MERR Institute

09/21/2026

As our Finraiser approaches (November 7th), our volunteers in blue shirts will be going to local shops and asking for donations. Said donations will be auctioned off during our Finraiser, and all proceeds earned from this event will go toward the conservation and rescue of dolphins, whales, seals, and sea turtles.

Official MERR volunteers will be wearing blue shirts with our logo on it, and they will have specific MERR solicitation letters and our event flyer. All donations are tax deductible. We hope you welcome our volunteers!

If you want to buy a ticket to our beloved Finraiser, visit our website. It's a magical night full of tasty food, unique auction items, fun raffles, and new festivities. 😉 You can say you attended MERR's 25th anniversary Finraiser!
https://www.merrinstitute.org/

09/16/2026

09/10/2026

We are coming up on the final voyages for the season to join MERR naturalists and view our resident dolphin population aboard the Cape Water Tours' Second Nature! And while on board, you can order your very own Official Dolphin Counter shirt, available at our MERR-chandise store!

For those who have joined us out in the water, or along the coastline, helping collect valuable observations of the resident Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin population, this shirt is for you. A laid-back, soft cotton tee that brings a quiet, sunny energy to slow mornings and weekend getaways. The lightw...

08/20/2026

We have received all the data from our annual dolphin count, and we had a total count of 111 dolphins! This number is tallied from dolphin sightings from northern beaches, like Kitts Hummock, all the way to the southern tip of Delaware, like Fenwick Island. If you're interested in participating in this citizen science project, mark your calendars for next July and call us to sign up at the end of June. Thank you to all our dolphin count volunteers!

07/30/2026

Spend an evening with the MERR stranding team on Sunday, August 9, at 6:30 p.m. aboard the Cape Water Tours Boat The Second Nature as it sets out to the Delaware Bay in search of dolphins and other wildlife. Photo opportunities abound, so passengers are encouraged to bring cameras and binoculars.

Tickets are $65 and include hors d'oevres. Wine, beer, and refreshments for this festive fundraiser are at our cash bar. Boarding begins at 30 minutes prior to departure., and the boat will depart from the Cape May Lewes Ferry terminal docks for a 90-minute tour.

Tickets for this tour are also available on our website at merrinstitute.org.

Proceeds raised from the event go to the year-round efforts of the non-profit organization, which serves as the only response and rescue organization for marine mammals and sea turtles stranding in Delaware. Care for these animals includes food and care, veterinary treatment, transportation, and supplies.

MERR Institute (merrinstitute) is a 24/7 rescue and care facility in Lewes, Delaware, for marine mammals and sea turtles that might be ill, injured, entangled or otherwise in need.

07/20/2026

We wanted to send a big thanks to all the volunteers who helped prepare for last night's dolphin cruise aboard Cape Water Tours Second Nature! (We would also like to thank the dolphins who put on such an amazing display!) This event is the result of so many individuals who come together to ensure a memorable evening, and last night was no different.

Also, we will post images from the event at https://www.merrinstitute.org/photo-wall, if anyone is interested in a digital copy of some of the amazing sights in around the Point in Delaware Bay.

We will host another Sunset Tour on Sunday, August 9, and there are a handful of spots left, so grab your seat to experience it for yourself!

07/18/2026

🐬🐬We still have tickets for tomorrow's (and August's) Sunset Dolphin Cruise! Join us on a spectacular cruise with delicious food, stunning sunsets and fun dolphins! Below is a highlight reel of a previous cruise. Dolphins are still wild animals, and we can't guarantee they will be this active, but they can't help but be curious about us :) Guess you'll have to buy a ticket and see.
Tickets are $65, and bring cash for the cash bar. We also have new experiences on board. Go to our website to buy your ticket before it's too late.
https://www.merrinstitute.org/

07/18/2026

🥳Thank you to everyone who participated in our Dolphin Count! We had over 100 volunteers participate! Thanks to you, we can continue monitoring the Delaware dolphin population. MERR hosts this project every July, so if you're interested in volunteering, give us a call next July to sign up :)

Again, thank you to everyone who took part in our annual Dolphin Count! We'll post the total number of dolphins on social media and our website once we have all our data collected.
https://www.merrinstitute.org/

07/16/2026

Thanks to everyone who has submitted pictures and video of our resident leucistic dolphin. If at all possible, if you could include GPS coordinates (approximately) of the sighting, it will help us monitor its travels. We are certainly grateful to receive any media, but having its location would be a big help!

Thank you, and thanks for helping us look after it and keep it as safe as possible.

07/16/2026

We have just a few spots left for our picturesque sunset cruise in search of our local bottlenose dolphin as well as an incomparable Cape Henlopen sunset and wildlife. Bring you binoculars and come celebrate with the amazing volunteers of MERR Institute! Order them today before it's sold out!