SEFSC GoMMAPPS 2018 Winter Aerial Survey

Original provider: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Dataset credits: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Abstract: As part of GoMMAPPS, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducted aerial surveys of continental shelf waters (up to the 200-m isobath) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The survey was conducted between 18 January and 14 March 2018 aboard a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft at an altitude of 600 feet (183 m) and a speed of 100-110 knots (185-204 kph). Survey tracklines were oriented perpendicular to the shoreline and latitudinally spaced 20 km apart. The survey was designed for analysis using Distance sampling with a two-team (independent observer) approach to correct for perception bias in resulting abundance estimates. The study area extended from the shoreline to the 200-m isobath between Tampa, FL and Port O’Connor, TX, and included fine-scale tracklines over estuarine waters of Mississippi Sound.