Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) during the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMA...

As part of the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS), the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) conducted a shipboard survey of the U.S. waters of the Western North Atlantic (WNA) from approximately the 200m isobath out to the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The survey was conducted between February 4 and April 27, 2023 onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter, for a total of 44 days at sea split into three survey legs. Multiple days were lost due to mechanical problems with the ship (Jan 23 to Feb 2) and unfavorable weather conditions (April 8 to 10). February 3 and April 28 were departure (start survey) and arrival (end survey) days, respectively. The survey was designed for a two-team independent visual observer approach with distance sampling to estimate the detection probabilities for marine mammal sightings. A sighting constituted a single or group of marine mammals (whales and dolphins) seen at the same location and time. This dataset includes marine mammal visual observation data and effort points with surveying conditions that can be used in abundance and density modeling per visual line-transect survey protocols. This dataset also includes opportunistic marine mammal photographs and non-marine mammal sightings such as sea turtles.

This dataset includes marine mammal visual observation data and effort points with surveying conditions that can be used in abundance and density modeling per visual line-transect survey protocols

The Southeast Fisheries Science Center was authorized to conduct marine mammal research activities during this survey under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) Permit No. 21938.

This study was funded in part by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management through Interagency Agreement M19PG00007-P00002 with the U.S. Department of the Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). This research was carried out [in part] under the auspices of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a Cooperative Institute of the University of Miami and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, cooperative agreements NA20OAR4320472.

Cite as: Palka, Debra; Garrison, Lance; Soldevilla, Melissa; Martinez, Anthony; Aichinger Dias, Laura; Rappucci, Gina. (2024). Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) during the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean (survey GU2301) from 2023-02-04 to 2023-04-27. (NCEI Accession 0290563). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0290563

Related Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Related Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Related Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; National Marine Fisheries Service

Related Funding Agency: US DOI; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

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trackline points were plotted to identify errors made when recording effort status

Data auditing consisted of making corrections based on error log notes from the field, plotting trackline points to identify errors made when recording effort status, and verifying sighting data based on data sheets from the field..