Biological and Behavioral Response Studies of Marine Mammals in Southern California, 2011 (“SOCAL-11”) Final Project Report.

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This report summarizes the results from SOCAL-11, the second year of the research project Southern California Behavioral Response Study (SOCAL-BRS) conducted in the Southern California Bight. The study’s overall objective is to provide a better understanding of marine mammal behavior and a direct scientific basis to estimate the risk and minimize adverse effects of human sounds, particularly military sonar, on marine mammals. During a scouting phase and two operational legs of SOCAL-11, researchers observed, photographed, and/or tracked thousands of individuals of 18 marine mammal species. Thirty-eight tags were secured on 35 individual animals of four different marine mammal species, including many on focal species including blue whales, Risso’s dolphins, and Cuvier’s beaked whales.