17940 AFSC/NMML: North Pacific Right Whale Photo-ID Catalog Data Set Published / External 23107 Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program Project In Work The eastern population of the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is the most endangered stock of whales in the world, with recent abundance estimates indicating a population size of approximately 30 animals. Photo-identification of the naturally occurring callosity patterns on the chin, rostrum, lips and post blowhole, and the lip and fluke trailing edge crenulations together represent a nonintrusive technique for obtaining information on their life history parameters, distribution and movements, stock structure, health assessment, and population size. As part of a study funded by the Minerals Management Service and North Pacific Research Board, a North Pacific right whale photo-identification catalog has been established using sighting data recorded since the late 1970s by various dedicated surveys and opportunistic sighting platforms. Date, time, position, photographer, picture quality and notes are documented for each of the approximately 1,780 photographs in the catalog. Within the catalog, there are 18 individual animals with both a high-quality left and right side oblique photograph or a high-quality aerial photograph of the head and dorsal surface; this should be considered the conservative minimum number of individuals catalogued. There are nine other animals with a high quality left or right oblique photograph, but not both. There are eight additional animals with the full suite of required photographs, but the images are of poor quality and cannot be reliably matched. Seven individuals were seen between years (over a period of 11 years), and one of those whales was seen in five separate years within that same period. Data from this catalog have been used to calculate the first abundance estimates for the population. Additionally, the first known match between high and low latitudes (the Bering Sea and Hawaii) was discovered in the catalog. Tracking the within- and between-year sighting histories of photo-identified individuals over decades broadens our knowledge of how these animals use their habitat, and can significantly assist the conservation and management of the species. This is a catalog of all North Pacific right whale callosities and flukes that have been documented over the years by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, SWFSC, and opportunistic photographers. It will be used to look at life history, habitat use and movements of right whales in the North Pacific. Loaded by batch 4217, 01-29-2013 14:16 Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category biota Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category oceans Theme distribution Theme photo-identification Spatial Bering Sea Spatial North Pacific Ocean National Marine Mammal Laboratory Seattle WA United States Data Set As Needed Table (digital) NA Vessel (Ship) NA Data Steward 2007 Person Kennedy, Amy amy.kennedy@noaa.gov Distributor 2013-01-29 Person Kennedy, Amy amy.kennedy@noaa.gov Metadata Contact 2015 Person Waite, Janice janice.waite@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way, NE Seattle WA 98115-6349 206-526-6554 Originator 2013-01-29 Organization Alaska Fisheries Science Center AFSC afsc.webmaster@noaa.gov https://ror.org/01h7fye62 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4 Seattle WA 98115 USA (206) 526-4000 (206) 526-4004 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/alaska-fisheries-science-center AKFSC Home Page Online Resource 0700-1700 Pacific Time Point of Contact 2013-01-29 Person Clapham, Phillip phillip.clapham@noaa.gov Ground Condition -178.5 -101.5 72.5 17.5 North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea Range 1979 2012 Unclassified Data are not yet available. Data are not yet available. User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/AFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/ Not available Data files are not currently available. The data set is in the process of being archived with the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Once the archival process is complete and verified, the set will be publicly available through NCEI. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00539.x/full Online Resource Kennedy et al. 2012. First high- to low-latitude match of an eastern North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica). Marine Mammal Science 28:539-544. http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/06/22/rsbl.2010.0477.short Online Resource Wade et al. 2010. The worlds smallest whale? Biol. Lett. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0477 http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v13/n2/p99-109/ Online Resource Wade et al. 2011. Rare detections of North Pacific right whales in the Gulf of Alaska, with observations of their potential prey. Endangered Species Research. Vol. 13: 99–109. Not applicable. All images were analyzed by marine mammal observers with extensive humpback/right whale photographic identification experience. Images were coded by quality (based on focus, whale angle, and lighting). All right whale matches were confirmed by two or more observers. No 0 No Yes Unknown NCEI-MD Unknown IT Security and Contingency Plan for the system establishes procedures and applies to the functions, operations, and resources necessary to recover and restore data as hosted in the Western Regional Support Center in Seattle, Washington, following a disruption. NA gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:17940 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2013-01-29T14:16:01 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-03-04T19:17:17 2018-11-27 Alaska Fisheries Science Center AFSC 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Building 4 Seattle WA 98115 USA https://www.afsc.noaa.gov 0700-1700 Pacific Time 1001 Public No No 2018-11-27 1 Year 2019-11-27 none whale Kingdom Animalia Genus Eubalaena Species japonica North Pacific right whale