At intervals topic-driven ECS Workshops are held. Workshops have been held on (not extensive list) harbour porpoises, sightings survey methodology, cetacean pathology sampling techniques, field techniques for the study of bottlenose dolphins in the wild, ethograms and acoustic techniques, marine mammal nutrition, on seals (on protected areas and on pathology).
Other subjects were Collisions between Cetaceans and Vessels, phocine distemper epidemic, Active Sonars and cetaceans, Maximising ships of opportunity (ShOp) for cetacean research, Monitoring porpoise echo-location - the TPOD and IFAW systems (porpoises listening devices), Whale-watching issues, Bay of Biscay, and EUROPHLUKES. Workshops are a hands-on way of learning by doing and solving problems in a collective effort.
The results are published as special issues of the Newsletter. Workshops are often held close to the AGM, but they do NOT need to do so. Workshops organisers are responsible for everything pertaining to the workshop (including funding and housing). Proposals can be made to the ECS Council. Workshops will be announced through the ECS mailing lists.
The latest Special Issue of the Newsletter (#46, published 2006) contains the Proceedings of the Workshop on “Static Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans”.