Atlantic Projects

Northwest Atlantic

• NOAA Fisheries Service

Assess the acoustic niche of marine mammal species and anthropogenic contributors to disturbance

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

Hampton Roads coastal Atlantic Ocean, W-50 MINEX training range

• Oceanwide Science Institute

Assess ocurrence of Tursiops in the vicinity of the W-50 MINEX range. Assess vocal response of Tursiops to underwater explosions

Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur

Develop analytic methods to evaluate behavioral responses based on passive acoustic monitoring techniques

Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Cherry Point and Jacksonville Range Complexes

• Bio-Waves, Inc.
• University of St. Andrews
• Cornell University

Develop analytic methods to evaluate the vocal response of odontocetes and mysticetes to sonar from navy training activities

Determine what behaviors can most easily be assessed for potential response to Navy training and testing activities

Develop analytic methods to evaluate behavioral responses based on passive acoustic monitoring techniques

Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Lower Kennebec River, including Bath Iron Works and Offshore Popham Beach

• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Maine Department of Marine Resources
• PNSY
• University of Maine
• University of Maryland

Assess Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon seasonal occurrence, migration, and overwintering

Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur

Cape Hatteras study area

• HDR
• Duke University
• Bridger Associates
• Calvin University
• Southall Environmental Associates
• University of St. Andrews

Assess behavioral response of beaked and pilot whales to mid-frequency tactical sonar

Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities.

Northwest Atlantic (Maine to Florida)

• NOAA Fisheries Service

Assess the abundance, distribution, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds in U.S. Atlantic EEZ

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

Gulf of Maine

• NOAA Fisheries Service
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
• NAVFAC Atlantic

Demonstrate near real-time passive acoustic detection and classification hardware/software systems

Development and validation of techniques and tools for detecting, classifying, and tracking marine mammals

Atlantic OPAREAs

• CREEM
• HDR
• University of St. Andrews
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation

Assess occurrence, habitat associations, and density of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes

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

Atlantic OPAREAs

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Duke University

Assess occurrence, density, and vocal activity of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes

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

Atlantic OPAREAs

• Duke University

Assess occurrence, habitat associations, and stock structure of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes

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

Atlantic and Pacific (Hawaii)

• Cascadia Research Collective
• National Marine Mammal Foundation
• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)
• Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
• Duke University

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.

Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Chesapeake Bay and Nearshore Mid-Atlantic

• HDR
• Duke University

Understand the behavioral response of humpback whales to approaching vessels in the shipping channels at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

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

• CREEM
• HDR
• Living Marine Resources
• Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R)
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
• NAVFAC
• NAVSEA
• NOAA Fisheries Service
• ONR
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• SMRU
• U.S. Fleet Forces Command
• U.S. Marine Mammal Commission
• Duke University
• NAVFAC Atlantic
• Southall Environmental Associates

Response

Determine what behaviors can most effectively be assessed for potential response to Navy training and testing activities.

Application of passive acoustic tools and techniques for detecting, classifying, locating, and tracking marine mammals.

Application of analytic methods to evaluate exposure and/or behavioral response of marine mammals to Navy training and testing activities.

Evaluate acoustic exposure levels associated with behavioral responses of marine mammals to support development and refinement of acoustic risk functions.

Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities to support PCoD development and application.

St. Andrew Bay and nearshore waters of Panama City, Florida

• NOAA Fisheries Service

Determine species occurrence, and distribution, habitat use, and abundance of Tursiops in St. Andrew Bay and coastal waters adjacent to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division.

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 where Navy training and testing activities occur

Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas

NSWC Panama City Testing Range

• Delaware State University
• University of Delaware

Assess Gulf Sturgeon distribution and habitat use through a multi-phase biotelemetry approach

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 area

Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy Occurrence training and testing activities occur

AFTT and HSTT study areas

• HDR
• University of St. Andrews

Obtain data to characterize the potential exposure of marine mammals and ESA-listed marine species to Navy training and testing activities, evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures

Evaluate potential exposure of marine mammals and ESA-listed species to Navy training and testing activities

Evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures 

U.S. East Coast

• CheloniData
• University of Central Florida

Assess availability bias and habitat associations of endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened green sea turtles to improve spatial density models

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.

Narragansett Bay

• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)

Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals

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

Lower Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore of Virginia

• HDR
• NAVFAC Atlantic
• The Nature Conservancy
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals

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

Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range (JSWTR)

• HDR
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
• Duke University

Monitor species composition and distribution on JSWTR, support M3R species verifications

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

Lower Chesapeake Bay (Hampton Roads)

• CheloniData
• NAVFAC Atlantic
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation

Assess ocurrence and behavior of loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the Hampton Roads region of Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic Ocean

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.

Mid-Atlantic

• NAVFAC Atlantic
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Monitor large whale occurrence in the mid-Atlantic

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.

Northwest Atlantic

• Duke University
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation

Establish a centralized collaborative humpback whale photo-id catalog for the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions to support management and environmental planning

Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur.

VACAPES nearshore Mid-Atlantic

• HDR
• Kimora Solutions
• NAVFAC Atlantic

Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of humpback whales in the mid-Atlantic region

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

VACAPES Mid-Atlantic shelf

• HDR
• NAVFAC Atlantic

Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of baleen whales in the mid-Atlantic region

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

Support conservation and management of North Atlantic right whales

Offshore Mid-Atlantic shelf and shelf break (VACAPES OPAREA)

• HDR

Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of cetaceans in the offshore and continental shelf break region of the VACAPES OPAREA

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

Chesapeake Bay (NAS Patuxent River)

• HDR
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation

Assess occurrence, seasonality, and abundance of Tursiops in the waters near NAS PAX River

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.

Southeast calving grounds (GA/FL)

• Duke University
• Syracuse University

Assess behavior of right whales in coastal waters of the Southeast calving grounds, including rates of travel of individuals, dive behavior, and rates of sound production

Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that may 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 and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur

U.S. Mid-Atlantic

• HDR
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
• Duke University

Assess occurrence, habitat use, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in the mid-Atlantic region

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

Northeast Gulf of Mexico

• NOAA Fisheries Service

Assess occurrence and distribution of Rice's whale throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico

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

Hampton Roads coastal Atlantic Ocean, W-50 MINEX training range

• HDR

Assess occurrence, seasonality, and abundance of Tursiops in the coastal waters of Hampton Roads military installations

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.

Cape Hatteras

• Cascadia Research Collective
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
• Duke University

Establish behavioral baseline and foraging ecology. Assess behavioral response to acoustic stimuli and Navy training activities

Determine what populations of marine mammals are exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur

Evaluate behavioral responses by marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Mid-Atlantic

• HDR
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
• NAVFAC Atlantic

Monitor large whale occurrence in the Mid-Atlantic

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

Cherry Point Range Complex

• NOAA Fisheries Service
• Duke University

Investigate the timing of right whale migration through the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as the relative distance from shore and acoustic behavior of migrating whales

Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns 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

• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
• AMSEAS
• MMoME

Document habitat use, haul-out patterns, and baseline behavior of seals

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

Lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Eastern Shore

• Atlantic Marine Conservation Society
• HDR
• NAVFAC Atlantic
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)
• The Nature Conservancy
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation

Document habitat use, movement and haul-out patterns of seals in the Hampton Roads region of Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic Ocean

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

Naval installations along the US East Coast

• HDR
• Illingworth and Rodkin, Inc

Determine the source levels produced by impact and vibratory driving of different size and material piles during construction projects

Collect data to support impact and effects analyses (e.g. sound source measurements and propagation modelling)

Lower Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore of Virginia

• The Nature Conservancy
• NAVFAC Atlantic

Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals

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