Report of the Southern Right Whale Die-Off Workshop

WERNER, R; FORCADA, J; BERTELLOTI, M; CRESPO, E.A.; DANS, S.L.; DEGRATI, M.; FAZIO, A; GRANDI, M.F; LOIZAGA DE CASTRO, R.; COSCARELLA, M.A; BOSSIO, L; CARRIBERO, A; GEREMIAS, N; LINDNER, M.S.; ESPINOSA, R; ROSAS, C. L.; SIRONI, M.; TABOADA, D.; GULLAND, F; REEVES, R.R.; GROCH, K.; KRAPOVICKAS, S.; CONCHILLO, D.; CHIRIFE, A.; ROWNTREE, V.; THOMAS, P. O.; BROWNELL, B; HARRIS, G.; MCALOOSE, D.; UHART, M.; VILA, A.; ROSENBAUM, H.; MOORE, M.; JEPSON, P.; ACEVEDO-WHITEHOUSE, K.

THE JOURNAL OF CETACEAN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT

International Whaling Commission

Año: 2011 vol. 12 p. 367 - 398

1561-0713

The general aim of the Workshop was to obtain a better understanding of all aspects of the recent high mortality of right whales in Argentina. Towards this end, it brought together three groups of scientists: (1) local experts with direct knowledge of the ecology and marine environment of the Península Valdés region; (2) experts studying right whales in the region; and (3) international experts on whales and mortality factors such as disease and biotoxins. Specifically, the Workshop sought to determine the cause(s) of the recent high mortality and the implications of this mortality for the right whale population as well as to develop a future research and monitoring programme. The Workshop was hosted by the Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT) in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, and local arrangements were handled by Enrique Crespo of that institute. Crespo and Reeves were added to the Steering Committee for the Workshop in early 2010. Workshop funding was provided by the IWC, NOAA Fisheries, and the US Marine Mammal Commission. The Workshop was held from 15?18 March 2010 at CENPAT, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.