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AFSC/NMML: North Pacific right whale aerial surveys in the southeastern Bering Sea,
2008-2009.
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As part of an inter-agency agreement between the National Marine Mammal Laboratory
and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, aerial surveys of the North Aleutian Basin
and sourtheastern Bering Sea were conducted from 24 July to 28 August 2008 and 14
July to 25 August 2009. Both surveys were conducted from an Aerocommander 690A.
In 2008, the survey design consisted of broadscale transects covering the waters from
Bristol Bay west to the Pribilof Islands. The survey covered a total of 5,821 nmi
(10,782 km) on-effort, 471 nmi (872 km) transit and crosslegs, and off-effort accounted
for 837 nmi (1551 km). There were a total of 263 sightings (755 individuals) of 11
confirmed marine mammals species; these included right, humpback, fin and sei whales
as well as killer whales, Dall's, and harbor porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins,
fur seals, sea lions, walrus and sea otters. There were 10 sightings (12 individulas)
of right whales recorded on 3 separate days. Six unique individuals were photo-identified
and 4 matches were made between the aerial and vessel surveys. In 2009, the survey
consisted of finescale transects over the critical habitat and an acoustic component
was added to complement the visual survey. The survey covered a total of 2,590 nmi
(4,800 km) on effort . There were a total of 124 sightings (213 individuals) of 3
confirmed marine mammal species, right, humpback and fin whales. There were 23 sightings
(28 individuals) of right whales documented on 9 separate days. Seven unique individuals
were photo-identified. Three matches were made to the 2008 survey. In all, the 2
year survey documented 10 unique North Pacific right whales.
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