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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: 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: 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
Title: Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring

Location: VACAPES nearshore Mid-Atlantic

Objectives: Assess ocurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of humpback whales in the mid-Atlantic region

Methods: Visual surveys, focal follow observation, morphometrics, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging

Performing Organizations: HDR Inc., Kimora Solutions, NAVFAC Atlantic

Timeline: 2015-2023

Funding: FY14 - $320k, FY15 - $260k, FY16 - $370k, FY17 - $325k, FY19 - $248k, FY20 - $257k, FY21 - $320k, FY22 - $570k

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

Photo-ID and morphometrics work ongoing

Title: Mid-Atlantic Nearshore & Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring

Location: VACAPES Mid-Atlantic shelf

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

Methods: Visual surveys, focal follow observation, morphometrics, photo ID, biopsy sampling, satellite tagging

Performing Organizations: HDR Inc, Kimora Solutions, NAVFAC Atlantic

Timeline: 2020-present

Funding: FY22 - $570K

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

Support conservation and management of North Atlantic right whales

Ongoing

Expansion of previous humpback whale monitoring
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: 2019-2023

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

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: 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

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: Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog

Location: Northwest Atlantic

Objectives: Establish a centralized collaborative humpback whale photo-id catalog for the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions to support management and environmental planning

Methods: Photo identification

Performing Organizations: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, Duke University

Timeline: 2017-2023

Funding: FY16 - $106k, FY17 - $74K, FY18 - $75K, FY21 - $31K, FY22 - $90K

Establish the baseline habitat uses and movement patterns of marine mammals and sea turtles where Navy training and testing activities occur.



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: 2014-2022

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

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

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