IMIS

The survey was performed from 09 July 1995 to 03 August 1995, starting in Norfolk, VA and ending in Woods Hole, MA. The study area, covering approximately 39,200 nmi2, was in the slope waters from Chesapeake Bay, VA to Cape Cod, MA. Most of the survey was between 10 nautical miles (nmi) inshore of the 50 fathom contour and 10nmi offshore of the 1000 fathom contour. This survey was part of a large scale marine mammal sighting survey which consisted of two legs (each approximately a month long) where two ships were used during each leg, with an addition leg in which a plane was used to survey for six weeks. The entire study area was from Chesapeake Bay, VA, USA to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada.

The objectives of this leg of the survey were to: 1) Determine the spatial distribution and estimate the abundance of marine mammals found in the above study area. 2) Determine if spatial distribution patterns of marine mammals are correlated with hydrographic features, such as, water depth, temperature or salinity, or with biological features, such as zooplankton distribution.