MERR Institute dolphin watch

MERR Institute sponsors an annual two hour dolphin count at HerringPoint to raise dolphin safety awareness and assist with the overall census of the Dolphin population in the Delaware area. This dolphin count has been going on for the past 16 years and has brought as many as 140 volunteers out.

“It’s not a bad job to have just to sit out on the beach count dolphins and meet new people.” said MERR Institute’s executive director Suzanne Phurman. “This event allows people to volunteer for just a short period of time and still make a contribution.”

Phurman tells 47 ABC that volunteers have seen up to 600 dolphins in the span of two hours and that now is the perfect time for dolphins to pass by.

“The water isn’t too choppy and the weather is great, dolphins love that.” said Phurman.

MERR institute’s main purpose is to provide stranding response for marine mammals and sea turtles; the dolphin count is another element to help keep an eye out for some of Delaware’s favorite water animals. Phurman also tells us that another important factor to the count is tracking any sort of decline in animals from the previous years. If they see significantly less dolphins then they did last year, that will trigger the institute to do a more in depth population study.

For anyone who is interested in volunteering, the event is being hosted at Huntington Point in Lewes on Saturday July 16th between 9am-11am. The number to call is 302-228-5029 or you can send an email at meerinstiture@gmail.com