Photo Wil Maheia 2008
Marine Mammals - Stranding Response
Through the Whale Watch program launched in 2012, and the Belize Barrier Reef Watch Program in 2022, ECOMAR monitors the migratory routes of marine mammals, and strandings.
Since 2000, ECOMAR has closely monitored marine mammals throughout Belize, and has hands on experience in responding to stranded whales, manatees and turtles. Since 2018 we've closely monitored the visits of false killer whales in the northern shelf lagoon, west of the Drowned Cayes.
Since the 1990s there have been numerous strandings of large whales, and NGOs that manage marine protected areas work together to find ways in which to respond to these events as they occur. The Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network was formed in 1990s under the auspices of The Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute to respond to stranded manatees, but the Network is not currently active.
Since 2000, ECOMAR has closely monitored marine mammals throughout Belize, and has hands on experience in responding to stranded whales, manatees and turtles. Since 2018 we've closely monitored the visits of false killer whales in the northern shelf lagoon, west of the Drowned Cayes.
Since the 1990s there have been numerous strandings of large whales, and NGOs that manage marine protected areas work together to find ways in which to respond to these events as they occur. The Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network was formed in 1990s under the auspices of The Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute to respond to stranded manatees, but the Network is not currently active.
REFERENCE MATERIALS
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British Divers Marine Life Rescue - Marine Mammal Medic Handbook, 2nd Edition
James Barnett BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS, Alan Knight BSc (Hons) and Mark Stevens BEd (Hons) British Diver Marine Life Rescue is a UK Charity that offers certification courses for volunteers and provides useful references from their website. The handbook provides an overview of biology, threats and management of cetacean strandings for volunteers. |
