Marine Mammal Strandings and Response

Marine mammal strandings provide welfare emergencies and research opportunities; coordinated response networks save lives and generate critical population health data.

Key Facts

Thousands of marine mammals strand on beaches globally each year from diverse causes
Common stranding causes include entanglement, boat strikes, disease, starvation, and disorientation
Cetacean mass strandings may be linked to sonar exercises disrupting navigation
Response networks including NOAA in the US and BDMLR in the UK train volunteers in initial response
Survival to release rates for rehabilitated seals and sea lions can exceed 75% with appropriate care

Welfare Considerations

Stranded marine mammals face diverse welfare challenges depending on stranding cause. Animals that have been entangled are often exhausted and injured. Those affected by acoustic trauma from military sonar may be in pain and disoriented. Nutritionally depleted individuals require intensive rehabilitation. The stress of human handling during rescue is significant for all wild animals. Minimizing handling time, providing appropriate medical care, and releasing animals as rapidly as possible are guiding principles of welfare-centered stranding response.

What You Can Do

Learn the contact number for your local marine mammal stranding response network before you need it
Never attempt to push a stranded cetacean back to sea without trained guidance
Maintain distance from stranded animals and keep dogs away until response teams arrive
Support marine mammal stranding response organizations with donations or volunteer training