MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN"

Transcription

1 ADMIRALTY INLET PILOT TIDAL PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN Submitted by: Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County November 16, 2012

2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION PROJECT DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND INFORMATION Marine Mammal Presence in Admiralty Inlet Harbor Porpoise Echolocation Activity Pre-Installation Acoustic Effects Estimate Marine Current Turbines SeaGen Demonstration European Marine Energy Center Pre-Installation Noise Detection Estimate PLAN OBJECTIVES AND GOALS POST-INSTALLATION MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN Pinniped Response to Turbine Presence Objective Data Collection Data Analysis Reporting and Adaptive Management Harbor Porpoise Response to Turbine Presence Objective Data Collection Data Analysis Reporting and Adaptive Management Killer Whale Response to Turbine Presence Objective Data Collection Data Analysis Reporting and Adaptive Management APPROACH TO ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION REFERENCES FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE i

4 Attachment 1 Carlson, T.J., J.L. Elster, M.E. Jones, B.E. Watson, A.E. Copping, M. Watkins, R. Jepsen, and K. Metzinger (2012) Assessment of strike of adult killer whales by an OpenHydro tidal turbine blade, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory technical report, PNNL Attachment 2 November 15, 2012, draft A framework for detection of tidal turbine sound: A pre-installation case study for Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington (USA) Attachment 3 Power Analysis for Ability to Detect Changes related to Southern Resident Killer Whales LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Conceptual instrumentation layout (fixed and recoverable). Instrumentation shown on a 4th Generation turbine (higher rotor solidity than 7th Generation turbine). The general dimensions of the subsea based and support structure are approximately constant between technology generations for the same rotor size... 2 Figure 2 Turbine deployment location in northern Admiralty Inlet. Blue triangles denote turbines, each of which is connected back to shore via a separate power cable. Dashed red polygon to the east of Keystone Harbor is a marine protected area Figure 3 Typical landmark sequence... 6 Figure 4 Porpoise detection positive minutes per day, as classified by different instrument/software combinations (Collar et al., 2012). Notably, DPM statistics depend significantly on the type of instrument (T-POD vs. C-POD) and version of software used for the analysis. This complicates comparison of data between projects where different versions of the software are employed Figure 5 Probability of mid-frequency cetacean (killer whale) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface) Figure 6 Probability of high-frequency cetacean (harbor porpoise) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface) Figure 7 Probability of pinniped (harbor seal) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface) Figure 8 Admiralty Inlet showing possible study area boundaries (500 m or 1000 m) and probable observer location Figure 9 Scan procedure for pinniped monitoring Figure 10 Passive acoustic array on OpenHydro turbine. Hydrophone configuration is preliminary FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE ii

5 MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN for the Admiralty Inlet Pilot Tidal Project 1.0 INTRODUCTION Interactions between marine mammals and tidal turbines are an area of high uncertainty (Polagye et al., 2011) and pilot projects in Europe, Canada, and the United States have devoted considerable resources to characterizing how installation and operation of tidal energy projects affects marine mammals. While marine mammals may respond to any number of cues associated with project operation, sound is, in many cases, likely to be first cue detected. Based on preinstallation estimates, sound from project operation is not expected to rise to a level that constitutes injury, but will periodically rise to a level that may cause behavioral changes over small spatial scales. Marine mammal behavioral responsiveness to noise is a well-known, but not well-understood in terms of relating a particular noise to a specific response (e.g., as discussed in Southall et al., 2007). The Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan provides studies to evaluate behavioral changes in marine mammals associated with project operation. These are partitioned by functional group (i.e., pinnipeds, mid-frequency cetaceans, high-frequency cetaceans). In all cases, the hypothesis being tested is similar marine mammals may respond to the sound from project operation or prey aggregations through attraction, avoidance, or change in behavioral state. However, the specific approach, duration of observations, and analyses to be undertaken, vary by functional group based on the statistical power to detect change, need to ensure proper resource protection, and suitable monitoring technologies. Through adaptive management, this information will provide for proper resource protection of marine mammals. Additional details regarding instrumentation on the turbines are presented in the Monitoring Plan Summary. 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The demonstration project proposed by Snohomish County Public Utility District consists of two turbines manufactured by OpenHydro, an Irish turbine developer. Each of these turbines has a 6 m diameter outer shroud, as shown in Figure 1. These will be deployed on a gravity tri-frame, with tubular cans contacting the seabed at the vertices. Turbine hub height will be 10 m above the seabed. The OpenHydro turbines are fixed-pitch, high-solidity rotors with an open center. The rotor cassette is the single moving part and is supported by water-lubricated bearings. A permanent magnet generator is contained in the shroud surrounding the blades. Anti-fouling coatings are applied to the interior surface of the shroud, hub, and rotor blades, but the gravity frame (steel, ballasted by concrete and aggregate) is left bare. The turbine shown in Figure 1 represents the 6 m version of 4 th Generation technology. The turbines deployed in Puget Sound will be 6 m variants of 7 th Generation technology the principle differences being fewer blades and more streamlined central hub. The turbines will be deployed in northern Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington. Admiralty Inlet is a constricted sill separating the deep Main Basin of Puget Sound from the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Straits of Georgia. At the narrowest point, between Admiralty Head and Point Wilson, the channel is approximately 5 km wide and 70 m deep. Excepting a small exchange through Deception Pass, the entire tidal prism of Puget Sound passes through this constriction, FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 1

6 giving rise to tidal currents that routinely exceed 3 m/s (6 knots) at mid-water. The project site is approximately 1 km SE of Admiralty Head in 55 m of water (Figure 2). The project location was chosen on the basis of strong tidal currents (intensified by the proximity to the headland), negligible seabed slope (necessary to deploy the gravity foundation), separation from high vessel traffic areas (federal navigation lanes, ferry route), and ease of cable routing back to shore. Each turbine will be connected to shore by a separate power cable. These cables will also provide power for monitoring instrumentation and fiber optic communication with the turbine and monitoring instrumentation. Turbine monitoring systems are grouped into two categories instruments that will be deployed for the duration of the demonstration project (fixed) and instruments that will be periodically recovered for maintenance (recoverable). This will be enabled by an Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP) consisting of a self-aligning frame with instrumentation and a wet-mate power and fiber connector. Figure 1 Conceptual instrumentation layout (fixed and recoverable). Instrumentation shown on a 4th Generation turbine (higher rotor solidity than 7th Generation turbine). The general dimensions of the subsea based and support structure are approximately constant between technology generations for the same rotor size. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 2

7 Figure 2 Turbine deployment location in northern Admiralty Inlet. Blue triangles denote turbines, each of which is connected back to shore via a separate power cable. Dashed red polygon to the east of Keystone Harbor is a marine protected area. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 3

8 3.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 3.1 Marine Mammal Presence in Admiralty Inlet As described in the District s Final License Application (Snohomish PUD, 2012), marine mammal species reported to occur in central Puget Sound include: Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) (Orcinus orca), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Dall s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Programs to document presence of marine mammals in Puget Sound include twelve years of vessel surveys conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). These surveys were conducted basin-wide, and WDFW has compiled the results in a spatially rectified database. Harbor seals accounted for 687 sightings in Admiralty Inlet followed by harbor porpoise (67 sightings), Dall s porpoise (16 sightings), river otter (12 sightings), killer whale (10 sightings), and California sea lion (8 sightings) (WDFW, 2006). There are also several known pinniped haulout locations in the vicinity of Admiralty Inlet, the nearest being to the southeast for the proposed location for the demonstration project. Harbor seals are the most common, widely distributed pinnipeds found in Washington waters and represented 86 percent of the marine mammals observed by WDFW between 1992 and 2004 (WDFW 2006). Jeffries et al. (2000) identified 13 harbor seal haulout locations in Admiralty Inlet. Harbor porpoise, the second most commonly observed marine mammal in Puget Sound, are relatively common and can be observed in the region year-round (Calambokidis and Baird, 1994; further discussion in 3.2). Seasonal changes in abundance along the west coast have been noted; however, movement patterns are not fully understood. In recent years, the population of harbor porpoise in Puget Sound has increased significantly relative to the 1970 s. The factors underlying this increase are not entirely understood. The Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) is one of four distinct population segments of resident killer whales in the northeastern Pacific, whose range extends from Alaska to California (Krahn et al., 2002; Krahn et al., 2004). This distinct population segment consists of three pods (one or more matriline groups traveling together), designated J, K, and L pods, that reside for part of the year in the inland waterways of Washington State and British Columbia (Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound), principally during the late spring, summer, and fall (Bigg, 1982; Ford et al., 2000; Krahn et al., 2002). Pods can be found in Puget Sound year-round, but during fall, winter and spring, SRKW are more prone to excursions out of Puget Sound and can be seen as far south as California. Winter and early spring movements and distribution are largely unknown for the population (NMFS, 2008). The majority of sightings occur at locations off San Juan Island where there have been 750 to 1,550 sightings from 1993 to At locations in Admiralty Inlet, in the vicinity of the Project, between 6 and 25 sightings of SRKW were recorded annually from 1990 to 2005 (NMFS, 2009). From January 1990 through December 2008, the Orca Master database recorded 2,532 sightings of SRKW in Puget Sound proper (south of Deception Pass and Admiralty Inlet), and of those, 196 occurred within 5 nautical miles (9 km) of the proposed Project (Whale Museum, 2009). FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 4

9 Between October 2009 and April 2010 land- and boat-based observations of marine mammals were made in the study area (a 5 nautical mile (9 km) radius around the proposed Project deployment site). Overall, 2,145 sighting locations were recorded of seven marine mammal species. Harbor seals were observed most often, occurring on 95 percent of survey days and accounted for 49 percent of all sightings, with a total of 1,041 sightings recorded on 110 separate days (Tollit et al., 2010). Members of all three SRKW pods were identified during boat-based observations. In summary, a total of 11.5 hours of focal sampling were conducted. During this time, SRKW spent most of their time in the study area traveling (74 percent), while the remainder of the time was spent foraging (21 percent) and socializing (5 percent) (Tollit et al., 2010). Dive depth information was collected using a vertical hydrophone array deployed from a boat. During seven SRKW transits, a total of 655 calls and clicks were localized at depths from the surface down to 142 meters; however, 80 percent of the vocalizations were produced at depths of 30 meters or less, with little difference in average depth by behavior category. During the closest approach to the proposed Project site (October 21, 2009), while the focal group was categorized as foraging, depths from 23 to 58 meters were recorded from eight calls and clicks. The focal studies indicated that there is great variability in SRKW vocalization rates when transiting through the study area (0 to 92 percent of recording time). Periods with little or no vocal activity were witnessed, most notably on October 10, 2009, when the pods were described as undertaking slow (thought to be restful) travel (Tollit et al. 2010). 3.2 Harbor Porpoise Echolocation Activity Pre-installation studies intended to characterize the physical and biological variability in northern Admiralty Inlet have included cetacean click detectors (C-PODs, Chelonia, Ltd.). These specialized hydrophones detect clicks, which may be of cetacean origin, and log characteristic information. In post-processing, a classifier is used to detect trains that are of cetacean origin (as distinct from clicks caused by sediment transport, boat sonars, etc.). Seasonal variability in harbor porpoise activity is shown in Figure 4, in terms of detection positive minutes per day (i.e., the number of minutes each day in which porpoise are detected). In absolute terms, porpoise presence can be quite high, approaching 800 DPM/day (more than 50% of all minutes). Significant seasonal variability is observed, as well as a pronounced diel inequality (presence much more likely during the night than during the day). These strong patterns of activity and high relative abundance offer potentially greater ability to detect behavioral changes associated with the operation of tidal turbines at this location. Additionally, landmark activity recorded by C-PODs provides a mechanism to directly evaluate harbor porpoise awareness of the turbines. A landmark is defined as a sequence of echolocation click trains with linearly decreasing inter-click intervals (ICI). This pattern indicates cetaceans approaching the instrument and actively echolocating at the C-POD, its mooring, or other nearby object (Chelonia user guide). The name for the behavior is derived from the use of such landmarks by harbor porpoises for the purpose of navigation. Landmark sequences are identified by cpod.exe software and must be analyzed manually for validity. A typical sequence indicative of landmark behavior recorded during the deployment is depicted in Figure 3. These sequences can be used to roughly estimate the distance at which porpoises becomes aware of their echolocation target (Chelonia user guide). FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 5

10 Figure 3 Typical landmark sequence A total of six highly likely landmark sequences were identified in the year of data from May 2010 May 2011 from a single C-POD (Unit #718). As given by the equation above, the average initial distance from the instrumentation package at the start of a landmark sequence was approximately 60 m. The sequences also indicate approaches to within 20 m of the instrumentation, on average. The farthest distance at which a landmark sequence begins is estimated to be approximately 90 m. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 6

11 Figure 4 Porpoise detection positive minutes per day, as classified by different instrument/software combinations (Collar et al., 2012). Notably, DPM statistics depend significantly on the type of instrument (T- POD vs. C-POD) and version of software used for the analysis. This complicates comparison of data between projects where different versions of the software are employed. 3.3 Pre-Installation Acoustic Effects Estimate There has been limited, though high profile, monitoring of marine mammals at other tidal energy projects, principally for the Marine Current Turbines (MCT) SeaGen demonstration in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland and the European Marine Energy Center in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Other projects that have undertaken pre-installation baseline surveys of marine mammal population and presence, similar to those described in 3.1. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 7

12 3.3.1 Marine Current Turbines SeaGen Demonstration For the Marine Current Turbines SeaGen demonstration in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, the two principal marine mammal concerns were, arguably, that (1) the sound produced by the turbine might create a barrier to harbor porpoise moving between the inner and outer Lough through Strangford Narrows and (2) that the rotating turbine might injure or kill harbor seals. The potential for an acoustic barrier for harbor porpoise was assessed using T-PODs (the older, analog version of the C-POD click detectors used for this project). Monitoring of harbor porpoise echolocation activity took place before installation, during construction (which involved bedrock drilling to secure the jacketed pile foundation), and during operation. Harbor porpoise echolocation activity declined during construction activities, but returned to pre-installation levels thereafter, with no statistically significant differences between presence in the inner and outer Lough before construction and after operation began (Keenan, 2011). Additionally, marine mammal observers on shore and pile have confirmed transits of seals and harbor porpoise occur past the turbine while it is in operation, indicating the absence of a significant barrier effect. To mitigate against potential mortality or injury to a protected population of harbor seals, the local regulator and MCT agreed to shut down the turbine when harbor seals are within a specified distance (currently, less than 100 m), as detected initially by a shoreline observer and currently by monitoring of active sonar. No seal mortality has occurred, but, because no monitoring of seal-turbine interactions has been possible, the actual risk to harbor seals remains unknown. Carlson et al. (2012, appended) includes the results of recent research, modeling the consequences of collisions between killer whales and OpenHydro turbines in Admiralty Inlet. The results of this analysis suggest that should collision/strike occur, the consequences would not be severe. An analysis of this type was not undertaken for the SeaGen project and is a crucial difference between the emphasis on mitigation undertaken for that projects and the emphasis on monitoring proposed for this project European Marine Energy Centre The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is the leading worldwide test facility for tidal turbines. There are presently, multiple turbines under tests at the Fall of Warness, including a 6 m OpenHydro turbine mounted to a pile foundation (rather than a gravity base). Several species of marine mammals, including killer whales, are present in the Fall of Warness, but shoreline observers have not monitored them approaching the turbines (personal communication, Sue Barr, OpenHydro, Ltd.). Within the past year, EMEC has begun a more comprehensive marine mammal monitoring program, but the results are not yet available. 3.4 Pre-Installation Noise Detection Estimate Marine mammal monitoring undertaken for both the SeaGen project and at the European Marine Energy Center have involved shoreline counts of marine mammals, stratifying these by spatial position (e.g., grid density) to evaluate potential behavioral changes as a consequence of turbine FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 8

13 operation. For these studies, observations have been further stratified by turbine operating state either on or off. The most likely mechanism for marine mammal behavioral changes over a significant area is the potential for disturbance by turbine sound. As discussed in Southall et al. (2007), marine mammal behavioral responses to sound depend upon multiple factors, including the intensity and frequency of the received sound, behavioral state at the time sound is detected, and prior exposure to similar sounds. In areas of with variable ambient noise levels, such as Admiralty Inlet, the distance from a source that a sound would be detected is variable in time. Further, experience from the wind industry suggests that the sound produced by tidal turbines will vary as a function of power generated. Clearly, stratification of marine mammal counts by whether a turbine is on or off neglects most of these factors and is likely insufficient to detect what, at the pilot scale, may be subtle behavioral changes. A key consideration in the development of marine mammal monitoring plans is the spatial extent of the area to be monitored. On one hand, surveying as broad an area as possible is desirable, in order to maximize the number of marine mammals observed. On the other, surveying as small an area as possible maximizes the spatial resolution of the information collected. This is a classic range-resolution trade-off and suggests that surveys be designed to collect information at high resolution within the area that behavioral changes are likely to be observed. Polagye et al. (in prep) proposes a framework for evaluating the detection of turbine sound by marine mammals, with a specific application to the District s proposed demonstration project in northern Admiralty Inlet. It establishes an upper limit on the zone of behavioral responsiveness by estimating the zone of audibility (or, zone of detection) for turbine sound. Turbine sound is said to be audible if received levels (RL) exceed noise levels (NL), resulting in a positive signal excess (SE), as SE RL NL. Received levels are related to the source level (SL) of the sound as RL SL TL AG where TL is the transmission loss and AG is the auditory gain of the receiver. Further, a sound will only be detected, regardless of the signal excess, if the received level exceeds speciesspecific hearing thresholds. Even with a number of simplifying assumptions, there are a number of inter-related variables involved: Noise level: varies by frequency and in time. Low frequency ambient noise (i.e., < 1 khz) is independent of tidal current velocity. However, high frequency ambient noise, which includes sound produced by mobilization of coarse sediments, does depend on tidal current velocity. Source level: varies by frequency and in time, in proportion to power generation, which is, in turn, dependent on tidal current velocity. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 9

14 Transmission loss: varies by frequency and with position in three-dimensional space relative to the source. Hearing threshold: varies by frequency and by species. Polagye et al. (in prep) proposes a framework to evaluate the probability of a particular class of marine mammal (e.g., mid-frequency cetacean) detecting turbine sound in a particular one-third octave band at a particular location in space over all possible ambient noise levels and received levels as: p d d NL, RL, HT x, y, z, f i j j i p NL j RL i p RL i. The terms correspond to the following: d : the probability of sound in a particular one-third octave band (f) being p x, y, z, f detected at a particular position in space (x,y,z). d NL, RL HT : detection of sound (1 = detection, 0 = no detection) for a particular, j i combination of noise level (NL), received level (RL), and species/frequency-specific hearing threshold (HT) for a particular frequency and position in space. p NL : the probability of a particular noise level occurring as a particular j RL i frequency, given a received level (for frequencies greater than 1 khz, these are related via current velocity). p RL i : the probability of a particular received level occurring for a particular frequency and position in space. The summation results in an overall probability of detecting turbine sound at a given frequency and position in space. The following series of figures visualize the results by marine mammal functional group for the area in the vicinity of the two proposed OpenHydro turbines. For each functional group, six one-third octave bands are visualized. For the first four frequencies (50 Hz, 160 Hz, 500 Hz, and 2000 Hz), these represent relative peaks in the turbine sound spectrum. For the last two (8 khz and 25 khz), these represent important frequencies for marine mammal communications. These results are, by necessity, subject to a number of assumptions (e.g., the variation of turbine sound intensity with tidal currents, uncertainty in hearing thresholds). Evaluating the validity of the sound production assumptions is a key aspect of the Acoustic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan. The results shown here represent updated hearing threshold information from that presented in the appended, draft version of Polagye et al., which was supplied by Marla Holt at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. This information will be incorporated into a revised version of the manuscript in the near future. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 10

15 Figure 5 Probability of mid-frequency cetacean (killer whale) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface) (Polagye et al., in prep). FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 11

16 Figure 6 Probability of high-frequency cetacean (harbor porpoise) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface) (Polagye et al., in prep). Note: due to harbor porpoise hearing sensitivity, no turbine sound at 50 Hz or 160 Hz is likely to be detected at any range and under any operating condition. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 12

17 Figure 7 Probability of pinniped (harbor seal) detecting turbine noise (30 m depth relative to surface). Detection of turbine sound by three marine mammal classes is presented in Figure 5-Figure 7. A single species has been chosen as having representative hearing thresholds for each class: FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 13

18 Mid-frequency cetacean: killer whale High-frequency cetacean: harbor porpoise Pinniped: harbor seal Low-frequency cetaceans are not included in this assessment because audiograms do not exist for this class of marine mammal (Southall et al., 2007). For mid- and high-frequency cetaceans, sound detection is most probable for the one-third octave band centered at 500 Hz. The probability of sound detection falls to less than 20% within 1 km of the turbines. For pinnipeds, sound detection is most probable for the one-third octave band centered at 160 Hz and is reasonably probable to a range of several kilometers. Since detection of sound is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a behavioral response (particularly for pinnipeds), these results suggest that the area of study for the marine mammal plan should be on the order of 1 km in radius, centered on the turbines. 4.0 PLAN OBJECTIVES AND GOALS The goal of the Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan is to detect and observe marine mammals in the Project area, during turbine installation, operations, and removal in order to provide information about potential avoidance of the turbines, attraction to the turbines, or changes to activity state caused by the turbine. Another goal is to then use this information to modify the project if needed to provide mitigation and resource protection. The plan seeks to test three hypotheses, and, in doing so, reduce the existing uncertainty around the interactions between marine mammals and tidal turbines. These are arranged around three functional groups: pinnipeds (specifically harbor seals and Steller sea lions), harbor porpoise, and killer whales (Southern Resident and transient). These species represent those groups that are present in the Project area at levels sufficient to undertake robust analyses (Tollit et al., 2010). Hypothesis 1: Pinnipeds may respond to the acoustic stressors from turbine operations or prey aggregations through attraction or avoidance. Hypothesis 2: Harbor porpoise may respond to the acoustic stressors or prey aggregations through attraction or avoidance. Their high rate of occurrence in the Project area provides an opportunity to conduct studies with greater statistical power than for other marine mammals. Hypothesis 3: Killer whales may respond to the acoustic stressors or prey aggregations in the vicinity of the turbine through attraction, avoidance, or change in activity state. Their endangered and iconic status warrants special consideration. To accomplish these goals, the District will conduct the Monitoring and Mitigation Plans laid out in this document and consult with the Admiralty Inlet Marine Aquatic Resource Committee (MARC) to consider modification to this Plan and the project in response to the results of marine mammal monitoring efforts or acoustic monitoring efforts. Land and acoustic-based observations of marine mammals in the Project vicinity will compliment efforts and expertise already in place, as represented by the Orca Network, Beam FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 14

19 Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Whale Museum. Additionally, during project installation and removal the District will follow NOAA guidelines for vessel operations around marine mammals. Specifically, if a listed cetacean occurs within 500 meters, or listed pinniped occurs within 100 meters of an installation or removal vessel, installation or removal operations will be halted. Once the listed cetacean or pinniped leaves the vicinity, installation or removal operations will resume. 5.0 POST-INSTALLATION MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN Marine mammal behavioral responsiveness to noise is a well-known, but not well-understood in terms of relating a particular sound to a specific response (e.g., as discussed in Southall et al., 2007). The acoustic stressor from project operation is, however, likely to be the first cue associated with the project that is detected by marine mammals. The zone of audibility establishes an upper bound on the zone of responsiveness. As described in Polagye et al. (in prep), given assumptions regarding the time variation of turbine noise and pre-installation measurements of ambient noise, the zone of audibility likely extends no further than a few hundred meters around the turbines for mid-frequency cetaceans, high-frequency cetacean, and pinnipeds. The zone of audibility for low-frequency cetaceans is likely to be somewhat greater, but cannot be estimated with certainty due to a lack of audiogram information for this class of marine mammal. This also precludes quantitative studies of this functional group. A clear difference between these proposed studies and past marine mammal studies for tidal energy projects is that observations will be stratified by stressor (e.g., signal excess of turbine sound) rather than simply observation of the proximity of a marine mammal to the turbines. A combination of scan sampling (pinnipeds) and continuous focal individual/group sampling (killer whales and harbor porpoise) will be used by land-based observers. All observations are restricted to a circular study area with radius referenced to the acoustic center of the project (i.e., a point midway between the two turbines). The study area radius will be between 500 m and 1000 m (Figure 8) The study area extent needs to balance between identifying targets before they enter the zone of audibility (larger study area preferred) and wellresolved observations of marine mammals in time and space (smaller study area preferred). The study area will be finalized in consultation with the MARC following a demonstration of marine mammal monitoring techniques in the fall of This will consist of a day of monitoring in which trained observers will follow the protocols outlined in the following plans using either reticle binoculars (lower accuracy, easier to use) or theodolite (higher accuracy, hard to use). High definition video capture will also be obtained to evaluate utility for tracking groups referenced to theodolite/reticule observations. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 15

20 Figure 8 Admiralty Inlet showing possible study area boundaries (500 m or 1000 m) and probable observer location. All observations are stratified by the zone of audibility for each functional group (pinnipeds, harbor porpoise, and killer whales). This reduces variations in ambient noise and tidal currents to a single variable, simplifying presentation and interpretation of results. Information about the location of vessels and turbine power generation state will be used to develop time series estimates for turbine sound and ambient noise in one-third octave bands. These will be combined with knowledge of marine mammal hearing thresholds to establish the zone of audibility. Specifically, turbine sound will be estimated using the information from the Acoustic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan that relates source levels (radiated noise levels at 1 m) to power generation state. Ambient noise (frequencies < 1 khz) will be estimated from vessel presence recorded by an Automatic Identification System receiver using a frequency-dependent model based on the broadband model described in Bassett et al. (in press). Higher frequency sound (i.e., > 1 khz) is dependent on current velocity (Bassett et al., submitted), but the zone of audibility is likely to be greatest below 1 khz (Polagye et al., in prep), meaning that this dependence can be neglected. Shoreline marine mammal observers will not have foreknowledge of the zone of audibility, meaning that this will be a blind observation, reducing potential for bias. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 16

21 5.1 Pinniped Response to Turbine Presence Objective Pinniped responsiveness to turbine noise will firstly be evaluated by 2-3 experienced shoreline marine mammal observers positioned on Admiralty Head (lower gun emplacements on the bluffs at Fort Casey, N, ). Observations will focus on identifying attraction or avoidance within the zone of detection for turbine noise. All pinnipeds (e.g., harbor seals, Steller sea lions) will be categorized within this function group to increase sample size and, therefore, statistical power to detect changes. The objective is to detect and observe pinnipeds in the project area during turbine installation, operation, and removal in order to provide information about potential attraction to the turbines, avoidance of the turbines, or changes to activity state within the zone of detection for turbine noise. This information will then be used to modify the Plan or project operations, if needed, to provide mitigation and resource protection. Equipment Description Data Collection The locations of pinnipeds identified during scans will be determined using either a tripod mounted theodolite (±2 m accuracy at a range of 2 km) or reticle binoculars. The decision of whether to use a theodolite (higher accuracy, more difficult to use) or reticle binoculars (lower accuracy, easier to use) will be determined, in consultation with the MARC, following a field test in the fall of Unlike studies of Southern Resident killer whales and harbor porpoise, video information will not be collected during pinnipeds scans since prior experience (pers. comm., D. Tollit, SMRU, Ltd.) suggests that observations at this distance are unlikely to be able to reliably determine behavioral state for pinnipeds in water. Survey Procedure The specific locations of pinnipeds within study area will be determined by theodolite or reticle binoculars using a scan sampling technique. Scan sampling is best done with a sample interval as short as possible (Mann, 1999). Given the small area under observation, seven minute scan blocks will be undertaken (five minutes scanning, followed by two minutes rest). Each scan will consist of observations from left to right across the study area in a systematic manner, recording the locations of all pinnipeds present. Ad libitum information on behavior (e.g., feeding events) and group structure (if applicable) will be recorded when possible in the event that an odd behavioral event is observed. Prevailing metocean conditions will also be noted for each scan (Laake et al., 1998). For each observation, location, species, and group size will be recorded. Only one location per individual or group will be recorded per scan period (e.g., a seal siting on the surface is recorded once during a five minute scan period). Observations will be undertaken during daylight hours, at most light precipitation, fog less than Category II, and Beaufort Sea State less than 4. Scan effectiveness is likely to be lower when wind, rain, or currents are roughening the sea surface. There will be 400 hours of total observation effort over one calendar year. This is similar to marine mammal observations FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 17

22 undertaken by Marine Current Turbines for the SeaGren process in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland (200 hours total observations) and pre-installation observations to establish species presence/absence in Admiralty Inlet. Observations are likely to be more difficult during the winter than in the summer, given regional weather patterns. Consequently, observers will attempt 250 hours of observations during winter (Oct. 1 Mar. 31) and 150 hours of observations during summer (Apr. 1 Sep. 30). During winter months, the percentage of attempted hours with good observations is likely to be lower than the summer (i.e., the total number of good observations should be the same between winter and summer, even though more observer effort is scheduled for winter months). The observation period will be 6 hours per day, as limited by available daylight during the winter months. Observations in the winter and summer will be distributed among months (i.e., approximately 7 days each month during the winter, 4 days each month during summer). The timing of these observations will be selected in order to obtain data over a range of tidal conditions (equal stratification is not possible, given that lower tidal currents are more probable than high tidal currents), with preference given to obtaining data during strong currents when the sound produced by the turbine is likely to be greatest. Scans will be discontinued to undertake (short) periods of focal animal follows if killer whales or harbor porpoise are detected within the study area (see flow chart in Figure 9). During scans, vessel traffic will be monitored by an Automatic Identification System (AIS) on Admiralty Head. Turbine power generation state will be monitored using the turbine Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This information will be used to estimate ambient noise and sound produced by the turbines during a scan. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 18

23 Figure 9 Scan procedure for pinniped monitoring Data Analysis A time series of pinniped locations will be developed from theodolite/reticle binocular data. These locations will be mapped to grid cells around the turbines to quantify presence/absence. Initially, the grid spacing will be 100 m square (approximately 80 grid cells in the study area), but this may be refined during analysis based on consultation with the MARC. By retaining the raw time series data, it will be possible to remap observations to different grid resolutions, as needed. Observations will be stratified by month, time of day, and presence of prey species in the vicinity of the turbines (as informed by the Near-turbine Monitoring and Mitigation Plan). The objective of the analysis will be to evaluate whether pinniped presence/absence is related to the signal excess of sound produced by the turbine. The relation between presence/absence and model variables (e.g., month, time of day, signal excess) is likely to be non-linear. Given the limited temporal and spatial separation between data points, the collected data is likely to violate assumptions of independence for many statistical tests. This correlation between data points will therefore need to be taken into account during statistical analysis and de-correlation time scales will be evaluated. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) have been used successfully on nonlinear marine mammal data with final standard errors and p-values adjusted with Generalized FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 19

24 Estimating Equations (GEE) to deal with the auto-correlation of data points (Keenan et al. 2011). A similar approach will likely be required here Reporting and Adaptive Management Prior to the start of pinniped observations, the MARC will be consulted to establish the extent of the study area, based on the final results of the sound detection analysis in Polagye et al. (in prep) and results of observation trials in the fall of Pinniped surveys will commence once the project is operational, with a preliminary, oral report made to the MARC within 60 days of turbine installation. On a quarterly basis, a report will be provided to the MARC describing number and species of pinnipeds observed within the survey area and the device operating state during these observations. Final written and oral reports will be made to the MARC within 120 days of survey completion (one calendar year of operation) describing the observations, statistical modeling approach, and results. If the results of the Acoustic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan indicate that the extent of detectable turbine noise is greater or less than indicated by pre-installation estimates (i.e., Polagye et al., in prep), then the survey area may be expanded or contracted with the concurrence of the MARC. Pinnipeds are food motivated. If the Near-turbine Monitoring and Mitigation Plan indicates that prey is aggregating around the turbines after the first calendar year of pinniped observations is complete (and such aggregations did not occur during the first calendar year), a short-term pinniped study (e.g., 2+ weeks observations) will be conducted to evaluate whether prey aggregations are affecting behavior in the vicinity of the Project. The specific study scope will be developed in consultation with the MARC. In conjunction with the MARC and with NMFS approval, as provided in section 6.0, this information will be used to inform project modifications, where necessary, to provide mitigation and resource protection. 5.2 Harbor Porpoise Response to Turbine Presence Objective Pre-installation acoustic monitoring indicates a high level of porpoise activity at this location (Tollit et al., 2010; Cavagnaro et al., in prep) and porpoise are known to be more adverse to acoustic disturbance than other marine mammals (though, at this site, there may be habituation to sound from shipping traffic Polagye et al., in prep). Focal animal sampling (the type of sampling being conducted for this Plan), has greater statistical power to detect change than scan sampling and is more feasible for cetaceans than pinnipeds. Consequently, observations of harbor porpoise may have greater statistical power to detect behavioral change than observations of other marine mammals. Additionally, harbor porpoise echolocation can be used to provide additional information about activity state and awareness of the turbines. Therefore, the objective of this study is to both gather information and to use that information to determine if project modifications are necessary to provide mitigation and resource protection. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 20

25 Equipment Description Data Collection As for pinniped monitoring, harbor porpoise observations will be conducted with either a tripod mounted theodolite or reticle binoculars. Simultaneous high-definition video will be obtained of groups, after the techniques described by DeNardo et al. (2001). The Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP) on each turbine will be equipped with a pair of C- POD ( click detectors. These will be recovered and redeployed every 3-6 months as part of the standard maintenance cycle. Redundancy is indicated from pre-installation experience with these instruments. If a cabled C-POD (provisionally, the F-POD ) becomes available of the lifetime of the project, it could be integrated into a spare port on the AMP to enable real-time click detections. Collection Procedure Continuous focal animal or focal group sampling will be conducted using the theodolite-video methodology (described in DeNardo et al., 2001) or a modified recticle binocular-video methodology. In either case, an animal, or group of animals, is tracked through the study area. Initial detection of harbor porpoise will be through the methodical scans undertaken for pinniped monitoring ( 5.1). Observational data will, initially, be collected during pinniped surveys using the observational sampling procedure shown in Figure 9 by a single survey team. If significant survey overlap is found to exist (i.e., both pinnipeds and harbor porpoise are commonly within the study area and breaking off for harbor porpoise focal follows leads to a low number of complete pinniped scans), then, with the concurrence of the MARC, the pinniped and harbor porpoise observations will be handled by separate survey teams. Focal follows of harbor porpoise will be discontinued if killer whales are detected (analogous to breaking off pinniped scans if harbor porpoise detected). C-PODs on the turbines will be configured to limit detections of bedload transport (i.e., high pass filter set to 40 khz). Pre- and post-deployment calibrations of C-POD sensitivity will be undertaken Data Analysis Porpoise visual data: Using the theodolite/reticle binocular location data, the point of closest approach (POCA) and directionality (i.e., approach towards the turbines outside of zone of audibility and movement while inside zone of audibility) can be tested against the signal excess for turbine sound. Focal follows that are determined to begin inside the zone of audibility will not be included in analyses. Given that harbor porpoise were observed in 63% of the observation days during the pre-installation study, sufficient sample sizes to achieve useful statistical power should be achievable. If theodolite/reticule binocular accuracy for harbor porpoise observations is lower than expected, it may be necessary to convert locations to grid cells and analyze with GAM/GEE, as per the pinniped analyses. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 21

26 C-POD Detection Range: After Kyhn et al. (2012) porpoise visual data will be compared against click train information in order to assess C-POD detection range and develop empirical calibrations to predict absolute abundance on the basis of detections. Changes to Porpoise Echolocation Activity: Comparisons will be made to pre-installation information (3+ years), in order to determine if statistically significant differences in echolocation activity, or trends in echolocation activity (such as night/day or seasonal variations, as determined by a Generalized Linear Model) have changed significantly as a consequence of turbine operation. Instances of Landmark Activity: Using Chelonia, Ltd. software, the number and frequency of landmark click sequences (suggestive of harbor porpoise echolocating at the turbines and, therefore, awareness of their presence) will be determined and compared to number and frequency of pre-installation landmark click sequences associated with Sea Spider instrumentation packages. If a sufficient number of landmark events are observed, these will be stratified by turbine source level Reporting and Adaptive Management A preliminary, oral report will be made to the MARC within 60 days of turbine installation and quarterly thereafter describing number of harbor porpoises observed within the study area by shoreline observers and the device operating state during these observations. A final written and oral report will be made to the MARC within 120 days of survey completion (one calendar year of operation) describing the observations, statistical modeling approach, and results. If the results of the Acoustic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan indicate that the extent of detectable turbine noise is greater or less than indicated by pre-installation estimates (i.e., Polagye et al., in prep), then the survey area may be expanded or contracted with the concurrence of the MARC. If a statistically significant effect on echolocation activity is observed due to turbine operation, the MARC will determine whether a gradient study could be used to determine the spatial extent of this change. If the C-POD information suggests that harbor porpoise echolocation is unchanged by the presence/operation of the turbines, then data collection with C-PODs will continue over the lifetime of the project, but without analysis. If harbor porpoise and pinniped scans overlap to the point that harbor porpoise focal follows are significantly reducing the effectiveness of pinniped observations, then, with the consent of the MARC, a separate observational team will be tasked for pinniped and harbor porpoise observations. In conjunction with the MARC and with NMFS approval, as provided in section 6.0, this information will be used to inform project modifications, where necessary, to provide mitigation and resource protection. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 22

27 5.3 Killer Whale Response to Turbine Presence Objective Killer whales are an iconic species in Puget Sound. The National Marine Fisheries Services designates Southern Resident killer whales as endangered and the State of Washington extends this designation to all killer whales (Southern Residents and transients). In recognition of this, the Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan allocates a higher intensity of effort to observing their behavioral response to the turbines than other marine mammals. Information about how killer whales interact with tidal turbines must be established before larger-scale or longer-term tidal energy installations could be considered in Admiralty Inlet. Unlike pinniped and harbor porpoise monitoring, monitoring of killer whales will continue throughout the project lifetime and utilize shore-line observers, localizing hydrophones, and the near-turbine monitoring system. These tools will be utilized in a rapid-response mode when killer whales (Southern Resident or transient) are transiting through Admiralty Inlet. The objectives of gathering this information are both to learn more about orca interaction with the turbines and to prevent harm to orcas through mitigation based on this information. Equipment Description Data Collection Observations will utilize the same equipment and procedure as described for harbor porpoise ( 5.2). Reticule binoculars are more likely to be used in concert with high definition video than theodolites because of the logistical challenges of mobilizing an observer trained in the use of a theodolite in a rapid-response mode. Observations obtained during pinniped/harbor porpoise monitoring may be more likely to utilize a theodolite. Shoreline observations will be complimented by two monitoring systems located on the turbine foundation: a passive acoustic array and the near-turbine monitoring system (described in the Near-turbine Monitoring and Mitigation Plan). The passive acoustic array is intended to localize marine mammal vocalizations and will consist of four hydrophones installed on one of the turbine foundations, as shown conceptually in Figure 10. The hydrophones will have a functional frequency range up to at least 200 khz in order to detect killer whale vocalizations. Unlike the hydrophone described in the Acoustic Monitoring and Mitigation Plan, these hydrophones will not be shielded from flow noise, as the frequencies associated with killer whale vocalizations do not overlap with frequencies associated with flow noise. The localizing array is not part of the Adaptable Monitoring Package (AMP) and, consequently, cannot be serviced over the lifetime of the project. Should the array fail, its function could be replicated by a vertical line array deployed from a drifting vessel in a rapid response mode. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 23

28 Figure 10 Passive acoustic array on OpenHydro turbine. Hydrophone configuration is preliminary. Killer whale monitoring will also include an update to the hydrophone at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, in order to increase the likelihood of effective rapid response and to support observer networks in Puget Sound. Collection Procedure Upon auto-detection of killer whale calls on the hydrophones on the turbine, the hydrophone at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, or a sightings report via the enhanced Orca Network sightings network, a land based observing team will respond to Admiralty Head and commence data collection. Of the 14 daytime transits of Southern Resident killer whales through Admiralty Inlet during the 7 month pre-installation study, the land response team was able to collect data on 10 transits (71%). Shoreline observers will select the most appropriate focal group of killer whales (the ones that appear most likely to approach study area). If several groups are present, observers will focus on the group likely to pass closest to the turbines and maintain the focal follow even if, during the transit, another group passes closer to the turbines. Using the reticle binoculars/theodolite and video, the location, time of surfacing, behavior state, and surface active behaviors (SAB) of the focal group will be recorded. Depending upon initial results, observers may wish to prioritize males for focal follows, due to ease of identification and tracking. Any such changes to the observational protocol will be made with the agreement of the MARC. FINAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW PILOT PROJECT LICENSE PAGE 24

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction at Orcas

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction at Orcas This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 04/23/2013 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2013-09492, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES:

CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES: CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES: 2009-2010 Greg Campbell, Karlina Merkens and John Hildebrand Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University

More information

DolphinWatch: Dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay. Amber Fandel Faculty Research Assistant

DolphinWatch: Dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay. Amber Fandel Faculty Research Assistant DolphinWatch: Dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay Amber Fandel Faculty Research Assistant 1 Lots of dolphins! Philip Yunger Kevin McDonald Carolyn Wilson Chris Moe Chris Bache Dennis DePriest Tania Richardson

More information

The reaction of Southern resident orca to sensitive frequencies produced by nearby vessels

The reaction of Southern resident orca to sensitive frequencies produced by nearby vessels The reaction of Southern resident orca to sensitive frequencies produced by nearby vessels Literature Review Luritta E. Whiting Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School Friday Harbor Labs, University

More information

California Cooperative Fisheries Investigation Marine Mammal Surveys for

California Cooperative Fisheries Investigation Marine Mammal Surveys for California Cooperative Fisheries Investigation Marine Mammal Surveys for 2016-2017 John A. Hildebrand, Amanda J. Debich, and Bruce Thayre Marine Physical Laboratory Scripps Institution of Oceanography

More information

Final Report: Aerial Surveys of Pinniped Haulout Sites in Pacific Northwest Inland Waters

Final Report: Aerial Surveys of Pinniped Haulout Sites in Pacific Northwest Inland Waters Final Report: Aerial Surveys of Pinniped Haulout Sites in Pacific Northwest Inland Waters Report for Contract No. N62470-10-D-3011 - CTO JP02 June 2013 Prepared by: Prepared for: Steven Jeffries Washington

More information

Species Determination, Southern Resident Killer Whale

Species Determination, Southern Resident Killer Whale 2 Port Gardner, Elliott Bay, Commencement Bay and Nisqually Reach near Ketron Island. These non-dispersive sites have maximum bottom current velocities of 25 centimeters per second. Material dumped into

More information

Fine-scale Focal Dtag Behavioral Study of Diel Trends in Activity Budgets and Sound Production of Endangered Baleen Whales in the Gulf of Maine

Fine-scale Focal Dtag Behavioral Study of Diel Trends in Activity Budgets and Sound Production of Endangered Baleen Whales in the Gulf of Maine DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Fine-scale Focal Dtag Behavioral Study of Diel Trends in Activity Budgets and Sound Production of Endangered Baleen Whales

More information

Behavioural response studies of marine mammals in relation to noise

Behavioural response studies of marine mammals in relation to noise Behavioural response studies of marine mammals in relation to noise CREEM (MOCHA project): Catriona Harris, Len Thomas, Lindesay Scott Hayward, Louise Burt, Tiago Marques, Monique MacKenzie, Roland Langrock,

More information

Seismic testing and the impacts of high intensity sound on whales. Lindy Weilgart Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia

Seismic testing and the impacts of high intensity sound on whales. Lindy Weilgart Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia Seismic testing and the impacts of high intensity sound on whales Lindy Weilgart Department of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia Marine Seismic Surveys Main technique for finding and monitoring

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird Research Activities

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird Research Activities This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 02/25/2015 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2015-03849, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

The Vocal Behavior of Mammal-Eating Killer Whales: Communicating with Costly Calls. Cayenne, Angela, Yiru, and Kyra

The Vocal Behavior of Mammal-Eating Killer Whales: Communicating with Costly Calls. Cayenne, Angela, Yiru, and Kyra The Vocal Behavior of Mammal-Eating Killer Whales: Communicating with Costly Calls Cayenne, Angela, Yiru, and Kyra Objective of study To quantify how often resident and transient killer whales produced

More information

Oregon Pinnipeds: Status, Trends, & Management. Robin Brown Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Program

Oregon Pinnipeds: Status, Trends, & Management. Robin Brown Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Program Oregon Pinnipeds: Status, Trends, & Management Robin Brown Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Mammal Program Acknowledgments NOAA Fisheries National Marine Mammal Laboratory Washington Department

More information

Marine Mammals and Sound

Marine Mammals and Sound Marine Mammals and Sound Acoustics Why sound? Light attenuates rapidly Sound travels farther & faster (higher density of fluid) Over large spatial scales in water, visual communication is not practical

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 29 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville

More information

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/23/07

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/23/07 STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN 7 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/23/7 This report is the third of regular status reports on the pinniped predation

More information

Cetacean fact sheet. What are cetaceans? BALEEN WHALES TOOTHED WHALES

Cetacean fact sheet. What are cetaceans? BALEEN WHALES TOOTHED WHALES What are cetaceans? Whales, dolphins and porpoises are all marine mammals that belong to the taxonomic order Cetacea. Cetaceans have streamlined bodies with a flat tail made up of two horizontal flukes

More information

Steller sea lion decline perspectives

Steller sea lion decline perspectives Steller sea lion decline perspectives Andrew W Trites North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium Alaska Aleutian Islands Fishing Predation 4, Abund dance 3, 2, 1, 196 198 2 Competitive

More information

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/9/07

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/9/07 STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN 27 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 3/9/7 This report is the first of regular status reports on the pinniped predation

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 29 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville

More information

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE LOCK AND DAM. May 3, 2017

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE LOCK AND DAM. May 3, 2017 STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE LOCK AND DAM May 3, 217 Prepared by: Kyle Tidwell, Bjorn van der Leeuw, Thomas Van Hevelingen Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps

More information

SAVED! Hawaii's False Killer Whales

SAVED! Hawaii's False Killer Whales SAVED! Hawaii's False Killer Whales On behalf of the Pacific Whale Foundation s over 300,000 supporters, I would like to fully endorse the proposed listing of Hawaiian insular false killer whales as Endangered

More information

High Frequency Acoustic Recording Package Annual Data Summary Report March 14, 2009 March 26, 2010 SOCAL Site N

High Frequency Acoustic Recording Package Annual Data Summary Report March 14, 2009 March 26, 2010 SOCAL Site N High Frequency Acoustic Recording Package Annual Data Summary Report March 14, 2009 March 26, 2010 SOCAL Site N John Hildebrand, Hannah Bassett, Simone Baumann, Greg Campbell, Amanda Cummins, Sara Kerosky,

More information

analyzed based on NOAA7s criteria and CEQ7s context and intensity criteria. These include :

analyzed based on NOAA7s criteria and CEQ7s context and intensity criteria. These include : Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Assessment on the Issuance of Regulations to Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to U. S. Navy Missile Launch Activities at San Nicolas

More information

Underwater hearing in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): Expansion and interpretation of existing data

Underwater hearing in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): Expansion and interpretation of existing data MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, **(*): *** *** (*** 2011) C 2011 by the Society for Marine Mammalogy DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00473.x Underwater hearing in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): Expansion

More information

Provide a Vessel to Conduct Observations and Deploy Sound Source for a Behavioral Response Study of Cetaceans off Southern California in 2011

Provide a Vessel to Conduct Observations and Deploy Sound Source for a Behavioral Response Study of Cetaceans off Southern California in 2011 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Provide a Vessel to Conduct Observations and Deploy Sound Source for a Behavioral Response Study of Cetaceans off Southern

More information

Remote Monitoring of Dolphins and Whales in the High Naval Activity Areas in Hawaiian Waters

Remote Monitoring of Dolphins and Whales in the High Naval Activity Areas in Hawaiian Waters DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Remote Monitoring of Dolphins and Whales in the High Naval Activity Areas in Hawaiian Waters Whitlow W. L. Au Marine Mammal

More information

Exploration Guide to the Exhibit Hall

Exploration Guide to the Exhibit Hall Exploration Guide to the Exhibit Hall Welcome to The Whale Museum. We hope you enjoy your visit today. As you explore the Museum, please look for the numbered icons upstairs and the lettered icons downstairs.

More information

Marine mammal demographics off the outer Washington coast and near Hawaii. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School; Department of Oceanography

Marine mammal demographics off the outer Washington coast and near Hawaii. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School; Department of Oceanography Author(s) Oleson, Erin; Hildebrand, John Title Marine mammal demographics off the outer Washington coast and near Hawaii Publisher Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School; Department of Oceanography

More information

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEST COAST PINNIPED REMOVAL NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) REPORT TO CONGRESS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEST COAST PINNIPED REMOVAL NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) REPORT TO CONGRESS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEST COAST PINNIPED REMOVAL NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) REPORT TO CONGRESS In those cases where enough is known about pinniped affects on other resources to raise valid

More information

MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING ON CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES:

MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING ON CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES: MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING ON CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATION (CALCOFI) CRUISES: 2012-2013 Greg Campbell, Lauren Roche, Katherine Whitaker, Elizabeth Vu and John Hildebrand Marine

More information

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/27/07

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/27/07 STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN 27 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/27/7 This report is the eighth of regular status reports on the pinniped predation

More information

Land-Water Interface and Service Pier Extension

Land-Water Interface and Service Pier Extension Land-Water Interface and Service Pier Extension Final EIS 3.4. MARINE MAMMALS Marine mammals discussed in this section include species likely to be found in Puget Sound. Cetaceans (including whales, dolphins,

More information

Acoustic and Visual Survey of Cetaceans at Palmyra Atoll

Acoustic and Visual Survey of Cetaceans at Palmyra Atoll Acoustic and Visual Survey of Cetaceans at Atoll Trip report 09/2007, Simone Baumann Yeo Kian Peen Contact: sbaumann@ucsd.edu, jhildebrand@ucsd.edu John Hildebrand Lab Contents: Summary Tables Sightings

More information

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction at Orcas

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Construction at Orcas This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 02/08/2013 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2013-02864, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird and Pinniped Research

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird and Pinniped Research This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 12/12/2012 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2012-29952, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals. Incidental to Marine Seismic Survey in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals. Incidental to Marine Seismic Survey in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 09/02/2014 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2014-20726, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE: 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF

More information

POINTLESS PERIL. [Deadlines and Death Counts]

POINTLESS PERIL. [Deadlines and Death Counts] POINTLESS PERIL [Deadlines and Death Counts] Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, are some of the most beloved creatures in the ocean. Each year thousands of marine mammals are unnecessarily killed

More information

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/6/07

STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/6/07 STATUS REPORT PINNIPED PREDATION AND HAZING AT BONNEVILLE DAM IN 27 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons 4/6/7 This report is the fifth of regular status reports on the pinniped predation

More information

Answer to DG Environment request on scientific information concerning impact of sonar activities on cetacean populations

Answer to DG Environment request on scientific information concerning impact of sonar activities on cetacean populations International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l Exploration de la Mer JUNE 2001 FEBRUARY 2005 Answer to DG Environment request on scientific information concerning impact

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 07/05/2018 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2018-14440, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF

More information

GRAY WHALE. Text source: The Marine Mammal Center

GRAY WHALE. Text source: The Marine Mammal Center GRAY WHALE Gray whales are found only in the Pacific Ocean, and they have one of the longest migrations of any mammal. During the summer, they live in the Arctic. In the fall, they travel to Baja California,

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 211 Robert Stansell, Bjorn van der Leeuw, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

More information

A framework to assess vulnerability of biological components to ship-source oil spills in the marine environment

A framework to assess vulnerability of biological components to ship-source oil spills in the marine environment Marathassa spill - Globe and Mail A framework to assess vulnerability of biological components to ship-source oil spills in the marine environment Kate Thornborough, Lucie Hannah, Candice St. Germain and

More information

Ceteacean Social Behavioral Response to Sonar

Ceteacean Social Behavioral Response to Sonar DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Ceteacean Social Behavioral Response to Sonar Fleur Visser Kelp Marine Research Loniusstraat 9, 1624 CJ Hoorn, the Netherlands

More information

Marine Mammals in Scottish Waters

Marine Mammals in Scottish Waters MASTS Renewable Energy Forum Undergraduate Summer Internships 2017 Marine Mammals in Scottish Waters Natalie Ward Photo credits to the University of Aberdeen Introduction The coastal waters around Scotland

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Land Survey Activities. within the Eastern Aleutian Islands Archipelago, Alaska, 2015

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Land Survey Activities. within the Eastern Aleutian Islands Archipelago, Alaska, 2015 This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 06/16/2015 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2015-14700, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

Exploration Guide to the Exhibits

Exploration Guide to the Exhibits Exploration Guide to the Exhibits Welcome to The Whale Museum! We hope you enjoy your visit today. To use this guide, look for the numbered icons in the exhibits. Refer to this guide for more information

More information

APPENDIX INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT: ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM ACOUSTIC DATASETS FROM MIRC

APPENDIX INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT: ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM ACOUSTIC DATASETS FROM MIRC APPENDIX INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT: ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM ACOUSTIC DATASETS FROM MIRC This Page Intentionally Left Blank REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden

More information

Distribution Ecology attempts to explain the restricted and generally patchy distribution of species

Distribution Ecology attempts to explain the restricted and generally patchy distribution of species Marine Mammal Ecology Ecology : An attempt to describe and explain the patterns of distribution and abundance of organisms. These patterns reflect the history of complex interactions with other organisms

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Gull Monitoring and

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Gull Monitoring and This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 05/30/2017 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2017-11036, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird Monitoring and

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Seabird Monitoring and This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 09/18/2014 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2014-22269, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

Behavioural Response Study 2008

Behavioural Response Study 2008 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Behavioural Response Study 2008 I. L. Boyd Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St. Andrews,

More information

Marine Mammal Surveys at the Klondike and Burger Survey Areas in the Chukchi Sea during the 2009 Open Water Season

Marine Mammal Surveys at the Klondike and Burger Survey Areas in the Chukchi Sea during the 2009 Open Water Season Marine Mammal Surveys at the Klondike and Burger Survey Areas in the Chukchi Sea during the 2009 Open Water Season Prepared by Jay Brueggeman Canyon Creek Consulting LLC 1147 21 st Ave E Seattle, WA 98112

More information

Sequential structure analysis in the vocal repertoire of the Southern Resident Killer Whales orcinus orca

Sequential structure analysis in the vocal repertoire of the Southern Resident Killer Whales orcinus orca Sequential structure analysis in the vocal repertoire of the Southern Resident Killer Whales orcinus orca Ashleigh Kemp October 27, 2007 Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School http://beamreach.org/071

More information

CONSERVANCY. P.O. Box 2016 La Jolla, CA

CONSERVANCY. P.O. Box 2016 La Jolla, CA SEAL CONSERVANCY P.O. Box 2016 La Jolla, CA 92038 www.sealconservancy.org Harbor Seal Facts Harbor seals are pinnipeds. They are true seals; that is, they do not have visible ear flaps. They inhabit the

More information

MSFD and MEDCIS contribution

MSFD and MEDCIS contribution MSFD and MEDCIS contribution Continuous underwater noise in the Mediterranean Sea with emphasis on modelling of shipping noise Noise Workshop, 23 Feb 2018, Athens, Greece Aristides Prospathopoulos, HCMR

More information

Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency

Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency Patrick Miller Sea Mammal Research Unit,

More information

Distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada

Distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 9(1):15 28, 2007 15 Distribution and abundance of marine mammals in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada ROB WILLIAMS* AND LEN THOMAS + Contact email:r.williams@fisheries.ubc.ca

More information

Acoustic monitoring of Hector s dolphin presence in Akaroa Harbour: A preliminary analysis

Acoustic monitoring of Hector s dolphin presence in Akaroa Harbour: A preliminary analysis Acoustic monitoring of Hector s dolphin presence in Akaroa Harbour: A preliminary analysis S. Dawson 1, E. Slooten 2 & S. Scali 1 1 Marine Science Department 2 Zoology Department University of Otago, P.O.

More information

Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R)- Southern California Offshore Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR) FY12 Test Summary

Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R)- Southern California Offshore Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR) FY12 Test Summary Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R)- Southern California Offshore Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR) FY12 Test Summary POC: David J. Moretti Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport: Marine

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 211 Robert Stansell, Bjorn van der Leeuw, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

More information

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL NPS-OC-09-00 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Acoustic and visual monitoring for cetaceans along the outer Washington coast by Erin M. Oleson, John Calambokidis, Erin Falcone, Greg Schorr,

More information

Ecological Constraints on Sound Production in Marine Animals: the Importance of Listening

Ecological Constraints on Sound Production in Marine Animals: the Importance of Listening Ecological Constraints on Sound Production in Marine Animals: the Importance of Listening Lance Barrett-Lennard Vancouver Aquarium University of British Columbia Overview. passive vs active use of sound

More information

Sperm Whale. The Kid s Times: Volume II, Issue 8. NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources

Sperm Whale. The Kid s Times: Volume II, Issue 8. NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources The Kid s Times: Volume II, Issue 8 Sperm Whale Females, young of both sexes, and calves live in groups. Older males are solitary.

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 02/25/2016 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2016-03998, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

More information

MBA Education. For non profit use only.

MBA Education. For non profit use only. Underwater noise and marine mammals - Teacher Notes AIM: To introduce the effects on marine species of noise associated with building and operating wind farms, with specific reference to marine mammals

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2009 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 29 Robert Stansell, Sean Tackley, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville

More information

HZMB Case Study: Impact of Marine Construction Works on Marine Mammals

HZMB Case Study: Impact of Marine Construction Works on Marine Mammals HZMB Case Study: Impact of Marine Construction Works on Marine Mammals SMRU Hong Kong (Ltd) is wholly owned by the University of St Andrews and is the entity from which the University operates in Hong

More information

Mike Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Chris Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries

Mike Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Chris Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries To: From: David Clugston, USACE Portland District Mike Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Chris Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries RE: Radio-telemetry data for Chinook salmon at Bonneville

More information

Walls of Sound: The acoustic field of multiple vessels hammering on metal pipes

Walls of Sound: The acoustic field of multiple vessels hammering on metal pipes Walls of Sound: The acoustic field of multiple vessels hammering on metal pipes 3/17/2013 - draft Val Veirs Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School www.orcasound.net The following document

More information

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011

STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 2011 STATUS REPORT - PINNIPED PREDATION AND DETERRENT ACTIVITIES AT BONNEVILLE DAM, 211 Robert Stansell, Bjorn van der Leeuw, and Karrie Gibbons - (541) 374-881 Fisheries Field Unit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

More information

Dolphins of San Diego County David W. Weller, Ph.D.

Dolphins of San Diego County David W. Weller, Ph.D. Dolphins of San Diego County David W. Weller, Ph.D. Marine Mammal & Turtle Division Southwest Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Science Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

More information

Fine-scale Focal DTAG Behavioral Study in the Gulf of Maine

Fine-scale Focal DTAG Behavioral Study in the Gulf of Maine DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Fine-scale Focal DTAG Behavioral Study in the Gulf of Maine Alessandro Bocconcelli Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

More information

Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency

Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency Cetaceans and Naval Sonar: Behavioral Response as a Function of Sonar Frequency Patrick Miller Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory School of Biology, University of Saint Andrews St. Andrews

More information

Results of Nature Foundation Marine Mammal Monitoring Project Jan-May 2011

Results of Nature Foundation Marine Mammal Monitoring Project Jan-May 2011 NATURE FOUNDATION Results of Nature Foundation Marine Mammal Monitoring Project Jan-May 2011 Mailing address P. O. Box 863 Philipsburg St. Maarten Netherlands Antilles Physical address Wellsberg Street

More information

Humpback Whale. The Kids Times: Volume II, Issue 5. NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources

Humpback Whale. The Kids Times: Volume II, Issue 5. NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources NOAA s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources The Kids Times: Volume II, Issue 5 Humpback Whale Humpback whales usually dive underwater for 3-5 minutes. How did the humpback whale

More information

Marine Mammals in Scotland

Marine Mammals in Scotland Marine Mammals in Scotland A summary of scientific research in support of policy Sea Mammal Research Unit Contract No. MMSS/001/11 2011 2015 Pages 2 & 3 Young harbour seal in middle of grey seal group.

More information

Before taking field measurements, it is important to determine the type of information required. The person making the measurement must understand:

Before taking field measurements, it is important to determine the type of information required. The person making the measurement must understand: Why measure noise in the workplace? Measuring noise levels and workers' noise exposures is the most important part of a workplace hearing conservation and noise control program. It helps identify work

More information

Russian River Estuary Management Project

Russian River Estuary Management Project Russian River Estuary Management Project Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Harassment Authorization Report of Activities and Monitoring Results January 1 to December 31, 2013 Prepared for Office

More information

Technical Discussion HUSHCORE Acoustical Products & Systems

Technical Discussion HUSHCORE Acoustical Products & Systems What Is Noise? Noise is unwanted sound which may be hazardous to health, interfere with speech and verbal communications or is otherwise disturbing, irritating or annoying. What Is Sound? Sound is defined

More information

Charismatic Megafauna (Marine Mammals) Marine Mammals

Charismatic Megafauna (Marine Mammals) Marine Mammals Charismatic Megafauna (Marine Mammals) Marine Mammals - Who s Who Among Marine Mammals - Adaptations - Whales and Whaling Review for Final Exam Reading: 6.24-6.25 15.35-15.38 17.22 Graphic: Humback whale

More information

The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II. Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2015

The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II. Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2015 The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2015 Marine Mammals as Prey The ecological role of large whales as prey is the most controversial

More information

Pinnipeds. Andrew W Trites Marine Mammal Research Unit Fisheries Centre, UBC

Pinnipeds. Andrew W Trites Marine Mammal Research Unit Fisheries Centre, UBC Pinnipeds Andrew W Trites Marine Mammal Research Unit Fisheries Centre, UBC Pinniped Outline 1. Species in Canada & Pinniped Families 2. Life Cycles Arrival on land or ice Delivery, lactation, attendance,

More information

Marine Protected Species Permi:ng: In-water construc8on and noise impact assessment

Marine Protected Species Permi:ng: In-water construc8on and noise impact assessment July 20, 2016 Florida Permi,ng Summer School Marine Protected Species Permi:ng: In-water construc8on and noise impact assessment Florida Marine Mammals and Turtles Shelf 2 whale species (North Atlan8c

More information

Michael Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Christopher Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries

Michael Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Christopher Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries To: From: David Clugston, USACE Portland District Michael Jepson, Ken Tolotti, Christopher Peery, and Brian Burke University of Idaho and NOAA Fisheries RE: Radio-telemetry data for Chinook salmon at Bonneville

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 01/23/2015 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2015-01154, and on FDsys.gov DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic

More information

APPENDIX E MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT COMPLIANCE

APPENDIX E MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT COMPLIANCE E.1 INTRODUCTION APPENDIX E MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT COMPLIANCE The Navy, pursuant to 50 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 216, Subpart I (61 Federal Register 15884 et. seq.), 101 (a) (5) (D) of

More information

Term Paper. Midterm Exam

Term Paper. Midterm Exam Term Paper Outline due on Thursday (paper copy) See website for details and example 1 outline paragraph, title, 2 references Goals Read and cite scientific papers Learn about a specific topic of marine

More information

Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation

Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation Hubert Kostal*, Douglas Kreysar, Ronald Rykowski Radiant Imaging, Inc., 22908

More information

The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II. Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2018

The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II. Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2018 The Role of Marine Mammals in Marine Ecosystems -- part II Lisa T. Ballance SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology Spring 2018 Marine Mammals as Prey The ecological role of large whales as prey is the most controversial

More information

WHITE PAPER. Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-Field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation

WHITE PAPER. Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-Field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-Field Color and Luminance Distributions for Optical Design and Simulation Efficient Measurement of Large Light Source Near-Field Color and Luminance Distributions

More information

The Impact of Killer Whale Predation on Steller Sea Lion Populations in British Columbia and Alaska

The Impact of Killer Whale Predation on Steller Sea Lion Populations in British Columbia and Alaska The Impact of Killer Whale Predation on Steller Sea Lion Populations in British Columbia and Alaska Report for the North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium Fisheries Centre, University

More information

Movements and Habitat Use of Dwarf and Pygmy Sperm Whales using Remotely-deployed LIMPET Satellite Tags

Movements and Habitat Use of Dwarf and Pygmy Sperm Whales using Remotely-deployed LIMPET Satellite Tags DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Movements and Habitat Use of Dwarf and Pygmy Sperm Whales using Remotely-deployed LIMPET Satellite Tags Robin W. Baird

More information

BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 STATUS OF DOLPHINS IN ABU DHABI

BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 STATUS OF DOLPHINS IN ABU DHABI BIODIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 STATUS OF DOLPHINS IN ABU DHABI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Dolphins are apex predators that bio-accumulate marine toxins, consequently, they are good indicators of marine environmental

More information

8635 Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA (858)

8635 Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA (858) Curriculum Vitae Gregory S. Campbell 8635 Discovery Way, La Jolla, CA 92093-0205 (858) 534-9512 gscampbell@ucsd.edu EDUCATION: M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies - Animal Behavior, 2004, College of Sciences,

More information

Acoustics and Particle Velocity Monitoring : Block Island Wind Farm

Acoustics and Particle Velocity Monitoring : Block Island Wind Farm Acoustics and Particle Velocity Monitoring : Block Island Wind Farm Workshop: Atlantic Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Fisheries The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine November

More information

The effects of seismic operations in UK waters: analysis of Marine Mammal Observer data

The effects of seismic operations in UK waters: analysis of Marine Mammal Observer data J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 16: 71 85, 2017 71 The effects of seismic operations in UK waters: analysis of Marine Mammal Observer data CAROLYN J. STONE, KAREN HALL, SÓNIA MENDES AND MARK L. TASKER Joint Nature

More information

An acoustic and behavioral analysis of the southern resident killer. whales of British Columbia: How does gender and age affect behavior

An acoustic and behavioral analysis of the southern resident killer. whales of British Columbia: How does gender and age affect behavior An acoustic and behavioral analysis of the southern resident killer whales of British Columbia: How does gender and age affect behavior states and discrete calls? Liz Hetherington October 26, 2007 Beam

More information

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 05/02/2018 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2018-09240, and on FDsys.gov BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF

More information