HBOI's Marine Mammal Research and Conservation (MMRC) staff are once more searching the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) for a young dolphin calf that has become entangled in what appears to be a rubber cord used to close crab pot doors. Last week’s efforts yielded no results, therefore the search for the calf and its mother continue. "These are very long, hard and hot days..... " explains the Program Manager Stephen McCulloch. The search area, determined by the previous years’ sighting history of both the mother and calf,  extends from Melbourne to Titusville.  “Because the animals have been previously sighted in the Banana River that area must also be searched," McCulloch says, and adds, “we are at the mercy of numerous variables, including inclement weather, especially lightning,  which can quickly send the fleet to take refuge off the water.”

The search technique is to methodically search each square km grid by using three to four Harbor Branch dolphin research boats with several observers aboard each craft. The boats spread out from shore to shore and travel at a slow speed (<5 knots) in an effort to locate the elusive animals. When dolphins are sighted, the fleet slows and allowing one of the research boats to move in to photo-document and visually observe the group.

Once the animal is located, its condition will be evaluated by Harbor Branch  veterinarians and animal care experts. If intervention is required, then authorization to net the animals and treat them must first be obtained via the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). With NMFS approval, Harbor Branch staff must act quickly before the animals leave the area. "Given that dolphins in the IRL can travel as much as 40 miles in a day, we face logistical challenges not only to assemble the intervention team and deploy the appropriate resources, but also to relocate the animal and then safely capture and treat it" McCulloch adds.

Once the intervention has been carried out, Harbor Branch marine mammal researchers will continue to monitor the condition of both animals to ensure long-term survival. If the calf is injured and will require long-term care, then it would need to be taken by HBOI marine mammal ambulance to other facilities where it can be quarantined and treated. With a clean bill of health, it could eventually be returned to it's home range and released.

Of specific interest is the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event (UME) taking place in the IRL. Samples from these two live dolphins might yield important clues to explain why so many other dolphins in the region are dying.

Bottlenose Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event, Indian River Lagoon

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) staff have been responding to an increasing number of dead bottlenose dolphins in the Northern IRL system (Brevard County) starting late May into July (a total of 36 animals). On July 24, NMFS formally declared a UME for bottlenose dolphins. Most of the animals are moderately decomposed and emaciated with empty stomachs and are distributed in a larger area of the northern IRL. The last UME in this area was in 2001 and occurred within in the same time frame but in a more concentrated area in the lagoon. The suspected cause but never confirmed of the 2001 UME was a biotoxin (saxitoxin). Megan Stolen has been designated as the On-Site Coordinator. Mortalities have slowed down continue to occur within the UME area. There have been three dolphins within the past two weeks bringing the total to 47.

Since 1998, McCulloch has directed his team in dozens of successful rescues and interventions, not only here but throughout the Southeastern United States. "We are hopeful that we can maintain our 100% success rate in interventions, but we must recognize that we are looking for a very small and moving needle in an extremely large haystack," concludes McCulloch.