Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events
Active UMEs
2017 North Atlantic Right Whales
2016-2017 Humpback Whales in the Atlantic
2015-2017 Guadalupe Fur Seals in California
2013-2017 California Sea Lions
2011-2017 Northern Alaska Pinnipeds
Recently Closed UMEs
2015-2016 Large Whales in Alaska
2013-2015 Bottlenose Dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic
2013 Bottlenose Dolphins in Florida
2010-2014 Northern Gulf of Mexico Cetaceans
Additional Information
Working Group Charter [pdf]
What is an "unusual mortality event"?
An unusual mortality event (UME) is defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as:
"a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response."
In recent years, increased efforts to examine carcasses and live stranded animals have improved the knowledge of mortality rates and causes, allowing a better understanding of population threats and stressors and the ability to determine when a situation is "unusual."
Understanding and investigating marine mammal UMEs is important because they can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues which may also have implications for human health and welfare.California sea lions in rehabilitation post-UME.
Credit: Pacific Marine Mammal Center
How many unusual mortality events (UMEs) have occurred involving marine mammals?
The marine mammal UME program was established in 1991. From 1991 to the present, there have been 64 formally recognized UMEs in the U.S., involving a variety of species and dozens to hundreds of individual marine mammals per event.
The table below indicates the years, species, and cause (determined or suspected) for each UME.
Where do unusual mortality events generally occur?
UMEs have occurred in and along the U.S. coasts of:
- Atlantic
- Gulf of Mexico
- Pacific coasts of the continental U.S.
- Alaska
- Hawaii
The states with the most declared UMEs are:
- California
- Florida
What species are most common?
The most common species involved in UMEs are:
What causes unusual mortality events?
Causes have been determined for 32 of the 64 UMEs documented since 1991. Causes of UMEs include:
- infections
- biotoxins (poisonous substances produced by a living organism)*
- human interactions, and
- malnutrition
*Since 1996, UMEs associated with biotoxins from harmful algal blooms have become more prevalent. The majority of recent UMEs have been attributed to toxicity from:
- domoic acid [pdf]
- brevetoxin [pdf]
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No. | Year | Species | Location | Cause |
---|---|---|---|---|
64 | 2017 | North Atlantic right whales | Atlantic | Undetermined |
63 | 2017 | Humpback whales | Atlantic (ME-NC) | Undetermined |
62 | 2015 | Guadalupe fur seals | California | Undetermined |
61 | 2015 | Large whales | Western Gulf of Alaska | Undetermined |
60 | 2013 | Bottlenose dolphins | Mid-Atlantic | Infectious Disease |
59 | 2013 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (East Coast) | Ecological Factors |
58 | 2013 | Manatees | Florida | Undetermined |
57 | 2013 | California sea lions | California | Ecological Factors |
56 | 2012 | Bottlenose dolphins | Texas | Undetermined |
55 | 2011 | Pinnipeds | Alaska | Undetermined |
54 | 2011 | Pinnipeds | New England | Infectious Disease |
53 | 2011 | Bottlenose dolphins | South Carolina | Undetermined |
52 | 2011 | Manatees | Florida | Ecological Factors |
51 | 2010 | Cetaceans | Northern Gulf of Mexico | Human Interaction |
50 | 2010 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (St. Johns River) | Undetermined |
49 | 2010 | Manatees | Florida | Ecological Factors |
48 | 2009 | Bottlenose dolphins | Virginia | Undetermined |
47 | 2008 | Harbor porpoises | California | Ecological Factors |
46 | 2008 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (Indian River) | Undetermined |
45 | 2008 | Common dolphins, Atlantic while-sided | NC - NJ | Undetermined |
44 | 2008 | Bottlenose dolphins | Texas | Undetermined |
43 | 2007 | Guadalupe fur seals | Northwest | Undetermined |
42 | 2007 | Large whales | California | Human Interaction |
41 | 2007 | Manatees | Florida (SW) | Biotoxin |
40 | 2007 | Cetaceans | California | Undetermined |
39 | 2007 | Bottlenose dolphins | Texas and Louisiana | Undetermined |
38 | 2006 | Manatees | Florida (Everglades) | Biotoxin |
37 | 2006 | Harbor porpoises | Pacific Northwest | Undetermined |
36 | 2006 | Pinnipeds | North Atlantic | Infectious Disease |
35 | 2006 | Humpback whales | North Atlantic | Undetermined |
34 | 2006 | Sea otters | Alaska | Undetermined |
33 | 2005-2006 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (panhandle) | Biotoxin |
32 | 2005 | Large whales | North Atlantic | Undetermined |
31 | 2005 | Harbor porpoises | North Carolina | Undetermined |
30 | 2005-2006 | Multi-species (manatees and bottlenose dolphins) | Florida (west coast) | Biotoxin |
29 | 2004 | Small cetaceans | North Carolina | Undetermined |
28 | 2004 | Small cetaceans | Virginia | Undetermined |
27 | 2004 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (panhandle) | Biotoxin |
26 | 2003 | Harbor seals and Minke whales | Maine | Undetermined |
25 | 2003 | Manatees | Florida (west coast) | Biotoxin |
24 | 2003 | Large whales (primarily humpback whales) | Gulf of Maine | Undetermined |
23 | 2003 | Sea otters | California | Ecological Factors |
22 | 2002 | Manatees | Florida (west coast) | Biotoxin |
21 | 2002 | Multispecies (common dolphins, California sea lion, sea otters) | California | Biotoxin |
20 | 2001-2002 | Hawaiian monk seals | Hawaii (Northwest Hawaiian Islands) | Ecological Factors |
19 | 2001 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (Indian River) | Undetermined |
18 | 2000 | Harbor seals | California | Infectious Disease |
17 | 2000 | California sea lions | California | Biotoxin |
16 | 1999-2001 | Gray whales | California, Oregon, Washington | Undetermined |
15 | 1999-2000 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (panhandle) | Biotoxin |
14 | 1998 | California sea lions | California | Biotoxin |
13 | 1997 | Harbor seals | California | Infectious Disease |
12 | 1996 | Bottlenose dolphins | Mississippi | Undetermined |
11 | 1996 | Manatees | Florida (west coast) | Biotoxin |
10 | 1996 | Right whales | Florida, Georgia | Human Interaction |
9 | 1994 | Bottlenose dolphins | Texas | Infectious Disease |
8 | 1994 | Common dolphins | California | Undetermined |
7 | 1993 | Pinnipeds | Washington | Human Interaction |
6 | 1992-1993 | Pinnipeds | California | Ecological Factors |
5 | 1992 | Bottlenose dolphins | Texas | Undetermined |
4 | 1992 | Phocids | New England | Infectious Disease |
3 | 1991 | Bottlenose dolphins | Florida (Sarasota) | Undetermined |
2 | 1991 | California sea lions | California | Infectious Disease |
1 | 1991 | Harbor seals | New York | Infectious Disease |