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April 27, 2020 by adwhitt

Winter Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey

During the WHICEAS 2020 survey, the scientific crew of the NOAA R/V Oscar Elton Sette conducted a line-transect survey for cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and seabirds offshore of the main Hawaiian Islands. This winter season survey was conducted from mid-January through mid-March and included simultaneous visual observations and passive acoustic monitoring to record vocalizing cetaceans via a towed hydrophone array, sonobuoys, and drifting acoustic recorders. Azura provided cetacean and seabird observers for this research study which is the third survey of the Pacific Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (PacMAPPS), a partnership among NOAA Fisheries, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Navy. The goal of the PacMAPPS program is to collect visual and acoustic data to generate abundance/density estimates for species and groups of species throughout U.S. waters of the Pacific. These data form the basis of Stock Assessment Reports as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and provide critical information to help NMFS understand the population structure, distribution, and human-caused threats to populations and stocks. In addition to sightings of humpback whales which migrate to Hawaiian waters during this time of year, highlights of the survey included sightings of sei whales, Fraser’s dolphins, the red phalarope (a pelagic sandpiper), and the Nazca booby.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Andrea Bendlin – Humpback whale (and R/V Sette) off Hawaiian Islands during WHICEAS 2020.

Filed Under: Category #4 Tagged With: abundance, density, distribution, line transect survey, Marine Mammal Protection Act, marine mammals, noaa fisheries, PAM, passive acoustic monitoring, photo-identification, sea turtles, seabird, shipboard surveys

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Azura Consulting LLC is a woman-owned small business offering ‘big city’ resources with ‘small town’ customer service. Our primary consulting services are focused on natural resources, professional writing and editing, and educational outreach and communication.

We are a diverse team of expert scientists, professional writers and editors, and informal educators who are passionate about our work and dedicated to our clients’ needs. Through great attention to detail and a bit of wit, we provide innovative solutions and high quality products that empower our clients to meet their consulting needs.

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Phone: 972-905-1416
Email: info@azuraco.com

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