Volume III, Appendices EM - National Marine Fisheries Service ...

Data Collection
Data Collection and Chain-of-Custody Procedures
Systematic search and recovery, transportation, processing, and treatment of all oil-affected
wildlife are critical for guiding response actions and gaining an understanding of the short-term
and long-term consequences of oil spills to wildlife populations. In addition, these data can be
used after the emergency response for natural resource damage assessment activities. In order to
track the samples and collect data during oiled wildlife response, the trustee agencies and response
organizations must adhere to pre-established chain-of-custody and animal identification
procedures. For tracking purposes, data on oiled animals are compiled on standard data log forms
(Appendix 2-3). During large-scale responses, pre-identified wildlife agency personnel or their
agents will complete log forms; however, field and rehabilitation responders should be familiar
with the forms and their completion for smaller-scale responses and for individual oiled animals
that present to participating facilities independent of a spill response. In addition to the tracking
of live animal data, all samples (carcasses, samples, photos, records) that may be used in legal cases
must be tracked and secured at all times.
Quality assurance (QA) procedures are necessary to ensure that data are collected in a scientifically
valid manner. It is important throughout any sampling and analysis program to maintain integrity
of the sample from the time of collection, through the point of data reporting, to the final sample
disposition. Proper chain-of-custody procedures allow the possession and handling of samples
traced from collection to final disposition. Documents needed to maintain proper chain-ofcustody
include:
Field Logbook: All pertinent information on field activities and sampling efforts should be
recorded in a field logbook. The logbook should enable someone else to completely reconstruct
the field activity without relying on the memory of the field crew. All entries should be made in
indelible ink (preferably ballpoint), with each page signed and dated by the author, and a line
drawn through the remainder of any page. All corrections should consist of permanent line-out
deletions that are initialed. An example of a Search Effort Log is presented in Appendix 1. For
tracking and chain-of-custody purposes, all live and dead animals recovered should be identified
(tagged/marked) in the field and the identification noted on the Search Effort Log. Permanent
tags will then be applied and logged at the processing facility.
Animal Logs: At admittance to a wildlife care and processing facility, the animal must be logged
into the Live Marine Mammal Data Log or Dead Marine Mammal Data Log (Appendix 2-3) and
all of the boxes on these forms must be completed. All animals collected dead or alive should be
given a unique log number and identifier (e.g. tag), as well as a Level A data field number, in order
to track the individual animals through the capture/collection, processing, and for live animals the
rehabilitation and release process.
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