Survey of Federally-Funded Marine Mammal Research 

 (G. H. Waring, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University) 



Each year the Commission identifies and publishes a report 

 on the marine mammal research conducted or supported by Federal 

 agencies in the preceding Fiscal Year and that which is expected 

 to be conducted or supported by those agencies in the current 

 Fiscal Year. At the end of 1987, the agencies were responding 

 to the Commission's request for information on their Fiscal 

 1987 and Fiscal 1988 marine mammal research programs. In 

 early 1988, the Contractor will prepare a report summarizing 

 information being provided by the agencies. A proof copy of 

 this report will be sent to the agencies to verify the accuracy 

 of reported data. After verification, the Commission, in 

 consultation with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, will 

 review the report and, as appropriate, recommend actions to 

 agencies for better developing, focusing, and coordinating 

 their research programs. Copies of the final report will be 

 provided to agencies conducting or supporting marine mammal 

 research and will be available to other interested persons 

 and organizations through the National Technical Information 

 Service. 



Mid-Atlantic Die-Off of Bottlenose Dolphins 

 (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; J. E. White, 

 Virginia Beach, Virginia; and W. T. Wilkins, Eastville, 

 Virginia) 



As noted in Chapter III, the Commission learned in late 

 July 1987 that unprecedented numbers of bottlenose dolphins 

 ( Tursiops truncatus) had been washing up on Atlantic coast 

 beaches from New Jersey to Virginia. The Commission subse- 

 quently coordinated and supported efforts to organize an Emer- 

 gency Response Team in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to determine 

 the nature, extent, and cause of the die-off. As part of 

 this effort, the Commission provided funds to the Smithsonian 

 Institution to help cover the cost of recovering carcasses 

 and determining the age, sex, reproductive status, and other 

 characteristics of the dolphins found dead in the Virginia 

 Beach area. The Commission also paid for two small boat 

 charters for a live capture operation during which three live 

 animals, all showing symptoms of the secondary bacterial infec- 

 tion thought to be killing the dolphins, were captured, 

 examined, and released. As described in Chapter III, the 

 investigation is continuing with funding provided by several 

 Federal, state and private organizations. 



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