MARINE ANIMAL RESPONSE SOCIETY
To report stranded, injured, entangled or dead marine animals in the Canadian Maritime Provinces call:
ABOUT MARS
The Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) is a Nova Scotia-based charitable organization dedicated to marine animal conservation through response, research and engagement. Our goal is to build relationships that result in the conservation, recovery and stewardship of all marine animals and ocean ecosystems.
FEATURED RESEARCH
BEYOND THE NUMBERS:
A 15-Year Retrospective of Cetacean Incidents in Eastern Canada
This report examines data compiled via incident reporting hotlines in Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador and the Maritime Provinces from the period of 2004 to 2019 by the Réseau québécois d’urgences pour les mammifères marins, Whale Release and Strandings and the Marine Animal Response Society, respectively.
WHAT WE DO
Learn more about what we do to protect marine life and inspire people to take action.
OUR IMPACT
THE MARS HOTLINE HAS HELPED DOCUMENT
INCIDENTS INVOLVING MARINE ANIMALS
THE MARS TEAM HAS RESPONDED TO OVER
INCIDENTS INVOLVING SEALS SINCE 1999
WELL OVER
INCIDENTS INVOLVING CETACEANS RESPONDED TO SINCE 1999
VOLUNTEERS TRAINED
For more than 20 years, MARS has provided a reliable source of information and action for citizens who find marine life in trouble. There is no other comparable resource to MARS’ emergency helpline; and when someone comes across a stranded whale, or injured sea turtle, they have nowhere else to call. The reality of the situation is that problems like these are not just public safety issues, but also bring to light the human impact on our marine ecosystems.
Hope SwinimerFounder, Hope for Wildlife Society
Over many years, MARS has successfully pulled together various professional resources and their expertise in this region in order to increase awareness of the importance of marine mammals and of the vital role that these animals play as sentinels of the marine environment. Its positive influence has gone much beyond the Maritimes provinces, and it has undoubtedly become a very well recognized and respected organization at the national and international levels.
Pierre-Yves DaoustProfessor Emeritus of Anatomic Pathology and Wildlife Pathology / Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
MARITIME MARINE ANIMALS
Find out more about marine animals in the Maritime Provinces.
VOLUNTEER WITH MARS
MARS is committed to providing its volunteers with opportunities to safely engage in, and benefit from, participating in a number of different response activities.
We need volunteers to visit sites, to confirm a report of a dead or distressed marine animal and to collect data (i.e. photos, measurements and possibly samples). If MARS responders are on scene to direct rescue efforts, there may be additional opportunities to help response efforts; however, incidents are unpredictable and we cannot guarantee when or where they will happen.
Sound good to you? Click the button to fill out our volunteer form:
Already a MARS volunteer? Sign-in as a MARS volunteer:
Have questions about becoming a MARS volunteer? Email us at volunteer@marineanimals.ca