A Framework for Monitoring Arctic Marine Mammals

Abstract

The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service convened an international workshop in Valencia, Spain, 4-6 March 2007 to develop long-term, pan-arctic monitoring strategies for arctic marine mammals. Workshop participants recognized the need to monitor not only the population dynamics of marine mammals but also the key factors that drive those dynamics, including behavior, health status, trophic dynamics, habitat quality and availability, and the effects of human activities.