US Navy
Marine Species Monitoring
2015 SOCAL-BRS research plan posted
SOCAL-15 continues a multi-year research collaboration called the “SOCAL-BRS” (Southern California Behavioral Response Study). This project is designed to better understand the behavior of numerous protected marine mammal species that inhabit the southern California Bight and provide direct, controlled measurements of their reactions to sound, including military sonar systems. The overall objective is to provide a better scientific basis for estimating risk and minimizing effects of mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) systems for the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies. SOCAL-BRS includes collaborations among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), private sector and academic scientists, and U.S. Navy researchers. It is jointly funded by the U.S. Navy Living Marine Resources Program (LMR) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is part of an international collaboration to measure the impacts of noise on marine mammals.
