Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration and Immersion Presents are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing oceanographic exploration and marine life education, conservation and research.

Stranding Program

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration has been rescuing stranded marine mammals for over 30 years, and is a founding member of the Northeast Regional Stranding Network. The network consists of independent organizations dedicated to caring for sick and injured animals, and to learning more about the reasons that they come ashore.

These activities are supported almost entirely by funds raised by the organizations that undertake them. Only groups and facilities authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service are permitted to handle these animals, which are protected under federal law.

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration's rescue efforts are centered on the coasts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island, NY, but has also supported network members from Maine to New Jersey, and even Texas, when other institutions have needed support for their operations.

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration has responded to a dramatic increase in stranding cases in recent years, up from 14 in 1993 to nearly 80 in 2001. Aquarium scientists maintain data on marine mammal and turtle stranding and sightings as a means of monitoring the behavior and health of these animals, always vigilant for changes in patterns that might signal an unusual event such as a viral outbreak or a toxic algal bloom. The condition of these animals reveals much about the health of our oceans.

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration's rehabilitation facilities are a unique combination that enable it to care for the smallest seals to whales that weigh up to 1,000 pounds. In all, the Aquarium has responded to more than 800 stranding calls from the public, treating more than 300 marine mammals and releasing 148 that would have died had they been left on the shore. The expertise of its staff and their commitment to providing the best care possible to animals in distress are among the strengths of its rescue program.