*Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in Freshwater Environments Workshop*
22nd Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) Biennial Conference, Sunday October 29th 2017, Halifax N.S., Canada (Venue TBA) *Point of Contact* Michael J. Tetley IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF), www.marinemammalhabitat.org (email: immacoordinator(a)gmail.com) Maximum Number of Participants: 30 The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF) is in the process of identifying a global network of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). IMMAs are a place-based conservation tool identifying discrete portions of habitat, important to marine mammal species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. Across 2016-2021 a series of regional workshops of assembled experts to identify IMMAs is underway. Two workshops have been completed so far for the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Islands regions, and four workshops are in preparation for the North East Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, Western Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand, and Southeast and Central Pacific regions. Marine mammal species recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy Committee on Taxonomy which occur in freshwater ecosystems, such as River Dolphins, Sirenians, and Pinnipeds, present a different scenario and application of the current IMMA Users Guidance. The IMMA Selection Criteria therefore requires further consideration and consultation with leading experts before their application in these freshwater environments. In comparison to purely marine environments, freshwater habitats (large estuaries, rivers, river basins, lakes, and inland seas) are subject to differing ecological drivers, research considerations, and conservation management. The aim of the Workshop on IMMAs in Freshwater Environments is to initiate a discussion with experts on the identification and utilisation of the IMMA tool for enhancing protection efforts for marine mammals utilising freshwater areas (including Marine Protected Areas, RAMSAR sites, Key Biodiversity Areas, and other area based measures). This will be achieved through a combination of symposium and technical sessions with key experts in the field of research and conservation for these species; gaining recommendations on the integration of marine mammal species in freshwater areas into the Task Force Regional Expert Workshop series; and collecting an early Areas of Interest (AoI) list which can serve to create future candidate IMMA submissions. Outputs of the Workshop: (i) Provide an avenue of engagement between the Task Force and the freshwater mammal research and conservation community. (ii) Collect recommendations to strengthen the IMMA Users Guidance documentation with further consideration to freshwater habitats, including specific case studies. (iii) Gather initial advice for formulating a strategy for incorporating freshwater environments into the IUCN-MMPATF global expert workshop process. (iv) Collate a list of preliminary Areas of Interest (AoI) for future candidate IMMA submissions. Be advised that the registration process for attending the workshop is processed alongside registration for the main SMM Conference Programme. This also includes variable costs for participation based on the early bird ($80 USD) before July 13th, and ordinary ($90 USD) after July 13th registration deadlines. In addition participants who are not registering for the main SMM Conference Programme will also need to pay an additional registration fee to attend the workshop ($40 USD). Please contact the IMMA Coordinator (immacoordinator(a)gmail.com) before July 11th if you would like to register your early interest to attend the IUCN-MMPATF Workshop on IMMAs in Freshwater Environments. At this time there is no additional support available to assist potential participants with travel, accommodation, or other associated costs for participating in the workshop. For additional information about the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force and the global effect to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas please visit www.marinemammalhabitat.org Sincerely Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF)
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