SEFSC Atlantic surveys 1999
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Carol Roden, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

An Atlantic Ocean ship survey was conducted by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center in 1999 to evaluate abundance, distribution and stock structure of cetaceans in southeastern U.S. Atlantic waters. Data gathered on this survey will provide abundance estimates for calculating the Potential Biological Removal for U.S. Atlantic waters as required by the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

During the 32 survey days, at least 12 cetacean species were sighted, including: Atlantic spotted dolphin, bottlenose dolphin Clymene dolphin, common dolphin, Fraser’s dolphin, melon-headed whale, pantropical spotted dolphin, pilot whale, Risso’s dolphin rough-toothed dolphin, sperm whale, and striped dolphin.

The purpose of this survey is to examine the distribution and estimate abundance of cetaceans in United States waters.

Specific objectives of this survey are:
1. Obtain minimum abundance estimate for calculating Potential Biological Removal for each species,
2. Collect biopsy tissue samples to evaluate stock structure,
3. Establish and build time-series databases for monitoring trends in abundance,
4. Examine distribution in relation to physiographic and oceanographic features, and
5. Obtain photographs and video images of selected species for photo-identification studies.

The dataset is accompanied by transect data which are provided as a separate file.

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 1999. Cruise Results; Summer Atlantic Ocean marine mammal survey; NOAA Ship Oregon II Cruise OT 99-05 (236)

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.

The dataset contains information necessary to locate the species sightings observed in the survey. The structure of the dataset was defined by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Note that the dataset is a subset of the larger, complete dataset collected in the survey which includes environmental information. The columns before LineNo are applied to the shapefile only. The following information is not included in the dataset but will be found in the master data. For details, please contact NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Track; Speed; GPS Status; Observers; Wind direction; Weather; Sea state; Swell; Visibility; Turbidity; Sunlight; Water depth; Water color; Water temperature; Sighting angle; Effort status.

Attributes in dataset provided

Attribute (table column)	Description
scientific	Species scientific name.