This project's overall goal supports stranded and entangled marine mammal health needs throughout washington state, including underserved or underfunded areas, and enhances successful outcomes of…

This Project Grant award of $213,334 from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supports marine mammal stranding response and data collection services throughout Washington State through August 31, 2023. The award funds World Vets under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) to enhance stranded marine mammal data collection, reporting, and analysis; improve entanglement response and monitoring; and increase remote area stranding detection and post-mortem examination capabilities. Specifically, the non-profit will work with state stranding partners to standardize and expand level A, B, and C data gathered on stranded animals, including in underserved locations. They will also enhance training and post-release monitoring for entangled pinnipeds and small cetaceans. In addition, World Vets will evaluate public reporting patterns in consistent response areas to determine accuracy of stranding indications in more remote regions.

This project's overall goal supports stranded and entangled marine mammal health needs throughout washington state, including underserved or underfunded areas, and enhances successful outcomes of stranded animals. Specific goals that address program priorities will: 1. Enhance the quality, consistency, quantity and reporting and sharing of stranding level a, b, and c data collected from stranded marine mammals (including low coverage areas), collaborating with stranding partners (B2: national 1.a; B2: west coast region 2.E.I.). 2. Enhance entanglement response, training, and post-release monitoring for pinnipeds and small cetaceans (B2: national 1F). 3. Determine if public reports to the network accurately indicate actual marine mammal stranding events in an area of consistent response that may be considered to be in more remote areas and reporting from the public may be inconsistent (B2: west coast region 2.e.II). 4. Increase capability to conduct post-mortem exams using