Research for Beaked Whales

In most cases, the cause of strandings is unknown. Some identified causes include disease; parasite infestation; harmful algal blooms; injuries from ship strikers or fishery entanglements; and exposure to pollution, trauma, and starvation. A handful of mass strandings of marine mammals coincided in time and location with Navy sonar operations at sea. Although a conclusive "cause and effect" relationship has not been established, there is concern that military sonar could cause marine mammals, particularly beaked whales, to strand.