Abstract
The West Coast Entanglement Science Workshop was the first comprehensive coastwide convening of U.S. West Coast states focused on the best available science to address whale and sea turtle entanglement in fixed gear fisheries. The workshop provided a unique opportunity to bring together fishery managers, researchers, fishing industry and stakeholders to learn about cutting edge research, share experiences and ideas, and engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue to identify opportunities for science to inform management. Structured as a five-part series of virtual modules between August 25th and September 3rd, 2020, the workshop featured 29 presentations and 8 interactive panel discussions and convened over 190 participants. The workshop engaged a variety of perspectives, geographies and stakeholder groups in a robust dialogue that was well received by participants, presenters and panelists. The outcomes from this workshop will help inform the development of management measures to address marine life entanglements and guide future investment in research and data collection.
The workshop was co-hosted by The Nature Conservancy and the California Ocean Protection Council, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries), Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) and the California, Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife.