Southeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.)

"A visual and acoustic survey for humpback whales was conducted in the waters of the Eastern Caribbean Islands, the "Windwards", from St. Kitts and Nevis south to Trinidad, and from Venezuela north to Guadeloupe, was conducted from 9 February to 3 April 2000 on the 224 foot NOAA research vessel Gordon Gunter. The survey was sponsored by the U-S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center as part of its program of cooperative research with the International Oceanographic Commission's 10CARIBE organization. Three or four observers using 25x binoculars and 7x handheld binoculars maintained a visual watch. An acoustic survey was conducted using directional (DIFAR) sonobuoys. Some islands were bypassed because research permission could not be obtained from the subject country. Humpback whales were counted a ' coustically based on the number of singing animals. Given the time of year and the location of the cruise most of the male humpbacks are expected to be producing song most of the time, while the females and calves are expected to be silent"--Introduction.

Technical Memorandum