Abstract
Problem: In order for environmental assessments to be accurate, density estimates for protected species must be up-to-date. Currently, the supporting data is several years old.
Intervention: Collaborate with ongoing NMFS efforts to conduct multiple biological surveys to estimate population densities of endangered or threatened marine species and fill spatial and temporal gaps in current survey efforts.
Comparison: Comparisons between the older existing data sets and this new species density and distribution data will inform trends or changes in environmental variables and/or species densities and distributions.
Outcome: Up-to-date assessments, including spatial and temporal distribution, of protected species in areas of the Pacific that are of special interest to BOEM.
Context: Southern California, Central California, Northern California, Washington-Oregon, Hawaii