The emergency network brings together institutions, experts, and qualified resources, designed to support emergencies involving marine mammals
– August 27, 2025
Zoomarine, the famous marine park located in Guia, has recently been announced as one of the founding members of AMERG – Aquatic Mammals Emergency Response Group, an international network promoted by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM). This collaboration unites organisations, specialists and resources to provide rapid, coordinated responses to emergencies affecting marine mammals.
AMERG was created to address incidents such as mass strandings, oil spills, natural disasters, and cases of orphaned or injured animals. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 26% of marine mammal species are now considered threatened – a significant increase from the 15% recorded in 1991.
EAAM President Martin Boye highlighted that AMERG reflects the association’s commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation. He explained: “AMERG reflects EAAM’s commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and conservation. It is our responsibility, as professionals and institutions dedicated to aquatic mammals, to act swiftly and collaboratively whenever emergencies arise. This initiative enhances our ability to respond effectively – and, above all, enables us to make a real difference for the animals and ecosystems that need us most. Institutions caring for dolphins and other aquatic mammals play a vital role in this effort – their knowledge, infrastructure, and dedication are indispensable.”
As part of its mission, AMERG will invest in technical and scientific capacity-building, focusing on training, knowledge-sharing and strengthening local preparedness in regions where marine mammals face the greatest challenges.
The AMERG network already includes dozens of leading international partners, such as Oceanogràfic (Spain), Georgia Aquarium (USA), Fundación Omacha (Colombia), Sea World Abu Dhabi (UAE), African Aquatic Conservation Fund (Senegal), Instituto Mamirauá (Brazil), and Zoomarine (Portugal).
As a founding member of AMERG, Zoomarine participates in a global network of entities that can be quickly activated in response to strandings, accidents, natural disasters, or other emergencies involving marine mammals, both in Portugal and internationally.
“Zoomarine’s integration into AMERG reinforces our commitment to marine conservation based on science, field experience, and international collaboration,” João Neves, Zoomarine’s Conservation Director, told the press. “It also recognises the work we have developed over the years, particularly through Porto d’Abrigo, now a national reference structure for the rehabilitation of marine mammals.”
“Faced with growing threats to life in the oceans, it is essential to ensure rapid and well-coordinated responses that protect animal welfare and preserve ecosystem integrity. We believe that only through expert action and effective cooperation networks can we successfully address the challenges of marine conservation in the 21st century – and AMERG is precisely that answer,” concludes the Director.
Article originally published by Alexandra Stilwell on Portugal Resident.
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