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Spanish (Español)
The NOAA Ship David Starr Jordan is one of three vessels participating in Vaquita Expedition 2008. The Jordan sails with an international team of scientists and visiting scientists. The visual observation team was chosen for experience during the 1997 cruise or with other porpoise surveys and come from Mexico, the U.S.A., Canada and Germany. Visiting scientists include the international team of acousticians, several scientists who did the early work on vaquita and Mexican scientists learning line-transect methodology used on large research vessels. The three main goals for the Jordan are:
(1) To conduct a visual survey of the area covered by the Jordan during the 1997 vaquita research cruise. The visual team uses “big eye” binoculars to detect marine mammals along the track line.
(2) To calibrate the visual survey with the line transect survey being conducted acoustically by the Vaquita Express to obtain vaquita density estimates in shallow water areas not accessible to the Jordan.
(3) To launch buoys that have the autonomous acoustic porpoise detectors attached to them. The buoys will be anchored at as many as 10 different sites in vaquita habitat. These buoys are to be retrieved at the conclusion of Vaquita Expedition 2008 by the Jordan.
Please read the latest updates from the field.
Jordan Field Report - 16 October 2008 (español)
Jordan Field Report - 29 October 2008 (español)
Jordan Field Report - 25 November 2008 (español)