The texas marine mammal stranding network (tmmsn) proposes a comprehensive initiative to enhance response and data collection capabilities, and rehabilitation for stranded marine mammals along the…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $170,449 to the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) for the period September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. TMMSN will provide comprehensive marine mammal stranding response, rehabilitation, and data collection services along the Texas coast, which encompasses 5,406 kilometers of tidal shoreline in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. As the sole dedicated marine mammal stranding response organization in Texas, TMMSN will deliver rapid recovery and necropsy services for deceased marine mammals with Level A, B, and C data collection on disease and human interaction; veterinary health assessments and rehabilitation care for live stranded animals; disentanglement efforts for entangled cetaceans; and public education on marine mammal conservation.

The award supports three priority objectives: expanding response capacity and infrastructure to address both live and dead stranding cases; providing rehabilitative care services; and advancing data collection and reporting capabilities. This funding represents continued federal investment in TMMSN's operations, consistent with NOAA's Marine Mammal Data Program, which funds regional stranding networks nationwide to support marine mammal health monitoring, conservation, and conflict resolution between marine mammals and fisheries resources.

The texas marine mammal stranding network (tmmsn) proposes a comprehensive initiative to enhance response and data collection capabilities, and rehabilitation for stranded marine mammals along the texas coast. As the only dedicated marine mammal stranding response organization in texas, tmmsn plays a vital role in addressing stranded cetaceans across the texas coast which includes 5,406KM of tidal shoreline along the northwestern gulf of mexico, including sounds, bays, rivers, and creeks. This project aims to expand our capacity, improve response infrastructure, and foster critical partnerships to better meet the needs of both live and dead stranding cases. The project is designed to support three priority objectives: 1) continuing and expanding response capacity and infrastructure, 2) providing rehabilitative care for live strandings, 3) advancing data collection and reporting.