BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Management of Antarctic baleen whales amid past exploitation\, cur rent problems\, emerging threats and complex marine ecosystems - Rebecca L eaper (Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute University of Tasmani a) &\; Cara Miller (Pacific Islands Programme\, WDCS International) DTSTART:20100615T100000Z DTEND:20100615T110000Z UID:TALK25180@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Christian Franzke DESCRIPTION:The massive reduction of whales as a result of commercial oper ations is one of the single largest human impacts to the Southern Ocean ec osystem. Systematic hunting of over 1.3 million whales\, in only 200 year s\, almost eliminated an entire trophic level of the marine ecosystem. Wh ile the setting catch limits of zero for conservation and management purpo ses (the moratorium) has saved many heavily-exploited populations from ext inction\, at the same time there has been a dramatic expansion of special permit scientific whaling\, conducted both within and outside of designate d whale sanctuaries.\n\nA growing concern is that there are multiple known and emerging threats to whales as they recover from historical over-explo itation\, not confined to directed or indirect take. These emerging threa ts range from global problems – such as climate change and marine pollut ion – to localised issues including fishery activities\, shipping\, habi tat disturbance and unregulated wildlife tourism. These threats are most likely to be multiple\, complex and differing between regions. They not o nly pose new challenges for our scientific understanding of baleen whale s pecies recovery\, but also for management and conservation of the Antarcti c marine ecosystem as a whole. \n\nHere we synthesise our understanding of whale species recovery in light of emerging human induced threats\, and w ithin the historical context of over-exploitation. We also discuss the po ssible ways to take forward this scientific understanding to underpin cons ervation efforts that include ecosystem-based management and the precautio nary approach\, concepts that form the modern basis for oceans management. \n LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Room 307 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR