Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) Program Additional Information and Requirements:
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to participate as a volunteer in the Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) Program, volunteers will be required to demonstrate an increased level of time commitment and physical fitness and must also purchase required personal equipment.
Volunteers for this program are drawn from our Field Support & Outreach (FSO) volunteer team. After signing up for, and demonstrating ongoing results in our FSO program, you may be asked to joint our RSR program. If you are interested in our RSR program, please first apply to be part of our FSO team.
Volunteers in this program MUST BE U.S. CITIZENS due to requirements to access certain government facilities. No exceptions are allowed.
As a volunteer in our Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) Program you will be performing activity that has a direct impact on the health and conservation of Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins and whales.
As a volunteer in this program, you will be asked to do the following:
- Respond in the field to reports of live or dead Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, seabirds, dolphins or whales.
- Assist with or perform animal assessments, disentanglement, recovery, stranding response or other intevention activity.
- Conduct surveys for protected marine animals in nearshore waters or on offshore islets.
- Assist in natural disasters or environmental incidents affecting animal health.
- Transport live or dead seals, seabirds, sea turtles, dolphins, and small whales.
- While performing the above activities, conduct outreach to the public.
- Be on call and ready to perform ALL of these activities during your volunteer shifts.
- Maintain the minimum activity requirements for this program (see below).
Additional volunteer requirements for the Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) Program:
- While it is not required to assist with Rescue & Stranding Response activity, volunteer applicants with a truck or full-sized van will be given priority.
- Meet all of the general HMAR volunteer requirements listed above.
- Due to the need to access certain government facilities, participants in the Rescue & Stranding Response program must be U.S. citizens.
- Able to walk in sandy, rocky and unstable shoreline conditions for at least 2 miles.
- Demonstrate the ability to lift and carry 75 pounds for 100 feet in beach and rocky conditions.
- Demonstrate the ability to swim for 100 yards and tread water for 10 minutes.
- Ability to conduct outdoor activity during hot, rainy or windy conditions.
- Able and willing to work on your feet in these conditions for a minimum of 6 consecutive hours.
- Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in potentially stressful conditions.
- Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) volunteers must be willing to transport live or dead marine animals in the bed of their truck or in their van.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance with minimum Hawaii liability coverage.
- Possess a digital camera (a smartphone is not sufficient) with at least a 35X zoom. The digital camera must have the ability to upload photos taken to your smartphone so they may be emailed from the field in real time. This can be accomplished using WiFi, Bluetooth or through the use of a data card upload cable. This requirement to have a digital camera cannot be waived.
- Possess a set of binoculars with at least 10X magnification. This requirement to have a set of binoculars cannot be waived.
- Open ocean small boat operations experience highly desired.
- HAZWOPER and ICS training and certifications.(This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.)
- First aid, CPR and AED certifications.(This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.)
- Lifeguard certification. (It is highly desired that you complete this training within the first 12 months of program participation.
- State of Hawaiʻi boat operators certification. (This must be completed within the first 12 months of program participation.
- Pinniped, sea turtle or seabird handling experience or training desired.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some Rescue & Stranding Response (RSR) Program activities will involve interactions with animals that are expired and in various stages of decomposition. Participants must be able to see and do unpleasant things without feeling sick.
Volunteer activity requirements:
- Volunteers on this team commit to a minimum of 1 six-hour activity session each week, preferably on the same day and time period each week.
- Minimum activity requirement is 2 years.
- Only applicants agreeing to the minimum activity commitment will be accepted into the Rescue & Stranding Response Program.