-
About Whales
Taxonomy:different species & how they are relatedPopulation Estimates:population sizes & how they are estimatedPopulation Status:assessing if populations are in recovery or decline
Intersessional groups are established annually to ensure the Committee can successfully complete its full agenda at each SC meeting. These group work throughout the year and provide updates at annual SC meetings. There are three categories of intersessional groups:
- Steering Groups (SG): these are groups that have been set up to ensure that particular meetings, workshops or identified pieces of work are completed by the next SC meeting. They have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Committee within the context of their terms of reference (e.g. meeting budget spends, participants, agreements on parameters for analyses). Numbers are limited and members agreed at the meeting although the Convenor may request additional members or respond to late requests to be members. The expected outcomes will be either a workshop/meeting report or an analytical paper.
- Intersessional Correspondence Groups (ICG): these are groups that have been set up to ensure progress on particular topics within the intersessional period. Membership is more flexible and open.
- Advisory Groups (AG): these are occasional groups established by the Committee to provide scientific and technical issues on specific issues if requested by a Contracting Government.
The currently established correspondence groups, terms of reference and memberships can be found below.
Abundance Steering Group
Terms of Reference
Coordinate intersessional review of abundance estimates. At a 2025 Workshop and 2026 pre-meeting for SC70, both contingent on funding, review abundance estimates and make recommendations to ASI.
Members
Bell, Brownell, Cholewiak, Donovan, Givens(Convenor), Katara, Kitakado, New(Co-Convenor), Palka, Porter, Staniland, Walløe, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Acoustic estimation of franciscana abundance
Terms of Reference
Further development of the estimator for acoustic abundance estimation of franciscana
Members
Artur, Chan, Frias, Harris(Co-Convenor), New(Convenor), Sirovic, Skaug, Sucunza, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Antarctic Blue Whales
Terms of Reference
Advise the model developers on technical issues to ensure completion of assessment by SC70.
Members
Branch, Butterworth, Katara, Matsuoka, Palka, Punt, Rand(Convenor), Tiedemann, Wade, Wilberg
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Anthropogentic Noise
Terms of Reference
Continue work.
Members
Alaoui, Andriolo, Artur, Burkhardt, Campbell, Cholewiak (Convenor), Collis, Cosentino, Entrup, Frisch-Nwakanma, Genov, Haelters, Iñíguez Bessega, Junio, Kinneging, Leaper, Livermore, Lundquist, Miller, Plön, Renell, Reyes, Rojas-Bracho, Rosenbaum, Simmonds, Sirovic, Sousa-Lima, Vrooman, Webster, Weilgart, Williams, de Groes
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
ASHW Workshop
Terms of Reference
Develop a Workshop in Oman to progress with the development of a CMP proposal for the ASHW
Members
Aamari, Collins, Iñiguez, Minton, Willson (Convenor)
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Beaked whales
Terms of Reference
Review new information on the status of beaked whales globally
Members
Artur, Babey, Bolaños Jimenez, Brownlow, Cholewiak, Collins, Dolman, Hartny-Mills, Iñíguez Bessega, Lomax, Natoli, Plön, Porter, R. Baird(Co-Convenor), Rodríguez-Fonseca, Simmonds(Convenor), Stimmelmayr, Tandy, Thompson, Trujillo, Vermeulen, Vrooman, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Bycatch mitigation
Terms of Reference
Provide advice on: (1) design of additional data to be collected by observers and crew when whale entanglements occur, including development of training materials/instructions (in time for joint WG-FSA/WG-IMAF-24 meeting, 30 September – 11 October 2024; (2) methods to monitor the frequency and behaviour of whales around krill fishing vessels; (3) the development of technology to study how whales are interacting with krill trawling nets; (4) the design of effective cetacean exclusion devices, considering a convex shape to the exclusion mesh to deflect whales (and seals) away from the net mouth; (5) the potential to devise move-on rules, smaller-scale spatial management in the form of krill fishing exclusion zones, and other mitigation tools.
Members
Biuw, Double, Favero, Forster, Heinemann, Hines, Johnson, Kelly, Landry, Leaper, Long, Mattila, Meyer, Parker, Passadore, Reeves, Robson, Soffker, Stimmelmayr, Walker, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
CAHWP 4th Workshop
Terms of Reference
Assess threats and mitigation of the CAHW population for the further development of a CMP.
Members
Brownell(Convenor), Mallette, Rojas-Bracho, Trejos-Lasso, Urbán
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Carole Carlson Memorial Fund
Terms of Reference
Invite and facilitate the submission of proposals to the Fund.
Members
Suydam(Convenor)
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Cetacean Diseases of Concern
Terms of Reference
Continue work.
Members
Brownlow, Cholewiak, Clarke, Colegrove, Costa Silva, Davison, Deaville, Delaney, Domit, Fernandez, Grigg, Groch, Gulland, Hernandez Mora, Holm, Hunter, IJsseldijk, Kolesnikovas, Lee, Marcondes, Mazzariol, Noren, Oloughlin, Porter, Roe, Rowles, Sacristan, Sierra, Simmonds, Staniland, Stimmelmayr(Convenor), Tajima, Uhart, West, Wilkin
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Cetacean science advice for CCAMLR krill management
Terms of Reference
Provide advice on cetacean science to CCAMLR’s revised krill management approach, CEMP, and ecosystem modelling.
Members
Bell, Biuw, Butterworth, Dalla Rosa, Double, Fisher, Harris, Herr, Johnson, Kelly(Convenor), Kitakado, Langerock, Robson, Seyboth, Staniland, Vermeulen
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Climate Change
Terms of Reference
Consider the latest information on how cetacean populations are affected by climate change; provide clear advice on tools to mitigate the negative impact of climate change and build resilience; seek to develop an IWC climate change response programme.
Members
Barreto, Campbell, Frey, Frisch-Nwakanma, Genov, Gulland, Holm, Kelly, Mallette, Marcondes, Miketa, Noren, Nunny, Palka, Porter, Renell, Rowles, Simmonds (Convenor), Simmons, Sousa-Lima, Staniland, Stimmelmayr, Tulloch, Vrooman, Webster, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
CMP on riverine populations of irrawaddy dolphins
Terms of Reference
Track progress on acquiring the necessary documentation representing formal agreement by the range-state governments to sign on to the CMP before IWC69.
Members
Brownell, Lang, Porter (Convenor), Weller, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Collaboration between WG-IMAF and IWC
Terms of Reference
The WG-IMAF extended an invitation to members of the IWC-SC to collaborate further beyond 2024. The Subcommittee established an intersessional group to work between SC69B and SC70 with the Terms of Reference to provide advice on the following: 1. design of additional data to be collected by observers and crew when whale entanglements occur, including development of training materials/instructions (in time for joint WG- FSA/WG-IMAF-24 meeting, 30 September - 11 October 2024); 2. methods to monitor the frequency and behaviour of whales around krill fishing vessels; 3. development of technology to study how whales are interacting with krill trawling nets; 4. advise on the design of effective cetacean exclusion devices, considering a convex shape to the exclusion mesh to deflect whales (and seals) away from the net mouth; and 5. the potential to devise move-on rules, smaller-scale spatial management in the form of krill fishing exclusion zones, and other mitigation tools.
Members
Biuw, Double, Favero, Forster, Heinemann, Hines, Johnson, Kelly (Convenor), Landry, Leaper, Long, Mattila, Meyer, Parker, Passadore, Robson, Soffker, Stimmelmayr, Walker, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Communication between the CC's SWG on whale watching and WW
Terms of Reference
Continue and enhance methods for disseminating information and advice between the SWG and WW.
Members
Campbell, Iñíguez Bessega (Convenor), Parsons, Rojas-Bracho, Simmonds, Slooten, Suydam, Urbán
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Consolidation and refinement of ASI/ASG processes
Terms of Reference
Consolidate and refine a description of ASI/ASG processes, as evolved since 2017, to be reviewed and endorsed at a subsequent SC meeting
Members
Butterworth, Givens (Convenor), New
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Correction factors
Terms of Reference
Create a bibliography of documents containing information about correction factors for abundance estimation and consider the development of a corresponding IWC database. Report progress to SC70.
Members
Cañadas, Freitas, Katara, Kelly, Palka
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Deep Sea Mining
Terms of Reference
Review the topic and report back to SC70 with a further assessment of the likely consequences of deep-sea mining for cetaceans; seek to establish contact with others who are investigating this matter; encourage further submissions on this topic to the SC.
Members
Barreto, Childerhouse, Cholewiak, Lucke, Parsons, Porter, Rose (Convenor), Rowles, Simmonds, Smith, Thaler, Thompson, Walløe, Williams
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
Direct takes
Terms of Reference
Continue progressing the databasing and analyses of the direct takes of small cetaceans currently held by and submitted to the Secretariat.
Members
Allison, Fisher, Hines, Katara (Convenor), Porter
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
DNA quality
Terms of Reference
Review recent revisions to sections of the DNA quality guidelines which relate to data produced using NGS approaches; identify approaches to increase the visibility and use of the guidelines.
Members
Archer, Baird, Baker, Bickham, Carroll, DeWoody, Goto, Hoelzel, Jackson, Lang, Palsbøll, Pampoulie, Porter, Sremba, Taguchi, Tiedemann (Convenor), Torres Florez, Waples
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Ecosystem modelling research prioritisation
Terms of Reference
Develop prioritised list of research needs to address knowledge gaps in our understanding of the role of cetaceans in ecosystem functioning.
Members
Biuw, Butterworth, Freitas, Gilbert, Hunter, Kelly, Kitakado, Li, Ransijn, Schubert (Convenor), Tulloch
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Extinction Alert
Terms of Reference
Consider how to collate and rank candidate species for an Extinction Alert.
Members
Cholewiak, Collier, Goetz, Heinemann, Lundquist, Mallette, Parsons, Porter (Convenor), Schubert, Simmonds, Slooten, Wilson
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Fin whale population structure
Terms of Reference
Conduct inter-regional comparisons of SH fin whale songs, similar to Širović et al. (2018) for blue whales.
Members
Aulich, Biuw, Buchan, Dréo, Harris, Isoda, Miller, Porter, Samaran, Shabangu, Sirovic, Van Opzeeland
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Franciscana bycatch estimates
Terms of Reference
Plan the review of franciscana bycatch estimates to be conducted during a CMP workshop and select invited experts for the review.
Members
Cremer, Domit, Iñíguez Bessega - Gmail, Leaper, Minton, Palka, Passadore, Porter, Sucunza (Convenor), Trujillo, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Genetic data analysis
Gray whale population structure
Terms of Reference
Clarify the terminology used to describe the gray whale stock structure hypotheses; re-evaluate plausibility of the hypotheses, including consideration of adding new variants if needed to inform the Range-wide Review of the Status and Population Structure of Gray Whales.
Members
Bickham, Donovan, Goto, Hoelzel, Lang (Convenor), Nakamura, Pampoulie, Punt, Scordino, Tiedemann, Weller
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Harbour porpoise bycatch
Terms of Reference
Provide advice on: (1) information relevant to a separate assessment of the Iberian porpoise for the IUCN Red List; (2) information on the genetic status of this population; (3) information on the limits of the distribution, nothing that movements of these animals into the Celtic Sea and Western Mediterranean have been recorded; (4) mechanisms to increase the information available on the bycatch of Iberian porpoise, especially in small-scale fisheries; (5) how to improve the use of stranding data to estimate bycatch mortality; (6) information that becomes available on the life history and ecology of this species; (7) information on the closely related African porpoise population; (8) information on the health status and causes of mortality of the Iberian porpoise, including anthropogenic mortality not directly caused by fishing; (9) current and available approaches to reduce Iberian porpoise bycatch and potential future actions; (10) how to enhance the coordination of research on and conservation of Iberian porpoise between different organisations and projects.
Members
Cisternino, Dolman, FERNÁNDEZ-MALDONADO, Freitas, Hunter, Leaper, Sequeira, Van Waerebeek, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Human-induced behavioural changes of concern
Terms of Reference
Continue to monitor and report on the relevant science, including, but not limited to that which relates to solitary sociable cetaceans, out of habitat cetaceans and provisioned cetaceans (e.g., in Pará, Brazil, where tourists feed Inia araguaiaensis); consider the terminology applies to the full range of human-cetacean interactions; suggest guidelines to avoid damaging interactions.
Members
Aranha, Cosentino, Currie, Forestell, Miketa, Minton, Nunny, Parsons, Porter, Rodríguez-Fonseca, Ryeng, Simmonds (Convenor), Smith, Suydam, Urbán, Vail, Weinrich, Wells
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Indian-Ocean Sanctuary Ceacean Monitoring Initiative
IUCN/IWC Coordination group
Terms of Reference
(1) Develop a process to enhance coordination among IUCN, IWC SC and other parties involved in conservation actions for cetaceans; (2) facilitate coordination between those responsible for managing the IUCN Red List assessments for cetaceans and developers of the IWC Status of Stocks Initiative; (a) providing input to the Status of Stocks SG regarding prioritisation of cases to consider; (b) assisting the Status of Stocks Group on Language, Terminology and Content Development to draft SOSI website text related to the IUCN Red List; (c) advise all groups working on SOSI, as necessary, to help avoid duplication of effort, the appearance of conflicting results and public confusion about whale statuses.
Members
Abel, Allison, Andriolo, Braulik (Convenor), Cipriano, Cooke, Donovan, Fortuna, Givens, Minton, Panigada, Porter, Punt, Reeves, Sigurðsson, Staniland, Taylor, Trujillo, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
IWC database management strategy and national progress reports
Terms of Reference
Further develop the data management strategy, including consideration of all data submission processes and related IWC databases; consider ongoing maintenance, resourcing, capacity needs for SC-related databases; review the information received from the National Progress Report questionnaire and continue to assess ways to improve the submission rates, data quality and value of these reports.
Members
Allison, Barreto, Bell, Branch, Charlton, Double, Fortuna, Katara, Ki Sow, Oloughlin, Reeves, Sigurðsson, Staniland (Convenor), Tandy, Wilkin, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
IWC-ATLAFCO collaboration
Terms of Reference
Identify how to: (1) facilitate ATLAFCO participation in the SC; (2) build capacity and training for scientists and early-career researchers
Members
Cerchio, Collins, Diallo, Freitas, Genov, Laamrich, Minton, Panigada, Plön, Porter, Ridoux, Staniland (Convenor), Tiedemann, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
IWC-POWER/SOWER
Latin American CMP Workshop
Terms of Reference
Develop a workshop in Latin America to progress with agenda items related to the CMP for species that occur in Latin America.
Members
Artur, Barros - Gmail (Convenor), Brownell, Cassani, Iñíguez Bessega - Gmail, Mallette, Ridoux, Sucunza, Trejos-Lasso, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Marine Debris
Terms of Reference
Identify hotspots of cetacean exposure to plastic debris; prepare a synthesis of information related to the impacts of marine plastics on cetaceans; prepare a summary of approaches that the SC should consider in developing global and regional risk assessments related to cetacean exposure to plastic debris.
Members
Campbell, Cholewiak, Dolman, Eisfeld-Pierantonio, Fossi, Frey, Frisch-Nwakanma, Genov, Gulland, Holm, Hunter, Kumar, Landry, Long, Malatji, Mallette, Mankeshwari, Marcondes, Mattila, Neave-Webb, Nelms, Nunny, Oloughlin, Panti, Perry, Porter, Rowles, Simmonds (Convenor), Staniland, Sutaria, Svoboda, Warrie, Webster, Williams
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Mark-recpture abundance estimation
Terms of Reference
Review a paper with guidelines for mark-recapture abundance estimation, including survey design, data processing and matching, analysis, diagnostics and interpretation, also noting issues associated with data over long timeframes or from very heterogeneous sources. Present the paper to SC70 so that it can be endorsed for including in the updates SC Handbook that will be uploaded to the IWC website.
Members
Butterworth, Fewster, Kelly - hotmail, Kelly -awe.gov.au, Wade (Convenor)
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Modelling and Assessment of Whale Watching impacts (MAWI) Steering Group
Terms of Reference
Planning for and distributing the questionnaire; analyse the results; preparing a proposal for a workshop at the 2025 ECS Conference.
Members
Baldwin, C. Smith, Cooke, Cosentino, Currie, Forestell, Frey, Jimenez, Leaper, Miketa, Minton, New (Convenor), Noren, Parsons, Porter, Reyes, Robbins, Rose, Suydam, Urbán, Vermeulen, Webster, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Atlantic fin whale population structure
Terms of Reference
Review existing stock structure hypotheses and identify additional analyses that may be used to assess plausibility of existing hypotheses and to inform mixing parameters.
Members
Buss, Lang, Mizroch, Palsbøll, Pampoulie (Convenor), Porter, Tiedemann, Witting
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Atlantic Humpback Assessment
Terms of Reference
Initiate In-depth Assessment of North Atlantic humpback whales, incorporating the needs of IST
Members
Biuw, Cholewiak, Donovan, Katara, Palka (Convenor), Punt, Robbins, Wilberg, Øien
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Atlantic humpback whales - ICG
Terms of Reference
Continue to identify and evaluate data available for planned assessment.
Members
Allen, Allison, Bolaños Jimenez, Cerchio, Cholewiak, Chosson, Clapham, Donovan, Han, Jones, K. Lee, Lang, M. Lee, Mallette, Mattila, Palka, Palsbøll, Park, Punt, Robbins (Convenor), Rosenbaum, Sigurðsson, Tiedemann, Vely, Weinberg, Weinrich, Wilberg, Witting, Øien
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Atlantic Humpback Whales - SG
Terms of Reference
Initiate the In-depth Assessment of North Atlantic humpback whales, incorporating the needs of IST, including preparing data and analyses, and holding a workshop.
Members
Biuw, Cholewiak, Donovan (Co-Convenor), Katara, Palka (Convenor), Porter, Robbins, Wilberg, Øien
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Atlantic sei whales
Terms of Reference
Continue to identify and evaluate data on distribution, abundance, stock structure and catches, with a particular focus on the western North Atlantic.
Members
Breiwick, Brownell, Cholewiak (Convenor), Mallette, Mizroch, Palka, Porter, Robbins, Sigurðsson, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Pacific humpback whales
Terms of Reference
Reconfirm the finalised North Pacific humpback whale Comprehensive Assessment; develop summary document; send code to Secretariat for validation.
Members
Baker, Calambokidis, Cheeseman, Donovan, Katara, Katsumata, Kitakado, Matsuoka, Mizroch, Palacios, Palka (Convenor), Porter, Privitera-Johnson, Punt, Scordino, Steel, Urbán, Wade, Weinrich, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Pacific sei whales
Terms of Reference
Finalise the North Pacific sei whale Comprehensive Assessment summary document.
Members
Allison, Butterworth, Cooke, Herr, Katara, Kitakado, Mizroch, Palka (Convenor), Punt, Takahashi, Tiedemann
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
North Pacific sperm whales
Terms of Reference
Identify and evaluate data available for potential future assessment.
Members
Butterworth, Cholewiak, Cooke, Han, K. Lee, M. Lee, Mesnick (Convenor), Mizroch, Palka, Park
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Opportunistic sighting data protocol
Terms of Reference
Review protocol for opportunistic sighting data collection.
Members
Babey, Biuw, Burkhardt, Buss, Cheeseman, Dalla Rosa, Herr (Convenor), Hevia, Iñíguez Bessega - Gmail, Mizroch, Porter, Secchi, Torres Florez, Viquerat, Waluda, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Outreach to failitate photo condition
Terms of Reference
Develop ways to expand reach to citizen scientists to ecourage photo contributors
Members
Bell, Brownell, Buss, Collins, Double, Herr, Olson (Convenor), Weinrich, Weller
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Pollution 2025
Terms of Reference
Planning activities and work priorites for Pollution 2025
Members
Barreto, Eisfeld-Pierantonio, Frey, Genov (Convenor), Holm, Plön, Porter, Rowles, Simmonds, Staniland, Uhart
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Poorly documented take of small cetaceans
Recommendations review
Terms of Reference
Continue with the review framework established at SC69B and progress with recommendation review.
Members
Couto di Tullio, Frias, Hielscher, Hodgins, Jimenez, Lundquist, Porter - IWC email, Slooten, Trujillo (Convenor), Vrooman
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Sample depletion
Terms of Reference
Discuss and provide recommendation on genomic approaches to maximise the utility of tissue samples, particularly those in danger of depletion.
Members
Archer, Baker, Bickham, Buss, Carroll, Goto, Harmon, Hoelzel, Jackson, Lang (Convenor), Natoli, Palsbøll, Porter, Robertson, Sremba, Taguchi, Tiedemann, Torres Florez
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Small cetacean task team steering committee
Terms of Reference
Provide ongoing advice and support to established Task Teams and consider any new proposals.
Members
Donovan, Genov, Minton, Parsons, Porter - IWC email, Reeves, Rojas-Bracho, Simmonds (Convenor), Staniland, Thomas, Trujillo
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Small cetaceans of the South Pacific Islands (ICG)
Terms of Reference
Continue to develop and implement the workplan for the assessment of the Small Cetaceans of the South Pacific Islands.
Members
Albertson, Amepou, Baker, Beasley, Brannan, Carroll, Childerhouse, Cipriano, Constantine, Cook, Derville, Elliott, Freitas, Garrigue, Gilman, Heinemann, K. Baird, Katara, Kiszka, Kumoru, Lang, Mallette, Masere, Meyer, Oremus, Passadore, Poole, Porter (Convenor), R. Baird, Read, Soehnlen, Stockin, Tixier, Trujillo, Ward
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Snall cetaceans of the South Pacfic Islands (Steering Group)
Terms of Reference
Develop and organise a second workshop on documenting data availability and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Members
Brannan, Carroll, Childerhouse, Cipriano, Constantine, Lang, McKechnie, Porter - IWC email (Convenor), Trujillo, Wichman
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Sotalia guianensis population structure
!-- Intro section (56) Sotalia guianensis population structure -->
Terms of Reference
Review genetic and other evidence relating to population structure in Sotalia guianensis; provide advice on the proposed management unit declarations.
Members
Archer, Baker, Briceño, Buss, Caballero, Cipriano, Cunha, Domit, Fruet, Hoelzel, Lang (Convenor), Lunardi, Natoli, Porter, Sousa-Lima, Tiedemann, Torres Florez, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Southern right catch data
Terms of Reference
Compile new SRW catch series and update regional catch estimates.
Members
Aguilar, Allison, Azizeh, Bell, Brito, Carroll, Chatwin, Double, Findlay, Galetti, Katara, Mizroch, Morais, Porter, Romero, Ruiz-Sagalés, Seyboth, Smith, Vermeulen (Convenor), Vieira, Weinrich, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Southern right whale body condition
Terms of Reference
Finalise a global standardised southern right whale body condition and visual health assessment protocol for IWC endorsement.
Members
Arias, Bell, Charlton (Convenor), Christiansen, Dawson, Findlay, Gregory, Hamilton, Hoerbst, Leslie, Minton, Moore, New, Olson, Porter, Rowles, Rowntree, Salgado-Kent, Sironi, Uhart, Vermeulen, Weir
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Southern right whale calls
Terms of Reference
Assess what southern right whale call data exists offshore and at high latitudes (including IMOS and SOHN data) and consider appropriate analysis framework for using these data to assess southern right whale offshore distribution.
Members
Andrews-Goff, Bell, Buchan, Burkhardt, Calderan, Carroll, Charlton, Findlay, Friedlaender, Galetti, Leaper, McCauley, Miller, Porter, Reyes, Salgado-Kent, Schall (Convenor), Shabangu, Sirovic, Vermeulen, Ward, Webster, Weinrich
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Southern right whale modelling
Terms of Reference
Progress towards the application of a common modelling framework on long- term sighting history datasets from southern right whale calving groups to assess common (1) population dynamic patters; and (2) environmental drivers.
Members
Agrelo, Brandao, Butterworth, Carroll, Charlton (Convenor), Cooke, Dalla Rosa, Double, Groch, Leaper, Porter, Rayment, Ross-Gillespie, Rowntree, Seyboth, Sironi, Staniland, Vermeulen, Watson
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Spatial modelling
Terms of Reference
Facilitate conversation with other Committee subgroups to determine how best to integrate the spatial models into the SC’s work and how ASI can contribute
Members
Biuw, Cholewiak, Donovan, Herr, Kelly, Kitakado (Convenor), Miller, Skaug, Walløe, Weller
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Status of Stocks Group on language, terminology and content development
Terms of Reference
Draft SOSI web content. Recommend terminology, labels, graphics, statistics, summaries and similar aspects of the SOSI website. Draft text for assessment pages, ensuring consistent format and language, in consultation with species experts to be solicited by this group as necessary.
Members
Butterworth, Cipriano (Convenor), DeMaster, Donovan, Givens, Katara, Lang, Minton, Porter, Staniland, Tandy, Wade, Wilson, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Status of Stocks model-based assessment
Terms of Reference
Determine specifications for model- based assessments for the SOSI Project. Such assessments are to be based on completed SC assessments, Implementation Reviews and past Committee projects. Run model-based assessments for the appropriate species. Summarise modelling results and provide them to the Status of Stocks Group on Language, Terminology and Content Development. Draft technical explanations of assessment specifications and results for provision to the same group.
Members
Allison, Branch, Butterworth, Donovan, Givens, Katara, Palka, Porter, Punt, Wilberg (Convenor)
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Status of Stocks Steering Group
Terms of Reference
Oversee the SOSI Project, ensuring consistency and communication among the related ICGs. Determine priority order in which species will be added to the website. Review draft material from other ICGs. Solicit review of draft content as needed for consistency, clarity and accessibility to the appropriate audience. Solicit SC approval of final material. Organise creation of draft website.
Members
Cipriano, Fortuna, Givens (Convenor), Katara, New, Porter, Punt, Staniland, Tandy, Wilberg, Wilson, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Strait of Gibraltar killer whales
Terms of Reference
Continue to compile information on the behaviour of the Strait of Gibraltar killer whale subpopulation and, if possible, organise a workshop comprising experts, including marine mammal behaviouralists, to determine best approaches to this escalating issue.
Members
Barrett-Lennard, Bolaños Jimenez, C. Smith, Carvalho, Esteban (Convenor), Fernández Maldonado, Freitas, Garcia-Bellido, Genov, Guinet, Jimenez, Jourdain, Nunny, Pitman, Porter - IWC email, Rose, Samarra, Sequeira, Simmonds, Staniland, Tixier, Towers, Trujillo, Wilson
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Stranding Expert Working Group
Strandings Steering Group
Terms of Reference
(1) Oversee and provide strategic input to the implementation of the Strandings Initiative workplan on the basis of quarterly reports and advice requests by the Expert Panel and Secretariat; (2) Oversee allocation and expenditure of the Strandings Initiative budget; (3) Provide assistance in fundraising for the Strandings Initiative, including through helping to identify sources of funding and assisting with fundraising applications where appropriate; (4) Provide assistance to the Expert Panel and Secretariat, where appropriate, in facilitating emergency response assistant and training in IWC member and other countries; (5) Help to promote the Initiative, including among national and other international stakeholders.
Members
Brownlow, Collier, DeMaster, Genov, Herr, Luna (Convenor), Neave-Webb, Porter, Seakamela, Simmonds, Webster, Willans, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Summary of fin whale information
Terms of Reference
Provide a summary of fin whale data. Data gaps and data need for a future in-depth assessment.
Members
Biuw, Harris, Herr (Convenor), Miller, Mizroch, Porter
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Terminology
Terms of Reference
Revisit the definitions previously put forward for stock-related terms at IWC 2014, particularly those related to large whale assessments, and revise them where necessary.
Members
Baird, Bickham, Carroll, Cipriano, Hoelzel, Lang, Porter, Scordino, Tiedemann (Convenor)
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Timor-Leste whale watching
Terms of Reference
Continue communication with Timor- Leste on development of guidelines and regulations to facilitate communication between the Committee and the Government of Timor-Leste and the ATM-TL.
Members
Bell (Co-Convenor), Edyvane, Höschle, Noren, Parsons, Porter (Convenor), Ritter, Rose, Suydam, Urbán
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
[End section]
Tursiops truncatus
Terms of Reference
Monitor new publications related to this issue and update the Tursiops truncatus database.
Members
Cipriano, Lang, Natoli (Convenor), Porter, Rosel
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
User guides to AI platforms
Terms of Reference
Develop (1) a user-friendly guide to using Flukebook and Happywhale; and (2) an updated cross-reference document.
Members
Cheeseman, Minton, Natoli, Olson (Convenor), Vermeulen
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
Using satellites to study whales
Terms of Reference
Coordinate information, data and code among research groups conducting research using satellite images to monitor whales. This group aims to facilitate development of automated methods, avoid duplication of effort and negotiate better tasking opportunities with satellite providers.
Members
Acebes, Andrews-Goff, Archer, Arias, Baldwin, Bamford, Barreto, Bejder, Bell, Biuw, Borowicz, Brownell, Burkhardt, Carlyle, Carroll, Castro Alonso, Charlton, Charry, Cheesman, Cholewiak, Clarke, Collins, Connor, Corrêa, Coscarella, Crespo, Cubaynes, Dalla Rosa, Davenport, Domit, Donovan, Double, Elwen, Erler, Fernandez, Fewster, Fretwell, Frias, Garcia Garin, Garita, Genov, Goetz, Green, Groch, Ham, Herr, Hines, Hodgins, Houegnigan, Houliston, Höschle, Ivanchikova, Jackson, Jenner, K. Baird, Kapoor, Katara, Kelly, Khan, Ki Sow, Kitakado, Kot, Kreb, Lang, Lauriano, Leaper, Lundquist, M. Ferguson, Mallette, McFarlane, Minton, Mizroch, Mustika, Natoli, Neave-Webb, Neveceralova, Notarbartolo di Sciara, Olavarria, Olson, Palacios, Palacios Alfaro, Palka, Panigada, Pisano, Plön, Porter, Ritter, Robbins, Rodofili, Rogan, Rojas-Bracho, Rowles, Sackett, Sahri, Schteinbarg, Schubert, Simmons, Sousa-Lima, Stack, Stewart, Stockin, Sucunza, Suydam, Tissier, Torres Florez, Tulloch, Urbán, Vazquez, Vermeulen, Walløe, Watt, Webster, Weinrich, Weller, Wilberg, Wilkin, Willson, Zerbini
To join this group please contact the Secretariat or apply now.
WNP common minke whales
Terms of Reference
Further the preparations for the western North Pacific common minks whale In-depth Assessment, including organising intersessional meeting(s).
Members
Allison, Baker, Butterworth, Donovan (Convenor), Herr, Hoelzel, Katara, Kitakado, Miyashita, Palka, Porter, Punt, Takahashi, Tiedemann, Wade, Wilberg, de Moor
To join this group please contact the Secretariat
International Whaling Commission
Suite 2, First Floor, Victory House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9ZR
+44 (0) 1223 233 971
secretariat@iwc.int
Subscribe to the IWC Mailing List