GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 281420
- 1. Title of Project
- Stranding Response for Sick, Injured, and Dead Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles and Investigating Trends
- 2. Location of Project
- Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties, Mississippi.
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Inc.
- 4a. Name
- Moby Solangi, Ph.D.
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-896-9182
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 10801 Dolphin Lane
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- 4f. Email
- moby@imms.org
- 5. FundingRequested
- $1,799,993
- Awarded Amount:
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $1,799,997
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- Established in 1984, the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) is a 501 c (3) non-profit organization specializing in both marine mammal and sea turtle conservation and is the premier stranding response organization in the state of Mississippi. IMMS has been responding to marine mammal strandings since its founding and became an active member of the Mississippi Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) in 2010. The work conducted by IMMS has established the Mississippi Sound as vital foraging and developmental habitat for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a variety of sea turtle species, most notably the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). With decades of experience in marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response, necropsy, rehabilitation, and research, IMMS has a demonstrated history of effectively documenting these cases and researching the threats these animals face. This is of particular importance since this area is vulnerable to environmental changes due to hurricanes, storms, and anthropogenic disasters (i.e. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Bonne Carre Spillway, etc.). The Mississippi Sound is known to be a nursery for common bottlenose dolphins, most of which remain in permanent residence and show strong site fidelity to this area (Pamperin et al., 2025; Samuelson et al., 2021). This behavior makes these animals susceptible to natural and anthropogenic threats (Baker et al., 2025; Lewis et al., 2026). Though the vast majority of marine mammal strandings in Mississippi are common bottlenose dolphins, there has been a small number of other cetacean species documented ranging from pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) to large baleen whales (e.g. fin whale - Balaenoptera physalus). Each year IMMS responds to an average of 50 stranded marine mammals in Mississippi with up to 3 of these stranding alive. Successfully rehabilitated and released marine mammals provide a unique opportunity to study movements and habitat utilization. Most notably, two pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata) - a rare and poorly understood offshore species - were successfully rehabilitated at IMMS and were monitored for movements and dive patterns after release (Pulis et al., 2018). Deceased marine mammals are equally important and are further evaluated through necropsies in order to determine potential cause of death and to collect tissues for analyses. Since 2010, IMMS has been documenting the wild dolphin populations utilizing the Mississippi Sound through its Dolphin Photo ID program. This program complements the stranding program as it enables IMMS researchers to match dorsal fins from stranded dolphins to those in its fin database. In cases where a match is found, IMMS is able to create a life history of where this animal was previously documented alive. This can provide key insight into potential areas where threats are present and warrant further evaluation by federal and state partners. Since 2010, there has been an average of 232 annual sea turtle strandings and incidental captures in Mississippi, with IMMS staff responding to a majority of these reports. There were abnormally high occurrences of incidental captures by recreational fisherman from 2010 – 2015 (Coleman et al., 2016a; Heaton et al., 2016) with the current annual average around 30 sea turtles. This highlights the significance of recreational fishing piers to the ecology of sea turtles in Mississippi. IMMS has rehabilitated and released over 1,100 sea turtles since joining the Mississippi STSSN and these efforts significantly contribute to the restoration and recovery of these species. Since 2010, IMMS has assisted the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in identifying the movement, migration, and site fidelity patterns of the Kemp’s ridley in the northern Gulf of Mexico (Mississippi, Chandeleur, and Breton Sounds) through satellite telemetry, applying tags to over sixty sea turtles. IMMS plans to further expand this program by including acoustic tags with receivers on frequented Mississippi fishing piers for future deployments. Previous publications have indicated seasonal movements (Coleman et al., 2016b) and site fidelity (Coleman, 2013; Lyn et al., 2012). In addition to satellite telemetry, IMMS has also documented a total of twenty-seven sea turtle nests on Mississippi beaches from 2012-2024. Our efforts have shown that in addition to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), Kemp’s ridleys are also utilizing Mississippi beaches to nest (Madrigal et al., 2025). The activity documented in Mississippi across IMMS’ stranding response, satellite telemetry, and nesting programs highlights that the Mississippi Sound and surrounding waters provides vital habitat for all sea turtle life history stages. Overall, IMMS has had an established, well-rounded research and conservation program for both marine mammals and sea turtles that began in 1984. Our projects incorporate successful stranding response and rehabilitation with assessments of live animal movements through dolphin photo ID and satellite telemetry. These programs complement each other and have been developed and improved over the years. Consistent stranding response and documentation of these animals is the foundation for understanding their behavior and determining current natural and anthropogenic threats. IMMS staff is trained and experienced in stranding response and has maintained relationships with NOAA Fisheries and other federal, state, and local partners. IMMS proposes to continue its stranding response, necropsy, and rehabilitation efforts in Mississippi. As the permit and stranding agreement holders for the state, IMMS’ documentation of these reports and collection of this data is essential to the continuation of research and conservation efforts in Mississippi for both marine mammals and sea turtles.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- Stranding response to sick, injured, and dead marine mammals and sea turtles throughout the Mississippi Sound, and to investigate the trends in disease and rehabilitation of protected, threatened, and endangered species. The restoration and recovery of these protected, threatened, and endangered species is vital to understanding not only the health of these animals, but also the health of the Mississippi Sound.
- 11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?
- (A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: Stranding response to sick, injured, and dead marine mammals and sea turtles throughout the Mississippi Sound, and to investigate the trends in disease and rehabilitation of protected, threatened, and endangered species. The restoration and recovery of these protected, threatened, and endangered species is vital to understanding not only the health of these animals, but also the health of the Mississippi Sound.
- (C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.
- (D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.
- 12. Project Timetable/Milestones
- 3 years (starting 2027): Continuation of the stranding response and monitoring of marine mammals and sea turtles: 1) Performing consistent stranding response to marine mammals and sea turtles 2) Rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles to help restore and recover these sentinel species 3) Tag sea turtles with acoustic and satellite tags 4) Monitor sea turtle nests and nesting sights during sea turtle nesting season 5) Investigating trends in diseases and death
- 13. Project Timing
- Deferred/Long-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- Completed Paid For
- 15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?
- Our projects incorporate successful stranding response and rehabilitation with assessments of live animal movements. These programs complement each other and have been developed and improved over the years for the successful investigation of trends. Consistent stranding response and documentation of these animals is the foundation for understanding their behavior and determining current natural and anthropogenic threats.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 3
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 1/1/2030
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $1,102,608
- Travel
- $9,000
- Architecture & Engineering
- Legal
- Consulting
- $60,000
- Construction
- Site Work
- Equipment
- $229,000
- Indirects
- $384,231
- Other
- $15,161
- Total
- $1,800,000
- Application Submission Date
- 08/21/2026
- Fiscal Year
- 2028
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- https://gomesa.dmr.ms.gov/attachments/GOMESA_1420_Attachment.pdf
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments