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Abstract

THE MARINE MAMMAL PROGRAM AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

James G. Mead, Charles W. Potter and Bernadette M. Allen
National Museum of Natural History
Bio

Collection based marine mammal research has been conducted at the Smithsonian Institution (SI) since 1850, beginning with Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the United States National Museum. Baird’s joint affiliation with both the SI and the U. S. Fish Commission (predecessor to NOAA Fisheries) is reflected today in the close association between the Smithsonian and NOAA Fisheries, a primary source of specimens for today’s collection. Since the late 1960s there has been a dramatic increase in both the quality and quantity of specimens and associated data catalogued in the SI collection. This coincides directly with the closing of U.S. whaling stations, the focus on tuna-dolphin fisheries, the passing of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. The year 1972 was a critical year for marine mammal issues; the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission was founded, and the SI’s Marine Mammal Program was established. Today, the SI cetacean collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection in the world. This collection provides valuable information to scientists and resource managers who monitor the health, conservation, and biodiversity of our marine environment. Each year, the SI’s Marine Mammal Program averages between 50 - 75 national and international visitors, including representatives from educational, non-profit, governmental, and research institutions. The focus of collection-based activities in the MMP includes life history, conservation and management, and overall ocean health. The MMP is unique in that it houses one of the most comprehensive and invaluable collections for marine mammalogists, including the largest and most comprehensive physical specimen collection, historical and recent photos, data archives, a historical and global cetacean database, and libraries. The SI cetacean research collection continues to be an invaluable resource for supporting scientific publications/ presentations, legislation, law enforcement, education and research, as well as management and conservation efforts.