Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR)

Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) operates Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal hospital, located in Vancouver, British Columbia. While the rescue facility itself is situated offsite near the Port of Vancouver, it was originally founded as part of the Vancouver Aquarium’s conservation efforts. In 2023, VAMMR was established as an independent registered charity, building on more than six decades of marine mammal rescue work, and functions as a global leader in marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, and research.

Each year, the center responds to over 300 marine mammal emergencies, treating a wide range of species including harbor seal pups, California sea lions, northern fur seals, sea otters, and even small cetaceans, with sea turtles rounding it off. Due to the vast and often remote coastline of British Columbia, many patients arrive by air transport, expanding VAMMR’s reach.

The facility provides state-of-the-art veterinary care, and its goal is always to rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. For those deemed non-releasable, the Vancouver Aquarium offers long-term sanctuary and public education opportunities through its Marine Mammal Rescue exhibit. VAMMR also plays a key role in marine debris disentanglement, particularly for sea lions caught in discarded fishing gear, and contributes to scientific research that informs ocean health and conservation policy.