IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
© IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group

Volume 15 Issue 2 Pages 68 - 127 (October 1998)

Congress Announcements
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3rd European Congress of Mammalogy

May 30th- June 4th, 1999 in Jyväskyla, FINLAND

Otter Workshop I (half-day)
How to better standardise the "standard" (IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group) method for otter surveys?

Chair:
Jerzy Romanowski, Institute of Ecology, Polish Academy of Science
Claus Reuther, Chairman IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group

Program:

• Claus Reuther: Review of the state of utilisation of the "standard" method in otter surveys in Europe (15 minutes)
• Jerzy Romanowsky: Review of the "standard" method, the modifications and the suggestions for a better standardisation (45 minutes)
• Discussion and formulation of obligatory regulations
  Topics:
  • General differentiation of methods in relation to the region to be surveyed (local or regional surveys, surveys based on national political borders (federal states, provinces, etc.)
  • Map basis (scale)
  • Number of survey sites per grid
  • Selection of survey sites
  • Selection of river bank (side, direction) in surveys on rivers
  • Length of stretch surveyed
  • Definition of "signs" (proofs)
  • Seasonal distribution of visits to survey sites
  • Personal aspects (number of surveyors, qualification, etc.)
  • Repetition of surveys (span of intervals, alteration of survey sites)
  • Documentation of results (computer programs, etc.)
  • Interpretation of results
  • Presentation of results

Otter Workshop II (half-day)
Otters and fishery

Chair:
Michaela Bodner, WWF Austria
Marcela Kucerová, Trebon Otter Foundation

Program:

• Introduction
  Michaela Bodner, Marcela Kucerová
• Claus Reuther: Why could the finding of solutions for the conflict "otters and fishery" represent a proof for the efficiency of otter research and conservation? (15 minutes)
• Country by country reports to the state of the conflict between otters and fishery (10 minutes each)
  Based on a written report which has to be send to the chairpersons until April 30th at the latest containing the following essential information:
  • Distribution of Lutra lutra (map)
  • Areas of fish-production (on the same or on another map)
  • Description of fish-production (farmed species, annual net and per ha production, economic importance for the region and/or nation, etc.)
  • Organisations/interest groups of fishfarmers/fishermen (address, chairman, etc.)
  • Legal status of the otter, including international conventions
  • Present approach to the situation: recognised as a problem, by whom (stakeholders)
  • Measures already undertaken: description, financial dimension, pro and contra assessment
  • Measures in preparation
  • Public awareness and opinion
• Research running and in preparation (contact person)
  Michaela Bodner: Need and suggestions for co-operation (30 minutes)
• Discussion
• Establishment of work groups, definition of contact persons
• Working out of working plans, definition of aims and targets, complete with time-tables

Informal meeting I (one evening, preferred June, 1st)
Meeting European section IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group

Chair:
Claus Reuther, Co-ordinator European section and Chairman IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group

Program:

• Report of the co-ordinator
• Report of the studbook keeper for Lutra lutra
• Report of the editor of the Bulletin
• Realisation of point VII.1 of the Trebon recommendations: (development of procedures and guidelines for decisions and elections of an internal nature)
• Realisation of point VII.5 of the Trebon recommendations: (definition of aims and priorities of the group regarding of otter protection; formulation of fundamental positions to topics like re-introduction activities, solutions for conflicts with fish production, guidelines for habitat management etc.; standardisation for methods of research)

Informal meeting II

(approximately 3 hours; preferred first (May 29th) or second day of the conference to enable discussion of special aspects in small working groups later in the conference)

Meeting authors Otter Action Plan

Chair:
Claus Reuther, Chair board of editors

Program:

Discussion and collection of suggestions for revision of the chapters

(A printout of these chapters will be distributed to all participating authors before or on the first day of the conference.)

Informal meeting III

Otter Habitat Network Europe (OHNE)

Chair:
Claus Reuther, Chair board of editors

Program:

• Introduction of the project OHNE
• Introduction of the Otter Habitat Network Germany
• Arrangement of multinational working groups for borders crossing expansion of the network.

Contact addresses:

For general information on the congress please contact:
ECM3, Jyväskylä Congress, POB 35, FIN-40351 Jyväskylä, FINLAND
e-mail: congresses@cone.jyu.fi
Web-page: http://www.jyu.fi/ecm3-1999/

18th Mustelid colloquium

September 16th- September 19th, 1999 in Schloss Zeilern, AUSTRIA

The programm 1999 will present contributions including the whole field of investigations in Mustelids (morphology, genetics, pysiology, ethology, ecology, hunting, trapping,....). Oral presentations shoul deal with planned projects or “work in progress”, posters should present already finished studies.
For further information please contact:
Dr. Johanna Sieber, KLIVV Savoyenstr. 1a, A-1160 Wien, AUSTRIA
Fax.: +43 1 486 21 21 28, e-mail J.SIEBER@KLIVV.OEAW.AC.AT

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