NEFSC Right Whale Aerial Survey

Keywords: Occurrence, Observation, Occurrence,Marine Animal Survey,Marine Biology,Marine mammals,Aircraft,Visual Sighting
Temporal coverage: 1998/2023, 1998/2022

Original provider:
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Dataset credits:
Protected Species Branch, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA/NMFS

Abstract:
The North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) is a NOAA Fisheries program which locates and records the seasonal distribution of right whales off the northeastern United States.

Purpose:
not provided

Supplemental information:
2023-02-08: The 2022 data (Oct through Dec) were appended.
2022-08-31: The 2022 data (Feb through Aug) were appended.
2022-02-03: The 2021 data were appended.
2021-06-22: The 2020 data were appended.
2020-12-30: The 2018-19 data were appended.
2019-10-30: The date/time of the 2017 data were corrected (initially they were at UTC. Now they are at local time zone as other records are).
2019-09-13: The 2017 data were appended.
2017-03-10: Data format was changed and the 2016 data were appended.
2016-06-09: 2015 Nov-Dec data were appended.
2016-03-08: 2015 Jan-Aug data were appended.
The following two records got the animal count corrected.
- Right whale 06/03/02 16:58:20 0 -&gt; 3
- Basking shark 06/20/03 17:52:03 0 =&gt; 1 (dead shark)
2015-05-06: 2013 winter and 2014 data were appended.
2015-03-24: A few records had a wrong animal count of zero. The value is replaced with a blank representing species presence only.
2014-08-11: Sightings originally identified as 'CWDO' and not included in the dataset were reclassified as 'UNCW' (common or white-sided dolphin) and now are included.
2014-02-27: Data in 2013 Jan through July were appended.
2013-12-18: The count field for the following two records were updated:
Right whale 2002-06-03 16:58:20: Null (previously a zero)
Basking shark 2003-06-20 17:52:03: 1 (previously a zero)
2013-03-04: Upon provider's request, right whale sightings with all psb_legstage flags except '9' were dropped to avoid potential re-sightings to be mapped.
psb_legstage, a hidden attribute, is a flag indicating the stage of watch. The value of '9' indicates a final estimate of right whales after the animals were first sighted.
2013-01-22: 2012 data were appended.
Data format for the 2007-2011 data was changed from the Consortium format to the NEFSC original format.
2012-09-24: The dataset name was changed from NEFSC Right Whale Survey to NEFSC Right Whale Aerial Survey to distinguish this from the associated vessel survey.
2012-06-25: Data correction: STDO was classified as Stenella coeruleoalba (previously as Stenella attenuata/frontalis). 
2012-06-20: 2011 data were added. 
Data correction 2/8/11: Records with LETU sightings were incorrectly associated with Softshell turtles (ITIS TSN: 173845) and was corrected as leatherback sea turtles (ITIS TSN: 173843)

Other references:
<a href="http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0905/">Khan C, Cole TVN, Duley P, Glass AH, Niemeyer M, Christman C. 2009. North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) and Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (RWSAS) 2008 Results Summary. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. 09-05; 7 p.</a>

<a href="http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0806/index.html">Niemeyer, M., T.V.N. Cole, C.L. Christman, P. Duley and A.H. Glass. 2008. North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) and Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (RWSAS) 2007 results summary. Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document. 08-06; 6 p. </a>

<a href="http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0702/">Cole TVN, Gerrior P, Merrick RL. 2007. Methodologies of the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service aerial survey program for right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Northeast U.S., 1998-2006. US Dep Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 07-02; 11 p.</a>