DECADE ACTION INCUBATOR 4

Advance marine mammal and sea turtle studies to address challenges in conservation management

Marine mammals and sea turtles are often seen as emblematic species with significant cultural importance.

They are also regarded as long-lived indicator or sentinel species which can provide valuable insights into the health of ocean ecosystems. The recent years have seen a growing concern over the declines in some marine mammal species, and an increasing reported number of stranded animals. Countries in the region have been paying more and more attention to the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles.

As most marine mammals and sea turtles are high-migratory species, and are therefore difficult to track, grand challenges remain in the assessment of their population and health, including lack of harmonized methods and large scale data and information, poor knowledge on their populations, high operating cost and limited human resources .

The incubator will bring together researchers and other relevant stakeholders who are interested in the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles, initiate a network for marine mammal and sea turtle population assessment, towards the development of a UN Ocean Decade action for the conservation of marine mammals and sea turtles in the region.

Speakers

Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong

Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, Thailand

Jo Marie Acebes

Senior Museum Researcher, National Museum of the Philippines

Nantarika Chansue

Director
Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Center of Excellence, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Patcharaporn Kaewmong

Marine Veterinarian
Phuket Marine Biological Center, Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, Thailand

Thierry M. Work

Wildlife disease specialist
U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station

Ellen Hines

Professor in Geography at San Francisco State University & Associate Director of the Estuary & Ocean Science Center

Dipani Sutaria

Ecologist and Visiting Faculty
College of Science and Technology, James Cook University, Australia and School of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad

Xuelei Zhang

Research Professor
First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China

Lemnuel V. Aragones

President & Professor
Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network & University of the Philippines

25 November 2021

1030-1230

(UTC+7, Bangkok time)

Chalatip Junchompoo

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand

Watchara Sakornwimon

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand

Contact

For any inquiries please email

iocwestpac@unesco.org

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