AMAPPS Southeast Aerial Cruise Fall 2016

Original provider:
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Dataset credits:
NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Abstract:
As part of the AMAPPS program, the Southeast Fisheries
Science Center conducted aerial surveys of continental
shelf and slope waters from New Jersey to North Carolina
between 23 November - 31 December, 2016. The survey was
flown aboard a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft at an altitude of
600 feet (183 m) and a speed of 110 knots. The survey
path
followed tracklines oriented perpendicular to the
shoreline and latitudinally spaced 20 km apart. “Fine-
scale” track lines were surveyed in waters off the coast
of New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia. The survey was
designed for analysis using Distance sampling and a two-
team (independent observer) approach to correct for
visibility bias in resulting abundance estimates. Due to
staffing issues, one team with four observers (left and
right bubbles, belly and a data recorder) conducted the
survey between 23-25 November. After 13 December the
survey was conducted with two teams per usual protocol.