For about 1 penny per American per year, the Marine Mammal Commission has met its Congressional mandate to conserve marine mammals for 50 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.
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Commission Announces Recipients of FY23 Research Grants |
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Bowhead and beluga whales (Credit: Vicki Beaver | Permit #14245 | NOAA/AFSC/NMML and the North Slope Borough). |
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The Marine Mammal Commission’s mission, as defined by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), is to ensure that marine mammal populations are maintained as significant functioning elements of healthy marine ecosystems. In fiscal year 2023 (FY23), the Commission requested research proposals for projects that further our understanding of how environmental factors affect marine mammal population health in a changing climate.
We received 84 proposals totaling over $4.7 million in funding requests. We are pleased to announce the seven projects, totaling over $380,000, selected for funding:
- Monitoring Florida manatee population health in a changing ocean: An evaluation of a practical surveillance system for a sentinel species
- Determining the relationship between prey, body condition and pregnancy in bowhead whales to predict the effects of climate change
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Bridging research efforts to optimize body condition evaluation in two beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) populations: Blubber stratification and use of “omics” techniques to identify biomarkers of body condition
- Baleen biochemistry to understand North Atlantic right whale health in the context of climate change
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Developing a standardized assessment protocol for visual characterization of skin lesions associated with freshwater exposure in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
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Physiological impact of climate change across decades on the sentinel species of Antarctica, the crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga)
- A decadal assessment of gray whale prey, body condition and vital rate response to environmental change
For more information, visit our 2023 Grant Awards webpage. Please check back in November for information about next year's request for proposals.
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The Marine Mammal Commission's 2023 Annual Meeting: Washington, DC |
We hope you can join us in person, or virtually, at the Marine Mammal Commission’s 2023 Annual Meeting on November 14-15 in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, which is open to the public, we will engage with other federal agencies, stakeholders, and scientists on marine mammal science, policy, and management issues. This meeting will focus on Endangered Species Act-listed marine mammal species and the challenges posed by climate change. This meeting also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In the coming months, look on our website for a draft agenda of the meeting and details of in-person and virtual participation options.
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This year’s Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, explored the connection between the ocean and climate change and how ocean conservation can be an integral part of climate strategies. The Commission sponsored the opening plenary session entitled “Climate x Ocean,” which highlighted the nexus between the two and the need to put ocean and coastal communities at the forefront of national climate strategies. Commissioner Dr. Sue Moore and Vice Chair of the Piscataway Conoy Tribal Council, Mario Harley, provided opening remarks at the session. We were pleased to attend CHOW and partake in the thoughtful sessions and discussions centered on climate change action. Video recordings of all the plenaries and sessions can be viewed here by re-entering the conference platform.
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New Faces: Dr. Karin Forney and Alice Qannik Glenn |
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Earlier this year, Dr. Karin Forney of the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center was appointed to the Committee of Scientific Advisors by Commission Chair Frances Gulland after receiving concurrence from the Council on Environmental Quality, the Smithsonian, the National Academies of Science, and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Forney is a research biologist who specializes in research on population dynamics and status of marine mammals and other protected species, with emphasis on abundance, distribution, ecology, habitat-based spatial modeling, and the assessment and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts. She is an internationally recognized authority on marine mammal survey design and analysis with extensive shipboard and aerial fieldwork over the past 30 years, conducting surveys of North Pacific marine mammals and sea turtles.
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The Commission is excited to be sponsoring a summer intern, Alice Qannik Glenn, through Alaska Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internship Program. Alice joins the Indigenous People’s Council for Marine Mammals (IPCoMM) Anchorage office, as Operations/Communications Director Intern.
Alice Qannik Glenn is an Iñupiaq podcaster born and raised in Utqiaġvik, Alaska. She hosts and produces her own podcast, Coffee & Quaq, to celebrate and explore contemporary Native life in urban Alaska. She serves on the board of AK Native Media Group, Women's Power League of AK, the Anchorage Public Library Advisory Board, and she is one-third of Native Time, a collaborative media platform that highlights the real Alaskan experience through multi-media productions. Alice enjoys diversifying her career path and is passionate about providing accurate and authentic Alaska Native representation in media.
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Introducing the Global Stranding Network |
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International engagement on marine mammal conservation issues, such as marine mammal health and stranding is a priority for the Commission. In support of global stranding response capacity, the Commission maintains the Global Stranding Network (GSN) website. The GSN was created at the 2019 World Marine Mammal Conference in response to the Barcelona Declaration Goal 2: To enhance and strengthen international collaboration to (1) ensure consistent, high-quality response to stranded marine mammals globally, and (2) support conservation efforts for species under threat of extinction. The GSN website provides easy access to best practices and other relevant resources, and the network of members aims to increase global collaboration and capacity to respond to strandings. The Commission has helped the GSN respond to specific requests for materials from partner networks, including the development of a basic marine mammal sampling protocol and datasheet for the Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Humpback Dolphin and the development of a guide for krill fishermen in Antarctica to collect data on entangled whales at sea for the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
The IWC’s Strandings Initiative also works to support marine mammal stranding response around the world. In May, Commission Chair Frances Gulland and staff member Lauri Leach attended a meeting of the IWC’s Strandings Expert Panel in Venice, Italy to determine how the GSN and IWC can work together towards their shared missions. After a busy three days, the group decided that the GSN would host and curate the list of protocols, publications, and other resources for both groups. The Commission is excited to continue supporting GSN website updates and resource development, including the translation of basic protocols and datasheets into multiple languages and the creation of a basic necropsy kit list and sample collection guide.
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New Species of Concern: Barataria Bay Bottlenose Dolphin |
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A central focus of our mission is to ensure marine mammals are restored and maintained as functioning elements of healthy marine ecosystems. We pay special attention to marine mammal species and populations considered to be most vulnerable to human activities, at greatest risk of extinction, or in greatest conflict with people.
The Barataria Bay population of common bottlenose dolphins resides year-round in Barataria Bay, a large estuarine system in southern Louisiana. Scientists estimate that this population has declined by about 45 percent as a result of exposure to oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with the surviving dolphins experiencing significant, long-term health effects. Projections show the population is now threatened with extinction from operation of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, which will divert large amounts of fresh water into the dolphins’ marine habitat.
A group of scientists led by the National Marine Mammal Foundation, University of St. Andrews, and Chicago Zoological Society are currently studying the effects of multiple stressors on Barataria Bay dolphins. The study includes an interdisciplinary working group that includes the Commission’s Scientific Program Director, Dr. Lori Schwacke. In June, the group conducted a field study to assess the current health of Barataria Bay dolphins and examine how lingering health effects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill may be interacting to increase the risk of boat strikes. Dr. Schwacke, along with Commission staff members Dr. Erin Labrecque and Vicki Cornish, and Scientific Advisor Dr. Randy Wells participated in the dolphin health assessments. The team successfully conducted health assessments on 24 dolphins over the 2-week period.
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The collaborative team gathered on the boat ramp at Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Grand Isle, just before heading out to sea (National Marine Mammal Foundation). |
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The Value of Marine Mammals |
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We are pleased to share a new webpage on the value of marine mammals. Marine mammals play important roles in their ecosystems, contribute to coastal economies and ecotourism, and hold cultural significance for many communities. Furthermore, many Alaskan Native communities depend on marine mammals for food, cultural continuity and identity. These intertwined benefits provide a strong economic incentive to preserve and conserve marine mammals and their ecosystems.
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New MMC-affiliated publications, media, and reports! |
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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.
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Pilot whale surfacing (Adam Li, NMFS/SWFS). |
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