Marine mammal strandings can provide critical information about environmental stressors, including those that pose human health risks. However, stranding reports often represent only a fraction of stranded live or dead marine mammals. Strandings can go undetected and unreported due to an animal sinking, decomposing, or its location.
Scientists with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Marine Mammal Research Program, including the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network (ALMMSN), led a public sighting and reporting assessment project in 2023 to examine reporting methods and find ways to enhance detection.
For the project, twelve gray canvas decoy dolphins were strategically placed along the beach and marsh around Dauphin Island during the summer and fall seasons. Each decoy included a card with the stranding hotline number (1-877-WHALE-HELP), which is used to report actual stranded animals. Researchers then tracked reports about the decoys in the same manner as stranded marine mammals.
The team tracked public reports and conducted trained observer and drone surveys. The data showed that combining these methods can improve stranding reports and the accuracy of mortality rates.
“Like most stranding networks, we are always limited in time and funding for regular dedicated shoreline surveys,” ALMMSN Stranding Coordinator Mackenzie Russell said. “For this reason, trained volunteers and experienced members of the public are highly valuable to help us quickly find and respond to stranded animals. “
Russell said they are collaborating with groups that currently monitor the beaches and shorelines to enhance the public reports. They may also establish a routine survey schedule with trained volunteers.
The findings of this study, “Stranded marine mammal detection by the public, trained responders, and drones using decoy carcasses”, were published this month in the journal Marine Mammal Science.
To report stranded marine mammals in Alabama, call ALMMSN at 1-877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343).
Related article: Decoy carcasses reveal how often stranded dolphins are found, Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle