GARSCON
2026

When high-interest marine animal stranding events occur, responders are tasked with far more than field operations and scientific assessment. They are suddenly navigating public concern, media attention, stakeholder expectations, social media pressure, and the emotional weight carried by their own teams, all in real time.

 

This workshop explores how proactive communication systems can reduce anxiety, strengthen operational clarity, and build long-term public trust during high-visibility incidents.

 

As marine animal response operations continue to evolve in an area shaped by rapid information sharing, heightened public engagement, and increased visibility of stranding events, communication systems have become a critical component of operational readiness. This workshop recognizes communication not as a secondary task, but as essential response infrastructure that supports responders, agencies, stakeholders, and the communities they serve.

 

Built around the TRUST Framework. Transparency, Readiness, Unity, Stability, and Trust. Participants will engage with practical tools and real-world strategies designed specifically for the marine mammal response, management, and research community.

 

Through case studies, collaborative discussion, and applied planning exercises, attendees will gain more tools to:

 

    manage communication during rapidly evolving incidents

 

·        maintain public confidence while protecting scientific integrity

·        reduce communication overload and responder stress

·        strengthen coordination across agencies and stakeholders

·        create educational and post-incident communication strategies that build lasting community trust

 

 Responders already carry the weight of the science, logistics, and animal care. This workshop focuses on the often-overlooked layer of incident response: managing public perception, expectation, and anxiety in a way that supports both the community and the responder.

 

Because in high-interest events, trust is not built during the crisis. It is built before it.