# Presentation: 547340

## GOM Marine Mammals and Acoustics

- Dr. Jim Kendall
- OCS Advisory Board
- Policy Committee Meeting
- October 25, 2000

**Notes:**
Good morning

Glad to be here

My name is  JK and until April of this year you will have known me as the Chief of Environmental Sciences in the GOM.  Today I am here as the Chief of Studies located in Herndon and will be addressing some topics that I believe are of interest to many of you.

## Presentation Overview

-  MMS “G&G EA”
- concept
- status
- MMS/NMFS Marine Mammals Studies
- Recent pilot sperm whale cruise
- Summary of  accomplishments
- importance to MMS, NMFS, and MMC
- Planned future studies

**Notes:**
In this presentation I will provide a basic overview of the MMS funded G&G environmental assessment, what initiated the effort, where it stands today and any future plans.

Then I will go over with you our recently completed  pilot sperm whale research cruise that was conducted this summer in June and July as a joint effort with National Marine Fisheries Service, outside academics and the Office of Navy Research.

And finally I would like to share with you briefly what plans MMS has for the near future for marine mammal an acoustic studies.

## MMS G&G ES Concept

- G&G  - geological & geophysical surveys
- EA - environmental assessment
- a NEPA impact analysis and document
- primary concern is impacts to marine mammals
- Proposed action - continue G&G permitting program without alteration
- several “alternatives” are analyzed in the EA

**Notes:**
  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, G&G stands for geological & geophysical surveys which are conducted by using such tools as seismic surveying.
  Seismic surveying is the process where a sound source (air guns, etc.) and hydrophones are used to collect data on the reflectivity of sediments to sound.
  This is an important tool in prospecting for offshore oil and gas reservoirs, and there is some concern that the sound from the seismic guns  may have some impact on marine mammals.
  When there is a possible impact to the environment it is necessary for the government to prepare a  NEPA impact analysis and document
  NEPA stands for National Environmental Policy Act which requires the consideration of environmental impacts of major Federal decisions and requires public disclosure hence an  EA or  Environmental Assessment 

## MMS G&G EA Status

- Contracted to Continental Shelf Associates
- Subcontractors are experts  in acoustics, marine mammals, NEPA
- Extensive coordination
- MMS “responsible” for Final EA
- NEPA significance findings coordinated with NMFS and MMC
- Final EA expected in early 2001

**Notes:**
 A contract was awarded in May of 1999 for  $172k to Continental Shelf Associates (CSA) to prepare an EA on G&G activities in the Gulf.
 A draft EA was prepared under this contract however the contract  expired in the summer of 2000 prior to final review. 
 At this time MMS is providing CSA guidance on revisions  needed for the completion of  the  EA.  From this guidance CSA will prepare a new proposal and costs.  It is anticipated that the new proposal will be acceptable and a contract award will be made in November 2000.
 To fulfill MMS’s role as the responsible agency and insure that the analysis and findings are in accordance with existing regulations and findings MMS has been coordinating with the key regulatory agency the National Marine Marine Fisheries Service, the office created by the Marine Mammal Protection Act the Marine Mammal Commission and CSA. 
 The key word here is Responsible which is defined as the agency sponsoring the NEPA analysis and which assumes all responsibilities for  the contents and statements of the document. An agency at a later date cannot discount the contents as the opinion of the contractor. 
 The final EA is expected in February or March of 2001.

## SPERM WHALE & ACOUSTICS PILOT STUDY

- Mississippi River Delta Area -  June 27 to July 27, 2000

**NOAA R236 GORDON GUNTER**

- COOPERATIVE RESEARCH EFFORT BETWEEN MMS, NMFS, NOAA and Navy

**Notes:**
  And now I would like to tell you about our pilot sperm whale study which was completed this summer. This study was an MMS initiated  multi-agency cooperative research venture to address manmade noise from offshore industry and other sources in the GOM and the potential effects on marine mammals. 
  Acoustic data relative to biological effects is minimal in the GOM to date,  methods to effectively conduct field studies on this topic are not established, and Federal coordination on research in this area has been limited.
  And so I want to tell you about the pilot study which we feel is especially noteworthy for several reasons: 
 The marine species studied was confirmed in an 1999 	                        	MMS study to be a resident population.
 State-of-the-art equipment such as acoustic tags, an                       	acoustic array, and a close approach boat were used;
  This was an orchestrated effort through a Federal IA with 	visiting scientists
 and new ship board methodologies using visual,  acoustic, 	AND small boat teams were employed.

  The “Sperm Y2K” cruise on the Gordon Gunter represents a multi-agency effort to begin correcting information shortcomings.  The Joint Agency Surveys (JAS)[jazz] as this effort is called are off to a good start – perhaps music to researchers ears (Bill L.’s input)

## WHAT IS THE STOCK STATUS OF GOM SPERM WHALES?

- “

- IS THE “DELTA GROUP” COMPOSITION/SOCIAL STRUCTURE  AND BEHAVIOR TYPICAL TO OTHER SPERM WHALES?
- HOW DO SPERM WHALES SPATIALLY USE THE GOM ?
- WHAT IS THE AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL IN THIS AREA?
- WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC NOISE?

- DELTA GROUP” SPERM WHALES

**Notes:**
  The JAS survey is the product of a growing worldwide recognition and apprehension on the amount of manmade noise in the world’s oceans. 

  Potential acoustic effects, on marine mammals and sealife, from offshore platforms, workboats and seismic operations can be assessed  through studies.

  To better prepare for the studies to come MMS held a workshop on protected species issues in the GOM.  At this workshop sperm whales, an endangered species, were identified as a key species to study for possible acoustic impacts in this area.

  It was decided that the target group of sperm whales for a pilot study would be the identified resident population known as  the “Delta Group.”

  And then as noted on the screen the JAS pilot study was designed to test or refine research techniques that will help answer the various information needs of MMS, NMFS and Navy.

## “DELTA GROUP” SPERM WHALES

- 100m

- 200m

- 1000m

- 2000m

- Leg 1: June 27 - July 8 (tagging)
- Leg 2: July 10 - July 27 (acoustic survey)

**Notes:**
  The Delta Group was originally identified by past NMFS surveys, depicted here by gray whales for shipboard sightings and  blue whales as aerial sightings. While the red and blue tracks represent the two legs of the recent pilot study. These surveys established that a resident group of sperm whales are found off the MS River delta.  

  This group consists of adult females, and immatures and calves of mixed gender. They are often in close proximity to deep water platforms and in an area of heavy ship traffic and seismic survey activity.

## RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

- ACOUSTIC RECORDING TAGS
- PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION
- SKIN BIOPSY (genetic analyses)
- ACOUSTIC and VISUAL SURVEYS
- MORPHOMETRICS (size analyses)
- BEHAVIOR (visual, acoustic, tag data)

- 25x “Bigeyes”

- PC’s and recording equipment

- R2 approaching whale
- For tagging

- VISUAL TEAM

- ACOUSTIC TEAM

- R2 TEAM

**Notes:**
  The pilot study was a month long study consisting of 2 two week legs.  The initial leg included a mixture of established and new research methods/equipment.  

  The primary objectives of the pilot cruise were to establish coordinated shipboard operations and techniques among three basic scientific operational teams and the NOAA crew while testing equipment 

  To a large extent, data was a secondary objective, however, the cruise was highly successful in bringing home extensive data/samples in all the areas itemized in the slide. 

  The first 2 weeks were so successful in achieving the primary objectives the term pilot was dropped from the title of the study by the end of the first leg.

## NEW EQUIPMENT

- Relentless II (R2)

- Acoustic Software Programs

- Flying Bridge Software –”Sperm count”

- Short-term Behavioral Tag

**Notes:**
  New equipment introduced on the Gunter for the pilot cruise included the close approach boat “Relentless II” or R2, a 21 foot foam-filled, deep-vee aluminum hulled boat. This is a custom designed boat with speed, maneuverability and  provided a safe and stable ride in open waters. 
  Digital acoustic/behavioral recording tags developed with ONR funding at WHOI were the most unique instruments tested.  The tags attach to the whale by suction cups and are designed to release from the whale in a 4-6 hour window.  The tags record sounds, depth and x-y-z orientation and are a key component for future effects of sound studies.  
 Far less novel, but critical to study results was the introduction of an acoustic array (custom winch installation was a major addition to the Gunter) with several  computers and high-tech filter/recording devices.  An MIT/OSU (Oregon state Univ.) engineering team tested and improved software programs during the cruise. 
 On the flying bridge, a program originally designed to help estimate numbers of whales – “sperm count” – became more useful in tracking the locations of the whales relative to the R2 and provide the small boat with rapid heading and distance information.

## ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Video recordings for size and behavior analyses
- Cetacean sighting records and CTD data
- At sea operations to stay on whales with acoustic tracking, small boat ‘vectoring’,
- Close approach techniques, coordinated team data collection methods.

- Biopsy dart bouncing off whale

- Over 30 fluke photographs for
-  individual ID’s

- Acoustic recordings for noise analyses

- Over 30 biopsy samples for DNA analysis

**Notes:**
	                  ACCOMPLISHMENTS

   Results from data analyses are underway – that so much data were collected is perhaps THE most amazing accomplishment of the cruise.  We expect 5-6 publications will result from these data.  

  In the meantime we can say that six digital acoustic recording tags were placed on sperm whales - with 3 successful attachments and recoveries providing us with 6 hours of vocal data, dive data , fluke beat, rolling and depth measurements. 

  A collection of biopsy samples  for DNA analysis, fluke photographs, behavior video recordings, are available to better understand this group of whales. (determine if these whales are family groups, related to Caribbean population or possibly a distinct GOM pop.)

 All possible through the successful  initiating and employing of a small boat vectoring and close approach method.

 Although many additional refinements and additional techniques will be added to the FY2001 cruise, the pilot cruise was extremely successful in testing and developing a basic mode for field operations.  

## CRUISE PARTICIPANTS

**Notes:**
  As a result the “pilot” cruise has become the first research cruise, almost entirely through the determined and skilled efforts of the different groups, to master, fix or otherwise design effective sampling methods at sea and establish effective teamwork within days.
  The key to cruise success was the ability of a diverse group of experts  and experienced ship’s crew to effectively interact and solve problems.  

  While the science accomplishments will speak for themselves, it should be emphasized that the NOAA crew was absolutely critical to these accomplishments – from making the rapid launch and recovery of R2 “look easy” to providing precise ship navigation, complex course changes and adapting to new situations. 

  We would also like to thank ONR for its support and valuable advice. 

## BIG HAL

- First large, mature male sperm whale observed in GOM – fluke photos and DNA sample taken – Leg 2, DeSoto Canyon.

**Notes:**
  Let me wrap up this presentation with the cruise “bonus event”  -  the first confirmed sighting of a mature sperm whale in the GOM.  (DNA analysis recently completed on this animal confirming its sex).

  Big Hal was found cruising in the DeSoto canyon area with another smaller whale in the final days of Leg 2 - also identified as male. To date it was thought that,  logically, mature males must be in the GOM at sometime to mate with resident females – the prevailing opinion (guess) was winter.  As you can see  a lot remains to be examined and better understood.  

  For future efforts we are in the process of coordinating and planning a 2001 sperm whale cruise which will continue collection of the Y2K data as well as add some additional acoustic work.

  Thank you - any questions.