Marine Mammal Conservancy

More Education Classes Added!

Alex — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:23:41 +0000

Location: Marine Mammal Conservancy site (Mile Marker 102, Bayside, Key Largo)

March 13^th, 8AM-11AM: Volunteer Orientation, Basic Handling, Evaluation and Transport
March 14^th, 8AM–11AM: Volunteer Orientation, Basic Handling, Evaluation and Transport
March 14^th, 10AM–12PM: Stranding/Volunteer Coordinator Course
March 14^th, 12:30PM–2:30PM: Introduction to the Incident Command System ICS 100/200
March 15^th, 8AM–11AM: Volunteer Orientation, Basic Handling, Evaluation and Transport

Location: Florida Keys Community College (Sombrero Road, Marathon)

March 21^st, 9AM-12PM: Volunteer Orientation, Basic Handling, Evaluation and Transport
March 21^st, 12PM-2PM: Cetacean Species Identification & Basic Behavior

Course manuals will be given to each participant (where applicable); please bring a pen to take notes and a $5.00 suggested donation to help us cover the cost of printing course materials. For more information contact info@marinemammalconservancy.org. We look forward to seeing you!

Art Auction and Wine and Cheese Reception to Benefit MMC – March 19, 2010 at the Key Largo Conch House Restaurant (MM 100.2)

Kathy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:58:04 +0000

Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception and Art Auction on Friday, March 19, at the beautiful Key Largo Conch House Restaurant. The art auction will feature a broad range of marine themed art of local Keys artists. Join us for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to acquire a special work of art. The proceeds of the event will benefit the Marine Mammal Conservancy’s rescue and rehabilitation work with dolphins and whales. The reception and art preview will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event hours are 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Key Largo Conch House Restaurant is located at Mile Marker 100.2 on the Ocean Side. You can download an MMC Art Auction poster here.

For more information, contact kathy@marinemammalconservancy.org.

MMC Fourth Annual Golf Tournament – April 18, 2010, at the Keys Gate Golf Course in Homestead, Florida

Kathy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:44:21 +0000

Enjoy a great day of good food, golf, and fun on Sunday, April 18, 2010, at Marine Mammal Conservancy’s Fourth Annual Annual Golf Tournament at the Keys Gate Golf Course in Homestead, Florida. The event will tee off with a delicious Bar-B-Que lunch followed by the Golf Tournament. The winning foursome will receive a dinner for 8 at the spectacular CJ’s Crab Shack on South Beach. Stay tuned to MMC’s website for more details!

Contact: Bob Christian (305)389-3133

Career Day

Alex — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:53:43 +0000

The Marine Mammal Conservancy spent Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at the Riviera Day School participating in Career Day. We discussed marine mammal conservation with students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. This interactive session featured a video of MMC’s most recent dolphin release, as well as basic dolphin anatomy lessons, the opportunity to touch a whale bone, and discussions on the educational background necessary for the field of marine biology. Children were given the opportunity to ask questions, and even some of the teachers couldn’t resist either! The classes were then supplied with coloring sheets, educational posters and materials, and a recycling project.

NOAA Science Saturday

Alex — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:57:25 +0000

The 3^rd Annual National Weather Service Open House and NOAA Science Saturday will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the National Weather Service office in Key West. The National Weather Service office is located at 1315 White Street. This event is free and open to the public. This is a family style event; locals who want to see the inside of the NWS office, get a behind-the-scenes look at hurricane and storm forecasting, and provide a fun and educational experience for their kids.

Tours of the National Weather Service office will be conducted throughout the afternoon and presentations will be offered on a variety of topics such as weather, coral reefs, and seagrass. Popular booths last year included a marine touch-tank, face painting, puppet shows, and other kid-friendly activities. Raffles to benefit Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys, and a special weather balloon launch will round out the day.

Please contact Sara for more information.

Florida Keys Ocean Festival

Alex — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:46:10 +0000

Join MMC for the Florida Keys Ocean Festival on March 27, 2010. Mote Marine Laboratory is celebrating its 55^th anniversary with a festival being held at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center at the Truman Waterfront in Key West starting at 12:00 and ending around sunset. There will be free admission, free parking, live music, food, cocktails, local and national marine artists, kids fishing clinic, Mote’s mobile aquarium with touch tanks, prizes and fun! Please join MMC to help raise awareness for the protection, health, conservation and restoration of our precious marine resources, animals, and habitat. Please contact Sara for more information.

Fundraising Events

Kathy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:23:42 +0000

Date	Time	Description
March 6, 2010	10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.	Keys Woofstock, Founders Park. Islamorada, Florida. MMC will be hosting a booth at the all day Woofstock Musical Event – - a day of Peace, Paws & Music. Founders Park is located 19 87000 Overseas Highway in Islamorada, Florida Keys, Florida. Friendly, leashed pets invited to join their “humans” in this fun day for all. For more information, visit the Keys Woofstock website at http://www.keyswoofstock.com

March 19, 2010	6:00-8:00 pm	Art Auction to Benefit the Marine Mammal Conservancy, Key Largo Conch House Restaurant (Mile Marker 100.2 Ocean Side). Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception and Art Auction on Friday, March 19, at the beautiful Key Largo. The auction will feature a broad range of marine themed art (above and below the water) by local keys artists. The proceeds will help support the Marine Mammal Conservancy’s rescue and rehabilitation work with dolphins and whales. Join us for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to acquire a special work of art. Please contact kathy@marinemammalconservancy.org for more information.

Date

Time

Description

March 6, 2010

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Keys Woofstock, Founders Park. Islamorada, Florida. MMC will be hosting a booth at the all day Woofstock Musical Event – - a day of Peace, Paws & Music. Founders Park is located 19 87000 Overseas Highway in Islamorada, Florida Keys, Florida. Friendly, leashed pets invited to join their “humans” in this fun day for all. For more information, visit the Keys Woofstock website at http://www.keyswoofstock.com

March 19, 2010

6:00-8:00
pm

Art Auction to Benefit the Marine Mammal Conservancy, Key Largo Conch House Restaurant (Mile Marker 100.2 Ocean Side). Join us for a Wine and Cheese Reception and Art Auction on Friday, March 19, at the beautiful Key Largo. The auction will feature a broad range of marine themed art (above and below the water) by local keys artists. The proceeds will help support the Marine Mammal Conservancy’s rescue and rehabilitation work with dolphins and whales. Join us for an enjoyable evening and an opportunity to acquire a special work of art. Please contact kathy@marinemammalconservancy.org for more information.

March 13, 2010 TBA Carribean Club St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

April 18, 2010 TBA MMC Fourth Annual Golf Tournament,
KeysGate Golf Course,Homestead, Florida.

April 24, 2010            TBA          MMC Fourth Annual 5K Walkathon
                                                             (Walk/Run), followed by a Dog Walk/Run
                                                             Dagney Johnson State Park, Key Largo
                                                              8:00 a.m. Registration
                                                              8:30 a.m.   Start time

                                                              Details about the event, including
                                                              registration information, will be posted
                                                              shortly.

                                                              Contacts:
                                                              Tricia Robinson
                                                              (tricia@marinemammalconservancy.org)
                                                              Anne Biddle
                                                              (anne@marinemammalconservancy.org)

ADOPT A DOLPHIN

Kathy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:52:12 +0000

The MMC Adopt a Dolphin program is a symbolic adoption of Cutter, a juvenile Atlantic Spotted Dolphin who was rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild by MMC. Because MMC releases successfully rehabilitated dolphins, we do not have any “premanent residents”. For that reason, our Adopt a Dolphin program is a symbolic adoption only. Under the program, you will become part of MMC’s “human” pod family. Your “adoption” will be memorialized in an “adoption certificate” accompanied by a plush dolphin stuffed animal. MMC will also periodically update you on the progress of any dolphins in our care through postings on its website.

To adopt ”Cutter” for yourself or as a donation on behalf of a family member or a friend you can simply fill out the Adoption Application at the following link (and pay by PayPal or credit card) or print the application and mail it with your check in the amount of $75.00 to the Marine Mammal Conservancy at the following address:

MMC Adopt a Dolphin Program
Post Office Box 1625,
Key Largo, Florida 33037

By symbolically adopting Cutter, you join other MMC supporters and donors in becoming part of Cutter’s symbolic family. The funds donated toward this program will be used to fund MMC’s rescue and rehabilitation activities with dolphins and whales and related operational expenses.

Your support of MMC is appreciated!

If you have any questions, please contact us at adopt@marinemammalconservancy.org.

You can print our Adopt a Dolphin Order Form here.

MMC’s Rescue Range

Alex — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:27:42 +0000

The Marine Mammal Conservancy responds to distressed animals in all of the Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas, Northeast to Biscayne National Park and Northwest to Cape Sable.

Dolphin Friendly Fishing & Viewing Tips

Alex — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:07:57 +0000

Help Protect Wild Dolphins While Fishing

Serious and even fatal dolphin injuries from interactions with recreational fishing gear and boats are on the rise. You can help prevent these injuries, and potential damage to your gear, by following these tips designed to protect marine mammals.

1) Never Feed Wild Dolphins – It’s Harmful And Illegal
• Feeding is illegal under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
• Feeding teaches dolphins to beg for food and draws them dangerously close to fishing gear and boat propellers.

2) Reuse Or Share Leftover Bait
• Freeze leftover bait for later or give it to your fishing neighbor.
• Dumping leftover bait may attract dolphins to fishing areas to beg or steal bait and catch.

3) Reel In Your Line If Dolphins Are Near
• Reel in and wait for dolphins to pass to avoid losing your bait or catch and prevent potential harm to dolphins.
• Never cast towards dolphins.

4) Change Locations If Dolphins Show Interest In Bait Or Catch
• Move away from dolphins to avoid unintentionally hooking one and prevent damage to gear or catch.

5) Release Catch Quietly Away From Dolphins When And Where It Is
Possible To Do So Without Violating Any State Or Federal Fishing Laws
Or Regulations.
• Feeding or attempting to feed a marine mammal in the wild is prohibited.

6) Check Gear And Terminal Tackle
• Inspect your gear often to avoid unwanted line breaks – even small amounts of gear in the water can be harmful to wildlife if entangled or ingested.

7) Use Circle And Corrodible Hooks
• Circle hooks may reduce injuries to fish, dolphins, and sea turtles.
• Corrodible hooks (any hook other than stainless steel) eventually dissolve.

Stay At Least 50 Yards Away
• Stay a safe distance from wild dolphins to avoid causing potential harm.
• Maintaining a safe distance helps keep dolphins wild.

9) Recycle Fishing Line
• Place all broken or used fishing line in a Monofilament Fishing Line Recycling Bin.
• If no recycling bins are available, place broken or used fishing line that has been cut into pieces in a lidded trash can.

10) Stash Your Trash
• Littering is illegal and can be harmful to wildlife.
• Collect any trash you’ve left behind and place it in a lidded trash can.
To report feeding or harassment of wild dolphins, call the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement at: 1-800-853-1964.

To report an injured or entangled dolphin, or other wildlife, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

These “Best Practices” were developed by a team of experts from NOAA’s Fisheries Service, the Chicago Zoological Society, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute after interviews with boaters, anglers, and fishing guides. They emphasize current conservation efforts and existing regulations.

Download a pdf handout: Dolphin Friendly Fishing Tips.

Download a pdf brochure: Dolphin Friendly Fishing & Viewing Tips.

Download a pdf brochure in Spanish: Recomendaciones para observer y pescar en amistad con los delfines.