NOAA Teacher at Sea
Linda Depro
Onboard NOAA Ship Albatross IV
July 31 – August 11, 2006
Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical Area: Georges Bank, New England
Date: August 1, 2006
Science and Technology Log
To quote that famous seaman, Popeye, “A sailor’s life for me!!” I’m thinking about joining him and changing careers – this experience is fantastic.
The ALBATROSS IV is conducting the second leg of the Atlantic scallop survey, and we are in Georges Bank off the coast of New England. In specific stations (areas of the ocean) the scientists are keeping data; the number of scallops, their size, and weight, the number and kind of fish, the volume of the entire catch, and at specific stations the number of crabs, or the number of starfish.
The vessel steams to each station where the dredge is lowered and then AIV trawls for fifteen minutes. The haul is brought in and emptied onto the aft deck where the scientists, volunteers, and me (teacher at sea) sort through and put the scallops and fish into different baskets. With that completed we go back and shovel all unneeded shells, sand, etc. into baskets that are recorded (for volume) and returned to the sea. The scallops and fish are taken into the wet lab where they are counted, weighed, and measured. Five random scallops are chosen to be individually surveyed. The shells are scrubbed clean (one of my jobs) so their age can be determined later; each is measured, weighed, and opened. The sex of the scallop is recorded, the gonad weighed, and the abductor muscle weighed. Finally the shell is numbered to correspond to the data (in a computer) for each. The shells are bagged, marked, and frozen for later study.
Personal Log
All my expectations about this adventure pale to the experience that it has been so far. When Patti Connor (the other Teacher at Sea) and I saw the ALBATROSS IV for the first time we were awe-struck. My excitement at that moment wiped away any worries or fears about the adventure. Tony, the first bo’sun, was on deck and welcomed us aboard. He was the first, and with each new crewmember, from the steward to the engineer to the captain we met I felt more and more “at home.”
The staterooms hold three scientists; my bed is on the bottom of the bunk bed. We have two portholes for light, a sink, two closets, and some storage drawers. The head and shower are shared with the next stateroom. The room is pretty much for sleeping and showering because I cannot go in while one roommate on the opposite watch is sleeping. It is amazing how the roll of the boat puts me to sleep, and so far I have been sleeping quite well.
Sorting through the piles that are brought up from the bottom of the sea is very exciting. Even those who have been doing this for a while are enthusiastic about the catch. I am picking up REAL LIVE hermit crabs, flounder, scallops, crabs, starfish, sand dollars, and more!
