How many marine mammal strandings occur?
Stranding reporting and response efforts have increased significantly over the last three decades. Therefore, trends in stranding numbers are difficult to interpret. Since 1994, effort has been more consistent, therefore increasing our ability to actually interpret stranding rates. In the five years from 1994 through 1998, a total of 19,130 strandings were reported – an average of 3,826 per year. In 1998, a record number of strandings were reported (5,708), but the total was inflated by the number of pinnipeds stranding due to El Niño. In the Southwest Region alone in 1998, there were 3,568 pinniped strandings. The stranding composition varies by Region with the Southwest always having the highest number of pinniped strandings and the Southeast always having the highest number of cetacean strandings.
