Who we are
Our organization
Panacetacea was founded in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by an international group of marine biologists that shared a common mission. Panacetacea has largely focused its research on two main areas in Panama: the Chiriquí Gulf and the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, and is currently expanding to other parts of Panama including Coiba National Park and the Wildlife Refuge Isla Iguana. In 2017, Panacetacea incorporated new members and created a complementary branch in Panama called Fundación Panacetacea Panamá.
Mission
To produce high-quality scientific studies on the biology of marine mammals of Panama and develop capacity building, educational, and outreach activities that ensure the optimal management and conservation of these animals.
Vision
Our organization's vision is a future where scientists and the public work together to protect marine ecosystems.
Goals
We conduct cetacean monitoring studies in both the Caribbean and Pacific waters of Panama with the goal of collecting scientific data that can be used to establish conservation strategies to protect marine mammal habitats and their populations.
Policy
To make our data available to the public through peer-reviewed journals, government reports, media, meetings, and symposia to ensure the public and the scientific community gets access to our results.
Through our collaborations, internship programs, and small grants program, we provide opportunities to Panamanian and other Latin American students, scientists, and non-government and government organizations.
Research team
Our research team is made up of a diverse group of professionals with different areas of expertise, including acoustics, behavior, genetics, ecology and evolution. Together, we seek to develop and implement multidisciplinary projects that contribute to the conservation of marine mammals and their habitat.
Kristin Rasmussen, M.Sc.
Since 1994 I have collaborated on a variety of research projects in the North Pacific, from ship, land and air on both cetacean and pinniped species. I first came to Central America in collaboration with Cascadia Research in 1995 to investigate humpback whales migrating from the North Pacific to Central America. We then discovered whales from the southern hemisphere were also migrating to Central America. I received my MSc from Moss Landing Marine Labs and San Francisco State University in 2005 with a thesis project comparing these two populations. I continue to study both populations in the Gulf of Chiriqui.
Students
This is what the students do.
Current student
Betzi Perez Ortega
McGill University, Canadá
I have been working with marine mammals since 2007, when I started my Master’s degree in Marine Biology in Baja California Sur, Mexico, working with humpback whales. I currently collaborate in the Dolphins of Bocas de Toro project. The main objective of my research is to understand how noise, generated by tour boat engines, can influence the acoustic behavior (acoustic structure of whistles) and physiological response (stress) of a resident population of bottlenose dolphins. in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama.
