MIRC KB08 Vessel Surveys Feb-Mar 2011

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

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

Abstract:
The objective of this current survey effort was to conduct baseline surveys to further document marine mammal and sea turtle occurrence in nearshore waters around the island of Guam. This report presents the results of the Guam Marine Species Monitoring Survey conducted on the MV Island Girl from February 17 to March 3, 2011. This survey covered an area of approximately 4,100 square kilometers (km2)(1,200 square nautical miles ([nm2]) to document marine mammal
and sea turtle distribution around the island of Guam. The approach primarily followed opportunistic survey protocols used in a recent survey around Guam (Ligon et al. 2011), which remained nearshore (within 5.6 kilometers [km] or 3 nautical miles [nm] of the coastline). ). The resulting sightings, therefore, consisted of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris; 7 of 9 sightings) and a mixed group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). In addition, one species of sea turtle was observed (green
sea turtle, Chelonia mydas). Additional lines of effort following standard line-transect protocols were attempted (out to 10 nm from shore) when sea conditions permitted.