North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) and Right Whale Sighting Advisory System (RWSAS) 2010 Results Summary

摘要

The North Atlantic Right Whale Sighting Survey (NARWSS) is a NOAA Fisheries program which locates and records the seasonal distribution of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) off the northeastern coast of the United States. NARWSS flights conducted in 2010 followed randomized systematic track lines within ten primary survey blocks: Cashes Ledge, Franklin Basin, Georges Basin, Georges Shoal, Great South Channel, Howell Swell, Jeffreys Ledge, Jordan Basin, Lindenkohl Basin, and Stellwagen Bank. An additional survey block was added this year in Rhode Island Sound. During 2010, there were 59 surveys totaling 280 flight hours, including assistance in several disentanglement operations, a modified sawtooth survey over the NOPP acoustic buoy array in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and a directed flight over autonomous gliders in the Great South Channel. There were 476 right whales detected within survey blocks, and an additional 32 right whales sighted during transits to or from survey areas. Table 1 summarizes survey effort and right whales sightings by month. Figures 1a-c display the locations of right whales and survey effort by season. There were no surveys flown from June through September, as the aircraft was redirected to assist protected species surveys in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Table 2 provides a comparison of NARWSS flights, flight hours, and right whale sightings across years.