EK80 Water Column Sonar Data Collected During GU2103

• Conduct dual team visual line-transect surveys to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of cetaceans in U.S. Atlantic waters. • Conduct passive acoustic surveys simultaneous with visual surveys to provide supplemental information on cetacean abundance and spatial distribution. • Collect tissue samples (biopsies) of select cetaceans from the bow of Gordon Gunter and in select cases from R2 (scientific small boat). • Collect photographs and video of marine mammals, seabirds and turtles. • Collect visual survey data on distribution and abundance of sea turtles, seabirds, and other marine life. • Periodic collection oceanographic and environmental data. This includes a regular a CTD cast to 500m every morning prior to deployment of the acoustic array. The scientific echosounders (ER80) and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) will also run at night to quantify acoustic backscatter due to small fish and zooplankton but will generally remain secured during mammal surveys.