KEYS AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE BEACHED DOLPHINS

March 3, 2005
Contact: Officer Steve Acton (305) 289-2320 #306, (305) 360-0201 cell

An estimated 80 - 90 dolphin have stranded on an ocean side, shallow water flat in Marathon near Mile Marker 51. The beached animals are being rescued through a cooperative effort by personnel from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and the Florida Keys Mammal Stranding Network.

Approximately 25 to 35 animals have been pulled off the flat and into two deepwater canals between 84th and 89th Streets in Marathon. The plan is to keep them contained in the canals until an assessment can be made to determine the cause of the event.

An unknown number of dolphins have been reported dead by rescue personnel and volunteers. Biologists will be performing necropsies on the dead animals as soon as possible during the next few days.

Numerous volunteers have been assisting in the effort and have spent long hours in the chilly water caring for those that cannot be freed from the flat. Nighttime darkness complicated the rescue process and several volunteers had to be returned to shore because of mild cases of hypothermia. No serious problems had been reported until approximately 1:00 p.m. when six volunteers had to be treated for hypothermia by EMS personnel. A U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Officer who was on scene monitoring the volunteers eventually called an end to the in-water effort. All volunteers were ordered out of the water at that time.
 

Several public service agencies from the Marathon area are assisting with logistical problems. Marathon Fire Rescue provided equipment to help light two staging areas on 88th and 84th streets. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provided the use of their mobile command post and is assisting in traffic control in the area. News media have been kept informed on the rescue progress and have been very cooperative in getting information to the hundreds of volunteers that have been calling to assist. FWC and U.S. Coast Guard personnel who have been on scene since 5:00 p.m. Wednesday are being relieved as other personnel report to work. The large number of volunteers in the water with the dolphins had precluded pulling rescue vessels from the scene.

It is anticipated that the effort to save the stranded animals will continue throughout the next several days.

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