In 1991, NMML initiated cetacean studies with vessel coverage throughout inland waters of Southeast Alaska. Between 1991 and 1993, line-transect methodology was used to: 1) obtain population estimates of both harbor porpoise and Dalls porpoise, 2) establish a baseline for detecting trends in porpoise abundance, and 3) define porpoise distributional patterns and seasonality. Three line-transect surveys were carried out each year spanning spring, summer, and fall. To update abundance and trends for both harbor porpoise and Dalls porpoise, NMML once again initiated line-transect surveys in 2006 (spring and summer), 2007 (spring, summer and fall), 2010 (summer and fall), 2011 (summer and fall), and 2012 (summer) using methods comparable to those used in the early 1990s.

Visual surveys for cetaceans were conducted on the eastern Bering Sea shelf along transect lines, in association with the AFSC’s echo integration trawl surveys for walleye pollock. Surveys in 2000 and 2004 were from early June to early July, the survey in 2002 was from early June to late July, and the survey in 1999 was from early July to early August. Searches for cetaceans were conducted from the flying bridge of NOAA Ship Miller Freeman at a platform height of 12 m above the sea surface and survey speed of 18.5 22.0 km/h (10 12 kts). North south transect lines were spaced 37 km apart and defined by the historical acoustic survey for walleye pollock. Insufficient funding precluded including cetacean observers on all legs except in 2002. See Friday et al. 2012. Cetacean distribution and abundance in relation to oceanographic domains on the eastern Bering Sea shelf: 1999-2004 (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967064512000100).

The project consisted of a nearshore fish, invertebrate, and habitat survey in northern Bristol Bay, Alaska. A 32-ft. gillnet vessel, the F/V Willow was chartered for the survey, and we also used a 20-ft. aluminum skiff with 90-hp. motor for shallow water work. The survey was staged out of Dillingham, Alaska and took place from July 26-August 8, 2009. The main gear types used during the survey were a beach seine and a bottom beam trawl. A surface pair trawl (towed by the vessel and the skiff) was deployed in one location. Using these gear types, we sampled from the shoreline to 17 m depth, as well as surface waters ~1 km from the shoreline. Catches were sorted to species, enumerated, and when possible weighed using spring scales. Length measurements were taken for most species. Voucher specimens were preserved in 10% formalin for confirmation of species identification. A small number of samples were frozen for age and energetics analysis. Photographs were taken of most species. Small, datalogging conductivity-temperature-depth recorders (CTDs) were deployed on the trawl gear, and also placed on temporary moorings in several locations to study fluctuations in temperature and salinity over tidal cycles. We also recorded habitat variables at beach seine sites according to the methodology used in the Nearshore Fish Atlas of Alaska. During July 26-August 1, 2009 sampling was conducted in Nushagak Bay. High wind and waves hampered the sampling throughout this entire week and largely determined possible sampling locations. Two days were completely lost due to weather. On August 3 we traveled from Dillingham to the west side of the Nushagak and from August 4-8 sampling was conducted along the Nushagak Peninsula and in Kulukak, Nunavachak, Ungalikthluk, and Togiak Bays. During most of this time we experienced high winds but they did not hamper the sampling to the same degree as in the Nushagak. On August 8 we traveled back to Dillingham.

Three marine mammal observers participated on a cetacean survey from 26 June to 15 July 2003, aboard NOAA Ship Miller Freeman as a piggyback project during a RACE acoustic-trawl survey for pollock (see RACE's Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering report here: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Quarterly/jas2003/divrptsRACE2.htm). A total of 2,242 km of trackline were surveyed with 364 cetacean sightings (1,079 individuals). An additional 28 cetacean sightings were made (175 individuals) during off effort periods. Species included harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Pacific white-sided dolphins, killer whales, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, Baird's beaked whales, and Cuvier's beaked whales. See link for details: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Quarterly/jas2003/divrptsNMML2.htm.