![]() Scientists from NOAA and its partners are working to figure out the cause. The Barataria Bay dolphins that have been examined are underweight, have low hormone levels, low blood sugar, and some show signs of liver damage. The Barataria Bay dolphins have severe health problems that are not showing up in dolphins from the un-oiled area and have not been seen in previous studies of dolphins from other sites along the Atlantic coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists sampled dolphins there, and in an area that was not heavily oiled, Sarasota Bay in Florida. NOAA is working with a team of marine mammal health experts to investigate the cause of death for as many of the dolphins as possible and to understand the potential contributing factors.įor more on the investigation into this Unusual Mortality Event visit Why did NOAA and its NRDA partners focus one study on the dolphins in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay?īarataria Bay was heavily oiled for a prolonged time during the Deepwater Horizon spill. Further, there is no evidence that two of the most common causes of previous dolphin die-offs in the Gulf, morbillivirus and marine biotoxins, are the cause of this UME. This magnitude of strandings in the northern Gulf is unprecedented. Strandings in 2011 for Mississippi and Alabama were 5 times and 4 times the 2002-2009 historical average respectively. Although the stranding rate fluctuated across months, the overall rate has remained elevated and there were more strandings in 2011 than in 2010 (2011 had 159 strandings in Louisiana, almost 8 times the 2002-2009 historical average).ĭolphin strandings have also remained elevated in Mississippi and Alabama in 20. For the entire year in 2010, there were 139 strandings in Louisiana, including 48 strandings prior to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The average annual number of dolphin strandings in Louisiana from 2002-2009 was 20. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana stranding rates have been higher than historic levels since the spill occurred and continue to be high in 2012. These increased strandings are part of an Unusual Mortality Event for the entire northern Gulf which includes all dolphin and whale strandings between the Panhandle of Florida and the Louisiana/Texas border. What is going on with dolphin strandings in the Gulf of Mexico?ĭolphin strandings have been high in the northern Gulf of Mexico, beginning February 2010, and continued to be elevated after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. An important goal of this cooperative effort is to assess the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and response activities on the dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico. ![]() NOAA and its federal, state and local partners are working together on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, investigating an Unusual Mortality Event and evaluating the long term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on dolphins in the Gulf. Why is NOAA studying dolphins in the Northern Gulf of Mexico now? What should Gulf residents do if they find stranded wildlife?.If the dolphins are sick, are humans at risk?.If oil is the cause of these health problems, how could it make the dolphins so sick?.How many dolphins are in Barataria Bay?.How many dolphins, and what kinds, are in the Gulf of Mexico?.Why did NOAA and its NRDA partners focus one study on the dolphins in Louisiana’s Barataria Bay?.What is going on with dolphin strandings in the Gulf of Mexico?.Why is NOAA studying dolphins in the Northern Gulf of Mexico now?.Photo gallery of dolphin assessment work.Study by NOAA and Partners Shows Some Gulf Dolphins Severely Ill.Gulf Dolphins Questions & Answers Related Links ![]()
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