Building a global marine mammal stranding response community

Marine mammal strandings are a ubiquitous phenomenon, yet there are few well-established response networks in most parts of the world. However, in most cases, with minimal training and supervision, individuals can collect... [ view full abstract ]

Marine mammal strandings are a ubiquitous phenomenon, yet there are few well-established response networks in most parts of the world. However, in most cases, with minimal training and supervision, individuals can collect basic data that can eventually contribute to the management and conservation of marine mammal populations. To enable fledgling networks to have access to globally-accepted practices, NOAA Fisheries, International Fund for Animal Welfare, The Marine Mammal Center, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, came together to develop a platform for collaboration and information sharing – Global Marine Animal Stranding Training Toolkit (GMAST.org). This site provides an elementary introduction to the rescue and investigation of stranded marine mammals, as well as guidance to build a successful response network. Standardized training modules guarantee consistent messaging of best practices across different training programs with the flexibility of adapting individual lessons to the target audience and regional conditions. The plan is to equip key local personnel to be trainers and active responders during stranding events. Investment in local personnel is fundamental to addressing regional threats to marine mammals. Long-term, through knowledge sharing and strategic training efforts, the pool of skilled individuals will likely expand to allow cross-fertilization of approaches and data, leading to a truly committed international stranding response community. The first phase of GMAST has been completed with the help of 34 experts from 12 countries and the materials are freely accessible to subscribed users. Over the next few years, the content will be evaluated and augmented to improve networking and information exchange.