Navy's Fleet Marine Species Monitoring Program: Revisions and Application In the Southern California Range Complex

About

The Navy is implementing systematic improvements to regional marine species monitoring in order to increase the likelihood of achieving top-level goals established by NMFS and the Navy. Top-level monitoring goals are described in an Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Plan (ICMP) that guides the Navy's monitoring effort. In addition to the framewor.k provided by the ICMP , an independent scientific advisory group (SAG) was initiated in October 2010 to provide scientific recommendations on how the Navy's monitoring program could be more effective, evaluate how current monitoring aligns with the ICMP goals, and further refine regional monitoring recommendations. One of the SAG's recommendations was for the Navy to adopt a framework that conceptualizes the continuum of knowledge about marine species. Depending on the species, knowledge may be basic or it may be detailed and sophisticated. The framework starts with information on occurrence of marine mammals on Navy range complexes, and proceeds through questions of exposure to Navy training activities, potential responses of animals to exposure, and consequences (if any) of any interactions. Applying the conceptual framework and SAG recommendations informs the Navy about the appropriate scientific questions that can be addressed within its range complexes and how to prioritize projects and locations when constrained by funding availability. Additional recommendations from the SAG included defining new regulatory metrics, better transparency in planning and implementation, collaboration among stakeholders, and better Navy-wide integration of regional monitoring plans.