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Interactive Marine Mammal Communications

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Navy 		Award ID:
82530 		Program Year/Program:
2008 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
N071-024-0483 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Sonalysts, Inc.
215 Parkway North P.O. Box 280 Waterford, CT -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2008
Title: Interactive Marine Mammal Communications
Agency / Branch: DOD / NAVY
Contract: N68335-08-C-0128
Award Amount: $500,000.00
 

Abstract:

A series of whale strandings have been correlated to the operation of naval medium-frequency active sonars. The goal of the Sonalysts and WhaleAcoustics research is to determine how to protect marine mammals, particularly beaked whales, while allowing the Navy to conduct sonar training. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) makes it harder to study the problem. We propose to analyze passively recorded data gathered by High-Frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) placed at 300 m and 1000 m depth at the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE). These types of continuous broadband recordings have been shown to include the pings of active sonars and communicative calls produced by identifiable species of cetaceans. Correlating the occurrence of these sounds with possible changes in the animal's acoustic communication calls and travel directions will provide insights on methods for beaked whale detection, abundance in SCORE, as well as how to safely clear an exercise area of cetaceans. The result of these analyses could impact future Environmental Impact Statements filed by the Navy with the National Marine Fisheries Service for sonar test ranges and could be brought into court in the continuing legal challenges to the use of Navy sonar under the MMPA.

Principal Investigator:

Margaret Bailey
Principal Investigator
8603263621
bailey_m@sonalysts.com

Business Contact:

Jean Miceli
Contracting Officer
8603263787
jmiceli@sonalysts.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

SONALYSTS, INC.
215 Parkway North P.O. Box 280 Waterford, CT 06385

EIN/Tax ID: 060902362
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No