World Ocean Day marks launch of first national association for marine mammal responders
Contact:
Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, (508) 451 3853, [email protected]
Stacey Hedman, IFAW, (508) 737 2558, [email protected]
Giancarlo Rulli, The Marine Mammal Center, (415) 754 4012, [email protected]
June 8, 2026 —
WASHINGTON, DC —
Launching today on World Ocean Day, the new National Marine Mammal Stranding Association (NMMSA) will unite responders nationwide to strengthen marine mammal rescue and response, improve coordination and training, and support the long-term health of marine mammals and ocean ecosystems across the United States.
"More than 120 organizations, state agencies, and Indigenous Tribes respond to marine mammal strandings throughout the U.S. They respond in inclement weather and difficult locations as they prioritize public safety and animal welfare and collect essential data important to both human and marine mammal health," said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, Executive Director at Whale and Dolphin Conservation - North America (WDC-NA). "A single response can last hours to days, with little time to rest before the hotline rings again. Building an Association that can support stranding responders means the responders can do their jobs safely and effectively and keep their focus on the animals." WDC-NA's Marine Animal Rescue and Response program covers over 300 miles of coastline and provides rapid response to marine mammals in distress. In addition to saving lives, our team is dedicated to increasing access to and transparency in the field of marine science through knowledge sharing.
The Association's launch follows months of planning by a nationally representative steering committee and a June 1 meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, where marine mammal stranding response leaders from across the US gathered to advance the initiative.
“The genuine camaraderie and collaboration at this initial meeting are exactly the goal of the Association,” said Katie Moore, Senior Director of Animal Rescue at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) who helped spearhead the effort and serves on the founding steering committee. “We know that by working together, we can have a greater impact. This effort reflects a shared commitment across the response community to strengthen collaboration, support responders on the front lines, and improve outcomes for marine mammals and the ecosystems they inhabit.”
The initiative has strong support across the existing marine mammal stranding response network, with recent polling showing that 94% of respondents recognize the need for a national association.
Marine mammal stranding response in the US operates under the framework established through the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Organizers say NMMSA is intended to complement that federal framework by strengthening collaboration, training support, communications, and resource sharing across the response community.
“Marine mammal stranding responders play a critical role in increasing knowledge of marine mammals and advancing our understanding of ocean and ecosystem health,” said Sarah Wilkin, coordinator of the MMHSRP at NOAA Fisheries. “Efforts that strengthen collaboration, communication, and shared expertise across the stranding response network can help improve response capacity and support the long-term conservation of marine mammal populations.”
Core services under development for the Association include capacity building and professional development, communications tools, shared technical resources, new funding pathways, public education, and policy engagement. Organizers intend to establish the group as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
"The Marine Mammal Center is proud to serve as fiscal sponsor for this initiative, helping to provide the organizational foundation needed to turn this vision into reality," said Dr. Jeff Boehm, Chief External Relations Officer at The Marine Mammal Center. "We've seen firsthand how much this network accomplishes with limited resources. By giving individuals and institutions a way to invest in this effort, we can help build something that strengthens marine mammal rescue and response for years to come. We invite anyone who cares about ocean health to join us in making this association a success.”
The National Marine Mammal Stranding Association was developed by a nationally representative steering committee of marine mammal response leaders from across the United States. The group's June 1 meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, held during Capitol Hill Ocean Week and supported through a NOAA John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant, helped lay the foundation for a stronger, more connected national response network.
Note to editors
The National Marine Mammal Stranding Association steering committee is made up of members from The Marine Mammal Center (fiscal sponsor), Mote Marine Laboratory, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Cascadia Research, University of Hawaii, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, IFAW, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. The committee surveyed marine mammal stranding responders to determine the greatest needs of network members.
For more information visit: National Stranding Association | The Marine Mammal Center.
WDC is authorized by NOAA to respond to stranded marine mammals through an agreement as part of the Greater Atlantic Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We recognize that whales and dolphins are family to some Indigenous Peoples and play a significant role in the health of our planet. We share these images as part of our work, but we do so with respect and sympathies for their loss to their families and to the ecosystem.
Whale and Dolphin Conservation - North America has worked to ensure a future for marine mammals through science, education, and policy since 2005.
The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education.
Mote Marine Laboratory advances marine science worldwide and shares our discoveries through our public aquarium and education for all ages.
Atlantic Marine Conservation Society is an organization of biologists and volunteers with decades of experience in marine mammal and sea turtle research and response.
Cascadia Research Collective is a group of researchers and activists who study and advocate for the Cascadia bioregion, a proposed political entity in the Pacific Northwest.
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) is an organized research unit of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, located on the island of Moku o Lo‘e and surrounded by a living coral reef in Kāne‘ohe Bay.
Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services is the only veterinary anatomic pathology service in the state of Alaska. They offer both diagnostic and research-based pathology for wildlife as well as domestic animals.
IFAW is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Fresh thinking and bold action for animals, people and the place we call home.
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