Marine institute funding in jeopardy

The Marine, Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute in Lewes says its primary source of federal funding may soon dry up.

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program has been targeted by the Obama administration as a place to save money in the upcoming budget. The program provides grants to stranding organizations such as MERR for recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals, data collection and facility upgrades, operation costs and staffing needs.

Suzanne Thurman, executive director at MERR, said the program provides $50,000 each year to pay for equipment, a 24-hour hotline and Thurman's salary and fringe benefits. Thurman hasn't taken a salary in two months.

“It's not only important for us, but any marine mammal organization around the country,” she said. “For an organization like ours that's not under the umbrella of an aquarium or university, that fund is the seed money for the whole year.”

The grant program provides $4 million to marine mammal organizations in six regions of the country. The president's fiscal year 2013 budget request lists no funding for the grant program. However, the decision is not yet final because Congress makes the final funding decision when passing fiscal year 2013 appropriation bills – a process that is just getting started.

Thurman is encouraging the community to write to Rep. John Carney and Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper for help. She said there is some bi-partisan support for reestablishing the funding in Washington, and she hopes the program receives support. Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., recently spoke on the House floor in support of keeping the program intact.

“The [program] is a cost-effective, community-oriented program that works with stranded mammals, enables collection of data to prevent future strandings and deals with the practical dilemma communities face with beached dolphins weighing 200 to 500 pounds as well as right whales,” he said.

He said he'd continue working to secure funding for the program.

MERR responds to an average of 100 stranded animals each year and helps organizations from other states transport animals. It is the only marine mammal response group in Delaware. The organization was established in 2000 by Thurman, who originally used her own home as a place to store and care for stranded or injured marine life.

If MERR were to fold, Thurman said, the state would bear the responsibility of responding to stranded and injured animals. She said it's likely the state would provide only a minimal response effort and collect only basic data. MERR can provide veterinarian treatment, short-term holding and research as well as offer educational programs.

Thurman said the funding is vital to the survival of MERR. She said the organization also receives funding from private sources and fundraising, but nothing could make up for the money received from the Prescott Grant.

“Some organizations are going to fold,” she said. “We'll be hard pressed not to. It's really important that people are aware. We have found a way to keep going against all odds, but it can't go on forever.”

For more information on the MERR Institute go to merrinstitute.org.