US Navy
Marine Species Monitoring
Atlantic Region: Current Projects
Atlantic Fleet Training & Testing Monitoring Projects
The table below summarizes marine species monitoring projets being conducted in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico in support of Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements (50 CFR Part 218). Reports and data from these projects will be made available on the individual project profile pages and the Reading Room as they become available.
Project titles link directly to individual project profile pages with additional details and access to data and reports.
*Intermediate Scientific Objectives are established in coordination with NMFS through the Strategic Planning Process to help prioritize monitoring investments
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objective* | Status |
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Title: Atlantic Behavioral Response Study
Location: Cape Hatteras study area Objectives: Assess behavioral response of beaked and pilot whales to mid-frequency tactical sonar Methods: Controlled exposure experiments, DTAGs, satellite tags Performing Organizations: Southall Environmental Associates, Duke University, University of St. Andrews, Bridger Associates, Calvin College, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2017-ongoing Funding: FY16 - $35K, FY17 - $1.25M, FY18 - $1.4M, FY19 - $1.4M, FY20 - $1.3M, FY21 - $1.25M, FY22 - $1.3M, FY23 - $1.17M, FY24 - $1.5M |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Transition to continuously active sonar (CAS) in 2023 |
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Title: Mid-Atlantic Nearshore & Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring
Location: VACAPES Mid-Atlantic shelf Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of baleen whales in the mid-Atlantic region Methods: Visual surveys, focal follow observation, morphometrics, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging Performing Organizations: HDR Inc, Kimora Solutions, NAVFAC Atlantic Timeline: 2021-ongoing Funding: FY21 - $320K, FY22 - $420K, FY23 - $775K, FY24 - $740K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing Expansion of previous humpback whale monitoring |
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Title: Mid-Atlantic Offshore Cetacean Study
Location: Offshore Mid-Atlantic shelf and shelf break (VACAPES OPAREA) Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of cetaceans in the offshore and continental shelf break region of the VACAPES OPAREA Methods: Visual surveys, focal follow observational methods, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging Performing Organizations: HDR Inc. Timeline: 2016-ongoing Funding: FY16 - $645k, FY18 - $322k, FY19 - $357k, FY20 - $371k, FY21 - $430k, FY22 - $530k, FY23 - $435K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing Primary focus shifted to sperm whale feeding ecology focus in 2020 |
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Title: Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range Vessel Surveys and M3R Species Verifications
Location: Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range (JSWTR) Objectives: Monitor species composition and distribution on JSWTR, support M3R species verifications Methods: Vessel visual surveys, biopsy sampling, satellite-linked tags, photo-ID, passive acoustics Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc., Naval Undersea Warfare Center Timeline: 2009-2018, 2020-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $261K, FY19 - $60K, FY20 - $97K, FY21 - $253K, FY22 - $116K, FY23 - $279K, FY24 - $315K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur Determine what populations of marine mammals are exposed to Navy training and testing activities Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Visual species verifications and classifier development |
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Title: Behavioral Response Analysis of Two Populations of Short-Finned Pilot Whales to Mid-Frequency Active Sonar
Location: Atlantic and Pacific (Hawaii) Objectives: Utilize newly developed statistical methods from the Atlantic BRS project and apply them to all the satellite-tagged pilot whales from both the Atlantic and Pacific studies. Methods: Controlled exposure experiments, DTAGs, satellite tags, passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: Naval Information Warfare Center, Sea Inc., National Marine Mammal Foundation, Naval Postgraduate School, Cascadia Research Collective, Duke University Timeline: 24 months Funding: FY24 - $20K, FY25 - $150K |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing |
|
Title: Occurrence of Rice's Whale in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Location: Northeast Gulf of Mexico Objectives: Assess occurrence and distribution of Rice's whale throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico, Methods: Passive Acoustic Monitoring Performing Organizations: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Timeline: 2019-2024 Funding: FY18 - $78K, FY19 - $395K, FY20 - $250K, FY22 - $59K |
Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
Data collection complete, final analysis in progress |
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Title: Acoustic Ecology of Northwest Atlantic Shelf Break Cetaceans and Effects of Anthropogenic Noise Impacts
Location: Northwest Atlantic Objectives: Assess the acoustic niche of marine mammal species and anthropogenic contributors to disturbance Methods: Passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Timeline: 2019-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $143K, FY19 - $145K, FY20 - $145K, FY21 - $150K, FY22 - $150K, FY24 - $144K |
Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing |
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Title: Green and Kemp's Ridley Turtle Tagging for Availability Bias Estimates
Location: U.S. East Coast Objectives: Assess availability bias and habitat associations of endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened green sea turtles to improve spatial density models Methods: Telemetry tagging, spatial modelling Performing Organizations: University of Central Florida, CheloniData LLC Timeline: 2024-2027 Funding: FY24 - $345k |
Establish the baseline habitat use, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur; Establish the baseline behavioral patterns (foraging, diving, etc.) of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur; Estimate the distribution, abundance, and density of marine mammals and ESA-listed species in Navy range complexes, testing ranges, and in specific training and testing areas; Evaluate potential exposure of marine mammals and ESA-listed species to Navy training and testing activities. |
Ongoing |
