Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

Since 1976, Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration has been rescuing stranded marine mammals, from the smallest seals to whales.

In all, the Aquarium has responded to more than 800 stranding calls from the public, treating more than 300 marine mammals and releasing more than 160 that would have died had they been left on the shore.

The rescue efforts of the Aquarium and its volunteer "first responder" network are centered on the coasts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island, N.Y., but the Aquarium has also supported institutions from Maine to New Jersey, and even in Texas, when other institutions have needed support for their operations.

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration 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 learning more about the reasons they come ashore. Only groups and facilities authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service are permitted to handle these animals, which are protected under federal law.

Research

Aquarium scientists maintain data on marine mammal and turtle strandings 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.

Get Involved!

The Aquarium receives more than 100 rescue calls each year, and it can cost thousands of dollars to take care of just one injured or sick animal over a one-month period. The Aquarium's Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue program is recognized as one of the most utilized and comprehensive in New England, based on its response to rescue calls and the successful release rate of animals rehabilitated in our facility. Help us continue to help marine animals in need by getting involved.