Coordination Mammalogique du Nord de la France

Founded in 1993, the Coordination Mammalogique du Nord de la France (CMNF) is a nature protection association dedicated to the study and conservation of wild mammals in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. While their scope includes a wide range of species from bats and squirrels to dormice, CMNF is also a key player in marine mammal monitoring and rescue efforts along the northern French coast.

In France, marine mammal strandings are coordinated by PELAGIS (Observatoire Pelagis, La Rochelle), the national center responsible for monitoring and responding to such events. Regional responders like CMNF act under PELAGIS’s authority to assess and manage strandings locally. CMNF also contributes to the National Seal Network, a collaborative initiative that tracks seal populations and coordinates rescue and rehabilitation across France. Their work includes field studies, public education, and direct involvement in seal strandings and welfare cases. 

CMNF’s volunteers and researchers are often the first responders when seals are spotted along the Opal Coast, and they play a vital role in ensuring that both grey and harbor seals are protected in one of France’s most ecologically rich marine zones.