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…

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey will receive $339,030 under a one-year Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation services in the state. Specifically, the funding will enhance the Center's basic operations to respond to, care for, treat, and collect data on stranded marine mammals living or dead. It will also upgrade the rehabilitation facilities and response equipment to exceed National Marine Fisheries Service standards. Outreach efforts will be increased to raise awareness of marine mammals in local communities and prevent human interactions with seals. The award is provided through the Marine Mammal Data Program administered by NOAA under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 11.439, which supports state agencies in collecting information on marine mammals in their waters interacting with state fisheries and other marine resources.

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.