Highlights of the last couple of days at the SMM - which has manly been meeting in four simultaneous sessions have included impassioned pleas for the improved protection of the Maui's dolphins (New Zealand's genetically distinct sub-species which is now down to only some ~55 individuals); many papers related to the threat posed by noise to marine mammals; and a panel session looking at the issue of captive orcas.
Here are a few images:
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| Michael Jasny presented an overview of the work on ship-quietening technologies which he has been helping to lead. |
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| Michael Jasny |
Here the man himself in full flow.
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| Barbara Maas of the German NGO NABU calling for more action for the Maui's dolphin |
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| And reminding us of the statement made by the IUCN on this sub-species. |
The Panel discussion met in a packed hall:
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| The Panel: from the left: Duffus, Rose, DeMaster, Orams, St Leger and Baird. |
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DeMaster presented data on survival.
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A series of questions were put to the panel that had been made by its members and provided to the panelists a few days earlier, starting with this one:
Then this one
The question from Erich Hoyt (below) elicited support from all the panelists for a call on the Russian government to stop taking orcas.
The full panel discussion was recorded and will be available through the SMM website a future point, so I will not say more now but try to provide the appropriate link in due course.
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