Provide a Vessel to Conduct Observations and Deploy Sound Source and a Vessel for Passive Acoustic Monitoring for a Behavioral Response Study of Cetaceans off Southern California in 2011 and 2012

摘要

The long term goal of the SOCAL Behavioral Response Study is to determine how cetaceans respond to naval sounds, specifically mid-frequency sonar, to better evaluate impacts and develop strategies for mitigation. The 2011 and 2012 field seasons were the 2nd and 3rd year of this multi-year study. The goal of these specific grants were to provide a vessel to serve as an observational platform and as a base of operations for a sound source and also support for chartering a vessel for use of a towed array to be used in the Behavioral Response Study conducted off Southern California in summer and fall 2011 and 2012. Other components of this work were included in other separate grants to the various groups involved in the collaborative study and this report addresses just the vessels to serve as a base of operations and the primary platform for the observation and sound source and a vessel for operation of a towed acoustic array.