APPENDIX B 

 RECORDING AND REPORTING OBSERVATIONS OF CETACEANS AT SEA 



To increase reliability of identifications, observers should 

 train themselves to ask the following kinds of questions each 

 time cetaceans are encountered: 



1. How large was the animal? 



2. Did it have a dorsal fin? If so, what was its size, shape, 

 and position on the animal's back? 



3. Was the animal's blow visible? If so, how tall did it 

 appear? What was its shape? How frequently did the animal 

 blow? 



4. What was the animal's color and color pattern? 



5. Did it have any highly distinctive markings? 



6. If it was a large or medium-sized animal, did it show its 

 tail flukes when it began its dive? 



7. If it was a medium-sized or small animal, did it 

 approach, avoid, or ignore the vessel? Did it ride the bow 

 wave? 



8. What was its behavior? Did it jump from the water? If 

 so, did it make a smooth graceful arching jump, or did it spin, 

 somersault, or reenter with a splash? 



One characteristic is rarely sufficient by itself, and the 

 greater amount of relevant evidence the observer can obtain, 

 the greater the likelihood he can make a reliable 

 identification. But it is important to remember that even the 

 most experienced cetologists are often unable to make an 

 identification. Therefore, even if you cannot positively 

 identify an animal or even make a good guess as to its 

 identity, do not hesitate to fill out the rest of the sighting 

 record form and submit it to an appropriate office. Listing the 

 characters you observe and filling in as much of the form as 

 possible may enable a cetologist to make an identification 

 based on those characters and his knowledge of the 

 distribution, movements, and behavior of cetaceans. In this 

 regard, a sketch made as soon as possible after the encounter 

 and photographs taken from as many angles as possible will 

 aid in the identification. 



Two sample sighting reports are provided to demonstrate 

 a method of recording observations. The first report, 

 "Sighting Information," is completed as an example and is 

 footnoted for explanation. The second report, "Cetacean 

 Data Record." located at the end of the guide, is blank and 

 may be photocopied in bulk for use in the field. Copies of this 

 or similar forms are available from any of the authors or from 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, Tiburon, Calif. Even if no 

 form is available, however, observations should be recorded 

 in rough form, in as much detail as possible. 



Reliable intermittent reports of cetaceans are of interest 

 to cetologists. Their locations indicate seasonality of 

 distribution, and their frequencies help indicate relative 

 abundances of the various species. Because scientists are 

 attempting to determine areas in which cetaceans are often, 

 occasionally, seldom, or never found, and are ultimately 

 describing why animals are found in one area and not another, 

 persons who want to go a step further in their participation in 

 observer programs may want to keep and report records of 

 their entire cruise tracks and zones in which vigilance was 

 maintained but no cetaceans were observed. Data obtained in 

 this manner may be used as the foundation of estimates of 

 cetacean populations, estimates which are extremely difficult 

 to obtain by any other method. 



To be of maximum use in such calculations, however, 

 records of this kind must include the following minimum 

 information: time and location of beginning and ending of 

 each continuous watch, weather conditions as they affect 

 visibility, sea state, ship's speed, height of the observer(s) 

 above the water, number of persons on watch, and details of 

 each sighting, particularly the estimated distance of the 

 animal(s) from the ship's track. 



For a sample of a fictional continuous watch report might 

 look like the following. If sighting forms are available, these 

 observations may be recorded directly onto them. Addition- 

 al information can be recorded on the opposite side of the 

 forms. 



AppeofUx Figure Bl. — A sample cruise track with 

 cetacean sightings. See text for detailed data recording. 



■- NIGHT OR 

 NO WATCH 



160 



