Posted on by Amelia Black

Amelia Black: First Day of School…at Sea July 6, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Amelia Black 

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico

Date: July 6, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge:

Latitude: 28.40N
Longitude: -91.40W
Sea wave height: 1 ft
Wind Speed: 8 kt
Wind Direction: 330
Visibility: 10 miles
Sea Temperature: 88℉
Air Temperature: 82℉
Barometric Pressure: 30.03 inHg
Humidity: 67.4
Sky: Overcast

Science and Technology Log

SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
SEAMAP (Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program) started in 1982.  According to NOAA Fisheries’ Summer and Fall Groundfish Surveys in the Gulf of America, these surveys provide long-term data that help monitor the health of the ecosystem in the Gulf in order to support sustainable fisheries management.   SEAMAP surveying is done in the summer and in the fall and consists of over 300 stations (stops) throughout the Gulf, spanning from Texas to Florida.  

Map of the Northern Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). The land is depicted all beige, with only the state borders visible. The water shows some bathymetric relief. An area along the coast, stretching from Texas to the tip of Florida and shaded in flat orange, depicts the survey area.
The Summer and Fall Groundfish Survey combined collects data for over 80 days in the Northern Gulf of America per year, which is critical for fisheries managers. Credit: NOAA Fisheries 

This leg (Leg 3) of the survey will consist of survey points from Louisiana (Atchafalaya River) to northern Florida (north of Tampa Bay). 

Map of the Northern Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). The land is depicted all beige, with only the state borders visible. The water shows some bathymetric relief. An area along the coast, stretching from Texas to the tip of Florida and shaded in flat orange, depicts the survey area. This is the same map as above, but this map includes two large red circles; one just south of Louisiana, and the other west of Tampa, Florida.
Red dots show approximate locations of the start and end of the surveys. 

The scientists deploy a trawl net that sweeps near or on the ocean floor to collect the groundfish. This sampling shows a point in time of the Groundfish population throughout the northern area of the Gulf of America/Mexico.  

crewmembers in hard hats, life vests, and gloves stand around a large net suspended from above the photo frame. they each reach toward the net; some are steadying it while others work to untie the bottom. five large plastic baskets are placed underneath the net, ready to receive the catch. it is nighttime.
NOAA Scientist Adam Pollack and NOAA Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile pulling in the trawl net for sample collection.  

Our first haul of this Leg took place at 2100 hours (9pm).  We ended up with a collection weight of 24.179kg (53 pounds).  Shrimp made up the predominant groundfish caught; total shrimp collection tipping the scales at 35 pounds! 

There were four different species of shrimp collected within this sample; brown, pink, white, and mantis. The majority of the shrimp were brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) weighing in at 32 lbs.   Next was 2.8 lbs of pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum).  We collected a small sampling of white and mantis shrimp. 

We sorted the shrimp into different taxa (types).  The most telling difference between the brown and the pink shrimp is that the pink shrimp has a pink dot on its side.  

a comparison of three shrimp species. title: Native Shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico. each species is accompanied by an illustration against a white background, and a list of identifying features. Brown shrimp: brown body, grooved on the back of the shell, tails usually have a purple or reddish purple band and green or red pigmentation. pink shrimp: pink body, dark colored spot on each side of the body, tail usually has a dark blue band rather than the purple band found on brown shrimp, grooved shell. white shrimp: light gray body with green coloration on the tail and a yellow band on the abdomen, no grooved shell, longer antennae than other shrimp (usually 2.5-3x longer than their body)
Native shrimp found in Alabama (Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, taken from Alabama Cooperative Extension System website) 

The white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) is similar to the brown shrimp but has an iridescent tail. The mantis shrimp (Squilla empusa) has a sharp looking tail and is known as a ‘thumb splitter’.  This made me quite leary of the shrimp at first, needless to say I was hesitant to handle the mantis shrimp (even though the ones we caught weren’t big enough to cause serious damage.) 

After sorting the catch we measured and weighed the groundfish based on SEAMAP set parameters needed for data analysis.  Criteria might include sending groundfish in for further testing and processing, while others groundfish populations might only require a certain number of the catch to be measured and weighed.  For instance, of the shrimp caught 50 of each type were split between male and female then measured and weighed.  

a brown shrimp, tail stretched out behind it, placed on a white fish measuring board. we can see the measuring board's name: Ichthystick. the shrimp stretched from about 40 to 60 cm.
Measuring the brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus).
Can you estimate her length? 

Personal Log

Amelia, wearing a yellow hard hat and orange life vest, takes a selfie at the railing of NOAA Ship Oregon II. it is sunset, and the water is calm with small ripples.
First Day of School… at Sea!

Monday at 0900 hours, I boarded the ship and started my journey with NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program. I imagine that I felt pretty similar to how my students feel on the very first day of school: a mix of intense excitement and a little bit of nervousness!

The day started with a brief tour of the ship, where I met the Field Party Chief (FPC), Faith.  Then, I attended an orientation led by the officers about the ship’s rules and expectations.  Just like how teachers go over classroom rules and expectations on day one. 

A lot of new terms, vocabulary, and acronyms were thrown our way. Luckily, I had done a little bit of preparation and learned some of the maritime language beforehand, even though I still have a lot to learn!  Here are a few quick translations:  

  • Berth=Bed/room
  • Head= Bathroom
  • Stern=Back of Ship
  • Bow=Front of Ship
  • Muster= Meeting area for roll call

Next, we participated in two of the three required safety drills.  The first was a fire drill.  Instead of evacuating the vessel (leaving the ship), the science team mustered at the stern and awaited further instructions.  This is similar to school fire drills, where we go to our designated area, take a headcount, and wait for further directions.  

The next drill that we participated in was the “abandon ship” drill.  We meet at our muster station with our lifevest and survival suit.  The survival suit is made of neoprene and is designed to keep our body temperature stable so we don’t succumb to hypothermia before being rescued.  

You might be wondering (as I did), how can someone get hypothermia in warm water?
While the water in the Gulf may be a nice 85℉, our bodies sit at 98.6℉. This means the ocean would slowly absorb your warmth and cause your core body temperature to drop.  Check out this fact sheet on how to put on the survival suit (immersion suit) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3//2024-09/NOP-Observer-Immersion-Suit-2023.508.pdf 

The third drill we learned about is the “mariner (man) overboard” drill.  If someone were to end up in the water it is everyone’s job to stop, point directly at the person, and never take your eyes off them.  This allows the crew to follow recovery procedures to save the mariner. 

photo of a quarter-sized piece of paper slipped into a plastic holder mounted on a metal door. this is the emergency billet. It is titled: Sci Black, Amelia. Three sections, color-coded, show the different emergency codes and muster stations.
Assigned stations for drills.

After the drills, the science team returned to the dry lab, and I met the crew members I will be working alongside. The work rotations are split into two 12-hour shifts, day and night.  I’ve been assigned day shift, working 11:30am to 11:30 pm.   

We reached our first survey station at 2100 hours (9pm) and the real work began!  

Did You Know?

NOAA Ship Oregon II uses sensors to report up to date weather data every hour.  Follow along at https://www.windy.com/station/ship-wtdo?waves,27.501,-92.356,8,m:esbadxt to map my progress through the Gulf. 

Speaking of sensors, I met Dorothy and Toto, right here on this ship!  Check out my next blog to learn about Dorothy and Toto. 

Adventure awaits! 

Sources

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