Enhance the quality, quantity and sharing of level a, b, and c data collected from stranded marine mammals, provide post-unusual mortality event (UME) surveillance in an area of repeated umes…

This $244,854 federal Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) aims to enhance data collection, diagnostic analyses, and reporting of emerging diseases related to stranded marine mammals. The primary goals are to: 1) Improve the quality, quantity, and sharing of Level A, B, and C data from stranded marine mammals, 2) Provide post-Unusual Mortality Event (UME) surveillance in areas with repeated UMEs, 3) Strengthen live animal response capabilities and preparedness for disentanglement and monitoring of free-swimming small cetaceans, and 4) Increase collaboration with state/local organizations to enhance stranding event detection and response. The award was granted to the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, a non-profit marine research organization based in San Diego, California, which has an extensive portfolio of federal grants focused on marine mammal conservation and aquaculture research.

Enhance the quality, quantity and sharing of level a, b, and c data collected from stranded marine mammals, provide post-unusual mortality event (UME) surveillance in an area of repeated umes (indian river lagoon, 2001, 2008, 2013; mid atlantic 2013-2015), enhance data collection, diagnostic analyses, and the detection/reporting of emerging diseases, and synthesize and publish existing post-release tracking data. Strengthen live animal response capabilities and preparedness for the disentanglement and monitoring of free-swimming small cetaceans. Increase collaboration with state and local government organizations through training and outreach development to enhance the detection of stranding events and yield a more effective response and build community partnerships to enhance entanglement and stranding response and reporting.