Welcome to POST's first e-blast, a regular communication of the Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) Project's recent developments and achievements.  Plan on seeing updates in your inbox about once a month, enjoy catching up on the latest POST happenings, and pass it along to those in your network who might be interested in what we're up to -- they can sign up themselves here.

Spring has sprung, so we'll start off with some highlights from the first quarter of 2009:

The data is coming, the data is coming!

Spring's arrival means the field season is ramping up quickly.  Not only does that mean that researchers are again getting out on the water and tagging animals, it also means data will soon start to trickle in off the POST array.  While the new automated database is being completed, please contact Jose Gimenez, POST's Database Manager, to find out where your tagged animals have been.

On board with the Census of Marine Life

From February 1-5, POST participated in the Census of Marine Life's Synthesis Workshop, held aboard the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.  Being one of the Census' 14 field projects, the workshop was an excellent opportunity for POST to contribute to plans around synthesizing all that has been learned since the Census started in 2000.  The world's first comprehensive Census of Marine Life - past, present, and future - will be released in 2010.  The POST community has already pitched in millions of data points and over two dozen peer-reviewed publications to the baseline the Census is building.  You can look forward to a number of retrospective POST products arriving in the next year and a half, in conjunction with the climax of the Census of Marine Life.

Cassidy and Bolger go to DC

POST's Chairman, Larry Cassidy, and Executive Director, Jim Bolger, traveled to Washington, DC in early March to drum up support for the perpetual operation of POST.  While reaction on the Hill was enthusiastic and there are interesting avenues we are now exploring, POST always appreciates your voice of support.  Our community's backing will be what drives POST well into the future.

Supporting the State (of the Salmon)

We were proud to sponsor the sold out State of the Salmon 2009 Conference held in Vancouver, BC in early February.  Larry Cassidy made a keynote address to the delegates during a fantastic reception held at the Vancouver Aquarium on the evening of February 3, and POST was very pleased to make strong connections with a group of delegates committed to bettering the conservation and management of Pacific salmon.

Continuing our collaborative tradition

At their March 19 meeting, the POST Management Board approved support of a new collaboration with the Seymour Salmonid Society (SSS), to track the success of various groups of hatchery steelhead as they travel down the Seymour River (North Vancouver, BC) and begin their ocean migrations.  For over a year now, POST has been able to support a variety of collaborations with agencies, tribes, universities, and non-governmental organizations alike, growing the array, our community, and independent scientific research.  Other collaborations approved at last December's Board meeting will bring in 2009: a pilot deep water deployment of receivers in Chatham Strait, AK, growth of the existing POST array in Prince William Sound, and the installation of a permanent line across Admiralty Inlet at the mouth of Puget Sound, WA.  POST and its partners are grateful for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's foresight and generosity in providing matching funds to help foster a spirit of collaboration in the growing POST community.

Our next installment promises to be a bit less lengthy, but just as informative.  In the meantime, keep up with the news at www.postcoml.org, and let us know what you'd like to hear about in POST e-blasts to come.