Dear MARMAM subscribers, NOAA Fisheries Service would like to provide an update on cetacean science and conservation activities being implemented by NOAA and partners in the Gulf of Mexico that are related to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) BP oil spill event. These activities include: (1) ensuring effective stranding response and data collection by enhancing capabilities with multiple partners along the northern Gulf coast; (2) conducting synoptic aerial assessments surveys for marine mammals and sea turtles; (3) conducting vessel based assessments of bottlenose dolphins in coastal estuaries in the impacted area; (4) conducting visual health assessment and monitoring of dolphins in high risk areas; (5)* *collecting data to determine impacts on the Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed sperm whale and other protected marine mammals in the Gulf and (6) ensuring information is available in a timely manner. *Ensuring effective stranding response * NOAA Fisheries Service and USFWS are integral parts of the Wildlife Branch of the Unified Command in both Houma, LA, and Mobile, AL, which actively coordinate response to any dead, stranded, or live cetacean or manatee in distress. Our partners include all local state agencies and authorized organizations from the Southeast U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Network. National Stranding Network members and organizations and other non-governmental organizations are also providing expertise and personnel to further enhance capabilities throughout the northern Gulf. Established protocols and procedures for treating marine wildlife impacted by oil have been developed by NOAA and its partners and have been adapted to address the particular needs of this event. Because of the various research and clean up efforts, there are also many individuals making observations along the entire northern Gulf coast. A wildlife hotline for reporting oiled, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammals, sea turtles, or birds (866-557-140), has been established and is working well; all reports are documented, and/or investigated by the appropriate wildlife response personnel. The current spill response area is from the Louisiana/Texas border to the Apalachicola area of Florida. The spill response area is evaluated based on the trajectories of the oil, the biology of the species, and the longer term outlooks. Three primary de-oiling/rehabilitation facilities have been established (LA, MS, and FL). Between April 30, 2010 and July 20, 2010, there have been 67 total verified marine mammal stranding events; 61 were dead stranded dolphins, 5 were live stranded dolphins and one dead floating sperm whale offshore. No manatee strandings have been reported within the spill response area. For details on marine mammal stranding data visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/oilspill.htm. This website is an excellent resource and includes maps of stranding locations, species, oil versus not oiled, numbers of animals necropsied, and other informaton regarding marine mammals, sea turtles and the DWH BP oil spill event. Prior to the oil spill, this year (2010) has already had unusually high stranding rates for bottlenose dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the months of March and April, bottlenose dolphin strandings were at or above average stranding rates in the Florida panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. NOAA was in the process of initiating consultation with the Working Group for Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events at the time of the DWH BP oil spill, to determine whether a UME should be declared. That consultation was not completed as it was overcome by the actual spill itself. *Synoptic aerial surveys for assessing marine mammals and sea turtles in the region of the DWH oil spill incident* As part of the Natural Resources Damage Assessment pre-assessment efforts, on 28 April, NOAA initiated aerial surveys to assess the marine mammal and sea turtle species occurring within areas likely to be affected by oil from the DWH BP oil spill, including coastal and continental shelf waters between central Louisiana and Pensacola Bay, Florida. These surveys continue as oil has impacted nearly this entire region to various degrees. The goal of the surveys is to monitor the near-term changes in marine mammal and sea turtle spatial distribution and abundance in response to the oil. The flights are conducted from a NOAA Twin Otter along predetermined track lines that cover the coastal and adjacent continental shelf waters. The surveys are conducted at 600 feet and a speed of 100 knots. Flight duration ranges from 4-6 hours. All marine mammal and sea turtles sightings are recorded along with the occurrence and appearance of any oil. Data collected from the Twin Otter surveys will allow quantitative estimation of the abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals and sea turtles within the surveyed area. These data can be used to infer broadscale changes in population size or shifts in spatial distribution and thereby directly quantify potential impacts of the incident on these protected species. These surveys cover the entire study area twice a month and will continue through August 2010, and potentially longer. *Vessel based assessments of bottlenose dolphins in coastal estuaries. * Soon after the DWH BP oil spill, NOAA also initiated vessel based assessments of bottlenose dolphins in several coastal areas where oil impacts were anticipated. The ongoing assessments include sampling of dolphin tissues to assess contaminant concentrations and examine stock structure and photo-identification surveys for mark-recapture analysis to document changes in abundance and examine survival and fecundity. The researchers also monitor for signs of distress or abnormal behavior. Four areas have been targeted for this research- Chandeleur Sound, LA, Barataria Bay, LA, Mississippi Sound, MS and AL. A fourth site along the Florida panhandle (St. Joseph Bay) was added in collaboration with Chicago Zoological Society. These areas were chosen based on forecasted oil trajectories, and/or because of existing historical, long-term information on the bottlenose dolphin stocks from previous studies. *Visual health assessment and monitoring of coastal dolphins* Teams are conducting marine mammal behavioral and visual health assessment response surveys in high-risk areas to monitor dolphins for potential signs of distress and provide rapid notification to the wildlife hotline should such distressed animals are detected. Although severely limited in our ability to move dolphins out of their natural habitats in response to the oil spill, NOAA and partners are doing everything we can to help animals if they are in distress and learn as much as possible about how dolphins respond to and might be affected by an oil spill. Thus far, there have not been any confirmed bottlenose dolphins in distress or showing compromised health. *Large-vessel surveys to determine impacts on endangered and other protected Marine Mammals in the Gulf* This NOAA ship-based study focuses on sperm whales and other marine mammals in the deep-water habitats of the north-central Gulf of Mexico impacted by the oil spill. Objectives include: (1) documenting incidence of whale and dolphin exposure to oil; (2) documenting sperm whale and Bryde's whale distribution and residence patterns related to oil and other factors; (3) developing information on population dynamics and stock structure of sperm whales and Bryde's whales; and (4) collecting habitat information and characterizing water column productivity and prey resources. Methods include photo-documentation, visual and long-term passive acoustic monitoring (utilizing HARP and MARU), satellite tagging, and tissue biopsies. The satellite tagging is being conducted in partnership with Oregon State University. The passive acoustic monitoring efforts are being conducted in partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Cornell University. The study areas include the deep waters of the north-central Gulf of Mexico, focusing on the high-use areas for sperm whales, Bryde's whales and other marine mammals. ** *Ensuring information is available online* The following websites include valuable information to keep interested parties informed about NOAA efforts and all other aspects of the oil spill: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/oilspill.htm This website focuses on protected species, specifically marine mammals and sea turtles. Users can find excel data sheets, maps, and other current information about marine mammals and the oil spill as well as NOAA activities. We strongly recommend bookmarking this page and referring to it frequently for marine mammal updates. http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/# This is the official site of the Unified Command Center for the DWH BP oil spill. http://www.restorethegulf.gov/ This is the official federal portal for the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill response and recovery. This site provides the public with information on the response, current operations, news and updates, how to file a claim and obtain other assistance, and links to federal, state and local partners. http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm This website, updated daily, contains information about Federal fisheries closures in the Gulf of Mexico and fact sheets about fish stocks, protected resources, and habitat in the Gulf. http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/deepwh/ This site provides imagery acquired by the NOAA Remote Sensing Division of the Gulf Coast following the Deepwater Horizon Incident. http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southeast/deepwater_horizon/index.html This website provides information about natural resource damage assessments conducted by NOAA. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon/images.html This website provides NOAA images and video related to the oil spill. http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220 The Incident News website provides publicly available information related to oil and hazardous material spills, both current and historical. It is developed and maintained by NOAA. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/dhos/index.php Maps and graphics shown here help scientists, managers, and decision makers, understand more where the water is going, its properties and how they change over time. http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/ Geoplatform integrates the latest data the federal responders have about the oil spill's trajectory with fishery area closures, wildlife data and place-based Gulf Coast resources--such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and current positions of deployed research ships--into one customizable interactive map. http://www.noaa.gov/sciencemissions/bpoilspill.html Source for NOAA data related to the oil spill. We hope this information is helpful to everyone and greatly appreciate all the incredible help and contributions from the marine mammal community. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me <mailto:laura.engleby@noaa.gov>. Best, Laura Laura K. Engleby Marine Mammal Branch Chief Protected Resources Division NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Region 263 13th Ave South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-824-5312