Marine mammal specimen and other data were collected from the SURVEYOR and other platforms from 20 March 1977 to 02 November 1977. Data were collected by the Alaska State Department of Fish and Game as part of the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP). Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard F025 Marine Mammal Specimens format. Full format description ia available from the NODC homepage at www.nodc.noaa.gov/. An analog file for this accession is available from NODC user services.

The F025 format is designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys.

The F025 format contains data from examinations of marine mammal specimens. The data are collected to define behavior, population dynamics and trophic relationships of marine mammals. In addition to species, position, time and environmental conditions at the collection site, data for each specimen may include weight and body dimensions, sex and reproductive status, age, primary cause of death and analysis of stomach contents. The species of both the specimen and its ingested prey are encoded using the NODC Taxonomic Code. Comments may be reported in a free-text record.