The Seabrook Island Dolphin Education Program is a field-based program designed to engage and educate beachgoers while reducing human disturbances to the local dolphin population. Under contract with the Town of Seabrook Island, the program is managed by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network under the direction of Lauren Rust and relies on the support of citizen volunteers. Educators are present at Captain Sams Inlet each day during the peak tourist season to interact with beachgoers and collect valuable data about strand-feeding activities. Many Seabrookers volunteer in this program at North Beach near Captain Sams Spit greeting beachgoers with a smile to share important information about how each one of us can help protect our local dolphin population (Jaws, Koko, Hook, and High Scoops, to name a few).
Each year Charleston City Paper provides the opportunity for people to vote for the Best of Charleston. This year the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN), has been nominated in two categories: Best Local Cause and Best Do-Gooder/Activist for Lauren Rust, Executive Director. If you wish to show appreciation for this valuable resource and its volunteers, you can cast your vote. Voting is open until March 8. To vote for LMMN, click here. To vote for Lauren Rust, click here.
Harassing or disturbing strand-feeding dolphins not only threatens the continued occurrence of this rare behavior, it’s also a violation of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. For guidelines on how to view dolphins from the beach or watercraft, click here.
Residents who are interested in volunteering with the Town of Seabrook Island’s Dolphin Education program may click here to download the Dolphin Education Program Volunteer Application form.
For more information, please contact LMMN by email at info@lmmn.org or by phone at (843) 991-6953.
–Tidelines Editors