06/09/2026
📣🐬 We’re pleased to announce that yesterday marked the launch of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Association (NMMSA), the first national organization dedicated to supporting the people and programs that respond to stranded marine mammals across the U.S.!
Marine mammal stranding response is a critical part of marine conservation, animal welfare, and ocean health monitoring. Yet responders and individual orgs often face growing demands with limited resources, funding, and opportunities for coordinated training and support. The creation of NMMSA reflects a nationwide commitment to strengthening the response network through greater collaboration, professional development, resource sharing, and advocacy.
The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network was honored to participate in the June meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, where marine mammal response leaders from across the country gathered to help advance this important initiative. Bringing together organizations from every region highlighted both the unique challenges we face locally and the shared need for a stronger, more connected and well supported national stranding community.
For Texas, where responders cover hundreds of miles of Gulf coastline and work around the clock year-round to rescue, investigate, and monitor stranded marine mammals, stronger national collaboration means greater access to shared expertise, resources, and support for the long-term sustainability of stranding response efforts.
We congratulate the steering committee and all of the organizations that helped bring this vision to life and look forward to seeing the positive impact NMMSA will have on marine mammal conservation and response nationwide.
Learn more about NMMSA: https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/patient-journey/rescue/national-stranding-association
A new effort is underway to strengthen marine mammal rescue and response across the United States. By bringing together experts from across the country, this collaborative initiative aims to improve animal care, advance ocean health science and support the dedicated responders working on the front l...
