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2010-2014 Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico (NOAA)

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  • 2010-2014 Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico (NOAA)

    Fisheries Home ? Protected Species ? Health & Stranding

    2010-2013 Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico


    Map of Strandings

    Summary

    Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (as amended), an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been declared for dolphins and whales (cetaceans) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Texas/ Louisiana border through Franklin County, FL) from February 2010 through the present.
    These numbers are preliminary and may be subject to change. As of January 13, 2013, the UME involves 830 Cetacean "strandings" in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (5% stranded alive and 95% stranded dead). Of these:
    <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="90%" align=center><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(220,237,253)" vAlign=top align=center><TH scope=col>Cetaceans Stranded</TH><TH scope=col>Phase of Oil Spill Response</TH><TH scope=col>Dates</TH></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD>114 cetaceans stranded</TD><TD>prior to the response phase for the oil spill</TD><TD>February 1, 2010- April 29, 2010</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD>122 cetaceans stranded or were reported dead offshore</TD><TD>during the initial response phase to the oil spill</TD><TD>April 30, 2010- November 2, 2010</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD>594 cetaceans stranded*</TD><TD>after the initial response phase ended</TD><TD>November 3, 2010- January 13, 2013**</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="90%" align=center><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>*This number includes 6 dolphins that were killed incidental to fish related scientific data collection and 1 dolphin killed incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project.

    **The initial response phase ended for all four states on November 2, 2010. Response re-opened for eastern and central Louisiana on December 3, 2010 and closed again on May 25, 2011.
    </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    Brucella Infection fact sheet
    [pdf]

    Brucella bacteria

    In addition to investigating all other potential causes, scientists are investigating what role Brucella may have in the Unusual Mortality Event.
    Since our original finding of Brucella in 5 stranded dolphins from Louisiana, scientists have been concentrating testing on cases that show pathological changes consistent with the fetal pneumonia or adult meningitis identified in the first 5 cases. Here are our results showing the total number of Brucella cases identified so far. We update these numbers as new results are available.
    FAQs

    FAQs on the investigations of the ongoing dolphin die-off and the potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill on marine mammals are available.
    Data
    • all stranded cetaceans
    • stranded bottlenose dolphins, all size classes
    • premature, stillborn, or neonatal bottlenose dolphins (<115 cm in total length)

    By month/year: All stranded cetaceans (dolphins and whales) from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border.
    NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before January 13, 2013 and include 6 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Data from 2010 through 2012 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
    <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="95%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD></TD><TD>Jan</TD><TD>Feb</TD><TD>Mar</TD><TD>Apl</TD><TD>May</TD><TD>Jun</TD><TD>Jul</TD><TD>Aug</TD><TD>Sep</TD><TD>Oct</TD><TD>Nov</TD><TD>Dec</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>Average (2002-2009)</TD><TD>6.6</TD><TD>6.9</TD><TD>17.9</TD><TD>11.5</TD><TD>5.3</TD><TD>3.6</TD><TD>4.1</TD><TD>3.5</TD><TD>4.0</TD><TD>4.0</TD><TD>2.6</TD><TD>3.8</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2010 Total</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2011 Total</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>39</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>13</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2012 Total</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>46</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left>2013 (through January 13)</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">5</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    By state: All stranded cetaceans (dolphins and whales) from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/Louisiana border.
    **NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before January 13, 2013 and include 6 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Data from 2010 through 2012 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
    <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="95%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=center><TH width="40%"></TH><TH width="15%">FL
    Panhandle
    </TH><TH width="15%">AL</TH><TH width="15%">MS</TH><TH width="15%">LA</TH></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>Average (2002-2009)</TD><TD>20**</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>20</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2010 (Feb-Dec)</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>64</TD><TD>138</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2011 Total</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>111</TD><TD>159</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2012 Total</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>91</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left>2013 (through January 13)</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">2</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">0</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    All stranded bottlenose dolphins from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border by month.
    NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before August 19, 2012 and include 3 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Data from 2010 through 2012 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
    <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="95%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD></TD><TD>Jan</TD><TD>Feb</TD><TD>Mar</TD><TD>Apl</TD><TD>May</TD><TD>Jun</TD><TD>Jul</TD><TD>Aug</TD><TD>Sep</TD><TD>Oct</TD><TD>Nov</TD><TD>Dec</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>Average (2002-2009)</TD><TD>5.4</TD><TD>6.6</TD><TD>16.6</TD><TD>10.4</TD><TD>4.8</TD><TD>3.1</TD><TD>3.3</TD><TD>2.8</TD><TD>2.0</TD><TD>3.3</TD><TD>1.8</TD><TD>2.8</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2010 Total</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>12</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD height=18 align=left>2011 Total</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>10</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2012 Total</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>12</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left>2013 (through January 13)</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">4</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    Stranded bottlenose dolphins from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border with reported actual or estimated whole carcass lengths less than 115 cm (partial carcasses excluded). Bottlenose dolphins <115 cm in total length are either premature, stillborn, or neonatal.
    NOTE: Historical data from 2002-2009 excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March 2004-April 2004 and September 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Data include any strandings reported on or before January 13, 2013 and 1 case that was an incidental scientific data collection take. Data from 2010 through 2012 are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Raw historical data are also available.
    <TABLE border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="95%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD></TD><TD>Jan</TD><TD>Feb</TD><TD>Mar</TD><TD>Apl</TD><TD>May</TD><TD>Jun</TD><TD>Jul</TD><TD>Aug</TD><TD>Sep</TD><TD>Oct</TD><TD>Nov</TD><TD>Dec</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>Average (2002-2009)</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6.9</TD><TD>2.1</TD><TD>0.9</TD><TD>0.3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0.1</TD><TD>0.3</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2010 Total</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2011 Total</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD align=left>2012 Total</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left>2013 (through January 13)</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">1</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
    Maps

    2013: January 1-January 13, 2013
    Map of Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Strandings in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

    [map coming soon]
    Bottlenose dolphins are shown as circles and other species as squares. Bottlenose dolphins with reported actual or estimated lengths of less than 115 cm are shown as a circle with a black dot inside. Pink markers show the most recent week of data while green markers are all other cases since January 1, 2013.

    <HR>2012: January 1-December 31, 2012
    Map of Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Strandings in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
    Bottlenose dolphins are shown as circles and other species as squares. Bottlenose dolphins with reported actual or estimated lengths of less than 115 cm are shown as a circle with a black dot inside. Pink markers show the most recent week of data while green markers are all other cases since January 1, 2012.


    2011: January 1-December 31, 2011
    Map of Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Strandings in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
    Bottlenose dolphins are shown as circles and other species as squares. Bottlenose dolphins with reported actual or estimated lengths of less than 115 cm are shown as a circle with a black dot inside.


    2010: February 1-December 31, 2010
    Map of Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Strandings in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
    Bottlenose dolphins are shown as circles and other species as squares. Bottlenose dolphins with reported actual or estimated lengths of less than 115 cm are shown as a circle with a black dot inside.


    More Information
    Updated: January 15, 2013

    http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/m...mexico2010.htm
    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

  • #2
    Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in Northern Gulf of Mexico (2010-present)

    Summary

    Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (as amended), an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been declared for dolphins and whales (cetaceans) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Texas/Louisiana border through Franklin County, FL) from February 2010 through the present.
    These numbers are preliminary and may be subject to change. As of December 14, 2014, the UME involves 1,295 Cetacean "strandings" in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (6% stranded alive and 94% stranded dead). Of these:
    114 cetaceans stranded prior to the response phase for the oil spill February 1, 2010- April 29, 2010
    121 cetaceans stranded or were reported dead offshore during the initial response phase to the oil spill April 30, 2010- November 2, 2010
    1,060 cetaceans stranded* after the initial response phase ended November 3, 2010 -
    December 14, 2014**
    *This number includes 9 dolphins that were killed incidental to fish related scientific data collection and 1 dolphin killed incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project.

    **The initial response phase ended for all four states on November 2, 2010. Response re-opened for eastern and central Louisiana on December 3, 2010 and closed again on May 25, 2011.


    Brucella bacteria

    In addition to investigating all other potential causes, scientists are investigating what role Brucella may have in the Unusual Mortality Event.
    Since our original finding of Brucella in 5 stranded dolphins from Louisiana, scientists have been concentrating testing on cases that show pathological changes consistent with the fetal pneumonia or adult meningitis identified in the first 5 cases. Here are our results showing the total number of Brucellacases identified so far. We update these numbers as new results are available.
    FAQs

    FAQs on the investigations of the ongoing dolphin die-off and the potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill on marine mammals are available.
    Data

    By month/year: All stranded cetaceans (dolphins and whales) from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border.
    NOTES:Historical data excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Current UME Data are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. They include any strandings reported on or before December 14, 2014 as well as 9 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Raw historical data are also available for download.
    Jan Feb Mar Apl May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Average (2002-2009) 6.6 6.9 17.9 11.5 5.3 3.6 4.1 3.5 4.0 4.0 2.6 3.8
    2010 Total 5 11 62 41 40 30 10 19 16 6 11 13
    2011 Total 25 62 72 39 20 23 17 30 16 26 19 17
    2012 Total 25 24 46 17 11 9 9 5 10 13 16 17
    2013 Total 24 26 50 67 29 12 3 7 4 8 6 14
    2014 (through Dec 14) 17 36 35 38 27 20 10 6 5 9 10 5
    By state: All stranded cetaceans (dolphins and whales) from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/Louisiana border.
    NOTES: Historical data excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Current UME Data are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. They include any strandings reported on or before December 14, 2014 as well as 9 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Raw historical data are also available for download.
    Average (2002-2009) 20 14 20 20
    2010 (Feb-Dec) 33 25 64 137
    2011 Total 33 59 111 163
    2012 Total 29 30 49 94
    2013 Total 26 27 51 146
    2014 (through Dec 14) 45 40 47 86
    Number of strandings by month per state/region



    Number of strandings per state or region from February 2010 through November 2014.
    The red line represents the number of cetacean strandings in each region over time. The green line represents the reported number of stillborn, premature, or neonate stranded bottlenose dolphins (actual or estimated whole carcass lengths less than 115 cm) in each region over time (Feb. 2010-Nov. 2014). The blue line represents the historical average per month calculated from 2002-2009 stranding data.
    NOTES: Historical data excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Current UME Data are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. They include any strandings reported on or before November 30, 2014 as well as 9 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Raw historical data for 2002-2009 are also available for download.

    All stranded bottlenose dolphins from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border by month.
    NOTES: Historical data excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Current UME Data are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. They include any strandings reported on or before December 14, 2014 as well as 9 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Raw historical data are also available.
    Jan Feb Mar Apl May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Average (2002-2009) 5.4 6.6 16.6 10.4 4.8 3.1 3.3 2.8 2.0 3.3 1.8 2.8
    2010 Total 3 9 55 39 38 22 9 19 12 6 7 12
    2011 Total 24 58 68 36 18 22 17 25 11 24 18 14
    2012 Total 21 20 39 16 9 6 7 3 7 9 13 16
    2013 Total 23 23 46 50 25 9 3 4 3 6 3 14
    2014 (through Dec 14) 13 32 32 31 25 16 4 2 2 5 6 3

    Stranded bottlenose dolphins from Franklin County, FL to the Texas/ Louisiana border with reported actual or estimated whole carcass lengths less than 115 cm (partial carcasses excluded). Bottlenose dolphins <115 cm in total length are either premature, stillborn, or neonatal.
    NOTES: Historical data excludes 2 previous UMEs in the panhandle of Florida (March-April, 2004 and Sept. 2005-April 2006). Historical data from 2008 through present are unvalidated and numbers may be subject to change as more information becomes available. Current UME Data are considered preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. They include any strandings reported on or before December 14, 2014 as well as 9 cases that were incidental scientific data collection takes and 1 take incidental to trawl relocation for a dredging project. Raw historical data are also available.
    Jan Feb Mar Apl May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Average (2002-2009) 1 2 6.9 2.1 0.9 0.3 0 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.3
    2010 Total 0 1 12 9 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
    2011 Total 6 35 28 12 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 1
    2012 Total 8 7 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
    2013 Total 9 10 11 11 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 2
    2014 (through Dec 14) 4 15 11 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
    Map

    The following map displays stranding locations from the 2010-2014 Cetacean Unusual Mortality Event in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Bottlenose dolphin stranding locations are represented by circle symbols, while stranding locations for all other cetacean species are represented by square symbols. Symbols containing a black dot indicate that the reported actual/estimated length of the stranded cetacean was less than 115 cm. Symbols that are colored pink, represent the most recently reported data. Dropdown boxes located above the map allow filtering of the mapped locations and clicking on a mapped location will open an information window containing data associated with the selected stranding.
    Filter Stranding Locations:
    Year
    -No Filter- 20142013201220112010
    Month
    -No Filter- JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptembe rOctoberNovemberDecember
    Species Class
    -No Filter- Bottlenose DolphinOther



    ... (see link for maps - Ro)

    Initial Extent Remove Filters


    More InformationUpdated: December 15, 2014

    Twitter: @RonanKelly13
    The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.

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