Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium

This Project Will Fill a Critical Gap in Stranding Response Coverage for Manatees in the Southeastern U.s.a. by Funding the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Disl to Respond to Manatee Strandings on the Mississippialabama Coast and Provide Mutual Aid to Adjacent Areas Typically in the Florida Panhandle and Louisiana as Feasible. These Areas Represent Locations Where Manatee Occurrence Has Increased in Recent Years Rescue Capacity Remains Low and Few or No Other Groups Respond to or Collect Data on Manatee Strandings. Benefits of This Project Will Include Enhanced Capability Fora Rapid Response to and Veterinary Assessment of Manatees in Distress or Stranded B Rescue Planning to Improve Prognosis for Live Stranded Manatees C Recovery and Necropsy of Dead Stranded Manatees D Collecting Diagnostic Data on Cause of Death and Overall Population Demographics Ecology and Health E Training of Disl Personnel and Regional Stranding Network Partners and F Public Engagement and Education to Raise Awareness of Manatees in the Region. Collectively These Outcomes Will Build Capacity for Future Response in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and Provide Valuable Data to Inform Ongoing Conservation and Management Efforts.