Newswise — The lectures and supplemental educator workshops will be offered on Cape Cod (at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster) and in Boston (at the University of Massachusetts/Boston Harbor Campus), beginning March 7 (Cape Cod) and March 12 (Boston) through mid-April. . Admission to the Boston lectures is free; there is a $6 charge for each Cape Cod session. A brochure listing speakers, topics and other information about the program is available at the sanctuary's Web site at http://stellwagen.noaa.gov and the WDCS site at http://www.whales.org
The following speakers have been lined up -
Scott Landery, Provincetown Center for Coastal StudiesDr Mark Baumgartner, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionDr Leila Hatch, Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuaryDr David Wiley, Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuaryMr Michael Moore, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionDr Scott Kraus and Dr Roz Rolland, New England Aquarium
"Massachusetts residents are often surprised to learn that massive marine mammals can be found just off our shore where the Massachusetts waters support some of the richest marine life on the US sea board," said Regina A. Asmutis-Silvia, WDCS (NA) Senior Biologist. This area serves as a seasonal feeding area for a number of whales, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Once considered to be abundant throughout the western North Atlantic, only a remnant population of less than 400 North Atlantic right whales currently remains. Recovery of this species is presently impeded by a number of issues, such as collisions with vessels, entanglements in fishing gear and the continuing delays in implementing protective regulatory measures. NOAA Fisheries, the agency charged with protecting this species, acknowledges that the unnatural death of just one of these animals each year will likely contribute to the demise of the species. Yet, in 2006 alone, six right whales died including four from vessel strikes and one from entanglement.
"The rate of loss from this population is unsustainable. It is not, however, unpreventable," said Asmutis-Silvia. "Preventing extinction entails more than research, it requires awareness, and most importantly, action.
WDCS and SBNMS firmly believe that education and outreach are important components of any conservation plan leading to action to protect this species. Therefore, WDCS and SBNMS have developed a mini-course, consisting of lectures by leading whale researchers exploring right whale biology, behavior, conservation efforts and cutting edge research. The entire program will run on Cape Cod and in Boston and provides an opportunity for participating teachers to receive Professional Development Points. Workshops after each talk will feature classroom lesson plans related to the speaker's topic, resource listings, and hands-on activities. There is an extra charge for the continuing education credits.
"Extinction is forever, and the possible loss of this magnificent animal would be a severe blow to the biodiversity of the sanctuary" said Anne Smrcina, SBNMS Education Coordinator. "This course helps us raise awareness about one of the sanctuary's most precious living resources and the on-going efforts to protect it," she added.
Stellwagen Bank, located at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, is one of only 14 sites protected under the National Marine Sanctuary Program and the only one in the Northeast United States. In addition, the southern portion of the sanctuary along with Cape Cod Bay is one of only three areas designated as Critical Habitat for Endangered North Atlantic right whales. "Saving a species starts with protecting our own backyard" said Asmutis-Silvia, "we look forward to seeing as many people as possible at the talks which promise to be highly informative."
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