The marine mammal strandings project was set up by Defra following the mass die-off of common seals in the North Sea in 1988. The purpose of the project is to monitor the health status of marine mammals and marine turtles in UK waters by examining animals that are found washed up dead on the shores. Fresh carcasses can give useful information on prey species through analysis of stomach contents, parasite burdens, pollutant levels of metals and organochlorines and give early indications of infectious diseases in these populations.