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: NAS Patuxent River Marine Species Surveys
Location: Chesapeake Bay (NAS Patuxent River) Objectives: Assess occurrence, seasonality, and abundance of Tursiops in the waters near NAS PAX River Methods: Aerial surveys, photo ID, passive acoustics Performing Organizations: HDR Inc, UNC Wilmington Timeline: 2015-2017 Funding: $675k |
Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur. |
Surveys began April 2015 |
|
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: 2015-2017 - anticipated 3 field seasons Funding: FY14 - $320k, FY15 - $260K, FY16 - $370K, FY17 - TBD |
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 |
Year 3 field work in progress Satelite tagging component added 2015/16 field season |
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Title: Seal Tagging and Tracking in Virginia
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay (Hampton Roads) Objectives: Document habitat use, movement and haul-out patterns of seals in the Hampton Roads region of Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic Ocean Methods: Photo ID, tagging Performing Organizations: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation Timeline: 2016-2017 Funding: FY16 - $40k |
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 |
Field work winter 2016-2017 |
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Title: Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes (aerial surveys)
Location: Atlantic OPAREAs Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat associations, and density of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes Methods: Visual surveys (aerial) Performing Organizations: UNC Wilmington, CREEM - University of St. Andrews Timeline: Ongoing Funding: FY13 - $685k, FY14 - $375k, FY15 - $808k, FY16 - $368k |
Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas 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 sonar and underwater explosives |
Ongoing |
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Title: Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes (vessel surveys)
Location: Atlantic OPAREAs Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat associations, and stock structure of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes Methods: Visual surveys, photo ID, biopsy sampling Performing Organizations: Duke University Timeline: Ongoing Funding: FY13 - $275k, FY14 - $350k, FY15 - $250k, FY16 - $220k |
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 Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
Ongoing |
|
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: Ongoing Funding: FY13 - $780k, FY14 - $800k, FY15 - $680k, FY16 - $596k |
Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas 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 |
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Title: Tagging and Tracking of Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales in Florida Waters
Location: Jacksonville Range Complex Objectives: Assess behavior of right whales in coastal waters off Florida including rates of travel of individual whales, dive behavior, and rates of sound production. Methods: Observational methods combined with short term (ca. 24 hour) non-invasive suction cup attached multi-sensor acoustic recording tags with fastloc GPS. Performing Organizations: Duke University, Syracuse University Timeline: Ongoing since 2014 Funding: FY13 - $335K, FY14 - $390K, FY15 - $505k, FY16 - $390k |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur |
First field season - February 2014 2014-2016 field summaries available |
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Title: Autonomous Real-Time Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Baleen Whales for Mitigating Interactions with Naval Activities
Location: Gulf of Maine Objectives: Demonstrate near real-time passive acoustic detection and classification hardware/software systems Methods: PAM from autonomous platforms Performing Organizations: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, NOAA NEFSC, NAVFAC Atlantic Timeline: 2015-2017 Funding: Joint funding - LMR & ESTCP |
Development and validation of techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals |
Initial deployments complete |
