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: 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-ongoing Funding: FY16 - $35k, FY17 - $1.6M, FY18 - $1.4M, FY19 - 1.4M, FY20 - $1.3M, FY21 - $1.25M, FY22 - $1.29M, FY23 - $1.17M, FY24 - $1.46M |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Transition to continuously active sonar (CAS) in 2023 |
|
Title: Analysis of Acoustic Ecology of North Atlantic Shelf Break Cetaceans and Effects of Anthropogenic Noise Impacts
Location: Northwest Atlantic Objectives: Assess the acoustic niche of marine mammal species and anthropogenic contributors to disturbance Methods: Passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Timeline: 2018-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $143K, FY19 - $145K, FY20 - $145K, FY21 - $150K, FY22 - $150K, FY24 - $144K |
Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing |
|
Title: Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon Monitoring in the Lower Kennebec River
Location: Lower Kennebec River, including Bath Iron Works and Offshore Popham Beach Objectives: Assess Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon seasonal occurrence, migration, and overwintering Methods: Passive acoustic telemetry tagging Performing Organizations: NUWC Newport (lead); collaborating: Maine Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, PSNY, University of Maine, University of Maryland Timeline: 2021–2024 Funding: FY22 - $60K, FY23 - $103K, FY24 - $68K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur
|
Data collection in progress |
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Title: Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range Vessel Surveys and M3R Species Verifications
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, passive acoustics Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc., Naval Undersea Warfare Center Timeline: 2009-2018, 2020-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $261K, FY19 - $60K, FY20 - $97K, FY21 - $253K, FY22 - $116K, FY23 - $279K, FY24 - $315K |
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 |
Ongoing Visual species verifications and classifier development |
|
Title: Green and Kemp's Ridley Turtle Tagging for Availability Bias Estimates
Location: U.S. East Coast Objectives: Assess availability bias and habitat associations of endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened green sea turtles to improve spatial density models Methods: Telemetry tagging, spatial modelling Performing Organizations: University of Central Florida, CheloniData LLC Timeline: 2024-2027 Funding: FY24 - $345k |
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. |
New start - FY24 Tagging to begin summer 2024 |
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Title: Time-lapse Camera Surveys of Pinnipeds in Southeastern 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 Performing Organizations: NAVFAC Atlantic, The Nature Conservancy Timeline: 2019-ongoing Funding: FY19 - $15k, FY20 - $18k, FY21 - $11k, FY22- $34k, FY23- $42k |
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 |
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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-ongoing Funding: Funding: FY15 - $52K, FY16 - $36K, FY17 - $7K, FY18 - $29K, FY19 - $62K, FY20 - $60K, FY21 - $39K, FY22 - $93k, FY23 - $183K |
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 |
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Title: North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring, Conservation, and Protection
Location: U.S. Mid-Atlantic Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in the mid-Atlantic region Methods: Visual surveys, morphometrics, tagging, passive acoustics Performing Organizations: HDR Inc., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Duke University Timeline: Ongoing Funding: $500k+ annually |
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 |
Ongoing |
