Jennifer Fry: March 16, 2012, Oscar Elton Sette

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.