gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35599 eng UTF8 dataset Southeast Fisheries Science Center (305)361-5761 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami FL 33149 USA www.sefsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST resourceProvider 2024-02-29T00:00:00 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico NW Gulf PAM publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35599 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35599 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information tableDigital Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni, are the only year-round resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico, have an estimated abundance of 33 individuals (CV 1.07) in the Gulf of Mexico population, and are found within a restricted range near the De Soto Canyon in the northeastern Gulf. Based on their localized distribution, low abundance, and recent evidence that this population represents a unique evolutionary lineage and exhibits very low levels of genetic diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has petitioned NMFS to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as an endangered species and define critical habitat to enhance their protection. The NRDC highlights the high levels of anthropogenic noise from shipping and seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico as a major stressor. Historical whaling records found balaenopterids, most likely Bryde’s whales, throughout a broader area than their currently known range, including the western and central portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico, though sightings are now rare in this region, despite substantial effort. Autonomous passive acoustic methods are the most successful tool for finding rare whale species in areas where they occur infrequently and areas where they were historically sighted by whalers. The objectives of this study are to collect passive acoustic data for use in investigations of 1) Bryde’s whale occurrence and distribution, and 2) ambient noise conditions in the western Gulf of Mexico. We deployed 5 calibrated autonomous acoustic instruments over a one year period from June 2016 – June 2017 along the 200 m isobaths throughout the western Gulf of Mexico predicted Bryde’s whale habitat. This will provide data to investigate whether, where, and when Bryde’s whales occupy this habitat and will be useful in designating critical habitat if this species is listed under the ESA. By using calibrated instruments, an additional goal will be to obtain data to characterize the ambient sound environment at these sites to determine whether acute or chronic anthropogenic noise sources pose a risk to this species. The purpose of this study is to acoustically monitor an area of historical importance to a small population of resident baleen whales to 1) determine if they occur in waters beyond the northeastern Gulf of Mexico; 2) evaluate the seasonal occurrence and site fidelity at western Gulf sites; and 3) to characterize ambient noise conditions in this region of high shipping and seismic activity. We deployed 5 calibrated fixed passive acoustic recorders along the 200 m isobath in the region of predicted high densities on the northwestern Gulf of Mexico shelf to investigate whether Bryde’s whales can be found in this area and to characterize the ambient noise conditions. Given the small population size and unique genetic lineage of this stock of Bryde’s whales, it is imperative that we determine the extent of their range, seasonality of their distribution, and what noise conditions occur throughout their habitat in order to offer the best protection possible should this stock be listed under the Endangered Species Act. underDevelopment Marine Mammal Passive Acoustic Monitoring theme Gulf of Mexico place DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Gulf of Mexico Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: Autonomous Passive Acoustic Monitoring in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35599. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35599 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/sefsc/dmp/pdf/35599.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US oceans https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35599 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information