The mission of Sirenian International is to promote the long-term conservation of manatee and dugong populations around the world through research, education, and inter-cultural collaboration.

Our Participating Members are actively involved in sirenian projects around the world. They share knowledge through educational outreach programs, effect change by providing scientific data to decision makers concerned with conservation issues, and provide opportunities for students and local communities to participate in the field and the laboratory.

Our Supporting Members provide financial support to projects and services funded by Sirenian International via donations, our Mermaid Ambassador Adoption Program, and our Giftshop.

An International Board of Directors governs our activities and our Scientific Advisory Council insures the scientific integrity of projects we fund. Our Participating Members, our Board of Directors, and our Scientific Advisory Council are volunteers, there fore 100% of donated support goes directly to our projects and services.

Links to Conferences and other Events, which may be of interest to our Participating Members

UPDATED 25 November 2006

January 2007:

  • 9th International Wildlife Law Conference, whose principal sponsor is the American Branch of the International Law Association, will take place on January 26-27, 2007, at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida (Tampa Bay area). The conference brings together an array of representatives from governmental, NGO, and academic sectors, as well as many students. The Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy (http://www.jiwlp.com) will also publish a special symposium issue on papers growing out of the conference in late 2007. For more information, please contact Dr. Wil Burns, Chair, using the links above.

    March 2007:

  • 35th European Association of Aquatic Mammals Symposia will be held at Marineland in Antibes, FRANCE March 16th-19th, 2007. The EAAM encourages authors to submit oral and poster abstracts. All topics related to marine mammal science and husbandry will be acceptable: conservation, education, medicine, practical aspects of husbandry, et cetera. However, for the 35th Symposium, EAAM specially encourages presentations on all aspects of work with aquatic mammal which have a relation with conservation of wild populations of Marine Mammal (education, research …). Students should feel particularly encouraged to submit their work for oral or poster presentations; following EAAM’s tradition, an Award for the Best Student Presentation will be given. Details on the conference program, the location, the workshop, guest speakers, hotel reservations, registration and transportation are available on the conference website: www.marineland.fr and then you chose the EAAM section. For all your further questions please contact: Jon Kershaw (kershaw@marineland.fr).

    July 2007:

  • 21st Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology will be held 1-5 July 2007 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Deadlines:

    (a) Call for Contributed papers and posters, Deadline - 8 January 2007
    (b) Apply for Student Awards, Deadline - 8 January 2007
    (c) SCB mentoring program, Deadline - 20 December 2007
    (d) SCB Travel Awards, Deadline - 7 February 2007

    December 2007:

  • The 17th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa 29 November - 3 December, 2007. The Convention Center is located on the Cape Town foreshore, between the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and the city centre. More information about CTICC can be viewed via the link http://www.cticc.co.za. A conference website is being designed to serve as the primary resource for all information related to the conference, including registration, abstract submission, workshops, travel and accommodation, and vendor exhibits. We will notify you when the site is available. Abstracts for both verbal and poster presentations are due 31 May 2007 to allow sufficient time for peer review and notification prior to the meeting. The Scientific Program Chair can be contacted via email (sciprog@marinemammalogy.org).

    Sirenia Workshop: Cape Town, South Africa – 27 November 2007
    In conjunction with the SMM Meetings (above), the CTICC is providing meeting space for workshops prior to the conference. Workshops offer an opportunity for a focused forum on timely topics and a flexible format for talks or group discussion. To facilitate discussions and promote sharing amongst sirenian researchers/managers/educators, we would like to invite you to participate in a sirenia workshop entitled “Conservation management of sirenians in developing countries and indigenous communities” on 27 November 2007. The sirenians, the dugong (family Dugongidae) and the three species of manatee (family Trichechidae), are the world’s only herbivorous mammals that are exclusively aquatic. The range of sirenians spans about 90 sub-tropical and tropical countries on five continents. The survival of all four extant species is considered to be in jeopardy at a global scale. All four species are of considerable cultural value to indigenous peoples throughout their ranges. This symposium will present and synthesize current understanding of the research base for developing scientifically robust and socially, economically and politically achievable strategies to conserve dugongs and manatees in their 85+ developing range states and in indigenous communities within all range states.

    We are planning a full-day meeting with presentations and time in the afternoon for group discussion about achievable strategies to conserve dugongs and manatees in developing countries and indigenous communities. This is a call for workshop participants and abstracts for presentations. Presentations will be 15 minutes with 5 minutes for questions. You may use the format guidelines presented on the Biennial conference abstract website (http://www.smmconference2007.org/abstract_home.php), however please DO NOT submit your abstract via the conference website. Abstracts should be submitted to benjamin@ecosur-qroo.mx and taylor@wildlifetrust.org. Deadline for abstract submission is 30 June 2007. The cost for the workshop is ZAR 200 per person to cover the use of meeting room space, audiovisual equipment and two tea/coffee sessions. Participants must RSVP to taylor@wildlifetrust.org by 31 August 2007, so that we can provide conference conveners with an accurate count of participants to ensure the proper room size. The registration fee of ZAR 200 will be collected at the door on the day of the workshop. Workshop coordinators: Dr. Benjamin Morales, Dr. Buddy Powell, Cyndi Taylor, Nataly Castelblanco

    May 2008:

  • SOCIEDAD MEXICANA DE MASTOZOOLOGÍA MARINA (SOMEMMA) 2008
    First Announcement: XXXI International Meeting for the Study of Marine Mammals
    Location: Ensenada, Baja California, México
    Dates: 18-22 May 2008
    Theme: “Research for the Conservation of Marine Mammals”
    Abstract submission dates: 30 November 2007 to 15 January 2008
    Pre-Registration: In order to be able to estimate the number of attendees to the conference, please send us an e-mail (somemma2008@gmail.com) to let us know if you intend to participate.
    Workshops: We are open to suggestions about workshops that would take place on Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23 after the conference. The organization of the workshops (registration, materials, lecturers) will be responsibility of the conveners. SOMEMMA will facilitate space and audiovisual equipment. Please send your proposals to Claudia Rodríguez, claurodi@gmail.com
    For more information, click here: http://www.somemma.org/First%20Announcement%20Ensenada%202008.pdf

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