It has been 12 years since Echo and Misha were returned to the wild in their native Tampa Bay waters after spending two years at a research laboratory in California. Both dolphins were the subjects of a unique two-part scientific experiment. Echo and Misha were initially collected in Tampa Bay in July 1988 and spent [...]

Exposure assessment of marine mammals to man-made contaminants is an essential part of work on the conservation and management of wild populations. Over the last ten years, efforts to assess the biological effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contamination, rather than merely measuring concentrations, have been increased. Mechanisms of action and impacts of these pollutants [...]

Dolphin health continues to be a primary focus of our research program, especially in relation to effects of environmental contaminants. Previous work with the Sarasota dolphins suggests that these animals are exposed to moderate levels of some chemical contaminants (including organochlorines such as DDT metabolites and PCBs), facilitating the investigation of sub-lethal effects of these [...]

Because of growing concern about marine mammals washing ashore in U.S. waters, NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Protected Resources’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program was created in the late 1980s. It has since collaborated with scientists worldwide to investigate, monitor, assess and respond to marine mammal health issues. Under the provisions of the Marine [...]

Boaters have provisioned wild bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, for more than 10 years in the Intracoastal Waterway near Nokomis, Florida. One dolphin, referred to as Beggar, is a well-known attraction to tourists and local boaters because of his predictable presence in the area. From 1997 to 2001, a study was undertaken to document boater interactions [...]