MARS - Marine Animal Rescue Society

Manatee Rescue of 5/18/06

2006-05-20T10:24:00.000-04:00

2005-06-10T15:50:00.000-04:00

WORD OF CAUTION: We post the above map since that is what was used throughout our monitoring period. As one can see, it appears as though Notch is on the beach (perhaps getting good seats for the Air and Sea Show!), however, the above map and dots are not to scale, therefore, it should only be used to demonstrate an overall trend in position, and not an actual position. The nautical chart posted below, while difficult to read for some, provides a true position at the time of data collection.

Here is the final tracking map and National Weather Service information showing where the Gulf Stream was located throughout the week. Notch and Naia are definitely still staying out far enough to be found in the Gulf Stream.

GULF STREAM HAZARDS...SEAS UP TO 8 FEET TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM AS OF
JUN 10, 2005 AT 1200 UTC...

2 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FOWEY ROCKS.
8 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PORT EVERGLADES.
6 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF LAKE WORTH.

THIS DATA COURTESY OF THE NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC OFFICE.

2005-06-10T15:45:00.000-04:00

Well folks it appears to be official! The tag has either fallen off or the battery has run out. There is quiet a bit of data that we will be studying for the next couple of months and archiving for future stranding organizations regarding the track we monitored. At last data points gathered late Monday, Notch was making his way out of the Keys and heading north with data points catching him between Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale. Even though Tropical Arlene is on the other coast, we are all feeling the effects and it is good to see that he made his way out from here. Last recorded depths of the area he was in was around 300-400 feet and his position kept him on the edge of the shelf, as his pattern has been for the past few weeks. This will be the last posting for their track and more information learned from the complete data gathered will be shared in future MARS meetings. Thanks again who helped get Notch and Naia back home!

2005-06-03T18:28:00.000-04:00

Main Tracking Map

2005-06-03T18:26:00.000-04:00

Notch continues to be tracked in the same area. Over the course of the past 6 days, he has been limited to an area that encompasses about 8 square miles. His location continues to vary in terms of distance offshore going as far as 12-15 miles at times. This area puts him in about 450-600 feet of water. I am posting 2 pictures for us to see prior to the weekend. Our traditional tracking map and then a more nautically oriented map showing points over the past couple of days. I am also enclosing NOAA's track of the Gulf Stream, that has been looked at every day to ensure that Notch continues to stay in the Gulf Stream for food.

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
245 PM EDT FRI JUN 3 2005.
GULF STREAM HAZARDS...NONE.
THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM AS OF JUN 03, 2005 AT 1200 UTC...2 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FOWEY ROCKS.

As we can see, Notch is well within the Gulf Stream based on his points and the tracking of the Gulf Stream which changes almost daily.

2005-05-31T21:05:00.000-04:00

Sorry it has been so long since the last posting. Well in case you cannot make out the latest information, Notch has made his way south of his release site. At last check today he was about 12 miles offshore east of Carysfort Reef in the Keys in about 550 feet of water. His behavior over the past couple of days has been one where he will stay within 5-8 miles for part of the day, then he ventures past the 12 mile limit for a while and then returns. No visual observation has been made of Notch but this behavior can be his feeding patterns going into deeper water then coming back in a few miles to hang out. Other data has been gathered to measure the number of miles covered in a day and over the past 20 days or so, it has slowed to 20 miles or less swam in a day, whereas in the beginning, he had points as far apart as 120 miles from 1 day to the next. Notch has been tracked in water as shallow as 35 feet for a few hours but eventually finds his way to the shelf. We are also approaching the end of our tracking period so it is only a matter of time before we no longer receive data due to the battery life. At that time, we will post that information for everyone to be aware.

2005-05-23T12:36:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest familiar map with the plotted area of the past couple of days. To answer questions that are circulating, yes it appears that Notch has made his way full circle to just south of his release site about 7 miles offshore. We have received other data on released Stenos noting this possiblity of behavior after release. An update on the MMC released animals shows them east of the Bahamas in the Atlantic traveling what appears to be a southeast direction. There were attempts for a sighting of Notch but those efforts were unsuccessful.

2005-05-21T15:59:00.000-04:00

Well it appears that almost 1 month to the date of release, Notch is back where we let him out. This morning we received several good hits indicating good surface time. He was between 7-8 miles off shore from Virginia Key in about 350-400 feet of water. More monitoring to continue.

2005-05-20T08:09:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the missed daily updates but there are have been some recent time constraints imposed on the resource providing maps, so we will only get 2 updates a week now. There has been some talk and concern regarding the close proximity that Notch has had to the Florida coastline or at least the impression given the size of the dot and the map. First, we want to be clear in letting everyone know that Notch has not stranded. Over the course of the past few days, we have been working with various groups to provide a visual sighting on the animals. Although we have manage to see them, we are hoping to be successful and post some pictures if any that we are able to take. That is all for now, more to follow from a text perspective when available.

2005-05-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

Although I cannot get our more common map posted right now, the latest position provided as of 12:00pm today puts them still traveling south about 3 miles offshore just south of Hobe Sound. Efforts are underway to get an aerial observation performed to ensure that both animals are still together and in satisfactory health condition.

2005-05-17T14:23:00.000-04:00

Notch appears to be maintaining his southerly track. He has had periods of getting as close as 2 miles offshore to about 15 miles offshore within the past 4 days. A possible aerial verification may be set up if he continues on his current track and close to land. Multiple points are being tracked throughout the day to capture the best possible points provided by the tags.

2005-05-15T17:04:00.000-04:00

Although there has been some specualtion over the course of the weekend, at approx, 12pm it was confirmed with a "good" point derived from the tag that the animals are about 15 miles off shore heading southeast near Cape Canaveral. Please continue to monitor this site for more information. If the animals do strand, it will also be posted. However, over the past 3 days we can say that although they got as close as about 2 miles offshore, they never did strand but continue to make their way south.

2005-05-13T21:54:00.000-04:00

Here is a more enlarged photo detailing their position. They are about 3 miles off of Flagler Beach in these positions which were taken at about 9am today.

2005-05-13T21:45:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the missed postings but we had not received data in some time. Although the latest point looks like they may have stranded, we have confirmed that the points are still actually over water. Nonetheless, we have asked a visual fly by to take place over the weekend to see how far off the coast they are.

2005-05-10T11:50:00.000-04:00

Well Notch still is still hanging off the coast of Georgia. Also, there has been more updated information on the recently released MMC animals and they appear to be on the move between the Bahamas and Cuba. More details to follow on the whereabouts as soon as they become available.

2005-05-09T13:14:00.000-04:00

Preliminary reports show that the 7 animals release last week by MMC may have gotten very close to Andros Island in the Bahamas. NOAA Fisheries was to dispatch a team to further investigate the data captured. More details will be posted when available.

2005-05-09T13:04:00.000-04:00

Well it looks like Notch and Naia have been hanging out off the coast of Georgia going back and forth towards the end of the continental shelf.

2005-05-06T07:55:00.000-04:00

Missed the posting last night, but here is the past 2 days travels. Still heading south, albeit a little slower. There has been some talk regarding the close proximity to land that the current track has them, but the positions have not been very reliable so the confidence in the positions is not as high. More data to come later today!

2005-05-04T20:58:00.000-04:00

Sorry for missing yesterday's post. Some small technical difficulties. Well it looks like Notch and Naia have stayed in a fairly close area the past 2 days. Tracking information for the 7 recently released MMC dolphins will be updated here soon as well!

2005-05-02T14:43:00.000-04:00

Heading south now and they are southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

2005-04-29T12:14:00.000-04:00

With only a few days before the other animals in the original stranding are released, Notch and Naia find themselves about 200 miles off the coast close to the South Carolina/North Carolina latitude.

2005-04-28T12:50:00.000-04:00

Looks like Notch and Naia covered close to 100 miles over the past 24 hours while still staying in very deep water.

2005-04-27T17:18:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the late post today folks. Looks like both Notch and Naia are headed north for now and as you can see from the ocean floor they are well off the continental shelf now.

2005-04-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

Some of the coordinates have not come across as clear as previous days, but both Notch and Naia were in the same general area last night.

2005-04-25T17:30:00.000-04:00

This morning's position shows Notch and Naia heading south still towards the Bahamas. They are about 75 miles off of the Florida coast. Today's map is provided courtesy of the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

2005-04-24T22:57:00.000-04:00

Evening position for Notch and Naia. It appears that Notch and Naia have changed direction and are now heading south against the Gulf Stream. They have covered about 70-75 miles today and the last known location has them in about 2000 feet of water.

Notch and Naia get released!

2005-04-24T18:40:00.000-04:00

Well Notch and Naia have now been released for the past 4 days and although there was some initial concern due to their first day of tracking, our confidence has significantly improved. This morning's position had them over 70 miles off the coast of Florida, roughly around the Cape Canaveral area, and they were in about 3000 feet of water.

More posts will continue as we get more data on their tracking!