The Aquarium is a regional and international leader in the quest to improve the health of the world's oceans. We participate in a variety of cooperative programs, and have initiated many programs of our own to help preserve the health of our oceans.
The Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) is the cornerstone of the Aquarium's ocean health initiative. MARP rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine animals.
MARP has successfully rescued, treated, and returned seals, dolphins, porpoises, pilot whales, pygmy sperm whales, sea turtles, and a manatee to their natural habitats—led by only a handful of paid staff and a network of well-trained volunteers.
The stories of the animals are extraordinary, and the triumph of returning a healthy animal to the wild is the reason that MARP volunteers have dedicated tens of thousands of hours in the years since MARP’s inception.
Education & Outreach
While we share in the triumph of returning a healthy animal to the wild, our larger success is determined by our ability to convey each animal’s story to the public, to help our communities understand the global implications of their day-to-day actions, and to educate them to take positive actions.
Partnerships
The National Aquarium's Marine Animal Rescue Program is working with our partners in the East Coast Stranding Network to be prepared to rescue and rehabilitate animals injured in the Gulf oil spill. We have been assessing our facilities and are working with our partner, Mote Marine Laboratory, in Sarasota, Florida, which has wonderful marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation facilities, so we are prepared to take in animals. »Learn more
While rescued animals are in our care, MARP staff collect data to share with organizations around the world in an effort to better understand aquatic animals that are still very much a mystery to modern science. MARP volunteers meticulously record:
- The physical condition of animals when rescued
- Daily observations, both scientific and subjective, as the animals recover in our facilities
- Tracking data, whenever possible, of the path of animals following their release.
How You Can Help
MARP depends on the generosity of volunteers to operate, but medical equipment, medications, and food for caring for these animals is expensive. Your gift makes it possible to continue this important work. »Donate to MARP
Watch MARP in Action
