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A large-scale survey to measure the population and habitat of whales, dolphins, and seabirds in Hawaii is taking place through December, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries announced.

The Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey will cover about 1.8 million square nautical miles of water around all Hawaiian Islands out to 200 nautical miles offshore, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center are carrying out the five-month survey aboard two NOAA ships, Oscar Elton Sette and Reuben Lasker, according to a NOAA news release July 24.

Known as HICEAS, the survey is similar to previous surveys conducted in 2002, 2010, and 2017 and will include three major research components:

• Visual observations, including photo identification, biopsy sampling and satellite tagging to help find, identify and count whales and dolphins and estimate their population size.

• Passive acoustic monitoring, which uses towed hydrophone arrays and drifting recorders to detect and track animals by the sounds they make.

• Ecosystem assessments, which will include seabird surveys and visual observations, measurement of oceanographic variables and plankton tows. Daily conductivity, temperature and depth assessments will also provide important habitat information.

The survey will help provide updated population and habitat information on whales, dolphins, turtles and seabirds, helping officials map out conservation plans as well as sustainable rates of bycatch — animals caught unintentionally during commercial fishing — in U.S. fisheries.

The data will also contribute to the larger Pacific Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species plan.

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