Cruise Period, Area, and Objectivesof NEFSC Marine Mammal Sighting Surveysduring 1990-95
Shipboard Surveys
Aerial Surveys
SHIPBOARD SURVEYS
1. NOAA R/V Chapman Cruise
No. CH 90-05: Marine Mammal Survey
The cruise period was August 5-18, 1990. The area of operation
was the shelf edge break to the Gulf Stream wall from Cape Hatteras
to Lydonia Canyon on Georges Bank.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) determine summer distribution,
and if it is continuous between these two areas; 2) determine how the
composition of marine mammal species varies latitudinally and between
shelf edge and Gulf Stream wall habitats; and 3) investigate fine-scale
distribution and habitat utilization within and between canyons on
the shelf edge break. Observations were also made on the association
of marine mammals within a warm-core ring (WCR).
2. R/V Abel-J Cruise
No. AB 90-01: Harbor Porpoise Survey and Line-Transect Methods
The cruise period was August 13-30, 1990. The area of operation
included line-transect surveys in the lower Bay of Fundy, on the Scotian
Shelf as far east as St. Margarets Bay, and on and around the waters
of Lahave, Roseway, Browns, German, and Grand Manan Banks. Extensive
experiments testing various aspects of line-transect methods were conducted
in Owen Basin (east of Campobello Island), in nearshore waters
east of Grand Manan Island, and in the channel between Deer and Campobello
Island.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) determine distribution and relative
density of harbor porpoise along the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia,
2) test a prototype electronic instrument for measuring radial sighting
distances, 3) test for vessel avoidance behavior, 4) test efficiency
of different-size observer teams for density estimates for harbor porpoise
based on line-transect methods [both in terms of f(0) and g(0)], 5)
collect information on summer distribution of other marine mammals
in offshore Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf waters, and 6) train and
test observers in distance estimation.
3. NOAA R/V Chapman Cruise
No. CH 91-03: Marine Mammal Survey
The cruise period was June 5 - July 16, 1991. The area of operation
was principally shelf edge waters between 100- and 1000-fathom isobaths
from Cape Hatteras to Georges Bank. Also, some transect lines
were run out to the Gulf Stream north wall, across WCRs, and through
the Great South Channel.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) investigate fine-scale distribution
and habitat utilization within WCRs, canyons, and the shelf edge break;
2) determine if distribution of marine mammals, especially beaked whales,
is continuous between several major canyons and the Gulf Streamwall;
3) conduct line-transect population surveys along the shelf edge break
and out to the Gulf Stream wall; and 4) determine how composition of
species varies latitudinally and between the shelf edge and Gulf Stream
wall habitats.
4. R/V Abel-J Cruise
No. AJ 91-02: Harbor Porpoise Survey
The cruise period was July 22 - August 30, 1991. The area of
operation was from Port Clyde, Maine, to St. John, New Brunswick, and
then over to the Nova Scotian coast and up to Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
A supplementary survey using the 48-ft M/V Sneak Attack was
conducted during August 3-22. The study area of the supplementary
survey was the inland bays from Penobscot Bay (Maine) to Machias Bay
(Maine).
Objectives of the R/V Abel-J cruise were to: 1) estimate
abundance of harbor porpoise in the Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and
Nova Scotia area; and 2) investigate if there are spatial distribution
patterns of harbor porpoise, and if those patterns are correlated with
water depth or harbor porpoise group size.
5. NOAA R/V Delaware II Cruise
No. DE 92-05: Marine Mammal Survey
The cruise period was March 16 - April 2, 1992. The area of
operation was offshore Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England waters
between 30- and 1000-fathom isobaths.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) investigate small cetacean fine-scale
distribution in the vicinity of Atlantic mackerel fishing operations;
2) determine if the distribution of marine mammals, especially delphinid
species, is continuous between fishing areas and several major canyons
within the study area; 3) determine if marine mammal distribution is
associated with prey concentrations away from fishing areas; and 4)
conduct line-transect population surveys within the study area.
6. R/V Abel-J Cruise
No. AJ 92-01: Harbor Porpoise Survey
The cruise period was July 29 - September 6, 1992. The area
of operation was from Portland, Maine, to St. John, New Brunswick,
and then over to Port Joli, Nova Scotia, on the southeast side of Nova
Scotia.
Primary objective was to estimate abundance of harbor porpoise in
the Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and Scotian Shelf area.
7. NOAA R/V Delaware II Cruise
No. DE 93-06: Marine Mammal Survey
The cruise period was June 1 - July 2, 1993, conducted in two parts: June
1-18 and June 21 - July 2. The area of operation was shelf edge
and slope waters of the southern edge of both the Scotian Shelf and
Georges Bank.
Survey objectives were to: 1) investigate beaked whale and pelagic
delphinid fine-scale distribution in shelf edge and Gulf Stream WCR
features, 2) determine if the distribution of beaked whales and delphinid
species is continuous along the Georges Bank shelf edge to the Scotian
Shelf, 3) determine if beaked whales are associated with a WCR that
is usually present in the survey region, and 4) conduct line-transect
population surveys within the study area.
8. R/V Abel-J Cruise
No. AJ 93-01: Harbor Porpoise Survey
The cruise period was August 3-22, 1993. The area of operation
was from Boothbay Harbor, Maine, to Grand Manan, New Brunswick, and
then south to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) investigate two questions associated
with the line-transect sighting survey assumptions (i.e., Do
harbor porpoise alter their behavior before observers on the R/V Abel-J detect
them?, and, How do dive time patterns of individual and groups of harbor
porpoise which are around the sighting platform affect estimates; 2)
determine the spatial distribution patterns of harbor porpoise within
the study area and if patterns are correlated with hydrographic features;
3) compare spatial distribution patterns of harbor porpoise with those
of previous years; 4) determine if there is a spatial distribution
pattern of mother-calf pairs of harbor porpoise; 5) determine spatial
distribution patterns of other cetaceans; 6) investigate utility of
a new electronic, hand-held, pen-based, data entry system; and 7) collaborate
with scientists from other laboratories who are interested in harbor
porpoise and survey methodology.
9. NOAA Ship Relentless Cruise
No. RS 94-02: Marine Mammal Survey/Warm-Core Ring Study
The cruise period was August 22 - September 2, 1994, and covered 534
km of tracklines. The area of operation was shelf edge and slope
waters of Georges Bank, principally across a Gulf Stream WCR, including
areas within the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Cruise objectives were to: 1) investigate fine-scale cetacean
distribution in a WCR feature; 2) determine if the distribution of
cetaceans, especially beaked whales and delphinid species, is continuous
through a WCR; and 3) conduct line-transect population surveys within
the study area.
10. NOAA Ship Relentless Cruise
No. RE 95-01: Spring Harbor Porpoise Distribution Survey
The cruise period was March 8-28, 1995. The cruise started and
ended in Norfolk, Virginia, and covered approximately 1,190 nm of tracklines. The
study area was from Cape Hatteras to Long Island (New York), and from
the coastline out to about 72°W (i.e., about 150 nm).
Cruise objectives were to: 1) determine distribution and habitat
preferences of harbor porpoise in the Mid-Atlantic during March, a
time when harbor porpoise have stranded on beaches from North Carolina
to Massachusetts; 2) determine distribution and habitat preferences
of other marine mammals; 3) field test and improve a computerized data
entry system; and 4) evaluate the NOAA Ship Relentless as a
sighting platform for future marine mammal sighting surveys.
11. R/V Pelican Cruise
No. PE 95-01: Marine Mammal Abundance and Distribution Survey
The survey was performed from July 9 to August 3, 1995, beginning
in Norfolk, Virginia, and ending in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The
study covered approximately 1,704 nm of tracklines in the slope waters
from Chesapeake Bay to Cape Cod, between 10 nm inshore of the 50-fathom
contour and 10 nm offshore of the 1,000-fathom contour.
This survey was part of a large-scale marine mammal sighting survey
which consisted of two legs (each approximately 1-mo long) where two
ships were used during each leg, with an additional leg in which a
plane was used to survey for 6 wk. The entire study area was
from Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Objectives of this leg of the survey were to: 1) determine spatial
distribution and estimate abundance of marine mammals found in the
study area; and 2) determine if spatial distribution patterns are correlated
with hydrographic features such as water depth, temperature, or salinity,
or with biological features such as zooplankton distribution.
12. R/V Pelican Cruise No.
PE 95-02: Marine Mammal Abundance and Distribution Survey
The survey was performed during August 6 - September 7, 1995, on Georges
Bank and in waters east of Cape Cod.
Principal objectives of the survey, which covered 2,160 km of tracklines,
were to conduct line-transect populations surveys within the study
area and to investigate cetacean distribution on the southern portion
of Georges Bank, especially between the 30-fathom isobath and 10 nm
beyond the 1,000-fathom isobath. Biopsy samples, conductivity-temperature-depth
data, and photographic data were also collected.
13. R/V Abel-J Cruise No. AJ
95-01, Part I: Marine Mammal Abundance and Distribution Survey
The survey was performed during July 9 - August 2, 1995, in the Gulf
Stream and slope waters between Chesapeake Bay and Southern New England.
Primary objective of the cruise, which covered 2,607 km of tracklines,
was to conduct a line-transect population survey and to investigate
if the distribution of cetaceans, especially “strategic species,” is
continuous in Gulf Stream and slope water habitats. Biopsy samples,
conductivity-temperature-depth data, and photographic data were also
collected.
14. R/V Abel-J Cruise No. AJ
95-01, Part II: Marine Mammal Abundance and Distribution
Survey
The survey was performed during August 6 - September 5, 1995, beginning
and ending in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The study covered approximately
1,564 nm of tracklines from Portland, Maine, to St. John, New Brunswick,
and from the Maine coast to the southern tip of Nova Scotia.
Survey objectives were to: 1) estimate abundance of harbor porpoise
in the Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy, and Scotian Shelf area using two
different field collection and analysis methods; 2) determine spatial
distribution and estimate abundance of other cetaceans found in the
area; 3) compare sighting rates and spatial distribution of harbor
porpoise as seen by two different sighting platforms -- ship and plane;
4) determine spatial distribution patterns of harbor porpoise, and
investigate if the patterns are correlated with hydrographic or biological
features; 5) determine if harbor porpoise avoid the ship, and if so,
at what distance; and 6) compare abundance estimates and spatial distribution
of harbor porpoise as seen in this year with that seen in previous
years.
AERIAL SURVEYS
15. NOAA DeHavelin Twin Otter: 1991
Aerial Harbor Porpoise Survey
The aerial survey period was October 11-24, 1991. The survey
was completed in 14 days with 8 flight days. The survey was based
out of Bangor International Airport in Maine, and covered the Gulf
of Maine and Massachusetts Bay area. A total of 42.2 hr were
flown, covering over 4,600 mi of trackline.
The survey covered the area of the 1991 harbor porpoise shipboard
survey in order to get an indication of the fall distribution of harbor
porpoise, and surveyed Massachusetts Bay primarily to determine distribution
and density of pilot whales during the time of mass strandings on Cape
Cod.
16. Beechcraft AT-11 Aircraft: 1992/93
Aerial Harbor Porpoise Survey
The aerial survey was conducted in two parts: the first part
was conducted on December 2, 9, and 10, 1992, and the second part on
February 11, 1993. Part 1 covered the area from the southern
Bay of Fundy to the center of Georges Bank. Part 2 covered the
same area as previously surveyed on December 2 -- from Cape Ann (Massachusetts)
to Grand Manan Island (New Brunswick). A total of 2,615 nm were
covered in 20 hr of flight time.
Objectives were to determine the seasonal distribution of harbor porpoise
in the Gulf of Maine region.
17. NOAA DeHavelin Twin Otter: 1993
Aerial Harbor Porpoise Survey
Aerial surveys were conducted on November 17, 23, 24, 26, and 27,
and on December 3, 8, and 14, 1993. Over 4,200 nm were surveyed
in waters from North Carolina to Sable Island (Nova Scotia).
The survey objective was to determine seasonal movements of harbor
porpoise in the Gulf of Maine region.
18. Gulf Airship: 1994 Marine
Mammal Research Flight
Three flights aboard the 197-ft, 7,000-m3 volume, WDL 1-B helium airship
were made from June 5 to 9, 1994. The area of operation was coastal
waters north and east of Cape Cod.
Survey objectives were to continue research on the sightability of
fin whales. Previous observations revealed that fin whales spend
some percentage of their time “gliding” just under the surface, visible
to aircraft but not to a surface vessel. As a result, it was
hypothesized that currently used correction factors for “dive time” needed
improvement.
19. Westinghouse S-1000 Airship: 1994
Marine Mammal Research Flight
A 5-hr flight aboard the 222-ft, 10,000-m3 volume, Westinghouse S-1000
helium airship was made on September 28, 1994. The area of operation
was coastal waters of northeastern North Carolina, from Duck to Oregon
Inlet.
Survey objectives were to demonstrate the capability of the airship
to conduct long-endurance offshore flights, and to establish a precedent
and guidelines for offshore scientific airship operations. Because
of its capability for increased range, endurance, and lift, the Westinghouse
S-1000 airship has been proposed for use in a validation experiment
for the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal/SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System)
Program.
20. NOAA DeHavelin Twin Otter: 1995
Marine Mammal Aerial Survey
The 1995 marine mammal distribution and abundance aerial survey was
conducted from August 4 to September 20, 1995. Approximately
17,000 nm of trackline were flown. The area of operations included
both inshore and offshore waters extending north from the Mid-Atlantic,
through Georges Bank, the Gulf of Maine, and into Canadian waters up
to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Survey objectives were to determine seasonal movements of harbor porpoise
and other marine mammals in and around the Gulf of Maine region, and
to compare sighting rates and spatial distribution of harbor porpoise
as seen by two different sighting platforms -- ship and plane.
