The Navy implements protective measures to reduce or avoid potential effects on marine species, including:

• Posting qualified Lookouts to visually observe the area for federally protected marine species prior to and during activities
• Establishing mitigation zones for marine species and sensitive habitats, such as coral reefs
• Implementing geographic and temporal mitigation measures to restrict some types of training and testing activities during certain times of the year and in specific geographic locations
• Powering down or shutting down active sonar if marine mammals or sea turtles are observed within the mitigation zone
• Exercising caution while transiting to avoid collisions with marine mammals and sea turtles

Please see the project fact sheet booklet for more information about the Navy’s marine protective measures while training at sea.

Since 2009, the Navy has been implementing seasonal mitigation within certain established areas of the Hawaii Range Complex for certain activities. One of these areas was identified as an area with high humpback whale density from December 15 through April 15. However, since humpback whales often arrive in the fall, the Navy proposes to extend the seasonal mitigation from November 15 through April 15.

This seasonal mitigation area was developed in coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service through previous consultations as a means to further reduce the potential for impacts on the humpback whale during calving season and is designated as the Humpback Whale Cautionary Area. The Navy also proposes to expand the size of the Humpback Whale Cautionary Area to provide additional protection for humpback whales.
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