In its letter, the Commission noted that information from 

 stranded animals was being obtained through volunteer efforts 

 carried out under the Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding 

 Network authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and 

 that, for various reasons, the responses to strandings can vary 

 within and between areas and years. The Commission suggested 

 that the level of information being obtained through the 

 stranding program could be greatly improved by strengthening the 

 operation of the network through production of training videos to 

 help train volunteers in such tasks as taking basic measurements 

 and collecting, recording, and reporting data; organizing 

 meetings of key network participants to discuss and agree on 

 methods for collecting and reporting data, holding training 

 sessions, identifying weaknesses in the network, and generally 

 improving cooperation; expanding information and education 

 programs to ensure that the public is aware of the scientific 

 value and interest in beached and stranded animals; setting up 

 "index" beaches to be monitored at regular intervals to determine 

 the proportion of beached and stranded animals that are found, 

 reported, and investigated; and providing basic equipment and 

 supplies to key network members or centers. 



In its letter, the Commission offered to make funds 

 available to help support a meeting of key network members to 

 better define and determine how best to accomplish the other 

 suggested tasks. It then explored the possibility that the 

 Minerals Management Service might also be able to provide funds 

 to support other suggested projects. 



On 14 September 1989, the Minerals Management Service 

 responded to the Commission's 3 August letter, stating that it 

 concurred with the Commission that the stranding network could 

 potentially be strengthened through jointly funded projects, as 

 outlined in the Commission's letter. The Service agreed to 

 commit funds to co-sponsor a meeting of key network members and 

 for the preparation and distribution of training videos. 

 Additional funding was also contributed by the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service. As is described in Chapter XI, the funds were 

 used to convene a workshop on regional marine mammal stranding 

 networks and a meeting of the Southeast Regional Stranding 

 Network, and to purchase equipment and supplies for the Marine 

 Mammal Stranding Network in Texas. 



The Commission looks forward to working with the Minerals 

 Management Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and 

 others on this important task. 



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