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: Pinniped Tagging and Tracking in Southeast Virginia
Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Eastern Shore Objectives: Document habitat use, movement and haul-out patterns of seals in the Hampton Roads region of Chesapeake Bay and coastal Atlantic Ocean Methods: Photo ID, tagging Performing Organizations: Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Virginia Aquarium, The Nature Conservency, NAVFAC Atlantic, NUWC Newport, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2017-23 Funding: FY16 - $40K, FY17 - $170K, FY18 - $46K, FY19 - $468K, FY20 - $161K, FY21 - $79K, FY22 - $290K |
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 |
Tagging to resume in 2022 |
|
Title: Pinniped Behavioral Response Study
Location: Northeast U.S. (New York and Rhode Island) Objectives: Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities Methods: Tagging Aerial Survey Performing Organizations: NUWC, AMSEAS, NMFS, MMoME Timeline: 2020-ongoing Funding: FY22- $77k FY23- $16k |
Establish the baseline behavior (foraging, dive patterns, etc.) of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing |
|
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: 2017-2023 Funding: FY16 - $35k, FY17 - $1.6M, FY18 - $1.4M, FY19 - 1.4M, FY20 - $1.3M, FY21 - $1.25M, FY22 - $1.29M |
Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities |
Ongoing Transition to continuously active sonar (CAS) in 2023 |
|
Title: Lower Kennebec River Sturgeon Monitoring
Location: Lower Kennebec River, including Bath Iron Works and Offshore Popham Beach Objectives: Assess Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon seasonal occurrence, migration, and overwintering Methods: Acoustic tagging (internal) Performing Organizations: NUWC Newport (lead); collaborating: Maine Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, PSNY, University of Maine, University of Maryland Timeline: 2021–TBD Funding: |
Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur
|
Ongoing Field work initiated May 2021 |
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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: Passive acoustic telemetry, directed AUV surveys, and environmental monitoring Performing Organizations: Delaware State University, University of Delaware Timeline: 2021–2024 Funding: FY21 - $177K, FY22 - $149K |
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 |
Ongoing |
|
Title: Jacksonville Vessel Surveys and Tagging
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 Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc. Timeline: 2016- Funding: FY16 - $100K, FY17 - $105K, FY18 - $360K, FY19 - $60k, FY21 - $125K |
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 |
Continuing |
|
Title: Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes (passive acoustics)
Location: Atlantic OPAREAs Objectives: Assess occurrence, density, and vocal activity of marine mammals and sea turtles in key areas of Navy range complexes Methods: Passive acoustic monitoring Performing Organizations: Duke University, Scripps Institute of Oceanography Timeline: 2007-2022 Funding: $5M+ |
Determine what species and populations of marine mammals and sea turtles are present in Navy range complexes Determine what populations of marine mammals are exposed to Navy training and testing activities Establish the baseline vocalization behavior of marine mammals where Navy training and testing activities occur Evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives |
Deployments discontinued in 2022 Analyses ongoing |
|
Title: Mid-Atlantic Offshore Cetacean Study
Location: Offshore Mid-Atlantic shelf and shelf break (VACAPES OPAREA) Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of cetaceans in the offshore and continental shelf break region of the VACAPES OPAREA Methods: Visual surveys, focal follow observational methods, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging Performing Organizations: HDR Inc. Timeline: 2016-2023 Funding: FY16 - $645k, FY18 - $322k, FY19 - $357k, FY20 - $371k, FY21 - $430k, FY22 - $530k |
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 |
Continuing Primary focus shifted to sperm whale feeding ecology focus in 2020 |
