9:00-9:20

Welcome and introductions (24 KB)

Review agenda for this meeting (136 KB)
Approve Second Plenary Meeting summary (352 KB)

9:20-10:30

Review results of action items from Meeting Two

• Discuss possible need for coordination of Advisory Committee efforts with implementation of other national efforts to address ocean issues
  
  • Discuss implementation of reports from U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (851 KB) and from Pew Oceans Commission (885 KB)
  • Discuss how Advisory Committee reports may intersect with these efforts
• Review and discuss information on Bahamas strandings as requested by Committee
  • Update on NOAA/Navy final report
  • Hildebrand/Balcomb information on estimated exposure levels (3 MB)
  • Update on melon-headed whales stranded in Hawaii (288 KB)

10:30-10:45

Break

10:45-12:15

Report from the Subcommittee on Synthesis of Current Knowledge (15 KB)

• Review draft report of what is known, and what the major uncertainties and disagreements are
• Discuss Subcommittee product and identify issues and concerns for Committee discussion; provide feedback to Subcommittee for refinement of draft report

12:15-1:15

Lunch

1:15-2:30

Continue discussion of Subcommittee report

Break

2:45-4:30

Discuss how to move forward with synthesis report

• How can the Committee make the best use of the Subcommittee product?
• What are the implications of the Subcommittee report for the development of research priorities?
• Develop agreed upon criteria for research priorities
• Discuss an initial list of research priorities
• Discuss the desirable next steps in developing research priorities
• Discuss how mitigation and monitoring issues will be integrated into the development of research priorities
• Statement from academic research caucus (15 KB)

4:30-5:00

Public comment period

5:00

Wrap up and adjourn

8:30-8:45

Opening remarks, review agenda for the day, introduction to discussions of key issues for addressing barriers to research on marine mammals and sound

8:45-10:30

Issue I: What funding is currently available to address the scientific uncertainties of concern to the Committee? (Plenary Discussion)

• What levels and types of funding have historically been and are currently available to address the significant research questions?
• What are the funding sources? What are the solicitation and review processes for each?
• What questions have been and are being addressed by current and historic research?

Background for this session: Information from research funders concerning the questions outlined above

• U.S. Navy Funding (44 KB)
• National Oceanographic Partnership Program Funding (65 KB)

10:30-10:45

Break

10:45-11:15

Continue discussion of research funding

• Should the Committee develop recommendations for future funding needs? If yes, how should it go about this task?
• Are there other next steps for the Committee on this issue?

11:15-12:00

Issue II: Addressing actual or perceived bias when there are major or dominant funding sources for research

• Report from conference call discussion on this topic
• Consideration of proposal from conference call participants
• Determination of next steps

12:00-1:00

Lunch

1:00-3:00

Issue III: Permitting issues for researchers involved in studying marine mammals and sound and/or mitigation and management of acoustic impacts on marine mammals (Plenary Discussion)

• What are the concerns of researchers and others about the current requirements/systems for incidental harassment authorizations and marine mammal research permits?
• What are the consequences of the current requirements/systems on the development of important information? How can these consequences be addressed, with and/or without statutory change?
• What are the desired characteristics of a realistic regulatory regime for research on or affecting marine mammals?
• What are the next steps for the Committee on this issue?

Background for this session: NMFS and FWS to present information about potential improvements in current system

• NOAA Fisheries Permitting (41 KB)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permitting (369 KB)

3:00-3:15

Break

3:15-4:15

Issue IV: Coordination of research efforts and dissemination of research results (Plenary Discussion)

• What are the specific concerns regarding all interested parties having access to data and/or research results?
• Have Committee member organizations tried to address these concerns in the past? If yes, with what results?
• Are there additional mechanisms that the Committee should discuss and consider? If yes, what are they?
• Should the Committee develop recommendations on this topic? If yes, how should we go about this task?
• Are there other next steps for the Committee on this issue?

4:15-4:45

Public comment period

4:45-5:00

Wrap up and adjourn

8:30-8:45

Opening remarks, summary of days one and two, goals for day three

8:45-10:15

Issue V: Animal welfare ethics concerns RE: research practices and stranding responses (Plenary Discussion)

• What ethical guidelines exist now? What is the range of views about their value or effectiveness?
• How have Committee member organizations addressed these concerns in the past?
• What situations that may arise as research efforts move forward are not anticipated and/or addressed by the existing guidelines?
• Should the Committee develop recommendations on this topic? If yes, how should it go about this task?
• What are the next steps for the Committee on this issue?

Background information for this session:

• Presentation on animal welfare ethics regulations and issues (Daryl Boness, Smithsonian Institution [Emeritus] and Marine Mammal Commission Committee of Scientific Advisors) (365 KB)
• Outline of all permit steps researchers must complete before beginning research (Paul Nachtigall, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology) (463 KB)
• Committee members to come prepared to provide information about animal welfare and ethics procedures currently in use, and any concerns about them

10:15-10:30

Break

10:30-11:30

Issue VI: Capacity of research community to address research questions of concern to the Committee (Plenary Discussion)

• Are there sufficient facilities and scientists to undertake the research that is needed to improve understanding of acoustic impacts on marine mammals?
• What are the issues regarding the availability and development of improved research technologies?
• What are the next steps for the Committee on this issue?

11:30-12:00

Report from NOAA Fisheries Shipping Symposium (35 KB)

12:00-1:00

Lunch

1:00-2:30

Report from the Subcommittee on Management and Mitigation (204 KB)

• Review information from Subcommittee on Management and Mitigation
• Consider and refine proposed full charge and workplan; approve revision
• Discuss next steps on management and mitigation, including direction and content of final product

2:30-2:45

Break

2:45-3:00

Update on International Policy Workshop (London, England, 28-30 September 2004) (74 KB)

3:00-4:30

Plan for Plenary Meeting Four (New Orleans, Louisiana, 30 November-2 December 2004)

• Review plans for development of proposals and recommendations for review at Meeting Four, based on discussions over past three days
• Discuss and agree on additional topics for Meeting Four--Potential topics could include:
  • Draft report and recommendations from the Subcommittee on Management and Mitigation
  • Draft recommendations on research priorities
  • Status of draft synthesis report
  • How the Committee would like to address the topic of uncertainty and precaution in its recommendations
  • Draft outline for Committee Report

4:30-5:00

Review decisions and actions from this meeting
Evaluate meeting progress toward Advisory Committee goals
Wrap up and adjourn