Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research

The 15th Outer Banks Shrimp Cookoff will be held on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at Mahi Mahi’s Island Grill in Nags Head, NC! Local chefs will compete to prepare the best shrimp dish. The event will also feature a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. All proceeds will benefit the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research! Click here to see updates on local competitors and sponsors!

New OBXCDR t-shirts are now available! Check out the new design and how to order here. T-shirts are also available through our adopt a dolphin program.

The Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, established in November 2008, is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization engaged in a long-term photo-identification study of bottlenose dolphins in the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Our mission is to promote the conservation of bottlenose dolphins in the northern Outer Banks through research and education. We seek to learn more about the population ecology, movement patterns, health, and behavior of coastal bottlenose dolphins and to expand public knowledge and concern for these marine mammals.

Our scientists also collaborate with other marine mammal scientists along the western Atlantic coast in order to further understand their long-range movement patterns.

Consider making a donation to the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research to promote conservation efforts in the Outer Banks! Funding is critical for continuing our monitoring surveys, processing our data, analyzing our results, and communicating our results to the public through engaging programs and displays. Select the donate link below to learn how you can contribute!



Jessica Taylor, Executive Director, talked with Will Freund of Climate, Kayak, and Conservation about climate impacts on dolphins and addressing climate in science education. Click here to hear the podcast!

The Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research has recently completed its 2024 season with the help of our summer interns to assist with field research and outreach! Internship positions for 2025 will be advertised here this winter. Learn more about the internship and our research through this podcast interview with director, Jessica Taylor.

Interested in volunteering with the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research? We are currently seeking volunteers! Click here for more information!

The Outer Banks Marine Mammal Stranding Response Team responds to marine mammals strandings from Currituck County, NC south through Hyde County, NC. For more information on how to report a marine mammal stranding in the Outer Banks, click here.

Looking to learn more about dolphins in the Outer Banks? Join us on FaceBook at Onion, A North Carolina Dolphin and Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research as well as on Instagram at obxdolphins for updates on the Outer Banks dolphins this summer!