Topic
Marine Mammals
Marine Mammals data provide information about marine mammal species distribution, abundance, and density as determined from scientific surveys offshore and strandings onshore, as well as data products representing marine mammal habitat. The data products within this topic are derived from many individual state, federal, and private sources. In addition to North Atlantic Right Whale Critical Habitat, Portal users can explore three subtopics.
Data Providers and Sources
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University
- Marine life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT)
- NOAA Greater Atlantic Region Fisheries Office
- NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center
- Atlantic Marine Conservation Society
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- HDR Incorporated, Marine Conservation Research
- New England Aquarium
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- TetraTech, Incorporated
- University of North Carolina, Wilmington
- Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
- Wildlife Trust / EcoHealth Alliance / Sea to Shore Alliance
Subtopic
Marine Mammal Density by Species
This subtopic contains layers depicting the monthly distributions of 31 individual marine mammal species or guilds based on their presence in structured scientific surveys in the Atlantic Ocean. Layers represent predicted densities for each month considering surveys conducted and environmental conditions observed between 1992 and 2020.
Models for individual marine mammal species and guilds were developed by the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL) at Duke University through a partnership with the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) and a collaboration with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council and expert work groups. MGEL worked with marine mammal biologists and ecologists at the NOAA Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers and several other research institutions to create habitat-based density surface models for cetaceans occurring off the US East Coast. The results of this work have been published in Roberts et al. (2016), with updates documented in Roberts et al. (2023).
Data Considerations
Some of the MDAT maps contain information about federally protected species. Additional information about the distribution, abundance, and range of species listed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is available at:
- NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources
- NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region Protected Resources Division
- NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation
- NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region Habitat Conservation Division
Details about each individual model can be found on the MGEL Seamap Model Repository page, along with some animations and answers to frequently asked questions. The MDAT Technical Report on the Methods and Development of Marine-life Data summarizes additional aspects of the models that may be important to users of Northeast Ocean Data. These maps represent one set of many available sources of information that inform our current understanding of species distribution and abundance in the Northeast region. Other sources of information on marine mammal species that complement the data shown here include:
- the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) and AMAPPS Marine Mammal Model viewer,
- datasets that display sightings-per-unit-effort, such as those held in the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium sightings database,
- NOAA CetMap Biologically Important Areas for cetaceans, and
- the Passive Acoustic Cetacean Map.
CITATION
Any use of the marine mammal maps and data in this viewer should be accompanied by the following citations:
- Roberts J.J., B.D. Best, L. Mannocci, E. Fujioka, P.N. Halpin, D.L. Palka, L.P. Garrison, K.D. Mullin, T.V.N. Cole, C.B. Khan, W.M. McLellan, D.A. Pabst, and G.G. Lockhart. 2016. Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Scientific Reports 6: 22615. doi: 10.1038/srep22615.
- Roberts JJ, Yack TM, Halpin PN (2023) Marine mammal density models for the U.S. NavyAtlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) study area for the Phase IV Navy Marine SpeciesDensity Database (NMSDD). Document version 1.3. Report prepared for Naval FacilitiesEngineering Systems Command, Atlantic by the Duke University Marine Geospatial EcologyLab, Durham, North Carolina. https://seamap.env.duke.edu/seamap-models-files/Duke/Reports/AFTT_Marine_Mammal_Density_Models_2022_v1.3.pdf
- Curtice C., J. Cleary, E. Shumchenia, and P.N. Halpin. 2019. Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) Technical Report on the Methods and Development of Marine-life Data to Support Regional Ocean Planning and Management. Prepared on behalf of the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT). Accessed at: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/MDAT/MDAT-Technical-Report.pdf.
- Marine-life Data Analysis Team (MDAT; Patrick Halpin, Earvin Balderama, Jesse Cleary, Corrie Curtice, Michael Fogarty, Brian Kinlan, Charles Perretti, Marta Ribera, Jason Roberts, Emily Shumchenia, Arliss Winship). Marine life summary data products for Northeast ocean planning. Version 3.0. Northeast Ocean Data. http://northeastoceandata.org. Accessed MM/DD/YYYY.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SOURCE: Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL) at Duke University. This product was developed by MGEL in collaboration with colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW), the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (VAMSC), the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. It was derived from habitat-based density models for cetaceans built from shipboard and aerial line transect surveys conducted at sea over more than two decades by the NMFS Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers, UNCW, VAMSC, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, HDR Incorporated, Marine Conservation Research, FWRI, New England Aquarium, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and TetraTech, Incorporated, and Wildlife Trust / EcoHealth Alliance / Sea to Shore Alliance. The UNCW surveys were funded by U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Command and NOAA. VAMSC surveys in Virginia were funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Task 1 of Grant NA12NOS4190027 and Task 95.02 of Grant NA13NOS4190135 from NOAA, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The southeast U.S. right whale surveys were funded by NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina State Port Authority, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Funding for this project was provided by United States Fleet Forces Command and was managed on their behalf by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic. Development of the model for North Atlantic right whale was co-funded by NOAA under a cooperative research agreement. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Councils provided funding for summary product creation and data hosting services. For more information, please contact Jason Roberts (jason.roberts@duke.edu).
Status
These products were revised according to agency and public feedback and were posted on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal in August 2018 and May 2023.
Examples of Data
- Fin whale, average density January, predicted animals per 100 square kilometers
- Harbor porpoise, standard error January, predicted animals per 100 square kilometers
Subtopic
Marine Mammal Summary Products
This subtopic contains Summary Products depicting the total abundance and species richness of several different groups of marine mammals. It was built from the Marine life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) Individual Species products (available in the Marine Mammal Density by Species subtopic) that characterize the predicted distribution and abundance of marine mammal species or species guilds. Species groups were developed through a partnership with MDAT and fall into several categories:
- All cetaceans
- Ecological groups (Baleen whales, Sperm and beaked whales, Small delphinoids, Large delphinoids)
- Species of concern (All ESA-listed species)
- Stressor groups (Low frequency sound sensitivity, High frequency sound sensitivity, Vulnerability to climate change, Sensitivity to climate related changes in abundance, ensitivity to climate related changes in distribution, Sensitivity to climate related changes in phenology)
For each of these species groups, users can view total abundance and species richness summarized for a typical annual period.
Data Considerations
Species Group products provide a general overview of the total abundance, biomass, or number of species (richness) for groups of species that are similar because of the way they are managed, their ecology, or their sensitivity to specific stressors. Experts convened by NROC and MARCO helped determine what Species Groups should be mapped and what species should belong to each group.
Species Group products can help answer questions such as:
- Where do the highest number of endangered whale species overlap? (Species of Concern)
- Where are small delphinoids most abundant? (Ecological Group)
- Where are mammals that are sensitive to low-frequency sound most abundant? (Stressor Group)
Species Group products show annual averages of species patterns, they group as many as 31 species and species guilds together on a single map, and they do not have specific associated estimates of uncertainty. For these reasons, Species Group products are a good starting point for further detailed analyses and exploration of the Individual Species products on which they are based.
To address specific questions, users should explore the Marine Mammal Density by Species subtopic. The entire marine life virtual reference library contains extremely detailed spatial and temporal information, including several measures of uncertainty to supplement each individual species map. These data are well suited to address specific questions in conjunction with site-specific data, scientific literature, public input, and many other information sources.
For more details about mapping approaches, specific methods, caveats, and limitations, see the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team Model Repository page.
CITATION
This work represents the efforts of many individuals and funders. Use of these map products for spatial planning purposes is encouraged, with appropriate citations included in any reports or publications.
For all maps and data on this page please cite:
- Marine-life Data Analysis Team (MDAT; Patrick Halpin, Jesse Cleary, Corrie Curtice, Deborah Brill, Michael Fogarty, Brian Kinlan, Charles Perretti, Marta Ribera, Jason Roberts, Emily Shumchenia, Arliss Winship). Marine life summary data products for Northeast ocean planning. Northeast Ocean Data. https://northeastoceandata.org. Accessed MM/DD/YYYY.
- Curtice C., J. Cleary, E. Shumchenia, and P.N. Halpin. 2019. Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) Technical Report on the Methods and Development of Marine-life Data to Support Regional Ocean Planning and Management. Prepared on behalf of the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT). Accessed at: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/MDAT/MDAT-Technical-Report.pdf.
- Curtice C., J. Cleary, E. Shumchenia, and P.N. Halpin. 2019. Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT) Technical Report on the Methods and Development of Marine-life Data to Support Regional Ocean Planning and Management. Prepared on behalf of the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT). Accessed at: http://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/MDAT/MDAT-Technical-Report.pdf.
- Roberts J.J., B.D. Best, L. Mannocci, E. Fujioka, P.N. Halpin, D.L. Palka, L.P. Garrison, K.D. Mullin, T.V.N. Cole, C.B. Khan, W.M. McLellan, D.A. Pabst, and G.G. Lockhart. 2016. Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Scientific Reports 6: 22615. doi: 10.1038/srep22615.
- Roberts JJ, Yack TM, Halpin PN (2023) Marine mammal density models for the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) study area for the Phase IV Navy Marine Species Density Database (NMSDD). Document version 1.3. Report prepared for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic by the Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Durham, North Carolina.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SOURCE: Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL) at Duke University. This product was developed by MGEL in collaboration with colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW), the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (VAMSC), the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, Tetra Tech and HDR. It was derived from habitat-based density models for cetaceans built from shipboard and aerial line transect surveys conducted at sea over more than two decades by the NMFS Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers, UNCW, VAMSC, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, HDR Incorporated, Marine Conservation Research, FWRI, New England Aquarium, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and TetraTech, Incorporated, and Wildlife Trust / EcoHealth Alliance / Sea to Shore Alliance. The UNCW surveys were funded by U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Command and NOAA. VAMSC surveys in Virginia were funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Task 1 of Grant NA12NOS4190027 and Task 95.02 of Grant NA13NOS4190135 from NOAA, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The southeast U.S. right whale surveys were funded by NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina State Port Authority, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Funding for this project was provided by United States Fleet Forces Command and was managed on their behalf by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic. Development of the model for North Atlantic right whale was co-funded by NOAA under a cooperative research agreement. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Councils provided funding for summary product creation and data hosting services. For more information, please contact Jason Roberts (jason.roberts@duke.edu).
Status
MDAT marine mammal summary products were revised according to agency and public feedback and were posted on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal in May 2023.
Examples of Data
- Cetaceans: Total Abundance
- Cetaceans – All ESA listed: Species Richness
Subtopic
Marine Mammal Monitoring
This subtopic contains layers that show some of the locations of marine mammal monitoring activities offshore, like aerial survey transects and deployment locations of passive acoustic monitoring sensors.
Data Considerations
These data do not represent all marine mammal monitoring activities. For maps of several other kinds of marine mammal monitoring and data collection activities, visit the RWSC Research Planning Map.
Status
Marine Mammal Monitoring data are updated frequently, but the most up-to-date information can be found on the Research Planning Map.
Subtopic
Marine Mammal Strandings
This subtopic contains products developed from data provided by the NOAA Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program from Maine to Virginia between 2000 and 2020.
Data are summarized several ways: by County, by Species Group, and by Season. Species Groups include North Atlantic Right Whales, Humpback Whales, Other Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises, Seals, and Unidentified.
Data Considerations
These data may contain errors or may be missing records. These data are a subset of information contained in the NOAA National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Database. In some cases, further information on particular stranding events may be obtained by contacting the stranding network organization that responded. Please acknowledge the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network in any use of these data.
Status
Marine Mammal Strandings products represent observations between 2000-2020.
Examples of Data
- Marine Mammal Strandings: County Summaries (2000-2020)
- Strandings – Winter