This data type contains data from field sampling of marine fish and shellfish. The data derive from analyses of midwater or bottom tow catches and provide information on population density and distribution. Cruise information, position, date, time, gear type, fishing distance and duration, and number of hauls are reported for each survey. Environmental data may include: meteorological conditions; surface temperature and salinity; bottom temperature and salinity; trawl depth temperature and salinity; current direction and speed. Bottom trawl or other gear dimensions and characteristics are also reported. Catch statistics (e.g., weight, volume, number of fish per unit volume) may be reported for both total haul and for individual species. Biological characteristics of selected specimens, predator/prey information (from stomach contents analysis) and growth data may also be included. Specimens are identified by an NODC Taxonomic Code. Data are very sparse prior to 1975.

This data type contains data from field sampling of marine organisms in intertidal or subtidal habitats. The data were collected to provide information about species abundance and distribution. Data from each observation may include: cruise and station information such as vessel name, senior scientist, position, date and time; environmental conditions such as surface temperature and salinity, wind speed and direction, and sea state; sediment and habitat descriptors; and species identification and organism counts and measurements. Data may be reported for either individual or composite samples. Specimens are identified by NODC Taxonomic Codes. A text record is available for reporting comments.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127) data type contains data from field observations of marine mammals. Obtained from ship or aircraft surveys, the data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution, mammal behavior and activity, migratory routes and breeding locales. In addition to data on the survey track and observed environmental conditions (including ice conditions, if encountered), F127 data may contain data from each species sighted. Parameters reported may include group size; total number of individuals, adults (males and females), subadults and pups; and mammal activity. F127 contains data for 1979 - 1991.

The Fish Pathology (F013) data set contains data from examinations of diseased fishes. Although these data may be from field observations, they derive primarily from laboratory analyses. Data include: location, and fishing duration, distance, and gear; catch statistics (e.g., total weight, number of individuals, age group, identity of diseases, and number of diseased individuals) by species for any number of species; and biological condition of selected specimens. The size, affected organ, location, and frequency of lesions may be reported for individual specimens. Specimens are identified with the NODC Taxonomic Code. These data may be characteristics of individual lesions or average lesion statistics.

Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard Marine Bird Sighting, Ship/Aircraft Census (F033) format. The F033 format contains data from field observations of marine birds made along ship or aircraft survey tracks. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution. Start and end position, date and elapsed time, speed and course, platform type and observing techniques are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, distances to the shoreline and shelf break, ice characteristics within and outside each transect and surface debris, including oil slicks. Species data may include age, sex, color, plumage, number of individuals, direction of flight, behavior and food source association. Any number of species may be reported within one observation time span.

Marine Bird Habitats (F040) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1975 -1978). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Habitats (F040) data type contains data from field observations of marine bird species and their associated habitats. The data are collected to provide information about species abundance, distribution and behavior. Position, date, time, elapsed survey time, area and distance, platform type and sampling technique are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological conditions, sea surface temperature and salinity, tide conditions and ice characteristics. Species and habitat information may include number of species, number of individuals per species, age, sex, color, molt, behavior, physiographic features, substrate, cover and distances to shore, barrier islands, or river deltas. These data were collected in 1975 - 1978 for coastal Alaska.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Specimens (F025) data type contains data from examinations of marine mammal specimens. The data are collected to define behavior, population dynamics and trophic relationships of marine mammals. In addition to species, position, time and environmental conditions at the collection site, data for each specimen may include weight and body dimensions, sex and reproductive status, age, primary cause of death and analysis of stomach contents. The species of both the specimen and its ingested prey are encoded using the NODC Taxonomic Code. Comments may be reported in a free-text record. F025 contains data for 1975 - 1981. For further information on these data, contact Francis H. Fay (see personnel section).

NODC Standard Marine Bird Sighting, Land Census (F034) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1975 -1980). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Marine Bird Sighting, Land Census (F034) contains data from field observations of marine birds made along land survey tracks. These data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution and breeding locales. The contents and structure of data type file are similar to Marine Bird Sighting, Aircraft Census (F033), although the transect distance of land surveys will normally be shorter than that of ship and aircraft surveys. In this data type the investigator defines the lateral dimension of survey distance unit (a specified number of whole meters). Start and end position, date and elapsed time, and number of distance units are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and adjacent sea surface conditions, distance to nearest shoreline, ice characteristics, and debris, including oil slicks. Species data may include age, sex, color, plumage, number of individuals, flight direction, behavior, and foodsource association. Any number of species may be reported within one observation time span. These data were collected in 1975 - 1980 for coastal Alaska.

Feeding Flock (F037) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1974 -1982). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species. Feeding Flock (F037) data type contains data from field observations of marine bird feeding flocks made during air or ship surveys. These data are collected to provide information on marine bird feeding dynamics, community structure, and trophic relationships. Start and end positions, date and elapsed time, course, speed, distance, altitude, platform type and observing techniques are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, distances to the shoreline and shelf break, ice characteristics, and surface debris, including oil slicks. Flock information may include flock height and dimensions, number of species, number of individuals per species, distance to land, species and number of associated marine mammals, flock behavior, interaction with other species, and arrival/departure activities. These data were collected in 1975 - 1976 for coastal Alaska.

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys. The Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026) data type contains data from field observations of marine mammals. Obtained from ship or aircraft surveys, the data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution, migratory routes, and breeding locales. In addition to data on the survey track and observed environmental conditions (including ice conditions, if encountered), the file contains data for each species sighted. Parameters reported may include total number of individuals, number of pups, number of groups and number of mammals per group. F026 contains data for 1976 only. For further information on these data, contact Karl Schneider (see personnel section). NOTE: In this file type, the geographic location of each group sighted is not recorded; in F127, locations of group sightings are recorded as well as the beginning and end positions of each station or segment of survey track.