Massachusetts, especially cape COD, is a hot spot for marine mammal strandings

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $147,558 to the National Marine Life Center under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) federal grant program. The project grant funding supports the center's mission to rehabilitate marine mammals and ensure an inclusive work environment. Specifically, the award will aid in caring for hundreds of seals and cetaceans that strand annually in Massachusetts, especially Cape Cod, where rehabilitation hospitals are scarce. Services will include rehabilitative care for pinnipeds commonly stranding due to diseases, predation, human interaction such as entanglements and boat strikes, as well as plastic ingestion and provisioning. The goals are to support NOAA's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program and provide inclusive work. The period of performance is August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023.

Hundreds of seals and cetaceans strand here every year. Marine mammal rehabilitation hospitals are scarce in the entire new england region, and therefore sufficient space for animals in need of rehabilitative care is severely lacking. Pinniped strandings are common and increasing, with causes ranging from diseases and predation to human interaction including entanglements, boat strikes, propeller cuts, plastic ingestion, provisioning, and physical harassment. The goals of this project are to 1). Support the mission of the NOAA's marine mammal health and stranding response program; and 2) to ensure an inclusive and diverse work environment.