Marine Mammal Rescue Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
California Senate Concurrent Resolution 39 became Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017, recognizing 27 April 2017 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day and commending the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Los Angeles County Board materials in 2026 separately carried a motion to proclaim 27 April 2026 locally. These are jurisdiction-specific actions and do not establish a universal recurring holiday.
About Marine Mammal Rescue Day
Marine Mammal Rescue Day has been used in California government recognition connected with marine-mammal rescue and stranding-response work. California Senate Concurrent Resolution 39 became Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017, recognizing 27 April 2017 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day.
Los Angeles County Board materials in 2026 separately carried a motion concerning 27 April 2026. These reviewed actions are jurisdiction-specific; they do not establish a permanent worldwide holiday or a safe annual date for every future year.
Why Marine Mammal Rescue Day matters
The reviewed California resolution highlighted the work of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the rescue, rehabilitation and return of marine mammals off the California coast.
For the public, responsible support means reporting animals to trained responders and keeping a safe distance. A day about rescue is not permission to approach, feed, move, push or medically treat a stranded wild animal.
History of Marine Mammal Rescue Day
California SCR 39 was introduced in 2017 by Senators Toni Atkins and Mike McGuire and ultimately recorded as Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017. The measure recognized 27 April 2017 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day.
In 2026, Los Angeles County Board materials separately listed a motion to proclaim 27 April 2026 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day throughout the county. This later local action is kept separate from the 2017 state recognition and is not treated as proof of an automatic annual recurrence.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
California Senators Toni G. Atkins and Mike McGuire
SCR 39 was introduced by Senators Atkins and McGuire; coauthors are separate from the principal proposers.
California Legislature
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 39 / Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017
Carried a motion to proclaim 27 April 2026 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day throughout Los Angeles County. This is treated as a local 2026 action, not proof of an automatic annual recurrence.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors · Board agenda item 13 / motion 26-2424
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe Marine Mammal Rescue Day
Learn the contact route for the authorized marine-mammal stranding network in your region before you need it.
If you encounter a stranded or injured marine mammal, keep people and pets back and report it to the appropriate trained response network or wildlife authority.
Do not touch, feed, move, push back into the water, capture or attempt to treat a marine mammal yourself.
Support reputable rescue and rehabilitation organizations through their approved volunteer, donation or education programs rather than unsupervised intervention.
Marine Mammal Rescue Day Facts
California SCR 39 recognized 27 April 2017 as Marine Mammal Rescue Day.
The measure is recorded as Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017.
The California measure commended the Marine Mammal Stranding Network for rescue, rehabilitation and return work.
Los Angeles County Board materials separately addressed a 27 April 2026 local proclamation action.
NOAA Fisheries instructs the public not to disturb, move, touch or feed stranded marine mammals and to contact the authorized stranding network.
Marine Mammal Rescue Day Messages
Support marine-mammal rescue by giving wildlife space and leaving hands-on response to authorized professionals.
Thank you to the teams who rescue, rehabilitate and study stranded marine mammals along the coast.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
California Assembly Rules Committee — SCR 39 text (opens in a new tab)
State Legislative Record
California Senate Office of Floor Analyses — 2017 annual digest, SCR 39 (opens in a new tab)
State Legislative Record
Los Angeles County — May 5, 2026 Board agenda, item 13 (opens in a new tab)
County Government
NOAA Fisheries — West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network (opens in a new tab)
Federal Wildlife Authority
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Marine Mammal Rescue Day?
27 April 2026 in the reviewed Los Angeles County action; California separately recognized 27 April 2017 The documented recurrence rule is: Refresh authoritative target-year government action; reviewed evidence supports 27 April 2017 in California and a Los Angeles County 27 April 2026 proclamation action, not a universal annual recurrence.
Does Marine Mammal Rescue Day fall on the same date every year?
Not automatically. This date is specific to a particular edition and should be confirmed for another year.
Is Marine Mammal Rescue Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: California 2017 legislative recognition / Los Angeles County 2026 local proclamation action; not a universal annual observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Marine Mammal Rescue Day?
The reviewed sources identify California Legislature as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as California Senators Toni G. Atkins and Mike McGuire.
Is Marine Mammal Rescue Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: California 2017 legislative recognition / Los Angeles County 2026 local proclamation action; not a universal annual observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-05.
When is Marine Mammal Rescue Day?
The reviewed government records support 27 April 2017 in California and a separate 27 April 2026 Los Angeles County action. This guide does not claim a universal annual recurrence for future years.
Who established the 2017 California recognition?
California Senate Concurrent Resolution 39, introduced by Senators Toni Atkins and Mike McGuire, became Resolution Chapter 48, Statutes of 2017.
Is it a permanent California public holiday?
The reviewed evidence establishes a 2017 legislative recognition, not a permanent statewide statutory public holiday.
What should I do if I see a stranded marine mammal?
Keep your distance, keep pets and other people back, and contact the authorized regional stranding network or wildlife authority. Do not touch, feed or move the animal.
Can I try to push a stranded animal back into the water?
No. NOAA advises the public not to handle or move stranded marine mammals; trained and authorized responders should assess the animal.