Original provider: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Dataset credits: Carol Roden, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Abstract: An Atlantic Ocean ship survey was conducted by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center in 1999 to evaluate abundance, distribution and stock structure of cetaceans in southeastern U.S. Atlantic waters. Data gathered on this survey will provide abundance estimates for calculating the Potential Biological Removal for U.S. Atlantic waters as required by the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. During the 32 survey days, at least 12 cetacean species were sighted, including Atlantic spotted dolphin Bottlenose dolphin Clymene dolphin Common dolphin Fraser's dolphin Melon-headed whale Pantropical spotted dolphin Pilot whale Risso's dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Sperm whale Striped dolphin The dataset is accompanied by transect data which is provided as a separate file. Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to examine the distribution and estimate abundance of cetaceans in U.S. waters. Specific objectives of this survey are: 1. Obtain minimum abundance estimate for calculating Potential Biological Removal for each species. 2. Collect biopsy tissue samples to evaluate stock structure. 3.Establish and build time-series databases for monitoring trends in abundance. 4. Examine distribution in relation to physiographic and oceanographic features. 5. Obtain photographs and video images of selected species for photo-identification studies. Supplemental information: [2020-09-30] The following invalid species names were corrected according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Bridled Tern: Sterna anaethetus (176897) => Onychoprion anaethetus (824104) Caspian Tern: Sterna caspia (176924) => Hydroprogne caspia (176935) Laughing Gull: Larus atricilla (176837) => Leucophaeus atricilla (824079) Royal Tern: Sterna maxima (176922) => Thalasseus maximus (824142) Sandwich Tern: Sterna sandvicensis (176927) => Thalasseus sandvicensis (176932) Sooty Tern: Sterna fuscata (176894) => Onychoprion fuscatus (824105)