Project Summary for 2005–04–08:
The protected resources and biodiversity division of the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center is working with the right whale research group in the Bioacoustics Research Program at Cornell University to acoustically survey for right whales along the mid-Atlantic coast. Dr. Christopher Clark is the point of contact at Cornell University (Phone: 607–254–2408).
As part of this effort, during November 2004 we deployed ten autonomous acoustic recording units from the R/V Cape Fear from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington between Savannah, GA and Cape Fear, NC. The water depths were between 30–90 feet. We are currently planning to recover these units between 16 — 25 February 2005, weather permitting. Due to the high currents and wave energy along the U.S. midAtlantic during winter months, the units are secured to approximately 300 lbs. of anchoring material near the bottom. We are planning to use divers to recover the buoys by manually releasing them from their anchors. A similar effort was successfully conducted during April of 2004 with the assistance of NURC divers.
For the February 2005 recovery of the ten units, we request that the National Undersea Research Center provide two divers for this recovery mission. We are planning for 8 dives in waters less then 70 feet depth and two dives in approximately 90 feet of water.
Research products generated during the proposed fieldwork will include a plan view photo–mosaic and a wealth of video and photographic imagery. This documentation will be used in educational and outreach opportunities, as well as part of formal presentations at professional archaeological conferences. This baseline information is essential for creating a sound management plan for the site, as well as gaining a better archaeological understanding of the shipwreck.
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