HARBOR BRANCH - OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

HARBOR BRANCH TO HOST MARINE MAMMAL CONFERENCE

FT. PIERCE, Fla. -- March 24, 2004 -- Marine mammal experts from throughout Florida and beyond will gather this weekend at HARBOR BRANCH for the 12th Annual Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) to exchange notes on current dolphin, whale, and manatee research efforts in the region.

The group will discuss, among other topics, research programs supported by the Protect Florida Dolphins Florida specialty license plate. Besides funding research programs at HARBOR BRANCH aimed at monitoring the health of dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon and rescuing stranded and injured dolphins, this year plate proceeds supported over $930,000 in marine mammal projects at institutions around the state.

Reporters are welcome to attend any portion of the conference. For a schedule and description of talks that will be presented, CLICK HERE. To learn more about the Protect Wild Dolphins Florida specialty license plate program, please sees: http://www.protectwilddolphins.org

For more information, or to sign up to attend the conference, please contact Mark Schrope at 772-216-0390, schrope@hboi.edu. Photos and b-roll are available. For information during the weekend of the conference only, please contact Steve McCulloch at 772-201-1535.

Some highlights of planned discussions and poster presentations:
*** Dr. Gregory Bossart will describe preliminary results from the ongoing HARBOR BRANCH-led assessment of dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon (This will be the keynote presentation, at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, March 27)

*** Other HARBOR BRANCH researchers will discuss evidence that the Indian River Lagoon has multiple isolated dolphin sub-populations.

*** University of Miami researchers will present the results of a study of how many manatees can be supported during the winter at the warm outflow from a single power plant, based in part on a new analysis of how much seagrass a single manatee eats per day.

*** Virginia scientists will introduce a new forensic technique that could allow scientists to identify the location and type of fishing gear that poses the greatest threat to marine life based on analysis of the telltale rope impressions left by fishing gear on wounded dolphins and whales.

HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution was founded in Ft. Pierce, Fla., in 1971 to support the exploration and conservation of the world's oceans. The institution has held to this mission and grown into one of the world's leading oceanographic institutions with a 500-acre campus, over 200 personnel, and a fleet of sophisticated research ships and submersibles.