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The Marine Mammal Foundation is a not-for-profit scientific and education organisation, working to ensure that what we do today, creates a better tomorrow

Our vision is to be a leading Australian marine mammal conservation organisation, protecting the marine environment through research, community engagement, and education.

Our Focus Areas

Research

Combining an innovation approach with robust methodology, our internationally-recognised research advances the knowledge of marine mammals and their environment.

Education

Our programs align with the Australian curriculum exploring marine populations, classification, ecology, and sustainability in a changing world.

Conservation

Conservation underpinned by transparent and robust research, communication, collaboration, and empowerment through positive action.

Get involved!

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Make a Donation

Adopt a Dolphin

Log a Sighting

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Become a Member

What we’re up to!

While our Burrunan dolphins are resident to Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes, we know they do briefly leave these protected areas on occasion. This can be for many reasons, though the main one is believed to be related to hunting prey species
Our Marine Mammal Biodiversity research project is currently working on compiling records of all known marine mammal species in Australia’s South-eastern coastal waters. Together with geospatial analysis of sighting data, this project aims to
In some parts of the world, today is recognised as National Dolphin Day! To celebrate, let’s take a little dive into one of MMF’s research areas: population social structure. Social interactions among mammals, including the various spec
EXCITING NEWS! The Dolphin Dilemma has been accepted for the Cannes Film Festival this year!!! We are so very proud that the research we do here at MMF with the critically endangered Burrunan dolphins, and the impacts and threats they continue to fa
Woohhoo another paper HOT OFF THE PRESS! We are so very excited to announce the publications of “Organisation and evolution of the major histocompatibility complex class I genes in cetaceans” published in iScience! The paper investigates
It’s shaping up to be a great day at the @cityofgreaterdandenong Discover Dandenong Creek Festival at Tirhatuan Park! Come along and catch the MMF Team at the BurruVan, get hands on with dolphin skulls, and learn about how our local waterways a
We are so very excited to announce our latest publication is hot off the press! “Population distribution and drivers of habitat use for the Burrunan dolphins, Port Phillip Bay, Australia” published in Ecology and Evolution, is the first p
Wishing everyone a great big Happy Easter! Love from the Marine Mammal Foundation Team 🐰🐬

Special thanks to our supporters

The Marine Mammal Foundation respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians on the lands and waters where we work, study, and gather; the Bunurong-Boon Wurrung, Wurundjeri, and Wadawurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, of Port Phillip Bay and surrounds, and the Gunaikurnai people of Gippsland.

We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging, and celebrate the role of First Nations people as the first scientists and conservationists of this land. We are grateful for their contributions of culture, passion, and knowledge to ensuring Victoria’s environment remains healthy and protected for future generations.