|
The Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance (PWDA) , a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, has awarded nearly $140,000.00 in grants during 2023-2024 to protect and preserve marine wildlife and coastal habitats across Florida. These grants advance critical scientific research, rescue operations, and educational initiatives supporting dolphins, sea turtles, shorebirds and will benefit all marine wildlife in Florida. All funding was generated from sales of the ‘Protect Marine Wildlife’ specialty license plate which was spearheaded by State Representative Jim Mooney (R-Florida Keys), sponsored by Rep Allison Tant (D-Tallahassee) and Senator Dennis Baxley (R-Lady Lake), approved by the Florida State Legislature and launched in 2023. Through strategic partnerships with leading research institutions, rescue organizations, and education providers, Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance, Inc continues its mission to safeguard marine ecosystems for future generations. Florida's marine wildlife is vital to the ecosystem because it helps maintain the balance of the ocean's complex food web. The diverse marine life in Florida's coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests provides food, habitat, and other benefits.  Other larger organizations, such as Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute (HSRI), are anticipating changes in federal spending that could significantly impact their ability to conduct critical conservation research. According to an appeal sent out by HSRI on February 10th, 2025, over 90% of their research budget is reliant upon competitive grants, and a reduction is a threat to their ability to plan and execute essential research projects. Grant awards from the 'Protect Marine Wildlife' specialty license plate include support for ongoing dolphin population and behavioral ecology program in the Upper Florida Keys through enhanced technologies for dolphin population studies; capacity building for marine mammal research in Florida Bay through Florida Bay small Cetacean remote biopsy sampling; and, comparative acoustic monitoring between wild dolphins and managed care environments through bioacoustics research analysis. Grant recipients include Florida Institute of Technology, University of Florida - UF Animal Rescue, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, The Turtle Hospital, The Coastal Stewards, and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder. Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance also supported Clearwater Marine Aquarium through a $25,000 hurricane relief and disaster recovery grant for emergency care support for threatened, endangered, and protected marine wildlife. These ongoing grants represent Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance commitment to supporting marine wildlife conservation through scientific research, rescue operations, educational outreach, and direct conservation efforts. Each project contributes to their mission of protecting marine wildlife and their habitats while promoting public awareness and scientific understanding. For more information about the Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance grant program through the 'Protect Marine Wildlife' specialty license plate, or to learn about future funding opportunities, please contact the Program Manager at Protect Wild Dolphins Alliance, Inc. https://protectmarinewildlife.org
0 Comments
Previous studies have found profound levels of plastics within dolphins' stomach contents, breath, and even their urine. Now researchers from the College of Charleston want to know just how severe the pollution crisis is by investigating rainfall and red tides. Growing concern among the scientific community over the impact of chemical contaminants derived from plastics upon marine life has prompted researchers in Florida to launch a bold new investigation into the concentration of plastic particles found within the local dolphin population following periods of excess rainfall and red tides. Since 2016, the College of Charleston and its partners at the Sarasota Dolphin Research Programme (SDRP) have been studying plastics pollution exposure in Sarasota Bay’s bottlenose dolphins. Among their most startling findings, these studies have previously uncovered profound levels of plastics within dolphin stomach contents and breath, while the chemicals used to make these plastics – known as phthalates – have been found in dolphin urine. With the aim of delving further and uncovering the extent of the issue, a new study is now looking into how climate-influenced events like major storms, rainfall, and red tides – periods of discolouration of the seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red algae (dinoflagellates) – impact phthalate exposure and the health of Sarasota Bay dolphins. Phthalates are the chemical compounds used to make plastics both flexible and durable and are used as both solvents and stabilisers in the plastic production process. Owing to their ubiquity and widespread occurrence in our everyday lives, they have, in recent years, earned themselves the nickname the ‘everywhere chemical’. These chemicals are easily released as plastics deteriorate and are found in everything from PVC pipes, to food packaging and even cosmetics and perfumes. Exposure is so common that more than 95% of humans have detectable levels in their urine. Original story by rob Hutchins. Click here for full story and images.
|
Archives
February 2025
Categories
All
|
|
HELP PROTECT ALL MARINE WILDLIFE IN FLORIDA AND WILD DOLPHINS IN LOUISIANA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
©2025 Universal Media and Marketing, Inc.
|
|