Marine Rescue Program Achieves New Milestone

OCEAN CITY -- After over two decades of rescuing and rehabilitating injured or ill marine mammals, including the recent release of a juvenile grey seal from the beach in Ocean City just two weeks ago, the National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) reached a significant milestone last week with its 100th successful release.

Since 1991, the National Aquarium’s MARP team has been responsible for responding to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the Delmarva peninsula, primarily along the nearly 4,400 miles of Maryland’s coast. Over the years, the MARP team has responded to a large number of strandings of ill or injured seals, turtles, and even dolphins and whales on the beaches in Ocean City and Assateague and more than a few that were rescued in other areas up and down the coast have been rehabilitated and released.

Last week, the MARP program hit a major milestone with its 100th successful release. MARP actually released three sea turtles last Friday from Point Lookout in St. Mary’s County just across the Chesapeake, marking the 100, 101 and 102 successful releases.
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