**Final Reminder - Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in Freshwater Environments SMM Workshop** 22nd Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) Biennial Conference, Sunday October 29th 2017, Halifax N.S., Canada (Venue TBA) Point of Contact - Michael J. Tetley IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF) www.marinemammalhabitat.org (email: immacoordinator(at)gmail.com) *Maximum Number of Participants: 20* The IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF) is seeking final registrations of interest from participants for the upcoming workshop on Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in Freshwater Environments Workshop to be held at the 2017 Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference this October. The IUCN-MMPATF is in the process of identifying a global network of Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). IMMAs are an area based management and conservation tool for identifying discrete portions of habitat, important to marine mammal species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. Across 2016-2021 a series of regional workshops of assembled experts to identify IMMAs is underway. Marine mammal species recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy Committee on Taxonomy which occur in freshwater environments, such as River Dolphins, Sirenians, and Pinnipeds, present a different scenario and application of the current IMMA User Guidance (available at www.marinemammalhabitat.org/downloads/imma-guidance-document-october-2016). The IMMA Selection Criteria therefore requires further consideration and consultation with leading experts before their application in freshwater environments. In comparison to purely marine environments, freshwater habitats (large estuaries, rivers, river basins, lakes, and inland seas) are subject to differing ecological drivers, research considerations, and conservation management. In addition – the IUCN-MMPATF is mindful that not all experts can attend the workshop or SMM conference in Canada. Therefore, should you wish to still assist the workshop participants in their assessment of the IMMA selection criteria and process please complete the following survey link provided below: *IUCN-MMPATF Survey - Suitability of the IMMA Selection Criteria for the identification of marine mammal areas of conservation importance in freshwater environments* www.formpl.us/form/5125618767233024 Please be advised that the registration process for attending the workshop is processed alongside registration for the main SMM Conference Programme ( http://www.smmconference.org). Participants who are not registering for the main SMM Conference Programme will need to pay a standalone registration fee to attend the workshop (of $40 USD). Please contact the IMMA Coordinator (immacoordinator(at)gmail.com) if you would like to register your interest to attend the IUCN-MMPATF Workshop on IMMAs in Freshwater Environments. At this time there is no additional support available to assist potential participants with travel, accommodation, or other associated costs for participating in the workshop. For additional information about the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and the global effort to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas, please visit www.marinemammalhabitat.org Sincerely Dr Michael J. Tetley - IMMA Coordinator IUCN Joint SSC/WCPA Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (IUCN-MMPATF)