September 30, 2016 โ ANCHORAGE, Alaska โ Scientists are using drone technology to track declining Steller sea lion populations in Alaska.
Every summer researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Science Center study the animals along the Aleutian Island chain.
They use a variety of methods to count the sea lions including stationary game cameras and manned aircraft that fly over a region where scientists can take pictures.
Since 2014, theyโve been using a hexacopter, or drone, to survey areas as well.
Fish biologist Katie Sweeney said the drones wonโt replace the manned aircraft but are useful in Alaskaโs inclement weather.
โThey tried to survey around the Delarof Islands and there wasnโt good weather. It was foggy, low ceilings, which is a challenge,โ Sweeney explained in a Skype interview from Seattle. โThat means those sites that were missed we can go to next year when weโre on our research vessel cruise and survey them with a hexacopter so we can fill in those gaps.โ