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Active and Closed Unusual Mortality Events

Since 1991, marine mammal unusual mortality events (UMEs) have been declared.

National

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Since 1991, 72 marine mammal unusual mortality events (UMEs) have been declared.

Active UMEs

UME No.Year DeclaredUME NameSpeciesBody of Water/LocationCause
712021Atlantic Florida ManateeManateeAtlantic Ocean, FloridaMalnutrition secondary to ecological factors (e.g. change in forage)
652018Atlantic Minke WhaleMinke whaleAtlantic OceanSuspect Human Interaction (Entanglement)/Infectious Disease
642017North Atlantic Right WhaleNorth Atlantic right whaleAtlantic Ocean, Canada, and U.S.Human Interaction (Vessel Strike/Rope Entanglement)
632017Atlantic Humpback WhaleHumpback whaleAtlantic OceanSuspect Human Interaction (Vessel Strike)

Nonactive UME's-Closure Pending

UME No.

Year Declared

UME Name

Species

Body of Water/Location

Cause

672018Northeast PinnipedHarbor and gray sealAtlantic OceanInfectious Disease

Closed UMEs

UME No.Year DeclaredUME NameSpeciesBody of Water/ LocationNumber of AnimalsDate RangeCause
702019Alaska Ice SealBearded, ringed, and spotted sealBering and Chukchi Seas284June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019Ecological Factors
722022Maine PinnipedHarbor and gray sealAtlantic Ocean181June 20 to July 20, 2022Infectious Disease
692019Northern Gulf of Mexico Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinNorthern Gulf of Mexico, Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana337February 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019Ecological Factors
682019West Coast Gray WhaleGray WhalePacific Ocean690December 17, 2018 to November 9, 2023Ecological Factors
662018Southwest Florida Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico183July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019Biotoxin
622015Guadalupe Fur Seal and Northern Fur SealGuadalupe fur seal and northern fur sealPacific Ocean, California, Oregon, and Washington715 Guadalupe fur seals; 170 northern fur sealsJanuary 1, 2015 to September 2, 2021Ecological factors
612015Alaska and British
Columbia Large
Whale		Fin 
and humpback
whale		Pacific Ocean,
Gulf of Alaska,
United States;
British
Columbia,
Canada		52April 23, 2015, to
April 16, 2016		Undetermined;
secondary
ecological
factors
602013Mid-Atlantic
Bottlenose Dolphin		Bottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, New York to Florida~1,650July 1, 2013, to March
1, 2015		Infectious disease
592013Florida Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, Florida79January 9, 2013, to December 31, 2013Ecological factors
582013Florida East Coast ManateeManateeIndian River Lagoon, Florida-East Coast111January 1 to December 26, 2013Infectious disease secondary to ecological factors (e.g. change in forage)
572013California Sea LionCalifornia sea lionPacific Ocean, California8,122January 1, 2013, to September 30, 2016Ecological Factors
562012Texas Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Texas126November 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012Biotoxin
552011Alaska PinnipedBearded, ribbon, ringed, spotted seal, and walrusBering and Chukchi Seas, Alaska~657May 1, 2011, to December 31, 2016Undetermined
542011Northeast PinnipedGray and harbor sealAtlantic Ocean, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts784June 1, 2011, to November 15, 2012Infectious Disease
532011South Carolina Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, South Carolina37February 27, 2011, to May 30, 2011Undetermined
522011Florida ManateeManateeAtlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Florida143December 16, 2010, to February 13, 2011Ecological Factors
512010Florida St. Johns River Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinSt. Johns River, Florida23May 24, 2010, to November 7, 2010Undetermined
502010Northern Gulf of Mexico CetaceanBottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, spinner dolphin, melon-headed whale, sperm whale, pygmy sperm whale, dwarf sperm whale, pantropical spotted dolphin, Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale, minke whale, short-finned pilot whale, Risso’s dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whale, Clymene dolphin, rough-toothed dolphinNorthern Gulf of Mexico, Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana1,141March 2010 to July 2014Human Interaction
492010Florida ManateeManateeAtlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Florida~529January 11, 2010, to April 9, 2010Ecological Factors
482009Virginia Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, Virginia40April 21, 2009, to June 30, 2009Undetermined
472008California Harbor PorpoiseHarbor porpoisePacific Ocean, California170May 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009Ecological Factors
462008Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, Florida48May 2, 2008, to September 4, 2008Undetermined
452008Mid-Atlantic Small CetaceanShort-beaked common dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphinAtlantic Ocean, New Jersey to North Carolina35

January 1, 2008,

to

April 26, 2008

Undetermined
442008Texas Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Texas113February 1, 2008, to March 31, 2008Undetermined
432007Northwest Guadalupe Fur SealGuadalupe fur sealPacific Ocean, Oregon, Washington29June 20, 2007, to March 31, 2008Undetermined
422007California Blue WhaleBlue whalePacific Ocean, California6September 8, 2007, to November 29, 2007Human Interaction
412007Southwest Florida ManateeManateeGulf of Mexico, Southwest Florida54March 7, 2007, to April 28, 2007Biotoxin
402007California CetaceanShort-beaked common dolphin, harbor porpoise, minke whale, sperm whalePacific Ocean, California91February 10, 2007, to September 30, 2007Undetermined
392007Texas to Louisiana Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphin

Gulf of Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana

65February 27. 2007 to July 26, 2007Undetermined
382006Everglade ManateeManatee

Gulf of Mexico, Everglades, Florida

24November 9, 2006, to December 31, 2006Biotoxin
372006Northwest Harbor PorpoiseHarbor porpoisePacific Ocean, Pacific Northwest114January 11, 2006, to December 20, 2007Undetermined
362006Northeast PinnipedGray, harbor, harp, and hooded sealAtlantic Ocean, Maine to Virginia~800April 20, 2006, to October 31, 2007Infectious Disease
352005-2006Northeast Large WhaleHumpback whaleAtlantic Ocean, Maine to Virginia48January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007Undetermined
342006Alaska Sea OtterSea otterPacific Ocean, Alaska~491January 1, 2004, to October 1, 2012Undetermined
332005-2006Florida Panhandle Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico Panhandle, Florida~93September 19, 2005, to April 30, 2006Biotoxin
322005Northeast Large WhaleMinke, humpback, and fin, and sperm whaleAtlantic Ocean, Canada to Maryland34July 1, 2005, to November 7, 2005Undetermined
312005North Carolina Harbor PorpoiseHarbor porpoiseAtlantic Ocean, North Carolina43February 12, 2005, to May 8, 2005Undetermined
302005West Florida Multi-SpeciesBottlenose dolphin, manateeGulf of Mexico, Florida~190 dolphins; ~92 manatees; ~38 manatees

July 1, 2005, and Nov 30,  2006;

March 4, 2005, to December 31, 2005; July 17, 2006, to December 31, 2006

Biotoxin
292004Virginia Small CetaceanBottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, short- and long-finned pilot whale, minke whaleAtlantic Ocean, Virginia~52May 1, 2004, to July 12, 2004Undetermined
282004Mid-Atlantic Small CetaceanBottlenose dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, Risso's dolphin, pygmy sperm whale, short-finned pilot whale, dwarf sperm whale, minke whale,  Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, Sowerby’s beaked whale, Gervais’ beaked whale, fin whaleAtlantic Ocean, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia~37July 1, 2004, to December 31, 2004Undetermined
272004Florida Panhandle Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Panhandle, Florida107

March 10, 2004, to April 13, 2004

Biotoxin
262003-2004Northeast Minke Whale and Harbor SealMinke whale, harbor sealAtlantic Ocean, Maine~22 minke whales; ~42 harbor sealsMay 1, 2003, to  November 30, 2003Undetermined
252003Florida ManateeManateeGulf of Mexico, Florida~96March 2 to September 3, 2003Biotoxin
242003Gulf of Maine Large WhaleHumpback whale, fin whale, minke whale, long-finned pilot whaleAtlantic Ocean, Gulf of Maine, Canada to Massachusetts21June 17, 2003, to September 1, 2003Undetermined
232003California Sea OtterSea otterPacific Ocean, California~69January 1, 2003, to October 1, 2003Ecological Factors
222002Florida ManateeManateeGulf of Mexico, Florida34March 10, 2002, to April 8, 2002Biotoxin
212002California Multi-SpeciesCalifornia sea lion, short-beaked common dolphin, sea otterPacific Ocean, California~500January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002Biotoxin
202001Hawaiian Monk SealHawaiian monk sealPacific Ocean, Northwest Hawaiian Islands~11March 24, 2001, to February 5, 2002Ecological Factors
192001Florida Indian River Lagoon Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinAtlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, Florida~30May 1, 2001, to October 31, 2001Undetermined
182000Harbor SealHarbor sealPacific Ocean, California~26Not AvailableInfectious Disease
172000California Sea LionCalifornia sea lionPacific Ocean, California184June 23, 2000, to December 1, 2000Biotoxin
161999-2001Pacific Gray WhaleGray whalePacific Ocean, California, Oregon, Washington~651January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2000Undetermined
151999-2000Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Panhandle, Florida115August 5, 1999, to May 20, 2000Biotoxin
141998California Sea LionCalifornia sea lionPacific Ocean, California70May 15, 1998, to June 19, 1998Biotoxin
131997Harbor SealHarbor sealPacific Ocean, California~90Not AvailableInfectious Disease
121996Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Mississippi~30Not AvailableUndetermined
111996Florida ManateeManateeGulf of Mexico, Florida149March 5, 1996, to April 27, 1996Biotoxin
101996Right WhaleNorth Atlantic right whaleAtlantic Ocean, Georgia, Florida~6Not AvailableHuman Interaction
91994Texas Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Texas~72 (57)December 1, 1993, to April 30, 1994Infectious Disease
81994California Common DolphinShort-beaked common dolphinPacific Ocean, California~53Not AvailableUndetermined
71993PinnipedCalifornia and Steller sea lion, harbor sealPacific Ocean, Washington~53Not AvailableHuman Interaction
61992-1993California Sea LionCalifornia sea lionPacific Ocean, California~1000January 1, 1992, to December 31, 1992Ecological Factors
51992Texas Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Texas220January 1, 1992, to May 31, 1992Undetermined
41992Northeast PinnipedGray and harbor sealAtlantic Ocean, Maine to Massachusetts~24September 1, 1991, to April 30, 1992Undetermined (suspect Infectious Disease)
3 1991Bottlenose DolphinBottlenose dolphinGulf of Mexico, Sarasota, Florida30Not AvailableUndetermined
21991California Sea LionCalifornia sea lionPacific Ocean, California~160September 1, 1991, to December 31, 1991Infectious Disease
11991Northeast PinnipedHarbor sealAtlantic Ocean, New Jersey~34Not AvailableUndetermined

More Information

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 08/28/2024

Unusual Mortality Event Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program