In May 2011, a rare occurrence took place off the Southern California coast. For the first time since U.S. Navy-funded aerial surveys began in the area in 2008, a group of 20 sperm whales, including four calves, was seen—approximately 24 nautical miles west of San Diego.

Since the closure of a power plant in the southern part of San Diego Bay, a collaborative monitoring effort among the Navy, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and others has been underway to better understand changes in the movement and behavior of the green sea turtle so that the Navy and this turtle can continue to share the resources in the bay. San Diego Bay is home to one of the largest U.S. Navy complexes in the world and California’s second largest incorporated city. Today, more than 25 percent of the U.S. Navy fleet is homeported in San Diego. Maintaining readiness in this ecosystem without causing harm to the natural resources is an ongoing challenge. There are a variety of threatened and endangered species that rely on the San Diego Bay ecosystem at different stages of their lives. One of these is the East Pacific green sea turtle. The East Pacific green sea turtle is a federally threatened species in San Diego Bay. While the majority of the population has traditionally lived in the quieter south part of the bay, the turtles may be venturing into areas more frequently used for U.S. Navy, recreational, and commercial activities. An increased presence of turtles outside of the southern portion of the bay may have potential implications for management of this species, as there is a higher likelihood of boat strikes and other potentially adverse human interactions.