ETHICS, GUIDELINES, AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The Society is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in marine mammal science, research, and professional practice. This section provides access to key policies and guidelines, including the Code of Professional Ethics, conference code of conduct, and best practices for the humane and responsible treatment of marine mammals in research. It also outlines how to raise ethics questions or report potential violations, ensuring concerns are reviewed and addressed through a formal process led by the Ethics Committee and Society leadership.
Questions of ethics and inquiries and suspicion of violation of ethics may be reported to either the President, the President-Elect or the Chair of the Ethics Committee. The President and the Board decide whether the violation has merit and should be investigated. The Ethics Committee is normally tasked with investigating ethics violations and reports back to the Board for consideration and final assessment.
For questions and inquiries, please contact our Ethics Committee – ethicschair@marinemammalscience.org.
© SMM
Code of Conduct for the SMM Biennial Conference
The Society for Marine Mammalogy is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all participants at our conferences. The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for professional and respectful behavior at all SMM Biennial Conferences on the Biology of Marine Mammals, including guidelines on appropriate conduct, prevention of harassment and discrimination, reporting procedures, and responses to violations.
© Jerome Anger
Code of Professional Ethics for the Society of Marine Mammalogy
This comprehensive code of professional ethics, produced by the Society’s Ethics Committee and accepted by the Society in the mid-year ballot of 2013 covers professional conduct, human and animal ethics, information dissemination and authorship and the use of robust science in evidence based management.
© Jared Towers
Guidelines for the Treatment of Marine Mammals in Field Research
The Society for Marine Mammalogy is committed to promoting the highest standards of care, welfare, and ethical treatment of marine mammals in research and professional activities. The Marine Mammal Treatment Guidelines provide recommendations to support responsible practices that minimize potential impacts on marine mammals while ensuring scientific integrity and animal welfare. These guidelines are intended to assist researchers, practitioners, and institutions in making informed decisions regarding the handling, observation, and study of marine mammals.
© Jarrett Corke / MARS
Humane Killing of Marine Mammals
The Society for Marine Mammalogy is working to bring together scientific expertise within the Society to develop guidance on considerations and best practices for situations where the deliberate killing of a marine mammal is being considered. This page provides information on the Society’s efforts to address the complex ethical, scientific, and welfare considerations associated with humane killing, including resources and discussions from past initiatives such as the panel discussion held during the Society’s 2013 Biennial Conference in New Zealand.