Seismic survey by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory along New Jersey coast

228 Pages·2015·3.37 MB·English

by  B Bloodworth

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT SECTION 7 BIOLOGICAL OPINION
Action Agencies:
National Science Foundation-Division of Ocean Sciences and
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service-Office of Protected
Resources-Permits and Conservation Division
Activity Considered: 1) Seismic survey by the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
along New Jersey, and
2) Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization
pursuant to section 10l(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA)
Consultation Conducted By: Endangered Species Act Interagency Cooperation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service
Approved:
Director, Office of Protected Resources
MAY - 7 2015
Date:
Public Consultation Tracking
System (PCTS) number: FPR-2015-9109
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

ii
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 CONSULTATION HISTORY................................................................................................................................. 1
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTIONS ........................................................................................ 3
2.1 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PROPOSED ACTION .................................................................................... 3
2.1.1 Schedule ................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.2 Source Vessel Specifications .................................................................................................................. 4
2.1.3 Airgun Description ................................................................................................................................ 5
2.1.4 Multibeam Echosounder and Sub-bottom Profiler ................................................................................ 5
2.1.5 Proposed Exclusion Zones ..................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 NMFS PERMITS AND CONSERVATION DIVISION’S INCIDENTAL HARASSMENT AUTHORIZATION .................. 11
3 APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................................... 15
3.1 ASSESSMENT APPROACH APPLIED TO THIS CONSULTATION ............................................................................ 17
4 ACTION AREA ............................................................................................................................................... 19
5 STATUS OF LISTED RESOURCES ............................................................................................................. 20
5.1 SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT NOT CONSIDERED FURTHER ...................................................................... 20
5.2 SPECIES CONSIDERED FURTHER IN THIS OPINION .......................................................................................... 20
5.2.1 Blue whale ........................................................................................................................................... 21
5.3 FIN WHALE ..................................................................................................................................................... 25
5.4 HUMPBACK WHALE ........................................................................................................................................ 29
5.5 NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE ................................................................................................................... 33
5.6 SEI WHALE ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
5.7 SPERM WHALE ................................................................................................................................................ 40
5.8 GREEN SEA TURTLE ........................................................................................................................................ 46
5.9 KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE .......................................................................................................................... 52
5.10 LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE ...................................................................................................................... 57
5.11 LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE- NORTHWEST ATLANTIC DPS ........................................................................ 62
ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ............................................................................................................................ 70
5.12 CLIMATE CHANGE ..................................................................................................................................... 70
iii
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

5.13 HABITAT DEGRADATION............................................................................................................................ 74
5.14 DREDGING ................................................................................................................................................. 75
5.15 SEISMIC SURVEYS ...................................................................................................................................... 75
5.16 VESSEL TRAFFIC ........................................................................................................................................ 76
5.17 U.S. NAVY TRAINING AND TESTING ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................ 76
5.18 U.S. MARINE CORPS TRAINING IN THE CHERRY POINT RANGE COMPLEX ................................................. 78
5.19 ENTRAPMENT AND ENTANGLEMENT IN FISHING GEAR ............................................................................... 78
5.20 INVASIVE SPECIES ..................................................................................................................................... 82
5.21 DISEASES................................................................................................................................................... 83
5.22 WIND ENERGY ........................................................................................................................................... 83
5.23 ENTRAINMENT IN POWER PLANTS .............................................................................................................. 83
5.24 SHIP-STRIKES ............................................................................................................................................ 84
5.25 COMMERCIAL WHALING ............................................................................................................................ 86
5.26 SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................... 86
5.27 PHYSICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC FEATURES ............................................................................................. 97
5.28 IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ON LISTED SPECIES ........................................................... 99
6 EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTIONS .............................................................................................. 103
6.1 POTENTIAL STRESSORS ................................................................................................................................ 104
6.1.1 Pollution by Oil or Fuel Leakage ...................................................................................................... 104
6.1.2 Disturbance from Engine Noise ......................................................................................................... 104
6.1.3 Ship Strike .......................................................................................................................................... 104
6.1.4 Entanglement ..................................................................................................................................... 105
6.2 EXPOSURE ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................... 105
6.2.1 NSF Exposure Estimates .................................................................................................................... 106
6.2.2 NMFS Exposure Calculations ............................................................................................................ 107
6.3 RESPONSE ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................... 118
6.3.1 Potential Response of Marine Mammals to Acoustic Sources ........................................................... 118
6.3.2 Potential Responses of Sea Turtles to Acoustic Sources .................................................................... 130
iv
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

7 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ........................................................................................................................... 131
8 INTEGRATION AND SYNTHESIS OF EFFECTS ................................................................................... 131
9 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................... 133
10 INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT .......................................................................................................... 134
10.1 AMOUNT OR EXTENT OF TAKE ................................................................................................................ 134
10.2 EFFECT OF THE TAKE .............................................................................................................................. 135
10.3 REASONABLE AND PRUDENT MEASURES ................................................................................................ 136
10.4 TERMS AND CONDITIONS ........................................................................................................................ 136
11 CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................. 140
12 REINITIATION NOTICE ............................................................................................................................ 140
13 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................................................. 141

v
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

LIST OFF IGURES
Page
Figure 1. Proposed area for the marine seismic survey off New Jersey. ........................................ 4
Figure 2. Modelled distances for the four-airgun array at 4.5 meter tow depth in deep water. ...... 7
Figure 3. Modelled distances for the four-airgun array at six meter tow depth in deep water. ...... 8
Figure 4. Modelled distances for the 40 in3 mitigation gun at six meter tow depth in deep water. 9
Figure 5. Conceptual framework of how anthropogenic noise impacts individuals and how those
impacts may lead to fitness consequences. ................................................................................... 17
Figure 6. Proposed area for the marine seismic survey off New Jersey. ...................................... 19
Figure 7. A North Atlantic right whale entangled in fisheries gear off Florida, with Georgia
Department of Natural Resources and Coastwise Consulting staff attempting to cut rope off
(Credit: EcoHealth Alliance and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, ESA permit number
932-1905). ..................................................................................................................................... 80

vi
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

LIST OFT ABLES
Page
Table 1 Specifications of the four-airgun array to be used by the R/V Langseth during the
proposed seismic activities. ............................................................................................................ 5
Table 2 Sub-bottom profiler specifications of the R/V Langseth. .................................................. 6
Table 3. Predicted distances to which sound levels of 180, 166, and 160 dB re 1 μPa could be
rms
received from the four-airgun arrays as well as the 40 in3 airgun in water depths under 100 m. . 10
Table 4. Species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the action area that may
experience adverse effects as a result of the proposed actions. .................................................... 20
Table 5. Summary of past and present blue whale abundance. .................................................... 24
Table 6. Summary of past and present fin whale abundance. ....................................................... 28
Table 7. Summary of past and present humpback whale abundance. .......................................... 32
Table 8. Summary of past and present sei whale abundance. ....................................................... 40
Table 9. Summary of past and present sperm whale abundance. ................................................. 44
Table 10. Locations and most recent abundance estimates of threatened green sea turtles as
annual nesting females (AF). ........................................................................................................ 46
Table 11. Leatherback nesting population site location information where multiple-year surveys
were conducted or trends are known (data type, years surveyed, annual number (nests, females,
trend). Nesting population trend symbols: ▲ = increasing; ▼ = decreasing. .............................. 60
Table 12. Anticipated incidental take of ESA species within U.S. Navy East Coast Training
Range Complexes. ........................................................................................................................ 77
Table 13. Incidental take associated with U.S. Marine Corps training in the Cherry Point Range
Complex that is currently authorized. ........................................................................................... 78
Table 14. Estimated annual interactions between sea turtles and shrimp trawls in the Gulf of
Mexico shrimp fisheries associated estimated mortalities based on 2007 Gulf effort data taken
from Nance et al. (2008). .............................................................................................................. 81
Table 15. Blue whale takes in the North Atlantic. ........................................................................ 87
Table 16. Fin whale takes in the North Atlantic. .......................................................................... 88
Table 17. Humpback whale takes in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. ............................... 89
Table 18. North Atlantic right whale takes. .................................................................................. 90
Table 19. Sei whale takes in the North Atlantic. .......................................................................... 91
Table 20. Sperm whale takes in the North Atlantic. ..................................................................... 92
Table 21. Green sea turtle takes in the Atlantic Ocean. ................................................................ 93
Table 22. Kemp’s ridley sea turtle takes in the Atlantic Ocean. ................................................... 94
Table 23. Leatherback sea turtle takes in the North Atlantic Ocean. ........................................... 95
vii
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

Table 24. Loggerhead sea turtle takes in the North Atlantic Ocean. ............................................ 96
Table 25. Predicted distances for received sound levels. Distances are for water depths <100m.
Adapted from NSF Environmental Assessment 2014. ............................................................... 106
Table 26. Comparisons of the proposed take estimates calculated by the NMFS Permits and
Conservation Division, and the NMFS Interagency Cooperation Division for ESA-listed whales.
..................................................................................................................................................... 110
Table 27. Estimated exposure of ESA-listed whales to sound levels >160 dB re 1 μPa during
rms
the proposed seismic activities, based on a daily ensonified area of 1, 904 km2. ....................... 112
Table 28. Number of sea turtles sighted during summer AMAPPS aerial and vessel surveys
(2010-2013) and CETAP (1978-1982) surveys. ......................................................................... 114
Table 29: Observer data for sea turtles in statistical areas 612, 614, and 615 (2000-2014). ...... 115
Table 30. Estimated exposure of ESA-listed sea turtles to sound levels >166 dB re 1 μPa
rms
during the proposed seismic activities. ....................................................................................... 117
Table 31. Number of individual ESA-listed whales and sea turtles authorized for incidental take.
..................................................................................................................................................... 135

LIST OFA CRONYMS
AMAPPS-Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for IWC-International Whaling Commission
Protected Species
kHz-kilohertz
BOEM-Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
kg-kilogram
CETAP-Cetacean and Turtle Assessment Program
L-DEO-Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory
CFR-Code of Federal Regulations
MMPA-Marine Mammal Protection Act
CI-Confidence interval
ms-millisecond
CV-Coefficient of variation
NAO-North Atlantic oscillation
dB-decibel
NMFS-National Marine Fisheries Service
DDE-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene
NOAA-National Oceanic and Atmospheric
DDT-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane Administration
DPS-Distinct population segment NSF-National Science Foundation
EEZ-Exclusive economic zone PAM-Passive acoustic monitoring
ESA-Endangered Species Act PCB-Polychlorinated biphenyl
EZ-Exclusion zone PFOA-Perfluorooctanoic acid
HCB-Hexachlorobenzene PFOS-Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
HMS FMP-Highly migratory species fisheries PSVO-Protected species visual observer
management plan
PTS-Permanent threshold shift
Hz-Hertz
RMS-Root mean squared
IHA-Incidental harassment authorization
SEL-Sound exposure level
IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
viii
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

SERDP SDSS- Strategic Environmental Research
and Development Program Spatial Decision Support
System
TEWG-Turtle Expert Working Group
TTS-Temporary threshold shift
U.S.-United States
U.S.C.-United States Code
USFWS-United States Fish and Wildlife Service

ix
NSF seismic survey along New Jersey and NMFS IHA issuance PCTS FPR-2015-9109

1 INTRODUCTION
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each
federal agency insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency is not
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result in
the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of such species. When the action of a
federal agency “may affect” a listed species or critical habitat designated for it, that agency is
required to consult with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, depending upon the listed resources that may be affected. For the activities
described in this document, the Federal action agencies are the National Science Foundation
(NSF) and NMFS’ Permits and Conservation Division.
Two federal actions are considered in this biological opinion (Opinion). The first is the NSF’s
proposal to allow the use of its research vessel, Marcus G. Langseth (Langseth), which is
operated by the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO), to conduct a seismic survey off
the coast of New Jersey from June to August of 2015, in support of an NSF-funded collaborative
research project led by Rutgers University. The second is the NMFS’ Permits and Conservation
Division proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) authorizing non-lethal
“takes” by Level B harassment (as defined by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)) of
marine mammals incidental to the planned seismic survey, pursuant to section 101 (a)(5)(D) of
the MMPA, 16 U.S.C. § 1371 (a)(5)(D). The consulting agency is the NMFS’ Office of
Protected Resources, ESA Interagency Cooperation Division.
This document represents NMFS’s ESA Interagency Cooperation Division’s Opinion on the
effects of the two proposed federal actions on threatened and endangered species, and has been
prepared in accordance with section 7 of the ESA. This Opinion is based on information
provided in the:
• MMPA IHA application
• draft public notice of proposed IHA
• a draft environmental assessment prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act
• monitoring reports from similar activities
• published and unpublished scientific information on endangered and threatened species
and their surrogates
• scientific and commercial information such as reports from government agencies and the
peer-reviewed literature
• biological opinions on similar activities, and
• other sources of information.
1.1 Consultation History
On December 19, 2014, the NMFS’ ESA Interagency Cooperation Division received a request
for formal consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA from the NSF to incidentally harass
marine mammal and sea turtle species during the seismic survey; information was sufficient to
initiate consultation with the NSF on this date. On the same date, the NMFS’ Permits and
Conservation Division received an application from the L-DEO to incidentally harass marine
mammal species pursuant to the MMPA during the proposed seismic survey.
1