US Navy
Marine Species Monitoring
Atlantic Region: Current Projects
Atlantic Fleet Training & Testing Monitoring Projects
The table below summarizes marine species monitoring projets being conducted in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico in support of Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements (50 CFR Part 218). Reports and data from these projects will be made available on the individual project profile pages and the Reading Room as they become available.
Project titles link directly to individual project profile pages with additional details and access to data and reports.
*Intermediate Scientific Objectives are established in coordination with NMFS through the Strategic Planning Process to help prioritize monitoring investments
| Project Description | Intermediate Scientific Objective* | Status |
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Title: Green and Kemp's Ridley Turtle Tagging for Availability Bias Estimates
Location: U.S. East Coast Objectives: Assess availability bias and habitat associations of endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened green sea turtles to improve spatial density models Methods: Telemetry tagging, spatial modelling Performing Organizations: University of Central Florida, CheloniData LLC Timeline: 2024-2027 Funding: FY24 - $345k |
Establish the baseline habitat use, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur; Establish the baseline behavioral patterns (foraging, diving, etc.) of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur; Estimate the distribution, abundance, and density of marine mammals and ESA-listed species in Navy range complexes, testing ranges, and in specific training and testing areas; Evaluate potential exposure of marine mammals and ESA-listed species to Navy training and testing activities. |
New start - FY24 Tagging to begin summer 2024 |
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Title: Atlantic Behavioral Response Study
Location: Cape Hatteras study area Objectives: Assess behavioral response of beaked and pilot whales to mid-frequency tactical sonar Methods: Controlled exposure experiments, DTAGs, satellite tags Performing Organizations: Southall Environmental Associates, Duke University, University of St. Andrews, Bridger Associates, Calvin College, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2017-ongoing Funding: FY16 - $35k, FY17 - $1.6M, FY18 - $1.4M, FY19 - 1.4M, FY20 - $1.3M, FY21 - $1.25M, FY22 - $1.29M, FY23 - $1.17M, FY24 - $1.46M |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Transition to continuously active sonar (CAS) in 2023 |
|
Title: Acoustic Ecology of Northwest Atlantic Shelf Break Cetaceans and Effects of Anthropogenic Noise Impacts
Location: Northwest Atlantic Objectives: Assess the acoustic niche of marine mammal species and anthropogenic contributors to disturbance Methods: Passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center Timeline: 2019-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $143K, FY19 - $145K, FY20 - $145K, FY21 - $150K, FY22 - $150K, FY24 - $144K |
Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing |
|
Title: Distribution of Gulf Sturgeon in the Panama City Testing Range
Location: NSWC Panama City Testing Range Objectives: Assess Gulf Sturgeon distribution and habitat use through a multi-phase biotelemetry approach Methods: Acoustic tagging, directed AUV surveys, and environmental monitoring Performing Organizations: Delaware State University, University of Delaware Timeline: 2021–2025 Funding: FY21 - $177K, FY22 - $149K, FY23 - $152K |
Estimate the distribution, abundance, and density of marine mammals and ESA-listed species in Navy range complexes, testing ranges, and in specific training and testing area Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy Occurrence training and testing activities occur |
Data collection complete Final analysis in progress |
|
Title: Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS)
Location: Northwest Atlantic (Maine to Florida) Objectives: Assess the abundance, distribution, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds in U.S. Atlantic EEZ Methods: Visual surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, tagging Performing Organizations: NOAA Fisheries Northeast and Southeast Fishery Science Centers Timeline: 2010-2024 Funding: $250k annually |
Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
AMAPPS I (2010-2014), AMAPPS II (2015-2019), AMAPPS III (2020-2024) |
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Title: Mid-Atlantic Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring
Location: Mid-Atlantic Objectives: Monitor large whale occurrence in the mid-Atlantic Methods: Autonomous real time passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, NAVFAC Atlantic Timeline: 2019-ongoing Funding: Funding: FY18- $211k, FY19- $213k, FY20- $357k, FY21- $139k, FY22 - $0, FY23 - $196K, FY24 - $210K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur |
Ongoing |
|
Title: Occurrence of Rice's Whale in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Location: Northeast Gulf of Mexico Objectives: Assess occurrence and distribution of Rice's whale throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico, Methods: Passive Acoustic Monitoring Performing Organizations: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Timeline: 2019-2024 Funding: FY18 - $78K, FY19 - $395K, FY20 - $250K, FY22 - $59K |
Estimate the density of marine mammals and sea turtles in Navy range complexes and in specific training areas Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
Data collection complete, final analysis in progress |
|
Title: Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range Vessel Surveys and M3R Species Verifications
Location: Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range (JSWTR) Objectives: Monitor species composition and distribution on JSWTR, support M3R species verifications Methods: Vessel visual surveys, biopsy sampling, satellite-linked tags, photo-ID, passive acoustics Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc., Naval Undersea Warfare Center Timeline: 2009-2018, 2020-ongoing Funding: FY18 - $261K, FY19 - $60K, FY20 - $97K, FY21 - $253K, FY22 - $116K, FY23 - $279K, FY24 - $315K |
Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur Determine what populations of marine mammals are exposed to Navy training and testing activities Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Visual species verifications and classifier development |
