NEFSC 1999 aj9902
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Dataset credit

NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Abstract

The survey was conducted on the R/V ABEL-J from 28 July to 31 August 1999. It started and returned to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The southern border of the study area was Muscungus Bay, Maine, the northern border was north of Grand Manan Island, Nova Scotia, and the eastern border was Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Purpose

Primary objectives of the survey were:
1) Determine the spatial distribution and abundance of harbor porpoises, and
2) Determine the spatial distribution and abundance of other strategic species, such as white-sided dolphins, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales and right whales.

Secondary objectives were:
1) To investigate if a porpoise acoustic detection system, developed by the International Friends for Animal Welfare (IFAW), can passively detect the location of porpoises, which then can be used to improve the abundance estimate of the harbor porpoises,
2) To compare the distribution and abundance of cetaceans with water depth, temperature, salinity, zooplankton and phytoplankton distribution, and
3) Obtain biopsy samples of cetaceans.

Supplemental information

In addition to the sightings data, effort data were recorded every half hour or whenever conditions changed. This dataset, therefore, should be used with the effort data.

References

Potter, David, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 1999. Cruise results; R/V ABEL-J; July-August 1999

Contacts

RoleNameOrganization 
Primary contact Debi Palka National Marine Fisheries Service
Data entry Ei Fujioka Duke University

Attributes

Overview

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
Only minimum required attributes are visible and downlodable online. Other attributes may be obtained upon provider's permission unless otherwise noteded below.

Attributes in dataset provided

Attribute (table column)Description
SEAMAP ID300
Seabirds0
Marine mammals1,021
Sea turtles5
Total1,091
Date, Begin1999-07-29
Date, End1999-08-27
Latitudes42.89 - 45.05
Longitudes-69.66 - -64.95
PlatformBoat
Data typeAnimal sighting
EffortYES (ID: 301)
Traveled (km)2,773
Effort hours171
Updated2005-08-17