Sarah Callan – Local Shores to Global Seas: Building Partnerships for Marine Conservation

As the sole organization authorized to respond to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Fisher’s Island, New York, Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program plays a vital role in marine conservation across the region. While every rescue begins at the local level, the program’s impact extends beyond their coverage area. By collaborating with scientists, government agencies, coastal communities, and international conservation partners, each rescue and rehabilitation case becomes an opportunity to advance research, inform management decisions, and inspire public stewardship. Together, these diverse partnerships transform scientific knowledge into collaborative action, developing innovative strategies that protect marine ecosystems, strengthen coastal communities, and promote a healthier ocean for future generations.

Sarah Callan is the Manager of the Animal Rescue Program at Mystic Aquarium. She graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2008 with a B.S. degree in Psychology and a double minor in Educational Studies and Communication and Performance Arts. In 2009 she spent a year in Queensland, Australia assisting with the rehabilitation of native wildlife at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Veterinary Hospital. In 2010 she moved to Oahu, Hawaii where she spent the next 5 years working with endangered Hawaiian monk seals in various capacities at the Waikiki Aquarium and with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hawaiian Monk Seal Health and Disease Program. In 2016 she was offered her dream job at Mystic Aquarium working with for the Animal Rescue Program. She currently manages a team of over 500 volunteers who play a critical role in the field response and rehabilitation of marine mammals and sea turtles along the coastline of CT, RI, and Fisher’s Island, NY. Sarah couldn’t feel more grateful to work closely with the local community to protect the ocean habitat and be a voice for stranded marine animals who call our shoreline home.