One commercial vessel with experienced crew is needed to host 12-14 scientists and conduct marine mammal visual line-transect surveys, conduct real-time passive acoustic monitoring (sonobuoys), retrieve and deploy long-term passive acoustic and oceanographic moorings, conduct oceanographic and zooplankton sampling, and deploy and recover a rigid-hulled inflatable boat in the Gulf of Alaska. An experienced captain and a minimum four-member crew will be needed to operate the vessel, while a Chief Scientist will direct survey operations. Acoustic monitoring and vessel maneuvering will be conducted 24 hours a day; visual surveys, mooring operations, and small boat work will occur during daylight hours, and oceanographic and zooplankton sampling will primarily occur at night. UW scientific collaborators The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) and Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML)) will provide the moorings, sonobuoys, rigid-hulled inflatable boats, “Big Eye” binoculars/stands, oceanographic gear, and any winches required. The survey area is identified in Figure 1 (page 2).
