Harbor Porpoise Survey 1992 (AJ92-01)

Original provider: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Dataset credits: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Abstract: The ship survey was performed from 29 July 1992 to 06 September 1992, starting and ending in Woods Hole, MA. The study area, covering approximately 13,300 nmi2, was from Portland, ME to St. John, New Brunswick over to Port Joli, Nova Scotia on the southeast side of Nova Scotia. Purpose: PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Estimate the abundance of harbor porpoises in the Gulf of Maine - Bay of Fundy - Scotian shelf area. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES 1) Determine the spatial distribution patterns of harbor porpoises, and investigate if the patterns are correlated with hydrographic or biological features, such as, the depth, temperature or salinity of the water or with targets seen on an acoustic fish finder. 2) Estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of other cetaceans. 3) Determine if harbor porpoise avoid this ship, and if so, at what distance. 4) Use a 17 foot Zodiac rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) and the R/V Abel-J to survey the Penobscot Bay - Blue Hill Bay area and other bays and harbors along the Maine and Nova Scotia coast. 5) Determine if there is a spatial distribution pattern of mother-calf pairs of harbor porpoise. 6) Compare the abundance estimate and spatial distribution of harbor porpoise as seen this year with that seen in previous years. 7) Determine dive time patterns of individual and groups of harbor porpoises around the sighting platform. 8) Investigate the utility of 2 new electronic data entry systems. 9) Determine the distribution of marine mammals between the northeastern edge of the study area and Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Brown' s Bank, and on the continental shelfbreak in the area south of Brown' s Bank. Supplemental information: In addition to the sighting data, effort data was recorded every half hour or whenever conditions change. This dataset, therefore, should be used with the effort data.

原始提供方：美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）东北渔业科学中心（NEFSC）；数据集贡献方：美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）东北渔业科学中心（NEFSC）。
摘要：本次船舶调查于1992年7月29日至1992年9月6日开展，调查起止点均为马萨诸塞州伍兹霍尔。研究区域覆盖面积约13300平方海里，范围从缅因州波特兰延伸至新不伦瑞克省圣约翰，再至新斯科舍省东南侧的约利港。
调查目标：
主要目标：估算缅因湾-芬迪湾-斯科舍陆架区域内港湾鼠海豚（harbor porpoise）的种群丰度。
次要目标：
1. 明确港湾鼠海豚的空间分布格局，并探究该格局是否与水文或生物特征相关，例如水深、水温、水体盐度，或声呐鱼探仪探测到的目标；
2. 估算其他鲸类的种群丰度与空间分布格局；
3. 确认港湾鼠海豚是否会避让本调查船舶，若存在避让行为则确定其避让距离；
4. 使用17英尺 Zodiac 刚性充气船（RIB）与“阿贝尔-J号”研究船（R/V Abel-J），对彭诺布斯科特湾-蓝山湾区域以及缅因州与新斯科舍省沿岸的其他海湾与港口开展调查；
5. 确认港湾鼠海豚的母幼对是否存在特定空间分布格局；
6. 将本年度观测得到的港湾鼠海豚种群丰度估算结果与空间分布格局，与过往年份的同类结果进行对比；
7. 明确观测平台周边单个及群体港湾鼠海豚的潜水时间模式；
8. 评估两套新型电子数据录入系统的实用性；
9. 明确研究区域东北边界至新斯科舍省哈利法克斯之间、布朗斯班克海域以及布朗斯班克以南区域的大陆架坡折带内的海洋哺乳动物分布情况。
补充说明：除目击观测数据外，每半小时或环境条件发生变化时均会记录调查努力量数据。因此，本数据集需与调查努力量数据配套使用。