Beaked Whale Technical Workshop

The Marine Mammal Commission convened a workshop to discuss the vulnerability of beaked whales to anthropogenic sound.

The workshop was technical in nature, and the results will be used to inform a larger policy dialogue sponsored by the Marine Mammal Commission on the effects of anthropogenic sound in the marine environment. Specifically, the workshop’s goals were to:

(1) assess current knowledge of recent stranding events involving beaked whales and their biology and ecology;

(2) identify and characterize factors that may have caused those strandings;

(3) identify data needed to investigate possible cause-and-effect relationships; and

(4) recommend research, management, and mitigation strategies specific to beaked whales and acoustic impacts.

At the recommendation of the workshop steering committee, and in order to facilitate discussion, the Commission limited the number of participants to 30 experts in beaked whales, acoustics, and related fields. However, the workshop was open to observers, and the public was welcome to attend. For a list of confirmed participants click here. (34 KB) For a summary of the meeting click here. (152 KB)

The Commission worked with a small steering committee in planning this workshop. Members included:

Jay Barlow, PhD, National Marine Fisheries Service

Colleen (Lee) Benner, Minerals Management Service

Robert C. Gisiner, PhD, Office of Naval Research

Lloyd F. Lowry, Marine Mammal Commission, Committee of Scientific Advisors

James G. Mead, PhD, Smithsonian Institution

Teri K. Rowles, PhD, National Marine Fisheries Service

Douglas Wartzok, PhD, Marine Mammal Commission Committee of Scientific Advisors

In addition, Andrew J. Read, PhD, Duke University Marine Laboratory, was the chairman of the workshop.

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