West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

CHAPTER 7
side (See Figure 7-1, measurement #2). This method is used
if rigor has set in or the animal is too large or deteriorated to
maneuver.
Collect marine mammal lengths using the following
procedure:
1. Put on a pair of rubber deck gloves to prevent the
transfer of disease.
2. Lay the marine mammal on its back with its head and
vertebral column in a straight line as best possible.
3. Take the standard length by measuring the straight line
distance from the tip of the snout or rostrum to the tip
of the tail notch on an animal that is belly up (preferred
method).
OR
Take the curvilinear length by measuring the shortest
surface distance from the tip of the snout or rostrum to
the tip of the tail notch along the back, belly, or side.
4. Record the length, sex, weight (if possible) and species
on the Biospecimen Form.
5. Record interaction and sighting information on the
Marine Mammal Sighting Form.
7-6 1/30/2004