Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey (extent)
This layer is intended to represent the geographic extent of NOAA Fisheries’ Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey. The Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey is part of the larger West Coast Marine Mammal Surveys started in 2021 and led by NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center. These surveys have a specific focus on small vessel surveys (Class II small vessel, 34-ft LOA) for marine mammals from the western Strait of Juan de Fuca south along the outer coast to Eureka, California. Although focal species vary from year-to-year, surveys have historically prioritized gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) given the program’s long-term survey efforts for these species. Since 2021, surveys from June through September now represent a substantial increase in both spatial coverage and frequency relative to historical surveys, documenting all opportunistic sightings of marine mammals independent of program priorities. Data are used to derive estimates of species-specific occurrence, density, abundance, and resource utilization. As the length of the time series improves, data will be leveraged to better understand environmental drivers of occurrence, abundance and density, phenology of migration, and the health/condition of individuals and populations.The Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey periodically samples marine mammals along coastal, shelf, and shelf edge ecosystems - out to approximately 20 nautical miles offshore - from northern Washington (including the western Strait of Juan de Fuca) to northern California. Periodic sampling efforts include collection of spatially explicit presence/absence data for all marine mammals, mark-resight observations of individually identifiable large whales (including gray whales, humpback whales, killer whales, blue whales, and fin whales) and Steller sea lions (from branded and tagged animals), boat-based tissue sampling of large whales, boat-based UAS surveys for enumerating pinnipeds at haulouts/rookeries along the PNW coast, and UAS-based photogrammetry for measuring body condition in large whales and pinnipeds.
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "Whitmire, Curt",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:curt.whitmire@noaa.gov"
}
|
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | This layer is intended to represent the geographic extent of NOAA Fisheries’ Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey. The Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey is part of the larger West Coast Marine Mammal Surveys started in 2021 and led by NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center. These surveys have a specific focus on small vessel surveys (Class II small vessel, 34-ft LOA) for marine mammals from the western Strait of Juan de Fuca south along the outer coast to Eureka, California. Although focal species vary from year-to-year, surveys have historically prioritized gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) given the program’s long-term survey efforts for these species. Since 2021, surveys from June through September now represent a substantial increase in both spatial coverage and frequency relative to historical surveys, documenting all opportunistic sightings of marine mammals independent of program priorities. Data are used to derive estimates of species-specific occurrence, density, abundance, and resource utilization. As the length of the time series improves, data will be leveraged to better understand environmental drivers of occurrence, abundance and density, phenology of migration, and the health/condition of individuals and populations.The Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey periodically samples marine mammals along coastal, shelf, and shelf edge ecosystems - out to approximately 20 nautical miles offshore - from northern Washington (including the western Strait of Juan de Fuca) to northern California. Periodic sampling efforts include collection of spatially explicit presence/absence data for all marine mammals, mark-resight observations of individually identifiable large whales (including gray whales, humpback whales, killer whales, blue whales, and fin whales) and Steller sea lions (from branded and tagged animals), boat-based tissue sampling of large whales, boat-based UAS surveys for enumerating pinnipeds at haulouts/rookeries along the PNW coast, and UAS-based photogrammetry for measuring body condition in large whales and pinnipeds. |
| distribution |
[
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/US_West_Coast_CONUS_NMFS_At_Sea_Scientific_Surveys/FeatureServer/130",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Data access URL",
"downloadURL": "https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/US_West_Coast_CONUS_NMFS_At_Sea_Scientific_Surveys/FeatureServer/130",
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{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP)",
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"downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/nwfsc/dmp/pdf/75796.pdf",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
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{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
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"description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
"downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
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{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Full Metadata Record",
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]
|
| identifier | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:75796 |
| issued | 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| keyword |
[
"UAS",
"boat-based tissue sampling",
"marine mammals",
"small vessel survey",
"California",
"Oregon",
"United States",
"Washington",
"DOC/NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC > Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. U.S. Department of Commerce",
"Story Map: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Offshore Scientific Surveys"
]
|
| landingPage | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75796 |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 2025-05-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{
"name": "Northwest Fisheries Science Center",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| references |
[
"https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/nwfsc/dmp/pdf/75796.pdf"
]
|
| spatial | -114.791625,30.263765,-129.464302,48.5111 |
| title | Pacific Northwest Marine Mammal Survey (extent) |
