Rationale

Preliminary plans are being developed for establishing Phase II of the POLLUTION 2000+ programme. This includes assembling a new steering group, based on recommendations of the workshop held in Barcelona in 2007. The new SG for the next phase of the programme will consist of experts in toxicology, cetacean biology, modelling/epidemiology, risk assessment, health, analytical chemistry and other IWC SC members.

The full field and analytical programmes developed in Phase I to address contaminants in cetaceans will be supported by two major new Phase II efforts:

1. a modelling/risk assessment framework (see item 3.1.2.3 of SC/59/Rep6); and
2. validation and critical assessment of biopsy techniques (see item 3.1.2.3 of SC/59/Rep6) with applications to large whale species selected for study during Phase II of this programme.

The modelling and risk assessment framework will be addressed at the intersessional meeting which will be the first stage in the development of the Phase II programme. Reijnders et al. (1999) developed the Terms of Reference for the first phase of the Pollution programme and these will be modified for Phase II during and after the modelling workshop.

Goals of the workshop

Development of an integrated modelling framework that will:

1. be relevant to studies of all species and most compounds as information or techniques become available;
2. incorporate of a number of potential modelling approaches, including both bottom-up and top-down methods; and
3. focus on the types of data and models that are already available or appear likely to be available in the near future.

Venue and timing: venue TBA, possibly January 2009.

Steering Group: Aguilar, Donovan, Hall, Rosa, Rowles, Simmonds and Ylitalo.

The following documents are available to download: