Jolie Harrison

4. Biologically Important Areas for Selected Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – West Coast Region

In this review, we combine existing published and unpublished information along with expert judgment to identify and support the delineation of 28 Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) in U.S. waters along the West Coast for blue whales, gray whales, humpback whales, and harbor porpoises. BIAs for blue whales and humpback whales are based on high concentration areas of feeding animals observed from small boat surveys, ship surveys, and opportunistic sources. These BIAs compare favorably to broader habitat-based density models. BIAs for gray whales are based on their migratory corridor as they transit between primary feeding areas located in northern latitudes and breeding areas off Mexico. Additional gray whale BIAs are defined for the primary feeding areas of a smaller resident population. Two small and resident population BIAs defined for harbor porpoises located off California encompass the populations’ primary areas of use. The size of the individual BIAs ranged from approximately 171 to 138,000 km. The BIAs for feeding blue, gray, and humpback whales represent relatively small portions of the overall West Coast area (< 5%) but encompass a large majority (77 to 89%) of the thousands of sightings documented and evaluated for each species. We also evaluate and discuss potential feeding BIAs for fin whales, but none are delineated due to limited or conflicting information. The intent of identifying BIAs is to synthesize existing biological information in a transparent format that is easily accessible to scientists, managers, policymakers, and the public for use during the planning and design phase of anthropogenic activities for which U.S. statutes require the characterization and minimization of impacts on marine mammals. To maintain their utility, West Coast region BIAs should be re-evaluated and revised, if necessary, as new information becomes available.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act: A Regulatory Approach to Identifying and Minimizing Acoustic-Related Impacts on Marine Mammals

In 1972, the US Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), effectively giving the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responsibility for conserving and managing all species of cetaceans and pinnipeds (except walrus). The MMPA prohibits, with certain exceptions, the “take” (to harass, hunt, capture, collect, or kill or attempt to do so) of marine mammals in US waters and by US citizens on the high seas. Since 1982, the MMPA has allowed for the incidental taking of marine mammals by US citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) provided an “incidental take authorization” (ITA) is issued under section 101(a)(5) of the MMPA. The NMFS’s Office of Protected Resources is responsible for issuing these authorizations. Most ITAs cover sound-generating activities, such as naval training (e.g., utilizing sonar or explosives), seismic surveys, or marine construction, because they have the potential to result in marine mammal harassment.

1. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters - Overview and Rationale

We outline the rationale and process used by the Cetacean Density and Distribution Mapping (CetMap) Working Group to identify Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for 24 cetacean species, stocks, or populations in seven regions within U.S. waters. BIAs are reproductive areas, feeding areas, migratory corridors, and areas in which small and resident populations are concentrated. BIAs are region-, species-, and time-specific. Information provided for each BIA includes the following: (1) a written narrative describing the information, assumptions, and logic used to delineate the BIA; (2) a map of the BIA; (3) a list of references used in the assessment; and (4) a metadata table that concisely details the type and quantity of information used to define a BIA, providing transparency in how BIAs were designated in a quick reference table format. BIAs were identified through an expert elicitation process. The delineation of BIAs does not have direct or immediate regulatory consequences. Rather, the BIA assessment is intended to provide the best available science to help inform regulatory and management decisions under existing authorities about some, though not all, important cetacean areas in order to minimize the impacts of anthropogenic activities on cetaceans and to achieve conservation and protection goals. In addition, the BIAs and associated information may be used to identify information gaps and prioritize future research and modeling efforts to better understand cetaceans, their habitat, and ecosystems.

5. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Hawai‘i Region

Of the 18 species of odontocetes known to be present in Hawaiian waters, small resident populations of 11 species—dwarf sperm whales, Blainville’s beaked whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, pygmy killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, melonheaded whales, false killer whales, pantropical spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins—have been identified, based on two or more lines of evidence, including results from small-boat sightings and survey effort, photo-identification, genetic analyses, and satellite tagging. In this review, we merge existing published and unpublished information along with expert judgment for the Hawai‘i region of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters in order to identify and support the delineation of 20 Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for these small and resident populations, and one reproductive area for humpback whales. The geographic extent of the BIAs in Hawaiian waters ranged from approximately 700 to 23,500 km. BIA designation enhances existing information already available to scientists, managers, policymakers, and the public. They are intended to provide synthesized information in a transparent format that can be readily used toward analyses and planning under U.S. statutes that require the characterization and minimization of impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine mammals. Odontocete BIAs in Hawai‘i are biased toward the main Hawaiian Islands and populations off the island of Hawai‘i, reflecting a much greater level of research effort and thus certainty regarding the existence and range of small resident populations off that island. Emerging evidence of similar small resident populations off other island areas in Hawaiian waters suggest that further BIA designations may be necessary as more detailed information becomes available.

3. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Gulf of Mexico Region

In this review, we merge existing published and unpublished information along with expert judgment to identify and support the delineation of 12 Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico for Bryde’s whales and bottlenose dolphins. BIAs are delineated for small and resident populations to enhance existing information already available to scientists, managers, policymakers, and the public. BIAs ranged in size from approximately 117 to over 23,000 km. BIAs are intended to provide synthesized information in a transparent format that can be readily used toward the analyses and planning under U.S. statutes that require the characterization and minimization of impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine mammals. BIAs are not intended to represent all important areas for consideration in planning processes; in particular, areas of high marine mammal density, typically identified based on a combination of systematic visual and/or acoustic detections coupled with quantitative modeling, are very important to consider, where available, in any assessment. To maintain their utility, Gulf of Mexico BIAs should be re-evaluated and revised, if necessary, as new information becomes available.

Lost listening area assessment of anthropogenic sounds in the Chukchi Sea

The term listening area, refers to the region of ocean over which sources of sound can be detected by an animal at the center of the space. The lost listening area assessment method has been applied to in-air sounds for a noise effects assessment on birds but not, in our knowledge, previously to the assessment of underwater noise effects on marine mammals. The lost listening area method calculates a fractional reduction in listening area due to the addition of anthropogenic noise to ambient noise. It does not provide absolute areas or volumes of space, as does the communication space method; however, a benefit of the lost listening area method is that it does not rely on source levels of the sounds of interest. Instead, the method depends only on the rate of sound transmission loss. We present a preliminary application of the method from an assessment of “cumulative and chronic effects” of noise produced by oil and gas exploration activities used in the National Marine Fisheries Services Effects of Oil a...

6. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Gulf of Alaska Region

We integrated existing published and unpublished information to delineate Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for fin, gray, North Pacific right, and humpback whales, and belugas in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Alaska. BIAs are delineated for feeding, migratory corridors, and small and resident populations. Supporting evidence for these BIAs came from aerial-, land-, and vessel-based surveys; satellitetagging data; passive acoustic monitoring; traditional ecological knowledge; photoand genetic-identification data; whaling data, including catch and sighting locations and stomach contents; prey studies; and anecdotal information from fishermen. The geographic extent of the BIAs in this region ranged from approximately 900 to 177,000 km. Information gaps identified during this assessment include (1) reproductive areas for fin, gray, and North Pacific right whales; (2) detailed information on the migration routes of all species; (3) detailed information on the migratory timing of all species except humpback whales; and (4) cetacean distribution, density, and behavior in U.S. Gulf of Alaska waters off the continental shelf. To maintain their utility, these BIAs should be re-evaluated and revised, if necessary, as new information becomes available.

U.S. REGULATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SOUND ON MARINE LIFE: NOAA'S MANDATES AND USE OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

1 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, Ocean Acoustics Program, 1315 East-West Highway SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. brandon.southall@noaa.gov 2·6National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA. 2craig.johnson@noaa.gov, 3amy.scholik@noaa.gov, 4tammy.adams@noaa.gov, 5jolie.harrison@noaa.gov, 6ken.hollingshead@noaa.gov

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Cetacean and Sound Mapping Effort: Continuing Forward with an Integrated Ocean Noise Strategy

To help manage chronic and cumulative impacts of human activities on marine mammals, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) convened two working groups, the Underwater Sound Field Mapping Working Group (SoundMap) and the Cetacean Density and Distribution Mapping Working Group (CetMap), with overarching effort of both groups referred to as CetSound, which (1) mapped the predicted contribution of human sound sources to ocean noise and (2) provided region/time/species-specific cetacean density and distribution maps. Mapping products were presented at a symposium where future priorities were identified, including institutionalization/integration of the CetSound effort within NOAA-wide goals and programs, creation of forums and mechanisms for external input and funding, and expanded outreach/education. NOAA is subsequently developing an ocean noise strategy to articulate noise conservation goals and further identify science and management actions needed to support them.

Marine mammals and anthropogenic noise: Challenges from a management and regulatory prospective.

Responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) include conserving and recovering marine species protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts. One of our primary objectives is to assess the risks anthropogenic noise in marine/coastal environments poses to animals in those environments and implement appropriate measures to reduce these risks. Many challenges to achieving these goals exist from both a scientific and a regulatory perspective. Accounting for the inherent complexity of source characteristics, noise propagation through the environment, and temporal/spatial overlap between sources and protected species, as well as understanding how noise exposure affects species are often quite difficult. Exposures typically are either high‐level, short‐term (e.g., seismic survey), or lower‐level, long‐term (e.g., construction project), with each presenting different risks. Establishing appropriate metrics for describing noise sources, assessing effects on indivi...