AFSC/NMML: Known human-caused marine mammal injury and mortalities from 2007 to present

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required under the MMPA to estimate the annual human-caused mortality and serious injury of marine mammal stocks by source. Data from documented interactions between humans and Alaska pinnipeds and cetaceans under the jurisdiction of the NMFS are compiled in this data set and details regarding each human/marine mammal interaction are reviewed for evidence of human-caused injury or mortality. Criteria are applied in order to assign injuries to categories and determine the severity (serious or non-serious). Injury determination details regarding the injury source, type, and severity are included, along with the injury category and criteria supporting the determination. Mortality and injury values are assigned (0, 1, or prorated) to each event for comparison with the calculated Potential Biological Removal levels for each stock.

This data set is used to compile data from multiple sources and formats into a single format that can be queried to obtain serious injury and mortality information on NMFS managed Alaska marine mammals.

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The following FGDC sections are not currently supported in InPort, but were preserved and will be included in the FGDC export:

- Taxonomy (FGDC:taxonomy)

Data is confidential and so not accessible.

For scientific, management, and regulation compliance purposes, all data collected by observers are confidential under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; as amended, Public Law 109-479; 16 U.S.C. 1853; implemented at 50 CFR 679.50. Therefore unprocessed (raw) data can be shared only with authorized persons; however aggregated forms of the data are generally available.

The user must adhere to restrictions placed on publication of data by the Magnuson-Stevens Act as amended in 2006.

Access

A portion of the data set is obtained through opportunistic sightings rather than dedicated surveys. It is likely that injuries and mortalities reported in the data set are a minimum count, rather than full accounting of human-caused marine mammal injuries and mortalities to marine mammal stocks reviewed in the Alaska stock assessments. Repeat sightings of injured animals also occur, and though, through photographic and other review, we attempt to combine multiple sightings of an individual injured animal into a single record we cannot be certain that all records represent unique animals not already included in the data set.

Entries into the Access database are cross-referenced with the primary injury / mortality data to ensure data consistency.

Human-marine mammal interaction records provided by multiple sources from 2007 to present are initially reviewed for evidence of human-caused injury or mortality to the marine mammal(s) involved in the interaction. Multiple records documenting a single human-related injury or mortality are identified, when possible, and the relevant information from each source is consolidated into a single record. Follow-up information for a previously documented event, from additional sightings of an injured animal or reports from carefully coordinated intervention attempts (e.g., disentanglement teams) of an injured animal, is added to the existing record. A separate record is added for any calves or pups of injured animals, and the offspring are assessed as unique, but associated, events. Of those records initially reviewed, records which are deemed to potentially document a human-caused injury or mortality to the marine mammal are added to this data set. Data are acquired primarily from databases and archives maintained by NMFS Alaska Regional Office, the Northwest Regional Office, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, The Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG). Data are entered and compiled into a single Microsoft Access database for review. All available documentation (e.g., written and verbal reports, images, resight information) are considered to assess human interactions, make injury determinations, and attribute injuries and mortalities to a source.

Confidential data.

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.