Whale And Dolphin Conservation Inc

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A PATHWAY TOWARD THE COMMERCIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-DEMAND GEAR ON THE US EAST COAST PROJECT TO REDUCE BYCATCH OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE POPULATION. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE TRAINING UP TO 100 PARTICIPANTS, ENHANCING THE GEAR AVAILABLE IN THE GEAR CACHE WAREHOUSE TO LOAN TO AS MANY PARTICIPANTS AS POSSIBLE, PROVIDING INDUSTRY FEEDBACK TO MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE GEAR PERFORMANCE, CONDUCTING TRIALS OF A CLOUD-BASED DIGITAL MARKING SYSTEM WITH FIXED AND MOBILE GEAR FISHERIES, COMPARING DATA USING GEAR FROM A VARIETY OF MANUFACTURERS IN DIFFERENT WATER DEPTHS, WATER TEMPERATURES, SPEEDS OF TIDES, AND TYPE OF OCEAN BOTTOM, AND REACHING 1500 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH IN-PERSON AND/OR VIRTUAL ON-DEMAND GEAR DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN MARINE SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION.

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IN FY2025 - 2026 IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION, WDCS CAPACITY TO SUPPORT ALL RAPID RESPONSES AND INVESTIGATIONS, SPECIFICALLY LARGE WHALE RESPONSE AND NECROPSIES. OUR SECONDARY GOAL IS TO EXPAND OUR COVERAGE TERRITORY TO INCLUDE OVER 55 ADDITIONAL MILES OF NORFOLK COUNTY COASTLINE INCLUDING THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS. WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT MARINE MAMMALS, SAFE VIEWING, HUMAN INTERACTION, AND MANAGING PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS FOR STRANDING RESPONSE, AND PROVIDE PAID INTERNSHIPS/EXTERNSHIPS/APPRENTICES.

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IN 2022-2023 IS TO CONTINUE BUILDING WDC'S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT ALL RAPID RESPONSES AND INVESTIGATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE PROVISIONAL STRANDING AGREEMENT. AS A NEWLY FORMED STRANDING RESPONSE PROGRAM, THIS PROJECT PROPOSAL IS SUBMITTED UNDER NOAA PRIORITY CATEGORY B1, AND IT FALLS UNDER NOAA'S NATIONAL PRIORITIES (1A), BUILD CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND (1B), TRAIN NEW RESPONDERS TO IMPROVE CONSISTENCY AND QUALITY OF CLINICAL CARE. IN ADDITION, WE ARE ADDRESSING THE GREATER ATLANTIC REGIONAL PRIORITY (I), TO EXPAND STRANDING RESPONSE COVERAGE ALONG THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND ADDRESS PRIORITY (II), HELP IMPROVE CONSISTENCY AND QUALITY OF PUBLIC OUTREACH AND MESSAGING THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, ONLINE TOOLS, OR PRINTED MATERIALS.

CONTINUE BUILDING WDC'S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT ALL RAPID RESPONSES AND INVESTIGATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE STRANDING AGREEMENT (INCLUDING AN EXPANDED STRANDING COVERAGE AREA).

TITLE: MWEES TO WHALES: EMPOWERING MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAM OVERVIEW: THIS PROJECT WILL PARTNER WITH EARTH RANGERS TO PROVIDE MILFORD, MA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH MICRO-CREDENTIAL TRAINING, FROM ECO-ANXIETY TO ECO-ACTION, ASSISTING EDUCATORS IN EMPOWERING THEIR STUDENTS TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO HELP THE PLANET. TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WILL WORK WITH WDC TO TRACK THE LIFE CYCLE OF A RAINDROP WITHIN THEIR WATERSHED, ENGAGING IN DIRECT EXPERIENCES AND EXPERIMENTS WITH THE BLACKSTONE RIVER, NARRAGANSETT BAY, AND CULMINATING IN A WHALE WATCH IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. THIS PROJECT EXPECTS TO ENGAGE 240 11TH AND 12TH GRADE MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS THEY APPLY TO VESSELS TRANSITING IN THE VICINITY OF WHALES; MID-ATLANTIC WHALE SIGH