This web application uses cookies and other tracking technologies to ensure you get the best experience.
Resource ID
10488
Access
Open
Full Title
Annual Report of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership (IWC-SORP) 2018/19
Author
Elanor M. Bell
Abstract
The Southern Ocean Research Partnership (IWC-SORP) was established in 2009 with the aim of developing a multi-lateral, non-lethal scientific research programme that would improve the coordinated and cooperative delivery of science to the IWC. There are now 13 member countries in the Partnership: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States. This paper reports on the continued progress of IWC-SORP and its six ongoing research themes1 since the Scientific Committee meeting in 2018. This progress includes the production of at least 18 peer-reviewed scientific papers in 2018/19, bringing the total number of peer-reviewed publications related to IWC-SORP produced since the start of the initiative to ca. 144. Moreover, 133 IWC-SORP related papers have been submitted to the Scientific Committee, 8 of them this year. Fieldtrips to the western Antarctic Peninsula, Marion Island, the Southern Ocean (between 60°S – 67°S and 138°E – 152°E), the Ross Sea and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia have taken place in the past year. Thousands of images for photo-identification have been collected, satellite tags have been deployed on killer whales, Antarctic minke whales and humpback whales. As well as video suction cup tags on Antarctic minke and humpback whales. Biopsy samples have been collected from killer whales, humpback and Antarctic minke whales; and hundreds of hours of cetacean acoustic recordings have been made and analysed.