Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Evaluation Key Findings John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Grant Assistance Program Workshop Responsive Management Thursday, December 10, 2009 Photo: NOAA

Responsive Management Methodology  External Survey of Stakeholders (n = 124)  Survey instrument developed based on 20 in-depth personal interviews with Network participants  Multi-modal Survey Electronic form Mail Telephone  Four Regions Northeast Region Southeast Region Southwest Region Northwest Region  Data Analysis and Final Report Major findings Recommendations

KEY FINDINGS Responsive Management

Key Topic Areas 1.Participant Training and Educational Backgrounds 2.Funding 3.Event Preparedness 4.Communication 5.NMFS Publicity and Outreach 6.Network Improvement

1. Participant Training and Educational Backgrounds Responsive Management

Participant Training and Educational Backgrounds  Not all participants have the same educational backgrounds and levels of training. The discrepancies in training and education are commonly viewed as problematic.

Responsive Management 72% agree

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2. Funding

Responsive Management Funding  Funding for Stranding Network organizations is a problem. More Network participants disagree (52%) than agree (39%) that their organization is adequately funded to fulfill duties. Of those who participate in post-release monitoring, a majority disagree (63%) that their organization is adequately funded for this. Similarly, “funding” is by far the top answer among resources needed by organizations to improve their effectiveness.

Responsive Management 52% disagree

Responsive Management 63% disagree

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3. Event Preparedness

Responsive Management Event Preparedness  Substantial percentages of Network participants feel their organizations are not at all prepared for the following events: an oil spill (38%) a disentanglement event (20%)

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Event Preparedness  Feelings of being unprepared are most commonly due to the following: inexperience lack of training for the event unfamiliarity with proper protocols and procedures for the event lack of available funding and staff

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4. Communication

Responsive Management Communication  There may be opportunities to: better educate Stranding Network participants on the role of the national Stranding Coordinator improve Network communication in several areas

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Communication  Substantial percentages of Network participants describe the following types of Network communication as fair or poor: communication between regions (50%) communication with the NMFS after responses to strandings (25%) communication with other Network participant organizations in region (24%) overall communication with the NMFS (22%) regional efforts to keep Network participants informed of the latest trends, developments, and information (49%)

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49% 44%

Responsive Management 5. NMFS Publicity and Outreach

Responsive Management NMFS Publicity and Outreach  Substantial percentages of Stranding Network participants indicate that the NMFS could improve efforts to: provide feedback to the public regarding strandings and other Network information assist participant organizations with media and publicity  A majority of participants also agree that the NMFS should work more closely with neighboring nations.

Responsive Management 43%

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Responsive Management 61% agree

Responsive Management 6. Network Improvement

Responsive Management Network Improvement  Although organizations’ greatest needs are for additional funding and training, there is also a desire for greater coordination and collaboration throughout the Stranding Network.  Excluding funding, top ways Network participants can enhance the capacity to produce scientific information are: communication / coordination / collaboration additional training standardization of data collection / archiving

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Network Improvement  Most commonly needed additional resources are: funding training equipment better communication / cooperation staff

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Network Improvement  Network participants think the following should be priorities in their region: improved data collection additional / better funding sources improved communication / coordination / cooperation

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Photo: PBS

Responsive Management PRESCOTT GRANT

Responsive Management Prescott Grant  The Prescott Grant is one of the top sources of funding for Stranding Network organizations. Half of all organizations surveyed (50%) currently receive at least some funding through the Prescott Grant. More than a quarter (27%) identify the Prescott Grant as their organization’s primary source of funding.

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Prescott Grant  A substantial percentage of Network participants whose organizations are funded through the Prescott Grant (31%) say they are dissatisfied with the funding opportunities made available through the Prescott Grant.

Responsive Management 31% dissatisfied

Responsive Management Prescott Grant  Common reasons for dissatisfaction with the Prescott Grant are: the grant does not provide enough funds to cover organizational needs funds do not arrive on time or are awarded late the Prescott Grant is influenced by politics / favoritism

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Prescott Grant  A substantial percentage of Network participants whose organizations are funded through the Prescott Grant (29%) say they are dissatisfied with the Prescott Grant’s application process.

Responsive Management 29% dissatisfied

Responsive Management Prescott Grant  Common reasons for dissatisfaction with the Prescott Grant application process are: requires too much information depends too much on politics / favoritism contributes to disproportionate spreading of funds throughout the Network

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Photo: NOAA