The Marine Fish Conservation Network, a broad-based coalition of national, regional, and local conservation, fishing, and scientific organizations, as well as other organizations and individals, has embarked on ambitious nationwide compain to improve the plight og the ocean and the fishes, one of our last great public resource. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is a private, non-profit organization that was formed with a handful of volunteers. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is the only organization authorized, by federal and state permits, to rescue and rehabilitate stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in New Jersey. As of spring of 1993, the Center has responded to over 1,000 call for stranded whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles thay washed ashore on New Jersey beaches. Whenever possible, the animals are brought back to the Center for rehabilitation and eventual release.
Rehabilitation can last up to several months and cost thousands of dollars for a single animal.
In addition to the humanitarian aspect of rehabilitation, strandings enable the Center to study animals that are rarely available for scrutiny by scientist. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has an educational museum which is open to the public seven day a week from Mid-June to Labor Day and on weekends the rest of the year. The Foundation is responsible for saving 2200 acres of open space in the county since it's founding in 1977.