Seal Pup Rehabilitation Internship
Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre is a registered not for profit organization located on Salt Spring Island off the west coast BC, Canada. We are one of only two marine mammal rehabilitation facilities in the country and operate under permits from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air.
IWNCC's focus is on the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned, sick and injured Harbour Seal pups. We have one immediate internship opening from mid-August until end October, 2008.
This is a volunteer position with housing and a grocery allowance. Interns are accepted internationally and are responsible for their own transportation to and from British Columbia.
Interns work directly under marine mammal rehabilitation specialists and can expect to learn and/or improve their skills in the following:
*Safe rescue and handling of Harbour Seal pups;
*stabilizing critical patients and new arrivals;
*diet preparation through all stages of the rehabilitation process;
*gavage (tube) feeding, force feeding and hand feeding techniques;
*proper hygiene and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of disease;
*administration of oral medications;
*behavioural and medical observation and proper record keeping;
*general care of many other indigenous avian and terrestrial species.
For more information see our website at www.sealrescue.org.
To apply, please e-mail a letter of interest with dates available and your resume.
iwncc@aol.com.
Jackie Ballerone
Program Director
322 Langs Road,
Salt Spring Island,
BC V8K 1N3
(250) 537-0777
jueves, 31 de julio de 2008
Eventos Internacionales: la Rochelle.
Symposium on Monitoring Strategies for Marine Mammal Populations,
La Rochelle, France, November 21-23, 2008
Hosted by the University of La Rochelle (LIENSs / CRMM)
http://marinemammal.univ-lr.fr/colloque2008En.html
Theme :
Marine mammals are important actors in marine ecosystems. Their position of top predators confers them a general value of indicators of marine ecosystem conservation state and exposes them to several types of pressures related to human activities at sea, including accumulation of contaminants along food webs and interactions with fisheries. Other sources of pressures and threats, independent of their role of top predators, include inter alia disturbance, collisions with ships and acoustic pollution.
In most European countries, marine mammals are protected by national, EU and international texts, which clarify the responsibility of governments in monitoring and conservation of these populations (Marine Protected Areas, national regulation on protected species, Habitat Directive, Common Fishery Policy, regional agreements ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS, …). However indicators proposed to estimate the status of marine mammal populations are only defined in very general terms, with mainly two criteria that are fairly easy to express but difficult to document: abundance and distribution. Other approaches are empirically used but their value as monitoring tools has not been really assessed; they notably include acoustic monitoring, stranding schemes, coastal watch and at-sea sightings from platforms of opportunity. As a consequence, to elaborate properly a strategy for monitoring the conservation status of marine mammal populations in Europe, it is necessary to compare available methods and estimate the performance of potential indicators, in terms of their capacity to detect changes in wild populations and of their cost-effectiveness.
The objectives of the meeting will thus encompass the following topics:
1. Expressing the societal demand in monitoring marine mammal populations
2. Converting the societal demand into measurable parameters
3. Existing practices of monitoring
4. Marine mammal population indicators and their performance
5. Examples of integrated monitoring strategies
Expected participants would include people in charge of public environmental policies, in particular as to the monitoring and conservation of marine mammal populations and habitats at national, EU and international levels, research groups in marine mammal biology and conservation and field correspondents or operators who collect and synthesize data relative to the state of conservation of marine mammal populations. It will thus be a unique opportunity to gather actors involved at all levels in monitoring marine mammal populations, from policy makers to data collectors.
Online abstract submission and online registration will be soon possible on the symposium website at:
http://marinemammal.univ-lr.fr/colloque2008En.html
For more information do not hesitate to contact us at:
conference2008@univ-lr.fr
The organizing committee :
The Ecology and Conservation of Marine Mammal research group of the University of La Rochelle (constituted of Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins CRMM and Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Joint Research Unit 6250 CNRS/ULR) will host an international symposium on strategies for monitoring marine mammal populations, from 21-23 November 2008 in La Rochelle, France.
The symposium is
hosted by: University of La Rochelle, France
sponsored by: French Agency of the Marine Protected Areas, French Ministry of Environment, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
and supported by: ACCOBAMS, ASCOBANS
For the organizing committee,
Pr Vincent Ridoux, University of La Rochelle.
La Rochelle, France, November 21-23, 2008
Hosted by the University of La Rochelle (LIENSs / CRMM)
http://marinemammal.univ-lr.fr/colloque2008En.html
Theme :
Marine mammals are important actors in marine ecosystems. Their position of top predators confers them a general value of indicators of marine ecosystem conservation state and exposes them to several types of pressures related to human activities at sea, including accumulation of contaminants along food webs and interactions with fisheries. Other sources of pressures and threats, independent of their role of top predators, include inter alia disturbance, collisions with ships and acoustic pollution.
In most European countries, marine mammals are protected by national, EU and international texts, which clarify the responsibility of governments in monitoring and conservation of these populations (Marine Protected Areas, national regulation on protected species, Habitat Directive, Common Fishery Policy, regional agreements ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS, …). However indicators proposed to estimate the status of marine mammal populations are only defined in very general terms, with mainly two criteria that are fairly easy to express but difficult to document: abundance and distribution. Other approaches are empirically used but their value as monitoring tools has not been really assessed; they notably include acoustic monitoring, stranding schemes, coastal watch and at-sea sightings from platforms of opportunity. As a consequence, to elaborate properly a strategy for monitoring the conservation status of marine mammal populations in Europe, it is necessary to compare available methods and estimate the performance of potential indicators, in terms of their capacity to detect changes in wild populations and of their cost-effectiveness.
The objectives of the meeting will thus encompass the following topics:
1. Expressing the societal demand in monitoring marine mammal populations
2. Converting the societal demand into measurable parameters
3. Existing practices of monitoring
4. Marine mammal population indicators and their performance
5. Examples of integrated monitoring strategies
Expected participants would include people in charge of public environmental policies, in particular as to the monitoring and conservation of marine mammal populations and habitats at national, EU and international levels, research groups in marine mammal biology and conservation and field correspondents or operators who collect and synthesize data relative to the state of conservation of marine mammal populations. It will thus be a unique opportunity to gather actors involved at all levels in monitoring marine mammal populations, from policy makers to data collectors.
Online abstract submission and online registration will be soon possible on the symposium website at:
http://marinemammal.univ-lr.fr/colloque2008En.html
For more information do not hesitate to contact us at:
conference2008@univ-lr.fr
The organizing committee :
The Ecology and Conservation of Marine Mammal research group of the University of La Rochelle (constituted of Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins CRMM and Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Joint Research Unit 6250 CNRS/ULR) will host an international symposium on strategies for monitoring marine mammal populations, from 21-23 November 2008 in La Rochelle, France.
The symposium is
hosted by: University of La Rochelle, France
sponsored by: French Agency of the Marine Protected Areas, French Ministry of Environment, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
and supported by: ACCOBAMS, ASCOBANS
For the organizing committee,
Pr Vincent Ridoux, University of La Rochelle.
Empleo: EEUU y Canadá!
Job Posting for LGL Limited, environmental research associates, Sidney, B.C., King City, Ont., and Anchorage, Alaska .
Marine Ecologist/Mammalogist
LGL is accepting applications for Marine Ecologist/Mammalogist positions in our British Columbia, Ontario and Alaska offices.
Available positions range from senior project managers to junior biologists. LGL conducts marine mammal research and environmental assessments for a wide variety of clients in Canada, the U.S.A., and elsewhere, with an emphasis on applied research and impact assessments relating to marine mammals and underwater noise.
The successful candidates will work as members of our existing office-based teams to fulfill existing project obligations and to obtain new work in traditional and new project areas. These are full-time positions with fieldwork (travel) requirements.
Qualifications:
The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate abilities and experience consistent with the following minimum requirements:
* Intermediate/Senior positions: M.Sc. or Ph.D. (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years experience working on projects involving marine biota, including substantial marine mammal work
* Junior positions: B.Sc. with 2+ years working experience as noted above, or M.Sc.
* Experience with marine mammal surveys, photo-id, disturbance assessments, acoustics, and mitigation measures is valued
* Candidates for the Sidney and King City offices must be eligible to live and work in Canada (Canadian citizens or permanent residents). Preference will be given to those who are also able to work in the U.S.A.; biologists with Canadian (or U.S.) citizenship usually qualify for U.S. work
* Candidates for the Anchorage office must be eligible to live and work in the U.S.A.
* Willing to travel, including to remote areas
* Work effectively alone and as part of a team
* Senior positions require strong project management abilities including team building, task scheduling, client relations, and fiscal tracking (plus extensive marine mammal experience)
* Consulting experience would be an asset
* Strong analytical and technical writing skills with evidence of senior authorship on study proposals and reports, and ideally journal publications
* Able to provide at least two references who will substantiate your qualifications.
* Marine ecologists/mammalogists with qualifications similar to but not exactly matching the above will be considered.
Salary & Benefits:
LGL provides competitive salaries and benefits. Salary commensurate with position and experience.
Closing date:
Open until filled.
Contact:
Send via email a cover letter with career goals and objectives, specific LGL office(s) of interest to the candidate, citizenship/residency status, and a full CV to
Ms. Kerry Stratton
LGL Limited
9768 Second Street
Sidney, B.C.
V8L 3Y8
E-mail: kstratton@lgl.com or
Ms. Amanda White
LGL Limited
Box 280,
22 Fisher Street
King City, Ont.
L7B 1A6
E-mail: awhite@lgl.com or
Ms. Julie-Ann Karsten
LGL Alaska
Research Associates
Inc.1101
East 76th Ave. Suite B
Anchorage,
AK 99518
E-mail: jkarsten@lgl.com>
E-mail any enquiries.
No phone calls please.
This posting is also available at http://lgl.com/cont-employment.htm
Marine Ecologist/Mammalogist
LGL is accepting applications for Marine Ecologist/Mammalogist positions in our British Columbia, Ontario and Alaska offices.
Available positions range from senior project managers to junior biologists. LGL conducts marine mammal research and environmental assessments for a wide variety of clients in Canada, the U.S.A., and elsewhere, with an emphasis on applied research and impact assessments relating to marine mammals and underwater noise.
The successful candidates will work as members of our existing office-based teams to fulfill existing project obligations and to obtain new work in traditional and new project areas. These are full-time positions with fieldwork (travel) requirements.
Qualifications:
The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate abilities and experience consistent with the following minimum requirements:
* Intermediate/Senior positions: M.Sc. or Ph.D. (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years experience working on projects involving marine biota, including substantial marine mammal work
* Junior positions: B.Sc. with 2+ years working experience as noted above, or M.Sc.
* Experience with marine mammal surveys, photo-id, disturbance assessments, acoustics, and mitigation measures is valued
* Candidates for the Sidney and King City offices must be eligible to live and work in Canada (Canadian citizens or permanent residents). Preference will be given to those who are also able to work in the U.S.A.; biologists with Canadian (or U.S.) citizenship usually qualify for U.S. work
* Candidates for the Anchorage office must be eligible to live and work in the U.S.A.
* Willing to travel, including to remote areas
* Work effectively alone and as part of a team
* Senior positions require strong project management abilities including team building, task scheduling, client relations, and fiscal tracking (plus extensive marine mammal experience)
* Consulting experience would be an asset
* Strong analytical and technical writing skills with evidence of senior authorship on study proposals and reports, and ideally journal publications
* Able to provide at least two references who will substantiate your qualifications.
* Marine ecologists/mammalogists with qualifications similar to but not exactly matching the above will be considered.
Salary & Benefits:
LGL provides competitive salaries and benefits. Salary commensurate with position and experience.
Closing date:
Open until filled.
Contact:
Send via email a cover letter with career goals and objectives, specific LGL office(s) of interest to the candidate, citizenship/residency status, and a full CV to
Ms. Kerry Stratton
LGL Limited
9768 Second Street
Sidney, B.C.
V8L 3Y8
E-mail: kstratton@lgl.com or
Ms. Amanda White
LGL Limited
Box 280,
22 Fisher Street
King City, Ont.
L7B 1A6
E-mail: awhite@lgl.com or
Ms. Julie-Ann Karsten
LGL Alaska
Research Associates
Inc.1101
East 76th Ave. Suite B
Anchorage,
AK 99518
E-mail: jkarsten@lgl.com>
E-mail any enquiries.
No phone calls please.
This posting is also available at http://lgl.com/cont-employment.htm
Actividades: curso sobre estudios cognitivos y comportamentales en Florida!
Dolphin Research Center, a not-for-profit research and educational organization, would like to announce a late summer course in Cognitive and Behavioral Marine Mammal Research.
The program is a seven-day, in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine mammal science. The course material surveys a wide-range of knowledge, theories and ongoing research concerning dolphins.
By working with staff on DRC research studies, students gain a greater understanding of dolphins' cognitive abilities and social behavior, as well as deeper insight into research concepts and methodology.
Seminar Topics & Focused Activities Include:
*Review of Dolphin Anatomy & Physiology,
*Physiological Research,
*Research Project Design,
*DRC's Current Research,
*Marine Mammal Cognition,
*Research Law Requirements,
*Behavior &Ecology, and
*Research in Acoustics & Communication.
Hands-On Activities Include:
*Assisting research staff in conducting currentcognitive research sessions,
*learning and conducting observation sessions,
*participating in additional research activities.
Cost: The cost of the course is $1700.00 (US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals and lodging.
Dates: August 30th - September 5th, 2008.
For more information please visit
http://www.dolphins.org/
Click on the visit DRC bar, followed by the link to DolphinLab, or contact us at 305/289-1121 x 225 or education@dolphins.org
DRC Publications: Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically "less" by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology.
The program is a seven-day, in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine mammal science. The course material surveys a wide-range of knowledge, theories and ongoing research concerning dolphins.
By working with staff on DRC research studies, students gain a greater understanding of dolphins' cognitive abilities and social behavior, as well as deeper insight into research concepts and methodology.
Seminar Topics & Focused Activities Include:
*Review of Dolphin Anatomy & Physiology,
*Physiological Research,
*Research Project Design,
*DRC's Current Research,
*Marine Mammal Cognition,
*Research Law Requirements,
*Behavior &Ecology, and
*Research in Acoustics & Communication.
Hands-On Activities Include:
*Assisting research staff in conducting currentcognitive research sessions,
*learning and conducting observation sessions,
*participating in additional research activities.
Cost: The cost of the course is $1700.00 (US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals and lodging.
Dates: August 30th - September 5th, 2008.
For more information please visit
http://www.dolphins.org/
Click on the visit DRC bar, followed by the link to DolphinLab, or contact us at 305/289-1121 x 225 or education@dolphins.org
DRC Publications: Jaakkola, K., Fellner, W., Erb, L., Rodriguez, A. M., & Guarino, E. (2005). Understanding the concept of numerically "less" by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology.
Eventos Internacionales: Maldivas!
This is the announcement of the Indian Ocean Cetacean Symposium, to be held in the Maldives in July 2009.
Dates and venue have now been finalized:
Dates: 18-20 July 2009.
Venue: Sun Island Resort and Spa, Ari Atoll, Maldives.
http://www.sun-island.com/
Symposium website: www.mrc.gov.mrc/iocs09.html
To register or receive further information (including details of special conference rate at Sun Island) contact
Ms. Shahaama Sattar:
sasattar@mrc.gov.mv
For more information about the Maldives: http://www.visitmaldives.com/
The past decade has seen a rapid expansion of the cetacean research in the Indian Ocean. This symposium will provide an opportunity for active cetacean researchers from across the region to gather, to present findings, and to plan collaborative research activities. It will also bring together representatives of international organisations concerned with cetacean research and conservation. A major output of the symposium will be a peer-reviewed proceedings volume.
2009 happens to be the 30th anniversary year of the declaration of the IWC's Indian Ocean Sanctuary. One of the objectives of the IOS is to promote benign research on cetaceans, and this meeting will provide a timely opportunity to review such activities. I hope to meet some of you here in the beautiful Maldives this time next year,
Charles Anderson
Male'Republic of Maldives
Dates and venue have now been finalized:
Dates: 18-20 July 2009.
Venue: Sun Island Resort and Spa, Ari Atoll, Maldives.
http://www.sun-island.com/
Symposium website: www.mrc.gov.mrc/iocs09.html
To register or receive further information (including details of special conference rate at Sun Island) contact
Ms. Shahaama Sattar:
sasattar@mrc.gov.mv
For more information about the Maldives: http://www.visitmaldives.com/
The past decade has seen a rapid expansion of the cetacean research in the Indian Ocean. This symposium will provide an opportunity for active cetacean researchers from across the region to gather, to present findings, and to plan collaborative research activities. It will also bring together representatives of international organisations concerned with cetacean research and conservation. A major output of the symposium will be a peer-reviewed proceedings volume.
2009 happens to be the 30th anniversary year of the declaration of the IWC's Indian Ocean Sanctuary. One of the objectives of the IOS is to promote benign research on cetaceans, and this meeting will provide a timely opportunity to review such activities. I hope to meet some of you here in the beautiful Maldives this time next year,
Charles Anderson
Male'Republic of Maldives
Voluntariado: Mauricio!
The together with the Mauritian Marine Conservation Society, Centre for Dolphin Studies has embarked on a study of the dolphin watching industry in Mauritius and the dolphins exploited in this industry.
To give a little background:
The dolphin watching industry has grown unregulated and uncontrolled over the last 5 or 6 years (a whale watching industry is nascent and may take off at any moment). On a typical day, groups of spinner dolphins, sometimes up to 100 animals, but typically 50 dolphins, will be visited by an average of 50 boats (sometimes up to 100) over a 4 hour period, early to mid- morning. With a non-ending stream of snorkellers jumping in the water to be near them. On occasion, perhaps 20% of the time, small groups (2 to 5) of bottlenose dolphins are subjected to the same fate.
Contrary to what might be expected, I think the bottlenose are the major conservation issue. What I expect to find, based purely on intuition and not science, is a very small population of Tursiops, probably around 100 to 150 animals. I say this because the Island coastline is only 170km long and the barrier reef on average 750 m wide. So this gives an area of habitat of about 120square km and from experience coastal bottlenose occur at a maximum of about 1 per square km. In contrast, I expect that the spinners visiting the coast daily are part of a larger population, probably around 3000 to 5000 strong - perhaps 1 or 2 thousand less. But, that is all conjecture, we need to establish the sustainability of the industry and the conservation status of the dolphins scientifically.
We have three students working on this:
1. Examining the socio-economic aspects, what the industry is worth, how many people, from where etc etc.
2. Behavioural aspects, what the dolphins are doing in the area, what they do before the boats arrive, during and after.
3. Determining numbers and identity of both species.
The trouble is we have a limited budget and we, like most science, need to augment this in some way. Hence, we are looking for paying volunteers to come to Mauritius and help us with this work. Other than the research (undertaken by three PhD students) outlined above, the programme also encompasses:
Working with schools to promote environmental awareness.
Lobbying Government, the dolphin watching industry and private business, in an effort to gain support for sustainable marine eco-tourism.
So, not only is there opportunity to help the three PhD students with their research, but there will be ample opportunity to work with the MMCS in their educational and awareness campaign.
We would like to host a maximum of two volunteers at any one time to help. Help would mostly be collecting data at sea, on our new boat, or somehow helping the collection of research data.
Volunteers will be accommodated with two of the students in a small furnished house in Black River (GPS 20o 21.77'S, 57o 21.48'E).
Volunteers will share a room and food will be provided, the same food eaten by the students.
Anything outside of this will be for the volunteer's own account. Volunteers will be expected to contribute to housework, cleaning etc. The house is well appointed, two toilets, one bathroom with shower. It is about 750 m from a shopping centre that has a well stocked supermarket. The beach is about 100 m away.
Openings for volunteers are available immediately. Charges will be around 350 Euros per week, including airport pick up and return, with a minimum of 4 weeks (and a maximum of 8 weeks, because of Government stipulation).
For more info on volunteering, contact:
Jacqueline Sauzier (MMCS Chair)
zakinsau@intnet.mu
Imogen Webster (PhD candidate)
iwebster@mmcs-ngo.org or
www.mmcs-ngo.org or,
of course, me!
Vic Cockroft
info@dolphinstudies.co.za
http://www.dolphinstudies.org/
To give a little background:
The dolphin watching industry has grown unregulated and uncontrolled over the last 5 or 6 years (a whale watching industry is nascent and may take off at any moment). On a typical day, groups of spinner dolphins, sometimes up to 100 animals, but typically 50 dolphins, will be visited by an average of 50 boats (sometimes up to 100) over a 4 hour period, early to mid- morning. With a non-ending stream of snorkellers jumping in the water to be near them. On occasion, perhaps 20% of the time, small groups (2 to 5) of bottlenose dolphins are subjected to the same fate.
Contrary to what might be expected, I think the bottlenose are the major conservation issue. What I expect to find, based purely on intuition and not science, is a very small population of Tursiops, probably around 100 to 150 animals. I say this because the Island coastline is only 170km long and the barrier reef on average 750 m wide. So this gives an area of habitat of about 120square km and from experience coastal bottlenose occur at a maximum of about 1 per square km. In contrast, I expect that the spinners visiting the coast daily are part of a larger population, probably around 3000 to 5000 strong - perhaps 1 or 2 thousand less. But, that is all conjecture, we need to establish the sustainability of the industry and the conservation status of the dolphins scientifically.
We have three students working on this:
1. Examining the socio-economic aspects, what the industry is worth, how many people, from where etc etc.
2. Behavioural aspects, what the dolphins are doing in the area, what they do before the boats arrive, during and after.
3. Determining numbers and identity of both species.
The trouble is we have a limited budget and we, like most science, need to augment this in some way. Hence, we are looking for paying volunteers to come to Mauritius and help us with this work. Other than the research (undertaken by three PhD students) outlined above, the programme also encompasses:
Working with schools to promote environmental awareness.
Lobbying Government, the dolphin watching industry and private business, in an effort to gain support for sustainable marine eco-tourism.
So, not only is there opportunity to help the three PhD students with their research, but there will be ample opportunity to work with the MMCS in their educational and awareness campaign.
We would like to host a maximum of two volunteers at any one time to help. Help would mostly be collecting data at sea, on our new boat, or somehow helping the collection of research data.
Volunteers will be accommodated with two of the students in a small furnished house in Black River (GPS 20o 21.77'S, 57o 21.48'E).
Volunteers will share a room and food will be provided, the same food eaten by the students.
Anything outside of this will be for the volunteer's own account. Volunteers will be expected to contribute to housework, cleaning etc. The house is well appointed, two toilets, one bathroom with shower. It is about 750 m from a shopping centre that has a well stocked supermarket. The beach is about 100 m away.
Openings for volunteers are available immediately. Charges will be around 350 Euros per week, including airport pick up and return, with a minimum of 4 weeks (and a maximum of 8 weeks, because of Government stipulation).
For more info on volunteering, contact:
Jacqueline Sauzier (MMCS Chair)
zakinsau@intnet.mu
Imogen Webster (PhD candidate)
iwebster@mmcs-ngo.org or
www.mmcs-ngo.org or,
of course, me!
Vic Cockroft
info@dolphinstudies.co.za
http://www.dolphinstudies.org/
Actualidad: excursiones infantiles.
Berardius bairdii.Al tiempo que la temporada ballenera se desarrolla, los niños de Wada, a 50 millas al sureste de Tokyo, han estado asistiendo a excursiones para ver los primeros zifios de Baird (Berardius bairdii) del año en ser despedazados. El objetivo de estas visitas consiste enseñar a las futuras generaciones la importancia histórica de la controvertida actividad ballenera.
Elegantemente ataviados y con cascos amarillos, los pequeños de unos 10 años, tomaron notas y dibujaron piezas desmembradas de estos cetáceos.
Desde sus pequeñas embarcaciones, los pescadores locales arponearon hasta 26 zifios de esta especie durante la temporada de 3 meses. La historia ballenera de Wada se remonta hasta 1612, cuando éstos cetáceos de hasta 10 tonelatas se arponeaban a mano. Actualmente es una de las 4 comunidades a las que se les permite realizar capturas costeras.
La mayoría de la grasa se corta en "ladrillos" que son vendidos a la población local, la mayoría, acostumbrada a comer carne de ballena durante toda su vida. El esto se vende en los supermercados.
Actualidad: cetáceo arponeado aparece en Mallorca!
Se encontró varado en Mallorca, un cahalote arponeado el 24 de Junio.
Expertos de Marineland están examinando los restos de un cachalote de 10m encontrado en Font se sa Cala (Capdepera, Mallorca), con el objetivo de establecer las causas de la muerte.
Los restos fueron encontrados enmallados en redes de pesca y se comprobó que el animal había sido arponeado. 
Actualidad: Las ballenas azules ajustan sus cantos!
La ballena azul (Balaenoptera musculus) el animal más grande del planeta, ha comenzado a ajustar sus cantos a medida que la población se incrementa.
Balaenoptera musculus.John Hildebrand, investigador del Scripps Institution of Oceanography, comenta que según crece la población de esta especie bajo la protección legislativa acutal, los individuos han adaptado sus patrones de comunicación hacia tonos mayores.
"Como sus números se han visto lentamente incrementados tras la devastación causada por la caza ballenera, actualmente necesitan comunicarse entre menores distancias, de manera que sus cantos no necesitan ser tan potentes y pueden ser realizados a mayor profundidad", comentó el profesor de la Universidad de San Diego.
El profesor David Rothernberg, del Instituto de Tecnología de Nueva Jersey, afirmó que, mediante el uso de hidrófonos y micrófonos, fue capaz de descubrir que las ballenas responden a la música adaptando a ella sus cantos.
"Estos animales son increíblemente sociales y parecen ser capaces de cambiar sus cantos regularmente. Cuando un individuo innova, el resto de la población comienza a cantar del mismo modo adquiriendo estas novedades".
LINKS:
LINKS:
Actualidad: el gobierno japonés engaña a la CBI!
El Gobierno Japonés incapaz de cuantificar el volumen de carne de ballena en venta.
Expertos de IFAW, durante la reunión anual de la CBO han puesto en evidencia que probablemente Japón haya capturado más rorcuales comunes (Balaenoptera physalus) de los que el Gobierno había informado.
Un nuevo informe del Comité Científico de la CBI parece confirmar las advertencias de investigadores y conservacionistas internacionales, sobre el hecho de que Japón está ocultando el verdadero número de ballenas que capturan cada año. "El Gobierno japonés es incapaz de regular la venta de carne de ballena en el país", dijo Naoko Funahashi, Director de IFAW-Japón y co-autor del informe. "Los estudios de DNA prueban que se han vendido más rorcuales comunes en Japón, de los que el Gobierno admite haber matado".
El equipo investigador, liderado por el Dr. Scott Baker de la Universidad Estatal de Oregon analizó el DNA de 99 productos cárnicos derivados de ballena adquiridos en los mercados japoneses desde 2006, pudiendo identificar hasta 6 especies distintas de ballena, incluyendo a los rorcuales comunes.
Este estudió empleó métodos similares a los estudios forenses genéticos humanos, para identificar productos en venta procedentes de un total de 15 individuos distintos durante 2006 y 2007. Sin embargo, el Gobierno Japonés había declarado la captura de sólo 13 individuos de esta especie en este periodo.
Los datos oficiales de ballenas enmalladas y muertas en artes de pesca no parecen contribuir en la disponibilidad adicional de carne de rorcual común en el mercado.
A pesar de que el Gobierno de Jápón manifiesta tener datos de DNA de cada ballena capturada, rehusa compartir esta información. Después de considerar el nuevo informe de estos estudios en el mercado, el Comité Científico instó a Japón a proveer de dicha información para detectar cualquier captura ilegal, irregular o clandestina.
Estudios previos de DNA habían indicado que una variedad de especies protegidas son vendidas en Japón bajo el nombre de productos obtenidos por "captura científica y captura incidental".
Estudios previos de DNA habían indicado que una variedad de especies protegidas son vendidas en Japón bajo el nombre de productos obtenidos por "captura científica y captura incidental".
"El Gobierno japonés afirma que puede regular la caza ballenera y el comercio de estos productos. En verdad, son incapaces de regular ninguna de estas actividades", dijo Patrick Ramage, Director del Programa de Cetáceos de IFAW. "Ahora, el mismo gobierno apela al compromiso de la ICB mientras se niega a compartir la información. Acabar con la pantomima de la caza científica podría ser un gran paso en ambos sentidos".
El programa ballenero Japonés ha sido criticado mundialmente como una operación comercial encubierta bajo el velo de la ciencia. Actualmente explota un vacío en las regulaciones de la CBI, que permite la investigación letal.
La CBI, en numerosas ocasiones ha instado a Japón a acabar con su programa de captura, argumentando que no tiene relevancia alguna para los objetivos de conservación de los cetáceos.
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