Dolphin Research Program

A team of scientists and experienced dolphin handlers prepares to release a pair of dolphins following an assessment of their health by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Through these health assessments, researchers have uncovered many things about dolphin health, including the effects of PCBs and other contaminants on dolphins, and gained a better understanding of pathogens and diseases that affect dolphins. These health assessments have also allowed researchers to trace the genetic relationships among dolphins. Photo by Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 522-1785. 
Randall Wells, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Program Manager
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program conducts the world's longest-running study of a dolphin population. The Program is a collaboration between Mote Marine Laboratory, where the program originated in 1970, the Chicago Zoological Society, which supports the program today, and colleagues from around the world. The primary purpose is to understand the biology, health, behavior and ecology and the human factors — including environmental contaminants and fishing gear interactions — that impact populations of small cetaceans. 



The Program uses an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach in conducting studies of bottlenose dolphins within the unique long-term “natural laboratory” of Sarasota Bay, which is the year-round home of more than 160 identifiable resident individuals, spanning at least five generations. Program efforts also include research and consultations in the southeastern U.S., Cuba, South America, Southeast Asia and other locations around the world. The Program also conducts follow-up monitoring of dolphins and whales that have been treated at Mote and other rehabilitation hospitals and returned to the wild to determine the success of treatment.

The Program:

  • Collects biological, behavioral, ecological and health data of importance to the conservation of small cetaceans, especially bottlenose dolphins
  • Provides needed information for bottlenose dolphin conservation to wildlife management agencies
  • Disseminates the information generated by our Program to scientific and general audiences in order to aid dolphin conservation
  • Takes advantage of its wealth of data collected over the decades that make the Sarasota Bay dolphins an important and unique reference population, to develop and refine hypotheses regarding bottlenose dolphins in other parts of the species' range as well as other species of small cetaceans in different locations
  • Uses the established natural laboratory of Sarasota Bay to develop and test new research tools and methodologies of potential benefit to conservation efforts locally and elsewhere
  • Trains cetacean conservation workers and students from around the world in the use of these techniques
  • Applies our unique expertise to dolphin rescue operations and post-release follow-up monitoring
  • Applies the information we gather from free-ranging dolphins to improve the quality of care for dolphins in zoological park settings

About Us

Mote Marine Laboratory has been a leader in marine research since it was founded in 1955. Today, we incorporate public outreach as a key part of our mission. Mote is an independent nonprofit organization and has seven centers for marine research, the public Mote Aquarium and an Education Division specializing in public programs for all ages.

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