For about 1 penny per American per year, the Marine Mammal Commission has met its Congressional mandate to conserve marine mammals for over 45 years.
We work to ensure that marine mammal populations are restored and maintained as functioning elements of healthy marine ecosystems in the world's oceans.
|
|
The Commission Surveys Federal Agency Research Funding
|
Last year, the Commission launched its new and improved Survey of Federally Funded Marine Mammal Research. This online survey and data repository aids the Commission in fulfilling its duties under the Marine Mammal Protection Act by helping to identify gaps or overlaps in marine mammal research efforts or funding, to illuminate areas of strength in federal research investment, and to inform recommendations on needed agency actions and budget priorities.
The fiscal year 2020 preliminary results summary is now available on our website, and the Commission thanks all participating federal agencies for providing their information. Requests for additional information or details about federal marine mammal research and funding reported in FY 2020 can be made by contacting the Commission at surveyffr@mmc.gov. The fiscal year 2021 data call will begin in November 2021.
|
|
Protecting and Conserving the North Atlantic Right Whale
|
The North Atlantic right whale 2021 calving season has come to a close with 17 live calves spotted in the southeast this year. Compared to recent years, this increase in calves is encouraging to see, however, this is still below the number of annual births needed for the recovery of the species. In addition, entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes continue to pose significant threats to this species: one of this year’s calves was killed by a vessel strike in February, and two entangled right whales were spotted on the calving grounds this year, one of which was found dead in early March.
The Commission remains committed to protecting and conserving this critically endangered species and has continued to engage on this issue in the past few months by:
|
|
Commission Meeting on the Effects of Low-Salinity Exposure on Bottlenose Dolphins
|
|
Photo taken under NOAA permit #779-1633. Photo Credit: NOAA SEFSC
|
|
|
Modeling suggests that periodic low-salinity water influxes under each proposed alternative would have significant adverse impacts on Barataria Bay bottlenose dolphins, a stock that also was significantly impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The information presented is pertinent to the recent release of the draft environmental impact statement for the MBSD, for which the Commission is planning to submit comments and recommendations. The meeting was recorded and is available on the Commission’s events webpage. Thanks to all who attended, and especially to those who presented!
|
|
Hot Topics in Marine Mammal Conservation:
Spike in Manatee Mortalities
|
|
Beginning in December 2020, manatee mortality has been considerably higher than previous years along Florida’s central and south Atlantic coast. Over 600 manatee deaths have been documented to date in 2021, with over 40% occurring in Brevard County. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have been investigating the cause of these mortalities and responding to an increased number of live manatees in need of rescue. Based on recommendations from the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events, the USFWS declared an official Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for manatees in March.
|
|
The Marine Mammal Commission is a member of the UME working group and has been tracking this issue closely. While the cause of the UME has not yet been determined, FWC has suggested that declining food availability may be a contributing factor, particularly in the Indian River Lagoon, where seagrass beds have significantly declined since 2011.
Click here for updated information as scientists continue to monitor and investigate the cause of the UME. Congress established the Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Contingency Fund in 1992. It gives the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program special authority to gather private donations to help it investigate and respond to marine mammal unusual mortality events. To report a sick, injured, dead, or tagged manatee, please call FWC’s Wildlife Alert toll-free number: 1-888-404-3922.
|
|
Manatee near Crystal River, Florida.
Photo Credit: Keith Ramos, USFWS
|
|
Extreme International Concern for the Vaquita
|
|
Surfacing vaquitas. Photo Credit: Paula Olson
|
|
The possible extinction of the vaquita porpoise continues to be of extreme international concern. Vaquitas continue to be detected (visually and acoustically) in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico. A November 2020 sighting survey, sponsored jointly by the Mexican National Commission for Natural Protected Areas and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS), yielded 2 separate sightings of vaquitas in eight days of effort. During limited acoustic monitoring efforts in September 8-12, 2020, vaquitas were heard in two areas of the Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA) where all vaquita sightings have been recorded in recent years. An expert elicitation workshop in August 2020 to better estimate the number of vaquitas sighted in visual surveys in September 2019 found that the mean estimate for the number of unique vaquitas seen in all 7 sightings was 10.4 and the mean estimated number of calves was 3.1. Despite the ban on gillnets, and prohibitions on other activities associated with gillnet fishing, rampant illegal fishing continues throughout the region, including in the ZTA (iucn-csg.org) . Suspended due to COVID-19, illegal gillnet net location and removal efforts by the Museo de la Ballena (Museo) and the SSCS, in partnership with the Mexican government (GOM), resumed in September 2020 with partial support from the Marine Mammal Commission. After an accident with a fishing boat, activities were suspended at the end of December 2020. Resumption of net removal efforts awaits a new agreement between the GOM, the Museo, and SSCS. Mexico's fisheries in the Upper Gulf of California remain under import restrictions under the MMPA.
|
|
Highlighting Commission Comments and Recommendations
|
|
The Commission provides science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies, reviewing proposed actions and providing recommendations to minimize their impacts on marine mammals and their environment. The Commission drafts and submits over one hundred recommendation letters every year, each of which is posted to our website along with responses from recipients when available. Check out some of our recommendation letters from the past few months, spanning the topics of offshore wind, marine mammal bycatch habitat protection, marine mammal stock assessments and more:
|
|
A bearded seal on sea ice.
Photo Credit: John Jansen
|
|
Marine Mammal Commission Scientific Advisors,
Staff, and Science in the News
|
|
Below are a few recent media highlights that reflect some of the ongoing scientific research, collaborations, and accomplishments of our world-renowned marine mammal scientists. For a reminder about our Commissioners, Committee of Scientific Advisors, and Staff, visit our website.
California Sea Lion Cancer and DDT: Video and Article – Frances Gulland
|
|
The Indus river dolphin. Photo credit: WWF-Pakistan / Braulik et al., doi:10.1111/mms.12801
|
|
|
|
|
|
|