Marine Mammals on the West Coast
To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal in Washington, Oregon, or California, please call the West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114.
Marine mammals are any mammal that makes the sea its home for part or all of its life. This includes cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sea otters, sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and polar bears. Marine mammals are found worldwide. We have over 30 species off the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts. It is our responsibility to protect these species throughout the West Coast and within the United States. Many of these animals are affected by human impacts, fisheries, and environmental changes.
Several innovative programs—ship strike strategies, derelict gear hotlines, stranding networks, and rehabilitation efforts—are working to restore threatened and endangered marine animals. For marine mammals also listed under the Endangered Species Act, we work with partners to develop recovery plans that guide specific actions to protect and recover their populations.
How to Report
To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal in Washington, Oregon, or California:
- West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114
- Regional Stranding Response Contacts
To report entangled marine mammals:
- Entanglement Reporting Hotline: 1-877-SOS-WHAL or 1-877-767-9425
- The U.S. Coast Guard: VHF Ch. 16
To report harassments and other violations to law enforcement:
- NOAA Enforcement Hotline: 1-800-853-1964
To report derelict gear:
- Derelict Gear Hotline: 1-855-542-3935
To view current predictions for Blue Whales off the U.S. West Coast, visit the WhaleWatch site.
Species Information
NOAA Fisheries manages most marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act (ESA); however, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages northern sea otters, walrus, manatees, and polar bears.
All cetaceans and pinnipeds managed by NOAA Fisheries on the West Coast:
NOAA Fisheries has listed 22 species of marine mammals under the ESA. Ten of these species occur on the West Coast: Guadalupe fur seals and nine cetaceans, including two distinct population segments (DPS) of humpback whale and the Western North Pacific DPS of gray whale.
Steller sea lions also occur on the West Coast, but the eastern DPS that occurs off the West Coast was delisted in 2013. The western DPS of Steller sea lions remains on the ESA list as an endangered species and is managed by NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Region. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Marine Mammal Laboratory does research on Steller sea lions.
ESA-listed Species on the West Coast:
Management & Recovery
- Recovery Plans for Marine Mammals on the West Coast
- Marine Mammal Consultation Tools
- Biological Opinions
- Critical Habitat Maps and Data
- Fisheries Interactions
- Ship Strikes
- Ocean Acoustics
- West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network
- Large Whale Entanglement Response Program
- SOS WHALe Brochure (PDF, 2 pages)
Pinniped Policy & Management
- Columbia River Sea Lion removal program
- Deterring problem pinnipeds
- Deterrence methods for problem pinnipeds (PDF, 1 page)
- Pinniped Entanglements Q & A (PDF, 2 pages)
- Pinniped branding on the West Coast Q & A (PDF, 3 pages)
- Reports on West Coast pinnipeds
- California Sea Lion Unusual Mortality Event (2013-2017)
- Share The Shore Q & A (PDF, 2 pages)
Stewardship
- Watching Marine Mammals
- Safe Whale Viewing
- Share the Shore with Seals & Sea Lions
- Marine Mammal GIS Maps & Data
Partners
Research and Monitoring
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Program
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Program
- NOAA Fisheries' National Marine Mammal Laboratory
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- The Center for Whale Research
- Cascadia Research Collective
Management, Coordination, and Enforcement
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Washington State Protecting Southern Residents
- Puget Sound Killer Whale Partners
- Stranding Network Partners
- Fisheries Interactions Partners
Education and Outreach
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center
- Killer Whale Tales
- The Whale Museum
- Seattle Aquarium
- The Whale Trail
- Soundwatch
- Straitwatch
- British Columbia Cetacean Sighting Network
- Orca Network
Research
NOAA Programs
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Program
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center Marine Mammal Program
- NOAA Fisheries' National Marine Mammal Laboratory
- National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
Other Research Partners
- Center for Whale Research
- Cascadia Research Collective
- Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance, & Status of Humpbacks (SPLASH)
- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Oregon State University, Marine Mammal Institute
- Portland State University
Learn More About
- 2014 Southern Resident Killer Whales 10 Year Report
- 2011 Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Update
- Southern Resident Killer Whale Satellite Tag Study
- 2008 Southern Resident Killer Whale Births and Deaths Summary
- Interested in Becoming a Marine Biologist
- Career Links
Education and Outreach
- Educational Materials
- Marine Mammal Two By Two Video
- Orphan Orca, Saving Springer Video
- What Do Marine Mammals Eat Video
- Listen To Killer Whales In The Salish Sea
- Be Whale Wise Resources
- NWFSC Coloring Book
- Invite Killer Whale Tales Into Your Classroom
- Join & Volunteer With The Whale Trail
- Check Out American Cetacean Society's Speaker Series
