Marine Mammals and Biology Program

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Marine Mammals and Biology (MMB) program supports basic and applied research and technology development related to understanding the effects of sound on marine mammals, including physiological, behavioral, ecological effects and population-level effects. Our current program topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Monitoring & Detection 
2. Integrated Ecosystem Research (including Sensor & Tag Development)
3. Effects of sound on marine life: Hearing | Behavioral Response Studies | Physiology (Diving & Stress) | Population Consequences of Acoustic Disturbance (PCAD)
4. Models & Databases for Environmental Compliance 

Important: If you submit any documents to the MMB by email, ONR's web-based online document submission system or Grants.gov, you will receive a confirmation email from a program representative. If you do NOT receive a confirmation email, contact the MMB point of contact to verify receipt.

Key Submission Dates:

• Pre-proposals: Due March 31, 2012
• Invitation full proposal: June-July 2012
• Full proposals due: End of August 2012 (unless otherwise negotiated) 
• Funding Date: Oct. 1, 2012 - March 2012, and after beginning of fiscal year 2012

ONR sponsored a workshop on Nov. 4-5, 2009 in Arlington, Va., with a report titled "Effects of Stress on Marine Mammals Exposed to Sound." The purpose of this workshop was to assemble a cross-section of researchers in the field of stress physiology and behavioral research to identify the state-of-the-art science in stress physiology as it may apply to marine mammals, identify research needs for marine mammal stress-related research, and evaluate available or developing technologies for measuring indicators of stress ultimately in free-ranging marine mammals.

A report titled "Addressing the Effects of Human-Generated Sound on Marine Life: An Integrated Research Plan for U.S. Federal Agencies" was developed in response to an executive agency's request for a focused, coordinated federal science and technology plan from the National Science and Technology Council's Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST).