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:
The currently established correspondence groups, terms of reference and memberships can be found below.
Further the preparations for the North Pacific humpback whale comprehensive assessment, including organise an intersessional meeting.
Clapham (Convenor) Baker, Calambokidis, Cheeseman, Donovan, Katsumata, Kitakado, Ivashchenko, Matsuoka, Mizroch, Palka, Punt, Zerbini, Urban, Wade, Weinrich, and Yoshida
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Continue progress on developing the North Pacific sei whale Comprehensive Assessment.
Cooke (Convenor), Allison, Butterworth, Kitakato, Matsuoka, Mizroch, Palka, Punt, Walloe and Yoshida.
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Further the preparations for the western North Pacific common minke whales in-depth assessment, including organise an intersessional meeting.
Donovan (Convenor), Allison, Butterworth, de Moor, Hakamada, Kishiro, Kitakado, Palka, Punt, Tiedemann, Walloe and Wilberg..
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Identify and evaluate data available for a potential future assessment of North Atlantic humpback whales
Robbins (Convenor), Allen, Allison, Cholewiak, Clapham, Donovan, Jones, Lang, Mallette, Mattila, Oien, Palka, Palsboll, Punt, Rosenbaum, Tiedemann, Weinrich, Wilberg and Witting.
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Locate and/or analyse data on abundance, catches and stock structure to prepare for a future assessment.
Branch (Convenor), Allison, Brownell, Clapham, Ivashchenko, Matsuoka, Mizroch, Monnahan, Olson, Palacios, Sirovic and Sremba.
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
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
Cholewiak (Convenor), Allison, Breiwick, Brownell, Mallette, Mizroch, Palka, Robbins, Vikingsson and Weinrich.
email: nasei@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Planning activities and work priorities for Pollution 2025 (SC68C)
Members
Holm (Convenor), Domit, Donovan, Fernandez, Plon, Rowles, Simmonds, Staniland, Smith, S., Stimmelmayr, Stockin and Tulloch.
email: pollution@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Planning focus session for 2021 (SC68C)
Members
Stimmelmayr (Convenor), Fernandez, Gulland, Mazzariol, Rowles, Smith, S., Hernandez, Sierra Pulpillo, Grigg and Sacristan.
email: diseasesofconcern@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Advance underwater noise topics of interest, including collaboration with the Conservation Committee and consideration of IMO MEPC outcomes on noise.
Members
Cholewiak, Leaper (Convenors), Burkhardt, Cerchio, Genov, Lundquist, Reyes, Ritter, Rosenbaum, Simmonds, Sirovic, Smith, Sutaria, Torres, Webster and Williams.
email: noiseicg@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Follow-up on the recommendations from the WS and monitor the issue.
Members
Simmonds (Convenor), Baulch, Donovan, Elsfeld, Fossi, Genov, Holm, Long, Nunny, Marcondes, Mattila, Pierantonio, Rowles, Smith, S., Sutaria, Svoboda, Tulloch and Williams.
email: marinedebris@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Planning Workshop on Climate Change 2020/21.
Members
Simmonds (Convenor), Donovan, Frey, Holm, Kitakado, Leaper, Nunny, Palka, Smith, S., Stachowitsch, Staniland, Trujillo, Webster.
email: climatechange@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) to finalize the guidelines for single species distribution models (SDMs); (2) to conduct a literature review of multi-species distribution models (MSDMs); and (3) to develop possible simulation platforms to evaluate these models.
Members
Kitakado (Convenor), Biuw, Burkhardt, Friedlaender, Genov, Herr, McKinlay, Miller, Kelly, Murase, New, Palacios and Palka.
Email: msdm@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) to further develop individual-based energetics models (IBEMs), inter alia for progressing the emulator model to use in RMP trial specifications; (2) to discuss new strategies for model development that utilize new data; and (3) to infer functional responses using an IBEM for rorqual foraging dives.
Members
Friedlaender (Convenor), Biuw, Cooke, de la Mare, Donovan, Kitakado, Palacios and Palka.
Email: ibems@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Compile a literature review on the subject of how environ-mental variability may affect whale populations.
Members
Cooke (Convenor), Butterworth, de la Mare, Friedlaender, Kitakado, Palacios and Tulloch.
Email: eltevwp@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Prepare a Workshop under a Steering Group.
Members
Ritter (Convenor), Biuw, Butterworth, Cavanagh, Donovan, Frisch, Ferris, Galletti, Haug, Kitakado, McKinlay, Punt, Roman, Smith and Suydam.
Email: cefgapanawksp@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Planning for the questionnaire and potential workshop.
Members
New (Convenor), Baldwin, Cook, Cosentino, Currie, Forestell, Frey, Jiménez-Assmus, Leaper, Minton, Noren, Parsons, Reyes, Robbins, Rose, C. Smith, S. Smith, Vermeulen, Weinrich.
Email: modassmawi@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Continue to monitor the relevant literature; seek to produce a new review of information for the Committee across the whole range of interactions; review the appropriate terminology; and continue to consider the relevance of this topic to the work of the sub-committee, including how this topic might best be studied in future.
Members
Simmonds (Convenor), Cosentino, Currie, Fonseca, Forestell, Minton, Parsons, Vail, Wells.
Email: hibcc@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Help provide advice to IORA when appropriate; facilitate communication between IORA and the sub-committee; and consider ways to promote appropriate training workshops.
Members:
Smith, S. (Convenor), Baldwin, Iñíguez, New, Parsons, Simmonds, C. Smith, Weinrich
Email: commiora@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Address the outcomes of the scheduled meeting in 2021 between the Government of Timor-Leste and Committee members and to draft comments on the Timor-Leste draft guidelines for whale watching.
Members
New and Porter (Co-Convenors), Noren, Parsons, Rose, Ritter.
Email: timorlesteww@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Monitor, assess and report on commercial interactions, including watching, provisioning and swimming, with river dolphins, in the Amazon and elsewhere.
Members
Trujillo (Convenor), Luna, Marmontel, Parsons, Porter, Rojas-Bracho
Email: riverdolphinint@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Coordinate the intersessional review of abundance estimates by the ASI SWG.
(2) Appoint expert small group to conduct review of abundance estimates required for next year’s meeting. |
Members
Zerbini (Convenor), Allison, Donovan, Givens, Jackson, Kitakado, Palka, Robbins, Staniland, Suydam, and Walløe
Email: reviewofae@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Coordinate the intersessional review of franciscana abundance estimates. (2) Produce a report of the review for presentation next year. |
Members
Zerbini (Convenor), Andriolo, Cañadas, Cremer, Crespo, Danilewicz, Domit, Doniol-Valcroze, Donovan, Ferguson, Fortuna, Herr, Miller, Sucunza, Palka.
Email: franciscanaarg@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Develop a set of specific instructions for the amendment of the RMP guidelines to consider model-based abundance estimates.
Members
Fortuna (Convenor), Butterworth, Cooke, Donovan, Herr, Kelly, Kitakado, Miller, Palka, Punt, Staniland and Zerbini.
Email: rmpguidelines@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Use the existing guidelines for the provision of advice to the Commission on status of stocks to develop a draft report for review by the Committee at SC68C for the species/regions identified. |
Members:
Donovan (Convenor), Allison, Branch, Brownell, Butterworth, Cooke, Givens, Jackson, Palka, Porter, Punt, Staniland, Suydam, Trujillo, Walløe, Zerbini.
Email: status@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Review the applicability of the accepted g(0) estimate to other cruises.
(2) Try to develop robust estimates for use in the in-depth assessments and/or to provide management advice and/or to provide broader estimates for the public.
Members
Kitakado (Convenor), Allison, Butterworth, Donovan, Hakamada, Kelly, Matsuoka, Miyashita, Palka, Punt
Email: npminkeabun@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Co-ordinate presentation of CMP projects across sub-committees.
Members
Iñíguez (Convenor), Brito-Junior Santos, Cremer, Crespo, Cunha, Di Tullio, Domit, Ia Macondes, Ott, Pasadore, Secchi, Siciliano, Torres-Florez, Trujillo, Zerbini.
Email: franciscana@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Develop a draft ‘toolbox’ of investigative techniques to assist in documenting more clearly takes of small cetaceans; and organise a workshop comprising a multi-disciplinary group of biologists, social scientists, managers and NGOs with a global scope. Increase formal liaison with other MEA.
Members
Porter (Convenor), Baker, Brownell, Collins, Cosentino, Donovan, Fortuna, Frey, Ingram, Jiménez, Parsons, R. Reeves, Simmonds, Trujillo.
Email: pdtsc@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Assist the Scientific Committee in providing timely and effective advice on situations where a population of cetaceans is or suspected to be in danger of a significant decline that may eventually lead to its extinction; the ultimate aim being to ensure that extinction does not occur. |
Members
Simmonds (Convenor), Genov, Porter, R. Reeves, Rojas-Bracho, Stainsland, Thomas, Tarzia, Trujillo.
Email: smallcetaceantaskteam@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Continue to compile relevant information on Sotalia guianensis to provide an action plan and recommendations to the Scientific Committee
Members
Domit (Convenor), Caballero, Porter, Torres-Florez, Trujillo, Zerbini.
Email sotaliaworkshop@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Members
Galletti, Alaniz, Avila, Cabrera, Cholewiak, Domit, Fernandez, Fonseca, Holm, Jimenez, Plon, Staniland, Stimmelmayr and Uhart
Email: onehealth@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
The ICG will grow its membership and compile information on the novel behaviour of the Strait of Gibraltar killer whale sub-population, seek input from other marine mammal behaviour experts and suggest appropriate management actions.
Members
Estaban (Convenor), Barrett-Lennard, Bolanos, Carvalho, Cosentino, García-Bellido, Genov, Guinet, Jimenez, Jourdain, Nunny, Pitman, Porter, Rose, Samarra, Sequerira, Simmonds, Smith. Staniland, Tixier and Towers.
Email: sogkw@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Examine the scientific aspects of the proposed CMP for South American river dolphins. |
Members
Brownell
Email: sarivdol@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Develop a strategy to review the past recommendations of the SM Sub Committee so that they are current relevant and prioritised and conform to the new SC recommendation format
Members
Porter (Convenor), Di Tullio, Jimenez, Scheidat, Simmonds, Suydam, Zerbini.
Email: smrevrec@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
TBD.
Members
Fruet (Convenor), Tarzia.
Email: lahilles@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Review recent revisions in sections of the DNA quality guidelines that pertain to data produced using NGS approaches.
Members
Tiedemann (Convenor), Archer, Baird, Baker, Bickham, Carroll, DeWoody, Hoelzel, Goto, Jackson, Lang, Palsbøll, Pampoulie, Solvang, Taguchi, Waples.
Email: dnaquality@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Discuss and provide recommendation on genomic approaches to maximise the utility of tissue samples, particularly those in danger of depletion.
Members
Lang (Convenor), Archer, Baker, Bickham, Buss, Carroll, Hoelzel, Goto, Jackson, Morin, Palsboll, Robertson, Sremba, Taguchi, Tiedemann, Torres Florez.
Email: sampledepletion@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
To clarify the terminology used to describe the gray whale stock structure 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
Lang (Convenor), Bickham, Donovan, Hoelzel, Goto, Pampoulie, Punt, Scordino, Tiedemann, Weller.
Email: graypopstruct@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Summarise the data available from other (i.e. non-genetic) lines of evidence that could be used to infer population structure, evaluate the level of support for each of the proposed subdivisions based on this combined data and provide advice on future work (additional analyses, sample collection efforts) to address remaining questions.
Members
Lang and Ott (Co-Convenors), Andriolo, Cipriano, Cunha, Farro, Gariboldi, Hoelzel, Mendez, Pampoulie, Oliveira, Passadore, Secchi, Tiedemann, Torres-Florez, Zerbini.
Email: franciscanapopstruct@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Review genetic and other evidence relating to population structure in Sotalia guianensis; to provide advice on the proposed management unit delineations.
Members
Lang and Caballero (Co-Convenors), Archer, Baker, Briceno, Cipriano, Cunha, Domit, Fruet, Natoli, Tiedemann, Torres-Florez, Zerbini.
Email: sotaliapopstruct@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Revisit the definitions that were previously put forward for stock-related terms at IWC 2014, particularly those related to large whale assessments, and revise them where necessary.
Members
Tiedemann (Convenor), Baird, Bickham, Carroll, Cipriano, Hoelzel, Lang, Scordino.
Email: terminology@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Advise on construction and analysis of southeast Pacific, southeast Indian Ocean and southwest Pacific mark recapture datasets, including timespan, regions to include, and modelling framework.
Members
Jackson (lead), Galletti, Findlay, Torres Florez, Olson, Weinrich, Cooke, Zerbini, Salgado-Kent, Torres, Barlow, Butterworth, Double, Jenner, Gill, Möller.
Email: shmarkre@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Low- and mid-latitude analysis of Antarctic blue whale song to establish any differences between wintering ground
Members
Buchan (lead), Cerchio, Samaran, Shabangu, Torres, Miller, Širović, Branch, Findlay, McCauley, Barlow, Stafford.
Email: antbluesong@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Assess what southern right whale call data exists offshore and at high latitudes (including both IMOS and SOHN data), and consider an appropriate analysis framework for using these data to assess southern right whale offshore distribution.
Members
Širović (lead), Burkhardt, Calderan, Carroll, Charlton, Findlay, Friedlaender, Leaper, McCauley, Miller, Reyes Reyes, Vermeulen, Ward, Webster.
Email: srightcalls@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Progress towards development of a common population modelling framework for Southern right whale calving grounds, to assess common: (1) population dynamics patterns; and (2) environmental drivers.
Members
Charlton (Convenor), Agrelo, Brandão, Butterworth, Carroll, Cooke, Double, Groch, Leaper, Rayment, Ross-Gillespie, Rowntree, Seyboth, Sironi, van den Berg, Vermeulen, Watson.
Email: sright@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Develop a global, standardized southern right whale body condition and visual health assessment protocol for IWC endorsement.
Members
Christiansen, Vermeulen (co-Convenors), Findlay, Leslie, Charlton, Minton, Moore.
Email: srightcond@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Assess if there is any unpublished regional catch data for southern right whales held in Best, Bannister and Dawbin archives in South Africa and Australia respectively. Compile new SRW catch series and update regional catch estimates.
Members
Jackson (Convenor), Allison, Carroll, Charlton, Double, Findlay, Kemper, Paton, Vermeulen, Zerbini.
Email: srightdata@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
To review the opportunities for the Scientific Committee to progress work on the conservation of beaked whale species, including taking into account its previous contributions, and by working with others who are also interested in these taxa, such as ASCOBANS.
Members
Simmonds (Convenor), Cholewiak, Iniguez, Plön, Fonseca, Stimmelmayr, Vrooman and Zerbini.
Email: beakedwhales@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Provide plausible sets of pre-exploitation and current abundance of populations of relevant large whale species in the Southern Ocean and the North Atlantic from literature, as well as to conduct additional analyses if needed.
Members
Kitakado, Givens (Convenors), Allison, Biuw, Butterworth, Donovan, Haug, Jackson, Katara, Palka, Punt, Robbins, Solvang, Sow, Tulloch, Vikingsson, Zerbini + CCAMLR and NAMMCO scientists.
Email: pepecalpw@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
To continue to assist the Ship Strike Co-ordinators in reviewing cases submitted to the IWC global database and to provide advice on how to reduce the backlog of cases.
Members
Leaper (Convenor), Brownell, Cañadas, Donovan, Double, Herr, Holm, Mattila, Panigada, Ritter, Rowles, Weinrich.
Email: ssdatareview@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Consider how best to respond to requests for advice on routeing measures.
Members
Leaper (Convenor), Bjørge, Donovan, George, Mattila, Panigada, Rojas-Bracho, Webster.
Email: shipsrouteing@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Discuss and refine definitions of categories 2 and 3 to classify estimates of abundance
(2) Develop supplementary wording that explains how estimates in categories 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 might be used, and examples of the reasoning for choosing one category over another.
Review estimates previously added to the table to re-categorise them as necessary to adhere to the new category definitions agreed by the SC at this meeting.
Givens (Convenor), Allison, Butterworth, Donovan, Katara, New, Jackson and Zerbini.
Email: arp@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Develop several example stock status reports including both cases with sophisticated modelling of good data, and cases with minimal modelling and limited data.
Begin development of website to convey status information.
Members
Givens (Convenor), Allison, Butterworth, Donovan, Katara, New, Porter, Punt and Zerbini.
Email: dsse@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
To provide advice on the 2020/21 IWC-POWER cruises (including holding the Planning Meetings), on data analyses, storage and on requests for data/sample use of IWC-POWER/SOWER cruises.
Members
Matsuoka (Convenor), Bravington, Brownell, Clapham, Donovan, Kato, Kelly, Kim, H-W, Kitakado, Miyashita, Murase, Palka, Pastene, Staniland, Wade, Zerbini, Zharikov
Email: iwcpowersower@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Develop Tursiops taxonomy database and monitor new publications related to this issue.
Members
Cipriano (Convenor), Natoli, Porter and Rosel.
Email: turtax@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Organise a workshop (hosted at the upcoming Society for Marine Mammalogy) to share information on body condition analysis across cetacean species, and coordinate and standardize body condition assessment methods.
Members
Charlton (Convenor), Christiansen, Bell, Dawson, Groch, Hamilton, Jackson, Rowntree, Salgado-Kent, Sironi, Staniland, Torres Florez, Uhart, Vermuelen, Wer and Weinrich.
Email: wbcam@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Review of the available historical and contemporary evidence for Southern Hemisphere stock structuring, develop stock structure hypotheses for review and ranking, based on available evidence; and identify data gaps where further work is required to discriminate hypotheses.
Members
Jackson (Convenor), Agrelo, Azizeh, Baker, Carroll, Charlton, Warwick-Evans, Findlay, Galletti, Groch, Matsuoka, Richards, Rosenbaum, Sironi, Tiedemann, Torres Florez, Valenzuela, Vermuelen, Weinrich and Zerbini.
Email: srightssh@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Developing a standard survey protocol to assist future collation of fin whale sightings from the Southern Ocean.
Members
Herr (Convenor), Bell, Buirkhardt, Butterworth, Donovan, Double, Findlay, Friedlaender, Hevia, Iniguez, Jackson, Kelly, Miller, Olson, Panigada, Perez-Alvarez, Reyes, Fonseca, Samaran, Sepulveda, Seyboth, Sirovic, Dalla Rosa, Wedekin, Weinrich, Williams and Zerbini.
Email: shfin@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Support implementation of the ICES advice in the Baltic by providing comments on the issue of potential acoustic interference with sonar.
Members
Carlen (Convenor), Bell, Berggren, Bjorge, Cosentino, Dolman, Leaper, Parsons, Plon and Simmonds.
Email: pinger@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
(1) Identify workshop topics;
(2) Schedule the workshops into modules (annual or biennial);
(3) Identify potential SC scientists to invite to design and lead these workshops;
Prepare a proposal to this regard for presentation at SC68D.
Members
Staniland (Convenor), Cerchio, Collins, Diallo, Freitas, Laamrich, Minton, Miyashita, Panigada, Pastene, Plon, Ridoux, Tiedemann, Yoshida, Walloe and Zerbini.
Email: comhafatisg@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
Terms of Reference
Develop a plan for a collaborative pan-regional survey initiative across the Indian Ocean to conduct cetacean surveys.
Members
Tarzia (Convenor), Braulik, Cerchio, Collins, Dulau, Kelly, Kitakado, Palka, Seakamela, Willson and Zerbini.
Email: iopriccs@groups.iwc.int
To join this group please contact the Secretariat.
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