Marine mammal sighting data help determine the distribution and behaviors of marine mammals throughout the world. Sightings data that you will collect are integrated into the National Marine Mammal Laboratory's Platforms of Opportunity database, which has data dating back to 1958.

Please record every species of marine mammal that is encountered. Use the field guides to assist in identifications. Do not worry if positive identification is not possible. Just give a complete description of all sighting cues.

Please fully describe any species that is encountered for the first time each cruise writing detailed notes and sketches. For subsequent sightings of frequently encountered species, a brief description is all that is necessary. However if the sightings involves unusual behaviors, documents a fishery interaction or warrants some extra description ( e.g. mating humpback whales), please write it up fully. The more information the better.

Definitions:

Beaufort - Use the scale of sea and wind conditions listed on dialog to choose the Beaufort scale number that best describes the conditions during your sighting.

Closest Approach - Note the distance in meters of the closest approach of the marine mammal.

Common Behaviors - As described on dialog in the pull down lists.

Date - Date of sighting.

Fishing Interactions - As described on dialog in the pull down list.

General Location -Write the general location that you are in, e.g. Prince William Sound. (Optional)

Latitude - Sighting position in degrees, minutes to tenths and direction.
Formatted as DD MM.M N/S.

Longitude - Sighting position in degrees, minutes to tenths and direction.
Formatted as DD MM.M N/S.

Narrative - This sections is very important. Remember if you positively identify the species, tell us the characteristics you use to confirm the sighting. Everything that observed to identify the animal should be detailed. Important things to look for when identifying are:

Color Pattern on Fins and Body - Does the color pattern on the fins or body include stripes, spots, patches or mottling? Or is it uniform in color?

Length - Size is difficult to estimate at sea, so if it is convenient, compare unfamiliar animals with a species with which you are familiar. For example - "about the size of female Stellar Sea lion" or "Slightly smaller than adult male killer whale."

Shape and Size of Dorsal Fin and its Position on the Body - It may also be important to note if there was not a dorsal present. If possible, also note size and shape of tail and flippers.

General Shape of Body - Is the general shape of the body slender or robust?

Shape and Size of Snout - Is it long, short, blunt or pointes? What is its estimated length in inches? Is there a definite break between snout and forehead? Is the forehead markedly bulbous?

Shape, Location , and Direction of Blow - Is the blow V-shaped or not? Where is the blowhole located? Does the blow project forward or go straight up?

Scars and Scratch Marks - Are there scars or scratch marks visible on the animal?
Diving behavior - How many times do they blow when they come to surface? Do they raise their tail flukes when they dive after the last blow? How long do they stay down between each series of blows? Do they jump (breach) clear of the water? If so, do they jump in a smooth arc or do they sometimes belly-flop, somersault , or spin?

Activity Near Ship - Were the marine mammals attracted to the ship by the net retrieval? Were they feeding off discarded fish and fish parts?

Number Sighted - Give a best estimate of the individual animal here. If unable to count all the animals with certainty, estimate the number seen in terms of a range (e.g. Best Estimate 15, minimum present 12, Maximum present 20). For Dall's porpoise, note if you see more rooster tails than the actual number of animals that come to the boat.

Observer - Name of the observer.

Sighting conditions - Give qualitative evaluation of the overall sighting conditions. Excellent: Unlimited visibility, flat seas. God: Sightings conditions affected somewhat by glare, sea state or weather. Fair: Sighting conditions affected by a combination of problems, e.g. heavy seas or poor weather. Poor: Several limited visibility due to high seas or poor weather.

Sighting Cue - Write in the sighting cue that first made you notice the marine mammal (e.g., blow, dorsal fin, body, breach, etc..)

Silhouettes -

Cetacea- Select the cetacea silhouette that most closely resembles sighting.

Other Marine Mammal - Select the marine mammal the most closely resembles sighting.

Species - Write in either common or scientific name of the marine mammal. Make sure you indicate your level of confidence in your species identification in the box to the right of the species section. Please give a very detailed description of the characteristics you observed. See Narrative. Check the box if multiple species are sighted. If a determination cannot be made on a species, enter 'unident large whale', "unident porpoise" etc. Remember that an erroneous identification is worse than none at all.

Surface Water Temperature - Record the temperature in degrees Celsius rounded off to nearest tenth.

Time - Time of sighting.

Vessel - The name of the vessel.

Dialog Operation:

Dialog Access - In order to create a Marine Mammal Report, select 'Other Reports' and then 'Marine Mammal' from the AMVER/SEAS menu. Clicking the button on the AMVER SEAS main menu also opens the report.

Entering a Marine MammalReport:

Data Entry - Input the data into the edit boxes. For the pull down menu boxes select the right hand arrow key with the mouse. Then select one of the options that are displayed. Click the 'Silhouettes' buttons to select correct picture of Marine Mammal and Cetacea silhouettes. Click on the 'Select Beaufort' button to select sea state pictures.

Data Transmission -Send information to:

Sally Mizroch
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/NNML
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Sally.Mizroch@noaa.gov
206-526-4030

Menu Operation:

File:

Print - Prints the Marine Mammal Report.
Exit - Exits and returns user to AMVER SEAS main screen.

Save:

Report - Saves the data in ASCII for data transmission.

Help: Brings up this page.

Contact - For more information.
Sally Mizroch
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/NNML
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Sally.Mizroch@noaa.gov
206-526-4030