Final Cruise Report, Marine Species Monitoring and Lookout Effectiveness Study, Submarine Commanders Course, February 2014, Hawaii Range Complex

About

In order to train with mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), the United States (U.S.) Navy has obtained a permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and a Biological Opinion under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Navy has developed Monitoring Plans for individual Navy Range Complexes, guided by the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program (ICMP), to provide marine mammal and sea turtle monitoring guidelines as required under the MMPA and the ESA (Department of the Navy 2010). The Hawaii Range Complex (HRC) Monitoring Plan, implemented in 2014, was developed with NMFS to comply with the requirements under the permits (Department of the Navy 2014). The ICMP provides the overarching framework for coordination of the U.S. Navy Monitoring Program (Department of the Navy 2010). The ICMP outlines objectives for range/project-specific Monitoring Plans and U.S. Navy-funded research relating to the effects of naval training and testing activities on protected marine species (Department of the Navy 2010).