NOAA Teacher at Sea
Dana Kosztur
Aboard NOAA ship Pisces
April 5-18, 2018
Mission: SEAMAP Reef Fish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico
Date: Friday, March 23, 2018
Personal Log
I am eager to spend two weeks on the NOAA ship Pisces. I love the Gulf of Mexico and I can’t wait to learn more about it. My husband and I spend every possible weekend, on our on boat usually heading to one of Mississippi’s beautiful barrier islands. We spend most of our vacation days on Gulf beaches and we even got married on the beach in Orange Beach, AL.
In just a few weeks I will board Pisces in Pascagoula, MS, and join the crew on Leg 3 of a 4 Leg reef fish survey. I will be at sea for 14 days and disembark in Tampa, Florida. I am thrilled I have the opportunity to be on a fishing vessel. I really enjoy fishing and I love seeing marine life. I feel like this is going to be very interesting and I am excited to do this type of hands-on research.
The next time I write I will be officially at sea. I know it won’t be easy to be away from home. I will certainly miss my family, friends, and SMMS. My students wrote me letters to read while I am on the boat to help combat homesickness. I can’t wait to read them. I am very grateful for the opportunity to take this trip and I look forward to sharing what I am learning along the way.
Don’t forget to check back in 13 days.
The Pisces has a multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) that allows scientist to measure and count fish by the reflection of sound off their bodies. It projects a fan-shaped beam of sound that can also be used to map the seafloor.