This grant would enable US to stabilize and increase our capacity for stranding response in both regions, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NC stranding program

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $133,579 to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. This Project Grant funds the North Carolina Aquariums' marine mammal stranding response program through four new or sustained positions: a State Stranding Coordinator (who also serves as coordinator for the Central Marine Mammal Stranding Network), a Northern Outer Banks Stranding Coordinator, and an Assistant Stranding Technician. These positions eliminate regional coverage gaps and build long-term operational capacity for the North Carolina Stranding Program.

Under this award, the awardee will conduct stranding response operations for live and dead cetaceans and pinnipeds, perform necropsies, and collect and store data and samples for disease monitoring and diagnostics. Additional deliverables include continued post- and current unusual mortality event monitoring, documentation of human and fisheries interactions for take reduction teams, delivery of a cetacean disentanglement training workshop in collaboration with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, mentorship of two paid interns through partnerships with Duke Marine Laboratory and North Carolina State University, and public and student outreach campaigns. The funding supports the program's core mission of marine mammal conservation and health monitoring across North Carolina's coastal regions.

The support from prescott funds would allow NC aquariums to provide a salary for a state stranding coordinator, who would also act as the stranding coordinator for the central mmsn, a northern outer banks stranding coordinator, and an assistant stranding technician for the central region. These positions will prevent any regional coverage GAP in two areas while allowing NC aquariums and its society to build long-term capacity to support the NC stranding program. These regions will continue responses to live and dead cetacean and pinniped strandings, conduct necropsies, collect, store, and share data and samples for current and emerging diseases, and continue post- and current unusual mortality event monitoring and diagnostic screenings. The NC aquariums will document human and fisheries interactions used by take reduction teams and working groups. We will offer a small cetacean disentanglement training workshop in collaboration with the sarasota dolphin research program for marine mammal response staff. We will mentor and supervise two paid interns in partnership with duke marine laboratory and NC state university. Finally, we will continue our outreach and education campaigns to the public and students to spread awareness of stranding activities.