SEUS Right Whale EWS Aerial Surveys 2018-19

Original provider: Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Dataset credits: NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Funding for surveys provided by: NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources Abstract: Right whale Early Warning System (EWS) aerial surveys are conducted during winter in the southeastern United States (SEUS). Surveys in this dataset began in 2016/2017 and were flown by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI, formerly Sea to Shore Alliance). FWC surveys were conducted in a Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft with 2 observers (1 of which was also the data recorder). CMARI surveys were typically conducted in a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft with 2 observers plus 1 dedicated data recorder (CMARI surveys in February 2019 were conducted in a Partenavia P68C aircraft with 2 observers, 1 of which was also the data recorder). Target altitude was 1,000 ft, and target speed was 100 kts. Only large whales, large sharks, and leatherback turtles were consistently recorded by both teams. Manatees, ocean sunfish, and manta rays were consistently recorded by FWC. Manatees and manta rays were consistently recorded by CMARI starting in 2018/2019. All other species were recorded opportunistically. Surveys broke track to obtain exact locations for large whales unless otherwise noted; locations for other species typically represent the location along the survey transect. Supplemental information: Survey data are split into three seasons (2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19). This is the 2018/19 season. The 2016/17 season is available at http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1990. The 2017/18 season is available at http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1992. Effort data are provided. The Trackline field (used to distinguish effort on a predetermined transect from verification surveys and transits) was recorded by observers during surveys. Additional information on species identification and taxonomic resolution may be available in the Notes and Photos fields.