Marine Mammal Operations Marine Mammal Operations Marine mammal operations consist of a three-observer watch stationed on the flying bridge. The third observer maintains a close range visual watch. When pods are encountered, the ship breaks from the transect and investigates each sighting. Biopsy samples are taken from healthy pods of dolphins and whales. Transects are laid out at the beginning of a cruise to provide optimum sampling of the survey area.
Mammal observations take place from sunrise to sunset.
A CTD cast is conducted at mid-day and after sunset. Marine mammal operations are often conducted in concert with Plankton Surveys .