NEFSC Trips
Regional Trips
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS)
- Charter: R/V Auk
- Trip duration: 1 day
- Moorings used: TOSSITS
Southern New England
- Charter: F/V Saints and Angels
- Trip duration: 5 - 6 days
- Moorings used: Shallow water roped mooring
Gulf of Maine
- Charter: F/V Saints and Angels
- Trip duration: 3 - 4 days
- Moorings used: Deep water roped mooring
Mid-Altantic
- Fieldwork contracted to HDR ℅ Amy Englehaupt
- Turnaround every 5 months
- Mooring used: Shallow water roped mooring
Stock Assessment Surveys
Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species - AMAPPS
AMAPPS surveys are a multi-agency effort aimed at assessing abundance, distribution, ecology, and behavior of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds throughout the U.S. Atlantic. NEFSC PAM researchers participate in AMAPPS surveys using towed array sampling methods. Using a towed array involves towing recording devices behind a ship and matching acoustic analysis with real-time on-deck visual observers for ground-truthing purposes. The towed array can collect species presence when whales are under water and unavailable to the observers, and during periods of inclement weather (e.g. rain, fog), extending survey efforts. Combining data collected from both the towed array and from the observers allows for a more holistic and comprehensive picture of species distribution and abundance in our offshore regions. For more information on the AMAPPS effort, see NOAA’s AMAPPS page.
A typical towed array design used by NMFS science centers:
