Final. Protected Species Monitoring in Navy OPAREAs - Small Vessel Surveys in the Jacksonville Operating Area: January 2014 December 2014

Transcription

1 Final Protected Species Monitoring in Navy OPAREAs - Small Vessel Surveys in the Jacksonville Operating Area: Submitted to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic under Contract No. N D-0, Task Orders 4, 8, and 49, issued to HDR, Inc. Prepared by Zach Swaim, Heather Foley, and Andrew Read Duke University Marine Laboratory 5 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 856 Submitted by: Virginia Beach, VA July 05

2 Suggested Citation: Swaim, Z., H. Foley, and A. Read. 05. Protected Species Monitoring in Navy OPAREAs off the U.S. Atlantic Coast,. Draft Report. Prepared for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Submitted to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, under Contract No. N , Task Orders 4, 8, and 49, issued to HDR, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia. July 05. Cover Photo Credit: Risso s dolphin (Grampus griseus). Photographed by Danielle Waples, Duke University, taken under NOAA Scientific Permit No (Douglas Nowacek) and NOAA General Authorization Letter of Confirmation 685 held by Duke University This project is funded by US Fleet Forces Command and managed by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic as part of the US Navy s marine species monitoring program.

3 Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations...iv. Introduction.... Jacksonville Vessel Surveys.... METHODS..... Study Area..... Data Collection..... Data Analysis Data Storage RESULTS Vessel Survey Effort Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings Distributions and Habitat Associations of Cetaceans and Sea Turtles Biopsy Sampling Photographic Effort...0. SUMMARY TABLES.... Acknowledgements Literature Cited... Figures Figure. Map of the Jacksonville study area and the proposed USWTR site (shaded box).... Figure. The R/V Richard T. Barber.... Figure. Survey effort during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 4. Distribution of all cetacean sightings made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 5. Distribution of bottlenose dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 6. Distribution of Atlantic spotted dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 7. Distribution of Risso s dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 8. Distribution of North Atlantic right whale sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure 9. Distribution of unidentified delphinid sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December July 05 i

4 Figure 0. Distribution of sea sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure. Locations of biopsy samples collected in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Figure. Locations of matched dolphins within the Jacksonville survey area.... Tables Table. Dates, kilometers, and hours surveyed during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, Table. Cetacean sightings from vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Table. Numbers of cetacean sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 June 00), Year (July 00 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area Table 4. Sea sightings from vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Table 5. Numbers of sea sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 June 00), Year (July 00 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area Table 6. Biopsy samples collected in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December Table 7. Summary of photographs taken of animals in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04, with photo-identification catalog sizes and total number of matches...0 Table 8. Photo-identification matches of bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins observed in the Jacksonville survey area....0 Table 9. Kilometers and hours surveyed during Year (July 009 June 00), Year (July 00 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) in the Jacksonville survey area.... Table 0. Numbers of cetacean sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 June 00), Year (July 00 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area.... July 05 ii

5 Table. Numbers of sea sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 009 December Table. Biopsy samples collected to date in the Jacksonville survey area.... Table. Summary of images collected during all vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 009 December 04, with photo-identification catalog sizes and matches to date.... July 05 iii

6 Acronyms and Abbreviations Dtag F/V JAX km km m NOAA OPAREA R/V SERDP U.S. USWTR VHF digital acoustic tag Fishing Vessel Jacksonville kilometer(s) square kilometer(s) meter(s) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Operating Area Research Vessel Strategic Environmental Research and Development Project United States Undersea Warfare Training Range Very High Frequency July 05 iv

7 Introduction This report describes results from a multi-institutional monitoring project intended to provide information on the species composition, population identity, density and baseline behavior of marine mammals and sea s present in United States (U.S.) Navy range complexes along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. This program began in 007, with baseline aerial and vessel surveys and a passive acoustic monitoring program in Onslow Bay, North Carolina and has since expanded to include study areas off Jacksonville, Florida and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In Onslow Bay, six years of monitoring yielded a comprehensive picture of the density, distribution and abundance of marine mammals and sea s and provided new insights into residency patterns among pelagic delphinids in this region (Read et al. 04). Survey effort in the Onslow Bay site concluded in 0. More than five years of monitoring in the Jacksonville (JAX) Operating Area (OPAREA) have provided similar information on the density and distribution of marine mammals and sea s. Off Cape Hatteras, four years of surveys have provided information on the complex patterns of distribution and diversity of the marine mammals and sea s in this highly productive area. The present report describes monitoring activities, including photo-identification and biopsy sampling vessel surveys at JAX between January and December 04. All fieldwork at Cape Hatteras in 04 was dedicated to the Deep Diver and Satellite Tagging Projects, so the photographic identification work for Hatteras will be reported in Foley et al. (05). Analysis of the satellite-tagging data is in a report from Cascadia Research Collective (Baird et al. 05).. Jacksonville Vessel Surveys. Methods.. Study Area The study area within JAX OPAREA is approximately 5,78 square kilometers (km ), surrounding the planned Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR), which is approximately,700 km in area. The study area straddles the continental shelf break, including some of the Blake Plateau, and includes both shelf and pelagic waters (Figure )... Data Collection Our vessel survey effort in JAX during 04 focused on questions of residency and population structure of odontocete cetaceans. We conducted visual surveys at a speed of approximately 8 to 0 knots from the Research Vessel (R/V) Richard T. Barber, a U.S. Coast Guard-approved offshore research vessel outfitted with a bow pulpit, satellite phone, lifeboat and wireless communication system (Figure ). We also surveyed from the R/V Stellwagen on one day following the deployment of a High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package. Two observers (one port and one starboard) scanned constantly from straight ahead to 90 degrees abeam either side of the trackline. We closed on all cetacean sightings and recorded the location, species and behavior of every cetacean group. We surveyed s in passing mode, but recorded the July 05

8 Figure. Map of the Jacksonville study area and the planned USWTR site (shaded box). July 05

9 Figure. The R/V Richard T. Barber. location and species of all sea s. We recorded environmental conditions (weather, sea state, depth and sea-surface temperature) at each sighting and whenever survey conditions changed. We recorded sighting and environmental data on an ipad tablet linked to a geographic positioning system (GPS) unit. We examined use of the survey area by individual cetaceans using photo-identification and collected biopsy samples for analysis of population structure. We obtained digital photographs to confirm species identification at each sighting and to compare identification features with those used by the aerial survey team. We obtained photographs with Canon or Nikon digital SLR cameras (equipped with 00 to 400 millimeter zoom lenses) in 4-bit color at a resolution of 07 X 048 pixels and saved in.jpg format. We employed remote biopsy-sampling methods to collect small skin and blubber samples using a variety of 7- to 68-kilogram pull crossbows, depending on the species and sampling distance. We obtained biopsy samples with a specialized.5-centimer stainless biopsy tip attached to a modified bolt, typically fired from the bow of the survey vessel... Data Analysis We mapped vessel survey effort and sighting data using ArcGIS 0.. All vessel sighting data collected from January 04 through December 04 will be posted on the data archive OBIS- SEAMAP ( July 05

10 Data Storage All acoustic, visual survey and photographic data have been archived on digital media, and backed up on a Duke University network server.. Results.. Vessel Survey Effort We conducted vessel surveys on eleven days in 04, totaling 7.4 kilometers (km), or hours, of survey effort (Table ). These surveys were conducted in Beaufort Sea States (BSS) to 4 and covered the entirety of the USWTR site and surrounding survey area, including shelf and pelagic waters (Figure ). Table. Dates, distance, and durations surveyed during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area,. Date Sea State km Surveyed Survey Time (hr:min) At-Sea Time Platform 6-Feb-4 0. :0 9:6 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb :46 0: R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb :00 9: R/V Stellwagen 8-Feb :7 9:4 R/V R.T. Barber 0-Apr :09 9:0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr :6 0:8 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr :5 :7 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul :8 8: R/V R.T. Barber -Jul :8 :40 R/V R.T. Barber 6-Oct :44 0:08 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Oct : :04 R/V R.T. Barber 8-Oct :0 8:56 R/V R.T. Barber Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Sightings We recorded forty-five cetacean sightings of four species during these vessel surveys. As in previous years, bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus; n=8) and Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis; n=0) dominated the fauna, with single sightings of Risso s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and a solitary North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). In addition, we observed one mixed group of bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins and recorded four sightings of unidentified delphinids (Tables and ). We encountered thirty-four sea s in the survey area during 04. As in the past, the loggerhead sea (Caretta caretta; n=) was by far the most frequently recorded species, with a small number of sightings of leatherback sea s (Dermochelys coriacea; n=) (Tables 4 and 5). July 05 4

11 Figure. Survey effort during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05 5

12 Table. Cetacean sightings from vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. Date Time Latitude Longitude Species Common Name Group Size Biopsy Samples Photoid images 6-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 50 R/V R.T. Barber 6-Feb-4 5: E. glacialis North Atlantic right whale 0 6 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 0: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 0 R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 0: Unidentified delphinid 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 0: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 6 R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 0 R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 47 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 8 R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin R/V Stellwagen 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 9 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 5: Unidentified delphinid 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Feb-4 5: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 4 6 R/V R.T. Barber 8-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 7 0 R/V R.T. Barber 8-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 8 R/V R.T. Barber 0-Apr-4 0: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 64 R/V R.T. Barber 0-Apr-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber 0-Apr-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin R/V R.T. Barber 0-Apr-4 : Unidentified delphinid 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 9: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 8 48 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 4: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 4 R/V R.T. Barber Vessel July 05 6

13 Date Time Latitude Longitude Species Common Name Group Size Biopsy Samples Photoid images -Apr-4 5: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 4 88 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 5: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 8 48 R/V R.T. Barber -Apr-4 7: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 4 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 9: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 65 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 7 8 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 : T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 4: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 8 4 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 5: S. frontalis/ T. truncatus Atlantic spotted dolphin/bottlenose dolphin Vessel 7/ /0 4 R/V R.T. Barber -Jul-4 6: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 6 6 R/V R.T. Barber 6-Oct-4 0: Unidentified delphinid 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber 6-Oct-4 0: S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 7 5 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Oct-4 9: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 0 0 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Oct-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 6 46 R/V R.T. Barber 7-Oct-4 4: G. griseus Risso's dolphin 50 R/V R.T. Barber 8-Oct-4 : S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 8 08 R/V R.T. Barber 8-Oct-4 5: T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin 9 R/V R.T. Barber July 05 7

14 Table. Numbers of cetacean sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 December 00), Year (January 0 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area. Species Sightings Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Mean Group Size Eubalaena glacialis ±0.0 Globicephala macrorhynchus ±7.6 Grampus griseus ±0. Stenella frontalis ±9. Tursiops truncatus ±4. Tursiops/Stenella mix ±0.0 Unidentified delphinid ±. Total: Table 4. Sea sightings from vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. Date Time Latitude Longitude Species Common Name 6-Feb-4 5: C. caretta 7-Feb-4 0: C. caretta 7-Feb-4 : C. caretta 7-Feb-4 : C. caretta 7-Feb-4 : C. caretta 7-Feb-4 : C. caretta 7-Feb-4 4: D. coriacea 7-Feb-4 4: C. caretta 8-Feb-4 4: C. caretta 8-Feb-4 4: C. caretta 8-Feb-4 5: C. caretta 8-Feb-4 5: C. caretta 0-Apr-4 : C. caretta Leatherback sea Group Size Vessel R/V R.T. Barber R/V Stellwagen R/V Stellwagen R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V Stellwagen R/V Stellwagen R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber July 05 8

15 Date Time Latitude Longitude Species Common Name 0-Apr-4 : C. caretta 0-Apr-4 : C. caretta 0-Apr-4 5: C. caretta 0-Apr-4 6: C. caretta 0-Apr-4 6: C. caretta -Apr-4 : C. caretta -Apr-4 : C. caretta -Apr-4 4: C. caretta -Apr-4 5: C. caretta -Apr-4 9: C. caretta -Apr-4 0: C. caretta -Apr-4 0: C. caretta -Apr-4 0: C. caretta -Apr-4 4: D. coriacea -Jul-4 : C. caretta -Jul-4 : C. caretta -Jul-4 6: D. coriacea 6-Oct-4 5: C. caretta 7-Oct-4 0: C. caretta 8-Oct-4 : C. caretta 8-Oct-4 4: C. caretta Leatherback sea Leatherback sea Group Size Vessel R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber R/V R.T. Barber Table 5. Numbers of sea sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 December 00), Year (January December 0), Year (January July 05 9

16 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area. Species Sightings Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Mean Group Size Caretta caretta ±0. Dermochelys coriacea 8 4.0±0.0 Lepidochelys kempii ±0.0 Unidentified sea 8 0.0±0.0 Total: The North Atlantic right whale (EGNO 4057) observed 6 February 04 was initially spotted entangled in hundreds of meters of heavy rope. The R/V Barber attached a digital acoustic tag (DTag) to the animal and the R/V Stellwagen tracked it for several hours, until the tag came off, at which time the R/V Stellwagen proceeded offshore. A telemetry buoy was placed on the whale by officials from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) after the DTag was shed, and on 7 February 04, responders from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and FWC were able to shorten the trailing end of line by over 9 meters... Distributions and Habitat Associations of Cetaceans and Sea Turtles The distribution of marine mammals and sea s in the Jacksonville survey area is presented in Figures 4 through 0. Similar to our observations in previous years, bottlenose dolphins were encountered throughout the survey area, including deeper pelagic waters (Figure 5), whereas Atlantic spotted dolphins were restricted to the relatively shallow, shelf waters (Figure 6). All sea s were observed over the continental shelf (Figure 0). July 05 0

17 Figure 4. Distribution of all cetacean sightings made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05

18 Figure 5. Distribution of bottlenose dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05

19 Figure 6. Distribution of Atlantic spotted dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05

20 Figure 7. Distribution of Risso s dolphin sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05 4

21 Figure 8. Distribution of North Atlantic right whale sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05 5

22 Figure 9. Distribution of unidentified delphinid sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04 July 05 6

23 Figure 0. Distribution of sea sightings indicating group size made during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05 7

24 Biopsy Sampling We collected biopsy samples in the Jacksonville survey area during 04 from Atlantic spotted dolphins (n = 9), bottlenose dolphins (n = 0) and Risso s dolphins (n = ) (Table 6 and Figure ). Skin samples will be analyzed for sex determination. Voucher specimens of these samples are archived with the National Marine Fisheries Service s Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. Table 6. Biopsy samples collected in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. Date Time Latitude Longitude Species Sample # 6-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis ZTS_4_0 6-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis ZTS_4_0 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_0 7-Feb-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_04 7-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis ZTS_4_05 7-Feb-4 4: S. frontalis ZTS_4_06 7-Feb-4 5: T. truncatus ZTS_4_07 8-Feb-4 5: S. frontalis ZTS_4_08 0-Apr-4 : S. frontalis RJM_4_0 -Apr-4 9: S. frontalis ZTS_4_ -Apr-4 : T. truncatus ZTS_4_09 -Apr-4 : T. truncatus RJM_4_0 -Apr-4 : T. truncatus RJM_4_0 -Apr-4 6: S. frontalis ZTS_4_0 -Apr-4 6: S. frontalis ZTS_4_ -Apr-4 7: T. truncatus ZTS_4_ -Jul-4 9: T. truncatus ZTS_4_9 -Jul-4 9: T. truncatus ZTS_4_0 -Jul-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_ -Jul-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_ -Jul-4 4: T. truncatus ZTS_4_ -Jul-4 5: S. frontalis ZTS_4_4 -Jul-4 6: T. truncatus ZTS_4_5 6-Oct-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_9 7-Oct-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_0 7-Oct-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_ 7-Oct-4 4: G. griseus ZTS_4_ 7-Oct-4 5: G. griseus ZTS_4_ 8-Oct-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_4 8-Oct-4 : S. frontalis ZTS_4_5 8-Oct-4 5: T. truncatus ZTS_4_6 July 05 8

25 Figure. Locations of biopsy samples collected in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04. July 05 9

26 Photographic Effort We obtained,688 digital images for species confirmation and individual identification during 04. Photo-identification analysis is now complete for all images taken through December 04; this past year we added 77 newly identified dolphins to existing catalogs (Table 7). Photoidentification catalogues for bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins in JAX currently consist of 80 and individuals, respectively. We have re-sighted two individual spotted dolphins within the JAX study area (Figure ). Sfr -00 was observed first on 0 October 00 and again on 9 March 0; Sfr was photographed during surveys on two consecutive days: 8 March 0 and 9 March 0 (Table 8). In addition, we re-sighted two bottlenose dolphins together on 5 January 0 and 8 July 0 (Table 8 and Figure ). The Risso s dolphin catalog consists of individuals, but we have not identified any re-sightings through 04. Table 7. Summary of photographs taken of animals in the Jacksonville survey area, January 04 December 04, with photo-identification catalog sizes and total number of matches. Species Common Name Images 04 Catalog Size Matches G. macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot whale n/a 0 G. griseus Risso's dolphin 0 S. frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin 807 T. truncatus Bottlenose dolphin Table 8. Photo-identification matches of bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins observed in the Jacksonville survey area. ID Jacksonville, FL Ttr -004^ X X Ttr 6-00^ X X Sfr -00 X X Sfr ^Observed together in multiple sightings m Re-sighted within same month X m The North Atlantic right whale observed on 6 February 04 was identified as EGNO 4057, a male born in 00 (North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, New England Aquarium, Boston, After being partially disentangled on 7 February 04, the individual was re-sighted on April 04 in Cape Cod Bay by the Center for Coastal Studies aerial team. While line is still present in the mouth of the animal, the entanglement has been assessed as not life threatening. July 05 0

27 Figure. Locations of matched dolphins within the Jacksonville survey area. July 05

28 Summary Tables Total survey effort conducted since the beginning of the monitoring program in the Jacksonville survey area is reported in Table 9. The annual numbers of sightings and mean group size by species for both cetaceans and sea s are presented in Tables 0 and, respectively. The number of biopsy samples collected to date is reported in Table. Table summarizes the catalog sizes and matches by species to date and images taken during the reporting period in the Jacksonville survey area. Table 9. Duration and distance surveyed during Year (July 009 December 00), Year (January 0 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) in the Jacksonville survey area. Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Total Survey Hours km Surveyed Table 0. Numbers of cetacean sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during Year (July 009 December 00), Year (January 0 December 0), Year (January 0 December 0), Year 4 (January 0 December 0) and Year 5 (January 04 December 04) of vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area. Species Sightings Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Mean Group Size Eubalaena glacialis ±0.0 Globicephala macrorhynchus ±7.6 Grampus griseus ±0. Stenella frontalis ±9. Tursiops truncatus ±4. Tursiops/Stenella mix ±0.0 Unidentified delphinid ±. Total: Table. Numbers of sea sightings and mean group sizes (± sd) for each species observed during vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 009 December 04. Species Sightings Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Mean Group Size Caretta caretta ±0. Dermochelys coriacea 8 4.0±0.0 Lepidochelys kempii ±0.0 Unidentified sea 8 0.0±0.0 Total: July 05

29 Table. Biopsy samples collected to date in the Jacksonville survey area. Species Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Total G. griseus S. frontalis T. truncatus Table. Summary of images collected during all vessel surveys in the Jacksonville survey area, January 009 December 04, with photo-identification catalog sizes and matches to date. Year Year Year Year 4 Year 5 Species Catalog Size Matches Catalog Size Matches Catalog Size Matches Catalog Size Matches Catalog Size Matches G. macrorhynchus G. griseus S. frontalis T. truncatus Acknowledgements We thank Joel Bell (Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic) for his continued support and guidance. We are indebted to Keith Mullin and Kathy Foley, who allowed us to work under their biopsy permits (4450). We thank Danielle Waples, Bethany Roberts, and Ryan McAlarney for assistance in the field. We are also grateful to Alex Loer, the captain of the R/V Stellwagen, for his expertise and assistance. Surveys were conducted under NOAA Scientific Permit 647 held by the University of North Carolina Wilmington and NOAA General Authorization , , and 685 held by Duke University. 4. Literature Cited Baird, R.W., D.L. Webster, Z. Swaim, H.J. Foley, D.B. Anderson, and A.J. Read. 05. Spatial Use by Cuvier s Beaked Whales, Short-finned Pilot Whales, Common Bottlenose Dolphins, and Short-beaked Common Dolphins Satellite Tagged off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in 04. Draft Report. Prepared for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Submitted to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, under Contract No. N , Task Orders 4 and, issued to HDR Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia. 7 February 05. Foley, H., Z. Swaim, D. Waples and A. Read. 05. Deep Divers and Satellite Tagging Projects in the Virginia Capes OPAREA Cape Hatteras, NC:. Draft Report. Prepared for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Submitted to Naval Facilities July 05

30 Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, under Contract No. N , Task Orders 4 and 48 issued to HDR, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia. 8 February 05. Read, A.J., S. Barco, J. Bell, D.L. Borchers, M.L. Burt, E.W. Cummings, J. Dunn, M. Fougeres, L. Hazen, L.E. Williams-Hodge, A-M Laura, R.J. McAlarney, P. Nilsson, D.A. Pabst, C.G.M. Paxton, S.Z. Schneider, K.W. Urian, D.M. Waples, and W.A. McLellan. In press. Occurrence, distribution and abundance of cetaceans in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, USA. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. July 05 4