Course info

Marine mammals interact with humans and are impacted by human activities in a large number of ways, and they are frequently the focus of concerns about the health and exploitation of marine ecosystems. This module explores the impact of human activities on individuals and populations of seals, cetaceans and sirenians. Most marine mammal species are long-lived and reproduce slowly, and as a result the impacts of unmanaged or poorly managed human activities on populations can be severe. A number of marine mammal species and populations have been reduced to very low levels as a result. In contrast, some marine mammal populations are increasing in abundance, or are apparently able to sustain human pressures, while for very many species there is a huge lack of information. How best to provide robust scientific advice to inform conservation and management at local, national and international levels is of primary importance as is how to mitigate and manage human activities so that marine mammal populations are managed sustainably. This Module gives students an understanding of core interactions between marine mammals and human activities, provides an understanding of how these interactions are incorporated and dealt with in conservation and management frameworks and legislation and an appreciation of some of the current issues at the cutting edge of applied research on marine mammals.