Marine Mammal Center

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER (TMMC) WILL DESIGN A DATA DRIVEN PUBLIC BEHAVIOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON PROTECTING MONK SEALS AND THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT. THE RESULTING CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS WILL BE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE. SPECIFICALLY, TMMC WILL HIRE A PROJECT MANAGER TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT OF A CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THE CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION TOOLS LIKE MESSAGES, IMAGERY, SIGNAGE, PLACEMENT, AND PROTOTYPING. TMMC WILL CREATE PAMPHLETS AND WEBSITE CONTENT. LASTLY, TMMC WILL MONITOR RESULTS OF OUTREACH EFFORTS AT KEY BEACHES.

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER (THE CENTER) HAS BECOME A LEADING MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH, RESEARCH, TEACHING HOSPITAL, AND EDUCATION CENTER. THIS PROJECT WILL ENSURE THE CENTERS 24-HOUR RESPONSE HOTLINE AND DISPATCH TEAM BASED IN SAUSALITO CAN MANAGE AND RESPOND TO MORE THAN 10,000 CALLS EACH YEAR ABOUT SICK, INJURED, AND ORPHANED SEALS, SEA LIONS, AND SEA OTTERS, AS WELL AS ENTANGLED AND STRANDED WHALES, DOLPHINS, OTHER CETACEANS, AND SEA TURTLES. THIS PROJECT ALSO WILL ENSURE THE CENTER HAS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO CARE FOR THE STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS IT BRINGS IN FOR MEDICAL CARE. IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO AND SUPPORTING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATES NONENDANGERED MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES, THE CENTER WILL CONTINUE SERVING AS A FIRST RESPONDER TO MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES CONSIDERED TO BE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR RECOVERY AND SAVE THEM FROM EXTINCTION.

DEVELOPMENT OF A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR HEALTH CARE AND DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS IN THREATENED AND ENDANGERED PINNIPEDS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) IS PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER FOR THE PROJECT ENTITLED "STRENGTHENING HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON HAWAII ISLAND". THE LAST SURVIVING SPECIES IN ITS GENUS, HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI) ARE ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SEAL SPECIES IN THE WORLD. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO PROMOTE THE RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES THROUGH HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON HAWAI'I ISLAND. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO FILL A CAPACITY NEED FOR SEA TURTLE RESPONSE IN WEST HAWAI'I ISLAND.

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) IS PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER FOR THE PROJECT ENTITLED "BUILDING HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON MAUI ISLAND". THE LAST SURVIVING SPECIES IN ITS GENUS, HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI) ARE ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SEAL SPECIES IN THE WORLD. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO PROMOTE THE RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES THROUGH RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON MAUI ISLAND.

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER WILL ENGAGE ITS BOARD, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS IN WORK THAT WILL ADVANCE ITS INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) PLAN. IMPLEMENTING THE SECOND PHASE OF A FIVE-YEAR ROADMAP, THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE FOUR DEI TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR THE CENTER’S 105 STAFF AND 100 VOLUNTEERS; ANNUAL WORKSHOPS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON THE FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WORK; A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR MANAGERS THAT INCLUDES 360 FEEDBACK AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES; AND AN OVERALL MESSAGING AND BRAND REFRESH FOR THE ORGANIZATION. CONSULTANTS AND A NEWLY HIRED CULTURE DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR WILL SUPPORT THIS WORK, WHICH WILL MOVE THE CENTER TOWARD BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL; DEEPER ENGAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS; INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PRACTICES BEING INFUSED INTO ALL OPERATIONAL ASPECTS; AND SUSTAINED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS PROJECT, TITLED COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES TO PROTECTING HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS ON HAWAI'I ISLAND, AIMS TO SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL (HMS). THE PROJECT RELIES ON TRAINED RESPONSE INTERNS, PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ENGAGE WITH HAWAI'I ISLAND RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, PROMOTING ACTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HMS RECOVERY. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HMS RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER ONBOARDING AND TRAINING, MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, ALL COORDINATED WITH NOAA NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE.

INCREASING CAPACITY FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE, REHABILITATION AND DISEASE INVESTIGATION

THE RECOVERY AND EXPANSION OF THE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN SEA OTTER ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS SSO POPULATION ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST REPRESENT CRITICAL CONSERVATION GOALS DUE TO THEIR KEYSTONE SPECIES STATUS AND THEIR ROLE IN MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF NEARSHORE ECOSYSTEMS. PROJECT GOALSSUSTAIN ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE WORK SUPPORTING THE RECOVERY AND GROWTH OF THE SSO POPULATION ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST FOCUSING ON AREAS FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO TO MENDOCINO COUNTIES AND SANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA COUNTIES. BOLSTER THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING AND TREATMENT EFFICACY FOR SSOS TO DEEPEN OUR CAPACITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DEVELOP TREATMENTS AND THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE DISEASES AFFECTING THE POPULATION. ANALYZE CLINICAL DATA AND DETAILED NECROPSIES TO ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE SURROUNDING SSO HEALTH AND THREATS TO THEIR RECOVERY THROUGH CLINICAL PRACTICE PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ENCOMPASSES INCREASING STAFF AND VOLUNTEER READINESS FOR SSO RESPONSE PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE FOR STRANDED INDIVIDUALS AND ENGAGING IN LONGTERM REHABILITATION AND MONITORING EFFORTS. COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM MBA AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CDFW THE PROJECT SEEKS TO RESCUE REHABILITATE AND REUNIFY STRANDED SSOS AND CONDUCT POSTRELEASE MONITORING. KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDERESPONDING TO UP TO 75 STRANDED SSOS ANNUALLY. ENHANCING COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE REHABILITATION CAPACITIES THROUGH TRAINING. TREATING AND RELEASING UP TO FIVE LIVESTRANDED SSOS WITH POSTRELEASE MONITORING. IMPROVING FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SSO CARE.THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH THESE VITAL EFFORTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH PEERREVIEWED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY FORUMS ENSURING BROAD ACCESS TO OUR FINDINGS. BY ACHIEVING THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THE PROJECT AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY EFFORTS TO FOSTER A THRIVING SSO POPULATION ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE RESILIENCE AND HEALTH OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS.

APPLICANT NAME: THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER PROJECT TITLE: INCREASING CAPACITY FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE AND REHABILITATION AND DIAGNOSTICS DATES OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES: OCTOBER 1, 2023 SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 PROJECT DURATION: 12 MONTHS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: CARA FIELD, DVM, PH.D., DIPL. ACZM MEDICAL DIRECTORCONTACT: 2000 BUNKER ROAD, SAUSALITO, CA 94965 FIELDC TMMC.ORG, 415-754-4055 SPECIES: SOUTHERN SEA OTTER (ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS) SPECIFIC PRIORITY BEING ADDRESSED: THE PROPOSED PROJECT MEETS THE FOLLOWING SPECIES-SPECIFIC FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS. THE FIRST PRIORITY LISTED MOST REFLECTS THE PROJECTS MAIN OBJECTIVES, AND SUBSEQUENT PRIORITIES LISTED ARE RELATED TO AND IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST: 1. ENHANCE STRANDING RESPONSE CAPABILITIES2. UPGRADE EXISTING FACILITIES.3. UPGRADE OPERATIONS4. CARCASS COLLECTION5. CONDUCTING NECROPSIES6. IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER SOURCES OF MORTALITYOBJECTIVES: STRENGTHEN THE CENTERS SSO RESPONSE, REHABILITATION, AND DIAGNOSTICS CAPACITY, AND SUPPORT OUR SEA OTTER STRANDING NETWORK PARTNERS BY:1. RESPOND, ASSESS, AND TRIAGE UP TO 75 LIVE AND DEAD-STRANDED SSOS, BASED ON PAST FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE.2. BUILD AND ENHANCE RESPONSE STAFFING CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING AND EXPERIENTIAL PRACTICE INTERNALLY AND WITH COLLABORATORS.3. TREATMENT, CARE, AND RELEASE OF UP TO FIVE LIVE-STRANDED SSOS THROUGH LONG-TERM REHABILITATION AND CONDUCT POST-RELEASE MONITORING ON EACH RELEASED OTTER.4. TRANSFER ANIMALS TO PARTNER AGENCIES AND FACILITIES AS NEEDED AND AS APPROPRIATE.5. IMPROVE SEA OTTER HOLDING AREAS AT OUR SAN LUIS OBISPO AND MONTEREY BAY OPERATIONS FACILITIES. 6. INCREASE COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO INCLUDE AS MANY STRANDED SSO AS POSSIBLE (WITH AVAILABLE SAMPLES), UP TO 45 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SEROLOGY FOR PATHOGENIC PROTOZOA (SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII), MORBILLIVIRUSES (CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS: CDV), LEPTOSPIROSIS, COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS TESTING OF URINE AND FECES AND OR OTHER APPLICABLE SAMPLE(S) FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM BIOTOXINS (DOMOIC ACID, SAXITOXIN) AND CONDUCT (15) NECROPSIES, INCLUDING HISTOPATHOLOGY.7. EXPAND STAFFING CAPACITY FOR SSO MANAGEMENT INCLUDING SUPPORTING (1) FULL-TIME TEMPORARY STAFF AT THE SLO AND MBO FIELD OFFICES, AND A PART-TIME, TEMPORARY STAFF MEMBER IN SAUSALITO. 8. SHARE FINDINGS OF SSO MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, TREATMENT, RESPONSE TO REHABILITATION, AND POST-RELEASE OUTCOMES WITH COLLABORATORS AND COMMUNITY VIA PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH DETRIMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON THE SSO POPULATION. FEDERAL FUNDING REQUEST: 150,000NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION: 38,550TOTAL PROJECT COST: 188,550

FUNDING WOULD ALLOW THE (NMMC) TO MAINTAIN THE PAID STAFF THAT HAVE INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY OF DAILY OPERATIONS; PAY FOR A PORTION OF BASIC MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION SUPPLIES; EXTEND THE LIFE OF OUR MOST EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT BY BUILDING A GARAGE FOR THE RESCUE TRUCK AND THE MARINE MAMMAL ENTANGLEMENT BOAT AND MOTOR, SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE WITHIN THE BUDGET. FUNDING WILL ALSO ENABLE THE NMMC TO PARTICIPATE IN MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION TRAINING. TRAVEL EXPENSES WOULD BE COVERED FOR NORTHCOAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER AND CAL POLY HUMBOLDT MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING TEAMS TO TRAIN TOGETHER FOR LARGE WHALE DISENTANGLEMENT RESPONSE TRAININGS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. FUNDS WOULD ALSO GIVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEST COAST REGIONAL STRANDING NETWORK CONFERENCE IN AUGUST 2024.

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE PROGRAM, BIG ISLAND, WEST

THE LAST SURVIVING SPECIES IN ITS GENUS, HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI / `ILIO HOLO I KA UAUA) ARE ENDEMIC TO THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO, AND ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SEAL SPECIES IN THE WORLD. RECENT SCIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THE POPULATION HAS BEEN GROWING INCREMENTALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AND THAT CURRENT CONSERVATION INTERVENTIONS ARE A PART OF THIS GROWTH. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THESE INTERVENTIONS AND PROMOTE THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CHARACTERIZE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REHABILITATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN STRANDED WEANED NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS. SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: TO QUANTIFY ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, BOTH THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF GENES AND RESISTANCE CONFERRED TO COLIFORM BACTERIA, FOUND WITHIN STRANDED WEANED ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS UPON ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL; TO ASSESS CHANGES IN PATTERNS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN STRANDED WEANED ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS THROUGHOUT REHABILITATION; TO COMPARE PATTERNS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN STRANDED WEANED ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS WITH THOSE OF FREE RANGING ELEPHANT SEAL PUPS THROUGHOUT THE POST-WEANING PERIOD.

TO ESTABLISH BASELINE REFERENCE RANGES FOR RENAL FUNCTION, HISTOLOGY, AND ULTRASTRUCTURE IN HEALTHY CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (CSL: ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS) TO BE USED BY REHABILITATORS AND RESEARCHERS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE THE HEALTH OF AND TREAT THIS SPECIES. SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: (1) USE SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM APPARENTLY HEALTHY, FREE-RANGING CSL TO ESTABLISH RENAL FUNCTION REFERENCE RANGES USING READILY AVAILABLE AND BROADLY USED APPROACHES SUCH AS URINALYSIS, URINE SEDIMENT, AND URINE PROTEIN TO CREATINE RATIO (UPC). (2) TEST SAMPLES FROM A SUBSET OF CSL INCLUDED IN OBJECTIVE ONE ANALYSIS USING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TO MEASURE PROTEIN PROFILES OF URINE USING SDS-PAGE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS, AND OF SERUM USING SERUM PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS. (3) DESCRIBE ULTRASOUND FINDINGS AS WELL AS GROSS, HISTOLOGIC, AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KIDNEYS IN STRANDED SEA LIONS AT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER THAT HAVE NO APPARENT RENAL DISEASE AND HAVE RENAL FUNCTION

THE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR OCEAN AND CLIMATE CHANGE INTERPRETATION IS WORKING WITH THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER, KNOLOGY, AND THE FRAMEWORKS INSTITUTE TO BUILD NATIONAL CAPACITY FOR EVIDENCE-BASED CLIMATE COMMUNICATION THROUGH INNOVATIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE THAT ENGAGES EDUCATORS, SCIENTISTS, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ONLY OCCASIONALLY OR NOT AT ALL, RESULTING IN A LACK OF ACTION TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES OF OUR TIME. THE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR OCEAN AND CLIMATE CHANGE INTERPRETATION HAS WORKED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE BY DEVELOPING, EVALUATING AND DEPLOYING COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS THAT EMPLOY BOTH CUTTING-EDGE CLIMATE SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION RESEARCH TO INCREASE BOTH KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN CLIMATE ACTION. THE NETWORK'S COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE OFFERS RES

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR SPECIES RECOVERY

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR SPECIES RECOVERY

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NORTHCOAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER IN CRESCENT CITY CALIFORNIA

APPLICANT NAME THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER DESCRIPTIVE TITLE OF APPLICANTS PROJECT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIVATE ASSOCIATION FOR NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS THIS PROJECT WILL EXPLORE THE CREATION OF A FORMAL ASSOCIATION TO BETTER CONNECT AND SUPPORT THE U.S. MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING RESPONSE NETWORK (MMSRN), WHICH INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 130 ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO MARINE MAMMAL STRANDINGS. WHILE CURRENTLY COORDINATED BY NOAA, THE NETWORK FACES CHALLENGES LIKE RESOURCE DISPARITIES, INCONSISTENT PRACTICES, AND LACK OF COORDINATED COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND THE MEDIA. THIS STUDY WILL ASSESS THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF FORMING A NATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK ASSOCIATION TO UNIFY THE NETWORK, ENHANCE OPERATIONS, AND SECURE SHARED FUNDING. THE KEY IMPACTS INCLUDE IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY AMONG MEMBERS, DOCUMENTATION OF THE NETWORKS 30-YEAR HISTORY, A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE NETWORKS OPERATIONS, STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE AMID INCREASING STRANDING NEEDS AND RESPONSES, AND PUBLIC REPORTING. THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A ROADMAP TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, IDENTIFYING FUTURE NEEDS AND STRATEGIES. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: 1. ASSESS INTEREST IN A FORMAL ASSOCIATION - THROUGH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE SURVEYS, THE PROJECT WILL GAUGE INTEREST IN A FORMAL ASSOCIATION, IDENTIFYING CRITICAL NEEDS AND POTENTIAL STRUCTURES FOR SUCH AN ORGANIZATION. 2. HOST WORKSHOPS AND LISTENING SESSIONS - REGIONAL WORKSHOPS WILL GATHER INPUT FROM THE MMSRN* MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF FORMING AN ASSOCIATION, ALIGNING DISCUSSIONS WITH EXISTING EVENTS FOR COST EFFICIENCY. 3. DEVELOP A WHITE PAPER - A WHITE PAPER WILL OUTLINE THE NEEDS, CHALLENGES, AND FEASIBILITY OF FORMING AN ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATING INPUT FROM SURVEYS AND WORKSHOPS. 4. PUBLISH A PEER-REVIEWED PAPER - A SCHOLARLY ARTICLE WILL DOCUMENT THE MMSRNS* HISTORY, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. WHETHER OR NOT THE ASSOCIATION IS FORMED, THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND CONSERVATION BY FOSTERING GREATER COLLABORATION AND CREATING A MORE RESILIENT RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR EMERGING THREATS SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN IMPACTS ON MARINE MAMMALS AND OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS. -END

SUPPORT FOR A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SEALS

SUPPORT FOR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SEALS

BASIC OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR STRANDING RESPONSE, HEALTH ASSESSMENT, REHABILITATION, AND LONG-TERM DATA COLLECTION OF STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS IN NORTHE

MITIGATING MARINE DEBRIS AND FISHERIES ENTANGLEMENT MORTALITY OF CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS

SUPPORT FOR A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SEALS.

SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE AND REHABILITATION

SUPPORT FOR A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO SPECIES RECOVERY

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE ACCURACY AND COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF HIGH-VALUE DATA DOCUMENTING THE HEALTH AND DISEASE STATU

GIVEN FUNDING, THE NORTHCOAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER (NMMC) WILL MAINTAIN THE PAID STAFF THAT HAVE INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFICACY OF DAILY OPERATIONS AND HAVE ENHANCED STRANDING AND REHABILITATION DATA RECORDS FOR INCREASED CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL DATABASE. WE WILL ATTEND THE NOAA WEST COAST REGIONAL MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CONFERENCE AND NOAA WHALE ENTANGLEMENT TEAM TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA. NMMC WILL REPLACE AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT THAT IS VITAL TO THE REHABILITATION OF THE MARINE MAMMALS WE RESCUE AND REHABILITATE ALONG 210 MILES OF COASTLINE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE PROVIDE MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO VOLUNTEER INCLUDING THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OUR MOST REMOTE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.

EVALUATION OF THE ONCOGENIC BASIS FOR THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF SPONTANEOUS NEOPLASIA IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS)

THE LAST SURVIVING SPECIES IN ITS GENUS, HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI /`ILIO HOLO I KA UAUA) ARE ENDEMIC TO THE HAWAIIAN ARCHIPELAGO, AND ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED SEAL SPECIES IN THE WORLD. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. REHABILITATE APPROXIMATELY SIX TO EIGHT HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS IN NEED OF LONG-TERM VETERINARY CARE AT KE KAI OLA, THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER'S HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HOSPITAL IN KONA, AND PROVIDE VETERINARY, FIELD, RESEARCH, AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL SEALS ANYWHERE IN THE ARCHIPELAGO IN COLLABORATION WITH NOAA FISHERIES HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (HMSRP). 2. CONDUCT HEALTH AND DISEASE SCREENINGS ON ALL MONK SEALS IN REHABILITATION TO SUPPORT A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PREVALENCE OF AND EMERGING DISEASE THREATS TO THIS SPECIES. 3. COLLECT BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES FOR FUTURE RETROSPECTIVE HEALTH, GENETIC, AND GENOMIC STUDIES FOR PLACEMENT AND TRANSFER FOR L

ENHANCEMENT OF THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER'S PATHOLOGY PROGRAM TO IMPROVE TRAINING OF MARINE MAMMAL PATHOLOGISTS WITH A FOCUS ON NOVEL TECHNOLOGIES TO I

INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS UNDER REHABILITATION

FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR PINNIPED REHABILITATION AND LARGE WHALE DISENTANGLEMENT

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER INCREASING CAPACITY FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE ANDREHABILITATION AND DIAGNOSTICSPROJECT SUMMARYFY22 PRESCOTT MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY F22AS00147PROJECT TITLE INCREASING CAPACITY FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE, REHABILITATION AND DIAGNOSTICSDATES OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES OCTOBER 1, 2022 SEPTEMBER 30, 2023PROJECT DURATION 12 MONTHSAPPLICANT NAME THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTERPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR CARA FIELD, DVM, PH D , DIPL ACZM MEDICAL DIRECTOR THE MARINE MAMMALCENTER, 2000 BUNKER ROAD, SAUSALITO, CA 94965 FIELDC TMMC ORG, 415 754 4055 SPECIES SOUTHERN SEAOTTER ENHYDRA LUTRIS NEREIS SPECIFIC PRIORITY BEING ADDRESSED THE PROPOSED PROJECT MEETS THE FOLLOWING SPECIES SPECIFICFUNDING PRIORITIES FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTERS THE FIRST PRIORITY LISTED MOST REFLECTS THE PROJECT SMAIN OBJECTIVES, AND SUBSEQUENT PRIORITIES LISTED ARE RELATED TO AND IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST 1 ENHANCE STRANDING RESPONSE CAPABILITIES2 UPGRADE EXISTING FACILITIES 3 UPGRADE OPERATIONS4 CARCASS COLLECTION5 CONDUCTING NECROPSIES6 IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER SOURCES OF MORTALITYPRESCOTT GRANT PROGRAM CATEGORY CATEGORY B SUPPORTS MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING EFFORTS PROJECT OBJECTIVES WITH FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, THE CENTER WILL STRENGTHEN SOUTHERN SEA OTTERRESPONSE, REHABILITATION, AND DIAGNOSTICS CAPACITY, AND SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS IN THE SEA OTTERSTRANDING NETWORK, BY 1 RESPONDING TO APPROXIMATELY 100 SSO, WHETHER LIVE STRANDED, OR DECEASED, AND ASSESS TRIAGELIVE ANIMALS2 CARING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 LIVE STRANDED SSOS FOR LONG TERM REHABILITATION3 IMPROVING THE SEA OTTER HOLDING AREA AT MORRO BAY LOCATION4 TRANSFERRING SSO TO PARTNER AGENCIES AND FACILITIES WHEN APPROPRIATE AND POSSIBLE5 CONDUCTING APPROXIMATELY 10 NECROPSIES, INCLUDING HISTOPATHOLOGY6 RELEASING APPROXIMATELY 5 REHABILITATED SSOS BACK TO THE WILD7 CONDUCTING POST RELEASE MONITORING ON UP TO 5 SSO8 TRANSFERRING ANIMALS TO PARTNER AGENCIES AND FACILITIES AS NEEDED AND WHEN APPROPRIATE9 CONDUCT SEROLOGIC TESTING FOR UP TO 10 STRANDED SSO FOR PATHOGENIC PROTOZOA SARCOCYSTISNEURONA AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND MORBILLIVIRUSES CDV AND PDV AND TEST URINE FECES FOR EXPOSURETO HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM TOXINS DOMOIC ACID AND SAXITOXIN 10 EXPANDING STAFFING CAPACITYFEDERAL FUNDING REQUEST 95,000NON FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION 51,981TOTAL PROJECT COST 146,981

ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR SOUTHERN SEA OTTER RESPONSE AND REHABILITATION

MAINTAINING MARINE MAMMAL RESPONSE, REHABILITATION, AND DATA COLLECTION, AFTER THE 2020 PANDEMIC LOSSES

ENHANCED STRANDING RESPONSE ON THE LOST COAST: SUPPORT FOR BASIC OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND DEVELOPMENT OF WRITTEN PROTOCOLS AND MANUALS

ENHANCE PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY CARE FOR MARINE MAMMAL PATIENTS

PRESCOTT FUNDING WOULD MAKE UP THE DEFICIT IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE, REHABILITATION, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. FUNDINGS WILL HELP TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF STAFFING THAT HAS INCREASED THE EFFICIENCY OF DAILY OPERATIONS AND WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE WITHIN OUR BUDGET. ADDITIONALLY, PRESCOTT FUNDS WOULD GIVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL STRANDING NETWORK CONFERENCE AND WHALE ENTANGLEMENT TRAINING AS WELL AS PAY FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS AND OUTREACH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHAT TO DO, AND NOT DO, WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER MARINE MAMMALS IN DISTRESS.

INVESTIGATION OF NEUROLOGIC DISEASE IN CALIFORNIA MARINE MAMMALS

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO SPECIES RECOVERY

ENHANCED STRANDING RESPONSE ON THE LOST COAST: SUPPORT FOR BASIC OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND INSTALLATION OF REHABILITATION POOLS

OFFER A SERIES OF TRAININGS THAT WILL DEVELOP LEADERS IN CLIMATE COMMUNICATION, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND RESEARCH-BASED TOOLS TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

INCREASE ANIMAL CARE SUPERVISION AND IMPROVE DIAGNOSTICS, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR PINNIPED REHABILITATION AND LARGE WHALE DISENTANGLEMENT.

EVALUATION OF THE USE OF CIRCULATORY EOSINOPHILIA IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS) AS AN INDICATOR OF CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO E

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY OF THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL (HMS) (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI / `ILIO HOLO I KA UAUA) POPULATION. IN THE PROJECT PERIOD, WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR CRITICAL REHABILITATION WORK. WE WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HOSPITAL, KE KAI OLA, AND FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION MARINE MAMMAL RESPONSE NETWORK. WE WILL ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1. REHABILITATE 4 - 81 INJURED OR ILL HMS, PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY MEDICAL CARE TO EACH PATIENT. 2. CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR EACH PATIENT, INCLUDING INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING, ADVANCED CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS, AND POST-MORTEM INVESTIGATION WHEN NECESSARY (PRESCOTT PRIORITY #1C, DISEASE SURVEILLANCE). 3. ARCHIVE AND STORE STANDARDIZED HEALTH DATA, INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES AND TISSUE SAMPLES, TO MONITOR HEALTH TRENDS, INFORM CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (HMSRP) AT NOAA FISHERIES (PRESCOTT PRIORITY #1I, DATA ENTRY AND ANALYSIS). 4. SUPPORT THE MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING AND ENTANGLEMENT RESPONSE NETWORK BY HOSTING AN AQUATIC ANIMAL LIFE SUPPORT OPERATORS (AALSO) LEVEL I LIFE SUPPORT AND WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION COURSE AT KE KAI OLA FOR FOUR STAFF, FOUR VOLUNTEERS, AND 20+ INDIVIDUALS FROM LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS (PRESCOTT PRIORITY #3B, COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS). 5. ENHANCE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (ESPECIALLY FOR POWER OUTAGES) BY PURCHASING A BACK-UP POWER GENERATOR, CONTRACTING WITH AN ELECTRICIAN TO ENSURE OUR WALK-IN FREEZER CAN BE RUN ON A GENERATOR, AND PURCHASING A MEDICAL CRASH CART TO EFFICIENTLY MOVE AND STORE SUPPLIES NEEDED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS (PRESCOTT PRIORITY #1F, PREPAREDNESS).

GOING THE DISTANCE: ADVANCING MARINE MAMMAL RESPONSE, DATA COLLECTION, AND EDUCATION ON THE LOST COAST (HUMBOLDT AND DEL NORTE COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA

SUPPORT FOR A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY: A CRITICAL TOOL TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SEALS.

DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT ENHANCEMENTS FOR STRANDED MARINE MAMMALS

DEVELOPING VETERINARY INTERVENTION CAPACITY FOR INJURED & ENTANGLED BALEEN WHALES IN CALIFORNIA

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY OF THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL (HMS) (NEOMONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI / `ILIO HOLO I KA UAUA) POPULATION. IN THE PROJECT YEAR, WE WILL STRENGTHEN OUR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HOSPITAL STAFFS KNOWLEDGE AND CREDENTIALS, WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO ENSURING A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE FOR MARINE MAMMALS AND OTHER AQUATIC WILDLIFE. WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR GOAL THROUGH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: 1. REHABILITATE 4-8 INJURED OR ILL HMS AND CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL INCLUDING INFECTIOUS DISEASE SCREENING, ADVANCED CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS, AND POST-MORTEM INVESTIGATION WHERE NECESSARY. 2. ARCHIVE AND STORE STANDARDIZED HEALTH DATA, INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES AND TISSUE SAMPLES, TO MONITOR HEALTH TRENDS, INFORM CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESEARCH PROGRAM (HMSRP) AT NOAA FISHERIES. 3. `INCREASE THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HOSPITALS CAPACITY FOR CRITICAL ANIMAL CARE BY INCREASING VETERINARY SKILLS TRAINING AND HOURS OF THE CURRENT ANIMAL CARE COORDINATOR.

ENHANCING PINNIPED STRANDING RESPONSE IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

IMPROVING ANIMAL CARE, DIAGNOSTICS, EDUCATION & OUTREACH FOR PINNIPED & CETACEAN STRANDING RESPONSE & REHABILITATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER-MARINE SCIENCE DISCOVERY PROGRAM OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WILL PROVIDE TWO 8-WEEK INTENSIVE PROGRAMS FOR SIX CLASSES TO

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR NORTHCOAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER PINNIPED AND CETACEAN REPORTING, RESPONSE, AND TRAINING: PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN HUM

SUPPORT FOR SOCIETY OF MARINE MAMMALOGY 2015 BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

BUILDING CAPACITY AND PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE: 21ST BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY FOR MARINE MAMMALOGY

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RESPONSE PROGRAM, BIG ISLAND, EAST

THESE FUNDS WILL IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM NECROPSIES SAFELY AND GIVE US GREATER CAPABILITY TO STORE ARCHIVED SAMPLES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH PROJECTS.

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL STRANDING RESPONSE PROGRAM CAPACITY BUILDING

BUILDING CAPACITY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH: 44TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATION