Advanced Disentanglement Training
Curriculum Summary  Dec. 11, 2000

 

Introduction

·     Overview of Network and CCS role as coordinator, including NMFS role

·     Issues specific to the Audience (e.g. fishermen, biologists, government…etc.)

·     Issues specific to the Region being trained (e.g. Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, West Coast, other countries…etc.)

Authorization:  Legal issues

·        Special permit required

·        Criteria for standing authorization

·        This training does not imply authorization

Response

·        Verify, stand by, initial documentation

·        Getting responder to scene

Assessment

·        Intro - rationale

·        Common Misconceptions: 

·        Condition of animal

·        Assessment of gear

·        Assessment of response conditions

·        Potential actions

Telemetry

·        Intro

·        Rationales

·        Case histories

·        Preparation of buoy

·        Attaching buoy

Disentanglement Procedures

·        Common misconceptions

·        Brief general overview and history

Freeing an anchored whale

·        Approach techniques

·        Adding buoys to keep the whale at the surface

·        Carefully assess the entanglement

·        Special problems and techniques for removing gear

·        Case histories

Controlling a free-swimming whale

·        Intro:  A modification of historic whaling technique

·        Attaching to the whale - techniques

·        Slowing the whale and keeping it at the surface

·        Applying additional force

·        Formulating the disentanglement plan

·        Special equipment

·        Case histories

Documentation and follow-up

·        Documenting whale (ID and species) including injuries

·        Documenting gear

·        Retrieving and archiving gear (NMFS)

·        Reporting to Network (e.g. to web site and NMFS)

·        Research and development

USCG

·        Overview of role

·        Memorandum of Agreement

·        Communications

·        Stand by

·        Transport team

Safety

·        General Prudential Rules

·        Support vessel and plane

·        Approaches to whale

·        Personnel equipment

·        Procedure

·        Whale behavior and behavior around whales

Future Goals

·        Network goals

·        Advancement of Network members

·        Maintaining preparedness