The purpose of this project proposal is to provide support for critical operational needs of the texas marine mammal stranding network (tmmsn) for response, treatment, and data collection from…

The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) was awarded a $268,206 Project Grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439).

The grant will support TMMSN's operations for responding to, collecting data from, and providing care to stranded marine mammals along the Texas coastline from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. Key deliverables include the timely recovery and necropsy of deceased marine mammals to collect Level A, B, and C data including disease detection and unusual findings. Incidences of human and fisheries interaction will also be well documented and reported. Live stranded marine mammals will receive veterinary health assessments, diagnostic screening for priority pathogens, and rehabilitation or humane euthanasia. The funding will further support TMMSN's disentanglement efforts and increase out-of-habitat response capacity in Texas and Louisiana as requested under the nondiscretionary Marine Mammal Data Program.

The purpose of this project proposal is to provide support for critical operational needs of the texas marine mammal stranding network (tmmsn) for response, treatment, and data collection from stranded marine mammals along the texas coastline. By means of the continued operation of tmmsn and support for stranding response personnel, dead marine mammals will be swiftly recovered and necropsied with level a, b, and c data collected, including the detection of emerging disease and unusual findings, according to decomposition. The incidence of human and fisheries interaction will be well documented and reported. Tmmsn will support disentanglement efforts and increase out-of-habitat response capacity in texas and louisiana as requested. Live stranded marine mammals will receive a veterinary health assessment, diagnostic screening for high priority pathogens, and care in rehabilitation or humane euthanasia.