Creating waypoints is an important component of working as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in New Zealand. This is done most commonly with a handheld GPS.
Prior to using a GPS in New Zealand set the clock to 24 hour, the time zone to Auckland, and daylight savings time to auto. The following instructions are based on a Garmin mapping handheld GPS (GPS 60).To create a waypoint, push MARK and then ENTR, both indicated by green arrows in the picture to the left. Make a note of the waypoint number, but remain focused on the sighting, and spend as little time as possible fiddling with the GPS.
The waypoint name needs to correspond with the detection ID (a three digit number 001), which is specified in the MMO reporting forms. Other identifiers are then added to indicate whether or not the sighting is of a New Zealand fur seal, off survey, or a projected waypoint.
Detection IDs and waypoints for most marine mammals are numbers (001, 002, 003), the only exception is NZ fur seals, which have the prefix ‘S’ (e.g. S001, S002). Sightings outside the operational area have the prefix ‘T’ (e.g. T001 or TS001). With the exception of New Zealand fur seals, multiple waypoints are taken during a sighting. Each waypoint is labelled with a letter (e.g. the second waypoint of the first marine mammal sighting in the operational area would be 001b, the waypoint of the third New Zealand fur seal sighting outside the operational area would be TS003a). Projected waypoints have a p at the end.Detection type | Detection number | Waypoint | Projected waypoint |
Marine mammal on survey | 001 | 001a | 001ap |
Marine mammal off survey | T001 | T001a | T001ap |
NZ fur seal on survey | S001 | S001a | S001ap |
NZ fur seal off survey | TS001 | TS001a | TS001ap |
Ocean Science Consulting (Asia-Pacific) Limited
191 Thorndon Quay
Level 3, Pipitea
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
Ocean Science Consulting Greece Limited
1 Arkadias Street, 19443,
Agia Marina/Agios Dimitrios,
East Attiki (near Athens),
Greece
37.8147285N, 23.863746 E
Ocean Science Consulting Limited
Spott Road
Dunbar
East Lothian, EH42 1RR
Scotland, UK