Funding and how your money will be used.
The Whale & Dolphin Advocacy Group (WDAG) is now raising funds for the specific purpose of designing and engineering sea pens for marine mammals. Sea pens are the quickest way to get these animals out of their concrete tanks and into natural sea waters. The sea pen is a first and important step to ensuring a safe environment for these animals and conditioning them for possible release back to the wild or entrance to a sanctuary.
Sea pens are large netted, containment structures and are designed to be placed in protected waters in areas that are conducive for the rehabilitation and care of whales or dolphins. They typically float on the water and have facilities for providing care to the animals. The pens are huge and must meet several engineering challenges presented by the local tides, weather conditions and sea bottom substrate. The pens must be engineered for specific species and allow for the continued care of the animals and for the safety of those taking care of these animals. Environmentally friendly and capable of being "re-used" or re-located.
Aquariums that desire to release captured whales and dolphins cannot simply release those animals to the wild. The animals would not survive. Instead, these animals could be transferred to sea pen sanctuaries and conditioned to survive in the wild. The intent of WDAG is to reduce or eliminate any delay and expense in the build out of any required sea pen.
The first three pens we design will be for Orca, Beluga whales and dolphins (all species). The design of sea pens requires the services of professional engineers, the input of marine mammal biologists and the experience of marine mammal trainers, all of which is available to WDAG. We will be producing drawings, engineering schematics and parts lists for a variety of conditions and animals. In this way, any aquarium, sanctuary or rescue group, wishing to set up a sea pen, will have the advantage of saving months or even years of development, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars of research and development costs, that would otherwise be incurred to build out a sea pen.
Our intent is to provide the sea pen engineering plans, schematics and parts list at no cost to any aquarium, sanctuary or rescue group, provided they involve WDAG in the project, to insure the rescued animals are transported and cared for properly and sea pen is properly placed and secured.
It is our mission to help existing groups move these animals into natural sea water environments ASAP! Sea Pens are the best means to get these animals out of their concrete facilities and into the sea. We support all marine sanctuaries and consider the sea pen design project as a first and long-term supportive step to insuring a safe environment for these animals and to motivate immediate solutions to solve the plight of these intelligent animals.
But we need your help. Your donation could mean the
difference between life in a small concrete tank or freedom
in the deep blue sea.
Our goal is to raise, $50,000 USD
Please donate NOW. Time, as you all know, is critical.
Most of these animals have been in captivity for many years.
They deserve to "retire" now!!
These funds will target the design, scouting possible locations, consulting and engineering of these pens. Sample drawings and designs will be displayed on the website as they become available.
Jim Styers Whale & Dolphin Advocacy Group
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