The ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter was delighted to host a captivating presentation by Kathi George, Director of Field Operations and Response at The Marine Mammal Center. In this talk, Kathi provided a deeper look at the Center’s whale response efforts as a leading first responder to whales in distress. We invite you to watch the recording to learn more about how whales are affected by human impacts, changing ocean conditions, and what the Center and other partners are doing to address and prevent this issue.
This webinar is offered for free to the public. A suggested donation of $10 per participant/viewer is encouraged and appreciated. Donations help cover webinar costs and support our education and cetacean research grant programs. Click here to donate.
ABOUT KATHI GEORGE
After more than a decade of volunteering, Kathi George officially joined The Marine Mammal Center in 2019 and has since expanded efforts to advance whale entanglement response and prevention.
As a Level 3 Co-Investigator on NOAA's Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program's permit, Kathi is permitted to respond to entangled whales. She has participated in six whale disentanglements, numerous entangled whale responses, and over 50 sea lion disentanglements. She also leads advocacy efforts to reduce risk of whale entanglement.
Previously, Kathi co-founded California Whale Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to entangled whale response and prevention. The organization supported NOAA Fisheries’ efforts to standardize response practices, gear, training, and communications.
Kathi George received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is in the Conservation seat for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and a member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group. Kathi is leading a project with the Working Group to deploy solar loggers on commercial fishing and whale watching boats to inform relative risk of entanglement.
Kathi spends as much time as she can underwater and on boats in addition to enjoying California's coasts and mountains with her husband and son.
