~~,. OFC-O ~". 14, ...... 

q," q. ~ .. -~ ~ 

: ~ 

: ~. --. _ ; NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-103 

.... . c.; ~. ~ 

~4 ~~ 

.r1'AlTES Of P' 

Marine Mammal Studies Supported 

by the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

during 1980-89 

U. s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Northeast Region 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

Woods Hole, Massachusetts 

May 1994 
Recent issues in this series 

88. Synopsis of Principal Diseases of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus. By Gretchen A. Messick and Carl J. 

Sindermann. January 1992. iii + 24 p., 13 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB92·219757. 

89. Proceedings of the NEFC/ ASMFC Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, Aging Workshop, 11-13 June 

1990, Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole, Mass. By Frank P. Almeida, Raoul E. Castaneda, Roman Jesien, 

Richard E. Greenfield, and John M. Burnett. January 1992. iii + 7 p., 8 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB93· 

114643. 

90. Fish and Megainvertebrates Collected in the New York Bight Apex during the 12-Mile Dumpsite Recovery 

Study, July 1986 - September 1989. By Stuart J. Wilk, Robert A. Pikanowski, Anthony L Pacheco, Donald G. 

McMillan, Beth A. Phelan, and Linda L Stehlik. October 1992. iv + 78 p., 9 figs., 2 tables, 2 app. NTIS Access. No. 

PB93·158772. 

91. The large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Concept and Its Application to Regional Marine Resource Management 

-- 1-6 October 1990, Monaco: Conference Summary and Recommendations. By Kenneth Sherman and 

Thomas L Laughlin, eds. October 1992. v + 37 p., 3 app. NTIS Access. No. PB93·185965. 

92. Report of the Meeting of the ad hoc Committee on large Marine Ecosystems, 22-23 March 1991, UNESCO 

Headquarters, Paris, France. By Kenneth Sherman and Thomas L Laughlin, eds. October 1992. iii + 19 p. + 1 

erratum, 1 fig., 4 app. NTIS Access. No. PB93·215747. 

93. large Marine Ecosystems Monitoring Workshop Report: 13-14 July 1991, Cornell University, Ithaca, New 

York. By Kenneth Sherman and Thomas L Laughlin, eds. October 1992. iii + 22 p., 2 tables, 2 app. NTIS Access. 

No. PB93·234284. 

94. Summary of the Symposium on the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem: Stress, Mitigation, and Sustainabilty --

12-15 August 1991, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island. By Kenneth Sherman, N. 

Jaworski, and T. Smayda, eds. October 1992. v + 30 p., 3 app. NTIS Access. No. PB94·103439. 

95. Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1992. By Conservation and Utilization 

Division, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. October 1992. iv + 133 p., 60 figs., 67 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB93· 

144103. 

96. An Indexed Bibliography of Northeast Fisheries Science Center Publications and Reports for 1989. By Jon 

A. Gibson. November 1992. iii + 20 p. NTIS Access. No. PB93·213601. 

97. Water-column Thermal Structure in the Middle Atlantic Bight and Gulf of Maine during 1978-92. By 

Robert L Benway, Kevin P. Thomas, and Jack W. Jossi. March 1993. viii + 154 p., 147 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. 

No. PB93·223147. 

98. Marine Invertebrate Cell Culture: Breaking the Barriers -- Proceedings of an International Workshop, 16 

June 1991, Anaheim, California. By Aaron Rosenfield, ed. March 1993. vi + 25 p., 2 tables, 3 app. NTIS Access. 

No. PB93·213593. 

99. Sole Ownership of Living Marine Resources. By Steven F. Edwards, Allen J. Bejda, and R. Anne Richards. May 

1993. vii + 21 p., 6 figs., 1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB94·146651. 

100. Emerging Theoretical Basis for Monitoring the Changing States (Health) of large Marine Ecosystems --

Summary Report of Two Workshops: 23 April 1992, National Marine Fisheries Service, Narragansett, 

Rhode Island, and 11-12 July 1992, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. By Kenneth Sherman, ed. 

September 1993. iii + 27 p., 1 fig., 9 tables, 5 app. NTIS Access. No. PB94·157476. 

101. Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1993. By Conservation and Utilization 

Division, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. October 1993. iv + 140 p., 62 figs., 70 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB94· 

142361. 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-103 

This TM series is used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary results, 

interim reports, or special purpose information, and has not undergone external scientific 

review. 

Marine Mammal Studies Supported 

by the 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

during 1980-89 

Gordon T. Waring, Janeen M. Quintal, and Tim D. Smith 

Woods Hole Lab., National Marine Fisheries Serv., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Ronald H. Brown, Secretary 

National Oceanic and AtmospheriC Administration 

D. James Baker, Administrator 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Rolland A. Schmitten, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 

Northeast Region 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

Woods Hole, Massachusetts 

May 1994 
NOTE ON SPECIES NAMES 

The NMFS Northeast Region's policy on the use of species names in technical publications and reports is to follow the American 

Fisheries Society's (AFS) lists of scientific and common names for fishes (Robins et al. 1991)', mollusks (Turgeon et al. 1988)\ 

and decapod crustaceans (Williams et al. 1989)', and to follow the American Society of Mammalogists' list of scientific and 

common names for marine mammals (Wilson and Reeder 1993)d. This policy applies to all issues of the NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NMFS-F /NEC and -F /NER series. 

a Robins, CR. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, CE.; Brooker, 1.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. Common 

and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. 5th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20; 183 p. 

b Turgeon, D.O. (chair); Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.Y.; Emerson, W.K.; Lyons, W.G.; Pratt, w.L.; Roper, CFE.; Scheltema, 

A.; Thompson, FG.; Williams, 1.0. 1988. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United 

States and Canada: mollusks. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 16; 277 p. 

C Williams, A.B. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D.L.; Hobbs, H.H., lr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Perez Farfante, 

1. 1989. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod 

crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Pub!. 17; 77 p. 

d Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 

Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press; 1206 p. 
Page III 

Table of Contents 

List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv 

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 

Retrospective Organization of Research Projects ................................................................................................................................................. 3 

Summary of Research Results ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 

Ecological Roles and Habitat Requirements .................................................................................................................................................. 3 

Human Interactions ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 

Optimum Sustainable Population Size ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 

Research Planning and Archiving .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 

Summary of Results in the Four Research Areas .............................................................................................................................................. 11 

Implications for Future Research Directions ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 

References Cited ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 

Appendices ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 

List of Appendices 

Appendix A. Published scientific papers based on marine mammal research projects supported 

by the NEFSC between 1980 and 1989 ................................................................................................................................. 15 

Appendix B. Contract reports, manuscripts, and working papers based on marine mammal research 

projects supported by the NEFSC between 1980 and 1989 .......................................................................................... 18 

Appendix C. Abstracts of oral presentations at scientific conferences based on marine mammal research 

projects supported by the NEFSC between 1980 and 19891 ........................................................................................ 24 

Appendix D. Cruise period, area, and objectives of NEFSC harbor porpoise sighting surveys 

from 1987 to 1989 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 

List of Tables 

Table 1. Research recommendations from the 1979 "East Coast/Gulf Coast Cetacean and Pinniped 

Research Workshop," organized into three broad research areas ............................................................................................. 2 

Table 2. Definition of four general areas into which NEFSCfunded contract projects 

were grouped retrospectively .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

Table 3. Research topics defined retrospectively within each of the four research areas ................................................................ 4 

Table 4. Expenditures on marine mammal research during fiscal years 1980·89 

in 18 research topics organized into four research areas .............................................................................................................. 5 

Table 5. Publications, reports, and oral presentations germane to each of the 18 topics 

of research in the four research areas .................................................................................................................................................. 6 
Page IV 

List of Acronyms 

CCS -- Center for Coastal Studies 

CeTAP -- Cetacean and Turtle Assessment Program 

COA -- College of the Atlantic 

ICES -- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea 

IWC -- International Whaling Commission 

MBa -- Manomet Bird Observatory 

MMPA -- Marine Mammal Protection Act 

NEA -- New England Aquarium 

NEFSC -- Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

NMFS -- National Marine Fisheries Service 

UMO -- University of Maine-Orono 

URI -- University of Rhode Island 

USMMC -- US. Marine Mammal Commission 

WHOI -- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 
Page 1 

ABSTRACT 

Marine mammal research supported by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center from 1980 to 1989 is described in the 

context of four research areas defined retrospectively: (1) ecological roles and habitat requirements, (2) human interactions, 

(3) optimum sustainable population size, and (4) research planning and archiving. Within each area, contract and in· house 

projects are grouped into a number of research topics which are based on actual projects completed. Research activities and 

results, along with the total amount of money spent, are summarized for each topic. The relationship of the research supported 

over the decade to the recommendations of a research planning workshop held in 1979 is described. Finally, the implications 

for future research based on the progress made over the decade, as well as the implications of changing information needs, 

are discussed. 

INTRODUCTION 

Marine mammals have been important in the northeastern 

United States historically both as objects of commercial harvests 

and in ecological interactions with commercial fisheries. There 

was some scientific attention given to East Coast marine 

mammals as early as 1851 when Matthew Maury of the U.S. 

Navy's Depot of Charts and Instruments published his whale 

charts based upon whalers' logs and records of sightings. The 

U.S. Fish Commission gave more attention to marine mammals 

after its creation in 1871, including the commissioning of 

Starbuck's (1878) "History of the American Whale Fishery 

from Its Earliest Inception to the Year 1876." The omnibus 

series titled "The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United 

States" describes fisheries for both the great whales and smaller 

whales in the North Atlantic, the latter likely including pilot 

whales, bottlenose dolphin, and bottlenose whales (Goode and 

associates 1884). 

In addition to these direct fisheries, there was also interest 

in indirect effects of marine mammals on other fisheries. 

Goode and associates (1884) described the destructiveness of 

marine mammals to fisheries, a theme that the U.S. Commis· 

sioner of Fisheries, Spencer Baird, used in 1889 in supporting 

a fish meal factory to be built in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. 

Baird (1889, p. 68) speculated that the 20 tons of predatory 

"fishes," i.e., porpoises, skates, and dogfish, that the proposed 

factory would process annually "should present a marked 

influence upon the supply of edible fishes." The interest of the 

U.S. Fish Commission was primarily in terms of fisheries, and 

little biological study appears to have been done of marine 

mammals in this region beyond the taxonomic studies of 

Frederick True (1885) who, for example, provided written 

instructions to lighthouse keepers on "the best means of 

collecting and preserving specimens of whales and porpoises." 

With the declining importance of U.S. harvests of East 

Coast species of marine mammals in the late 1800s and early 

1900s, the incentive for systematic scientific study of species 

inhabiting waters off the northeastern United States declined. 

In the 1930s and 1940s, Remmington Kellogg at the Smithsonian 

Institution and William Schevill at Harvard University under· 

took taxonomic studies, but it wasn't until the late 1940s that 

cetacean biology began to be investigated more systematically. 

Then, Schevill began a series of investigations of cetacean 

acoustics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) 

that continue. In the early 1970s, several other researchers began 

studying marine mammals in this region. 

The results of this earlier work was addressed in 1979 when 

the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission (USMMC) sponsored a 

workshop to help define research needed for the study of marine 

mammals on the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States 

(Prescott et a/. 1980). More than 50 participants from govern· 

mental agencies, scientific institutions, and independent reo 

search programs identified more than 28 scientific institutions 

with ongoing studies of marine mammals. These research efforts 

had resulted in substantial knowledge of the species inhabiting 

the region, and summaries of available information were pre· 

sented for 22 cetacean and two pinniped species. These 

summaries revealed several information gaps, and the workshop 

participants developed five series of partially overlapping recom· 

mendations for future research. These have been reorganized 

into three general topics in paraphrased form in Table 1. 

Shortly after the 1979 workshop, two major marine mam· 

mal research programs were begun, one a 3·yr program at the 

University of Rhode Island (URI) sponsored by the Minerals 

Management Service (i.e., Cetacean and Turtle Assessment 

Program, or CeTAP), and the other a decade·long program of 

contract studies sponsored by the Northeast Fisheries Science 

Center (NEFSC). The two research programs are in marked 

contrast, with Ce TAP being relatively short and tightly focused 

on determining distribution and abundance, and with the 

NEFSC program being much broader in scope and funded on a 

continuing basis. CeTAP resulted in an omnibus volume 

reporting a series of aerial sighting surveys covering the area 

from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia, giving seasonal distribution 

patterns and estimates of numbers of animals based on line 

transect methods (Cetacean and Turtle Assessment Program 

1982). The NEFSC program has resulted in a long series of more 

modest research projects primarily in the form of small contract 

studies which, taken as a whole, document aspects of the 

distribution, ecological relationships, and human interactions 

for marine mammals in the region. 

The direction and form of the National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS) research program were adjusted over the 

decade in response to: (1) results of funded projects; (2) results 

of other projects on marine mammals and commercial fisheries; 

(3) additional planning workshops; and (4) to a considerable 

degree, personal interests of scientists who proposed interesting 

research topics. This program was markedly expanded in 1990 
Page 2 

Table 1. Research recommendations from the 1979 "East Coast/Gulf Coast Cetacean and Pinniped Research Workshop" (Prescott et al. 

1980), organized into three broad research areas 

Species Group 

All 

All 

All 

Harbor seal 

Large cetaceans 

Harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphin 

All 

All 

All 

Harbor porpoise, humpback 

All 

Large whales 

Large whales 

Harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphin 

Harbor seal 

Recommendation 

Ecological Roles and Habitat Requirements 

Determine essential elements of marine mammal habitats by analyzing existing oceanographic, 

biological, fisheries, and marine mammal sighting data 

Validate hypotheses generated from existing data using new oceanographic, biological, fisheries, and 

marine mammals sighting data to be collected 

Study habitat alteration: oil & gas, noise, thermal effluents, environmental contaminants, reduction 

in carrying capacity, and habitat alteration (dumping, dredging, coastal zone development) 

Determine population discreteness, food habits, seasonal movements, and essential habitats through 

tagging and radiotelemetry 

Determine habitat use and migration using sighting surveys, natural marks, Discovery tags, and 

radio tags 

Determine stock identity and movements using tagging studies; define essential habitat especially 

relative to coastal development and vessel traffic levels; assess contaminants through tissue analysis 

Human Interactions 

Establish magnitude and nature of incidental take by fisheries using systematic surveys and 

interviews with fishermen 

Integrate information on extent, nature, and proposed development of fisheries with marine 

mammal research plans 

Modify permit process for incidental take to encourage recovery of specimens for scientific study; 

assess human activities that may threaten the population or species; and utilize specimens currently 

unavailable for research 

Assess the extent, nature, and effects of humpback subsistence fisheries 

Examine the extent, nature, and effects of harassment on marine mammal populations and habitat 

Optimum Sustainable Population Levels 

Reanalyze existing population estimates and data 

Examine and analyze historical data, including whalers' logbooks 

Estimate population size and distribution using aerial and ship surveys 

Confirm and monitor the suspected increase in populations, at 3-yr intervals 

in response to information needs mandated by the 1988 amendment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). 

program, we have organized the more than 100 contract and inhouse projects into four different research areas and, within 

these, into 18 general topics. Summaries are provided of the 

research in each of the 18 topics based on the many published 

papers, contract reports, informal NEFSC staff reports, and 

abstracts of oral presentations at scientific meetings. 

This paper describes the results of the NEFSC marine 

mammal research program, 1980 to 1989. Over this decade, 

research projects on many species of marine mammals and on 

many subjects were supported. To provide an overview of the 
Page 3 

Table 2. Definition of four general areas into which NEFSCfunded contract projects were grouped retrospectively 

Research Area Definition 

Ecological roles and 

habitat requirements 

Focus is on seasonal & spatial distribution patterns, on feeding habits, and on basic population 

biology, including indirect interactions with human activities through the food chain 

Human interactions Focus is on those areas where human activities have direct impact on marine mammals, 

including bycatch, entanglement, and whale watching 

Optimum sustainable 

population size 

Focus is on abundance of marine mammals, addressing their historic levels especially relative to 

information needs under the MMP A and Endangered Species Ac1 

Research planning 

and archiving 

Focus is on identifying longer term research planning strategies, including identifying 

information gaps and new research methods, and on documenting and archiving results of 

previous research 

RETROSPECTIVE ORGANIZATION 

OF RESEARCH PROJECTS 

The more than 100 contracts and in·house projects sup· 

ported over the decade were classified retrospectively into four 

research areas, depending on the primary focus of the study 

(Table 2). Projects that a ppeared to fall into more than one area 

were classified according to where the most important results 

were obtained. Within each of the four areas, research topics 

were defined to include several related projects. This resulted 

in two to six topics studied in each research area (Table 3). 

When grouped into the topics defined in Table 3, the 

general thrusts of NEFSC's marine mammal research in the 

1980s can be seen. Although this retrospective classification 

gives a greater sense of continuity and directed ness than was the 

case, it provides a comprehensive method of understanding how 

the research direction varied over the decade. This is especially 

reflected in the amounts of money spent on the different studies 

each fiscal year (Table 4). Most research topics were supported 

for more than one year, and although gaps in support occurred, 

research in most of the topics was supported for several years. 

SUMMARY OF 

RESEARCH RESULTS 

The results of marine mammal research projects supported 

by the NEFSC between 1980 and 1989 are documented in the 

scientific literature (Appendix A) and in a series of contract 

reports and working papers (Appendix B), abstracts of oral 

presentations at scientific meetings (Appendix C), and brief 

cruise reports (Appendix D). This information has been used 

to prepare the following summaries of research results in each 

topic in the research areas defined in Tables 2 and 3. The 

references relevant to each topic are summarized in Table 5. 

ECOLOGICAL ROLES AND 

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS 

Topic 1. Harbor and Gray Seal 

Distribution and Biology 

Studies conducted on harbor seal tissue samples collected 

from animals that had mass stranded on Cape Cod in 1980 

indicated that the animals died from a pneumonia epidemic. 

Furthermore, size composition and autopsy data revealed that 

most of the dead animals were immature. 

Researchers at Manomet Bird Observatory (MBO) con· 

ducted a study of harbor seal diel behavior and response to 

human disturbance at Stage Harbor, Massachusetts. In addition, 

individual behavioral studies were conducted by using phalange 

color patterns to recognize individual animals. 

A small pilot study to determine ages of stranded harbor 

seals using radiographic techniques was funded. Results of this 

pilot study were inconclusive. 

Researchers at MBO studied the movements of two, radio· 

tagged, rehabilitated harbor seals in Cape Cod Bay, and the 

population dynamics of harbor seals in Massachusetts coastal 

waters. The radiotelemetry study documented that rehabilitated 

seals can survive release back into the ocean after an extended 

period of captivity. The study also documented the number of 

seals using Massachusetts coastal haulout sites, and seal food 

habits based on scat analysis. 

MBO researchers conducted aerial surveys during 1983·87 

to document seasonal distribution and abundance of harbor seals 

on their Southern New England overwintering grounds. These 

surveys documented a steady increase in the number of overwin· 

ter seals, supporting other regional studies that suggest a 

doubling of the Gulf of Maine harbor seal population since 

enactment of the MMP A. 
Page 4 

Table 3. Research topics defined retrospectively within each of the four research areas 

Topic Definition 

Ecological Roles and Habitat Requirements 

1. Harbor and gray seal distribution and biology 

2. Marine observer program 

3. Energetic requirements of East Coast cetaceans 

4. Western Gulf of Maine humpback and fin whales 

5. Humpback biopsy sampling 

6. Biological sampling of fishery bycatch 

7. Northern right whale habitat requirements 

8. Marine mammal- fishery interactions 

9. Whale - vessel interactions 

Tissue samples from 1980 stranding; behavior; radiotelemetry; scat samples; 

Nantucket Sound population 

Sighting surveys for cetaceans, seabirds, and sea turtles (conducted by Manomet 

Bird Observatory aboard NOAA fishery research vessels) 

Respiration characteristics; predator-prey relations; food habits; trophic interactions; 

marine mammal - fisheries interactions 

Seasonal distribution and abundance; photo-identification; habitat use; demographics 

Karyotypic analyses for sex determination and chromosome variability; behavioral 

response to biopsy dart 

Incidental takes of nonendangered marine mammals from East Coast foreign 

fishing/ processing vessels (analyzed by Smithsonian Institution) 

Detection of changes in populationdistribution and size 

Human Interactions 

Documentation of marine mammals incidentally taken in New England groundfish 

gill nets (conducted by University of Maine - Orono) 

25 yr of observations of large cetaceans' reactions to human activities in Cape Cod 

Bay area (analyzed by WHOI) 

Optimum Sustainable Population Size 

10. Harbor seal distribution and abundance 

11. Harbor porpoise distribution and abundance 

12. Harbor porpoise survey methodology 

13. Humpback photo-identification catalog 

14. Northern right whale photo-identification catalog 

15. Northern right whale distribution and abundance 

16. Bottlenose dolphin distribution and abundance 

along the Virginia capes 

Aerial surveys along Maine coast to obtain population, recruitment, and distribution 

information in 1985-86 

Shipboard surveys along Maine coast to study distribution patterns, population 

size, and seasonal movements (conducted by the New England Aquarium) 

Experimental line-transect surveys in Gulf of Maine to test sighting methods and 

determine seaward and northern distribution (conducted by the NEFSC) 

Western North Atlantic humpback photo-identification catalog with over 3500 

individual identifications (maintained by College of the Atlantic) 

Aerial and shipboard photo-identification; population catalog estimates; seasonal 

movement; tracking individuals to document calving intervals 

Calving rates; population estimation and seasonal distribution; demographics; 

behavior; social groups 

1980 aerial surveys in mouth of Chesapeake Bay 

Research Planning and Archiving 

17. Workshop support 

18. Documentation and archiving 

Workshop support in 1980, 1981, and 1986; staff time to plan and administer 

contracts and other studies 

Transfer of CeTAP data to NEFSC archiving fishery survey formats; creation of 

bibliographic system for cetacean literature; analysis of whaling logbooks 
Page 5 

Table 4. Expenditures on marine mammal research (thousands of dollars) during fiscal years 1980·89 in 18 research topics organized into 

four research areas (as defined in Tables 2 and 3) 

Topic _Fiscal Year 

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 

Ecological Roles and Habitat Requirements 

I. Harbor and gray seal 42 3 15 2 4 

distribution and biology 

2. Marine observer program 25 41 30 31 52 55 53 53 58 60 

3. Energetic requirements 5 13 6 7 30 

of East Coast cetaceans 

4. Western Gulf of Maine 12 10 20 31 38 31 

humpback and fin whales 

5. Humpback biopsy sampling 2 13 28 6 

6. Biological sampling of 4 5 5 

fishery bycatch 

7. Northern right whale 10 20 32 20 30 

habitat requirements 

Human Interactions 

8. Marine mammal- fishery 37 46 20 15 15 60 6 

interactions 

9. Whale - vessel interactions 24 

Optimum Sustainable Population Size 

10. Harbor seal distribution 4 20 24 29 

and abundance 

11. Harbor porpoise 45 30 7 

distribution and abundance 

12. Harb)r porpoise survey 8 5 10 

methodology 

13. Humpback photo- 23 56 39 29 29 22 18 22 21 22 

identification catalog 

14. Northern right whale 73 70 67 76 

photo-identification catalog 

15. Northern right whale 23 28 25 45 49 33 290 140 120 114 

distribution and abundance 

16. Bottlenose dolphin 10 

distribution and abundance 

along the Virginia capes 

Research Planning and Archiving 

17. Workshop support 16 2 1 2 3 5 

18. Documentation and archiving 5 24 10 
Page 6 

Table 5. Publications, reports, and oral presentations germane to each of the 18 research topics in the four research areas. (Numbers refer to 

numbered items in the corresponding appendix.) 

Topic Appendix 

A B 

Ecological Roles and Habitat Requirements 

1. Harb)r and gray seal 

distribution and biology 

2. Marine observer program 

3. Energetic requirements of 

East Coast cetaceans 

4. Western Gulf of Maine 

humpback and fin whales 

5. Humpback biopsy sampling 

6. Biological sampling of fishery bycatch 

7. Northern right whale habitat requirements 

8. Marine mammal- fishery interactions 

9. Whale - vessel interactions 

10. Harb)r seal distribution and abundance 

11. Haroor porpoise 

distribution and abundance 

12. Haroor porpoise survey methodology 

13. Humpback photo-identification catalog 

14. Northern right whale 

photo-identification catalog 

15. Northern right whale 

distribution and abundance 

16. Bottlenose dolphin 

distribution and abundance 

along the Virginia capes 

17. Workshop support 

18. Documentation and 

archiving 

26,28,40 7,40,55,56,68,72 

22-24,33-38, 39,41-54,59-

43,44,50 63,71,74,75,79 

20,21,25,27, 6,20,21,37,76 

29,42 

4-9,11,12,39,41 34,36 

16,17 28,29,80 

2,15,18,45 38 

Human Interactions 

30,48 8-12 

49 78 

Optimum Sustainable Population Size 

28 73 

30 23,25,57,58,65 

32,43,44 38,65 

3,8,19,39, 1,3,13-16, 

47 30-33,35 

14 5,35,38 

2,10,13,15, 17,18,22,24, 

45,46 26,27,66,67,70 

2 

Research Planning and Archiving 

2 4,64,69 

19,77 

c 

5,10,26,38 

16,28 

22,23,25,33,37 

11,15,29,40 

19,27,41 

18 

14,36 

17,30,42 

39 

8 

3,34 

4,6,9,11,12, 

21,24 

2,7 

13,31,32,35 

20 

D 

1-3 

1-3 
Analyses of harbor seal scat samples collected on major 

haulout grounds indicated that sand lance (Ammodytes sp./ 

spp.) was the preferred prey item. The abundance of sand lance 

coincided with the population explosion of this prey species in 

Northeast shelf waters during the 1980s. 

Surveys of the Nantucket Sound gray seal population were 

conducted in 1982 and 1983 to document numbers, size 

composition, and reproductive success. The study revealed that 

23·28 seals used Muskeget Island and that successful pupping 

had occurred. The presence of branding marks on some adult 

and subadult seals indicated that some of the animals were from 

the Sable Island population. This suggests that gray seal 

population growth in Nantucket Sound is partly due to 

recolonization of historical haulout sites by Sable Island animals. 

Topic 2. Marine Observer Program 

MBO researchers conducted systematic sighting surveys for 

cetaceans, seabirds, and sea turtles aboard NOAA fishery 

research vessels off the Northeast coast during 1980-87. These 

surveys provided substantial data on the spatial and seasonal 

distribution and abundance of cetaceans and seabirds. In 

addition, because these data were collected simultaneously with 

fisheries data, they can be used to assess trophic interactions 

among cetaceans, pelagic fishes, and squids. These data are 

archived in computer data files. 

The decommissioning of the NOAA fishery research vessel 

Albatross IV from June 1989 to October 1991 shifted the 

emphasis of the MBO contract to compiling sea bird and 

cetacean atlases, trophic interaction studies, and evaluating 

historical sighting-survey data-collection procedures with the 

goal of improving survey design by incorporating recent linetransect methodology. 

Topic 3. EnergetiC Requirements 

of East Coast Cetaceans 

At the College of the Atlantic (COA) , researchers analyzed 

6 yr of undisturbed fin whale respiration rate data collected off 

Mount Desert Rock in the Gulf of Maine. This study compared 

five respiration characteristics (i.e., dive length, surfacing length, 

blows per surfacing, blow interval, and percent of time at 

surface) when fin whales were undisturbed and when they were 

in the presence of whale watch vessels. This analysis indicated 

that there were no significant differences between the respiration characteristics of undisturbed whales and of whales in the 

presence of vessels. 

URI researchers used Ce T AP cetacean biomass density 

estimates, cetacean food habits literature, and published metabolic models to calculate the energetic requirements of the 

cetaceans of the Northeast outer continental shelf. Depending 

on the model used, annual prey consumption was approximately 

365,000 or 545,000 metric tons (mt). The estimates of finfish 

(185,000 or 276,000 mt) and squid (154,000 or 224,000 mt) 

Page 7 

consumption totals exceed by about a third the commercial 

harvests. These estimates indicate that cetaceans are an important predator in the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem. 

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts studied 

population dynamics of sand lances (Ammodytes spp.) off the 

Northeast coast. These species are principal prey for the 

endangered humpback and fin whale, and may be important 

competitors with the northern right whale for Calanus copep· 

ods. Collapse in 1986 of the sand lance population on 

Stellwagen Bank in the Gulf of Maine dramatically shifted the 

distribution of these three whales off the Massachusetts coast. 

Researchers analyzed 1968-87 sand lance abundance data collected during NEFSC spring and autumn bottom trawl surveys 

on the Northeast shelf between Cape Hatteras and Nova Scotia. 

In addition, age-and-growth studies provided information on 

growth rates, maturity, and age composition of the population. 

These data are being used in ecosystem models being developed 

at the NEFSC (Overholtz et al. 1987). 

University of Massachusetts researchers conducted a sensitivity analysis of a multispecies virtual population analysis, with 

special emphasis on the impact of cetacean consumption of 

principal pelagic prey species (i.e., sand lances, Atlantic herring, 

and Atlantic mackerel). Results of the analysis indicated the 

need to collect additional data on trophic interactions between 

cetaceans and prey resources on the Northeast shelf. 

Researchers at the NEFSC processed stomach samples 

which had been collected by fishery observers aboard domestic 

and foreign fishing vessels. In addition, observers conducted 

qualitative examinations of marine mammal stomachs that 

could not be frozen. These food habits data provided new 

information on the trophic interactions of shelf and shelf-edge 

cetaceans, and will be incorporated into ecosystem models being 

developed at the NEFSC. 

The spatial/temporal overlap between the Mid-Atlantic/ 

Southern New England delphinid complex and potential pelagic 

prey resources will be analyzed using geographic information 

system technology and fisheries and oceanographic data primarily archived at the NEFSC. Results of these analyses will be 

helpful in understanding direct and indirect marine mammal 

fisheries interactions. 

Topic 4. Western Gulf of Maine 

Humpback and Fin Whales 

Beginning in October 1984, researchers at the Center for 

Coastal Studies (CCS) in Provincetown, Massachusetts, conducted tract surveys to document the seasonal distribution and 

abundance of the fin whale and humpback in Cape Cod Bay and 

on the Provincetown Slope. Oceanographic, behavioral, photographic, and population demographic data were also collected. 

Additionally, in high-use habitats, researchers documented the 

oceanographic (i.e., biological and physical) and geographic 

characteristics of those regions to identify the mechanisms which 

attract and maintain groups of whales. In latter years, summer 

shipboard surveys were expanded to include the Great South 
Page8 

Channel, the northern edge of Georges Bank, and major banks 

and ridges within the Gulf of Maine. Furthermore, a cooperative 

data exchange program begun in the latter years with researchers 

in Nova Scotia provided information on individual animal 

spatial! temporal patterns. 

CCS researchers collected sighting, photo-identification, 

habitat use, and demographic data while serving as naturalists 

aboard commercial whale watch vessels. These data were 

incorporated into the data base, and have provided insights into 

daily and seasonal movements. 

Topic 5. Humpback Biopsy 

Sampling 

The NEFSC funded a small study on the biology of the 

humpback on Stellwagen Bank in the Gulf of Maine. Research· 

ers used photo·identification techniques to identify individual 

animals and to document social and feeding behavior on an 

important summer feeding site in the western gulf. 

During the mid-1980s, humpback tissue samples were 

collected using a biopsy dart and were cultured for karyotypic 

analyses. Karyotypic analyses included sex determination according to chromosome complement, and measures of chromosome variability. Geographically isolated populations were 

sampled to allow a quantitative comparison of chromosome 

variability between Atlantic and Pacific humpback populations. 

Results of these studies indicated that karyotyping is a useful 

technique for determining sex and for tracking family lineages, 

and that ongoing photo· identification studies complement bi· 

opsy work. Results also suggested that R·banding patterns can 

be used as a measurement of chromosomal variability in geo· 

graphically isolated populations. Fluke photographs were taken 

of all animals sampled, and the behavioral responses of the whale 

to the biopsy dart were documented. 

Topic 6. Biological Sampling of 

Fishery Bycatch 

Beginning in 1986, observers aboard East Coast foreign 

fishing/processing vessels froze, when feasible, all carcasses of 

nonendangered marine mammals incidentally taken in fishing 

operations for later processing at the Smithsonian Institution. 

Beginning in 1989, biological samples were also collected by 

observers aboard domestic fishing vessels (see Topic 8). 

These specimens are providing new information on the 

food habits, morphometries, reproductive biology, physiology, 

and parasitology of the offshore delphinid complex, particularly 

the long·finned pilot whale, common dolphin, bottlenose dol· 

phin, and pan·tropical spotted dolphin. Furthermore, because 

these animals were apparently healthy, analyses of tissue con· 

taminantsare providing important baseline information for non· 

bycatch.related mortality events (i.e., 1987·88 bottlenose dol· 

phin mass stranding event). 

Topic 7. Northern Right Whale 

Habitat Requirements 

Under a Congressional initiative supporting research on 

the northern right whale, the NEFSC's ongoing research on 

habitat requirements of the right whale (see Topic IS) increased 

in 1987. Studies were begun by the CCS utilizing fine·scale 

observations of right whale distribution and feeding behavior in 

Cape Cod Bay. This approach was complemented by related 

studies sponsored by the National Science Foundation through 

URI, and by the State of Massachusetts. The results are leading 

to improved understanding of the prey densities required by the 

right whale. 

HUMAN INTERACTIONS 

Topic 8. Marine Mammal - Fishery 

Interactions 

During the early 1980s, researchers at the University of 

Maine· Orono (UMO) conducted studies to document the 

species, number, seasonality, and population characteristics of 

marine mammals incidentally taken in New England groundfish 

gill nets. The researchers secured a small·take exemption permit 

on behalf of cooperative gill·netters, and these fishermen sent 

take forms to the university; carcasses from incidentally taken 

marine mammals were brought to shore for necropsy by UMO 

personnel. Based on a 60·percent logbook return rate, the 

number of harbor porpoise reported killed was 30 for 1984 and 

107 for 1985, or 4.3 and 8.2 animals per fisherman. The 

researchers suggested that the reported number of kills by permit 

holders was a lower limit for the actual number killed, and that 

an upper limit might be 600 based on the mean annual kill rate 

per fisherman and on the researchers' estimate of a maximum of 

120 gill·netters. In addition, the researchers identified other 

fisheries (i.e., halibut tub trawl, lobster pot, and groundfish 

longline) in the Gulf of Maine which should be investigated. 

Information on incidental catch of cetaceans in foreign fisheries 

for Atlantic mackerel and Atlantic squid has been collected by 

observers since 1977. Waring et ai. (1990) used these data to 

estimate total numbers of animals killed, and to examine causes 

of the interactions. Principal species killed were pilot whales and 

the common dolphin. Costs of this data collection program are 

not reflected in Table 4. 

Starting in 1989, observers were put aboard domestic 

fishing vessels to record information on fishing operations and 

discards of fish. marine mammals, and sea turtles. Significant 

levels of marine mammal takes were confirmed in the Gulf of 

Maine sink gill·net fishery (primarily harbor porpoise) and in the 

swordfish drift gill·net fishery (some 10 different cetacean 

species). Costs of this data collection program are not reflected 

in Table 4. 
Topic 9. Whale - Vessel 

Interactions 

At WHOI, researchers analyzed over 25 yr (1957-82) of 

observations on responses of large cetaceans to human-induced 

stimuli in waters in and around Cape Cod Bay. Results of these 

analyses indicated that the reactions of whales to human 

activities vary by species, and may vary within a species over time: 

the minke whale remained generally uninterested and undisturbed by vessel traffic; fin whale behavior changed from 

uninterested and often negative to much more uninterested and 

less often negative; northern right whale behavior remained 

about the same, their responses were nearly equally distributed 

between uninterested and negative reactions; and the humpback 

changed from mixed responses in earlier years to more positive 

responses in recent years. 

OPTIMUM SUSTAINABLE 

POPULATION SIZE 

Topic 10. Harbor Seal Distribution 

and Abundance 

In 1985-86, researchers at UMO conducted aerial surveys 

along the Maine coast to obtain population, recruitment, and 

distribution information on the harbor seal. These surveys were 

comparable to the first Maine coast survey conducted by UMO 

researchers in 1972. The 1972 survey was also funded by 

NEFSC. Results of the mid·1980s study indicated that the 

harbor seal population was still growing, but at a declining rate. 

The harbor seal population was estimated to be 12,000-15,000 

animals which was more than double the 1972 estimates. 

Topic 11. Harbor Porpoise 

Distribution and Abundance 

The New England Aquarium (NEA) conducted shipboard 

surveys along the Maine coast in July 1982 to determine coastal 

distribution patterns and to estimate population size using linetransect methods. Harbor porpoise were observed in a continuous area from Port Clyde to Cutler, Maine. No harbor porpoise 

were observed southwest of this area, and the survey did not 

extend to the northeast. A population estimate of roughly 8,000 

(with a 95-percent confidence interval of ±1,327) was derived. 

Furthermore, this estimate was expanded by 52 percent to 

roughly 15,000, based on the likelihood that all animals on the 

trackline were not seen. 

NEA researchers used harbor porpoise sightings made 

aboard whale watch and research vessels working in the coastal 

waters of the Gulf of Maine to document seasonal distribution. 

The results indicated that most of the harbor porpoise populaPage9 

tion was along the eastern Maine coast and in the Bay of Fundy 

in late summer, and that some animals made a coastwide northsouth seasonal migration in spring and autumn. 

Sighting survey methodology experiments that began in 

1987 by NEFSC researchers (see Topic 12) improved the 

documentation of seasonal distribution, better defining the 

southern edge of the summer range and the northeastern 

distribution pattern of the species. 

Topic 12. Harbor Porpoise Survey 

Methodology 

Beginning in 1987, the NEFSC conducted experimental 

line-transect harbor porpoise surveys in the Gulf of Maine. The 

objectives of these surveys were to test line-transect sighting 

methods using two teams of observers. Preliminary results of 

these studies indicated that harbor porpoise elicited negative 

response to the survey vessel, that a large fraction of animals 

along the track line were missed, and that observer elevation 

above sea surface has little effect on sighting rate. 

Topic 13. Humpback Photoidentification Catalog 

Beginning in 1980, COA was funded to maintain the 

western North Atlantic humpback photo-identification catalog, 

receiving photographs from cooperative researchers between 

Iceland and Puerto Rico. The catalog contains over 3,500 

individually identified whales. In cooperation with NMFS 

National Marine Mammal Laboratory staff, COA researchers 

incorporated the catalog into a computer·assisted photomatching 

system. Photographs were stored on a video disc, and an 

interactive computer program allowed the matcher to scan the 

entire collection rapidly to make a match. 

Using mark-recapture methods, researchers derived population estimates for the five western North Atlantic substocks. In 

addition, individual photo-identification data, together with 

DNA fingerprint studies, provided information on family lines 

and stock interchange. 

Researchers at the CCS conducted a study on the stability 

of humpback fluke patterns over time. This analysis was 

conducted using a time series of photographs archived at CCS. 

Conclusions were that the most dramatic change in fluke 

patterns occurs in calves during their first 2 yr of life, particularly 

calves with darker flukes, but experienced matchers were able to 

detect these changes. This study supported the validity of using 

fluke patterns for long-term studies of individual animals. 

During the early 1980s, several research organizations were 

funded to conduct song recordings and photo-identification 

studies on the western North Atlantic humpback on overwintering and calving grounds in the Caribbean Sea. These studies 

provided information on breeding behavior, stock intermixing, 

individual identification, and habitat use. 
Page10 

Topic 14. Northern Right Whale 

Photo-identification Catalog 

Under a Congressional initiative supporting research on 

the northern right whale, the NEFSC's ongoing support (see 

Topic 15) for a photo-identification catalog increased in 1987_ 

Sets of individual identification photographs were integrated 

into a single data base by researchers at NEA, WHOI, URI, and 

the CCS_ This resulted in an improved count of individually 

known animals and a published catalog, as well as an ongoing 

system for integrating new photographs_ The results are being 

used to provide information on vital rates and abundance. 

Topic 15. Northern Right Whale 

Distribution and Abundance 

During the early 1980s, the NEFSC funded several northern right whale studies that focused on photo-identification, 

calving rates, population estimation, demographics, and habitat 

use. These early studies provided data on seasonal movements 

of individual animals between the overwintering calving grounds 

off the southeastern u.s. coast and the spring-summer feeding 

grounds off New England and in the Bay of Fundy. Aerial and 

shipboard photo-identification studies provided population estimates and allowed researchers to track individual animals and 

to document calving intervals for known animals. 

In the mid-1980s, the NEFSC contributed to right whale 

research supported by the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science 

Center's Miami Laboratory. These studies involved the documentation of historic right whale whaling activities along the 

southeastern U.S. coast, particularly off North Carolina. 

Under a Congressional initiative, an integrated study on the 

North Atlantic right whale was implemented in 1987 through 

a cooperative agreement with URI. The overall goal of this 

research was detecting changes and causes of changes in population distribution and size. 

To meet these goals, aerial and shipboard sighting data were 

collected to document seasonal distribution and abundance 

patterns, especially in the region of the Great South Channel and 

the Bay of Fundy, and more broadly on the East Coast to 

document the species range; some of these studies provided 

photo-identification materials (see Topic 14). This effort was 

complemented by studies funded by the Minerals Management 

Service on winter distributions along the southeastern U.S. 

coast, and on development of satellite tag methods. 

Topic 16. Bottlenose Dolphin 

Distribution and Abundance along 

the Virginia Capes 

Aerial surveys conducted during July-October 1980 in the 

mouth of Chesapeake Bay and along the Virginia coast indicated 

bottlenose dolphin herd density was higher in the coastal areas. 

Furthermore, researchers hypothesized that herds in the bay 

were part of the coastal stock. 

RESEARCH PLANNING AND 

ARCHIVING 

Topic 17. Workshop Support 

Following the 1979 Marine Mammal Research Planning 

Workshop (Prescott et aJ. 1980), several other more specialized 

research planning workshops were conducted. The NEFSC 

participated in most of these, and provided funds to support 

many of them. 

The NEFSC contributed to a 1981 humpback workshop 

that was held at the NEA. The purpose of this workshop was 

to determine the status of knowledge and research needs for East 

Coast humpback research. Recommendations from this workshop were used by the NEFSC to fund humpback studies. 

In 1983, researchers supported by the NEFSC participated 

in a workshop on the status of the northern right whale which 

identified key research needs relative to this species. In 1985, 

NEFSC staff participated in a workshop with other NMFS 

scientists to define research priorities for large whales. 

The NEFSC contributed to a 1986 workshop on fin whale 

photo-identification techniques. The focus of this workshop was 

to review field photographic techniques, and animal characteristics that are used to identify individual animals. The workshop 

concluded that photo-identification techniques could be used to 

identify individuals, and agreed to establish a fin whale catalog 

at COA. 

To implement a research program on the North Atlantic 

right whale funded directly by Congressional initiative, the 

NEFSC began in 1987 to work with scientists in several regional 

scientific institutions to design a long-term research program on 

photo-identification, habitat use, and distribution and abundance. Also in 1987, NEFSC staff began to participate in the 

Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission 

(lWC), and in meetings of the Marine Mammal Committee of 

the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). 

Topic 18. Documentation and 

Archiving Project 

A small study was funded to examine whaling records 

archived at the Kendall Whale Museum. Purpose of this study 

was to document historical distribution of the northern right 

whale along the East Coast. 

Researchers at URI were funded to transfer an edited and 

documented copy of the CeT AP data base to a format that was 

compatible to NEFSC data bases. This acquisition provided the 

NEFSC and NMFS Northeast Regional Operations Office staff 

with access to one of the most comprehensive data sources on 
distribution and abundance of cetaceans and sea turtles in the 

Northeast. The Ce T AP was run by URI under contract to the 

u.s. Department of the Interior. These data have been used in 

developing additional sighting surveys, preparing management 

plans, and commenting on environmental impact statements. 

Researchers at WHO I designed a comprehensive reference 

data base for marine mammal literature. The system used 

INMAGIC software to format, search, sort, and store the data. 

The data base was organized to complement the format used by 

William E. Schevill for his extensive collection of cetacean 

literature. The data base allows the user to retrieve references 

based on topic, author, species, geographic region, and taxo· 

nomic level. A copy of this data base resides at the NEFSC, and 

NEFSC staff have added references for all NEFSC marine 

mammal contract reports. 

SUMMARY OF RESULTS 

INTHE 

FOUR RESEARCH AREAS 

The decade of research described here addressed many, but 

not all, of the issues raised in the 1979 planning workshop, with 

progress being made on most of the recommended topics. 

Several studies were supported nearly continuously throughout 

the decade, with the simultaneous cetacean, seabird, and fishery 

resource surveys (marine observer program) and humpback 

photo· identification catalog being most notable. Research em· 

phasis increased on large whales in the last half of the decade. 

Other studies were supported only once or for a few years. The 

research on marine mammals increased in magnitude and scope 

over the decade, with major increases in funding occurring in 

1986, and with increasing amounts of NEFSC staff time being 

devoted to this work. 

Activities in research planning and archiving continued 

throughout the decade as the recommendations of earlier 

planning workshops were addressed, and as plans were revised 

to address increasing interest in marine mammals. Late in the 

decade, additional research planning began to be conducted 

directly by NEFSC staff, especially on the northern right whale. 

Several research projects began to be conducted by NEFSC staff, 

especially on harbor porpoise. Additionally, NEFSC staff 

participated more frequently in national and international 

activities related to marine mammals, including the Scientific 

Committee of the IWC, the Committee of Scientific Advisors of 

the USMMC, and the Marine Mammal Committee and 

Multispecies Working Group of ICES. 

Research on human interactions had identified the princi· 

pal direct interactions by mid·decade, but lack of systematic 

observations aboard fishing vessels precluded assessing the 

seriousness of the interactions. This was remedied late in the 

decade with establishment of a systematic fishing vessel observer 

program to monitor all types of bycatch (funding not shown in 

Table 4), and future studies will use these data to estimate total 

bycatch. 

Page11 

Research on ecological roles and habitat requirements 

initially focused on the harbor seal and the relationships between 

marine mammals and fishery resources. The simultaneous 

surveys for cetaceans, seabirds, and fishery resources continued 

throughout the decade, providing information on the co·distri· 

bution of cetaceans and especially pelagic fishery resources, as 

well as documenting the main aspects of seasonal movements of 

seabirds through the area. The emphasis on seal biology and 

ecology gradually gave way to an increasing focus on large whale 

habitat and ecological relationships. 

Research on optimum sustainable population size includes 

those projects that primarily focused on distribution and abun· 

dance; over the decade emphasis has been given to the harbor 

seal, harbor porpoise, humpback, and northern right whale. 

Photo· identification catalogs have been supported, first for the 

humpback, and then for right and fin whales later in the decade. 

The need for improved estimates of total abundance for species 

subject to bycatch in commercial fisheries prompted a study in 

sighting survey methodology late in the decade. 

IMPLICATIONS FOR 

FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS 

Throughout the 1980s, research on marine mammals in the 

Northwest Atlantic expanded greatly, and many of the questions 

identified in 1979 were at least partially answered. In addition 

to the research described here, other studies by WHOI, URI, 

CCS, University of Guelph, and UMO contributed greatly to 

our understanding of marine mammals, especially cetaceans, in 

the Northwest Atlantic. 

The information needs have changed, as a result both of the 

questions answered and of new issues arising. The 1988 

amendment of the MMP A focused on interactions with com· 

mercial fisheries. While the initial emphasis was on direct effects 

through bycatch and entanglement, indirect interactions of 

marine mammals and fisheries through ecological interactions 

are becoming increasingly important nationally in the seemingly 

contradictory goals of the MMP A and the Magnuson Fishery 

Conservation Management Act. International concerns about 

the possible resumption of commercial whaling and the ex· 

pressed interest in culling of marine mammal populations to 

improve commercial fisheries for marine mammal prey species 

also raise the need for additional information on indirect 

interactions. Similarly, the likely adoption by NMFS of Endan· 

gered Species Act recovery plans and MMP A conservation plans 

for such species as the humpback and northern right whale 

provides well defined research needs relating to status, habitat 

requirements, and the likely effects of various regulations of 

human activity. 

All of these information needs require improved basic 

knowledge of marine mammal biology and ecology. Some of this 

information can only be obtained through basic scientific studies 

that can only be undertaken on an opportunistic basis. For 

example, in the Northwest Atlantic, many aspects of the 

biological study of cetaceans can be undertaken using specimens 
Page 12 

collected from the commercial fisheries bycatch and from mass 

strandings. The extensive fishery observer program conducted 

by NEFSC includes collection of carcasses and biological samples 

wherever possible, samples that can be used by the scientific 

community at large. Similarly, mass strandings on Cape Cod and 

elsewhere are regular if infrequent events that the scientific 

community should be prepared to take maximum advantage of. 

On the other hand, some information can only be obtained by 

long·term observations of "naturally" occurring experiments. 

For example, fluctuations in the distribution and abundance of 

the pelagic fishes in the region from Cape Hatteras to the Gulf 

of Maine on the scale of decades have been documented during 

the regular fishery monitoring programs of NMFS. Such 

fluctuation may well be reflected in changes in the distribution 

and possibly the abundance of cetaceans (Sissenwineet al. 1984), 

changes that can only be detected by long·term cetacean moni· 

toring programs (Smith et al. 1990). Research opportunities 

such as these must be identified, and suitable programs put into 

place both to respond as opportunities arise and to ensure that 

long·term monitoring is done in a manner that will allow strong 

inferences in the long term. 

Major advances in marine mammal research methods are 

being made, advances that will allow new questions to be 

addressed. For example, attachment devices and packaging of 

satellite tags have improved so that successful attachments to 

either restrained or free·swimming cetaceans of all sizes are 

possible. Similarly, biochemical studies of the genetics and 

feeding ecology of marine mammals can be conducted using 

biopsy samples. Line·transect survey methods have come into 

regular use, especially within the IWC's Scientific Committee, 

and the assumptions and methods are being critically investi· 

gated, and major advances are being made. The routine use of 

individual whale photo· identification has been achieved for the 

humpback and northern right whale, and is being explored for 

other species. The applications of these approaches to other 

species (such as the fin whale) and to larger populations need to 

be explored. The latter is especially important to meet questions 

being raised in the context of possible resumption of commercial 

whaling in the North Atlantic and Antarctic. Research programs 

need to identify the possible application of these methods to the 

questions being addressed, advances need to be capitalized on, 

and further advances supported. 

The focus of marine mammal studies by scientists in the 

northeastern United States has been primarily within the 

continental shelf, with only limited sampling being done beyond 

the 2000·m depth contour. Many important species occur 

seasonally well off the shelf, including both animals (such as the 

sperm whale and bottlenose dolphin) that occur along the Gulf 

Stream wall in summer, and others (such as the humpback) that 

migrate to wintering grounds in the Caribbean Sea. An 

understanding of the biology and ecology of cetaceans will 

require understanding the importance of their use of these 

habitats, a critically important issue, for example, in evaluating 

the status of the North Atlantic humpback (Beard et al. 1990). 

The marine mammal research program at the NEFSC was 

expanded substantially in 1990, with the assignment of six 

scientists and technicians. The focus of that program is develop· 

ing from the research conducted in the 1980s, but necessarily 

will be changed to accommodate new information needs and 

new research methods. Assistance will be needed from marine 

mammal scientists and from resource managers to ensure both 

that short·term and long·term information needs are met, and 

that opportunities for collaboration and coordination of efforts 

are fully realized. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Baird, S. 1889. The sea fisheries of eastern North America. Rep. 

U.s. Comm. Fish & Fish. 14(App. A): 3·224. 

Beard, J.; Clapham, P.; Hammond, P.; Katona, S.; Larsen, F.; Lien, 

J.; Mattila, D.; Mayo, c.; 0ien, N.; Palsbol, P.; Polacheck, T.; 

Sigurjonsson, J.; Smith, T. 1990. YoNAH: years of the 

North Atlantic humpback whale·· a proposal for discussion. 

Int. Whaling Comm. Sci. Doc. SC/42/025; 9 p. 

Cetacean and Turtle Assessment Program. 1982. A character· 

ization of marine mammals and turtles in the Mid· and 

North Atlantic areas of the US. outer continental shelf: 

final report. USDI contract (No. AA551·CT8-48) report 

available from Bureau of Land Management, Washington, 

DC; 538 p. 

Goode, G.B., and associates. 1884. The fisheries and fishery 

industries of the United States. Section 1. History of aquatic 

animals. Part 1. Mammals. Washington, DC: US. Govern· 

ment Printing Office; p. 7·32. 

Overholtz, W.J.; Murawski, S.A.; Foster, K.L. 1991. Impact of 

predatory fish, marine mammals, and seabirds on the 

pelagic fish ecosystem of the northeastern USA. ICES lInt. 

Counc. Explor. Sea} Mar. Sci. Symp. 193: 198·208. 

Prescott, J.H.; Kraus, S.D.; Gilbert, J.R. 1980. East Coast/Gulf 

Coast cetacean and pinniped research workshop. US. Mar. 

Mamm. Comm. Rep. No. 79/02; 142 p. 

Sissenwine, M.P.; Overholtz, W.J.; Clark, S.H. 1984. In search 

of density dependence. In: Proceedings of the Workshop 

on Biological Interactions among Marine Mammals and 

Commercial Fisheries in the Southeastern Bering Sea. Alsk. 

Sea Grant Rep. 84·1: 119·137. 

Smith, T.D.; Payne, P.M.; Heinemann, D.; Waring, G.; Lange, A. 

1990. Simultaneous fishery resource and seabird and 

cetacean sighting surveys: advantages and disadvantages. 

N. Atl. Stud. 2(1·2): 90·101. 

Starbuck, A. 1878. History of the American whale fishery from 

its earliest inception to the year 1876. Rep. US. Comm. Fish 

& Fish. 4(App.A): 1·782. 

True, F.W. 1885. Suggestions to keepers of the US. life·saving 

stations, light·houses, and light·ships; and to other observ· 

ers, relative to the best means of collection and preserving 

specimens of whales and porpoises. Rep. US. Comm. Fish 

& Fish. Il(App. F): 1157·1182. 

Waring, G.T.; Gerrior, P.; Payne, P.M.; Parry, B.L.; Nicolas, J.R. 

1990. Incidental take of marine mammals in foreign fishery 

activities off the northeast United States, 1977 ·1988. Fish. 

Bull. (U.S.) 88(2): 347·360. 
Page 13 

APPENDICES 

Page 15 

APPENDIX A 

Published Scientific Papers 

Based on Marine Mammal Research Projects 

Supported by the NEFSC between 1980 and 1989 

1. Blaylock, R.A. 1988. Distribution and abundance of the 

bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus (Montagu, 1821), 

in Virginia. Fish. Bull. (US.) 86(4): 797·805. 

2. Brownel1, R.L.; Best, P.B.; Prescott, J,H., editors. 1986. 

Right whales: past and present status: proceedings of the 

workshop on the status of right whales, New England 

Aquarium, !Y)ston, Massachusetts, 15·23 June 1983. Rep. 

Int. Whaling Comm. Spec. Issue 10; 289 p. 

3. Carlson, CA.; Mayo, CA. 1990. Changes in the ventral 

fluke pattern of the humpback whale (Megaptera 

novaeangliae), and its effect on matching; evaluation of its 

significance to photo· identification research. Rep. Int. 

Whaling Comm. Spec. Issue 12: 105·111. 

4. Clapham, P.J.; Mayo, CA. 1990. Reproduction of hump· 

back whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) observed in the Gulf 

of Maine. Rep. Int. Whaling Comm. Spec. Issue 12: 171· 

175. 

5. Clapham, P.J.; Seipt, I.E. 1991. Resightings of independent 

fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus, on maternal summer 

ranges. }. Mamma/. 72: 788·790. 

6. Clapham, P.J.; Mattila, D.K. 1988. Observations of 

migratory transits of two humpback whales. Mar. Mammal 

Sci. 4(1): 59·62. 

7. Clapham, P.J.; Mayo, CA. 1987. The attainment of sexual 

maturity in two female humpback whales. Mar. Mammal 

Sci. 3(3): 279·283. 

8. Clapham, P.J.; Mayo, CA. 1987. Reproduction and 

recruitment of individual1y identified humpback whales, 

Megaptera novaeangliae, observed in Massachusetts Bay, 

1979·1985. Can.}. Zoo/. 65(12): 2853·2863. 

9. Geraci, J,R.; Anderson, D.M.; Timperi, R.J.; St. Aubin, D.J.; 

Early, GA.; Prescott, J,H.; Mayo, CA. 1989. Humpback 

whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) fatal1y poisoned by di· 

noflagellate toxin. Can.}. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 46(11): 1895· 

1898. 

10. Hamilton, P.K.; Mayo, CA. 1990. Population characteris· 

tics of right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) observed in Cape 

Cod and Massachusetts Bays, 1978·1986. Rep. Int. Whal· 

ing Comm. Spec. Issue 12: 203·208. 

11. Hammond, P.S. 1990. Heterogeneity in the Gulf of Maine? 

Estimating humpback whale population size when capture 

probabilities are not equal. Rep. Int. Whaling Comm. Spec. 

Issue 12: 135·139. 

12. Katona, S.K.; Beard, J.A. 1990. Population size, migrations 

and feeding aggregations of the humpback whale (Megaptera 

novaeangliae) in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Rep. 

Int. Whaling Comm. Spec. Issue 12: 295·304. 

13. Kraus, S.D. 1990. Rates and potential causes of mortality 

in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Mar. 

Mammal Sci. 6: 278·291. 

14. Kraus, S.D.; Moore, K.E.; Price, CA.; Crone, M.J.; Watkins, 

W.A.; Winn, H.E.; Prescott, J.H. 1986. The use of 

photographs to identify individual North Atlantic right 

whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Rep. Int. Whaling Comm. 

Spec. Issue 10: 145·151. 

15. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H.; Knowlton, A.R.; Stone, G.s. 

1986. Migration and calving of right whales (Eubalaena 

glacialis) in the western North Atlantic. Rep. I'lt. Whaling 

Comm. Spec. Is.me 10: 139·144. 

16. Lambertsen, R.H.; Baker, CS.; Duffield, D.A.; Chamber· 

lain·Lea, J. 1988. Cytogenetic determination of sex among 

individual1y identified humpback whales (Megaptera 

novaeangliae). Can.}. Zoo/. 66(6): 1243·1248. 

17. Lambertsen, R.H. 1987. A biopsy system for large whales 

and its use for cytogenetics. }. Mammal. 68(2): 443-445. 

18. Mayo, CA.; Marx, M.K. 1990. Surface and foraging 

behavior of the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena 

glacialis, and associated zooplankton characteristics. Can.}. 

Zoo/. 68: 2214·2220. 

19. Mizroch, S.A.; Beard, J.A.; MacGill, L. 1990. Computer 

assisted photo· identification of humpback whales. Rep. Int. 

Whaling Comm. Spec. Issue 12: 63·70. 

20. Nelson, G; Ross, M.R. 1991. Biology and population 

changes of northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) from 

the Gulf of Maine to the Middle Atlantic Bight. }. 

Northwest At/. Fish. Sci. 11: 11·27. 
Page 16 

21. Overholtz, W.J.; Waring, G.T. 1991. Diet composition of 

pilot whales, Globicephala spp., and common dolphin, 

Delphinus delphis, in the Mid·Atlantic Bight during spring 

1989. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 89(4): 723·728. 

22. Payne, P.M.; Sears, R.; Wenzel, F.W. In press. Blue whale. 

In: French, T., ed. Endangered, threatened and special 

concern vertebrate species in Massachusetts. Boston, MA: 

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 

23. Payne, P.M.; Heinemann, D.W. In press. Distribution of 

pilot whales, Globicephala spp. in shelf! shelf·edge and 

slope waters of the northeastern United States, 1978·1988. 

Rep.Int. Whaling Comm. Spec. Iss. 14. 

24. Payne, P.M.; Coogan, c.; Wenzel, F.; Buehler, M.A; Hankin, 

AL In press. Status and assessment of the marine mammal 

and marine turtle species: an historical and present over· 

view. In: Costa, J., ed. Living resources of Buzzards Bay. 

Boston, MA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

25. Payne, P.M.; Wiley, D.N.; Young, S.B.; Pittman, S.; Clapham, 

P.J.; Jossi, J. W. 1990. Recent fluctuations in the abundance 

of baleen whales in the southern Gulf of Maine in relation 

to changes in selected prey. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 88(4): 687· 

696. 

26. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, LA 1989. The distribution, abun· 

dance and selected prey of the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina, 

in Southern New England. Mar. Mammal Sci. 5(2): 173· 

192. 

27. Payne, P.M.; Nicolas,].R.; O'Brien, L; Powers, K.D. 1986. 

The distribution of the humpback whale, Megaptera 

novaeangliae, on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine 

in relation to densities of the sand eel, Ammodytes 

americanus. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 84(2): 271-277. 

28. Payne, P.M.; Schneider, D.c. 1984. Yearly changes in 

abundance of harbor seals, Phoca vitulina, at a winter haul· 

out site in Massachusetts. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 82(2): 440·442. 

29. Payne, P.M.; Powers, KD.; Bird, J.E. 1983. Opportunistic 

feeding on whale fat by Wilson's storm· petrels, Oceanites 

oceanus, in the western North Atlantic. Wilson Bull. 95: 

478-479. 

30. Polacheck, T.; Wenzel, F. W. 1990. What do stranding data 

say about harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)? Int. 

Whaling Comm. Sci. Doc. SC/42/SM39; 12 p. 

31. Polacheck, T. 1989. Harbor porpoise and the gillnet 

fishery. Oceanus 32(1): 63·70. 

32. Polacheck, T.; Smith, T.D. 1989. A proposed methodology 

for field testing line transect theory for shipboard surveys 

of cetaceans. Rep.Int. Whaling Comm. 39: 341·345. 

33. Powers, KD.; Brown, R.G.B. 1988. Bird life on Georges 

Bank. In: Backus, R.H.; Bourne, D.W., eds. Georges Bank 

and its surroundings. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; p. 359· 

371. 

34. Powers, KD.; Backus, E.H. 1988. Estimates of consump· 

tion by seabirds on Georges Bank. In: Backus, R.H.; 

Bourne, D.W., eds. Georges Bank and its surroundings. 

Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; p. 372·374. 

35. Powers, K.D. 1987. Biological oceanography· seabirds. In: 

Milliman, J.D.; Wright, W.R., eds. The marine environ· 

ment of the U.S. Atlantic continental slope and rise. 

Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publ., Inc.; p. 194·202. 

36. Powers, KD.; Payne, P.M. 1983. Mammals, birds, and 

turtles. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS·F/NEC26: 11·1·11· 

92. 

37. Powers, KD. 1983. Pelagic bird distributions of marine 

birds off the northeastern United States. NOAA Tech. 

Memo. NMFS·F/NEC27; 201 p. 

38. Powers, K.D. 1982. A comparison of two methods of 

counting birds at sea. J. Field Ornithol. 53: 209·222. 

39. Rice, M.; Carlson, c.; Chu, K; Dolphin, W.; Whitehead, H. 

1987. Are humpback whale population estimates being 

biased by sexual differences in f1uking behavior? Rep.Int. 

Whaling Comm. 37: 333·335. 

40. Schneider, D.C.; Payne, P.M. 1983. Factors affecting haul· 

out of harbor seals at a site in southeastern Massachusetts. 

J. Mammal. 64: 518·520. 

41. Seipt, I.E.; Clapham, P.J.; Mayo. C.A; Hawvermale, M.P. 

1989. Population characteristics of individually identified 

fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus, in Massachusetts Bay. 

Fish. Bull. (U.s.) 88(2): 271·278. 

42. Selzer, LA.; Payne, P.M. 1989. Ecological differences in the 

distribution of the white·sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus 

acutus) and common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the 

shelf waters of the Northwest Atlantic. Mar. Mammal Sci. 

4: 141·153. 

43. Smith, T.D.; Payne, P.M.; Heinemann, D.; Waring, G.T.; 

Lange, A 1990. Simultaneous fishery resource and seabird 

and cetacean sighting surveys: advantages and disadvan· 

tages. N. Atl. Stud. 2(1·2): 90·101. 
44. Smith, ToO.; Payne, P.M.; Heinemann, D.; Waring, G.T.; 

lange, A. 1988. Utility of cetacean and seabird surveys 

conducted during fishery surveys. Int. Coune. Explor. Sea 

CM. 1988/N:5; 40 p. 

45. Stone, G.S.; Hammer, W.M. 1988. Humpback whales, 

Megaptera novaeangliae, and southern right whales, 

Eubalaena australis, in Gerlache Strait, Antarctica. Polar 

Ree. 24(148): 15·20. 

46. Stone, G.S.; Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, ].H.; Hazard, K.W. 1988. 

Significant aggregations of the endangered right whales, 

Eubalaena glacialis, on the continental shelf of Nova Scotia. 

Can. Field·Nat. 102(3): 471-474. 

Page 17 

47. Stone, G.S.; Katona, S.K.; Tucker, E.B. 1987. History, 

migration and present status of humpback whales (Megaptera 

novaeangliae) at Bermuda. Bio/. Conserv. 42(2): 133·145. 

48. Waring, G.T.; Gerrior, P.; Payne, P.M.; Parry, B.L; Nicolas, 

].R. 1990. Incidental take of marine mammals in foreign 

fishery activities off the northeast United States. Fish. Bull. 

(U.S.) 88(2): 347·360. 

49. Watkins, W.A. 1986. Whale reactions to human activities 

in Cape Cod waters. Mar. Mammal Sci. 2(4): 251-262. 

50. Wenzel, F.; Mattila, D.K.; Clapham, P.]. 1988. Balaenoptera 

musculus in the Gulf of Maine. Mar. Mammal Sci. 4(2): 

172-175. 
Page18 

APPENDIXB 

Contract Reports, Manuscripts, and Working Papers 

Based on Marine Mammal Research Projects 

Supported by the NEFSC 

1. Beard, J.; Clapham, P.; Hammond, P.; Katona, S.; Larsen, F.; 

Lien, J.; Mattila, D.; Mayo, c.; 0ien, N.; Palsbol, P.; 

Polacheck, T.; Sigurj6nsson, J.; Smith, T. 1990. Y oNAH: 

years of the North Atlantic humpback whale .. a proposal 

for discussion. Int. Whaling Comm. Sci. Doc. SC/421 

025; 9 p. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 13; 

see Table 3.) 

2. Blaylock, R.A. 1980. Aerial surveys of bottlenose dolphins, 

Tursiops truncatus, in Virginia's nearshore coastal waters: 

second interim report. NOAA contract (No. NA80FAD0008) report available from National Marine Fish· 

eries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related 

to research topic no. 16; see Table 3.) 

3. Carlson, c.A.; Mayo, C.A. 1988. Changes in the ventral 

fluke pattern of the humpback whale, Megaptera 

novaeangliae, and its affect on matching. NOAA contract 

(No. 40EANF702183) report prepared by Center for 

Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from Na· 

tional Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 13; see Table 3.) 

4. Clapham, P.J. 1987. North Atlantic fin whale research1987: proceedings of a meeting to review methodology and 

to coordinate information exchange. NOAA contract (No. 

40ENF7001740) report prepared by North Atlantic Ma· 

rine Mammal Association, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 17; see Table 3.) 

5. Crone, M.J.; Kraus, S.D. 1990. Right whales (Eubalaena 

glacialis) in the western North Atlantic: a catalog of 

identified individuals. Unpublished manuscript available 

from New England Aquarium, Boston, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 14; see Table 3.) 

6. Finn, J.T. 1986. Response surface analysis of a large-scale 

marine ecosystem fishery model. Report on task 2: programs and documentation for running fractional factorial 

designs of the ICES MSVP A program. NOAA contract 

(Nos. 43EAF7325220 and 40EAF7007210) report prepared by University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 3; 

see Table 3.) 

7. Geraci, J.R.; St. Aubin, D.J.; Barker, I.K; Webster, R.; 

Hinshaw, V.; Bean, W.; Ruhnke, H.L; Madoff, S.; Prescott, 

J. 1981. Investigation of harbor seal mortality and 

determination of infectious agent, New England region. 

NOAA contract (No. NA80FAH00009) report prepared 

by University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 1; see Table 

3.) 

8. Gilbert, J.R. 1987. Marine mammal interaction with New 

England gillnet fisheries: draft. NOAA contract (No. 

NA84EAC00070) report prepared by University of Maine, 

Orono, ME, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA; 21 p. [Work primarily related 

to research topic no. 8; see Table 3.) 

9. Gilbert, J.R.; Wynne, KM. 1985. Harbor seal populations 

and fisheries interactions with marine mammals in New 

England, 1984. NOAA contract (Nos. NA80FACOOO29 

and NA84EACOOO70) report prepared by University of 

Maine, Orono, ME, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; 15 p. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 8; see Table 3.) 

10. Gilbert, J.R.; Wynne, KM. 1984. Harbor seal populations 

and marine mammal- fisheries interactions, 1983. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FACOO029) report prepared by University of Maine, Orono, ME, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 8; see Table 3.) 

11. Gilbert, J.R.; Wynne, KM. 1983. Harbor seal populations 

and marine mammal- fisheries interactions, 1982. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FACOO029) report prepared by Uni· 

versity of Maine, Orono, ME, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 8; see Table 3.) 

12. Gilbert, J.R.; Stein, J.L 1981. Harbor seal populations and 

marine mammal - fisheries interactions. NOAA contract 

(No. NA80FACOOO29) report prepared by University of 

Maine, Orono, ME, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to 

research topic no. 8; see Table 3.) 
13. Katona, S.K.; Kraus, S.D.; Harcourt, P.; Perkins, J,S. 1988. 

Humpback whales .. a catalogue of individuals by fluke 

photographs. NOAA contract (No. NA80FADOOOO6) 

re port prepared by College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 13; 

see Table 3.) 

14. Katona, S.K.; Beard, J,A. 1988. Population size, migrations 

and substock structure of the humpback whale (Megaptera 

novaeangliae) in the western North Atlantic Ocean. NOAA 

contract (No. 40EANF700314) report prepared by College 

of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 13; see Table 3.) 

15. Katona, S.K.; Beard, J.A. 1987. The humpback whale fluke 

catalogue: final report. NOAA contract (No. 

40EANF700314) report prepared by College of the Atlan· 

tic, Bar Harbor, ME, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 13; see Table 3.) 

16. Katona, S.K.; Beard, J.A.; Balcomb, K.c., III. 1986. The 

humpback whale catalogue: final report. NOAA contract 

(No. NA81FAC00027) report prepared by College of the 

Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 13; see Table 3.) 

17. Kenney, R.D.; Winn, H.E. 1987. Aerial surveys of right 

whales in the Great South Channel, spring 1987: final 

report. Report (Order No. 14626) prepared by University 

of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, available from Minerals 

Management Service, Washington, DC. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 15; see Table 3.) 

18. Kenney, R.D.; Winn, H.E.; Brown, C.W. 1986. Aerial 

surveys for right whales in the Great South Channel, spring 

1985. NOAA contract (No. NA84EAC00079) report 

prepared by University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 15; 

see Table 3.) 

19. Kenney, R.P.; Winn, H.E. 1986. Marine mammal data 

transfer and documentation. NOAA contract (No. 

40EANF 501629) report prepared by University of Rhode 

Island, Narragansett, RI, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 18; see Table 3.) 

20. Kenney, R.D.; Hyman, M.A.M.; Winn, H.E. 1985. Calcu· 

lation of standing stocks and energetic requirements of the 

cetaceans of the northeast United States outer continental 

shelf. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS·F/NEC41; 99 p. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 3; see Table 

3.) 

Page 19 

21. Kenney, R.D.; Hyman, M.A.M.; Winn, H.E. 1983. Calcu· 

lation of standing stocks and energetic requirements of the 

cetaceans of the northeast U.S. outer continental shelf. 

NOAA contract (No. NA83FACOO009) report prepared 

by University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 3; see Table 

3.) 

22. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H.; Stone, G.S. 1984. Right whales 

(Eubalaena glacialis) in the western No. Atlantic: a sum· 

mary of research conducted from 1980 to 1984. Unpub· 

lished manuscript available from New England Aquarium, 

Boston, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 

15; see Table 3.) 

23. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H. 1984. Seasonal movements of 

harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Gulf of Maine. 

NOAA contract (No. NA80FADO0009) report prepared 

by New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 11; see Table 

3.) 

24. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H. 1983. A summary of 1982 

research on the No. Atlantic right whale,Eubalaenaglacialis, 

with notes on seasonal distribution and abundance and 

significant re·sightings of individuals. NOAA contract (No. 

NA81FACOO030) report prepared by New England 

Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 15; see Table 3.) 

25. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H.; Stone, G.s. 1983. Harbor 

porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in the U.S. coastal waters off 

the Gulf of Maine: a survey to determine seasonal distribu· 

tion and abundance. NOAA contract (No. 

NA80FADOOOO9) report prepared by New England 

Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 11; see Table 3.) 

26. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J,H. 1981. The No. American right 

whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Bay of Fundy, 1981, with 

notes on distribution, abundance, biology, and behavior. 

NOAA contract (No. NA81FAC00030) report prepared 

by New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 15; see Table 

3.) 

27. Kraus, S.; Prescott, J, 1980. Distribution, abundance and 

notes on the large cetaceans of the Bay of Fundy. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FA200048) report prepared by New 

England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 15; see Table 3.) 
Page 20 

28. Lambertsen, R.H.; Duffield, D.A. 1987. Biopsy studies of 

the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae. NOAA 

contract (No. 50EANF500094) report prepared by Univer· 

sity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 5; see Table 

3.) 

29. Lambertsen, R.H. 1983. Status report on biopsy studies of 

the North Atlantic humpback whale (Megaptera 

novaeangliae) for karyologic determination of the sex of 

photographically identified individuals. NOAA contract 

(No. NA83FACCOOOI7) report prepared by University of 

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 5; see Table 3.) 

30. Mattila, D.; Clapham, P.].; Mayo, C.A.; Katona, S.K.; Stone, 

G. 1985. Humpback whale studies on Silver Bank, 1984. 

NOAA contract (No. NA83FACOOOO4) report prepared 

by Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA,available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 13; see Table 

3.) 

31. Mattila, D.K. 1983. Humpback whales in Mona Passage, 

Puerto Rico: a summary. NOAA contract (No. 

NA83FACOOO04) report prepared by Center for Coastal 

Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from National Ma· 

rine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 13; see Table 3.) 

32. Mattila, D. 1982. 1982 fluke identification survey and 

song recordings of humpback whales (Megaptera 

novaeangliae) along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. 

NOAA contract (No. NA81FADOOOO3) report prepared 

by Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA,available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 13; see Table 

3.) 

33. Mattila, D. 1981. 1981 fluke identification survey and 

song recordings of humpback whales, Megaptera 

novaeangliae, along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. 

NOAA contract (No. NA81FADOOOO3) report prepared 

by Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA,available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 13; see Table 

3.) 

34. Mayo, c.A.; Mattila, O.K.; Pittman, S.; Baraff, L 1988. 

Abundance, distribution and habitat use of large whales in 

Massachusetts Bay and the Great South Channel. NOAA 

contract (No. 50EANF600059) report prepared by Center 

for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 4; see Table 

3.) 

35. Mayo, c.A.; Hamilton, P.; Marx, M.K. 1988. Population 

characteristics and habitat use of the right whale,Eubalaena 

glacialis, in Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bays. NOAA 

contract (No. NA84EACOO080) reportprepared by Center 

for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 14; see Table 

3.) 

36. Mayo, C.A.; Mattila, D.K.; Pittman, S.; Christian, P.; Baraff, 

L 1986. Abundance, distribution and habitat use of large 

whales in the southern Gulf of Maine: May 1 . Sept. 30, 

1986. NOAA contract (No. 50EANF600059) report 

prepared by Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 4; 

see Table 3.) 

37. Nelson, G.A.; Ross, M.R. 1988. The population dynamics 

of sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) in the Northwest 

Atlantic. I. Abundance and distribution. NOAA contract 

(No. 43EANF732522) report prepared by University of 

Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 3; see Table 3.) 

38. NMFS/URI/NEA/CCS/WHOI Cooperative Right 

Whale Research Program. 1987. Integrated program for 

research on the northern right whale off the eastern United 

States: 6 month progress report. NEFSC cooperative 

agreement (No. NA86EAHOOO53) report available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 7,12,14; see 

Table 3.) 

39. Payne, P.M.; Heinemann, D.W.; Smith, T.O. 1990. Sea· 

sonal distribution of minke whales in the shelf and shelf· 

edge waters of northeastern U.S. [nt. Whaling Comm. Sci. 

Doc. SC/42/NHMi32; 12 p. [Work primarily related to 

research topic no. 2; see Table 3.) 

40. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, LA. 1989. The distribution, abun· 

dance and selected prey of the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina 

con color, in Southern New England. NOAA contract 

(Nos. NA84ENAOOI49, 40ENF5002570, and 

40EAF870218l)) report prepared by Manomet Bird Ob· 

servatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 1; see Table 3.) 

41. Payne, P.M. 1988. Monitoring and assessment of cetaceans 

and seabirds in the shelf waters of the northeast U.S.: 

progress report. NOAA contract (No. 50EANF600028) 

report prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research 

topic no. 2; see Table 3.) 
42. Payne, P.M. 1986. Monitoring and assessment of cetaceans 

and seabirds in the shelf waters of the northeast U.S. 

NOAA contract (No. 50EANF600028) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 

3.] 

43. Payne, P.M. 1986. Marine mammals, sea birds and marine 

turtles in the Gulf of Maine and Massachusetts Bay with 

special emphasis on the locations of the foul·area disposal 

site and the Cape Arundel disposal site. NOAA contract 

(No. 50EANF600028) report prepared by Manomet Bird 

Observatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Ma· 

rine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA' [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

44. Payne, P.M. 1986. Assessment of cetaceans, marine turtles 

and seabirds at the proposed Blake Plateau incineration site 

(BPIS), between 17·23 November, 1986. Subcontract (No. 

G·9055(8834)·553) report prepared by Manomet Bird 

Observatory, Manomet, MA, under subcontract to Battelle, 

Inc., Duxbury, MA,available from National Marine Fisher· 

ies Service, Woods Hole, MA; 20 p. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

45. Payne, P.M. 1986. An overview of high·use areas by all 

cetaceans in the shelf waters of the northeastern United 

States between Cape Hatteras and Nova Scotia. In Payne, 

P.M.; Selzer, L.A., eds. A characterization of whale use of 

the Massachusetts Bay and Cape Arundel, Maine areas: 

final report. USDOD contract (No. DACW33·85·D·OOO2· 

0003) report prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, 

Manomet, MA, under subcontract to Sanford Ecological, 

Inc., Natick, MA, available from U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Waltham, MA; p. 14·21. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

46. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A., editors. 1986. A characterization 

of whale use of the Massachusetts Bay and Cape Arundel, 

Maine areas: final report. USDODcontract (No. DACW33· 

85·D·0002·0003) report prepared by Manomet Bird Obser· 

vatory, Manomet, MA, under subcontract to Sanford 

Ecological, Inc., Natick, MA, available from U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, Waltham, MA; 204 p. [Work prima· 

rily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

47. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A. 1986. Distribution and abun· 

dance of rare and endangered cetaceans and marine turtles 

in the Gulf of Maine and adjacent water (north of 40'OO'N 

latitude): an overview. In Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A., eds. A 

characterization of whale use of the Massachusetts Bay and 

Cape Arundel, Maine areas: final report. USDOD contract 

(No. DACW33·85·D·0002·0003) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, under subcon· 

Page21 

tract to Sanford Ecological, Inc., Natick, MA,available from 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waltham, MA; p. 22·55. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 

3.] 

48. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A. 1986. Areal and temporal 

distributional behavior of threatened and endangered mao 

rine mammals and turtles in waters within and immediately 

adjacent to the Cape Arundel disposal site (CADS). In 

Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A., eds. A characterization of whale 

use of the Massachusetts Bay and Cape Arundel, Maine 

areas: final report. USDOD contract (No. DACW33·85·D· 

0002·0003) report prepared by Manomet Bird Observa· 

tory, Manomet, MA, under subcontract to Sanford Ecologi· 

cal, Inc., Natick, MA' available from U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Waltham, MA; p. 121·134. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

49. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A.; Agler, B.A.; Kelly, J.T. 1986. 

Assessment of cetaceans, marine turtles and seabirds at the 

deepwater dumpsite (DS·106) between 5·24 February, 

1986. Subcontract (No. G9055(8834)·553) report pre· 

pared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

under subcontract to Battelle, Inc., Duxbury, MA,avai/able 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; 

17 p. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see 

Table 3.] 

50. Payne, P.M. 1985. Distribution and abundance of ceta· 

ceans and seabirds in the waters adjacent to the foul·area 

dumpsite, Massachusetts Bay, 7·8 June, based on shipboard 

observations. US DOD contract (No. DACW33·85·D· 

0002·0003) report prepared by Manomet Bird Observa· 

tory, Manomet, MA, under subcontract to Sanford Ecologi· 

cal, Inc., Natick, MA, available from U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Waltham, MA. [Work primarily related to 

research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

51. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A.; Agler, B.A. 1985. Assessment of 

cetaceans, marine turtles and seabirds at the deepwater 

dumpsite (DS·106) between 9·19 November, 1985. Sub· 

contract (No. G·9055(8834)·553) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, under subcon· 

tract to Battelle, Inc., Duxbury, MA, available from Na· 

tional Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; 15 p. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 

3.] 

52. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A.; Kelly, J.T. 1985. Assessment of 

cetaceans, marine turtles and seabirds at the deepwater 

dumpsite (DS·I06) and at the proposed Blake Plateau 

incineration site (BPIS) between 18 August·23 September, 

1985. Subcontract (No. G·9055(8834)·553) report pre· 

pared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

under subcontract to Battelle, Inc., Duxbury, MA,available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; 
Page 22 

20 p. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see 

Table 3.] 

53. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A.; Kelly, J.T 1985. Assessment of 

cetaceans, marine turtles and seabirds at the North Atlantic 

incineration site (NAIS) between 6·16 November, 1985. 

Subcontract (No. G9055(8834)·553) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, under subcon· 

tract to Battelle, Inc., Duxbury, MA, available from Na· 

tional Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA; 17 p. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 

3.] 

54. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A.; Knowlton, A.R. 1984. Distribu· 

tion and density of cetaceans, marine turtles and seabirds in 

the shelf waters of the northeast U.s., June 1980 . Dec. 

1983, based on shipboard observations. NOAA contract 

(No. NA81 FAC00023) report prepared by Manomet Bird 

Observatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Ma· 

rine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

55. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, L.A. 1983. Population distribution, 

abundance, and prey requirements of the harbor seal in 

Southern New England. NOAA contract (No. 

NA82FA00007) report prepared by Manomet Bird Obser· 

vatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 1; see Table 3.] 

56. Payne, P.M.; Rimmer, c.c. 1982. Radio·telemetry of a 

rehabilitated harbor seal during the winter 1982 with 

comments on movements and numbers of the harbor seal 

in Massachusetts. NOAA contract (No. NA82FA00007) 

report prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research 

topic no. 1; see Table 3.] 

57. Polacheck, T; Smith, TD.; Waring, GT. 1990. Review of 

methods for assessing the status of the harbor porpoise 

population in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy region: 

results of an at·sea workshop. Unpublished manuscript 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 11; 

see Table 3.] 

58. Polacheck, T; Wenzel, F.W. 1990. What do stranding data 

say about harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)? Int. 

Whaling Comm. Sci. Doc. SC/42/SM39; 12 p. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 11; see Table 3.] 

59. Powers, K.D. 1983. Pelagic distribution of marine birds off 

the northeastern United States. NOAA Tech. Memo. 

NMFS·F/NEC27; 201 p. [Work primarily related to 

research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

60. Powers, K.D. 1982. Manomet Bird Observatory marine 

observer program 1982 cruise reports. NOAA contract 

(No. NA81 F AC00023) report prepared by Manomet Bird 

Observatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Ma· 

rine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

61. Powers, K.D.; Payne, M.P.; Fitch, S.F. 1981. Distribution 

of cetaceans, sea birds and turtles, Cape Hatteras to Nova 

Scotia. NOAA contract (No. NA81FACOOO23) report 

prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; 

see Table 3.] 

62. Powers, K.D.; Payne, P.M.; Miller, D.S. 1981. A marine 

mammal observer training program. NOAA contract (No. 

NA80F AD0004) report prepared by Manomet Bird Obser· 

vatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily 

related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

63. Powers, K.; Payne, P.M. 1981. Manomet Bird Observatory 

marine observer program 1981 cruise reports. NOAA 

contract (No. NA81FAC00023) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 

3.] 

64. Prescott, J.H.; Kraus, S.D.; Gilbert, J.R. 1981. Proceedings 

of a workshop on humpback whales of the western North 

Atlantic: draft. NOAA contract (No. NA80FAC55) report 

prepared by New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, avail· 

able from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, 

MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 17; see 

Table 3.] 

65. Prescott, J.H.; Kraus, S.D.; Fiorelli, P.; Gaskin, D.E.; Smith, 

GJD.; Branser, M. 1981. Harbor porpoise (Phocoena 

phocoena) distribution, abundance, survey methodology 

and preliminary notes on habitat use and threats. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FADO0009) report prepared by New 

England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 11,12; see Table 3.] 

66. Reeves, R.R.; Mitchell, E. 1987. The history of whaling in 

and near North Carolina: partial fulfillment report. NOAA 

contract (NA85WCC06194) report prepared by National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, available from Na· 

tional Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 15; see Table 3.] 

67. Reeves, R.R.; Mitchell, E. 1987. Shore whaling for right 

whales in the northeastern United States: partial fulfillment. NOAA contract (No. NA85WCC06194) report 
prepared by National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 15; 

see Table 3.] 

68. Schneider, D.C; Rosenfeld, M.B.; Twichell, D.C; Kesselheim, 

C 1980. Studies of the harbor seal (Phoca virtulina 

wnwlor) at a winter haul·out site in Massachusetts. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FAD00005) report prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 1; see Table 

3.] 

69. Scott, G.P. 1985. Report of the working group on NEFSC/ 

SEFSC marine mammal research: results of the meeting 

held 8·9 January, 1985. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS· 

SEFSC 16B; 27 p. [Work primarily related to research topic 

no. 17; see Table 3.] 

70. Sears, R. 1980. Report on observations of cetaceans along 

the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. NOAA 

contract (No. NA80FBA241) report prepared by Mingan 

Island Cetacean Study, Inc., Quebec, PQ, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. IS; see Table 

3.] 

71. Selzer, L.A.; Payne, P.M.; Brown, J.M.; Whitman, A.A. 

1986. An overview of the distribution and abundance of 

non·endangered cetaceans, pinnipeds and seabirds in the 

Gulf of Maine and adjacent waters (north of 40 0

00'N 

latitude) with special emphasis on the foul·area disposal site 

and the Cape Arundel disposal site. In Payne, P.M.; Selzer, 

L.A., eds. A characterization of whale use of the Massachu· 

setts Bay and Cape Arundel, Maine areas: final report. 

USDOD contract (No. DACW33·85·D·0002·0003) report 

prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

under sulxontract to Sanford Ecological, Inc., Natick, MA, 

available from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waltham, 

MA; p. 125·168. [Work primarily related to research topic 

no. 2; see Table 3.] 

72. Shurman, V.R. 1983. Report on Nantucket grey seals, 

winter and spring 1983. NOAA contract (No. 

NA83FBA00075) report prepared by Cape Cod Museum 

of Natural History, Brewster, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 1; see Table 3.] 

73. Shurman, V.R. 1981. A small population of grey seals at 

Nantucket, MA. NOAA contract (No. NA81FBAOO282) 

report prepared by Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, 

Brewster, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to 

research topic no. 10; see Table 3.] 

Page 23 

74. Smith, ToO. 1990. The marine sanctuary act and the 

biology of Stellwagen Bank. Unpublished manuscript 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 2; 

see Table 3.] 

75. Smith, T.D. 1990. Simultaneous fishery resource and 

seabird and cetacean sighting surveys: advantages and 

disadvantages. N. At/. Stud. 2(1·2): 90·101. [Work 

primarily related to research topic no. 2; see Table 3.] 

76. Stone, G.S.; Mainwaring, A.; Katona, S.K.; Beard, J.A.; 

Corbett, H.D. 1988. Surfacing, respiration, and dive 

characteristics of finback whales (Balaenoptera physalus) 

observed from Mount Desert Rock, Maine. NOAA con· 

tract (Nos. 40EANF501300 and 40EANF601426) report 

prepared by College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 3; 

see Table 3.] 

77. Watkins, W.A.; Bird, J.E.; Moore, K.E.; Tyack, P. 1987. 

Marine mammal literature: reference data base. NOAA 

contract (No. 40EANF7022 770) reportprepared by Woods 

Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, avail· 

able from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, 

MA. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 18; see 

Table 3.] 

78. Watkins, W. 1985. Changes observed in the reaction of 

whales to human activities. NOAA contract (No. 

50EANF500068) report prepared by Woods Hole Oceano· 

graphic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

[Work primarily related to research topic no. 9; see Table 

3.] 

79. Weinrich, M.T.; Selzer, L.A.; Payne, P.M. 1986. Areal and 

temporal distribution and behavior of rare and endangered 

marine mammals and turtles in waters within and adjacent 

to the foul·area disposal site (FADS). In Payne, P.M.; Selzer, 

L.A., eds. A characterization of whale use of the Massachu· 

setts Bay and Cape Arundel, Maine areas: final report. 

USDODcontract (No. DACW33·85·D-0002-0003) report 

prepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

under sulxontract to Sanford Ecological, Inc., Natick, MA, 

available from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waltham, 

MA; p. 56-76. [Work primarily related to research topic no. 

2; see Table 3.] 

80. Weinrich, M.T. 1982. Biology of the humpback whale 

(Megaptera novaeangliae): northern Stellwagen Bank, summer 1981. NOAA contract (No. NA81FBA00231) report 

prepared by Gloucester Fisherman's Museum, Gloucester, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. [Work primarily related to research 

topic no. 5) 
Page 24 

APPENDIXC 

Abstracts of Oral Presentations at Scientific Conferences 

Based on Marine Mammal Research Projects 

Supported by the NEFSC between 1980 and 1989 

Fourth Biennial Conference on the 

Biology of Marine Mammals, San 

Francisco, CA, 14-18 December 

1981 

1. Blaylock, R.A. Aerial surveys of bottlenose dolphins, 

Tursiops truncatus, in Virginia's nearshore coastal waters. 

Abstract prepared by Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 

Gloucester Point, V A, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

2. Kraus, S.C; Prescott, J.H.; Reeves, R.; Turnbull, P. Right 

whales in the northern Gulf of Maine. Abstract prepared 

by New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

3. Kraus, S.D.; Gilbert,J.R.; Prescott,J.H. A comparison of air, 

ship and land·based survey methodology for the harbor 

porpoise, Phocoena phocoena. Abstract prepared by New 

England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

Fifth Biennial Conference on the 

Biology of Marine Mammals, 

Boston, MA, 27 November - 1 

December 1983 

4. Carlson, CA.; Mayo, CA. Changes in the pigment and scar 

patterns on the ventral surface of the flukes of humpback 

whales observed in the waters of Stellwagen Bank, Massa· 

chusetts. Abstract prepared by Center for Coastal Studies, 

Provincetown, MA,avai/able from National Marine Fisher· 

ies Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

5. Gallivan, GJ.; Geraci, J.R.; St. Aubin, OJ.; Fiorelli, P.; Early, 

G. Harbor seal mortalities in New England: a retrospective 

study, 1973·1982. Abstract prepared by New England 

Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

6. Katona, S.K.; Balcomb, K.C, Ill; Beard,J.A.; Whitehead, H; 

Mattila, 0. The Atlantic humpback whale catalogue. 

Abstract prepared by College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, 

ME, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

7. Kraus, S.D.; J.H. Prescott. The use of callosity patterns and 

natural markings to determine distribution, abundance and 

movements of the North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena 

glacialis. Abstract prepared by New England Aquarium, 

Boston, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

8. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, J.H.; Stone, G.S. Harbor porpoise, 

Phocoena phocoena, in the U.S. coastal waters of the Gulf 

of Maine: a survey to determine seasonal distribution and 

abundance. Abstractprepared by New England Aquarium, 

Boston, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

9. Mattila, O.K. Humpback whales off Puerto Rico: popula· 

tion composition and habitat use. Abstract prepared by 

Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

10. Payne, P.M.; LA. Selzer. Distribution and abundance of the 

harbor seal, Phoca vitu/ina, in Southern New England. 

Abstractprepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

Sixth Biennial Conference on the 

Biology of Marine Mammals, 

Vancouver, BC, 22-26 November 

1985 

11. Clapham, P.J.; Mayo, CA.; Seipt, 1.; Carlson, CE. Humpback whale mothers and calves on Stellwagen Bank, Mas· 

sachusetts: 1979·1985. Abstract prepared by Center for 

Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

12. Hammond, P.S. North Atlantic humpback whales; estimating population size from photo· identification data using 

variations of the Jolly·Seber open population model. Abstract prepared by Natural Environment Research Council, 

Cambridge, England, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 
13. Kraus, S.D.; Prescott, ].H.; Knowlton, A.R. Reproductive 

rates in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). 

Abstract prepared by New England Aquarium, Boston, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

14. Mayo, CA.; Carlson, CA.; Gilmore, M.K. Food and feeding 

of right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. Abstract 

prepared byCenter for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. 

15. Payne, M.P.; Katona, S.K.; Scott, G.P. A comparison 

between three methods of estimating humpback whale, 

Megaptera novaeangliae, numbers in the shelf waters of the 

northeastern United States. Abstractprepared by Manomet 

Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

16. Selzer, LA.; Payne, M.P. Ecological differences in the 

distribution of white·sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 

and common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the shelf 

waters of the Northwest Atlantic. Abstract prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

17. Waring, G.T.; Gerrior, P.; Nicolas,].; Payne, P.M. Incidental 

take of marine mammals in foreign fishery activities off the 

northeast USA, 1977·1985. Abstract prepared by and 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. 

18. Wynne, K.M.; Gilbert, J.R. Biological information recov· 

ered from incidentally taken harbor porpoise (Phocoena 

phocoena) in the Gulf of Maine. Abstract prepared by 

University of Maine, Orono, ME, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

Seventh Biennial Conference on 

the Biology of Marine Mammals, 

Miami, FL, 5-9 December 1987 

19. Baker, CS.; lambertsen, R.H.; Palumbi, S.R. The extrac· 

tion and identification of mitochondrial (mt) DNA from 

the epidermal tissue of individually identified humpback 

whales. Abstract prepared by University of Hawaii, Hono· 

lulu, HI, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

20. Bird, ].E.; Moore, K.E.; Watkins, W.A.; Tyack, P. A 

database management system for a cetacean literature 

library. Abstract prepared by Woods Hole Oceanographic 

Institution, Woods Hole, MA, available from National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

Page 25 

21. Katona, S.K.; Beard,].A. The North Atlantic humpback 

whale fluke catalogue. Abstract prepared by College of the 

Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME, available from National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

22. Krieger, K.; Prescott, J.; Early, G.; Dayton, J. Evaluating the 

release of rehabilitated stranded pilot whales (Globicephala 

melaena). Abstract prepared by New England Aquarium, 

Boston, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

23. Mate, B.R.; Prescott, J.; Geraci, J. Free·ranging movements 

of a pilot whale from a satellite· monitored radio. Abstract 

prepared by Oregon State University, Newport, OR, avail· 

able from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, 

MA. 

24. Mattila, D.; Clapham, P.; Stone, G.; Corbett, H.; Katona, S. 

Humpback whales of Virgin Bank: population composition 

and habitat use. Abstract prepared by Center for Coastal 

Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from National Ma· 

rine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

25. Mayo, CA.; Marx, M.K.; Letcher, B.H. Estimated zooplank· 

ton consumption rate and caloric intake of the North 

Atlantic right whale,Eubalaenaglacialis. Abstractprepared 

by Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA,available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

26. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, LA. Distribution, abundance, and prey 

items of the harbor seal Phoca vitulina in Southern New 

England. Abstractprepared by Manomet Bird Observatory, 

Manomet, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

27. Schilling, M.R.; Weinrich, M.T.; Belt, CR.; lambertsen, 

R.H. Behavioral reactions of humpback whales to biopsy 

darts: reaction to an applied stimulus. Abstract prepared by 

Gloucester Fishermen's Museum, Gloucester, MA, avail· 

able from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, 

MA. 

28. Selzer, LA.; Payne, P.M.; Hagan, J.M. Environmental 

factors related to the distribution and abundance of ceta· 

ceans in the Northwest Atlantic. Abstract prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

29. Weinrich, M.T. Social grouping patterns of humpback 

whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the feeding grounds. 

Abstract prepared by Gloucester Fishermen's Museum, 

Gloucester, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 
Page 26 

Eighth Biennial Conference on the 

Biology of Marine Mammals, 

Pacific Grove, CA, 7-11 December 

1989 

30. Fairfield, c.P.; Waring, G.T. Co-distribution and interac· 

tions of pilot whales and the foreign mackerel fishery in the 

Mid·Atlantic Bight, 1984·1988. Abstract prepared by and 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. 

31. Knowlton, AR.; Kraus, S.D. Calving intervals, rates and 

success in North Atlantic right whales. Abstract prepared 

by New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

32. Kraus, S.D. Mating strategies in North Atlantic right 

whales. Abstract prepared by New England Aquarium, 

Boston, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

33. Payne, P.M.; Wiley, D.; Young, S.; Pittman, S.; Clapham, P.J. 

Recent fluctuations in the abundance of baleen whales in 

the southern Gulf of Maine in relation to changes in prey 

abundance, with emphasis on the role of sand lance in 

structuring the cetacean community. Abstract prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, a vailable from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

34. Polacheck, T. Field testing shipboard line transect methods 

for harbor porpoise. Abstract prepared by and available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

35. Winn, H.E.; Goodyear, J.R.; Kenney, R.D.; Petricig, R.o.; 

Dorf, B.A Dive patterns of right whales in the Great South 

Channel. Abstractprepared by University of Rhode Island, 

Narragansett, RI, available from National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

North Atlantic Marine Mammal 

Association Conference, Woods 

Hole, MA, 3 November 1989 

36. Kraus, S.D.; Harrison, J.E.; Reeves, R.R. Preliminary notes 

on the causes of mortality and injuries in North Atlantic 

right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). Abstract prepared by 

New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

37. Mayo, C.A; Marx, M.K. Feeding strategy and area reo 

stricted searching patterns of right whales, Eubalaena 

glacialis, in Massachusetts waters. Abstract prepared by 

Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA, available 

from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA 

38. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, LA.; Whitman, AA Prey items of the 

harbor seal Phoca vitulina in Southern New England based 

on an analysis of fecal samples. Abstract prepared by 

Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA,available from 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

39. Payne, P.M.; Selzer, LA The abundance of gray seals in 

Southern New England during 1983·1986. Abstract pre· 

pared by Manomet Bird Observatory, Manomet, MA, 

available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods 

Hole, MA. 

40. Pittman, S.; Mattila, 0. Humpback whales' use of a major 

foraging area. Abstract prepared by Center for Coastal 

Studies, Provincetown, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. 

41. Weinrich, M.T.; Belt, C.R.; Lambertsen, R.H.; Schilling, 

M.R.; Iken, H.J. Behavioral reactions of humpback whales 

to biopsy darts: reaction to an applied stimulus. Abstract 

prepared by Gloucester Fishermen's Museum, Gloucester, 

MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Woods Hole, MA. 

International Whaling Commission 

Symposium on Mortality 

of Cetaceans in Passive Fishing 

Nets and Traps, La Jolla, CA, 20-21 

October 1990 

42. Payne, P.M.; Power, G.; Yustin, c.T. Interaction between 

the New England sink-gillnet fishery and the harbor porpoise, 

Phocoena phocoena. Abstract prepared by Manomet Bird 

Observatory, Manomet, MA, available from National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA 
Page 27 

APPENDIX 0 

Cruise Period, Area, and Objectives 

of NEFSC Harbor Porpoise Sighting Surveys 

from 1987 to 1989 

NOAA R/V Gloria Michelle Cruise 

No. GM 87-11: Harbor Porpoise 

Survey Planning Cruise 

The cruise period was 21·23 August 1987. The cruise 

consisted of visual surveys for schools of harbor porpoise 

(Phocoena phocoena) along repeated tracks in the western Bay 

of Fundy in the vicinity of Campobello Island, the Wolves Island 

group, and Grand Manan Island. Objectives of the cruise were 

to review and evaluate methods of conducting cetacean sighting 

surveys that might be used to estimate the size of the population 

or populations of harbor porpoise in the Gulf of Maine and Bay 

of Fundy region. 

NOAA R/V Gloria Michelle Cruise 

No. GM 88-14: Testing Harbor 

Porpoise Survey Methods 

The cruise period was 22·25 August 1988. The cruise 

consisted of research on the estimation of radial sighting 

distances and visual surveys for schools of harbor porpoise 

(Phocoena phocoena). All research was conducted in the 

, u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1994-500·026 

western Bay of Fundy in the vicinity of Campobello Island, the 

Wolves Island group, and Grand Manan Island. Purpose of the 

cruise was to conduct a field test of line·transect survey methods 

for harbor porpoise. The three main objectives were to: (1) test 

and develop procedures for estimating radial sighting distances, 

(2) test the robustness of line·transect methods for harbor· 

porpoise·to·observer height, and (3) test the effect on line· 

transect methods on the movement rates of harbor porpoise 

relative to the vessel. 

NOAA R/V Chapman Cruise No. Ch. 

89-30B: Harbor Porpoise Survey 

The cruise period was 17·28 July 1989. Area of operation 

was the inshore waters of Machias and Penobscot Bays, Maine, 

and offshore waters along the Maine and southwestern Nova 

Scotian coasts and around Jeffreys Ledge, Platts Bank, Cashes 

Ledge, Grand Manan Banks, and Fippennies Ledge. Objectives 

were to: (1) determine the southwestern and seaward limits of 

the distribution of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the 

Gulf of Maine during summer, (2) train and test observers in 

their ability to estimate sighting distances, and (3) collect 

distributional data on other cetaceans in the Gulf of Maine. 

PUBLISHING IN NOAA TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NMFB-F/NEC 

Manuscript Qualification 

This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing 

in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). It employs 

thorough internal scientific review and technical and copy editing, 

but not necessarily external scientific review. Manuscripts that may 

warrant a primary level of scientific publishing should be initially 

submitted to one of NMFS's primary series (i.e., Fishery Bulletin, 

NOAA Technical Report NMFS, or Marine Fisheries Review). See 

the outside back cover of this document for a fuller description of 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) publication series. 

Identical, or fundamentally identical, manuscripts should not 

be concurrently submitted to this and any other publication series. 

Manuscripts which have been rejected by any primary series strictly 

because of geographic or temporal limitations may be submitted to 

this series. 

Manuscripts by NEFSC authors will be published in this series 

upon approval by the NEFSC Science & Research Director. Manu· 

scripts by non·NEFSC authors may be published in this series if: (1) 

the manuscript serves the NEFSC's mission; (2) the manuscript 

meets the Science & Research Director's approval; and (3) the 

author arranges for the printing and binding funds to be transferred 

to the NEFSC's Information Services Unit account from another 

federal account. For all manuscripts submitted by non·NEFSC 

authors and published in this series, the NEFSC will disavow all 

responsibility for the manuscripts' contents; authors must accept 

such responsibility. 

The ethics of scientific research and scientific publishing are a 

serious matter. All manuscripts submitted to this series are expected 

to adhere .. at a minimum .. to the ethical guidelines contained in 

Chapter 1 ("Ethical Conduct in Authorship and Publication") of the 

CBE Style Manual, fifth edition (Chicago, IL: Council of Biology 

Editors). Copies of the manual are available at virtually all scientific 

libraries. 

Manuscript Preparation 

Organization: Manuscripts must have an abstract, table of 

contents, and .. if applicable .. lists of tables and figures. As much as 

possible, use traditional scientific manuscript organization for sec· 

tions: "Introduction," "Study Area," "Methods & Materials," 

"Results," "Discussion" and/or "Conclusions,"" Acknowledgments," 

and "Literature/References Cited." 

Style: All NEFSC publication and report series are obligated 

to conform to the style contained in the most recent edition of the 

United States Government Printing Office Style Manual. That style 

manual is silent on many aspects of scientific manuscripts. NEFSC 

publication and report series rely more on the CBE Style Manual, 

fifth edition. 

For in·text citations, use the name-date system. A special effort 

should be made to ensure that the list of cited works contains all 

necessary bibliographic information. For abbreviating serial titles in 

such lists, use the most recent edition of the Serial Sources for the 

BIOSIS Previews Database (Philadelphia, P A: Biosciences Informa· 

tion Service). Personal communications must include date of contact 

and full name and mailing address of source. 

For spelling of scientific and common names of fishes, mol· 

lusks, and decapod crustaceans from the United States and Canada, 

Il'ie Special Publications No. 20 (fIShes), 16 (mollusks), and 17 

(decapod crustaceans) of the American Fisheries Society (Bethesda, 

MD). For spelling in general, use the most recent edition of 

Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English 

Language Unabridged (Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam). 

Typing text, tables, and figure captions: Text, including 

tables and figure captions, must be converted to WordPerfect 4.2, 

5.0, or 5.1. In general, keep text simple (e.g., don't switch fonts, don't 

use hard retuITIS within paragraphs, don't indent except to begin 

paragraphs). Especially, don't use WordPerfect graphics for embed· 

ding tables and figures in text. If the automatic footnoting function 

is used, also save a list of footnotes as a separate WordPerfect file. 

When the final draft is ready for review, save the text, tables, figure 

captions, table titles, footnotes, and front matter as separate docu· 

ment files. 

Tables should be prepared using all tabs or all spaces between 

columnar data, but not a combination of the two. Figures must be 

original (even if oversized) and on paper; they cannot be photocopies 

(e.g., Xerox) unless that is all that is available, nor be on disk. Except 

under extraordinary circumstances, color will not be used in illustra· 

tions. 

Manuscript Submission 

Authors must submit one paper copy of the double·spaced 

manuscript, one magnetic copy on a diskette, and original figures (if 

applicable). NEFSC authors must include a completely signed-off 

"NEFSC Manuscript Submission Form." Non·NEFSC authors who 

are not federal employees will be required to sign a "Release of 

Copyright" form. 

Send all materials and address all correspondence to: 

Jon A. Gibson, Technical Editor 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

166 Water Street 

Woods Hole, MA 02543·1026 USA 

(508) 548·5123x228 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

Allen E. Peterson, Jr., Science and Research Director 

Program Support Staff, Mary G. Laird, Chief 

Information Services Unit, Teri L Frady, Chief 

Jon A. Gibson, Technical Editor 
Information Services Unit 

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 

166 Water St. 

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 

THIRD CLASS MAIL 

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS 

OFTHE 

NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER 

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks to "achieve a continued optimum utilization of living resources for 

the benefit of the Nation." As the research arm of the NMFS's Northeast Region, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) 

supports the NMFS mission by "planning, developing, and managing multidisciplinary programs of basic and applied research 

to: (1) better understand the living marine resources (including marine mammals) of the Northwest Atlantic, and the 

environmental quality essential for their existence and continued productivity; and (2) describe and provide to management, 

industry, and the public, options for the utilization and conservation of living marine resources and maintenance of 

environmental quality which are consistent with national and regional goals and needs, and with international commitments." 

To assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to its constituents, the NEFSC issues publications and reports in four 

categories: 

Technical Memorandums-Issued irregularly as the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F /NECseries. Series includes: data reports of long· 

term or large area studies; synthesis reports for major resources or habitats; annual reports of assessment or monitoring programs; documentary 

reports of oceanographic conditions or phenomena; manuals describing Held and lab techniques; literature surveys of major resource or habitat topics; 

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and editing. limited free copies are available from authors or the NEFSC. Issues are also available from the National Technical Information Service, 

5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161. 

Reference Documents-· Issued irregularly as the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document series. Series includes: data reports on 

Held and lab observations or experiments; progress reports on continuing experiments, monitoring, and assessments; and background papers for 

scientiHc or technical workshops. Issues receive minimal internal scientifIC review and no technical editing. No subscriptions. Free distribution 

of single copies. 

Information Reports-Issued in several series, including: Research Highlights (approximately six times per year); News Release (irregular); 

FIShermen's Report (up to four times per year); and The Shark Tagger (two times per year). Content is timely, special.purpose data and/or 

information. Level of scientiHc review and technical editing varies by series. All series available through free subscription except for The Shark 

Tagger which is available only to participants in the NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program. 

Information Pamphlets··lssued irregularly as the Information Pamphlet series. Series includes easy·ta-read summaries of the practical applications 

and implications of NEFSC research Hndings to current popular concerns. A list of available pamphlets can be obtained upon request. No 

subscriptions. Free distribution of single copies. Multi<opy requests considered, subject to supply. 

To obtain a copy of a Technical Memorandum or a Reference Document, or to subscribe to an Information Report, 

write: Information Services Unit, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543·1026. 

An annual list of NEFSC publications and reports is available upon request at the above address. Any use of trade 

names in any NEFSC publication or report does not imply endorsement.