Standardizing Protected Species Data g pCollection for Ocean Renewable

Energy Projects

Kyle Baker

Protected Resources DivisionSoutheast Regional Office

Overview of Presentation

• Overview of potential impactsp p

• Drivers for data collection

• Types of Data Collection

• Data Program Elements and Standards

• Summary

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Protected Species: ESA and MMPA

marine mammalssea turtlessmalltooth sawfishsturgeonsalmonelkhorn and staghorn coralsJohnson’s seagrasscritical habitats

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Impacts from Ocean Renewable Energygy

Pilot ProjectsSurveyingC t tiConstructionOperationDecommissioningDecommissioning

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Ocean Renewable EnergyCradle to Grave Data Collection

License Conditions

Academic

Fed/State Research

Construction Operation Decommissioning

Adaptive ManagementIndustry Studies

Academic Research

Baseline Data

CollectionBaseline

ESA/MMPA/OCSLA data collection

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data collection, monitoring, reporting

Potential Stressors on Protected Species

Lethal and non-lethal impacts may include:

contact with turbinesimpingement and entanglementnoise from surveying construction and operationnoise from surveying, construction, and operationelectromagnetic fieldsexplosive removal of structures

Scientific uncertainty associated with new technologies and new ocean regions associated with both direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts.

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Drivers

Endangered Species Act (ESA): The ESA prohibits the “take” of endangered or threatened species. Section 7 of the ESA requires Federal agencies to consult with NOAA to insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agencies is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or adversely modify or destroy designated critical habitat.

Federal projects and permits (e.g., BOEM, ACOE, FERC, and NMFS).ESA often requires monitoring and reporting conditions

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Drivers

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA): It is generally illegal to “take” a marine mammal without prior authorization from NOAA.

In the event that any aspect of a proposed energy activity will result in a “take” of a marine mammal, the project applicant, or the lead permitting agency would be required to obtain an incidental take authorization in advance from NOAA.

MMPA permits usually pertain to effects from underwater noise and require monitoring and reporting conditions.

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Potential Impacts Resulting from Noise and Other Stressors

Injury or mortality

B h i l d S ti lBehavioral and Spatial• Avoidance, migration corridors,

feeding, calving areas

Habitat Impacts• Construction impacts to benthic

features and water qualityfeatures and water quality• Changes to current and tidal flow• Physical changes

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Critical Habitats

Roles of Observers

Implement mitigation measures Monitor for protected species:Monitor for protected species:

• Presence• Injuryj y• Behavior

Collect data on environment and actionsS b iSubmit reports

E.g., commercial fisheries, hopper dredging, rig removals,

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E.g., commercial fisheries, hopper dredging, rig removals, pile driving, seismic surveys

PSO Data Program

NOAA Fisheries Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEM) recently

d t d ti l i b b d dconducted a national review observer programs by recommended a PSO Program be established for seismic surveys. National standards in recommended for the PSO Program include:

Establish a PSO ProgramData Collection StandardsPSO QualificationsTraining ProgramNational Database

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National Database

National PSO Standards: Main Components

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Five Main Componentsp

A. Program Management (Roles of Players)A. Program Management (Roles of Players)

B. Data Collection Standards

C. PSO Qualifications

D. PSO Training Program

E. National Database(s)

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E. National Database(s)

A. PSO Data Program Management: Roles of PlayersManagement: Roles of Players

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B. Data Collection Standards

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PSO Qualifications

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NOAA Training Program

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Create and Maintain a Database

Activity Data Public Portal

Mitigation Effectiveness

Sightings Data

STA National PSO I O

Adaptive Management

g g

Ocean Data

AN

DA

RD

Database

INPU

TS

OU

TPUT Analysis

Reports and

Cumulative Effects

Ocean DataDS

National A ti

S TS Tools Reports and Literature

PCAD

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Acoustic Data Acoustics Database

Model

Database Management

Funding

Maintenance

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Data Sharing

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Population Consequences of Acoustic Disturbance (PCAD)( )

1

SOUNDFrequencyDuration BEHAVIOR

1

+

2

+1

LevelSource Duty cycle

CHANGEOrientationBreathingVocalization VITAL

LIFE FUNCTION AFFECTED

3

4

0

+

+++

POPULATION EFFECT

Pop growth rate

DivingRestingMom/calf

spatial rel

RATESStage specificSurvivalMaturation

SurvivalMigrationFeedingBreathing

+++

Pop growth ratePop structureTransient dynamicsSensitivityElasticity

spatial rel.Avoidance

MaturationReproduction

BreathingNurturingPredator response

+++

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ElasticityExtinction probability

+

+

Summary: Science and ManagementSummary: Science and ManagementStandardized data collection and quality assurance measures will allow for more rigorous analysis of renewable ocean energy effects on protected species from observations in the field. Quality PSO data will contribute to:

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Summary: Benefits

• Standard data collection methods

• Develop data quality standardsDevelop data quality standards

• Independent data collection, integrity

• I l t PSO li ibilit t d d• Implement PSO eligibility standards

• Provide expectations to industry

• Infrastructure to deal with adaptive management needs and new issues

• M h i t di i t i f ti t t k h ld

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• Mechanism to disseminate information to stakeholders

Acknowledgements

Protected Species Observer Working GroupNMFS: Howard Goldstein, Teresa Turk, Gregg Gitschlag, , , gg g,Brad SmithBOEM: Deborah Epperson, Kimberly Skrupky, Jill Lewandowski

PSOs for their unfettered input, field experiences, and feedback on the program.

Oth i NMFS BOEM d i i i d t f th iOthers in NMFS, BOEM, and seismic industry for their perspectives on PSO program needs.

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Thanks!Thanks!

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