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Summary

Short Citation
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 2024: Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35599.
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Abstract

Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni, are the only year-round resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico, have an estimated abundance of 33 individuals (CV 1.07) in the Gulf of Mexico population, and are found within a restricted range near the De Soto Canyon in the northeastern Gulf. Based on their localized distribution, low abundance, and recent evidence that this population represents a unique evolutionary lineage and exhibits very low levels of genetic diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has petitioned NMFS to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as an endangered species and define critical habitat to enhance their protection. The NRDC highlights the high levels of anthropogenic noise from shipping and seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico as a major stressor. Historical whaling records found balaenopterids, most likely Bryde’s whales, throughout a broader area than their currently known range, including the western and central portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico, though sightings are now rare in this region, despite substantial effort. Autonomous passive acoustic methods are the most successful tool for finding rare whale species in areas where they occur infrequently and areas where they were historically sighted by whalers. The objectives of this study are to collect passive acoustic data for use in investigations of 1) Bryde’s whale occurrence and distribution, and 2) ambient noise conditions in the western Gulf of Mexico. We deployed 5 calibrated autonomous acoustic instruments over a one year period from June 2016 – June 2017 along the 200 m isobaths throughout the western Gulf of Mexico predicted Bryde’s whale habitat. This will provide data to investigate whether, where, and when Bryde’s whales occupy this habitat and will be useful in designating critical habitat if this species is listed under the ESA. By using calibrated instruments, an additional goal will be to obtain data to characterize the ambient sound environment at these sites to determine whether acute or chronic anthropogenic noise sources pose a risk to this species.

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Item Identification

Title: Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Short Name: NW Gulf PAM
Status: In Work
Abstract:

Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni, are the only year-round resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico, have an estimated abundance of 33 individuals (CV 1.07) in the Gulf of Mexico population, and are found within a restricted range near the De Soto Canyon in the northeastern Gulf. Based on their localized distribution, low abundance, and recent evidence that this population represents a unique evolutionary lineage and exhibits very low levels of genetic diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has petitioned NMFS to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as an endangered species and define critical habitat to enhance their protection. The NRDC highlights the high levels of anthropogenic noise from shipping and seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico as a major stressor. Historical whaling records found balaenopterids, most likely Bryde’s whales, throughout a broader area than their currently known range, including the western and central portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico, though sightings are now rare in this region, despite substantial effort. Autonomous passive acoustic methods are the most successful tool for finding rare whale species in areas where they occur infrequently and areas where they were historically sighted by whalers. The objectives of this study are to collect passive acoustic data for use in investigations of 1) Bryde’s whale occurrence and distribution, and 2) ambient noise conditions in the western Gulf of Mexico. We deployed 5 calibrated autonomous acoustic instruments over a one year period from June 2016 – June 2017 along the 200 m isobaths throughout the western Gulf of Mexico predicted Bryde’s whale habitat. This will provide data to investigate whether, where, and when Bryde’s whales occupy this habitat and will be useful in designating critical habitat if this species is listed under the ESA. By using calibrated instruments, an additional goal will be to obtain data to characterize the ambient sound environment at these sites to determine whether acute or chronic anthropogenic noise sources pose a risk to this species.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to acoustically monitor an area of historical importance to a small population of resident baleen whales to 1) determine if they occur in waters beyond the northeastern Gulf of Mexico; 2) evaluate the seasonal occurrence and site fidelity at western Gulf sites; and 3) to characterize ambient noise conditions in this region of high shipping and seismic activity. We deployed 5 calibrated fixed passive acoustic recorders along the 200 m isobath in the region of predicted high densities on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico shelf to investigate whether Bryde’s whales can be found in this area and to characterize the ambient noise conditions. Given the small population size and unique genetic lineage of this stock of Bryde’s whales, it is imperative that we determine the extent of their range, seasonality of their distribution, and what noise conditions occur throughout their habitat in order to offer the best protection possible should this stock be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Marine Mammal
None Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Gulf of Mexico

Physical Location

Organization: Southeast Fisheries Science Center
City: Miami
State/Province: FL
Country: USA

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 35599
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35599
Metadata Record Created By: Lance Garrison
Metadata Record Created: 2016-11-10 09:18+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-08-09 17:11+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2021-04-29
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2021-04-29
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2022-04-29