Trying to spare whales and other cetaceans Dr. Karin Forney, research biologist with the Marine Mammal and Turtle Division of NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Santa Cruz, will discuss the latest attempts to reduce human impacts on whales, dolphins and porpoises when she speaks to the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society next Thursday (June 26). The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in The Boat Works building at Hopkins Marine Station, 120 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove. NOAA has surveyed marine mammals within the California Current ecosystem since 1991 to estimate the populations, model the distributions and monitor trends. In recent years, researchers have developed methods for finer scale models to assess localized impacts from naval activities, fishery bycatch, vessel traffic and energy development. They have provided the models to the U.S. Navy and other users for assessment and mitigation of potential harm. Dr. Forney will present an overview of the process. She has researched the abundance, distribution, ecology, fishery bycatch and status of more than 20 species of cetaceans and pinnipeds in the eastern and central northern Pacific Ocean for the past 27 years. One of Dr. Forney’s research interests is assessing and mitigating human caused mortality and injury of protected species. Please join us for refreshments before the program begins. The doors will open at 7 p.m. More information is available on our Web site, acsmb.org.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 04:46:01 +0000