AMAPPS Southeast Aerial Cruise Fall 2016

Original provider: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Dataset credits: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Abstract: As part of the AMAPPS program, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducted aerial surveys of continental shelf and slope waters from New Jersey to North Carolina between 23 November - 31 December, 2016. The survey was flown aboard a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft at an altitude of 600 feet (183 m) and a speed of 110 knots. The survey path followed tracklines oriented perpendicular to the shoreline and latitudinally spaced 20 km apart. “Fine- scale” track lines were surveyed in waters off the coast of New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia. The survey was designed for analysis using Distance sampling and a two- team (independent observer) approach to correct for visibility bias in resulting abundance estimates. Due to staffing issues, one team with four observers (left and right bubbles, belly and a data recorder) conducted the survey between 23-25 November. After 13 December the survey was conducted with two teams per usual protocol.