PIFSC, Cetacean Survey, MACS 2015, Cruise 1502, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Original provider:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)

Dataset credits:
NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Abstract:
The Mariana Archipelago Cetacean Survey (MACS) was a shipboard line-transect survey within 50 nmi of the Mariana Islands within the Guam and CNMI exclusive economic zone (8 May - 6 June 2015). Three days were lost to diversion out of the study area due to Typhoon Dolphin. All regions of the study area were at least partially surveyed as planned, with some gaps in transect survey coverage due to the weather diversion. There were 42 cetacean sightings that included 9 identified species, as well as groups of dolphins, whales, and beaked whales that could not be identified to species.