Marine Life in Distress | NOAA Fisheries

Marine Life in Distress | NOAA Fisheries Marine Life in Distress Marine Life in Distress What should you do if you encounter marine life in distress—animals that are entangled, sick, injured, or dead? Find out how to report these incidents and what else you can do to help. Seeing marine animals in their natural habitat can be exciting. Unfortunately, not all marine life you may encounter will be healthy. You may come across animals in distress—entangled in marine debris or fishing gear, sick, or injured—or dead. Understandably, when most people see a dolphin or a sea turtle that appears to be in trouble, the first impulse is to try to rescue it. But that is likely not be the best option for the animal or the person trying to help. These wild animals may be sick, injured, disoriented, or starving. They could have been exposed to pollution or a natural toxin, entangled in fishing gear, struck by a vessel, or infected by a disease or parasite. Their reactions may be unpredictable, and it can be dangerous to try to touch or move them. Only trained and authorized responders should assist marine animals in distress. Reporting a sick, injured, entangled, or dead animal is the best way to ensure that professional authorized responders and scientists know about the incident and can take appropriate action. Always keep a safe distance—it’s good advice, and it's the law. Learn more about what you can do and how to report Featured News Feature Story 50 Years of Environmental Data Can Predict Health and Strandings of Sea Lions Pups in California West Coast Feature Story Northern Fur Seal Deaths on St. George Island, Alaska, Linked to Harmful Algal Bloom Alaska Feature Story 2024 Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States National Feature Story Snow Crab Collapse Linked to Energetic Limitations During a Marine Heatwave Alaska View More News More Information Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Unusual Mortality Events John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program Frequent Questions—Offshore Wind and Whales Frequent Questions—Marine Mammal Necropsies Notices & Rules Fisheries Rebuilding Plan for the Overfished Queets River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon Stock West Coast West Coast Protected Resources Cook Inlet and Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines Alaska Alaska Protected Resources Arctic Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines Alaska Alaska More Protected Resources Regs & Actions Open Funding Opportunities There are currently no open funding opportunities. More Opportunities FACT 100+ organizations authorized to respond to marine mammals in distress NOAA has authorized more than 100 organizations around the country to respond to marine mammals in distress, each with different rescue, rehabilitation, response, and investigation specialties. Network members include professionals and volunteers from nonprofit organizations, aquaria, universities, museums, and state and local governments who are trained in stranding or entanglement response, animal evaluation, and administration of animal care. FACT 64 unusual mortality events since 1991 Bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and manatees are the marine life most commonly involved in unusual mortality events. Causes have been determined for 32 of the 64 events documented since 1991 including infections, biotoxins, human interactions such as vessel strikes, and malnutrition. FACT 20+ organizations/agencies assist sea turtles in distress The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network responds to and collects information on marine turtle strandings along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. The network, which includes federal, state and private partners, encompasses coastal areas from Maine to Texas, and includes portions of the U.S. Caribbean. Other turtle response organizations respond to marine turtle strandings along the West Coast and Pacific Islands/Hawaii. Show me another fact Marine Mammal Strandings Stranded marine mammals sometimes come onto shore, dead or alive. NOAA works with trained partners in every coastal state to respond to and assess the condition of reported animals, and in certain cases attempt to rehabilitate or relocate them. If an animal is dead, responders may perform a necropsy (animal autopsy) to learn more about the animal and what may have caused the stranding. When elevated marine mammal stranding rates occur over a longer time period the Marine Mammal Protection Act sets out a process to evaluate these stranding and mortality events and determine whether they should be designated as unusual mortality events , which trigger a specific investigative response. Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Sea Turtle Strandings A stranded sea turtle is one that is found on land or in the water dead, injured, sick, or exhibiting usual behavior. One of the most well-known examples of mass strandings is when cold-stunned sea turtles strand during winter months on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts . During t hese events, thousands of turtles may require care. The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network responds to and collects data on strandings of marine turtles along the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) and Atlantic coasts, while NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program rehabilitates and studies stranded sea turtles throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Other state and local organizations respond to sea turtle strandings on the U.S. West Coast. Learn more about the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Entanglement Marine animals occasionally swim into fishing gear or marine debris and get entangled, stuck, injured, or even killed. Entanglements may prevent the recovery of endangered and threatened marine mammal and sea turtle populations. Prompt reporting is the best way to assist an entangled animal. For the safety of the animals and people involved, only trained and authorized responders should attempt to disentangle a whale, dolphin, porpoise, seal, sea lion, or sea turtle. Many animals can be successfully disentangled and released. The information gained from the response goes back into research and management to ultimately prevent future entanglements. Learn more about entanglements of marine animals Vessel Strikes Collisions with ships and boats are one of the primary human-caused threats to marine mammals, particularly large whales. In fact, vessel strikes are the leading human-caused source of mortality for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The West and East coasts of the United States have some of the heaviest vessel traffic associated with some of the largest ports in the country. Encouraging responsible boating practices and understanding where and when whales may be present are key components to reducing the risk of vessel strikes in these areas. Boat strikes by recreational vessels are also a concern for several sea turtle species, particularly in the southeast. To prevent vessel strikes, NOAA Fisheries recommends  that recreational vessels maintain a distance of at least 50 yards from all marine animals, including sea turtles. Learn more about vessel strikes Conservation Medicine Stranded marine animals are an important source of information for scientists. Studying the reasons that animals come ashore provides clues about ocean conditions and the health of coastal ecosystems. Animals can be sampled to quantify contaminant levels in tissues and alert researchers to emerging diseases. Marine mammal tissue and blood samples collected in the field may be stored for analysis at the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank . Knowing what may have caused an animal to strand helps us enhance conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species. Learn more about biosurveillance and data collection Understanding Marine Wildlife Stranding and Response Learn about strandings of marine mammals and sea turtles and how NOAA Fisheries and partners respond to these animals in distress. Multimedia NOAA Fisheries Video Gallery Podcast 50 Years of Protecting Marine Mammals National Video Video: Lose the Rope, Give Whales Hope New England/Mid-Atlantic Video Saving a Humpback Whale: A Disentanglement Tale New England/Mid-Atlantic Conservation and Management Whether it’s a cold-stunned sea turtle in New England, a sick monk seal on a beach in Hawaii, or an entangled whale off the coast of California, NOAA and our partners work together to respond to marine animals in distress along every coast of the United States. Several programs ensure timely response and data collection for entangled, sick, or injured animals, as well as those that have been found dead at sea or on the shoreline. Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response The Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program coordinates emergency response and investigations for sick, injured, entangled, or dead seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and whales. Stranding and Entanglement Networks NOAA Fisheries works with a diverse network of independent organizations as well as local, tribal, state, and federal agencies to oversee and coordinate emergency response for stranded or entangled marine mammals. We ensure that all activities are performed in a manner that is safe for responders and animals alike. We authorize non-governmental stranding network members to respond to strandings through Stranding Agreements. The network members provide staff and local response capabilities, independently raising funds to cover the majority of their costs. Only trained and authorized responders should assist a marine animal in distress. Learn more about networks around the country: Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Network Pacific Islands Marine Mammal Response Southeast Fisheries Management and Marine Life Protection Marine Mammals on the West Coast Entanglement Response Entanglement response teams are located around the country to respond to whales dolphins seals, and sea lions that become entangled in fishing gear or marine debris. Responders receive highly specialized training to assist animals in the wild. Entanglement responders are authorized through permits issued by the National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program under the Marine Mammal Protection Act , and also under the Endangered Species Act for marine mammals listed as endangered or threatened. Learn more about large whale entanglement response around the country: Alaska New England/Mid-Atlantic Pacific Islands West Coast Learn more about marine mammal entanglement response Sea Turtle Stranding and Response A network of scientists and volunteers collects information on and documents strandings of marine turtles along the coasts of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). The network encompasses the coastal areas of an 18-state region from Maine to Texas, and includes portions of the U.S. Caribbean. Learn more about the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program rehabilitates and studies stranded sea turtles throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Other state and local organizations respond to sea turtle strandings on the U.S. West Coast. Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events An unusual mortality event (UME) is defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as a stranding that: Is unexpected Involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population Demands immediate response The Marine Mammal UME Program was established in 1991. Since then, we have declared more than 70 UMEs in the United States. They have involved a variety of species and dozens to thousands of individual animals per event. working group of marine mammal experts and scientists determine when the circumstances of a stranding event meet the criteria to be considered a UME . Then the group direct the appropriate responses and data collection. Learn more about marine mammal unusual mortality events John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program The Prescott Grant Program provides competitive grants and cooperative agreements to eligible stranding network members for: Recovery and treatment (i.e., rehabilitation ) of stranded marine mammals Responses to events that require emergency assistance Data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals Facility upgrades, operation costs, and staffing needs directly related to the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals and collection of data from living or dead stranded animals Development of stranding network capacity, including training, where facilities do not exist or are sparse Learn more about the Prescott Grant Program Conservation and Management Efforts for Marine Life in Distress NOAA and its partners have programs and response networks to help marine life in distress and address unusual mortality events across the country. More Information Understanding Marine Mammal Euthanasia Report an Entangled Marine Mammal Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinators Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Coordinators Vessel Strikes Science Investigations of stranding and mortality events increase our understanding of the health of marine animals and the health of our oceans. Strandings provide scientists and managers with important information on the biology and life history of animals, including: Geographic range Age Genetics Types of prey consumed Occurrence of injury and disease Some marine mammal species are known only from stranded specimens. We can also use information from live and dead stranded animals to improve the response to future strandings and care for animals in rehabilitation Strandings provide important information on human impacts to marine animals. Data collected from stranded marine mammals and turtles can teach us about harmful fishery interactions, vessel strikes, or marine debris. By knowing this, we can better manage human activities to minimize or mitigate these impacts. Samples collected from stranded animals also provide information on marine pollution. For example, high levels of chemical contaminants in a dolphin's body could have direct implications for human health. Marine mammals consume many of the same fish that we do and acquire those contaminants through their prey. Stranding Response and Data Collection Marine Mammals When response teams are deployed to help sick, injured, or stranded animals, the data collected are compiled in a national marine mammal health and stranding database: Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Database Marine Mammal Stranding Report: Level A Data –forms used by stranding networks in the collection of marine mammal stranding data Sea Turtles The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network has documented large numbers of stranded sea turtles in the north-central Gulf of Mexico since 2010. Network participants compile data, documenting sea turtle strandings in their respective areas and contributing them to a centralized database. Learn more about the number of sea turtle strandings in the Gulf of Mexico Biosurveillance and Baseline Health Research In recent years, scientists have documented high concentrations of potentially toxic substances in marine mammals and diseases not previously reported. These studies contribute to a growing, worldwide effort of marine mammal biomonitoring to help assess the health and contaminant loads of marine mammals. This effort also assists in determining anthropogenic impacts on marine mammals, marine food chains, and marine ecosystem health. National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank The National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank provides protocols for the storage of tissue and blood samples collected from marine mammals. These samples can then be used for retrospective analyses to determine environmental trends of contaminants and support other research studies. Trained individuals collect samples during stranding events, disease investigations, mortality events, and health assessments. Samples may also be obtained from bycatch animals Learn more about the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank Science and Research for Helping Marine Life in Distress Learn how NOAA Fisheries conducts research and collects data involving marine life in distress in order to better understand the health of our oceans and animals. More Information Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Reports Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network What You Can Do If you see an entangled, stranded, sick, injured, or dead animal, please report it. Keep your distance from the animal to prevent further stress to it and possible injury to you both. Marine Mammals whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions Call your local stranding network Or, use our Dolphin & Whale 911 iPhone/iPad app Use your camera or cell phone to take a photo of the animal from a safe distance. This can help responders identify the species and the steps necessary to help it. Wait (if you can) for a trained and authorized responder to arrive so you can help them locate the animal. Watch it from a safe distance. Don’t chase or corral the injured animal if it tries to move away. Keep the area calm and quiet (to the extent you can) and encourage others to keep their distance and keep dogs on a leash. Sea Turtles Call your local sea turtle stranding coordinator: Atlantic and Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) coasts and U.S. Caribbean Pacific Islands/Hawaii West Coast Wait (if you can) for a trained and authorized responder to arrive so you can help them locate the animal. Watch it from a safe distance. Don’t chase or corral the injured animal if it tries to move away. Keep the area calm and quiet (to the extent you can) and encourage others to keep their distance and keep dogs on a leash. Report incidents of people or pets tormenting, disturbing, or attempting to touch a marine mammal or sea turtle. Contact NOAA’s National Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. Always observe marine life from a safe distance . Read our marine life viewing guidelines Report marine debris/derelict fishing gear . Learn about marine debris Consider donating to the Unusual Mortality Event Contingency Fund and  help support ongoing UME investigations. What You Can Do to Help Marine Life in Distress Learn what to do if you see an entangled, stranded, sick, or dead marine animal and other ways you can help marine life in distress. More Information Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal Donate to the Unusual Mortality Event Contingency Fund Find Marine Mammal Stranding Network Coordinators Find Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Coordinators Resources About Marine Life in Distress Find documents, data and maps, research, outreach and education materials, and other resources about marine life in distress. Documents Document 2024 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary Each year, NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region collects, verifies, documents, and responds to reports… West Coast Document 2023 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary Each year, NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Region collects, verifies, documents, and responds to reports… West Coast Document 2020 and 2021 Combined Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States NOAA Fisheries released the 2020 and 2021 Combined Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United… National Document National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2022 This report provides a summary of large whale entanglements that occurred in U.S. waters in 2022. National More Documents Resources About Marine Life in Distress Find documents, data and maps, research, outreach and education materials, and other resources about marine life in distress. Data & Maps Map Who to Call: West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network Map Report stranded whales, dolphins, sea turtles, seals, or sea lions in California, Oregon, and… West Coast Map 2017-2025 Minke Whale Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast Dead Animal Locations This dataset represents dead animal locations associated with the 2017-2025 Minke Whale Unusual… National Map 2016-2024 Humpback Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast Dead Animal Locations This dataset represents dead animal locations associated with the 2016-2024 Humpback Whale Unusual… National Map North Atlantic Right Whale Sightings Interactive map of North Atlantic right whale sightings. New England/Mid-Atlantic Southeast More Data More Maps Resources About Marine Life in Distress Find documents, data and maps, research, outreach and education materials, and other resources about marine life in distress. Research On-Demand Gear Guide A roadmap for providing fishermen an option to use on-demand fishing systems in the Greater Atlantic Region by 2028. New England/Mid-Atlantic Peer-Reviewed Research Juvenile Coral Abundance Across the U.S. Pacific Influenced by Depth, Heat Stress, Coral Cover, Suitable Substrate, and Human Density Our results also suggest coral density is dependent on several factors, including and the number of… Pacific Islands Peer-Reviewed Research NOAA smalltooth sawfish monitoring survey-FY22: Relative abundance and essential fish habitat studies for smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata, in southwest Florida, USA This report describes the results from the 2022 NOAA Fisheries Panama City Laboratory juvenile… Southeast Peer-Reviewed Research Evaluation of a Long-Term Information Tool Reveals Continued Suitability for Identifying Bycatch Hotspots but Little Effect on Fisher Location Choice We reviewed one of the longest and earliest DOM informational products, TurtleWatch. Pacific Islands More Research Resources About Marine Life in Distress Find documents, data and maps, research, outreach and education materials, and other resources about marine life in distress. Outreach & Education Outreach Materials Protected Marine Species Identification Guide Southeast United States This guide is intended for use by mariners in the identification and reporting of threatened and… Southeast Outreach Materials Viewing Marine Wildlife in Hawai'i Rack Card A guide for viewing protected sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins, and whales responsibly in Hawai'i. Pacific Islands Educational Materials Actividad sobre residuos marinos en una ballena gris (en español) En esta actividad, los participantes examinarán el contenido del estómago de una ballena gris que… West Coast Outreach Materials Safe Boating Around Sea Turtles Poster Outreach poster developed by NOAA Fisheries and the Hawai'i Division of Boating and Ocean… Pacific Islands More Outreach Materials More Educational Materials