gov.noaa.nodc:0303532 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-06-08T13:20:23Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Pup production of the California Stock of northern fur seals from 1969 to 2023 (NCEI Accession 0303532) 2025-04-30 publication 2025-04-15 creation International DOI Foundation (IDF) 10.25921/xa4y-7q42 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0303532 NCEI Archive Management System 0303532 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Anthony Orr NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) tony.orr@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Pete Warzybok Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) pwarzybok@pointblue.org http://www.pointblue.org/ HTTP Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) website Institution web page information collaborator James R. Tietz Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) jtietz@pointblue.org http://www.pointblue.org/ HTTP Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) website Institution web page information collaborator Orr, Anthony J. NMFS/AFSC Marine Mammal Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information author Warzybok, Pete Point Blue Conservation Science http://www.pointblue.org/ HTTP Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) website Institution web page information author Tietz, James R. Point Blue Conservation Science http://www.pointblue.org/ HTTP Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) website Institution web page information author NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information contributor Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) http://www.pointblue.org/ HTTP Point Blue Conservation Science (PBCS) website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital The Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) in collaboration with Point Blue Conservation Science initiated long-term studies to determine pup abundance of the California Stock of northern fur seals. The California Stock is comprised of northern fur seals inhabiting San Miguel Island (and Castle Rock, and islet ~1 km northwest) and the Farallon Islands (specifically, Southeast Island) off California. Pup production is the sum of the numbers of live pups and dead pups for a given pupping season. This in turn is used as index to estimate total population abundance. Population abundance is vital to knowing the status of a particular stock or the entire species, as well as knowing what factors are driving population trends. Metadata and datasets corresponding to these studies are reported in Stock Assessment Reports (SAR) for the U.S. Congress and other stakeholders. To provide information of the California Stock of northern fur seals for Stock Assessment Reports. Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; West Coast Regional Office (NMFS/WRC) Funding Agency: NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office (NMFS/ARO) Funding Agency: US DOI/Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Funding Agency: Bently Foundation Funding Agency: Campini Foundation Funding Agency: Elinor Paterson Baker Trust Funding Agency: Farallon Islands Foundation Funding Agency: Grand Foundation Funding Agency: Hellman Family Foundation Funding Agency: Kimball Foundation Funding Agency: Marisla Foundation Funding Agency: Mead Foundation Funding Agency: Moore Family Foundation Funding Agency: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Funding Agency: Resources Legacy Fund Funding Agency: RHE Foundation Funding Agency: Volgenau Foundation Funding Agency: Individual Donors completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0303532 Preview graphic PNG 0303532 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2025-04-08 publication ANIMALS - INDIVIDUAL - COUNTS theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS binoculars instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS in situ theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory Point Blue Conservation Science dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/MML > Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian aerial counts fur seal ground counts northern fur seal population abundance pup abundance theme Provider Keywords BINOCULAR > BINOCULAR instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian California Castle Rock Farallon Islands San Miguel Island place Provider Place Names 3LKHY4 Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Orr, Anthony J.; Warzybok, Pete; Tietz, James R. (2025). Pup production of the California Stock of northern fur seals from 1969 to 2023 (NCEI Accession 0303532). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/xa4y-7q42. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. license This dataset has been dedicated to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. SPDX License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0) Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 2025: AFSC/MML/CCEP: Pup production of the California Stock of northern fur seals from 1969 - 2023, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75401. 2025 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:75401 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75401 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75401 INPORT Webpage information NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/AFSC) http://www.afsc.noaa.gov HTTP NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/AFSC) website Institution web page information publisher tableDigital crossReference project eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -124 -117 32 39 1969-05-01 2023-09-30 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 0.244 https://doi.org/10.25921/xa4y-7q42 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/303532 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/303532 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0238/0303532/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0303532 v1.1 was published. 2025-04-30T20:39:36Z NCEI Accession 0303532 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0303532/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0303532 v1.1 published 2025-04-30T20:39:36Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: ANIMALS - INDIVIDUAL - COUNTS (measured); Units: Count; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: binoculars; Sampling and Analyzing Method: San Miguel Island - each year, usually between the last two days in July and the first two days in August, a live-pup census is conducted at San Miguel Island and Castle Rock. Counts are conducted either on the ground in a mobile blind or on a bluff at San Miguel and by walking in safe spots on Castle Rock. Two independent counters are used. For aerial counts, a pilot with a visual observer conducts the counts in areas where animals will not be disturbed. Afterward, counts between the two counters are compared to determine if they are within 10% of each other. If not, the area is recounted. If they are, the mean of the counts are used to sum and determine the total of live pups for that year. For aerial counts, a person counts the number of pups on mosaics created from groups of images obtained from camera systems on the aircraft. A subset of images are counted by another counter to access precision. Mortality counts included hooking each pup carcass seen and dragging it to an area/pile where it could not be displaced by water (high tides, waves) so that they would not be recounted during a subsequent mortality survey. In areas where carcasses were not stacked, they were just counted around the time of the live-pup census. Decomposition state was noted and all carcasses counted. Live and dead pup counts were stored into a database. Farallon Islands - live-pup counts are conducted in July and August from a light atop Southeast Farallon Island. When accessible (usually starting in August after seabirds have completed their breeding season), counters go to the west-end of the island to conduct other surveys (much closer than the lighthouse). When possible, an aerial (crewed, fixed-wing aircraft) census is conducted. Information from the method that produced the highest counts is used. Dead-pup counts are conducted from the lighthouse on the island. However, because not all the carcasses can be seen, and they are washed away or almost completely decomposed by the time researchers are able to properly count the number of dead individuals, the live-pup counts provide a minimal estimate of pup production on the island.; Data Quality Method: Representativeness: Data represent a vast majority of count information for northern fur seals at San Miguel and the Farallon Islands. The minor exception is missing data that was not collected at Castle Rock off of San Miguel Island, which was not visited annually due to weather and sea-state conditions. Bias: Ground counts - the biases associated with ground counts are two-fold. Firstly, there are some sections of the island where there are a lot of pups (>> 100). Because the animals are moving around and they are in a dynamic environment, it is difficult to count accurately. Secondly, during these situations one counter consistently has higher counts than the other resulting in over/under-estimations between counts and differences in methodologies. Surprisingly, precision in overall annual counts remains high (within 10%). Aerial counts - The bias associated with aerial counts is not accounting for pups not seen because they are in spaces underneath boulders, bluffs, other animals. However, more accurate counts can be produced using this method because the images are static and can be recounted over and over, if necessary. Comparability: Studies have been conducted to examine the difference in counts (accessing precision) by methodology and between counters. Only counts within 10% of each other are acceptable. Completeness: Annual census data from San Miguel and the Farallon Islands are almost complete compared to the planned amount. The only exceptions are years where counts were not obtained at Castle Rock (off San Miguel Island) due to weather or sea-state conditions. Precision: Ground counts (San Miguel Island) - two counters stand side-by-side to have a similar perspective to count pups using tally-counters. they count from bluffs or on the rookery. If the latter, a non-counter or one of the counters moves ahead to slowly spook the non-ups away from the area so that only pups remain to be counted. After counts are completed in an area, they are compared. If the counts are not within 10% of each other, pups in the area are counted again. Quality Control Procedures: Data entered from field data books to electronic databases are examined twice to deal with any transcribable errors. For counts made on mosaic images, a subset of images are counted by another person to verify counts. asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian binoculars binoculars Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects.