Unsupported Browser Detected

Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

U.S. Navy Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Notifications and Reports

This page lists notifications and reports related to the regulations issued by NOAA Fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to U.S. Navy training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area from December 2013 through December 2018. 

National

Table of Contents

August 10, 2018

On July 28, 2018, a dead Delphinus species (species not yet determined due to necrotic condition and age) and a dead long-beaked common dolphin stranded in San Diego, California, which NOAA Fisheries identified as an Uncommon Stranding Event.  The Navy verified permitted high-frequency active sonar and explosives use within 72 hours and within 80 nautical miles of the stranding locations. NOAA Fisheries has initiated a review of the event.

June 6, 2018 

On May 24, 2018, a California sea lion carcass was discovered at the Navy’s Silver Strand Training Complex. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy’s use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries has initiated a review of the events.

October 5, 2018: NOAA Fisheries' report [pdf, 1 page]

June 1, 2017

Between May 15-17, 2017, four long-beaked common dolphins stranded in San Diego County, which NOAA Fisheries identified as an Uncommon Stranding Event on May 18. The Navy verified permitted mid- and high-frequency active sonar use within 72 hours before and 80 nautical miles of the stranding sites. The Navy also verified permitted explosives use within 72 hours before, and 80 nautical miles of, the May 17 stranding. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

On May 11, 2017, a California sea lion carcass was discovered at the Navy's Silver Strand Training Complex. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. On May 15, 2017, a California sea lion carcass was discovered at Naval Base Coronado. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy’s use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. On May 18, 2017, a California sea lion carcass was discovered at the Navy’s Silver Strand Training Complex. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy’s permitted use of explosives. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the events (see below).

May 8, 2017

Guadalupe fur seal strandings were reported in California on April 1 (San Diego), April 4 (Newport Beach), April 13 (Carlsbad), April 16 (Huntington), and April 17 (Imperial Beach), which NOAA Fisheries identified as Uncommon Stranding Events. Guadalupe fur seals are also the subject of an ongoing Unusual Mortality Event that began in January 2015.

The Navy verified permitted explosives training within 72 hours before, and 80 nm of, the April 1 stranding; permitted mid-frequency active sonar and explosives training within 72 hours before, and 80 nm of, the April 4 stranding; and permitted mid-frequency active sonar training within 72 hours before, and 80 nm of, the April 13, 16, and 17 strandings. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the events (see below).

May 3, 2017

On April 20, 2017, a dead floating humpback whale was reported off Orange County, CA, which NOAA Fisheries identified as an Uncommon Stranding Event.  The Navy verified permitted mid-frequency active sonar and explosives use within 72 hours before the standing and 80 nm of the stranding location. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

On April 19, 2017, two long-beaked common dolphins stranded off Oxnard, California, which NOAA Fisheries identified as an Uncommon Stranding Event.  The Navy verified permitted explosives use within 72 hours before the stranding and 80 nm of the stranding site. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

March 28, 2017

On March 23, 2017, a harbor seal carcass was discovered at the Navy's Silver Strand Training Complex. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

February 15, 2017

On February 1, 2017, an unidentified pinniped carcass was discovered at the Naval Base Coronado, Breakers Beach. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar and explosives. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

July 11, 2016

On July 1, 2016,  a California sea lion carcass was discovered in the vicinity of Silver Strand South. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

June 30, 2016

On June 16, 2016, a California sea lion carcass was discovered at Coronado Naval Amphibious Base. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

April 12, 2016

On March 30, 2016, a seal or California sea lion carcass was discovered at the Naval Base San Diego piers. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted mid-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

March 18, 2016

On March 4, 2016, a dead floating humpback whale was reported offshore Point Loma, CA, which NOAA Fisheries identified as an Uncommon Stranding Event. The Navy verified permitted mid-frequency active sonar use within 72 hours before the stranding and 80 nm of the stranding site. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

March 16, 2016

On March 10, 2016, two California sea lion carcasses were discovered at Silver Strand Training Complex-North Beach. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

March 8, 2016

On February 19, 2016, Navy personnel discovered a live, emaciated juvenile California sea lion at Coronado Naval Amphibious Base. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

December 22, 2015

On December 9, 2015, Navy personnel discovered a dead long-beaked common dolphin at Silver Strand Beach in San Diego, California. The discovery was made shortly after, and in the vicinity of, the Navy's use of permitted high-frequency active sonar. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

November 4, 2015

(Updated November 6, 2015)

On October 21, 2015, two common bottlenose dolphins were found dead at Imperial Beach and at Silver Strand Beach in San Diego, California.  The Navy verified brief mid-frequency active sonar use on October 19th and 20th within 80 nm of the stranding sites. NOAA Fisheries conducted a review of the event (see below).

 

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 10/25/2022