By Eiland H.C.R. No. 177 77R6347 MMS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Each year during the months of February, March, and 1-2 April the Texas Gulf Coast experiences the "stranding season," the 1-3 time when the majority of dolphin and whale strandings occur, and 1-4 the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network is campaigning to raise 1-5 public awareness about the season and what to do if a stranded 1-6 mammal is discovered; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Founded in 1980, the network is a nonprofit, 1-8 volunteer organization dedicated to the understanding and 1-9 conservation of marine mammals; it is the only agency licensed 1-10 under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to handle 1-11 stranded marine mammals, whether dead or alive, on the Texas coast; 1-12 and 1-13 WHEREAS, In the Galveston area alone, the network recovers 1-14 from 10 to 20 animals a week during the stranding season; when 1-15 animals are recovered alive, the network provides rescue and 1-16 rehabilitation, including medical treatment and 24-hour-a-day 1-17 observation; in every case, the stranded animal provides valuable 1-18 information, both biological and environmental; and 1-19 WHEREAS, More than 90 percent of the mammals recovered by the 1-20 network are bottlenose dolphins; because these dolphins eat the 1-21 same fish that humans do, they serve as an indicator of the 1-22 condition of the marine environment; recent research on stranded 1-23 mammals has indicated an increased incidence of heavy metals, 1-24 mercury, and other pollutants, which can contribute to cancer, 2-1 infectious arthritis, lung disease, and other ailments; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The network encourages the public to be aware of the 2-3 stranding season and to call it at 1-800-9MAMMAL whenever a 2-4 stranded mammal is discovered; network volunteers stationed along 2-5 the Texas Gulf Coast will respond immediately; if the animal is 2-6 found alive, it is important to keep the animal wet while waiting 2-7 for the volunteers; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The stranding season and its implications are of 2-9 critical importance to the citizens of Texas, and the public can 2-10 render significant service by reporting every stranded mammal to 2-11 the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-13 hereby designate March 2001 as Dolphin Awareness Month and commend 2-14 the admirable rescue, research, and educational work of the Texas 2-15 Marine Mammal Stranding Network.