This proof-of-concept study was undertaken to establish whether wild seals could be successfully captured and tagged in coastal Virginia, because this has not been previously attempted in this area. Further, the study sought to establish the feasibility of using satellite tags to better understand seals’ residency time in Virginia waters, their local habitat utilization patterns, and where they migrate to in the spring. The information gathered from this effort will provide valuable baseline data needed for the future assessment of harbor seal movements and site fidelity along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

Since 2017, the Navy has undertaken telemetry (tagging) studies in order to characterize seals’ at-sea movements, habitat use, dive behavior, and the environmental variables that may influence their distribution and haul-out patterns. Location-only and depth-sensing tags, which track seals’ movements via satellite transmission, were deployed on seven harbor seals in 2018 and two in 2020 (no tags have been deployed to date on gray seals as part of this study).

HDR, Inc. provided comprehensive monitoring services for an in-water pile driving construction project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington. Using highly trained marine species observers, field technicians, and acousticians, we ensured client compliance in the face of complex regulatory requirements.

Marine mammal (MM) monitoring was conducted during in-water pile driving (PD) at Hood Canal, Washington, during fall 2011. Monitoring was performed on construction days, during active-construction (“AC”, defined as 30 minutes prior to, during, and 30 minutes after PD) and non-construction (“NC”, downtime) periods. Baseline surveys were also conducted throughout Hood Canal on days when no PD occurred. Monitoring and baseline surveys occurred over 53 days. Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) recorded 1,207 sightings totaling 2,269 individual MM.

Marine mammal (MM) monitoring was conducted during inwater pile driving (PD) at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington in Hood Canal during Fall 2011. Vessel-based monitoring was performed on construction days, during both active-construction (“AC”, defined as 30 minutes prior to, during, and 30 minutes after PD) and non-construction (“NC”, downtime) periods. Baseline surveys were also conducted throughout Hood Canal on days when no PD occurred. Monitoring and baseline surveys occurred over 53 days, during which Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) recorded 1,207 sightings totaling 2,269 individual MM. Species observed included California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Harbor seals were the most frequently observed MM on construction days (n=782 sightings) and baseline survey days (n=197 sightings). The only cetaceans observed were harbor porpoise (n=68 construction, 34 baseline sightings). Harbor seal sighting rates were lower on construction days than on baseline days (0.73 and 1.80 sightings/observer hour [obs hr], respectively). Likewise, harbor porpoise were sighted less often on construction days than on baseline days (0.13 and 0.31 sightings/obs hr, respectively). On construction days, harbor seal sighting rates were actually higher during AC periods than NC periods (3.31 and 0.23 sightings/obs hr, respectively). This is consistent with MMOs’ qualitative observations that harbor seals (particularly juveniles) appeared to be attracted to PD, and often moved towards the construction area when PD was initiated. On construction days, pinnipeds were most often observed “diving,” “looking,” “sinking,” and “swimming”. During AC, 4% more pinnipeds were observed “diving” vs. NC periods (n=124). On construction days, harbor porpoise were most often observed “traveling”. During AC, 27% fewer harbor porpoise were observed “traveling” vs. NC periods (n=18). Overall, minor behavioral disruptions were observed in relation to PD, and were within “take” numbers in the issued Incidental Harassment Authorization.

Key results from the 2018 and 2020 tags, detailed methods and results from the 2022 tagging efforts, and where appropriate, cumulative analyses of all 14 satellite-tracked tags deployed to date.

Ecologists and managers require accurate population estimates of marine mammals to assess potential anthropogenic threats to these animals. We present estimates of in-water density and abundance of a distinct stock of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in Hood Canal, Washington, USA. We used aerial line-transect survey data collected from 2013 to 2016 to directly estimate harbor seal density and abundance in the waters of Hood Canal, a deep-water fjord in the Salish Sea. We estimated a correction factor for trackline detection probability from dive and surface time data gathered from regional seal tagging studies, and applied this factor to correct for seals missed on the trackline during surveys.

This survey implemented visual line transect and passive acoustic methods to assess the presence and distribution and to estimate density and abundance of cetaceans in Behm Canal and central Clarence Strait.

The telemetry and survey studies managed by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) was initiated in winter 2021 to collect data on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) along the U.S. East Coast. The purpose of this field season’s research was to collect baseline data to inform a proposed pinniped behavioral response study and continue long-term pinniped surveys, specifically in the Navy OPAREAS along the northwestern Atlantic coast. A summary of the data collected in previous field seasons can be found in DeAngelis (2023).

The aim of the 2021-2022 field season’s research, Phase II of the Pinniped BRS, was to continue to obtain data to measure baseline behavior to understand the physical or biotic factors that influence the movement and foraging tactics of harbor and gray seals; the amount of time seals spend in specific areas, paying particular attention to Navy OPAREAS; and, the anthropogenic risks (e.g., noise-producing military activities) seals potentially encounter in nearshore and offshore areas.

This document contains amplifying technical data and information for the United States Department of the Navy’s Southern California Range Complex Comprehensive Monitoring Report.

For this project, time-lapse trail cameras were placed at two survey areas in southeastern Virginia in order to monitor all of the known haul-out sites in the region. Wildlife “trail” cameras are cost effective tools for collecting large amounts of data while limiting the impact to the animals as compared to traditional visual surveys (Koivuniemi et al., 2016; Wearn & GloverKapfer, 2019). Trail cameras are especially effective for monitoring wildlife in remote locations and sampling multiple sites for extended periods of time. The use of these cameras offer the ability to monitor haul-out sites in adverse marine and weather conditions with relatively low personnel demands. Objectives for this study are to: 1) improve the understanding of local haul-out patterns; 2) monitor seasonal patterns and the numbers of seals hauled out; 3) investigate any haul-out patterns in relation to environmental factors; and 4) investigate differences between vessel and drone-based surveys and time-lapse camera data collection.

Objectives for this study are 1) to improve the understanding of local and seasonal haul-out patterns, and the numbers of seals hauled out during daylight hours; 2) to investigate any haul-out patterns in Pinniped Time-lapse Camera Surveys, Virginia: 2019-2022 Final July 2023 | 3 relation to environmental factors; and 3) to investigate differences between vessel-based surveys and time-lapse camera data collection.

The U.S. Navy requires information about the in-water density and abundance of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in various parts of Hood Canal, Washington, to evaluate impacts and estimate exposure to Navy activities that may cause acoustic disturbance (e.g., use of sonar, pile driving, and other marine construction). To determine the best approach for estimating in-water density and abundance of harbor seals in Hood Canal using existing data, a workshop was held in October 2015 in Seattle, Washington, and was attended by experts and scientists with experience in the region. S

This report summarizes information from 24 U.S. Navy-funded aerial surveys of pinniped haulout sites in the inland waters of Washington State conducted between March 2013 and February 2014 by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The objectives of this TO are to conduct aerial surveys of the study area in order to: 1) provide estimates of seasonal abundance for seals and sea lions, 2) identify seasonal distribution patterns for seals and sea lions, 3) collect data to determine seal and sea lion densities, and 4) provide harbor seal abundance data needed by NMFS to prepare a Stock Assessment Report (SAR) for the Washington inland waters harbor seal stock. Additionally, the atlas showing pinniped haulouts for these waters (Jeffries et al. 2000) has not been updated in 13 years and will be revised as well.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, training and testing areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 field seasons as well as the analyses conducted using data from the 2014-2024 field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns Pinniped Haul-out Counts and Photo-ID, Virginia: 2019/2020 Annual Progress Report Final February 2021| 2 of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2019/2020 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all six field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, training and testing areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2021/2022 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all eight field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2020/2021 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all seven field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes. This report discusses the survey results for the 2018/2019 field season as well as the analyses conducted using data from all five field seasons.

The goal of this study is to document the presence and abundance of seals in Virginia and to gain an increased understanding of the seasonal occurrence, habitat use and haul-out patterns of seals near several important U.S. Navy installations, testing and training areas, and vessel transit routes.

Annual technical progress report on pinniped haul-out counts and photo-ID analyses.

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) distribution along the U.S. Atlantic coast has shifted in recent years, with an increased number of seals reported in southern New England. Narragansett Bay is an ecosystem with a substantial seasonal harbor seal presence and extensive commercial and recreational boating traffic, shoreline development pressure, and Navy activities. To better understand harbor seal haulout usage in this system we have been conducting regular, opportunistic observations of seal abundance, seal behavior, potential disturbance, and environmental conditions at a haulout site off Naval Station Newport, from 2010 - 2017.

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) and gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) distribution along the U.S. Atlantic coast has shifted in recent years, with an increased number of seals reported in southern New England and the mid-Atlantic region (Kenney 2014; Waring et al. 2014). Data from NOAA surveys have previously shown New Jersey as the southern extent for harbor and gray seals (NOAA 2015a), with occasional sightings and strandings reported as far south as Florida and North Carolina for harbor and gray seals, respectively (Waring et al. 2014). NOAA now reports that a small group of harbor seals (

The overall goal of this project is to gain an understanding of seal movement and behavior to assist the Navy in determining potential impacts from Navy training and testing. Monitoring the Naval Station Newport site will help the Navy understand trends in seasonal movements, site fidelity, and relative abundance in close proximity to Navy activity. By establishing a record of seal presence and abundance, we can further our understanding of the general ecology of the population in Narragansett Bay, and whether this population is impacted by present or future human disturbance

In order to locate any undocumented seal haul-out sites in Virginia, as well as provide additional data collection at the two known haul-out sites, aerial surveys were implemented and flown along the entire Virginia coast during the winter 2025 field season.

The goal of this survey is to document the presence of seals and gain an increased understanding of the occurrence and behavior of seals near Navy installations in the lower Chesapeake Bay (i.e. Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and Naval Station Norfolk), the Virginia Capes Operating Area (VACAPES), and important vessel transit routes.

Objectives for this study are to 1) improve the understanding of local, seasonal haul-out patterns, numbers of seals hauled out during daylight hours; 2) to investigate any haul-out patterns in relation to environmental factors; and 3) to investigate differences between vessel and time-lapse camera survey data collected. The data and results of this effort will further improve the assessment of potential impacts from Navy training and testing activities, installation construction (e.g. pile driving) and vessel transiting activities as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Environmental Policy Act for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command projects in Virginia. These data may also provide important baseline information for the assessment of potential future impacts from climate change or anthropogenic activities.

During this project, the visual survey covered a total of 760 kilometers (410 nautical miles) on-effort while transit and fog effort legs accounted for 553 km (298 nm). There were a total of 96 sightings (453 individuals) of 11 confirmed marine mammal species; these included fin, humpback, gray, and minke whales as well as killer whales, Dall’s and harbor porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins and Steller sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters. Additionally, there were 36 sightings (46 individuals) of unidentified large whales, dolphins and pinnipeds. Acoustically, operations were conducted 24-hours/day surveying a total of 3,519 km (1,900 nm) and recording 49 acoustic detections of sperm whales and killer whales. Photographs of nineteen individual killer whales and four fin whales were obtained on this cruise and compared to existing catalogs.

In support of the U.S. Navy’s (Navy) Marine Mammal Monitoring Plan (M3P) in the Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL) (DoN 2009), aerial surveys were conducted by Marine Mammal Research Consultants (MMRC) and Smultea Environmental Sciences (SES) to monitor marine mammals and sea turtles (MM/ST) during June and July 2009 in the SOCAL area.

Aerial surveys were conducted in conjunction with two US Navy (Navy) Major Training Events (MTE) involving mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS) and explosives in October (Oct) and mid-November (Nov) 2008 in the Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL) off San Diego, California. The purpose of this survey was to monitor potential effects or lack of observable effects of MFAS and explosives on mammals and sea turtles (MM/ST) during a MTE from 17-21 Oct and beginning one day after a MTE from 15-18 Nov.

From 2013 to 2015, researchers conducted systematic line-transect aerial surveys for marine mammals in eight subregions of Puget Sound encompassing inland waters of Washington State. Effort consisted of five separate survey periods spanning four seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) and was funded by the United States Navy (Navy). Surveys focused on estimating seasonal in-water density and abundance of cetaceans, particularly harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

From 2013 to 2016, we conducted systematic line-transect aerial surveys in 8 sub-regions of Puget Sound encompassing inland waters of Washington State. U.S.-funded surveys were conducted year-round and focused on estimating seasonal in-water density and abundance of marine mammals, particularly harbor porpoises and harbor seals

Seasonal systematic aerial surveys of Puget Sound.

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), NOAA Fisheries, with support from the U.S. Navy, conducted line transect surveys in Behm Canal and adjacent areas in the spring of 2023 and fall of 2024 to obtain estimates of density and abundance of cetaceans and information on marine mammal distribution and occurrence.