Cheryl Milliken – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: It’s about the People (and the Sharks!), August 15, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 15, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge (on our Boston Whaler)

Latitude: 41° 42.48’ N

Longitude: 070° 38.34’ W

Wind speed: 0-1 kts

Wave height: 1-2 ft

Air temp.: 26.7° C

Sky: Clouds

Science and Technology Log

The end of the trip wrapped up rather quickly, requiring us to steam for a while between stations and from the last station to the port of Miami Beach, FL, by noon on August 10. During this leg we were able to sample 45 stations between Miami and Cape Hatteras, NC.

Cheryl, wearing a Teacher at Sea hat, life vest, and work gloves, holds up a sharpnose shark for a photo on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. behind her we see cloudy gray sky and blue-gray water. — NOAA Teacher at Sea Cheryl Milliken holding an Atlantic sharpnose shark that she tagged with an external button tag prior to releasing over the side.

While on my trip, I wanted to highlight some of the many careers on the ship. I interviewed someone from NOAA Corps, a scientist, a survey technician, two fishermen, and an engineer to get a range of job prospects on this ship. Today I have two people who have great influence on the culture of the ship: the chief steward and the commanding officer. Each of these people took a different path to get to Oregon II, and each person had a common goal: to support and conduct solid science.

Interview with Celeste Morris

two women smile big for a photo in the galley (kitchen) — *Miss Celeste Morris, Chief Steward, and Kierra Bradley, Second Cook, in the galley. These two women were so personable and thoughtful, adding to the culture of family on NOAA Ship* Oregon II.

Anyone who has been on a vessel at least overnight knows the most important position to maintain positive morale on the ship is the chief steward (head chef!). Our trip was no exception, even though our chief steward was an augmenter. Miss Celeste Morris serves a unique role among NOAA’s vessels: she moves from one ship to another in order to take the place of (augment) the chief steward when they go on vacation. Celeste started out as a teacher in Savannah, Georgia. She volunteered on a cruise, and one of the scientists suggested she apply for a position. “Well, I can’t be an engineer, so I applied for 2^nd Cook.”

She has been on many vessels in the NOAA fleet. When not working, she likes to see her two grown daughters and her granddog. Thank you, Miss Celeste, for greeting us all with a smile and friendly conversation whenever we approached you in the galley. I loved trying all the new-to-me dishes that you made. Shoutout to Kierra Bradley, the 2^nd cook, who kept up with everyone’s dishes and made a to-die-for mac and cheese!

Interview with CO Adam Reed

a man in a NOAA Corps uniform sits across a table with his hands folded, smiling for the photo. a pair of binoculars is on the table in front of him — CO Adam Reed on the Bridge in Miami Beach, FL, on the last day of our trip.

close up view of a coffee mug with a sticker that says "NOAA Ship Fleet" and a manatee-shaped tea infuser hanging its flippers over the edge of the mug — CO Adam Reed on the Bridge in Miami Beach, FL, on the last day of our trip.

The last person on my interview list is the Commanding Officer (CO), CDR Adam Reed. CDR Reed has only a few more months on the ship; he will be transferring command to CDR Jesse Milton in January 2026. CDR Milton has had several very interesting appointments, including time on American Samoa and a 10-month stint as station science leader at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica! Jesse was on this leg getting a feel for the vessel, and he proved himself to be ready and knowledgeable when that time comes. In the meantime, CDR Reed will stay at the helm to support the Southeast Fisheries Science Center on NOAA Ship Oregon II.

five NOAA Corps officers in blue uniforms at work at different roles on the bridge of NOAA Ship Oregon II — *NOAA Corps Officers on the Bridge following docking in Miami Beach, FL. From L to R: Ensign Vincenzo LeDonne, CO Adam Reed, Cdr Tracy Miller, LT Luke Petzy, XO Pete Gleichauf, and CO Jesse Milton.*

This leg seemed to have an abundance of NOAA Corps officers, but that may be a typical situation. Along with CDR Adam Reed and Jesse Milton, CAPT Tracy Miller, director of training for OMAO (Office of Marine and Aviation Operations) Training, was present to command a shift. LT Luke Petzy was generally at the helm during my watch, and commissioned bridge officer ENS Vincenzo LeDonne was on with the night watch. LCDR Pete Gleichauf, the Executive Officer (XO) of the ship, had to read all my blogs to make sure there were no errors, and for his positive comments I am grateful. Many of these NOAA Corps officers, as well as the crew, had background training in science but ended up on this support path.

CDR Adam Reed has been in the NOAA Corps for nearly 18 years. He is originally from Colorado and graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Engineering Physics. This is his first time as CO on a NOAA vessel, but he has spent time as XO on three other ships: NOAA Ship Rainier (around Alaska), NOAA Ship Fairweather (Rainier’s sister ship in Alaska), and NOAA Ship Ferdinand R. Hassler (a coastal mapping vessel that works along the Great Lakes to the Gulf of America [formerly Gulf of Mexico]). NOAA Corps officers generally serve in a rotation of sea assignment lasting 2 years, followed by a 3-year land assignment. CDR Reed was stationed at Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, MA, prior to his current appointment on Oregon II. When his duties end here, he will be stationed at Newport, RI.

What do you like most about the job?

“I like traveling to all the different places and ports. I consider myself a foodie, so I like to go out to local restaurants.”

I know you live in Falmouth, MA, with your wife when you’re not at sea. What are your favorite restaurants there?

“I’d have to say Bluefins [Bluefins Sushi & Bar on Main Street in Falmouth], but we go to the Pickle Jar more often [also on Main Street]. We can walk to downtown, which is great.”

What hobbies do you have?

“I like to play video games and Dungeons and Dragons. I play curling in Falmouth. I like to ski in Colorado.” [He also loves puns! Sometimes the daily plan will have a pun from him to lighten the mood.]

If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?

“The one tool [that is already invented] would be dynamic positioning. It’s an integrated system of computer controls that coordinate all engines automatically. Smaller ships can do this, but Oregon II is very analog. O II is single screw, meaning only one propeller. Some ships in NOAA’s fleet, like Okeanos Explorer, have that [technology].”

Drifter update

Here are links to see where our drifters are:

map of the southeastern U.S. coast from North Carolina to Florida (28 to 34 degrees North and roughly 81 to 75 degrees West.) a trackline of colored dots snakes up the east coast and then turns inland at North Carolina. the color scale ranges from 27-32 degrees Celsius. — Drifter 1 movement through Aug 19, 2025

map of the eastern U.S. coast from South Carolina to New Jersey (29 to 35 degrees North and roughly 79 to 72 degrees West.) a trackline of colored dots heads northeast, makes a loop off of South Carolina, and continues east out into the Atlantic. the color scale ranges from 28-30 degrees Celsius. — Drifter 1 movement through Aug 19, 2025

As of today, Drifter #1 is about 20 miles east of Topsail Beach, just north of Wilmington, NC. Drifter #2 made a solid loop in its track but now appears to be back in the Gulf Stream. Although we were nervous that we would not be close enough to the Gulf Stream during our initial plan to launch Drifter #3, it appears to have progressed well in that path.

Personal Log

Now that I am home and have some time to reflect, I appreciate how everyone on NOAA Ship Oregon II welcomed me into their family. Living on the ship for seventeen days requires patience, grace, and courtesy, and my shipmates were well-versed in all of that and more. I have to get back to school on August 26 (students start on September 2), and I know these folks are rooting for me to teach my students all about how I spent my summer.

a group photo of 8 people wearing life vests, standing in a line along the aft deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. — Day watch

a group photo of five people in a line on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. the city of Miami is visible in the distance across the water. — Day watch

First photo: Day watch, L to R: Evan Winters (volunteer), Tera Winters (contractor), Sean Gronquist (skilled fisherman), Cheryl Milliken (NOAA Teacher at Sea), Mike Fountain (oiler and stand-in crane operator and fisherman), Trey Driggers (chief scientist), Josh Cooper (lead boatswain), and Gretchen Kruizenga (senior survey technician).

Second photo: Night watch, L to R: Lila Xenakis (volunteer), Henry Legett (volunteer), Kristin Hannan (acting Fieldwork Coordinator and lead of night watch), Nick Hopkins (Fisheries Methods and Equipment Specialist at SEFSC), and Noah Harris (volunteer).

Prior to sailing, I was most concerned about seasickness. At my annual physical, I explained my trip to my primary care physician, and she prescribed Scopolamine patches for my time at sea. I was fortunate that when we left Pascagoula, we were in calm seas for a few days, and noticeable waves didn’t hit us until we were heading up the east coast of Florida. At that point, I felt a little queasy, but I chewed on some candied ginger and made sure to drink lots of water! I now know that there is a successful way for me to manage seasickness over a long period of time at sea. That was a game changer!

The meals on the ship were outstanding. We always had a choice of two meat entrees, a side, and fresh vegetables. Lots of people on the ship were focusing on getting enough protein, and Celeste met those needs with healthy portions. We had to sacrifice the large red groupers and red snappers for age and growth measurements (by extracting the ear stones, or otoliths), so people filleted the meat off those individuals, and we all enjoyed some fresh fish. The crew have amassed a huge assortment of condiments (including mayonnaise that doesn’t need refrigeration…!), so it was fun to try new sauces on things like pulled chicken and chicken tenders. My love for roasted vegetables has increased thanks to Celeste offering items I don’t generally eat!

It’s funny to think about the crew out on another leg, while I and several of my colleagues on Leg 1 will only sail once. I think a bunch of the volunteers will go out again, but my perspective of the cruise is the 16-day snapshot of our specific time together. Kristin Hannan is out with Teacher at Sea Robert Markuske, training him and helping to launch more ocean drifters.

I am excited to see what Lila Xenakis does in the future. She is a master’s student in the Daly-Engel Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech (Florida Institute of Technology). Students from this lab try to volunteer on the shark bottom longline survey because they get fin clip samples from sharks caught during the survey, which adds to their database of genetic samples. They need hundreds of samples to examine populations of sharks in a meaningful way, and it’s not fair to ask for samples without pitching in. Besides, who doesn’t want to experience sharks up close and personal?

Dr. Toby Daly-Engel and her students examine ecology and reproductive strategies of different shark species by examining patterns in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Some shark species exhibit philopatry, meaning they go back to their birthplace in order to reproduce. This behavior is also exhibited in turtles and river herring, for example. By looking at the DNA, these scientists can tell if the populations are mixing or if they are inbred. Samples from east of Florida and the southeast can answer these questions. The more questions that are answered, the more there are to answer! Scientific research is a never-ending journey to find the answers.

Did You Know?

Sharks have a unique organ for digestion known as the spiral valve. The microbiome (microorganisms that live) in sharks’ spiral valves differs not only from species to species, but even among the layers of the valve in an individual! The microbiome, or bacteria, must help digest different parts of their meal as it moves through the spiral valve.

Something to think about:

While on our trip, we were targeting large sharks and large reef fishes because of the hook size that was used. Meanwhile, in the waters around Cape Cod this summer people have seen several hammerhead sharks and a juvenile tiger shark: Hammerhead Sightings Increase In Upper Cape Waters; Fisherman Hooks Tiger Shark. In addition, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, with the help of MA Division of Marine Fisheries shark biologist Greg Skomal, tagged ten great white sharks in Cape Cod Bay this past month. Of course, this is the 50th anniversary of the release of Jaws, so the many events to signify this occasion keep sharks forefront in our minds here on the Cape.

Are the sharks being seen more frequently because people are looking for them? Is more food available to these sharks than in the past? Is the increase in temperature of waters off Cape Cod causing the sharks to stretch their distribution further north, or is it an anomaly? We will have to see, and I am glad NOAA Fisheries is out there collecting data on fishes over a long time frame to be able to make informed decisions about the species that are commercially important to us.

August 10, 2025August 17, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Only a Few Days Left, August 7, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 7, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 32° 37.7′ N

Longitude: 078° 34.0′ W

Wind speed: 13 kts

Wave height: 2-3 ft

Air temp.: 28.5°C (Water temp. Is 28.7° C!)

Sky: BKN (broken cloud cover, meaning between 5/8 and 7/8 of the sky is covered by clouds)

Science and Technology Log

Yesterday the most exciting part of our watch was catching a spinner shark, a new species for me. Henry Legett, a volunteer on the other watch, is on the cruise to implant acoustic tags into any spinner or blacktip sharks we catch on this leg. Henry had to race out to the deck in order to perform this procedure.

top down view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended over the water. two crewmembers in hard hats and life vests are nearby; one crew member raising his arm perhaps to signal someone

close up view of a hand holding a black metal object about three inches long

two crewmembers wearing life vests, hard hats, and gloves lean over a shark in the cradle

Photos, L to R: Spinner shark in cradle (photo courtesy of the Bridge). Acoustic tag that is now implanted into spinner shark. Henry Legett tying closing sutures on spinner shark.

At the beginning of our watch today we finished Station 38, and we are hoping to complete 46 stations during this leg before landing in Miami, FL. We aim for 5-6 stations per day, but sometimes the steam (distance to travel) between stations is long, and during this leg we had to avoid some weather (the tropical depression that was later named Dexter). Summer in this region of the Atlantic Ocean can be threatened by hurricane activity, so I would expect that this survey is used to working around weather.

At our first station, we had a small catch, but it is always exciting. I was able to tag another 2 meter long (6.6 feet) sandbar shark hauled up in the cradle. I had trouble cutting the fin for genetic testing, but Field Party Chief Trey helped me out. We also caught a small spotted eel (that was wrapped around the line) and a shark sucker. I am glad we were able to get a good look at the sharksucker. Apparently there are two species of sharksucker, and you have to count the number of grooves in the sucker in order to identify (the one we observed had 24).

three crewmembers in hard hats, life vests, and work gloves work together to measure a large shark in a teal mesh cradle

while two other crewmembers steady the shark, Cheryl, wearing a hard hat, life vest, and gloves, readies to insert a tag

view of a sharksucker being held up for a photo

Photos, L to R: Trey, Cheryl, and Josh measure the sandbar shark for pre-caudal length, fork length, and total length. Cheryl inserts spaghetti tag into skin of sandbar shark. Scientists rely on the return of these tags to get information on growth and migration between tagging and recapture.

But then, we hit the mother lode! On the next station, we caught a shark that Trey Driggers, the chief scientist, has not seen in decades: an adult night shark. Gretchen and I took photos and videos to document the catch, while Trey and the fishermen measured, tagged, and took a fin clip of the female. As soon as she was lifted, Trey was teaching us about night sharks: “see how long the snout is and how big the eye is?” My pictures show Trey also removed and preserved parasitic copepods from her body to send to Ash Bullard, a parasitologist in Illinois, to identify. Based on scratches on her back, Trey said that she had recently mated. We feel privileged to have been a part of this catch. We knew it was a big deal when Trey got excited!

straight-on view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended above the ocean surface

straight-on view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended above the ocean surface; its large mouth is open

close up view over Trey's shoulder has he uses what might be pliers to pull something (a parasite) off the skin of a shark in the mesh cradle

Night shark in cradle. Night shark in cradle with mouth open. Chief Scientist Trey Driggers removing parasitic copepods from night shark for preservation and future identification.

Interview with Matt Kupiec

portrait view of a man in a gray hard hat, orange life vest, and blue and white fish gloves. he smiles and flashes two thumbs up for the camera. in the distance, we see very cloudy gray skies and a sliver of gray water.

view down a set of stairs. at the base is a cement floor with buckets, a shop vacuum, and a trash can that is decorated to look like R2D2. there are also footprint sticker on the floor, and someone has drawn the outline of a body.

Photos, L to R: Second Assistant Engineer Matt Kupiec immediately following his first time tagging a shark on the bottom longline survey. View from main deck down into the Engine Room, where engineers spend their work time on the vessel. I was most taken by the body outline on the floor because I teach forensic science at my high school.

NOAA Ship Oregon II, as does every ship, needs people on board to make sure everything is running smoothly, from a mechanical standpoint. Five engineers help to make that happen: Chief Marine Engineer Joe Howe, 1^st Assistant Engineer Nate Durbin, 2^nd Assistant Engineer Matt Kupiec, Junior Engineer James “MacDaddy” McDade, and oiler Mike Fountain (who has been assisting the day watch with fishing on this leg).

Matt has been working on NOAA Ship Oregon II for a year this week (he started right around his birthday, which is coming up again this weekend!). Engineers in this job with NOAA generally work 2 months on followed by one month off. He will be off for the next leg of this cruise, which is about three weeks, so he will have time to fly home to Ashland, MA, where he shares a place with his brother.

I am most interested in Matt’s experience because he graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), which is in my home town. At least three of my students last year are enrolling at MMA for marine engineering, so I am curious about their future. I know MMA claims a 99% employment rate following graduation, which is incredible.

How did you find out about your major?

“My cousin’s boyfriend went there and told me about it. He said engineers make a lot of money. My brother joined the Navy, and this is like the next step down. I chose marine engineering because I had never been on a boat before. The TS (Training Ship) Kennedy was my first love. I went out on a couple of sea terms (a period of time when maritime academy students gain hands-on experience on a ship) after graduating. They called me the maintenance hero because I was always on the ship. In my senior year I was Cadet Chief Engineer, which was a lot of work. It was a great experience, though. I was responsible for hundreds of kids as a kid. It would have been great for my hiring possibilities, but I came out at a tough time.”

What do you do as an engineer on a ship?

“We are responsible for the plant, or the engine room. We make sure the boilers, pumps, HVAC, hydraulics, and electrical are all functioning. Oregon II is an older ship, so you can see the mechanical parts of her. Newer ships have a lot more electronics, and it’s harder to find a faulty circuit board or something on them.”

What else have you done with your degree?

“My first job was on a cruise ship (Celebrity Summit) that sailed under foreign flag [owned by someone outside the United States]. That ship could take 5000 people out. I have seen every island in the Caribbean! I had a five month contract with them, and then a four month contract. Then a friend told me how much he was making on a US ship… I was the only US engineer in the fleet. I made $8000 a month as opposed to my friend making $20K per month plus benefits. I bounced around different jobs and then found AMO (American Maritime Officers union) about 5-6 years ago. I sailed all around the world moving cargo, working 4-5 months at a time, then had 4-5 months of vacation. During COVID I stopped sailing, took a break and worked at Sea World in San Diego [maintaining pumps and plants]. I had another shoreside job as lead building engineer for Lincoln Properties in Cambridge, MA, keeping science buildings running, but the commute was an hour each way and I was a slave to my cell phone, nights and weekends after working all week.”

How did you learn to SCUBA dive?

“NOAA invited me to be on the SCUBA Diving Team. I took an open water course and dive school in Seattle in dry suits (43° F!).

“I like working for NOAA because of the stability, and there’s less turnover. Oregon II is my first NOAA ship. Nate Durbin, the 1^st Engineer, also went to MMA, so he was able to ask around to find out about me. This is only the third vessel I’ve stayed on for more than three trips. It’s a small boat, but the crew is awesome. Here everyone gets together outside of work. It’s a family atmosphere. I’m going diving on a shipwreck with some of the guys when we are off in Miami. It’s nice working on a ship based on science rather than moving cargo.”

Interview with Chuck Godwin

portrait of a man standing in front of a banner. he wears a suit and tie, but also a beanie. this image has been cropped out of a larger group photo; we see the cut-off arm of someone standing to his right. — *Chuck Godwin present in February 2024 to receive Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award on behalf of* Oregon II crew, who aided a vessel that was taking on water in 2022.

I had the pleasure of learning more about Chuck Godwin, the lead fisherman on NOAA Ship Oregon II. Chuck (Charles Scott) has been working on Oregon II since July 2000. When I looked up “Oregon II” on the internet, I found a photo of Chuck in a suit receiving the Department of Commerce Gold Medal in February 2024 after he and crewmates saved a vessel in distress (it was taking on water) in November 2022 (look it up!). He was excited to share his personal story with us.

Chuck has four kids: two girls and two boys, ages 19-34, and three grandchildren who all live in Alabama. Chuck currently lives in Milton, FL, about two hours from Pascagoula, MS, where the ship is docked when not at sea. In his off time, Chuck likes to play guitar and harmonica, karaoke, kayak, hike, and go off-roading in his Jeep. He also likes reading and writing short stories and poetry, or trying to (but he will not share his writing with me).

What training have you had for this job?

“I graduated from the University of Florida (UF) with a degree in Wildlife Management and Ecology. I wanted to work for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or any nearby State Fish and Game Department. I couldn’t find a job in that field after I graduated, so I joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served 10 years, where I did Fisheries Enforcement and Search and Rescue. After separating from the military, I applied for a job with NOAA and found work on the Oregon 2 and have been here ever since.

I enjoy my work when underway, the shark cruise, especially. The people, boat, and various surveys have kept me around. The great white [shark] is my ‘dream catch.’”

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career near the ocean, or in science?

“I decided in high school. I grew up in, around, and under the water. I was raised in Florida and lived in Panama (the country) when I was 10-14 years old, and I became a certified scuba diver at age 12. I got to go back to Panama for a summer internship when I was in college, doing field work in biodiversity.”

If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?

“Robots to do this! Have you seen the robots that are out now? It’s only going to get more advanced and sophisticated. I could stand by and supervise….lol.”

Personal Log

I am getting ready to go home. This trip has been amazing, but it is also the longest time I have been away from my family, I know my pets and gardens are in good hands with my husband, Henry, but it’s time to go back and help out. Our beehives, in particular, need to be examined. I am hopeful the bees found some summersweet to tide them over.

Did You Know?

Sharksuckers, from the Remora family of fishes, do not hurt sharks when they are attached. Their first dorsal fin is modified into a series of plates that form a suction pad to hitch a ride on sharks, turtles, whales, or other large marine creatures. They get a free ride and can eat the leftover scraps from their ride’s meal.

Animals seen since last blog:

Octopus! I saw three (or perhaps the same one, three times?) wrapped around the baited hook as it came up.

Spinner shark

Sharksucker

Red grouper

Night shark!

August 7, 2025August 8, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: It’s a Great Day to Go Fishing, August 5, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 5, 2025 11:25 PM

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 34° 40.1455′ N
Longitude:075° 45.5686′ W
Wind speed: 8 kts
Wave height: 1 m
Air temp.: 29.4 C
Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

Yesterday we reached our northernmost station, off the coast of Cape Hatteras. These shark lovers were hoping to catch a great white there, and we had two lines that were bitten through, so there may have been one that escaped (his name was Winston, in case you were wondering).

a large tiger shark hooked (momentarily) on a line, swimming in the ocean. — Large tiger shark that bent the hook and swam away before we could cradle and measure her.

close up view of two hooks resting on a metal surface. the bottom hook is a standard "circle hook" - it curls now quite all the way around into a circle. the top hook is only slightly curved. — Large tiger shark that bent the hook and swam away before we could cradle and measure her.

During that station we caught two Atlantic sharpnose sharks, a large tiger shark (estimated to by 2.25 meters, or more than 7 feet long), a baby tiger shark (0.87 meters, or a little less than 3 feet), and a male great hammerhead shark that was 2.71 meters (almost 9 feet!) long.

view of a great hammerhead shark visible just below the surface of the water; it is attached to a line — Great hammerhead shark waiting to be hoisted alongside the ship for tagging and measuring.

I was so excited that I was able to tag and fin-clip the great hammerhead! From not really having much background experience with or knowledge of sharks beyond dogfish, I have had a tremendous exposure to these apex predators!

close up view of a round fiberglass buoy: white on top, blue on the bottom. the white section is decorated with stickers and marker drawings.

close up view of a round fiberglass buoy: white on top, blue on the bottom. the white section is decorated with stickers and marker drawings. this angle shows a drawing of a red snapper.

view from across the deck of three people wearing life vests carrying the drifter buoy

two men in life vests lift the drifter buoy (the buoy and its attached drogue) up toward the rail of the ship. it is nighttime.

two men wearing life vests toss the drifter buoy over the rail. it is night time.

Photos: decorations on Drifter #3, launched by Josh and Sean south of Cape Hatteras on Tuesday night.

Near the next station, we were able to launch the third drifter close to the Gulf Stream. I can’t wait to share the information about these drifters with my students! The Adopt a Drifter program has lesson plans that you can check out here: Adopt a Drifter Teacher Resources.

Here are links to see where our drifters are:

Our goal in launching these drifters was to put them into the Gulf Stream to see how they behave. Perhaps they will all stay in the Gulf Stream, or perhaps they will veer out because of eddies. We shall see!

Interview with Gretchen Kruizenga

Gretchen stands next to the CTD rosette on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. the sky is blue with puffy white clouds, and the ocean is a very vivid blue. — *Gretchen Kruizenga, senior survey technician on NOAA Ship* Oregon II, explaining to new staff the purpose and procedure for launching the CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Density) apparatus.

Gretchen, the ship’s senior survey technician, always has a smile on her face. She has been so helpful and supportive to me as a newbie on this project, and I appreciate her level-headed guidance and patient encouragement as I learn all the new things. Gretchen’s high energy level and enthusiasm is appreciated. She works with the science crew to bait hooks, then she hustles to collect water quality data from the CTD (short for conductivity, temperature, and depth). Gretchen grew up in Walworth, WI (graduating from Big Foot High School!), then earned a degree in Biological Sciences (minoring in Environmental Science) from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Her avid affection for sharks is contagious. She has had an amazing breadth of experiences so far, which led her to this job in January 2023.

Why is your work important?

“My job is vital for keeping the scientific operations running. For example, when a sensor breaks, I can replace it to keep them collecting water quality information for the survey.”

What are your responsibilities? This position is new to me.

“I am in charge of maintaining and operating scientific sensors and oceanographic sampling equipment. My job on this vessel is different than on other NOAA vessels because since this ship is small, I also stand a science watch.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?

“I love being able to work on my two biggest career passions: water quality data collection and scientific data collection. I consider myself to be the luckiest person on the ship.”

What tool do you use in your work that you could not live without?

“I’d have to say multimeter. It allows me to figure out if cables are broken or if sensors are getting enough power without having to bring the whole apparatus into the lab.”

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in science or an ocean career?

“My dad took me to see the ocean for the first time at South Padre Island, TX, when I was 9 years old. I knew then that I wanted the ocean in my life in any capacity it could be. I originally wanted to work for National Geographic to write blogs about places around the world. I got an internship in South Africa with Oceans Research, where I fell in love with sharks. When I’m not on Oregon II, I work with American Shark Conservancy out of Jupiter, FL, to collect water quality data and shark information on recreational shark ecotourism diving boats. I gave a presentation at the American Elasmobranch Society in 2023 about that citizen science work. We collect data that would otherwise be missed.

“I found this job when I googled “NOAA shark research” and found out about this [bottom longline] survey. I’ve always wanted to work with Trey [Driggers] on this shark survey. Being able to contribute to the stock assessment data that I’ve been looking at for years is crazy.”

What is the toughest part of your job?

“The toughest part of my job is keeping a healthy work-life balance. The needs of the ship means being away a lot, which impacts maintaining social relationships.”

What part of your job with NOAA did you least expect to be doing?

“I do more electrical work than expected. I have to read a lot of manuals because there aren’t a lot of people who can answer those questions for me.”

How do you help wider audiences to understand and appreciate NOAA science?

“Coming from an outreach background, I love to share everything I learn with others. I share links and stories on Instagram to get the message out there to anyone who will listen. I do wish we had more outreach opportunities.”

Do you have any outside hobbies?

“I like to make epoxy waves (www.etsy.com/shop/GretchenEpoxSeas), kickbox, and scuba. I like to see my friends. I like to push myself out of my comfort zone. I love to travel (favorite place is Iceland).”

What do you think you would be doing if you were not working for NOAA?

“This is my dream job, but if I can’t work here anymore, I would try to do anything that combines my technical expertise with sharks.“

Personal Log

This time is flying by, and yet every day seems to blend into the next. We have a television on in the science lab while we are moving between stations, and yesterday a Meg (Megalodon) marathon was on… I I loved the quote from the movie, but the portrayal of a long-thought-extinct shark coming back to kill all the people was a little more than I wanted to think about (spoiler alert: especially when one megalodon launched itself out of the water and onto the research vessel in the movie…)

Although I am not going to officially interview her, I want to give a shoutout to Tera Winters, the other watch member who is affiliated with the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine And Atmospheric Studies. Tera has been a veterinarian in Tallahassee and Panama City, FL, but has added marine science to her skill set. Tera takes pride in working efficiently, particularly when she is back in the lab processing otoliths (ear stones) from bony fishes to estimate growth rates and ages of individual fish. This information is a critical part of the stock assessment information, because managers need to know how long it takes (in addition to size) for fish of a certain species to reach sexual maturity. Tera has been responsible for FT-NIRS scanning, imaging, weighing, and ageing thousands of otoliths from red snapper. Without this information, the catch limits of red snapper may be miscalculated. I have been privileged to work with such amazing professionals.

Did You Know?

Sharks were around 200 million years before the dinosaurs, and they have persisted for 450 million years. Don’t you think it would be a tragic event if humans caused the extinction of any of the over 500 species of sharks that have been identified?

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Sharks off South Carolina, August 3, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 3, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge (3:00 PM)

Latitude: 32° 54.4’ N

Longitude: 079° 00.3’ W

Wind speed: 18 kts.

Wave height: 1-2’

Air temp.: 28.1 C

Sky: Clouds

Science and Technology Log

To date, we have caught, tagged, and fin-clipped silky, sharpnose, sandbar, tiger, great hammerhead, blacknose, nurse, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. We have also brought up red snappers, a pale spotted eel, and a blunt-nose lizardfish. I have never seen any of these fishes before, so it has opened a whole new world of sea creatures for me. I am grateful to have this opportunity to explore a region of the ocean with which I am unfamiliar.

view of a scalloped hammerhead shark lying on it ventral side (belly) in a teal mesh shark cradle suspended over the water. a crewmember, mostly out of frame, reaches two arms over the ship's railing to steady the shark.

top-down view from an upper deck of crewmembers standing near the rail as a teal mesh shark cradle rises out of the water, holding a large tiger shark

a man wearing blue gloves, standing on deck and facing away from the camera, holds out a large red-orange fish by the operculum (opening behind the jaw)

straight on view of a hammerhead shark's head; the shark is suspended in the teal mesh cradle, and two gloved hands hold up its head to prepare to remove the hook

Cheryl, wearing a sunhat, a hard hat on top of the sunhat, and a life vest, kneels on deck. with two gloved hands, she holds up a small sharpnose shark and smiles for a photo.

Top row: Scallloped hammerhead shark in mesh cradle; Large tiger shark being hoisted by crane and cradle to be processed alongside the ship (photo courtesy NOAA Corps officer on the bridge); Field Party Chief and PI Trey Driggers lifting red snapper onto cutting table to remove otoliths and eye lenses. Bottom row: Face of scalloped hammerhead shark prior to removal of circle hook; I am holding a sharpnose shark after measuring and fin-clipping it. (Photo by Gretchen Kruizenga).

Personal Log

Living on a ship is much different than living on land. Obviously, we’re on a moving vessel, so the scenery and location are different every time we wake up. As soon as the mooring lines were cast off, we had no access to shopping for anything that we might have forgotten…

One major change from when I was last aboard a ship 25 years ago is the internet. Thanks to a satellite connection through Starlink, I can now stream movies, call my husband, and scroll through Facebook — even miles from shore. It’s strange but comforting to feel connected to the outside world while being so physically remote.

Our living quarters are compact and communal. On the main deck where we fish, there’s a toilet and sink, while the lower deck — where we sleep — has two water closets with an adjacent sink. Each stateroom also has a small sink, which makes washing up and brushing teeth a bit easier. For showers, we have two shared ones for the entire crew, so we limit ourselves to ten-minute showers to make sure everyone gets a turn and can get to bed soon after their shift.

Before leaving port, the crew was split into two watches: day watch (12 noon to midnight) and night watch (midnight to noon). Most staterooms house two people on opposite watches, so the person off duty has the room to themselves while the other works. Unfortunately, our bunks are located just below the deck where the fishing line is hauled in, so it gets quite noisy. Sleep is something we grab when we can, knowing it may be disrupted by the sound of the winch or the motion of high seas. I’m on day watch, so my schedule feels more natural — but for those on night watch, sleeping during daylight and staying alert all night is a real challenge.

Yesterday we also launched the second drifter. This one had Falmouth High School stickers, of course, but also the crew of NOAA Ship Oregon II wrote their names, drew, or wrote favorite quotes. It was fun to get everyone on the ship involved in this project! The track of Drifter #1 appears to be keeping up with the ship!

close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see a sticker of a lobster (mvyradio.org), a school sticker (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures. — Drifter #2 with quotes from crew

close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see some school stickers (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures, and a drawing of a shark near the seabed. — Drifter #2 with quotes from crew

Cheryl, wearing her Teacher at Sea t shirt, a life vest, and sunglasses, poses for a photo on deck next to the drifting buoy, currently curled up and resting on a table surface. — I am preparing to launch Drifter #2 from fantail

map of sea surface temperature by geographic location as measured by the first drifting buoy. measurements are depicted as squares, color coded by temperature, ranging from 28 degrees Celsius (purple) to 32 degrees Celsius (red); most of the readings are green, which corresponds to 30 degrees C. the measurements start east of Florida and extend north along the Gulf Stream toward North Carolina. — I am preparing to launch Drifter #2 from fantail

Interview with Trey Driggers

Trey, wearing a life vest and work gloves, stands on deck with his right hand on the rail of the ship and his left resting on a white barrel lined with circle hooks. Behind him, the sky is blue with many gray clouds, and the water is blue-gray with some chop. — Dr. Trey Driggers hauling in hooks during our longline survey.

Trey Driggers is the PI, or principal investigator, of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Longline (BLL) Survey. He originally wanted to be a musician playing guitar, but his father said that if he went to military school first, he would pay for college. That seemed like a good deal, so he completed an associate’s degree at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA, then continued for a BA in History from Clemson University.

Trey imagined being a lawyer, but he was always interested in sharks. His fascination with large predators was driven after his childhood dog was eaten by an alligator in his grandparents’ yard in Florida. He was 8 years old when the movie Jaws came out, and although he was too young to see it, he was intrigued by all the shark-related merchandise that was on the shelves at that time. During his senior year in college, scientists from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History released a book entitled, Sharks in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book. The last section was entitled, “How Do I Become a Shark Specialist?” He read that and thought, “That’s a job?” His career goals dramatically changed; now he realized that he could be a shark biologist. After graduating from Clemson, he enrolled in the courses needed to earn another degree in Marine Science. Once Trey had this focus, he became a straight A student. He finished that program in two years.

After finishing his coursework in marine science, Trey applied for graduate school and was accepted into Dr. John Dean’s lab at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Dean was very supportive of his students and is considered one of the godfathers of otoliths, studying ear stones of finfish to determine their age. Trey’s master’s thesis was on the age and growth of yellowfin tuna. Dr. Dean convinced him to stay in that lab to complete his PhD, as well. Part of his research on blacknose sharks required him to collect fin clips from sharks for a genetic study which was done in part on the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Bottom Longline Survey, which solidified his desire to work for the National Marine Fisheries Service. He has been participating in this survey since 1999. The rest is history!

Tell me about your family:

“We live in Ocean Springs, MS. My wife is a biology teacher in middle school. We met at USC and are both Clemson Tigers. We’ve been married for 26 years and have three children: Amelia is a biomedical engineer; Boyd is a junior at Ole Miss; and Max is a senior in high school. We have a malinois dog named Lilah and a chihuahua named Oliver.”

How did you get your position at NOAA Fisheries?

“In 2002 I was still a post-doc, but I went to the Resource Surveys Branch Chief at the Pascagoula lab three separate times to ask for a job. I think I finally wore him down and was hired in 2003. In 2012, I became the Shark Unit Leader. Kristin Hannan is my right-hand partner, and Will Tilley complements us both to make a solid team.”

What is the most fun part of your job?

“There are many fun parts of my job. My coworkers and I are very close, and it’s great being around people who have the same interests. I get to see things very few people get to see and I feel very fortunate to have access to the resources that allow me to conduct broad scale research. When I retire, I will know I did exactly what I set out to do and will have achieved my professional goals.”

What is the most difficult part of your job?

“I miss important family events such as birthdays, first days of school, etc. The good definitely outweighs the bad, though. Our work helps conservation and fishermen. I feel it’s critical to have boots on the ground when conducting research and in my field there is only one place to do that and that is on the water.”

What part of your job with NOAA did you least expect to be doing?

“I least expected the Deepwater Horizon disaster. When that happened, we were told, ‘You’re now forensic biologists,’ and our jobs changed significantly for a time. It was a big adjustment, and a massive effort by many, many people.”

What would you be doing if you didn’t work for NOAA?

“I’ve thought about that a lot and don’t have a good answer. I do play my guitar 3-4 hours per day, though, and would try to do something with that.”

Did You Know?

Scientists have identified ten different species of hammerhead sharks. We are fortunate to have caught two different species so far!

New Animals Seen:

Scalloped hammerhead shark
Pale spotted eel
Decorator crab
Semipalmated plover

out of focus view of a small shorebird walking on a gray surface — Semipalmated plover
(courtesy of Lila Xenakis)

a decorated crab photographed splayed out against a blue surface; we can see some seaweed stuck to it — Decorator crab

August 4, 2025August 5, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Fish On! August 1, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 1, 2025 (11:00 AM)

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 30° 30.1’N

Longitude: 081° 12.6′ W

Wind speed: 10 kts.

Wave height: 0-1 ft.

Air temp.: 31.5° C (89° F)

Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

“Fish on!” is what is called out whenever we have a fish on a hook. Everyone springs into action to collect data on the fish as efficiently as possible so it has a better chance of surviving. Their success is evidenced by the number of shark tags that have been returned after this release. Wednesday we caught a large female tiger shark that had been tagged by scientists out of the Apex Predators Program out of the NOAA Fisheries Narragansett lab. Here is a link to the work they conduct in that lab: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/northeast-shark-research. We are awaiting information about the tagged individual (where and when it was tagged, how much it has grown since she was tagged) from scientists in Narragansett.

NOAA Fisheries has been conducting the Southeast Bottom Longline Survey for 30 years! Scientists and crew participating in the survey have vital scientific data on sharks and finfish in U.S. waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the Florida Keys and through the Gulf of America.

Each year, survey stations—randomly selected before each cruise—are sampled in both shallow and deep waters. Scientists and crew use standardized fishing protocols to collect data on abundance, distribution, size, sex, and maturity of captured species. For bony fish, they also remove otoliths—tiny calcareous structures in the ear—to count growth rings and estimate age, similar to how one might age a tree.

This long-term, standardized dataset is an invaluable resource. It provides critical baseline information about marine ecosystems, which is especially important when natural disasters strike. Managers can refer to this historical data to understand pre-disaster conditions and guide recovery efforts.

Best of all, the entire database is public. Researchers, policymakers, and curious minds alike can access this wealth of information to support science-based decision-making. Learn more about the Southeast fishery-independent surveys: NOAA Fisheries Southeast Surveys.

Teamwork in Action: Skilled Crew and Augmenters Keep the Survey Moving

This leg of the Southeast Bottom Longline Survey includes several augmenters—crew members temporarily reassigned from other NOAA ships or roles to help out where they’re most needed. Their skills and experience are a welcome asset on board, especially during a time when a federal hiring freeze has led staff to pitch in across vessels.

Among the augmenters are NOAA Corps officers either in training or assisting with training, the ship’s chief steward, and members of the deck crew. Their flexibility and teamwork ensure the survey continues smoothly and safely.

a man stands on deck, feet spread apart for balance, holding up a large barracuda for a photo. we see blue skies with puffy clouds and fairly even blue water in the background beyond the rail.

portrait photo of a man in a red t-shirt wearing sunglasses and a very wide-brimmed straw hat; he leans on a railing of the deck and looks off dramatically into the distance

a man, mostly in silhouette due to the lighting, fishing off the back deck of the ship. beyond the railing is a lovely orange sunset obscured by just a few bits of cloud over dark blue waters.

Left to right: Josh with a barracuda he trolled off the stern deck; Chuck Godwin in the best hat; Sean reeling in the line at sunset.

Fishing operations on this leg are led by a capable and experienced Deck Department:

Josh Cooper, Chief Boatswain, has served on board for 3 ½ years.
Chuck Godwin, the lead fisherman, brings years of experience working aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II.
Sean Gronquist, a skilled fisherman, just celebrated his one-year anniversary on board this week.
Aaron Walton, a seasoned Lead Fisherman from NOAA Ship Bigelow out of Rhode Island, is augmenting the night watch team.
Malachi Olson, a contractor, is also supporting night operations as an augmenter.

During fishing operations, this team handles critical tasks: setting longlines, hauling them back in after one hour, and moving a specialized mesh cradle into place when large sharks are brought aboard. Their coordination and expertise are essential to ensuring the data collection is efficient, humane, and safe for both crew and animals.

Interview with Sean Gronquist

This interview is with skilled fisherman Sean Gronquist. He has been around the Atlantic Ocean his whole life, but on NOAA Ship Oregon II for a year. Growing up, Sean and his friends used to take all kinds of watercraft out into the Intracoastal Waterway around St. Augustine, FL, from a dock behind his house. He learned some basic mechanics from his friend, Jordan, who was able to fix 2-stroke engines on the fly when they were out on the water together.

Sean graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in anthropology and a dream to be an underwater “Indiana Jones.” He earned his captain’s license and worked as a charter fishing captain for 15 years, where the focus for him was locating the target species of his clients to catch whatever they requested, if possible. Sean literally helped customers check items off their bucket list (he runs Uno Mas Fishing Charters out of Stuart, FL). He could return to this profession if he ever needed to, but for now he finds joy in working toward the important goal of figuring out how many fish are off the southeastern coast of the US.

Why is your work important?

“We collect data that is used by multiple groups to set quotas or limits on fisheries. We’re one of the longest running surveys.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?

“Even during transits, no two days are the same. Straight up, I fish for the government. The fact that I found a job that pays me to do what I’m passionate about, you can’t beat it. I learn something new every day. “

What is the most important tool that you use for your job?

“My answer is simple: a sharp pocket knife comes in handy all the time. You can cut something, open things, all sorts of uses. “

If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?

“It would have to be something to keep weeds off the line, a weedless spring to remove the sargassum weed from the trolling line. We fish off the stern when we have finished all that we need to do, and it’s a pain to have to pull in the lures all the time because they’re fouled with sargassum.”

When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean career?

“I’ve always known I wanted that. I grew up on the water, so I just needed to figure out how to make a career out of it. I did marine mechanics on Yamaha engines at a guy’s shop but realized that the owner of the shop would always make a lot more money than I would. I did finish carpentry, too, but ultimately I decided to put down a hammer and picked up a wrench.

“My great grandfather was a merchant marine, and my grandfather was a See Bee in the Navy in Okinawa in World War II. It ran in my family, so I always figured I’d end up on a ship.”

Personal Log

I am having so much fun and learning so much on this trip. It’s always nice to interact with people who are like-minded about the wonder of the ocean. We have a range of people on this leg of the cruise (it takes 4 legs to sample all of the stations and regions). Here are the people on the day watch with me:

Trey Driggers, primary investigator for the project
Gretchen Kruizenga, survey technician (Ms. Fix-It!)
Tera Winters, survey scientist (and former veterinarian)
Evan Winters, volunteer entering college at West Florida University when we return

Everyone is pulling their weight (I always feel like I need to step up a little more, but I am trying to keep up at these new tasks) and getting along well. I will try to write more about these new friends in the future.

New Animals Seen

Spotted dolphins
Cannonball jellyfish
Lion’s mane jellyfish
Tiger sharks (large and small)
Sandbar sharks
Leech on the sandbar shark
Nurse shark
Bull shark
Sharpnose shark
Great hammerhead shark! (the other watch actually saw this shark, but they showed me the pictures! We are in competition now to see who catches the next hammerhead.)
Two large red snappers!

a somewhat out of focus view of two dolphins leaping above the surface of the water; blue, mostly clear skies, bright blue water.

a woman wearing a hard hat, life vest, and gloves crouches on deck to hold a large red-orange fish against a long wooden measuring board

a woman wearing a life vest, hat, and sunglasses smiles for the camera as she stands on deck grasping a small stripey shark behind its jaws

close-up view of a marine leech against the bright blue textured background of a fish glove. the leach is blue gray with a pattern of white spots in bands.

view of the underside of a hammerhead shark's head, held back by a blue gloved hand. the shark is suspended above the water in the mesh cradle.

a hammerhead shark in the water, caught on a line, as seen over the railing.

Photos clockwise, from top left: Spotted dolphins swimming in the wake for fun; Lila holding a baby tiger shark, a favorite!; great hammerhead shark on the longline, prior to hauling up; great hammerhead in the mesh cradle being measured, sexed, and tagged; leech (size approximately 2 cm) in my glove, removed from a large sandbar shark); Tera measuring a red snapper prior to removing otoliths (estimated to be around 15 years old).

Did You Know?

Otoliths, or fish ear stones, are the densest part of a finfish’s body and are made of calcium carbonate, the same material as seashells. They are suspended in a liquid to help the fish to know which end is up and to sense vibrations.

otoliths arranged in six neat columns against a black background. the otoliths have been dyed different colors prior to sectioning.

close-up view of two cleaned otoliths resting in the fingers of someone's upturned

Left: Otoliths from six species aligned at the core and ready to be sectioned. Photo: Sandy Sutherland, NOAA Fisheries. Right: Otoliths removed by Tera from the red snapper in the previous photos.