Elise Olivieri

May 14, 2009April 5, 2021

Elise Olivieri, May 14, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elise Olivieri
Onboard Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp
May 9 – 20, 2009

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic
Date: May 14, 2009

Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 13.39 Degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1028 mb
Humidity: 84%

Science and Technology Log

Sampling the water column is a vital part of oceanographic work. Aboard the Hugh R. Sharp casts are conducted every third station using a special instrument called a CTD. CTD stands for conductivity, temperature and depth. Water samples are brought back aboard collected by a Niskin bottle two times a day. These samples are used to calibrate the CTD. Scientific research should always be double and even triple checked to calibrate all the various instruments being used and guarantee they are functioning properly.

Today I got a chance to sit and talk with my Watch Chief, Geoff Shook. He is extremely organized and very helpful. He ensures the data is correctly entered into the FSCS computer database and watches over the night crew. Geoff was always interested in oceanography but during his undergrad he had an opportunity to study fisheries instead. Geoff is mainly interested in fish populations. He spends about 140 days out at sea every year. About a week before this Sea Scallop cruise Geoff just returned from a 2 leg bottom trawl fish population survey. Directly before that he was on a Monkfish Survey that concentrated on locations Monkfish are found along with the population index. Geoff spends his time on cruises auditing data, servicing all the gear and fixing the scallop dredges. He is the head of inspections and we can thank him for that. Geoff organizes all the data so the ships have all the latest information. Geoff is very hardworking and patient. It takes a lot of hard work to do his job. I commend him for his dedication to fisheries research.

I also got a chance to sit and talk with Cristina Bascunan. Cristina is a physical science technician. I really enjoy talking with her and look forward to working with her and Geoff every night. Cristina was a biology major in college and started volunteering on sea scallop cruises her sophomore year. She got a job with NOAA and started working on oceanography cruises that follow Plankton. There were 40 set stations on Georges Bank where Plankton were collected and sampled. Cristina also worked on SOOP cruises. SOOP stands for Ships of Opportunity Project. Once

a month this cruise would take a scientist along and travel to Bermuda and complete a CPR. A CPR is a Continuous Plankton Recorder. The Plankton is sampled by a silk cloth tow that is dragged behind the boat. The silk cloth is treated with a preservative so further tests can be conducted later on. This helps create a time series where surface temperature could also be measured and mapped out. This data collected aided in many other studies and is extremely important. Cristina works very hard and she definitely has my respect.

From left to right: Geoffrey Shook, Kevin McIntosh, and Shad Mahlum

Personal Log

Today was pretty exhausting. All these 12-hour work shifts with no days off are finally catching up to me. I have a newfound respect for the crew of technicians and scientists that work these hours year round. Today the seas were really rough. We had at least 6-foot waves and water crashing onto the deck. When the moon makes a circle in the sky you’re moving. It’s very hard to work when the ground is moving below your feet. I spent a bit of time today hanging over the ship’s railing. Can you guess what I was doing? I sure was seasick for a little while this morning, but it passes quickly which is good. Every night before I go to sleep I listen to the ship’s noises. I hear some bangs and clicks, but my favorite sound is the waves crashing into the side of the boat. I literally rock and roll until I fall asleep. It’s about that time right now. I can’t wait to climb up to my bunk and get some rest.

May 13, 2009April 5, 2021

Elise Olivieri, May 13, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elise Olivieri
Onboard Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp
May 9 – 20, 2009

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic
Date: May 13, 2009

Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 12.06 Degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1026 mb
Humidity: 89%

Science and Technology Log

Sea Scallops’ number one predator is starfish. Starfish are very strong. They pry open the shell and then push their stomach inside and devour it. Starfish are very abundant in the Mid-Atlantic. Many tows yield hundreds of starfish. It would be too time consuming to count every one of them so sub-sampling is done to attain an estimate of starfish. The entire catch is sorted but only a portion of the catch is measured. This is a good method when there are many starfish and little substrate (trash). The substrate is then collected in buckets and volume can be determined. The data is then entered into the FSCS computer system. As I mentioned before FSCS is extremely advanced and is a one-ofa-kind biological data system. Prior to 2001, Fisheries Surveys information was sent to federal prisons to be entered into a computer data base. This took an extremely long time to process. Inmates would get compensated as little as a penny per log sheet. This was dangerous and the data could have been destroyed or lost. Today all data is backed up on a server in three different locations to secure data entries. This long-term study about age and growth of sea scallops helps scientists see a trend in different area’s ecosystems.

I have met some intriguing scientists aboard the Hugh R. Sharp. Shayla Williams is a research chemist for NOAA. She specializes in fatty acid analysis of Fluke. A fatty acid analysis is like a fingerprint of what you eat. By studying fatty acid in certain types of fish she can make generalizations about the health of an area. Shayla has done research on NOAA cruises since 2006. She has sailed on the Hudson Canyon Cruise, the Fall Fish Survey, and the Spring Fish Survey to name a few. It takes a whole crew to run a ship and the Hugh Sharp has a very sharp crew. Wynn Tucker is an Oceanographic Technician aboard the Hugh R. Sharp. She has worked for NOAA, EPA, and the Navy. She loves being out on the open water and I don’t blame her. It is magnificent to look out and be surrounded by blue as far as the eye can see. A.J. Ward is another crewmember aboard the Sharp. He works the inclinometer which lets the scientists know of the dredge is in the right spot on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Using the FSCS to record data about a scallop.

Personal Log

Today was a great day! It was beautiful weather and I got a chance to talk with some of the crew members on the Sharp. I saw a whole school of dolphins less than three feet from the boat. It was incredible! I ran up to the bridge to get a better look and saw a couple of Finback whales as well. It is extremely hard to get pictures because they surface for a few seconds and then dive back under water. There are many fish in this area known as the Elephant Trunk. I can’t wait for tomorrow! Another exciting day where I have the opportunity to be working with cutting-edge technology and incredible scientists. For now I can’t wait to get some sleep.

Animals Seen Today

Little Skates, Goose Fish, Gulf Stream Flounder, Sand Dollars, Sea Mice, Razor Clams, Surf Clams, Hermit Crabs, Sea Sponge, Red Hake, Monk Fish, Cancer Crabs, Sea Scallops, White Back Dolphins, Finback Whales, and Starfish.

May 12, 2009April 5, 2021

Elise Olivieri, May 12, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elise Olivieri
Onboard Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp
May 9 – 20, 2009

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic
Date: May 12, 2009

Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 11.56 Degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1019 mb
Humidity: 88%

Science and Technology Log

Sea Scallops are found in western North Atlantic continental shelf waters from Newfoundland to North Carolina in waters cooler than 20 Degrees Celsius. Commercial fishing is conducted in waters off the Gulf of Maine, on Georges Bank, and in the Mid-Atlantic offshore region. Scallops grow rapidly during the first several years of life. Scallops increase 50-80% and quadruple their meat weight between the ages 3 to 5. Sea Scallops become sexually mature at age 2, but scallops younger than 4 contribute little to the overall egg population studies explain. Spawning occurs in late summer and early autumn. Eggs become buoyant after fertilization, and larvae remain in the water column for 4 to 8 weeks before settling to the bottom of the sea floor.

Communication between all the people on board is key to successful sea scallop tows. Operational procedures must be put in place to ensure all parties know exactly what is expected of them and when. The bridge has a list of all station numbers which is provided by the Chief Scientist. The bridge announces over radio “10 minutes to station” and the science team lets the bridge know if more time is needed to prepare for the tow. Every third tow and twice per day a water sample is taken. These samples are collected before the dredge enters the water. One technician ensures the inclinometer has been offloaded in time before the dredge is emptied and sorted. The bridge makes sure the tow passes through the middle of the station and retains 75% of the catch. If there is a problem the bridge notifies the science team. The science team then checks the Knudsen Depth Display to determine the designated wire out or scope that is needed for the station. The bridge will then come up to speed of about 4 knots. At this time the bridge will announce to begin deployment of the dredge and the winch operator (dredge operator) will set the dredge over the stern. The winch operator will stream enough cable to reach the “0” mark in the wire and then set the winch metering to zero.

The dredge is then deployed as quickly as the winches can spool which is approximately 60-65 m/sec. When the winch man has achieved the desired scope and locked the brakes, they should observe the trawl tension. Start tow begins once this occurs. The scientist will then start the countdown for the 15 minute tow. The bridge sets the speed over bottom at 3.8 knots. The scientist in the lab running the event will give several warnings; 1 minute warning, 10 second warning, and then finally haul back. The winch operator will start hauling back at maximum allowable speed to pull the dredge off the bottom. Once the dredge is on deck, inclinometer should be offloaded, the catch is dumped, and the dredge is secured. The vessel then heads to the next station on the Chief Scientist’s list. These standard operational procedures discourage any errors that might occur if procedures were not in place.

After the catch is on the table it is sorted and sampled by using a FSCS computer database. The Fisheries Scientific Computer System is a collection of integrated electronic devices used to gather and store station and biological data. FSCS uses tough screen monitors and motion compensation scales with electronic measuring boards. This helps reduce human error and is a very sophisticated instrument.

Personal Log

We started out the night shift with two medium sized clean tows. There was very little sand and clay which helps the sorting process go very quickly. I personally counted 236 cancer crabs and over 300 sea scallops. The nature of sorting is becoming very familiar to me, and I enjoy learning new things everyday. I spoke with the Chief Scientist Vic Nordahl for a while and discussed various ways of incorporating all the data being collected into the classroom. Vic is extremely busy but makes time to discuss and plan out activities for the Teachers at Sea to bring back to the classroom. Lollie Garay is the other Teacher at Sea aboard the Sharp. She is a middle school teacher from Houston, Texas. We both enjoy learning how research is collected out at sea. There are 22 people total aboard the Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp and everyone communicates and is friendly with one another. I really learned a lot about protocol today and now I completely understand how everything runs so smoothly. I can’t wait to get some sleep. Fisheries work is not easy!

May 11, 2009April 5, 2021

Elise Olivieri, May 11, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elise Olivieri
Onboard Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp
May 9 – 20, 2009

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic
Date: May 11, 2009

Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 11.83 Degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1021 mb
Humidity: 83%

Science and Technology Log

There were 5 tows today on my shift. I discovered open areas have far fewer sea scallops in each tow compared to closed areas. In the open areas each catch was mostly starfish and cancer crabs. In the closed areas there were many sea scallops and various fish collected. Five scallops from each basket collected were processed for weight, length, gonad weight, and meat weight. The sex of each sea scallop is also identified and all data is entered into the FSCS computer system. The sea scallop shells were labeled and stored away for further identification. If the sea scallops rings are clear and visible, lab tests can be done to identify its exact age and health. The Nordic Pride which is a commercial vessel contacted us today. The Nordic is working its way through the areas the Hugh R. Sharp already sampled. The Sharp will compare tows with the Nordic. The Nordic surveyed with NOAA research vessels before and is taking this opportunity to survey with NOAA again. In the next few days we expect to see the Nordic Pride a few miles away.

Personal Log

A scallop opened up—the bright orange thing is its gonad and indicates it’s a female (they’re white in males). — A scallop opened up—the bright orange is its gonad and indicates it’s a female (white in males).

Today I feel much more confident about the tasks at hand. I have a lot of support from the crew and the Watch Chief. I am always up for new assignments and am very confident I can complete them correctly. Around 5:30 AM I saw about 12 white-sided dolphins. It was incredible. They are curious and fast animals. They swarmed around the Hugh Sharp for a while until they got bored with us and continued on their way. Not long after the dolphins appearance 2 Finback whales surfaced. What an incredible night. I hope to see more dolphins and whales and hopefully get a picture of them.

Animals Seen Today

Starfish Sea Scallops, Horseshoe Crabs, Hermit crabs, Cusk-eels, White Sided Dolphin, and Finback Whale.

May 10, 2009April 5, 2021

Elise Olivieri, May 10, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Elise Olivieri
Onboard Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp
May 9 – 20, 2009

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic
Date: May 10, 2009

Weather Data from the Bridge
Air Temperature: 16.3 Degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1019 mb
Humidity: 78%

Science and Technology Log

Today around 08:00 we set sail to begin the Sea Scallop Survey that will be conducted on this cruise. This annual series of quantitative data is collected to determine the distribution and abundance of Sea Scallops. This survey will randomly collect sea scallops from Virginia all the way to Canadian waters. The Chief Scientist and his field operations officers randomly selected stations with in depth boundaries called strata. These selections are either in closed areas where commercial fishing is prohibited, or open areas where commercial fishing is allowed. Areas may be closed to protect the population growth for 2-3 years. The government will most likely allow closed areas limited access with recommendations from NOAA. Samples of sea scallops are taken randomly by using a dredge.

The dredge is 8 feet wide and 20 feet long. It has a metal frame with a ring bag off the back. Each ring is 2 inches in diameter and the bag is lined with a 1.5 inch twine mesh liner. The bag is closed on the top and open on the bottom. This survey consists of three Legs. Leg I will complete approximately 200 tows. Each tow is deployed to the bottom of the sea floor. An inclinometer is used to ensure the dredge is completely at the bottom of the sea floor. This instrument measures time on the bottom. If you know your average speed and multiply it with time this equals the distance towed on the bottom. Timestamps are matched up between the data collected at FSCS and the inclinometer. Each tow lasts for 15 minutes at a speed of 3.8 knots. Tows can be as shallow as 20 meters, and as deep as 150 meters. After a tow is pulled up from the sea floor, 4 to 6 people manually sort through the catch and pull out Sea Scallops, Starfish, Cancer Crabs, and all fish. All samples that are collected are placed into baskets. The baskets are weighed and sea scallops and fish are measured.

Personal Log

Sorting scallops brought up by the dredge

Today I spent most of the day feeling sea sick. I thought it would never end. Now I feel like a million bucks. It took me a little while to get my sea legs. Today I learned so much. I spent most of the day asking a lot of questions and watching everyone closely. I work the night shift from 12:00 AM to 12:00 PM. There is much excitement when a tow comes in and is emptied on the sorting table. The crew gets excited to see what we brought up. Today we deployed 9 tows on my shift. We had quite a few clean tows and many muddy tows. A clean tow has many scallops and very few mud clumps. Life at sea is not easy, it is hard work. The living conditions are great on the Sharp. The galley is stocked with anything you can imagine. Meals are excellent and snacks are a part of sea life. My stateroom is very comfortable and the showers are very nice too.

I really enjoy sea life. The scenery is incredible. At night you can see the moon so clearly and the light gently reflects off the rolling waves. During the day there is blue sea for miles. It is very relaxing. Everyone is so nice and willing to explain how things are done. I feel great and I am looking forward to resting for a while.

Animals Seen Today

Sea Scallops, Starfish, Black Sea Bass, Hermit crab, Spider Crab, Sea Squirts or Tunicates, 4 Spot Flounder, Goosefish, Northern Sea Robin, and Scup.