Monitoring projects involving attaching a variety of tag types to marine species are becoming a more common part of the Navy's marine species monitoring program to address questions ranging from movement patterns to behavioral response. Some of the these tags such as the SPOT and SPLASH (Wildlife Computers), and SRDL (Sea Mammal Research Unit) allow animal movements to be monitored remotely over weeks to months using GPS and/or ARGOS technologies linked through satellites or even GSM cellular phone networks. In addition, some of these tags are able to log, store, and transmit additional data such as dive depth and water temperature. Other tags like the DTAG and Acousonde record fine-scale movements and sounds from the tagged animal as well as all other sounds from various sound sources in the area. These tags store the data onboard and must be retrieved in order to download and analyze the data and are typically attached with suction cups, typically for less than 24 hours. Each of these tag types has particular benefits and are used for addressing specific objectives. More information on current tagging projects and links to online tracking data can be accessed below when available.
ATLANTIC
Atlantic Behavioral Response Study
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network
Occurrence, Ecology, and Behavior of Deep-diving Odontocetes
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network, MoveBank
Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network
Mid-Atlantic Continental Shelf Break Cetacean Study
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network
Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range (JSWTR)
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network
North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring, Conservation, and Protection
Project Profile
Pinniped Tagging and Tracking in Southeast Virginia
Project Profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network
Lower Chesapeake Bay Sea Turtle Tagging and Tracking
Project profile
Tagging data - Animal Telemetry Network, OBIS-SEAMAP, SeaTurtle.org
PACIFIC
Tagging Fin and Blue Whales in Southern California
Project profile
Tracking data - Animal Telemetry Network
Pacific Northwest Pinniped Tracking
Project profile - coming soon