Every year marine animal species including marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks become involved in entanglements and entrapments, become stranded (alive or dead), orphaned, sick or injured, or stray into areas they are not normally located. Distressed animals can be dangerous to handle or move and may carry diseases.

However, it is important to remember that not all marine animals encountered may be in distress.

Healthy seals commonly “haul out” on land to rest and breed and should not be disturbed.

Many cetacean species are common to our waters and can be observed swimming through harbours and bays as they follow prey, like schools of fish.

To report stranded, injured, entangled or dead marine animals in the Canadian Maritime Provinces call:

MARS staff and volunteers respond to incidents of dead and distressed marine animals throughout the Maritime provinces.

Only trained and authorized personnel should respond to determine the appropriate course of action. Untrained individuals may put their own and the animal’s health and safety at risk.