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The Secretariat of the International Whaling Commission is hiring for a Cetacean Bycatch Coordinator

CETACEAN BYCATCH MITIGATION COORDINATOR
The IWC is seeking a Bycatch Coordinator to coordinate and implement the programme of work for the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The Coordinator will provide advice to the Commission, exchange information and liaise with other inter-governmental organisations, and support governments in addressing the complex issues and challenges relating to bycatch and its mitigation.
To apply or read more follow the link.

Information Here

Regards
Iain Staniland
Head of Science Conservation and Management
IWC

CETACEAN BYCATCH MITIGATION COORDINATOR
The IWC is seeking a Bycatch Coordinator to coordinate and implement the programme of work for the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The Coordinator will provide advice to the Commission, exchange information and liaise with other inter-governmental organisations, and support governments in addressing the complex issues and challenges relating to bycatch and its mitigation.
To apply or read more follow the link.

Entanglements of North Atlantic right whales in northwestern crab and lobster pot fisheries

New England doesn’t show much in the spring on land. For me the arrival of spring is when Critically Endangered North Atlantic  right whales appear off of Cape Cod, after hanging out south before migrating northward where most spend their summer. And, alas, we have the news in the attached You Tube link on yet another entanglement in fishing gear. If you eat lobster or crab learn where it’s from! Let your stores and restaurants know why you want to know. Gradually we can make a difference before the 350 individuals that remain succumb and go extinct from excessive boat strikes and these entanglements. In the meantime I also am working with colleagues on building markets for the most sustainably caught lobster and crab off New England. Although we got the feds to agree on a implementing regulations that would keep our fishermen on the water while making it safer for whales, a small but strong group of lobster fishermen complained to Congress, and got them to delay their implementation for a species with little time left. Please educate  your family and friends too  but avoid sounding preachy. Together we can do this.


 

Entanglements of North Atlanntic right whales in northwestern lobster and crab pot fisheries

New England doesn’t show much in the spring on land. For me the arrival of spring is when Critically Endangered North Atlantic  right whales appear off of Cape Cod, after hanging out south before migrating northward where most spend their summer. And, alas, we have the news in the attached You Tube link on yet another entanglement in fishing gear. If you eat lobster or crab learn where it’s from! Let your stores and restaurants know why you want to know.

May 2: World Tuna Day

It is worth acknowledging the importamce of tuna to ourseleves and the world's oceans. Please read this OpEd and take to heart the need for conserving yje world's tuna stock,  including how fishing them endangers maby other marine wildlife in the form of bycatch.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/up-marine-expert-calls-for-protection-of-the-ocean-s-blue-giants 

It is worth acknowledging the importamce of tuna to ourseleves and the world's oceans. Please read this OpEd and take to heart the need for conserving yje world's tuna stock,  including how fishing them endangers maby other marine wildlife in the form of bycatch.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/up-marine-expert-calls-for-protection-of-the-ocean-s-blue-giants 

2020 Funding Announcement GLOBAL FUND FOR MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH SOLUTIONS

Ocean Associates, Inc., in collaboration with the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
and with funding from the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection, is pleased to announce the availability of grants to support capacity building
for reducing marine mammal bycatch.

Ocean Associates, Inc., in collaboration with the Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction
and with funding from the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection, is pleased to announce the availability of grants to support capacity building
for reducing marine mammal bycatch.
The kinds of projects eligible for support can include:
1) Evaluation of potential marine mammal bycatch reduction techniques;
2) Establishing estimates of bycatch and calculating bycatch limits in fisheries that
interact with marine mammals; and

Previous grantee report (2020): Ghana Wildlife Society

GHANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Final Report to Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium

PROJECT TITLE: Baseline Assessment on Marine Mammal Bycatch along the Coast of Ghana during 2019-2020

GHANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Final Report to Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium

PROJECT TITLE: Baseline Assessment on Marine Mammal Bycatch along the Coast of Ghana during 2019-2020

Previous grantee report (2020) WWF-India

Mapping Cetacean Occurrence and Bycatch in Indian Waters: Bridging Knowledge Gaps Through Fisher Community Networks

Bycatch is one of the greatest and best-documented threats to cetaceans globally (Reeves et al., 2005). In the Indian Ocean, cetacean bycatch is known to be high, yet there are huge gaps in our existing knowledge on the extent to which bycatch poses a threat to cetaceans in this region (Kiszka et al., 2009; Anderson et al., 2020). Particularly along the coast of India, very little is known about cetacean bycatch, with little or no monitoring in place (Leaper & Calderan, 2018).

David Attenborough The Ocean

One of my heroes has released a powerful film about the natural history of The Ocean: https://www.hulu.com/watch/1d8f1a4a-72dc-4532-a0e0-d35daa00d3a7

 

This should be viewed in all schools, all workplaces, as widely as possible

 

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH | OFFICIAL TRAILER | IN CINEMAS NOW | Altitude Films

One of my heroes has released a powerful film about the natural history of The Ocean: https://www.hulu.com/watch/1d8f1a4a-72dc-4532-a0e0-d35daa00d3a7

 

This should be viewed in all schools, all workplaces, as widely as possible

Bycatch management measure for crab pots

Virginia, USA is considering a requirement that recreational crab fishers use TEDs in their crab pots to reduce bycatch of terrapins.
See:
quirephttps://phys.org/news/2025-07-virginia-marine-resources-commission-requiring.html

Virginia, USA is considering a requirement that recreational crab fishers use TEDs in their crab pots to reduce bycatch of terrapins.
See:
quirephttps://phys.org/news/2025-07-virginia-marine-resources-commission-requ…

Bycatch management measure for crab pots

Virginia, USA is considering a requirement that recreational crab fishers use TEDs in their crab pots to reduce bycatch of terrapins.
See:
quirephttps://phys.org/news/2025-07-virginia-marine-resources-commission-requiring.html

Virginia, USA is considering a requirement that recreational crab fishers use TEDs in their crab pots to reduce bycatch of terrapins.


See:


https://phys.org/news/2025-07-virginia-marine-resources-commissionrequi…

Overview

The Bycatch Reduction Techniques database was created as a resource for scientists, fishermen, and fisheries managers to have easier access to references and summaries from bycatch reduction studies, as well as descriptions of various techniques.
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