Recipient name: new england aquariumcooperative agreement number: G25AC00453PROJECT title: data analysis to quantify the fine-scale behavior and energy expenditureoverall project period: 09 12 2025…

Recipient name: new england aquariumcooperative agreement number: G25AC00453PROJECT title: data analysis to quantify the fine-scale behavior and energy expenditureoverall project period: 09 12 2025 - 09 11 2030AWARD purpose: dredging operations are frequently conducted along the U.S. Coastline to maintain navigation channels and extract high-quality sand for beach renourishment and shoreline resilience projects. These activities often overlap with the habitats of endangered and threatened sea turtles, raising concerns about accidental capture or harm. The U.S. Geological survey (USGS) is partnering with the new england aquarium to analyze behavioral data from sea turtles to better understand their movements and the risks they face from such operations. This project supports ongoing USGS research in the gulf of america and atlantic ocean that informs the bureau of ocean energy management (boem) and other federal agencies managing coastal resources. Activities to be performed: the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the gulf of america, alternate use projects, and coastal restoration projects utilizing OCS marine minerals will require the bureau of ocean energy management (boem) to produce information for a variety of nepa-related decision documents, as well as maintaining compliance with endangered species act (ESA). Kemp s ridleys (lepidochelys kempii) are included as an endangered species and loggerheads (caretta caretta) are threatened under the purview of the ESA. This project will allow boem to address information gaps as identified through nepa and ESA section 7 consultations. Deliverables and expected outcomes: deliverables will include summaries of data analyses for each recovered turtle ADL dataset, with figures and tables for final report and manuscript. Deliverables will also include submission of at least one manuscript, coauthored by USGS. The contractor will provide additional data analyses and be an active and engaged participant in writing up results of analyses for future reports and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at conferences and meetings during the option years of the agreement.intended beneficiary(IES): usgssubrecipient activities: none