FINAL REPORT

FOR THE

REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING RESPONSE

IN THE FRENCH CARIBBEAN

Organized by

Association Evasion Tropicale (AET) and Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network (ECCN) Courbaril P.O. Box 130 BQ 97125 Bouillante Guadeloupe FWI Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines W.I. evastropic@wanodoo.fr nath51@verizon.net

with the support of

French Ministry of Environment (DIREN Guadeloupe) US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

and UNEP’s Regional Activity Center of the Protocol SPAW (SPAW-RAC)

8-10 JANUARY 2010 BOUILLANTE, BASSE TERRE, GUADELOUPE

SUBMITTED BY

NATHALIE WARD, PHD (ECCN) AND CAROLINE RINALDI (AET)

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Illustration: Andrea Bogomolni

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction II. Goals of Workshop

III. Objectives and Stranding Training Topics IV. Workshop Recommendations V. Regional Context

VI. Contacts VII. Appendices

Appendix A: Participant List Appendix B: Agenda Appendix C: Workshop Compendium—Table of Contents Appendix D: Incident Command System Appendix E: Press Release and ECCN Newsletter

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I. INTRODUCTION The Regional Workshop for the French-speaking Caribbean Territories in response to Marine Mammal Strandings from 8-10 January 2010 was held in Bouillante, Basse Terre in Guadeloupe. The workshop was a priority action identified by the UNEP’s Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Programme’s Marine Mammal Action Plan (MMAP) for the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), modeled after the first Eastern Caribbean stranding response workshop held in Trinidad & Tobago in 2005 and was followed by the Dutch Caribbean Workshop in November 2009. Thirty participants, representing Protected Area management organizations, government departments, and non-governmental organizations from five French-speaking islands and territories of Guadeloupe, Haiti, French Guyana, Martinique and St. Martin. The participants of the workshop are expected to promote the above goals on their island after returning from the workshop. Trainers and presenters included Charles Potter (Smithsonian Institute’s Marine Mammal Laboratory), Dr. John Reynolds and Dr. Dana Wetzel (Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarah Wilkins (NOAA Fisheries), Dr. Nathalie Ward (Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network/U.S. National Marine Sanctuary Program); Ms. Andrea Bogomolni (Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), Dr. Michael Moore (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), and Helene Souan (SPAW Regional Activity Centre, Guadeloupe.) Vincent Ridoux and Willy Dabin (CRMM/URL), Paul Hoetjes (SCCN Coordinator, Curacao), Caroline Rinaldi (Guadeloupe Archipelago Network / AET coordinator, Guadeloupe). Dr. Nathalie Ward (ECCN) and Caroline Rinaldi (AET) served as coordinators for the organization and workshop training preparations. (See Participant List: Appendix A). Funding for the French Stranding Workshop was provided by U.S. NOAA Fisheries International, the French Ministry of Environment (DIREN Guadeloupe) and UNEP's SPAW-RAC. II. GOAL OF THE WORKSHOP The goal of the Workshop was to review the techniques and protocols for responding to stranding incidents for marine mammals and to facilitate possibilities for collaboration and harmonization of a French Caribbean stranding network to collaborate with an international network of stranding responders; and, the exploration and establishment of a centralized archive of samples and a database of findings of countries in the region. III. OBJECTIVES and STRANDING TRAINING TOPICS The workshop helped to strengthen the standardization of protocols, methods of sample collection, archiving of samples, establishment of an online database for findings, and build a network to ensure sharing of information in cases of marine mammal strandings across the region. Building on the trainings already established in the French Antilles and French

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Guiana by the French National Stranding Network, specific objectives of the Workshop included: • Continued training of people from each of the French-speaking Caribbean territories and preparing the establishment for the territories where it doesn’t really exist, to organize an effective response in cases of strandings of whales or dolphins, allowing for maximum chance of successful recovery of stranded animals; • Strengthen the use of standardized techniques and protocols for preparation, handling, transport and storage of marine mammal specimens when responding to marine mammal strandings, to ensure effective sample collection for research to answer conservation questions: • Preparing the establishment, for each territory where it doesn’t already exist, of a clear “Incident Command System” (ICS) to organize stranding events with clearly defined roles for all involved agencies/organizations and a set pyramid of authorization; • Reinforcing national and regional coordination needs for stranding response, analytical capabilities, and technology and information exchange; and, • Creating a link with other sub-regional stranding networks in the Caribbean such as the ECCN and SCCN, ensuring better communication and cataloging of stranding events. Presentations and hands-on instruction in stranding response, necropsy, and supportive animal care were given. A necropsy was conducted on a neonate spotted dolphin by Charlie Potter and Willy Daubin. Participants were introduced to the ‘Incident Command System (ICS)— a method of organizing stranding events that involve multiple agencies with a set pyramid of authorization (See Incident Command System: Appendix D). Attendees also participated in a mock stranding response demonstration on the beach and in a facilitated debrief discussion. As part of the discussion, participants identified their needs for stranding response, analytical capabilities, and technology and information exchange. Presentations include discussions of marine mammal health stressors such as disease and contaminants, which have intrinsic value in terms of understanding the health of particular marine mammal stocks, but also provide important insights into possible health threats to humans. Development of an international network of stranding responders, an archive of samples, and a database of findings was explored. The workshop participants were expected to promote the above goals on their island after returning from the workshop. IV. RECOMMENDATIONS Participants commended the workshop’s organization and learning opportunities provided. They applauded the potential for collaboration within the French Caribbean and harmonization within the Wider Caribbean Region regarding marine mammal stranding science. Participants compiled a list of recommendations for next steps:

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1) CAPACITY BUILDING • Consolidate existing capacity of networks and implement capacity where it does not

exist (Haiti, and neighbor islands of the French speaking territories: Antigua, Dominica, etc.).

• Develop and improve practical access for each island such as improving collection methods and tools, provisioning stranding kits, facilitating training, storage facility, freezing/not freezing, holding tissues samples (e.g. alcohol) (territory-specific).

• Develop and maintain database for sub-regional networks (island-specific); • Establish database infrastructure and accessibility (i.e., computers, web software,

web connection, database software). • Archive of specimens (i.e., where and how). • Develop regional database (of resources, veterinarians, etc.). • Establish regional database (of data) including relevant U.S. data (U.S. Virgin

Islands, Puerto Rico). • Establish a working group to integrate existing data forms and protocols.

2) COORDINATION—

• Develop a) focal point on each island, wherein island leadership will promote stranding efforts focused on central coordination with endorsement of local government; and, b) focal point at the regional level, will inform the SPAW-RAC. On practical implementation level, it is suggested that ECCN be the implementing agency (on regional level) with support from SPAW-RAC. In the future, the SPAW-RAC would host the database on its website.

• Development of database and contact lists for personnel capabilities and resources at most local level possible (hierarchy identified with contact person).

3) RESEARCH—

• Establish and maintain regional scale database. Participants noted that they don’t know priorities yet but can list them after a concurrent meeting or after 2011 SMM/ICMMAP/ COP SPAW meeting October 2010.

• Agreed upon research basics to include: basic life history, marine mammal populations and habitats.

• Integrate marine mammal strandings into larger research domain and other sources of data on marine mammals and the marine environment; and,

• Prioritize research from strandings to better understand the health of individuals and conservation status of species and populations, and to improve management decisions. Specifically, a priority research effort this year would focus on pollution and its impact on marine mammals.

4) INFORMATION DISSEMINATION—

• Consistent dissemination of information to a variety of audiences, which should also include scientific peer-reviewed literature. It was noted that the creation of new journal specifically on strandings if feasible, or a means to report consistently to scientific audience.

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• Organize specific meeting for stranding for Wider Caribbean Region, every two-three years joined with another event or meeting potentially, with emphasis broader than strandings but within the framework of SPAW/MMAP.

• Create a stranding LISTSERVE for electronic communication (using SCCN model).

5) EDUCATION AND OUTREATH—

• ALL materials (e.g., ECCN’s “WANTED POSTER”) developed and published in various languages such as Creole, Papiamento, Spanish, and French.) Use local media to promote public involvement. Use WIDECAST experience as a model.

6) FINANCIAL SUPPORT—

• Enhance and build network capabilities where they don’t exist (e.g., French speaking territories/islands St. Lucia, Haiti, Dominica, etc.).

V. REGIONAL CONTEXT—NEXT STEPS In the Wider Caribbean Region, there is an urgent need for capacity building in the area of unusual mortality events of marine mammals, specifically on-the-ground response to animal strandings and collection of relevant data; training in methods of sample collection, archiving of samples and establishment of an on-line database for findings; and, as it applies to insight into ocean health. Because marine mammals are trans-boundary animals, successful conservation of marine mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region will ultimately depend upon the commitment of countries there to build and maintain, with international assistance, internal capacities for setting conservation priorities and achieving high standards of population and habitat protection. Further to the adoption of SPAW’s MMAP (2008) and with support from the Caribbean Environment Programme secretariat and from the SPAW-RAC, participants agreed to strengthen capacities and infrastructure within and between islands (and hopefully regions such as ECCN) to identify and monitor threats to marine mammals, ecosystems, and humans by accomplishing priority activities as outlined in MMAP (2.7):

• Establishing inasmuch as possible, ‘injury’ networks which have a reporting mechanism to respond to marine mammal injury, wherein information which should be made available to all other countries. (MMAP 2.7.5)

• Creating appropriate archives of samples for diverse studies such as pathology,

contaminants, parasitology and genetics. (MMAP 2.7.6)

• Building capacity to include standardized protocols, training in methods of sample collection, archiving of samples, and establishment of an on-line database for findings. (MMAP 2.7.7)

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The attendees valued the opportunity to have a forum to address and discuss their shared challenges. The discussions addressed the future establishment of regional cooperation programmes to increase scientific, technical, and educational exchange among relevant national, regional, and international organizations. Specifically, it was recommended that a regional stranding database be developed, which would be attainable by the different stranding networks of the region and which would include the expert contacts from all the territories and countries. As part of networking, a strong effort should be made to transfer essential skills, resources and capacity building, within the French Caribbean, throughout the Lesser Antilles region and the Wider Caribbean. Additionally, it was stated that, it is important to promote a precautionary approach when addressing risks and uncertainty when making decisions regarding conservation of marine mammals. VI. CONTACTS For further information, please contact: Caroline Rinaldi (AET) evastropic@wanadoo.fr or Dr. Nathalie Ward (ECCN) nath51@verizon.net.

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VII. APPENDICES APPENDIX A—- Presenters (**) and Participant List ANDREA BOGOMOLNI, MS ** ECCN STRANDING AND DATABASE COORDINATOR WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MAIL STOP #50 WOODS HOLE, MA 02543 USA CELL: (508) 631-2130 EMAIL: andreab@whoi.edu WILLY DABIN ** CRMM/ULR, EMAIL: willy.dabin@univ-lr.fr Pôle Analytique - 5 allée de l'Océan 17 000 La Rochelle - France Tel : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 10 Fax : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 45 PAUL C. HOETJES ** Senior Policy Advisor Department of Environment & Nature (MINA) Ministry of Public Health & Social Development (VSO) Schouwburgweg 26 (building E) Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles Tel. +(599-9) 466-9307 Fax: +(599-9)461-0254 EMAIL: paul@mina.vomil.an DR. MICHAEL MOORE ** SENIOR SCIENTIST, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION MAIL STOP #50 WOODS HOLE, MA 02543 USA TEL: (508) 289-3228 FAX: (508) 457-2169 EMAIL: mmoore@whoi.edi CHARLES W. POTTER ** COLLECTION MANAGER, MARINE MAMMALS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION MRC 108 PO BOX 37012 WASHINGTON, DC 20013-7012 USA TEL: (202) 633-1261 (OFFICE) (301) 238-1157 (CELL) EMAIL: potterc@si.edu DR. JOHN REYNOLDS ** SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA, FL 34236 USA TEL: (941) 388-4441 FAX: (941) 388-5225 EMAIL: reynolds@mote.org CAROLINE RINALDI AET COURBARIL 97125 BOUILLANTE GUADELOUPE FWI TEL: 0590 (0) 590 92 74 24 EMAIL: EVASTROPIC@WANADOO.FR

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VINCENT RIDOUX ** CRMM/ULR, EMAIL: vridoux@univ-lr.fr Pôle Analytique - 5 allée de l'Océan 17 000 La Rochelle - France Tel : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 10 Fax : 33 (0) 5 46 44 99 45 HÉLÈNE SOUAN ** SPAW-REGIONAL ACTIVITY CENTER (RAC), DIRECTOR 97100 BASSE TERRE GUADELOUPE TEL: 0590 (0) 590 80 14 00 EMAIL: helene.souan.carspaw@guadeloupe-parcnational.fr DR. NATHALIE WARD ** DIRECTOR, EASTERN CARIBBEAN CETACEAN NETWORK P.O. BOX 130 BQ BEQUIA, SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, WEST INDIES P.O. BOX 573 WOODS HOLE, MA 02543-O573 USA TEL: (784) 458-3624 OR USA (508) 548-3313 EMAIL: nath51@verizon.net EMAIL: nathalie.ward@noaa.gov DR. DANA WETZEL** SENIOR SCIENTIST, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY SARASOTA, FL 34236 USA TEL: (941) 388-4441 FAX: (941) 388-5225 EMAIL: dana@mote.org SARAH WILKINS ** MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE PROGRAM NOAA FISHERIES, USA EMAIL: SWILKIN@NOAA.GOV

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

DABIN Willy CRMM / ULR Willy.dabin@univ-lr.fr RIDOUX Vincent CRMM / ULR vridoux@univ-lr.fr FRIEDRICH Thomas ONCFS Guyane Th-fr@hotmail.fr WARD Nathalie ECCN nath51@verizon.net

nathalie.ward@noaa.gov DEVIERS Dominique DIREN Guadeloupe Dominique.deviers@developpement-

durable.gouv.fr RINALDI Renato Association Evasion

Tropicale (AET) evastropic@wanadoo.fr

RINALDI Caroline Association Evasion Tropicale (AET)

evastropic@wanadoo.fr

HOETJES Paul Dept of Environment & Nature Netherlands Antilles

Paul@mina.vomil.an

FONTAINE Pierre Henry

Biodidacte pierrehenry@sympatico.ca

WETZEL Dana Mote Marine Lab dana@mote.org REYNOLDS John Mote Marine Lab. /

Marine Mammal C. reynolds@mote.org

BARRIOZ Sébastien Ass. Kwata sebastien@kwata.net HILAIRE Jean

Vilmond Société Audubon Haïti jvhilaire@gmail.com

EXIL Lucienna Ministère Environnement Haïti

exillucienna@yahoo.fr

VEDIE Fabien DIREN Martinique Fabien.vedie@developpement-durable.gouv.fr

POTTER Charles Smithsonian Institution potterc@si.edu FILIPPI Margaux Etudiante Margaux_fm@mac.com GOURDIN Franck CAR -SPAW Franck.gourdin.carspaw@guadeloupe-

parcnational.fr SOUAN Hélène CAR -SPAW helene.souan.carspaw@guadeloupe-

parcnational.fr MAZEAS Franck DIREN Guadeloupe Franck.mazeas@developpement-

durable.gouv.fr MOORE Michael Woods Hole

Oceanographic Institute mmoore@whoi.edu

BOGOMOLNI Andrea ECCN andreab@whoi.edu WILKIN Sarah National Marine Fisheries

Service USA Sarah.wilkin@noaa.gov

JEREMIE Stephane SEPANMAR Stephane.jeremie@wanadoo.fr ROSE-ROSETTE

Valérie SEPANMAR Val.cla.rr@orange.fr

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DRAGIN Marius CAR-SPAW Marius.dragin.carspaw@guadeloupe-parcnational.fr

MALTERRE Pauline RNN St Martin Pmalterre.rnstmartin@gmail.com REDAUD Louis DIREN Guadeloupe Louis.redaud@developpement-

durable.gouv.fr ETIENNE Denis AAMP Denis.etienne@aires-marines.fr LEPORT Dominique Association Evasion

Tropicale (AET) Martine.dominique@wanadoo.fr

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APPENDIX B—AGENDA

A REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR THE FRENCH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN TERRITORIES

IN RESPONSE TO MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS 8-10 January 2010

Bouillante, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe

AGENDA DAY 1—Friday, 8 January 2010 8:30 AM Welcome (Association Evasion Tropicale) DIREN Guadeloupe (Dominique Deviers) French National Stranding Network (Vincent Ridoux) 9:00 – 9:30 UNEP’s Marine Mammal Action Plan’s Stranding Response Context for the Wider Caribbean Region (Hélène Souan) 9:30 – 10:15 Marine Mammals of the Wider Caribbean Region (Nathalie Ward) Workshop Overview: Agenda, Goals and Objectives 10:15 Coffee Break 10:30 –11:15 Marine Mammals as Sentinel Species—The Conservation Value of Strandings (John Reynolds) 11:15 –12:00 Data Collection and Life History Parameters (Charley Potter) 12:00 – 1:30 Luncheon 1:30 – 2:15 Informing Management Decisions Through Stranding: A Case Study of Right Whale

Forensics (Michael Moore) 2:15 – 3:00 Pathology of Disease and Collection of Specimens (Andrea Bogomolni) 3:00 Coffee Break 3:15 – 4:00 Differential Diagnosis of Marine Mammal Mortalities Michael (Moore) 4:00 – 5:30 Level A Data Collection & Adverse Human Interactions with Marine Mammals Incident Command System (ICD)—On-the Beach Protocol (Bogomolni) 7:30 PM French Antilles Sanctuary Project—AGOA (Denis Etienne)

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DAY 2—Saturday, 9 January 2010 6:30 – 8:30 AM Necropsy (Potter) 8:30 – 10:00 Mock Stranding and On-the Beach Response (Bogomolni) 10:00 Coffee Break 10: 15 – 11:00 Stranding Response Discussion: (Live/Dead; Single/Mass) (Bogomolni) 11:00 – 12:00 Contaminants: Sample Collection/Archival/Analyses (Dana Wetzel) 12:00 – 1:30 Luncheon 1:30 – 2:15 Marine Mammals and Beaked Whales of the Caribbean (Charley Potter) 2:15– 3:00 Cetacean Inner Ear: Beaked Whales (Willy Dabin) 3:00 Coffee Break 3:15 – 4:00 NOAA Marine Mammal Stranding Program: (Sarah Wilkins) Stranding Accomplishments and Future Directions 4:00 – 5:00 CRMM/ RNE French Marine Mammal Stranding Program (Vincent Ridoux) 7:30 Biology, Strandings and Conservation of the West Indian Manatee (Reynolds) DAY 3—Sunday, 10 January 2010 9:00 – 10:30 Caribbean Stranding Networks: Panel Presentations and Discussion (Ward) o Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network—ECCN (Nathalie Ward) o Southern Caribbean Stranding Network —SCCN (Paul Hoetjes) o Guadeloupe Archipelago Stranding Network (Caroline Rinaldi) 10:30 – 11:45 Topic Groups: Working Group Discussions (Ward) o Response to Stranding Events—Needs (e.g. specific equipment/necropsy kits, sample collection, preparation, handling, archiving samples); decision making &reporting mechanisms; building capacity for stranding response, funding, etc.) o Island versus French Antilles Regional Coordination—Needs (e.g., stranding protocols, data collection, data base management, data sharing (i.e., Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin, St. Barts, Haiti) o Stranding Communication and Exchange; Education Materials, Public Outreach—Needs (i.e., media events and public support; educational materials needed; creating volunteer networks and interest; educate stakeholders on the scientific importance of reporting and investigating strandings.)

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o Marine Mammal Research and Health Evaluation—Needs (i.e., create appropriate archives of samples for diverse studies such as pathology, contaminants, paracytology and genetics; compile and analyze data and samples from strandings and apply the results to assessments and mitigation of impacts of human activities.) 11:45– 12:15 Working Group Reports 12:15 – 1:30 Luncheon 1:30 – 3:00 Working Group Discussion/Recommendations for French Caribbean Territories Harmonization of Protocols and Goals 3:00 Coffee Break 3:15 – 4:00 SPAW/MMAP Stranding Priorities 2011 Workplan NEXT STEPS for (Sohan/Ward/) Group Discussion/MMAP Priority Stranding Actions (Ridoux) o Communications (Web-based) o Information Exchange/Centralized Regional Data Base o Education and Training o Intern Exchange Programs/Sustainability o CARIB Center of Excellence/Marine Mammal Health Labs o WORKPLAN 20010-2011 for SPAW/MMAP (new threats) 4:00 – 4:15 MMAP Workplan Recommendations: Rappateur Summary (Pierre Fontaine) 4:15 – 4:30 Closing Remarks

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APPENDIX C—WORKSHOP COMPENDIUM: TABLE OF CONTENTS (Prepared by ECCN. Available on website: http://www.eccnwhale.org)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION Cover Page Table of Contents Workshop Goals Agenda 2. DATA AND SAMPLE COLLECTION Data and Sample Collection External Examination ECCN Morphometrics Level A Form Level A Form Examiners Guide 3. NECROPSY Internal Examination WHOI Necropsy Manual Pininiped, Dolphin, Manatee Basic Anatomy Exam Report Sample ECCN Necropsy Examination Report 4. ANATOMY Abdominal Anatomy Integument Anatomy Thoracic Anatomy 5. MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH Diseases of Marine Mammals Gas Bubbles Contaminants 6. ON-THE BEACH RESPONSE DOs and DON’Ts of Stranding Incident Command System Stranding Response—Stretchering 7. MARINE MAMMAL THREATS ECCN Human Interaction Indicators Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals 8. CARIB SPECIES & IDENTIFICATION Marine Mammal Species List Cetacean Dichotomous Key

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9. PUBLIC OUTREACH ECCN Newsletter Wanted Stranding Poster 10. POWERPOINTS: Presentations for French Workshop Ward

§ Marine Mammals of the Wider Caribbean: Wksp Overview § Eastern Caribbean Cetacean Network (ECCN)

Reynolds § Marine Mammals as Sentinels § Manatee Strandings and Conservation

Potter § Data Collection and Life History Parameters § Beaked Whales of the Caribbean

Moore § Informing Management Decisions Through Stranding § Differential Diagnosis of Marine Mammal Mortalities

Bogmolni § Pathology of Disease and Collection of Specimens § Level A Data Collection & Human Interaction

Wetzel § Contaminants: Sample Collection/Archival/Analyses

Daubin Inner Ear Morphology: Extraction and Fixation Ridoux French National Stranding Network Aerial Surveys Etienne AGOA—French Marine Mammal Santuary Rinaldi Overview: Strandings in Guadeloupe Souhan SPAW/MMAP and Marine Mammal Stranding Workshop 11. APPENDICES

A. Caribbean MM Literature B. Bios and Contacts C. Resources and Websites D. Workshop Participants

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APPENDIX D—INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM The Stranding Response command system in the U.S. begins with the legal authorization by the federal government to approach or interfere with marine mammals. A ‘Letter of Authorization (LOA)’ is given to each stranding organization to comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Volunteers of the stranding network must have permission from their network before approaching marine mammals. Marine Mammals can single or mass strand. Organizing a mass stranding requires proper organization and emergency response teams ready to act before the event ever occurs. Mass Stranding response is organized under the same system that human emergency response teams utilize known as the ‘Incident Command System (ICS). It is a method of organizing events that involve multiple agencies with a set pyramid of authorization. Once a stranding report is received, the Incident Command System is established. The Incident Commander is the person who received the report, or a person who is already designated to take control before an event ever occurs. An Incident Commander must oversee and appoint a Site Coordinator, Media Coordinator, Personnel Coordinator, and any other roles that may be necessary (e.g. Safety, Equipment, etc.) and be accessible at a Central Operation Base or via telephone/radio communication, if in the field. All information and decisions must be relayed from the Site Coordinator(s) to the Incident Commander. Each Site Coordinator appoints an on-site team with rescuers, technical specialists (e.g., veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, trained volunteers) and other volunteers, as necessary. Every person should know what their role is and whom they will take orders from. The Site Coordinator and team perform triage for each animal, while rescuers and volunteers give supportive care. Options are evaluated within a single stranding site or within various sites. Animals can then be released whether in small groups, one large group, relocated, euthanized, or held until all animals are evaluated. Final decision for releasing the group of animals is determined by the Incident Commander once information is received from all stranding sites from each Site Coordinator. After the event, debrief at the Incident Command Center/Central Operation Base needs to occur with all involved. Check-in of ALL personnel at the beginning of an event and checkout after is necessary. Dead animal recovery and site clean up can then take place.

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APPENDIX E—PRESS RELEASE and ECCN NEWSLETTER (See ECCN Website— http://www.eccnwhale.org —“News You Can Use”)