Our Mission: 

To investigate strandings to improve our understanding of the biology of marine mammals that inhabit our local waters, so that we may enhance their conservation. To educate citizens through their participation in marine mammal stranding investigations.

 We are comprised of local volunteers and multiple state and federal agencies dedicated to responding to stranded, entangled, or injured marine mammals. 

Our History:

The Outer Banks is home to the world's oldest organized stranding network dating back to 1883, when Frederick W. True (Marine Mammal Curator) and Spencer Fullerton Baird (Director) from the US National Museum of Natural History requested the Light Keepers of Cape Hatteras, NC, to record data on marine mammal carcasses.  Read more here

Since 2009, the Outer Banks Stranding Network has been led through a partnership of local, state, and federal entities.  In 2022, Jennette's Pier, on behalf of North Carolina Aquariums, applied for a federal stranding agreement with NOAA to conduct marine mammal stranding responses. With the approval of this stranding agreement, the local network officially launched a citizen-based volunteer program. 

Since 2022, the NC Aquariums stranding program plans to continue this growth, adding additional support to stabilize and fill gaps in stranding response across coastal North Carolina.

Our Partnership Team:

We also collaborate closely with staff, interns, undergraduate students, graduate students, vet students, and volunteers at Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response, North Carolina Aquariums, North Carolina State University CMAST, UNC Wilmington, Bonehenge Whale Center, and Duke Marine Lab.