NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jennifer Fry
Onboard NOAA Ship, Oscar Elton Sette
March 12 – March 26, 2012
Mission: Fisheries Study
Geographical area of cruise: American Samoa
Date: March 16, 2012
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Science and Technology Log:
The day began on the Oscar Elton Sette with the small boat going Pago Pago harbor to re-fuel and collect supplies. That’s about the time I went to sleep. My own day started by waking up at 5:00 p.m. to rougher seas and unfortunately feeling a bit queasy. I took a walk outside hoping to get a bit of fresh air and relief. A gently rain fell as I peered over the ship’s railings. Thankfully the strong wind on my face helped my uneasiness.
Midwater Cobb Trawl 5.1
Animals Seen:
Squid
Trigger fish juvenile
Morey eel larvae
Pyrosome, various sizes
Puffer fish juvenile
Mola (sunfish) juvenile
Data collected Trawl 5.1
The data collected included:
| Name of fish: | Numbers Count | Volume (milliliters) | Mass (grams) |
| Myctophids | 118 | 120 | 135 |
| Non-Myctophids | 81 | 46 | 60 |
| Crustaceans | 5 | Negl | Negl |
| Cephalopods:. . | 14 | 32 | 60 |
| Gelatinous zooplankton | 51 | 114 | 85 |
| Misc. zooplankton | n/a | 160 | 185 |
Data Collected Trawl 5.2
The data collected included:
| Name of fish: | Numbers Count | Volume (milliliters) | Mass (grams) |
| Myctophids | 168 | 200 | 254 |
| Non-Myctophids | 209 | 130 | 125 |
| Crustaceans | 14 | 6 | 17 |
| Cephalopods: | 14 | 200 | 230 |
| Gelatinous zooplankton | 58 | 38 | 35 |
| Misc. zooplankton | n/a | 366 | 365 |
The first trawl began a 9:00 p.m. and the second at approx. 1:30 a.m.
Some very interesting specimens were in the net including:
- A variety of squid: the largest measuring approx. 12 inches with out the tentacles,
- one juvenile trigger fish
- 350 mm viper fish
- Pyrosomes of various sizes
- One juvenile puffer fish
- Several Morey eel juvenile
- Two juvenile sun-fish, Mola
While retrieving the trawl nets a light, warm rain sprinkled on us. We worked very hard, yet had an amazing amount of fun. Researchers Emily Norton and Louise Giuseffi joined during the tow. I think the saying goes, “The more scientists the merrier.”
While we measured, weighed, collected data, and examined our catch, songs emanated from the iPod playing in the wet-lab. As lengths and weights were recorded, voices sang along to the tunes into the wee hours of the morning. The theme song for tonight was Green Day’s “Hope you Had the Time of Your Life.”
I certainly am.
Everyone teacher needs to be a NOAA Teacher at Sea to experience first hand the amazing work scientists do each day.
It is now 11 :59 a.m. and time for sleep.
So much excitement, so many fish, so little time.
Hi.I have just been looking at the pictures and noticed the one with the transparent fish.I am a fisherman fishing the west coast of scotland and we caught one of these fish or one similar,it was about 12cm long.Could you tell me what it is.I think I still have it in the freezer in a polly bag