A combination of machine learning and expert analyst review was used to detect odontocete echolocation clicks, identify dominant click types, and classify clicks in 32 years of acoustic data collected at 11 autonomous monitoring sites in the western North Atlantic between 2016 and 2019. Previously-described click types for eight known odontocete species or genera were identified in this data set: Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris), Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), Gervais’ beaked whales (Mesoplodon europaeus), Sowerby’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens), and True’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon mirus), Kogia spp., Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

This project is intended to provide baseline information on the species composition, density, distribution, and basic behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present within the United States (U.S.) Navy’s Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area (OPAREA). This study is part of a larger, multi-institutional, marine mammal and sea turtle monitoring program of U.S. Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico supporting Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT)

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Passive acoustic monitoring was conducted using High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) deployed in waters offshore of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida with support from the US Navy during 2016 - 2017. The HARPs recorded underwater sounds between 10 Hz and 100 kHz. Data analysis consisted of analyst scans of long-term spectral averages (LTSAs) and spectrograms, and automated computer algorithm detection when possible. Three frequency bands were analyzed for marine mammal vocalizations and anthropogenic sounds: (1) Lowfrequency, between 10-1000 Hz, (2) Mid-frequency, between 1,000-5,000 Hz, and (3) Highfrequency, between 1-100 kHz.

The primary objectives of the passive acoustic 26 monitoring program are to: 1) Determine the patterns of occurrence at each monitoring site; 2) Compare patterns of occurrence to better understand distributional patterns; and 3) Document species-specific characteristics of the vocalizations of marine mammal species 30 in each area.

A High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP; Wiggins and Hildebrand 2007) was deployed between May 2013 and March 2014 in the Cape Hatteras, NC, survey area at Site A in 970 m. This HARP sampled continuously at 200 kHz and recorded for 290 days between 29 May 2013 and 15 March 2014. The data were divided into three frequency bands (10 Hz – 1000 Hz, 500 Hz – 5000 Hz, and 1 kHz – 100 kHz) and scanned for marine mammal vocalizations using Long-Term Spectral Averages (LTSAs) and automated detectors. Vocalizations of blue whales, fin whales, minke whales, sei whales, North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, Kogia spp., Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, Gervais’ beaked whales, Blainville’s beaked whales, possible Sowerby’s beaked whales, and unidentified delphinids were detected in the data.

A High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP; Wiggins and Hildebrand 2007) was deployed between June 2014 and April 2015 in Norfolk Canyon, VA, at Site A in 982 m. This HARP sampled continuously at 200 kHz and recorded for 290 days between 19 June 2014 and 5 April 2015. The data were divided into three frequency bands (10 Hz – 1000 Hz, 500 Hz – 5000 Hz, and 1 kHz – 100 kHz) and scanned for marine mammal vocalizations using Long-Term Spectral Averages (LTSAs) and automated detectors. Vocalizations of blue whales, fin whales, minke whales, sei whales, humpback whales, Kogia spp., Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, Gervais’ beaked whales, possible Sowerby’s beaked whales, and unidentified delphinids were detected in the data.

The U.S. Navy’s Jacksonville Range Complex (JAX) is located in the South Atlantic Bight offshore northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. From 2009 to 2020, passive acoustic monitoring was conducted using High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) deployed across a depth gradient spanning the continental shelf and slope. Three sites were located on the shallow shelf (A–C; approximately 40–90 m), and one site was located on the continental slope (D; approximately 730–800 m). These long-term acoustic data provide a comprehensive assessment of marine mammal occurrence and ambient sound conditions across the region.

From 2007 to2013,acomprehensive acoustic monitoring effort was conducted within the boundaries of the Onslow Bay study area to study marine mammal presence and ambient noise levels. The objective was to characterize the vocalizations of marine mammal species in the area, identify their seasonal presence patterns, and assess the potential impacts of naval operations on these species. This report presents the findings from the analysis of data collected using High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs; (Wiggins & Hildebrand 2007)), which were strategically deployed within the Onslow Bay study area across a shelf-to-slope gradient.

From 2014 to2021, a comprehensive acoustic monitoring effort was conducted within the boundaries of the Virginia Capes Range Complex to study marine mammal presence and ambient noise levels. The objective was to characterize the vocalizations of marine mammal species in the area, identify their seasonal presence patterns, and assess the potential impacts of naval operations on these species. This report presents the findings from the analysis of data collected using six High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs; Wiggins & Hildebrand 2007), which were strategically deployed within the Virginia Capes Range Complex near Norfolk Canyon (Figure 1 & Table 1).

Three High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) were deployed from June 2018 to September 2019 to detect marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds offshore in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex, approximately 44 nm northeast from Cape Hatteras (HAT).

A High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP) was deployed from April 2016 to June 2017 to detect marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex offshore from Norfolk Canyon (NFC). The HARP was located 75 nm offshore in approximately 1000 m of water. The HARP recorded sound in the frequency band 10 Hz – 100 kHz. Data analysis consisted of analyst scans of long-term spectral averages (LTSAs) and spectrograms, and automated computer algorithm detection when possible. Three frequency bands were analyzed for marine mammal vocalizations and anthropogenic sounds: (1) Low-frequency, between 10-500 Hz, (2) Mid-frequency, between 10-5,000 Hz, and (3) High-frequency, between 1- 100 kHz.

Two High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARP) were deployed sequentially from May 2017 to June 2018 to record marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex offshore ~ 44 nm northeast from Cape Hatteras (HAT).

A High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP) was deployed from June 2017 to June 2018 to detect marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex offshore from Norfolk Canyon (NFC).

A High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP) was deployed from June 2018 to May 2019 to detect marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex near Norfolk Canyon (NFC).

Three High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) were deployed from June 2018 to September 2019 to detect marine mammal and anthropogenic sounds offshore in the Navy’s Virginia Capes Range Complex, approximately 44 nm northeast from Cape Hatteras (HAT).

This study investigated the effects of using duty-cycled passive acoustic recordings to monitor the daily presence of beaked whale species at three locations in the northwest Atlantic. Continuous acoustic records were subsampled to simulate duty cycles of 50%, 25%, and 10% and cycle period durations from 10 to 60 min. Short, frequent listening periods were most effective for assessing the daily presence of beaked whales. Furthermore, subsampling at low duty cycles led to consistently greater underestimation of Mesoplodon species than either Cuvier's beaked whales or northern bottlenose whales, leading to a potential bias in estimation of relative species occurrence.

Little is known about the ecology of many beaked whale species, despite concerns raised by mass strandings linked to certain sources of anthropogenic noise. Here, we used passive acoustic monitoring to examine spatial and temporal patterns in beaked whale occurrence at six locations along the continental slope in the western North Atlantic Ocean.

Long-term high-frequency acoustic recording packages (HARPs) at eight sites along the western North Atlantic shelf break.

Long-term high-frequency acoustic recording packages (HARPs) at eight sites along the western North Atlantic shelf break.

Long-term high-frequency acoustic recording packages (HARPs) at eight sites along the western North Atlantic shelf break.

Over 25 species of cetaceans utilize the shelf break regions of the US eastern seaboard, including several endangered species. Understanding patterns in species distribution, and the anthropogenic and environmental drivers that may impact their distribution, are critical for appropriate management of marine habitats. To better understand patterns in species distribution and vocal activity, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) collaboratively deployed long-term high-frequency acoustic recording packages (HARPs) at eight sites along the western North Atlantic shelf break. This work was conducted from 2015-2019, in coordination with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Likewise, the US Navy has been monitoring the shelf break region at 3 to 4 sites since 2007. Together these combined efforts bring the total to 11 recording sites spanning the U.S. eastern seaboard, from New England to Georgia.

To better understand patterns in species distribution and vocal activity, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) collaboratively deployed long-term high-frequency acoustic recording packages (HARPs) at eight sites along the western North Atlantic shelf break. This work was conducted from 2015-2019, with financial support from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Likewise, the U.S. Navy has been monitoring the shelf break region at 3 to 4 sites since 2007. Together these combined efforts bring the total to 11 recording sites spanning the U.S. eastern seaboard, from New England to Florida. The work this year was aimed at finalizing components for these key objectives: I. Submit a manuscript describing the methodology of the beaked whale neural net classifier to be cited in future publications utilizing this approach II. Submit a manuscript comparing and contrasting two passive acoustic monitoring methodologies - towed array and shelf break HARPs - concerning beaked whale temporal, spatial presence and diving behavior. III. Utilize passive acoustic data from ten shelf-break environments to evaluate composition and dissimilarity of marine mammal community groups at different latitudes.

This study aims to assess the co-occurrence of cetaceans and anthropogenic activities, presenting simple and accessible visualizations of the temporal and spectral overlap.