French Wkspeng

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) 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 2 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 3 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: 4 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. 5 • 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).

Load more