Dolphin mortality rate in the Gulf of Mexico still at high levels

[Emily]

http://www.newsherald.com/news/researchers-seeking-clues-in-unprecedented-dolphin-die-off-video-map-photo-gallery-1.178810

By Valerie Garman | The News Herald
Published: Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 18:03 PM.

PANAMA CITY BEACH ? For the last three years, dolphins have been dying at an unprecedented rate in the Gulf of Mexico, and experts say there?s still no end in sight.

?The length and the severity of this event is unprecedented in the Gulf,? said Chris Robbins, a scientist and senior manager for restoration planning with Ocean Conservancy. ?More than 1,000 animals have stranded and more than 95 percent of those have been dead. ? The mortalities we?re seeing are far above what the historical average has been.?

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) in December 2010 for dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the area from the Texas/Louisiana border to Franklin County. ..

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Dolphin mortality rate in the Gulf of Mexico still at high levels

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

Maps 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 August 4, 2013, the UME involves 1031 Cetacean "strandings" in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (5% stranded alive and 95% stranded dead). Of these:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 669px" border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 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 style="WIDTH: 141px" 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 style="WIDTH: 141px">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 style="WIDTH: 141px">April 30, 2010- November 2, 2010</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top align=center><TD>795 cetaceans stranded*</TD><TD>after the initial response phase ended</TD><TD style="WIDTH: 141px">November 3, 2010 - August 4, 2013**</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


More...
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/health/mmume/cetacean_gulfofmexico2010.htm