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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
Title: Haul-Out Counts and Photo-Identification of Pinnipeds in Virginia

Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore of Virginia

Objectives: Document seasonal occurrence, habitat use, and haul-out patterns of seals

Methods: Visual surveys, photo ID

Performing Organizations: NAVFAC Atlantic, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries,The Nature Conservancy, HDR Inc.

Timeline: 2014-ongoing

Funding: Funding: FY15 - $52K, FY16 - $36K, FY17 - $7K, FY18 - $29K, FY19 - $62K, FY20 - $60K, FY21 - $39K, FY22 - $93k, FY23 - $183K

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

Fieldwork ongoing

Title: North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring, Conservation, and Protection

Location: U.S. Mid-Atlantic

Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in the mid-Atlantic region

Methods: Visual surveys, morphometrics, tagging, passive acoustics

Performing Organizations: HDR Inc., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Duke University

Timeline: Ongoing

Funding: $500k+ annually

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: 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
Title: Behavioral Response Analysis of Two Populations of Short-Finned Pilot Whales to Mid-Frequency Active Sonar

Location: Atlantic and Pacific (Hawaii)

Objectives: Utilize newly developed statistical methods from the Atlantic BRS project and apply them to all the satellite-tagged pilot whales from both the Atlantic and Pacific studies.

Methods: Controlled exposure experiments, DTAGs, satellite tags, passive acoustic monitoring

Performing Organizations: Naval Information Warfare Center, Sea Inc., National Marine Mammal Foundation, Naval Postgraduate School, Cascadia Research Collective, Duke University

Timeline: 24 months

Funding: FY25 - $150K

Evaluate behavioral responses of marine mammals exposed to Navy training and testing activities

Ongoing

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)
Title: Behavioral Response of Humpback Whales to Vessel Traffic

Location: Chesapeake Bay and Nearshore Mid-Atlantic

Objectives: Understand the behavioral response of humpback whales to approaching vessels in the shipping channels at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

Methods: Dtagging, satellite tagging, and focal follow observational methods

Performing Organizations: Duke University, HDR Inc.

Timeline: 2019-2024

Funding: FY19 - $95k, FY20 - $75k, FY21 - $80k, FY22 - $80k, FY23 - $60k

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

Field work complete

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 tagging, directed AUV surveys, and environmental monitoring

Performing Organizations: Delaware State University, University of Delaware

Timeline: 2021–2024

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 and Shortnose Sturgeon Monitoring in the Lower Kennebec River

Location: Lower Kennebec River, including Bath Iron Works and Offshore Popham Beach

Objectives: Assess Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon seasonal occurrence, migration, and overwintering

Methods: Passive acoustic telemetry tagging

Performing Organizations: NUWC Newport (lead); collaborating: Maine Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, PSNY, University of Maine, University of Maryland

Timeline: 2021–2024

Funding: FY22 - $60K, FY23 - $103K, FY24 - $68K

Establish the baseline habitat uses, seasonality, and movement patterns of marine mammals and ESA-listed species where Navy training and testing activities occur

Data collection in progress

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