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 |
|
Title: Time-lapse Camera Surveys of Pinnipeds in Southeastern Virginia
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Eastern Shore Objectives: Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals Methods: Visual surveys Performing Organizations: NAVFAC Atlantic, The Nature Conservancy Timeline: 2019-2022 Funding: FY19 - $15k, FY20 - $18k, FY21 - $11k |
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 ongoing |
|
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: 2016-2022 Funding: FY16 - $645k, FY18 - $322k, FY19 - $357k, FY20 - $371k, FY21 - $430k |
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 |
Continuing Shifted to sperm whale feeding ecology focus in 2020 |
|
Title: Haul-Out Counts and Photo-Identification of Pinnipeds in Virginia
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore of Virginia Objectives: Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals Methods: Visual surveys, photo ID Performing Organizations: NAVFAC Atlantic, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries,The Nature Conservancy, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2014-2022 Funding: Funding: FY15 - $52K, FY16 - $36K, FY17 - $7K, FY18 - $29K, FY19 - $62K, FY20 - $60K, FY21 - $39K |
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 |
Fieldwork ongoing |
|
Title: Behavioral Response of Humpback Whales to Vessel Traffic
Location: Chesapeake Bay and Nearshore Mid-Atlantic Objectives: Understand the behavioral response of humpback whales to approaching vessels in the shipping channels at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Methods: Dtagging, satellite tagging, and focal follow observational methods Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2019-2022 Funding: FY19 - $95k, FY20 - $75k, FY21 - $80k |
Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Final field season planned for winter 2022 |
|
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: 2017-2022 Funding: FY16 - $35k, FY17 - $1.6M, FY18 - $1.4M, FY19 - 1.4M, FY20 - $1.3M, FY21 - $1.25M |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Continuing |
|
Title: Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes (passive acoustics)
Location: Atlantic OPAREAs Objectives: Assess occurrence, density, and vocal activity of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes Methods: Passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: Duke University, Scripps Institute of Oceanography Timeline: 2007-2022 Funding: |
Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes Determine what populations of marine mammals are exposed to Navy training and testing activities Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
Ongoing Final deployment in 2021 |
|
Title: Jacksonville Vessel Surveys and Tagging
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 Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2016- Funding: FY16 - $100K, FY17 - $105K, FY18 - $360K, FY19 - $60k, FY21 - $125K |
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 |
Continuing |
|
Title: Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring
Location: Nearshore Mid-Atlantic Objectives: Assess ocurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of humpback whales in the mid-Atlantic region Methods: Focal follow observational methods, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging Performing Organizations: HDR Inc. Timeline: 2015-2022 Funding: FY14 - $320k, FY15 - $260k, FY16 - $370k, FY17 - $325k, FY19 - $248k, FY20 - $257k, FY21 - $320k |
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 |
Continuing |
