Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

How does Sea Research Foundation plan on assisting the Gulf Coast oil recovery?

Within days of the Deepwater Horizon incident, Sea Research Foundation (parent organization of Mystic Aquarium) quickly formed a Gulf Coast Response Committee coordinated by Trustee Tom Mosey, his wife Julie Mosey and Kelly Matis, vice president of education and public conservation programs. Through direct communication with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, Florida Aquarium, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Northeast Regional Stranding Network, the committee has developed a coordinated plan of response focused on protecting the ocean environment and the living creatures, from marine mammals to invertebrates, in harm's way.

Sea Research President and CEO Dr. Stephen M. Coan has traveled to Washington, D.C. to brief the Connecticut Congressional delegation on the preparations being made to bring assistance to the Gulf Coast region, as well as call on federal authorities within NOAA to temporarily lift restrictions on the inter-state movement of marine mammals and other species so that facilities like Mystic Aquarium can assist in providing space for animals in need of rehabilitative care.

Sea Research Foundation’s Mystic Aquarium and Immersion Learning are serving as an educational resource for the New England region and marine science community by compiling and posting information and resources, including an up-to-the-minute news feed on immersionlearning.org.

Mystic Aquarium will continue to stay on top of Deepwater Horizon incident developments and will organize resources that let community members know what they can do in their own backyard to make a difference in the marine environment and support oil clean-up initiatives. We are aware of the immediate and long-term impact on the marine ecosystem and are available to lend resources and support to organizations in the Gulf now and in the future.

Click here to read more details on Sea Research Foundation's response to the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Why aren’t Mystic Aquarium staff members in the Gulf now? 

Currently, all needs are being met by Gulf Coast organizations and other identified parties.  In the meantime, aquarium staff with animal handling, stranding, clinical and veterinary expertise have been identified and are awaiting word from NOAA, which is coordinating all relief efforts, and the stranding network for deployment.

In June, Mystic Aquarium’s Director of Animal Care and Veterinarian Dr. Allison Tuttle flew to New Orleans to assist the Audubon Nature Institute’s sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts for a few days.  She is prepared to return to offer assistance as the need arises. 

Your actions at home can have a direct effect on ecosystems around the world. It is all one ocean.

Does Sea Research Foundation have experience in responding to oil spills?

Sea Research Foundation staff assisted in providing animal rescue and rehabilitation in 2000 when more than 20,000 African penguins became oiled during the Treasure oil spill in South Africa.  SRF continues to send researchers to South Africa to collect data on the African penguin population, including birds that were oiled, to better understand the effect of oil spills on marine animals. In addition, Mystic Aquarium has been rescuing stranded marine mammals for more than 30 years, and is a founding member of the Northeast Region Stranding Network. The network consists of independent organizations dedicated to caring for sick and injured animals and learning more about the reasons they come ashore. Stranding Department staff care for sea turtles and marine mammals. In all, the aquarium has responded to more than 875 stranding calls from the public, treating more than 375 marine mammals and releasing more than 175.

Should I go to the Gulf Coast?

No. At this time, only volunteers requested directly by state and federal government agencies who have specific HAZMAT and wildlife rehabilitation certifications are able to work and provide assistance.   

What can I do to help?

Your actions at home can have a direct effect on ecosystems around the world. It is all one ocean.

• Make sure your trash ends up in the correct place. Debris that is thrown out of car windows or left at the park can make its way into the water system and end up in our oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating in the ocean is a vast collection of trash, mostly plastic, that has reached two times the size of Texas.
• Recycle! Every year, 15 billion pounds of plastic are produced in the U.S., but only 1 billion are recycled.
• Use reusable bags, mugs and canteens. Last year, Americans spent nearly $11 billion on over 8 billion gallons of bottled water and tossed over 22 billion empty plastic bottles in the trash.
• Stay up to date.  Make sure that the information you receive regarding the Gulf oil spill is current and accurate.

The Immersion Learning Web site provides a comprehensive news feed highlighting the latest oil spill and relief information. Kids that visit Immersion's Facebook page can find information on environmental disasters and engage in discussions about the oil spill.

A daily updated page on the NOAA Web site includes information on day-to-day operations of the oil spill control, posts-trajectory maps to follow the spread of the oil contamination and fact sheets regarding the impact of oil on the marine environment.

• Volunteer your time or money to a local organization that is working on cleaning up the local environment or provides local wildlife rehabilitation services. 

How can an oil spill affect the Gulf Coast ecosystem?
Unfortunately, it is unknown how much oil has been released into the Gulf or the exact path the oil will take in the weeks and months to come.  However, current concerns focus on the potential effects of oil on birds, sea turtles, marine mammals and fisheries in the area. 

Marine birds coming to nest in the Gulf area may become oiled and will ingest toxic chemicals as they preen or groom their feathers. The endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle only nests in the western Gulf of Mexico and is currently in the peak of the nesting season. Exposure to oil can lead to fewer hatchlings or affect their development. Additionally, sea turtles, birds and the 21 marine mammal species that make the Gulf their home can be harmed by ingestion of oil food and inhalation of chemicals, which can lead to organ damage. 

Acording to NOAA, commercial fishermen earned $659 million in revenue in 2008 and an additional 24 million in recreational fishing trips. A collapse of the Gulf fisheries could not only have disastrous implications on the Gulf food chains but also on the economy of the Gulf states.

Click here for NOAA fact sheets on the effects of oil on Gulf habitats and their inhabitants.