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CETACEAN RESEARCH IN THE MARIANAS
Learn more about whales, dolphins in the Marianas
The Saipan-based Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Science Education, and Environmental Management is pleased to host a public event focused upon local whales and dolphins today, June 17, at Saipan’s American Memorial Park auditorium, from 6:30pm to 8pm.
All who are interested may come and learn about our archipelago’s marine mammals from Dr. Erin Oleson, lead scientist for the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu. Oleson’s presentation will discuss some of the program’s findings from the recent surveys and acoustic research in our waters. As at all APASEEM talks, on-topic questions from the audience are strongly encouraged.
Oleson presented her group’s preliminary findings in 2013 on developing new passive acoustic technology to monitor the occurrence and behavior of whales and dolphins in remote regions or in situations where visual methods are ineffective. Current research focuses upon pairing traditional survey techniques, including ship-based and small boat surveys for cetaceans, with new technologies, such as long-term acoustic recorders, animal-carried tags, and development of new autonomous sensors for assessing cetacean populations.
With support from the U.S. Navy, the program has conducted small boat surveys on Guam, Rota, and Saipan since 2010. As of last year, such surveys had documented 20 species of cetaceans in the waters of the Marianas Archipelago, a figure that had doubled the number documented just three years prior. Today’s presentation will provide an update of that earlier talk and share findings from the long-term acoustic recorders having been deployed near Saipan and Tinian which monitor the presence of cetaceans year-round. These results are also being compared with the vessel surveys. For more information visit the www.apaseem.org website or write to us via apaseem@gmail.com. (APASEEM)
