Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies Final Report, Volume III: Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Studies

Marine mammal and sea turtle data were collected via shipboard surveys, aerial surveys, and passive acoustic monitoring to assess the distribution, abundance, and presence of marine mammal and sea turtle species in the study area. Ten of the 47 possible species to occur in the study area were detected visually and/or acoustically during the baseline study period. Detected species included five federally threatened or endangered species: North Atlantic right whale, fin whale, humpback whale, leatherback turtle, and loggerhead turtle. The minke whale, bottlenose dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, harbor porpoise, and harbor seal were also detected.