Project objectives: - support essential staffing to maintain the stranding response program in delaware by funding the critical role of the stranding coordinator's position and the position of the…

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $101,225 Project Grant to the Marine Education Research & Rehabilitation Institute Inc., a non-profit organization, under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439). The grant supports essential staffing for the organization's stranding response program in Delaware, including funding for a Stranding Coordinator and Stranding Technician. This enables the program to maintain its stranding response capacity and increase its seal response, triage, and research capabilities. The grant also covers the cost of operating a 24-hour reporting hotline and cell phone coverage to facilitate communications during stranding events. Additionally, the funding supports structured seal research, surveillance monitoring of the seasonal gray seal colony, and public education and outreach efforts related to seals and marine wildlife rehabilitation resources in the region. The project period is 12 months, running from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.

Project objectives: - support essential staffing to maintain the stranding response program in delaware by funding the critical role of the stranding coordinator's position and the position of the stranding technician. These roles enable the stranding program to maintain its stranding response capacity, while increasing capacity for seal response, triage and research. - structured and coordinated seal research and surveillance monitoring of the seasonal gray seal colony and the emerging trend of seal pupping will contribute to greater understanding of behaviors, health parameters, population, identification of individuals in the colony, and geospatial data. - support the cost of the 24-hour reporting hotline and cell phone coverage, which will facilitate communication during stranding events and general operations. - education and outreach efforts will promote messaging regarding seals in human use areas and scarcity of rehabilitation resources, promotion of the 24-hour hotline