Marine Mammal Detection and Mitigation

Here we propose to develop and integrate both a novel Active/Passive Sonar System and a Mitigation Control and Management Module. Together these will comprise a complete Integrated Marine Mammal Mitigation System. The active/passive sonar system will bebased on a scaled version of the SURTASS Low Frequency Active Sonar System. It will utilize and leverage off technology developed for the LFA High Frequency Marine Mammal Mitigation Sonar System (HF/M3) and passive techniques developed by CornellUniversity and the Popeye System. The MMCM will be based on the Acoustic Integration Model developed by Marine Acoustics, Inc. The active/passive acoustic system will act as the primary detection method, while the MMCM will act to control theactive/passive system to optimize the detection of marine mammals for the given operation. The system design is based on recent research that indicates that no single system acting in a particular mode will be able to satisfy all mitigation requirements.The anticipated results of the Phase I research will be the preliminary design of the system. In Phase II we will build and test a first prototype.The anticipated benefits are a system that will optimize the probability of avoiding the harassment ofmarine mammals. This will allow both the Navy and Industry to continue to use the seas in compliance with marine mammal protection acts. The commercial potential is high as every ship might be required to either have, or somehow utilize, this system.