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FINAL REPORT
FOR THE
REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING RESPONSE
IN THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN
Organized by
Association Evasion Tropicale (AET) and Eastern Caribbean
Cetacean Network (ECCN) Courbaril P.O. Box 130 BQ 97125 Bouillante
Guadeloupe FWI Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines W.I.
[email protected] [email protected]
with the support of
French Ministry of Environment (DIREN Guadeloupe) US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and UNEP’s Regional Activity Center of the Protocol SPAW
(SPAW-RAC)
8-10 JANUARY 2010 BOUILLANTE, BASSE TERRE, GUADELOUPE
SUBMITTED BY
NATHALIE WARD, PHD (ECCN) AND CAROLINE RINALDI (AET)
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Illustration: Andrea Bogomolni
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction II. Goals of Workshop
III. Objectives and Stranding Training Topics IV. Workshop
Recommendations V. Regional Context
VI. Contacts VII. Appendices
Appendix A: Participant List Appendix B: Agenda Appendix C:
Workshop Compendium—Table of Contents Appendix D: Incident Command
System Appendix E: Press Release and ECCN Newsletter
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I. INTRODUCTION The Regional Workshop for the French-speaking
Caribbean Territories in response to Marine Mammal Strandings from
8-10 January 2010 was held in Bouillante, Basse Terre in
Guadeloupe. The workshop was a priority action identified by the
UNEP’s Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Programme’s
Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP) for the Wider Caribbean Region
(WCR), modeled after the first Eastern Caribbean stranding response
workshop held in Trinidad & Tobago in 2005 and was followed by
the Dutch Caribbean Workshop in November 2009. Thirty participants,
representing Protected Area management organizations, government
departments, and non-governmental organizations from five
French-speaking islands and territories of Guadeloupe, Haiti,
French Guyana, Martinique and St. Martin. The participants of the
workshop are expected to promote the above goals on their island
after returning from the workshop. Trainers and presenters included
Charles Potter (Smithsonian Institute’s Marine Mammal Laboratory),
Dr. John Reynolds and Dr. Dana Wetzel (Mote Marine Laboratory,
Sarah Wilkins (NOAA Fisheries), Dr. Nathalie Ward (Eastern
Caribbean Cetacean Network/U.S. National Marine Sanctuary Program);
Ms. Andrea Bogomolni (Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network/Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution), Dr. Michael Moore (Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution), and Helene Souan (SPAW Regional
Activity Centre, Guadeloupe.) Vincent Ridoux and Willy Dabin
(CRMM/URL), Paul Hoetjes (SCCN Coordinator, Curacao), Caroline
Rinaldi (Guadeloupe Archipelago Network / AET coordinator,
Guadeloupe). Dr. Nathalie Ward (ECCN) and Caroline Rinaldi (AET)
served as coordinators for the organization and workshop training
preparations. (See Participant List: Appendix A). Funding for the
French Stranding Workshop was provided by U.S. NOAA Fisheries
International, the French Ministry of Environment (DIREN
Guadeloupe) and UNEP's SPAW-RAC. II. GOAL OF THE WORKSHOP The goal
of the Workshop was to review the techniques and protocols for
responding to stranding incidents for marine mammals and to
facilitate possibilities for collaboration and harmonization of a
French Caribbean stranding network to collaborate with an
international network of stranding responders; and, the exploration
and establishment of a centralized archive of samples and a
database of findings of countries in the region. III. OBJECTIVES
and STRANDING TRAINING TOPICS The workshop helped to strengthen the
standardization of protocols, methods of sample collection,
archiving of samples, establishment of an online database for
findings, and build a network to ensure sharing of information in
cases of marine mammal strandings across the region. Building on
the trainings already established in the French Antilles and
French
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Guiana by the French National Stranding Network, specific
objectives of the Workshop included: • Continued training of people
from each of the French-speaking Caribbean territories and
preparing the establishment for the territories where it doesn’t
really exist, to organize an effective response in cases of
strandings of whales or dolphins, allowing for maximum chance of
successful recovery of stranded animals; • Strengthen the use of
standardized techniques and protocols for preparation, handling,
transport and storage of marine mammal specimens when responding to
marine mammal strandings, to ensure effective sample collection for
research to answer conservation questions: • Preparing the
establishment, for each territory where it doesn’t already exist,
of a clear “Incident Command System” (ICS) to organize stranding
events with clearly defined roles for all involved
agencies/organizations and a set pyramid of authorization; •
Reinforcing national and regional coordination needs for stranding
response, analytical capabilities, and technology and information
exchange; and, • Creating a link with other sub-regional stranding
networks in the Caribbean such as the ECCN and SCCN, ensuring
better communication and cataloging of stranding events.
Presentations and hands-on instruction in stranding response,
necropsy, and supportive animal care were given. A necropsy was
conducted on a neonate spotted dolphin by Charlie Potter and Willy
Daubin. Participants were introduced to the ‘Incident Command
System (ICS)— a method of organizing stranding events that involve
multiple agencies with a set pyramid of authorization (See Incident
Command System: Appendix D). Attendees also participated in a mock
stranding response demonstration on the beach and in a facilitated
debrief discussion. As part of the discussion, participants
identified their needs for stranding response, analytical
capabilities, and technology and information exchange.
Presentations include discussions of marine mammal health stressors
such as disease and contaminants, which have intrinsic value in
terms of understanding the health of particular marine mammal
stocks, but also provide important insights into possible health
threats to humans. Development of an international network of
stranding responders, an archive of samples, and a database of
findings was explored. The workshop participants were expected to
promote the above goals on their island after returning from the
workshop. IV. RECOMMENDATIONS Participants commended the workshop’s
organization and learning opportunities provided. They applauded
the potential for collaboration within the French Caribbean and
harmonization within the Wider Caribbean Region regarding marine
mammal stranding science. Participants compiled a list of
recommendations for next steps:
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1) CAPACITY BUILDING • Consolidate existing capacity of networks
and implement capacity where it does not
exist (Haiti, and neighbor islands of the French speaking
territories: Antigua, Dominica, etc.).
• Develop and improve practical access for each island such as
improving collection methods and tools, provisioning stranding
kits, facilitating training, storage facility, freezing/not
freezing, holding tissues samples (e.g. alcohol)
(territory-specific).
• Develop and maintain database for sub-regional networks
(island-specific); • Establish database infrastructure and
accessibility (i.e., computers, web software,
web connection, database software). • Archive of specimens
(i.e., where and how). • Develop regional database (of resources,
veterinarians, etc.). • Establish regional database (of data)
including relevant U.S. data (U.S. Virgin
Islands, Puerto Rico). • Establish a working group to integrate
existing data forms and protocols.
2) COORDINATION—
• Develop a) focal point on each island, wherein island
leadership will promote stranding efforts focused on central
coordination with endorsement of local government; and, b) focal
point at the regional level, will inform the SPAW-RAC. On practical
implementation level, it is suggested that ECCN be the implementing
agency (on regional level) with support from SPAW-RAC. In the
future, the SPAW-RAC would host the database on its website.
• Development of database and contact lists for personnel
capabilities and resources at most local level possible (hierarchy
identified with contact person).
3) RESEARCH—
• Establish and maintain regional scale database. Participants
noted that they don’t know priorities yet but can list them after a
concurrent meeting or after 2011 SMM/ICMMAP/ COP SPAW meeting
October 2010.
• Agreed upon research basics to include: basic life history,
marine mammal populations and habitats.
• Integrate marine mammal strandings into larger research domain
and other sources of data on marine mammals and the marine
environment; and,
• Prioritize research from strandings to better understand the
health of individuals and conservation status of species and
populations, and to improve management decisions. Specifically, a
priority research effort this year would focus on pollution and its
impact on marine mammals.
4) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION—
• Consistent dissemination of information to a variety of
audiences, which should also include scientific peer-reviewed
literature. It was noted that the creation of new journal
specifically on strandings if feasible, or a means to report
consistently to scientific audience.
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• Organize specific meeting for stranding for Wider Caribbean
Region, every two-three years joined with another event or meeting
potentially, with emphasis broader than strandings but within the
framework of SPAW/MMAP.
• Create a stranding LISTSERVE for electronic communication
(using SCCN model).
5) EDUCATION AND OUTREATH—
• ALL materials (e.g., ECCN’s “WANTED POSTER”) developed and
published in various languages such as Creole, Papiamento, Spanish,
and French.) Use local media to promote public involvement. Use
WIDECAST experience as a model.
6) FINANCIAL SUPPORT—
• Enhance and build network capabilities where they don’t exist
(e.g., French speaking territories/islands St. Lucia, Haiti,
Dominica, etc.).
V. REGIONAL CONTEXT—NEXT STEPS In the Wider Caribbean Region,
there is an urgent need for capacity building in the area of
unusual mortality events of marine mammals, specifically
on-the-ground response to animal strandings and collection of
relevant data; training in methods of sample collection, archiving
of samples and establishment of an on-line database for findings;
and, as it applies to insight into ocean health. Because marine
mammals are trans-boundary animals, successful conservation of
marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region will ultimately depend
upon the commitment of countries there to build and maintain, with
international assistance, internal capacities for setting
conservation priorities and achieving high standards of population
and habitat protection. Further to the adoption of SPAW’s MMAP
(2008) and with support from the Caribbean Environment Programme
secretariat and from the SPAW-RAC, participants agreed to
strengthen capacities and infrastructure within and between islands
(and hopefully regions such as ECCN) to identify and monitor
threats to marine mammals, ecosystems, and humans by accomplishing
priority activities as outlined in MMAP (2.7):
• Establishing inasmuch as possible, ‘injury’ networks which
have a reporting mechanism to respond to marine mammal injury,
wherein information which should be made available to all other
countries. (MMAP 2.7.5)
• Creating appropriate archives of samples for diverse studies
such as pathology,
contaminants, parasitology and genetics. (MMAP 2.7.6)
• Building capacity to include standardized protocols, training
in methods of sample collection, archiving of samples, and
establishment of an on-line database for findings. (MMAP 2.7.7)
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The attendees valued the opportunity to have a forum to address
and discuss their shared challenges. The discussions addressed the
future establishment of regional cooperation programmes to increase
scientific, technical, and educational exchange among relevant
national, regional, and international organizations. Specifically,
it was recommended that a regional stranding database be developed,
which would be attainable by the different stranding networks of
the region and which would include the expert contacts from all the
territories and countries. As part of networking, a strong effort
should be made to transfer essential skills, resources and capacity
building, within the French Caribbean, throughout the Lesser
Antilles region and the Wider Caribbean. Additionally, it was
stated that, it is important to promote a precautionary approach
when addressing risks and uncertainty when making decisions
regarding conservation of marine mammals. VI. CONTACTS For further
information, please contact: Caroline Rinaldi (AET)
[email protected] or Dr. Nathalie Ward (ECCN)
[email protected].
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VII. APPENDICES APPENDIX A—- Presenters (**) and Participant
List ANDREA BOGOMOLNI, MS ** ECCN STRANDING AND DATABASE
COORDINATOR WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MAIL STOP #50
WOODS HOLE, MA 02543 USA CELL: (508) 631-2130 EMAIL:
[email protected] WILLY DABIN ** CRMM/ULR, EMAIL:
[email protected] Pôle Analytique - 5 allée de l'Océan 17 000
La Rochelle - France Tel : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 10 Fax : 33 (0) 5 46
44 99 45 PAUL C. HOETJES ** Senior Policy Advisor Department of
Environment & Nature (MINA) Ministry of Public Health &
Social Development (VSO) Schouwburgweg 26 (building E) Curaçao,
Netherlands Antilles Tel. +(599-9) 466-9307 Fax: +(599-9)461-0254
EMAIL: [email protected] DR. MICHAEL MOORE ** SENIOR SCIENTIST,
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MAIL STOP #50 WOODS HOLE, MA
02543 USA TEL: (508) 289-3228 FAX: (508) 457-2169 EMAIL:
[email protected] CHARLES W. POTTER ** COLLECTION MANAGER, MARINE
MAMMALS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
MRC 108 PO BOX 37012 WASHINGTON, DC 20013-7012 USA TEL: (202)
633-1261 (OFFICE) (301) 238-1157 (CELL) EMAIL: [email protected] DR.
JOHN REYNOLDS ** SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY 1600 KEN
THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA, FL 34236 USA TEL: (941) 388-4441 FAX:
(941) 388-5225 EMAIL: [email protected] CAROLINE RINALDI AET
COURBARIL 97125 BOUILLANTE GUADELOUPE FWI TEL: 0590 (0) 590 92 74
24 EMAIL: [email protected]
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VINCENT RIDOUX ** CRMM/ULR, EMAIL: [email protected] Pôle
Analytique - 5 allée de l'Océan 17 000 La Rochelle - France Tel :
33 (0) 5 46 44 99 10 Fax : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 45 HÉLÈNE SOUAN **
SPAW-REGIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER (RAC), DIRECTOR 97100 BASSE TERRE
GUADELOUPE TEL: 0590 (0) 590 80 14 00 EMAIL:
[email protected] DR. NATHALIE WARD
** DIRECTOR, EASTERN CARIBBEAN CETACEAN NETWORK P.O. BOX 130 BQ
BEQUIA, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, WEST INDIES P.O. BOX 573
WOODS HOLE, MA 02543-O573 USA TEL: (784) 458-3624 OR USA (508)
548-3313 EMAIL: [email protected] EMAIL: [email protected]
DR. DANA WETZEL** SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY 1600 KEN
THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA, FL 34236 USA TEL: (941) 388-4441 FAX:
(941) 388-5225 EMAIL: [email protected] SARAH WILKINS ** MARINE MAMMAL
HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE PROGRAM NOAA FISHERIES, USA EMAIL:
[email protected]
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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
DABIN Willy CRMM / ULR [email protected] RIDOUX Vincent
CRMM / ULR [email protected] FRIEDRICH Thomas ONCFS Guyane
[email protected] WARD Nathalie ECCN [email protected]
[email protected] DEVIERS Dominique DIREN Guadeloupe
Dominique.deviers@developpement-
durable.gouv.fr RINALDI Renato Association Evasion
Tropicale (AET) [email protected]
RINALDI Caroline Association Evasion Tropicale (AET)
[email protected]
HOETJES Paul Dept of Environment & Nature Netherlands
Antilles
[email protected]
FONTAINE Pierre Henry
Biodidacte [email protected]
WETZEL Dana Mote Marine Lab [email protected] REYNOLDS John Mote
Marine Lab. /
Marine Mammal C. [email protected]
BARRIOZ Sébastien Ass. Kwata [email protected] HILAIRE
Jean
Vilmond Société Audubon Haïti [email protected]
EXIL Lucienna Ministère Environnement Haïti
[email protected]
VEDIE Fabien DIREN Martinique
[email protected]
POTTER Charles Smithsonian Institution [email protected] FILIPPI
Margaux Etudiante [email protected] GOURDIN Franck CAR -SPAW
Franck.gourdin.carspaw@guadeloupe-
parcnational.fr SOUAN Hélène CAR -SPAW
helene.souan.carspaw@guadeloupe-
parcnational.fr MAZEAS Franck DIREN Guadeloupe
Franck.mazeas@developpement-
durable.gouv.fr MOORE Michael Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute [email protected]
BOGOMOLNI Andrea ECCN [email protected] WILKIN Sarah National
Marine Fisheries
Service USA [email protected]
JEREMIE Stephane SEPANMAR [email protected]
ROSE-ROSETTE
Valérie SEPANMAR [email protected]
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DRAGIN Marius CAR-SPAW
[email protected]
MALTERRE Pauline RNN St Martin [email protected]
REDAUD Louis DIREN Guadeloupe Louis.redaud@developpement-
durable.gouv.fr ETIENNE Denis AAMP
[email protected] LEPORT Dominique Association
Evasion
Tropicale (AET) [email protected]
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APPENDIX B—AGENDA
A REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR THE FRENCH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN
TERRITORIES
IN RESPONSE TO MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS 8-10 January 2010
Bouillante, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
AGENDA DAY 1—Friday, 8 January 2010 8:30 AM Welcome (Association
Evasion Tropicale) DIREN Guadeloupe (Dominique Deviers) French
National Stranding Network (Vincent Ridoux) 9:00 – 9:30 UNEP’s
Marine Mammal Action Plan’s Stranding Response Context for the
Wider Caribbean Region (Hélène Souan) 9:30 – 10:15 Marine Mammals
of the Wider Caribbean Region (Nathalie Ward) Workshop Overview:
Agenda, Goals and Objectives 10:15 Coffee Break 10:30 –11:15 Marine
Mammals as Sentinel Species—The Conservation Value of Strandings
(John Reynolds) 11:15 –12:00 Data Collection and Life History
Parameters (Charley Potter) 12:00 – 1:30 Luncheon 1:30 – 2:15
Informing Management Decisions Through Stranding: A Case Study of
Right Whale
Forensics (Michael Moore) 2:15 – 3:00 Pathology of Disease and
Collection of Specimens (Andrea Bogomolni) 3:00 Coffee Break 3:15 –
4:00 Differential Diagnosis of Marine Mammal Mortalities Michael
(Moore) 4:00 – 5:30 Level A Data Collection & Adverse Human
Interactions with Marine Mammals Incident Command System
(ICD)—On-the Beach Protocol (Bogomolni) 7:30 PM French Antilles
Sanctuary Project—AGOA (Denis Etienne)
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DAY 2—Saturday, 9 January 2010 6:30 – 8:30 AM Necropsy (Potter)
8:30 – 10:00 Mock Stranding and On-the Beach Response (Bogomolni)
10:00 Coffee Break 10: 15 – 11:00 Stranding Response Discussion:
(Live/Dead; Single/Mass) (Bogomolni) 11:00 – 12:00 Contaminants:
Sample Collection/Archival/Analyses (Dana Wetzel) 12:00 – 1:30
Luncheon 1:30 – 2:15 Marine Mammals and Beaked Whales of the
Caribbean (Charley Potter) 2:15– 3:00 Cetacean Inner Ear: Beaked
Whales (Willy Dabin) 3:00 Coffee Break 3:15 – 4:00 NOAA Marine
Mammal Stranding Program: (Sarah Wilkins) Stranding Accomplishments
and Future Directions 4:00 – 5:00 CRMM/ RNE French Marine Mammal
Stranding Program (Vincent Ridoux) 7:30 Biology, Strandings and
Conservation of the West Indian Manatee (Reynolds) DAY 3—Sunday, 10
January 2010 9:00 – 10:30 Caribbean Stranding Networks: Panel
Presentations and Discussion (Ward) o Eastern Caribbean Cetacean
Network—ECCN (Nathalie Ward) o Southern Caribbean Stranding Network
—SCCN (Paul Hoetjes) o Guadeloupe Archipelago Stranding Network
(Caroline Rinaldi) 10:30 – 11:45 Topic Groups: Working Group
Discussions (Ward) o Response to Stranding Events—Needs (e.g.
specific equipment/necropsy kits, sample collection, preparation,
handling, archiving samples); decision making &reporting
mechanisms; building capacity for stranding response, funding,
etc.) o Island versus French Antilles Regional Coordination—Needs
(e.g., stranding protocols, data collection, data base management,
data sharing (i.e., Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin, St. Barts,
Haiti) o Stranding Communication and Exchange; Education Materials,
Public Outreach—Needs (i.e., media events and public support;
educational materials needed; creating volunteer networks and
interest; educate stakeholders on the scientific importance of
reporting and investigating strandings.)
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o Marine Mammal Research and Health Evaluation—Needs (i.e.,
create appropriate archives of samples for diverse studies such as
pathology, contaminants, paracytology and genetics; compile and
analyze data and samples from strandings and apply the results to
assessments and mitigation of impacts of human activities.) 11:45–
12:15 Working Group Reports 12:15 – 1:30 Luncheon 1:30 – 3:00
Working Group Discussion/Recommendations for French Caribbean
Territories Harmonization of Protocols and Goals 3:00 Coffee Break
3:15 – 4:00 SPAW/MMAP Stranding Priorities 2011 Workplan NEXT STEPS
for (Sohan/Ward/) Group Discussion/MMAP Priority Stranding Actions
(Ridoux) o Communications (Web-based) o Information
Exchange/Centralized Regional Data Base o Education and Training o
Intern Exchange Programs/Sustainability o CARIB Center of
Excellence/Marine Mammal Health Labs o WORKPLAN 20010-2011 for
SPAW/MMAP (new threats) 4:00 – 4:15 MMAP Workplan Recommendations:
Rappateur Summary (Pierre Fontaine) 4:15 – 4:30 Closing Remarks
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APPENDIX C—WORKSHOP COMPENDIUM: TABLE OF CONTENTS (Prepared by
ECCN. Available on website: http://www.eccnwhale.org)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION Cover Page Table of Contents Workshop Goals
Agenda 2. DATA AND SAMPLE COLLECTION Data and Sample Collection
External Examination ECCN Morphometrics Level A Form Level A Form
Examiners Guide 3. NECROPSY Internal Examination WHOI Necropsy
Manual Pininiped, Dolphin, Manatee Basic Anatomy Exam Report Sample
ECCN Necropsy Examination Report 4. ANATOMY Abdominal Anatomy
Integument Anatomy Thoracic Anatomy 5. MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH
Diseases of Marine Mammals Gas Bubbles Contaminants 6. ON-THE BEACH
RESPONSE DOs and DON’Ts of Stranding Incident Command System
Stranding Response—Stretchering 7. MARINE MAMMAL THREATS ECCN Human
Interaction Indicators Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine
Mammals 8. CARIB SPECIES & IDENTIFICATION Marine Mammal Species
List Cetacean Dichotomous Key
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9. PUBLIC OUTREACH ECCN Newsletter Wanted Stranding Poster 10.
POWERPOINTS: Presentations for French Workshop Ward
§ Marine Mammals of the Wider Caribbean: Wksp Overview § Eastern
Caribbean Cetacean Network (ECCN)
Reynolds § Marine Mammals as Sentinels § Manatee Strandings and
Conservation
Potter § Data Collection and Life History Parameters § Beaked
Whales of the Caribbean
Moore § Informing Management Decisions Through Stranding §
Differential Diagnosis of Marine Mammal Mortalities
Bogmolni § Pathology of Disease and Collection of Specimens §
Level A Data Collection & Human Interaction
Wetzel § Contaminants: Sample Collection/Archival/Analyses
Daubin Inner Ear Morphology: Extraction and Fixation Ridoux
French National Stranding Network Aerial Surveys Etienne
AGOA—French Marine Mammal Santuary Rinaldi Overview: Strandings in
Guadeloupe Souhan SPAW/MMAP and Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop
11. APPENDICES
A. Caribbean MM Literature B. Bios and Contacts C. Resources and
Websites D. Workshop Participants
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APPENDIX D—INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM The Stranding Response
command system in the U.S. begins with the legal authorization by
the federal government to approach or interfere with marine
mammals. A ‘Letter of Authorization (LOA)’ is given to each
stranding organization to comply with the Marine Mammal Protection
Act. Volunteers of the stranding network must have permission from
their network before approaching marine mammals. Marine Mammals can
single or mass strand. Organizing a mass stranding requires proper
organization and emergency response teams ready to act before the
event ever occurs. Mass Stranding response is organized under the
same system that human emergency response teams utilize known as
the ‘Incident Command System (ICS). It is a method of organizing
events that involve multiple agencies with a set pyramid of
authorization. Once a stranding report is received, the Incident
Command System is established. The Incident Commander is the person
who received the report, or a person who is already designated to
take control before an event ever occurs. An Incident Commander
must oversee and appoint a Site Coordinator, Media Coordinator,
Personnel Coordinator, and any other roles that may be necessary
(e.g. Safety, Equipment, etc.) and be accessible at a Central
Operation Base or via telephone/radio communication, if in the
field. All information and decisions must be relayed from the Site
Coordinator(s) to the Incident Commander. Each Site Coordinator
appoints an on-site team with rescuers, technical specialists
(e.g., veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, trained volunteers)
and other volunteers, as necessary. Every person should know what
their role is and whom they will take orders from. The Site
Coordinator and team perform triage for each animal, while rescuers
and volunteers give supportive care. Options are evaluated within a
single stranding site or within various sites. Animals can then be
released whether in small groups, one large group, relocated,
euthanized, or held until all animals are evaluated. Final decision
for releasing the group of animals is determined by the Incident
Commander once information is received from all stranding sites
from each Site Coordinator. After the event, debrief at the
Incident Command Center/Central Operation Base needs to occur with
all involved. Check-in of ALL personnel at the beginning of an
event and checkout after is necessary. Dead animal recovery and
site clean up can then take place.
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APPENDIX E—PRESS RELEASE and ECCN NEWSLETTER (See ECCN Website—
http://www.eccnwhale.org —“News You Can Use”)