This report describes results from vessel surveys and visual species-verification trials conducted at the Jacksonville Shallow Water Training Range (JSWTR) in the Jacksonville Operating Area (OPAREA). This work continues from a multi-institutional monitoring program intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

During HDR Inc.’s 2022/23 field season, baleen whale sightings included humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). This report will focus on results from the humpback whale sightings only

Primary objectives of this project have included the following: Collect baseline occurrence data (location, sex, group size, behavior) of humpback whales (and other species of baleen whales, opportunistically), Obtain identification photographs of humpback whales for inclusion in regional and local catalogs, Collect biopsy samples of humpback whales for sex determination, mitochondrial control region sequencing and microsatellite genotyping of tissue samples, and stable isotope analysis to assess foraging related to prey consumption • Conduct satellite tagging to document seasonal humpback whale movement patterns in the nearshore waters off Virginia Beach, specifically whether the whales spend significant time in areas of high shipping traffic and/or areas of U.S. Navy training exercises

During HDR Inc.’s 2023/24 field season, baleen whale sightings included humpback whales, NARWs, fin whales, minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis). This report will focus on the photo-ID results from all baleen whale sightings, photogrammetry results from the drone, and status of the MAHWC and Happywhale matching. See Aschettino et al. (2025) and Engelhaupt et al. (2025) for further information and details from the vessel survey and tagging efforts, and Ozog and Engelhaupt (2025) for details from the supporting aerial surveys.

The objective of this multi-year project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program has been to establish baseline information on occurrence and behavior of humpback whales near Naval Station Norfolk and within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area

The objective of this multi-year project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program has been to establish baseline information on occurrence and behavior of humpback whales near Naval Station Norfolk and within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area (OPAREA)

This work builds upon and complements longer-term studies of movements and site fidelity of both Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the North Carolina coast using photo-identiThe objective of this project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program is to establish baseline occurrence and behavior data for humpback whales in the Hampton Roads mid-Atlantic region by addressing the following questions: • What age classes (juveniles, sub-adults, adults) are utilizing the waters within and adjacent to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay? Do humpback whales exhibit site-fidelity over periods of days to years? Do humpback whales congregate in specific high-traffic and/or high-use U.S. Navy training areas? Do humpback whales spend significant time within or move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire and MINEX training (Year 2)? What are the relative sound levels humpback whaication (photo-ID)

The objective of this multi-year project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program has been to establish baseline information on occurrence and behavior of humpback whales near Naval Station Norfolk and within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area by addressing the following questions: What age classes (juveniles, sub-adults, adults) are utilizing the waters within and adjacent to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay? Do humpback whales exhibit site fidelity over periods of days to years? Do humpback whales congregate in specific high-traffic and/or high-use U.S. Navy training areas? Do humpback whales spend significant time within or move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire and mine neutralization exercise (MINEX) training?

The objective of this multi-year project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program has been to establish baseline information on occurrence and behavior of humpback whales near Naval Station Norfolk and within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area by addressing the following questions: What age classes (juveniles, sub-adults, adults) are utilizing the waters within and adjacent to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay? Do humpback whales exhibit site fidelity over periods of days to years? Do humpback whales congregate in specific high-traffic and/or high-use U.S. Navy training areas? Do humpback whales spend significant time within or move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire and mine neutralization exercise (MINEX) training?

The objective of this multi-year project under the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring Program has been to establish baseline information on occurrence and behavior of humpback whales near Naval Station Norfolk and within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operating Area by addressing the following questions: What age classes (juveniles, sub-adults, adults) are utilizing the waters within and adjacent to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay? Do humpback whales exhibit site fidelity over periods of days to years? Do humpback whales congregate in specific high-traffic and/or high-use U.S. Navy training areas? Do humpback whales spend significant time within or move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire and mine neutralization exercise (MINEX) training?

The endangered North Atlantic humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrates from six northern feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland/ Labrador, western Greenland, Iceland, and Norway to Caribbean Sea waters during the winter months (Katona and Beard 1990, Christensen et al. 1992, Palsbøll et al 1997). Understanding the occurrence and behavior of humpback whales in the vicinity of United States (U.S.) Navy training and vessel-transiting activities off the coast of Virginia is important in mitigating potentially harmful impacts on the species.

A total of 22 nearshore and mid-shelf vessel surveys were completed during the 2024/25 field season. In total, 60 baleen whale sightings, including 40 sightings of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) totaling 59 individuals, 10 sightings of North Atlantic right whales (NARWs; Eubalaena glacialis) totaling 22 individuals, 7 sightings of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) totaling 14 individuals, and 3 sightings of individual minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), occurred during the 2024/25 field season. A total of 24 aerial surveys were flown during the 2024/25 field season in association with this effort and the Offshore Cetacean Study (OCS) (A. Engelhaupt et al. 2026); see Ozog and Engelhaupt 2026 for additional details regarding the aerial surveys. Baleen whale sightings from the aerial surveys included humpback (n=45), NARWs (n=8), fin (n=11), and minke (n=3) whales (Ozog and Engelhaupt 2026). During the OCS surveys, baleen whale sightings included fin whales (n=12), humpback whales (n=7), a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus; n=1), a minke whale (n=1), and an NARW (n=1) (A. Engelhaupt et al. 2026). Across this project and the OCS effort, satellite-linked telemetry tags were deployed on one humpback whale, one fin whale, and one NARW. Customized Animal Tracking Solution tags were deployed on two NARWs and two humpback whales. One biopsy sample was collected from the satellite-tagged humpback whale.

Since January 2015, HDR Inc. has been monitoring humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to assess their occurrence, habitat use, and behavior within and near United States (U.S.) Navy training and testing areas off Virginia via the Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring Project.

Since January 2015, HDR Inc. has been monitoring humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to assess their occurrence, habitat use, and behavior within and near United States (U.S.) Navy training and testing areas off Virginia via the Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring Project.

In August 2017, a marine mammal monitoring project was carried out combining boat-based field efforts and passive acoustic monitoring on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF). Commander, Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) funded five days of small-boat effort and the National Marine Fisheries Service funded an additional six days of effort. Information obtained was compared to previous sightings during small-boat effort by Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) off Kauai and Niihau, during 1,119 hr of effort (19,194 km) over nine different years from 2003 through 2016 (see Baird 2016)

. This report summarizes information obtained through additional field efforts undertaken in 2016, while incorporating results from the first two years of effort. The present work is intended to complement ongoing research by Duke University off Cape Hatteras (hereinafter referred to as the Duke program) by providing information on the movement and diving behavior of these species over the medium term (weeks to months)

This work builds upon and complements longer-term studies of movements and site fidelity of both Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the North Carolina coast using photo-identification (photo-ID)

This work builds upon and complements longer-term studies of movements and site fidelity of both Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off the North Carolina coast using photo-identification (photo-ID)

As part of the long-term United States (U.S.) Navy-funded Marine Species Monitoring Program, from 11–19 February 2024, Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) carried out a vessel-based field effort in conjunction with passive acoustic monitoring undertaken by the U.S. Navy (Navy) scientists on and around the underwater hydrophone ranges of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF). The effort was timed to occur immediately prior to the start of a Submarine Command Course (SCC) to allow for collection of movement and dive data that could be used to examine exposure and response of cetaceans to Navy mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS; see Henderson et al. 2021). Eight days of field effort were funded by the Navy, and one day of field work was funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Wildlife Computers SPLASH10-F satellite tags were funded by the Navy for deployment on Navypriority species, and additional tags were provided by Wildlife Computers or CRC for deployment on other species (e.g., humpback whales [Megaptera novaeangliae]). Tags were programmed to collect dive behavior and Fastloc®-Global Positioning System (GPS) data from the time deployed until three and a half days after the end of the SCC and continue to transmit the dive and Fastloc®-GPS data for an additional six days. Starting on either May 2nd or May 3rd, the tags were duty cycled to transmit only every second day, to provide longer-term tracks of individual movements. During the period that tags were collecting dive and Fastloc®-GPS data, tags were programmed to try to obtain Fastloc®-GPS locations only for the 12 hours of the day when there were no or limited satellite overpasses. This programming change from previous Kauaʻi field efforts was taken to minimize temporal gaps in location data during the period that overlapped with and immediately followed the SCC. Field efforts were undertaken out of Kikiaola small boat harbor when conditions allowed for working on or near PMRF, or out of Port Allen when conditions on or near PMRF were not workable.

Movements and Spatial Use of Satellite‐tagged Odontocetes in the Western Main Hawaiian Islands: Results of Fieldwork Undertaken off O‘ahu in October 2010 and Kaua‘i in February 2011

Although considerable information is available on residency patterns and spatial use of odontocetes in the eastern half of the Hawai‘i Range Complex (HRC), much less is known about odontocetes in the western half of the HRC. In the second year of a three-year effort in the western main Hawaiian Islands we undertook surveys off Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau in July/August 2011, to examine spatial use and residency patterns using satellite tags, to provide visual verification of acoustically-detected odontocetes on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), and to obtain individual identification photographs and biopsy samples for assessment of population identity and structure.

As part of an assessment of habitat use and movements of odontocetes being undertaken in the western half of the main Hawaiian Islands (see Baird et al. 2011, 2012), field operations funded by Commander, U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet were undertaken off of Kaua‘i in January 2012. There were two primary goals of these operations: 1) providing species verification for acoustic detections by the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) project on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) hydrophone range (see Moretti et al. 2012); and 2) deploying satellite tags prior to a Submarine Commanders Course (SCC) training event to be undertaken off Kaua‘i in February 2012.

Here we combine results of field efforts funded through the U.S. Navy’s Living Marine Resources Program (through a three-year grant from the Naval Postgraduate School) as well as additional field time in the study area in 2011 and 2012 funded through the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and Commander, Pacific Fleet. We also utilize results from research efforts in the eastern main Hawaiian Islands, off Lāna‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island, to help interpret results from photo-identification and satellite tagging.

A joint project in February 2013 of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) combined passive acoustic monitoring and boat-based field efforts. There were 1,010 kilometers (km) (55.9 hours [hr]) of small-vessel field effort over the course of the 8-day project. Of the 55.9 hr of survey effort, 64.2 percent was spent within the PMRF instrumented hydrophone range boundaries, and 14.8 percent of the effort was in depths greater than 1,000 meters (m).

A joint project in July and August 2013 on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) combined passive acoustic monitoring and boat-based field efforts. There were 671 kilometers (36.6 hours [hr]) of small-vessel survey effort over the course of the 8-day project, with 55.1 percent of time (20.2 hr) spent within the PMRF instrumented hydrophone range boundaries. A total of 33.0 hr of acoustic monitoring coincided with the small-vessel field effort.

A joint project in February 2014 on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) was carried out utilizing combined passive acoustic monitoring and boat-based field efforts. There were 1,287 kilometers (km) (66.3 hours [hr]) of small-vessel survey effort over the course of the 10 day project, with 44.6 percent of search time (29.6 hr) spent within the PMRF instrumented hydrophone range boundaries. A total of 81.7 hr of acoustic monitoring was undertaken during the field effort. There were 26 sightings of five species of odontocetes, six of which were directed by acoustic detections from the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) system.

A joint project in February 2015 on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) was carried out utilizing combined boat-based field efforts and passive acoustic monitoring from the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) system. There were 1,132 kilometers (63.4 hours [hr]) of small-vessel survey effort over the course of the 13-day project. Weather conditions precluded field operations on 4 days, and strong westerly winds and/or range operations limited access to PMRF on seven additional days, with only 15.1 percent of search time (9.6 hr) spent within the range boundaries.

As part of a long-term U.S. Navy-funded marine mammal monitoring program, in February 2016 a combining boat-based field effort and passive acoustic monitoring was carried out on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF). The U.S. Navy funded five days of small-boat effort and the National Marine Fisheries Service funded an additional two days of effort. There were 859 kilometers (49 hours) of small-vessel survey effort over the course of the seven day project.

As part of a long-term U.S. Navy-funded marine mammal monitoring program, in August 2017 a combination of boatbased field effort and passive acoustic monitoring was carried out on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kaua‘i prior to a Submarine Command Course scheduled for mid-August 2017. The U.S. Navy funded five days of small-boat effort and the National Marine Fisheries Service funded an additional six days of effort. There were 1,113 kilometers (77.4 hours) of small-vessel survey effort over the course of the 11 day project.

As part of a long-term U.S. Navy-funded marine mammal monitoring program, in August 2018 a combination of vessel-based field effort and passive acoustic monitoring was carried out on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Kaua‘i prior to a Submarine Commander Course scheduled for mid-August 2018. The purpose of the monitoring effort was to assess the spatial movement patterns and habitat use of cetaceans that are exposed to mid-frequency active sonar and how those patterns influence exposure and potentially responses.

As part of a long-term U.S. Navy-funded marine mammal monitoring program, in February 2020 a combination of vesselbased field effort and passive acoustic monitoring was carried out on and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kaua‘i prior to a Submarine Command Course scheduled for mid-February 2020. The purpose of the monitoring effort was to assess the spatial movement patterns and habitat use of cetaceans that are exposed to midfrequency active sonar and how those patterns influence exposure and potentially responses. Results from this effort were compared with previous Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) survey effort and photo-identification and tag data from Kaua‘i, based on surveys in 11 different years since 2003.

In Hawai'i fishermen use a variety of hook and line methods to catch tuna associated with pantropical spotted dolphins. In response to reports of dolphins being hooked in fisheries, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed recategorizing two fisheries ("charter vessel" and "trolling, rod and reel") in 2011 from Category III (those having a remote likelihood of serious injury/mortality) to Category II (those having occasional serious injury/mortality). After reviewing comments received in response to the proposal, NMFS did not re-categorize the fisheries, in part because of statements that fishing effort around dolphins may have been overestimated and that many vessels just trolled near dolphins, not through groups. We used photo-identification of individually distinctive vessels fishing in association with dolphin groups and observations on the number and behavior of vessels with dolphins to examine the extent and nature of interactions between fishing vessels and spotted dolphins off Hawai'i Island. Since 2010, 34.5% of spotted dolphin encounters had fishing vessels present within the group envelope of the dolphins (mean=3.7, SD=3.5, range=1-19, n=57 of 165 encounters). Two primary fishing methods were used, either trolling through groups of dolphins or repeatedly transiting through a group at high speed to the advancing front of the group and stopping and fishing as the group passed by, with some vessels alternating methods during encounters. Since 2010, 133 different vessels were documented fishing in association with dolphins; of these, 38 (28.6%) were documented on two or more occasions, and 26 were documented in two or more years. A mark-recapture abundance estimate of the number of vessels fishing in association with spotted dolphins in 2012 and 2013 was 322 (CV=0.05). In 2015 NMFS recognized three distinct island-associated populations of spotted dolphins in Hawai'i, including one off Hawai'i Island, thus the population of dolphins involved in these interactions is smaller than originally expected. While many factors likely influence the probability of boats fishing associated with dolphin groups, continued reports of occasional hooking combined with the relatively large number of vessels "fishing" dolphins suggest the fisheries categories should be re-evaluated.

Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) have been studied rarely at sea. We used photo-identification, boat- and drone-based behavioral observations, and citizen science photo contributions to examine site fidelity, spatial use, and behavior in Hawaiʻi. Sighting rates were highest in island slope (500–1,000 m) waters. Over 40% of photo-identified individuals were linked by association in the same social network. More than half of the very distinctive individuals were seen more than once, and 28.5% were seen in multiple years, with one individual seen 14 times over a 15-year span. Resighted individuals and those in the main cluster of the social network were found in significantly shallower water than individuals that were not resighted or that were in isolated clusters. Distances between resighting locations suggest small home ranges. This suggests an insular slope-dwelling population that overlaps with an offshore population. Evidence of unsuccessful predatory attempts by large sharks was recorded on four individuals, and linear wounds consistent with interactions with line fisheries were documented on three individuals. Surface and subsurface behavior recorded by drone revealed vigilance behavior likely to minimize predation risk. Lessons learned from this study can be applied elsewhere to increase knowledge of this poorly known and difficult-to-study species.

The goals of this study were to determine abundance, habitat use, and distribution patterns of bottlenose dolphins in St. Andrew Bay and adjacent coastal waters in the NSWC PCD Testing Range over two seasons.

The goal of the spring 2016 component of this project was to conduct photographicidentification (photo-id) surveys to determine seasonal (spring) abundance, habitat use, and distribution patterns of bottlenose dolphins in St. Andrew Bay (SAB) and adjacent coastal waters surrounding the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).

The goal of the fall 2016 component of this project was to conduct photographic-identification (photo-id) surveys to determine seasonal (fall) abundance, habitat use, and distribution patterns of bottlenose dolphins in St. Andrew Bay and adjacent coastal waters surrounding the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).

The goals of this study were to conduct photographic-identification (photo-ID) surveys during 2015 and 2016 to determine abundance, distribution patterns, habitat use, and site fidelity of bottlenose dolphins in St. Andrew Bay and adjacent coastal waters in the NSWC PCD Testing Range over four sampling periods (July and October 2015, and April and October 2016).

Unique morphological and acoustic characteristics of beaked whales (Mesoplodon sp.) off the west coast of Baja California, Mexico

Evidence from strandings and anecdotal reports indicate that a number of odontocete species interact with near-shore fisheries in Hawai'i. In the absence of observer programs in these fisheries, we evaluated mouthline injuries from known resident populations of false killer whales and pygmy killer whales, to assess the viability of this method to document injuries associated with hook and line fishery interactions. All individuals with mouthlines visible were selected from photo-ID catalogs and scored for presence of mouthline injuries consistent with fisheries interactions. Ninety-seven false killer whales and 47 pygmy killer whales had ≥50% of the mouthline visible using fair to excellent quality photos, with a mean of 67% and 59% mouthline visible, respectively. Preliminary analysis suggests that main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whales have high rates of mouthline injuries- 20% of adult and sub-adult individuals with ≥50% mouthline visible have injuries consistent with fisheries interactions, supporting studies using dorsal fin injuries that indicate individuals from this population regularly interact with fisheries. Pygmy killer whales also appear to interact with fisheries at high rates. Of adult and sub-adult individuals off Hawai'i and O'ahu with ≥50% of the mouthline visible, 31% have injuries consistent with fisheries interactions. Since pygmy killer whales feed primarily at night, and there are few reports of them depredating lines, mouthline injury analysis provides new insight into fisheries interactions for this species. Scars on pygmy killer whales heal white and are easier to detect than healed injuries on false killer whales, thus a greater proportion of individuals with such injuries may be detected for pygmy killer whales. With both species, the proportion of mouthline visible increased the likelihood of mouthline injuries being detected. Injury rates are negatively biased, since those individuals scored as having no mouthline injury may not have had their entire mouthline visible. Further efforts will aim to identify injury rates in short-finned pilot whales and rough-toothed dolphins. An examination of differences in injury rates between age classes, and multi-species comparisons will also be undertaken to better understand fisheries interactions.

Rapid progress and affordability of photographic technology with increasing improvements in image resolution have facilitated advancements in efficiency and alternative approaches in data collection for marine mamma ls. We report these recent improvements by comparing marine mammal photographs taken during 2008-2013 aerial surveys of 16 marine mammal species in the Southern California Bight, shore-based studies of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Galveston Bay, Texas (2011 - 2013), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) off Sakhalin Island, Russia (2004 -2010).

Rapid progress and affordability of photographic technology with increasing improvements in image resolution have facilitated advancements in efficiency and alternative approaches in data collection for marine mammals. We report these recent improvements by comparing marine mammal photographs taken during 2008-2013 aerial surveys of 16 marine mammal species in the Southern California Bight, shorebased studies of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Galveston Bay, Texas (2011-2013), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) off Sakhalin Island, Russia (20042010). Various Canon and Nikon high-definition cameras ranging from 8.2-36.3 MP resolution and 70-1600 mm lenses with image stabilization were used during the studies. Results of these photographic comparisons demonstrate the evolution of digital photography advancements with the successful capture of individuals, as well as detailed information for behavioral ecology studies. For example, (1) individual identification of marine mammal species from aircraft not previously reported (Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), and blue and fin whales (Balaenoptera musculus and B. physalus)), (2) shore-based individual identification of bottlenose dolphins up to 500 m and of gray whales up to 2 km from shore, (3) instantaneous differentiation/confirmation of short-beaked vs. long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis and D. capensis) from 1,500-ft altitude with a 36 MP camera, (4) reduced proportion of “unidentified” dolphin and whale species, and (5) potential tracking of the behavior, social associations and durations, and relative position within the group of some individually identified delphinids and other species not previously studied in this manner. High- definition digital photography reduces costs and acquisition/processing time from earlier “tried and true” analog photography. This facilitates, advances, and compliments the efficacy of data collection for population and behavioral ecology studies on marine mammals, most recently allowing capture of individual identification images at distances of up to 2 km away.

This report summarizes small boat based research conducted on cetaceans off southern California by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in collaboration with Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) from August 2009 – July 2010. The primary objectives of this research were to use sighting, photo-identification, biopsy and acoustical sampling techniques to assess the occurrence, distribution and population structure of small cetaceans in a region that is subject to frequent naval exercises; this information is needed to evaluate possible effects from Mid Frequency Active Sonar (MFAS) trials and ultimately for the development of appropriate management protocols.

This study supports the notion that scarring density is indicative of sex for this species, improves the predictive capacity of this metric inter-regionally, and provides a reliable method to estimate the sex of whales in a typical photo-ID catalog, thus supporting vital rate assessments for this data-deficient species.

This report forms part of a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

Bayesian mark-recapture estimates of survival, abundance, and trend are reported for Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) using a Navy training range off southern California. The deep-diving beaked whale family is exceptionally vulnerable to mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), which has been implicated in mass strandings and altered foraging behavior. Extremely low sighting probabilities impede studies of population-level impacts of MFAS on beaked whales. The San Nicolas Basin hosts a Navy training range subject to frequent MFAS use and attracts high densities of Z. cavirostris. An 11-year (2007–2018) photo-identification program leveraged automated acoustic detection and location capabilities on the range's 1,800-km2 hydrophone array to enhance capture probability.

HDR vessel-based visual monitoring for marine mammals was conducted 1–9 February 2014 in conjunction with Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) satellite-tagging and real time acoustic monitoring by the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) team. These efforts were to aid species-validation projects conducted in and around the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) instrumented range, northwest of Kauai in the Hawaii Range Complex (HRC). The monitoring survey was conducted prior to the commencement of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Commanders Course (SCC) that took place 17–21 February 2014, which included the use of mid-frequency active sonar.

Navy Research Funded Year Three Project Reports

In the Pacific, the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) program maintains systems that continuously run algorithms to detect, classify and localize marine mammals year-round on the U.S. Navy’s deep-water Southern California Antisubmarine Warfare Range (SOAR) in Southern California and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i. Long-term archive data collected on these ranges allow for numerous types of studies on species inhabiting the ranges, including the monitoring of abundance, behavioral responses to naval activities, and habitat usage. They also provide the opportunity to study ambient sound levels and soundscapes. In FY24 the M3R program had five goals for SOAR and PMRF: Support real-time monitoring of on-water tagging operations Collection and postprocessing of M3R binary archives and periodic broadband recordings Data preservation: conversion of Alesis recordings to M3R packet recorder format SOAR Continuous Active Sonar Behavioral Response Study (CAS BRS) DICASS sonobuoy receiver adaption in preparation for deployment at SOAR.

In the Pacific, the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) program maintains systems that continuously run algorithms to detect, classify and localize marine mammals year-round on the U.S. Navy’s deep-water Southern California Antisubmarine Warfare Range (SOAR) in Southern California and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i. Long-term archive data collected on these ranges allow for numerous types of studies on species inhabiting the ranges, including the monitoring of abundance, behavioral responses to naval activities, and habitat usage. They also provide the opportunity to study ambient sound levels and soundscapes.

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions: Which cetacean species occur within the VACAPES OPAREA off Virginia, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally? What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area? Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years? What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes? Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire or Anti-Submarine Warfare training events?

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions: • Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally? • What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area? • Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years? • What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes? • Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire or Anti-Submarine Warfare training events?

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013b), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance by addressing the following questions:  Which cetacean species occur over the outer continental shelf to the east of NSN, and how does occurrence fluctuate seasonally?  What are the baseline behaviors and ecological relationships of offshore cetaceans within the study area?  Do individual cetaceans exhibit site fidelity within specific regions of the study area over periods of weeks, months, or years?  What is the seasonal extent of cetacean movements within and around U.S. Navy VACAPES training range boxes?  Do cetaceans spend significant time within or primarily

Taking into consideration the multiple intermediate scientific objectives in the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Planning Process (DoN 2013), the goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies with environmental planning and compliance

A combination of visual line-transect survey, photo-identification (photo-ID), and automated acoustic monitoring methods is being used to gather important baseline information on the occurrence, distribution, and density of marine mammals near Naval Station Norfolk and adjacent areas. The study area was chosen to cover areas where United States (U.S.) Navy activity is substantial, including Chesapeake Bay waters near Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, as well as a Mine Exercise (MINEX) Area (W-50) in the Atlantic off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Forty-seven line-transect surveys were completed in two zones (INSHORE and MINEX) between August 2012 and December 2014, with 5,106 kilometers (km) and 276.5 hours completed on-effort.

A combination of visual line-transect survey, photo-identification (photo-ID), and automated acoustic monitoring methods was used to gather important baseline information on the occurrence, distribution, and density of marine mammals near Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) and adjacent areas. The study area was designed to cover areas where United States Navy activity is substantial, including Chesapeake Bay waters near NSN and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, as well as a Mine Exercise (MINEX) Area (W-50) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia

This progress report summarizes offshore monitoring activities conducted between September 2024 and August 2025. The overarching objectives of the OCS remain focused on addressing key information gaps related to cetacean occurrence, exposure, and response within the conceptual framework for the U.S Navy Marine Species Monitoring Program.

A combination of visual line-transect survey and photo-identification methods is being used to gather baseline information on the occurrence, distribution, and density of marine mammals near areas of substantial U.S. Navy activity in Virginia. Forty-seven line-transect surveys were completed in two zones (INSHORE and MINEX) between August 2012 and December 2014, with 5,106 km and 276.5 hours completed on-effort. The majority of sightings were of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), although humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and shortbeaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) were also sighted. Conventional line-transect analysis of bottlenose dolphin sightings showed both spatial and seasonal variation in density (D) and abundance (N), with greatest abundance in the MINEX zone during fall months, followed closely by the INSHORE zone during fall months. Densities in the INSHORE zone were calculated as 4.12 individuals per km2 (abundance [N] =1,279) in fall, 0.45 (N=138) in winter, 1.02 (N=316) in spring, and 2.86 (N=887) in summer. Densities in the MINEX zone were calculated as 2.23 individuals per km2 (N=1,333) in fall, 0.06 (N=35) in winter, 0.24 (N=145) in spring, and 1.19 (N=709) in summer. Nineteen photo-ID surveys were completed, and a catalog was created using photos taken during both dedicated photo-ID and line-transect surveys. Approximately 500 unique individuals were added to the catalog from the first year of survey efforts. Re-sighting rates across surveys were low, indicating an open population, with short-term visits to the area. Most re-sightings were less than 3 months and 21 km apart, and between-year re-sightings showed seasonal occurrence in the study area-with animals not sighted for the majority of the year then returning the following year in the same season. Further analyses are needed to better define the distribution patterns of the dolphins utilizing the area, and the extent of overlap with bottlenose dolphin stocks along the coast.

A combination of visual line-transect survey, photo-identification (photo-ID), and automated acoustic monitoring methods is being used to gather important baseline information on the occurrence, distribution, and density of marine mammals near Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) and adjacent areas. The study area was chosen to cover areas where United States (U.S.) Navy activity is substantial, including Chesapeake Bay waters near Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek (LC), and JEB Fort Story, as well as a Mine Exercise (MINEX) Area (W-50) in the Atlantic off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Three stocks of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are currently known to co‐occur in the coastal waters off Virginia. A combination of visual line‐transect survey and photo‐identification (photo‐ID) methods was used to gather information on the occurrence, distribution and density of bottlenose dolphins in the coastal areas of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Sixty‐one line‐transect surveys were completed in two zones (inshore and offshore) between August 2012 and August 2015, with on‐effort coverage of 6,550 kilometres (km) of trackline over 349.6 hours.

Results from the second year of a three-year project investigating the distribution, demographics, and behavior of cetaceans in the US Navy’s Southern California operational area are summarized. Eighteen small vessel surveys for cetaceans, which included species verification tests in conjunction with M3R (Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Undersea Ranges) acoustic monitoring at the Southern California Anti-submarine Warfare Range (SOAR), as well as photo-identification, satellite tagging, and biopsy sampling of species of interest, were conducted in July 2011 and January and March 2012. 112 groups of 14 cetacean species were encountered. Twenty-one satellite tags, some depth reporting, were deployed on four species, with an emphasis on Cuvier’s beaked and fin whales. Among other findings, preliminary results of photo-identification studies combined with results from satellite tag data suggest that both Cuvier’s beaked whales and fin whales may have population sub-units with higher than expected residency to the Southern California Bight. Beaked whales particularly show this higher than expected residency to SOAR.

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) along the western United States are managed as a single stock whose range overlaps with the California Current System (CCS). We used sighting histories of 932 individual fin whales photographed in the CCS from 1987 to 2018 to investigate movements and residency patterns within and among latitudinal regions. While 167 whales (18%) were sighted in multiple years, only 4 were documented in both the Northern and Southern CCS, with a boundary at 38.5 °N. A permutation test of annual recaptures suggested movements among latitudinal regions of the CCS occurred significantly less than expected if whales moved freely within current stock boundaries.

This report describes results of vessel surveys from a multi-institutional monitoring project 3 intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and 4 baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy 5 range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

This report forms part of a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

This report forms part of a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. 5 Atlantic coast.

This report forms part of a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic coast

This report describes results of vessel surveys from a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

This report describes results of vessel surveys from a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density, and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

This report describes results from a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea turtles present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. This program began in 2007, with baseline aerial and vessel surveys and a passive acoustic monitoring program in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, and has since expanded to include study areas off Jacksonville, Florida and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

We deployed 20 Low-Impact Minimally-Percutaneous External-electronics Transmitter (LIMPET) satellite-linked transmitters and dive recorders on short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) off Cape Hatteras, NC during the summer of 2014. Our objective was to obtain information on medium-term movement and diving patterns of individual animals to complement existing information on long-term residency patterns derived from photo-identification and shortterm diving behavior from Digital Acoustic Tags. We deployed 14 location-only (SPOT5) tags and six MK 10-A tags, which provided information on depth of dive, as well as location data. We received transmissions and data from these tags for up to 194 days (median=43 days). Tagged individuals ranged from Onslow Bay, NC north to Georges Bank, MA, and east to the New England seamounts. Most tagged individuals showed a very strong affinity for the continental shelf break, but there was wide variation in movement patterns and habitat use at the individual level. Maximum distances from the tagging location ranged from 7 - 1192 km (median=252 km), while cumulative distances traveled spanned 55 - 7564 km (median=2322 km). Despite these long-distance movements, however, we observed a high degree of site fidelity of short-finned pilot whales off Cape Hatteras, with 25 inter-annual and inter-season photographic matches (11%) in a preliminary catalog of 229 individuals. Some individuals have been matched over periods of up to six years. We matched three of the satellite-tagged animals (15%) to our existing photo-identification catalog. One hypothesis for this apparent conundrum is that the shelf break offshore of Cape Hatteras, NC is an important area for this species, to which individuals return frequently. We are conducting additional satellite tagging efforts off Cape Hatteras, NC and continuing to examine photo-identification records and social structure of short-finned pilot whales to further refine patterns of their long-term spatial and habitat use of the species in the Northwest Atlantic.

We deployed satellite-linked transmitters and dive recorders on several odontocete species off Cape Hatteras, NC as part of a multi-institutional marine protected species monitoring program, involving vessel, aerial, and acoustic survey methods. Our objective was to obtain information on medium-term movement and diving patterns of individual animals to complement existing information on long-term residency patterns derived from photo-identification and short-term dive records obtained from Digital Acoustic Tags (DTags). We deployed 29 Low-Impact Minimally-Percutaneous Externalelectronics Transmitter (LIMPET) tags on individuals of four species during the summer of 2014: 20 Globicephala macrorhynchus, 5 Tursiops truncatus, 3 Ziphius cavirostris, and 1 Delphinus delphis. Nineteen location-only (SPOT5) tags were deployed, while ten tags provided information on depth of dive, as well as location data (MK 10-A). We received data from these tags for up to 193 days. Tagged individuals ranged from Onslow Bay, NC north to Georges Bank, MA, and east to the New England seamounts. Pilot whales in particular showed a very strong affinity for the continental shelf break, but there was variation in movement patterns at both the species and individual levels. Maximum dive depths were 2,800 m for beaked whales (n=2), 1,104 m for pilot whales (n=4) and 944 m for pelagic bottlenose dolphins (n=2). We either re-sighted or matched five of the tagged animals (17%) to our existing photo-identification catalogs. Our results show both strong habitat affinities for these animals and a high and surprising degree of residency, especially for the beaked whales and bottlenose dolphins. We hope to conduct additional tagging efforts off Cape Hatteras, NC and Jacksonville, FL to further refine patterns of long-term spatial and habitat use of odontocetes in the Northwest Atlantic.

In 2011 the National Marine Fisheries Service recognized four separate island-associated stocks of common bottlenose dolphins within the main Hawaiian Islands, based on photoidentification studies over a 7-year period (2000-2006) as well as genetic analyses of skin biopsy samples. However, uncertainty remains regarding movements outside of the photoID study areas due to spatial biases in sampling effort, particularly the general restriction of small-boat based sampling efforts to the leeward sides of the islands. Since these earlier studies, we have obtained an additional seven years of photoidentification data (2007-2013) from among all the island areas, and deployed satellite tags on nine individual bottlenose dolphins from three of the four stocks (Kaua‘i/Ni‘ihau, 4islands, Hawai‘i Island). Here we assess movements using photo-ID and satellite tag data to ascertain whether these new data sets support or refute the designation of four islandassociated stocks. The photo-ID catalog spanning 2000-2013 includes 1,130 identifications of 509 distinctive individuals. Earlier analyses documented no movements among island areas; with the larger sample size, movements of one individual from O‘ahu to Moloka‘i, across stock boundaries has been documented, although this individual was not observed associating with the main social cluster documented from the 4island stock. Satellite tagged individuals traveled an average of 1,208 km with average tag attachment durations of 18 days (range 9-34), yet median distance from deployment location was only 21 km (maximum distances from deployment location range = 38.6 to 61.4 km). All tagged individuals remained within their recognized stock boundaries, and individuals used both leeward and windward sides of the islands, suggesting the spatially-biased boat-based efforts sample individuals that use both sides of the islands. Our results support earlier assessments of limited movements among island areas and the existence of multiple island-associated populations of this species in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Objectives for this study are 1) to improve the understanding of local and seasonal haul-out patterns, and the numbers of seals hauled out during daylight hours; 2) to investigate any haul-out patterns in Pinniped Time-lapse Camera Surveys, Virginia: 2019-2022 Final July 2023 | 3 relation to environmental factors; and 3) to investigate differences between vessel-based surveys and time-lapse camera data collection.

Long-term implantable satellite tags provide valuable distribution and behavior information for wide-ranging large whales. Follow-up observations of whales tagged with these telemetry devices are critical in evaluating potential health effects from tagging, but are especially difficult for species with cosmopolitan distributions with the ability to travel 100+ km/day. Sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico are good subjects for such studies, in that animals can be predictability relocated year-round in areas around bathymetric features and have been tagged over a period of many years. A total of 134 Argos satellite-monitored radio tags were deployed on sperm whales from 2001 to 2013: 94 Telonics ST-15 location-only tags (1.9 cm diameter, 26.3 cm long implantable portion), 20 Wildlife Computers Spot-5 location only tags (2.1 cm diameter, 27.2 cm long implantable portion), and 20 Wildlife Computers MK-10 Advanced Dive Behavior tags (2.6 cm diameter, 24.8 cm long implantable portion). Whales were photographed at the time of tagging for identification and to assess tag application. Follow-up observations were undertaken in subsequent tagging seasons and on dedicated resighting trips. Twenty-nine whales were resighted (some up to four times in multiple years) from 1 day to 10 years after tagging. Fifteen of these had tags still attached and 28 were resighted without tags. Some whales were initially resighted with tags, but without tags on subsequent observations. Swelling occurred at two tag sites. Scars after tag loss consisted of fully re-pigmented divots (1-3 cm deep by 4-8 cm diameter). None of the resighted whales showed signs of emaciation or having other health issues, and their behavior was similar to that of untagged whales. One whale was observed with a new calf one year after tagging. These results indicate that satellite tagging poses little or no observable adverse health effects for sperm whales.

The first phase to integrate the historical sum of these U.S. Navy-sponsored visual survey efforts for marine species monitoring in the HRC was prepared by Uyeyama (2011). This report represents the second phase of that effort and presents an overview of monitoring survey effort to date in the HRC. Available data from visual surveys performed by both contractor-led efforts and U.S. Navy in-house surveys was compiled and processed in order to: 1. Create a geographic information system (GIS)-based summation of all survey tracks that can be easily visualized. 2. Construct a geo-referenced database of sightings that can be queried by species, observer platform, Beaufort Sea State (BSS), season, or other sighting/survey variables. 3. Conduct an enhanced analysis of sighting success with respect to survey platform, field protocol, and environmental conditions. 4. Inform and adjust data collection procedures on future surveys as needed to reflect lessons learned from sighting data compilation efforts presented here. 5. Provide information to enhance informed management of marine protected species in the HRC and support the adaptive management process that is part of the ICM

Time difference of arrival (TDOA) methods for acoustically localizing multiple marine mammals have been applied to recorded data from the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in order to localize and track humpback whales.

Beaked whales (Family Ziphiidae; Order Cetacea) are the least well-described group of marine mammals because they conduct very long deep dives, spend little time on the surface where they display cryptic behavior, and are difficult to identify due to the similarity between species. Beaked whales are also known to be susceptible to high-energy sound sources in the ocean (e.g. seismic research, sonars used by military activities).

In August 2023 and February 2024, Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) conducted small boat-based satellite tagging of odontocetes at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), with acoustic support from Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific and Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, directing the tagging boat towards locations of acoustic detections on the range. Seventeen days of tagging effort were conducted over the two years during the biannual Submarine Command Course (SCC) training events. In total 19 odontocetes were tagged: 14 short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), 3 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 1 pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), and 1 melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra). Additionally, 3 humpback whales (Megaptera noveangliae) were tagged in concert with this effort to test new tags, and that data was also analyzed herein

Tagging of cetaceans on or near active U.S. Navy training ranges provides for opportunistic behavioral response studies as the animals are exposed to real-world Navy training and testing activity, as compared to short duration-controlled exposure studies. Four Blainville’s beaked whales were satellite-tagged on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off the island of Kaua‘i in the Hawaiian Islands in 2014, 2021, and 2022. The animal tagged in 2014 left the area immediately, but their tag data still provides useful baseline information of behavior and habitat use in the area. Two Blainville’s beaked whales were tagged from the same group in 2021. They remained together and were highly synchronized in their dive and movement behavior until the onset of mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), at which time the whales appeared to separate. The dive behavior of the two animals tagged in 2021 were compared to acoustically detected group vocal periods (GVPs) on the range; 23 deep foraging dives were matched to GVPs, including three during MFAS exposures from three sources: hull-mounted MFAS, active sonobuoys, and helicopter-dipping MFAS.

This report summarizes the results of satellite-tagging efforts conducted before Submarine Command Course (SCC) training events in August 2021 and 2022, at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off the island of Kauaʻi. Researchers tagged 21 delphinids to observe their behavior before, during, and after the SCCs, to estimate received levels (RLs) of mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS).

This report summarizes the field effort from 15 – 28 November, 2020, to locate and document a species of beaked whales that had previously only been acoustically detected. While the species of interest was again recorded on acoustic drift buoys, a previously undescribed species of beaked whale was unexpectedly encountered instead. This new species has external morphological characteristics and a new echolocation pulse type that do not match any previously observed or recorded species and therefore may represent a newly described species. In addition to this species of beaked whale, we encountered and photographed three species of dolphin as well as humpback whales, and recorded two other species of beaked whales on the acoustic recorders.