Gulf of Mexico killer whale photo-ID catalog

Photo-identification data on killer whales occupying the northern Gulf of Mexico have been collected in association with large vessel surveys since 1991. Photographs of killer whales are taken during encounters and unique dorsal fin marking can be used to identify individual animals. These images have been reviewed and individuals cataloged to evaluate residency and demographic patterns in killer whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

To examine residency patterns of killer whales in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

A photo-identification study of killer whales has been ongoing since 1992. Photos are collected opportunistically when killer whales are encountered during vessel surveys. The primary type of data collected is photo-identification images that are used

Location Of The Main Office Of The South East Fisheries Science Center

The data will be available from a public web server once an access methodology has been developed.

None

Visual sightings and effort data are reviewed and verified by field leads after each survey day. Identifications of individual animals are reviewed and verified by multiple individuals using tools within the FinBase database system. Key entered data are verified by comparison to written data sheets.

N/A

The archival process is currently under development.

The data resides on a secure government network requiring multi-factor authentication for network access.