28 January 2021, the MOIG Director participated to webinar training session titled “Wildlife Response- Exploring OSRL's Strategy and Industry Next Steps in Preparing for Wildlife Emergencies; organized by Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL); technical partner;via electronic conferencing platform.

This webinar was animated by Mr. Paul Kelway, OSRL’s Wildlife Preparedness & Response Manager, Mr. Hugo Nijkamp, General Manager of the Sea Alarm Foundation and Mr. Stephen van der Spuy, Chief Executive Officer of SANCCOB and Chair of the Global Oiled Wildlife Response System (GOWRS).

Mr.Paul Kelway presented the industry recognition and key developments realized from 2014 to 2020 on wildlife response. He explained also the key elements of OSRL’s Five-year strategy 2021-25 for Wildlife Emergency Preparedness and Response; built on four objectives: Expand understanding of wildlife response within OSRL and with its members, facilitate collaboration between all key stakeholders, improve response capability in partnership with leading wildlife response organizations and enhance preparedness of OSRL members and other key Stakeholders. In addition, he described the SLA Wildlife Response Services such as technical advice from Sea Alarm, wildlife response equipment and guaranteed access to wildlife response organizations; proposed as future supplementary “GOWRS service“.

Mr. Hugo Nijkamp presented the main insights and recommendations of Cyprus Workshop; held in November 2019; highlighting the importance roles of local authorities, experts and volunteers as well as the necessity of planning, training and exercises on Wildlife Response. He explained also the Sea Alarm roles and its preparedness activities.

Mr. Stephen van der Spuy gave an overview on GOWRS affiliate locations around the world and its mission. He explained the “Iceberg” Model of GOWRS functioning. In addition, he highlighted the GOWRS benefits to industry. The webinar included also a panel discussion on the way that the OSRL Strategic Plan can be expected to help industry in its implementation of Tiered Preparedness & Response Good Practice for wildlife emergencies.