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“The mercury content in the lagoon’s
dolphins is 14 times higher than
what the EPA considers safe for human
consumption.”
Seward Johnson Sr. would be proud
to know that his former home at Harbor
Branch will soon be the official
site of the Marine Mammal Stranding
Center. The original site, which was
across the Link Port channel, was
completely destroyed by the 2004
hurricanes. Johnson’s circular swimming
pool will be used as a stranding
and recovery pool to rehabilitate
injured marine mammals. The pool is
equipped with cameras, so the injured
animals can be monitored 24 hours
a day. Also, the site has an elaborate
food preparation facility and a laboratory
for examinations. The Center will
be fully operational in January 2010,
and the staff plans a grand opening
for the public this spring.
Harbor Branch’s plans also include
establishment of the world’s first marine
mammal teaching hospital. “Such
a facility would have a long-term
global impact in teaching the next
generation how to care for injured
animals,” says McCulloch. Submersible diving vessels designed by Edwin Link are still used at Harbor Branch for deep-sea exploration.
The Ocean Discovery Center features videos taken at extreme ocean depths by the submersibles.