There are approximately 250 people in the SEUS Stranding Network 

 and although many state and local official agencies participate, 

 there have often been problems in getting sufficient information 

 from strandings. For instance, better coordination with the 

 Marine Patrol is needed in parts of Florida. A training video is 

 being created that will focus on the. data sheet used by the 

 Stranding Network, with examples using real animals. 



Data collection sheets should be carried to each stranding, 

 and everyone should keep a log book. It would be a good idea to 

 package a log book and data collection materials for %rorkshop 

 participants. Area Coordinators mxist collect and organize data. 

 Reduction of time lags and duplicate information require more 

 screening and organization of Network Peurticipants at the Area 

 Coordinator level. 



There are two key forms used in the network, but only the 

 short form is required by the Letter of Authorization (LOA). The 

 information on the short form is entered into the SEUS Stranding 

 Network computer information bank. 



II. NONirORING THE STRAMDIIIG RATE 



The SEFC has newly established a system for near real-time 

 monitoring of the stremding rate. Appropriate staff at each of 

 the SEFC laboratories and the Regional Office were identified as 

 SEFC Area Representatives to esteiblish contact in their area with 

 SEUS Network Participants. Each NMFS Area Representative must 

 have back-up personnel assigned to receive stranding reports and 

 specimens in their eibsence. A telephone emswering/message 

 recording machine should be used during off-duty hours. 



The SEUS Network Participaa^ will report basic data to the 

 SEUS Area Coordinator by telephone within 24 hours of discovery 

 of the stremding as a requirement of the LOA. Voice confirmation 

 of receipt of information is required. If the SEUS Area 

 Coordinator cemnot be reached on the first try, then the Network 

 Participant will immediately telephone the NMFS Area 

 Representative. Completed SEUS data will be sent to the SEUS 

 Network Coordinator within 30 days of collection as specified in 

 the NMFS Letter of Agreement (LOA). The SEUS Area Coordinator 

 will be required in the LOA to report strandings to NMFS Area 

 Representatives within 24 hours of receipt from the Network 

 Participants . 



A computerized system was established for transferring basic 

 data reports to the Miami mainframe computer. NMFS Area 

 Representatives will send stranding data to the SEFC NMFS Miami 

 Laboratory within 48 hours of initial receipt from SEUS Area 

 Coordinators (total elapsed time since initial discovery should 

 not exceed 96 hours) using the computerized system. The basic 



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