Marine mammal aerial surveys in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas 1979-2010

Megan Ferguson

doi:10.15468/uds72j

Marine mammal aerial surveys in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas 1979-2010

Citation

Ferguson, M. 2013. Marine mammal aerial surveys in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas 1979-2010. Data downloaded from OBIS-SEAMAP (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/dataset/825) on yyyy-mm-dd. https://doi.org/10.15468/uds72j accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-06-15.

Description

Original provider: National Marine Mammal Laboratory Dataset credits: National Marine Mammal Laboratory Abstract: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), formerly the Minerals Management Service (MMS), and its precursor, the Bureau of Land Management, have funded aerial surveys in the Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering Seas since 1979. In 2008, through an Inter-Agency Agreement between BOEMRE and the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) (Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), NMML assumed full responsibility for these surveys. Consistent survey protocol has been in effect on surveys conducted since 1982.

Aerial surveys in the western Beaufort Sea (south of 72 degrees N, 140-157 degrees W) have been conducted each year since 1979. MMS (now BOEMRE) personnel and contractors conducted the surveys from 1979-2007. From 2008-2010, the surveys were conducted by NMML. The goal of the project, also known as the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP), was to document bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) during their fall migration through the western Beaufort Sea, although data were also collected for all other marine mammals that were sighted during the surveys. The surveys were typically conducted during the open water (i.e., ice-free) months of September and October, when offshore drilling and geophysical exploration are feasible and when the fall subsistence hunt for bowhead whales takes place near Kaktovik, Cross Island (village of Nuiqsut), and Barrow, Alaska. Additional surveys were conducted in the Beaufort Sea during spring and summer 1979-1986. The emphasis of fall surveys in the Beaufort Sea was to conduct broad-scale surveys to assess shifts in the migration pathway of bowhead whales, and to coordinate effort and manage data necessary to support seasonal offshore drilling and seismic exploration regulations. The selection of survey blocks to be flown on a given day was nonrandom, based primarily on criteria such as observed and predicted weather conditions over the study area and offshore oil industry activities. Otherwise, the project attempted to distribute effort fairly evenly east-to-west across the entire study area. Aerial coverage favored inshore survey blocks because bowheads were rarely sighted north of these blocks during surveys conducted from 1979-1986.

Aerial surveys in the northeastern Chukchi Sea (68-73 degrees N, 157-169 degrees W) were conducted by MMS (now BOEMRE) contractors from 1982-1991. From 2008-2010, the surveys were conducted by NMML using similar methodology to the surveys conducted in previous years. The goal of the surveys, now known as the Chukchi Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA) marine mammal aerial survey project, was to investigate the distribution and relative abundance of marine mammals in the Chukchi Sea Planning Area (CSPA) during the open water (i.e., ice-free) months of June to October, when various species are undertaking seasonal migrations through the area. However, from 1979-1984, surveys were also conducted during spring.

Aerial surveys in the northern Bering and southern Chukchi Seas (63-68 degrees N, east of the International Date Line) were conducted by MMS (now BOEMRE) contractors from 1979-1985. The goal of these surveys was to investigate the distribution, abundance, migration timing, habitat relationships and behavior of endangered whales during the spring migration. Surveys were conducted from April-July. This database contains aerial survey data from the surveys described above. Purpose: The goals of the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP) have changed minimally since the surveys commenced in 1979. Objectives of the surveys since the late 1980s were to 1) Define the annual fall migration of bowhead whales, significant inter-year differences, and long-term trends in the distance from shore and water depth at which whales migrate, 2) Monitor temporal and spatial trends in the distribution, relative abundance, habitat, and behaviors (especially feeding) of endangered whales in arctic waters, 3) Provide real-time data to MMS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the general progress of the fall migration of bowhead whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea for use in protection of this endangered species, 4) Provide an objective wide area context for management interpretation of the overall fall migration of bowhead whales and site-specific study results, 5) Record and map beluga whale distribution and incidental sightings of other marine mammals, 6) Determine seasonal distribution of endangered whales in other planning areas of interest to BOEMRE.

The goals of the Chukchi Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA) marine mammal aerial survey project commencing in 2008 were to 1) Provide data compatible with the MMS marine mammal database directly to MMS for inclusion in that database and for use in estimation of the distribution of cetaceans and pinnipeds in the CSPA from 3 surveys during June-November, 2) Document geographical areas of importance for specific behaviors including calving/pupping, feeding, hauling-out, and migrating, 3) Provide timely information on marine mammal observations and environmental conditions, including ice conditions, following each survey flight to organizations as directed by the COR (e.g., National Ice Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, MMS) for real-time management of activities in the region.

The goals of the surveys conducted in the northern Bering and southern Chukchi Seas from 1979-1985 were to, 1) Determine seasonal distribution, migration routes, relative abundance, and habitat characteristics of endangered whales in or near existing proposed federal lease sales in the northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, 2) Derive estimates and indicators of relative and/or absolute abundance of endangered whales in these areas, 3) Describe behavioral characteristics of endangered whales observed in these areas, 4) Deploy sonobuoys to detect sounds produced by whales, to be used as additional indices of whale presence in these areas, 5) Obtain distributional information on non-endangered marine mammal sightings incidental to other investigations, 6) Consult and coordinate field activities with other federal agencies, state or local government organizations, or other endangered species researchers to maximize productivity of this study and minimize conflict with other resource uses. Supplemental information: Access and availability of data collected from the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP) and Chukchi Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA) marine mammal aerial survey project are found online here.

Information presented on this website is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. However, as a professional courtesy, and to prevent duplication of, or more efficient coordination with, any ongoing analyses, please email Dr Megan Ferguson (megan.ferguson@noaa.gov) if there is an intention to use these data in a scientific report, whether published or not. Credit should be given for use (including any summaries, maps, or images) of these data; please ask Dr Ferguson for the appropriate credits relative to the intended use. These data undergo periodic updates as new data become available or existing data are edited for accuracy and consistency. Therefore, we recommend citing the version number whenever these data are used. We also recommend that these data be acquired directly from the NMML server and not through other sources that might not have the most recent version.

Purpose

The goals of the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP) have changed minimally since the surveys commenced in 1979. Objectives of the surveys since the late 1980s were to 1) Define the annual fall migration of bowhead whales, significant inter-year differences, and long-term trends in the distance from shore and water depth at which whales migrate, 2) Monitor temporal and spatial trends in the distribution, relative abundance, habitat, and behaviors (especially feeding) of endangered whales in arctic waters, 3) Provide real-time data to MMS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the general progress of the fall migration of bowhead whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea for use in protection of this endangered species, 4) Provide an objective wide area context for management interpretation of the overall fall migration of bowhead whales and site-specific study results, 5) Record and map beluga whale distribution and incidental sightings of other marine mammals, 6) Determine seasonal distribution of endangered whales in other planning areas of interest to BOEMRE.

The goals of the Chukchi Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area (COMIDA) marine mammal aerial survey project commencing in 2008 were to 1) Provide data compatible with the MMS marine mammal database directly to MMS for inclusion in that database and for use in estimation of the distribution of cetaceans and pinnipeds in the CSPA from 3 surveys during June-November, 2) Document geographical areas of importance for specific behaviors including calving/pupping, feeding, hauling-out, and migrating, 3) Provide timely information on marine mammal observations and environmental conditions, including ice conditions, following each survey flight to organizations as directed by the COR (e.g., National Ice Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, MMS) for real-time management of activities in the region.

The goals of the surveys conducted in the northern Bering and southern Chukchi Seas from 1979-1985 were to, 1) Determine seasonal distribution, migration routes, relative abundance, and habitat characteristics of endangered whales in or near existing proposed federal lease sales in the northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, 2) Derive estimates and indicators of relative and/or absolute abundance of endangered whales in these areas, 3) Describe behavioral characteristics of endangered whales observed in these areas, 4) Deploy sonobuoys to detect sounds produced by whales, to be used as additional indices of whale presence in these areas, 5) Obtain distributional information on non-endangered marine mammal sightings incidental to other investigations, 6) Consult and coordinate field activities with other federal agencies, state or local government organizations, or other endangered species researchers to maximize productivity of this study and minimize conflict with other resource uses.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

NA

Sampling

NA

Method steps

NA

Additional info

marine, harvested by iOBIS

Taxonomic Coverages

Scientific names are based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Vulpes lagopus
common name: Arctic Fox rank: species
Erignathus barbatus
common name: Bearded Seal rank: species
Delphinapterus leucas
common name: Beluga rank: species
Balaena mysticetus
common name: Bowhead rank: species
Ursus arctos
common name: Brown Bear rank: species
Cervidae
common name: caribou rank: family
Phocoenoides dalli
common name: Dall's Porpoise rank: species
Balaenoptera physalus
common name: Fin Whale rank: species
Eschrichtius robustus
common name: Gray Whale rank: species
Phocoena phocoena
common name: Harbor Porpoise rank: species
Megaptera novaeangliae
common name: Humpback Whale rank: species
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
common name: Minke Whale rank: species
Ovibos moschatus
common name: muskox rank: species
Monodon monoceros
common name: Narwhal rank: species
Eumetopias jubatus
common name: Steller Sea Lion rank: species
Orcinus orca
common name: Killer Whale rank: species
Ursus maritimus
common name: Polar Bear rank: species
Pusa hispida
common name: Ringed Seal rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Caniformia
common name: pinnipeds rank: suborder
Phoca largha
common name: Spotted Seal rank: species
Cetacea
common name: cetaceans rank: order
Caniformia
common name: pinnipeds rank: suborder
Odobenus rosmarus
common name: Walrus rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Arctic,Beaufort Sea,Chukchi Sea,Bering Sea

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Megan Ferguson
originator
position: Primary contact
Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program, National Marine Mammal Laboratory
email: Megan.Ferguson@noaa.gov

OBIS-SEAMAP
metadata author
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

OBIS-SEAMAP
distributor
Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
A328 LSRC building
Durham
27708
NC
US
email: seamap-contact@duke.edu
homepage: http://seamap.env.duke.edu

Megan Ferguson
owner
position: Primary contact
Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program, National Marine Mammal Laboratory
email: Megan.Ferguson@noaa.gov

Megan Ferguson
administrative point of contact
position: Primary contact
Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program, National Marine Mammal Laboratory
email: Megan.Ferguson@noaa.gov