May 23, 2014 — The University of New England announced Friday that the Marine Science Center's Marine Animal Rehabilitation and Conservation program is closing.
The university established the Marine Animal Rehabilitation and Conservation program in 2001 to help rehabilitate and release marine mammals, specifically gray and harbor seals. UNE said that the seal numbers have rebounded, so MARC no longer needs to rehabilitate marine animals.
Ed Bilsky, the vice president of research and scholarship at the University of New England, also noted the need for seal rehabilitation has been reduced since 2001, when they were endangered. Bilsky estimated 1,000 seals have been rehabbed in the past 13 years there.
The Marine Science Center at UNE provides a unique opportunity for college student because it is directly on the main campus and located near the Saco River Estuary. UNE said they will continue educating students about marine mammal behavior, biology and policy.