​2020 NARWC ANNUAL MEETING​

2020 NARWC and Ropeless Consortium Annual Meetings Update 
26-28 October 2020

Venue Change
Given the continued uncertainty around federal and institutional travel restrictions, health concerns, and how the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to play out, the October 2020 Annual Meetings for the North Atlantic Right Whale and Ropeless Consortia will NOT be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and will likely be virtual. 

Boards for both groups are currently exploring options and will provide additional details as soon as they become available.

We anticipate returning to Halifax for the 2021 Annual Meetings.

North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium Annual Meeting
​One of the most effective ways to carry out the Consortium mission is to hold annual meetings at which research, new techniques, management strategies, and other facets of right whale conservation are shared and discussed. The Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium is the only annual event during which all stakeholders have the opportunity to gather and exchange ideas and information, and therefore we view this meeting as an invaluable resource to the management and conservation of this species.

The Annual Meeting agenda each year includes the Business Meeting. During this meeting, vacant Board positions are filled, the membership hears updates from various management teams, and discussions about the role the Consortium as an entity does and can play in right whale conservation and management take place.
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In addition to the Business Meeting, research, management, conservation, and education presentations are planned. Attendance of NARWC members at the meeting is encouraged and there is not a requirement to present to attend.

A small number of press members have been invited to day 1 of the NARWC Annual Meeting. 

Ropeless Consortium Meeting
The Ropeless Consortium meeting will take place the day before the NARWC Annual Meeting on October 26th, 2020. Registration for the Ropeless meeting is NOT included in that of the NARWC meeting. Information on the Ropeless meeting will be updated HERE. The meeting will include presentations on available ropeless fishing products, prototypes in development, and testing results from this year, as well as discussion of progress overcoming regulatory challenges, fisheries outreach, establishing experimental fisheries, and funding opportunities and challenges.

The Ropeless Consortium Meeting is closed to the press.