External Review of Protected Species Science Program in the Pacific Islands

In 2015, a panel of independent experts reviewed the Science Center's protected species program.

About

NOAA Fisheries began a systematic peer review process in 2013 at all six regional science centers. During the 2015 review, an independent panel learned about the marine mammal and marine turtle science information needs, priorities, and research activities that are relevant to current programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. The review panel provided input on ways to improve the quality of marine mammal and marine turtle science programs.

Panel of experts:

Chair: David Helweg, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Climate Science Center
Douglas DeMaster, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Jim Estes, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California at Santa Cruz
Frank Paladino, Indiana-Purdue University
Robin Waples, Northwest Fisheries Science Center

For additional information, please contact PIFSC.

This Program Review was open to the public at the NOAA offices on Pier 38 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Monday, July 27, 2015

9:00 AM - Introduction and Charge to Review Panel — Michael Seki

9:15 AM - NOAA Fisheries Welcome — Ned Cyr

9:25 AM - Introduction to Protected Species — Frank Parrish

9:55 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office, Protected Resources Division Introduction and Overview for Hawaiian Monk Seals — Ann Garrett

10:35 AM - Break

10:50 AM - Introduction to the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program — Charles Littnan

11:20 AM - Data Streams Informing Monk Seal Research & Recovery — Stacie Robinson

12:00 PM - Public Q&A

12:30 PM - Lunch

1:30 PM - Data Management — Vikram Khurana

2:00 PM - Application of Data for Recovery Activities — Jason Baker

2:40 PM - Summary — Charles Littnan

3:10 PM - Break

3:20 PM - Public Q&A and Panel Questions

3:50 PM - Break and Public Exits

4:00 PM - Closed Session / Drafting of Report by Panel

5:00 PM - Adjourn for the Day

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

8:30 AM - Brief Review of Day 1 and Discussion of Schedule for Day 2 — Frank Parrish

8:40 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Overview of Cetacean Priorities — Ann Garrett

9:10 AM - Introduction to the Cetacean Research Program — Erin Oleson

9:45 AM - Cetacean Stock Assessment by the Program — Amanda Bradford

10:25 AM - Break

10:40 AM - Passive Acoustic Contributions to Stock Assessment — Erin Oleson

11:20 AM - Data Collection, Archiving, and Stewardship — Marie Hill

11:50 AM - Public Q&A

12:20 PM - Lunch

1:20 PM - Cetacean Assessment Case Study: False Killer Whales in Hawaiʻi — Amanda Bradford

2:00 PM - Cetacean Research in the Marianas — Marie Hill

2:40 PM - Summary — Erin Oleson

3:10 PM - Public Q&A and Panel Questions

3:40 PM - Break and Public Exits

3:50 PM - Closed Session / Drafting of Report by Panel

5:00 PM - Adjourn for the Day

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

(moved to NOAA Inouye Regional Center on Ford Island after noon)

8:30 AM - Brief Review and Schedule for Day 3 — Frank Parrish

8:40 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Overview of Marine Turtle Priorities — Ann Garrett

9:10 AM - Introduction to the Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program — T. Todd Jones

9:45 AM - Historical Overview of Core Marine Turtle Data Streams — George Balazs

10:20 AM - Break

10:35 AM - Marine Turtle Strandings and Bycatch Research in the Pacific Island Region, 1982–2014 — Shandell Brunson

11:15 AM - Marine Turtle Assessment in the Nearshore Waters and Nesting Beaches of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas — T. Todd Jones

11:55 AM - Public Q&A

12:25 PM - Lunch

1:25 AM - An Overview of Marine Turtle Data Management — Shawn Murakawa

2:05 PM - Overview of Analytical Products: Biological Opinions, Status Reviews, Critical Habitat, and Basic Research — Summer Martin

2:50 PM - Summary — T. Todd Jones

3:20 PM - Public Q&A and Panel Questions

3:50 PM - Break and Public Exits

4:00 PM - Closed Session / Drafting of Report by Panel

5:00 PM - Adjourn for the Day

Thursday, July 30, 2015 at NOAA Inouye Regional Center

8:30 AM - Brief Review and Schedule for Day 4 — Frank Parrish

8:40 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Protected Species Bycatch Overview — Ann Garrett

9:10 AM - Developing Bycatch Reduction Technologies — John Wang

9:40 AM - Sample Designs and Bycatch Estimates — Marti McCracken

10:20 AM - Summary of All Protected Species Division Presentations — Frank Parrish

11:10 AM - Break

11:20 AM - Final Public Q&A

12:20 PM - Lunch

1:50 PM - Closed Session

2:50 PM - Drafting of Report by Panel

5:00 PM - Adjourn for the Day

Friday, July 31, 2015 at NOAA Inouye Regional Center

9:00 AM - Closed Session for Panel to Finalize Report and Recommendations

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Closed Session for PIFSC Directors Office and Protected Species Division Leadership to Receive Panel Report and Recommendations

2:00 PM - Adjourn (and/or finalize reports)

Last updated by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center on 08/21/2018