Join CIMWI's Wave of Impact – 2025 Update
This year has been a momentous one for CIMWI. Our commitment to positively impacting conservation through marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education remains the cornerstone of everything we do.
Impact in Numbers
20 Years of Making a Difference (2006-2026)
2,712 Marine Mammals Rescued & Treated
46,788 Reports of Animals in Distress
Our “Lessons in Conservation” Education Program is launching this winter!
CIMWI’s bilingual curriculum combines hands-on activities, engaging videos, and real-world science to inspire the next generation of ocean and environmental stewards! CIMWI volunteer educators will lead in-person lessons in local classrooms, and the curriculum will be accessible worldwide through our online education portal.
We are conducting ocean health research
We are collaborating with Unravel Biosciences and Zymo Research to discover more effective treatments for marine mammals poisoned by toxic algae.
Our volunteer team of over 140 volunteers responded to reports of animals in distress and/or participated in their medical care and rehabilitation
“I volunteered last year while an undergrad at UC Santa Barbara. CIMWI truly reignited my passion for wildlife rehabilitation! I am currently in veterinary school working towards my DVM in wildlife medicine.”
~ Anya
Unprecedented Demand for CIMWI’s Services
Over the last three years, we have seen an average 80% increase in reports of marine mammals in distress and a 64% increase in animal rescues compared to the average of the previous five years. Once rare, Domoic Acid (DA) poisoning events - caused by harmful algal blooms - now occur frequently with devastating impact on marine mammals. In just 30 months, CIMWI responded to four major DA events, including one this spring likely exacerbated by runoff from the Los Angeles wildfires. In less than three months, CIMWI responded to 464 sea lions and 9 live dolphins exhibiting signs of this debilitating toxin. During peak weeks, our hotline received up to 100 distress calls per day. If these trends continue, our current facility will be unable to meet the demand for our services.
Vulnerable Government Funding
CIMWI is entrusted with upholding the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, but we receive no guaranteed government funding for our work, and federal funding for nonprofit organizations in our sector has become increasingly vulnerable. With no earned income, individual donations and grants are critical to CIMWI’s existence.
As We Look Towards The Future
CIMWI is making strategic and innovative plans to:
Grow the capacity of our response initiatives and rehabilitation hospital
Engage in research to uncover root causes, deepen our understanding of their impacts, and develop innovative treatments - helping us save more lives
Build a stronger foundation of sustainable funding
Promote conservation locally and worldwide
