Workshop To Evaluate Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Networks 

 (James G. Mead, Ph.D., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.) 



Following a Commission-sponsored workshop in 1977, six 

 regional marine mammal stranding networks were established to 

 facilitate reporting and study of both live and dead stranded 

 marine mammals. The effectiveness of the networks has varied due 

 to insufficient and irregular support, difficulties with 

 staffing, and inconsistent coordination and communication among 

 regional coordinators and response team members. To better 

 define and determine how to correct these problems, the Marine 

 Mammal Commission sponsored the workshop on 16-17 November 1989 

 in Washington, D.C, to: (a) review and identify ways that the 

 organization and administration of the networks might be 

 improved; (b) review and determine how protocols for collecting, 

 recording, reporting, and storing data from dead stranded marine 

 mammals might be improved; (c) determine topic areas where video 

 cassettes could be used to improve training of network 

 volunteers; (d) identify deficiencies in expendable eguipment, 

 supplies, and travel budgets that may be compromising the 

 effectiveness of the various networks; and (e) estimate the 

 annual funding that would be reguired to maintain basic stocks of 

 expendable eguipment and supplies and to reimburse network 

 volunteers for travel expenses necessary to ensure effective 

 operation of the networks. Participants included representatives 

 from the Commission, the Smithsonian Institution, the New England 

 Aguarium, Sea World (Orlando, Florida) , Texas A&M University, the 

 Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service, and the Minerals Management Service. The 

 workshop report is expected to be completed early in 1990. It 

 will be sent to the regional stranding network coordinators, 

 agencies with responsibility for conservation of marine mammals, 

 and other interested institutions and persons to advise them of 

 steps that can be taken to improve operations of the network. 



Meeting of Key Members of the Southeast Regional Stranding 



Network 



(Daniel Odell, Ph.D., Marine Research Center, Sea World, Orlando, 



Florida) 



Studies of marine mammals found beached and stranded along 

 the coast of the southeast Atlantic and Gulf states are carried 

 out by members of the Southeast Regional Marine Mammal Stranding 

 Network as authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The network is staffed by 

 volunteers and their response to strandings has varied both 

 within and between years and areas. The causes of this 

 variability include differences in the ways that beached and 

 stranded animals are located and reported (beaches in populated 

 areas, for example, may be surveyed regularly, at least at 

 certain times of the year, whereas beaches in remote areas may be 



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