This proposal requests federal funds from the john h. Prescott marine mammal rescue assistance grant program to secure staff to continue to improve the california academy of sciences and the noyo…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $135,083 to the California Academy of Sciences under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) on October 1, 2025, for a one-year project period ending September 30, 2026. The grant funds staff positions to enhance marine mammal response and data collection operations in Northern California, encompassing the San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma County, and Southern Mendocino County. The primary deliverables include collection and curation of scientific data from an estimated 300–400 deceased marine mammals annually—including seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and approximately 10–15 large whales—making this data available to the scientific research community to support marine mammal conservation and health assessments.

In addition, funding supports development of a comprehensive large whale necropsy response capacity plan through coordination with key partners. Specific work products include identifying and securing appropriate landing sites for large whale carcasses, establishing towing and transport service contracts, sourcing heavy equipment, identifying specimen cleaning locations, and researching disposal service options. A sub-award of unspecified amount to the Noyo Center for Marine Science supports dead stranded marine mammal response activities in Mendocino County. Together, these efforts are designed to enhance the quality, quantity, and consistency of data collected from deceased stranded marine mammals, particularly large whales, in Northern California.

This proposal requests federal funds from the john h. Prescott marine mammal rescue assistance grant program to secure staff to continue to improve the california academy of sciences and the noyo center for marine sciences high level of marine mammal response and data collection in northern california, specifically the SAN francisco BAY area, sonoma county, and southern mendocino county. Funding will ensure that valuable data are collected from dead seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and whales and made available to scientific researchers. During this project, we expect to respond to and collect data from 300400 dead marine mammals per year, including data from approximately 10-15 large whales. This funding will also support the development of a comprehensive plan to improve large whale necropsy response by cooperating with key partners to determine appropriate sites for landing large whale carcasses for internal examination, identify and secure towing and transport services, source heavy equipment, explore locations for cleaning scientific research specimens, and research potential disposal services. If funded, this proposal to support dead marine mammal stranding response and increase large whale necropsy response readiness will enhance the quality, quantity, and consistency of data collected from dead stranded marine mammals in northern california, especially large whales.