90-day Monitoring Report - National Marine Fisheries Service - NOAA

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The National Science Foundation (NSF) owned research vessel (R/V), Marcus G. Langseth,
operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO), a part of Columbia University, was
working with the University of Alaska Geophysics Institute (UAGI) and Dr. Bernard Coakley to
conduct a marine seismic survey in the Arctic Ocean. The project collected seismic reflection
data across the transition from the Chukchi Shelf to the Chukchi Borderland to image the
structures that separate these two large continental blocks. The Langseth left Dutch Harbor on
8 September 2011 and began the survey on 13 September 2011. The survey was completed
on 5 October 2011 and the Langseth returned to Dutch Harbor on 9 October 2011.
The UAGI submitted an application to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for a
permit to harass marine mammals, incidental to the marine geophysical survey. An Incidental
Harassment Authorization (IHA) was granted on 26 August 2011 (Appendix A) with several
mitigation measures that stipulated harassment to marine mammals. Mitigation measures were
implemented to minimize potential impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles and protected
seabirds throughout the duration of the survey. Mitigation measures included, but were not
limited to, the use of NMFS approved Protected Species Observers (PSOs) for both visual and
acoustic monitoring, establishment of safety radii, and implementation of ramp-up, power-down
and shut-down procedures.
RPS was contracted by L-DEO to provide continuous protected species observation coverage
and to fulfill the environmental regulatory requirements and reporting mandated by NMFS in the
IHA. Four PSOs, one dedicated PAM Operator, and one Native Alaskan North slope resident
were present on board the Langseth throughout the survey in this capacity.
PSOs undertook a combination of visual and acoustic watches, conducting a total of 406 hours
and 55 minutes of visual observations and 526 hours and 20 minutes of acoustic monitoring
over the course of the survey.
This visual monitoring effort produced a project total of 42 protected species detection records
of marine mammals: seven cetacean records and 35 pinniped records. Of the seven cetacean
records collected, two consisted of mysticetes, one record was collected for odontocetes, and
four records for unidentified cetaceans. There was also one sighting of what was believed to be
a pinniped carcass that was showing signs of advanced decay. All detections were made
visually. There were no acoustic detections made using the PAM system. There were no
sightings of sea turtles during the survey.
Detections of protected species resulted in a total of five mitigation actions being implemented,
all of which were power downs of the acoustic source. A known 24 pinnipeds were exposed to
received sound levels greater than 160 dB of sound from the acoustic source, constituting a
level B harassment take as defined by NMFS. Pinniped Level B harassment takes included
three spotted seals (Phoca largha), seven bearded seals (Erignathus barbarus), four Pacific
walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), five ringed seals (Phoca/Pusa hispida), and an
additional five unidentified pinnipeds.
A project summary sheet of observation, detection, and operational totals can be found in
Appendix B.
UME04085
R.V Marcus G. Langseth
L-DEO/NMFS
05 January 2012
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