VACAPES Vessel Nearshore Humpback Whale Monitoring 2015-2020

Original provider:
HDR Environmental, Operations and Construction, Inc.

Dataset credits:
The U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring Program

Abstract:
The data in this dataset represent sightings that occurred during nearshore humpback whale monitoring beginning in January 2015 through May 2015 off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA. Work was performed under HDR task order CTO 54 (IDIQ contract award N62470-10-D-3011, NAVFAC LANT).

The dataset added animal sightings and boat tracks during nearshore humpback whale monitoring surveys beginning in October 2017 through March 2018 off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA. Fifteen days of nearshore surveys were completed between 10/31/2017 – 03/10/2018. Additionally, six humpback whales and three fin whales were tagged and tracked by satellite using the Argos system. These tagging data are included as separate point and line feature classes. Work was performed under HDR task order TO17F4013 (IDIQ contract award N62470-15-D-8006, NAVFAC LANT).

The dataset added animal sightings and boat tracks during nearshore humpback whale monitoring surveys beginning in July 2018 through May 2019 off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA. Twenty-eight days of nearshore surveys were completed between 07/31/2018 – 05/20/2019. Additionally, ten humpback whales were tagged and tracked by satellite using the Argos system. These tagging data are included as separate point and line feature classes. Work was performed under HDR task order TO19F4005 (IDIQ contract award N62470-15-D-8006, NAVFAC LANT).

The dataset added animal sightings and boat tracks during nearshore humpback whale monitoring surveys beginning in December 2019 through March 2020 off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA. Fifteen days of nearshore surveys were completed between 12/21/2019 – 03/27/2020. Work was performed under HDR task order TO20F4011 (IDIQ contract award N62470-15-D-8006, NAVFAC LANT).