogy announces the creation of the SMM home page on the World Wide Web. The home page contains a list of current officers, constitution and bylaws, information about Marine Mammal Science - the journal, a membership application form, recent issues of the SMM Newsletter, Presidential letters and, of particular interest to students, the most recent version of 'Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science'. The site will also hold notices regarding the Twelfth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals that will be held in Monaco in January 1998. Parts of the home page are still 'under construction' and new information will be added from time to time. The web site is provided by the University of Central Florida, Orlando. Daniel K. Odell Chair, Education Committee The Society for Marine Mammalogy odell(\)pegasus.cc.ucf.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 15:04:22 -0400 From: Richard Lawrence Subject: call for posters/presentations ******Preliminary Call for Posters/Presentations****** GIS/Remote Sensing Working Group of The Wildlife Society The GIS/Remote Sensing Working Group of the Wildlife Society is proposing a poster session and social, with the potential of a peer-reviewed, published proceedings (a publisher has contacted us with high interest). The session will be held in Snowmass, Colorado during The Wildlife Society's Annual Meeting (21-27 September, 1997). We are soliciting, inviting, and screening potential papers to be included in our session proposal. The main focus of the session will be: Linking GIS, GPS, and Radiotelemetry in Wildlife Research and Management. However, any GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS, or Telemetry poster will be considered. We are hoping to sponsor about 40 posters, and are keenly interested in attracting 5-10 "interactive posters," or rather, computerized demonstrations in real time that can be formatted and presented in semi-poster fashion (i.e., in/on a 4x8 foot space or table with presenter interaction). Interested parties should contact any of the individuals listed below. All respondents will be considered and included in our proposal. Information needed: title, name of presenter(s), and affiliation. IMPORTANT NOTE: *************** Our proposal is due on 15 October (next Tuesday), thus we invite you to respond quickly. THANKS! *************** If you would like to preview the products (construction in progress) of the most recent (1996) symposium, consult: http://web.syr.edu/~rilawren/twsgis.html. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Dr. Richard K. Lawrence Karl A. Didier (kadidier(\)syr.edu) Darren Divine (divined(\)nevada.edu) (session organizers) ===================================================================== | Richard K. Lawrence | | | 253 Illick Hall | | | 1 Forestry Drive | "...and from that time on, whenever I | | SUNY-ESF | went anywhere, I was RUN-NING!" | | Syracuse, NY 13210 | | | (315)470-6985/6990 | -Forrest Gump | | rilawren(\)mailbox.syr.edu | | ===================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 09:21:46 +0100 From: Jaume Forcada Nogues 1456 Subject: info on cetaceans from Cohiba-Panama Dear Marmam fans, I am sending this message on behalf of the Marine Mammal Group from the Department of Animal Biology, at the University of Barcelona. Next December we will undertake a short visit to Cohiba, a small isle in the Pacific coast of Panama, with the aim of making a provisional inventory of the cetacean fauna assemblages of the area. We don't have references available dealing with the cetacean species present in the waters off Cohiba, and would acknowledge very much any available ce references or relevant information. If anybody wants to send such information, please do it to my e-mail address: forcada(\)porthos.bio.ub.es I thank you very much in advance. Jaume Forcada Department of Animal Biology Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona Diagonal 645, E-08028 Barcelona, SPAIN Phone: 34-3-3198021 Fax: 34-3-3198959 e-mail: forcada(\)porthos.bio.ub.es ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 11:35:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.geis.com Subject: NMFS - MMPA Take Reduction Env NMFS - MMPA Take Reduction Environmental Assessment WASHINGTON,DC (FedNet, 8-OCT-96) -- NMFS announces its intention to begin scoping for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) for anticipated proposed rulemaking under the Take Reduction Plan provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The intended effect is to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations. DATES: The scoping meeting will be held on October 22, 1996, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Written comments on the scope of the EIS or EA must be submitted by November 23, 1996. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Public scoping meeting; request for comments. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 06:17:53 -0400 From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Subject: Internship VETERINARY INTERNSHIP / RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN AQUATIC ANIMAL MEDICINE AT MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM With the assistance of both external and in house funding the Research and Veterinary Services Department of Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation, sponsors a one year internship/research opportunity in aquatic animal medicine. Applicants for the internship should be graduates of an AVMA accredited veterinary college or ECFVG certified. The successful applicant will assist the research, veterinary, and husbandry staffs in the diagnosis and treatment of medical cases from the aquarium's extensive collection of invertebrates, fresh and saltwater fishes, penguins and waterfowl, seals, sea lions, dolphins and beluga whales. In addition the intern will participate in our rescue, rehabilitation, and release program for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. Collateral opportunities at area academic, government, and private industry laboratories are possible and encouraged. The intern will have an opportunity to develop teaching skills by his/her involvement in the aquarium's veterinary externship program and at informal seminars. The intern will be encouraged to pursue one or more research interests and to prepare the results for presentation at an appropriate meeting or for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Past interns have gone on to recognized graduate/residency programs or employment in the field of aquatic,comparative,or zoological medicine following their internship. Applicants should submit required material to: DR. J. LAWRENCE DUNN STAFF VETERINARIAN MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM 55 COOGAN BLVD. MYSTIC, CT 06355 1. A current transcript from the veterinary school and any post baccalaureate program(s) which he/she has attended. 2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's academic performance and his/her potential in the clinical and research arenas. 3. A statement reflecting the applicant's goals in the area of aquatic/zoological medicine and research. 4. A current curriculum vitae or resume. All application materials must be available for review prior to 1 March 1997. The successful applicant will be notified ASAP and must commit to the position by 15 April 1997. The internship period will extend ~ from 15 June 1997 through ~1 July 1998 Additional information may be obtained by calling Dr. Dunn at 860- 572-5955 ext. 103 Mon-Thurs 12:00 - 2:00 PM or by e-mail at DUNNL(\)AOL.COM anytime. MYSTIC MARINELIFE AQUARIUM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 14:29:38 -0400 From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Subject: EXTERNSHIPS AT MYSTIC AQUARIUM EXTERNSHIP/RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY Mystic Marinelife Aquarium's Department of Research and Veterinary Services offers an externship/research opportunity to qualified veterinary students. Our goal in offering this program is to familiarize 3rd or 4th year veterinary students with the day to day husbandry and medical problems of a very diverse group of aquatic animals and to provide an opportunity for these students to prepare a report on data collected from animals and/or material in our collections which can be used to advance our knowledge of the animals in our care and if appropriate be considered for publication or presentation in an appropriate forum. Some past examples of student projects include studies on the morphometrics, gross and histopathology of the winter flounder; pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in harbor seals; comparison of vitamin D kinetics in African blackfooted penguins maintained in natural Vs artificial lighting; trials with vecuronium for mydriasis in blackfooted penguins; and a statistical analysis of serum chemistry data on six species of marine mammals. As is clear from this abbreviated list the topics vary greatly and their choice is influenced somewhat by the interests of aquarium staff, the student's faculty advisor at his/her home institution, and of course the particular interests and talents of the student. We encourage students to pick a home institution faculty advisor who has an interest in some discipline which could profit from this type of collaboration. Some current research interests of our staff include: marine mammal endocrinology; reproduction/contraception in marine mammals; clinical medicine of aquatic animals; marine mammal physiology; pharmacokinetics in fish, penguins and marine mammals; clinical pathology of aquatic animals; and osteology of marine mammals. We maintain professional relationships with the pathology and microbiology groups at the University of Connecticut, the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island as well as scientific staff members of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals World Medical Research Center. All of these institutions are within an hours drive of the aquarium. Prior to investing a lot of time in planning a study we suggest that interested students contact us to determine whether a proposed study is feasible. We suggest that the student be prepared to spend four to eight weeks at MMA . When funds are available, we can provide a SMALL number of students with a stipend of up to $500 to help defray the cost of travel, housing and research expendables. Our Education Department Intern/Extern coordinator (Julie Ainsworth 860-572-5955 Ext 206) can assist in locating suitable housing. For additional information please contact: J. Lawrence Dunn VMD Staff Veterinarian DUNNL(\)AOL.COM 860-572-5955 Ext. 103 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 12:37:48 -0700 From: Dave Duffus Subject: Re: Distinguishing between Tursiops species >Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 18:46:13 GMT >X-Sender: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it >X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 1.5.2 > >To: marmam(\)UVVM.UVIC.CA >From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara >Subject: Re: Distinguishing between Tursiops species >Status: RO > >This message was originally submitted by gnstri(\)IMIUCCA.CSI.UNIMI.IT to the >MARMAM list at UVVM. If you simply forward it back to the list, it will be >distributed with the paragraph you are now reading being automatically removed. >If you edit the contributions you receive into a digest, you will need to >remove this paragraph before mailing the results to the list. Finally, if you >need more information from the author of this message, you should be able to do >so by simply replying to this note. > >----------------- Message requiring your approval (34 lines) ------------------ >What Oz Goffman reports concerning spots on Tursiops' bellies from the SE >corner of the Mediterranean is intriguing. Tursiops in the central and >western portions of the Med don't have dark pigmentation spots on the >ventral side as far as I know. In the Red Sea I have seen two forms of >Tursiops, one that looks pretty much like your usual Mediterranean and East >Atlantic bottlenose dolphin - the "truncatus" type - and a slenderer form >with spots on the belly which is called by many the "aduncus" type. >Although this is based on sightings at sea only, the situation is strongly >reminiscent to what had been thoroughly described by Ross (1977, Ann. Cape >Prov. Mus. Nat. Hist. 11(9):135-194), practically around the corner in South >Africa. > >Finding Tursiops with dark spots in the Med suggests the possibility of a >Lessepsian migration, which so far has yet to be demonstrated for any >cetacean (except for doubtful reports of Sousa chinensis from Port Said >harbour, see Marchessaux 1980, Vie Marine 2:59-66). > >Incidentally, I doubt that one can safely consider the existence of T. gilli >in the Red Sea. The entire taxonomic status of the genus is still so gloppy >and provisional on a world-wide scale, that it seems best to me for the >moment to talk about "forms". These may not mean much taxonomically but >will help geneticists and morphologists to come up together eventually >(never too soon!) with a zoogeographic description of the situation based on >sound data. > >Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara >***************************************** >Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara >Tethys Research Institute >viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy >tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 72001946 >email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it >***************************************** > > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 12:37:35 -0700 From: Dave Duffus Subject: information needed on Baird's Beaked Whale >Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 10:32:49 +0900 (JST) >To: MARMAM(\)UVVM.BITNET >From: humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp (Hiroko Wada) >Subject: information needed on Baird's Beaked Whale > >X-Mailer: Eudora-J(1.3.8.5-J13) >Status: RO > >This message was originally submitted by humpback(\)AQU.BEKKOAME.OR.JP to the >MARMAM list at UVVM. If you simply forward it back to the list, it will be >distributed with the paragraph you are now reading being automatically removed. >If you edit the contributions you receive into a digest, you will need to >remove this paragraph before mailing the results to the list. Finally, if you >need more information from the author of this message, you should be able to do >so by simply replying to this note. > >----------------- Message requiring your approval (47 lines) ------------------ >Dear MARMAMers, > >I asked your information on the sounds of Baird's beaked whales several >days ago through MARMAM. I would like to thank to the marmamers who sent >us information and share them with others in case you are interested in. > >*Baird's beaked whale >Dr Steve Dawson and his colleagues are about to submit their paper to >Marine Mammal Science. >*Hubb's beaked whale >Buerki, C.B., T.W. Cranford, K.M. Langan and K.L. Marten. 1989. Acoustic recor >dings from two stranded beaked whales in captivity. p. 10 In: Abstr. 8th Bienn >. Conf. Biol. Mar. Mamm., Pacific Grove, CA, Dec. 1989. 81P. >Lynn, S.K. and D.L. Reiss. 1992. Pulse sequence and whistle production by two >captive beaked whales, Mesoplodon species. Mar. Mamm. Sci. 8(3):299 305. >*Blainville's beaked whale >Caldwell, D.K. and M.C. Caldwell. 1971. Sounds produced by two rare cetaceans >stranded in florida. Cetology 4: 1-6. >*Nothern bottlenose whale >Winn, H.E., P.J. Perkins and L. Wi. Sounds and behavior of the norther >n bottle-nose whale. p. 53-59 In: Proc. 7th Annu. Conf. Biol. Sonar and Diving > Mammals, Stanford Res. Inst., Menlo Parke, CA. > >According to Dr. Steve Dawson, most of their sounds are (just) outside the >range of audio >recording equipment (upper limit <20 kHz), so to record them you'll need >special (and very expensive) gear. Whistles, however, should be very easy >to record with an inexpensive hydrophone and audio recording gear (the Sony >DAT walkman is excellent). > >If you are interested in the special hydrophone and amplifier to record >their sounds, contact Don at DLjungblad(\)aol.com who hopes to have a >coauthored paper published soon on the sounds of Baird's beaked whales.The >cost will be $750.00 U.S. > >My friend in Eastern Hokkaido now moved back to home. When I hear any >result from her in next season, I will let you know. > > >Thank you, all! > > >Hiroko Wada >Sapporo, Japan >e-mail humpback(\)aqu.bekkoame.or.jp >Tel & Fax 011-81-11-642-8052 > > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 11:57:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Rare China dolphin rescued fro Rare China dolphin rescued from brink of death BEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuter) - A captive Yangtze river dolphin, one of China's rarest animals, has just become a little less endangered after recovering from a life-threatening illness, the Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday. Researchers at the Wuhan Research Institute of Hydrobiology in the central province of Hubei had fought for months to save the ailing Qiqi from liver disease and diabetes after the animal fell ill last April, Xinhua said. "For months, several experts from the research institute gave up their spare time to help save Qiqi's life," Xinhua said. It was the second time the marine mammal, the only one in captivity, had fallen sick in 17 years of captivity, it said. Experts in Japan, the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan had called Chinese dolphin doctors with advice on how to treat the rare animal, it said. Fewer than 100 Yangtze river dolphins are believed to be alive and experts fear the animalcould be extinct within 25 years as industry and shipping disrupt their river habitat. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 11:58:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: Govt to put alarms on sha QLD: Govt to put alarms on shark nets after whale caught BRISBANE, Oct 16 AAP - Acoustic alarms would be fitted to all shark nets along the Queensland coast after two humpback whales were trapped in the protective barriers today, a Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesman said. Both animals were freed but one of the whales, a calf, was stranded in shallow water for seven hours before being reunited with its mother off the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. Staff from Sea World on the Gold Coast and Underwater World on the Sunshine Coast worked all morning to free the animal and succeeded soon after midday. DPI fisheries resource protection general manager Dan Currey said the acoustic alarms, which had been used on nets in areas where whales were commonly seen, would now be fitted to all nets. "The alarms have been very successful and we believe that fitting these to all shark nets in Queensland will minimise the risk of this happening again," Mr Currey said. Both whales were swimming safely off shore about 7pm (AEST) and would be watched closely until they left the Sunshine Coast waters. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 08:00:05 -0700 From: Howard Garrett Subject: Lolita and fish Dear Marmamers Last winter there was much discussion of the controversial issue of releasing long-captive cetaceans, prompted by the rescue of Keiko from a tiny pool for rehabilitation in a larger pool. The issue seemed to revolve around the question: "Do efforts to help individual animals help or hinder the causes of habitat and population conservation?" It's an open question, one that is best answered not in the abstract, but on a case by case basis, and whose answer is strongly determined by the stated intentions of those who speak for particular projects. In other words, much depends on how the project is explained to the public. Killer whale populations are not known to be threatened, but habitats are everywhere threatened, and any project to return a whale or dolphin to its native habitat should draw attention to the health of the habitat into which the animal would be returned. Soon the Keiko rehab and release project will be given national attention again (Discovery Channel 10/28), which will probably stir the issue up all over again. To show how a project to help an individual whale can be oriented to conserve or restore habitats and populations, following is a recent actual dialogue between a professional wildlife biologist, and a director of an environmental NGO: First, here is the message that began the conversation, as posted by the NGO director: LOLITA COME HOME PROJECT The Lolita Come Home Project is an effort to bring Lolita, the orca whale now living & performing at the Miami Seaquarium, to her home waters in greater Puget Sound. Lolita (first called "Tokitae") though a young adult (32), is the oldest whale in captivity, and has been at the Miami Seaquarium since her capture in 1970. Lolita is an excellent candidate for return to her native habitat: She is in good health, with about ten more potential calf-bearing years. Her family & community are well known from over 2 decades of photo I.D. studies. Orca brainpower is enormous, & their memories are legendary. It is presumed that Lolita still remembers her mother & other family members, and they still remember her. If Lolita is not allowed to return to her native waters in the near future, statistics show that she will probably die soon in her small tank in Miami. The management of the Miami Seaquarium has been informed of that likely prospect. The Tokitae Foundation is and will be involved in both public and private efforts to bring Lolita home to her family and natural habitat. The Miami Seaquarium could be on the leading edge of changes in the marine park industry, educating and entertaining their patrons in alternative ways - IMAX theatres, virtual reality, live video connections to orcas in their real habitat, etc. Public consciousness is changing in regard to captive whales, and with the Free Willy/Keiko story, the issue is becoming widespread. Keiko, though not released to his natural habitat, has demonstrated how quickly whales can recover & readapt - he has gained over 1000 pounds since his move, & his skin disease and other medical problems are nearly gone. The Tokitae Foundation is also dedicated to enhancing the public's awareness of the natural links between orcas and the full panorama of life forms and processes that make up the ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. Knowledge of the role salmon play in providing sustenance for the whales is especially important for understanding how Lolita's community of orcas live in their natural habitat. The Foundation is committed to providing educational support for a wide variety of salmon enhancement and habitat restoration programs. **************************** Reply to Lolita message from [wildlife biologist]: Dear [Director, environmental NGO]: I was a bit surprised to receive the message from you about the Lolita Come Home project. I certainly understand the emotional attraction such efforts hold for many people - especially those people who REALLY want to believe that other animals (especially mammals) have the same rational thinking ability and emotions as do humans. I, of course, became a biologist because of my love and concern for wildlife and that was focussed on preserving populations, species, and communities of interconnected biota. Concern for the individual member of a species or community was never an issue except in the cases of extreme rarity, where each individual's gene pool was critical to the well being of the population or species. So when I see the amount of energy and money that goes into the care of or preservation of individuals in an otherwise healthy population, I fret that those resources would be so much better directed at the larger problems of habitat or endangered species. But I have eventually come to expect that some people who don't have an understanding of biology will anthropomorphize the critters around them and therefore will begin to empathize with the individuals of a population. But I continue to be somewhat surprised (and even dismayed) when I see people whom I believe are more knowledgeable on biological issues, get caught up in the individual critter concern campaigns. So when I get a message like the Lolita one from you, whom I hold with such high regard because of your common good sense and the ability to bring divergent people together into common goals, I suspect that I am missing something. Please help me better understand your reason for getting involved in this campaign. I'm sure I can learn some very valuable insight into ways that I may be able to improve my perspective. Yours [wildlife biologist] *************************** Reply to [wildlife biologist] follows: I understand your message and of course you are right. You are speaking from SCIENCE, from the purview of a professional wildlife biologist. But I am a citizen activist. I want to involve the maximum number of people I can to come down the path to understand our marine system. What kind of "hook" will work to get them started? That sounds much cruder than it really is -- but that's what I would be accused of, probably. In the NGO business we usually have to get people ALERTED to problems before they will be MOTIVATED to study and learn all sides of things, good science, and the longterm persistence it takes to make changes in "business as usual" where management of resources is concerned. We promote picking up litter when you and I know that will not save the world -- but it may be the first step individuals take that leads them into the longer commitment for some of the real issues. And I can give you names of people I know who started out on incredibly naive projects and are now in strong, professional, decision-making roles that will advance our common cause. The people who got turned on to whales when they were being captured in Puget Sound in the early '70s during Governor Dan Evans' regime were led by now Secretary of State Ralph Munro who was then Natural Resources Aide to the Gov. There were a lot of emotional people, and a lot of anthropomorphizing to be sure. But some of those same people (whose names I can supply anyone interested) have worked their buns off now for DECADES to get meaningful controls in place for preventing oil spills in WA waters, to raise money to acquire wetlands, to create and teach environmental education, to promote adequate wastewater treatment systems, clean up superfund sites, etc. etc. You wrote:have an understanding of biology will anthropomorphize the critters around them >and therefore will begin to empathize with the individuals of a population. EVEN people who DO HAVE an understanding of biology are caught up in anthropomorphizing sometimes. Like charity beginning at home, hearts, and more importantly minds, open up to individuals first, then the universe. And step by step lots of people move into the realm you are talking about. Several years ago when I was working on an NAS high priority campaign to stop 1080, I had some interesting conversations with some very nice, and dedicated members of PAWS who coalesced with us. The PAWS' reasons for opposing 1080 were completely different from ours where we looked at ecosystems, predator and prey balance, non-target mortalities, the role of the coyote in the plant and animal community he co-evolved with, etc. PAWS people stated they were NOT INTERESTED IN POPULATIONS, only in stopping the horrible dying of individuals. But we made a great team, and we won. I understand your dismay about Lolita -- you make a good argument. -- But what if Lolita motivates lots of new people to be turned on to the animals in our midst right here in Puget Sound? What if lots of people decide they want to help work for the NW Straits Sanctuary? The Marine Waters Initiative? We do not expect YOU to do anything about the Lolita issue. And lots of others who receive the message I sent out will click the delete button -- I understand that, and have no problem with that at all. But what of the ones who will come around to see what's happening with Lolita? Maybe some day they will help us all do the high-minded things to save habitat for ALL the creatures in our wonderful system. I like this quote by Baba Divum I saw on a poster in a SCIENCE museum!!! IN THE END WE WILL CONSERVE ONLY WHAT WE LOVE WE WILL LOVE ONLY WHAT WE UNDERSTAND WE WILL UNDERSTAND ONLY WHAT WE ARE TAUGHT. Thanks for your good words about my modus operandi (in spite of Lolita!) Your friend, [NGO director] ******************************** Then came [wildlife biologist]'s reply: Thanks for taking the time to explain the method to your madness! I should have known that you had a good reason for what you do. And now it is my turn to say, "you are right, of course". Without something that really tugs at the heartstrings of people that haven't been otherwise involved, species or population protection isn't very exciting, is it. I'm glad you are doing what you are doing! Keep it up and Good Luck! [wildlife biologist] ******************************* Rather than biting our fellow sled dogs, let's offer constructive suggestions, and work together whenever we can. Maybe those working to protect the baiji, vaquita, and bhulan dolphins could try anthropomorphizing a single endangered animal and publicizing its plight. One photograph of a stressed individual may be all they need to raise money for posters, newspaper stories, magazine ads, etc. that could build awareness of environmental pressures and move a wide range of people to act in their own spheres of influence. Maybe some animals DO have similar rational thinking abilities and emotions as do humans. Howard Garrett co-Director, Tokitae Foundation 1357 Smuggler's Cove Road Friday Harbor WA 98250 tokitae(\)rockisland.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 17:40:09 -0400 From: Suzanne PICCINI Subject: Morbillivirus in captive marine mammals Dear Marmam subscribers : I am a graduate student at Nova Southeastern University, Oceanographic in Dania, FL and am doing a project on Morbillivirus cases in captive marine mammals. The literatureis full of info on Morbillivirus cases of wild populations but is lacking in captive subjects. Anyone with information relating to incidents involving the Morbillivirus in captive marine mammals is welcome to reply to Suzanne Piccini : piccini(\)ocean.nova.edu Thank you, Suzanne Piccini piccini(\)ocean ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 10:23:55 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 10/18/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Botulism from Seal Flipper. On Oct. 17, 1996, four Alaskan Native residents of Teller, AK were recovering at the Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, after contracting botulism poisoning from eating improperly prepared fermented spotted seal flipper. [Assoc Press] . UH Dolphin Research Not Moving. On Oct. 14, 1996, a Maui County Council committee held a hearing on plans to move the Univ. of Hawaii's Dolphin Institute from Honolulu to Maui's Kahana Beach Park. The committee subsequently rejected the plan, desiring to keep the undeveloped land for a beach park rather than a marine laboratory. [Assoc Press] . Right Whale Protection. On Oct. 17, 1996, the MA appeal seeking to delay a Sept. 26, 1996 U.S. District Court order, relating to preparing a State plan for increased right whale protection, was rejected. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 12:03:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Satellite helps in whale study Satellite helps in whale study PASADENA, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Marine biologists aboard a ship in the Gulf of Mexico are using maps of ocean currents produced with satellite- gathered data to locate and count sperm whales and dolphins, researchers said Friday. "The goal of our cruise is to make a visual and acoustic census of marine mammals and to define their physical and biological habitat in the northeastern gulf in areas potentially affected by oil and gas activities now or in the future," said Randall Davis, head of the Marine Biology Department at Texas A & M University in Galveston. The space-age maps provide timely information about rapidly changing ocean features, enabling the whale watchers to head in the right direction at the right time, said scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The data, from NASA's ocean-observing satellite TOPEX/Poseidon and the European Space Agency's ERS-2 satellite, are faxed to scientists aboard the research vessel R/V Gyre to keep them abreast of the latest ocean current developments. "There is evidence whales prefer to feed in the edges of cyclonic eddies, and the satellite data give us a good picture of where those oceanographic features are located," said George Born, principal investigator on the project from the University of Colorado at Boulder. "The data from TOPEX/Poseiden and ERS-2 greatly enhance our ability to identify and map circulation features as they occur in the gulf," said Robert Leben, co-principal investigator on the project. The ship, which left Pascagoula, Miss., Oct. 10, will remain in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico through Oct. 28, surveying whales and dolphins,which previous studies found most abundant in the area where warm water eddies break off from the Gulf Loop Current, a strong ocean current circulating around the gulf, the reseachers said. "Altimeter data like that from TOPEX/Poseidon are the only information that enableon-site adjustments to the cruise plan to optimize the survey track, utimately saving us time and money," Davis said. The satellite was develoed to study global ocean circulation but is unexpectedly providing a bonanza of information for marine biologists. "We are very excited that these data are being used in new and different ways," said Lee-Lueng Fu, project scientist at JPL. "Scientists are continuing to find new applications for this project and are proving they can study not only ocean currents but also the creatures that inhabit the oceans." The satellite uses an altimeter to bounce radar signals off the ocean surface to get precise measurements of the distance between the satellite and sea surface. These and other measurements from other instruments pinpoint the satellite's exact location in space. Every 10 days, scientists produce a complete map of global ocean topography, the barely perceptible hills and valleys on the sea surface. Armed with such knowledge, they can then calculate the speed and direction of worldwide ocean currents. (Written by UPI Science Writer Lidia Wasowicz in San Francisco) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 12:04:06 LCL From: jim hain Subject: September whale strike by QE2 ---------- X-Sun-Data-Type: text X-Sun-Data-Description: text X-Sun-Data-Name: text X-Sun-Content-Lines: 16 X-Sun-Content-Length: 481 Can someone in Lisbon, Portugal, be of assistance? Apparently, on or about 16 September 1996, the QE2 arrived in Lisbon with a 40 ft whale hung on the bow. Is there anyone that has additional information and photographs? Was the carcass examined by any researchers or marine institute? Is information on species, sex, age available? I am particularly interested in photographs. Thank you. Jim Hain National Marine Fisheries Service Woods Hole, MA 02543 (508) 495-2210 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 12:03:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Japan-Environment: Whaling ban Japan-Environment: Whaling ban? Maybe in Mexico, ... TOKYO, (Oct. 18) IPS - Dateline: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, May 27, 1994 -- "The International Whaling Commission (IWC) today refused to grant a quota for aboriginal subsistence whaling by Japanese fishermen." Dateline: Taiji, Japan, Oct. 11, 1996 -- "Japanese fishermen in 14 boats using the traditional skills this week caught 100 small whales in Wakayama prefectures. The local papers described the 'hunt' as a big success -- the first this season. "The small minke whales known here as 'kobiregondo-kujira' were caught 20 kilometers offshore, near the well known harbor city Taiji. The meat, as the Wayakaya fishermen call it, will sell for 2,000 yen (about $20) per kilogram." In a nutshell, either word has not yet reached this southern Japanese prefecture that whaling for commercial purposes is banned under international whaling agreements, or the fishermen here simply could not care less. Environmentalists, worried about thethreat posed to the existence of the whales, say it is a bit of both and that the attitude of the Japanese government, which has strongly opposed the whaling ban, is not helping the situation. "Japanese society is not familiar with the 'scientific whaling problem' and is unaware of the fact that Japan's whaling has been for many, many years the target of international criticism," says Toshimi Karashima, an environmentalist with the Children's Whales Club in Osaka. Also, traditions die hard. "While the foreign press, in their cartoons, pour cynicism on the Japanese for eating whale meat, the Japanese press rave about restoring school lunches with supplies of minke whale meat from the Antarctic," observes environmental activist Shigeko Misaki. "Whale meat used to be a part of a common source of animal protein, being inexpensive and familiar to ordinary people in Japan," she notes, adding: "Many people were saved from starvation after the war by whale meat." As such, she says that today, Japanese "identify whale meat only with food, not with the environment." According to a Gallup poll conducted last year, only 24 percent of Japanese believe that whales should be protected and hunting banned. That is the official view as well. At the IWC meeting in Mexico in 1994, the French-proposed Southern Oceans Sanctuary, was passed by a vote of 23 to one. Japan stood alone in opposing the sanctuary for whales in the Antarctica. Japan had managed to rally support from another major whaling nation, Norway, and a number of small Caribbean islands to oppose the sanctuary, but they either stayed away or opted not to vote. Cassandra Phillips, of the Worldwide Fund for Nature, described the outcome of the vote as a "major triumph" for the environmental movement in trying to protect the world's threatened whale species. But she acknowledged, "We still have to wait and see how Japan will react to this challenge, and if it will respect or defy the resolution." Tokyo said then, as it does now, that the minke species, a relatively small whale which is the only one that still survives in large numbers, should be exempt from the ban. A spokesman for the foreign ministry's fishery division told IPS this week Japan is "continuing efforts to convince other countries to allow resumption of commercial whaling in the hope they will eventually change their minds." In the meanwhile, Japanese fishermen are celebrating their catches. "The town (Taiji) has a total catch quota of 2,380 for the season," said a proud official of the Japanese Whaling Association after last week's haul. "Coastal small whale fishing is outside the control of the International Whaling Commission." News of the catch was welcomed by a restaurant owner in a busy Tokyo district, one of many which serves whale meat. "What some environmental organizations say isn't true," says the owner of the restaurant, established in 1955. "If the number of whales were really decreasing I would have to close the business." The International Convention for Regulation of Whaling, which the IWC administers, does allow for a limited amount of whaling for scientific purposes. Under the agreement, Japan is allowed to hunt annually for a maximum 50 whales. Tokyo, however argues, that for "scientific purposes" that number is not enough. The Japanese fishery ministry says it needs to catch at least 300 whales a year to gather information and produce more accurate data on the mammals. And so it does. The IWC agreement does not forbid Japan or any other nation from selling the meat from the whales, after research is conducted. to restaurants. But a Greenpeace representative in Tokyo said that in the case of Japan, "scientific whaling" is simply an excuse to "slaughter minke which ends up on restaurant tables." "Japan as a whaling nation faces now tough tasks and decisions," added the Greenpeace spokesman. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Oct 1996 16:05:22 -0700 Reply-To: Joseph Olson From: Joseph Olson Subject: Hydrophones & other technology Hello Marmamers: My name is Joe Olson and as some of you may recall back in 1994 I placed a few notices for hydrophones that were built by a colleague who's company was named Sea Systems Corp. In fact I'd talked with quite a number of you in person last year concerning Sea systems hydrophones. Well, I've just returned from 16 months of traveling around the globe and while I was away Sea Systems went out of business. I apologize for any inconvenience and difficulties that may have arisen as a result of orders never being met by Sea Systems. The good news is that I am building my own hydrophones again (as I was doing before I started promoting the Sea Systems ones). Since I have only been home for a short time it will be at least a month before I can begin production of my hydrophones. Nonetheless, I thought you would want to know that Cetacean Research Technology hydrophones will soon be available once again. These hydrophones will have a sensitivity of at least -195 dB (without an amplifier box) over a range of 100 Hz to 20 kHz, and they will sell for less than US$300. The above numbers are a conservative estimate and will be firmed up once I have final component pricing and availability from my suppliers. I will, of course, construct the most sensitive yet cost effective hydrophone that I can. The hydrophones I built before my trip had a sensitivity of approximately -195 dB over a range of 14 Hz to 35 kHz +/-4 dB, and 5 Hz to 100kHz +5/-15 dB. If anyone is interested in higher band width hydrophones such as these, I will be able to provide them (or better versions) as well. In addition to hydrophones, I also design and build custom suction cups attachment systems and other innovative research equipment. If you have any questions please contact me at: ================================ | Joseph R. Olson | | Cetacean Research Technology | | 7309 26th Ave. NW | | Seattle, WA 98117 | | Phone: (206) 706-6989 | | e-mail: cetacean(\)eskimo.com | ================================ PS Please use my new e-mail address above INSTEAD of my old one Nuclear Physics Laboratory one which was olson(\)npl.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 09:23:42 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: genetic variation between populations (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "ellen hines" > I'm looking for studies, specifically in the western Atlantic, or Gulf > of Mexico, which are concerned with the genetic variations of marine > mammal species based on spatial variation. If research is concerning > mtDNA use as a genetic marker, research from anywhere. Please send me > references, and I'll follow up. > > Thanks, > Ellen Hines > National Wetlands Research Center > Lafayette, LA > hinese(\)osprey.nwrc.gov > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 15:08:28 -0400 From: rahenke(\)Capital.Net Subject: Comment on r.mallon Japan-Environment:Whaling Ban he recent marmam posting of r. mallon is noted to be inaccurate in many respects, including the legal status of Japanese small type community whaling, the species involved, the fact that there is no IWC jurisdiction over the harvest of small cetaceans, and the details of scientific whaling under Article VIII of the ICRW. Mallon has also apparently confused the fact of IWC plenary refusal to grant Japan's coastal communities an interim relief quota of 50 minke whales, with research whaling rules under the ICRW. This comment is meant to correct the inaccuracies in that posting, and is not intended to speculate on the reasons for those perceived inaccuracies. 1. The IWC has repeatedly denied Japan's formal request for an interim relief quota of 50 minke whales, to sustain the culture and economies of four small coastal whaling communities, until such time as the moratorium on commercial whaling is lifted. These 50 animals have never been granted under this request nor has this anything to do with Japan's scientific research whaling projects. 2. In this context also, the IWC has refused to consider these communities as qualified to conduct whaling under IWC aboriginal subsistence rules, because, it is claimed, there is an element of commercial activity inherent in the distribution of meat and by-products in those areas. The IWC has, however, formally recognized the extreme hardship faced by these communities since imposition of the ban on commercial whaling. (It should be noted here, that there is a "commercial element" in a parallel situation among coastal communities in Greenland; whale meat from aboriginal subsistence activity is sold in local markets to sustain social and economic security.) The difference between that allowed, or perhaps, ignored, activity and the situation in Japan is not one of kind, although the scope of "commercialism" may be one of degree, or amount of such activity. In neither case, would or does the "commercialism" pose a danger to those whales taken or wished to be taken. 3. The small whales caught off Taiji were not minke, but are short finned pilot whales, which are classified as small cetaceans, and the harvest and management of them is not subject to IWC jurisdiction. Kobiregonodo-kujira is Japanese for short finned pilot whale. There is an annual pilot whale drive fishery which is a normal part of the seasonal round of harvest of marine products for human consumption. This annual fishery commenced on October 1, as usual. 4. Japanese society is very familiar with green objections to their traditional whaling activities, and people in the small communities are well acquainted with the fact that the IWC Scientific Committee has not recommended that minke whales be exempted from hunting. The 'scientific whaling problem' is non-existent, as far as minke whales are concerned, as they are neither endangered nor actually threatened. This is why the Japanese people do not regard the controversy over their proposed resumption of commercial minke whaling as an environmental issue. It is a cultural preference issue for both whaling and anti-whaling proponents. 5. The IWC treaty, the ICRW, in Article VIII, provides for member nations to conduct scientific research on the large whale species under its jurisdiction, of which the minke whale is one. Mallon's paragraph in which it is stated that "Under the agreement,Japan is allowed to hunt annually for a maximum 50 whales.", is incorrect. No such "quota" is ascribed for scientific whaling and yes, Japan does legally take some 300 minke whales annually in the Antarctic under Article VIII. Mallon's mistaken statement perhaps refers to the annual request for interim relief in the amount of 50 minke whales, which has always been denied by IWC membership. 6. The request for 50 minke whales was meant to mean that they would be taken from the North Pacific minke stock, which is some 21,000 animals. 50 whales are below the number which used to be taken annually, and would in no way adversely impact that stock. This has never been a question of statistical impact. The Japanese have honored the moratorium, even in the face of severe hardship and human deprivation in those four communities. They have not acted illegally. 7. The IWC members' decision to establish an Antarctic Sanctuary, in which no whaling would be allowed, was not recommended by the IWC Scientific Committee, and indeed, is seen as redundant and not necessary by scientists, because the Revised Management Procedure, already accepted by the IWC for management of baleen whale species, would more than adequately protect whales in the Antarctic and elsewhere from dangerous overexploitation. The Antarctic Sanctuary vote was not based on scientific advice, but was a statement of cultural preference. The Japanese vote against it may perhaps be understood as their protest of an IWC action taken for other than scientific purposes. It appears that they may continue their research whaling in the Antarctic and this is legal under the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Such limited harvest in no way affects the enormous population of minke whales there. 8. Scientific research whaling, far from being an excuse to put meat on the table, or a 'loophole' in the convention, is regarded as an obligation by those nations whose people depend on whales as part of their food and livelihood from the sea. The Japanese and Norwegian governments take this obligation seriously, as their desire to resume commercial whaling is tempered by the knowledge that any harvest must be truly and demonstrably sustainable forever. The only way to monitor this sustainability and the continued health of whale populations is through ongoing research which includes both sighting surveys and multifocus physical examination of enough individuals to satisfy questions of statistical significance to the stocks involved. Janice S. Henke, from rahenke(\)capital.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 05:10:53 -0700 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: cetaceans and glucose (fwd) Forwarded message: From: hmclach(\)rspca.org.uk Myself and colleagues are in the process of completing a first aid guide for veterinarians attending a stranded cetacean and have come across a query which we would welcome some assistance with.=20 When attempting to administer rehydration fluids to a cetacean does anyone have any experience/knowledge of/references/recommendation about the merits of an electrolyte mix containing glucose, given that glucose is not a normal component of cetacean diets? =20 Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved. Helen McLachlan=20 Senior Scientific Officer RSPCA=20 Causeway=20 Horsham=20 WEst Sussex England RH12 1HG=20 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 13:14:30 -0700 From: "Leah R. Gerber" Subject: students and the Society for Marine Mammalogy Hello, I am a Ph.D. student at the Universtity of Washington, and have recently been elected as the student member-at-large for the Society for Marine Mammalogy's board of governors. The board met early this week, and I thought marmam would be a good avenue for contacting students who are interested in marine mammals. Since my primary role on the Board is to represent students, I welcome any comments and issues relevant to student representation on the Society for Marine Mammalogy. To get the ball rolling, I am interested in developing regional student chapters/organizations for students who study marine mammals. The function of such groups would be to promote scientific discussion, share information about jobs and volunteer positions, and develop a community among maring mammal students from different Universities. One possibility is to convene a student workshop at the next conference; where representatives from each regional chapter may share ideas and discuss issues. Currently, I would like to know if this seems worthwhile to you, and if so, do you have any suggestions/nominations for regional student leaders (or, would you like to volunteer yourelf?) I look forward to hearing from you in the near future, Leah R. Gerber Washington Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit College of Forest Resources, University of Washington Box 357980, Seattle WA 98195 phone: 206-526-6331 email: leah(\)fish.washington.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 14:45:39 +0000 From: seaworld(\)neptune.dbn.lia.net Subject: Vitamin supplementation dolphins. Tursiops truncatus. We would like to scientifically balance our dolphin's vitamin We would like to scientifically balance our dolphin's food supplementation. At present we are using multivitamins and adding Vit B1 (thiami ne) daily. We also add vit B 12 (Cyannocaballamine) and Vit E, Calsium and pollyunsaturated phospholipids where and when the need arises. I can't get any relavent recent litterature and wonder if anyone could comment or advise us please. Dr. Corrina Pieterse. (Vet.) Seaworld, Durban, S. Africa. Tel: 031 37 3536. Fax: 031 37 2132. seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 15:05:56 -0400 From: "Michele L. BIRINGER" Subject: beluga strandings MARMAMers, In reviewing the stranding record from recent years for my master's thesis, I came upon an unusually large increase in the stranding numbers for beluga whales (white whales) in the United States (all in Alaska) for the year 1994. Stranding numbers increased from an average of 5 in the previous 4 years to 196 for 1994 and then dropped to 1 in 1995. Does anybody have an explaination for this dramatic increase in 1994? Please e-mail me directly if you do. Thanks in advance, Michele L. Biringer biringer(\)nsu.acast.nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 14:15:27 -0700 From: "William F. Perrin" Subject: New research consortium in Malaysia I am submitting this posting on behalf of Mr. Saifullah Arifin Jaaman of the Borneo Marine Research Unit (BMRU) at the University of Malaysia Sabah. --Bill Perrin A "Malaysian Marine Mammals and Whale Shark Working Group" was formed in early October. Participating agencies agreed to collect marine mammal and whale shark information and specimens as available, to disseminate information to contribute to public awareness of these animals in Malaysia, and to work toward documentation and population surveys in the Malaysian EEZ of the South China Sea. Research proposals are being prepared for submittal to the Government and to international agencies. Present members of the Working Group include BMRU, the Department of Resource Science and Technology of the University of Malaysia Sarawak, Department of Applied Science and Technology of the University Kolej Terengganu, the Department of Wildlife Sabah, the Fisheries Research Institute Sabah, WWF Malaysia Sabah, Sabah Museum Department, Sabah Parks and Borneo Divers and Sea Sports Sdn. Bhd. Membership is open to all research institutions, agencies and entities in the private sector interested in work on these animals. Postgraduate students will be encouraged to conduct studies on these animals with the help of foreign scientists through collaborative research and international networking. Addresses of agencies and local scientists can be obtained from the Secretariat. The mailing address of the Secretariat is Malaysian Marine Mammals and Whale Shark Working Group Attn: Mr. Saifullah Arifin Jaaman, Secretary Borneo Marine Research Unit, UMS KM 19, Tuaran Road Locked Bag 2073 88999 Kota Kinabalu SABAH, MALAYSIA Bill Perrin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William F. Perrin, Ph.D. 619-546-7096 (voice) Senior Scientist 619-546-7003 (fax) Southwest Fisheries Science Center 619-535-0840 (home) P.O. Box 271 email: wperrin(\)ucsd.edu La Jolla, CA 92038 or (street address): 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, California 92037 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 14:27:16 -0600 From: Matthew Villano Subject: Re: September whale strike by QE2 In-Reply-To: <199610201926.AA096439584(\)merle.acns.nwu.edu> the following is what i and my colleagues could find for jim hain, re his inquiries about a whale being struck by the qe2 and docking in portugal. thanks. mjv ---------- Collated Results: 10 references returned. GNN: Ocean Liner, QE II, Hits Whale 1000, http://reuters.gnn.com/19960918/RTRNEWS-WHALE.html (Excite) Yahoo! - QE2 Liner Hits Whale 876, http://beta.yahoo.com/headlines/960918/entertainment/stories/culture_qe2_1.html (Excite) Whale Watch Azores 778, http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/europe/uk/wwazores/sprin95.html (Excite) Page at this site with the same name: 1.http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/azores/sprin95.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals...In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the sense we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Earth." Matt Villano Locomotive Online Communications 847.328.1958 847.869.9028 mattyjv(\)merle.acns.nwu.edu locomotive(\)nwu.edu http://www.medill.nwu.edu http://www.pyro.net/~loco ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 16:51:50 +1300 From: Corey Bradshaw Subject: Volunteer opportunities with New Zealand fur seals NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL POPULATION DYNAMICS, SITE SELECTION & COLONISATION MODELLING: I am a PhD candidate at the University of Otago, Dunedin (NZ) and will start my second field season this December. I have an extensive pup tagging component to my research, and the more help, the better my sample sizes. I sample from 15 main colonies around the South Island, most of which are in areas of stunning natural beauty. If you would like to volunteer some of your time to this project, please contact: Corey Bradshaw University of Otago Department of Zoology P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, NZ 64 3 479 7665 corey.bradshaw(\)stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46ield accommodation & transport to colonies will be provided. Personal gear, clothing and food are the volunteer's responsibility. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 02:33:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Reply: r.mallon Japan Janice Henke's rebuttal of an article that I posted to Marmam concerning Japanese whaling makes it obvious that I must restate my position on my postings. The articles which I post to Marmam come from various newswires, I have several programs that are searching these newswires looking for articles concerning marine mammals. The vast majority of these articles will never be seen by the vast majority of the readers of Marmam, editorial decisions at the newspaper level will make sure that most of these will never see print. However, these articles are what is being said to the general public concerning marine mammals, if the articles are inacurate, misleading, or just plain lies, as Ms. Henke seems to imply, you, the very people who know the facts, need to correct them at the source. In the last year I have received e-mail accusing me of being a shill for the Japanese and Norwegian whaling interests, as well as being a typical, liberal, tree hugging, seal kissing, environmetal terrorist. Mypublic view on the articles that I post is, I will post any article that I come across, it is not my place to make editorial decisions concerning their content. I always include as much detail from the article as possible as to the source and author of the article so that you may correct the source of the article. I feel that it is my duty to post the articles, it's YOUR duty to see that the inaccuracies, mistakes and lies are corrected. Rich Mallon-Day (r.mallon1(\)genie.geis.com) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 13:33:12 -0700 From: Howard Breen Subject: Re: NMFS - MMPA Take Reduction Env >Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 13:38:19 >To: Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion >From: Howard Breen >Subject: Re: NMFS - MMPA Take Reduction Env > >Does the NMFS plan to include a discussion of salmon aquaculture operations re: destruction of sea lions, seals (and many bird species) in its overall discussion of an EIS/EA for the Take Reduction Plan provisions of the MMPA? > >If so could someone pls. refer some contacts to me on this matter. > >Any references to salmon aquaculture industry-related marine mammal mortalities and the MMPA would also be of enormous assistance to me. > >Cheers, >Howard Breen > >At 11:35 AM 10/9/96 GMT, you wrote: >>NMFS - MMPA Take Reduction Environmental Assessment >> >> WASHINGTON,DC (FedNet, 8-OCT-96) -- NMFS announces its intention to >>begin scoping for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement >>(EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) for anticipated proposed >>rulemaking under the Take Reduction Plan provisions of the Marine >>Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The intended effect is to reduce the >>incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in the >>course of commercial fishing operations. > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Oct 1996 17:57:27 -0800 From: Ken Yarborough- Earth Island Institute Organization: http://www.earthisland.org/ Subject: possible dolphin captures in Philippines for China export Tim Desmond of Active Ocean Environments to Possibly Capture Dolphins in the Philippines and then Export Dolphins to China. Confirmed Desmond Will Also Import Japanase Drive Fishery Dolphins For Re-Export! ------------------------- October 21, 1996 From: Mark Berman Our Philippines office has just been notified that Tim Desmond, formerly of Marineland in Los Angeles and close associate of Jay Sweeney, has applied for permits to capture dolphins in Philippines waters for export to China. In addition a holding facility will be open in the Philippines as an entertainment center to the public. Drive fishery dolphins are now a part of the equation!! As you know Desmond was the trainer for Corky and Orky. It is also known that Desmond has assisted Sweeney in captures. Most recently, Desmond was a consultant to the 'Free Willy I' film in Keiko's training, and worked with Dr. Joe Geraci to create the park in Massachusetts known as 'Geraci Park', which was never developed. Tim Desmond is a U.S. citizen who is not bound by the MMPA, and is therefore going to profit well by exploiting a national treasure and resource of the Philippines: dolphins. This is one more example of a U.S. citizen profiting from the captive dolphin industry in other countries. Our Earth Island Institute Philippines coordinator Trixie Concepcion states the following: "During my last meeting with the Interagency Task Force on Marine Mammal Conservation, (IATFMMC), we had been forewarned that opposing the application may give the wrong impression to the public. As you know, the Philippines is a developing country and ocean parks are quite a novelty here. Tim Desmond's proposed holding facility is being viewed by some of our tourism officials as an additional revenue earner that can also give Filipinos the opportunity to see dolphin shows just like citizens in more advanced countries. EII-Phil. would want to expose and oppose Desmond's proposal for what it is without unduly creating a negative image of ourselves as 'elitist environmentalists'. It is sort of like opposing a project because it doesn't suit the aesthetical sensibilities of some people while totally disregarding the plight of less privileged peoples. I hope you can consider these issues when you write to our officials here. Letters from international contacts will create a big impact and will be highly appreciated." Please send letters ASAP to the following, as time is short: ------------------------- Mr. Victor Ramos Secretary, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Visayas Ave., Diliman Quezon City, Philippines FAX: 011-632-920-43-52 ------------------------- Mr. Wilfrido S. Pollisco Director, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, DENR Queson Avenue, Diliman Oueson City, Philippines FAX: 011-632-924-01-09 ------------------------- Mr. Dennis Araullo Director Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Arcadia Bldg., #860 Quezon Ave. Quezon City, Philippines FAX: 011-632-926-54-98 ------------------------- Please call if you have questions. Thank you for your prompt attention. Fax a copy of your letter to me so that I may forward it to our philippines office, and Brenda Killian director of the International Monitoring Program. ------------------------- Earth Island Institute http://www.earthisland.org/ marinemammal(\)earthisland.org USA 415-788-3666 X 146 Fax 415-788-7324 -- Ken Yarborough Systems Administrator Earth Island Institute kenyarb(\)earthisland.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 22:26:03 -0700 From: Jim Scarff Subject: QE2 striking whale: a little more info >At 12:04 PM 10/18/96 LCL, Jim Hain wrote: >Can someone in Lisbon, Portugal, be of assistance? > >Apparently, on or about 16 September 1996, the QE2 arrived in Lisbon with a >40 ft whale hung on the bow. > >Is there anyone that has additional information and photographs? Was the >carcass examined by any researchers or marine institute? Is information on >species, sex, age available? > A friend gave me the Reuters story a while ago, but I haven't had a chance to post it earlier. It doesn't say much: "Ocean Liner, QE II, Hits Whale "September 18, 1996, 12:10 PM EDT "LONDON (Reuter) - The luxury liner Queen Elizabeth 2 collided with a 15-ton whale during a cruise from Spain to Portugal, its captain said Wednesday. "It is sad and the passengers were concerned, although you couldn't say anyone was distressed. It is one of those things, like running over a cat," Captain Keith Stanley told reporters. "The 60-foot whale was seen pinned against the bow by the force of the tide as the 70,000-ton Cunard liner entered Lisbon harbor Sunday after leaving Cadiz. Rescue workers found it was dead when they removed it. "Stanley said whales normally evaded ships and suggested the mammal may have been dead or ill when it was struck. ``I have been at sea for 40 years and never come across anything like it before.'' Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. Did the Captain really say "it was like running over a cat"? Just how big are the cats in Lisbon? ----------------- Jim Scarff Berkeley, CA, USA http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Jim_Scarff/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 07:57:36 -0700 From: "Robin W. Baird" Subject: renewing Marine Mammal Science subscriptions via e-mail Greetings, I recently received a notice about renewing my Marine Mammal Science subscription, and in an effort to make this process simpler and save paper etc, I checked into renewals via e-mail. I thought I would let other people know that they can renew their membership to Marine Mammal Science via e-mail, and save on postage costs etc that way. This is only the case if you are paying for your renewal using credit cards. Following is some information from Richard Walker, the Business Manager at Allen Press as to the process: From: Richard Walker "We have no objections if people wish to send us renewals using credit card/expiration numbers for VISA or MASTERCARD only. Please be advised that we offer no security against potential peeping toms who may be stealing credit card numbers from unsecure email messages." J. Richard Walker PO Box 1897 Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Phone: 800-627-0629 Fax: 913-843-1274 Anyone should write directly to him (rwalker(\)allenpress.com) if you wish to pursue this - I am only posting this message as I thought people would be interested. I used this process (payment via e-mail) to purchase back issues of Marine Mammal Science and to change my mailing address (new mailing address below, btw) for the Society, and it seemed to work very well (though I have no idea what the risk is of unsecure e-mail messages having credit card numbers "stolen"). Robin ======================================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ======================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 11:35:15 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 10/25/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Swordfish/Tuna Take Reduction Meeting. On Oct. 21-22, 1996, NMFS held a public scoping meeting in Warwick, RI, on ways to further reduce the interaction between marine mammals and commercial fishermen in the Atlantic swordfish pelagic drift gillnet and Atlantic swordfish/tuna pelagic longline fisheries. [NOAA press release] . Whale Stranding Volunteer Death. On Oct. 15, 1996, a 44-year old volunteer, known to be suffering from a liver disease, died from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, contracted when he cut himself on a rock during a rescue attempt on a beached pygmy sperm whale near Boca Raton, FL, three days earlier. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 20:46:34 -0400 From: Mark Subject: ACS conference update ACS CONFERENCE UPDATE American Cetacean Society - 1996 Conference - WHALES IN TODAY'S WORLD: Bridging Science, Policy & People November 8-10, 1996 Double Tree Hotel San Pedro, California ACS continues its tradition of presenting scientific information in an understandable and accessible format for the public. This conference will explore some of the complex issues surrounding cetaceans today. It will include field researchers, educators, and the public. Early registration rates have been extended until November 4, 1996. Invited speakers and planned topics include: FUTURE OF WHALING Bob Brownell - The Future of the International Whaling Commission. Phil Clapham - How Scientists Can Influence Whaling Policy TBD - Subsistence or canadian whaling presentation. WHALES AND HUMANS Bernd Wursig - Swim with Dolphin Programs in Nature. Mike Glenn - Improvements/Benefits of Captive Environments for Marine Mammals. Ken Balcomb - Potential of Re-releases of Captive Orcas to the Wild. CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND CRISES Dave Wiley - Conflicts Between Marine Mammals and Humans Uses. TBD - River dolphins or vaquitas presentation. Karen Steuer - Upcoming Legislation in Washington, D.C. re: Marine Mammals and Crises Concerning Them. SOUNDS AND STRESSES IN THE SEA Christopher Clark - Importance of Acoustics in the Sea. Darlene Ketten - Hearing and Hearing Diseases in Whales. Carol Carlson - Spread and Potential Impact of Whale-Watching on Whales Worldwide. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS: Note: Filled as registrations are received, first come-first served. Conservation How to Integrate Conservation and Science - Dave Wiley How to Get Your Voice Heard in D.C. - Karen Steuer Cabrillo Marine Cetacean Conservation - Aquarium Staff Curricula/Education ACS Cetacean Curriculum - ACS Education staff Stephen Birch Marine Mammal Curriculum - Denise Leone Whalewatching as an Effective Teaching Tool - Carole Carlson/Mason Weinrich Academic Prep./Research Opps. for College Students - Bernd Wursig Technology Cetacean Internet Resources - Mark Schilling WhaleNet: Student/Scientist Interactive Program - Sue Lafferty Nat'l Geo. Crittercam Video Footage and Discussion - Greg Marshall Reasearch/Issues Orca Population in the Pacific Northwest - Ken Balcomb Marine Mammal Strandings - John Heyning Whale kills and science in the Soviet Union - Bob Brownell Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Issues - Mike Glenn SPECIAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES Poster session on issues related to cetaceans Sales of cetaceans and other marine mammals items Field trips to local marine mammal facilities Friday Night reception hosted by Cabrillo Marine Aquarium FEES (includes registration, reception, and banquet, discount before 11/4/96) Non Member $165 posted after 11/4/96 - $190 Member $145 posted after 11/4/96 - $170 Student $95 posted after 11/4/96 - $120 One Day $80 posted after 11/4/96 - $125 (banquet and reception not included) For more information, or to receive a registration packet, send a postcard to ACS National, P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA 90733, or contact ACS by e-mail (acs(\)pobox.com), phone (310) 548-6279, or FAX (310) 548-6950. Look for current conference info and registration materials on the web at: http://www.Friend.ly.Net/user-homepages/b/birdman/acsrgstr.htm Posted by: birdman(\)friend.ly.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 19:26:11 -0400 From: Hestermm(\)aol.com Subject: JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Job Announcement Attention Marine Mammologists with seabird experience and interests check out this amazing job opportunity: Point Reyes Bird Observatory is seeking a marine ornithologist/mammologist to conduct research on the conservation and population biology of seabirds/pinnipeds in the Gulf of the Farallones, California, USA. This full-time position includes participation in long-term (>25 yr) demographic studies of seabird and marine mammal populations on the Farallon Islands with some opportunity to design and implement new research. Position involves field station management (housing, electrical generators, boats, outboards, etc.), coordination of logistics, data collection, supervision of research assistants, and analysis and publication of research results. This is primarily a field research position involving at least 6 months/year living on the Farallones. Mainland time will be spent working a variety of other conservation-related projects on seabirds/marine mammals in California and report/publication preparation. Qualifications: MS/PhD, field experience with seabirds and marine mammals, statistical and computer skills, and ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Must be able to tolerate living on a small, very isolated island, in a communal household. Starting date: January/February 1997. Moderate salary/DOE, vacation, health and dental benefits. Three year commitment required. Please send CV with phone numbers for 3 references to Bill Sydeman, Director of Farallon/Marine Studies, Point Reyes Bird Observatory, 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA, 94970, USA. Michelle Hester Farallon/Marine Biologist (hestermm(\)aol.com) P.S. Did you all hear that Northern Fur Seals produced one pup on the Farallon Islands, California this summer. First pup documented since 1817!! ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 08:52:53 -0700 From: GreenLife Society Subject: 2d Annual IWLC Call for Speakers: 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference The 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference will take place on April 8, 1997 in Washington DC at the Georgetown University Law Center. =20 Conference co-sponsors: =B7 American Society of International Law's wildlife section =B7 GreenLife Society - North America =B7 Georgetown International Environmental Law Review =B7 Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy =B7 Environmental Law Society, American University School of Law =B7 Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University The conference will utilize the same three panel format as at last year's conference. The panels for the conference are as follows: 1. The precautionary principle and international wildlife treaty regimes; 2. The International Whaling Commission and the aboriginal whaling= exception 3. The impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity: present and future We are currently seeking speakers for each panel. Speakers will be accorded 15-20 minutes for presentations. They will also be accorded the opportunity to publish longer versions of their remarks in a special symposium issue of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy. Please contact us as soon as possible if you're interested in speaking, or require additional information. Please also contact us if you're interested in being placed on our mailing list for registration materials when they become available. GreenLife Society - North America 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA (510) 558-0620 (Ph./Fax) E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW: site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html William C. Burns =09 Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter=20 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA =09 Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620=09 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org =09 WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html =09 GLSNA Affiliations: The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D= -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 08:08:23 -0700 From: Brent Stewart Subject: General Interest; Review of Marine Mammal Commission Compendium ECOLOGY LAW QUARTERLY 23:196-199 1996; Book Review THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION COMPENDIUM OF SELECTED TREATIES, INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS ON MARINE RESOURCES, WILDLIFE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT COMPILED BY RICHARD L. WALLACE. WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1994. PP. 3547 (THREE VOLS.). $68.00. BRENT S. STEWART, Ph.D., Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109 and Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, CA. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA, 16 U.S.C. s 1361 et seq.)established the Marine Mammal Commission, inter alia, to "recommend to the Secretary of State appropriate policies regarding existing international arrangements for the protection and conservation of marine mammals, and suggest appropriate international arrangements for the protection and conservation of marine mammals." 16 U.S.C. s 1401. In pursuit of these goals, Executive Director John Twiss, Jr., asked Richard L. Wallace to lead the Commission staff in collection of recent international documents and agreements on marine resources. The staff began work in 1991 (1) to facilitate a comprehensive review of treaties and other agreements regarding fisheries, and (2) to identify points for potential incorporation into future agreements that would assure an ecologically-sound approach to the conservation of fish and marine mammal species and stocks. The task's enormity quickly became apparent as the staff confronted the wide dispersion of documents and the sheer difficulty of identifying and acquiring the relevant treaties and agreements. These problems even extended to identification of the original sources of some materials. Over the course of the project, Twiss came to realize the value that this collated reference collection would have in the hands of others as well--legislators, policy makers, wildlife and natural resource managers, wildlife biologists, conservation organizations, and environmental attorneys. The Commission's two-year research effort resulted in this remarkably affordable, three-volume paperback set containing the texts of several hundred international agreements. This compilation focuses on international treaties and agreements to which the United States is a party. It contains the complete texts of 111 multilateral and 93 bilateral treaties and agreements involving 32 nations. Amendments and protocols to those documents are included through December 31, 1992, and the Commission plans to issue supplemental updates of amendments, annexes, and protocols every three years, beginning in 1996. The Compendium fills a void in affordable research sources in this field. While supplements to some pre-1980 treaties and agreements are carried by Westlaw and LEXIS/Nexis, the complete original text of those conventions are not generally available on those electronic services. This coverage of the earlier documents alone makes the compilation highly valuable as asingle-source reference collection. The compilation presents the documents in two sections. The first section, containing multilateral documents, covers seven subjects: Antarctica; Environment and Natural Resources; Fisheries; Marine Mammals; Marine Pollution; Marine Science and Exploration; and Other. The second section contains the bilateral materials, arranged alphabetically by nation, and then for each nation arranged according to the same seven subjects used in the first section. The complete Table of Contents appears in the front of each of the three volumes and reflects this organization in detail, making it easy to locate documents by subject or nation. Essential information appears on each document's cover page. Included are a primary source citation, the city and date where the document was concluded, the date the document came into force, and the nation or organization where the treaty or agreement is deposited. The original parties to the treaty also appear on the cover page. Although subsequent additions and resignations were intentionally omitted, the Compendium refers readers to several sources that track changes in treaty parties, such as Treaties in Force (U.S. Department of State annual publication), Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of Environment (United Nations Environment Programme biennial publication); and the depositary governments or organizations. In addition, the Commission plans to update lists of signatory parties in the triennial supplements beginning in 1996. While the Compendium contains the essentials, some brief analytic annotation would be a welcome addition. Notes on the background and evolution of the documents would further extend the collection's value and utility as a basic reference. Such an effort for the Compendium suggests a good project for some motivated law students, and one which the Commission might consider as an addition to future supplements. John P. Dwyer and Marika P. Bergsund offer a good example of this type of statutory annotation in their recent compilation of U.S. environmental law, Federal Environment Laws Annotated (Shephard's/McGraw-Hill, 1993), which is updated annually. Owing to its focus on U.S. international treaties and agreements, the Compendium may have less value to persons and organizations in other countries. Nonetheless, foreign and domestic readers alike can look to it as a generalized statement of the United States' consensual obligations to conserve international marine resources. To that extent, it would have benefited from the addition of some U.S. laws relevant to wildlife that have potential impact beyond U.S. borders. Many of those indicate how the United States' domestic legal system mightincorporate international treaty obligations, as well as how existing domestic laws might influence implementation of the international treaties and agreements. Particularly relevant statutes include the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. s 1361 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. s 1531 et seq.), the Packwood Amendment to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. s 1821(e)(2)), and the Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman's Protection Act of 1967 (22 U.S.C. s 1978). Given the Compendium's multi-section organization, it could perhaps accommodate such an addition with a new third section in a future update. Readers unfamiliar with legal documents will likely experience some difficulties in using this resource. Listing a few background references on international law would greatly assist them. Particularly appropriate candidates include: Patricia W. Birnie and Alan E. Boyle, International Law and the Environment, 1992; Mark W. Janis, An Introduction to International Law, 2d ed. 1993; and Philippe Sands, Principles of International Environmental Law: Volume I. Frameworks, Standards and Implementation, 1995. Furthermore, an introductory section covering general principles of international law could meet this need for many of the Compendium's novice users. Perhaps later supplements will include such aids. The Marine Mammal Commission Compendium may provide the most complete desk reference currently available on marine wildlife and resource law. Future appendices could effectively heal its few weaknesses, and the Commission already plans to fill some of those gaps with its first triennial supplement. However, even in its present form it proves itself essential to those whose work involves marine mammals in domestic and international waters. Considering the difficulty of individually acquiring these documents and the Compendium's modest price (other collections in the field carry prices in excess of $600!), it should also find a place in most reference collections on U.S. environmental law, whether academic, scientific, professional, or nonprofit. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 11:58:27 -0700 From: Serge L Dedina Subject: Gray Whale Report The following report on gray whale conservation in Mexico can now be found on the Web at: http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/ej/jpe/serge.htm Conservation and Development in the Gray Whale Lagoons of Baja California Sur, Mexico. 1995. Serge Dedina and Emily Young. Washington, D.C. : Marine Mammal Commission. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 1996 17:10:48 +0800 From: John McMullan Subject: Marine Park in Philippines Further to Ken Yarborough's posting re a marine park in the Philippines the following was in a Manila newspaper last week. John McMullan kiwi(\)netasia.net ----------------------------------------- Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday, October 24, 1996 Page 7. Marine park to rise at Subic. A P30 million marine mammal park will soon rise at a former US naval base now converted into a special Philippine economic and tourist zone north of here, officials said yesterday. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SMBA) said that the project, to be undertaken by the US based zoological consulting firm, Active Environments Inc. is being finalized. The proposed conservation, research and breeding centre for marine mammals, primarily dolphins, is expected to boost ecotourism in Subic, said SMBA Chair Richard Gordan in a statement. The United States withdrew from Subic in 1992 after the lease on its naval base there was not renewed by the Philippine senate. AFP ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 10:08:22 +0000 From: seaworld(\)neptune.dbn.lia.net Subject: vitamins for dolphins At SEA WORLD Durban, we have 10 dolphins, 9 tursiops truncatus and one lagenorynchus obscurus. We would like to scientifically balance our dolphin's v itamin supplementation. At present we are using multivitamin tablets and adding vitamin B1 (thiamine) daily, as well as vitamin B12 (cyanocaballamine), vitamin E, Calcium and pollyunsaturated phosopholipids (Essentialle) where and when necessary. Could you please comment. Is there any relevant information available that is applicable to dolphins? I could not find any. Dr Corrina Peiterse (Vet) Assistant Curator: Health SEA WORLD Durban, South Africa seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 15:35:55 +0000 From: Samantha Strindberg Subject: Research posts ------------------------------------------------- U N I V E R S I T Y O F S T A N D R E W S _________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------- School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment Statisticians (Research staff, grade 1A and 1B) _________________________________________________ Two statisticians are required. The first post is jointly funded by two UK research councils, EPSRC and BBSRC, to coordinate a project to develop integrated methods for the design and analysis of sightings surveys. Also involved in the project are 3 postgraduate students, and researchers from Colorado and Seattle. Further details are given at http://www-ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/survey.html . The post is for three years. Applicants should have good computer skills and a relevant qualification (preferably a PhD) in statistics or a related field. The second position is for a statistician to work on wildlife population assessment projects. The successful candidate will contribute to a two-year project to quantify discard rates on commercial fishing vessels. There will be opportunities to participate in other wildlife assessment projects. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in fisheries assessment, or some other field of wildlife population assessment. The post is for two years. The successful applicants will join an active and international research group in the Statistics Division within the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. The Division comprises 12 academic and research staff and was awarded a research rating of 4 by the UFC in the last research assessment. The activities of the Research Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment (RUWPA) are funded by several international and government agencies, and centre on the development of population assessment methods, population management models and spatial models for animal abundance. Salaries will be at appropriate points on the 1B/1A grades for research staff (14317-21519 pounds). Application forms and further particulars of the posts are available from the Head of Personnel Services, University of St Andrews, College Gate, North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, Tel: 01334 462571 (24hrs), Fax: 01334 462570, E-mail: Jobline(\)st-andrews.ac.uk, to whom completed application forms, accompanied by a cv and letter of application, should be returned to arrive no later than 25 November 1996. Please quote Ref. No. KC119/AMC1. If you wish to discuss the posts, please contact Prof S Buckland (tel. 01334 463787; e-mail steve(\)cs.st-andrews.ac.uk) or D Borchers (tel. 01334 463806; e-mail dlb(\)cs.st-andrews.ac.uk). More information on RUWPA and its work is given at: http://www-ruwpa.cs.st-and.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 09:07:55 -0800 From: "Michael L. Torok" Organization: Zayante Research Associates Subject: HSIL now available via WWW The Harbor Seal Investigator List (HSIL) is now available via the WWW from my homepage at the following address: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4562 >From this site you can retrieve either uncompressed or PKZIPed versions of the latest edition. If you are not currently on the list, you may also submit your information from this site as well. Please direct any questions or comments to mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com. Regards, Michael Torok ====================================================================== Michael L. Torok Marine Biologist Zayante Research Associates mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com Voice (408) 462-3099 ====================================================================== PGP-encrypted mail encouraged. To receive a copy of my PGP public key, mailto:mltorok(\)ix.netcom.com with "Send PGP key" as the subject. ====================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 1996 13:16:05 -0700 From: maya miteva Organization: Mount Holyoke College Subject: beluga whale information I am searching for information on feeding behaviors of beluga whles. I am interested in feeding behaviors during time of estrus, if you know of any sources that would be helpful, it would be greatly appreciated! My address jhwalker(\)mhc.mtholyoke.edu Thank you ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 16:43:51 -0700 From: Andrew Wenzel Hello: I am a naturalist and shipboard lecturer. I spend six to eight months a year in the Arctic and the Antarctic. I am always seeking current information on marine mammals to keep my lectures as current, accurate and informative as possible. Here are just a few questions I am seeking answers to: Why do elephant seals sneeze so much in wallows? Is it to expel excess salt? If so, why would there be excess salt if they are fasting? There always seems to be abundant nasal mucus. Is it simply irritation? Very often elephant seals lie in their own excrement while they molt in wallows. Does that aid in the molting process? What is the latest thought on pinniped echolocation? Is there any concrete evidence that shows seals can echolocate? What is the latest dive profile information on Southern Elephant seals? Do they match their northern counterparts? Do baleen whales echolocate? I can't find any conclusive evidence either way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Andy awenzel(\)portal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 1996 11:44:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: Dolphins "Largely unaffec QLD: Dolphins "Largely unaffected" by hand-feeding BRISBANE, Oct 23 AAP - Dolphins in Moreton Bay off Brisbane and at Sea World on the Gold Coast remained largely unaffected by their contact with humans, a researcher has found. But hand-feeding and human interaction should still be limited and closely monitored, said University of Queensland doctorate student, Ilze Brieze. She found the movements and behaviour patterns of bottlenose dolphins feeding at the Tangalooma Island resort in Moreton Bay were similar to those of other wild dolphins in the area. The captive bottlenoses at Sea World, where groups of up to 10 people feed and swim with dolphins in a pool for 20 minutes four times a day, appeared to respond positively to the interaction, she said. Working with academics from the university's Farm Animal Medicine and Production Department, Ms Brieze carried out the one-year study following evidence that dolphins at Monkey Mia in Western Australia had become dependent on hand-feeding. This had resulted in dolphins seeking food from boats outside designated 'safe' areas, exposing them to pollution, disease and inappropriate foods. In some cases, Ms Brieze said, female dolphins neglected their calves in the search for food from humans, resulting in a higher death rate among their young. She added that while the results of her study were generally positive, follow-up studies should be carried out at least every two years. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 6 Oct 1996 20:25:34 -0700 From: Howard Breen Subject: Salmon Aquaculture Threats Dear MARMAMers- As you may be aware, British Columbia (Canada) is currently undertaking its first provincial Environmental Assessment of Salmon Aquaculture (a very hurried review, I might add). As a rep sitting at the review table I would most appreciate any information (esp. electronic sources, and individual eddresses) and contactees that can provide an alternative view to the industry's commercial bias for expansion of the industry, which in my view may imperil wild salmon stocks, aboriginal & commercial traditional fisheries, benthic marine communities, a wide range of cetaceans and pinnipeds, eco-tourism, and so forth. I would be particularly interested in the following: a) Websites highlighting environmental regulations for fishfarms > (what are currently the world's best? Do they take into consideration new > environmental varibilities such as climate change & species collapse?) >b) Use of Chemicals: fish anaesthetics, disinfectants, hormones, pesticides, > antifoulants. Is there a global body monitoring oceanic discharging by > the aquaculture industry? >c) The Alaskan ban on fishfarming; and lessons from other jurisdictions >d) Use of antibiotics >e) Predator Control: Acoustics devices; testimony of "shootings" ; the de-populating > of sea lion/seal haul-outs; migration route disturbances; efforts to mitigate > the use of nets to safeguard fish-farms from birds & pinnipeds thereby reducing > net entanglements >f) Waste Discharges: Evidence of (near-)complete benthic collapse >h) Atlantic Salmon Interactions: Escaped hybrids intermixing, predating etc. >i) Cases of non-compliance by fishfarmers esp. in the Pacific Northwest; > Examples of punitive damages judgments for operational abuses; >j) Examples of "aquaculture containment" under CZM >k) Siting Issues (placements in environmentally-sensitive locales i.e. > predation on wild smolts, larvae etc.); determining overall carrying capacity > for coastal salmon aquaculture >l) Spread of ff diseases to wild species & risks posed to human seafood consumers >m) Info relating to assistance to dislocated traditional fishers due to aquaculture > impacts >n) Does the U.S. Invasive Species Act '96 have references to aquasculture? >o) International fishery agreements with aquaculture impact provisions >p) Worse case scenarios for a tenfold expansion of BC aquaculture >q) The establishment of marine protected areas ("replenishment reserves") to safeguard > marine aquaculture presence. > >Your time and effort in responding to this information request is widely appreciated by the Review's Environmental, First Nations, Labour, and Community Representatives. Your response will be forwarded to them all for further discussion and will be integrated into our submission preparation work. > >NOTE: Please post privately, and not to the entire FishFolk list (eddress below): > >Best regards, > >Howard Breen >SAR Representative >Georgia Strait Alliance > >HBreen(\)island.net >Voice: 604.247-7467 >Fax: 604.247-9902 > > > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 15:31:07 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: whale stock estimates -- late 1960s or early 1970s Marmam: Can anyone suggest a reference which might give me any sperm whale and/or minke whale population or stock estimates from anytime in the late 1960s or early 1970s? Anything like this is the IWC annual reports? Thanks for any suggestions. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 12:18:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Cetacean Postdoc in New Zealand (fwd) Forwarded message: Note: new closing date for applications ============================================================================ The Pathology and Pathophysiology of Stranded Cetaceans in New Zealand MURF Postdoctoral Fellowship Available for Cetacean Pathologist January 1997 to December 1998 $42,500 per annum Closing date for applications : 30 November 1996 Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health Faculty of Veterinary Science Massey University Palmerston North NEW ZEALAND Massey University Cetacean Investigation Centre is committed to the investigation of the biology, biophysics and pathophysiology of cetaceans. An exciting post has been made possible by the support of the Massey University Research Fund. The aim of the project is to carry out detailed pathological examination of stranded cetaceans with ancillary tests to establish the health status and possible reasons for strandings in New Zealand waters. The Department of Conservation is collaborating with the Faculty of Veterinary Science by providing stranded cetaceans for full post mortem examination. Where carcasses cannot be transported, field examination will be undertaken. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake cetacean necropsies and will be supported by clinical pathology, microbiology, virology, parasitology and molecular biology laboratories. The laboratories are well-equipped for conducting a full range of analytical and investigative techniques. The Department has 14 academic staff and 14 technical assistants. The Department interacts collaboratively with the university Departments of Physiology and Anatomy, Ecology and Physics as well as other universities and research institutes both nationally and internationally. Within the Departments of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Physiology and Anatomy, and Physics, other cetacean research is ongoing. Since 1992, studies have been carried out on humane slaughter techniques and use of the electric lance in whales. At present this work is developing to involve magnetic resonance and impedance imaging and in addition there are studies of the anatomy of the head and eye of cetaceans and digestive tract of seals. Applicants should have a PhD, preferably in Veterinary Science, and experience in diagnostic pathology. Previous work with marine mammals would be an advantage, however the ability to organise and coordinate, work with a team and collaborate with those in the field and other research institutes is considered to be especially important. Applications should arrive no later than 30 November 1996. Further details and an application form are available from: Ms L Hensman (MURF Cetacean Postdoc) Human Resources Section Massey University Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North, New Zealand For further information on the project in the first instance please contact Jane Hunter, project coordinator. Dr J E B Hunter Senior Lecturer Dept. Veterinary Pathology and Public Health Massey University Private Bag 11222 Palmerston North New Zealand Tel +64 6 356 9099 ext. 7894/7995 Fax +64 6 350 5636 Email J.E.B.Hunter(\)massey.ac.nz ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 15:26:28 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: marine mammal law -- Canada and New Zealand? Marmam: I have heard that both Canada and New Zealand also have one or more specific laws providing some measure of protection for certain marine mammals. I am looking for short paragraph describing such laws along with a proper legal citation to these laws. Can anyone suggest a source for this information? Thanks. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 11:31:07 EST From: William Rossiter <71322.1637(\)CompuServe.COM> Subject: Book wanted Do you have a copy of "Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine", edited by Leslie Dierauf, that you would be willing to sell or donate to Cetacean Society International? CSI intends to donate all copies that we might be able to purchase or receive to several scientific groups that have an immediate and significant need for this excellent reference, beginning with Dr Vic Cockcroft in South Africa, who has appealed directly for CSI's help. Most others will go to Latin America. Dierauf's book is very hard to get internationally, and expensive to send. CSI will cover those costs, and donate the books to places where they will be well used. Obviously we are looking for used books, to cut costs. All donated books will be considered donations to CSI, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit NGO. Thank you very much, Bill Rossiter, President, Cetacean Society International POB 953, Georgetown, CT 06877 USA ph/fx 203-544-8617 <71322.1637(\)compuserve.com> ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 16:58:00 -0800 From: Marcie Tarvid Subject: Information request on Baytril Fellow Marmam subscribers, I am seeking information concerning the use of Baytril (enrofloxacin) on young growing sea otters, Enhydra lutris. According to the drug literature the use of enrofloxacin is inadvisable in small and medium dogs during rapid growth phases. It appears to cause erosion of articular cartilage during rapid growth stages. Has anyone seen any signs or indications of problems (possibly related to joints) when Baytril has been used on marine mammals, specifically sea otters. It is difficult to tell how a problem would manifest itself in a mobile sea otter or other marine mammal. In dogs, there have been clinical signs of a limp or abnormal gait. In otters or sealions, they might be reluctant to walk on land if they normally do, or there might be a problem during swimming or a reluctance to actively swim. I am hoping to obtain feedback concerning the use of this drug and whether there were noticeable problems or not. It would be helpful to give a brief description of the situation such as the animal's age, drug dosage, longevity and signs indicating a problem or concern. Thanks once again for any otter info you might have! Marcie Tarvid Sr. Sea Otter Aquarist Monterey Bay Aquarium email: mtarvid(\)mbayaq.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 29 Oct 1996 12:32:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Dolphin Safe Dolphin Safe By ROBERT GREENE Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Clinton administration will push again next year to allow imports of tuna caught by methods that also kill some dolphins, a State Department official said Monday. The official, Brian Hallman, said in an interview that the administration made the commitment last week at a meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission in La Jolla, Calif. Representatives of the member countries discussed what steps to take since Congress did not pass legislation that would allow tuna imports from countries that use fishing methods that hold down the number of dolphins killed, and allow the "dolphin safe" label on the tuna. The bill would reverse the 1988 ban on catching tuna by chasing and encircling the dolphins that travel along with them, killing some of the dolphins. The ban allows only tuna imports that are "dolphin safe," meaning that no dolphins were killed in catching the fish. At the same meeting, Mexico said it would suspend its participation in a year-old international agreement to hold down dolphin kills, said Hallman, deputy director of the Office of Marine Conservation. The other countries agreed to continue their participation for now. The uncertain outcome of the Nov. 5 congressional elections makes it difficult to gauge how the legislation might fare in 1997. "It's hard to make a judgment at this point on what the prospects for that would be," Hallman said. "And I think the Latin American countries are fully aware of that, too." The House in July approved a bill, 316-108, that would have permitted tuna imports once again from Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru, along with the southern Pacific island country of Vanuatu. The bill foundered in the Senate, in part because of a filibuster threat by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Environmentalists were divided over the bill. Supporters of the bill say the international agreement, with its quota on dolphin kills and provisions for international monitoring, will encourage steps to save dolphins. The agreement limits the kill to fewer than 5,000 dolphins a year out of a population estimated at 10 million. Without the legislation, backers say, foreign fleets will go back to killing dolphins and selling to countries that have no rules. If Mexico permanently withdrew from the agreement, for instance, 40 percent of the fleet in the eastern Pacific would no longer be covered. Also, supporters of the bill say, restrictions that shield dolphins encourage fishing methods that kill young tuna, sharks, sea turtles, billfish and other important marine life. Opponents, however, say the current ban is the best. Although fewer dolphins may be killed, opponents say the practice is cruel and stressful, separates dolphin mothers from their offspring, and keeps populations from thriving. "We will not allow a weakening of U.S. dolphin protection laws," said David Phillips, director of the Earth Island Institute, a San Francisco-based environmental group. He called the proposal an effort to sacrifice true protection for the sake of trade with Mexico. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 17:29:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Strategies for pursuing a career in marine mammal science (fwd) The following is available (with active links) from the SMM home page. http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- STRATEGIES FOR PURSUING A CAREER IN MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE The field of marine mammal science has a growing appeal. Yet, many students do not clearly understand what the field involves. This brochure addresses questions commonly asked by people seeking a career in marine mammal science in the United States and provides suggestions on how to plan education and work experience. What is marine mammal science? There are about 100 species of aquatic or marine mammals that depend on fresh water or the ocean for part or all of their life. These species include pinnipeds, which are seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus; cetaceans, which are baleen and toothed whales, ocean and river dolphins, and porpoises; sirenians, which are manatees and dugongs; and some carnivores, such as sea otters and polar bears. Marine mammal scientists try to understand these animals' genetic, systematic, and evolutionary relationships; population structure; community dynamics; anatomy and physiology; behavior and sensory abilities; parasites and diseases; geographic and microhabitat distributions; ecology; management; and conservation. How difficult is it to pursue a career in marine mammal science? Working with marine mammals is appealing because of strong public interest in these animals and because the work is personally rewarding. However, competition for positions is keen. There are no specific statistics available on employment of students trained as marine mammal scientists. However, in 1990 the National Science Board reported some general statistics for employment of scientists within the US: 75% of scientists with B.S. degrees were employed (43% of them held positions in science or engineering), 20% were in graduate school, and 5% were unemployed. Marine mammal scientists are hired because of their skills as scientists, not because they like or want to work with marine mammals. A strong academic background in basic sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, coupled with good training in mathematics and computers, is the best way to prepare for a career in marine mammal science. Persistence and diverse experiences make the most qualified individuals. Often developing a specialized scientific skill or technique, such as acoustics analysis, biostatistics, genetic analysis, or biomolecuIar analyses, provides a competitive edge. What are typical salaries in marine mammal careers? Marine mammal scientists enter this field for the satisfaction of the work, not for the money-making potential of the career. Salaries vary greatly among marine mammal scientists, with government and industry jobs having the highest pay. Salary levels will increase with years of experience and graduate degrees, but generally remain low considering the amount of experience and education needed. High competition in this field most likely will keep salaries at a modest level. A 1990 survey of 1,234 mammalogists conducted by the American Society of Mammalogists indicated that 42.7% of the respondents earned >$40,000/year. The salary range that included the most respondents (21.2%) was the $30,000-$40,000 range. What types of jobs involve marine mammals? Most jobs with marine mammals are not as exciting or glamorous as popular television programs make them seem. Marine mammal studies often involve long, hard, soggy, sunburned days at sea, countless hours in a laboratory, extensive work on computers, hard labor such as hauling buckets of fish to feed animals, hours of cleanup, numerous reports, tedious grant applications and permit applications. As in other fields of science, jobs dealing with marine mammals vary widely. Examples of marine mammal jobs include researcher, field biologist, fishery vessel observer, laboratory technician, animal trainer, animal care specialist, veterinarian, whalewatch guide, naturalist, educator at any level and government or private agency positions in legislative, management, conservation, and animal welfare issues. Many marine mammal scientists work with museum displays and collections, as a curator, an artist, an illustrator, a photographer, or a film maker. Answers to the following questions will help focus interests and indicate which marine mammal scientists and facilities to contact for education, work experience, and job opportunities. 1) What specific areas are of interest, e.g. anatomy, physiology, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, ethology, psychology, molecular biology, genetics, veterinary medicine, pathology, toxicology, biostatistics, management, conservation, museum curation, or education? 2) What species or group of marine mammals is of interest, e.g. cetaceans, sirenians or marine carnivores? 3) Is a career involved in field or laboratory work desired? 4) Is a career involve with care of animals, teaching, research, or legislative/policy matters wanted? 5) Is working for government, industry, academia, oceanaria, museums, private organizations, or self-employment best? 6) In what part of the world is work desired? For example, the manatee is an endangered species in Florida. They have a high mortality rate because of accidental entrapment in flood control gates, collisions with speed boats, and loss of habitat. Local, state, and federal governments fund research on this species. Some local industries also are involved with management of manatees. Therefore, people wanting to study manatees most likely should look for education and work experience at universities and research facilities in Florida. Who employs marine mammal scientists? A variety of international, federal, state, and local government agencies employ marine mammal scientists for positions in research, education, management, and legal/policy development. U.S. federal agencies include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Minerals Management Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US National Biological Service, US Navy, Office of Naval Research, Coast Guard, and Marine Mammal Commission. Other Federal agencies that work on marine-related issues include the National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of State, and Smithsonian Institution. When oceanic operations, such as oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation, affect marine mammals these industries often hires marine mammal experts. Because commercial fishing operations can conflict with marine mammal conservation, some fishing organizations hire marine mammal scientists. Many environmental, advocacy, and animal welfare organizations hire marine mammal specialists. Oceanaria and zoos hire marine mammal specialists for veterinary care, husbandry, training, research, and education programs. Museums hire marine mammal specialists for educational programs, research, and curatorial positions. What education is necessary to become a marine mammal scientist? High School Studies: A broad education is essential for finding employment in marine mammal science. High school courses such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and language will provide a good educational base. Consult a guidance counselor for help in selecting course work. Good grades are essential for admission to a university. Undergraduate Studies: Most entry-level marine mammal jobs require a B.S. degree, with a major in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or psychology. A minor in any science, computer science, mathematics, statistics, or engineering also can be helpful. Good language and technical writing skills are essential. Many people are surprised by the amount of writing involved in marine mammal professions. Because marine mammals are found worldwide, foreign language training often is useful. A student must first become a scientist before specializing in marine mammals. Generally, undergraduate students will concentrate on a basic science curriculum and rarely have an opportunity to take courses related to marine mammal science. Specialization in marine mammals generally comes later through practical work experience or while working toward an advanced degree. In other words, if your B.S. degree program does not include courses in marine sciences, do not become discouraged. Concentrate on finding practical experience and/or a master's degree with emphasis in marine mammal science. Maintaining a high grade point average as an undergraduate is very important to gain admission to graduate school. Graduate Studies: The master's degree is usually the first opportunity college students have to specialize in marine mammal science. Care should be taken to select an advisor with experience in the subject and a reputable university with a diverse curriculum that will enable s focus on marine mammal science. Students who have dual majors or interdisciplinary training sometimes have more employment opportunities. Because the field of marine mammal science is so diverse, students who train in specialized areas have practical tools that may help them gain employment. For example, a graduate degree in statistics can be very useful for entering the field of population assessment. A degree in electrical engineering can be particularly useful for bioacoustic research. A graduate degree in environmental law can be important for developing a career in government policy-making or conservation. What additional career opportunities will a graduate degree provide? With a B.S. degree, potential positions include animal care specialist, animal trainer, field technician, laboratory technician, consultant for industry, and entry-level government position. Generally, jobs at this level offer little opportunity for self-directed work. The M.S. degree can facilitate individual work with marine mammals, e.g. designing research projects, developing management plans, supervising field or laboratory studies, or heading programs in education, husbandry, or training. The acquisition of a Ph.D. or D.V.M. (or both) provides more career opportunities, including design and management of field and laboratory research programs, university faculty positions, coordination of government and industry programs, and management positions in oceanaria or museums. Years of practical work experience sometimes can substitute for a graduate degree, but the time required to advance is typically longer. How to find a university program in marine mammal science: There are very few universities that offer a marine mammal science curriculum. To select an undergraduate university, visit campuses and talk with professors and students about career interests. Most university libraries or counseling centers have university catalogs to identify schools. In addition, there are several publications that list graduate programs by state and discipline, list marine mammal scientists by address, or summarize areas of research by marine mammal scientists (see list at the end of this brochure). An interest in a certain marine mammal species may influence the geographic location of the graduate university selected. However, in most instances the best university is determined by selecting a graduate advisor specializing in a particular field. Students should consider applying to several graduate schools. Application deadlines vary, but typically applications should be submitted in January for admission into a graduate program the following fall. Many universities require graduate school applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and include the test scores with their applications. How to find an advisor for graduate studies: Selecting an advisor for a graduate degree is a very important decision. He or she will become a mentor, a career-long colleague, and will help establish a network of scientific colleagues. An advisor helps to obtain funds to support graduate student research and helps make contacts for future employment. First, identify marine mammal scientists who are doing current research in an area of interest, their university affiliation, whether they have funds to support graduate students, and if they are accepting new students. Keep in mind that many government and industry scientists also have adjunct appointments at universities and can serve as co-advisors. There are two ways to find potential advisors: 1) Find the names of authors in current scientific journals, such as Marine Mammal Science, Aquatic Mammals, Journal of Mammalogy, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Journal of Zoology, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, or Fisheries Bulletin, or in recently published books on marine mammals. Scientists who publish may be in situations where they can accept graduate students. 2) Attend specialized scientific conferences on marine mammals hosted by professional societies such as The Society for Marine Mammalogy, International Marine Animal Trainers' Association, European Association for Aquatic Mammals, European Cetacean Society, American Cetacean Society, or International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine. Dates and locations of these meetings are published in the newsletter or journal of the respective societies. At these meetings, make a personal contact with a potential advisor and express your interest in doing graduate work with him or her. Follow-up any good lead with a telephone call, letter, or visit. Because there is competition for advisors in the field of marine mammal science, an advisor will select students from a pool of applicants. Students should realize that, unlike the case in undergraduate study, graduate school faculty do NOT have to advise students just because they are enrolled at their university. Students sometimes enroll at a university because of a well-known professor and assume they will have the opportunity to work under him or her. BEFORE entering a graduate program, contact the professor and establish his or her willingness to serve as an advisor. If necessary, discuss the possibilities of financial support and decide on a potential research project. Choose a thesis research topic carefully so it is practical, scientifically sound and potentially fundable. Seek advice from others on this, perhaps in the form of a draft research proposal. At many universities, the advisor needs to notify the graduate school to approve an application. Many prospective graduate students with good grades and experience are rejected because they do not have an advisor working from inside the university to facilitate their acceptance. Many graduate schools will not accept students without financial support. Graduate assistantship funds for marine mammal studies are rare, and most graduate programs have a limited number of teaching assistantships. Students should be prepared to support themselves or find research funds on their own. How to write a cover letter with an application: To write the most appropriate cover letter with a job or graduate program application, carefully review the description of the position and tailor the cover letter to fit those requirements. Proper spelling and grammar are essential because they reflect the thoroughness of work. Include the telephone/fax number and address where you can be reached, so a potential employer or advisor can easily find you. Include a list of three names, addresses and telephone numbers of people who can be contacted for a recommendation. Contact these references in advance to ensure they are willing to provide a good recommendation. What information to include in a resume: Opinions vary about the appropriate resume style and length. The attached sample resume provides some example headings and topics for a resume. Remember that the priority of items on the resume might be reordered or changed, depending on the specific job or graduate program. Proper spelling and grammar are essential! Many resumes end up in the "circular file" if spelling or grammar errors are detected. Expensive paper with fancy logos generally do not enhance an applicant's chances. How to obtain letters of recommendation: Always ask a person directly if he/she is willing to write a supportive letter of recommendation. Consider asking past employers, work colleagues and instructors to write letters of support. Choose people who know you and your skills well. The best letters of recommendation are written to match the specific description of the job or graduate program. For example, an instructor will write a letter of recommendation with a different emphasis depending on whether the position is for research, teaching or graduate study. To facilitate this, always give the writer a copy of the job or graduate program description along with a resume, a pre-addressed, stamped envelope and the deadline for submitting the letter of recommendation. If possible, provide an outline or draft proposal of any research to be conducted. How to convince an advisor to accept a graduate student: 1 ) Talk to current or former graduate students of a particular advisor and ask how to promote yourself. 2) Send the advisor a letter and resume inquiring about the possibility of working with him or her. Be specific about research interests and career goals. Follow-up with a telephone call or visit. 3) Initiate a personal contact with a potential advisor. Faculty members rarely request visits by potential students because such encouragement might be misconstrued as an agreement to serve as the student's advisor. As mentioned earlier, one good opportunity to meet a potential advisor is at a scientific conference. Another strategy is to contact a potential advisor, noting that you just "happen to be in the area" and would like to meet. It is very useful to be informed about the advisor's background, research interests and publications and point out ways that interests interface. 4) Gain practical work experience, which is an increasingly important factor in admission to a graduate program. Develop a well-rounded set of experiences, including work in the marine environment. 5) Publish in a scientific journal. Co-authoring a paper still can impress a potential advisor. How to gain practical work experience with marine mammals: As a high school or undergraduate student, practical experience can be gained by volunteering at federal, state, or local organizations that work with marine mammals. For example, volunteer as a laboratory assistant for a research project with marine mammals or volunteer for the marine mammal stranding network in the United States. Also, oceanaria, zoos, and museums often have large volunteer or docent programs. This volunteer experience provides practical skills, an employer reference, a network of contacts in the field of marine mammal science, and most importantly helps determine whether this type of work is appealing. Because they already have observed a volunteer's work habits and commitment, organizations often hire from their pool of volunteers. Many oceanaria, zoos, museums, and government agencies have internships that provide practical experience (see list at the end of this brochure). Many careers in marine mammal science require experience in the marine environment. SCUBA certification, boat-handling experience, or sea time can be helpful in securing employment in the field of marine mammal science. How to become a marine mammal trainer: Most marine mammal trainers start by volunteering at an oceanarium or zoo. Often people work in other departments, such as operations, maintenance, or education, before transferring to a job in animal training. For the best advice about a career in marine mammal training, contact the International Marine Animal Trainers' Association. How to become a marine mammal veterinarian: To become a marine mammal veterinarian, follow the basic curriculum and schooling of other veterinarians, but try to gain practical experience with marine mammals by volunteering at an oceanarium or zoo. A few veterinary schools are developing specialized course work in the area of exotic animal medicine, including marine mammals. For more information, contact the American Veterinary Medical Association and the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine. How to find out about jobs with marine mammals: Often a good source for job announcements is the personnel department of a specific agency. The journal "Science" and "The Chronicle of Higher Education" list academic positions at junior colleges, colleges, and universities. Some sources of job announcements in marine mammal science appear at the end of this brochure. Many jobs are not announced, rather are filled by volunteers at an organization, by a graduate student of a colleague, through an informal interview at a scientific conference, or from a recommendation by a colleague. In addition to what you know, who you know is very important in finding a marine mammal job. It is valuable to keep an active network of marine mammal colleagues. Attending scientific conferences is very useful for maintaining the network and identifying job opportunities. Electronic bulletin boards, such as MARMAM or WHALENET announce upcoming jobs. When looking for a job, make that fact known in these informal networks of marine mammal scientists. Many job opportunities are a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Controlling the right time is difficult, but obtain the appropriate education, be in the right place, and wait for the right time. For example, chances of obtaining a career designing educational exhibits on marine mammals are greatly enhanced if a candidate has an M.S. degree and volunteers in the exhibits department of an oceanarium. Good luck in pursuing a career in marine mammal science. PREPARED BY: Jeanette Thomas, President Daniel OdeIl, Chair Education Committee The Society for Marine Mammalogy ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors thank the Marine Mammal Commission and the Board of Governors of The Society for Marine Mammalogy for their comments and editorial help. FUNDED BY: The Society for Marine Mammalogy The Marine Mammal Commission THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE COPIES. BOOKS: Basta, N. 1992. The environmental career guide. John Wiley and Sons. .........1992. Environmental jobs for scientists and engineers. John Wiley and Sons. Burtis, W.S. 1991. Ocean opportunities. Marine Technology Society, 1825 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20006. Careers in Oceanography and Marine-Related Fields: a special: edition with emphasis on opportunities for sensory or physically disabled persons. 1990. The Oceanography Society. 4052 Timber Ridge Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Careers in Oceanography and Marine-Related Fields. 1995. The Oceanography Society. 4052 Timber Ridge Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. Chronicle guidance. Marine biologists. 1986. Brief 543, 4th ed. Chronicle Guidance Publications, Inc., Moravia, NY, 5 pp. Heitzmann, W.R. 1988. Opportunities in marine and maritime careers. 2nd ed. With a forward by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons, a division of National Textbook Company. The new complete guide to environmental careers. 1993. Island Press. CEIP Fund, 68 Harrison Avenue, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02111-1907. The occupational outlook handbook 1992. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Peterson's annual guide to undergraduate study, four year colleges. 1995. Princeton, N J: Peterson's Guides, Inc. (annual). Peterson's guide to graduate programs in the biological and agricultural sciences, BK. 3, 25th ed. 1993. Princeton, N J: Peterson's Guides, Inc. Rucciuti, E.R. 1983. They work with wildlife: jobs for people who want to work with animals. New York, NY: Harper & Row Publisher, Inc. Schaefer, F.S. Training and careers in marine science. The International Oceanographic Foundation, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Shorto, R. 1992. Careers for animal lovers. Interviews by Russell Shorto. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press. Stout, P.K. 1975. Marine career series: marine-related occupations. A primer for high school students. University of Rhode Island, Sea Grant Program, Marine Memorandum No. 41, URI, Narragansett, RI. University curricula in oceanography and related fields, a guide to US academic and technical programs, 1988-1991. 1991. Marine Technology Society, 1825 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. ARTICLES: Anonymous. 1994. What college bound students abroad are expected to know about biology. American Educator, Spring 1994. Published by the American Federation of Teachers. Anonymous. 1994. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Almanac. Vol. 41(1). The Chronicle of Higher Education, P.O. Box 1955, Marion, Ohio 43305, USA. (Whole issue devoted to summary of colleges and universities in the U.S., with statistics about demographics for students, funding and programs - published annually). Baldwin, R.F. 1991. "Doctoring the exotic." Sea Frontiers. 37:30-35. Barrett, G.W. and J.D. Peles. 1994. "Career trends in Mammalogy." Journal of Mammalogy, 75(1):92-96. Barrett, G.W. and G.N. Cameron. 1981. "Career trends and graduate education in Mammalogy." Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas, 109 pp. Chase, V. 1992. "I'll do anything to work with whales or dolphins!" Current, 11(1):31-33. Foer, P. 1992. "Immerse yourself in oceanic and coastal grad school studies." Earth Work, 2(6):6-29. PO Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603. Fox, W. 1992. "Conservation career closeup: National Marine Fisheries Service." Earth Work. 2(6):6-31. PO Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603. Hemdal, J. 1987. "Careers in marine biology." Freshwater and Marine Aquarium. 10:66-67. Holden, C. (ed.). 1991. "Science careers." Science. 252:1110-1148. Lederman, L.M. 1991. "Science: the end of the frontier?" Science, Suppl., January. Klinowska, M. 1992. "Marine mammal database review." UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies, No. 141. National Research Council. 1995. Summary Report 1994: Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities. National Research Council, Washington, DC. [Available free of charge from: Doctorate Records Project, NRC, OSEP-TJ 2006, 2101 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20418. phone: 202-334-3161. Email: phdsurvy(\)nas.edu ] Rosendahl, B. 1990. "Becoming an oceanographer." Sea Frontiers. 36:3. Twiss, J., Jr. 1992. "The new era of oceanographic careers." Earth Work. 2(6):4-10. PO Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603. INFORMATION SHEETS AND PACKETS: OCEANOGRAPHY American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue NW Washington, DC 20009 Earth Work Career Publications Service SCA, Attn: Earth Work P.O. Box 550 Charlestown, NH 03603 (various publications on environmental careers) International Oceanographic Foundation 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, FL 33149 National Aquarium-Baltimore Dept. of Education and Interpretation Pier 3, 501 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 The Oceanography Society 4052 Timber Ridge Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 MANAGEMENT Dept. of Environmental Protection & Energy Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife CN 400 Trenton, NJ 08625 MARINE EDUCATION Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Scott Marine Education Center PO Box 7000 Ocean Springs, MS 39564 National Sea Grant Office 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 SEA GRANT PROGRAMS BY STATE AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS: University of Alaska 907-474-7086 University of California 619-534-4440 University of Connecticut 203-445-5108 University of Delaware 302-831-2841 University of Florida 904-392-5870 University of Georgia 404-542-7671 University of Hawaii 808-956-7031 University of Illinois 217-333-1824 Louisiana State University 504-388-6710 University of Maine 207-581-1436 University of Maryland 301-454-5690 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 617-253-7131 University of Michigan 313-763-1437 University of Minnesota 612-625-2765 Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium 601-875-9341 University of New Hampshire 603-862-2175 New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium 201-872-1300 State University of New York 516-632-6905 University of North Carolina 919-737-2454 Ohio State University 614-292-8949 Oregon State University 503-754-2714 University of Puerto Rico 809-832-3585 Purdue University 317-494-3584 University of Rhode Island 401-792-6800 South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium 803-727-2078 University of Southern California 213-743-6068 Texas A & M University 409-845-3854 Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium 804-924-5965 University of Washington 206-543-6600 University of Wisconsin 608-262-0905 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 508-548-1400 x2578 GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & TRAINING: American Cetacean Society PO Box 2639 San Pedro, CA 90731 American Fisheries Society 5410 Grosvenor Lane Suite 110 Bethesda, MD 20814 National Wildlife Federation 1400 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Friends of the National Zoo c/o Ms. Joan Grumm National Zoological Park Washington, DC 20008 LASPAU (scholarships for Latin American students) 25 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Minority Institutions Marine Science Association Biology Dept, Box 18540 Jackson State University Jackson, MS 39217 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Marine Policy Fellowships National Sea Grant College Program 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Student Conservation Association Resource Assistant Program Dept. EW, Box 550 Chariestown, NH 03603 American Society of Mammalogists c/o Dr. Nancy D. Moncrief Virginia Museum of Natural History 1001 Douglas Avenue Martinsville, VA 24112 USA Send self-addressed stamped envelope with 5.25" or 3.5" IBM- compatible formatted disk to receive a list of grant sources. American Society of Mammalogists c/o Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld Institute of Ecosystem Studies Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545 USA Grants-in-Aid of Research up to US $1,000 open to graduate students and upper-level undergraduates who are MEMBERS of the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS. Annual application deadline in March of each year. Albert R. and Alma Shadle Fellowship in Mammalogy American Society of Mammalogists c/o Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld Institute of Ecosystem Studies Box AB Millbrook, NY 12545 USA Applicants must be United States citizens and enrolled in or accepted for a graduate program in Mammalogy in a United States college or university. See the Journal of Mammalogy for additional details. INTERNSHIPS: Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation Attn.: George Biedenbach/Training Department 610 Surf Avenue Brooklyn, NY 1124? Aquarium of Niagara Falls Intern/Volunteer program 701 Whirlpool St. Niagara Falls, NY 14301 Atlantic Cetacean Research Center Intern/Volunteer Program 70 Thurston Point Road PO Box 1413 Gloucester, MA 01930 Belle Isle Zoo & Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program PO Box 39 Royal Oak, MI 48068-0039 Center for Coastal Studies Intern Review Committee Box 1036 Provincetown, MA 02657 Center for Marine Conservation Intern/Volunteer Program 1725 DeSales St., NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Cetacean Research Unit Intern/Volunteer Program PO Box 159 Gloucester, WA 01930 Chicago Zoological Park Brookfield Zoo Intern/Volunteer Program 3300 Golf Rd. Brookfield, IL 60513 Dolphin Research Center P.O. Box 522875 Marathon Shores, FL 33052-2875 Marine Mammal Research Group EPCOT Center Trailer #251 attn: Peter Cook Walt Disney World Co. P.O. Box 10,000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000 Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection Florida Marine Research Institute Intern/Volunteer Program 100 8th Ave., S.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5095 Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory Krista Berkland, Intern Coordinator 1129 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96814 Marine Mammal Research Program Intern/Volunteer Program Texas A&M University at Galveston Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 303 Galveston, TX 77551 Mirage Hotel Intern/Volunteer Program P.O. Box 7777 Las Vegas, NV 89177-0777 Mote Marine Laboratory Andrea Davis, Coordinator of Intern/Volunteer Services 1600 Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL 34236 Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program 55 Coogan Boulevard Mystic, CT 06355-1997 National Aquarium in Baltimore Pier 3 501 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202-3194 National Museum of Natural History Intern Coordinator, Education Office Room 212, MRC 158 Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Friends of the National Zoo Research Traineeship Program National Zoological Park Washington, D.C. 20008 Marine Sanctuaries Intern Coordinator National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1305 East-West Highway, 12th Floor Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 713-3145, ext. 153 New England Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110-3399 Pacific Whale Foundation Intern/Volunteer Program Kealia Beach Plaza 101 N. Kihei Rd., Ste. 21 Kihei, HI 96753-8833 Pinniped Learning & Behavior Project Internships Long Marine Lab University of California 100 Shaffer Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060 The John G. Shedd Aquarium Internship Coordinator 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 Theater of the Sea Intern/Volunteer Program P.O. Box 407 Islamorada, FL 33036 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer Program 1011 E. Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99503 Waikiki Aquarium Intern/Volunteer Program 2777 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 Whale Museum Craig Snapp, Volunteer Coordinator 62 First Street North P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Whale Research Group Dr. Jon Lien 230 Mount Scio Rd. Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland CANADA A1C 5S7 FIELD PROGRAMS (Pay to volunteer): Cetacean Behavior Lab Internships c/o Dr. R. H. Defran Department of Psychology San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92182 EarthWatch 680 Mount Auburn Street P.O. Box 403 Watertown, MA 02272-9104 University Research Expedition Programs University of California Berkeley, CA 94720-6586 Mingan Island Cetacean Study 285 Green Street St. Lambert, Quebec J4P 1T3 Canada Coastal Ecosystems Research Foundation 2173 West 6th Avenue, #207 Vancouver, BC V6K 1V5 Canada Oceanic Society Expeditions Fort Mason Center - Bldg. E San Francisco, CA 94123 School for Field Studies 16 Broadway Street Beverly, MA 01915 UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS: Australian Maritime College Course and Career guide (free) c/o Student Administration Office P.O. Box 986 Launceston, Tasmania 7250 Australia Careers in Mammalogy and The Science of Mammalogy Dr. Bryon Clark American Society of Mammalogists Department of Biology Southeastern Oklahoma State University Station A Durant, OK 74701 USA Careers in Marine Science (Australia) C. Johnson and K. Bleakely (eds) 5th Edition, 1993 Australian Marine Sciences Association, Inc. Cost: $3.00 Australian plus postage (A$2.50 to the U.S.) Lists all Australian marine science programs. Available from: School of Marine Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia Marine Science Careers. A Sea Grant Guide to Ocean Opportunities Sea Grant Communications Office University of New Hampshire Kingman Farm Durham, NH 03824-3512 Cost: US$5.00; make checks payable to UNH Directory of Graduate Programs: (ask for most recent edition) 13th Edition, Vol E. Educational Testing Services, Warner Books Peterson's Graduate Directory Dept 6608, PO Box 2123 166 Bunn Drive Princeton, NJ 08543 Sea Technology Buyer's Guide Annual Directory, Section F Educational Institutions Compass Publications, Inc. Suite 1000, 1117 N 19th Street Arlington, VA 22209 See listing in Foer 1992 See listing in Klinowska 1992 SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES: American Cetacean Society PO Box 2639 San Pedro, CA 90731 American Society of Mammalogists H. Duane Smith, Secretary-Treasurer 501 Widtsoe Building Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602 American Veterinary Medical Association 1931 N Mecham Road Suite 1000 Schaumburg, IL 60173 European Association for Aquatic Mammals V.J.A. Manton Chartley House, Swannells Wood Studham, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 2QB United Kingdom European Cetacean Society Giuseppi Notarbartolo di-Sciara Tethys Research Institute Via Guisti 5 20154 Milano Italy International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Dr. Larisa Ford Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resouces College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences University Idaho Moscow, ID 83844 USA The Society for Marine Mammalogy Glenn VanBlaricom School of Fisheries WH10/U University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION: British Columbia Marine Mammal Directory West Coast Whale Research Foundation 2020-1040 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4H1 Canada The Environmental Sourcebook Lyons & Burford 31 W 21st Street New York, NY 10010 1993 Conservation Directory National Wildlife Federation 1400 16th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 Student Conservation Association Resource Assistant Program Earth Work Dept. EW, Box 550 Charlestown, NH 03603 US Ocean Scientists & Engineers Directory (ask for most recent edition) American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue NW Washington, DC 20009 The Directory of National Environmental Organizations U.S. Environmental Directories P.O. Box 65156 St. Paul, MN 55165 JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS: Earth Work Circulation Office PO Box 550 Charlestown, NH 03603 Environmental Careers Organization 286 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 U.S. Government Jobs via FEDWORLD Electronic Bulletin Board (see FedWorld listing under Electronic Mail) Minority Institutions Marine Science Association Biology Dept, Box 18540 Jackson State University Jackson, MS 39217 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Personnel Operations Division 1335 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 US Office of Personnel Management Summer Job Opportunities in the Federal Government No. 414 (Free Copies) 1900 E Street NW, Room 1416 Washington, DC 20415 Women's Aquatic Network Box 4993 Washington, DC 20008 OCEANARIA, ZOOS & MUSEUMS: American Association of Zookeepers Michael Illig Metro Washington Park Zoo 4001 SW Canyon Road Portland, OR 97221 American Zoo and Aquarium Association 7970-D Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 http://www.aza.org/aza/brochure.html Consortium of Aquariums, Universities and Zoos Donna Hardy Dept of Psychology Calif. State Univ. Northridge, CA 91330 http://www.fhcrc.org/~ialwww/CAUZ/CAUZ.html International Marine Animal Trainers' Association Susan Cox Moorpark College 7075 Campus Road Moorpark, CA 93021 THE INTERNET and ONLINE SERVICES: American Physician and Scientist gopher to aps.acad-phy-sci.com 70 Academic Position Network gopher to rodent.cis.umn.edu 11111 American Physiological Society gopher to oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu 3300 Career Magazine Searchable job listings for a variety of careers http://www.careermag.com/careermag/ Chronicle of Higher Education - Academe This Week The latest week's job listings http://chronicle.merit.edu/ or gopher to [without the <>] Employment Opportunities and Job Resources on the Internet gopher to una.hh.lib.umich.edu look under the menu heading Financial Aid http://www.studentservices.com/fastweb/ International Marine Mammal Association http://www.imma.org/index.html FEDWORLD National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 USA telnet fedworld.doc.gov or http://www.fedworld.gov MARMAM on Internet Marine Mammal Discussion Group Internet: marmamed(\)uvic.ca Online Career Center http://www.iquest.net/occ/ or=20 gopher to gopher.msen.com Texas Marine Mammal Standing Network http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/marspec/mmrp.html The Electronic Zoo gopher://netvet.wustl.edu:70/11n:/vet UseNet NewsGroups sci.bio sci.research sci.research.careers Young Scientists Network http://snorri.chem.washington.edu/ysnarchive/index.htmlor or send email to YSN-REQUEST(\)REN.SALK.EDU WHALENET Environet, Park Science Building Simmons College 300 Fenway Boston, MA 02115 mwilliams(\)vmsvax.simmons.edu http://whale.simmons.edu AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS Marine Careers (1992) VHS or Beta, 18 min. Purchase or rent Marine Communications Office University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 302-831-8083 TEACHING MATERIALS Sea World of California Education Department 1720 South Shores Road San Diego, CA 92109 Sea World of Florida Education Department 7007 Sea World Drive Orlando, FL 32821-8097 http://www.bev.net/education/SeaWorld Sea World of Ohio Education Department 1100 Sea World Drive Aurora, OH 44202 Sea World of Texas Education Department 10500 Sea World Drive San Antonio, TX 78251 Appendix I Sample Resume JANE FAWN DOE PRESENT POSITION: Graduate Research Assistant Biology Department University of Wahoo Wahoo, Florida, USA 66666 TELEPHONE: (Business: [area code]-666-1212) (Home: [area code]-666-1234) EMAIL: doejf(\)biology.uwahoo.edu BIRTH PLACE: Wahoo, Florida, USA CITIZENSHIP: United States of America SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS: Mammalogist with special interest in mammalian behavior, ecology and reproductive physiology. Strong background in field experience with good knowledge of statistics and computers. EDUCATION: High School Diploma. 1984. Wahoo High, Wahoo, Florida Bachelor of Science. 1991, Wahoo State College,Wahoo, Florida Major: Zoology Minor: Botany GPA: 3.10 GPA: 3.00 Overall GPA: 3.20 Courses in Major: Courses in Minor: ----------------- ---------------- Intro Zoology Intro Botany Animal Physiology Plant Physiology Ornithology Local Flora Mammalogy Plant Taxonomy Ichthyology Herpetology Masters of Science. Anticipated 1999. Thesis title: "Why Parents Give Children Ridiculous Animal Names" University of Wahoo, Wahoo, Florida Graduate Courses Taken: ---------------------- Biomolecules Evolutionary Systematics Biometry Parasitology POSITIONS HELD: 1990-92: Volunteer Animal Caretaker, Wahoo Public Aquarium 1992-93: Sales person, Petland, Wahoo, Florida 1993-94: Work-study student, Biology Department, U.W. 1994-present: Teaching Assistant, Biology Department, U.W. FIELD EXPERIENCES: *Raised on a dairy cattle farm in Wahoo, Florida *Obedience training of dog, championship, 4 yrs. *4-H projects on husbandry of dairy cattle *Broke and saddle-trained two horses *Field project on radio telemetry of manatees, Florida Department of Environmental Protection *Insect collection of 2000 specimens *Deer and coyote hunter, 5 years *Small mammal trapping in mammalogy class LABORATORY EXPERIENCES: *Assistant, Edmonton Veterinarians, 1991 *Volunteer, Wahoo Hospital, 2 year *Volunteer for Red Cross blood donors program *Ethogram of polar bears, Behavior class, WSC *Study skin preparation Mammalogy class, 1992 *Independent study on cancer in domestic dogs TEACHING EXPERIENCES: *Docent at Wahoo Public Aquarium, 1991 *Camp counselor and naturalist, Camp Runnamuck, 1992 *Graduate Teaching Assistant, UW, 1993 FUNDED PROPOSALS: *Funding from University Research Council for Master's thesis research, 1993 SCHOLARSHIPS: *National State Teacher's Scholarship *National Defense Student Loan Award HONORS: *President, Tri-Beta Biology Society *Honor Society in High School, 3 years *Who's Who in Wahoo SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS: *Tri-Beta, Honorary Honorary Biology Society *Wildlife Society *American Society of Mammalogists *The Society for Marine Mammalogy LANGUAGES: *Spanish, read and speak *Russian, read only *C++, Pascal computer languages COMPUTER SKILLS: *Proficient in WordPerfect, Word, WordStar,Lotus, RBase, dBase, Access, Windows 95, Harvard Graphics, Powerpoint SPECIAL SKILLS: *Violinist, WSC University Orchestra *Lead drummer, Silver Slug Band *Swim Team, WSC *SCUBA Certified, PADI, NAUI, YMCA *Taxidermist *Trap and skeet shooting *Show champion field dogs *Rodeo bull rider *CPR & First Aid certified *Animal Illustrator *Water and cross country skiing PRESENTATIONS: Doe, J.F. 1993. Foraging Behavior of Manatees. Poster. Tenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Galveston, TX. 11/93 PUBLICATIONS: Doe, J.F. 1991. "Foraging Behavior of Manatees", Canadian Journal of Zoology, vv:pp-pp. REFERENCES: Thomas Bolognia, Professor Biology Department Wahoo State College Wahoo, Florida, USA phone: [area code]-666-4321 email: bologniat(\)biology.uwahoo.edu Dr. April Puzzo, Student Advisor Universidade do Brazil Tuscany, Italy phone: [country code]-[city code]-25999 email: april(\)biology.ubrazil.it Ms. Ima Guess Store Manager, Petland 1313 NS Escape Blvd. Wahoo, Florida 66666 phone: [area code]-666-1212 email: iguess(\)who.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 22:36:48 -0400 Reply-To: rbaird(\)UVic.CA From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Canada's marine mammal regulations Gene Buck asked about regulations for the protection of marine mammals in Canada. As this subject has received relatively little attention outside of Canada (or within Canada for that matter), I thought I would provide a few details below. My sources for this information are primarily papers published in the Canadian Field-Naturalist between the years 1987 and 1993 in the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) series - readers should refer to this series for more information. Hopefully other MARMAM subscribers more intimately familiar with the Canadian regulations might fill in some of the details? In 1982 the Canadian federal government produced a set of "Cetacean Protection Regulations" under the Fisheries Act of Canada of 1867. The regulations prohibited "hunting" without a license. "Hunting" was defined as "to chase, shoot at, harpoon, take, kill, attempt to take or kill, or to harass cetaceans in any manner". No scheme, however, was in place to enforce such regulations, and aboriginal "hunting" could be undertaken without a license. "Seal Protection Regulations" (established in 1976), "Beluga Protection Regulations (established first in 1949), and "Narwhal Protection Regulations" also existed. In 1993, the federal government consolidated these various marine mammal regulations under the new "Marine Mammal Regulations". These regulations stated that "no person should disturb a marine mammal except when under.... the authority of these regulations", with "marine mammal" defined as all species listed under a particular appendix. However, most species of cetaceans were not included in the appendix (the primary species included in the appendix were those being hunted in Canada, the narwhal, beluga and bowhead), and thus no legal protection appears to have been in place for many species. The definition of "marine mammal" was revoked in 1994, thus all species now appear to be covered by these regulations. In the case of cetaceans, as with the earlier Cetacean Protection Regulations, no specific framework or scheme appears to be in place to enforce the regulations, and aboriginal hunting can be undertaken without a license. Robin ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 06:52:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Canada's marine mammal regulations (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Jerry.Conway(\)sfnet.dfo.ca Robin is correct in his review of the various pieces of legislation in Canada on respect to marine mammals. However it should be pointed out that these are not intended to "protect" marine mammals they were designed specifically in respect of the management and control of fishing (hunting) for marine mammals and related activities in Canada and Canadian waters. To further emphasis this point the Marine Mammal Regulations specifically identify the appropriate and legal means of killing various marine mammals such as walrus, seals and cetaceans. The only "protection" that is afforded marine mammals in these regulations can be found in Sec. 7 which states "No person shall disturb a marine mammal except when fishing for marine mammals under authority of these Regulations". >From an enforcement perspective the term "disturb" is open to interpretation and can make prosecution very difficult. Canada does not have any similar or comparable legislation as is presently enjoyed by the U.S. in the MMPA and the ESPA. It should be pointed out however that new legislation, the Oceans Act which should be passed in to law shortly, will provide the vehicle for establishing "protected or conservation areas" for those areas identified as critical Marine Mammmal habitat. Activities in these areas will be limited if allowed at all. Copies of the Marine Mammal Regulations can be made available by contacting me at: Jerry Conway Dept.of Fisheries and Oceans Halifax. Nova Scotia Canada. Tel# (902) 426-9609 Fax# (902) 426-9683 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 21:36:24 -0700 From: Pieter Folkens Subject: Rudolphi's rorqual ------ > >Here's a question for the taxonomists out there. > >Carl Rudolphi named a stranded whale from Holstein, northern Germany, in >1819. He called it incorrectly thinking it was a >previously undescribed type of right whale. Cuvier corrected the mistake >fours years later, calling it rorqual du nord (a French common name, not= a >taxonomic name). Ren=E9 Lesson reorganized the genus Balaenoptera in 182= 8 >after three years of field work in the Pacific and the requisite book an= d >lab work. He concluded the genus contained at least three closely relate= d >species-fin, minke and the Rudolphi's Holstein specimen which he named b= y >latinizing Cuvier's rorqual du nord, -- all base= d >on the same specimen. > >Why did Rudolphi's described species name, [Balaenoptera] rostrata, not >take priority over [B.] borealis? > >Pieter Folkens animalbytes(\)earthlink.net \\| \| Y _ ,~------------------------/ \___^___^._ | ~ ~.~ ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.'~`^--^_,''/ | (\) _ ~,~.~'~.~,~'~.~,~.~ ~ ~ ~ ~.~ { \_________ \_l ~,~,~,~,~,~'.~.____'-----'__` \ ~ ~ `----------------------\__'--' ` \ ~ ~ ` ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 09:25:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: marine mammal law -- Canada and New Zealand? (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "/R=WPGDFO/R=AM/U=richard/L=Winnipeg/TN=204-983-5130/FFN=Pierre Richard/"(\)mr.dfo.ca Dear Mr Buck, if you have a Webbrowser, check http://www.ncr.dfo.ca/communic/policy/dnload_e.htm and in the _Regulations_ listing, you will find _Marine mammal regulations_, a WordPerfect file of the regulations that can be downloaded. Pierre Richard DFO/Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 10:24:56 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 11/01/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is longer the first Friday posting for November 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 10/25/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {Manatee Killer Reward. On Oct. 26, 1996, the Save the Manatee Club and a Melbourne, FL, businessman combined to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for the Oct. 22 death of a 2,200 pound female manatee at Eau Gallie Harbor near Melbourne.} [Assoc Press] . {Tuna-Dolphin. In late October 1996, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission met in La Jolla, CA, where it heard officials of the Clinton Administration commit to renew efforts in the 105th Congress to pass legislation modifying the existing ban on importing tuna caught by surrounding dolphins with purse seines in the eastern tropical Pacific. In addition, Mexican officials announced that Mexico was suspending its participation in accord with the Panama Declaration whereby current dolphin mortalities were regulated.} [Assoc Press] . Swordfish/Tuna Take Reduction Meeting. On Oct. 21-22, 1996, NMFS held a public scoping meeting in Warwick, RI, on ways to further reduce the interaction between marine mammals and commercial fishermen in the Atlantic swordfish pelagic drift gillnet and Atlantic swordfish/tuna pelagic longline fisheries. [NOAA press release] . Botulism from Seal Flipper. On Oct. 17, 1996, four Alaskan Native residents of Teller, AK were recovering at the Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, after contracting botulism poisoning from eating improperly prepared fermented spotted seal flipper. [Assoc Press] . Whale Stranding Volunteer Death. On Oct. 15, 1996, a 44-year old volunteer, known to be suffering from a liver disease, died from a Vibrio vulnificus infection, contracted when he cut himself on a rock during a rescue attempt on a beached pygmy sperm whale near Boca Raton, FL, three days earlier. [Assoc Press] . UH Dolphin Research Not Moving. On Oct. 14, 1996, a Maui County Council committee held a hearing on plans to move the Univ. of Hawaii's Dolphin Institute from Honolulu to Maui's Kahana Beach Park. The committee subsequently rejected the plan, desiring to keep the undeveloped land for a beach park rather than a marine laboratory. [Assoc Press] . Cruel Sealing Violations. On Oct. 8, 1996, four Newfoundland sealers pleaded guilty of various infractions, including bleeding a seal alive a nd using an unauthorized hunting instrument. The individuals were fined and banned from sealing for 3 years. [Assoc Press] . Right Whale Protection. On Oct. 2, 1996, the MA Attorney General's office reported that it has appealed a U.S. District Court ruling ordering MA to prepare a detailed plan of action to protect northern right whales. On Oct. 10, 1996, the individual who filed the successful suit against MA announced that he intended filed a similar suit against the State of Maine. On Oct. 17, 1996, the MA appeal seeking to delay the U.S. District Court order, relating to preparing a State plan for increased right whale protection, was rejected. [Greenwire, Assoc Press] . Canadian Sea Otter Protection. On Oct. 2, 1996, Canadian federal and provincial environment ministers, in meetings on Prince Edward Island, agreed to complementary legislation and programs to provide protection for endangered species, such as sea otters. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 12:24:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Poland to reintroduce seals in Poland to reintroduce seals into Baltic WARSAW, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- After 20 years of pollution ravaged their numbers, Gray seals may soon be a common sight again in the Bay of Gdansk thanks to a new environmental program by the Polish government. Maciej Nowicki, director of Poland's Ekofund, which is funded by fines imposed on industrial polluters, said the $1.6 million reintroduction program is particularly important for local fishermen and may become a major tourist attraction. The gray seal had almost disappeared from the Bay of Gdansk because of two decades of pollution. But with better water sewage treatment and other measures, the quality of the water in the bay has improved to the point where the seal reintroduction program can begin. Nowicki said a research center will be built in Gdansk, where some 16 seals will be placed. Their offspring will be bred at the center and released into the bay. Nowicki said introduction of the seals may also help control the population of Bulgarian babka fish, which prey on many types of fish sought by local fishermen. There were an estimated 10,000 gray seals in the Bay of Gdansk at the beginning of the century. Only several dozen are believed to exist there today. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 20:43:03 CET Reply-To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk From: Jan Willem Broekema Subject: "Zoogdier" 7,3 Dear fellow ECS members, I just report shortly on the latest issue (7, 3) of the magazine Zoogdier (Mammal) of the Benelux Society for the Study and Protection of Mammals. In this issue Henk Baptist and Richard Witte report on sighting of foraging porpoises (P. Phocoena) in the North Sea. Henk is making monthly counts from the air of sea birds and marine mammals since about 10 years over the Dutch part of the North Sea. Henk and Richard report seeing porpoises feed on a shoal of fish in ones or two's. Porpoises are supposed to be solitary feeders. What kept them (and their plane) circling, was the observation that the feeding porpoises were 'relieved' after about about 5 minutes by the next group, which arrived from about 200 meters distance. It appears that the next group was attracted to the feeding porpoises from a relatively large distance. They could not have seen them, so Henk and Richard suppose that the feeding was 'heard', either on purpose or through the sound of the hunting porpoises, over several hundreds of meters. A short note by Chris Smeenk reports the stranding of two dolphins, which are rare on the Dutch coast. On June 25 a Stenella coeruleoalba stranded on the island Schiermonnikoog. On July 14 a Mesoplodon bidens stranded near the seal rehabilitation station Pieterburen (Groningen). >From October onward a permanent exposition on whales is opened in the Fries Natuurmuseum (Leeuwarden, Friesland). Rotterdam Zoo (Blijdorp) has a new exposition hall, where one of the stranded Physeter skeletons (1994) is also on permanent display in a spectacular hall, build especially for this purpose. Museum Natura Docet (Denekamp) runs the exposition "Stranded Giants" until November 15. These is a lot do about whales these days in The Netherlands. More information about the magazine Zoogdier is available through the e-mail address zoogdier(\)worldaccess.nl. The articles are in Dutch! --- Jan Willem Broekema ECS Computer Support Group http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 16:05:07 MST From: Paul K Anderson Subject: Marime Mammal Sessions at Aamerican Society of Mammalogists meeting The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) would like to encourage marine mammalogists to participate in its annual meetings. To this end the ASM Marine Mammal Committee has requested that oral and poster sessions specifically for marine mammal presentations be included in the program of the forthcoming meeting at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Oklahoma, 14-18 June, 1997. Materials for submission of abstracts can be requested from Dr. Karen McBee, Program Chair, Dept. of Zoology, Lsw 430 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK, USA 74078-3052 (Phone 405-744-9680, Fax 405-744-7824, e-mail: mcbee(\)okway.okstate.edu). Abstracts should be clearly marked "FOR MARINE MAMMAL SESSION" and postmarked not later than 1 March 1997 Paul K. Anderson, Chairman ASM Marine Mammal Committee e-mail: pkanders(\)acs.ucalgary.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 10:11:54 -0800 From: Dale Rice Subject: Rudolphi's rorqual-reply From: Dale Rice To: RACE.SMTP("MARMAM(\)UVVM.BITNET") Date: 10/31/96 9:42am Subject: Rudolphi's rorqual -Reply Balaena rostrata, the name that Rudolphi gave to the sei whale in 1822, is not available because the name Balaena rostrata had already been given to the North Atlantic bottlenose whale by Mueller in 1776, and also to the minke whale by Fabricius in 1780. In nomenclatural parlance, Rudolphi's name (and Fabricius' as well) is "preoccupied, " and can never be used--not even if it is transferred another genus. Therefore Lesson's name for the sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis, given 1n 1828, is next in line, and takes priority . Dale W. Rice rice(\)afsc.noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 12:43:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Canada sets plan to protect en Canada sets plan to protect endangered species OTTAWA, Oct 31 (Reuter) - Canada's government introduced a bill on Thursday to protect endangered species such as the whooping crane and bowhead whale. The proposed legislation protects all species on federal land, as well as migratory birds across the country and fish and marine mammals off its shores. The number of species at risk in Canada has tripled to 276 in the past 10 years. Covering the vast Yukon and Northwest Territories, which extend beyond the Arctic Circle, this accounts for more than 60 percent of Canada and protects much of the habitat of the vulnerable polar bear. But ecologists say most of Canada's species live in the warmer southern portion of the country. Six of Canada's 10 provinces do not have any legislation to protect endangered species, though the two largest do -- Ontario and Quebec. The bill aims to fulfil a promise made during the 164-nation Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to legislate protection of endangered species. Canada does not have a national law on the subject. A new set of penalties including fines up to $1 million Canadian ($750,000 U.S.) and five years' imprisonment for killing, selling or capturing threatened species. Environmental groups say the bill does not go far enough in preserving the wetlands, forests and other wilderness areas animals and plants need to survive. They say habitat destruction accounts for 80 per cent of species loss in Canada. They want Ottawa to set national standards that will protect animals which migrate across provincial boundaries. The World Wildlife Fund calculates that at least 240 acres (97 hectares) of Canadian wilderness is lost every hour to logging, mining, hydro-electric dams and other development. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 11:11:54 -0800 From: anne doncaster Subject: Re: Canada's marine mammal regulations (fwd) At 06:52 AM 10/31/96 -0800, you wrote: >Forwarded message: >From: Jerry.Conway(\)sfnet.dfo.ca Further to Canada's Marina Mammal Regs. Some people are saying that because "marine mammals" are not longer defined, that the Regulations are now meaningless, as opposed to applying to all marine mammals. Any comments? In addition, I understand that shotguns are now prohibited in the seal hunt, and that the net fishery for seals along the Atlantic coast has been prohibited south of 53? deg. N Latitude. Does anyone know if this is correct and if so, when the amendments took affect? Anne D Anne Doncaster International Wildlife Coalition P.O. Box 461, Port Credit Postal Station Mississauga, ON L5G 4M1 Canada Tel: (705) 765-6341 Fax: (705) 765-6435 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 19:23:22 GMT From: "Allen,Penelope" Subject: Seal culls Dear MARMAMers I would be most grateful if anyone could bring me up-to-date on the following questions; 1. What are the latest findings regarding last year's increased harp seal cull in Canada and it's impact on the recovery of cod stocks? Has there been any discernible effect (positive or negative) or is it too early to tell? 2. What is the latest on harp seal diet? Do they eat much cod anyway? (I remember reading somewhere an estimate of only 1% cod in harp seal diet) 3. Is there a proposal to cull similar numbers of seals this season? All information would be extremely helpful. Please direct your responses to: Penny.Allen(\)bbc.co.uk Thank you in advance, Dr Penny Allen BBC Natural History Unit Broadcasting House Whiteladies Road Bristol BS8 2LR UK ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 12:42:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Krill Harvest Krill Harvest By PETER JAMES SPIELMANN Associated Press Writer SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- The penguins, seals and whales of Antarctica survive by eating krill, and they share their food with a protein-hungry world. Humans scoop up tons of the shrimp-like creatures each year for their own use -- as fish food, fish bait and as a delicacy for seafood lovers who savor its crab-like taste. Harvesting of krill is still unregulated in the Australian Antarctic waters of the southeast Indian Ocean. But while Antarctic nations provisionally approved setting an annual limit on fishing in these waters, the proposed limit has raised debate over whether the limit is too lax. Under the proposal by the Australian Antarctic Division -- expected to be approved Friday -- the krill catch will be limited to a generous 850,000 tons a year -- about seven times the amount that krill harvesters around the world take in every year. Greenpeace and some scientists are uneasy about setting a limit that high on a species that forms the basis of the entire Antarctic food chain. They point to the over-harvesting and mismanagement of other species such as fur seals, whales, salmon and bluefin tuna. "As an environmentalist I have to be bothered by new types of catches," said Izgrev Topkov, the secretary general of the U.N. Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species. Most of the fishing trawlers harvesting krill come from Russia, South Korea, Poland, Ukraine, Chile and Japan. Australia does not fish krill commercially, but the Australian Antarctic Divison suggests it might start. If Australia took in the full 850,000 tons of krill from the Indian Ocean each year, for example, it could make an annual $200 million, the division says. Harvest limits on other ocean fisheries are 1.7 million tons in the South Atlantic, and 500,000 tons in the southwest Indian Ocean. Bill Fraser, of Montana State University, said studies show that global warming has cut into krill stocks off the Antarctic peninsula, in turn affecting the food supply for penguins, seals, and other predators. "It would seem prudent to err on the side of caution at this point unless they feel they truly have a handle on these complex issues," said Fraser, who has been studying marine ecosystems in the area. But other scientists defend the Australian plan as conservative, flexible and ecologically sound; they say harvesters will take only a tiny fraction of the half-billion tons of krill that swarm around Antarctica. Stephen Nicol, the Australian Antarctic Division's chief krill biologist, says that under the plan, fishing would be reduced or suspended if krill stocks or predator species declined. In Japanese markets, whole frozen krill tail meat sells for $3.45 a pound, Nicol said. "They have a crab-like taste, fairly mild. They're really quite pleasant," he said. Nicol said demand for these crustaceans will only increase as new industrial uses are found. The shells, which are currently turned into fish food pellets, contain chitin, a cellulose-like bio-polymer that is expected to have many industrial uses. Krill also contain enzymes that have potential use in medicines, he said. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 21:22:18 -0800 From: GreenLife Society Subject: 2IWLC ------ Call for Speakers: 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference The 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference will take place on Ap= ril 8, 1997 in Washington DC at the Georgetown University Law Center. =20 Conference co-sponsors: =B7 American Society of International Law's wildlife section =B7 GreenLife Society - North America =B7 Georgetown International Environmental Law Review =B7 Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy =B7 Environmental Law Society, American University School of Law =B7 Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University The conference will utilize the same three panel format as at last year's conference. The panels for the conference are as follows: 1. The precautionary principle and international wildlife treaty regimes= ; 2. The International Whaling Commission and the aboriginal whaling excep= tion 3. The impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity: present and fut= ure We are currently seeking speakers for each panel. Speakers will be accor= ded 15-20 minutes for presentations. They will also be accorded the opportun= ity to publish longer versions of their remarks in a special symposium issue = of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy. Please contact us as soon as possible if you're interested in speaking, o= r require additional information. Please also contact us if you're interes= ted in being placed on our mailing list for registration materials when they become available. GreenLife Society - North America 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA (510) 558-0620 (Ph./Fax) E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW: site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html William C. Burns =09 Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter=20 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA =09 Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620=09 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org =09 WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html =09 GLSNA Affiliations: The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." -- William James -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 14:39:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Message for posting to MARMAM (fwd) > ************************************************************** > > From: Michael M. Kliks, PhD > CTS Foundation, Honolulu, Hawaii > > Subject: Information needed on normal and pathological gross and microscopic > structure of pinniped gastrointestinal tract. > > > Our group of zoologists and veterinary scientists at the University of Hawaii, > the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and the National Marine Fisheries > Service, Honolulu Laboratory recently carried out a thorough post mortem > examination of formalin-fixed digestive tract organs (oral cavity to anus)of a > juvenile Hawaiian monk seal. > > In examining the small and large intestines we found it difficult to delineate > grossly the extent of the various sections (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecae and > colon) familiar to those of us who work with human, canine feline and rodent GI > tracts. It was also apparent that structures such as the plicae circulares and > the distribution, number and size of Peyer's patches and other lymphatic tissues > were different. > > We would much appreciate any comments or leads to resource texts on this > subject. Aloha 'aina a ke kai! MMK > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 13:22:06 +0100 Reply-To: gmk(\)ccsr.uiuc.edu From: Gottfried Mayer-Kress Organization: Center for Complex Systems Research Subject: Stereo Hydrophones ? Greetings, could anyone on this list give me information/sources about stereo hydrophones ( < 10kHz range)? We are also looking for recordings of humpback whale sounds from Samana Bay if possible recorded in 1996 or 1995. We plan a trip to Silver Bank or Samana Bay for Feb 1997 and would appreciate any information that could be helpful for our preparations. Thanks, Gottfried Mayer-Kress ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 09:27:57 -0500 From: "Mason T. Weinrich" Subject: Aquaculture deaths I heard recently that two gray whales died in an aquaculture facility off Santa Barbara this winter, but don't have any details. Can anyone confirm or deny this, or supply any details for me? Does anyone know of any other large cetacean mortalities from entanglements in aquaculture facilities any- where? Thanks in advance for the responses - Mason Weinrich mtw(\)shore.net Cetacean Research Unit Gloucester MA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 08:49:45 -0500 From: Dean Wilkinson Subject: Contingency Plan Copies of the National Contingency Plan for Response to Unusual Marine Mammal Mortality Events--the preparation of which was required under title 4 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act--are available. Copies can be obtained by writing to: Dean Wilkinson Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by posting an e-mail message to: Dean.Wilkinson(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 13:45:29 EST From: Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov Subject: need help to locate report Dear readers, I have been hunting for the following report for well over six months. I have tried interlibrary loaning it, asked the Marine Mammal Commission whether they have it, tried requesting it from the author, as well as requesting a copy thru Greenpeace who cited it. All of these attempts have been unsuccessful, so I'm hoping someone reading this message can help me out. Preen, A. 1991. Report on the die-off of marine mammals associated with the Gulf War oil spill. Prepared for the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Please send information directly to me at my email or snail mail address. Thanks! Dagmar Fertl Minerals Management Service 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd Mail Stop 5410 New Orleans, LA 70123 Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 08:54:52 -0400 From: "Susan Christen G." Subject: about teleinject I''m looking information about teleinject or others metods of tele-inmovilitation... I need know information how tecnics, price and where can buy it... somebody can help me??? please reply to schriste(\)abello.dic.uchile.cl Susan Christen Grandjean Fac. Cs. Veterinarias y Pecuarias Universidad de Chile schriste(\)abello.dic.uchile.cl ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Nov 1996 15:55:26 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Argos fees (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Bernie McConnell" At the recent Argos Joint Tariff Agreement (JTA) meeting in Henley, UK, the Sea Mammal Research Unit presented data to support the proposal that Marine Mammal trackers be eligible to join the 'Limited Use Service'. I argued that many animal studies produce an lower location and uplink rate than conventional 'Limited Use Service' users with 'regular' on/off duty cycling. Argos finally agreed (para 6.9, draft Report of the 1996 JTA Meeting) and with immediate effect. This means that we should pay for only 1/3 of actual ptt-day usage. This is on a trail basis for one year and will be policed by Argos. Contact your national JTA negotiator for details of how to register your Argos 'experiment' in the 'Limited Use Service'. I suggest you monitor the system closely for any inital bugs/drawbacks. Bernie McConnell Sea Mammal Research Unit Gatty Marine Lab, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland phone 01334 463280 or 462630 fax 01334 462632 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 12:20:57 -0500 From: DUNNL(\)aol.com Subject: Re: about teleinject The Telinject system consists of various sized blowpipes and dart syringes in 1,2 and 3 ml sizes. For immobilization lypholized ketamine, xylazine or telazol can be prepared at appropriate concentrations and doses for the size animal being immobilized. We also use it for delivering other infrequently administered drugs. The manufacturer is Telinject USA 9316 Soledad Canyon Rd Saugus, CA USA 91350 Phone 805-268-0915 I hope this helps. J.Lawrence Dunn VMD Mystic Marinelife Aquarium Mystic, CT USA 06355 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 22:55:05 GMT Reply-To: Fabio_Ausenda(\)rcm.inet.it From: Fabio Ausenda Organization: DSI RCM NET Subject: Volunteers and funding for your projects REF: PAYING OR SPECIALIZED VOLUNTEERS FOR SUPPORTING YOUR PROJECTS WORLDWIDE (this is a second message, I am not sure that the first went through, if you already received the first, please do not consider this one!) Dear Marmam friends, I am the editor and publisher of "GREEN VOLUNTEERS", THE WORLD GUIDE TO VOLUNTARY WORK IN NATURE CONSERVATION., and I am currently looking for more projects to insert (at no cost to you) in the guide. I am publishing the guide after having directed for many years Europe Conservation, a small international NGO specialized in sending volunteers for supporting conservation projects, many of which were being conducted exclusively thank to the support of paying volunteers. You are certainly aware of the project that Randall Wells is conducting on dolphins in Sarasota Bay, since 24 years, thanks to volunteers. Many other projects in the world followed that example. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, from the Tethys Institute, carries on since 10 years an extensive fin whale research program in the Mediterranean, thanks to volunteers. Or, for example, Giovanni Bearzi has been studying for years Bottlenosed dolphins in the Adriatic, in Croatia. The object of this guide is to be the communication link with all the projects in the world that are willing to take volunteers, and the people who want to join such projects. The guide will be published in English, with many abbreviations and acronyms in order to make it understandable in at least five languages. It will be published in Jan.'97 and it will be advertised in Western Europe (mainly England, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland), in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. These are the areas where presumably the majority of prospective volunteers will come from. In the rest of the world the guide will be available through internet, and if any of you would like to give some suggestions on how to make the guide available to the public in your country, they are welcome. During my experience with Europe Conservation I have noticed that the paying volunteers are an excellent way for supporting many projects. I have also noticed, however, that many interesting minor projects do not have the possibility to reach the "market". In other words they are not known among prospective volunteers. With the guide I am publishing I want therefore to offer a service and support to many interesting projects for finding volunteers, additional funds, and even skilled personnel. For this reason the IUCN Species Survival Commission headquarters office in Switzerland, thought my guide might be an helpful instrument for supporting research and conservation projects. The guide will promote, free of charge (there is no fee for being published), both projects that accept short-term (up to one month) unskilled non-paying or paying volunteers (those who finance, but need to be taken care of), and long-term skilled selected personnel (those who do not pay, or probably pay just for their room and board) bringing research techniques, innovations, and also possible research funding. My guide intends, therefore, to be a communication link between qualified or volunteer labor and funds, and where such labor and funding is needed. If you are conducting projects that take volunteers, or that are suitable for accepting volunteers., or if you know anyone who would be interested for his current or future projects, focusing both on research and/or conservation , in taking volunteers, or who is already receiving volunteers, please don't hesitate to contact me. In case you are interested in knowing more about self-financing possibilities through volunteers, I will be pleased to provide you with all the information: what kind of projects are interesting for volunteers, what kind of contribution volunteers can give (both financial and work), what kind of logistics are needed, what kind of educational exposure do volunteers need, what kind of safety, etc. This information might be useful to people who would like to test this self-financing , or self-supporting, method. I am enclosing a simple form that I kindly ask you to fill for being published in the guide. It contains important information for the prospective volunteers. If you are interested in being included in the guide, plaese send back the form completed ASAP. If you need further information on taking volunteers, feel free to contact me. It would be very useful if you could give me E-mail addresses, due to the high cost of fax communication. I would be willing, however, to correspond by fax or regular mail, with researchers without E-mail facilities, particularly in remote places, if they conduct interesting projects in particular need of help. I look forward to hearing from you soon. (My addresses are below). Fabio Ausenda Green Volunteers Via Valenza 5 20144 MILANO, Italy fax ++39/2/427.993 tel. ++39/2/837.3522 E-mail:fabio_ausenda(\)rcm.inet.it (max. 15 K messages) FORM FOR PROJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GUIDE (Please retype or print, if you use this form; feel free to add additional pages or to adapt the form to your case). NAME OF THE PROJECT: NAME OF ORGANIZATION OR INSTITUTION: ADDRESS: (complete of zip code and country) TEL : FAX: (both complete of international codes) EMAIL: (if any) DESCRIPTION: (a general description of the project, max. 8-10 lines) SPECIES: (a simple list of the species studied, with Latin name, when not common; if many, put the main ones or groups such as: marine mammals, etc.) HABITAT: (Habitats involved such as: Rainforest, Desert, Savannah, Tropical Coasts, Tropical Seas, etc.) GEOGRAFIC LOCATION: Country (you can be more specific, such as: North East of Australia, etc.) TRAVEL INFO: (a short description on how to get to the project, you will give more details directly to prospective volunteers) DURATION: (2-3 weeks, six months, etc.) PERIOD: (When the volunteers are needed: ex. year round, July, etc.) AGE.: (Min. and Max. age of volunteers) QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: (A short description of skills, such as: no particular skills needed, or, photography welcome, only people with previous field experience in marine mammal research, SCUBA diving certification, or only students in primatology, etc. You can put as many limits as you want.) VOLUNTEERS WORK: (Describe the work of volunteers) LANGUAGE: (Languages needed for the project) ACCOMMODATION: ( Describe the type of accommodation: in a house in bunk beds, sheets or sleeping bags required, in tents, etc. ). COST: (min. and max. costs of participation, if any, in US dollars, specify if room and accommodation are included, or volunteers must pay for it, specify if volunteers must provide for their own transportation) LONG TERM ?: (Specify if volunteers can join a project for a long period, from one month to one year; for short term projects specify if volunteers can stay for a long term with project leaders approval after regular period.) AGENTS, CORRESPONDENTS: (Do you have any organization or agency, in other countries, to which prospective volunteers can write, or do they have to contact you directly?) APPLICATION: (specify application procedures, whether or not you have a standard form to fill, etc., or deadlines, specify if there is any membership requirement for participation, etc.) NOTES: (Anything particular you want to add, such as particular limitations or other) ********************************************************************* Rete Civica di Milano ++39-2-55182133 GUI-TCP/IP:149.132.120.68:3004 at the Computer Science Department of Milan State University ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 15:51:46 +0800 From: Chris Parsons Subject: Hong Kong Whale Meat In-Reply-To: <199610310131.JAA10654(\)hk.super.net> Dear Marmam, I thought there might be people out there who would be interested in this article that appeared in the South China Morning Post (6-Nov-96) in Nury Vittachi's collumn "Lai See"...... "I was wrong to say that no commercial whaling activity goes on in Hong Kong. There is apparently at least one place where they are sold for eating purposes. Not a whole one, of course (unless you are very hungry). Whale meat is listed in Japanese on the menu at Matsubishi, a restaurant in Wan Chai. The diner who pointed this out to me thought this was curious, believing that the Ag and Fish Dept frowns on such practices. Oddly enough, this dish is missing from the restaurant's English and Chinese menus. He asked the waiter whether anyone had complained about the political incorrectness of this. "No" the man replied conspiratorially. "But only Japanese see it." So the rest of us don't know, okay? Shhhhh." After some enquiries into this, it appears that several other Japanese restaurants are currently selling whale meat in Hong Kong. Apparently, the season for fresh whale meat is in the winter, so I presume the source is either south-migrating North Pacific or Antarctic whales. The last report of whale meat for sale in Hong Kong took place in the early 90s (1991 I think) and although the case was brought to court no one was prosecuted (the meat was from a Minke whale in this case). Chris Parsons Swire Institute of Marine Science delphis(\)hk.super.net ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 09:11:14 GMT From: "Allen,Penelope" Subject: FW: manatee slaughter in Belize I have just read this message on the CTURTLE mailing list and thought it should be passed to MARMAM too..... ---------- >From: Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation >To: Multiple recipients of list CTURTLE >Cc: Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation >Subject: manatee slaughter in Belize >Date: 06 November 1996 15:04 > >This message sent to the Bz-Culture Mailing List from "Eva Maheia" >: > >BELIZE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES >P.O. Box 150, Corner of Front Street & Wahima Alley >Punta Gorda, Belize, C.A. > > >From: Wil Maheia (BCES, Field Specialist)email-pgwil(\)btl.net > >cc: Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Tourism and the Environment, >Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Belize Tourist Board, Belize Audubon >Society, Toledo Tour Guide Association, Fisheries Department Punta Gorda, >Police >Department Punta Gorda. > >October 30th, 1996 > >Trip report > >Manatees slaughtered in the Deep River Area > >Recently we at Belize Center for Environmental Studies (BCES) have been >conducting community meetings in the Port Honduras area. These meetings >are in reference to the management plan we are writing for the Proposed Port Honduras >Marine Protected area. At some of these meetings, several fisher persons have >expressed their concerns about certain restrictions in certain areas. These >areas include the banks between the Snake Cayes. In order to become more >familiar with the banks and identify ways in which we could ease their >concerns, I decided to make a visit to the area. > >On Wednesday morning I begun my journey with the intention to visit the banks >off East Snake Caye. Accompanying me on this trip was Larry Sauliner our >Peace Corps Environmental Educator and his wife a Rural Development officer also a >Peace Corps Volunteer. > >Our intention was to travel directly to the Snake Cayes, look at the >banks, and work our way in towards the coast. Because of inclement weather, we >decided to travel along the coast and then work our way out to the cayes. After about 40 >minutes traveling north from Punta Gorda Town, we arrived in the Deep River >area. I then said to the crew, if we see vultures we should investigate what >they are eating. There is a rumor around town that the Guatemalans are over >here killing Manatees. By the time I finished what I was saying Ms. Sauliner >pointed out some vultures. I then slowed the boat down and maneuvered >closer to the shoreline. The closer we got to the shoreline the more vultures we >saw. I then maneuvered the boat into an opening in the mangroves. By this time, >Larry was standing on the bow, and I saw him shake his head in disgust. I then shut >the engine off and moved to the bow of the boat, I was devastated and outraged >at what I saw. > >I saw the remains of not one or two or three but of five Manatees that >have been recently slaughtered. It was one of the most disgusting sights I have >ever seen in this area where I was born and raised. The skulls were cracked apparently >from a hammer or some other kind of metallic tool. It was easily visible >to see that the persons responsible cared only for the prime parts. There were >lots of decayed meats on the bones that they left on the ground, the fins and >skins were all there decayed because it seemed like the vultures have had their fair >share. It appears that the butchers had captured an entire family of Manatees >because some of the skulls were of adult size and some were of juvenile size. > >After we have been so disheartened we decided to continue on with our journey >and travel to the cayes. Less than five minutes away we saw some more >vultures. I begun to hope that we would never relive the experience we just had. >However we saw vultures and as the Field Specialist it is my job to investigate these >situations. I pulled up into another Mangrove opening and again I was alarmed >and outraged. This time there were four freshly slaughtered manatees. The >stench was there just like the other sites and there sat the bones, skins, and >meat decaying on the ground. Again overwhelming the prime meat was >stripped off and the other meat left on the ground to rot. > >It is amazing that something like this could happen in a country like Belize >that has some of the best environmental laws in the region. Besides the >Belizean law which prohibit this kind of slaughtering, Manatees are also >protected under international laws. How then can people get away with >this kind of behavior? > >I have no proof to confirm the rumor that these manatees are going to >Guatemala. But what I can say is that I am in the field almost every day and I have >never seen or heard of manatee meat for sale in Belize, but I have had people >confirm to me that they have bought the meat in Guatemala. > >Ten minutes from the butcher site are some offshore cayes where fishermen >camp. These fishermen are mostly Guatemalans that have valid Belizean fishing >license. The fishermen at these cayes have no regards for the Belizean >laws or the environment. I have not seen them killing manatees but I have seen them >setting their Gil Nets at the mouths of the rivers and on some of our reefs which is illegal >according to the laws of Belize. > > >A call for immediate action to stop the slaughtering of Manatees > >As a concerned Belizean citizen and an employee of the Belize Center for >Environmental Studies, I am calling upon the Ministry of Agriculture and >Fisheries, Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Tourism and the >Environment, community groups and the NGO community to come together and >discuss ways in which we could resolve this problem. I also believe that >it is important to call upon our neighbors from Guatemala and ask them to assist >us in dealing with this situation that needs immediate attention. > >About a year or so ago BCES facilitated the visits of two scientist from >the USA who visited the area briefly and found approximately 15 butchering sites >and an estimated 35 kills. The result was a press release that highlighted the >killing of Manatees in the same areas. To date nothing has been done except >lots of promises from some donors and a few pamphlets received from the >Florida Power and Light Company. > >What we will try and do in the meantime > >Discussions have already begun with Punta Gorda Town Police Department and the >Fisheries Department. We will try and identify ways in which we can work >together to end these monstrosities against the manatee population which is >suppose to be less than 200 in Belize according to the last aerial survey. In >the near future we will meet with the Toledo Community College Environmental >Club, local fishermen, Toledo Tour Guide Association and other organizations to >discuss the possibility of volunteer patrols in the area. > >Urgent needs > >At this time The Belize Center for Environmental Studies has no money for this >kind of activity. However BCES has volunteered to lend their boat for >patrolling the waters. Before the patrols can take place, it is essential >that we have money for fuel, hand radios so we could call for support or help >in case of emergencies, binoculars, spotlights, batteries and camping equipment which >would include tents, hammocks, or sleeping cats, portable camping stove >etc. and some rain gear. It is believed that many of these activities take place >during rainy nights. > > >ps. I'm in no way trying to point the finger at anyone. What we need to >do is to find a way to solve this problem. Feel free to fwd this to any group or >organization you believe can give us assistance. >Thank You for using the Bz-Culture Mailing List >To subscribe/unsubscribe send to bz-culture-request(\)psg.com the message: >subscribe or unsubscribe >Send comments to bz-culture-owner(\)psg.com > 1327 9th Avenue # 1 San Francisco, CA 94122-2308 USA (415) 665-4829 Visit Harry's Universe at http://www.catch22.com/~vudu/ Information on Belize, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines cults. and more! Artwork, photos, and links. =========================================== "If you are not willing to take chances in life, then you might as well be dead." =========================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 15:08:52 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Australia: Push for Permanent International Whaling Ban Dear Marmamers, Australian federal Environment Minister Robert Hill, announced in a media release September 30, 1996, that he has established a National Task Force on whaling to assist Australia's push for a permanent international ban on commercial whaling. "The Howard Government's policy is to seek to turn the current international moratorium into a permanent ban on all commercial whaling," Environment Minister Robert Hill writes. And Hill continues: "We believe the practice of killing whales is unjustifiable. It is time the international community stopped talking about a 'moratorium' on commercial whaling and instead adopted a permanent international ban on commercial whaling. We will continue to make every effort to gather international support for a permanent ban." Environment Minister Robert Hill's complete media release is available in our Library: http://www.highnorth.no/hi-st-up.htm Georg Blichfeldt -- High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 19:33:44 +0100 From: Gianni Pavan Subject: Re: Stereo Hydrophones ? Dear Gottfried, you can simply use two conventional hydrophones, possibly linked together in a rigid assembly. If you simply want to listen in stereo, you can fix the hydrophones at a distance about 5 times the distance between your hears to compensate for the incresed sound speed in water. If you want to measure the arrival time differences on the two hydrophones (e.g. to discriminate sounds coming from different directions), you probably need to increase the distance depending on the temporal features of the sounds you think to receive. Impulsive sounds are easier to measure than long lasting sounds. The setting of the inter-hydrophones distance is empirical (probably somebody else has more accurate hints about this matter): in our towed array we have the hydrophones spaced of 8 metres. Regards, Gianni -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Gianni Pavan Centro Interdisciplinare di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali Universita' degli Studi di Pavia Via Taramelli 24 27100 PAVIA, ITALIA Tel/Fax +39-382-525234 Email gpavan(\)telnetwork.it Web http://www.unipv.it/~webcib/welcome.html -------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 18:20:36 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: fieldwork databases (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 06 Nov 1996 12:36:58 -0800 From: jake Hi folks, I've got a couple of databases that people might be interested in taking a look at as share-ware(pay for small fee, if you like s/ware). The first's for Access, and it's a behavior database built for a field station t hat details cruise, crew,environment, navigation, animals and behavioral codes for e ach sighting sample time. Will generate reports that can summarize data for whatever time period desired as well as calculate behavioral results. Has been used very easil y with desktop mapping software to generate movement vectors, and is geared for people using hand-held field GPS. This is a very easy system to generate your own queries and works smoothly with most applications without much trouble. The second is a tagging/ID DB, built for Virginia marine science museum's dolphin photo-id program. It has same basics but collects identifiable animal records ra ther tha n behaviors. For any chosen time-periodIt has: summary reports for grants, Sight ings by date, month or year tables for all known animals; calculates association coeffic ients for all sighted animals/ by encounter or by day; Subclass ratios of population.- eg neonate ratio for reproduction index; recapture index for total population estim ates. This one is written in Foxpro- a much harder database to play with but quite pow erful- easier to integrate into other hardware like GPS/ ArcInfo etc. For a few extra sheckles i'll alter either one so it fits your own data/species, and both systems have a windows type interface. Written for Windows 3.11 and works o n Win 95. Justin K. Weaver justinkw(\)norfolk.infi.net ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 20:58:24 -0700 Reply-To: Danielle Montague-Judd From: Danielle Montague-Judd Subject: dead whale localities Hello, I have a favor to ask: Where might I find information/references on dead whale localities (recent)? This would include records of beached whales, but I am particularly interested in underwater finds. I am also interested in any patterns regarding where whales die, i.e., along migration routes, in feeding/breeding/birthing grounds, etc. I am curious as to whether dead whale localities would correlate, on a global scale, with high-productivity zones in the oceans. Thank you, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Danielle Montague-Judd Dept. of Geosciences The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 montague(\)geo.arizona.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 12:27:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: NT: New plan to protect dugong NT: New plan to protect dugong from fishing nets DARWIN, Nov 7 AAP - A joint agreement to protect dugong from commercial fishing nets in part of the Gulf of Carpentaria was praised today by Aborigines and the fishing industry. Under a protection strategy announced today, commercial fishing would be restricted in areas where dugong breed, but access to barramundi fishing grounds would be assured. The new agreement applies to a key dugong breeding and barramundi fishing area near the Sir Edward Pellew Islands at the mouth of the McArthur River, in the Northern Territory. The strategy, announced by the Northern Land Council (NLC) and the Northern Territory Fishing Industry Council (NTFIC), follows the deaths of several dugong in fishing nets in the area last year. Dugong are a protected species but are culturally important in Aboriginal dreaming and Aborigines are allowed to hunt them. NLC chairman Galarrwuy Yunupingu said the agreement was the first time in memory Aborigines and the commercial fishing industry had reached a sea-management agreement. "Aboriginal traditional owners have strong cultural responsibilities in regard to dugong and welcome the recognition of these responsibilities in the management process," Mr Yunupingu said. NTFIC executive officer Ian Smith said both parties' interests had been respected in reaching the agreement. In addition to fishing area restrictions, the strategy includes the introduction of a maximum seven-inch net size and a maximum net strength requirement which would allow by-catch to escape. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 15:36:53 +0100 From: Oystein Wiig Subject: ARGOS JOINT TARIFF AGREEMENT (JTA) FOR 1997 ARGOS JOINT TARIFF AGREEMENT (JTA) Please find enclosed some additional information related to the message from Dr. Bernie McConnell, Sea Mammal Research Unit, UK, 5 Nov 1996, about the Argos tariff. As Chairman of the Norwegian Argos User Committee I participated in the JTA meetings in 1995 and 1996. The problems related to marine mammal tracking were discussed at both meetings after initiative from the SMRU. It was argued at both meetings that marine mammal programs should be allowed to be included under the Limited Use Service under the JTA. In connection with that Bernie McConnell this year held a presentation about problems related to tracking marine mammals by the Argos system for the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP), which have their meeting each year just in front of the JTA meeting. Many of the participants of the DBCP also participate in the JTA. The presentation made by Bernie had apparently convinced many of the participants of the DBCP that the problems marine mammal trackers have with getting enough uplinks, are so large that they fall under the spirit of the Limited Use Service of the JTA. It was therefore decided at the JTA meeting to make some minor (but important) changes to the conditions for Limited Use Service under the JTA for 1997. The conditions for Limited Use Service for 1997 are as follows (old wording in brackets): "This service is intended for those users whose programs (which may) operate effectively using a reduced number of data transmission. Platforms under this service category are supposed to use a randomly initiated (and regular) duty cycle. The following conditions must be met to qualify: 1. Standard location or standard location and data processing (services) only apply; 2. Platform can transmit no more than twenty four (24) hours in any 72 hours period; 3. Users will be charged the standard data collection and location rate for actual PTT.days used up to a maximum of ten per month; 4. All platforms in a single program must meet these conditions; 5. Separate program applications must be submitted." The important points here are "randomly initiated duty cycle" and "no more than 24 h in a 72 h period". It was argued that: 1. The user do not decide when a marine mammal surface, so any transmission from an attached PTT is "at random"; and 2. A marine mammal is under water most of the time, so the transmitter seldomly transmits more than 24 h in any 72 h period. The implication of this is that for programs having this service you do not pay for more than 10 PTT.days a month for each PTT. A PTT.day is here defined as: Any day during which a transmitter is received by a minimum of two messages by a satellite. If you have a PTT that transmits each day, you will under this service pay only 1/3 of normal rate, if it transmits less than 11 days a month you pay the same as before. The changes of wording in the JTA are on trial basis for 1997. CLS Argos will certainly follow up to see if we really qualify for this. I think they will check how many PTTs that transmit more than 24 h in any 72 h period. It is therefore important that PTTs on seals that haul out for longer periods are programmed to stop transmitting as soon as possible after haul out. I have already applied to have one seal program under this service and it was accepted. I applied directly to CLS Argos. I pointed out that all PTTs are on seals and have a randomly initiated duty cycle and that they transmit less than 24 h in any 72 h period. If this apply to you, it will have an effect on your Argos guarantee for 1997. Please advice your ROC (Representative of Country) before January 1997 on your changed guarantee. The final guarantee for number of PTT.years for 1997 is done by each ROC within 15 January 1997. An additional matter is that the Argos system is running out of IDs. You are kindly asked to deliver back to your User Office all Argos IDs that are no longer in use (simply send them an e-mail). You will soon be notified by your ROC about which IDs you have that has not been used since 1 January 1996. If they still not have been used at 1 January 1998 you will be charged thereafter of a monthly fee of 25 FF. This is not so much money, but please be aware of that the importance of returning IDs is related to restriction in the Argos system. _______________________________________________________________ Professor Oystein Wiig Phone: +22851688 Zoological Museum Fax: +22851837 University of Oslo Email: oystein.wiig(\)toyen.uio.no Sars gate 1 N-0562 Oslo NORWAY _______________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 14:57:01 GMT From: KELLY HUGHES Organization: The University of Greenwich Subject: Harbour Porpoises Dear users, I am currently studying for a Masters degree which I am doing through research on the harbour porpoise. I am aiming to collate as much information about this species in my year of study! Topics which i will cover include its natural history, distribution, threats and current status. The main aim however is to test whether there is in fact enough data regarding this species feeding and breeding grounds to delegate areas around the UK as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's) I need some information on International law under which the harbour porpoise gains some protection. I am also particularly interested in personal experiences of the behaviour of the porpoise; in the UK I have heard a few reports of bow-riding and inquisitive porpoise. They are perhaps not the elusive, shy little mammal I was lead to believe! Any information/references or just 'porpoise chat' would be of help to me on this project. I look forward to hearing from interested parties, Kelly Hughes(Research Student)_ University of Greenwich, Deptford Campus, Creek Road, London. SE8 3BW. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 10:00:27 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Duisburg Zoo and Inia (fwd) Forwarded message: Duisburg, 8 November 1996 It has come to our attention that rumours are being spread about Duisburg Zoo and its alleged intention of capturing Inia geoffrensis in South America. Such rumours are incorrect. The false information seemingly originates from a German NGO which opposes the keeping of odontocetes in captivity, possibly with the intention of damaging the reputation of Duisburg Zoo. Please notice the following facts: 1. Duisburg Zoo keeps 2 male Inia geoffrensis in its collection since 1975. 2. These two animals are being kept in a facility which nowadays can not be considered state of the art. 3. Duisburg Zoo has the intention of building a new facility for these two animals inside a representation of the tropical rain forest, called "Amazonia", in an attempt to educate our visitors by means of a portrayal of an ecosystem rather than the display of a single animal species. 4. The new facility foresees no breeding pool for Inia geoffrensis, nor the import of any river dolphin for this purpose. Instead, the new facility is planned in such way that the pool technology will allow the keeping of zoo-bred manatees in the future, once the Inia geoffrensis will have died. 5. Duisburg Zoo has been involved in research on Inia geoffrensis since long. The two most recent research projects included investigations on the echolocation during capture of live fish and the establishment of a complete ethogram of these two individuals in captivity. The findings of these investigations will be published in English language in due time. Recently, technical equipment for use in research on Inia geoffrensis in the Amazon has been tested and calibrated in Duisburg. 6. Duisburg Zoo is in the process of becoming more involved in research on Inia geoffrensis in the wild, in close cooperation with other organisations already working in the field. Such research, together with the attempt to improve the husbandry of the two captive individuals, is representative for the policy of Duisburg Zoo, which sees its responsibility towards animal husbandry and nature conservation in the sense described by the World Zoo Conservation Strategy: The role of zoos and aquaria of the world in global conservation (1993). In summary: Duisburg Zoo has no intention to capture cetaceans from their natural environment. Until very recently, we naively believed that the improvement of husbandry conditions and the stronger involvement in research on these animals in their natural habitat would be welcome by people genuinely interested in animal welfare. Yet, apparently our intentions are not well received by at least one NGO of the anti-dolphinaria lobby, for whatever reasons. Zoo Duisburg Muelheimer Str. 273 47058 Duisburg Germany ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 10:53:19 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 11/08/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Japanese Research Whaling. On Nov. 7, 1996, five Japanese research whaling vessels left ports in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures for Antarctic waters. Their objective is killing 400 minke whales before April 1997 for biological data. [Dow Jones News] . UH Dolphin Research Not Moving. On Oct. 14, 1996, a Maui County Council committee held a hearing on plans to move the Univ. of Hawaii's Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory from Honolulu to Maui's Kahana Beach Park. The committee subsequently rejected the plan, desiring to keep the undeveloped land for a beach park rather than a marine laboratory. The Kewalo Basin facility must vacate its present location due to a waterfront renewal program. [Assoc Press, personal communication] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 12:49:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphin Institute, Maui (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "David M. Raatz, Jr., Esq." http://www.maui.net/~mauinews/lnews5b.htm Dolphin Institute hasn't given up on Maui location By TIMOTHY HURLEY Staff Writer

WAILUKU -- The Dolphin Institute may have been rejected at Kanaha Beach Park, but it still has its eye on Maui for its home.

Maui's Bob Johnson, a board member of the nonprofit research organization, said Thursday the Dolphin Institute still has a long list of public and private properties across the state suitable for relocation. But Maui remains the preferred choice, he said.

Johnson, president of the Maui Economic Development Board, said the Dolphin Institute board met earlier this week, and officials are forging ahead with plans to move the Oahu facilities.

``They're trying to do what's best for the dolphins and for education,'' Johnson said.

The Dolphin Institute, the nonprofit extension of the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory in Honolulu, is proposing to develop a new facility allowing its researchers to continue its acclaimed work on dolphin intelligence.

The laboratory has been asked by the Hawaii Community Development Authority to relocate so that Ala Moana Park can be expanded. The Dolphin Institute has been hoping to move to Maui for more than a year and had won the support of Mayor Linda Crockett Lingle's administration.

But asked to endorse a proposal to build on 9.5 acres at Kanaha Beach Park, members of a Maui County Council Parks and Recreation Committee last month rejected the plan, saying they couldn't support giving up beach park land.

The panel's unanimous vote followed an emotional five-hour hearing in which the welfare of the facility's four resident dolphins dominated the testimony of 50 people.

While critics testified that it is cruel and inhumane to keep the dolphins in captivity, supporters said the dolphins are well taken care of and serve dolphin conservation by advancing knowledge about the intelligence of the species.

Johnson pointed out that council members did not base their decision on whether holding dolphins in captivity is right or wrong, but merely on the issue of using park land.

A proposed multimillion-dollar facility would have expansive lagoons to house the lab's four dolphin residents. It would also have a recovery area for stranded animals, a learning center and research office, among other facilities.

Attempts to reach Louis Herman and Adam Pack, co-founders of the Dolphin Institute, were unsuccessful over the last two weeks.

But Johnson said there are many possibilities for the Dolphin Institute on Maui. He said the facilities ideally would be located on the ocean but not necessarily. The complicating factor is the water: the farther away from the saltwater source, the more expensive it is to pump the water.

Johnson said a location that might work is inland of the rejected Kanaha Beach Park property across Alahao Street. Another possibility is the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei, but the expense required in pumping water to the 300-foot elevation makes it a long shot, he said.

Johnson said people have the wrong idea if they think the Dolphin Institute is a visitor attraction. He said the goal all along has been to establish a research and educational facility away from the normal tourist routes.

``Some suggested that they look for a high-visibility location in South Maui, but they weren't interested in that. They are looking for a place to do some serious research,'' he said.

Other places considered, he noted, were the eastern shore of Lanai and a remote Big Island location.

If the Dolphin Institute does pursue a Maui location, look for its detractors to pick up the fight.

Meagan Jones of the Pacific Whale Foundation, who testified against the Dolphin Institute in October, asked why Maui be home to captive dolphins when they can be found on Oahu and the Big Island.

Jones said captive dolphins might make more sense in the Midwest, where people are thousands of miles from the ocean. But on Maui, dolphins are very accessible.

The Pacific Whale Foundation has taken a half million people alone in the last 15 years to see whales and dolphins, she said. ``I don't know if it will enhance what's going on here,'' she said.

Hannah Bernard of the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund said that instead of allowing a dolphinarium to move here, the county should host a symposium to re-examine the need to keep dolphins in captivity at all.

Mary Evanson, a Sierra Club environmental activist, said her objection to the Dolphin Institute was strictly the Kanaha Beach Park location.

``Since the dolphins already are in captivity and have to have a home, I have no objections as long as it's in the right place,'' she said.

------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 18:32:21 -0500 From: Sclymene(\)aol.com Subject: Marine Mammal CD ROM Dear MARMAMers, For your information, there is a new CD-ROM version of the FAO identification guide, "Marine Mammals of the World." It includes all species and has color photos, keys, movies, and sound clips. It is available your local bookseller or from Springer-Verlag, Postfach 31 13 40, D-10643 Berlin, Germany. Retail price is DM 110. When ordering, use ISBN 3-540-14509-5 (for Macintosh) or ISBN 3-540-14508-7 (for Windows). ********************************* Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Ocean Park Aberdeen, Hong Kong (852) 2987-9508 (tel. or FAX) email: Sclymene(\)aol.com ********************************* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 12 Nov 1996 12:48:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Asia-Environment: Dolphin park Asia-Environment: Dolphin parks make a big splash MANILA, (Nov. 8) IPS - Ocean parks that feature captive marine mammals are waning in many Western countries, but to the dismay of conservationists they are making a splash as popular entertainment in Asia. China is experiencing a boom in aquarium projects and theme parks that display dolphins and whales, and at least 15 such facilities are reported to be under design or development. In Japan, the first such facility was opened to the public in 1989. Today there are more than 70 commercial aquariums across Japan. Other facilities are also planned in Southeast Asian nations, at a time when aquarium parks featuring marine mammals have been closing down due to plunging revenues and growing opposition to captive display of these animals. While they are seen as revenue-raising tourism ventures, conservationists warn that the opening of more oceanariums and holding facilities may fire up demand for the capture of endangered marine mammals. "Oceanariums are on their way out, that's why they are coming to this region," Trixie Concepcion of Earth Island Institute-Philippines said. A case in point is a proposal by U.S. company Active Environments to put up a "conservation, research and breeding facility," as well as a holding facility and leisure center in the Philippines, ostensibly to supply marine mammals to Chinese aquarium parks. The proposal, which involves building a marine facility in Camayan wharf in Subic Bay, northern Philippines, has raised concerns about an increase in demand for marine mammals. Citing a 1994 rule barring the catching, selling and export of dolphins from the Philippines, an inter-agency task force on Nov. 5 recommended that environment officials who have final say on the matter reject the dolphinarium project. But even before government review of the plan, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority announced the establishment of a $1.15 million marine mammal park that will boost ecotourism in the area, a former U.S. naval base. Timothy Desmond, Active Environments' principal who is described as a former whale trainer and consultant in the film "Free Willy," wrote Filipino officials saying his company would obtain dolphins in an "environmentally responsible" way. At present, he said, marine mammals captured and displayed in theme parks have very short lifespans due to improper handling. "The aquarium developers in China have evidenced little concern for the impact on the environment by their efforts to obtain specimens," Desmond added. He says illegally caught animals have been smuggled from Indonesia into Guangzhou Cultural Park in southern China, where only three of the 12 captive animals are alive after less than a year in captivity. The boom in oceanariums, many of which display marine mammals, will mean demand for at least 80 to 100 dolphins, he says. More animals would be needed to keep such facilities going due to high mortality rates and poor facilities, putting new pressure on dolphin species in Southeast Asian seas, he argued. "The stage is set for a huge trade in illegally or ineptly captured dolphins," Desmond said. Conservationists agree with some of these assertions, but disagree that putting up a captive facility in the Philippines will help the situation -- especially if it involves profit. "While oceanariums are in decline in these countries, the most logical recourse of its proprietors is to peddle these to developing countries who have no experience to issues related oceanariums," Earth Island Institute-Philippines and its parent, U.S.-based Earth Island International, said in opposing Desmond's project. "The tourism officials of these developing countries must not be misled by the promise of bringing tourists to ocean parks or holding facilities," they argued in a position paper. Scores of conservation groups have since written to Filipinoofficials opposing the proposed Subic facility, and urging Manila to instead encourage whale and dolphin-watching in its waters. Earth Island Institute says where Active Environments will obtain its dolphins is worrisome. The firm said it would try to get animals from "captive sources" including surplus animals from the U.S. Navy and Sea World, but that "collections from the wild will occur" though only in populations that are not fragile. Wrote Desmond: "The impact will be dramatically different from having local fisherman grab dolphins wherever they find them along the coast of China, Taiwan and even the Philippines." He said the firm may also get "doomed" animals from Japan's drive fisheries, which conservationists say is even worse as this may further stimulate dolphin killing for profit in Japan. Japanese fishermen in Taiji and Iki islands carry out drive fisheries by chasing dolphins into coves and beaches to obtain dolphin meat and to sell some animals tomarine parks, including, until a recent ban was enacted, American ones. Three decades of experience with marine mammals in captivity have led to an understanding of the ill-effects of capturing and displaying them for profit. While the sight of leaping dolphins has wowed crowds the world over, experts say there is no education in watching the animals perform unnatural acts. Real study of wholly aquatic species can only occur within natural habitats, they add. Removing dolphins from their social units or pods, confining them in pens, and swimming in chlorinated, shallow water causes diseases and shortens lifespans. A dolphin lives an average of 45 years in the wild, but only an average of five years -- and often even less -- in captivity. "Marine parks can no longer justify their captivity under the false premise of education, conservation and research," Chris Stroud of parks are now advertising the fact that they do not display captive marine mammals. Meantime, whale and dolphin-watching is picking up in places like Latin America, Europe, and Washington and British Columbia in North America. Plans are afoot to introduce whale-watching in waters off Bohol in central Philippines, where some islanders hunt cetaceans for food. Concepcion says Earth Island Institute hopes the Philippine government will stand by the recommendation to turn down the dolphinarium project in Subic. But she also says the profit motive, even in a dying industry remains, and that efforts may be made to scout for other locations in Asia. "The profitsare there," she added, citing estimates by Earth Island Institute that a healthy dolphin can be sold to oceanariums for $25,000 to $100,000 each. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 02:00:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: MarmamNews stories 11/01-11/09 The following stories have been posted to the MarmamNews Web Site. MarmamNews is available at http://members.aol.com/marmamnews 11/01/96 - Canada sets plan to protect endangered species - Mystery illness hits seal pups - Missouri River Otter Protection Coalition Delivers - House Resources Chair Highlights Environmental . 11/02/96 - Dead Sardines Cause Oil Slick 11/04/96 - QLD: Seal romp risky during mating season - QLD: Whale and dolphin watchers cause harm 11/05/96 - Japan condemned amid new whaling claims - Storm beached seal dies 11/06/96 - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Walrus Diagnosed ... 11/07/96 - NT: New plan to protect dugong from fishing nets 11/08/96 - WA: Beached dolphin rescued - Disappointment as Japan resumes whaling - Sick Walrus Dies - British call on Japanese to end scientific whaling 11/09/96 - Asia-Environment: Dolphin parks make a big splash ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:52:16 -0500 From: Nikolas Entrup <106127.1133(\)compuserve.com> Subject: duisburg-new Inia pool Vienna, the 11th.November 1996 Please take a few minutes to read this reply on the misinformation posted by Duisburg Zoo regarding their proposed Inia exhibit. I don`t want to leave you in any doubt about which organisation (NGO) Duisburg Zoo is talking about. It is the Austrian and German animal protection organisation VIER PFOTEN (FOUR PAWS) who I work for. It is a fact that Duisburg Zoo announced they were to build a new facility for keeping Amazon river dolphins in captivity. The new facility will have a water surface of about 200 square meters. Publicly the Zoo states this pool will be the new home of the two old male Inias which they have kept captive for more than 20 years in a small tank in Duisburg (it is correct when Duisburg Zoo state "these two animals are being kept in a facility which nowadays can not be considered state of art"). At the moment there are 3 male Inias kept in the US and Europe (2 in Duisburg, 1 in Pittsburgh). To make it clear, the aim of the campaign by VIER PFOTEN is to ensure that NO more Inias are imported to Zoo Duisburg! Therefore we are trying to prevent all possibilities. I adviced Director Frese and Dr. Hartmann in Duisburg that we would halt our campaign if the Zoo officially states that there will NOT be any further IMPORT of Inia. It seems curious that a Zoo will spend at least 1 million Dollar to establish a new tank "just" for two old male Inia. The Zoo has failed to state there will not be anymore imports of Inias to the Zoo in Duisburg !! The opposite is fact. Here are some quotations of a letter from Dr.Frese, director of the Zoo in Duisburg, dated 28th.October 1996: "It is not planned to capture Inias from the wild and import them to Duisburg. (BUT!!!) if the zoo in Duisburg is asked (requested) on international level to take one or the other individual - for whatever reason - the zoo won4t deny the import per se!" He goes on that he won`t leave me in unclearness that he in general can think about the establishment of a breeding station for Inias at Duisburg....but it will be more than unrealistic to find sponsors". Therefore the following conclusion can be made: * Duisburg Zoo is still NOT willing to state that there will NOT be anymore importation of Inia. Fact is that except the one male in the US (to bring another male would also be a very curious step) it is only possible to import Inia from the Amazon (semi-reservation, stranded animal, already captive but wild-captured, wild captured etc..). * Fact is that to improve living conditions of the already captive Inias (injured, stranded animals etc.) can only be done at the Amazon itself! It is complete nonsense to import such an animal to Duisburg. There is NO use for a captive facility in Duisburg, Germany, regarding injured or stranded animals from the Amazon. * To me it seems that the Zoo in Duisburg wants to keep a backdoor open to import other Inias (this I expressed several times to the Zoo staff who again refused to confirm there will NOT be anymore imports - but they stated there will NOT be anymore imports of wild-captured bottlenose dolphins, commerson dolphins or Belugas which they are also keeping - such a statement was appreciated!). This in a way seems that more Inias will get captured OR already captured Inia will be imported. A clear message AGAINST any serious attempts to protect the species in the wild. * It is also fact that it would not be the first time to state that an animal e.g. kept in a semi-reservation has the status of a captive animal (which it is) and therefore will NOT be any wild-captured animal per se and therefore an import is probable. * By saying that it is possible to set up a breeding program of Inias in Duisburg such a statement ignores ALL scientific facts on basics for captive breeding populations. Therefore a minimum of 50 animals are needed for a breeding population. This means either the Zoo tries to breed just for ... I don`t know what to say on this "idea" ... or to establish a captive population. If the Zoo in Duisburg wants to be respected for their initiative JUST to improve the living-conditions of the two old male Inias which are already being kept. It is surely simple for them to officially state that there will NOT be anymore importation of an Inia. Nevertheless personally I think the establishment of the new pool itself is wasted money. An offer to transfer the two male Inias to a semi-reservation in the Amazon was refused by the Zoo. This would be much cheaper and more than an alternative to a 200 square meter tank which costs a huge amount of money. It is the suggestion from VIER PFOTEN to invest this amount of money in effective projects and measured steps to protect the habitat of Inias in the wild!!! If you agree with this opinion I ask you to contact Duisburg Zoo requesting them to state officially that there will NOT be anymore importation of Inias to Duisburg and ask that they transfer the two animals to a semi-reservation which must be more beneficial than to build a tank for such an amount of money. To invest money into effective measures to protect the Inia and its natural habitat: Fax. + 49 203 305 59 22 (Zoo Duisburg); Nicolas Entrup VIER PFOTEN Mariahilferstr.74B A-1070 Vienna Tel. + 43 1 523 89 92; Fax. + 43 1 523 38 95; email: 106127.1133(\)compuserve.com PS: information is needed. Dr.Hartmann stated in a personal conversation that there are about 25 captive Inias world-wide. As we are aware of only three in Europe and the US I would highly appreciate any information on where the oher 22 are. As we are aware of a few others, 22 still seems to me a "bit" high and also Dr.Hartmann has NOT sent me any proof of his claim yet. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 23:46:34 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Minke Whales - CITES and IUCN listings Dear Marmamers, I would like to inform you that the Norwegian draft proposal to delist the North East Atlantic and the Central North Atlantic stocks of minke whales from Appendix I to Appendix II of CITES is available at: http://www.highnorth.no/ci-no-dr.htm The proposal has been sent to the range states for consultation, and the final draft will be submitted to the CITES Secretariat in January 1997. It would be interesting to see whether you think that a downlisting would be in accordance with the CITES criteria for listing. I would also like to mention that in the 1996 IUCN Red List the minkewhale species is not any longer categorised as "endangered" - but as "lower risk; - near threatened". The 1994 Red List is not directly comparable to the 1996 list, as the criteria are fundamentally changed. An effort has been made to make the criteria more objective. The Lower Risk category definition goes like this: "A taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated and does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Crtically Endangered, Endangered or Vunerable". The Species under the Lower Risk Category are separated into three categories: 1) Conservation Dependend 2) Near Threatend 3) Least Concern. "Near Threatend" is defined as: "Taxa which do not qualify for conservation dependend, but which are close to qualifying as Vulnerable." Vulnerable is in turn defined as species "that is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future". There are "objective" measurements to decide which of the three main categories species are to be listed in - like the percentage of decline in a population within a certain period of time, fragmentation of population, decline in distibution / area occupation - and so on. It will take to much space to go into detail here. From my knowlegde of minke whale stocks I can't understand that the minke whale species should be "close to facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future". Any opinions? Yours sincerely Georg Blichfeldt -- High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 17:21:37 -0600 From: Tamara Mcguire Subject: duisburg-new Inia pool -Reply Dear Nicolas, Thanks you for the additional information on the captive Inia at the Duisburg zoo. I too found it very curiuos that the zoo would spend so much on a new facility for only tow old males. You asked about additonal Inia in captivity. I know of at least three in Venezuela, at the J.V. Seijas Aquarium in Valencia( near Caracas). I visited the aquarium in 1993, and ther were two females and one male. I later learned that the older female died in Dec. of that year-she had apparently been captive for 10 years. The mortality rate at the aquarium is very high, as schoolchildren throw plastic trash in the water and the dolphins choke on it. It was explained to me that it is easier and cheaper to simpliy capture more dolphins from the Apure river, instead of building a protective guard-wall or hiring a guard. I appreciate you efforts to speak out about Inia in captivity. I have studied them in the wild in Venezuela since 1993, and am now studying them in Peru. In my opinion the only suitable habitat is in the wild- not captivity or "semi-captive" enclosures. No country in the world should be importing Inia, especially under the hypocricy of "save the rainforest' exhibits that are now so popular. Good luck in your crusade. -Tamara McGuire t-mcguire1(\)tamu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 20:36:54 -0500 From: Ronald Orenstein Subject: Re: Minke Whales - CITES and IUCN listings At 23:46 13/11/96 +0100, Georg Blichfeldt wrote: >I would like to inform you that the Norwegian draft proposal >to delist the North East Atlantic and the Central North >Atlantic stocks of minke whales from Appendix I to Appendix II >of CITES is available at: http://www.highnorth.no/ci-no-dr.htm >The proposal has been sent to the range states for consultation, and the >final draft will be submitted to the CITES Secretariat in January 1997. > >It would be interesting to see whether you think that a downlisting >would be in accordance with the CITES criteria for listing. > >I would also like to mention that in the 1996 IUCN Red List the >minkewhale species is not any longer categorised as "endangered" - but >as "lower risk; - near threatened". I have not yet examined the draft proposal, though I certainly intend to do so. However, it may be worth pointing out to readers of this list that the IUCN Red List categories and the CITES Appendices are not strictly comparable. According to Article II of CITES, Appendix I is for species "threatened with extinction which are or may be threatened by trade". Appendix II is for, in part, "species which, although not necessarily threatened with extinction, may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subjected to strict regulation...." Thus the only two categories of threat recognized under CITES are "threatened with extinction" and "not necessarily threatened with extinction". These are not equivalent to IUCN categories of Critical, Endangered, Vulnerable etc; in fact attempts to set "threatened with extinction" as equal with IUCN Endangered or Threatened categories were rejected in the course of debate over new listing criteria prior to the last CITES Conference. CITES Parties must consider their decision in relation to the specific area with which CITES deals, namely international trade, and should (in my view) consider any downlisting proposal for minke whale in terms of the specific effect such an action would have in terms of trade issues, including control of illegal trade. There is certainly no requirement that the CITES Parties accept IUCN's categorization of any species; their decision is a separate and sovereign one, and they have not always agreed with IUCN in the past (nor, of course, with views of NGO's, High North Alliance and International Wildlife Coalition included). -- Ronald I. Orenstein Phone: (905) 820-7886 International Wildlife Coalition Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 1825 Shady Creek Court Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 3W2 Internet: ornstn(\)inforamp.net ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 11:36:38 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 11/15/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Norwegian CITES Proposal. In early November 1996, Norway completed a draft proposal to downlist the northeast Atlantic and central north Atlantic minke whale stocks from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The final draft is to be submitted to the CITES Secretariat in January 1997. [personal communication] . Japanese Research Whaling. On Nov. 8, 1996, the British government called upon Japan to discontinue its research whaling program in Antarctic waters. [Reuters, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food press release] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 12:18:04 -0800 From: San Diego Natural History Museum Subject: Federal and international permits workshop Important updates: The deadline for early registration for this workshop has been extended to Dec. 15. More information will be posted on the ASC web site soon, including the complete program and list of speakers. That information will be posted as soon as the pages are up. FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PERMITS: a workshop for natural history museums and collectors 29-31 January 1997 sponsored by the San Diego Natural History Museum and co-sponsored by the Association of Systematics Collections San Diego, California, USA Confusion and controversy often surround the process of applying for and maintaining valid collecting permits. In many cases, the process is not well understood, new laws and regulations are not well publicized, or there is confusion about different agencies and responsibilities. This bilingual (English and Spanish) workshop will address these problems by bringing together scientists, agency representatives and collectors from several countries to examine the problems and provide clarification. Permit agency representatives will be available at a "permits bazaar" to answer individual questions and to facilitate on-site permit applications. Topics to be addressed include: *The roles, responsibilities and requirements of permitting agencies: Canada, the U.S.A., Mexico, Central and South America *International regulations and treaties affecting global scientific collecting *Issues related to the Biodiversity Convention, collecting, and national sovereignty laws *Issues specific to vertebrate, invertebrate, botanical, microbiological and paleobiological collecting *The roles of scientific and avocational collectors The official languages of the workshop will be English and Spanish. Simultaneous translation facilities will be provided for speakers of these languages. Participants with other translation needs should contact the workshop coordinator. All proceedings will be printed in the language in which they are submitted, with abstracts in the other language. Individual translators will be available as needed. Wednesday will feature presentations by a variety of speakers, representing the issues confronting governmental agencies, universities, museums, and private or avocational collectors. An icebreaker reception at the San Diego Natural History Museum will be held Wednesday evening. Thursday morning will conclude the formal presentations. Representatives of permitting agencies will be available all afternoon on Thursday to answer questions and to facilitate applications for permits. A reception and keynote address will be held Thursday night. On Friday morning, a moderated plenary session will allow questions to be discussed by all parties. Proceedings of the workshop will be mailed three to six months after the workshop. The registration fee of $250 US includes the cost of the translation facility, receptions, coffee breaks, and all handouts and proceedings. The costs of other meals, transportation, lodging and on-site permit applications are not covered in the fee. A list of hotels and motels in the area will be sent to registrants. An all-day whale watching tour for a limited number of workshop participants has been scheduled for Saturday, February 1. Registration for this trip is separate from the conference registration. For further information and registration forms, please contact: Sally Shelton Director, Collections Care and Conservation extension 226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | San Diego Natural History Museum | | P. O. Box 1390 | | San Diego, California 92112 USA | | phone (619) 232-3821; FAX (619) 232-0248 | | email LIBSDNHM(\)CLASS.ORG | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 05:18:29 +0000 From: wongj(\)calumet.YorkU.CA Subject: message posting My name is Julielynn Wong. I am a 4th year biology student studying at York University. I am currently working on a review paper that discusses the hypothesis that cetaceans use echolocation to stun their prey. My search of the scientific literature has only come up with 4 papers that discuss this hypothesis (Belkovich and Yablokov, 1963; Berzin, 1971; Hult, 1982; Norris and Mohl, 1983). There seems to be limited literature on this topic and I hope that the Internet can provide me with more information. I'd like to hear from anyone if they feel that there are any additional papers on this topic. In addition, I feel that there are many researchers who may be able to give anectdotal details. I hope to document these (published or unpublished) field observations that apply to this hypothesis. I am hoping to collect information from anyone who has observed cetaceans stunning prey. I would really appreciate your assistance in this matter. Please email me back at wongj(\)calumet.yorku.ca if you can provide any sort of information. Thanks! Julielynn Wong wongj(\)calumet.yorku.ca http://www-home.calumet.yorku.ca/wongj/www/home.htm ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 16:10:31 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Diving Depths of Marine Animals (fwd) I am forwarding the following message for Pat Garratt. If anybody can help him please reply to hom directly at twoocean(\)iafrica.com Thanks Herman Oosthuizen ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Send reply to: twoocean(\)iafrica.com Can anyone help me with the following maximum diving depths of the following marine animals: Dusky Dolphin Heavisides Dolphin Cape Gannet Loggerhead Turtle Many thanks. Dr Patrick A. Garratt Curator - Two Oceans Aquarium HERMAN OOSTHUIZEN E-MAIL: OOSTHUIZ(\)SFRI.SFRI.AC.ZA SEA FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE FAX NO: 252920 PRIVATE BAG X2 ROGGEBAAI CAPE TOWN 8012 SOUTH AFRICA ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 06:17:56 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Marine Animal Rescue (fwd) From: Lawrence Taylor Greetings The Nova Scotia Stranding Network (NSSN) was established in 1990 through volunteers like myself at Dalhousie Unversity and across the province. I have put some general information about the Network on my homepage and hope you might take a look and even send comments. My site is http://www.atcon.com/~biodiver/ If you have any problems getting to the site, e-mail me at biodiver(\)auracom.com The NSSN should have its own site in the near future, so stay tuned. I will post the new site address to MARMAM. Cheers Lawrence Lawrence Taylor MSc BIO-DIVE-RSE CANADA 20A Locks Road Dartmouth, NS B2X 2J5 Phone/Fax (902) 435-0700 E-Mail: biodiver(\)auracom.com http://www.atcon.com/~biodiver Underwater Video - Production - Biological Research ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 20:38:59 -0500 From: Dixon Subject: information request Hello, I am a senior biology major at the University of Michigan. I did some research this summer on bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay Area. My group's project concentrated on "sentry" behavior, in which one dolphin leaves the herd to "investigate" possible dangers. Some of you may have seen this as a poster presentation at the ACS conference last week. We would like to publish this research. We have found very few sources on this behavior in dolphins. I was hoping some of you may know of any studies done on this behavio in dolphins or any other mammals. Also, we would like to continue this research and are looking for a place to do this. If any of you have seen this behavior in your area we would love to hear about it. Thanks, Malia Dixon mald(\)umich.edu 38572 Grennada Livonia, MI 48154 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 17 Nov 1996 17:22:51 -0500 From: Pierre-Henry Fontaine Subject: book and CD Hello, marmamers, I am putting final touches on the book Biologie et ecologie de baleines de l'atlantique nord and the CDROM iI am working on. Thanks to all of those who answered my questions! Here is another one : Is there a Jacobson organ in cetaceans? I have noticed on 2 stranded whales, one Balaenoptera musculus and one B.acutorostrata something about what I cannot find explanations in the references I have. It is situated at the tip of the upper jaw, underneath, between the most frontal of the baleen plates and the lip proper. It looks like two little fossa. In case of the Minke there was some blood gathered in a well defined surface(diameter 1cm aproximatively) around the fossa. could it be a jacobson organ? In the lower jaw of the Minke, at the tip also, but inside, at the symphysis, there was 2 white spots, 2 little fosa whose position was matching the upper fossa. I have never seen a description of those structure. Anybody could help me? I have photos if any body is intersted. Thanks in advance Pierre-Henry Fontaine 115 lavigueur, QUEBEC, QC, G1R 1A9, CANADA pfontain(\)mediom.qc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 12:05:19 -0500 From: Michael Williamson Subject: WhaleNet participation Hello, WhaleNet is seeking scientists interested in participating in WhaleNet's ASK a Scientist program . Scientists respond to questions from students for a two week period. We do have a $150/wk stipend available for participants. We have some slots available for the Spring Semester. If you are interested please conact me at the email address below. Check out WhaleNet. Mike ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ J. Michael Williamson Wheelock College Principal Investigator-WhaleNet Associate Professor-Science voice: 617.734.5200, ext. 256 fax: 617.734.8666 or 617.566.7369 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 12:13:39 -0200 From: BEATRIZ BOZANO HETZEL Subject: Steno bredanensis feeding habits ------ Dear Marmamers, We are working on a paper about feeding habits of Steno bredanensis in Brazilian coast. We are looking for a paper that could not be found in an= y Brazilian scientific library and maybe someone could help us, the referen= ce is: ADDINK, M & SHEENK, C. (1990). Opportunistic feeding behavior of the rough-toothed-dolphin, Steno bredanensis. Abstracts, Fourth Ann. Conf. Eu= r. Cetacean Soc., Palma de Mallorca, 2-4 March 1990,4. We would also like to take this opportunity to present you our Project activities and to offer free copies of some of our books for those who wo= rk with cetacean conservation programmes in countries where Portuguese is th= e primary language. The main area of Projeto Golfinhos activities is Ilha Grande Bay (South o= f Rio de Janeiro), which we discovered is the richest bay for cetaceans species in the Brazilian coast. Since last January, we have been fightin= g serious threats to cetaceans with a educational programme, based on the book: Baleias, botos e golfinhos =97 Baia da Ilha Grande. We have also worked in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Northeastern Brazilian coast) with the spinner dolphins. Two of our principal achievements in that area where to the reduce the impact of tourism on th= e dolphins and to publish the educational booklet: Golfinhos-rotadores do Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha. Please send your suggestions or requests to: Liliane Lodi e Bia Hetzel Projeto Golfinhos Caixa Postal 14521, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22412-970 tel/fax: 021 512-4810 biahetze(\)uninet.com.br ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 14:06:51 -0800 From: Dirk Neumann Subject: Red-pelaged sea lions on the Galapagos ? Hello Marmamers ! I just recently submitted a paper for publication on the occurrence of red-pelaged harbor seals in northern California. Now I have come across a picture of a Galapagos sea lion that indicates that possibly the same mechanisms of fur discoloration are occurring there. I would be very interested in any further information on this subject. Can anybody tell me who is currently conducting pinniped research on the Galapagos islands and how I could contact them ? Also, does anybody know how to contact wildlife photographers Patrick and Sophie de Wilde ? They took the picture I was referring to. Please send any info you might have to: drn2(\)axe.humboldt.edu Thanks very much for your help ! Dirk Neumann ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Dirk R. Neumann * * Dept. of Biological Sciences * Humboldt State University * Arcata, CA 95521, U.S.A. * Phone: (707) 822-0597 * e-mail: drn2(\)axe.humboldt.edu * ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 10:27:37 GMT From: CRIP La Paz Subject: Announcement SOMEMMA Meeting The XXII international annual meeting of the Mexican Society for Marine Mammalogy (SOMEMMA) will be held April 27 through May 1, 1997 in the Puerto Vallarta region at the Mexican Pacific Coast. The XXII Meeting will be sponsored by SOMEMMA and hosted by the National Fisheries Institute (INP). The Deadline for abstracts is Februray 15, 1997. The Conference Chairman is Dr. Antonio Diaz de Leon (President INP). For further information contact Hector PerezCortes at (e-mail): criplp(\)balandra.uabcs.mx ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 09:55:03 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Resource for Job Vacancies in National Oceanic Atmospheric A (fwd) From: "Thomas McIntyre" There is a central Web site for vacacy announcements within the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dept. Commerce, which includes the National Marine Fisheries Service. The URL is: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov toggle down to NOAA Administrative Offices click on Employment Opportunities within NOAA then toggle through the list of vacancies which are 'not' arranged by line office. An opening of potential interest to readers of this list is H/F-97-0007 MJB Chief of the NMFS Endangered Species Division Please make this JOBS Web site known to your colleagues throughout your institution. Only citizens of the United States are eligible. Thomas McIntyre (Mac) Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910-3226 USA PH 301-713-2055 Thomas.Mcintyre(\)noaa.gov ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 13:10:59 -0500 From: Phocid(\)aol.com Subject: Position available Serious illness has forced one of the two founding members of the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre to leave the project. IWNCC is a wildlife / marine mammal rehabilitation centre being created on Salt Spring Island, BC. Jeff Lederman, the wildlife rehabilitator, will continue with the project. The position of Director is now vacant. The Director will be responsible for overseeing funding programs, public relations, building projects and general administration. Because of the Centre's focus on Alternative Medicine, we are in a position to obtain funding and publicity from sectors not necessarily open to conventional rehabilitation centres. Up until now, this has been a volunteer position. However, we are very close to the point where a salary can be generated. More information about the Centre may be obtained from our web site at: www.islandnet.com/~wildlife Contact: Jeff Lederman phocid(\)aol.com 1184 North Beach Road Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1B3 Canada ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 18 Nov 1996 13:16:42 -0700 From: "Alana V. Phillips" Subject: Use of kw vocs to deter seals (again) Hello Marmamers, I'm writing on behalf of some Peruvian colleagues who need information. Within the last few months, there was a brief discussion about the use of killer whale vocalizations to deter seals from fish pens. I've spent the last week trying to retrieve the archives for those months, but for some reason the files don't come through on my end. So, would the people involved in that discussion please contact me directly (ie not to Marmam)? Thanks very much! Alana. ********************************************************************* Alana V. Phillips Dept. of Biological Sciences ... It's not that hard to study University of Alberta fur seals in the prairies - Edmonton, AB you just have to know where T6G 2E9 CANADA to find 'em!! email address: alana.phillips(\)ualberta.ca ********************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 11:18:31 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Russia defies IWC - starts bowhead hunt Dear Marmamers, I am forwarding an article from the High North Web News concerning Russia notifying the IWC that they have given a quota of two bowhead whales for 1996 to the Chukotka Inuit: Russia Defies IWC: Allows Chukotka Inuit to Take Two Bowheads Russian authorities have made it clear that they will allow the aboriginal communities of the autonomous Chukotka region in the far north-east of Siberia to catch 2 bowhead whales this year. At the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Aberdeen in June this year, Russia withdrew it's request for a quota of 5 bowhead whales a year for the Chukotka Inuit, when it became obvious that the request would not achieve the necessary three quarter majority. What is not obvious is whether Russia is at all obliged to ask the IWC for a quota. The general provisions of the IWC convention say that a quota should be available to all member countries of the IWC and that the Commission is not allowed to allocate quotas to certain countries. As far as the stock in question is concerned, the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock, the IWC set a quota of 204 bowheads landed for the four year period 1995 to 1998, but this quota is claimed by the USA since, in accordance with the rules for aboriginal subsistence whaling, the quota is calculated on the needs the Alaskan whaling communities have for whale meat". "I think the Russian bowhead hunt is only a problem for the IWC if the total catch exceeds the catch limit for that stock", says IWC Secretary Ray Gambell, to the High North Web News. He adds that it is difficult to know whether this will be the case in 1996, as the necessary information from the Alaskan hunt is not yet available. The IWC has imposed limitations on how large a share of the four-year quota can be taken each year. At present, it is also not possible to say whether the start of a limited Russian hunt will lead to the four-year quota being overstepped. In a letter dated October 31, the IWC Secretariat was notified by the Russian Embassy in London that a licence would be given to catch two bowhead and that all the whale meat and byproducts were to be used "exclusively for local consumption". When the Russian delegation withdrew their quota request at the IWC meeting, they made it clear that the request would not be repeated. Russia utilises an a annual quota of 140 grey whales pursuant to the IWC aboriginal subsistence whaling category. Only 85 of these were taken last year. The bowhead hunt, however, is more strongly rooted in Chukotka Inuit traditions than the grey whale hunt, and the meat is preferred to that of the grey whale. The bowhead is also easier to catch with simple technology as it will float after it has been killed. Until the fall of the communist regime, the grey whales were hunted by a single, fairly modern and specialised catcher boat outfitted with a harpoon gun. Due to economic hardship and problems in providing diesel and spare parts, this ship has not been in operation since 1992. The IWC has been well aware of the fact that much of the meat from this ship was fed to foxes on fur farms. Even so, quotas were still allocated on the basis of the calculated nutritional needs of the Chukotka whaling communities. "There is disastrous situation connected with providing the indigenous population with food in Chukotka", wrote representatives of the whaling communities to the Russian IWC Commissioner in April. "There is a vicious circle whereby the indigenous peoples have no means of existence nor earnings. On a number of fur farms people do not get their wages for more than a year ... and prices for imported food in rural stores constantly increase, making these foods virtually inaccessible. This causes suffering, particularly among children, and threatens irreversible consequences regarding the survival ... of the indigenous people". In the High North Web library you will find the article "Whales for Foxes from Artic Circle" by the danish journalist Erik Sander, published in the booklet "Inuit Whaling" by the the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, 1992: http://www.highnorth.no/wh-fo-fo.htm - as well as the article "Siberian Whalers Seek Assistance" from the INWR Digest, (International Network for Whaling Research), July 1996: http://www.highnorth.no/si-wh-se.htm -- Georg Blichfeldt (High North Web editor, High North Alliance secretary) High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 11:26:29 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: The Makah Menu Dear Marmamers, there have been different versions presented in the media of what really happend when the Makah Indians last year took an entangled gray whale ashore to make it into food. Some say that the event proved that the skills needed to process a whale are gone and cannot be regained - and that the taste of whale meat today is not appealing anymore. Others said something different. The High North Web News spoke to the US National Marine Fisheries scientist Pat Gearin, who discovered the entangled whale, to get his version: The Makah Indans' whaling plans: Might whale eat once again find a place on the menu? Will whale meat - after an absence of 70 years - once again be found on the Makah Indians' daily menu? Will they be able to handle the carving of such a big animal? Will they know how to prepare the meat? And will they like it? Last year a dead grey whale found entangled in a Makah fisherman's net, taken ashore and carved up, offered a chance to put these questions to the test. There is, however, fervent disagreement as to how they got on. Some say that "nobody wanted the meat" - others say that "most people were really surprised how well it tasted". Opinions follow the dividing lines between the two standpoints on the resumption of whaling. The Times (UK) quoted Makah woman Alberta Thompson as saying: "They had to ask an Alaskan woman to cut it up. They handed it round the village. Nobody wanted it because it was a horrible smell". Thompson was brought to the Whaling Commission Meeting in Aberdeen by a coalition of animal rights groups so that she could make her opposition to the Makah whaling plans known to the international media. The High North News has asked "an outsider", biologist Pat Gearin, for his version. He is employed by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service and works with the Makah tribe on cooperative research on fisheries and marine mammal issues. "Some of the people liked it, some did not. I guess it was about fifty-fifty," says Gearin. In his opinion, it all depended on how the meat was prepared. The whale had been dead for over 24 hours and some of the meat was slightly off, whereas other parts of it were still fresh. Some of it had to be thrown away. "It had started to turn green," says Gearin. Since the whale had been found dead, the blood had not been drained from the meat. Some people put it in salt water in order to remove the blood, while others boiled it as it was. "I think that, on the whole, the people that prepared it properly and had a fresh cut of meat, did in fact like it," says Gearin. In his opinion, whale meat may once again become part of the Makah Indians' menu, providing that people are given experience in preparing the meat, and that the meat made available is of good quality. Gearin was impressed by the efficiency of the butchering and distribution process. Within three hours the meat and the blubber had been stripped off the 7 tonne whale and distributed to the villagers. About fifty people took part in the process and also many of the 300 - 400 people who came down to the beach during the day lent a helping hand. Everybody that wanted it, got a plastic bag with meat and blubber to take back home. Gearin confirms the fact that an Alaskan Inuit women living with the tribe, instructed some of the people on how to make the cuts: "It was quite helpful," he said. The Makah are used to eating seal meat and the oil from seal blubber is used to garnish fish meals. Much of the whale blubber was used to render oil, but some was also eaten: "We boiled some of the blubber at the beach and the kids ate it like candy," Makah director of fisheries, Dan Green, told the International Harpoon. In November 1995, Seattle Times Magazine reported that Maria Pascua, a museum researcher and curator of the Makah language and culture museum, boiled some blubber from the stranded whale, rendered the fat and brought a paper plate of smoked whale blubber to work. It was chewy, softer than salmon jerky, tastier than pork rind but not as fatty. The staff munched the savory whale jerky during coffee break, along with their usual store-bought Danish. -- High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 13:11:36 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: References on Isistius brasiliensis wounds on dolphins (fwd) The following message intends to gather more information regarding records of wounds on small cetaceans which will be useful to an article I'm preparing to Marine Mammal Science on the preliminary results of photoID on the marine Sotalia fluviatilis. This paper is under my corrections after the comments by MMS referees and I would like to finish it soon. I am looking for other records -- besides Jones, E.C. 1971) Isistius brasiliensis, a squaloid shark, the probable cause of crater wounds on fishes and cetaceans. Fish Bull., 69 (4): 791-798 -- of cokiecutter shark bites on dolphins, specially in southwestern Atlantic. If possible, references on the distribution and biology of this shark will be of great help. Thank you all in advance for your help. All best, Paulo Flores International Wildlife Coalition/Brasil CP 5087 Florianopolis, SC, 88040-970, Brasil paflores(\)mbox1.ufsc.br ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 11:58:27 -0500 From: Denise Herzing Subject: Abstract for MARMAM The following is a recent abstract: Herzing, D.L. 1996. Vocalizations and associated underwater behavior of free-ranging Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis and bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Aquatic Mammals 22 (2), 61-79. Abstract Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, and bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, were observed underwater from 1985-1994. Simultaneous vocalizations and behavior were recorded using an underwater video with direct hydrophone input. Individual dolphins within this community were monitored, sexed, and observed for ten summer field seasons. Ten types of vocalizations were associated with underwater behaviors, and in some cases individual dolphins. This paper describes the contextual/social use of the signature whistle, excitement vocalization, genital buzz, squawk, synchronized squawk, scream, and bark. Razor buzzes, trills, and upswept whistles were associated with foraging and feeding behavior. Although many of these vocalizations have been described in the literature, their association, described here, with specific underwater behaviors and age class information provides additional contextual information about their potential use as communication signals. This paper provides a descriptive field guide to the natural history and behavior of Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas including specific communication signals and concurrent behavioral activity. Reprint requests to: Dr. D.L. Herzing PO Box 8436 Jupiter FL 33468 Denise L Herzing, Ph.D., (Nicole, or Barb) Wild Dolphin Project PO BOX 8436 JUPITER FL 33468 wilddolphin(\)igc.apc. org PH: 561-575-5660 FAX 561-575-5681 OR Dr. D.L.Herzing Dept. of Biological Sciences Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Fl 33431 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 16:37:57 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 2nd Announcement Conservation Biology Meeting (fwd) Second Announcement The 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, June 6-10 1997, at the University of Victoria, B.C. will include a major theme on marine conservation biology and several sessions that may interest marine mammal researchers. There are sessions on cetacean conservation, genetics and conservation, other molecular techniques, food webs, scientific uncertainty, the allee effect and dispersal, social science and marine conservation, marine ecosystem management, marine protected areas, overexploitation, habitat and pollution, boundaries, indigenous cultures and conservation, and other topics both special and general, with both marine and terrestrial foci. Abstracts are due by Jan. 15, instructions to authors are available on http://geography.geog.uvic.ca/dept/announce/scb_page.html or by contacting SCB97(\)uvcs.uvic.ca, or by contacting Pat McGuire, Conference Management, Division of Continuing Studies, University of Victoria, PO Box 3030, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P5 Society for Conservation Biology Annual Meeting June 6-9, 1997 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada http://geography.geog.uvic.ca/dept/announce/scb_page.html Conference Management University of Victoria Box 3030, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3N6 250-721-8470 (phone) 250-721-8774 (fax) ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 18:50:43 -0400 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: Morphometric data for fetal porpoises? Greetings, A while back I sent a message to the list mentioning that we have documented a hybrid between a Dall's porpoise and a harbour porpoise (more information can be found in Guenther et al. 1995). The hybrid is a 60 cm fetus, and we are trying to compare the external morphology of the fetus (in particular body proportions) with each of the parent species. However, very few raw data are available in the literature for fetal specimens of either species. I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who has measurements of this sort (particularly for animals in the 50-70 cm range) and would be willing to have them used for comparison with our hybrid fetus: total length dorsal fin height snout to anterior insertion of flipper centre of eye to angle of mouth Thanks very much, Robin Guenther, T.J., R.W. Baird, P. Wilson, B. White and P.M. Willis. 1995. An inter-generic hybrid in the family Phocoenidae. Page 48 in Abstracts of the Eleventh Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, 14-18 December, Orlando, FL. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 14:09:49 -0800 From: Sallie Beavers Subject: Job Announcement PLEASE do not reply to this email address. **************************************************************** COMPUTER PROGRAMMER / SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR: POSITION DESCRIPTION: Develop, implement, and maintain software for the data collection, retrieval, compilation, and analysis of satellite telemetry data to characterize marine mammal behavior. Provide user support and perform regular maintenance/upgrades for a small LAN consisting of an NT server and Windows 95 PCs. This is a fixed term Faculty Research Assistant academic position with renewal at the discretion of the director. DUTIES: Programming responsibilities include data-processing program development; implementation and maintenance using a high-level programming language; scripting; and relational-database design and maintenance. System administration duties include network management, user training, and maintenance/upgrades of the Windows NT server and Windows 95 PCs. REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor's degree and experience with relational databases; high-level programming languages such as Visual Basic, FORTRAN, or C++; Windows NT; and Windows 95 operating systems are required. Experience with satellite telemetry systems, Geographic Information Systems, Graphics Workstations, and/or Advanced Visual Systems preferred. SALARY RANGE: $24,000 - $30,000, Depending on experience. This position is located at the Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon. Resumes with three references should be sent to the COMPUTER SYSTEMS SEARCH TEAM, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365 no later than November 29, 1996. Anyone with questions may contact Veryl Barry, (541)867-0202. OSU is an EEO/AA employer and has a policy of being responsive to the needs of dual career couples. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 15:01:24 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: abstract - hearing sensitivity with male Pacific walrus Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers, The following is an abstract/summary for an article recently published in Aquatic Mammals (vol. 22, no. 2). This posting has been provided as a courtesy to the editor of Aquatic Mammals and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the mailing address for the corresponding author. Please do not direct reprint inquiries to me. If you are interested in becoming a member of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals and receiving the journal, please contact the editor: Dr. Paul Nachtigal, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 USA. FAX (808)247-5831; email: nachtig(\)nosc.mil . Thank you for your continued interest in Aquatic Mammals and the abstract postings. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ********************************************************************* Kastelein, R.A.*, P. Mosterd, C.L. van Ligtenberg, and W.C. Verboom. 1996. Aerial hearing sensitivity tests with a male Pacific walrus (_Odobenus rosmarus divergens_), in the free field and with headphones. Aquatic Mammals 22(2): 81-93. * Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard-oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, The Netherlands Summary: The aerial hearing of a 10-year old male Pacific walrus was tested from 0.125 to 8 kHz, the frequency range covering the ranges of human speech, industrial noise and most walrus vocalizations. Two behavioral audiometric test methods were used in a study area with a fluctuating background noise level of 52+= 4 dB(A) 20 microPa. The go/no-go paradigm was used in both tests. Test 1. Headphones were used to investigate the aerial hearing sensitivity of each ear for pure tones of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 kHz. A modification of the descending staircase psychometric technique was used (Levitt, 1970). Both ears were equally sensitive. Between 0.125 and 0.25 kHz, the detection thresholds dropped from 105 dB to 80 dB and between 0.25 and 2.0 kHz from 80 to 60 dB re 20 micro Pa. Between 2.0 kHz and 8.0 kHz the thresholds increased to around 65 dB. The hearing thresholds obtained with headphones suggest very poor hearing in this walrus compared to other tested pinnipeds. However, this does not agree with the day-to-day experiences at the Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park where many behavioral commands are given orally to the study animal. Maybe the outer ear canal was closed off by the auricular muscles due to the presence of headphones. Test 2. 'Free field' (not a true free field in the acoustical sense of the word, because the room was echoic and not sound isolated) measurements were carried out on the same walrus, in which the aerial hearing sensitivity was tested for 2 types of sound signals (frequency modulate tones and filtered band noise) with centre frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz. The walrus responsed to signals that were 3 to 13 dB above the 1/3-octave background noise levels, which suggests that the hearing thresholds reported were masked thresholds. The same 'free field' hearing test was done with a human with his head in the same location as the walrus'. The human heard the signals between 0 and 12 dB below the lowest level of the background noise. Comparison of the walrus and the human hearing curves suggests that the walrus' hearing is less acute than that of the human for the tested frequencies. Tests were conducted to determine which stimulus instigates the closure of the external auditory meatal orifice. The stimulus that causes closure was not discovered, but certain possibilities were ruled out. Closure was not triggered by pressure on the outer ear canal or mechanical stimulation of the skin immediately around the metal orifice. Perhaps the change in sound field when diving, instigates closure. It is also possible that closure is under voluntary control. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 13:09:32 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Multiple copies of MARMAM messages It has come to our attention that some MARMAM subscribers have received multiple copies of a recent submission to the list. We have checked with the listserv manager at the University of Victoria (through which the MARMAM list is run), but can not find the cause of this problem. Our apologies for any inconvenience this has caused any subscribers. If you do receive multiple copies of a message, please do not blame the person who originally sent the message to the list. The problem appears to originate somewhere with the listserv itself, not with the original message sent. If you receive multiple copies of any additional MARMAM messages, please let us know, rather than contact the author of the message. MARMAM editors, marmamed(\)uvic.ca ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 09:42:45 +0100 From: monica(\)oob-arago.univ-perp.fr Subject: solitary pelagic dolphins Dear Marmamers, This summer several solitary dolphins have entered different harbours along the French Mediterranean Coast and stayed from some hours to several days, exploring different parts of the site and interacting with people. This behaviour is well known from Bottlenose dolphins worldwide. However these dolphins belong to the two pelagic species that are common in the Mediterranean: two individulas have been identified: one Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and one striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). Both seemed to be healthy and active. The striped dolphin gave us the greatest surprise by allowing swimmers to hold its dorsal fin and be pulled around. Both species are rarely seen close to the coast and I know of no recorded cases of them allowing close body contact with swimmers. Does anybody else know about other solitary dolphins of these species (or other pelagic species) entering harbours and interacting with people? I am also very interested in obtaining information on solitary Bottlenose dolphins who are NOT sociable with humans! Thank you for your help! Monica Mueller Laboratoire Arago /France monica(\)arago.univ-perp.fr ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 15:08:36 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: abstract - sei whales in Gulf of California, Mexico Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers, The following is an abstract/summary for an article recently published in Aquatic Mammals (vol. 22, no. 2). This posting has been provided as a courtesy to the editor of Aquatic Mammals and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the mailing address for the corresponding author. Please do not direct reprint inquiries to me. If you are interested in becoming a member of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals and receiving the journal, please contact the editor: Dr. Paul Nachtigal, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 USA. FAX (808)247-5831; email: nachtig(\)nosc.mil . Thank you for your continued interest in Aquatic Mammals and the abstract postings. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ********************************************************************* Gendron, D. and S. Chavez Rosales. 1996. Recent sei whale (_Balaenoptera borealis_) sightings in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Aquatic Mammals 22(2): 127-130. *Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, A.P. 592, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, 23000 Summary: Sei whales (_Balaenoptera borealis_) seen in the Gulf of California are easily confused with Bryde's whales (_Balaenoptera edeni_). There have been only two reported sightings of sei whales in the Gulf of California. While conducting marine mammal surveys during 1993-1995, four sightings of sei whales were confirmed during winter, spring, and summer in the southwest Gulf of California. In all sightings, a single sei whale was observed. In three of the four sightings, the whale was found in association with one of more of the following species: fin whale (_B. physalus_), Bryde's whale (_B. edeni_), and the long-beaked common dolphin (_Delphinus capensis_). ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 15:24:39 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: abstract - walrus ears Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers, The following is an abstract/summary for an article recently published in Aquatic Mammals (vol. 22, no. 2). This posting has been provided as a courtesy to the editor of Aquatic Mammals and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the mailing address for the corresponding author. Please do not direct reprint inquiries to me. If you are interested in becoming a member of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals and receiving the journal, please contact the editor: Dr. Paul Nachtigal, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 USA. FAX (808)247-5831; email: nachtig(\)nosc.mil . Thank you for your continued interest in Aquatic Mammals and the abstract postings. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ********************************************************************* Kastelein, R.A.*, J.L. Dubbeldam, M.A.G. de Bakker, and N.M. Gerrits. 1996. The anatomy of the walrus head (_Odobenus rosmarus_). Part 4: the ears and their function in aerial and underwater hearing. Aquatic Mammals 22(2): 95-125. * Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, Strandboulevard-oost 1, 3841 AB Harderwijk, The Netherlands Summary: Walrus ears have special features which are not found in the ears of most terrestrial carnivores. These are: the lack of pinnae, the long, tubular outer ear of which the lateral side is covered with fat and skin, the ability to open and close the external meatal orifice by auricular muscles, the lining of the cartilaginous and bony parts of the outer ear canal by vascularized tissue, the copious amount of earwax, the large middle ear cavity, the lining of the middle ear cavity, the lining of the middle ear cavity by vascularized tisue, the elastic fibres, collagen tissue and cartilagenous rods in the wall of the Eustachian tube, and the dense bones surrounding the base of the outer ear and the entire middle and inner ears. When the ambient pressure increases during diving, the pressure increases in the entire body including the organs and the blood vessels. The pressure in non-collapsible spaces with strong casings can be regulated in two ways: (1) by being in contact with collapsible spaces or (2) by being lined with vascularized mucosa which can contain a varying amount of blood. In the walrus, pressure equilibrium between the outer and middle ear likely occurs in both ways. The middle ear cavity is in contact with the respiratory tract via the Eustachian tube and the bony part of the outer ear canal is in contact with the cartilagenous part of the outer ear canal. The middle ear cavity and the outer ear canal are lined with vascularized mucosa. In air, sound waves probably reach the walrus' tympanic membrane in the same way as they do in terrestrial mammals. Under water, due to large impedance differences between water and the cranial bones, sounds may be reflected off the bones which surround the middle ear. The impedance difference between water and the soft tissues is less, so sound travels most easily through these tissues (cartilage, skin, fat and muscles) to the outer ear canal. The cartilaginous tubular outer ear with its vascular lining is probably the main pathway by which sound is conducted to the tympanic membrane under water. The vascularized mucosa lining the middle ear may alter the resonance of the middle ear cavity, and when inflated during diving, rigidify the ossicle chain and improve the conduction of high frequency sounds. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 15:14:37 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: abstract - Ecotourism and dolphins Dear Marmam and ECS-mailbase readers, The following is an abstract/summary for an article recently published in Aquatic Mammals (vol. 22, no. 2). This posting has been provided as a courtesy to the editor of Aquatic Mammals and the European Association for Aquatic Mammals. I have provided the mailing address for the corresponding author. Please do not direct reprint inquiries to me. If you are interested in becoming a member of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals and receiving the journal, please contact the editor: Dr. Paul Nachtigal, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, P.O. Box 1106, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 USA. FAX (808)247-5831; email: nachtig(\)nosc.mil . Thank you for your continued interest in Aquatic Mammals and the abstract postings. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov ********************************************************************* Amante-Helweg, V. 1996. Ecotourists' beliefs and knowledge about dolphins and the development of cetacean ecotourism. Aquatic Mammals 22(2): 131-140. *University of Auckland, New Zealand Abstract: The current trend towards environmental awareness is accompanied by people seeking ways to change their relationship with nature. Every individual will perceive their rleationship with animals, and interpret the behaviour of animals, in the light of their culture. This study explored the relationships among beliefs, knowledge and demographic characteristics of participants in a 'Swim with Wild Dolphins' program in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Most respondents interpreted dolphin behaviour anthropomorphically, and perceived the dolphins' social structure as being sociocentric. Principal Components Analysis revealed attributions of spirituality, altruism, interspecies sociability and dolphin society. The ecotourists who formed this sample were unacquainted with scientific knowledge related to cetaceans, and therefore were not likely to understand most of the philosophical, educational, economic or ecological values of wildlife. Increase knowledge of the users in terms of beliefs, expectations, and satisfaction will allow for more precise management of human-animal interactions and guide educational programs. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 09:26:05 -0600 From: Rick Hobson Subject: The IMAX film 'WHALES' Marmamers- A quick question. I recently heard a review of the newly-released film 'Whales.' I hear that the cinematography is fantastic, but I was somewhat taken aback when the gist of the plot was described to me. According to my friend, who has worked in whale conservation in the past for sev eral years, the main threats to whales (according to the film) were killer whale s? I'm puzzled, because I think the consulting scientist for the film is someone wh o has made a career of stating quite vehemently in the past that humans, through pollution and whaling, were the largest threats to whales. I'm wondering is someone out there would like to comment? Has anyone else seen the film? Thank you Rick Hobson rhobson(\)micron.net ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 12:30:52 -0300 From: Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara Subject: II North-Northeast Meeting on Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals-Brazil (fwd) ------ Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 15:35:05 -0300 (GRNLNDST) From: Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara GRUPO DE ESTUDO DE CETACEOS DO CEARA AV. ABOLICAO, 3207 FORTALEZA, CEARA-Brazil, 60.165-082 FAX: (085) 242-6445 =20 TELEFONE: (085) 242-6422 e-mail:gecc(\)ufc.br Dear Marmamers: The Cetacean Study Group of Ceara (Grupo de Estudo de Cetaceos do Ceara)=20 the Northeast Society of Zoology (Sociedade Nordestina de Zoologia) and=20 the Marine Science Laboratory-(Laboratorio de Ciencias do Mar) from the=20 Federal University of Ceara will hold on april 14 to 18 1997, the Second=20 North-Northeast Meeting on Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals=20 (II Encontro sobre Pesquisa e Preservacao de Mamiferos Aquaticos do=20 Norte-Nordeste) concurrently with the XI Northeast Zoology Meeting. The program includes short-courses, lectures, round-tables and paper=20 presentation. Several professionals and institutions working with aquatic= =20 mammals in Brazil will be represented. Below you may find more=20 information about the event. More information may be obtained by contacting e-mail: gecc(\)ufc.br Sincerely, Cassiano Monteiro-Neto GECC-Coordinator THE SECOND NORTH-NORTHEAST MEETING ON RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC MAMMALS (II ENCONTRO DE PRESERVACAO E PESQUISA DE MAMIFEROS AQUATICOS DO=20 NORTE-NORDESTE) (April 14 to 18, 1997) Short-courses: MC13 - Biology and Behavior of Aquatic Mammals Prof. Dr. Vera M. F. da Silva INPA - Aquatic Mammals Laboratory MC07 - Anatomy and Physiology of Aquatic Mammals Prof. MSc Francisco A. P. Colares UFC - Cetacean Study Group of Ceara MC21 - Marine Mammal Behavior, Strandings and Rescuing Procedures Prof. Dr. Jon Lien Whale Research Group Memorial University of Newfoundland -MUN, Canada Lectures: Status and Ethics of the Conservation of Small Cetaceans Prof. MSc Everaldo Lima de Queiroz UFBA - Zoology Department=20 - GECET Evolutionary Genetics of Cetaceans Fish Engeneer Manuel Furtado Neto PhD Graduate - MUN, Canada Marine Mammal Strandings and Acoustic Pingers to Prevent Net Entanglement= s Prof. Dr. Jon Lien Whale Research Group - MUN, Canada DNA Sequencing and its Implication for Conservation Questions Prof. Dr. Steven Carr Genetics, Evolution, and Molecular Systematics=20 Laboratory Department of Biology/MUN/Canada Round-table: Conservation of Aquatic Mammals and Research Perspectives in the North=20 and Northeast-Brazil =B7 Prof. Msc Everaldo Lima de Queiroz UFBA - Zoology Dept.- GECET =B7 Prof. Dr. Vera M. F. da Silva INPA - Aquatic Mammals Laboratory =B7 Oc. Regis Pinto de Lima Coordinator, Centro Peixe-Boi-IBAMA =B7 Oc. Ricardo Jose Soavinski Ecossystem Director.IBAMA =B7 Prof.Dr. Cassiano Monteiro-Neto GECC - LABOMAR/UFC For registration forms and abstract guidelines write to the address=20 below. Paper abstracts must be submitted no latter than Nov 30,1996. XI Encontro de Zoologia do Nordeste/ II Encontro de Preservacao e=20 Pesquisa de Mamiferos Aquaticos de Norte e Nordeste do Brasil ATT: Teresa Cristina V. Gesteira e/ou Wilson Franklin Jr. Laboratorio de Ciencias do Mar-UFC Av. Abolicao, 3207 Meireles 60.165-082 Fortaleza-CE Tel/Fax: (085) 242-8355 e-mail: xiezn(\)ufc.br ou gecc(\)ufc.br (II EPPMA-N/NE) ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 23 Nov 1996 12:33:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Norway-Whales Norway-Whales By DOUG MELLGREN Associated Press Writer OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway raised the quota for its hotly protested commercial whale hunt, announcing Friday that it will allow up to 580 minke whales to be killed next year compared to 425 this year. Norway resumed commercial whaling three years ago despite international protests and a non-binding ban declared by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. The Fisheries Ministry has steadily increased the quotas, saying that minke whales are not endangered and that an uncontrolled population of whales would threaten valuable fish stocks. Greenpeace and other opponents of the hunt say the actual numbers of whales are uncertain and that Norway should accept the rulings of the IWC. The hunt will begin sometime in the spring. In the 1970s, Norway annually harpooned about 1,800 minke, which grow to about 30 feet. The hunt tapered off in the 1980s, and Norway grudgingly called it off in 1987 due to international pressure. Since resuming the hunt, Norway has faced protests, destruction to whaling boats and high seas confrontations with anti-whaling groups. Whalers, who fish most of the year, sell the meat as steaks and for use in sausages. They had hoped for an even-larger increase than the one announced Friday. "The cautious increase is, of course, a strategic consideration in deference to the international opposition to whaling, but I think the time has come to throw such caution overboard," said Steinar Bastesen, chairman of the Norwegian Whale-Hunters Association. The Oslo newspaper Aftenposten said Thursday a self-imposed ban on whale exports might be lifted next year, tapping a huge market in Japan, where whale meat and blubber are delicacies. Last year's whale hunt brought in less than the quota, apparently due to bad weather. Norway claims there are roughly 112,000 minke whales in its waters. The IWC's scientific committee agreed this year that minke whales were not endangered, but passed a resolution urging an end to the hunt anyway. Norway and other whaling countries complain that the IWC, founded in 1948 to control whale hunts, now only wants to prevent whaling. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 12:55:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Fed: SA Marine Park talks begi Fed: SA Marine Park talks begin CANBERRA, Nov 22 AAP - Formal talks had begun to consider the establishment of a commonwealth marine park in the Great Australian Bight, Environment Minister Robert Hill said today. Senator Hill said consultations had started into the feasibility of setting up the park, which would aim to help conserve sensitive whale breeding grounds and sea lion habitats. He said advice was being sought from conservation and indigenous groups, the state government and the fishing, tourism, petroleum and minerals industries. "The government is going into the consultations with an open mind and is seeking the views of a wide cross-section of the community," he said in a statement. "With a multiple-use approach there is no reason why sustainably managed fisheries cannot co-exist in an area which also has the conservation of biodiversity as its major objective." Senator Hill said the marine park would complement a state reserve proclaimed by the South Australian government in September. He said public consideration was being conducted by the federal environment department, the SA government and relevant departments. If the outcome was positive, he would consult other federal ministers about issuing a notice of intent to declare a commonwealth reserve in the Bight. Public submissions would then be invited for a further two months. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 04:53:24 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: DUGONG PLAN (fwd) From: Janet Slater A plan of management for the conservation of dugongs in Shoalwater Bay, far north Queensland (Australia) is now available from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). It represents significant progress in addressing key threats to dugongs in one of the species critical habitats in the Great Barrier Reef. The plan makes provision for regulations to prohibit the carriage, use and possession of all nets in the Bay in response to a high level of incidental capture of dugongs over the past 3 years. In addition, the plan details management actions to mitigate other threats, notably, an agreement by the traditional indigenous custodians of the Bay not to hunt dugongs in the area whilst the species is endangered, and an agreement between GBRMPA and Defence that the Navy will not conduct underwater detonations in sensitive dugong habitats in the area. Shoalwater Bay is the most important dugong habitat remaining in the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and supports an estimated dugong population of about 400 animals. A decline of between 50-80% has occurred in the dugong population throughout this southern region over the past 8 years, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has begun recovery planning for the species for the region, which includes development of the Shoalwater Bay Plan. Copies can be obtained by e-mailing me at: j.slater(\)gbrmpa.gov.au Janet Slater Threatened Species Unit Great Barrier Reef marine Park Authority P.O Box 1379 Townsville 4810 Queensland Australia ph: (61) (77) 500 731; fax: (61) (77) 726093 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 02:21:06 -0500 From: SiglerT(\)aol.com Subject: Morbillivirus The following are three questions regarding morbillivirus and the marine mammal environment. If anyone has the answers to these questions, has any information regarding this topic, or knows of someone who can help me, please point me in the right direction. I am working on a research project and am hungry for information. Thank you for your time and assistance. What is the current situation with morbillivirus infection and/or exposure in California and/or U.S. Pacific coastal odontocete cetaceans? How much much factual information is there to support the theory of morbillivirus causing the epizootic events in odontocete cetaceans on the eastern coast in 87-88? And finally, was odontocete (or more correctly, marine mammal) morbillivirus spawned by the Australian equine morbillivirus? If so, how did it come into contact with the marine mammal environment? Heidi Filtzer 321 Avocado St. #Q Costa Mesa, CA 92627 siglert(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 20:49:19 -0500 From: Dane Badders Subject: gender/behavior studies Marmamers- Does anyone out there have any information on studies correlating gender and observable behavior(s) in baleen whales (particularly Humbacks)? Support needed for graduate thesis. Any information or direction appreciated. Thanks, Dane Badders dbadders(\)badders.mv.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Nov 1996 13:15:21 -0500 From: Michael Moore Subject: IMAX Whales Rick Hobson asked for opinions on the Imax film "Whales", with concerns that the "message" was misplaced. The footage is indeed quite extraordinairy. There is little attempt to discuss or rank threats to marine mammals. The two that are illustrated are Orca and large ships, without any major discussion. The viewer is left to ask the questions and look for the answers that Hobson expected to find in the plot. The plot is simply a log of one conservation group interacting with a variety of species at various well known locations. I found it refreshing to have the footage as the primary focus. Those that hold opinions and knowledge on threats to whales will know where to seek the opinions of others, those that dont will be motivated to find out simply by the sheer beauty of the film they get to see. My primary criticism lies with the sound track - but you'll have to go see it to form an opinion on that opinion. It's showing at the Boston Museum of Science, Boston MA, USA. My kids voted it high, albeit a rung below Toy Story - sigh.... Michael Moore Vet. MB, Ph. D. Research Specialist, MS 33, Redfield 246, Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA 508 289 3228 phone 508 457 2134 or 2169 fax, mmoore(\)whoi.edu email. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 21:01:09 -0800 From: Howard Garrett Subject: Re: The IMAX film 'WHALES' Yes in my opinion the OMNI Max film "Whales" did sensationalize, and trivialize, the threats to whales by emphasizing the predator role of killer whales. This is not to detract from the impressive effect of being surrounded by life-size images of right whales and humpbacks twirling like ballet dancers across the viewer's entire field of vision. The IMAX medium seems made to show how whales live beneath the waves, but a niche remains wide open for the story line to go more deeply into anthropogenic threats to whales, as well as the whales' natural history, including social and family patterns, communications, and habitat usage strategies. Howard Garrett 1357 Smuggler's Cove Road Friday Harbor WA 98250 Ph: 360-378-8654 Fx: 360-378-5954 email: tokitae(\)rockisland.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 07:12:39 GMT From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Subject: ACCOBAMS Dear Marmamers, Two days ago, on sunday 24 November 1996, a major event for the future of cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas took place in the Principality of Monaco. An intergovernmental meeting was held there from 19 to 24 November for the purpose of negotiating the AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF CETACEANS OF THE BLACK SEA, MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND CONTIGUOUS ATLANTIC AREA (ACCOBAMS), an agreement pursuant to provisions of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (known as the Bonn Convention). Seventeen Range States and one regional economic integration were represented: Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, European Community, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Monaco, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Four States attended the Meeting as observers: Bulgaria, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and Malta. Representatives of the following intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations also attended the Meeting as observers: Black Sea Environmental Programme, International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM), International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (International Whaling Commission), Bern Convention, Regional Activity Centre for Special Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), Acquario di Genova, Euronatur, Europe Conservation, Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine, RIMMO, MEDMARAVIS, RSPCA, SOS Grand Bleu, Tethys Research Institute, WDCS, WWF. The Agreement, which was signed in the morning of sunday 24 November, represents a significant step towards cetacean conservation in one of the most problematic region of the world's oceans, with a long tradition for a massive a diverse human encroachment on the marine environment. Art. 2, parag. 1 of the Agreement establishes that: "Parties shall take co-ordinated measures to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for cetaceans. To this end, Parties shall prohibit and take all necessary measures to eliminate, where this is not already been done, any deliberate taking of cetaceans and shall co-operate to create and maintain a network of protected areas to conserve cetaceans". The CIESM (International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea), a long-standing intergovernmental scientific organisation with a large membership from most Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal States, offered its expert group on marine mammals to perform the functions of the Scientific Committee provided for under Art. 7 of the Agreement. Unlike its sister Agreement ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas), ACCOBAMS applies to all cetaceans, large and small. ***************************************** Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Tethys Research Institute viale G.B. Gadio 2, I-20121 Milano, Italy tel. (+39-2) 72001947 - fax (+39-2) 72001946 email: gnstri(\)imiucca.csi.unimi.it ***************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:37:53 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: IWC Commissioners to Meet in January 1997 Dear Marmamers, I am forwarding an article from the High North Web News concerning an informal meeting exclusively for the IWC Commissioners in January 1997. IWC Commissioners to Meet in January 1997 According to a letter from the IWC Secretariat to the commissioners, dated November 21, 1996, the chairman of the International Whaling Commission, Australian Peter Bridgewater, has decided to arrange an informal meeting exclusively for the IWC Commissioners in Grenada on January 27-28 . "The meeting will not produce a formal report, but will be an exercise in informal consultation," says the letter. In an earlier communique to the IWC commissioners, this time from IWC Secretary Ray Gambell, the following subjects were proposed for discussion, "Vision of the IWC in 2015, linkages with other relevant Conventions, trade in whale products, aboriginal subsistence whaling and its management, cetaceans and environmental issues" and "small cetaceans and the Commission". Gambell writes that the primary objective of the meeting is to discuss "issues of interest to the future of the Commission, especially in the context of the upcoming 50th Annual Meeting in 1998". The idea is "to provide an opportunity for commissioners to consider means to cut through the deadlock which exists on key issues," says Gambell to the High North Web News. As far as the High North News can ascertain, the whaling nations are expected to request that subjects of interest to them, such as the finalisation of the Revised Management Scheme and the lifting of the moratorium on commercial whaling, should also be included on the agenda. The final agenda will be available shortly. The idea of arranging such an informal meeting was launched for the first time last year, and was brought up once again by Mexico at this year's annual meeting of the IWC. The Annual Meeting left it to the chairman to decide whether the idea should be realised, subsequent to correspondence with the individual member countries. -- Georg Blichfeldt (High North Web editor, High North Alliance secretary) High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 14:28:09 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: ECS Conference in Stralsund ------ Dear ECS friends, Here I am sending the first announcement for the 11th Annual Conference o= f the ECS. All ECS members paid their membership fee for 1996 will get the announcem= ent=20 and the Abstract Submission Form together with the NEWSLETTER no 28 by ma= il in the next days. Best wishes HARALD BENKE EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY 11th ANNUAL CONFERENCE 10-12 March 1997 in Stralsund, Germany - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT - The Eleventh Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society will be h= eld=20 at the German Museum for Marine Research and Fishery in Stralsund, German= y=20 between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March 1997. The main theme of the= =20 meeting will be Behavioural Aspects of Cetacean Bycatch but, as usual pap= ers=20 on all aspects of the biology of cetaceans and other marine mammals will = be=20 included in the programme. Patronage has been provided by the Federal Min= ister of the Environment. The conference will take place at the theatre, which is situated in the t= own=20 centre and close to restaurants and hotels. Registration will take place= from 18.00-22.00 on Sunday 9th March in connection with a reception (ICEBREAKE= R) at the German Museum for Marine Research and Fishery. Conference sessions w= ill=20 be held between 09.00 and 17.00 on Monday and between 09.00 and 18.00 on=20 Tuesday and Wednesday 10-12 March, with a break for the Society's AGM. A= n=20 evening session will be held (in German) on Monday to given members of th= e=20 public the opportunity to hear a series of short illustrated talks on cur= rent=20 cetacean research. Those members not familiar with the German language wi= ll=20 have the possibility to visit a musical in the theatre, and in the breaks= =20 posters will be in display. The conference banquet will take place in the= =20 museum and aquarium on Thuesday.=20 Each day's morning session will open with an invited talk followed by spo= ken=20 presentations in a standard 20 minute format. Posters will be on display=20 throughout the meeting and time will be reserved for discussion with auth= ors. WORKSHOP AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE EAAM A Workshop on Marine Mammal Nutrition will be held at Duisburg, Germany f= rom=20 Tuesday 18th to Wednesdy 19th March, immediately following the Annual=20 Conference of the European Association of Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). The Wor= kshop Organiser is Geraldine Lacave. The 25th Annual Conference of the EAAM wil= l=20 take place in Duisburg between Friday 14th and Monday 17th March, and thi= s=20 will constitute a great opportunity for the membership of both societies = to=20 attend the two conferences like last year in Portugal. If there will be e= nough participants for both meetings a bus transfer from Stralsund to Duisburg = will=20 be organised.=20 For further details on the workshop and the Annual Conference of the EAAM= ,=20 please contact: MANUEL GARCIA HARTMANN Zoo Duisburg M=FChlheimer Str. 273 Tel +49-203-305-5942 D-47058 Duisburg Fax +49-203-305-5922 Germany E-mail ha005ha(\)rs1-hrz.uni-duisburg.de CONFERENCE BOOKINGS, FEES AND ACCOMMODATION The second announcement will give details on these. CALL FOR PAPERS The main reason for this first announcement is the Call for Papers Communications, in English, are invited as verbal or poster presentations= . =20 For both types of presentation, authors should submit an abstract on the=20 Abstract Submission Form (is coming by mail) following the enclosed guide= lines to: DR. URSULA SIEBERT or DR. ROLAND LICK=20 Forschungs- und Technologie- zentrum Westk=FCste Tel +49-4834-604 280 Hafent=F6rn Fax +49-4834-6772 25761 B=FCsum, Germany E-mail rlick(\)ifh.uni-kiel.de or = =20 usiebert(\)ftz-west.uni-kiel.de to arrive no later than 2 0 D E C E M B E R 1996 Faxed submissions are not acceptable, and authors are requested to send b= oth a printed copy and a 3.5" floppy disk (DOS formated, Word format) labelled = with=20 name and title of presentation. To save time authors can send an e-mail=20 additional, the abstract attached as an encoded Word file. If you have not received the Abstract Submission Form, please contact the= =20 Conference Organisers (Dr. Roland Lick, Kiel or Dr. Harald Benke, Stralsu= nd)=20 if you wish to submit an abstract. The time available for each verbal=20 presentation will be 15 minutes, followed by 5 minutes for questions and=20 discussion. Please design your presentation to fit this schedule and pay= =20 careful attention to the guidelines for presentations included with the=20 abstract form. The Organising Committee will do its best to accommodate = the=20 author's wishes concerning the form of presentation of their paper. But,= =20 because it is planned to limit the number of talks, authors are encourage= d to=20 offer their presentations as talks or posters. Posters should not be see= n as=20 `second best'; they are often a more appropriate way to present material = and=20 allow for more detailed discussion with interested persons. A committee comprising members of the Council will review all abstracts a= nd=20 its decision on the acceptability of presentations as a talk or a poster = will=20 be made by 31 January 1994, when authors will be informed by post. Authors of both verbal and poster presentations should provide a Summary=20 (maximum 3 pages long), to be included in the Proceedings of the Conferen= ce. =20 Guidelines for the preparation of the Summary will be sent to authors whe= n=20 they are informed of the acceptance of their talk/poster. To ensure rapi= d=20 publication of the Proceedings, Summaries must be given to the Conference= =20 Organiser at the Annual Conference. Summaries arriving late may not be=20 included in the Proceedings. STUDENT AWARDS As at previous conferences, there will be awards for the best student=20 presentations: verbal and poster. Students (graduate and undergraduate) = are=20 encouraged to submit their presentations for the award but, to be eligibl= e,=20 students must be the first and presenting author of their paper. Authors= =20 eligible for the award should specify this on the Abstract Submission For= m. STUDENT GRANTS The Society offers financial support to students being the first and=20 presenting author of an accepted talk or poster, as a contribution toward= s=20 expenses at the Conference. The amount granted will depend upon the numb= er of students attending and the money available, but grants will be approximat= ely=20 50 DM to 100 DM each. Applicants for the student grant should specify th= is on the Abstract Submission Form. FURTHER COMMUNICATION There will be a second announcement, for Conference pre-registration, hot= el=20 bookings, etc. Authors of abstracts and stutdens applying for grants wil= l be=20 contacted directly by the Conference Organisers: Program Committee Chair: Scientific Program Committee Chai= r=20 (abstracts): DR. HARALD BENKE DR. URSULA SIEBERT or DR. ROLAND = LICK, Deutsches Museum f=FCr Meereskunde Forschungs- und Technologie- und Fischerei zentrum Westk=FCste Katharinenberg 14/20 Hafent=F6rn =20 18439 Stralsund 25761 B=FCsum = =20 Germany Germany =20 Tel +49-3831-295135 Tel +49-4834-604 280 Fax +49-3831-292217 Fax +49-4834-6772 E-mail 101676.1264(\)compuserve.com E-mail rlick(\)ifh.uni-kiel.de o= r =20 usiebert(\)ftz-west.uni-kiel.de =20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 10:24:06 -0500 From: crichter(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca Subject: question re. resolution of IWC scientific committee Hello everybody, In a recent posting of an AP article to Marmam, the author stated that "The IWC's scientific committee agreed this year that minke whales were not endangered, but passed a resolution urging an end to the hunt anyway". I was wondering if anybody could provide the source of this information and/or the reasoning behind this resolution. Thanks a lot. ___________________________________________________________ "For the last word in procrastination, go travel with a river reluctant to lose his freedom in the sea". A. Leopold in 'Sketches Here and There' _______________________ Christoph Richter Whale Research Group Memorial University St. John's, NF A1C 5S7 crichter(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 12:37:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: Dugong now critically end QLD: Dugong now critically endangered By Malcolm Cole of AAP TOWNSVILLE, Qld, Nov 26 AAP - Dugong numbers on the southern Great Barrier Reef had fallen so dramatically the animal was now classed as critically endangered, a reef management conference heard today. The Science Use and Management Conference, being held at the James Cook University in Townsville, heard a presentation from Helene Marsh, head of the university's Department of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. Dr Marsh said mesh net fishing, shark netting, destruction of sea grass beds and vessel traffic had all contributed to the reduction of dugong numbers in the southern reef area. She said 15 of 30 dugong found dead in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) in the first nine months of this year were thought to have died as a result of being caught in nets. It could be assumed mesh net fishing had a similar effect on dolphins and turtles. Shark nets were also a major killer of megafauna, with 654 dugongs, 651 dolphins and 4,059 turtles caught in shark nets throughout Queensland last year. Of those numbers, only 45 dugongs were recorded as being released alive, with 31 dolphins and 1,420 turtles surviving. Vessel traffic, trawling and military activity, such as occurs at Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland, could also injure or kill marine mammals, or disrupt their feeding or breeding cycles. Better management of the reef area was needed to ensure the protection of the megafauna, Dr Marsh said. "There is also an urgent need to acknowledge that the green turtle and the dugong are animals of special significance to indigenous peoples, and that their interest extends far beyond the management of hunting. "They must be empowered to take a leading role in the development of all management initiatives for these species based on an exchange of information between indigenous elders and scientists." The conference also heard how land management up to several kilometres from the shore, particularly on farms, could affect marine populations. Dr Marsh took a thinly veiled swipe at developer Keith Williams, whose Port Hinchinbrook development has attracted criticism from environmentalists it would damage dugong feeding habitats. She said as it had been so difficult to convince "a developer" that his actions on the shore would be detrimental to sea grass beds only metres away, "how much more difficult to convince a farmer that his landcare procedures may be impacting on sea-bed pastures and sea cows many kilometres away?" Dr Warren Lee Long, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, said the dugong population along the state's coast had been severely affected by flooding in 1992 which destroyed around 1,000 square kilometres of sea grass meadows. Although the sea grass was making a gradual recovery, the dugong population would take significantly longer to recover. Dr Marsh said marine megafauna delayed their breeding cycles when food was scarce. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 13:02:37 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: Re: re. resolution of IWC scientific committee Dear Marmamers, in response to Christoph Richter's question concerning the IWC Scientific Committee and minke whales: crichter(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca wrote: > In a recent posting of an AP article to Marmam, the author stated that > "The IWC's scientific committee agreed this year that minke > whales were not endangered, but passed a resolution urging an end > to the hunt anyway". > I was wondering if anybody could provide the source of this > information and/or the reasoning behind this resolution. You are referring to a November 23 news release from the Associated Press correspondent in Norway. The correspondent had unfortunately not got his facts right. The IWC Scientific Committee does not adopt resolutions - and has no opinion on whether a hunt should be stopped or not. What is correct is that the political body, the Whaling Commission itself, adopted a resolution urging Norway to stop its minke whale hunt. It either not correct that the "the IWC's scientific committee agreed this year that minke whales were not endangered". They did agree on two estimates for the Northeast Atlantic Minke Whale Stock, one from the 1988/1989 - 65 000 animals - and one from 1995 survey - 112,000 animals. They IWC Scientific Committee also "agreed that the estimates of abundance are adequate for use in the Revised Management Procedure". It's report also notes that the estimate from the 1995 survey is "a more reliable estimate" than that resulting from the 1988/89 survey. I guess most people would agree that these figures demonstrate that the Northeast Minke Whale Stock is not endangered. But the IWC Scientific Committe has never discussed that question. It was under the former managment procedure (which is called the "new managment procedure) that stocks was classified in categories. This procedure is not scraped. The IUCN redlist has listed the minke whale species as "near threatend, lower risk" (this does not say anything about the status of a specific stock). More information about this - as well as the IWC Scientific Committee estimates - is available at the NEWS section at our Web site http://www.highnorth.no/Meny.map?53,90 Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 08:22:25 -0800 From: GreenLife Society Subject: Re: question re. resolution of IWC scientific committee The IWC Scientific Committee doesn't pass resolutions, so I would assume you mean the IWC plenary. The IWC passed a resolution this year (IWC/48/41) calling upon Norway to desist from commercial whaling on minke whales for the following reasons: 1. Commercial whaling should not be resumed until the Revised Management Procedure can be implemented, which will not occur until matters e.g. a viable observer scheme are established and there is reasonable certainty that harvest quotas can be established that will be sustainable over time via the Catch Limit Algorithm; 2. Recent efforts to smuggle products from the Norwegian harvest into the market of other countries demonstrate the need to esatblish a supervision and control scheme for commercial harvests. Thus, while the latest survey of minkes in the northeast Atlantic arguably may justify a limited quota (though folks on the SC e.g. Cooke definitely still have reservations) the IWC wishes to establish the kind of controls that will help us to avoid the tragedies of the past. At 10:24 AM 11/26/96 -0500, crichter(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca wrote: >Hello everybody, > >In a recent posting of an AP article to Marmam, the author stated that > >"The IWC's scientific committee agreed this year that minke >whales were not endangered, but passed a resolution urging an end >to the hunt anyway". > >I was wondering if anybody could provide the source of this information >and/or the reasoning behind this resolution. > >Thanks a lot. > >___________________________________________________________ >"For the last word in procrastination, go travel with a river reluctant to >lose his freedom in the sea". > >A. Leopold in 'Sketches Here and There' >_______________________ >Christoph Richter >Whale Research Group >Memorial University >St. John's, NF >A1C 5S7 >crichter(\)morgan.ucs.mun.ca > > William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html GLSNA Affiliations: The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 10:12:42 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl <"Dagmar_Fertl_at_~mms-no-gomr-1"(\)smtp.mms.gov> Subject: Gulf of Mexico Environmental Issues Meeting There will be a day-long Gulf Environmental Issues Session at the 16th Information Transfer Meeting (information on the meeting follows the agenda for the session) has a few presentations on marine mammals and sea turtles that might be of interest to some folks. I have provided phone numbers, etc. for further information. Hope to see you there! This particular session is on the first day of the meeting: 10 December 1996. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Marine Biodiversity: crisis in our world oceans? The hypoxia issue in the Gulf of Mexico: progress report Bycatch issue update Environmental contaminants in dolphins and turtles and their effects on body systems Tagged sea turtles returning to Texas Overview of GulfCet II (study of distribution and abundance of cetaceans in the northern Gulf of Mexico) Report on manatee die-offs Effects of noise on marine mammals and sea turtles Vibrio and oyster contamination in the Gulf of Mexico An assessment of the interactions of migrating birds and offshore platforms: a call for industry cooperation +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE 16th INFORMATION TRANSFER MEETING GULF OF MEXICO OCS REGION MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE HOTEL INTER-CONTINENTAL DECEMBER 10-12, 1996 The 16th Information Transfer Meeting (ITM) will be hosted by the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) at the Hotel Inter-Continental in New Orleans. The purpose of the ITM is to foster sharing of information among participants about current research, accomplishments, or issues of concern to the MMS. Presentations at the ITM pertain to the MMS Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas program, as well as regional environmental, social, or economic concerns, or current OCS industry activities or technologies. The meeting agendas are planned and coordinated by the MMS staff in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region around the themes mentioned above. All presentations are invited, through personal contacts between session chairs and the speakers, and meeting support funding is provided through the MMS Environmental Studies Program. Meeting logistical support for the Information Transfer Meetings is provided by a contractor selected through the usual Federal procurement process. A proceedings volume, based on brief technical papers submitted by each speaker and on each session chair's summary, is prepared for each of these meetings. Sessions for the 16th ITM include: Air Quality Issues on the OCS, Deepwater Environmental Issues, Deepwater Development Issues, Offshore Decommissioning and Artificial Reef Development, Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Program, Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Physical Oceanography, Gulf Environmental Issues, The Internet and Marine Science, Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP), and Studies Summaries from the Coastal Marine Institute. For 1994-1996, a cooperative agreement exists between the MMS and the University of New Orleans (UNO). The Office of Conference Services staff of UNO will orchestrate the concurrent sessions of the conference, work with local hotel staffs, provide logistical support to both the organizers and the attendees of the conference, and coordinate the compilation of the proceedings volume using the editorial services of the university. For More Information Regarding technical issues, contact: Mr. Gary D. Goeke Environmental Studies Section Office of Leasing and Environment Gulf of Mexico OCS Region 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (504) 736-2787 (504) 736-2631 (Fax) E-mail: gary.goeke(\)smtp.mms.gov Regarding registration, contact: Ms. Anne O'Heren Jakob Office of Conference Services University of New Orleans Room 122, Education Building Lakefront New Orleans, Louisiana 70148 (504) 280-6680 (504) 280-7317 (Fax) E-mail: confmc(\)uno.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 00:44:22 +1100 Reply-To: william(\)hutch.com.au From: William McDougall Organization: Dolphin Within Society/ODB Consulting Subject: Dolphins in Harbours Dear MARMAM Subscribers >From William McDougall, email william(\)hutch.com.au We are seeking information on the factors influencing the welfare of dolphin populations in "developed" coastal areas, specifically city harbours. We want to gain insight into the relative effects of factors such as water pollution (organic and non-organic), fish stocks/food supplies for the dolphins and boating/shipping activity. We are launching a major initiative here in Sydney, Australia to do what we can to encourage dolphins to return to Sydney Harbour by the year 2000. We have considerable support from all levels - politicians, government bodies, NGO's and the scientific community. There is much to be done - water quality seems to be one of the main issues (there are still many stormwater and sewage overflows into Sydney Harbour that cause much pollution, especially after heavy rain), but fishing and boating activity is also significant. We have had many recent reports of dolphin sightings in the Harbour over the last year or two; it is clear that they are returning, but at this stage only to visit. We would like to see a pod of dolphins take up residence. A colony of fairy penguins has recently re-established itself in the Harbour, and steps are being taken to safeguard and consolidate this colony, so the news is good. We see the "Dolphins in the Harbour" initiative as a major rallying point for the whole Sydney community to wake itself up about pollution in the entire catchment, and it certainly is having this effect so far... We would appreciate any help/advice that you can give; we understand that there was an IWC symosium in Bergen last year on cetaceans and pollutants; does anyone have any papers or references thereto? Is anyone aware of studies in other harbours with dolphin populations, exploring the effects of pollution, fish stocks and/or boating and shipping? Looking forward to your replies, -- William McDougall and Olivia De Bergerac The Dolphin Society/ODB Consulting Pty Ltd PO Box 2052 Clovelly, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia http://www.hutch.com.au/~william/dolphins.htm Tel: +61 2 9665 0712 Fax: +61 2 9664 2018 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 15:41:07 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: An explanation for multiple MARMAM messages (fwd) For those who are interested, following is an explanation for the multiple copies of a MARMAM message some subscribers received last week. MARMAM Editors marmamed(\)uvic.ca Forwarded message: Resent-From: Joe Sparrow Reply-To: LISTSERV give-and-take forum From: Eric Thomas Subject: Duplicates and delays from LSOFT.COM Finally an explanation . . . marmam sent about 1800 of the postings to PSUVM (Penn State). They must have been down for a bit because things got queued up pretty bad. I would guess that the backlog has been cleaned up by now but every time LSoft does a restart some messages are duplicated. So it wasn't Alana's or UVic's "fault". Cheers ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Many people have written to complain about duplicate messages from LSOFT.COM. Here is what happened. On Thursday night US time, PSUVM began unleashing some 3.5M deliveries onto our machines in the space of a few hours, following the resolution of a routing outage at CICnet, PSU's provider. Our delivery machines are normally configured in redundant mode, where only one machine is actually delivering mail while the other acts as a backup. In this mode we normally have a delivery capacity of around 210k/hour, depending on network outages, route flaps, etc. This is with a normal queue (a most a couple hundred thousand recipients) and input stream. With the kind of queue we are talking about here, performance was reduced to 180k/hour. On Friday morning we reconfigured the delivery machines in non-redundant mode, increasing overall throughput to around 300k/hour (again, less than our normal throughput due to the immenseness of the queue). Even at 300k/hour, a 3.5M backlog would take around 12h to go through, and naturally we were also getting our regular, daily ~2.5M deliveries from our everyday operations. The bottom line is that we had to deliver 6,361,742 messages on 11/22, instead of the usual 2.5M. So, things were slow, and some of our hosts have been unresponsive yesterday. Unfortunately, some messages were also duplicated Thursday night. This is because, in redundant mode, all the new messages had to be processed by one machine, and the configuration we were using did not allow it to handle a queue of that size on its own. To give you an idea, the second largest outage/backlog we have had to deal with involved delivering an extra 1.1M messages, as compared to a normal day. Here we ended up delivering 3.8M more than on a normal day. The server had been configured with a large file cache, which still left more RAM for LSMTP than it had ever attempted to use (even on the worst outage of record). The virtual storage quota for LSMTP had been set accordingly (no use allowing it to get into a situation where paging activity would bring the system to its knees). So LSMTP was crashing every 30-45 minutes, and any messages that had been in the process of being sent at the time would be resent after the restart. We fixed this on Friday morning by increasing the amount of storage available to LSMTP and its virtual storage quota, and by splitting the queue between the two main delivery machines. As you may know we are about to upgrade this setup to a fully redundant configuration based on a VMS cluster. The new server was shipped on Wednesday and should in principle arrive Monday (a bit too late, but it never rains...) This machine will have 512M of RAM and should be able to deliver 550k messages an hour. If we had had it yesterday, we would have been able to clear the backlog in a few hours (our total throughput would have been around 800k/hour), and there would have been no duplicate. It will take a couple months for the new clustered configuration to go online as we need to make a few software changes (and test them!) We will migrate the production workload to the new server when it arrives, and use the old one as a test machine until we are ready to go live with the clustered setup. The old server has also been upgraded and we expect that it will be able to handle 400-450k/hour, however this requires the installation of VMS 7.1, which will be released in a week or two. At any rate, we apologize for the inconvenience, but there is no need to keep reporting duplicates unless they have occurred on Saturday or later (per the time stamp on the "Received:" line for PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM). It is also possible that messages might get duplicated down the line. Since we sent 2.5 times as much traffic as on a regular day, mail servers all over the world have received 2.5 times as much traffic from us as on a regular day. For most sites, this is not likely to make any difference, but large sites which get large absolute numbers of deliveries from us may have been impacted. For instance, we sent around 650,000 deliveries to AOL yesterday. This is not to say that there has been a problem at AOL, just that the absolute numbers for some sites may have been significant and can have caused problems for the mail servers in question. Eric ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 02:33:15 IST From: "<" Subject: Red Sea Cetacean Survey Shalom Fellow Marmamers, In the abstracts of the Israel Zoological Society meeting (published in the Israel J. Zoology, Winter issue), a team of IMMRAC workers (O. Goffman, M. Roditi, O. Barnea, Z. David, A. David, K. Lavalli, and D. Kerem) reports on the first systematic compilation of credible cetacean sightings in the Northern Red Sea. Sightings covered the period of 1994-1996 and were collected from Israeli and Bedouin fishermen, Israeli Naval vessels, Safari Yachts and diving-club boats, to which survey forms, including pictorial guides, were distributed. Definite identification from direct observations by the authors were made of the following species: Tursiops truncatus, T. aduncas, Delphinus delphis, Grampus griseus, Pseudorca crassidens, Stenella longirostris, and S. clymene. The last two species of spinner dolphins are the first reported documentation from this area. We have now mapped areas where chances of sightings and resightings are particularly high, even though Israeli vessels are limited in the areas they can sail. Some of the main differences in cetacean populations in the reported area versus that of the Isareli Mediterranean coast are: larger mean pod size and greater preponderance of groupings (> 20 animals), peak numbers in early summer rather than fall and occurrence of solitary dolphins which make contact with divers and swimmers. As in the Mediterranean, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp) is most frequently sighted. We have just included the species that we have been able to make positive identifications of via video, slides, or personal observations. There is another report (published in Bonn-zool. Bem. Bd. 46, H. 1-4, pg. 389, by Smeenk et al.) on sightings of Delphinus tropicalis in the southern Red Sea. If anyone is in Israel and interested in seeing our talk, it will be on December 8th at Tel Aviv University. Oz Goffman, Director Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center University of Haifa Mt. Carmel, Haifa, 31905 Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 09:58:07 GMT From: colin&lora poole Subject: Western Gray Whales I wondered if any members of this list had any information on the current status (or existence) of the NE Asian (western) Gray Whale population, particularly on the Korean wintering grounds? The only information can find is as follows: Klinowska (1991) mentions no Korean whaling records since 1966. Carwadine (1995) "feared extinct, but a small number may possibly survive". Won (1988) which mentions no status but states the following "Migrates up and down the Siberian coast to the neighbouring waters of Cheju Island. Along the east coast of the Korean peninsula, Gray Whales are observed while they are coming down from Sinp'o in South Hamkyong Province through Ulsan to the Tado Sea from late November to late January. They yearly reach the neighbouring waters of Ulsan from November 20 to late December. Therefore the neighbouring waters of Ulsan where Gray Whales yearly pass was designated as Natural Monument No. 126 (on July 10, 1973) and the whales have been protected since then. The Gray Whale is and endangered species due to the past reckless whaling." (Full ref: Won, P.O. (1988) Rare and endangered species of mammals in South Korea. Bull. Inst. Orn. Kyung-Hee University. Vol 2: 61-66.) I will be in coastal eastern and southern Korea in December and January, primarily on an ornithological trip, but if anyone was has any information I could usefully follow up it would be gratefully received. Thanks Colin Poole poole(\)easynet.co.uk ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 18:26:48 -0800 From: Daniel Costa Subject: Academic position The following position is available at the University of California at Santa Cruz. The closing date is December 13, 1996. The position has been broadly defined and we may hire either an invertebrate marine ecologist or a vertebrate marine ecologist. With respect to vertebrate types we are particularly interested in people who can related the open ocean ecology of marine mammals or seabirds to the marine habitat. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ MARINE ECOLOGY Assistant Professor The Biology Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in Marine Ecology. We seek a marine vertebrate or invertebrate ecologist who will apply modern experimental approaches and will augment our existing strengths in marine biology. We especially encourage applicants who are field oriented. The successful applicant will be expected to take advantage of the extraordinary marine environments of Central California. Laboratory space will be provided in a newly constructed research facility located on our 2000-acre campus at the edge of a redwood forest overlooking Monterey Bay. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an active, externally funded research program, and participate in graduate and undergraduate teaching in the areas of ecology and either invertebrate or vertebrate biology. Postdoctoral experience preferred. UCSC has a strong tradition of field research and teaching in marine mammal biology, invertebrate zoology, behavioral ecology; physiological ecology and evolutionary biology, the appointee will be expected to augment these existing strengths. Current UCSC faculty, students and researchers work on a variety of local animals, as well as animals in habitats ranging from the tropics to polar regions. UCSC is located on Monterey Bay, the center of the nation's largest National Marine Sanctuary which protects one of the world's richest temperate marine biotas. The successful candidate will have access to resources of the Institute of Marine Sciences, the Long Marine Laboratory, the Monterey Bay Regional Studies Program, the A=F1o Nuevo Island, Landels-Hill Big Creek, and Younger Lagoon. The Marine Biology program is housed on campus in a new research building with facilities for electron microscopy, molecular systematics and chemical analysis. On the coast, four miles from campus are research vessels and the Long Marine Laboratory with facilities for holding marine organisms. UCSC is committed to the development of strong programs in ecology, physiology, and evolution. In addition to the Biology department, colleagues can be found in allied programs in Ocean Sciences, Environmental Studies, and the Institute of Marine Sciences. Other research and teaching institutions within approximately one hour's drive include Stanford University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Hopkins Marine Station. RANK: Assistant Professor MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. or equivalent in Biology or a related field, and achievements in or demonstrated potential for university research and teaching. POSITION AVAILABLE: Fall 1997, subject to final administrative and budgetary approval. APPLY TO: Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a brief description of research and teaching interests, copies of reprints, and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to: Chair, Marine Ecology Search Committee Department of Biology 225 Sinsheimer Laboratories University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Please refer to provision #234 in your reply. CLOSING DATE: December 13,1996 UCSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer UCSC Department of Biology Santa Cruz, CA 95064 **************************************************************************** Daniel P. Costa Ph.D. Professor and Vice Chair of Biology Associate Director Institute of Marine Sciences Earth and Marine Sciences Bldg University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Office (408) 459-2786; FAX (408) 459-4882 E-Mail: costa(\)biology.ucsc.edu **************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 09:29:20 GMT From: Gerhard Steenkamp Subject: Oral pathology Dear Marmamers For a while now I have been collecting information on oral/dental pathology in marine mammals. Sofar I have not been very successfull and could only mannage a few articles, even a few that was posted on marmam. It would be of considerable help if you could reply directly to me with any suggestions. If you are an author of such publications may I be so bold as to ask a reprint send to may address, PLEASE ? Thank you very much Gerhard Steenkamp (Veterinary surgeon) Gerhard Steenkamp BSc BVSc MRCVS Ronell Steenkamp B Home Economics 62 Fleet Rd Rochester Kent UK ME1 2PX Tel ++44 01634 403447 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 21:58:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: Human diversity also impo QLD: Human diversity also important to reef management By Malcolm Cole of AAP TOWNSVILLE, Qld, Nov 29 AAP - A conference on management of the Great Barrier Reef was today warned not to forget human cultures in the debate about species diversity. Archie Turner, the operational controller of the Cape York Land Council, told the Science Use and Management conference that the traditional owners of the land should be an important consideration in management decisions. Mr Turner defended Aborigines' right to access traditional fisheries and target species, including the endangered dugong and turtle. Outside influences were far more destructive on turtle and dugong populations than traditional hunting, Mr Turner said. "A recent case in the Gulf of Carpentaria saw the death of 30 dugongs over a period of less than one month," he said. "This single case ... constituted approximately one third of the Cape York traditional (annual) take. "In the case of turtles, it is estimated that 95 per cent of all Australian turtles are killed outside the Australian waters -- in other countries." It was therefore critical for these other countries to commit themselves to the survival of sea species, Mr Turner said. Aboriginal people should be given a greater role in managing the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the coastal lands where activities impacted directly on the reef. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority had made a concerted effort over the past couple of years to consult with Aboriginal people on the east coast about the management of the reef, but traditional owners had more to contribute. Aborigines should be empowered to help in developing policies to protect the marine park, and then in enforcing those policies on the ground. "It's not just in terms of money ... but making sure that Aboriginal people are assisting at the forefront of managing the marine park." ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 21:58:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Sunken Tanker May Pose Environ Sunken Tanker May Pose Environmental Threat MONTEREY, Calif. (Reuter) - A U.S. oil tanker sunk in 1941 has been found off the California coast, apparently still full of oil and posing a potential environmental threat to a marine sanctuary, officials said Friday. Researchers using a small submarine found the wreck of the Montebello this month 900 feet down on the sea floor about six miles off the central California coast near the town of Cambria, according to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Montebello was carrying 75,346 barrels (3.1 million gallons) of crude oil when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine on Dec. 23, 1941 -- just 16 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor -- and could still be carrying several million gallons of oil, marine sanctuary spokesman John Robinson said. The tanker lies about a mile outside the boundary of the marine sanctuary, and sanctuary officials are worried that the tanks could one day break, causing a major oil spill that could damage the reserve's fragile environment. "We are very concerned," said Terry Jackson, manager of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "This is a large amount of oil sitting in an aging tanker on the bottom of the sea." The marine sanctuary, founded in 1992, protects an area of more than 5,000 square miles off the central California coast. Hundreds of species of fish and birds as well as whales, sharks, seals, sea otters and sea lions can be found in the sanctuary, the oceanic equivalent of a national park. Because of the very deep water around the wreck, it would be very difficult and costly to try to salvage the ship or remove the oil, Jackson said. "We will have to evaluate the condition of the ship, the threat of a spill and what our options are," he said. The threat of a spill depends partly on what type of petroleum product the tanker was carrying. Due to the cold temperature of the sea at that depth, heavy crude oil would become very dense and flow slowly, if at all, from any hull breach. A lighter crude, or refined product, would surface much more quickly and pose a greater threat, officials said. A team led by archaeologist Jack Hunter found the wreck earlier this month using the Delta, a 16-foot submarine previously used to explore the shipwrecks of the Lusitania in the Atlantic Ocean and the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior. The researchers, who surveyed and filmed the wreck, found the ghostly vessel sitting upright, teeming with sea life and littered with webs of snagged fishing lines and nets. According to researchers, two of the Montebello's 10 onboard storage tanks were ruptured when it sank. The remaining eight tanks appear undamaged. Although the ship has been submerged for 55 years, it shows little sign of hull deterioration, the marine sanctuary said. No leakage from the remaining storage tanks was seen. The Montebello, built in 1921, was loaded with crude oil at Port San Luis, California and set sail for Vancouver, British Columbia early on Dec. 23, 1941. The tanker was a few miles off Cambria when a lookout spotted a Japanese submarine surfacing nearby. The Montebello sank after being hit by a torpedo. All 38 crew members reached shore safely. Although the general location of the sinking had been known, the wreck had never before been precisely located or examined. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 21:57:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Seal protestion measures exten Seal protestion measures extended By Rowan Dore, Parliamentary Staff, PA News Seals along Britain's eastern coastline are to be given protection for a further three years in a bid to increase their numbers, the Government disclosed tonight. A new three-year close season, which bans the killing, injuring or capture of common and grey seals, is to be introduced, junior Home Office Minister Tom Sackville said in a Commons written reply. The protection Order will cover an area stretching from the England-Scotland border to Newhaven, East Sussex. The current three-year Order expires on December 19 and the new Order will take effect from that date. Previous Orders have been successful in preserving and increasing Britain's seal population, Mr Sackville said. The Orders were first introduced in 1988, following the halving of the common seal population through disease. The minister declared: "I have taken scientific advice in agreeing to renew the Order, which aims to promote a recovery of the seal population. That still remains at about 70 per cent of 1988 numbers." Figures from the Sea Mammal Research Unit show numbers of common seals along Britain's coast as 3,900 in 1988, 1,551 in 1991 and 2,758 in 1995. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 05:28:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Western Gray Whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: yamada(\)kahaku.go.jp (Tadasu K. Yamada) Dear Colin Pool, Perhaps you've already known the following, but just in case: In Japan there records of Grey Whale hunting in the past. Stranding/incidental catch records are as follows: 1968, Wakayama prefecture, incidental chatch (live, but died or killed), the Pacific coast 1982, Mie prefecture, swimming in a harbour (live and herded out?), the Pacific coast 1990, Kanagawa, stranded dead, the Pacific coast 1993, around Ohshima (Izu islands), sighted and videotaped, the Pacific 1995, Hokkaido, stranded dead, the Pacific coast 1996, Hokkaido, drifted, Sea of Japan coast If you are interested, a little more information will be provided by Hajime Ishikawa of Institute of Cetacean Research. We also are interested in information on the Korean greys. Good luck Tadasu They were hunted in Seto inland sea in tha past, but it is believed that they do not exist anymore. Recently, however, because of the sporadic sighting and stranding reports we come to think that they might exist in a small population somewhere. Tadasu K. Yamada Curator of Marine Mammals Dept. of Zoology National Science Museum, Tokyo 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 169 JAPAN Phone : +81-3-3364-2311 ext.7168 / +81-3-5332-7168 Fax : +81-3-3364-7104 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 12:11:41 -0500 Reply-To: Frank Cipriano From: Frank Cipriano Subject: New center for conservation genetics New Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics A new Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics (C.C.E.G.) has been established at Harvard University. Goals of the center, founded by Dr. Stephen Palumbi and Dr. Frank Cipriano, are to continue the development of genetic techniques for conservation biology and to promote the training of field agents and scientific researchers in their use. Equipment available at the C.C.E.G. includes an ABI 377 automated sequencer, Perkin-Elmer models 480 and 9600 thermocyclers, a Perkin Elmer uv / vis spectrophotometer, a SpeedVac centrifugal concentrator, microcentrifuges, ultrafreezer, micropipets, computers and assorted labware. Expanded facilities and state-of-the-art technology at the center will support the continuing investigation of the species identity of whale products available in commercial markets, a project initiated by Earthtrust in 1993. Co-sponsors in the establishment of the C.C.E.G. include Earthtrust, Harvard University, the Applied Biosystems Division of Perkin-Elmer Corporation, the Pew Foundation, and Aquatic Farms, Incorporated. Projects underway in this first month of the center's operations include identification of cetacean products from commercial markets in Asia, testing of nuclear markers for use in species identifications of dolphin and whale products, genetic characterization of disease-resistant shrimp stocks, and development of new tools for conservation genetics. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank Cipriano (cipriano(\)oeb.harvard.edu) Harvard University Biological Laboratories #214 16 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 U.S.A. (617)496-8667 lab/office 496-5854 fax ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 09:56:31 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 11/29/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Ballard Locks Sea Lions. On Nov. 26, 1996, a spokesperson for the Seattle radio station that was one of the sponsors of "Fake Willy" -- a 16-foot fiberglas model of a killer whale -- held a news conference to report on the results of experiments using this model to deter sea lions from the Ballard Locks area. This individual reported that initial observations indicated that s ea lions were aware of the model and that it may have had some deterrent effect. [Assoc Press] . Norwegian Whaling. On Nov. 22, 1996, Norwegian officials announced that Norway's 1997 commercial minke whale quota would be 580 animals, an increase from the 1996 quota of 425 animals. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 11:32:13 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: 1997 Information Processing by Aquatic Mammals Symposium (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 11:14:21 -0800 (PST) From: David Bain This posting provides additional information concerning the 1997 Symposium on Information Processing by Aquatic Mammals. The symposium will be held at Marine World Africa USA in Vallejo, California, from April 6 to April 11, 1997. A reception will be he ld the evening of April 6, and working sessions will be held during the day from April 7 to April 11. A banquet will be held the evening of April 10, and a mid-conference trip for participants and partners will be taken the afternoon of April 9.=20 Participants A list of potential participants is appended at the end of this message.=20 If you are not on this list but would like to be, or your address has changed recently, please contact me at dbain(\)u.washington.edu. Abstract submission and registration forms will be mailed in December.=20 Symposium Guidelines The symposium continues the series of meetings previously held in Harderwijk (1994) and Moscow (1991). Symposium topics will include sensory systems, cognition, and communication of marine and other aquatic mammals. Relevant work on other species is als o welcome. Attendance at the symposium will be limited to participants who contribute oral or poster papers. Abstracts will be due January 15, 1997. Costs The symposium fee is $250 US and includes * Coffee and tea during breaks * Lunch every day * The banquet, which is planned for April 10 Hotel Facilities The conference hotel is the Holiday Inn Marine World, located directly across the street from Marine World Africa USA. Rooms will be available for $50 per night.=20 Other motels are located a short drive away, and information on these facilities will be included in a future mailing.=20 General Information Vallejo is located about 35 miles northeast of San Francisco. Shuttle bus service is available from both the San Francisco and Oakland airports.=20 Climate Vallejo can experience a wide range of temperatures, even within a day.=20 Evening temperatures can range as low as 5-10o C, while day time temperatures may reach 25o C. Although April normally marks the start of our dry season, rain is still a possibilit y.=20 Meals Breakfast is available at local motels and restaurants. Lunch on all symposium days is included in the registration fee. You will be on your own for dinner, except the night of the banquet (April 10). If you are on a special diet, please let us know.=20 Free Time Vallejo is located within an hour of Napa Valley (wine country), the Pacific Ocean, and cultural centers such as San Francisco and Berkeley.=20 It is less than four hours from Monterey Bay and the Sierra Nevada mountains.=20 A book containing conference proceedings and related papers is planned, although arrangements have not been finalized.=20 I look forward to seeing you in April. =09=09=09=09=09=09Sincerely, =09=09=09=09=09=09David E. Bain, Ph.D., =09=09=09=09=09=09Symposium Organizer, =09=09=09=09=09=09Killer Whale Research Projects Director, =09=09=09=09=09=09Marine World Foundation Potential participants for whom I have mailing addresses. A second list of potential participants for whom I do not have good addresses follows.=20 If your name is not on the first list and you would like to receive registration materials, be sure to conta ct me.=20 Mats Amundin Nicole Angiel James Aroyan Whitlow Au Tomonari Akamatsu Michel Andre Massimo Azzali David Bain=20 C. Scott Baker Lance Barrett-Lennard Carmen Bazua Vsevolod Bel'kovich Anna Bisther Dorete Bloch Ann E. Bowles Glenn Boyle Randy Brill Allegra Bukojemsky Gabriele Buracchi Don Carder=20 Kristin Carlson Chris Clark Holly Cleator Daniel P. Costa=20 Ted W. Cranford Marilyn Dahlheim Lois Dankiewicz Volker Deecke Eduard Degollada Guido Dehnhardt Doug DeMaster Wang Ding, William Dolphin Manuel E. dos Santos Itiel E. Dror =20 Nikolai A.Dubrovsky Kathleen Dudzinski Christine Erbe Bill Evans Jeff Fasick John Ford Adam Frankel, L. Neil Frazer William A. Friedl Edmund Gerstein Toni Frohoff=20 Jim Frohoff =20 Pat Gearin Robert Gisiner Ilya Glezer =20 Allen Goldblatt Dave Goodson=20 Gao Guofu Ulrike Griebel Evelyn Hanggi Heidi E. Harley David A. Helweg Kenneth Henry, Louis Herman Denise L Herzing John E. Heyning Ms. Gonja J.J. Hikspoors Carol Howard Heikki Hyv=E4rinen Vincent M. Janik Christine Johnson =20 Dr. Jim Kadtke Zhou Kaiya Cees Kamminga=20 David Kastak Ron Kastelein=20 Robert M. Keolian Darlene R. Ketten Forsythe Kineon Kit Kovacs Scott Krause =20 Stan Kuczaj Dr. Jeffrey T. Laitman David Lashmet, David H. Levenson Jon Lien Nickolay Lipatov Anna Manzini Lori Marino Vladimir Markov Alla Mass Dr. Gottfried Mayer-Kress=20 Eddie Mercado Edward Miller, Lee Miller Patrick Miller Joseph Mobley Patrick Moore, Alexandra Morton Cynthia F. Moss Scott Murray=20 Paul Nachtigall Brent Norberg Kenneth Norris Dan Odell Jonathan Owen Adam A. Pack=20 Prof. Antares Parvulescu Dr Gianni Pavan Deborah Pawloski Jeff Pawloski Alana Phillips Vladimir Popov John Potter Roger L. Reep Joy Reidenberg Carlos Godinez reyes Andrew Read Colleen Reichmuth W. John Richardson Sam H. Ridgway=20 Tracey Rogers Herbert Roitblat Evgenii Romanenko Nico Roosnek, Bill Roth, MA Rhona St.Clair=20 Laela Sayigh PATRICK SCHNEIDER=20 Ron Schusterman Irina Sidorova =20 Shari Snitovsky Galina Solnsteva Brandon L. Southall Paul Spong Brent Stewart Nobuo Suga Aleksander Ya. Supin=20 Michael D. Szymanski Dr. Jack Terhune Jeanette Thomas Peter Tyack Pek van Andel Bert van der Pol Wim Verboom Lorenzo von Fersen Julia Walbridge Douglas Wartzok Terrie M. Williams Jan Worst Bernd W(rsig Suzanne Yin Alexander Zanin Karl Zbinden Peter Zimmer Other potential participants for whom I do not have complete, current mailing addresses.=20 Jan Tavernier Monique van de Water Karen Ballard Susan Cosens =20 Bertel Mohl =20 Wolfgang Gewalt Gertraud Heveling Bernhard Neurohr Iris Schmidt Martin Bakker Cees Camphuijsen Bram Couperus Jaap Dubbeldam Nico Gerrits Dick de Haan Wim Kerstens Niek de Kort Chris van Ligtenberg Saskia Nieuwstraten Ronald Nixdorf Peter van der Sman Henk Spekreijse Carolien Staal Monica Verbeek Piet Wiepkema Itamar Tsur Jacopo Annese Tsukasa Murayama Igor Kostarnov Vladimir Klishin Nancy Vaughan Rachel Budelsky Peggy Edds Joseph Kirschvink Frank Awbrey Bernie Tershy Peter Jenkins Thor Schliemann Kaiya Zhou Peter Morgane Mark Xitco =20 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca=20 saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 13:06:05 -0800 From: Jean Herrman Subject: Aquatic Animal Life/Medicine Symposium MEETING ANNONCEMENT The UC Davis Student Chapter of the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians present our annual Aquatic Life/Medicine Symposium. This year's theme is WILDLIFE AS INDICATORS OF ECOSYSTEM AND WATERWAY HEALTH. This is a one day symposium to be held at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The LOCATION is 170 Schalm lecture hall (across from the Vet Med teaching hospital and next to the Medical Sciences Library). The DATE of the symposium is JANUARY 18, 9:30am to 3:30 pm. There is NO CHARGE for the symposium. Talks will be on the ecotoxicology of waterways and indicator species (fish and birds), as well as toxin implications in the diseases of fish, birds and marine mammals (pinnipeds and cetaceans) in California and elsewhere. There will be six speakers, veterinarian and non veterinarian. ALL ARE WELCOME DIRECTIONS - Take interstate 80 (west of Sacramento) to route 113 towards Woodland. Take Hutchinson road exit. Take first right into Medical Sciences area. There will be signs posted to direct you towards the lecture hall. If planning to attend please e-mail me at jmherrman(\)ucdavis.edu as we would like to know the approximate attendance for refreshment purposes. Jean Marie Herrman School of Vet Med / Univ. California Davis jmherrman(\)ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 07:56:39 -0800 From: "John E. Heyning" Subject: Slijper, 1936 >Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 09:34:56 >To: marmam >From: "John E. Heyning" >Subject: Slijper, 1936 > >Dear Marmammers: > Does anyone know of the existance of an English translation of E.J. Slijper's 1936 monograph "Die Cetaceen"? It is a classic work. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with knowledge of such a translation. > >Many Thanks. > >John E. Heyning heyning(\)bcf.usc.edu John E. Heyning, Ph.D. Curator of Mammals Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 213 744 3404 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 17:51:41 -0800 From: GreenLife Society Subject: 2d Annual IWLC ------ 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference: Registration Materials The 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference will take place on Ap= ril 8, 1997 in Washington DC at the Georgetown University Law Center. =20 Conference co-sponsors are: =B7 American Society of International Law's wildlife section =B7 GreenLife Society - North America =B7 Georgetown International Environmental Law Review =B7 Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy =B7 Environmental Law Society, American University School of Law =B7 Detroit College of Law-Michigan State University The conference will utilize the same three panel format as at last year's conference. The panels for the conference are as follows: PANEL #1 The precautionary principle and international wildlife treaty regimes Moderator: David Favre, Faculty of Law, Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University =B7 Drs. Jonathan Verschuuren & Chris Backes, Faculty of Law, Tilburg University, Netherlands, "The Precautionary Principle in European and Dut= ch Wildlife Protection Law and Policy;" =B7 Dr. Joan E. Russow, Co-ordinator, Global Compliance Research project = & Sessional lecturer, Global Issues, Environmental Studies Program, U. Of Victoria, "The Implications of Compliance with the Precautionary Principl= e: Report to the Commission on Sustainable Development;" =B7 Dr. W.M. von Zharen, College of Wildlife and Agriculture; College of Geosciences and Maritime Studies, Texas A&M University, Galveston, Texas= , USA, "Stewarding Marine Species: Beyond the Precautionary Principle;" =B7 William C. Burns, Director, GreenLife Society - North America, "The Application of the =914P=92 Approach to Implement the Precautionary Princ= iple in the Context of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Specie= s of Wild Fauna and Flora;" =B7 Dr. Sudhir K. Chopra, Visiting Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Policy and Department of International Relations, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary & Craig Hanson, Member, Illinois state bar, "Deep Ecology to the Precautionary Principle: Ethical Principl= es Evolve into Customary International Law." PANEL #2 The International Whaling Commission and the aboriginal whaling exception. Moderator: To be announced =B7 Bill Dollinger, Wildlife Coordinator, Friends of Animals, Washington,= DC, "Return to Commercial Whaling: Playing the Native Card;" =B7 Dr. Harry Scheiber, Stefan Riesenfeld Professor of Law and History, & Associate Dean of Law for Jurisprudence & Social Policy, Boalt Hall Schoo= l of Law, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA, "T= he Ethical Basis and Proper Limits of Special Indigenous Claims;" =B7 Karen Barton, Dept. Of Geography, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz= ona, USA, "Common Property Theory and the Resource Dilemma: The Case of the California Gray Whale;"=20 =B7 Leesteffy Jenkins, The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Soc= iety International, "Aboriginal Subsistence Quotas at the International Whalin= g Commission: Tradition or Travesty?;" =B7 Phoebe Wray, President of the Board, Center for Action on Endangered Species, topic to be announced. PANEL #3 The Convention on Biological Diversity: Problems and Prospects Moderator: William P. Weiner, Faculty of Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School. =B7 Lyle Glowka, Legal Officer, International Union for the Conservation = of Nature Environmental Law Center, Bonn, Germany, "The Convention on Biological Diversity: A New Context for Wildlife Conservation;" =B7 Dr. Maria Gavouneli, Associate, Hellenic Institute of International a= nd Foreign Law, Athens, Greece; "The New Mediterranean Protocol on Biodiversity: Regional Approaches in a Wider Context;" =B7 Manuel Ruiz, Senior Researcher, Biodiversity Program, Sociedad Peruan= a de Derecho Ambiental, Peru, "International Wildlife Traffic and Article 15 o= f the Convention on Biological Diversity;" =B7 Dr. Tracy Dobson, Associate Dean of International Studies, Michigan S= tate University, Lansing, Michigan, USA, "Radical Restructuring of Environment= al Policy to Preserve Biodiversity in Africa: Malawi at the Crossroads;" =B7 Chris Wold, Adjunct Professor of Law, Washington College of Law, Amer= ican University & staff attorney , Center for International Environmental Law, topic to be announced. Registration may be effectuated by printing out the form below and mailin= g it to the following address: Professor David Favre, Detroit College of La= w - Michigan State University, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Checks should be made out to "Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University." Registration Form: 2d Annual International Wildlife Law Conference, April= 8, 1997 Georgetown University School of Law Center Name: ____________________________________________ Organization: _____________________________ Address: _________________________________ City: __________________________ State: ________________________ Postal Code: ___________ =20 Country _______________ Phone: ________________ Fax: _________________ E-mail: ________________ Fees (Check One): Regular _____ ($50.00 until March 1st, $55.00 thereafter) Student _____ ($25.00) =20 Please mail to: Professor David Favre, Detroit College of Law - Michigan State University, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Che= cks should be made out to "Detroit College of Law at Michigan State Universit= y." William C. Burns =09 Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter=20 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA =09 Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620=09 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org =09 WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html =09 GLSNA Affiliations: The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. -- William James -=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-= =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 08:02:36 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: harbour seals and nets (fwd) Forwarded message: I have been working on a couple problems that involve harbor seals accessing small areas where humans would rather they not go. The interactions prove dangerous for the seals and we'd like to prevent the interactions by providing a barrier. In each case, however, abundant water flow through the seal barrier is imperative. The problem, therefore, is to determine the largest mesh (assume rigid bars, rather than nets) through which juvenile harbor seals physically cannot or behaviorally will not pass. I seek the guidance of MARMAM subscribers. I'd appreciate references to any articles, papers, or anecdotal information. I'd like to hear from behavioral, as well as morphological specialists. Information on any of the pinnipeds would be helpful. Thanks for any information you can provide. Please respond to: e-mail: Daniel.S. Morris(\)NOAA.GOV ph: (508) 281-9388 fax-9301 ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 11:44:46 +0000 From: seaworld(\)neptune.dbn.lia.net Subject: Cape fur seals. Does anyone have information on skin conditions in seals? We have a Cape fur seal (Arctocephalous pusillus pusillus) that appears to have an exceptionally long moult of seven months. He has been with us for two years and did not do this last year. The other seals have also not done this.He is on a multivitamen supplement and appears otherwise healthy. We have had the hair analised for a fungal infection but the tests were negative. Are there any other parasites that could be involved? We have -ve tests and scrapings. Dr. Corrina Pieterse, Sea world, Durban. South Africa. seaworld(\)neptune.lia.co.za Fax: Code (031)-37 21 32. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 12:31:46 -0500 From: biojfm%HOFSTRA.BITNET(\)uvvm.UVic.CA Subject: Job Opportunity Hello everyone: I'm sending this to elasmo-l, fish-ecology, and marmam-l. Please forward it to any additional electronic bulletin boards to which you subscribe (I'm particularly interested in getting this posted on an invert list). And please send your responses to Gene Kaplan, not me. Thanks a lot. The Hofstra University Marine Laboratory (HUML), in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, West Indies, is searching for a pair of qualified persons to run the laboratory from 1 October 1997 to 31 August 1998 (11 months). The successful candidates will be responsible for assisting as many as 35 visiting professors with their courses by giving guest lectures to their classes and accompanying them on field trips. They will also have full responsibility for teaching 12-day classes of mature persons (Elderhostels). They will maintain our seawater system and will participate in our ongoing research program. They will have full administrative responsibilities, and will be the only Hofstra staff on site. HUML will be entering its 18th year and has grown into a major field station. It consists of a two-story, three-classroom laboratory building, a wet laboratory building with a circulating seawater system, a library/equipment building, and a 30-room hotel. The facility is served by a fleet of three boats, several buses, and a SCUBA shop. The lab is surrounded by an extraordinary array of habitats, from the three-kilometer long coral reef just offshore to miles of pristine rocky shores with extraordinary zonation, to a nearby mangrove swamp. A tiny island lies just offshore. A short boat ride brings classes to a cave containing bats, which can be entered only by snorkeling, a sunken shipwreck, walls of live coral, beautiful, palm-fringed coves, and other spectacular sites. This is primarily a teaching facility and the successful candidates should have teaching skills and a personality appropriate to the jobs. The salary for the 11-month positions is $6,000 each + all benefits including an apartment, board, medical insurance, a 12-day training course (in Jamaica), and airfare. In other words, all expenses are paid and the total salary may be saved. The positions are usually filled by couples without children. For further information send a letter indicating why you believe that you are of the "star" calibre capable of assuming this major responsibility to: Dr. Eugene Kaplan Director, HUML Biology Department 114 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11550-1090 USA e-mail: bioehk(\)hofstra.edu ---------------------------------------- John F. Morrissey Assistant Professor Department of Biology 114 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11550-1090 516-463-5517; FAX 516-565-0098 E-mail: biojfm(\)hofstra.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 13:18:57 -0400 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: aging harbour porpoise Greetings, The Marine Mammal Research Group (Victoria, B.C., Canada) has teeth from approximately 30-40 harbour porpoise that need to be aged. I am trying to find names and e-mail addresses of individuals who might be willing to age these animals, as well as information on the cost (we have a small amount of grant money available to do this), how long it would take if the teeth were sent in the next couple of months, and the methods (experienced reader, more than one reader, etc). We would expect whoever does it to follow currently accepted methods (e.g., Hohn and Lockyer 1995, IWC Special Issue 16). We can obtain a CITES export permit fairly easily, so it doesn't really where it is done. Thanks very much, Robin ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rbaird(\)uvic.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 10:19:22 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Slijper, 1936 (fwd) From: "Jan Willem Broekema" To: ecs-all(\)mailbase.ac.uk Dear Dagmar & other members, Dagmar Fertl presented John Heyning's request: > Does anyone know of the existance of an English translation of E.J. > Slijper's 1936 monograph "Die Cetaceen"? It is a classic work. I > would appreciate hearing from anyone with knowledge of such a > translation. to ECS-all. No, as far as I know there has never been any translation in any language. German was the scientific language of the time. For those interested: the full title is 'Die Cetaceen, vergleichend- anatomisch und systematisch' by Dr. E.J. Slijper. The original was printed in 1936 by Martinus Nijhof (publ) in The Hague as Capita Zoologica Bd. VI and VII. An exact reprint was produced in 1973 by Asher & Co (publ) in Amsterdam. This one has ISBN 90 6123 226 0. Copies of both can sometimes be obtained, at prices ranging from 150-250 US$. --- Jan Willem Broekema ECS Computer Support Group http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 14:21:45 +48000 From: "Ma. Eugenia Rodriguez V." Subject: Humpback Whales HI!!!!! We are a group of oceanologists, biologists, and profesional photografer that are studing (working in diferent aspects) with humpback whales in Banderas Bay Mexico, and we are wondering if there is somebody that is working with them in the feeding areas (Alaska) that's interested to come and join us studing them in here for some weeks as an interchange and then to let us join you next summer with your studies in the North Pacific feeding areas. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 10:22:19 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Dolphin Project newsletter (fwd) From: aliwer(\)ash.nl (Arlette Liwer) The second Dolphin Project Europe newsletter is now available. If you would like to receive it via e-mail, request one from Arlette at the following address: dolphins(\)ash.nl Arlette Liwer President Dolphin Project Europe ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 10:33:52 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Northeast Society of Zoology Meeting (fwd) Subject: Subscription to the Second North-Northeast Meeting on Research a= nd Conservation of Aquatic Mammals-Brazil =09 NORTHEAST SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGY XI NORTHEAST ZOOLOGY MEETING April 14 to 18, 1997 Fortaleza - CE, Brazil CONGRESS SUBSCRIPTION #________ (reserved to Secretary) =09 Name: ___________________________________________________________________= __ Mail Adress: ___________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ UF: _____ ZIP: _____________-_____ Fone: (____)_____________ FAX: (____)_____________ =20 e-mail: _________________________ Institution:=20 _____________________________________________________________________ Category: __________________________ (see table) Hospitality prevision: # Person: _____________ ( ) Hotel / Stopping ( ) Lodging ( ) Others SHORT-COURSE SUBSCRIPTION Name: _________________________________________________________ # of Short-course: ( ) 1st option ( ) 2nd option =09 ( ) 3th option Meeting Secretary : Laborat=F3rio de Ci=EAncias do Mar - UFC Av. Aboli=E7=E3o, 3207 Meireles Fortaleza-CE 60.165-081 Fone: (085) 242-6422 R. 216 Tele-Fax: (085) 242-8355 e-mail: xiezn(\)ufc.br NORTHEAST SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGY XI NORTHEAST ZOOLOGY MEETING April 14 to 18, 1997 Fortaleza - CE, Brazil ABSTRACT SUBSCRIPTION Abstract Tittle 1:_______________________________________________________= _ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Author(s):=20 _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Presentation Form: Oral ( ) Poster ( ) Video ( ) Session (see abstract intructions ): _________________________ Abstract Tittle 2:____ __________________________________________________= __ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Author(s):=20 _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Presentation Form: Oral ( ) Poster ( ) Video ( ) Session (see abstract instructions): ____________________________________= _ Audio-Visual Needs: Overhead ( ) Slide Projector( ) Presentations for the Second North-Northeast Meeting on Research and=20 Conservation of Aquatic Mammals of Brazil Yes ( ) No ( ) # of abstract(s) ____________=09 The abstracts should be sent to the Meeting Secretary on 3 =BD IBM-PC=20 format diskettes, proterly identify and acompained by to hard copies=20 printed on A4 paper format. The text editor should be Word for Windows 6.0 or previous versions. Use=20 Arial 12 font type for the text. The tittle should be in capital and=20 scientific names in italic. Name of authors and respective adress should=20 be separated by one space following the tittle. Each adress should ocupy=20 only a line. Other information such as finantial support should come on=20 footnotes. The abstract must be written in one paragraph, single spaced, margins=20 justified, and not longer than 1200 characters. A clear statement of the=20 objectives methodology results and conclusion should appear. Do not=20 include tables, draws or references. Each file will contain only one abstract. File names should refer=20 to the abstract tittle, identifing it among others on the disk. If two or= =20 more authors are sending abstracts in the same disk separate them by=20 subdirectories with the authors name. Payment must be made by bank check in the name of XI Northeast=20 Meeting of Zoology. Students must send a copy of their course and enrolement. More information may be obtained by contacting: Comiss=E3o Organizadora XI Encontro de Zoologia do Nordeste /II Encontro de Prserva=E7=E3o e Pesq= uisa=20 de Mam=EDferos Aqu=E1ticos de Norte e Nordeste do Brasil ATT: Teresa Cristina V. Gesteira e/ou Wilson Franklin Jr. Laborat=F3rio de Ci=EAncias do Mar-UFC Av. Aboli=E7=E3o,3207 Meireles 60.165-082 Fortaleza-CE Tel/Fax: (085) 242-8355 e-mail: xiezn(\)ufc.br e-mail: gecc(\)ufc.br ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca=20 saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 11:06:55 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: newsclip - ATOC (fwd) December 1, 1996 SANTA CRUZ, California (CNN) -- Several years ago, a low-frequency transmitter was proposed as one way to study ocean's temperatures and monitor global warming. Environmentalists objected, fearing the noise reverberating through the deep would disrupt whale and seal migration or cause deaths in the population. The project went ahead, and scientists monitored the ocean life off the coast of California. Now, halfway through the two-year test, preliminary results are available, and it appears that the transmitter has had no ill effect. "The animals are not abandoning the study site," said Dan Costa, a marine biologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz. "We're finding whales and lots of dolphins and lots of seals. The abundance has not changed ... So there's no dramatic effect." Researchers outfitted some elephant seals with devices to measure changes in their swimming patterns. "We can look at the animals' behavior changes in terms of how deep it dives, how fast it swims, "how much time it spends at the surface," Costa said. "With 14 animals, there were no changes of behavior." Scientists took to the skies to see whether the animals would continue swimming near the site. But researchers admit it's tough to measure the finer details of behavior that far out at sea. The big question is still whether the noise masks the sounds that marine mammals make to one another to communicate about feeding areas or the presence of a predator nearby. But the sounds of most marine mammals are of a much higher frequency than those of the transmitter. "We don't think they'll be masking sounds they make," Costa said. "As far as other sounds that might be important to them, we just don't know." Hearings will be held following the completion of the study next year. If scientists do not detect any negative effects on marine mammal behavior, the transmitters in California and Hawaii will begin sounding off on a regular basis. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 12:44:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: QLD: Conservationists criticis QLD: Conservationists criticise emergency measures BRISBANE, Dec 3 AAP - Emergency measures to save dugong populations off Australia's east coast would do nothing to protect them from human threats, the Queensland Conservation Council said today. A meeting of state and federal environment ministers in Brisbane last week set up nine protection zones in an area stretching from Hinchinbrook Island in the north to Hervey Bay in south-east Queensland. But North Queensland Conservation Council coordinator Jeremy Tager said while the decision to set up the protection areas was welcome, management agencies were trying to sell to the public the idea that the areas would ensure the recovery of dugong populations. "The reality is there is no new protection from human threats to dugongs in these areas," Mr Tager said. "Gill netting, hunting, coastal developments, vessel traffic and even the use of explosives will continue in the proposed protection areas." QueenslandConservation Council cooordinator Imogen Zethoven said gill netting was unsustainable and should be banned immediately throughout the entire Queensland coastal marine park. "I doubt the public will buy the closure of Shoalwater Bay to gill nets as a new emergency measure, let alone one which will ensure dugong recover. "Management agencies are simply completing last year's partial gill net ban which was ineffective because more dugongs died after the ban," Ms Zethoven said. Floods killing seagrass beds - the staple food of the dugong - and developments including Keith Williams' Port Hinchinbrook resort next to the heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Hinchinbrook channel have been blamed by environmentalists for declining dugong populations. Researchers believe there has been a fall of between 50 per cent and 80 per cent in dugongs which are now thought to number less than 2,000. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 15:32:46 -0500 From: Thomas McIntyre Subject: Two jobs in Marine Mammals National Marine Fisheries Service Two new marine mammal job vacancies are announced on the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's employment opportunites World Wide Web server. The URL is: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~webvas/index.html Toggle down to H/NMF970014.MJB This postion is for a marine mammal biologist stationed at NMFS Headquarters in Silver Spring MD. Toggle down to H/NMF970015.MJB This position is entitled Large Whale Program Coodinator, again stationed at MNFS Headquarters Silver Spring MD. The application Address is: Ms. Mary Berklund NOAA,HROMO,OFA45 Rm 13844 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910-3226 PH 301-173-0524 x147 FAX 301-713-1979 TDD 301-713-0973 Another Federal Jobs website is that of the Office of Personnel Management. The URL is: http://www.usajobs.gov At the top of this page you will see a Online Application Form which can be used for all Federal Vacancy Announcemnts. Please distribute this information with colleagues throughout your institution. Only citizens of the United States are eligble . Thomas McIntyre (Mac) Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910-3226 USA PH 301-713-2055 x136 Thomas.Mcintyre(\)noaa.gov ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 10:27:11 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 12/06/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them -- a selection of issues which I view as having potential public policy implications for the U.S. Congress. My role is to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased public policy analysis for Congress. Thus, it is useful weekly to pass this summary by those subscribing to this list to solicit input about areas where my objectivity could be improved, where someone's bias shows through and should be adjusted, and where there are simply other issues of which I am unaware. Anyway, what follows is today's summary. Generally I add new items every morning, and remove items after they have been on the summary for about a month. Items in the summary are modified as I receive new information. In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I post the entire summary once each month on the first Friday of the month, for those who do not monitor the group each week or wish the more complete format. This is longer the first Friday posting for December 1996. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html/" I would appreciate your feedback on this summary. Comments should be directed to me (gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov). I will post this summary each Friday on this list as long as I continue to receive helpful feedback on issues. To further assist me in providing a broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc. relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription cost, a sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter. Gene Buck Congressional Research Service - ENR Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-7450 e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: New info and changes since 11/29/96 are bracketed {...}. Marine Mammals . {CA Sea Otter Census. In early December 1996, U.S. Geological Survey scientists reported that 2,019 CA sea otters were counted during a November 1996 census. This was almost 8% fewer than the 2,190 animals counted in the fall 1995 census. It was not certain whether the population is declining or whether, due to poor weather, the 1996 census missed more animals than the 1995 census. A peak census count of 2,377 animals was recorded in spring 1995. The spring 1996 count was lower than the spring 1995 census, and a total of 145 sea otter carcasses have been recorded during the first 9 months of 1996 -- in excess of the average of 80 carcasses.} [Assoc Press] . {Marine Mammal Center Opens New Pools. On Dec. 2, 1996, the Marin Headlands Marine Mammal Center opened $200,000 in new pools in Sausalito, CA, to care for as many as 400 marine mammals in the event of an oil spill along the northern and central CA coast. This Center is one of a series of 7 treatment facilities to be constructed along the CA coast to implement 1990 and 1993 state legislation.} [Assoc Press] . {Amazon River Dolphin Bites Visitor. On Dec. 2, 1996, a male Amazon River dolphin bit the hand of a Pittsburgh Zoo visitor who violated posted warnings and tried to pat its snout.} [Assoc Press] . Ballard Locks Sea Lions. On Nov. 26, 1996, a spokesperson for the Seattle radio station that was one of the sponsors of "Fake Willy" -- a 16-foot fiberglas model of a killer whale -- held a news conference to report on the results of experiments using this model to deter sea lions from the Ballard Locks area. This individual reported that initial observations indicated that s ea lions were aware of the model and that it may have had some deterrent effect. [Assoc Press] . Commercial Whaling Ban Appeal. On Nov. 22, 1996, Australia's Environment Minister Robert Hill urged President Clinton to work for a permanent global whaling ban, in his introduction of President Clinton for a statement on the environment. [Reuters] . Norwegian Whaling. On Nov. 22, 1996, Norwegian officials announced that Norway's 1997 commercial minke whale quota would be 580 animals, an increase from the 1996 quota of 425 animals. [Assoc Press, Reuters] . Japanese Research Whaling. On Nov. 7, 1996, five Japanese research whaling vessels left ports in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures for Antarctic waters. Their objective is killing 400 minke whales before April 1997 for biological data. On Nov. 8, 1996, the British government called upon Japan to discontinue its research whaling program in Antarctic waters. [Dow Jones News, Reuters, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food press release] . CITES and Whales. In early November 1996, Norway completed a draft proposal to downlist the northeast Atlantic and central north Atlantic minke whale stocks from Appendix I to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The final draft is to be submitted to the CITES Secretariat in January 1997. {On Dec. 2, 1996, Japan was reported to be considering joining Norway in its proposal to CITES to downlist minke whales. Japan may also propose downlisting of north Pacific and southern hemisphere minke whales, Bryde's whales in the north Pacific, and gray whales in the western Atlantic.} [personal communication, Dow Jones News, Kyodo via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 09:24:40 -0500 From: Jansolomon(\)aol.com Subject: "Request for filming information" "Request for filming information" "We are seeking to film wild oceanic dolphins for a major educational documentary. We would like to film several selected species, principally in tropical or subtropical waters. Preferably, we would like to present material that hasn't been overdone elsewhere. The material may demonstrate some of the social organizaton and social behavior of the population, or possibly illustrate foraging or feeding behaviors, or other interesting behaviors. Positive interactions with humans such as in cooperative fisheries, ecotourism programs, swim programs, etc. are also of interest. Additionally, we are interested in illustrating research with dolphins in marine parks or laboratores. The goal of the film will be to provide the general public with a better understanding of these selected dolphin groups and to illustrate some of the specializations or competencies of dolphins in the wild or as determined through in-house studies. If you are working in situations that might lend themselves to this filming or know of situations that might be of interest for our goals, we would be most pleased to hear from you. Plans are to begin filming during the summer of 1997 and to continue at least through the end of the year. Please respond directly to my Email address, and not to the list. Thank you for your help! Jan Solomon Biologist/physiologist Rye, New York e-mail: jansolomon(\)aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:44:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: 550 CFR Part 630 Atlantic Swor 550 CFR Part 630 Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Drift ... WASHINGTON,DC (FedNet, 5-DEC-96) -- NMFS closes the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, from December 1, 1996, through May 29, 1997. NMFS has reinitiated consultation under the Endangered Species Act for Atlantic swordfish fisheries due to new information concerning the status of the northern right whale. This closure will ensure that no irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources is made that has the effect of foreclosing the formulation or implementation of any reasonable and prudent alternative measures while the consultation on this fishery is pending. EFFECTIVE DATES: The closure will be effective from December 1, 1996, through 2400 hours, local time, May 29, 1997. The amendment to part 630 will be effective November 29, 1996. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:00:02 -0400 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: ABSTRACT: status of pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, in Canad Baird, R.W., D. Nelson, J. Lien, and D.W. Nagorsen. 1996. The status of the pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 110(3):525-532. Abstract The general biology, world-wide status and management of the pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, with special reference to its status in Canadian waters, is reviewed. Pygmy sperm whales appear to be uncommon in Canadian waters; there are several unconfirmed records off British Columbia and only four stranding records off the Canadian east coast. Little is known about its biology or world-wide status, and although it is taken in small numbers both directly and incidentally in fisheries, no serious threats to its status are apparent. No COSEWIC designation is required regarding its status in Canadian waters. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:47:38 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: job annoucement - population biologist (fwd) ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 11:41:35 EST From: "Richard W. Thorington, Jr." Subject: job announcement POPULATION BIOLOGIST The Department of Biology at Boston University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of ASSISTANT, ASSOCIATE or FULL PROFESSOR in Population Biology to begin in the fall of 1997. The successful candidate will be expected to have a strong organismal background and use molecular techniques to answer questions in social behavior, evolution, and/or conservation biology. Teaching responsibilities include an introductory course in genetics and an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in area of specialty. Applicants should have a Ph.D. with post-doctoral experience, an active externally-funded research program, and a record of excellence in teaching. The successful candidate will complement an active group of faculty and graduate students in the Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Program, and will have an opportunity to interact with other vital research groups and centers in the department and university. Interested applicants should send a curriculum vitae, statements of teaching and research interests, copies of three major reprints, and three letters of reference to: Thomas H. Kunz, Chair Population Biology Search Committee Department of Biology Boston University Boston, MA 02215 Application review will begin on December 1, 1996. Closing date is January 15, 1997. Boston University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Richard W. Thorington, Jr. MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.BITNET Department of Vertebrate Zoology MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.SI.EDU NHB-390, Smithsonian Institution Voice: 202-357-2150 Washington D.C. 20560 Fax: 202-786-2979 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 17:46:57 -0500 From: "Pamela M. Willis" Subject: biopsy methods on bowriders Dear Marmamers, I am planning a research project which involves biopsy darting of bowriding Dall's porpoise from a small zodiac, and am curious as to whether anyone has attempted the use of either a crossbow pistol or air pistol to retrieve samples from bowriding cetaceans. I am considering the use of a pole, but am interested in the potential of either of these low-power pistol systems as possible alternatives, given possible advantages over a pole system in terms of speed, range, and/or accuracy. Any experiences with, or ideas on, the advantages and disadvantages of these or other potential systems would be greatly appreciated. Please reply directly to my address below. Thank-you. Pam Willis pwillis(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 17:30:23 -0500 From: Filippo Aureli Subject: recent papers Hi everybody, I have recently joint MARMAM because I want to know more about marine mammals. I am an ethologist that has studied primate social behavior for over ten years. I have studied various social interactions, especially related to conflict, its resolution, and tension reduction, in several macaque species and chimpanzees. My training is in Biology and my interest is in animal behavior (and not only primate behavior). I am very interested in comparative work, and I would like to include non-primate species in my comparisons. My interest is two folds: I am preparing an upper-level course on the socioecology of primates in a comparative perspective; and I want to extend some of the findings of my research to other mammalian species. I write to the list because in my search for expanding my knowledge to other species I am looking for recent papers (journal articles and book chapters) on the socioecology, social structure, and social interactions of any marine mammal species. I have been busy in the library and I have found some very interesting papers but Emory University is not specialized in marine mammals. I have also contacted some of you personally. Now I try to reach more specialists via the internet. I would appreciate any suggestion of recent reviews and specific papers. You could send suggestions and references to aureli(\)rmy.emory.edu or send directly your reprints or other papers to (in this case please let me know what you are sending me via e-mail): Filippo Aureli Yerkes Primate Center Emory University Atlanta, GA 30322 Thank you for the cooperation that I hope to reciprocate. Anybody interested in my reprints and other papers on conflict resolution is welcome to contact me and I will send an updated bibliography via e-mail. all the best, Filippo Aureli aureli(\)rmy.emory.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 08:18:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Polar Bears and Whales (fwd) From: Rune Frovik Dear Marmamers, I would like to bring your attention to the illuminating, but provocative paper 'Polar Bears and Whales: Contrasts in International Wildlife Regimes' written by Professor Milton Freeman in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alberta, published in Issues in the North, Volume I, 1996. In his paper, Freeman contrasts different aspects of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The common denominator for these two bodies is their responsibilities to manage marine mammals, but the differences between them prevail. Whilst IWC "provides an explicit demonstration of what to avoid", the polar bear regime "provides an informative window on to an effective wildlife management regime". The most important elements that have contributed to the sustainable, highly effective and minimalist international polar bear regime, Freeman argues, are the resource user involvement, scientifically based management decisions, the willingness to respect each others' cultural differences and, last but not least, negotiations are carried out in good faith. Membership to the polar bear agreement is restricted to those five states where polar bears are found, whilst membership to IWC is open to any nation. In contrast, IWC has "moved progressively away from ... prudent management principles" and "acts in ways that continually question the legitimacy of some members' cultural and sovereign rights", Freeman writes. The IWC annual meetings "promote conflict and result in a continuing failure to discharge management responsibilities required of the commission". The polar bear regime is an example of how "common property can be used sustainably when appropriate management institutions are in place". According to Freeman "it makes little sense to try to draw artificial distinctions between 'commercial' and 'non-commercial'", and he continues, "or to believe that subsistence societies do not engage in commercial exchanges, because all subsistence societies today are monetized and engage in both commercial and non-commercial economic transactions". Milton Freemans paper is available at: http://www.highnorth.no/po-be-an.htm Yours sincerely Rune Frovik High North Alliance Email: Rune(\)highnorth.no http://www.highnorth.no/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 17:09:18 +0100 From: cetacea(\)iper.net Subject: CSC meeting in Italy Riccione, December 9th 1996 message by Alessandro Bortolotto (Fondazione Cetacea) Email Home Page on behalf of the Centro Studi Cetacei (the Italian Stranding Network): Dear marmamers, we would like to inform you that on Saturday 7th 1996 the Italian Centro Studi Cetacei (C.S.C.) meeting - the National Stranding Network - was held at the Civic Museum of Natural History in Leghorn. Members of several Italian institutions took part in the meeting where we discussed the network structure, the rescueing of both stranded cetaceans and sea turtles, etc. Anyone wishing to obtain specific information about this meeting or the should contact Marco Borri Centro Studi Cetacei c/o Florence University-Museo Zoologico "La Specola" +39-55-225325 (fax) +39-55-222451 (phone) Email ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 08:21:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: WWW ASM site (fwd) AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGY Greetings all: The ASM WWW site (http://wkuweb1.wku.edu/~asm/)is now accessible to those using Microsoft's Internet Explorer as well as users of Netscape Navigator. In order to get the full flavor (color, actually) of the site, you should use Navigator 3.x (the site is functional with version 2.x) or Internet Explorer 3.x. If you do not have these, they are available for download at the following sites: Netscape Navigator (free to educational and nonprofits, anyone else can download for 'evaluation' purposes) http://home.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/client_download.html Microsoft IE (free) http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/ While the ASM site has had a facelift, I am still updating the information content of the site. Committee chairs: info on your committee's activities would be appreciated. Journal editors: tables of contents, etc. would be nice. You can email the info to me or send it on diskette. All information placed on the site passes through an editorial/information retrieval committee panel. If you have sent suggestions for links to me, I plan on updating those over Christmas break. Cheers, Mike Stokes ----------------------------- Michael Stokes Assistant Professor Dept. of Biology Western Kentucky University 1 Big Red Way Bowling Green, KY 42261 Michael.Stokes(\)wku.edu http://wkuweb1.wku.edu/~stokes/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:44:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: SADC: IUCN REJECTS ANIMAL RIG SADC: IUCN REJECTS ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP AS MEMBER HARARE, (Dec. 4) AIA/GIN - The International Union for the Conservation of Nature/World Conservation Union (IUCN), has rejected for the second time, the membership application of one of the world's most radical animal rights groups, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The IUCN's 831 members, comprising governments, government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), responded with an overwhelming "No" when asked if they wanted to extend membership to the IFAW. Prior to the vote, anti-IFAW lobbying was intense, reflecting the broad range of grievances held by IUCN members against the organization. The most impassioned of IFAW's detractors is the "Inuit Tapirisat" and the "Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)," organizations representing the Inuit peoples (Eskimos) of Canada and Greenland. For nearly three decades, IFAW has sought to destroy the northeast Atlantic sealing industry, despite the fact that the hunt has always been sustainable. Rosemarie Kuptana, president of the ICC, has hailed the decision as "a huge victory for indigenous peoples of the world." Also lobbying heavily against IFAW were representatives of southern African interests, upset at IFAW's growing influence in South Africa and the threat it poses to schemes involving consumptive use of wildlife. "The vote at IUCN shows that you cannot buy your way into respectable conservation bodies," said Champion Chinhoyi, general manager of the Zimbabwe Trust, a rural development agency that promotes the sustainable use of wildlife. Formed in 1948, the IUCN is an umbrella organization bringing together 133 countries and 860 government agencies and NGOs from all over the world. IFAW first made its application for membership in 1994, when the IUCN council voted 30 to one against letting it in. At the IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Montreal, Canada, in October this year, IFAW appealed the decision, providing fresh evidence to support the claim that its work is in keeping with IUCN's mission of conservation through sustainable and equitable use. Founded in 1969, IFAW receives some US$22 million in donations annually, mostly from the United Kingdom. The full assembly of members was unimpressed. A secret ballot was held and 77 percent of government members and 66 percent of NGOs voted against the admission. The recent decision by South Africa's National Parks Board to accept a US$2,5 million donation from IFAW to expand its elephant habitat, has come under fire from wildlife organizations and governments in the region who question whether South Africa will allow its conservation policies to be dictated by the IFAW. The donation was given on condition that no elephants are culled or hunted on the new land bought with IFAW money. IFAW also sought to tie the donation to a commitment from South Africa not to support any initiative to reopen the ivory trade. Compared to other wealthy animal rights organizations, IFAW commits most of its resources to a fairly narrow range of causes. Its best known campaign is the "Save the Seals" drive. In Africa, IFAW has been associated primarily with opposition to commercial sealing in Namibia and the government-sponsored cull of Cape fur seals in South Africa. As with the harp seals of Newfoundland, southern Africa's fur seals number hundreds of thousands. But this has not stopped IFAW from trying to make their culling or harvesting a conservation issue, while simultaneously branding the governments' condoning of these practices as "barbaric." IFAW is threatening to lobby against the provision of aid to Namibia: "We will carry the battle to the European Union and ask European leaders if they want to continue supporting a government that engages in such cruelty." Such threats anger many in Africa, especially those working with rural communities who live close to wildlife. "These practices date back to the days of the colonial master telling us in Africa what we can and cannot do," says Zimbabwe Trust's Chinhoyi. David Barrit, IFAW's Africa director, says, "IFAW has never accepted that the so-called sustainable utilization of animals -- farming them for human benefit -- is without serious flaws. Our view is that culling, whether it be of seal pups or elephants, is cruel and inhumane and unnecessary," he says. (Johnson Siamachira is a correspondent for Africa Information Afrique, a news and feature service based in Harare, Zimbabwe.) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 13:18:01 -0500 From: Sam McClintock Subject: Re: Polar Bears and Whales (fwd) > Rune Frovik wrote: > The most important elements that have contributed to the sustainable, > highly effective and minimalist international polar bear regime, Freeman > argues, are the resource user involvement, scientifically based management > decisions, the willingness to respect each others' cultural differences > and, last but not least, negotiations are carried out in good faith. > Membership to the polar bear agreement is restricted to those five states > where polar bears are found, whilst membership to IWC is open to any > nation. I believe many of us agree that the IWC's latest mode of operation does not represent its original charter nor reflect favorably as it being an efficient organization. And while the paper (which I read) does cover many of these points accurately, its tone does not appear to be objective (for want of a better way of saying it). The most conspicuous flaw I consider in the paper is within the context above of "resource user involvement." The author's contention is that resource management should be left to those who use the resource. This is correct only in the context of management AFTER an international agreement of ALL countries has been arbitrated on WHO and it what guise resource management will occur. In the case of polar bears, not many countries have an immediate impact on this species, nor will many have access to these species. So it is relatively easy to point to this case as one in which international cooperation has worked. In contrast, the bulk of the world's countries have some coastline, ports, and ocean harvesting potential. Thus the issues of whaling (and fishing) are ones that should involve POTENTIAL resource users in addition to current resource users. The paper seemed to neglect the fact that as resource management begins to work, other countries will see the viability of resource management in meeting their caloric intake. Without agreements among POTENTIAL resource users and among the world's nations who will become affected should the resource be depleted through mismanagement, then we will begin to see conflicts arising from use of the resource in the future. And we are not even really breaching issues of ecosystem diversity, which is becoming more and more important also. Simplifying this issue because it works among one or two species will not resolve it in the future. Sam McClintock scmcclintock(\)ipass.net Director, En-Vision Inc. Raleigh, North Carolina (919) 847-3688 (919) 847-6339 (fax) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 16:05:37 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Subspecies of Orcaella brevirostris (fwd) From: Peter Rudolph <06181492311-0001(\)t-online.de> Dear Marmamers I am working on a checklist of Indonesian cetaceans, and my deadline to submit it, is by the end of December. Just recently I found this information in a book by J.Y. Cousteau and V. Paccalet (1995, The world of dolphins): ".....in the rivers of Borneo lives a toothless subspecies of the Irrawaddy dolphin, Orcaella brevirostris pelletieri, named after Francois-Xavier Pelletier." In the bibliography of this book I found the following reference: Pelletier, F.X. 1988. Ballade pour un dauphin sacre. Paris (Arthaud). I tried several times to find this book (article ?), but no success. Does anyone of you have information on this, or about that so-called "toothless subspecies"? Thanks in advance Peter Rudolph Nordstr.2 63477 Maintal, Germany Fax +49 6181 934044 e-mail 06181492311-0001(\)t-online.de ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 16:09:04 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Duke Marine Lab summer course (fwd) From: Helen Nearing EXPLORE THE WORLD OF MARINE MAMMALS Summer Program 1997 at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment Marine Laboratory MARINE MAMMALS. (Biology 126L/Environment 226L) is an intensive examination of ecology, social organization, behavior, communication, anatomy, and management and conservation issues. Laboratory and field exercises consider social organization, communication, data analysis, and life history parameters. Prerequisite: college level courses in introductory biology. Team taught by Drs. Andrew Read (Duke University), Randall Wells (UC Santa Cruz), Laela Sayigh and Ann Pabst (UNC, Wilmington), Aleta Hohn (NMFS, Beaufort Lab) Daniel Rubenstein (Princeton University), and John Reynolds (Eckerd College--course coordinator). The biology and management of marine mammals attract considerable interest worldwide and raise ecological, evolutionary, economic, and ethical questions. This course uses a comparative approach to illustrate key concepts in biology and conservation biology and provide a rigorous, systematic overview of marine mammals, especially those species found in the southeastern United States. Course space is limited and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Room and board will be available for course participants at the Marine Laboratory. The course is offered during Summer Term II (July 21 - August 22). APPLICATION: Required credentials include the completed summer course application and a current academic transcript. Applications may be found at the back of the Marine Laboratory 1997-98 Bulletin or on our web page http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html. TO REQUEST APPLICATION MATERIALS CONTACT: Admissions Office Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort NC 28516-9721 phone 919/504-7502; fax 919/504-7648; email hnearing(\)mail.duke.edu -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ms. Helen Nearing, Coordinator, Academic Programs Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Marine Laboratory 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd., Beaufort NC 28516 phone 919/504-7502; fax 919/504-7648 http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/marine.html Beaufort2Bermuda http://www.env.duke.edu/marinelab/bermpg1.html ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 07:12:18 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: digestive physiology of california sea lions From: Jabel Ramirez Bautista hi everyone: currently i am working on the feeding habits of california sea lions, so that i need is if someone has information about the phisiolgy or the digestive aparatus of the sea lions. Or even in otarids. thanks in advance. jabel Ramirez my e mail is jrb(\)hp.fciencias.unam.mx ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 07:14:56 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Western Grays (fwd) From: poole(\)easynet.co.uk (colin&lora poole) Thank you to all who sent me info on the Korean-Okhotsk population of Gray Whales, as promised here is a summary. The current population is estimated at 200-250 individuals based on work by Russian and American scientists in the Sea of Okhotsk. Observations made during September 1994 and August 1995 on the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island have photo-identified thirty-eight individuals. I have received no information on any Korean records since May 1966, however in the last ten years there have been the folowing Japanese records: 1990, Kanagawa, stranded dead, the Pacific coast 1993, around Ohshima (Izu islands), sighted and videotaped, the Pacific 1995, Hokkaido, stranded dead, the Pacific coast 1996, Hokkaido, drifted, Sea of Japan coast My assumption is therefore that they may still be occuring on their Korean wintering grounds, but maybe nobody has looked or asked the right people? I'm off there at the end of this week, so will post any news when I return in January. Particular thanks for the above information to Robert Brownell and Tadasu K. Yamada. Colin Poole ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 15:08:49 +0000 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: JASA ABSTRACT Goold J.C. (1996). "Signal processing techniques for acoustic measurement of sperm whale body lengths". Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 100(5), 3431-3441 Abstract -------- Waveform cross-correlation and cepstrum analysis were used to demonstrate possible techniques to measure pulse intervals within sperm whale sonar clicks. The structure of sperm whale clicks takes the form of a series of decaying broadband pulses separated by a time interval that is a function of sound velocity in spermaceti oil and the length of the spermaceti sac within the whales' head. Click signals were bandpass filtered and waveform cross-correlation used on the filtered signals to obtain maxima in the correlation function. Such maxima occur when successive pulses within the filtered click waveforms align after time shifting of the replica waveform by integer multiples of the inter-pulse interval. As an alternative approach, cepstrum analysis was used on the spectra of individual clicks, which were found to contain ripples with periods corresponding to the reciprocal of the inter-pulse interval. Variable signal quality lead to the conclusion that neither method was reliable for spot measurements of IPI's from individual clicks. However, calculating IPI's by either method for several hundred clicks in six minute sequences, and smoothing the results with moving averages, allowed realistic mean values to be obtained and inter- pulse interval trends to be observed with dive time. Inter-pulse intervals were generally found to decrease with dive time, in accordance with known sound velocity characteristics of spermaceti oil under increasing pressure. Mean values of inter- pulse intervals obtained by cepstrum analysis for each click sequence were used to estimate body lengths of the respective animals. ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK Tel. (0)1248 383752 Fax. (0)1248 716367 email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 15:06:02 +0000 From: "J.C.Goold" Subject: DSR1 ABSTRACT ------ Goold J.C., Bennell J.D. and Jones S.E. (1996). "Sound velocity measurem= ents=20 in spermaceti oil under the combined influences of temperature and pressu= re." Deep Sea Research I, 43(7), 961-969 Abstract -------- Sound velocity was measured in samples of spermaceti oil from the head of a 15.6 metre male sperm whale under varying temperature and pressure. Velocities were measured at stable temperatures between 22oC and 38oC, while pressure was increased from 0 to 90 atmospheres. The temperature range encompassed those likely to occur in the head of a sperm whale, and the pressure range simulated conditions experienced during a dive to 900 metres.=20 Measured sound velocities ranged from 1390 ms-1 to 1540 ms-1 (=F14 ms-1). Velocity increased linearly with increasing pressure and decreased non-linearly with increasing temperature. There was no sudden change in sound velocity as the oil changed phase from liquid to solid. A least squares multiple polynomial regression analysis produced a practical equation for the prediction of sound velocity in spermaceti oil as a function of temperature and pressure. ---------------- John C. Goold University of Wales Bangor School of Ocean Sciences Menai Bridge Anglesey. LL59 5EY. UK Tel. (0)1248 383752 Fax. (0)1248 716367 email: oss123(\)sos.bangor.ac.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 10:51:17 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Re: Polar Bears and Whales (fwd) Forwarded message: From: narose(\)ix.netcom.com (Naomi A. Rose) In response to the recent messages posted by Rune Frovik and Sam McClintock, both these individuals have apparently assumed that the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears is in fact "working." I don't quite agree -- while the 1973 Agreement, which is quite brief ("minimalist" is a good description), looks fine on paper, it hasn't really "worked" at all in the 26 years since it was signed. I say that because there has been, to my knowledge, only one meeting of the parties since its enactment (I'd be pleased to be corrected if I am wrong in this) -- compare this, for example, to the annual IWC meetings or to the ten CITES meetings held since 1975. In addition, the U.S. has been in non-compliance with the Agreement in several regards throughout this time (for example, the U.S. MMPA, contrary to the Agreement, does not prohibit the killing of females and cubs by the only user group allowed to hunt the polar bear under the MMPA, Native subsistence hunters). Furthermore, Canada allows sport hunting, while Norway apparently considers sport hunting to be illegal under the terms of the Agreement (the issue of sport hunting is in fact quite controversial under the Agreement, as the section that appears to address it is very oddly written -- the five signatory nations don't seem to agree on its meaning at all). Population assessments for all polar bear stocks are comparatively poor (even the "good" estimates do not have standard errors associated with them, due to insufficient data). Stresses such as organochlorine accumulation in the Arctic are not being adequately addressed by the signatory nations (a meeting of the parties might help in this regard, of course). In short, I don't think the Agreement is a good choice at all as an example of an international wildlife management regime that "works." If it was actually (and consistently) implemented, maybe, but as it is... Mr. Frovik states: >The most important elements that have contributed to the sustainable, >highly effective and minimalist international polar bear regime, >Freeman argues, are the resource user involvement Both Mr. Frovik and Mr. McClintock imply that it is appropriate for resource users to manage the resource (although only under certain strict circumstances, according to Mr. McClintock). I would imagine that there are quite a few Marmamers who might disagree with this assertion -- I certainly do. I agree that resource users should be directly involved in the management of a resource, but it strikes me as "the fox guarding the chicken coop" to say that they should in fact be the resource managers. >Membership to the polar bear agreement is restricted to those five >states where polar bears are found, whilst membership to IWC is open >to any nation. I agree with Mr. McClintock's point that IWC membership should remain open to any nation with the POTENTIAL to use the resource. One of the principal points made by environmentalists vis-a-vis whales is that they cross national boundaries, move through international waters, "belong" to a great many nations, not just whaling nations. Clearly comparing IWC membership (which deals with many species, which in turn cross many borders) and participation in the Polar Bear Agreement (which deals with a single species with a very limited distribution) is an apples-and-oranges situation. >The polar bear regime is an example of how "common property can be >used sustainably when appropriate management institutions are in >place". Again, there is considerable dispute over whether the polar bear "common property" is being used sustainably, at least in Canada. Canada's quotas (based on poor population estimates) have in fact been exceeded in several years and the status of several stocks is unknown or apparently declining. Norway and the former Soviet Union simply banned ALL polar bear hunting -- certainly sustainable use, but not quite what Mr. Frovik had in mind, I imagine. As for contemporary Russia, it now has a serious poaching problem -- the Agreement doesn't seem to be "working" there at the moment. The Agreement is a good framework and within that framework, certain bilateral agreements ("management institutions") have been or are currently being negotiated. In that sense, the Agreement is "working." But these agreements have yet to be completed, enacted, or fully implemented, so I would hesitate to describe them as "in place." I confess I have not read Freeman's article, but I have to assume that some of its basic premises are flawed, given what Mr. Frovik describes and what I know of the Polar Bear Agreement. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Marine Mammal Scientist The Humane Society of the United States narose(\)ix.netcom.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 14:30:57 -0400 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: ABSTRACT: Dall's porpoise diving behaviour and reactions to tagg Baird, R.W., and M.B. Hanson. 1996. Dall's porpoise diving behaviour and reactions to tagging attempts using a remotely-deployed suction-cup tag. Report prepared under Contract No: 43ABNF601492 to the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA ABSTRACT In August 1996, we attempted to apply remotely-deployed suction-cup attached time- depth recorder/VHF radio tags to Dall's porpoise. Tagging activities were undertaken in the trans- boundary waters between Washington state and British Columbia, while porpoises were bow- riding on a small vessel. Fifteen tagging attempts were made, 13 of which resulted in tag contact with a porpoise. No reactions were observed for the two misses, nor for 2 of the 13 hits. Of the 11 cases when tag reactions were observed, porpoises returned to continue bowriding almost immediately in 7 cases, suggesting no long-term effect. Short-term reactions observed included a flinch (9 of 3 hits), tailslap (1 of 13 hits) and high speed swimming away from the vessel (4 of 13 hits), with some hits resulting in more than one type of reaction. Three of 13 hits resulted in successful tag attachment. One tag remained attached for 41 minutes, providing the first diving behaviour data for this species. Rates of descent and ascent, as well as swimming velocity, were relatively high only for the first 6-8 minutes after tag attachment, suggesting a reaction to tagging that lasted approximately 8 minutes. The individual made 12 dives below 4 m in depth, with a maximum dive depth of 94 m (2.78 minute dive duration). Over 50% of the animal's time was spent in the top 10 m of the water column. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 11:53:10 +0100 From: Simen Gaure Subject: Re: Polar Bears and Whales (fwd) >From Simen Gaure Sam McClintock wrote: [On a paper by M. Freeman] >The most conspicuous flaw I consider in the paper is within the context >above of "resource user involvement." [...] the issues of whaling (and >fishing) are ones that should involve POTENTIAL resource users in >addition to current resource users. >The paper seemed to neglect the fact that as resource management begins >to work, other countries will see the viability of resource management >in meeting their caloric intake. Without agreements among POTENTIAL >resource users and among the world's nations who will become affected >should the resource be depleted through mismanagement, then we will >begin to see conflicts arising from use of the resource in the future. >[...] The problem with the IWC is that very few of the IWC member states have announced any possibility of a future interest in whaling. Only a limited number of members do any whaling now (Denmark, Japan, Norway, Russia, USA), and I'm not aware that any other member nations have announced such an interest. On the contrary, some countries have actually announced that they work for a permanent ban on whaling or commercial whaling (Australia, Austria (a country with no coastline), Britain, New Zealand). I.e. they're not even potential resource users by their own statements. (Assuming, from McClintock's last paragraph above, that we're still talking about consumptive use.) Indeed, other countries which have an interest in whaling have chosen not to be members of the IWC (Iceland, Canada). Iceland withdrew for the following reason: "It should not be difficult to understand why this Government must respond to the grim reality that the International Whaling Commission is no longer a viable forum for international cooperation on the conservation and management of the whale populations in our region. It is clear that Iceland has no choice but to seek cooperation in this field through the establishment of a new organization for the North Atlantic." [Icelandic Minister of Fisheries, source: ]. Canada will not join the IWC for the following reason: "Canadian aboriginal people are strongly opposed to joining the International Whaling Commission, and don't consider that their interests would be properly taken into account by that commission" [Canadian director-general of Fisheries and Oceans Science, source: ] And we've recently seen that the US had problems with getting acceptance for their quotas. I.e. IWC's current management regime actually discourages potential resource users. In Freeman's words: "the reactionary position characterizing the whaling regime is strongly contrasted with a quite progressive view represented by the polar bear regime." [...] "The attempts to regulate whaling (which remains the purpose of this whaling regime) consumes considerable time, effort, and resources of a large number of nations, and leaves the potential users of these important resources wholly dissatisfied by the non-productive outcome of these efforts." In short, Freeman traces the reactionary position of the IWC to the fact that the IWC allows nations without any *potential* interests to strongly influence the management regime. -- Simen Gaure, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 23:27:57 -0800 From: GreenLife Society Subject: Re: Polar Bears and Whales (fwd) Professor Freeman's analysis is unpersuasive to me for several reasons: 1. Citing the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears as a compelling example, Dr. Freeman argues that regimes characterized by membership restricted to resource exploiters minimize conflict and result in prudent utilization of resources. He contrasts this with the IWC, which he portrays as riddled with conflict between nations committed to whaling and those who are not, the latter of which are accused also of ignoring the cultural mores of other nations and peoples. What this ignores is the history of whaling regimes prior to the establishment of the IWC, comprised almost solely of whaling nations, such as the 1931 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The quotas established under the agreement were wholly unsustainable, doing virtually nothing to arrest the slide of whale stocks during this period. Moreover, the early years of the IWC, during which time virtually all members were whaling nations, was also characterized by the establishment of unsustainable quotas and in some cases, massive under-reporting of catches, making it impossible to make the kind of science-based assessments that Freeman suggests are critical. It was only after many non-whaling nations joined the IWC that a moratorium could be passed. The moratorium has facilitated the re-building of the stocks of many species; 2. Freeman's reference to the right of nations to "lawful use of this international and highly migratory resource" without consideration of the sentiments of other nations presumes that whales remain a res nullius resource, a principle developed under Grotius in Mare Liberum. However, the progressive development of international law, including the 1970 Declaration of Principles Governing the Seabed and the Subsoil Thereof, Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction and Article 65 of the Law of the Sea Convention arguably has transformed whales from a res nullius resource to res communis. As a consequence, the international community may have a right to limit or preclude the taking of certain species thorugh regimes such as the IWC. 3. Freeman's generic portrayal of contemporary whaling operations as "family-owned and community-based is rooted more in romanticism than reality; 4. Outside of the context of whaling there are many other marine fishery regimes comprised entirely of resource exploiters that have proven to be wholly unsucessful in ensuring the long-term viability of the species in question, including many directed shark fisheries and regimes established to protect salmon; 5. "Sustainable use" has become the talisman of those who wish to exploit wildlife resources. Unfortunately, as one commentator has recently noted, it has often justified use without any real guarantees that its sustainable. The history of the IWC prior to the moratorium does not give one cause to be sanguine. I would like Dr. Freeman to explain why the whaling industry was willing to drive most species of great whales to the point of extinction in the past and yet will not do so if given the chance to do so again. Perhaps he places faith in the Revised Management Procedure; however, this assumes nations will not cheat as they done in the past, and that the RMP is based on sound science, a point of serious contention. Wil Burns GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html At 08:18 AM 12/9/96 -0800, MARMAM Editors wrote: >From: Rune Frovik > >Dear Marmamers, > >I would like to bring your attention to the illuminating, but provocative >paper 'Polar Bears and Whales: Contrasts in International Wildlife >Regimes' written by Professor Milton Freeman in the Department of >Anthropology at the University of Alberta, published in Issues in the >North, Volume I, 1996. In his paper, Freeman contrasts different aspects >of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the International >Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The common denominator for >these two bodies is their responsibilities to manage marine mammals, but >the differences between them prevail. Whilst IWC "provides an explicit >demonstration of what to avoid", the polar bear regime "provides an >informative window on to an effective wildlife management regime". > >The most important elements that have contributed to the sustainable, >highly effective and minimalist international polar bear regime, Freeman >argues, are the resource user involvement, scientifically based management >decisions, the willingness to respect each others' cultural differences >and, last but not least, negotiations are carried out in good faith. >Membership to the polar bear agreement is restricted to those five states >where polar bears are found, whilst membership to IWC is open to any >nation. > >In contrast, IWC has "moved progressively away from ... prudent management >principles" and "acts in ways that continually question the legitimacy of >some members' cultural and sovereign rights", Freeman writes. The IWC >annual meetings "promote conflict and result in a continuing failure to >discharge management responsibilities required of the commission". > >The polar bear regime is an example of how "common property can be used >sustainably when appropriate management institutions are in place". >According to Freeman "it makes little sense to try to draw artificial >distinctions between 'commercial' and 'non-commercial'", and he continues, >"or to believe that subsistence societies do not engage in commercial >exchanges, because all subsistence societies today are monetized and >engage in both commercial and non-commercial economic transactions". > >Milton Freemans paper is available at: >http://www.highnorth.no/po-be-an.htm > >Yours sincerely >Rune Frovik > >High North Alliance >Email: Rune(\)highnorth.no >http://www.highnorth.no/ > >------------------------------------------------------------------- >-To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca >-Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the >text of all submissions. >-To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca >saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname >-To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca > > William C. Burns Director, GreenLife Society - North American Chapter 700 Cragmont Ave. Berkeley, CA 94708 USA Phone/Fax: (510) 558-0620 E-mail: pcis(\)igc.apc.org WWW site: http://EELINK.umich.edu/greenlife/index.html GLSNA Affiliations: The EarthAction Network The Galapagos Coalition Reseau International d'ONG sur la Desertification (RIOD) Accredited NGO Observer, International Whaling Commission European Social Science Fisheries Network -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. -- William James -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:49:08 +0000 From: Colin MacLeod Subject: re. Polar Bears and Whales. Dear Marmammers, Having read Freemans article, in which his arguement at least partially hangs of the inclusion of non-resource users in the IWC (echoed by Simen Gaures posting on marmam noting contries in the IWC who are working for a perminant ban on whaling). Surely whaling is not the only resource use which should be considered. Countries, such as Britain, New Zealand and Australia, who are working for a preminant ban are also resource users, often in a big way, through whale watching. The whale watching inustry is worth a large amount of money to some countries and surely these countries have the right to protect this income by being members of the organisation which controls the use of whales as a resource, the IWC (although I do not know what the effect of the resumption of whaling would have on whale watching - but presumably it would have some effect, possibly by reducing the number of whales which approach boats instead of fleeing). I found Freeman's article very informative and interesting but felt that it ignored non-consumptive resource useage of whales, which is not encountered in the management of polar bears (at least as far as I know). Almost all nations with a coastline have the potential to be resoucre users and many prefer to utilize whales through whale watching rather than whaling. Should this prevent them from being involved in the management of whales ? Regards, Colin. ============================================================================== Colin D. MacLeod, B.Sc. F2/2, 13 Kennoway Drive, "Like Kicking Dead Whales Down The Beach: Thornwood, Adjective: Describes a slow, difficult, Glasgow, and disgusting process." G11 7UA. U.K. Tel: 0141 337 2209 International: +44 141 337 2209 Email: macleod_c(\)colloquium.co.uk ============================================================================ == ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 12:06:54 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Anger as fishermen call for seal cull (fwd) Anger as fishermen call for seal cull Calls by fisherman for an immediate cull of 15,000 seals off the Western Isles of Scotland have been branded "a bloody and needless massacre" by conservationists. One seal protection group accused the fishermen of using the seals as scapegoats for their failure to regulate the turmoil in their own industry. But the fishermen claim the grey seal population is out of control and is having a sizeable impact upon fishery stock in the area. The Western Isles Fishermen's Association estimates that there are 30,000 hungry grey seals regularly plundering stocks off the outer isles from Lewis to Barra. On the uninhabited island of Heisker, off North Uist, there is now thought to be a colony of about 10,000 seals, with numbers increasing as the breeding season begins. WIFA secretary Duncan Mcinness said: "We believe that we have plenty evidence that our members' livelihoods are being ruined by the failure to properly control the numbers of seals. "We must act to protect our industry while there is a fishing industry left to protect." In the absence of any other control methods, the fisherman believe there is no choice now but to instigate a large-scale cull. The call for a cull has already been given cautious backing by the Western Isles MP Calum Macdonald. Mr Macdonald believes there is evidence that the fishermen have a strong case but called for urgent research by the main industry body. But conservationists, fearing a similar threat to the mammals as a planned large-scale seal culling in Orkney 18 years ago, have reacted furiously to the cull and accused the fishermen of misinformation. The Orkney-based Seal Preservation Action Group claims seal pups already have a high mortality rate with less than 50% reaching two years of age. Spokesman Frank Strudwick said: "Beyond the actual breeding season, most grey seals are well out at sea. "The scientific evidence is that they cause little damage to commercial fish stocks." Mr Strudwick said industry dissatisfaction with the Common Fisheries Policy lies at the heart of the fishermen's call and the seals were again the scapegoats when profits fell. Environmental organisation Greenpeace is considering its response to calls for a 15,000 seal cull and will announce its views later in the week. It is thought it could start another protest to bring a halt the cull. In the mid 1970s Greenpeace, then a fledgling organisation, launched an international protest against controversial plans to cull 5,000 seals in Orkney. The organisation brought in supporters from around the world to defy the seal hunters and only a small number were ultimately killed. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 12:37:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Environment-U.N.: Debate on Oc Environment-U.N.: Debate on Oceans disappoints UNITED NATIONS, (Dec. 10) IPS - The conclusion this week of a U.N. debate on the world's oceans was even more disappointing than usual, contends the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international environmental group. "The resolutions that have been adopted are some of the worst examples I've seen of decision-making by the lowest common denominator," argued Joy Hyvarinen, WWF's coordinator for international treaties. The 185-nation U.N. General Assembly failed to take countries to task for not signing an agreement to regulate world fish stocks or for not ratifying the Convention on the Law of the Sea, she said. Nearly half of the 20 countries that take 80 percent of world marine catches have failed so far to sign the U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement, which was adopted by the United Nations last year. Among the nations yet to sign are some of the largest fishing countries, including Chile, Peru, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam, Hyvarinen noted. Moreover, she argued, the Assembly has not put sufficient pressure on nations like Britain and the United States to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention, which remains a hard sell for ratification by the British Parliament and U.S. Senate. Yet this year's debate only included a mild call yesterday for states which had not already joined the convention to do so. It also included an appeal for countries to cease any over-fishing and to use the newly created International Seabed Authority to settle fishing disputes. "The debate was even more discouraging than before," Hyvarinen said. "It was basically speechmaking." But some countries -- most notably the United States -- have moved toward accepting U.N. regulation of the seas. During the 1980s, the United States refused to accept the Law of the Seas Convention, which the conservative Ronald Reagan administration labelled "socialistic." Yesterday, Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island said that the U.S. government was working to ratify the convention, modified in 1994 to address U.S. concerns. Pell also endorsed a Global Program of Action, adopted this year by a U.N.-sponsored governmental conference. The plan is intended to protect the marine and coastal environment. The program "calls for the development of a global, legally binding instrument to phase out and eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs)." Pell noted that it would also create a clearing-house on environmental data to allow countries to share information on pollution by sewage, wastewater, heavy metals, nutrients and sediments. Even the progress on dealing with organic pollutants, however, may not affect what WWF contends will become one of the biggest environmental hazards: the potential threat to marine life from chemicals, called endocrine disruptors, which affect the hormone systems of various types of wildlife. "Endocrine disruptors are synthetic chemicals which mimic hormones found in both humans and wildlife, with effects such as reduced fertility," noted Barbara Rutherford, WWF coordinator on water pollution. "They have emerged as a serious threat to endangered marine life, and we need urgent action." WWF has in particular drawn attention to the contamination of beluga whales in Canada's St. Lawrence River. The environmental group labels the whales, the source of beluga caviar, as "among the most contaminated animals on earth." The organization also links endocrine disruptors to the mass deaths of thousands of marine mammals, including the deaths of 10,000 seals by a virus in Asia's Lake Baikal in 1987, and the deaths of 700 bottlenose dolphins along the U.S. Atlantic coast in 1988. But the U.N. debate did not touch the endocrine disruptor issue, Hyvarinen said, with nations unwilling to take on any new concerns about environmental damage. Since not all the chemical compounds that function as endocrine disruptors would qualify as POPs, she said, regulating organic pollutants may not address the issue. Several nations, including many small island states, are urging the General Assembly to broaden its debate on the world's oceans in the future to take up new environmental threats. Ambassador Laurence Edwards of the Marshall Islands said that it was essential for the debate to be broadened by next year, since his Pacific nation was facing problems over contamination resulting from nuclear test explosions. So far, however, General Assembly commitments that the oceans and sea bed are the common heritage of all humanity operate more like "a last will and testament," added Ambassador H.L. de Silva of Sri Lanka. The benefits, he noted, have yet to be distributed to the beneficiaries. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 18:32:54 -0600 From: Juan Carlos Cantu Guzman Subject: Japanese proposal on Gray Whales Does anyone have information on the Japanese proposal to downlist Gray Whales from Ap. I ? I believe they have been asking for comments on it from several governments since November, but as yet I haven't seen the actual proposal. I would appreciate any information. Thank you. Juan Carlos Cantu TEYELIZ, A.C. APARTADO POSTAL 10-779 COL. LOMAS DE CHAPULTEPEC MEXICO, D.F. 11002 TEL/FAX (525) 251-6096 jccantu(\)mail.internet.com.mx ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 12:01:23 -0800 From: Barbara Lagerquist Subject: Job Announcement >Below is a message from the head of our research group and reannouncement >of a job position in our group. When applying for or inquiring about this >job, PLEASE DO NOT reply to this email address. Thank you. >------------------------------------------------------------------ > >The following position is being readvertised because only one unqualified >applicant replied!!!! This is a great job for someone with an interest in >marine mammals who has programming and computer experience, and enjoys >working with others as part of a team. A Computer Science or Engineering >degree is not required, but you MUST have some of the attributes listed to >be considered. PLEASE NOTE that the position requirements have been >altered slightly to be less restrictive. We are requesting a wide variety >of skills but do not expect anyone to have all of them. The language in >the job description "fixed term... renewal at discretion..." is standard >for Research Assistant contracts at Oregon State University and does not >mean that this job will terminate after one year. > >Sincerely, > >Bruce R. Mate, Ph.D. >Professor of Wildlife >Oregon State University >Hatfield Marine Science Center >Newport, OR 97365 > > > **************************************************************** > >COMPUTER PROGRAMMER / SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR: > >POSITION DESCRIPTION: As a Faculty Research Assistant for Oregon State >University you will: Develop, implement, and maintain software for the data >collection, retrieval, compilation, and analysis of satellite telemetry >data to characterize marine mammal behavior. Provide user support and >perform regular maintenance/upgrades for a small LAN consisting of an NT >server and Windows 95 PCs. > >DUTIES: Programming responsibilities include data-processing >development; implementation and maintenance using a high-level >programming language; scripting; and relational-database design and >maintenance. System administration duties include network management, >user training, and maintenance/upgrades of the Windows NT server and >Windows 95 PCs. > >REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor's degree and experience with >relational databases; a high-level programming language (preferably C++); >Windows NT; and Windows 95 operating systems are required. Must be able to >work well with others as part of a team. > >Any of the following experiences would be an asset but not required: >satellite telemetry systems, Geographic Information Systems, Graphics >Workstations, and/or Advanced Visual Systems. > >SALARY RANGE: $24,000 - $34,800, Depending on experience. > >This is a fixed term Faculty Research Assistant academic position with >renewal at the discretion of the director. This position is located at >the Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, >Oregon. Resumes with three references should be sent to the COMPUTER >SYSTEMS SEARCH TEAM, OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365 >no later than January 9, 1997. Anyone with questions may contact Veryl >Barry, (541)867-0202. OSU is an EEO/AA employer and has a policy of being >responsive to the needs of dual career couples. > > > > > > > > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 11:41:35 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 12/13/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Makah Whaling. In early December 1996, Makah Indian Tribe announced that it had established a 20-member tribal commission to draft a charter and develop management policy for the restoration of traditional whaling. [Assoc Press] . CITES and Whales. On Dec. 2, 1996, Japan was reported to be considering joining Norway in its proposal to CITES to downlist minke whales. Japan may also propose downlisting of north Pacific and southern hemisphere minke whales, Bryde's whales in the north Pacific, and gray whales in the eastern Pacific. [personal communication, Dow Jones News, Kyodo via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] . Walrus Complaints. On Nov. 19, 1996, the Indigenous People's Council for Marine Mammals wrote a letter of concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) protesting methods used by FWS personnel in the investigation of claims of walrus poaching in northwest Alaska during the summer of 1996. [Assoc Press] . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 16:08:15 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Grey seal excess (fwd) Forwarded message: From: "Prof. Keith Ronald" Perhaps the Scots should start looking at other means than our usual kill them , (politely called CULL" them . The University of Guelph proposed and did the initial work on the use of controlling grey seal populations through anti fertility drugs administered at parturition to the mother. This was also carried out and on by Dalhousie University who went further and I believe successfully developed an suppressant for reproductive success in greys. Perhaps one of the Dalhousie or Can.Fish and Oceans group might be bale to give a better summary. KR ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 14:31:03 -0800 From: Sara Heimlich-Boran Subject: Re: Grey seal excess (fwd) Interesting that there hasn't been a peep from SMRU or anyone who has actaully been doing any work on the grey seal populations which were reported as threatening the livelihood of the local Scotttish fishermen; or even that the report neglected to include any input from these resources. Seems biased to me! Can we hear from 'the other side', please? Sara Heimlich-Boran OSU/HMSC 2030 Marine Science Drive Newport, OR 97356 email: heimlicS(\)ccmail.orst.edu or heimlichS(\)ucs.orst.edu _______________________ Reply Separator _______________________ Subject: Grey seal excess (fwd) Author: MARMAM Editors at Internet_Gateway Date: 12/13/96 4:08 PM Forwarded message: From: "Prof. Keith Ronald" Perhaps the Scots should start looking at other means than our usual kill them , (politely called CULL" them . The University of Guelph proposed and did the initial work on the use of controlling grey seal populations through anti fertility drugs administered at parturition to the mother. This was also carried out and on by Dalhousie University who went further and I believe successfully developed an suppressant for reproductive success in greys. Perhaps one of the Dalhousie or Can.Fish and Oceans group might be bale to give a better summary. KR ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 22:02:22 IST From: Oz Goffman Subject: Diseases Transmitted by Marine Mammals Shalom Fellow Marmamers, Does anybody know if dolphins are capable of transmitting rabies to humans, or if they are even capable of getting rabies? I know that marine mammals can transmit conjunctivitis (from an influenza virus) and also bacterial infections. I also know that seals rarely can get rabies, but what about dolphins? The reason I ask this is as follows: our wild solitary dolphin recently bit a vacationing Israeli (she has been displaying aggression, including biting for 3.5 months now). He is getting rabies shots now just in case, particularly since people here are hysterical since a young man died this week from rabies transmitted by a rat bite. This incident was the first known in 39 years in Israel. This solitary dolphin, which we have followed for more than 2.5 years (since June 1994), was very polite until recently. She has started ignoring the swimmers because she is stressed by the number of people who are swimming with her (the natives who were protecting her have lost control of the situation). In the last month she has been biting a lot of people and no one has had any treatment, but because of the recent death in Israel, it was decided that her latest victim would get rabies shots. So if anybody knows anything, please let me know. Thanks, Oz Goffman, Director Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center University of Haifa, Center for Maritime Studies Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905 Israel email: rhss101(\)uvm.haifa.ac.il ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 14:21:15 -0500 From: Julie Gauthier Subject: publication ------ Dear Marmamers, The following is an abstract for a publication in Marine Environmental Research which will be out in Spring of 1997. Reprint requests should be addressed to Julie Gauthier, preferably by e-mail.: Julie Gauthier Universit=E9 du Qu=E9bec =E0 Montr=E9al D=E9partement des Sciences Biologiques C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville Montr=E9al, Qu=E9bec H3C 3P8, Canada 514 987 3000 (ext. 8287) (tel.) 514 987 4647 (fax) c2656(\)er.uqam.ca Validation of the Blubber Biopsy Technique for Monitoring of Organochlori= ne Contaminants in Balaenopterid Whales. J.M. Gauthier*, C.D. Metcalfe* and R. Sears**. *Environmental and Resources Studies Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8. **Mingan Island Research Station (MICS), 285 Green, St. Lambert, Qu=E9bec, Canada, J4P 1T3. Techniques for collecting small biopsies from the outer strata of the blubber of live whales have been used to monitor chemical contaminant concentrations in cetaceans. In order to validate this monitoring technique, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organochlorine (OCs= ) compounds were analyzed in blubber mantle samples collected from differen= t body sites on the carcasses of three minke whales (Balaenoptera acurostra= ta) and one blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). When concentration data was lipid normalized (ng/g lipid), concentrations of PCBs and other OCs in outer, middle and inner blubber mantle layers, and in different body sampling locations on the dead whales were not significantly different (p>0.05). Patterns of PCBs and OCs were also similar in the different blubber strata and body sampling sites. Similar PCB and OC concentration= s and patterns were also found in samples of the outer and middle blubber strata that were collected by the biopsy technique from live minke (n=3D2= ) and blue (n=3D3) whales. The absence of significant differences in the lipid-normalized concentrations and patterns of contamination in the blub= ber indicate that the distribution of PCBs and OCs in the blubber mantle of balaenopterid whales is principally governed by the lipid content. This = is consistent with pharmacokinetic models describing the distribution at equilibrium of lipophilic compounds in experimental animals. consequentl= y, biopsies which include only the outer blubber layer at one site on the blubber mantle can provide a representative sample for monitoring PCB and= OC contamination of blubber in balaenopterid whales. Copyright (c) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.=20 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 14:49:45 -0800 Reply-To: Jean Herrman From: Jean Herrman Subject: Aquatic Animal Life/Medicine Symposium **** UPDATED (12/16/95) **** MEETING ANNONCEMENT **** Due to a large number of requests for specific information regarding our symposium I have updated this message to include specifics on speakers and titles of their talks. Please also note the change of location, same area of campus but different room. We are a small student organization and most likely will not be publishing proceedings, however we will provide abstracts with references and will gladly mail those out upon request. Thank you. The UC Davis Student Chapter of the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians present our annual Aquatic Life/Medicine Symposium. This year's theme is WILDLIFE AS INDICATORS OF ECOSYSTEM AND WATERWAY HEALTH. This is a one day symposium to be held at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The LOCATION is 180 Schalm lecture hall (across from the Vet Med teaching hospital and near the Medical Sciences Library). The DATE of the symposium is JANUARY 18, 9:30am to 3:30 pm. There is NO CHARGE for the symposium. Talks will be on the ecotoxicology of waterways and indicator species (fish and birds), as well as toxin implications in the diseases of fish, birds and marine mammals (pinnipeds and cetaceans) in California and elsewhere. There will be six speakers, veterinarian and non veterinarian. 1) Michael Fry Director, Center for Avian Conservation, UC Davis Title to be announced 2) Peter B. Moyle Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, UC Davis The Threefold Path to Fish Health in Putah Creek 3) David E. Hinton Dept. of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, UC Davis-Vet Med. Aquatic Toxicology : Ecological Investigations in the Sacramento River, its Delta and the Upper San Fransisco Bay 4) Frances Gulland Director of Veterinary Services, California Marine Mammal Center California Pinnipeds : Problems in Identification of Toxic Eitology from Clinical Cases 5) Sylvain DeGuise Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis-Vet Med. Whales as Indicators of the Health of their Environment: the Example of the St. Lawrence Beluga Whales 6) Charles J. Henny Leader Northwest Research Station Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center Small Reproductive Organs in Young Male River Otters from the Colombia River Related to Xenobiotic Compounds ALL ARE WELCOME DIRECTIONS - Take interstate 80 (west of Sacramento) to route 113 towards Woodland. Take Hutchinson road exit. Take first right into Medical Sciences area. There will be signs posted to direct you towards the lecture hall. If planning to attend please e-mail me at jmherrman(\)ucdavis.edu as we would like to know the approximate attendance for refreshment purposes. Jean Marie Herrman School of Vet Med / Univ. California Davis jmherrman(\)ucdavis.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 06:25:55 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Fellowships & Grants I would like to remind you of the programs administered through the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Fellowships and Grants. The Smithsonian Institution offers fellowships and internships for research and study in fields which are actively pursued by the museums and research organizations of the Institutions. For the interested Mammalogist these institutions include the National Zoological Park, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (in Panama), and the National Museum of Natural History. Fields of study include Animal Behavior, ecology, and environmental science, as well as evolutionary and systematic biology. Postdoctoral Fellowships, Senior Fellowships, Predoctoral Fellowships and Graduate Student Fellowships are available and support research in residence at all Smithsonian facilities. The deadline for submission of applications is January 15, 1997. A number of INTERNSHIPS are also available, including the Minority Internship program for U.S. minority undergraduate and beginning graduate students (application deadline: 15 February) and the Research Training Program for undergraduate students of all nationalities (application deadline: 15 February) Information on all these programs, and more, is available at the NMNH web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu Or contact Roberta Rubinoff, Director Office of Fellowships and Grants (202) 287-3271 For the undergraduate Research Training Program: Mary Sangrey, Program Coordinator (202) 357-4548 e-mail: mnhbo012(\)sivm.si.edu http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/ Richard W. Thorington, Jr. MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.BITNET Department of Vertebrate Zoology MNHVZ049(\)SIVM.SI.EDU NHB-390, Smithsonian Institution Voice: 202-357-2150 Washington D.C. 20560 Fax: 202-786-2979 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 06:26:49 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: Second Announcement EUROPEAN CETACEAN SOCIETY 11TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 10-12 MARCH 1997 IN STRALSUND, GERMANY - SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT - The Eleventh Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society will be held at the German Museum for Marine Research and Fishery in Stralsund, Germany between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March 1997. The main theme of the meeting will be BEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS OF CETACEAN BYCATCH but, as usual papers on all aspects of the biology of cetaceans and other marine mammals will be included in the programme. Patronage has been provided by the Federal Minister of the Environment. The conference will take place at the theatre, which is situated in the town centre and close to restaurants and hotels. Registration will take place on Sunday 9th March from 18.00-22.00 in connection with a reception (ICEBREAKER) at the German Museum for Marine Research and Fishery. Conference sessions will be held between 09.00 and 17.00 on Monday and between 09.00 and 18.00 on Tuesday and Wednesday 10-12 March, with a break for the Society's AGM. An evening session will be held (in German) on Monday to give members of the public the opportunity to hear talks on current cetacean research. Each day's morning session will open with an invited talk followed by spoken presentations in a standard 20 minute format. Posters will be on display throughout the meeting and time will be reserved for discussion with authors. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE EAAM AND MARINE MAMMAL MEDICAL WORKSHOP (MMWS) The 25th Annual Conference of the European Association of Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) will take place in Duisburg, Germany between Friday 14th and Monday 17th March, and this will constitute a great opportunity for the membership of both societies to attend the two conferences like last year in Portugal. If there will be enough participants for both meetings a bus transfer from Stralsund to Duisburg will be organised for Thursday 13th March (see pre-registration form). The minimum price for a bus ticket will be 65,- DM (if the bus will be full). A Workshop on Marine Mammal Nutrition will be held at Duisburg from Tuesday 18th to Wednesday 19th March, immediately following the Annual Conference of the EAAM. The Workshop Organiser is Dr. Geraldine Lacave. For further details on the workshop and the Annual Conference of the EAAM, please contact: MANUEL GARCIA HARTMANN Zoo Duisburg Muehlheimer Str. 273 Tel +49-203-305-5942 D-47058 Duisburg Fax +49-203-305-5922 Germany E-mail ha005ha(\)rs1-hrz.uni-duisburg.de CONFERENCE BOOKINGS, FEES, ACCOMMODATION Please send your PRE-REGISTRATION form no later than 15TH FEBRUARY, and your ACCOMMODATION FORM no later than 31ST JANUARY to the appropriate addresses indicated on the forms. CONFERENCE FEES are ECS and/or EAAM members 150,- DM for full members (late fee 180,- DM) 75,- DM for student members (late fee 90,- DM) Non-ECS/EAAM members 210,- DM for non-students (late fee 240,- DM) 110,- DM for students (late fee 125,- DM) Payment of your conference fee (IN GERMAN MARKS ONLY) has to be done until 15th February. Otherwise you have to pay the late fee. Bank details are given below on the pre-registration form. Please pay your membership fee for 1997 (and 1996 if you have not paid them) with your conference fee. ACCOMMODATION Hotel reservations will be on a first come first served basis. Please try to book your accommodation as early as you can. Special prices were arranged for the two best hotels in Stralsund (HOTEL VIP in the accommodation registration form) close to the conference place. Prices are per night and room and include breakfast, service and taxes. If you are planning to stay in one of these hotels, please fill in the accommodation registration form provided and send it to the address indicated on the form NO LATER THAN 31ST JANUARY. In the category YOUTH HOSTEL are combined cheap hotels and a youth hostel. Prices are per night and room and include breakfast, service and taxes. If you are planning to use this accommodation, please fill in the accommodation registration form provided and send it to the address indicated on the form NO LATER THAN 31ST JANUARY. TRAVEL The Hanseatic Town of Stralsund is situated in the extreme northeast of the Federal Country of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at the Strela Sund, which separates the island of Ruegen from the mainland. There are good air and rail links between Hamburg or Berlin and most European cities. From Hamburg main station the train takes 3 h 30 min to Stralsund. For those coming via Berlin there is a rail link from Berlin Lichtenberg station to Stralsund (2 h 45 min). If you are coming from Scandinavia there are several ferry boats to Rostock and the island of Ruegen. From Rostock to Stralsund and from Sassnitz (Ruegen) to Stralsund the train takes one hour. For those coming by car, there are two main possibilities: 1) From Hamburg take the highway A24 to Berlin up to the junction Wittstock and then the highway A19 to Rostock. From Rostock take the B105 to Stralsund. 2) From Berlin take the highway A24 to Hamburg up to the junction Wittstock and then the highway A19 to Rostock. From Rostock take the B105 to Stralsund. If you are coming by your own aircraft there are two regional airports in the direct surroundings of Stralsund. Guettin, on the island of Ruegen and Barth. Both airports provide car hire services. OTHER EVENTS, LOCAL VISITS AND EXCURSIONS On Monday 10th March members will have the possibility to visit the "ECS Musical" Westside Story in the theatre. In the breaks posters will be in display. The price for the ticket is 23,- DM. Tickets are reserved for ECS/EAAM members until 31st January . A sightseeing on foot can be arranged for Tuesday 11th (4,- DM). On the same day the ECS Birthday Banquet will take place in the entire museum and aquarium (price for a ticket 25,- DM). After a nice dinner in front of living sharks and fishes there will be dancing under the fin whale. A social evening is being organised for Wednesday 12th at the brewery "Zum alten Fritz". A famous photographer of the region will give an introduction to the biggest and most beautiful island of Germany, the island of Ruegen in a slide show. An all-day excursion to the island of Ruegen is planned to take place on Thursday 13th (30,- DM). For those members attending the EAAM conference in Duisburg a bus transfer is planned on Thursday 13th (only if enough participants). Going by bus will be the cheapest way for travelling to Duisburg. For all these events see the pre-registration form and keep in mind the different DEADLINES. For further details, please contact: ECS Conference 1997, Deutsches Museum fuer Meereskunde und Fischerei, Katharinenberg 14/20, 18439 Stralsund, Germany, Tel.: +49-3831-295135, Fax: +49-3831-292217, E-mail: 101676.1264(\)compuserve.com (E-mail will be out of order from 23 December to 19 January) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 12:50:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: U.S. threatens to punish Canad U.S. threatens to punish Canada for whale hunt WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuter) - President Clinton must decide by Feb. 10, 1997 whether to ban the import of fish products from Canada to punish it for allowing natives to kill two whales this year, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor last week officially notified Clinton that Canada was undermining international efforts to save the endangered bowhead whale. "By this letter, I am certifying to you that Canadian nationals are engaged in whaling activities that diminish the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation programme," Kantor said in a Dec. 12 letter released Wednesday. Washington issued a strong protest in September to Canada, which is not a member of the IWC, for allowing the Inuits to kill two bowhead whales. The commission had urged Canada to block the hunt, although the IWC allows limited whale kills by aboriginal people to maintain their cultural traditions. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 12:52:30 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: 12/20/96 -- Info Summary for U.S. Congress and Staff Marmam Group: I'm appending part of a regular update I prepare for congressional staff on fisheries and marine mammal public policy issues as I see them . In deference to those who have to pay for communications time, I am including only new items added since my last posting, and a shortened introduction. I will post the entire summary and the longer introduction on the first Friday of the month. NOTE: Archived copies of "first Friday" longer summaries for February 1994 through the present are now available at: "http://www.lsu.edu/guests/sglegal/public_html" Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov NOTE: There will be no weekly summary next week. The next weekly summary will be the longer version issued on Friday, Jan. 3, 1997. Summary follows: Marine Mammals . Canadian Whaling Certification. On Dec. 18, 1996, Dept. of Commerce officials announced that, on Dec. 12, 1996, Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor certified to President Clinton that Canada was undermining international efforts to protect bowhead whales by permitting canadian Inuits to kill two of these whales earlier this year. Under the provisions of the Pelly Amendment, President Clinton has until Feb. 10, 1997, to determine whether or not to impose import sanctions on canadian products. [Reuters] . Right Whale Protection. On Dec. 16, 1996, the State of Massachusetts, in response to a federal court order, submitted plans to require a modification to weaken lobster fishing buoy lines used in Cape Cod Bay that might entangle right whales. Lobstermen would be required to weaken buoy lines by February 1997, with the State developing a special weak buoy line to be required by January 1998. Floating lines will also have to be replaced by sinking lines. Gear restrictions to protect whales would be required from January through mid-May annually. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock must approve the state's proposed plan. Gillnet fishing would also be banned in state waters frequented by whales. On Dec. 16, 1996, NMFS announced its intention to close the Great South Channel east of Cape Cod to gillnet and lobster fishing from April 1 to June 30 annually to protect right whales. [Assoc Press, Boston Globe via Greenwire] . Russian Bowhead Whaling. On Nov. 23, 1996, Norwegian media reported that Russia has announced plans to take a quota of 2 Greenland (bowhead) whales from the Bering Straits region during the 1997 whaling season. [Oslo Aftenposten via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] . Australian Whaling Statements. On Dec. 15, 1996, Australia's Foreign Affairs and Environment Ministers issued a joint statement calling on Japan to end its scientific whaling program and criticizing Norway for increasing its 1997 commercial catch limit. . Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 23:20:02 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: IWC Commissioners Meeting - Jan. 97 - Agenda Dear Marmamers, the IWC commissoners are meeting in an pleasant environment at Grenada in january next year - without the NGO's and the media on their neck - to try to "cut through the deadlock": High North Web News, 19 December 1996: Despite Informal Dress and Non-Confrontational Environment: Disagreement on Agenda for IWC Commissioner Meeting The agenda for the IWC Commissioners meeting 13. January at Grenada "contains items which some Commissioners have urged be adressed, others preferring not to", writes IWC chairman, the Australian Peter Bridgwater, in a communication to the IWC Commissioners January 16th. The idea behind the meeting is "to provide an opportunity for commissioners to consider means to cut through the deadlock which exists on key issues," says the secretary to the IWC Ray Gambell to the High North Web News. "One of the values of the meeting should be to allow exchanges of views in a non-confrontational and informal environment, to remove us from the normal, and proper, constraints of a Commission meeting", writes Bridgewater. He proposes that the commissoners should "adopt an informal dress for the meeting". He emphasises "that non-attendance will in no way disadvantage any party - no decisions will emerge." The list of "topics for considerations" contains these issues: * Vision of the Convention and Commission in 2015 * Linkages between ICRW and other Conventions/Agreements/Protocols * Aboriginal subsistence whaling and its management * Outstanding issues associated with Revised Management Scheme * Cetaceans and global change, including ecosystem approach * Trade issues in whale products * Small cetaceans and the scientific advice of the Commission * Administration matters which need attention to aid the functioning of the Commission On the provisional agenda from November the item "outstanding issues associated with Revised Management Scheme" was not on the list, but has now been included presumedly on the request of the whaling nations. It is expected that Australia and other anti-whaling nations will use the meeting to push it's agenda to turn the moratorium on commercial whaling into a permanent ban and to expand the mandate of the commission to include also small cetaceans. But the vagely expressed and wide item "small cetaceans and the Commission" from the preliminary November agenda is now given a more narrow wording; "Small cetaceans and the scientific advice of the Commission". (See also an earlier article on the same subject at the High North Web News http://www.highnorth.no/cgi-shl/dbml.exe?Template=/cfpro/hna/news/viewnews.dbm) -- Georg Blichfeldt, High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 10:21:16 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: effects of whaling (fwd) Forwarded message: Marmam subscribers. I am replying to Colin MacLeod's comments on the whales and polar bear article. He raises a reasonable point when he says that non-whaling nations might wish to be involved in whaling management when they are may wish to use whales for whale watching purposes. A few comments in response. First, I assume that future whaling will be sustainable (that is, whale numbers will not decrease). Sure, in the past, before the IWC and then continuing for years under IWC mismanagement, we had a lot of unsustainable whaling. But we also had sustainable whaling at that time. For example, there is no evidence of which I am aware that Japanese small-type coastal whaling (with stable harvests of minke, beaked and pilot whales over many decades) was unsustainable, nor was several recent decades of gray whale hunting. Pilot whaling in the Faroes has gone on for centuries (the present population estimated to be over three-quarters of a million, so with less than 2000 being taken annually, the population can obviously sustain that offtake). So I was not referring to a future where there will be no whales left to watch, but rather, as Mr. MacLeod asked: will the whales get scared off, or more difficult to approach if hunted? I would suggest the answer is "no". First, consider gray whales, which support a very large whale-watching industry along the US and Canadian west coast. These whales have been hunted (about 200 each year) for many years by Russian and Alaskan hunters. They still seem to be quite approachable. Second, hunters have to be able to approach whales. In the Arctic, Inuit hunters have occupied the same whaling camps for centuries, and the whales return each year. There are places where whales have moved out, but the Inuit point to the increased boat traffic (especially more powerful boat motors) as well as changes in currents/feeding areas as the reason for whales moving further offshore. In areas where hunters guard against this excessive interference, the whales continue to be hunted (even by kayak in Greenland). In northern Norway we have whale-watching and whaling going on. I wonder if someone from that area (or other areas where whaling continues) can comment? Milton Freeman Canadian Circumpolar Institute Edmonton T6G 2E2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 23:35:09 +0100 From: Georg Blichfeldt Organization: HNA Subject: CITES: Downlisting of Minkes Dear Marmamers, I am forwarding an article from the High North Web News on comments to the Norwegian proposal to downlist two minke whale stocks in the North Atlantic. At the High North Web News - http://www.highnorth.no - you will also find details on the Japanese proposal to downlist several whale stocks from different species. Georg Blichfeldt High North Alliance High North Web News, 19 December 1996: Norwegian Proposal to Downlist Minke Whales at CITES: Negative Comments from IWC Members Norway must expect to meet opposition to it's proposal to downlist the North East and Central Atlantic minke whale stocks at the CITES meeting next summer. Comments received from the individual members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), forwarded by the Commission's secretariate, express the view that CITES should respect the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling and therefore keep all the great whales,including minkes, on Appendix I. Some biological arguments were also put forward. The New Zealand IWC Commissioner writes that Norway's claim that the stocks in question are not threatened with extinction "is debatable" and that "uncertainty still exists regarding the size of these whale stocks". More pecifically New Zealand stresses the "varied estimates of stock abundance of Northeast Atlantic minke whales over the past six years." However, the South-African member of the Scientific Committee, Dr. Best, writes in his comment that "on biological grounds there seems no reason why these stocks of minke whales should not be transferred from Appendix I to Appendix II, as they cannot be considered endangered with extinction." Dr. Best was the only member of the IWC Scientific Committee to comment on the Norwegian proposal. The IWC Scientific Committee agreed last year on a North East Atlantic minke whale stock estimate of 112 000*. Best's view is in accordance with the evaluation of the status minke whales made by the IUCN and reflected in it's "Red List of Threatened Animals". The Australian IWC commissioner, Peter Bridgewater, who also serves as IWC Chairman, writes in his comment that "no estimate for the Central North Atlantic stock has been agreed". This statement is contradicted by the fact that the Chairman's report from the 42nd IWC-meeting states that: "The (IWC) Scientific Committee accepted an estimate of 28,000 (approximate 95% CI 21,600-31,400) as the best estimate of the number of minke whales in the Central stock area." Both Australia and New Zealand write that any downlisting would undermine the IWC moratorium and thus the IWC's authority. "The Norwegian minke whale catch is not covered by the IWC moratorium due to the Norwegian reservation. This reservation is authorized in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and nobody has ever challenged its legality. Therefore a downlisting of these two stocks cannot and will not undermine the moratorium", says Georg Blichfeldt, secretary of the High North Alliance, to the High North Web News. "Should CITES reject the proposal for downlisting on the basis of the moratorium, then this would be in contravention of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. It would be a denial of Norway's rights under the Whaling Convention", adds Blichfeldt. The United States puts forward the same line of arguments and writes that "CITES has agreed to reflect IWC decisions in its Appendices". According to the US, this agreement was established in 1983 when CITES declared in a resolution that "All cetaceans for which the catches are regulated by the IWC and for which the Commission has set catch limits for commercial whaling ... and not already on Appendix I would be transferred to that Appendix in 1986, when the IWC decision to implement a pause in commercial whaling comes into effect." It may be argued that what the US considers to be agreement to reflect IWC decisions, is merely a CITES decision regarding when the transfers to Appendix I should take place, and does not address the circumstances in which any prospective downlisting should occur. Nor does it take into consideration specific catches taken under legal reservations to the moratorium. Furthermore, a new set of listing criteria has been implemented since the resolution was adopted. High North Alliance secretary, Georg Blichfeldt, says that, "Such opposition to downlisting, based on the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling, raises fundamental questions regarding CITES' position as an independent international body. CITES' purpose is to regulate international trade in endangered species. This means that CITES must base any listings on biological criteria and an objective evaluation of the consequences of trade, and not on political decisions based on ethical and moral objectives made by other political bodies who have neglected their management responsibilities." The comments forwarded by the IWC Secretariate came from France, USA, UK, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia. * An international group of scientists appointed by the Scientific Committee of the IWC reached in 1996 consensus on an estimate of 112,000 minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. The estimate was consequently endorsed by a unanimous Scientific Committee. It is based on a new line transect survey which was carried out in 1995. The international group of scientists also recalculated the estimate from the 1988/89 survey. The new figure of 65,000 was also endorsed by the Scientific Committee. The international group of scientists noted that the estimates from the 1995 survey and the 1988/89 survey are not directly comparable owing to differences in methodology. The Scientific Committee report notes that the estimate from the 1995 survey is "a more reliable estimate" than that resulting from the 1988/89 survey. The Scientific Committee also gives other reasons why the 1988/89 estimate could be seriously downward biased, but notes that "a natural rate of increase" is a very likely factor involved in accounting for at least some of the difference between the two estimates. The Norwegian draft proposal to downlist two Minke whale stocks are to be found at the the High North Web: http://www.highnorth.no/ci-no-dr.htm -- High North Alliance P.O. Box 123 N-8390 Reine i Lofoten Norway Tel.: + 47 76 09 24 14 Fax.: + 47 76 09 24 50 E-mail: highnor(\)online.no Web Site: http://www.highnorth.no/ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 12:38:02 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: conference announcements 7th International Behavioral Ecology Congress The VII International Behavioral Ecology Congress will be held at Asilomar Conference Center on the Monterey Peninsula, California, 28 July - 3 August 1998. For further information, contact the conference organizers: Walt Koenig (wicker(\)uclink.berkeley.edu) or Janis Dickinson (Sialia(\)uclink2.berkeley.edu) ****************************************************** The XXVth International Ethological Conference will be held 20-27 August, 1997, in Vienna. Plenary talks will be given on adaptive value, signal design, behavioural genetics, development, behavioural and physiological mechanisms, immunocompetence and disease resistance, neural wiring, comparative analyses, population dynamics, applied aspects, cognitive mechanisms, and evolutionary psychology. Three possibilities are offered for contributing papers: spoken papers, poster papers, and poster talks. The deadline for especially reduced registration fees, grant applications and for the submission of abstracts will be 28 February, 1997. Request further information from WMA, "XXVth IEC", Alser Strasse 4, 1-1090 Vienna, AUSTRIA. Email: medacad(\)via.at; Tel: +43-1-405-1383; FAX: +43-1-405-1383-23; Homepage: http://evolution.humb.univie.ac.at/events/iec.html ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 08:07:23 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Peter Thomas' email address? From: "Jose Truda Palazzo Jr. (Pres.Dir. Nacional)" Hi everyone, I have been unable to find an e-mail address (or even a snailmail one) for Dr. Peter Thomas who worked with right whale mother/calf behavior. As contacting him is vital for our future planned activities I would be very grateful if anyone on the list could help in putting us in touch with him by giving me any clue to his current whereabouts. Thank you very much and have a great 197, Jose Truda Palazzo, Jr., Brazilian Right Whale Project iwcbr(\)ax.apc.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 08:10:11 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: pinniped osteology From: Phillip Bigelow Dear marmammers, I am doing a research project on fossil pinniped hyal bones, and have collected comparative hyal anatomy data on all North Pacific otariids, and two North Pacific phocids, _P. vitulina_ and _Mirounga_. Unfortunately, my data on the hyal bones of _Mirounga_ is incomplete. I need further data on Mirounga, such as the number of ossified hyal elements, and the number of cartilaginous hyal elements. So far, I only have examined one articulated apparatus (basihyal, thyrohyals, and ceratohyals). The epihyals and stylohyals and tympanohyals were missing from the apparatus. Are these elements cartilaginous in _Mirounga_? If there is anyone in this group that has done autopsies on beached elephant seals, or has a familiarity with _Mirounga_ thoracic-laryngeal osteology, please contact me at the e-mail address below. Also, if anyone knows of a reference that specifically discusses the above topic in _Mirounga_, I would appreciate knowing. Thanks in advance! Phillip Bigelow bh162(\)scn.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Dec 1996 09:40:13 -0300 From: Marcos Cesar de Oliveira Santos ib - bie 7600 Subject: Looking for references From: Marcos Cesar de O. Santos Dear Marmamers: I'm developing a study based on beached/stranded cetaceans along Brazilian southeast coast and need some help. I'm looking for a copy of the following reports: 1) J.R.Geraci and D.J. Aubin (eds), 1979(?). "Biology of marine mammals:insights through strandings". Report to U.S. Marine Mammal Comm., U.S. Dep. Of Commer., Natl. Tech. Info. Serv. 2) J.E. Reynolds and D. K. Odell (eds), 1991(?). "Marine mammal strandings in the United States": proceedings of the second marine mammal stranding workshop, 3-5 Dec., Miami. FL; U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Technical Report NMFS 98. (I guess that number 2 must be ordered to NMFS. Could someone confirm?) As many references are of difficult access for outside U.S. researchers, I would appreciate some help. Any other references related to cetaceans beachings/strandings as indicators of population/species ecological parameters are also welcome. Please, get in touch directly to my e-mail address: marcosos(\)usp.br Thanks in advance for your attention. Wishing a wonderful 1997 to you all, Marcos Cesar de O. Santos Projeto Atlantis Universidade de Sao Paulo - Brazil marcosos(\)usp.br ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Dec 1996 14:01:06 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Availability of report on acoustic deterrents In March of this year, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission convened a workshop at the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service on acoustic deterrents as a mean of reducing marine mammal-fishery interactions. The workshop looked at both acoustic harassment devices and "pingers." The objectives of the workshop were to: (a) evaluate experimental and other evidence concerning the efficacy of acoustic deterrents in preventing or reducing interactions between marine mammals and fisheries; (b) identify critical uncertainties about the effectiveness of acoustic devices and their effects on marine mammals and other biota; (c) identify and establish priorities for relevant research; and (d) develop guidelines for when, how, and under what conditions acoustic deterrents should be incorporated into fishery management. The workshop report-- Acoustic deterrence of harmful marine mammal-fishery interactions, edited by R.R. Reeves, R.J. Hofman, G.K. Silber, and D. Wilkinson-- has been published as a technical memorandum by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Copies can be obtained from: Dean Wilkinson Office of Protected Resources, F/PR2 National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 or via e-mail at: Dean.Wilkinson(\)noaa.gov ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Dec 1996 11:28:18 +0200 From: sasha(\)bios.iuf.net Subject: dietary habits of walrus Dear marmammers, Could anybody provide us any information or references about dietary habits of wild Pacific walrus _Odobenus rosmarus_? Sources available here are inconsistent. We have problems with feeding of a juvenile walrus. Thanks in advance. Alexander Drobyshevski State Oceanarium of Ukraine sasha(\)bios.iuf.net ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 14:23:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: OTC-Canada to Complain to WTO OTC-Canada to Complain to WTO About U.S. Fish Ban OTTAWA (Dec. 20) XINHUA - Canada will complain to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the United States makes good on its threats to ban Canadian fish imports because of bowhead whale fishing. U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor said the U.S. was prepared to hit unspecified Canadian fish imports because of the killing of two whales by Canadian Inuit last July and August. "Canada believes there is no basis for trade sanctions," a Department of International Trade spokesman was quoted as saying by today's media report. "Killing two whales does not endanger an entire stock," the spokesman noted. In a letter to President Bill Clinton, Kantor said Canada allowed Inuit to kill two of the endangered whales without the approval of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Kantor is reported to give a list of import restrictions to Clinton before the February 10 deadline for a decision on a ban. It is widely expected that Canadian fish products imported by the U.S. will be on the hitting target. The IWC has also expressed concerns about whaling in the Canadian Arctic because bowhead whale stocks are not recovering. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 14:12:54 -0400 Reply-To: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca From: "Robin W. Baird" Organization: Dalhousie University Subject: ABSTRACT: Ecological and social determinants of group size in tr Baird, R.W., and L.M. Dill. 1996. Ecological and social determinants of group size in transient killer whales. Behavioral Ecology 7:408-416. Abstract Most analyses of the relationship between group size and food intake of social carnivores have shown a discrepancy between the group size that maximizes energy intake and that which is most frequently observed. Around southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, killer whales of the so-called transient form forage in small groups, and appear to prey exclusively on marine mammals. Between 1986 and 1993, in approximately 434 h of observations on transient killer whales, we observed 138 attacks on 5 species of marine mammals. Harbor seals were most frequently attacked (130 occasions), and the observed average energy intake rate was more than sufficient for the whale's energetic needs. Energy intake varied with group size, with groups of three having the highest energy intake rate per individual. While groups of three were most frequently encountered, the group size experienced by an average individual in the population (i.e., typical group size) is larger than three. However, comparisons between observed and expected group sizes should utilize only groups engaged in the behavior of interest. The typical size of groups consisting only of adult and sub-adult whales that were engaged primarily in foraging activities confirms that these individuals are found in groups that are consistent with the maximization of energy intake hypothesis. Larger groups may form for: 1) the occasional hunting of prey other than harbor seals, for which the optimal foraging group size is probably larger than three; and 2) the protection of calves and other social functions. ========================================================== Robin W. Baird, Ph.D. Biology Department Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 Canada Phone (902) 494-3723 Fax (902) 494-3736 e-mail: rwbaird(\)is.dal.ca ========================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 17:38:51 -0800 From: MARMAM Editors Subject: Diet of walrus (fwd) Forwarded message: From: Carleton Ray Diets of captives have been developed since the late 1950s to early 1960s and are published in a variety of places. Briefly, Dr. Francis H. Fay and I developed the basic diet of heavy cream (2 parts) plus clams or oysters (1 part) plus multivitamins when we successfully raised newborn calves captured in rthe Bering Sea by the Inuits. A variety of diets on this fundamental theme have been used since that time, depending on the materials available and the costs. The principle is to try to obtain 20-35% saturated fat, 5-10% protein, and an absolute minimum of carbohydrates. For adults, mollusks are best, but fish may be used as a temporary substitute. This response is made as soon as I received the message. I will try to get references if they are needed. Walruses are extremely sensitive to human colds and viruses. They also will swallow just about anything they can get down their throats (balls, cloth, etc.). They should not be in contact with the public and watched carefully by a good veterinarian. Best wishes and GOOD LUCK! G. Carleton Ray ------------------------------------------------------------------- -To submit a message to MARMAM, send it to: marmam(\)uvvm.uvic.ca -Please include your name and e-mail address in the body of the text of all submissions. -To subscribe to MARMAM, send a message to: listserv(\)uvvm.uvic.ca saying: subscribe marmam Yourfirstname Yourlastname -To contact the MARMAM editors, write to: marmamed(\)uvic.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 13:59:17 MST From: dana_seagars(\)mail.fws.gov Subject: Re[2]: Application period open for seasonal positions w/ USF > Vacancy announcements for Temporary / Seasonal Positions with the > Alaska Region, US Fish and Wildlife Service are now availble. > Applications will be received from 12/10/96 through 01/22/97. > > While funding for field projects in 1998 is currently uncertain, the > Marine Mammals Management office generally hires between 2-4 > Biological Technicians to work in the Walrus Harvest Monitoring > Project and 1-2 Biological Technicians to work at remote walrus > haulouts conducting counts and behavioral observations. Harvest > monitor positions usually are filled between late March or early April > until July or early August. Duties include collection of data and > samples from Native Alaskans as they return from walrus hunts. > Ability to work in cold conditions, and strong interpersonal and > computer skills are necessary. Haulout observer positions are usually > filled by late April or May and run through August or September. > Ability to conduct strenuous field work in remote primitive field > camps and strong computer skills are necessary. Applicants should be > US citizens. > > Other seasonal positions with the FWS in Alaska may be available > working with a variety of bird, mammal, or fisheries subjects. Contact > the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Personnel Office at (907) 786-3301 > for more information, application forms, and specifics. > > *************************************************************** > Dana J. Seagars, e-mail > Senior Wildlife Biologist, Walrus Program > > Wells Stephensen, e-mail > Senior Wildlife Biologist, Marking, Tagging & Reporting Program > *************************************************************** > > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 13:30:00 GMT From: r.mallon1(\)genie.com Subject: Oil seeping from Argentine wre Oil seeping from Argentine wreck in Antarctic sea By Roger Atwood PALMER STATION, Antarctica, Dec 26 (Reuter) - A wrecked Argentine navy ship is still leaking toxic diesel fuel into one of Antarctica's prime wildlife areas eight years after it struck rocks and capsized. A visit to the wreck on Wednesday showed a small but clearly visible oil slick and diesel odour around the punctured hull of the supply ship Bahia Paraiso, where scientists have long suspected fuel was seeping out. The Bahia Paraiso lies belly-up on rocks next to DeLaca Island, about a mile (1.6 km) from the U.S. scientific base Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship, a navy supply vessel being used as a tourist boat, hit rocks in January 1989 as it was leaving Palmer, forcing evacuation of all 150 people on board. It capsized three days later in a storm. The collision ruptured the ship's fuel tanks, sending 160,000 gallons (600,000 liters) of diesel and lubricants into the sea, killing countless penguins, skuas and cormorants at peak breeding season. Although the amount seeping out now looks small, scientists working in the area do not know how much fuel is leaking out or how much remains in the ship's submerged tanks. "The point is that it's become a long-term, chronic source of pollution. And we don't know what kind of chronic effect it could be having on wildlife," said William Fraser, a University of Montana ecologist and chief scientist at the U.S. base. The area around the wreck is one of Antarctica's richest wildlife zones, populated by thousands of seabirds and marine mammals. Depending on winds and currents, the leaking fuel can wash up on rocks populated by petrels and gulls. Populations of at least two seabirds, the imperial cormorant and the kelp gull, collapsed after the spill and show no sign of recovery, Fraser said. Penguins and most shellfish populations seem to have recovered almost completely from the spill, he said. A joint Dutch-Argentine salvage operation a few years after the accident extracted some of the oil in the ship's tanks. But Palmer Station officials say the ship's captain provided no record of how much fuel was in the tanks originally so they do not how much remains. The accident focused world attention on the potential for ecological catastrophe in the Antarctic as tourist traffic climbs. Argentine and U.S. officials have worked out emergency anti-spill drills for future disasters and a 24-nation Antarctic treaty signed in 1991 requires all members to develop environmental emergency response actions. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 08:50:53 -0800 From: "Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE" Subject: Cox vs. USFWS Longlines, Gore, and a saltwater croc (From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 1997.) HONOLULU--If allegations issued by former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Carroll E. Cox stand up, senior officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have for at least six years buried evidence of illegal threats to endangered species on a scale that if exposed could rattle trade relations, the primacy of the Nature Conservancy in Western Pacific conservation projects, and even the office of U.S. vice president Albert Gore. If Cox is lying, he says, "I'm a zero, and my career is over. I'll never work in the wildlife or law enforcement fields again, or any other field where people care if you're telling the truth." Having been already been fired in 1995 for allegedly taking bribes, it is possible that Cox is already permanently out of the wildlife and law enforcement fields. "I have nothing to lose but my good reputation," Cox admits. Whether or not Cox has a good reputation is among the items at issue, yet perhaps not important. He could be pond scum and still have the goods on his ex-bosses, with ample motive--both revenge and the prospect of a payoff--to fink. But Cox does have impressive credentials: On December 15, 1994, Cox received the fifth annual Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage from the Shafeek Nader Foundation, formed by consumer advocate Ralph Nader in memory of his father. Explains the award certificate, "In 1990, Carroll Cox was assigned to the Pacific Basin including Hawaii, home to nearly 40% of U.S. endangered species. He forced a 90-day shutdown of the game fish industry for killing species which got tangled in the long fishing lines," including whales, monk seals, sea lions, albatrosses, sea turtles, and sharks. "Failing all administrative remedies," the certificate continues, "he appealed to the public through the media, and emerged with an enforcement victory. His investigations revealed that high officials in the U.S. Trust Territory of Palau were smuggling endangered species products from the Philippines to Palau and, contrary to U.S. law, they were also shipping sea turtles to Japan. His finding that most of the illegal sea turtle trade originated in Palau saved President Bush, who was set to sanction Japan for such trading, from a major embarrassment." In addition, Cox "reported to Congress the designation of wildlife refuges in Hawaii and Guam before cleaning up contamination on a site or making an environmental impact statement, as required by law. One of only 220 U.S. agents to protect 700 listed species," Cox "was denied a well-deserved promotion. He endured shameful orders to falsify documents and to ignore compelling investigations. Held in high regard outside his agency, he suffered reprisals on the inside, including denial of access to field sites and work-related meetings, letters of reprimand, and personal slurs." Even after Cox was fired, he was still called as a government witness in the June 1995 prosecution of Ronald Bramble for illegal possession of eagle feathers, marijuana, and a firearm. Bramble drew nine years in prison, one of the stiffest setences ever in an endangered species-related case. The $89,000 question On September 22, 1996, Cox posted further details of his own case to >>http://members.aol.com/jgard225/ index.htm<<, his America OnLine web site. "One of the reasons given for my firing," Cox wrote, "was that I accepted the Callaway Award. The agency considered this a bribe, even though another FWS employee," Daniel Moriarty, supported Cox with "an affidavit to the government that he received an environmental award from Chevron and traveled to Washington D.C. on government time to accept it. His award was recognized and applauded by FWS." If anyone thought Cox's position on sea turtles reflected pro-Bush partisanship, that view was contradicted. "I also reported," Cox wrote, "that agency personnel were possibly attempting to acquire contaminated land on Maui to be used as a wildlife refuge so that President Bush would be viewed favorably by environmentlists in his then-upcoming bid for reelection. I reported that individuals in the FWS with political favor were able to interfere and prevent necessary law enforcement activities concerning Bishop Estate land on the island of Hawaii, where the clearcut logging of koa trees was destroying the habitat of endangered species. I was ordered by supervisors to modify reports so that they would not reflect the actual number of endangered birds killed or impacted by a major oil company in Hawaii," apparently Chevron, in one of the minor skirmishes associated with the 1993-1995 PETA campaign to get U.S. oil refineries to cap their vent stacks. Cox claimed his efforts to continue cracking down on the longliners were also thwarted. "The National Marine Fisheries Service sent me a letter directing me not to interview thair observers, who on many cases were aboard the [longline] vessels when the killings [of protected wildlife] occurred," he alleged. "The FWS response was, 'We cannot enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in this manner.'" Cox began challenging alleged corruption within the Hawaii offices of FWS on January 28, 1993. "I initiated contact with the Inspector General's Interior Department special agent, Gordon Peters," he frustratedly wrote on November 28, 1993, to assistant special counsel Ralph Eddy, "to advise of unlawful acts by field supervisor Robert P. Smith, Ecological Service Division, and John Ford, Real Estate Division of the FWS," who were central to the purported Bishop Estate irregularities and to a wildlife refuge acquisition in Guam that was then under internal review. Cox alleged that both Smith and Ford abused travel privileges--and that Ford "had authorized the payment of a sum in excess of $89,000 to a female companion, by breaking the sum down into multiple payments to circumvent purchasing or contracting rules." The female companion, Cox said, lived in California. "Marvin Plenert," he continued, "the regional director for Region One of the FWS, learned of Ford's illegal activities and had Ford resign from his position in Hawaii. He then reinstated him," in an office near his friend's home. Smith, Cox told ANIMAL PEOPLE, was and is a hunting buddy of Thomas Reilly, then FWS assistant chief of law enforcement and ecological services; both, he averred, are Tennesseans and close to the Nature Conservancy, wondering aloud whether they owe their positions to the recommendations of vice president Gore during his years, 1976-1984, as Tennessee member of the House of Representatives, and 1984-1992 as U.S. Senator. TNC Palau representative Chuck Cook is yet another Tennessean, according to Cox, who further alleges that Cook with the cooperation of Smith and Reilly helped to cover up wildlife parts trafficking through Palau. The problem, Cox said, was that in 1991 he uncovered "millions of dollars worth of turtle shells and dugong parts going through Palau to Japan," just as TNC initiated a five-year program to develop a conservation ethic in Palau by working with native fishers. With a human population of just 16,000, Palau is perhaps as much small town as nation. To win the fishers' trust, Cox alleged, TNC ignored both the wildlife trafficking and aggressive poaching of endangered saltwater crocodiles, apparently believing it could be stopped more effectively through their program, which stresses sustainable use, than through law enforcement. "I was told, 'You will not go back,'" Cox stated. Saltwater croc Cox was unaware until informed by ANIMAL PEOPLE that since his dismissal, the USFWS on June 24, 1996 reclassified saltwater crocodiles to permit commercial traffic in purportedly ranched crocodile hides. Cox immediately faxed to ANIMAL PEOPLE a 51-page 1991 study by Harry Messel, emeritus professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, and Wayne King, of the Florida Museum of Natural History. It documents the virtual extirpation of Palau saltwater crocodiles by the combination of commercial traffic and deliberate extermination, funded from the mid-1960s until 1981 by first the U.S. government and then Japanese leather traders. Messel and King recommended not only that the crocodiles remain protected, but also that captive breeding be used to rebuild their numbers. On June 12, 1994, Cox complained to William Stelle, assistant to President Bill Clinton for environmental issues, that "Even though the complaints [raised in 1993] have been brought to the attention of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and FWS director Mollie Beattie, they are still unresolved. The named individuals have been given the opportunity by FWS to repay any monies that were improperly spent. One of the parties named in my complaint is also being considered for promotion. I have been harassed and retaliated against," which "has caused me to go on voluntary leave without pay." In the November 1993 letter, Cox also accused his immediate supervisor, Ernie Mayer, of improperly using a government vehicle. Mayer, an informed source told ANIMAL PEOPLE, in turn accused Cox of harassing him. On August 24, 1994, Joseph G. White of Kaneohe, Hawaii, complained to FWS regional director Mike Spear that Mayer had improperly harassed his wife, an FWS employee, apparently after an altercation over a parking space. The charge was investigated by FWS Division of Law Enforcement chief John Doggett, assisted, according to Cox, by one Steve Middleton. Evidence custodian Michael M. Hart, 51, a 20-year FWS staffer, was a key witness against Mayer in both the Cox case and the White case. Cox asserts that Hart too was subjected to "intense" harassment. On December 8, 1994, just before Hart was to testify for Cox at a deposition hearing, cleaning personnel at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu found his body, shot through the chest with a gun Cox had confiscated in a prior criminal case. Last seen alive at 9:18 p.m. the previous evening, Hart apparently left no suicide note, but did leave a wife and daughter. "The man reportedly had work and financial troubles, police said," according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser. Middleton's handwritten notes, supplied to ANIMAL PEOPLE by Cox, indicate that he and Mayer both came to work at 8:00 a.m.; the cleaners told Middleton of the discovery of the body seven minutes later. Middleton informed Mayer of the death at 8:21. The Honolulu police arrived at 8:34. Middleton had already asked building security to evacuate the building, "preserving scene," the notes mention twice. A cryptic mention of ".41 caliber revolver" and "table in middle of room" seems to suggest that Hart or whoever fired the fatal shot managed to put the gun down neatly, in an obvious place. The trajectory of the shot, Middleton wrote, was "reasonably level, slightly to left center. Both hands had gunshot residue." Hart's apparent motive for suicide was a November 29 letter from David L. McMullen, FWS Assistant Regional Director for Law Enforcement. "This is a notice of proposed adverse action issued in accordance with Part 752 of the Office of Personnel Management regulations," it opened. "In order to promote the efficiency of the Federal service, it is proposed to remove you from the USFWS or otherwise discipline you, at any time after 30 full calendar days from the date you receive this notice. This proposed adverse action is based on the fact that you knowingly provided false and misleading information to Service investigators who were conducting an official inquiry into an allegation of wrongdoing on the part of your supervisor, Ernie Mayer." Hart was accused of having "fabricated the context of a conversation," committing perjury in a written affidavit, and claiming he worked when on leave, all during interviews conducted by Doggett and special agent Marie Palladini on September 20-21, in connection with the White case. No comment The USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service, well-placed individuals within both agencies, representatives of non-governmental organizations working in Hawaii and Palau, and a variety of other potential sources all failed to respond to invitations for comment. Individuals were asked for background either on or off the record. ANIMAL PEOPLE also enlisted help from investigative freelance Jessica Speart, known for award-winning probes of wildlife law enforcement. A week after making inquiries, getting no more response than ANIMAL PEOPLE did, she shared her limited findings. "Nobody wants to talk," Speart said. "I don't know what the story is, but everyone is so wary of the Cox case that it makes me think something is going on. It's worth looking into." Speart said she had learned that Cox was "definitely not part of the good old boy network," and upon arriving in Hawaii had jumped right into investigations that had daunted other USFWS agents. ANIMAL PEOPLE looked into it as far as we could without powers of subpoena and/or a significant budget for traveling, interviewing, and setting up undercover stakeouts. We ended up with little more than Cox's own story, partially supported by documents he supplied, newspaper clippings found in archival searches, and articles in scientific and professional journals about fisheries and wildlife management. While Cox could not document all of his contentions, many of which may come down to one person's word against another, we found no contradictory information. The Honolulu Sunday Star-Bulletin & Advertiser of January 27, 1991, affirmed Cox's role in the crackdown on the Hawaii-based longliners. Reporter Jan TenBruggencate found independent sources, including two longline fishers, who confirmed the allegation that longliners were killing endangered monk seals and albatrosses. The monk seals were killed by accident, when they tried to steal fish and got hooked. Albatrosses were deliberately poisoned and shot. TenBruggencate also verified weak FWS and NMFS enforcement of fishing laws off Hawaii. "Since the [on board] observer program started in November 1990," TenBruggencate wrote, "there has been only one person assigned to the duty. Even the single observer has often been unable to get aboard fishing craft for one reason or another." Explained George Boehlert, head of the NMFS' Honolulu laboratory and supervisor of the observer program, "There are many exemptions. The boat may be considered unsafe, and we won't put a federal employee on it. Or there isn't bunk space. On those vessels lacking observers, we can't know what they're doing." Cox recently sued FWS, he says, alleging he was a victim of racial discrimination as well as whistleblower retaliation. An Afro-American from rural Mississippi, he was among the first Afro-American investigators within the FWS, and was surrounded on the job by Caucasian southerners. Sooner or later, Cox avers, he will have his day in court, when he will get the chance to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. That may establish the veracity of his personal claims, about harassment and discrimination. But Cox's case as an individual may only fringe on the wildlife issues, depending on how much the judge believes it is necessary to investigate to decide whether or not Cox was genuinely discriminated against. "That should concern everybody," Cox concludes. "My case is one thing, for me as a private person, but the greater issue is whether rare and endangered species of wildlife can be protected under the law as they are supposed to be. If I am right, the people who are supposed to be enforcing the law are helping wrong-doers who harm these species to flout the law. That must be exposed, and it must stopped. "If I'm wrong, then everything I've done was for nothing. What have I gotten out of it, besides trouble that I could have avoided if I'd just gone along with the system?" --Merritt Clifton ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 13:17:55 -0500 From: Gene Buck Subject: Review and Comment -- draft report on captivity issues Marmam Group: I'm in search of a few reviewers to provide comments on a draft CRS report completed as a background document for the U.S. Congress by Patricia Lawson (graduate intern) and myself on marine mammals in captivity. The report is about 12 pages in length (includes footnotes), reviews various U.S. regulatory programs relating to captive marine mammals, and discusses the controversy concerning captive holding and public display of marine mammals. I would find comments provided by February 14th to be most helpful in completing this report. If you would be interested in reading this draft and providing comments, I would be most appreciative. Please e-mail me of your interest, and I will provide a copy of the report via e-mail -- proba bly divided into two parts in separate messages -- later this week. Again thanks for your assistance on this issue. Gene Buck, Senior Analyst Congressional Research Service e-mail: gbuck(\)crs.loc.gov ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:58:09 +0100 From: Ludovic Piot Subject: Request about orca birth in SeaWorld (Orlando). From: Ludovic 'Heures hindoues' PIOT eMail: edies(\)club-internet.fr Hello to you all, Marmamers, I've watched the evening news on "France 2" (a french TV channel) , on saturday, december 28. A short report spoke about the birth of a new orca calf in Sea World, in Orlando (USA). The film was very short, so they did'nt speak about his (or her) name, birthdate, weight, and so on... They gave the name of the mother, but I forgot it. I just remember that was her second offspring in captivity. Altought the very short duration of the film, I think I've observed a quite long time before the newborn came in the surface. Obviously, the mother was alone with her other calf (who may be 2 or 3 y/o), and seem not being very helped in moving her child to the surface. Could anyone send us any information about this birth? I'm very interested by this subject as I work on the behaviour of calves in the pod (or in the captive group). I know the two french orca babies very well (Shouka & Valentin) very well because I've worked on their group, in Marineland (Antibes, France). But I'm very "short petrol" about the other births in captivity. So, please, send, send, send. Thanks for all. Wishes. _____ Amities Satori.../Satorianly yours... Ludovic 'Heures hindoues' Piot ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 16:30:17 -0500 From: "Pamela M. Willis" Subject: biopsy methods on bowriders - a summary Dear Marmamers, A while back I submitted a posting to MARMAM inquiring about biopsy methods on bowriders from a small inflatable. A brief summary of pros and cons of popular methods are provided below; this list represents a summary of feedback from subscribers to the list and is not meant to be exaustive. The summary deals specifically with the use of these methods on small cetaceans from a small inflatable and not larger cetaceans or vessels (for which the pros and cons may differ). Pole Spear or Pole: The advantages of a pole or pole spear are that they are lightweight, easily manoeuvreable, and (apparently) unlike the other methods below are effective up to several inches beneath the water surface. This latter advantage may be particularly useful in bowriders which surface very rapidly and/or erratically, thereby increasing the sampling "window of opportunity". A pole spear operates like an Hawaiian sling used for spear-fishing; it is like a pole, but has a rubber-band firing mechanism, operated by a trigger. This firing mechanism eliminates the need of the operator to "throw" the pole, allowing for increased precision in the force and aim of deployment. The tip of the pole spear may be placed close to the animal in anticipation of deployment for a precise hit. The disadvantage of either a pole or pole spear is the limited effective range, as the animal must be within several feet of the operator. Crossbow Pistol: Few people responding had experience with a crossbow pistol; although several had used larger and more forceful crossbows. This type of system has been used effectively on animals within a few metres of the vessel. The main advantage of this type of system over a pole or pole spear is effective range, allowing the system to be used for animals which do not surface close to the vessel. An additional advantage is the ability to alter the force of deployment of the crossbow by increasing or decreasing the tension of the bow. The disadvantages of this type of system is difficulty in aiming from a small unstable platform on small fast animals. In addition, precision is not high, particularly if the bow is altered to decrease the force of impact. Air Pistol/Air Gun: Unfortunately, no responses dealt specifically with the use of an air pistol; however, the larger and more forceful air gun/air rifle have often been used. The following comments deal specifically with the latter. The advantages of this type of system are effective range; like the crossbow, it works well up to several meters from the target animal. It appears to be easier to aim from a small unstable platform than a crossbow, and users report they are fairly precise. A disadvantage of an air gun is that, again like the crossbow, it is more difficult than a pole system to aim from a small vessel on a small fast/erratic cetacean. An additional disadvantage is difficulty in adjusting the force of the dart. Summary: For animals surfacing close to the vessel, a pole spear appears to be the most promising method, although a crossbow pistol has also been found to be effective on close animals. In general, the closer the animal, the better the chance of successfully hitting the animal and procuring a sample. For animals which do not surface within a couple of metres of the vessel, a crossbow or air gun system is preferable. If distance is the primarly limiting factor, an air gun system may be preferable due to its apparent precision; however, a crossbow pistol may be advantageous in situations where animals are just outside pole/pole spear range, as the force of the crossbow can be adjusted to a level below what may be feasibly or predictably attainable with an air gun system. The decreased force provided by an air pistol may in theory make it appropriate for use in this case; however, I have no information on the use of this device. Any corrections/additions to this summary are welcome and encouraged. Pam Willis pwillis(\)whoi.edu >Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 17:46:57 -0500 >From: "Pamela M. Willis" >Subject: biopsy methods on bowriders > >Dear Marmamers, > > I am planning a research project which involves biopsy darting of >bowriding Dall's porpoise from a small zodiac, and am curious as to whether >anyone has attempted the use of either a crossbow pistol or air pistol to >retrieve samples from bowriding cetaceans. I am considering the use of a >pole, but am interested in the potential of either of these low-power >pistol systems as possible alternatives, given possible advantages over a >pole system in terms of speed, range, and/or accuracy. Any experiences with, >or ideas on, the advantages and disadvantages of these or other potential >systems would be greatly appreciated. Please reply directly to my address >below. Thank-you. > >Pam Willis >pwillis(\)whoi.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 11:37:56 +1000 From: Elizabeth Cotterell Subject: Mysticete melons I am currently researching the evolution of Cetacea, and seem to remember reading that some mysticetes were found to have vestigial melons that could have possibly been used for echolocation. If anybody knows whether this is true, or of appropriate references I could read, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Elizabeth Cotterell Zoology Dept, University of Qld Australia E-mail: ECotterell(\)zoology.uq.edu.au ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elizabeth Cotterell Zoology Department University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia 4072 Phone: (07) 3365-4821 E-Mail: ECotterell(\)zoology.uq.edu.au ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Dec 1996 08:12:54 -0500 From: Dagmar Fertl Subject: ECS conference For those of you in the United States who are interested in attending the 11th Annual Conference from the European Cetacean Society (10-12 March 1997 in Stralsund, Germany) please continue reading. Information on the conference may be found at the following web site: http://web.inter.NL.net/users/J.W.Broekema/ecs.htm The pre-registration form is due no later than *15th February*, and the accommodation form no later than *31st January* to the appropriate ECS folks. What is not provided at the web site is the forms (you only get them in time to send back to Europe if you are an ECS member). I have received a number of requests for copies of these forms (why, I don't know). I now have the forms in front of me, and am willing to FAX them to you or mail them. Contrary to popular belief, I have lots of work keeping me busy at the office, but I feel that sharing information with ya'll is important. I will only be able to FAX to U.S. numbers though. If you are in Europe, I'd suggest getting in touch with: ECS Conference 1997 Deutsches Museum fur Meereskunde und Fischerei Katharinenberg 14/20 18439 Stralsund Germany Tel: +49-3831-295135 FAX: +49-3831-292217 email: 101676.1264(\)compuserve.com (email will be out of order from 23 December to 19 January) Best wishes. Dagmar_Fertl(\)smtp.mms.gov