Whale And Dolphin Conservation, Inc.

Whale And Dolphin Conservation, Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, operates as a recipient of federal grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration focused on marine mammal conservation and on-demand fishing gear development to reduce North Atlantic right whale entanglement. The organization does not hold federal prime contracts; all federal activity consists of grants and grant sub-awards, with 73% positioned as prime recipient and 27% as sub-recipient under larger grant programs.

All eleven awards in the source data originate from NOAA within the Department of Commerce, carrying $1.5 million in obligated dollars across a combined potential value base that reflects the grant portfolio structure. The organization's customer concentration is 100% NOAA; all activity flows through that single federal agency. WDCS functions as a prime grant recipient under NOAA's Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) and Cooperative Research Program (CFDA 11.472), and as a sub-recipient under grants administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and MIT.

The prime grant portfolio centers on three capability streams. The first addresses marine mammal stranding response: a $104,800 Project Grant (October 2025–September 2026) funds expanded rapid-response capacity and large whale necropsy capability along the Massachusetts coast, extending coverage over 55 additional miles of Norfolk County coastline and the Boston Harbor Islands, with secondary emphasis on public education and internship workforce development. A $172,242 prior-year grant (October 2023–September 2024) supported similar stranding investigation and live-animal triage capacity building. The second stream focuses on commercial on-demand fishing gear development to mitigate right whale bycatch: a $258,527 Cooperative Agreement awarded July 1, 2026 (period through December 31, 2027) funds software upgrades and chart-plotter integration for acoustic-release fishing systems that allow commercial lobster fishermen to access seasonally restricted areas while minimizing entanglement risk. An August 2023 Cooperative Agreement supported trials of cloud-based digital marking systems, manufacturer gear caching, and public outreach to 1,500 participants. The third capability stream is environmental education: a September 2025 Project Grant supports teacher training and STEM field investigations for approximately 240 high school students in Milford, Massachusetts, culminating in whale-watch experiences and connecting watershed health to marine conservation outcomes.

As a sub-recipient, WDCS partners with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on software development for on-demand gear safety features, including man-overboard release mechanisms and audible vessel-alert systems, with engagement of 20 commercial fishers and gear manufacturers. Sub-award work with MIT focuses on pattern-recognition applications for whale identification and accessibility in marine science training.

Activity averaged roughly two awards per year over 2022–2026, with two awards reaching ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, presenting a modest recompete window for NOAA marine mammal and fisheries research programs.