Mid-Atlantic Nearshore and Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring

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

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

Abstract:
Building upon the long-term data collection established through ongoing monitoring of humpback whales in the VACAPES OPAREA along the southern Virginia and northern North Carolina coasts including within and around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, this project establishes an expansion of the existing study area to encompass mid-shelf waters out to approximately 40 NM from shore where baleen whale species variability increases. The goals of this study are to assist the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies by addressing the following questions: What is the baseline ecology and behavior of baleen whales (including critically endangered NARWs, fin whales, humpback whales, sei whales, minke whales, and blue whales) within the study area? Do individual whales exhibit site-fidelity within specific regions of the U.S. Navy OPAREAs over periods of weeks, months, years? What is the seasonal extent of baleen whale movements within and around U.S. Navy OPAREAs? Do baleen whales spend significant time within or primarily move through areas of U.S. Navy live-fire or ASW training events? Are baleen whale movement patterns affected by U.S. Navy training exercises? Are baleen whales likely exposed to significant sound levels produced by vessel traffic and/or military training exercises using active sonar? See <a href="https://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/reading-room/project-profiles/mid-atlantic-nearshore-mid-shelf-baleen-whale-monitoring/" target="_blank">https://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/reading-room/project-profiles/mid-atlantic-nearshore-mid-shelf-baleen-whale-monitoring/</a> for additional project details