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Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America (survey GU0402) from 2004-04-15 to 2004-06-10 (NCEI Accession 0284773)

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The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is required to prepare an annual Stock Assessment Report (SAR) for each marine mammal stock to update abundance, stock structure, maximum net productivity, human-caused mortality, potential biological removal (PBR), and status. In the summer of 2004, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) conducted a marine mammal survey in the northern Gulf of America. Operations occurred in the waters from 200 m deep seaward to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from Brownsville, Texas east into the Straights of Florida. The survey was designed using ship-based, line-transect methods in which experienced marine mammal observers visually located marine mammals, identified the species (to the lowest taxonomic level possible) and counted the number of whales and dolphins sighted along predetermined track-lines. A sighting constitutes a group of marine mammals (whales and dolphins) seen at the same location and time. This dataset includes marine mammal visual observation data and effort points with surveying conditions that can be used in abundance and density modeling per visual line-transect survey protocols. This dataset also includes opportunistic marine mammal photographs and information on biopsy samples collected during the survey.
  • Cite as: Martinez, Anthony; Mullin, Keith; Garrison, Lance; Dias, Laura Aichinger; Rappucci, Gina (2023). Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America (survey GU0402) from 2004-04-15 to 2004-06-10 (NCEI Accession 0284773). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/haac-g960. Accessed [date].
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2004-04-15 to 2004-10-06
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -96.4453
East: -81.2005
South: 23.859
North: 29.4995
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Southeast Fisheries Science Center. (2023). Cruise Results: NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter Cruise GU-04-02 (027) 13 April – 11 June 2004. Southeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/467a-0518
  • NOAA Corps (2004). Underway physical and meteorological data collected aboard NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER during the Gulf of Mexico Sperm Whale Study from 2004-04-14 to 2004-05-01 (NCEI Accession 0001475). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0001475. In NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. Underway physical, meteorological, chemical, and other data collected aboard numerous ships in the NOAA fleet in seas world-wide since February 2012. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/OMAO-SCS.
  • NOAA Corps (2004). Underway physical and meteorological data collected aboard NOAA Ship GORDON GUNTER in the Gulf of Mexico during the Gulf of Mexico Sperm Whale Study from 2004-05-25 to 2004-06-11 (NCEI Accession 0001510). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0001510. In NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. Underway physical, meteorological, chemical, and other data collected aboard numerous ships in the NOAA fleet in seas world-wide since February 2012. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/OMAO-SCS.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2023-11-21
  • revision: 2025-11-20
  • creation: 2023-11-02
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed - NCEI Accession 0284773 was revised and a new version of the archival package was published. Updates to existing archival packages may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. The latest version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession. Please see journal.txt in the /about directory for additional details on changes made.
Supplemental Information
In this accession, NCEI has archived multiple versions of these data. The latest (and best) version of these data has the largest version number.
Purpose The primary goal was to conduct visual line-transect survey for abundance estimation, and distribution of cetaceans in the U.S. waters of the Gulf of America.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Martinez, Anthony; Mullin, Keith; Garrison, Lance; Dias, Laura Aichinger; Rappucci, Gina (2023). Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America (survey GU0402) from 2004-04-15 to 2004-06-10 (NCEI Accession 0284773). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/haac-g960. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • cetacean, VISUAL OBSERVATION, SIGHTING
Provider Keywords Marine Mammal Common Name
  • Atlantic spotted dolphin
  • Baleen whales
  • Beaked whales
  • Cetacean (large)
  • Cetacean (small)
  • Clymene dolphin
  • Common bottlenose dolphin
  • Cuvier's beaked whale
  • Delphinidae
  • Dolphins of the genus Stenella
  • Killer whale
  • Melon-headed whale
  • Pantropical spotted dolphin
  • Pilot whales
  • Pygmy killer whale
  • Pygmy or Dwarf sperm whale
  • Rice's whale
  • Risso's dolphin
  • Sperm whale
  • Spinner dolphin
  • Striped dolphin
  • Toothed whales
Provider Keywords Marine Mammal Scientific Name
  • Balaenoptera ricei
  • Cetacea
  • Delphinidae
  • Feresa attenuata
  • Globicephala
  • Grampus griseus
  • Kogia
  • Mysticeti
  • Odontoceti
  • Orcinus orca
  • Peponocephala electra
  • Physeter macrocephalus
  • Stenella
  • Stenella attenuata
  • Stenella clymene
  • Stenella coeruleoalba
  • Stenella frontalis
  • Stenella longirostris
  • Tursiops truncatus
  • Ziphiidae
  • Ziphius cavirostris
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instruments
  • SHIPS, BIG EYE BINOCULARS
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • 0W674Y
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Martinez, Anthony; Mullin, Keith; Garrison, Lance; Dias, Laura Aichinger; Rappucci, Gina (2023). Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of America (survey GU0402) from 2004-04-15 to 2004-06-10 (NCEI Accession 0284773). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/haac-g960. Accessed [date].
Data License
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2023-11-21T16:43:34Z - NCEI Accession 0284773 v1.1 was published.
  • 2024-01-29T17:13:00Z - NCEI Accession 0284773 was revised and v2.2 was published.
    Rationale: Updates were received for this dataset. These updates were copied into the data/0-data/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
  • 2025-11-20T21:53:17Z - NCEI Accession 0284773 was revised and v3.3 was published.
    Rationale: Updates were received for this dataset. These updates were copied into the data/0-data/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: cetacean, VISUAL OBSERVATION, SIGHTING (measured); Units: NA; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: SHIPS, BIG EYE BINOCULARS; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The goal of the research was to conduct line-transect surveys using the Distance sampling approach to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of marine mammals in the oceanic waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A single-team observer approach was used. Survey tracklines were oriented perpendicular to bathymetry lines and followed a “sawtooth” pattern.; Data Quality Method: Data auditing consisted of making corrections based on notes from the field, plotting trackline points to identify errors made when recording effort status, and verifying sighting data based on data sheets from the field.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-11-14T15:32:08Z - Previous title: Cetacean visual observations using line-transect survey methods onboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (GU) in the Gulf of Mexico (survey GU0402) from 2004-04-15 to 2004-06-10 (NCEI Accession 0284773)
    Rationale: The title of the dataset has been updated by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information to reflect geographic name changes consistent with EO 14172.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • BIG EYE BINOCULARS
  • camera
  • Distance Sampling
  • line transect sampling
  • photograph
  • visual estimate
  • visual observation
Platform
  • NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter
Last Modified: 2026-02-05T19:06:49Z
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