Marine Mammal Research
Abstract
The Navy has been and will continue to be subject to litigation with regard to the potential injuring, killing or biologically significant disturbance of marine animals by the use of intense underwater sound. Since Fleet operation and training areas coincide with known or probable habitats, migration routes, or breeding areas of marine mammals and other protected marine species, the possibility exists that such incidents are likely to continue in the future. The increasing public interest and pressure has resulted in escalating Fleet costs. For example, Fleet and SYSCOM development activities have been interrupted; modified, or altogether cancelled and environmental regulations have, among other things, required new ship construction shock trials to obtain Federal permits and conduct extensive environmental planning that can take several years to complete. The incorporation of mitigation measures in Fleet training operations to minimize the potential adverse effects on protected marine animals can significantly reduce the realism of these operations. In addition, the testing, evaluation, and deployment of new sonar detection and monitoring systems that use active acoustics are under intense public scrutiny for their potential adverse effects on whales and other marine mammals. Navy needs scientific evidence to substantiate its claims of limited or inconsequential adverse effects to marine life from operations. This project primarily focuses on the development of planning, monitoring, and mitigating tools to aid the Fleet in minimizing contact with and the potential harassment of protected marine animals during operations, exercises, training, and undersea surveillance and weapons testing. These new capabilities will encompass historical and newly acquired data and analytical models that together can predict marine animal habitats (where they are likely to be), and their natural and expected behavior (diving patterns, prey localization, calling activity, etc.). This project consists of three major areas that will help ensure Navy compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). These areas are (1) Marine Ecology and Population Dynamics - determine the likelihood of the presence of marine mammals or other protected species by developing habitat and ecological models. Refine marine animal survey techniques to optimize the accuracy of abundance estimates in small ocean regions of Navy interest. (2) Criteria, Thresholds, and Mitigation - Establish criteria and thresholds from which to measure potential impact on marine mammals and other marine species from Navy training operations. Determine the effectiveness and usefulness of various mitigation measures in relation to the potential impact of Navy operations on marine mammals; and (3) Mitigation Methodologies - Determine the observation, detection and classification measures required to develop effective monitoring and mitigation procedures for Fleet and SYSCOM use. Focus on improving marine animal monitoring capabilities over current methods by developing new technologies or improving existing technologies that improve monitoring and mitigation effectiveness, reduce cost and minimize impacts on readiness activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 9204_0603721N_4_1319_PB_2017
Related Documents
- Root: Environmental Protection
- Child Accomplishment: Marine Ecology and Population Dynamics
- Child Accomplishment: Criteria and Thresholds, Physiology and Behavior, and Effects of Sound
- Child Accomplishment: Mitigation Methodologies: Monitoring, New Technology, and Risk Assess
- Child Cost Item: fbb9510e197e9c8927b49112597126ee
- Child Cost Item: bd6710fe5a54436afd4ae2b4ba958d08
- Child Cost Item: 75a51ce3c5d96392f4a7d741bc217dcc
- Child Cost Item: 3c3d7c7b65043bcfffcfc95a580cb30d
- Child Cost Item: 82800c3253b5ab016803789bdcc00d2e
- Child Cost Item: ed1923fa43c0e9d7c328400bcdafbaad
- Child Cost Item: f13210eb2171089ce92f275593ded603
- Child Cost Item: f9dafe3866a834792eec2dba28be72d3
- Child Cost Item: 28481cbd849d0014dea267ab64a05776
- Child Cost Item: 14a113df482c130e4e3cad94d0370f00
- Child Cost Item: 4240630db0dcd0275da8903d7c562830
- Child Cost Item: 8adbe0738935db9249ebd20fcfea43eb
- Child Cost Item: c747e32794c4ec765f5f8a9fccd1fbf4
- Child Cost Item: fc79c8e53cc22c863e0fd7a383f5c50b
- Child Cost Item: 8642694e22ef5d4aba38239e928d2ade
- Child Cost Item: ee32440d67d7d8347fcb15f3429c3160
- Child Cost Item: a0bd86cf3d2fa7301c0e685855d450e9
- Child Cost Item: 5d1f2f2803eaf8fee28f3951536c35b9
- Child Cost Item: 9ae9b8ef8eaf0feb380f9cd1b6528716
- Child Cost Item: 50fe913dbf7c471b44f1fb0a0874f10e