As a top priority, Cascadia Research provides government management agencies charged with reducing impacts on marine mammals our latest research results, as well as comments on proposed government actions based on ours and others research. We do this in several ways. In addition to publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at workshops and conferences, co-founder John Calambokidis currently serves on several advisory bodies including the Sanctuary Advisory Council of the Olympia Coast National Marine Sanctuary that provides advice to the sanctuary, the Pacific Cetacean Take Reduction Team that develops strategies to reduce incidental entanglement of cetaceans in drift gillnet fisheries along the US West Coast, and the Department Fisheries and Oceans humpback whale recovery team. Robin Baird currently serves on the NOAA Pacific Scientific Review Group, the Hawai‘i False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team, the Sanctuary Advisory Council for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and the Reserve Advisory Council for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Both John and Robin were also members of a Scientific Advisory Group for the U.S. Navy’s marine species monitoring program. A copy of the Group’s report to the Navy from May 2011 can be downloaded here.
Examples of some of our comments in response to draft Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and proposed rules are available below:
- Proposed mandatory time-area closures for spinner dolphins in Hawai‘i, December 2021. Download comments to NMFS
- Draft Recovery Plan and Recovery Plan Implementation Strategy for endangered main Hawaiian Islands false killer whales, December 2020. Download comments to NMFS and click on the following link for more information.
- Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for a seismic survey in Hawai‘i, July 2018. Download comments to NMFS and click on the following link to get more information on this survey.
- NOAA Fisheries proposed critical habitat for main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whales, December 2017 Download comment to NMFS and click on the following link for a copy of the proposed rule or copies of the biological report
- U.S. Navy draft Hawai‘i-Southern California Training and Testing EIS, December 2017 Download comments to the Navy
- U.S. Air Force planned weapons system evaluation program off Kaua‘i, May 2017 Download comments to NMFS
- Hawai‘i longline fishery environmental assessment, April 2017 Download comments to NMFS
- U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Long Range Strike WESP in Hawai‘i, February 2017 Download comments to NMFS
- Proposed rule for protection of spinner dolphins in Hawai’i, October 2016 Download comments to NMFS
- NMFS “negligible impact determination” for false killer whales in the Hawai‘i longline fishery, July 2014. Download comments to NMFS
- NMFS draft 2013 Stock Assessment Reports for Hawaiian cetaceans, February 2014 . Download comments to NMFS
- NMFS notice of intent to prepare a Recovery Plan for main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whales, November 2013. Download comments to NMFS
- The U.S. Navy’s final EIS for the Hawai‘i-Southern California Training and Testing study area, October 2013. Download comments to the Navy
- NMFS proposed authorization of Navy training and testing activities in Hawai‘i-Southern California Training and Testing study area, March 2013 Download comments to the California Coastal Commission and to NMFS in relation to Hawai‘i
- NMFS proposed listing of Hawaiian insular false killer whales as Endangered, October 2012. Download comments
- NMFS proposed renewal of the Navy’s Letter of Authorization for activities in the Hawai‘i Range Complex, December 2011 Download comments – click on the following links for a copy of the Navy’s renewal application and the NMFS Federal Register notice
- NMFS draft 2011 Stock Assessment Reports for Hawaiian odontocetes, November 2011. Download comments
- NMFS proposed changes to the 2012 List of Fisheries for the Hawai‘i trolling and hook and line fisheries, July 2011. Download comments – for a copy of the proposed 2012 List of Fisheries go to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources
- NMFS proposed special permit to allow a drifting aquaculture operation off the island of Hawai‘i, March 2011. Download comments – For information on the project see the draft Environmental Assessment at the NMFS Pacific Island Regional Office web site
- NMFS proposed listing of Hawaiian insular false killer whales as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, February 2011. Download comments
- NMFS proposed changes to the stock assessment reports for Hawaiian odontocetes, November 2010. Download comments
- Management Plan Review of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and whether additional species should be added to the Sanctuary, October 2010. Download comments
- NMFS assessment of whether the insular stock of false killer whales in Hawai‘i should be listed under the Endangered Species Act, February 2010. Download comments
- NMFS proposed changes to the Hawai‘i stock assessment report for false killer whales, September 2009. Download comments
- U.S. Navy’s draft EIS for expanded operations in the Northwest Training Range Complex, March 2009. Download comments
- NMFS draft supplemental environmental impact statement regarding changing regulations of the Hawai’i long-line fishery for swordfish, in terms of implications for impacts on false killer whales in Hawai‘i, October 2008. Download comments
- NMFS proposed changes to the Hawai‘i stock assessment report for false killer whales, October 2008. Download comments
- U.S. Navy’s programmatic environmental assessment/overseas environmental assessment for undersea warfare exercise within the Hawai’i Range Complex, September 2007. Download comments
- U.S. Navy’s draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement for the Hawai’i Range Complex, September 2007. Download comments
- U.S. Navy’s scoping process for the Hawai’i Range Complex environmental impact statement process, October 2006. Download comments
- U.S. Navy’s request for an Incidental Harassment Authorization for RIMPAC Hawai’i exercise, May 2006. Download comments
We will continue to add to this list as more comments are submitted.
A Cuvier’s beaked whale, one of the species most influenced by Navy mid-frequency active sonar.