1-1     By:  Eiland (Senate Sponsor - Jackson)               H.C.R. No. 177
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001;
 1-3     May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
 1-4     Resources; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, Each year during the months of February, March, and
 1-8     April the Texas Gulf Coast experiences the "stranding season," the
 1-9     time when the majority of dolphin and whale strandings occur, and
1-10     the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network is campaigning to raise
1-11     public awareness about the season and what to do if a stranded
1-12     mammal is discovered; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Founded in 1980, the network is a nonprofit,
1-14     volunteer organization dedicated to the understanding and
1-15     conservation of marine mammals; it is the only agency licensed
1-16     under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to handle
1-17     stranded marine mammals, whether dead or alive, on the Texas coast;
1-18     and
1-19           WHEREAS, In the Galveston area alone, the network recovers
1-20     from 10 to 20 animals a week during the stranding season; when
1-21     animals are recovered alive, the network provides rescue and
1-22     rehabilitation, including medical treatment and 24-hour-a-day
1-23     observation; in every case, the stranded animal provides valuable
1-24     information, both biological and environmental; and
1-25           WHEREAS, More than 90 percent of the mammals recovered by the
1-26     network are bottlenose dolphins; because these dolphins eat the
1-27     same fish that humans do, they serve as an indicator of the
1-28     condition of the marine environment; recent research on stranded
1-29     mammals has indicated an increased incidence of heavy metals,
1-30     mercury, and other pollutants, which can contribute to cancer,
1-31     infectious arthritis, lung disease, and other ailments; and
1-32           WHEREAS, The network encourages the public to be aware of the
1-33     stranding season and to call it at 1-800-9MAMMAL whenever a
1-34     stranded mammal is discovered; network volunteers stationed along
1-35     the Texas Gulf Coast will respond immediately; if the animal is
1-36     found alive, it is important to keep the animal wet while waiting
1-37     for the volunteers; and
1-38           WHEREAS, The stranding season and its implications are of
1-39     critical importance to the citizens of Texas, and the public can
1-40     render significant service by reporting every stranded mammal to
1-41     the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network; now, therefore, be it
1-42           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-43     hereby designate March 2001 as Dolphin Awareness Month and commend
1-44     the admirable rescue, research, and educational work of the Texas
1-45     Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
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