Marine Mammal Stranding Center

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) is a private non-profit organization based in Brigantine, New Jersey. Since the Center’s founding in 1978, staff and volunteers have responded to over 3797 calls for stranded whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles that washed ashore on New Jersey beaches. These animals range from a 5 lb. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle to a 25-ton Humpback Whale (both of which are endangered species).

Whenever possible, the animals are brought back to the MMSC for rehabilitation and eventual release. Rehabilitation can last up to several months and cost thousands of dollars for a single animal.

When the MMSC started in 1978, there were 19 reported strandings in the State of New Jersey. In 2005, we responded to 224 stranded animals. As the years pass, there is a steady increase in sightings and strandings of marine mammal and sea turtles that are reported to us. In recent years we have seen an increase in species of seals and sea turtles that are far out of their range strand in New Jersey. Species such as harp, hooded and ringed seals, and green sea turtles add to our already growing numbers.