The U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments and Future Directions

1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments and Future Directions Sarah Wilkin NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region Long Beach, California sarah.wilkin@noaa.gov

2. U.S. Marine Mammal Policy: Legal Protection • Marine Mammals in the Wild • Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA): all marine mammals • Endangered Species Act (ESA): only those species listed as threatened or endangered (at risk of going extinct) • Marine Mammals in Captivity • Animal Welfare Act • Also MMPA and ESA requirements

3. U.S. Marine Mammal Policy: Jurisdiction Split Between Multiple Government Agencies • National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) • Has jurisdiction over all wild cetaceans and pinnipeds except walrus • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) • Has jurisdiction over wild walrus, polar bears, manatees, and sea otters • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Has jurisdiction over all • marine mammals in captivity

4. Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act Creates the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) within NMFS (in coordination with FWS) Establishes 3 purposes of the Program: Collect and disseminate health and health trends data on wild marine mammal populations Correlate health/trends data with biological, physical, and chemical environmental Coordinate effective responses to strandings and unusual mortality events  Due to logistical constraints (personnel and money), NMFS cannot accomplish these purposes nationwide alone U.S. Marine Mammal Policy: Mandate

5. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network(NMFS jurisdiction)

6. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Authority(NMFS jurisdiction)

7. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: A “Legacy” System • Prior to 1972 (passage of MMPA), there was no legal framework or coverage for marine mammals • Organizations began responding to strandings; participation for a variety of reasons • Scientific information/data/curiosity • Collection of museum specimens • Animal welfare concerns (rehabilitation) • Public health or nuisance (smell, sight) concerns • MMHSRP (National Program) wasn’t created until 1992

8. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: A “Legacy” System • Response is inconsistent • Depends on geographic area (some great, some absent) • May only be for particular species or interests (e.g., human interaction cases) • Interpretive value is limited • Local perspective only makes it difficult to determine health of wide-ranging marine mammal populations • Procedures and protocols may be inconsistent • No standardization • No accountability • Motivating forces may be inconsistent • Can lead to philosophical differences which impair communication and cooperation

9. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: A “Legacy” System • Overcoming These Challenges - Communication and Respect are the Keys • Development of standardized protocols with input from various organizations (all speaking the same language) • Coordination of interpretation of data – need a regional or national perspective, useful for detection of unusual mortality events, range shifts and general population health • Accountability: both to peers (other network members) and to NMFS (authority) • Respect different motivations, as long as everyone uses the same protocols

10. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments 2007: 1263 Cetaceans, 4052 pinnipeds = 5315 total strandings (NMFS)

11. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Level A data is mandatory for every stranding response (3500 -7000 records per year) Basic Data: Who: Examiner What: Species of Marine Mammal, Sex, Standard Length, Decomposition Code, Tag Information (if any) Where: Latitude/Longitude and Description of Location When: Date of Initial Report and Observation Why: Signs of Human Interaction, Illness or Injury, Necropsy Conducted, Disposition of Tissues Collected into National Database

12. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments National and Regional Coordination • MMHSRP Manager • National Stranding Coordinator at HQ • 6 Regional Stranding Coordinators/Staff • National Database Manager Improved Communication and Networking • Regional and National Meetings • Newsletters, Listserves

13. U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments National and Regional Oversight • Development of Standardized Protocols: Rehabilitation Facilities and Pre-Release Checklists • Standardized Authorization Procedure: Stranding Agreements and Evaluation Criteria • Consequences for violating protocols or agreements

14. Rehabilitation facilities Proper facility, housing and space Life Support Systems Quarantine Security Limit public viewing Food Handling Sanitation Rehabilitation program Veterinary Program Skilled staff Standard protocols Record Keeping Health and Safety Plan Contingency Plans (Natural Disaster, Manmade Emergency) U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Minimum Requirements for Marine Mammal Rehabilitation

15. Make better decisions on the beach Rehabilitation candidate? Goal Release back to the wild Permanent captivity Euthanasia Assessment depends Rehabilitation capacity Stranding history Development stage Medical assessment Behavior assessment Release logistics U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Standardized Criteria for Live Marine Mammal Evaluation

16. Diagnostic Pathology and special diagnostics Biotoxin analysis Contaminant analysis Viral and Bacterial screens Morbillivirus Leptospira Brucella Herpes virus Erysipelothrix Consultation and Assistance Expert advice Response assistance Equipment and Supplies Training - Stranding response, necropsy, special issues - National Meeting (5 years) - Regional Network meetings (1-2 years) - Professional meetings (AVMA, IAAAM, SMM, IWC) - International U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Services Provided by NMFS to Network Members

17. Necropsy Evaluation of Human Interaction U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Development of Standardized Protocols Zoonotic Disease Risks Oil Spill Response

18. Virtual Microscope Diagnostic Imaging (MRI/CT) Conduct virtual “Rounds” with numerous vets Teaching tool Standardized interpretation U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Improved Standardization of Diagnosis and Interpretation Scanner –can reside anywhere GLASS SLIDE Entire slide digitized and stored on a server

19. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program $100,000 per grant; $3.7 Mil per year U.S. authorizedstranding network members and researchers with established records of participation Grand Total FY01-08 314 Awards 76 Organizations representing 23 US states and 3 US territories $27,379,778 + $1.4Mil Emergency U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Accomplishments Direct Financial Support via Grants

20. Policies Permanent Disposition Determinations of Non releasables “Decisions on the Beach” – best rehab and release candidates Euthanasia Mass Stranding Response Disentanglement Training and certification: Credential/Certificate? Disentanglement Oil Spill Unusual Mortality Event investigations Mass Stranding Veterinary Practices Rehabilitation Media & Outreach U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions More Policies and Continued Trainings “in the pipeline”

21. Evoked Auditory Potential Determine baseline hearing level Laboratory and Field Diagnostics Micro-Array: test for a variety of pathogens at once Flow-through tests: on the beach tests for exposure to biotoxins, certain diseases Room temperature sampling and storage techniques U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Efficient and Portable Diagnostic Techniques

22. Oil Spills and Ship Strikes Global shipping traffic predicted to double by 2015 Acoustics: Ocean Noise, Oil and Gas Exploration, and Naval Activities Emerging Contaminants U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Improved Readiness for Identified and Emerging Threats

23. Climate Change May change severity, transport, concentration, and dispersion of: Pathogens, Biotoxins, Contaminants Distribution shifts in prey, predators, and marine mammals Emerging Infectious Agents Viral: West Nile, Influenza, Encephalitis Fungal: Cryptococcus, Zygomyces, Lacazaria Bacterial: Brucella, Leptospira, Coxiella Protozoal: Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Improved Readiness for Identified and Emerging Threats

24. U.S. Network is primarily a Passive Surveillance Network Depend on public or other partners to report animals Very few areas with Active Surveillance Regular Beach Walks as part of job (park ranger) Volunteer networks (Marine Sanctuaries) Lack of Standardized Information Few/Some/Many/All(?) strandings may be missed U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Improved Capabilities as a Surveillance Network Actual Strandings Observed by Public Reported to Network Thoroughly Investigated (COD)

25. Geospatial data – format of lat, long; missing data Lack of standard, validated diagnostics Sampling/reporting often by volunteers with inconsistent training (wildlife issue) Generally incomplete diagnostics – limited resources or decomposition state Lack of case definitions Incomplete information – how do we rate/rank quality/acceptability of data for marine wildlife cases? U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Challenges for Wildlife Surveillance

26. Pros May be only data possible on uncommon species or in a particular area Cost effective biosurveillance: they come to you! First line of detection Discovery science Sample size Good for case studies or correlational or case/control studies for common species U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Pros and Cons of Using Data from Stranded Animals Cons • Sampling/diagnostics depend on carcass state and response resources • Small fraction of actual mortalities, not random sample of mortalities • Not always indicative of animal’s home range • Not random sample of population • Cannot determine disease prevalence but can provide index for analysis of temporal trends

27. Opportunity for control U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Outbreak Detection and Response: Traditional First Case Detection/ Reporting Laboratory Confirmation Response CASES DAY Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation Workshop, Nov. 2003

28. Opportunity for control U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Future Directions Effective Early Warning System First Case Ocean and Coastal Observations and Monitoring Information Detection/ Reporting Laboratory Confirmation Response CASES - 120 DAY Adapted from J. Davis, Climate Adaptation Workshop, Nov. 2003

29. We’re making progress (hopefully in the right direction!) We can provide many “lessons learned” We can never know what is Abnormal until we understand what Normal is U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network: Conclusions

30. Questions? Sarah Wilkin Sarah.Wilkin@noaa.gov