Marine Mammal Stranding Center

CRITICAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, ENHANCEMENTS TO DIAGNOSTIC MONITORING AND INCREASING COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR PINNIPED AND CETACEAN STRANDING RESPONSE AND REHABILITATION IN NEW JERSEY

THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE OF RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UTILIZING THE STAFF, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT OF THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER OF BRIGANTINE. SPECIFICALLY THIS WILL INCLUDE: 1) SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE BASIC NEEDS AND FACILITY OPERATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RESPONSE, CARE, TREATMENT, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND DEAD STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS. 2) ENHANCEMENTS TO THE REHABILITATION FACILITIES AND STRANDING RESPONSE EQUIPMENT TO EXCEED NMFS STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION FACILITIES 3) INCREASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS IN NEW JERSEY FOCUSED ON INCREASING AWARENESS AND PREVENTING HUMAN INTERACTIONS WITH SEALS.

SUPPORT, ENHANCE AND EXPAND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND NEEDS OF THE MMSC FOR THE RAPID RESPONSE, TREATMENT AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE RESPONSE, TREATMENT, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND DEAD STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE HARBOR PORPOI

SUPPORT AND ENHANCEMENT FOR THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING PROGRAM

THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING RESPONSE AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH IN NEW JERSEY. AS THE ONLY AUTHORIZED MARINE MAMMAL FIRST RESPONDERS IN NEW JERSEY, THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING A STRANDING RESPONSE AREA OF 1,800 MILES OF TIDAL WATERWAYS AND COASTLINE. SINCE THE ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDING IN 1978, MMSC HAS RESPONDED TO NEARLY 4,000 DOLPHINS, WHALES AND SEALS IN DISTRESS, WHICH HAS INCLUDED 33 DIFFERENT SPECIES. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL TO RAISE THE PUBLICS AWARENESS OF RESPONSIBLE MARINE MAMMAL VIEWING GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN INTERACTIONS WHICH CAN POSE A THREAT TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THESE SPECIES. GOING FORWARD, MMSC WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE OF THE RESCUE, REHABILITATION AND RELEASE OF MARINE MAMMALS WITHIN THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT AND ENHANCE OPERATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RESPONSE, CARE, TREATMENT, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND DECEASED MARINE MAMMALS. THESE OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A TEAM OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED STRANDING STAFF, WHO WILL PROVIDE A TIMELY RESPONSE TO MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. THE CONTRACTED VETERINARIAN WILL EXAMINE EACH ANIMAL ADMITTED INTO OUR FACILITY, PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES, AND ADDRESS FIRST-AID AND SURGICAL NEEDS. A TREATMENT PLAN WILL THEN BE PRESCRIBED BY THE VETERINARIAN AND CARRIED OUT BY THE STRANDING STAFF. DUE TO THE INCREASED CETACEAN STRANDINGS ON THE EAST COAST, THE MMSC CONTINUES TO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MONITORING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, COLLECTING BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES AND PROVIDING CRITICAL DATA FOR THE ONGOING HUMPBACK AND MINKE WHALE UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENTS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY NECROPSIES (ANIMAL AUTOPSIES) PERFORMED BY MMSC STAFF IN THE FIELD, OR BY PATHOLOGISTS IN A LABORATORY SETTING, BASED ON CARCASS SIZE AND LEVEL OF DECOMPOSITION. DECEASED AND LIVE ANIMALS ARE TESTED FOR A VARIETY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. THE OCCURRENCE OF DOLPHINS SWIMMING IN SMALL BACK BAY TRIBUTARIES IS NOT UNCOMMON IN NEW JERSEY. FOR CASES IN WHICH DOLPHINS DO NOT LEAVE THESE SMALL CREEKS ON THEIR OWN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, LESS-INVASIVE INTERVENTION IS NEEDED TO HELP GUIDE THESE ANIMALS BACK INTO OPEN WATER. FOR PREVIOUS CASES, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT WAS BORROWED AND BROUGHT IN FROM OUT OF STATE. THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE IMPROVEMENT OF MMSCS EQUIPMENT CACHE TO ENSURE OUT-OF-HABITAT RESPONSE READINESS. THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS IS IMPORTANT GIVEN THE RISE IN THE COASTAL POPULATION OF NEW JERSEY AND THE HIGH USAGE OF ITS BEACHES AND WATERWAYS BY RESIDENTS. MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ABUNDANCE OF RESTING SEALS ON THE BEACH AND WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN OUR WATERS IS NEEDED. BUILDING UPON PREVIOUS PROGRAMMATIC SUCCESSES, THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER ENHANCE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF STRANDING RESPONSE, RESPONSIBLE MARINE MAMMAL VIEWING, AND THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN INTERACTIONS.

THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE OF RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UTILIZING THE STAFF, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT OF THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER OF BRIGANTINE. SPECIFICALLY, THIS WILL INCLUDE: 1) SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE BASIC NEEDS AND FACILITY OPERATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RESPONSE, CARE, TREATMENT, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND DEAD STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS. 2) ENHANCEMENTS TO THE REHABILITATION FACILITIES AND RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS TO EXCEED NMFS STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION FACILITIES. 3) INCREASE COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES THROUGH FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING WORKSHOPS, AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS IN NEW JERSEY FOCUSED ON INCREASING AWARENESS AND PREVENTING HUMAN INTERACTIONS WITH PINNIPEDS.

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO ENHANCE RESOURCES FOR RESPONSE, TREATMENT, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVE AND DEAD STRANDED MARINE MAMMAL RECOVERED IN THE STAT

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE OF RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UTILIZING THE STAFF, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT OF THE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER OF BRIGANTINE. SPECIFICALLY, THIS WILL INCLUDE: 1) SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE BASIC NEEDS AND FACILITY OPERATIONS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RESPONSE, CARE, TREATMENT, NECROPSIES, AND DATA COLLECTION FROM LIVING AND DEAD STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS. 2) SUPPORT DIRECTED COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR STRANDING RESPONSE AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

NEW JERSEY MARINE MAMMAL MEDICAL RESPONSE, TREATMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE-SPECIAL PROJECT NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS