Estimates of Cetacean Abundance in the Northern Gulf of Mexico from Vessel Surveys

"The Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) initiated annual, vessel-based visual sampling surveys of northern Gulf of Mexico marine mammals in 1990. The primary goal of these surveys was to meet Marine Mammal Protection Act requirements foi estimating abundanoe and monitoring trends of marine mammal stocks in United States waters. The surveys were designed to collect: 1) marine mammal sighting data to estimate abundance and to determine distribution and diversity; and 2) environmental data to evaluate factors which may affect the distribution, abundance and diversity of marine mammals. The analyses for abundance estimation from the 1991-l 994 surveys are presented in this report"--Introduction. by Larry J. Hansen, Keith D. Mullin, and Carol L. Roden. "Contribution No. HA-94/95-25" System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Includes bibliographical references (page 8).