The Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center

The Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center (SBMMC) is a nonprofit organization funded by private donations and grants and staffed entirely by volunteers. The SBMMC rescues and cares for sick and injured marine mammals from 100 miles of Santa Barbara County coastline and and is authorized to rescue marine mammals caught in fishing nets at the Channel Islands. About 90 percent of the animals rescued are returned to the wild, the highest success rate of any marine mammal care clinic.

Founder Peter Howorth and one of the Center's Fall 2008 residents

The Southern California coast hosts a remarkable variety of marine mammals. About a third of the world's species of whales and dolphins have been seen here, along with six species of seals and sea lions. Literally hundreds of thousands of these animals roam offshore. With such an abundance and diversity of marine mammals, it is no small wonder that some will become stranded on our shores. Since 1976, the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center has rescued and cared for such creatures. The SBMMC takes in animals throughout Santa Barbara County, a stretch of over 100 miles. It is also authorized to rescue marine mammals caught in fishing nets at the Channel Islands.

The SBMMC — a dedicated staff of volunteers from all ages and walks of life under the direction of founder Peter Howorth — cares for everything from orphaned seal pups to huge elephant seals, sea lions to rare fur seals. They also rescue whales, dolphins, and sea turtles caught in fishing nets offshore.

The Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center is the leader in innovative rescue techniques. They consistently have the highest success rate of any marine mammal care clinic — some 90 percent of the animals rescued are returned to the wild. The SBMMC conducts workshops for park rangers, game wardens, researchers, and other rescue organizations throughout the west coast and in other countries, such as Mexico, Japan and Ecuador (the Galapagos).

The work of the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center has been featured in a two-hour Cousteau special; Tom Brokaw's Nightly News; Ted Dansen's Challenge of the Seas; Rescue 911; the Discovery Channel; and Sea Tek, to name just a few. The Center has also received international attention and has been featured in several Japanese television productions. The SBMMC has received numerous environmental awards including a Senatorial Commendation for its Whale Rescue team.