{"id":8258,"date":"2019-11-14T16:18:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T21:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/?page_id=8258"},"modified":"2023-12-29T10:25:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T15:25:14","slug":"rapcon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/rapcon\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare Pinniped Conservation Network (RAPCON)"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"graphic aligncenter\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-9229 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/mum-and-pup-Campbell-Island-1718-credit-Gareth-Hopkins-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption><p>A New Zealand sea lion mother and pup on Campbell Island (Credit: Gareth Hopkins).<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>RAPCON is a network to foster organization and sustained collaboration among individuals working to conserve rare pinniped populations globally. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCON-Inaugural-Workshop-Agenda-18.10.2019.pdf\">inaugural meeting<\/a> of this network took place at the 2nd World Marine Mammal Science Conference in Barcelona (7th December 2019). A second meeting of the RAPCON was held in H\u00e4meenlina, Finland during March 2023, hosted by the Saimaa Ringed Seal Research Team from the University of Eastern Finland. \u00a0The Marine Mammal Commission has facilitated formation of RAPCON and is providing leadership and organizational support.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\" class=\"heading-two\" id=\"background\">Background<\/h2>\n<p>The pinniped clade (a group of organisms with a common ancestor) comprises 33 species and numerous subspecies widely distributed in polar, sub-polar and temperate oceans, with some species occurring in tropical or subtropical regions. Although pinniped species were historically decimated by unsustainable killing, many species and populations have rebounded. Most pinniped species have population sizes exceeding 100,000 and some number in the millions (Figure 1). According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, about two-thirds of pinniped species (and sub-species) enjoy LC (least concern) status, while about 10% are listed as VU (vulnerable). Approximately one-fifth of pinniped species and sub-species are considered EN (endangered). Two species, the Caribbean monk seal and the Japanese sea lion, were hunted to extinction.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"graphic aligncenter\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8284 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pinniped-Abudance-RAPCON-e1574356033958.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2351\" height=\"3011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pinniped-Abudance-RAPCON-e1574356033958.jpg 2351w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pinniped-Abudance-RAPCON-e1574356033958-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pinniped-Abudance-RAPCON-e1574356033958-800x1024.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2351px) 100vw, 2351px\" \/><figcaption><p>Figure. 1. Pinniped species, sub-species, and isolated populations ranked by abundance. Abundance is presented on a logarithmic scale to accommodate the six orders of magnitude range among these species and populations. Three populations of Mediterranean monk seal are presented separately as these represent entirely isolated demographic units. Red asterisks indicate IUCN endangered (EN) status and the red box contains populations of ~15,000 individuals or less (Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). Green circles indicate species and populations listed in the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act.<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\" class=\"heading-two\" id=\"rapcon\">RAPCON<\/h2>\n<p>This initiative currently focuses on the few pinnipeds ranked at the lower end of the abundance range (red box in Figure 1). These rare species, sub-species, and demographically isolated populations are at risk of extinction or reduction to irrevocably low population levels in the relatively near future, and share one or more of the following characteristics:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"graphic alignright\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8474 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-adult-male-ASL-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-adult-male-ASL-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-adult-male-ASL-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-adult-male-ASL.jpg 1549w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption><p>An endangered adult male Australian sea lion vocalizing (photo courtesy of Andrew Lowther, Norwegian Polar Institute).<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>Relatively low abundance (< 15,000 individuals)<\/li>\n<li>Current or recently declining population trends<\/li>\n<li>Long-term failure to recover<\/li>\n<li>Small geographic range<\/li>\n<li>Subject to a suite of anthropogenic threats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Despite their relatively higher abundance, Caspian seals are a subject of interest to RAPCON because they are suffering unsustainable mortality due to bycatch in illegal, unmanaged and undocumented (IUU) fisheries.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/rapcon\/#footnote1\"><sup>1<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Many of these seal populations are the subject of recovery and research efforts executed by teams of extremely devoted conservationists. These programs have achieved a great deal for their respective subject species by employing clever and innovative research and conservation approaches. RAPCON hopes to boost the effectiveness of these individual programs through increased communication and collaboration.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\" class=\"heading-two\" id=\"common-threats-common-solutions\">Common Threats, Common Solutions<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"graphic alignleft\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8475 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-Mother-and-pup-swimming-together.-\u00a9-M.-Haya-CBD-Habitat.-1024x677.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-Mother-and-pup-swimming-together.-\u00a9-M.-Haya-CBD-Habitat.-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-Mother-and-pup-swimming-together.-\u00a9-M.-Haya-CBD-Habitat.-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-Mother-and-pup-swimming-together.-\u00a9-M.-Haya-CBD-Habitat..jpg 1826w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption><p>Mediterranean monk seal\u00a0 (Cabo Blanco, Mauritania) mother and pup swimming together. \u00a9 M. Haya, CBD-Habitat.<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Anthropogenic and natural threats can wreak profound, negative population-level impacts on small populations. The threats faced by rare pinnipeds are typically similar to those identified for more abundant species, but what may amount to marginal effects in the latter become existential in the former (Table 1). For example, while fishery bycatch is a common threat to both abundant and rare pinnipeds, entanglement and drowning in active fishing gear has severely reduced the Saimaa ringed seal population. A bacterial infection (<em>Klebsiella pneumoniae<\/em>) has episodically killed up to 50% of New Zealand sea lion pups born at one of the primary colonies. In 1997, a mass mortality event of unknown etiology reduced the Cabo Blanco population of monk seals by nearly two-thirds to just over 100 individuals. The Cabo Blanco population only recovered to pre-1997 levels after nearly two decades.<\/p>\n<p>A rarely emphasized positive aspect of conserving small populations is that specific interventions can often mitigate threats and achieve positive population-level outcomes. Broad scale measures, such as establishing protected areas and fishery restrictions, have led to encouraging population growth in both Saimaa ringed seals and monk seals at Cabo Blanco. Increasing public awareness about endangered seals has likely also been instrumental in fostering seals\u2019 coexistence with humans.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"graphic alignright\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8476 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-Bild0021-1024x667.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-Bild0021-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-Bild0021-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/small-Bild0021.jpg 1480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><figcaption><p>Galapagos fur seals (photo courtesy of Fritz Trillmich, Univ of Bielefeld).<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A distinguishing characteristic of conservation opportunities in rare pinnipeds is the feasibility of achieving population-level benefits by intervening on a small (even individual seal) scale. This is well documented in Hawaiian monk seals<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"> ((<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 1rem; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.int-res.com\/abstracts\/esr\/v25\/n1\/p89-96\/\" data-link-type=\"external\" data-modal=\"disclaimer\">Harting 2014<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">) where up to 30% of the extant population has benefitted from interventions to save individuals, such as translocation, rehabilitation, de-hooking, dis-entanglement, treating infections, etc. At some New Zealand sea lion breeding sites, significant numbers of pups starve after they fall into mud holes from which they cannot escape. This source of mortality has been reduced by simply installing wooden ramps, which pups can use to readily climb out of holes. At Lake Saimaa, climate change is reducing the availability of snowdrifts, upon which ringed seals rely for subnivean lairs where they give birth and raise their pups. In low snow years, man-made drifts created by manually piling snow have become a critical resource for successful weaning of pups ((<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 1rem; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.annzool.net\/PDF\/anz51-free\/anz51-526.pdf\" data-link-type=\"external\" data-modal=\"disclaimer\">Auttila 2014<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">). These ingenious small-scale interventions to mitigate threats are unusual in pinniped conservation, but may be critical for the persistence of small populations. Thus, the design, implementation, and rigorous evaluation of threat mitigation is a topic that could be advanced through greater connectivity among current and potential practitioners.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"graphic aligncenter\" data-modal=\"photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-8491 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCON-Threats-Table2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"952\" height=\"516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCON-Threats-Table2.png 952w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCON-Threats-Table2-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\" \/><figcaption><p>Table 1. Partial list of primary known, suspected, and anticipated threats to rare pinnipeds. Adapted from IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and more current information. Empty cells may reflect lack of information as much as absence of threats.<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\" class=\"heading-two\" id=\"the-network\">The Network<\/h2>\n<h4 class=\"heading-four\" class=\"heading-four\" id=\"2019-workshop\">2019 Workshop:<\/h4>\n<p>An inaugural meeting of the Rare Pinniped Conservation Network was held at The 2nd World Marine Mammal Science Conference in Barcelona. Forty-eight people from 13 countries attended the workshop, representing expertise in ten different rare pinniped species. This one-day workshop included presentations in the morning to highlight some of the populations\u2019 status, threats, associated projects, and conservation efforts. The afternoon session included three topical demonstrations on Photo-ID systems, rehabilitation and health studies, and telemetry field and analysis methods. The workshop provided an initial forum for pinniped conservationists and other interested people to connect.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"heading-four\" class=\"heading-four\" id=\"2023-workshop\">2023 Workshop:<\/h4>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCONlogo2023-1024x541.png\" alt=\"A logo for the RAPCON II meeting in Finland, 2023.\" width=\"520\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCONlogo2023-1024x541.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCONlogo2023-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCONlogo2023-1536x812.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RAPCONlogo2023-2048x1082.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The second meeting of the Rare Pinniped Conservation Network (RAPCON) was held in H\u00e4meenlina, Finland during 7-9 March 2023. This was the first opportunity for the RAPCON community to meet since the Commission-sponsored inaugural workshop in Barcelona in 2019. The Finland meeting was part of the \u201cOur Saimaa Seal LIFE-project\u201d funded by European Union and was hosted by the Saimaa Ringed Seal Research Team from the University of Eastern Finland. More than 50 attendees from at least 10 countries shared updates on their respective subject species. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/RapCon-Plan-1.pdf\">Plenaries and special sessions focused on climate change risks, health assessment, genetics, and novel monitoring and conservation tools<\/a>. The second RAPCON meeting was a great success in terms of sharing knowledge of both tried-and-true, and cutting edge, research and management techniques for rare seal, sea lion, and fur seal species around the globe. The meeting broadened participation in RAPCON and strengthened connections among all network members.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"heading-four\" class=\"heading-four\" id=\"beyond-the-workshop\">Beyond the Workshop<\/h4>\n<p>Participation in the network is entirely voluntary and will often be on a peer-to-peer basis, with the Commission providing leadership, organizational and administrative support. RAPCON experts are pursuing several ongoing collaborations to conserve Saimaa, Ladoga and Baltic ringed seals, Mediterranean monk seals in several countries, and Hawaiian monk seals. The next RAPCON meeting is being planned in association with the 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Australia next year.\u00a0For more information about how to engage with the network please email <a href=\"mailto:bodonnell@mmc.gov\">bodonnell@mmc.gov<\/a> using RAPCON in the subject line.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"heading-four\" class=\"heading-four\" id=\"what-the-commission-is-doing\">What the Commission is Doing<\/h4>\n<p>In addition to supporting broader RAPCON networking and activities the Commission recently supported three projects relevant to the goals of RAPCON: 1) a project focused on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/grants-and-research-survey\/grant-awards\/2018-grant-awards\/\"> developing solutions to the critical threat of bycatch in illegal fisheries for Caspian seals<\/a>, 2) a project focused on evaluation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/grants-and-research-survey\/grant-awards\/highlights-previous-research-grants\/\">effectiveness of protected areas for Mediterranean monk seal juveniles protection<\/a>, 3) a project focused on Initiation of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/grants-and-research-survey\/grant-awards\/2021-grant-awards\/\">long-term Guadalupe fur seal population monitoring program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<a id=\"footnote1\"><\/a><br \/>\n<sup>1\u00a0<\/sup>The Commission is currently supporting a project focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/grants-and-research-survey\/grant-awards\/2018-grant-awards\/\">developing solutions to the critical threat of bycatch in illegal fisheries for Caspian seals.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><sup>2\u00a0<\/sup>Including entanglement in derelict fishing gear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RAPCON is a network to foster organization and sustained collaboration among individuals working to conserve rare pinniped populations globally. The inaugural meeting of this network took place at the 2nd World Marine Mammal Science Conference in Barcelona (7th December 2019). A second meeting of the RAPCON was held in H\u00e4meenlina, Finland during March 2023, hosted [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"spay_email":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v18.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rare Pinniped Conservation Network (RAPCON) - Marine Mammal Commission<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mmc.gov\/rapcon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rare Pinniped Conservation Network (RAPCON) - Marine Mammal Commission\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"RAPCON is a network to foster organization and sustained collaboration among individuals working to conserve rare pinniped populations globally. 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