ORCA Penzance-St Mary's surveys 2018

A team of three trained volunteers including at least one highly experienced observer recorded cetacean sightings using line transect distance sampling methods from a ferry travelling between Penzance and St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. Two observers searched a 100┬░ area from either side of the ship with a 10┬░ overlap on the trackline to satisfy the assumption that all animals on the trackline are detected while one observer recorded data. Effort information including location, vessel speed, course of vessel and environmental conditions (sea state, swell, precipitation, glare and visibility) were recorded every 30 minutes when observers rotated or when conditions changed.