Channel islands marine & wildlife institutes (cimwis) FY2025 prescott grant proposal is for essential support to continue cimwis live and dead marine mammal response, disentanglement, and…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) $133,122 through the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) for the period September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. The funding supports operational continuity for CIMWI's marine mammal response and rehabilitation services by maintaining two essential paid staff positions: the Managing Director and Stranding Operations & Animal Care Manager. These positions serve as the core infrastructure for a volunteer-based nonprofit organization responsible for managing high-volume marine mammal stranding activities across 155 miles of coastline in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, California.

The grant enables CIMWI to deliver comprehensive marine mammal services including response to animals in distress, disentanglement of marine mammals from fishing gear and other hazards, rescue operations, medical care and rehabilitation, data collection and reporting for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, and scientific contributions to the broader marine mammal conservation community. The funded staff positions are further responsible for volunteer training and development, outreach and education initiatives, and coordination with regional stranding network members to support the organization's broader marine conservation objectives.

Channel islands marine & wildlife institutes (cimwis) FY2025 prescott grant proposal is for essential support to continue cimwis live and dead marine mammal response, disentanglement, and rehabilitation activities. The funding will be used to continue to pay salaries for two essential staff positions for one year. The managing director (director) and stranding operations & animal care manager (manager) are the backbone of the volunteer-based nonprofit organization, and they are the only two paid staff positions in cimwi. They are essential to the organization operating successfully and serving 155 miles of coastline in ventura and santa barbara counties in southern california with a high-volume of marine mammal strandings. The director and manager ensure cimwi meets the increased demand for its services which includes responding to marine mammals in distress, disentangling animals, rescuing animals, providing medical and rehabilitation care, returning healthy animals to the wild, collecting/reporting/sharing important data, making valuable contributions to the marine mammal health and stranding response program and scientific community, and collaborating with other network members. These staff positions are also devoted to volunteer training and development as well as outreach, education, and a broader conservation strategy to preserve marine life.