5 BOOKS THE RECORD YEAR FOR A 201 REPORT ANNUAL i CONTENTS A Center of Excellence for Marine Mammal Health and Conservation .......... 1 Increasing Impact in the Face of a Changing Ocean Environment ................. 2 Adapting Animal Care in a Crisis ....................................................................... 4 Responding to the Impacts of Ocean Changes ................................................ 6 Making Conservation a Community Effort ....................................................... 8 Sharing Our Expertise Internationally ............................................................. 10 Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists ..................................................... 12 Valuing Our Volunteer Workforce ..................................................................... 14 Our Donors .......................................................................................................... 16 Leaders at The Marine Mammal Center ........................................................... 36 Financial Summary ............................................................................................ 37 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.289.7325 (SEAL) | MarineMammalCenter.org 1 A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND CONSERVATION At The Marine Mammal Center, we are guided and inspired by a shared vision of a healthy ocean for marine mammals and humans alike. OUR MISSION The Marine Mammal Center advances global ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education. OUR WORK We rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured marine mammals at our state-of-the-art veterinary facilities by engaging a dedicated workforce and a supportive community. We learn from the patients in our care and contribute to scientific understanding of the changing health of our ocean, taking action to address ocean threats and save endangered species. We lead as a teaching hospital by training veterinary professionals locally and internationally, and inspiring future ocean stewards through innovative school and public education programs. OUR VALUES Model the highest standards of animal care and welfare. Pursue rigorous science and commit to scientific integrity. Encourage innovation, collaboration and teamwork. 2 INCREASING IMPACT IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING OCEAN ENVIRONMENT A year like 2015 raises alarming questions about the health of our ocean. All told, we rescued more than 1,800 marine mammals—breaking nearly every record in our 40-year history. During the height of the busy season, we pushed the limits of our physical space and our people power—with more patients on-site and more volunteer service hours recorded than ever before. Our dedicated workforce managed this crisis one patient at a time thanks to a generous community of donors just like you that made new or additional gifts in our time of need. But while 2015 was certainly a year for the record books, we must look beyond those statistics at the bigger picture. 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.289.7325 (SEAL) | MarineMammalCenter.org 3 INCREASING IMPACT IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING OCEAN ENVIRONMENT While 2015 was certainly a year for the record books, we must look beyond those statistics at the bigger picture. For four years in a row, we have seen unusual numbers of marine mammals stranding along our coast. These animals are sentinels of the sea—their continued struggles are an indication that something more complex is affecting their ocean home. In the face of ongoing marine mammal health threats and a rapidly changing ocean environment, it’s clear that our work has never been more relevant, nor the urgency so great. .......................................................................... JOIN US as we build a blueprint for our future that meets this growing need and advances global ocean conservation. For a healthy ocean, Merrill L. Magowan | Chair Dr. Jeff Boehm | Executive Director 4 ADAPTING ANIMAL CARE IN A CRISIS Over the course of four decades, The Marine Mammal Center’s animal care standards have evolved to lead the industry in best practices. And we continually adapt our treatment based on our scientific findings to give our patients the best chance at survival. Over the last few years, warming waters along the West Coast have affected food availability for nursing sea lion mothers, leaving starving pups to fend for themselves. In 2015, we rescued more than 1,000 young sea lions in extremely emaciated condition—smaller in size than ever before. What our researchers learned from those that didn’t survive led to changes in how veterinarians care for animals suffering from severe malnutrition. Yearly Admit Stats from 1975-2015 2,000 1,859 • 1,750 1,500 1,250 1,000 750 500 250 • 7 1975 2015 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.289.7325 (SEAL) | MarineMammalCenter.org 5 ADAPTING ANIMAL CARE IN A CRISIS 2015: The Year in Numbers ANIMALS ADMITTED: California sea lions: 1,381 (previous record: 1,370 in 2009) Elephant seals: 174 Harbor seals: 117 Northern fur seals: 107 (previous record: 33 in 2006) Guadalupe fur seals: 35 (previous record: 5 in 2003) Cetaceans: 35 Sea turtles: 1 Steller sea lion: 1 (admitted in 2014, released in 2015) Hawaiian monk seals: 9 Total: 1,859 (previous record: 1,706 in 2009) RESCUES BY REGION: For just the sixth time in our 40-year history, The Marine Mammal Bay Area and Northern California: 395 Center had representatives from all six species of pinniped native Monterey and Santa Cruz: 644 to the California coast on-site at one time: California sea lions, San Luis Obispo: 407 northern elephant seals, Pacific harbor seals, northern fur seals, Santa Barbara and Southern California: 404 Guadalupe fur seals and a Steller sea lion. This rare overlap in Hawaiian Islands and Archipelago: 9 species occurred with the arrival of Leo, a Steller sea lion pup REASONS THAT PATIENTS REQUIRED OUR CARE: rescued in Washington state and brought to The Marine Mammal Malnutrition: 1,586 Center for five months of rehabilitation. Domoic acid toxicosis: 243 Trauma: 272 Oil/tar: 154 Fisheries-related impacts (fish hooks, netting, fishing line, etc.): 48 Otostrongylus (lungworm): 56 Harassed/unauthorized pickup: 28 Cancer: 24 ....................................... ........................................Gunshot: 20 PATIENTS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD: 632 6 RESPONDING TO THE IMPACTS OF OCEAN CHANGES Understanding Human Impacts The record numbers of stranded marine mammals we’ve seen in recent years indicates there is an urgent need for more science to help us all better understand how large-scale human impacts, such as climate change, overfishing and pollution, may be affecting the health of these animals and their ocean environment. That’s why The Marine Mammal Center is focused not just on our work rescuing and rehabilitating these animals but also on research efforts and educational programming to share what we learn. Battling the Effects ofToxic Algae In 2015, we rescued more than 220 California sea lions suffering from the effects of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by what scientists called the biggest and most toxic algal bloom seen on the Pacific coast, likely due to the unusually warm waters in the area. As public health officials closed fisheries up and down the coast, veterinary experts at the Center began testing the effectiveness of adding alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant that may help prevent permanent brain damage, to treatment regimens. 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.289.7325 (SEAL) | MarineMammalCenter.org 7 Animating Climate Change As part of our continuing Climate Change Initiative funded by the California Coastal Commission Whale Tail Grant Program, we partnered with Pixar Animator Bret Parker and the California College of the Arts to create an animated short highlighting the science of climate change, its effects on marine mammals and actions we can take to reduce our global carbon footprint. More than 27 percent of adult California sea lions examined post-mortem are found to be suffering from cancer. The Center’s Geoffrey C. Hughes Research Fellow Dr. Alissa Deming is studying the genetics of the virus associated with the most common form of cancer in sea lions, while other researchers are using samples from these sea lions to determine the potential role of pollutants like DDT and PCBs. Dr. Alissa Deming 8 MAKING CONSERVATION A COMMUNITY EFFORT Saving a Species in Hawaii Since opening the doors of our Ke Kai Ola Hawaiian monk seal hospital in 2014, we have cared for more than 1 percent of this endangered population, which is estimated at about 1,300 individuals. With the help of more than 30 volunteers in the area, The Marine Mammal Center is playing an important role in restoring this native species to healthy numbers. In addition to providing veterinary care and managing rescue operations in West Hawaii, the Center, in collaboration with local partners, is expanding its education and community outreach about monk seal conservation. Adorned with frolicking sea lions and fun facts, the “Voyager” has joined our Sea to School fleet of vehicles bringing innovative education programs to schools, scouts and camp groups throughout the Bay Area thanks to PG&E, Oracle, the DMARLOU Foundation and other community supporters. 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.289.7325 (SEAL) | MarineMammalCenter.org 39 A COMMUNITY EFFORT Ocean Ambassadors