Mystic — Mystic Aquarium has resumed operation of its Animal Rescue Program that had been sidelined since March due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aquarium typically rescues and rehabilitates sick, injured and stranded marine animals along the Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island coastlines.

But when the pandemic hit, schools removed the student interns, volunteers were no longer able to assist due to coronavirus precautions and there were restrictions on crossing state lines, all “making it almost impossible to run the program,” according to aquarium spokeswoman Dale Wolbrink.

In addition, she said the aquarium was dealing with decreases in revenue due to being closed to the public. The rescue program is costly to run due to expenses for food, medical care and equipment.

The remaining animals in the clinic were cared for and released by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management but no new animals were taken in.

Wolbrink said the closure came at a time of the year when the clinic is not as busy as other times. She said the aquarium has now begun recalling interns and volunteers in preparation for rescuing its first new animals.

Volunteers can sign up to be first responders. Training will take place virtually in the coming weeks and months. Applications can be found at bit.ly/marescue2020.

“The temporary closure of the Animal Rescue Program was a discouraging consequence of this ongoing global pandemic,” Allison Tuttle, the aquarium’s senior vice president of zoological operations, said in announcing the program’s restarting operation. “We are incredibly grateful to once again have the opportunity to provide critically important services to animals in need and to our community at large as part of our stated mission of ocean conservation.”

Wolbrink added the temporary closure was crushing for aquarium staff because caring for stranded animals is central to their mission. “It's in their DNA,” she said.

In resuming operations, the aquarium will expand its efforts in rescuing and rehabilitating endangered sea turtles. Wolbrink said the opening of the Aquarium’s Milne Ocean Science and Conservation Center provides warm water pools needed to care for the turtles. The pools used by the animal rescue program are outdoors. Wolbrink said the aquarium also plans to expand its education efforts so people know how to look for turtles who need help. Turtles often need to be rescued when they are stunned by cold water, struck by boats or become entangled in nets.

j.wojtas@theday.com