Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Implementing Organization
State of Alabama
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$2,432,389
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Species Restoration
Targeted Resources
Marine Mammals
Project Description
The project will allow the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN) at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) to continue responding to strandings, perform necropsies, and analyze samples from stranded marine mammals in Alabama waters from 2020 to 2023. This work allows researchers to understand causes of marine mammal illness and death. The program will increase data consistency of information collected from stranded marine mammals by providing additional support for ALMMSN to enter its data into the regional marine mammal health database (Gulf MAP). ALMMSN will also expand the existing infrastructure for communications and data management established by the DISL/Mammal Stranding Network and ALMMSN. Additional personnel expected to be hired to support the operation of the ALMMSN include a principal investigator, stranding coordinator, technician, and graduate student. The Alabama data collected by this project will enable marine resource managers to mitigate impacts on marine mammals from natural and human threats and to monitor population recovery post-Deepwater Horizon WH oil spill.
Contact
Amy Hunter(251) 621-1216
Amy.Hunter@dcnr.alabama.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/