The telemetry and survey studies managed by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) was initiated in winter 2021 to collect data on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) along the U.S. East Coast. The purpose of this field season’s research was to collect baseline data to inform a proposed pinniped behavioral response study and continue long-term pinniped surveys, specifically in the Navy OPAREAS along the northwestern Atlantic coast. A summary of the data collected in previous field seasons can be found in DeAngelis (2023).

The aim of the 2021-2022 field season’s research, Phase II of the Pinniped BRS, was to continue to obtain data to measure baseline behavior to understand the physical or biotic factors that influence the movement and foraging tactics of harbor and gray seals; the amount of time seals spend in specific areas, paying particular attention to Navy OPAREAS; and, the anthropogenic risks (e.g., noise-producing military activities) seals potentially encounter in nearshore and offshore areas.

For this project, time-lapse trail cameras were placed at two survey areas in southeastern Virginia in order to monitor all of the known haul-out sites in the region. Wildlife “trail” cameras are cost effective tools for collecting large amounts of data while limiting the impact to the animals as compared to traditional visual surveys (Koivuniemi et al., 2016; Wearn & GloverKapfer, 2019). Trail cameras are especially effective for monitoring wildlife in remote locations and sampling multiple sites for extended periods of time. The use of these cameras offer the ability to monitor haul-out sites in adverse marine and weather conditions with relatively low personnel demands. Objectives for this study are to: 1) improve the understanding of local haul-out patterns; 2) monitor seasonal patterns and the numbers of seals hauled out; 3) investigate any haul-out patterns in relation to environmental factors; and 4) investigate differences between vessel and drone-based surveys and time-lapse camera data collection.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, training and testing areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 field seasons as well as the analyses conducted using data from the 2014-2024 field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns Pinniped Haul-out Counts and Photo-ID, Virginia: 2019/2020 Annual Progress Report Final February 2021| 2 of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2019/2020 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all six field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2020/2021 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all seven field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, training and testing areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2021/2022 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all eight field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2018/2019 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all five field seasons.

Annual technical progress report on pinniped haul-out counts and photo-ID analyses.

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) distribution along the U.S. Atlantic coast has shifted in recent years, with an increased number of seals reported in southern New England. Narragansett Bay is an ecosystem with a substantial seasonal harbor seal presence and extensive commercial and recreational boating traffic, shoreline development pressure, and Navy activities. To better understand harbor seal haulout usage in this system we have been conducting regular, opportunistic observations of seal abundance, seal behavior, potential disturbance, and environmental conditions at a haulout site off Naval Station Newport, from 2010 - 2017.

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) and gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) distribution along the U.S. Atlantic coast has shifted in recent years, with an increased number of seals reported in southern New England and the mid-Atlantic region (Kenney 2014; Waring et al. 2014). Data from NOAA surveys have previously shown New Jersey as the southern extent for harbor and gray seals (NOAA 2015a), with occasional sightings and strandings reported as far south as Florida and North Carolina for harbor and gray seals, respectively (Waring et al. 2014). NOAA now reports that a small group of harbor seals (

The goal of this survey is to document the presence of seals and gain an increased understanding of the occurrence and behavior of seals near Navy installations in the lower Chesapeake Bay (i.e. Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and Naval Station Norfolk), the Virginia Capes Operating Area (VACAPES), and important vessel transit routes.

Objectives for this study are to 1) improve the understanding of local, seasonal haul-out patterns, numbers of seals hauled out during daylight hours; 2) to investigate any haul-out patterns in relation to environmental factors; and 3) to investigate differences between vessel and time-lapse camera survey data collected. The data and results of this effort will further improve the assessment of potential impacts from Navy training and testing activities, installation construction (e.g. pile driving) and vessel transiting activities as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Environmental Policy Act for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command projects in Virginia. These data may also provide important baseline information for the assessment of potential future impacts from climate change or anthropogenic activities.