Mission

We are committed to protecting our ocean, whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife through research, education, conservation, and whale rescue. Our mission is to acquire and share knowledge and inspire the next generation of whale, dolphin and ocean conservationists.

The Big Idea

Marine Life Studies’ Whale Entanglement Team (WET)® plays a crucial role in protecting marine life within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. WET® serves as the rapid response team for documenting and rescuing entangled whales. R/V Current’Sea, the team’s operating vessel, is aptly known as the whale disentanglement ambulance. This vessel is fully equipped for responses, including an inflatable boat with motor specifically designed for whale disentanglement.
R/V Current’Sea is indispensable in the mission to respond to and save entangled whales. It aids in preventing future entanglements by collecting critical data during rescues and serves as a training platform for WET® members. Funds will ensure the vessel's maintenance and the acquisition of specialized equipment necessary for disentanglement operations. These efforts are vital in preventing whales from enduring slow, painful deaths and in safeguarding other marine wildlife in the Sanctuary. It is imperative that R/V Current’Sea remains ready for every call.

Marine Life Studies’ Whale Entanglement Team (WET)® and their Whale Rescue Research Vessel play a vital role in whale disentanglement off the California coast. As the primary response team, they were the perfect partner for The Nature Conservancy’s project to develop Scout, a new telemetry buoy for whale entanglement response. Scout incorporates major advances in hardware and software, improving response times and success rates for teams like WET®. Marine Life Studies assisted in the testing phase, using their vessel for Scout deployment, tracking, and retrieval. They provided valuable feedback on the device's design and usability, leading the on-water testing at a national disentanglement training for upper-level responders. WET® continues to be integral to the Scout project and a key partner in protecting ocean life. Their outreach, education, and entanglement programs are essential to marine conservation, and we look forward to future collaboration. -Matt Merrifield, Chief Technology Officer, The Nature Conservancy

- Matt Merrifield