About CIMWI
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) is an organization filled with dedicated and passionate individuals that share CIMWI’s mission. Our goal is to positively impact conservation through marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, research and education to promote ocean and human health.
CIMWI’s Board of Directors is made up of professionals that are committed to building a first-class marine mammal institute. Most of the team has a great deal of marine mammal experience (over 165 years cumulatively). Pairing these leaders with the volunteers that are responsible CIMWI’s day-to-day operations creates a winning combination. CIMWI volunteers provide the skill, time, energy and dedication that enable CIMWI to make a difference.
Sam Dover, D.V.M. – President
Executive Director and Director of Veterinary Medicine, Research & Conservation
Ruth Dover – Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Managing Director
Terry Bartlett, Esq. – Secretary
Reetz, Fox & Bartlett, LLP – Partner and Attorney
Johnny Jordan – Director
Royale Energy, Inc. – Chief Executive Office, President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director
Rick Linnehan, D.V.M. – Director
NASA – Astronaut and Veterinarian
James McBain, D.V.M. – Director
SeaWorld – VP Corporate Veterinary Services (retired)
Dan Petersen – Director
U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program – Navy Seal (retired)
Keith Yip – Director
Marine Mammal Consultant
Volunteers
CIMWI is essentially an all-volunteer organization and successfully runs its daily operations with an extremely dedicated, caring and talented team of volunteers that are eager to learn and contribute to our organization. Volunteers actively participate in managing CIMWI’s rescue hotline, coordinating responses, making assessments, performing rescues and transporting animals, providing medical attention and rehabilitation care and managing releases as well as collecting data on dead stranded animals. Most of CIMWI’s volunteers perform multiple roles in the organization. Aside from working directly with stranded marine mammals, they also assist with outreach and education, fundraising, grant writing, social media, public relations, administration, groundskeeping, facility maintenance and construction.
If you are interested in volunteering with CIMWI, click here (.pdf) to complete CIMWI’s volunteer application. Please email your completed application to info@CIMWI.org or fax it to (805) 963-9684.
CIMWI Affiliate Organizations
CIMWI is a member of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Network under the direction of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. CIMWI is also a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and the West Coast Large Whale Entanglement Response Program.
CIMWI is committed to cooperating and collaborating with other agencies, organizations, universities and researchers.
CIMWI Facility
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute is located at the historic Vista Del Mar Union School along the Gaviota Coast. The Hollister heirs donated the property to CIMWI on May 27, 2011. This gift provides CIMWI with a permanent home.
The organization’s goal is to create a world-class marine mammal institute and this historic school site is a perfect location with 2.81 acres. The combination of classrooms, support buildings and open areas provide ample space for the Institute. The school grounds accommodate outdoor rehabilitation enclosures with pools, while the indoor facilities include a Hospital Room, Laboratory/Pharmacy, Fish Kitchen and Surgery/Treatment Room with a plan for future research facilities, administrative offices and education space.
Robert Perry - NaturalPhotographics.com
A special thank you to Bob Perry for the use of his incredible marine mammal photographs!