Cetacean Studies on the Mariana Islands Range Complex in March–April 2015: Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Marine Mammals Using Gliders

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A passive-acoustic glider survey was conducted in the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC) between 2 March and 27 April 2015 (data collection period: 6 March–7 April 2015). The goal of the project was to investigate the spatial distribution and temporal occurrence of odontocetes and mysticetes in offshore areas east of the Mariana Islands. The survey was essentially an exploration of offshore areas adjacent to Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. The areas east of the Mariana Islands are difficult to access and survey, and thus not much is known about the abundance and distribution of cetaceans in these offshore areas. Few dedicated marine mammal surveys have been conducted in these waters to date, and any additional effort improves the understanding and awareness of marine mammal occurrence in MIRC.