SEFSC GoMMAPPS 2017 Summer Aerial Survey

Original provider:NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)Dataset credits:NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)Abstract:As part of the GoMMAPPS program, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducted aerial surveys of continental shelf waters (up to the 200-m isobath) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The survey was conducted between 29 June and 17 August 2017 aboard a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft at an altitude of 600 feet (183 m) and a speed of 100-110 knots. Survey tracklines were oriented perpendicular to the shoreline and latitudinally spaced 20 km apart. The survey was designed for analysis using Distance sampling with a two-team (independent observer) approach to correct for perception bias in resulting abundance estimates. The study area extended from the shoreline to the 200-m isobath between Key West, FL and Brownsville, TX, and included fine-scale tracklines over estuarine waters of Mississippi Sound.