Marine Mammal Response Program

There are a wide range of human activities that affect marine mammals and sea turtles including:

• fishing activities
• marine traffic
• noise
• coastal development
• pollution

Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for assisting marine mammals and sea turtles in distress. In collaboration with conservation groups and non-governmental organizations, the Department supports marine mammal incident response networks in all regions under the umbrella of the Marine Mammal Response Program.

The Marine Mammal Response Program works with partners to:

• track and respond to marine mammal entanglements, strandings (dead and live), ship strikes, and other threats
• quantify threats affecting marine mammal species, with a special focus on species assessed as at risk
• provide data and information to support Species at Risk recovery planning initiatives, mitigation options, and policy development

Protocols and procedures

• Protocol for Liaison with DFO
• Entanglement Response Procedures for Large Whales in Atlantic Canada

Annual Reports

• Annual Report 2022-23
• Annual Report 2021-22
• Annual Report 2020-21
• Annual Report 2019
• Annual Report 2018
• Annual Report 2017
• Annual Report 2016
• Annual Report 2015
• Annual Report 2014
• Annual Report 2013-2014
• Annual Report 2012-2013
• Annual Report 2011-2012
• Annual Report 2010-2011
• Annual Report 2009-2010