Search Help Show/Hide Menu
Metadata Rubric
100%
6 / 6
View Report
PIFSC Metadata Library > PIFSC Protected Species Division (PSD) Metadata... > PSD Cetacean Research Program (CRP) Metadata Po... > Cetaceans - Shipboard Surveys > Shipboard Cetacean Surveys- Visual Surveys- Win... >

WinCruz Sighting Records

Entity (ENT)  |  Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:56128  |  Updated: May 26, 2026  |  Published / External 
Summary
Item Identification
Keywords
Physical Location
Entity Info
Data Attributes
Support Roles
Extents
Access Info
Distribution Info
Catalog Details

Summary

Abstract

Detailed information about each cetacean sighting from shipboard surveys.

Description

This spreadsheet contains details about each sighting recorded during shipboard surveys conducted by PIFSC.

Entity Information

Entity Type
Spreadsheet

Data Attribute / Type Description
Line
numeric 		number of the data record
CruiseID
alphanumeric 		A combination of the cruise year (YYYY), cruise name (text), and cruise number assigned by the PIFSC (includes ship code, year (YY), and cruise number (##; incremented through the year)
Ship
TEXT 		Name of the ship.
Leg
TEXT 		If applicable (when there is more than 1 leg of a cruise). Otherwise n/a
SurveyID
text 		The survey's identification number composed of a ship survey code and number (incremented from 1)
Date
date/time 		Date (local)
WinCruz
text 		The WinCruz sighting number. The sighting number incremented throughout the survey effort. Multispecies sightings have the same sighting number but each species is assigned a letter (e.g. a, b, c) and details are listed on a separate row.
DailySighting
TEXT 		the sighting number on a particular day (starts at 1 each day and increments throughout the day)
SpeciesCode
number 		Three number code assigned to each specific species
Species
text 		Genus and species name
CommonName
text 		The common name of the species
EffortType
text 		Did the sighting occur when the survey effort was systematic (S), non-systematic (N), fine-scale (F), or off (O)
Cue
text 		The event/object that was the cue for the sighting.
MixedSpecies
TEXT 		Were there mutiple species present and interacting during the sighting? Yes, No, or Unk
TimeBegin
date/time 		Time (local) of the start of the sighting.
EEZ
text 		Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where the sighting was located (Hawaii, Guam/CNMI, American Samoa, Johnston, Wake, Palmyra/Kingman, High Seas, West Coast
Region
text 		PIFSC-defined region within the EEZ
ShipBeginLat
number 		Latitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = North, - = South)
ShipBeginLong
number 		Longitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = East, - = West)
TotalBest
text 		Group size estimate (best). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
TotalHigh
text 		Group size estimate (maximum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
TotalLow
text 		Group size estimate (minimum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
Behavior
text 		Comma-separated list of behaviors observed. n/a if no behaviors observed or recorded
TotalPhotos
number 		Total number of photos taken during sighting and includes those taken from the ship and the small boat if it was launched.
ShipBiopsySamples
number 		Number of biopsy samples collected from the ship
SmallBoatLaunch
TEXT 		Yes or No - was the small boat launched during the encounter?
SmallBoatBiopsySamples
numeric 		the number of biopsy samples collected when the small boat was launched.
Permit
text 		NMFS permit number under which data were collected

Data Access & Downloads

Access Constraints:

None

Use Constraints:

The user is responsible for the results of any application of these data.

The NMFS permit number (listed within the dataset) under which the data were collected must be listed in any publications and/or other representations of these data.

Acknowledgement of NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Cetacean Research Program, as the source from which these data were obtained, in any publications and/or other representations of these data is requested.

Child Items

No Child Items for this record.

Contact Information

Metadata Contact
Marie C Hill
marie.c.hill@noaa.gov
(808)725-5710

Extents

Time Frame 1
2006 - Present

The PIFSC CRP began conducting ship-based cetacean surveys in 2006. See specific surveys for details on time frames.

Item Identification

Title: WinCruz Sighting Records
Status: In Work
Abstract:

Detailed information about each cetacean sighting from shipboard surveys.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Cetaceans
None Shipboard Surveys
None WinCruz Sightings

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None American Samoa EEZ
None Guam and CNMI EEZ
None Hawaii EEZ
None High Seas
None Johnston EEZ
None Pacific Islands Region
None Palmyra and Kingman EEZ
None Wake EEZ

Physical Location

Organization: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
City: Honolulu
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Location Description:

IRC

1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176

Honolulu, HI 96818

Entity Information

Entity Type: Spreadsheet
Active Version?: Yes
Description:

This spreadsheet contains details about each sighting recorded during shipboard surveys conducted by PIFSC.

Data Attributes

Attribute Summary

Rubric Score Primary Key? Name Type Description
100
 Line numeric number of the data record
100
 CruiseID alphanumeric A combination of the cruise year (YYYY), cruise name (text), and cruise number assigned by the PIFSC (includes ship code, year (YY), and cruise number (##; incremented through the year)
100
 Ship TEXT Name of the ship.
100
 Leg TEXT If applicable (when there is more than 1 leg of a cruise). Otherwise n/a
100
 SurveyID text The survey's identification number composed of a ship survey code and number (incremented from 1)
100
 Date date/time Date (local)
100
 WinCruz text The WinCruz sighting number. The sighting number incremented throughout the survey effort. Multispecies sightings have the same sighting number but each species is assigned a letter (e.g. a, b, c) and details are listed on a separate row.
100
 DailySighting TEXT the sighting number on a particular day (starts at 1 each day and increments throughout the day)
100
 SpeciesCode number Three number code assigned to each specific species
100
 Species text Genus and species name
100
 CommonName text The common name of the species
100
 EffortType text Did the sighting occur when the survey effort was systematic (S), non-systematic (N), fine-scale (F), or off (O)
100
 Cue text The event/object that was the cue for the sighting.
100
 MixedSpecies TEXT Were there mutiple species present and interacting during the sighting? Yes, No, or Unk
100
 TimeBegin date/time Time (local) of the start of the sighting.
100
 EEZ text Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where the sighting was located (Hawaii, Guam/CNMI, American Samoa, Johnston, Wake, Palmyra/Kingman, High Seas, West Coast
100
 Region text PIFSC-defined region within the EEZ
100
 ShipBeginLat number Latitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = North, - = South)
100
 ShipBeginLong number Longitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = East, - = West)
100
 TotalBest text Group size estimate (best). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
100
 TotalHigh text Group size estimate (maximum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
100
 TotalLow text Group size estimate (minimum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.
100
 Behavior text Comma-separated list of behaviors observed. n/a if no behaviors observed or recorded
100
 TotalPhotos number Total number of photos taken during sighting and includes those taken from the ship and the small boat if it was launched.
100
 ShipBiopsySamples number Number of biopsy samples collected from the ship
100
 SmallBoatLaunch TEXT Yes or No - was the small boat launched during the encounter?
100
 SmallBoatBiopsySamples numeric the number of biopsy samples collected when the small boat was launched.
100
 Permit text NMFS permit number under which data were collected

Attribute Details

Line

CC ID: 841926
Seq. Order: 1
Data Storage Type: numeric
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

number of the data record

CruiseID

CC ID: 837186
Seq. Order: 2
Data Storage Type: alphanumeric
Max Length: 255
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

A combination of the cruise year (YYYY), cruise name (text), and cruise number assigned by the PIFSC (includes ship code, year (YY), and cruise number (##; incremented through the year)

Ship

CC ID: 837187
Seq. Order: 3
Data Storage Type: TEXT
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Name of the ship.

Leg

CC ID: 837188
Seq. Order: 4
Data Storage Type: TEXT
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

If applicable (when there is more than 1 leg of a cruise). Otherwise n/a

SurveyID

CC ID: 836931
Seq. Order: 5
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 11
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The survey's identification number composed of a ship survey code and number (incremented from 1)
Display Example: OES1502_01

Date

CC ID: 836904
Seq. Order: 6
Data Storage Type: date/time
Max Length: 10
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Date (local)
Display Example: MM/DD/YYYY

WinCruz

CC ID: 836925
Seq. Order: 7
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 4
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The WinCruz sighting number. The sighting number incremented throughout the survey effort. Multispecies sightings have the same sighting number but each species is assigned a letter (e.g. a, b, c) and details are listed on a separate row.

DailySighting

CC ID: 837806
Seq. Order: 8
Data Storage Type: TEXT
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

the sighting number on a particular day (starts at 1 each day and increments throughout the day)

SpeciesCode

CC ID: 836926
Seq. Order: 9
Data Storage Type: number
Max Length: 3
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Three number code assigned to each specific species
Allowed Values: 002=Pantropical spotted dolphin(Stenella attenuata),003=Unid. Spinner dolphin subspecies(Stenella longirostris subsp.),013=Striped dolphin(Stenella coeruleoalba),015=Rough-toothed dolphin(Steno bredanensis),016=Long-beaked common dolphin(Delphinus capensis),017=Short-beaked common dolphin(Delphinus delphis),018=Bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncatus),021=Risso's dolphin(Grampus griseus),026=Fraser's dolphin(Lagenodelphis hosei),031=Melon-headed whale(Peponocephala electra),032=Pygmy killer whale(Feresa attenuata),033=False killer whale(Pseudorca crassidens),036=Short-finned pilot whale(Globicephala macrorhynchus),037=Killer whale(Orcinus orca),046=Sperm whale(Physeter macrocephalus),047=Pygmy sperm whale(Kogia breviceps),048=Dwarf sperm whale(Kogia sima),049=Unid. Beaked whale(Unid. Beaked whale),051=Mesoplodon beaked whale(Mesoplodon sp.),057=Ginko-toothed beaked whale(Mesoplodon ginkodens),059=Blainville's beaked whale(Mesoplodon densirostris),061=Cuvier's beaked whale(Ziphius cavirostris),063=Baird's beaked whale(Berardius bairdii),065=Longman's beaked whale(Indopacetus pacificus),066=North Pacific right whale(Eubalaena japonica),070=Unid. Rorqual(Unid. Rorqual),071=Minke whale(Balaenoptera acutorostrata),072=Bryde's whale(Balaenoptera edeni),073=Sei whale(Balaenoptera borealis),074=Fin whale(Balaenoptera physalus),075=Blue whale(Balaenoptera musculus),076=Humpback whale(Megaptera novaeangliae),077=Unid. Dolphin(Unid. Dolphin),078=Unid. small whale(Unid. small whale),079=Unid. large whale(Unid. large whale),080=Pygmy/dwarf sperm whale(Kogia sp.),096=Unid. Cetacean(Unid. Cetacean),098=Unid. Whale(Unid. Whale),099=Sei/Bryde's whale(B. borealis/edeni),102=Spinner dolphin(Stenella longirostris),105=Indo-Pacific bottlenose(Tursiops aduncas),177=Unid. small delphinid(Unid. small delphinid),277=Unid. medium delphinid(Unid. medium delphinid),377=Unid. large delphinid(Unid. large delphinid),CC=Loggerhead Sea turtle(Caretta Caretta),CM=Green sea turtle(Chelonia mydas),DC=Leatherback sea turtle(Dermochelys coriacea),EI=Hawksbill sea turtle(Eretmochelys imbricata),MS=Hawaiian monk seal(Monachus schauinslandi)

Species

CC ID: 836928
Seq. Order: 10
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 255
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Genus and species name

CommonName

CC ID: 836927
Seq. Order: 11
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 255
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The common name of the species

EffortType

CC ID: 836905
Seq. Order: 12
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 3
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Did the sighting occur when the survey effort was systematic (S), non-systematic (N), fine-scale (F), or off (O)
Allowed Values: ON, OFF

Cue

CC ID: 836903
Seq. Order: 13
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 255
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

The event/object that was the cue for the sighting.
Allowed Values: Birds, Splash, Marine Mammal Body, Ship, Other, Blow, Other Research Vessel, Fishing Vessel, Tour Boat, Splash/Blow/Fin, Unknown

MixedSpecies

CC ID: 837805
Seq. Order: 14
Data Storage Type: TEXT
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Were there mutiple species present and interacting during the sighting? Yes, No, or Unk

TimeBegin

CC ID: 836937
Seq. Order: 15
Data Storage Type: date/time
Max Length: 5
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Time (local) of the start of the sighting.
Display Example: HH:MM

EEZ

CC ID: 837089
Seq. Order: 16
Data Storage Type: text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where the sighting was located (Hawaii, Guam/CNMI, American Samoa, Johnston, Wake, Palmyra/Kingman, High Seas, West Coast

Region

CC ID: 841966
Seq. Order: 17
Data Storage Type: text
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

PIFSC-defined region within the EEZ

ShipBeginLat

CC ID: 836882
Seq. Order: 18
Data Storage Type: number
Max Length: 9
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Precision: 7
Status: Active
Description:

Latitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = North, - = South)

ShipBeginLong

CC ID: 836883
Seq. Order: 19
Data Storage Type: number
Max Length: 10
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Precision: 8
Status: Active
Description:

Longitude of the ship at the beginning of the sighting (+ = East, - = West)

TotalBest

CC ID: 836939
Seq. Order: 20
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 5
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Group size estimate (best). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.

TotalHigh

CC ID: 836940
Seq. Order: 21
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 5
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Group size estimate (maximum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.

TotalLow

CC ID: 836941
Seq. Order: 22
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 5
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Group size estimate (minimum). If no estimate was made "n/a" entered.

Behavior

CC ID: 836885
Seq. Order: 23
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 255
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Comma-separated list of behaviors observed. n/a if no behaviors observed or recorded

TotalPhotos

CC ID: 836958
Seq. Order: 24
Data Storage Type: number
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Total number of photos taken during sighting and includes those taken from the ship and the small boat if it was launched.

ShipBiopsySamples

CC ID: 836890
Seq. Order: 25
Data Storage Type: number
Max Length: 3
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Number of biopsy samples collected from the ship

SmallBoatLaunch

CC ID: 837803
Seq. Order: 26
Data Storage Type: TEXT
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

Yes or No - was the small boat launched during the encounter?

SmallBoatBiopsySamples

CC ID: 837804
Seq. Order: 27
Data Storage Type: numeric
Required: No
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

the number of biopsy samples collected when the small boat was launched.

Permit

CC ID: 836917
Seq. Order: 28
Data Storage Type: text
Max Length: 25
Required: Yes
Primary Key: No
Status: Active
Description:

NMFS permit number under which data were collected

Support Roles

Distributor

CC ID: 839312
Date Effective From: 2019
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
ROR: https://ror.org/02apffz65
Email Address: pifsc.info@noaa.gov
Phone: 808-725-5360
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 836949
Date Effective From: 2012-01-01
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Hill, Marie C
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
Email Address: marie.c.hill@noaa.gov
Phone: (808)725-5710

Originator

CC ID: 836948
Date Effective From: 2006-02-01
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818
USA
ROR: https://ror.org/02apffz65
Email Address: pifsc.info@noaa.gov
Phone: 808-725-5360
URL: https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 836951
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 2006
Description:

The PIFSC CRP began conducting ship-based cetacean surveys in 2006. See specific surveys for details on time frames.

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Policy:

None
Data Access Procedure:

None
Data Access Constraints:

None
Data Use Constraints:

The user is responsible for the results of any application of these data.

The NMFS permit number (listed within the dataset) under which the data were collected must be listed in any publications and/or other representations of these data.

Acknowledgement of NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Cetacean Research Program, as the source from which these data were obtained, in any publications and/or other representations of these data is requested.

Metadata Access Constraints:

None
Metadata Use Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 839311
Download URL: https://oceanwatch.pifsc.noaa.gov/xfer/PIFSC_PIRO_bulk_data_download_InPort_18141.tgz
Distributor: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) (2019 - Present)
File Name: PSD_CRP_WinCruz_Sightings_2006_to_2017
File Type (Deprecated): csv (comma-separated values)
Distribution Format: CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text)

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 56128
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:56128
Metadata Record Created By: Marie C Hill
Metadata Record Created: 2019-04-25 15:22+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2026-05-26 15:20+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2019-05-05
Owner Org: PIFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2019-05-05
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2020-05-05