Yesterday, hundreds of employees at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, were laid off. This is devastating news for our country, our ocean, and marine mammals. This government agency safeguards all communities by protecting our most valuable resource – our ocean. NOAA weather forecasts and emergency storm alerts save countless lives each year. The leadership and expertise of NOAA staff protects marine mammals, monitors climate change, provides tide charts, manages fisheries, and more.

NOAA is a critical partner in The Marine Mammal Center’s work to advance ocean health and our team is closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation to better understand how marine mammals and our ocean will be impacted.

It is not yet clear exactly which departments or roles within NOAA will be most impacted, how these indiscriminate layoffs may affect marine mammals, and what, if any, additional cuts are anticipated to come. What is clear is that the loss of dedicated personnel, whose invaluable work is both cost efficient and lifesaving, is deeply troubling.

The ocean and the marine mammals we serve cannot afford a weakened NOAA. Our work matters and so does theirs.

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