US Navy
Marine Species Monitoring
Pacific Region: Current Projects
Hawaii-Southern California Training & Testing Monitoring Projects
The table below summarizes current marine species monitoring projects being conducted in the Pacific Ocean in support of Hawaii-Southern California Training & Testing (HSTT) 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.
Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL)
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objectives | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Title**: Blue And Fin Whale Satellite Tagging\\\\ **Location**: Southern California\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What are the occurrence, movement patterns, and residency patterns of blue and fin whales within Navy U.S West Coast at-sea ranges as compared to the rest of their distribution throughout the Pacific Ocean?\\\\ **Methods**: Satellite tagging, photo-ID, biopsy, visual survey\\\\ **Performing organization**: Oregon State University\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2017\\\\ **Funding**: $600,000-$1,000,000 | Determine which 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 U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur | **Continuing** |
| **Title**: Marine mammal sightings during CalCOFI cruises\\\\ **Location**: Southern California\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What is the seasonal occurrence and density of cetaceans within the Navy's Southern California Range Complex?"\\\\ **Methods**: CALCOFI\\\\ **Performing organization**: Scripps Institution of Oceanography\\\\ **Timeline**: 2004-2018\\\\ **Funding**: $100,000 - $130,000 | Determine which 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 U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur | **Continuing** |
| **Title**: Cuvier's Beaked Whale Impact Assessment at the Southern California Offshore Antisubmarine Warfare Range (SOAR)\\\\ **Location**: Southern California\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Questions: What are the baseline population demographics, vital rates, and movement patterns for a designated key species? What, if any, are the short term behavioral and/or vocal responses when exposed to sonar or explosions at different levels or conditions?\\\\ Does exposure to sonar or explosives impact the long term fitness and survival of individuals or the population, species or stock? (with initial focus on Cuvier's beaked whales)\\\\ **Methods**: PAM, satellite tagging, Photo-ID, visual survey\\\\ **Performing organization**: Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2018\\\\ **Funding**: $300,000 - $600,000\\\\ | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in U.S. Navy range complexes\\\\ Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Establish the regional baseline vocalization behavior, including seasonality and acoustic characteristics) of marine mammals where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Determine what behaviors can most effectively be assessed for potential response to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Develop and validate techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals\\\\ Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Assess existing data sets which could be utilized to address the current objectives\\\\ | **Continuing** |
| **Title**: Cuvier's Beaked Whale, Blue Whale, and Fin Whale Impact Assessments at Non-Instrumented Range Locations in the SOCAL Range Complex\\\\ **Location**: Southern California\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Questions: What, if any, are the short term behavioral and/or vocal responses when exposed to sonar or explosions at different levels or conditions?\\\\ Does exposure to sonar or explosives impact the long term fitness and survival of individuals or the population, species or stock? (with focus on blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, Cuvier's beaked whale, and other regional beaked whale species)\\\\ **Methods**: PAM, satellite tagging, Photo-ID, visual survey\\\\ **Performing organization**: Scripps Institution of Oceanography\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2016\\\\ **Funding**: $300,000 - $600,000 | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in U.S. Navy range complexes\\\\ Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Establish the regional baseline vocalization behavior, including seasonality and acoustic characteristics) of marine mammals where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Determine what behaviors can most effectively be assessed for potential response to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Develop and validate techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals\\\\ Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Assess existing data sets which could be utilized to address the current objectives\\\\ | **Continuing** |
| **Title**: Marine Mammal Observers on DDGs\\\\ **Location**: offshore waters of Southern California Range Complex\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What is the effectiveness of Navy lookouts on Navy surface ships for mitigation and what species are sighted during sonar training event?\\\\ **Methods**: visual survey (embarked on DDG)\\\\ **Performing Organization**: U.S. Navy and HDR, Inc.\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2018\\\\ **Funding**: $40,000 - $60,000 | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in U.S. Navy range complexes\\\\ Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur | **Continuing** |
Hawaii Range Complex (HRC)
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objectives | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Title**: Long-term Trends in Abundance of Marine Mammals at PMRF\\\\ **Location**: Hawaii\\\\ **Objectives:Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What are the long term trends in occurrence of marine mammals (e.g., minke, humpback, fin, Bryde's, Blainville's) on the PMRF range?\\\\ **Methods**:Analysis of archived PMRF hydrophone recordings\\\\ **Performing organization**: TBD\\\\ **Timeline**: TBD\\\\ **Funding**: $200,000\\\\ | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes\\\\ Develop and validate techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals\\\\ Develop and validate analytic methods to evaluate exposure and/or behavioral responses based on PAM techniques\\\\ Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance for populations of protected species regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives\\\\ Assess existing data sets which could be utilized to address the current objectives\\\\ | **New Start** |
| **Title**: Estimation of Received Levels of MFAS on Marine Mammals at PMRF\\\\ **Location**: Hawaii\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What is the occurrence and estimated received levels of MFAS on 'blackfish', humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales within the PMRF instrumented range?\\\\ **Methods**: PAM, tagging, photo-ID, biopsy, visual survey\\\\ **Performing Organization**: U.S. Navy and HDR, Inc.\\\\ **Timeline**: TBD \\\\ **Funding**: $300,000\\\\ | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are exposed to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Establish the regional baseline vocalization behavior, including seasonality and acoustic characteristics, of marine mammals where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Develop and validate techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals\\\\ Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance for populations of protected species regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives\\\\ Assess existing data sets which could be utilized to address the current objectives\\\\ | **Continuing** |
| **Title**: Behavioral Response of Marine Mammals to Navy Training and Testing at PMRF\\\\ **Location**: Hawaii\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What, if any, are the short term behavioral responses of 'blackfish,' humpback, minke, sperm and Blainville's beaked whales when exposed to MFAS/explosions at different levels/conditions at PMRF?\\\\ **Methods**:PAM, tagging, photo-ID, biopsy, visual survey\\\\ **Performing organization**: U.S. Navy and HDR, Inc.\\\\ **Timeline**: TBD\\\\ **Funding**: $500,000 | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in U.S. Navy range complexes\\\\ Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ Determine what behaviors can most effectively be assessed for potential response to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Develop and validate techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals\\\\ Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to U.S. Navy training and testing activities\\\\ Assess existing data sets which could be utilized to address the current objectives\\\\ | **New start for some species, Continuing for others** |
| **Title**: Navy Civilian Marine Mammal Observers On MFAS Ships In Offshore Waters of the Hawaii Range Complex\\\\ **Location**: Hawaii\\\\ **Objectives**: Further our understanding of the Monitoring Question: What is the effectiveness of Navy lookouts on Navy surface ships for mitigation and what species are sighted during sonar training events?\\\\ **Methods**: Visual survey\\\\ **Performing Organization**: U.S. Navy and HDR, Inc.\\\\ **Timeline**:TBD\\\\ **Funding**: $40,000 - $60,000 | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in U.S. Navy range complexes\\\\ Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where U.S. Navy training and testing activities occur\\\\ | **Continuing** |
Northwest Training and testing monitoring projects
The table below summarizes current marine species monitoring projects being conducted in support of Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) 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.
Northwest Training Range Complex and Keyport Range Complex
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objective | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Title**: Modeling the Offshore Distribution of Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Pacific Northwest\\\\ **Location**: Northwest Training Range Complex, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Range Complex\\\\ **Objectives**: Identify and classify Southern Resident killer whale detections from acoustic recorders and satellite tag tracking; develop a model to estimate the seasonal and annual occurrence patterns of southern resident killer whales relative to offshore Navy training ranges\\\\ **Methods**: Passive acoustic monitoring, tagging, modeling\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2016\\\\ **Funding**: FY14 $439k; FY15 $358k | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in Navy range complexes and testing ranges\\ \\ Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are exposed to Navy training and testing activities \\ \\Establish the regional baseline vocalization behavior, including seasonality and acoustic characteristics) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur\\ \\Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur | **Continuing from 2014** |
| **Title**: Marine Mammal Density Surveys in the Pacific Northwest (Inland Puget Sound)\\\\ **Location**: Northwest Training Range Complex, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Range Complex\\\\ **Objectives**: Determine abundance, distribution, and densities of marine mammals in inland waters of Puget Sound\\\\ **Methods**: Aerial surveys & Density Analysis\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: HDR, Inc.; Smultea Environmental Services, National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife\\\\ **Timeline**: 2012-2016\\\\ **Funding**: FY12 $134k; FY14 $506k, FY15 $375k | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in Navy range complexes and testing ranges\\ \\ Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are exposed to Navy training and testing activities \\ \\Estimate the distribution, abundance, and density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes, testing ranges, and in specific training and testing areas | **Continuing from 2014** |
| **Title**:Pacific Northwest Pinniped Satellite Tracking\\\\ **Location**: Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Naval Station Everett\\\\ **Objectives**: Estimate the number of California sea lions and Steller sea lions that haul out at Navy facilities; develop population estimates; describe regional marine habitat usage by pinnipeds relative to Navy training, testing, and pile driving activities\\\\ **Methods**: Tagging\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife\\\\ **Timeline**: 2013-2016\\\\ **Funding**: $420k | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in Navy range complexes and testing ranges\\ \\ Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are exposed to Navy training and testing activities \\ \\Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur | **Field work 2013-2016**\\Final analysis and reporting by September 2016 |
Mariana Islands Training and Testing Monitoring Projects
The table below summarizes current marine species monitoring projects being conducted in the Mariana Islands in support of Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements (50 CFR Part 218). These monitoring projects were developed following the FY15 Monitoring Implementation Goals from the 2014 MIRC annual monitoring report. Reports and data from these projects will be made available on the individual project profile pages and the Reading Room as they become available.
Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT)
| Project Description 1 | Intermediate Scientific Objective 2 | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Title**: Small vessel visual surveys\\\\ **Location**: Guam and southern CNMI (Tinian, Saipan, Aguijan)\\\\ **Objectives**: Identify species of beaked whales, odontocetes, and baleen whales that occur in the Mariana Islands; Monitor marine mammal and sea turtle presence, distribution, and diversity in nearshore waters during key seasons (summer and winter); Develop a better understanding of marine mammal distribution, movement patterns, habitat use, population structure, and abundance; Develop reference library of visually-validated acoustic recordings of marine mammals.\\\\ **Methods**: Visual surveys (nearshore small vessel winter and summer season), photo-identification (develop catalogs for multiple cetacean species), biopsy and genetic analysis, satellite tagging, opportunistic acoustic recording during sightings\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Cetacean Research Program\\\\ **Timeline**: 2010-2015\\\\ **Funding**: $350k | 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 habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur\\ \\Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur\\ \\Continue development of passive acoustic monitoring techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals | Continuation from FY10 |
| **Title**: Acoustic analysis of High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package data\\\\ **Location**: Tinian, Saipan\\\\ **Objectives**: Analyze archived acoustic recordings from moored High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package [HARP] devices to determine baseline occurrence and relative seasonal abundance of marine mammals\\\\ **Methods**: Analysis of acoustic recordings made by moored high frequency passive acoustic monitoring devices\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Cetacean Research Group\\\\ **Timeline**: 2010-2014 (years of recordings that were analyzed)\\\\ **Funding**: $100K | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes\\ \\Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur | Continuation from FY12 |
| **Title**: Pilot study for shore-based surveys\\\\ **Location**: Guam\\\\ **Objectives**: Conduct a pilot study to determine feasibility and effectiveness of conducting shore-based surveys of the windward waters of Guam, which can be problematic for small vessels\\\\ **Methods**: HDR, Inc., U.S. Navy\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Cetacean Research Group\\\\ **Timeline**: 2013-2015\\\\ **Funding**: $340K | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes | Continuation from FY13 |
| **Title**: Sea turtle tagging in the Mariana Islands Range Complex\\\\ **Location**: Guam, Tinian, Saipan\\\\ **Objectives**: Develop a better understanding of sea turtle distribution and habitat use in the Mariana Islands, particularly in relation to locations used by the Navy for underwater detonation training\\\\ **Methods**: Sea turtle satellite tagging, habitat use analysis of tag data, historical analysis\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Marine Turtle Biology & Assessment Program \\\\ **Timeline**: 2013-2014\\\\ **Funding**: $200K | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes\\ \\Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles 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 | Continuation from FY14 |
| **Title**: Autonomous glider passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals in the Mariana Islands Ranch Complex\\\\ **Location**: Mariana Islands, offshore of NE Guam and SW Guam\\\\ **Objectives**: Determine spatial distribution and occurrence of beaked whales, other odontocetes, and baleen whales in offshore areas using deep-diving autonomous gliders. \\\\ **Methods**: Passive acoustic monitoring\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: HDR, Inc.; Oregon State University, University of Washington\\\\ **Timeline**: 2014-2015\\\\ **Funding**: $300K | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes\\ \\Continue development of passive acoustic monitoring techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and localizing marine mammals\\ \\Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur | Continuation from FY13; FY16 final year |
| **Title**: Pilot study for shore based humpback surveys\\\\ **Location**: Saipan\\\\ **Objectives**: Explore the use of roof top, shore based observations for humpback whales\\\\ **Methods**: Combined shore based surveys for humpbacks with rapid small boat responses to sightings for satellite tagging, biopsy and photo-identification.\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Marine Turtle Research group\\\\ **Timeline**: 2015\\\\ **Funding**: $200K | 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 habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur\\ \\Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur | FY15 New start |
1 Specific projects are not mandated by the FY15 implementation goals (see Table 4 of the 2014 MIRC annual monitoring report). The projects listed here were developed in support of these implementation goals.
2 Intermediate Scientific Objectives are established in coordination with NMFS through the Strategic Planning Process to help prioritize monitoring investments. In addition to Intermediate Scientific Objectives, monitoring projects in the Mariana Islands are also guided by the scientific monitoring questions of the MITT-range complex monitoring plan.
Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area Monitoring Projects
The table below summarizes current marine species monitoring projects being conducted in the Pacific Ocean in support of Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area (GOA TMAA) 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.
Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area (GOA TMAA)
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objective* | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Title**: Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Mammals in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area (May-July) using Bottom-Mounted Passive Acoustic Devices\\\\ **Location**: Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area\\\\ **Objectives**:Determine temporal occurrence of baleen whales and beaked whales from bottom-mounted passive acoustic devices, as well as recording anthropogenic sounds\\\\ **Methods**: Passive acoustic monitoring\\\\ **Performing Organizations**: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego\\\\ **Timeline**: May-July 2017\\\\ **Funding**: $250k | Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and ESA-listed species are present in Navy range complexes, testing ranges, and in specific training and testing areas\\ \\ Application of passive acoustic tools and techniques for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals \\ \\Establish the regional baseline vocalization behavior, including seasonality and acoustic characteristics) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur | **Field work May-July 2017**\\Analysis and Reporting 1 July 2018 |
