The Society for Marine Mammalogy uses the Presidential Letter process as a mechanism whereby the Society may respond to issues of concern in a timely fashion. The SMM Conservation Committee monitors important marine mammal issues via input from the SMM Board of Governors and the SMM membership.
At the request of the Board of Governors, the Committee will research an issue of concern and develop a position. Based on the consensus view of the Committee, the Chair will draft a letter for signature by the President on behalf of the Society. Such letters and appropriate background and responses are published on the Society’s website.
View a PDF of the signed letter, in English and Russian, concerning Caspian seal conservation, dated 22 September 2025. Open Letter To Mr. Akkenzhenov Ye.K., Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Others engaged in the dredging of a shipping channel across the Ural Saddle area in the northeast Caspian in relation to […]
Dear Colleagues, Today marks the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. Ian Stirling on 14 May 2024. The Society for Marine Mammalogy pauses to remember and celebrate his extraordinary life and enduring legacy. Ian was a pioneer in polar bear ecology and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Arctic marine mammals. Over […]
17 October 2020 HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways Bonifacio Drive, Port Area Metro Manila, Philippines Dear Secretary Villar, As President of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, I write to express concern about the potential for the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridges Project to threaten the survival of […]
The SMM received the following four e-mails regarding our 29 June 2020 Presidential Letter to President Tsai of Taiwan in regards to conservation of the Taiwanese White Dolphin: 1/4 Dear Mr. Gonzalvo and Ms. Pabst: I am writing on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen to thank you for your email dated June 29 expressing your […]
On 29 June 2020, a joint ECS/SMM Presidential Letter was sent to the President Tsai of Taiwan in regards to conservation efforts for the Taiwanese white dolphin. See a copy of the letter sent here. President Tsai Ing-wen Office of the President No. 122, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd., Zhongzheng District Taipei City 10048, Taiwan […]