*Integrating marine mammal behavioral monitoring techniques into the process for the identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas*
*St. John’s, Newfoundland **and Labrador (YYT)**, Canada, Sunday July 29, 2016. Held in association with the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC), July 30 - August 4, 2016 conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016 <http://conbio.org/mini-sites/imcc-2016>* The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF) will be hosting a number of workshops and focus groups throughout 2016. These events are designed to support the first identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) throughout the world's seas and oceans by 2020. Therefore the IUCN-MMPATF would now like to seek registrations of interest from participants to attend the second IMMA workshop of 2016 on integrating marine mammal behavioral monitoring techniques into the process for the identification of Important Marine Mammal Areas. This half-day focus group aims to address the following question: How can we better integrate marine mammal behavioral data, observed through direct observation or remote monitoring techniques, into the process for identifying IMMAs? Information on marine mammal behavior is a necessary component of the evidence available for enhancing their protection by informing the development of marine management and spatial planning practices. It is essential that such data and methodologies, such as photo-identification and satellite tracking, are considered in a systematic way during the application of selection criteria to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). IMMAs are a new strategic classification for enhancing future marine planning and conservation measures for these species as developed by the IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF). Moreover, behavioral data must be considered in a manner that complements and enhances existing approaches based on ecological studies, distribution and abundance, genetic analyses, and expert opinion. The goal of the focus group is to advance this work by examining how data and information on marine mammal behavioral information can be effectively collated and communicated to experts during the process of identifying IMMAs. Results of this workshop will also contribute towards the creation of an IMMA Toolkit, which will become the primary scientific guidance for the identification of IMMAs, and will be presented formally at the 4th International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas (ICMMPA4) in Mexico, November 13 - 17, 2016. The IMMA Toolkit focus group will also run parallel with and support the objectives of the two day IMCC focus group ‘Conserving the other 50% of the world: status and opportunities in conservation of areas beyond national jurisdiction’ as organised by Duke University, the University of the Azores, and UNEP-WCMC on July 28 & 29. Please note that due to a request from the IMCC organisers, initial interest from workshop participants must be registered with the IUCN-MMPATF in advance of the congress early registration deadline. Therefore please register your interest in attending the workshop with the IUCN-MMPATF before *March 31* by emailing immacoordina...@gmail.com. As space for participants will be limited please include your reasons for wanting to attend as well as your professional background in relation to the IMMA initiative, spatial planning, or behavioral monitoring of marine mammals. Unfortunately the IUCN-MMPATF is unable to provide funding for participant registration fees or expenses for attending the focus group or main conference. For further information about the IMMA initiative please visit the IUCN-MMPATF home and facebook pages at www.icmmpa.org/iucn-task-force and www.tinyurl.com/gqbsngl *Dr Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator* *IUCN Joint SSC-WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF)*
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