Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket Inc

MARINE MAMMAL ALLIANCE NANTUCKET IS THE ONLY STRANDING TEAM FOR NANTUCKET, TUCKERNUCK AND MUSKEGET ISLANDS OFF THE COAST OF CAPE COD, MA. OUR RESCUERS RESPOND YEAR ROUND TO STRANDED GREY SEALS, HARP SEALS, HARBOR SEALS AND DOLPHINS AND VERY OCCASIONALLY WHALES. OUR FIELD RESPONSES NUMBER BETWEEN 235-306 PER YEAR. DURING OUR BUSIEST TIMES, FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY, WE PROTECT AND RESCUE ABANDONED GREY SEAL PUPS, SENDING THEM OFF TO REHAB WHEN NECESSARY. FEBRUARY THROUGH JUNE WE RESPOND TO SEAL ENTANGLEMENTS IN MARINE DEBRIS ALONG WITH INJURED AND INFIRM GREY SEALS, PROTECTING THEM FROM HUMAN INTERACTION. SUMMER BRINGS DOLPHIN STRANDINGS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PROJECT, ENHANCING AND SUSTAINING OUR CURRENT ACTIVITIES, REQUESTS COMPENSATION FOR A CURRENTLY ALL VOLUNTEER TEAM LEADERSHIP, EQUIPMENT IN THE FORM OF A DEDICATED TRANSPORT VEHICLE, TRAVEL MONEY FOR TRAINING AND CONFERENCES AND FUNDING TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC - A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF SUCCESS. THIS PROJECT MEETS MANY ASPECTS OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PRIORITIES 1-4 AND WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT MARINE MAMMALS ON AND AROUND NANTUCKET.

GOAL: TO ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN THE MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ON NANTUCKET, FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON SUPPORT FOR PERSONNEL, PROFESSIONALIZING STRANDING RESPONSES, AND HEALTH ASSESSMENTS. MMAN IS APPLYING FOR FUNDING UNDER CATEGORY B2, HAVING APPLIED UNSUCCESSFULLY IN 2019. UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND A NEW PL, WE HAVE NARROWED OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES TO BE MORE ATTAINABLE AND SPECIFIC TO OUR RESPONSE NEEDS. THE OUTCOME WE SEEK WITH GRANT FUNDING IS TEAM LEADERSHIP WHO CAN RELY ON ENOUGH COMPENSATION TO RELIEVE THEM OF THE NEED FOR FULL-TIME OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT. OUR TEAM HAS BEEN 100% VOLUNTEER, BUT THE TIME EXPENDED ON RESPONSES, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND NECROPSIES AS WE GROW AND RESPONSES INCREASE HAS MADE 'VOLUNTEER ONLY' NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. THIS COINCIDES WITH FEDERAL PRIORITIES G: ENHANCE ENTANGLEMENT RESPONSE FOR GAR PINNIPEDS, AND B: SUPPORTING DIRECT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. 1. OPERATIONAL FORTIFICATION: STRENGTHEN OPERATIONAL CAPACITIES BY COMPENSATING DEDICATED PERSONNEL TO ENSURE CONSTANT PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE AND EXPERTISE. 2 DATA MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENT: OPTIMIZE DATA MANAGEMENT AND SEAMLESS SHARING WITH AFFILIATES. 3. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ENRICHMENT: TO ESTABLISH A FOUNDATIONAL BASIS FOR WIDESPREAD MARINE CONSERVATION AWARENESS, IN PARTICULAR THE EFFORTS OF THE MMAN RESPONSE TEAM ON NANTUCKET. 4. LOGISTICAL AUGMENTATION: TO PROCURE A DEDICATED 4WD RESPONSE VEHICLE TO FORTIFY LOGISTICAL CAPABILITIES AND ENSURE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. 5. ENHANCE SUPPLIES: TO RESTOCK ALL PPE, NECROPSY AND EUTHANASIA SUPPLIES. 6. HISTORICAL STRANDING DATA: SEE APPENDIX A