SR3 - SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research

SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research (SR³) was established in response to critical gaps in protections for marine animals in the Pacific Northwest. The organization serves a total of 3,000 miles of coastline in Oregon and Washington State, including one of the world’s largest and most biologically rich inland seas, the Salish Sea.

More than 3,400 marine species and 8 million people call the region home - from bustling beaches along the Seattle shorefront to rugged terrain on the outer coastline. With local human populations continuing to grow, the stress being put on marine species is increasing. 113 local species are currently listed as endangered, threatened, or are candidates for addition to the U.S. Endangered Species list because of human impacts.   

An average of 1,000 marine mammals are found stranded on beaches in the Pacific Northwest every year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Sadly, most of these animals are not only suffering as a result of human impacts, but they are also at risk of being left to struggle on the beach without care.

SR³’s mission is to promote the health and welfare of marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. It fulfills this mission by addressing both the urgent needs of suffering animals as well as the root causes of marine health issues through three primary programs:

·      Response: SR³’s marine wildlife ambulance, response boat, and emergency first responders stand ready every day to deliver urgent care when marine animals are suffering.

·      Rehabilitation: SR³’s SeaLife Rescue Center delivers specialized veterinary care and professional rehabilitation to sick, injured or entangled marine animals who need time to heal before returning to their ocean home.

·      Research: SR³’s scientific research delivers insights into the health, status, and impacts of human activities on marine animal populations, with a special focus on the endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW). By collecting health data from these ailing populations, we inform conservation actions critical to their survival.