NECWA News Blog

  Dr. McCarthy holding the NECWA tissue samples. NECWA has recently collaborated with Dr. Morgan McCarthy, a postdoctoral researcher within the Department of Population Analysis and Monitoring at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Dr. McCarthy is a geneticist will be looking at tissue collected by NECWA from ocean sunfish and torpedo rays carcasses that have stranded in the New England area.  Ocean Sunfish tissue samples NECWA values these collaborations for it supports the research of scientists like Dr. McCarthy, a dedicated and passionate researcher working to better understand these unusual species. In this photo, Dr. McCarthy is just back from the US, holding the tissue samples that NECWA provided. Can't wait to hear the results of his analysis

The marine wildlife stranding season is not over yet! This afternoon, NECWA received a call about a stranded torpedo ray just north of Bay View Beach, Dennis, MA. Laura and Jim, both members of a community walking group, Dennis Beach Walkers, rushed down to the beach and found that the ray was still alive. NECWA volunteers, Krill and Finn were on the way down from off Cape. Once on-site, Krill did her annual polar plunge and walked the fish back out to deep water. Due to the extensive tidal flats in that area, the fish washed back in, so Krill did another round of polar plunges to finally get the fish into deeper water. This fish had been stranded out of the water for over 45 minutes and was very weak when the team arrived on-site. But when they picked up the tail stock to get it on the sled, it wiggled and tried to pull its tail back which are all good signs. Fingers crossed that this animal makes it. Please the NECWA stranding hotline (508-566-0009) if you come upon a stranded torped...

Carly Burns was a volunteer during the 2023 NECWA Summer Diamondback terrapin field season and the fall Marine Wildlife stranding season. Carly especially loved working with ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which helped her to realize her love for fieldwork and marine biology. This inspired her to become a New England Fisheries Observer with AIS and NOAA. She worked on commercial fishing boats all over New England, collecting data about bycatch and marine mammals. The experience she gained working in Wellfleet Harbor helped prepare her for the rough weather out at sea. Her education at the University of Maryland was focused on ecosystem restoration with limited focus in marine biology. Her experience with NECWA filled the gaps in her transcript allowing her to participate in this unique fieldwork opportunity. Carly says “I truly owe all of my initial fieldwork education to Krill and NECWA. This experience taught me the importance of accurate and specific data collection in the field. Being a...

The stranding season doesn't seem to be over just yet. Over the past 2 days, NECWA has responded to 3 dead torpedo rays. All adult females and all carcasses washed ashore near Corporation Beach, Dennis, MA. Two carcasses washed up east of the main parking lot at Corporation (after Dr. Lords) and one washed ashore west of the Corporation parking lot as you head towards BayView. All 3 carcasses appeared to be healthy and two had digested food in their stomachs. Again we are not sure why these beautiful fish are stranding in the late fall and early winter, but we think it might have something to do with habitat shifts. Perhaps torpedo rays come into shallow water this time of the year, making them more susceptible to strandings on tidal flats when the tide goes out. Once high and dry, they are now impacted by cold air temperatures, even lower wind chill temps, and a lack of oxygen to their gills. Once NECWA has concluded our internal and external exams (necropsy), we mark the carca...

Yesterday NECWA walked Corporation Beach in Dennis looking for stranded marine widllife. Visibility was reduced due to fog but winds were light and air temperatures hovered around 35 deg. Not bad walking conditions for a January morning stroll! And great views at one of our favorite geese, Brant!

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is being targeted by the Trump Administration.  There is a proposal to rollback the ESA from 2024 rules to the 2019 framework, which introduces four key negative impacts. Join NECWA in opposing rollbacks to the ESA by sending in comments. Please send an email message by December 22 2025 to let them know that this landmark piece of legislation must be protected.  Your voice matters so please speak up for nature! Comment Period Ends:  Dec 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST To Comment Online:  1- Navigate to the Rule Change Page: 2- Once on that page, click on the "Comment" button on the upper left of the page to type in our upload your comment.  Here are the links to each page: Designation Critical Habitat Listing Endangered and Threatened Species Threatened Species "Blanket Rule" Interagency Consultation and Compliance SAMPLE COMMENTS:  Endangered and Threatened Species: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Pla...

Today was a very busy day for NECWA staff, volunteers and interns. We started our day by dividing up into teams. Some walked beach and scouted for stranded animals in the Wellfleet area while others manned the NECWA table at the DY Holiday Craft Fair. By late afternoon, we thought we were in the clear but then we got multiple calls about live stranded animals in different areas of the Cape. Anzo and Matt rescuing the Kemp's Ridley First our NECWA college volunteers found a live Kemps Ridley sea turtle just south of Duck Harbor, Wellfleet and passed it off to Mass Audubon at Wellfleet Bay. Then one of our volunteers's husband, Jason, called in about a stranded torpedo ray off Cooks Brook Beach in Eastham. This fish was still alive so Jason got it back into deep water and the animal swam away. Stranded live torpedo ray Seconds later, calls came in about a live ocean sunfish stranded in shallow water between Cooks Brook Beach and Campground Beach. With the help of local residents,...

The Cape Cod Times just posted a wonderful article on the NECWA summer Internship. To read the article click HERE. This summer, NECWA is working with 37 interns, both high school and college. NECWA internships are volunteer positions but sometimes a student can apply for a grant or honorarium through their college or university. Internships provide hands-on opportunities for these young professionals in various fields, not just those related to marine biology.  NECWA Internship breakdown for this summer: Field Researchers - 25 Graphic Designers - 6 Animators - 2 Marketing & Fundraising - 4 The largest group of interns are field researchers who are focused on rescuing and researching diamondback terrapins in the waters around Buzzards Bay. We have field teams on both sides of the Bourne Bridge and someone is in the field to respond to calls on the NECWA rescue hotline from 7 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week.  Although NECWA offers internships year round, the majority of our intern...

Help NECWA Save Ocean Sunfish  NECWA just started a new GoFundMe campaign to raise money for our upcoming fall stranding season. NECWA saved over 60 live ocean sunfish last season and necropsied over 100 carcasses last season. Help us protect these amazing animals by donating through our new GoFundMe campaign and thank you. 

The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) is a volunteer and student driven nonprofit based in Southeastern Massachusetts. We are dedicated to rescue, research, and protection of coastal wildlife around New England, backed by our motto “Every Animal Counts”. We believe it is our duty to help any creature in need. What sets NECWA apart are the passionate interns leading the way. Currently for summer 2025, 40 college and high school students from all over the state and internationally are involved in running the engine.  Intern duties include conservation work, educational outreach, and research to protect our coasts.  Chloe inputting data in the NECWA field office in Marion For the summer 2025 season,, with our Southcoast Terrapin Project (STP), NECWA is working with a total of 41 interns in various fields of study. There are 28 field researchers who track, rescue, and monitor local wildlife ranging from Diamondback Terrapins, Box Turtles, Torpedo Rays and Ocean Sunfish...

Great article on NECWA's Southcoast Terrapin Project in Wareham Weekly.  To read the entire article, go to: https://wareham.theweektoday.com/article/catch-record-conserve-turtles-our-waterways/76435

Join NECWA for Sheep Day at Soule Homestead! Mark your calendar for Sheep Day at Soule Homestead Education Center in Middleboro, MA on Saturday, May 17, from 10 am - 3 pm. All are welcome to enjoy a laid-back, fun-filled day on the farm! Come visit the NECWA tent to learn more about the unique coastal marine wildlife of New England. Free educational material and marine artifacts on display. Learn about the rescue and research activities that NECWA oversees and hear about our upcoming Southcoast Terrapin Project focused on a threatened species of marsh turtle that lives in our area. Grab your tickets in advance by following this link. Adult tickets are $12, children (3-12) are $7, and ages 0-2 are free. Tickets will also be available at the gate (slightly higher price), and all proceeds support Soule Homestead, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and beloved community resource. Enjoy live sheep shearing with expert and educator Aaron, sheepdog demos with Mike from Sheepdog Junction, and fiber arts d...

NECWA will be at the 2025 grand opening of the Plymouth Farmer's Market! Stop by the NECWA information table at the Plymouth Farmer's Market, Thursday, May 15th, from 2:30 pm - 6 pm. We’ll have information about marine wildlife and current conservation efforts. Ask about volunteer opportunities! Starting June 5, we will be at the market every other week. The Plymouth Farmers Market offers fresh, locally sourced produce, meats, cheeses, prepared foods, and artisan goods to residents and visitors of Plymouth and the South Shore. It highlights the region’s agricultural diversity, supports a thriving local food economy, and promotes awareness of seasonal eating.  The market fosters food literacy and community well-being by educating the public about local food systems and how to prepare healthy meals with seasonal ingredients. It’s also a vibrant social hub celebrating local farmers, artisans, and food traditions in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. See you there!

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at NECWA.  May you know how much you are appreciated and loved.   

 Join Krill Carson and Billie-Jo Gibbons for a fun, family program. NECWA's Salt model is a life-sized inflatable of a living whale who is the Grande Dame of the humpback whales off New England.  Kids and adults can go inside and view inflated organs and structures that are inside. And NECWA will have lots of additional activities that are hands-on and meaningful. 

River Herring are migrating from their ocean homes to our freshwater rivers and lakes to spawn. This annual spring migration is amazing to see. The Wareham Street Fish Ladder is one of the strongest runs in New England. The fish are funning in full force right now, but things will slow down as we near the end of the spawning run. Hope you can stop by soon to seen and experience this incredible sight of nature. 

We hope you can take a few moments today to go outside and enjoy Mother Nature! There is no Plan B. It reminds us of the appeal from late Pope Francis who wrote "On Care for Our Common Home." That statement is so beautiful and so true! The beautiful Earth Day design was created by NECWA Graphic Design intern, Hadley Blood who is currently an undergrad at Salem State.

Horseshoe Crabs Protect Us, Let’s Help Protect Them!  Learn About Their Role in Vaccine Safety Plus 3 Ways to Make a Difference By: Amey Best, NECWA Volunteer Childhood summers on the eastern shore meant the familiar sight of horseshoe crabs—living links to a prehistoric past. Seeing a poster about these ancient mariners and their importance to the Massachusetts coastline at the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) booth brought back memories. I had to show my daughter, “They are older than dinosaurs!” My intention was to point out the fascinating coolness of horseshoe crabs as NECWA all-stars Krill and Billie-Jo empowered us with information (and stickers).  What I wasn’t expecting to discover, however, was their life-saving secret: Horseshoe crabs have a unique blood component crucial for ensuring the safety of vaccines and medical products worldwide. Horseshoe Crabs Keep Our Vaccines Safe Did you know that horseshoe crabs have VIBRANT blue blood? Some would call it...

 

  NECWA had a great time yesterday, Sunday, at the Boston Sea Rovers Ocean Symposium. Krill and Billie-Jo attended on behalf of NECWA. On Sunday afternoon, Krill provided a PowerPoint presentation on NECWA's ocean sunfish rescue and research activities.  The crowd was fabulous and was very interested in the work that NECWA is doing. Krill appreciated and enjoyed the communication with the audience, especially when they laughed at all her corny jokes!  NECWA hopes to attend again in the future. Check out their website for this is a great non-profit organization. To go to the Boston Sea Rovers website, click HERE !