HRC RIMPAC Small Vessel-Based Monitoring Surveys July 2010

Original provider:
HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc.

Dataset credits:
The U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring Program

Abstract:
During 23 June through 1 August 2010, the 22nd Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2010)
exercise was conducted in the Hawaii Range Complex (HRC). RIMPAC is a biennial,
multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve
interoperability. It is an exercise designed to bring multinational military assets together
to train towards bettering the Navy’s capabilities. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) was the
exercise's main feature.
As part of compliance requirements with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of
1972 and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, the Navy developed the HRC
Monitoring Plan to provide marine mammal and sea turtle monitoring (DoN 2008). In
order to effectively meet the goals outlined in this Plan, it was determined that one
example of training events recommended for monitoring should contain one or more
surface combatants conducting ASW during a regularly scheduled training event.
Research elements of that Plan include visual surveys and passive acoustic monitoring.<br/>

The monitoring effort for RIMPAC 2010 consisted of the following:<br/>
- Vessel-based line transect surveys to assess the diversity, distribution, and
behavior of target species (e.g., marine mammals and sea turtles)<br/>
- Installation of one shallow- and one deep-water passive acoustic monitors (PAMs)
in waters off Ni'ihau.