Contaminants in Marine Mammals Workshop
At the 37th European Cetacean Society Conference in Dundee, Scotland this April, our researchers Annalisa Sambolino and Eva Iñiguez co-led the organization of the workshop ‘Contaminants in Marine Mammals: Significant Challenges and Future Perspectives — A Path Towards a Collaborative Network.’
The workshop was organized together with UK-based researchers Rosie Williams (Zoological Society of London), Kelly Robinson (University of St. Andrews), Sarah Nelms (University of Exeter), Rebecca von Hellfeld (University of Aberdeen) and Emma Hunter (University of Exeter), bringing together expertise from different institutions and disciplines.
The event created an important space for discussion on recent advances, current challenges and future research priorities regarding contamination and its effects on marine mammals. It also laid the foundations for a collaborative network connecting researchers, institutions and policy-makers in this field.
We were delighted to welcome 44 participants and contributions from four invited speakers — Heli Routti (Norwegian Polar Institute), Kimberley Bennet (Abertay University), Paula Méndez Fernández (La Rochelle University) and Jan Lakemeyer (University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover). Made possible with the support from grants awarded by The Company of Biologists and Sea-Changers, the workshop fostered knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary dialogues and the development of new collaborations.
Most important, it marked the beginning of a growing community united by shared questions, challenges and the commitment to advancing research on marine mammal ecotoxicology. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and participated, this is only the beginning!
If you’d like to learn more about our research into ocean contaminants and how they are affecting marine life in Madeira and beyond, check out our publications from Annalisa and Eva below:
- Íñiguez et al (2025) Organic ultraviolet filters in the blubber of two free-ranging deep-diving cetacean species. Environmental Pollution 383: 126830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126830
- Sambolino et al (2024) Phthalates and fatty acid markers in free-ranging cetaceans from an insular oceanic region: Ecological niches as drivers of contamination. Environmental pollution 360: 124693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124693
