Marine Mammal Research

Over the last decade, the Navy has sponsored over $300 million dollars of marine species study worldwide. The Navy's in-house team of marine scientists collaborates with some of the world's top universities, research institutions, and independent researchers to foster innovation and scientific excellence in the field of marine species research, monitoring, and effects analysis. 

Project areas include basic research and exploratory development by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Marine Mammal Science and Technology program, applied research conducted through the Navy's Living Marine Resources program, and monitoring work conducted in support of U.S. Navy military readiness activities. Because the Navy strives to incorporate the most accurate and reliable data and information into its environmental analyses and planning documents, all researchers are encouraged to have their work peer reviewed and published.

The Navy's marine species monitoring programs are centered on the following goals: 

• Better understand marine species distribution and location of important habitat areas

• Refine methods used to detect and monitor marine species before and during training activities

• Add to the understanding of the effects of underwater sound on marine mammals, sea turtles, fish, and birds

• Develop improved tools to model and estimate potential effects of underwater sound

• Develop new programs to safeguard marine protected species