September 11, 2015 — NOAA Fisheries announced Thursday its annual award of $2.75 million in grants to organizations that respond to and rehabilitate stranded marine mammals and collect data on their health. Two organizations in Massachusetts — both of them on Cape Cod— received grants: the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Yarmouth Port and the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay. The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program provides aid to organizations, academic institutions and state agencies in in 16 states that are members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The grants fund recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals, data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals and facility upgrades, operational costs and staffing related to those activities.
IFAW received a grant of $97,542 for pinniped entanglement investigation and response in the northeastern United States. The National Marine Life Center received $51,734 to continue a marine mammal parasite lab and $70,041 to support pinniped rehabilitation in northern New England, and enhance data collection and preparedness for emergency events. Pinnipeds include seals, sea lions and walruses.