This Month's Coastal America/
Military Parnership Highlight

Want to know more about marine mammal strandings? Click on the image below for information on how to obtain the CD-ROM! A field Guide for Marine Mammal Strandings Produced by NOAA and the National Aquarium in Baltimore

The Military and Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers Partner to Support of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Many of the Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers are key players in regional marine mammal stranding networks. They are responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating stranded marine mammals and sea turtles and releasing those that have been successfully rehabilitated. In many instances, large marine mammals must be transported long distances to a stranding facility for long term care or to a release site located far from the rehabilitation facility. The emergency transport of large stranded marine mammals can be costly and often difficult to coordinate at a moment’s notice. Time is critical in these situations and aerial transport is usually sought for immediate medical attention. In the Northeast region, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy and the Army National Guard as well as the Civil Air Patrol have supported emergency missions designated under training missions. As most stranding facilities are private, non-profit organizations they rely on the ongoing support of the military and others for these endeavors.

Following are examples of how military units have previously supported the National Aquarium in Baltimore, one of the 14 Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers, in their efforts to rescue stranded marine mammals.

National Aquarium in Baltimore
Military airlifts of marine mammals, 1992-2000.

1. 7/7/92 USCG C-130 from Airstation Elizabeth City, NC transported one Juvenile Pilot Whale (400 pounds + gear and personnel) from Wallops Island (NASA), VA to BWI for transport to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for rehabilitation.
2. 9/92 USCG Delphine Helicopter from Airstation Cape May, NJ. transported one Striped Dolphin (150 pounds + gear and personnel) from Atlantic City, NJ. to the inner harbor of Baltimore for transport to the National Aquarium In Baltimore for rehabilitation.
3. 11/26/93 USCG Delphine Helicopter from Airstation Cape May, NJ. transported one Juvenile Pygmy Sperm Whale (210 pounds + gear and personnel) from Atlantic City, NJ. to the inner harbor of Baltimore for transport to the National Aquarium In Baltimore for rehabilitation.
4. 5/2/94 U.S. Navy C-2 VRC-40 "rawhides" from Oceana, Norfolk, VA transported a Pygmy Sperm Whale (340 pounds + gear and personnel) from BWI Baltimore to St. Augustine FL. for continued rehabilitation and eventual release to the wild off Cape Canaveral, FL.
5. 5/2/94 USCG Delphine Helicopter from Airstation Cape May, NJ transported one Juvenile Harbor Porpoise (100 pounds + gear and personnel) from USCG station Ocean City, MD to the inner harbor of Baltimore for transport to the National Aquarium In Baltimore for rehabilitation.
6. 9/13/94 USCG J-Hawk Helicopter from Airstation Elizabeth City, NC transported one juvenile Bottlenose Dolphin (150 pounds + gear and personnel) and one juvenile Pygmy Sperm Whale (100 pounds + gear and personnel) from VA Beach, VA to Baltimore's Oriole Park, parking lot for transport to the National Aquarium In Baltimore for rehabilitation.
7. 10/5/94 USCG C-130 from Airstation Elizabeth City, NC transported one 1400-pound Florida Manatee (+ gear and personnel) from BWI, Baltimore to Orlando, FL for continued rehabilitation and eventual release off Cape Canaveral, FL.
8. 9/27/97 U.S. Navy C-2 VRC-40 "rawhides" from Oceana, Norfolk, VA transported one Pygmy Sperm Whale (450 pounds + gear and personnel) from VA Beach/Oceana to BWI for transport to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for rehabilitation.
9. 9/98 USCG C-130 from Airstation Elizabeth City, NC transported one Gray Seal (160 pounds + gear and personnel) from Martin State Airport, Baltimore to OTIS AFB for release off of Cape Cod, MA.
10. 1/27/99 USCG Falcon Jet from Airstation Cape Cod, MA transported one Harbor Porpoise (100 pounds + gear and personnel) from Logan Airport to Martin State Airport for transport to the National Aquarium In Baltimore for rehabilitation.
11. 6/11/99 U.S. Navy C-2 VRC-40 "rawhides" from Oceana, Norfolk, VA transported a Harbor Porpoise (120 pounds + gear and personnel) from BWI, Baltimore to Groton CT for pre-release at Mystic Aquarium and subsequent release off Gloucester, MA.
12. 7/10/00 U.S. Navy C-2 VRC-40 "rawhides" from Oceana, Norfolk, VA transported a common dolphin (150 pounds + gear and personnel) from Atlantic City, NJ to Groton, CT for transport to the Mystic Aquarium for rehabilitation.

* There is another level of assistance that utilized the military, including survey work of marine mammals for research and pre-stranding assessment. For example, the USCG group Cape May, NJ has allowed National Aquarium in Baltimore staff to fly with them during their routine fisheries patrols to assess the abundance of dolphins off Deleware . The Civil Air Patrol and the USCG Auxiliary have also helped in these types of missions which are equally important to animal transport needs.

Partnering for Success

The Coastal America Partnership continues to work to increase the coordination of the military's efforts and resources with the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers.

Through partnerships between the federal government and NGOs such as the National Aquarium in Baltimore we will continue to work to protect and restore our nation's coastal resources.

Coastal America's Military Partners