Digital Aerial Baseline Survey of Marine Wildlife in Support of Offshore Wind Energy - OPA 2017

Keywords: Observation, Occurrence, Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Seabirds,Marine mammals,Sea turtles,Visual Sighting,Aircraft
Temporal coverage: 2017/2018

Original provider:
NYSERDA, APEM, Normandeau Associates

Dataset credits:
NYSERDA, Normandeau Associates Inc., APEM Ltd.

Abstract:
In support of New York State’s commitment to incorporating offshore wind into its energy portfolio, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) embarked on a multi-year ultra-high resolution aerial digital survey of marine resources in a 43,745.20 km2 (12,754.06 mi2) offshore planning area (OPA) in 2016. The OPA encompasses the waters of the New York Bight from Long Island southeast to the continental shelf break. Surveys are conducted on a quarterly basis, timed to coincide with periods of abundance of avian and marine species that could be vulnerable to impacts from offshore wind activities. Each survey collected images covering at least 7% of the OPA. 
For each survey, approximately 300,000 images were collected within the OPA using a transect design. During the first survey year, special attention was also paid to the wind energy area (WEA) using a more detailed grid survey design, collecting around 100,000 images. Each survey collected images covering at least 10% of the WEA. WEA survey data are in a separate dataset.
There was some variation in sampling effort among surveys as a different camera system that captured a larger footprint was used after the Summer 2016 survey.

YR2 consists of Survey05 Summer2017, Survey06 Fall2017, Survey07 Winter2017-18, Survey08 Spring2018.

Purpose:
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) contracted with Normandeau Associates Inc. (Normandeau) and teaming partner APEM Inc. (APEM) to use high resolution aerial digital imagery to collect data on birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, cartilaginous fish, and other taxa encountered offshore. Surveys are conducted four times a year over three years. The surveys have been designed in light of available historical data and use the latest digital and sensor technology to provide high identification success. Survey results for birds, marine mammals, turtles, and cartilaginous fish are presented in semiannual reports, which will cumulatively provide insight into interseasonal and interannual variation in species composition, densities, and distributions. Reports are available at https://remote.normandeau.com/nys_docs.php.

Supplemental information:
[2022-06-06] The following recorded species names got their assigned scientific names corrected.
SAND TIGER SHARK: Carcharhinus plumbeus =&gt; Carcharias taurus
SANDERLING: Carcharias taurus =&gt; Calidris alba
BLACK SCOTER: Pluvialis squatarola =&gt; Melanitta nigra
BLACK TERN: Pterodroma hasitata =&gt; Chlidonias niger
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER: Rissa tridactyla =&gt; Pluvialis squatarola
BLACK-CAPPED PETREL: Melanitta nigra =&gt; Pterodroma hasitata
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: Chlidonias niger =&gt; Rissa tridactyla
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: Cheloniidae =&gt; Caretta caretta
LOGGERHEAD/KEMP'S TURTLE: Caretta caretta =&gt; Cheloniidae
RED PHALAROPE: Mergus serrator =&gt; Phalaropus fulicarius
RED/RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: Phalaropus lobatus =&gt; Phalaropus
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER: Phalaropus fulicarius =&gt; Mergus serrator
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: Phalaropus =&gt; Phalaropus lobatus
SANDBAR SHARK: Calidris alba =&gt; Carcharhinus plumbeus

[2020-08-06] Data were updated with additional attributes. Species identification was revised.

Transect area is calculated based on the planned aircraft altitude and assumed to be a consistent value. Actual coverage of the area may vary due to fluctuations in the aircraft altitude during the survey. This may result in target observation points being displayed outside the transect area.

Tracklines are viewable online as a static layer.

The data in 2016 is available at
http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1817
http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/1818