The primary objective is to conduct a marine mammal assessment survey out to a distance of approximately 300 nautical miles, with additional fine-scale surveys within the NMS boundaries.

A secondary objective is to characterize the pelagic ecosystem within the study area, through the collection of underway and station-based biological and oceanographic data, seabird studies, and acoustic sampling.

A final objective is to conduct biopsy sampling and photo-identification studies of marine mammal species of special interest.

Researchers will gather information on the number and location of marine mammals and seabirds, conduct biopsy and photo-documentation of whales and dolphins, collect zooplankton and jellyfish samples, and conduct oceanographic investigations. Scientists will pay particular attention to the waters within the National Marine Sanctuaries as part of a long-term ecosystem-monitoring program.

CSCAPE is a continuation of a series of cruises by NOAA Fisheries Service to study west coast marine mammals, begun in 1991. CSCAPE will continue its research from July through December, concentrating first on areas of the other West coast marine sanctuaries of Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay, and then surveying the entire marine region within 300 miles of the coast.

The preliminary observations below are from 3 June to 20 July, 2005 off the coast of Washinton, Oregon and Northern California.




Read CSCAPE Weekly Cruise reports at: http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/PRD/CruiseInformation/CSCAPE/VisitTheCruise/WeeklyReports.htm.



You can compare the 2005 CSCAPE findings with data from the previous years collected by NOAA Coastal Marine Program at http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/PRD/PROGRAMS/CMMP/default.htm and by Cascadia Research at http://cascadiaresearch.org/reports/onlinereports.htm.

• Over 15 species of cetacean (whales and dolphins) and 40 species of bird were recorded. As in past years, the most abundant species coastwide was the short-beaked common dolphin, and the most abundant whale was the fin whale. Off Oregon and Washington, Dall's porpoise was the most abundant species.
• Within the national marine sacntuaries, humpback whales were the most common whale species and Pacific white-sided dolphins were the most common delphinid.
• Blue whales have been less abundant along the U.S. West Coast in 2001 and 2005 than during the 1990s, whereas estimated humpback whale abundance is greater than during all previous assessments through 2002.
• One single sperm whale was encountered over Juan de Fuca Canyon. It is the first sighting of sperm whales in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary since it was designated in 1994. 14 additional sperm whales were observed off the coast of Humboldt County, Ca.