The main objective is to provide management advice for harvested species (large whales, narwhale and beluga, walrus). The surveys are conducted from fixed winged twin engine aircrafts with 2-4 observers, that systematically survey for marine mammals in the prime habitats in Greenland. Surveys are conducted as strip census, line transect, photographic survey or independent observer surveys. Target species and areas shift between years but it is attempted to maintain a 5-6 survey cycle in the areas with the largest hunting pressure (i.e. West Greenland). For East Greenland a survey cycle of 10 or more years will be maintained.
strip census, line transect, photographic survey or independent observer surveys
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR)
International Whaling Commission (IWC), North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO), Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on Conservation and Management of Narwhal and Beluga (JCNB)