About
Marine Life Studies Ocean Literacy Educational Programs introduce students to topics such as the environmental and health hazards of marine debris, water and shore cleanups, marine wildlife entanglement, and marine life research. Participants learn and practice research techniques including photo identification, data collection, and GPS positioning, along with the study and observation of marine wildlife in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Program offerings include Marine Mammal Research Science and Technology educational programs, Marine Debris Educational Programs, the Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program, and activities such as a whale watch on Monterey Bay to practice newly learned research techniques.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price: Marine Life Studies provides free Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs to the children in the Monterey County communities of Monterey, Seaside, Salinas, and Marina, California.
Educational topics include Marine Wildlife Facts and Statistics, information, photos, video and details about marine wildlife entanglement, and facts about man-made disasters, hazards and pollution and their effects on marine wildlife in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Students are introduced to humpback whale fluke identification, killer whale and dolphin markings and dorsal identification, and Marine Wildlife Stories about Peggy's dog, Whiskie the Whale Spotter. Program elements also include education videos and games, Take It To the Streets Community Cleanup, Try Your Hand at Whale Disentanglement, Learn to be a Whale Researcher with Photo Identification, and class completion certificate packages with information, pictures of whales and dolphins, and an origami whale kit.
Marine Life Studies is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and is committed to protecting the ocean, whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife through ongoing research, data collection and observation, whale rescue, and sharing information with other organizations and the community. Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs have been presented to students in elementary school, high school, and college in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Merced, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties plus the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006, and many students served are in inland and economically disadvantaged areas of Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties. Marine Life Studies has been a Community Partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County since 2010 and provides free educational programs to schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, and participates in local community events showcasing the organization.
Marine Life Studies developed the Marine Life Studies Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventure and the Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program in cooperation with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. Marine Life Studies presented educational programs at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California, including Squid Eaters of Monterey Bay; Help Save the Ocean from Marine Debris; Take It To the Streets Community Cleanup; Junior Research Scientist Program; Try Your Hand at Whale Disentanglement; and Learn to be a Whale Researcher with Photo Identification. Marine Mammal Research Science and Technology and Marine Debris Educational Programs were presented at Whale Quest Kapalua in Maui from 2006 to 2009.
The Whale Entanglement Team (WET) is a group of unpaid professionals cofounded by Peggy Stap of Marine Life Studies and Mary Whitney of the Fluke Foundation, assembled and trained for the purpose of supporting large whale entanglement response under the authority of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. The Whale Rescue Research Vessel serves as a training platform for Whale Entanglement Team (WET) members and new trainees. The Take it to the Streets program is a pro-active conservation effort that encourages coastal community cleanup in inland areas to eliminate pollution before it can reach the ocean through storm drains and local watersheds.
The leadership team includes Peggy Stap, Founder and Director of Research and Education and Executive Director; Stephanie Marcos, Marine Life Studies educator; Mary Whitney of the Fluke Foundation, who cofounded the Whale Entanglement Team (WET) of Northern California with Peggy Stap; and Joey Jones, a Moss Landing resident and commercial fisherman who is the namesake of the Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund, which helps fund classes and educational programs. A testimonial from Gregor M. Cailliet, Professor Emeritus at Moss Landing Marine Labs, notes that Marine Life Studies has been active for about 15 years, dedicated to researching, conserving, and providing education about marine mammals in Monterey Bay, and describes the Whale Entanglement Team (WET) as providing an essential service freeing marine mammals entangled in fishing gear and operating a Whale Rescue Research Vessel staffed by qualified volunteers.
Last updated May 23, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price: Marine Life Studies provides free Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs to the children in the Monterey County communities of Monterey, Seaside, Salinas, and Marina, California.
Educational topics include Marine Wildlife Facts and Statistics, information, photos, video and details about marine wildlife entanglement, and facts about man-made disasters, hazards and pollution and their effects on marine wildlife in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Students are introduced to humpback whale fluke identification, killer whale and dolphin markings and dorsal identification, and Marine Wildlife Stories about Peggy's dog, Whiskie the Whale Spotter. Program elements also include education videos and games, Take It To the Streets Community Cleanup, Try Your Hand at Whale Disentanglement, Learn to be a Whale Researcher with Photo Identification, and class completion certificate packages with information, pictures of whales and dolphins, and an origami whale kit.
Marine Life Studies is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and is committed to protecting the ocean, whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife through ongoing research, data collection and observation, whale rescue, and sharing information with other organizations and the community. Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs have been presented to students in elementary school, high school, and college in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Merced, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties plus the San Francisco Bay Area since 2006, and many students served are in inland and economically disadvantaged areas of Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties. Marine Life Studies has been a Community Partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County since 2010 and provides free educational programs to schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, and participates in local community events showcasing the organization.
Marine Life Studies developed the Marine Life Studies Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventure and the Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program in cooperation with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. Marine Life Studies presented educational programs at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California, including Squid Eaters of Monterey Bay; Help Save the Ocean from Marine Debris; Take It To the Streets Community Cleanup; Junior Research Scientist Program; Try Your Hand at Whale Disentanglement; and Learn to be a Whale Researcher with Photo Identification. Marine Mammal Research Science and Technology and Marine Debris Educational Programs were presented at Whale Quest Kapalua in Maui from 2006 to 2009.
The Whale Entanglement Team (WET) is a group of unpaid professionals cofounded by Peggy Stap of Marine Life Studies and Mary Whitney of the Fluke Foundation, assembled and trained for the purpose of supporting large whale entanglement response under the authority of NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. The Whale Rescue Research Vessel serves as a training platform for Whale Entanglement Team (WET) members and new trainees. The Take it to the Streets program is a pro-active conservation effort that encourages coastal community cleanup in inland areas to eliminate pollution before it can reach the ocean through storm drains and local watersheds.
The leadership team includes Peggy Stap, Founder and Director of Research and Education and Executive Director; Stephanie Marcos, Marine Life Studies educator; Mary Whitney of the Fluke Foundation, who cofounded the Whale Entanglement Team (WET) of Northern California with Peggy Stap; and Joey Jones, a Moss Landing resident and commercial fisherman who is the namesake of the Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund, which helps fund classes and educational programs. A testimonial from Gregor M. Cailliet, Professor Emeritus at Moss Landing Marine Labs, notes that Marine Life Studies has been active for about 15 years, dedicated to researching, conserving, and providing education about marine mammals in Monterey Bay, and describes the Whale Entanglement Team (WET) as providing an essential service freeing marine mammals entangled in fishing gear and operating a Whale Rescue Research Vessel staffed by qualified volunteers.
Last updated May 23, 2026.
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