Section 1 Introduction - National Marine Fisheries Service - NOAA

NBK at Bangor EHW-1 Pile Replacement Project Final Marine Mammal Monitoring Report
Pinnipeds
Table 17. Cetacean Behaviors Observed During Construction
Versus Non-Construction Periods During EHW-1 PRP
Behavior
Construction?
[percent (n)]
No Yes
Chuff 0 (0) 11.8 (2)
Swim 29.4 (5) 41.2 (7)
Travel 11.8 (2) 0 (0)
Dive 0 (0) 5.9 (1)
During non-construction period monitoring, MMOs most commonly observed pinnipeds
“sinking” (n=238; 21.98%), “looking” (n=221; 20.41%), and “swimming” (n=188; 17.36)
(Table 18). The most common pinniped behaviors during construction were “swimming”
(n=37; 3.42%) and “looking” (n=35; 3.23%) (Table 18). The majority of observed pinniped
behaviors decreased from non-construction to construction periods. “Chuffing” and “entering
the water” remained the same between both periods. There were increases in “change direction,”
“flushing,” and “unknown” from the non-construction period to construction period.
Analysis of Behavioral Observations Made Before, During, and After Construction.
Marine mammal behaviors were documented for sightings that occurred during the 30-minute
construction pre-watch; during construction activity; and during the 30-minute construction
post-watch – before, during, and after construction activity, respectively (refer to Appendix E).
Cetaceans
The most common cetacean behavior during construction activities was “swimming” (before
[n=2; 0.2%]; during [n=4; 0.4%]; after [n=1; 0.1%] pile driving). “Chuffing” occurred before
and after pile driving (each n=1; 0.1%). Occurrence of “swimming” decreased post-construction
in relation to pre-construction. “Swimming” behaviors increased during construction (Table 19,
Figure 15).
Pinnipeds
Pinnipeds were most often “looking” (n=6; 3.9%) and “milling” (n=4; 2.6%) during the
30-minute before pile-driving period (Table 20, Figure 16). During pile driving, pinnipeds most
often were “swimming” (n=24; 15.5%), “looking” (n=23; 14.8%), and “diving” (n=19; 12.3%).
During the 30-minute after pile driving period, pinnipeds were most often “looking” (n=7;
4.5%), “sinking” (n=6; 3.9%), and “diving” (n=4; 2.6%).
Bangor, Washington 57