Abstract

From mass strandings to oil spills, marine mammal disaster response has been a growing concern worldwide. These incidents are rare and can impact any coastline; this, in turn, makes readiness potentially costly and difficult to maintain. In locations with strong rehabilitation programs or oil spill response programs, maintaining readiness for such events may be more realistic. However, given the extent of coastlines and the limited number of rehabilitation centers, solutions are needed to prepare the rest of our coastlines for such incidences.

Readiness for marine mammal response requires a multi-tiered approach, including training, protocol implementation, and equipment development. In regions where marine mammal rehabilitation and stranding response occur regularly, permanent facilities may already be available for response, but they often require supplementation for oiled animals. We surveyed marine mammal rehabilitation facilities and response organizations around the United States and Canada. While 81 organizations reported live marine mammal response capabilities, only eight (9.8%) reported the ability to care for oiled animals.

Purchasing and maintaining marine-mammal-specific response equipment is costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, equipment transport, development, and caching are challenging. To meet these global concerns and to supplement response in regions with active stranding networks, developing multi-use, portable, low-maintenance equipment has been a focus of multiple organizations. This model allows caches of equipment to be maintained in strategic locations. Equipment is being designed to require minimal maintenance, quick setup, and to be portable to allow shipment by air. Additionally, centers or stranding networks can purchase equipment to be able to retrofit existing rehabilitation centers for oiled marine mammal response.

As stranding response and conservation concerns expand internationally, the need to develop equipment stores for rapid response to epidemics, mass strandings, and oil spills is growing. The systems currently in development may provide for more rapid responses to these incidents.

*Presenting author
+Student presenter