Protecting marine mammals requires all hands on deck, both at sea and in the sky. During a recent marine mammal survey in the Gulf of America, both NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter and a NOAA Twin Otter teamed up to collect data. Pairing the two NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations assets together allows scientists to efficiently locate, track and study vulnerable marine species across vast stretches of open ocean.
How do air and sea crews stay connected?
Ship and aircraft coordination requires careful communication between the crews. NOAA scientists aboard both the aircraft and the vessel align research goals and daily survey paths before coordinating with the respective crews executing the mission. Radio communications keep both teams connected, enabling the ship to navigate directly to targeted locations based on observations from above. When conditions permit, ships can also deploy small boats to collect close-range imagery and biological samples, giving researchers essential insights into individual whale identification, genetics, and overall animal health.
This level of coordination highlights the practical value of integrated NOAA operations. By syncing efforts across both platforms, NOAA improves data collection efficiency to support long-term marine mammal conservation.
Watch the video below for an overview of the NOAA Twin Otter’s role in marine mammal science and how aerial teams spot and track vulnerable species from the sky.