Northeast Sea Turtle Program

Home | About Us | Search | Directions

What is a Stranding?

A stranding can be defined as:

  • An event in the wild where a marine mammal or sea turtle is found dead on the beach or shore or floating in US waters.
  • When a marine mammal or sea turtle is alive on the beach or shore, but unable to return to the water due to sickness or injury or some other obstacle.
  • When a marine mammal or sea turtle is in the water, but is unable to return to its natural habitat without assistance.
Highlights
 

Strandings can be classified according to which animal is in distress, and what type of stranding is occurring, two equally important factors that determine how experts respond to the situation. Some types of strandings are specific to certain animals. Types of strandings in the Northeast include:

   Hooded Seal Stranding
Seasonality of Strandings in the Northeast
 

Sperm Whale Stranding

  

 

Strandings occur year-round in the Northeast. However there are trends that are often observed due to the seasonality of the animals’ movements.

Stranding Reasons
 

The reason for strandings can divided into two main categories: natural and human related (anthropogenic).

Natural:

  


Loggerhead Turtle getting hook removed from mouth

Stranded Humpback whale that showed indications of vessel strike in necropsy

  


Anthropogenic:
Decisions on the Beach
 

 

 

  

Harp Seal on a haul out in rehabilitation

For more information on the stranding program, please contact NERStranding.staff@noaa.gov

Last Updated: May 30, 2008

Sea Bottom Habitat Border
     
Link to NOAA Fisheries webpage Link to NOAA webpage Link to DOC webpage