Abundance of Marine Mammals in Waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico During the Summers of 2017 and 2018

In this report, we describe the results of large vessel, visual line-transect surveys conducted by the NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the summers of 2017 and 2018 as a part of the larger Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species. The primary objective of these surveys was to collect data and samples to support assessment of the abundance, habitats, and spatial distribution of cetaceans within U.S. waters. These data and resulting abundance estimates support the assessment of marine mammal stocks as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Lance P. Garrison, Joel Ortega-Ortiz, and Gina Rappucci. Abundance of Marine Mammals in Waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico During the Summers of 2017 and 2018. Southeast Fisheries Science Center Reference document PBRD-2020-07.