Institute for Marine Mammal Studies

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies ("IMMS") is a research organization located in Gulfport, Mississippi and dedicated to education, conservation, and research on marine mammals in the wild and in captivity. It was founded in 1984 as a research organization funded by Marine Life Oceanarium and its sister company Marine Animal Productions and recognized as a non-profit 501c(3) in 1995. The director since its founding has been Dr. Mobashir A. (Moby) Solangi. It has been an active participant of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program since its inception.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Teams from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies keep a pygmy killer whale hydrated while they prep it for release into the Gulf of Mexico

The Institute cares for sick and injured marine mammals in the Mississippi-Louisiana-Alabama subregion of the Gulf Coast. It also has programs for conservation, education and research on marine mammals and their environment. Every summer it holds a week-long educational day camp including activities involving dolphins, sea lions, rays, and sharks.[8][9][10][11]

The Institute's Ocean Adventures Marine Park, also located in Gulfport, features shows involving dolphins, sea lions, birds, stingrays, and reptiles. A dolphin encounter can be purchased there.[12]

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies has received grants of several million dollars from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., It has conducted research studies in cooperation with scientists from the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Oklahoma State, Portland State, University of Miami, University of California Berkeley, National Marine Fisheries Service, Naval Ocean Systems Center, Louisiana State, and the Naval Research Laboratory.[1]

References
  1. Local Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session June 7, 2010 (Report). United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. January 1, 2013. p. 54. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies was established in 1984 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to education, conservation, research on marine mammals and their environment in the wild and in captivity. It serves as a liaison between public and private entities interested in marine mammal science. The subjects of research have covered a broad range of scientific disciplines including population dynamics, underwater acoustics, health, genetics, microbiology, endocrinology, behavior, biomagnetism and ecology. The institute has conducted studies in cooperation with scientists from the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Oklahoma State, Portland State, University of Miami, University of California Berkeley, National Marine Fisheries Service, Naval Oceans Systems Center, Louisiana State, and the Naval Research Laboratory.
  2. "Institute for Marine Mammal Studies: About Us". Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (“IMMS”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 for the purposes of public education, conservation, and research on marine mammals in the wild and under human care.
  3. McIntosh, Shawn (May 23, 1985). "Dolphins' open sea release experiment a success in Gulfport". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Miss. Archived from the original on date not reported. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, funded by Marine Life and its sister company, Marine Animal Productions, is the first private research organization to perfect open sea release techniques. Check date values in: |archive-date= (help)
  4. "Institute for Marine Mammal Studies Inc". GuideStar. Candid. Retrieved December 21, 2019. Mission EDUCATION, RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF MARINE ANIMALS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT, Ruling Year 1995, Principal Officer DR MOBASHIR A SOLANGI, EIN 64-0706659
  5. "Title IV - Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response". noaa.gov. NOAA. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and individuals with knowledge and experience in marine science, marine mammal science, marine mammal veterinary and husbandry practices, and marine conservation, including stranding network participants, establish a program to be known as the 'Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program'.
  6. "Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal". noaa.gov. NOAA. Retrieved December 21, 2019. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS, Phone: (888) SOS-Dolphin (888-767-3657)
  7. Garrett, Allison (August 6, 2018). "Reward at $13,000 for information in the case of a pregnant dolphin shot and killed". noaa.gov. NOAA. Retrieved December 21, 2019. NOAA's stranding network partner, the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS), recovered the dolphin on April 30th and placed the animal in their freezer until a thorough necropsy could be conducted.
  8. Garcia, Christina (August 29, 2012). "Report stranded dolphins, turtles, manatees to IMMS". wlox.com. WLOX. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The IMMS team is available 24/7 to pick up only stranded dolphins, turtles or manatees. If you see a stranded dolphin, manatee or turtle call your local law enforcement or the IMMS at 1-888-767-3657.
  9. "About Us". imms.org. IMMS. Retrieved December 21, 2019. IMMS is the premier stranding organization in the Mississippi-Louisiana-Alabama region of the Gulf Coast with the capability and expertise to care for sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles.
  10. "Education". imms.org. IMMS. Retrieved December 21, 2019. IMMS believes education and outreach are components of its mission in conservation and research of marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild and under human care.
  11. "OCEAN ADVENTURE SUMMER CAMPS". oceanadventures.us. Ocean Adventures. 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019. The Dolphin and Stingray Adventure Camp is our ultimate job shadow at IMMS and Ocean Adventures Marine Park. It is an immersive week-long day camp, in which your child can step into the rubber boots of a marine scientist – and experience the world of our dolphins, sea lions, rays, sharks, and other animals who live here at IMMS and Ocean Adventures.
  12. "Welcome to Ocean Adventures". oceanadventures.us. Ocean Adventures. 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019. Join us for up-close experiences with dolphins, sea lions, sharks, rays, and birds!



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