Melina Vella – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

September 21, 2026September 22, 2026

Melina Vella: So What’s the Catch? September 14, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Melina Vella
Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow
September 10 – 30, 2026

Mission: Northeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Trawl Survey – Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast Atlantic U.S. Coast

Date: September 14, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 32º05.1946’N

Longitude: 074º54.6321’W

Wind: North wind at 10 knots

Air Temperature: 25.5ºC (77.9ºF)

Science and Technology Log

I discovered this week that the project I am on has a much longer name than I thought. It’s been referred to as the “Bottom Trawl Survey” or “The Mission,” and if we’re feeling really fancy, the “Northeast Bottom Trawl Survey.” However, the formal name is the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Multispecies Bottom Trawl Survey. With a name like that, it makes sense that folks would shorten it, but there’s actually a lot to learn from the whole title.

This NOAA web page will provide you with tons of technical expertise and a great short video explaining the process. It goes into the nitty gritty of the mission, so I encourage you to check that out for a deep dive. But, if you don’t have time to fall down a research rabbit hole, here’s the basics:

The overarching goal of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Multispecies Bottom Trawl Survey (NEFSC BTS) is to gather fisheries data. There’s a lot of information jammed into that one sentence, but it makes much more sense when it’s broken down.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) is part of NOAA’s broader North Atlantic Region, whose range spans from New England to the Mid-Atlantic. Over 70 million people live in the region, many of whom live in coastal or near-coastal zones.

Political map of NOAA's 8 regions: Alaska (its own region), West, Pacific Islands, Central, Great Lakes, North Atlantic, Southeast & Caribbean, and Gulf of America. The states and territories making up a region are all the same color. — Map of NOAA’s regions, with the North Atlantic region highlighted in purple (Map from NOAA).

Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s mission is “to provide the scientific information and tools necessary for productive, sustainable, and healthy marine ecosystems and coastal communities in our region.” There are multiple research facilities scattered along the coast, as well as the country’s oldest public aquarium, Woods Hole Science Aquarium! (Please note that the aquarium is closed through early 2027 for major renovations, but will certainly boast some awesome new exhibits!).

political map of the states of the Northeast NOAA region (Maine to North Carolina) with arrows pointing out the locations of labs in Orono, Maine; Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Narragansett, Rhode Island; Milford, Connecticut; and Sandy Hook, New Jersey. An inset text box reads: "We cover over 160,000 square miles of ocean from North Carolina to Maine." — Functions of the NEFSC are carried out at research facilities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island (Map from NOAA).

The NEFSC’s work doesn’t stop on land, of course. Some specimens have to be collected from their natural habitats, sometimes hundreds of meters beneath the sea surface, and brought back to study. Skipping ahead in our project title, that’s where projects like the Bottom Trawl Survey come in.

A trawl is a type of net used to catch fish and other fun sea creatures. There are different types of trawl nets, all with different goals for catching certain types of animals or adaptations to the physical conditions. For example, the net on NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow has a rockhopper sweep for rocky bottoms.

hands from three different crewmembers reach out to repair a teal fishing net crumpled up on deck — Science and deck crews working to repair the net.

A bottom trawl targets species in, you guessed it, the bottom of the ocean! The net used in the BTS is standardized down to the model of metal connectors and number of knots in the mesh.

simple, flat line drawing of a fishing vessel at the surface of the ocean towing a bottom trawl net, which a few fish have entered, near the ocean bottom — A ship towing a bottom trawl net (NOAA).

When we say that the project is multispecies, the simple definition of “multiple species” almost doesn’t do it justice. There are obviously plenty of fish to be studied, but also shellfish like scallops and crabs. Much of the data collected is used to perform regional stock assessments, or population measurements, of more than 40 species. All finfish and some invertebrates are all weighed and measured. That doesn’t even include all the invertebrates or plants that we don’t catalog further!

about 15 crabs on a sorting table. there are also buckets of different colors. a gloved hand reaches in from the side of the photo to pick up a crab. — A mixture of different species of swimming crabs being sorted.

Melina, wearing orange overalls and blue gloves, smiles for the camera as she holds an angel shark up for a photo — Holding an Angel Shark.

close-up view of two spider crabs placed next to one another (but facing opposite directions) on a measuring board — Spider Crabs lined up on the measuring board.

Lastly, a survey in this case refers to the methodical collection of scientific information. There are standardized protocols to ensure that the year to year data can be used by researchers. Not all species are processed the same. Some are preserved whole in formalin or freezers, others are simply measured. The procedure really depends on the needs of the researcher. Researchers interested in requesting samples can submit online forms that are reviewed and potentially included as collection points in surveys.

Would you believe me if I told you that the fish collection doesn’t even scratch the surface of the projects onboard? There’s environmental, acoustic, biological, and oceanographic data collected throughout the cruise as well. The Deck and Survey Technician teams play a large role in the execution of those projects, so I’ve witnessed fewer of those operations. I’m excited to connect with them and chat about their roles on the ship.

Personal Log: First Watch

The first couple days on the ship have a “summer camp” feel to them. People that see each other only a few times a year but spend almost every single hour together form a unique bond. Every single meal is together, you’re all working towards a specific set of goals. There’s so much shared history. People are bouncing stories back and forth while I quietly observe from the fringes.

Everyone has been extremely welcoming and helpful, which is a big relief. Still, though, there’s always that sort of (excuse the bad joke) “fish out of water” feeling of entering an entirely new situation. Trying to remember everyone’s names, faces, job titles, organization affiliations–all of it is swarming around in my brain trying to take hold.

Waking up at 11:00pm and starting a twelve-hour shift is not something I’m accustomed to. Luckily, today was a relatively well-paced day with our work spread out with breaks in between to rest and mentally process the massive influx of information I’ve received. The main thing I did today was orient myself with the workflow of the lab spaces.

There’s a Wet Lab, Dry Lab, Acoustics Lab, Chem Lab, Hydro Lab, and maybe even some other secret labs I’ve yet to discover.

view into the empty wet lab; we see a long, empty sorting table to the left, and neat stacks of white buckets and orange baskets down the center of the photo — A view of the port side of the Wet Lab where the fish are taken in on a conveyer belt for sorting into buckets.

a computer tower and array of 10 monitors at a computer desk — The Acoustics Lab has lots of fancy computers that track important things. Being in here gives me a great view of the cameras of the deck operations so I know what stage of the tow we’re in.

All the online research in the world won’t compare to actually seeing the operation in action. My job was to help sort the fish as it comes down the belt. They get sorted by species, and then sometimes even further divided by size and/or sex. After sorting, they get examined and data is collected. My role was to be a Recorder, meaning I assist with organization of the fish prior to measurement, entering data into the computer system, and labeling samples. It’s extremely overwhelming, like trying to quickly learn a new language, but even after one shift I’ve already got a better handle on it.

a hand reaching in from the right of a photo grasps a fish; hands to the left of the photo hold a field guide open to a page with illustrations similar to the fish. in the background, there is a fish measuring board and several computer screens. — Identifying a fish at a workstation in the Wet Lab.

Did You Know?

NOAA was officially established in 1970 to combine the country’s first agencies for physical science (U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey), atmospheric sciences (Weather Bureau), and conservation (U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries). The original emblem design lives on to this day, meant to represent the connection between the Earth, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystems. Learn even more about NOAA’s history here!

The multifaceted logo has a gull-like figure flying through the sky. According to Dr. Robert White, NOAA’s first Administrator says “A creature of sea, land, and air, the gull adds an ecological touch to the Earth-sky motif.” (Source)

September 16, 2026September 21, 2026

Melina Vella: Let’s Rock and Roll!, September 10, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Melina Vella

Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

Sept 10, 2026

Mission: Northeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Trawl Survey – Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast U.S. Atlantic Coast

Date: September 10, 2026

Science and Technology Log

In many ways, ships are like their own living organisms. From pontoons to sailboats, rowboats to mega-yachts, ships come in varieties just like plants and animals.

view of a line of small response vessels docked facing outward into very still, brown water; tree-lined hills in the background — Different types of ships used for emergency response in Kingston, New York on the Hudson River.

view from a beach over water: on the beach to the left is a pile of rowboats and kayaks, while out on the water we can see many sailboats at a distance — A view from the beach on Nantucket, Massachusetts of personal boats, including rowboats and sailboats.

Preparing for the trip, I tried to approach learning about NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow as a species to study just like any other fish or bird species. I find research very comforting, so I tried my best to learn about ships in general, and the features of Henry B. Bigelow. NOAA has some excellent resources that cover the history, construction, and scientific specifications of the vessel. The end of this blog post contains links so you can dive even deeper, but here are some of the highlights (including some of my observations from onboard).

Basic Anatomy: Important Parts of a Ship to Know

Also called a command deck, wheelhouse, or pilothouse, the bridge is like the brain of the ship. This is where much of the navigation and mission logistics happen. Those working on the bridge also must maintain constant communication with other teams aboard, such as the engineers, scientists, and other crew.

view of the bridge of NOAA Ship Henry B Bigelow: four men, two in NOAA Corps uniforms, stand or sit looking out the windows filled with fog — On the bridge of the NOAA Ship *Rainer* underway in the fog (Image credit: Jenny Thacker)

On Henry B. Bigelow the bridge is very spacious and well-equipped with technology used to ensure that factors like the direction and speed are maintained as the scientific operations are performed. The bridge is commanded by a team of officers from the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

The engine room is the heart and lungs of the operation. Without the engine machinery to propel the ship, you’re not getting very far. I have yet to see Henry B. Bigelow‘s engine room; that is a sensitive area. I’m a little nervous to inquire further because I know one thing for sure: engine rooms are LOUD.

view of a man standing at the control panel in the engine room of a different NOAA vessel, NOAA Ship Pisces. He wears ear protection down around his neck. he stands with one hand reaching toward a lever, mid-explanation. — Engine control panel aboard NOAA Ship *Pisces* (Image Credit: Lieutenant Elizabeth Capo)

a black and white photo of an engine room; we can see many dials along the metal walls, metal floors, metal railings. — Engine room of the USC&GSS *Pathfinder*, circa 1955. The U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey was one of NOAA’s predecessor agencies. Image from NOAA Photo Library.

What else could the mess and galley be other than the digestive system of a ship, of course? Food is stored and prepared in the galley and the crew aboard the vessel have their meals in the mess hall.

Also sometimes called cabins or berthings, staterooms for sleeping accommodations allow the hardworking crew aboard the ship to get some much-needed rest between watches. My room is a four-person room with two sets of bunk beds with a bathroom attached. There are also some rooms that are singles or doubles depending on the staffing needs of those onboard.

Life History

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow is one of many within NOAA’s fleet of state-of-the-art research vessels. The construction of Henry B. Bigelow and other ships of the fleet were built with the intention of providing optimal facilities for NOAA’s scientists.

a view, head-on, of NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow at sea. the water is gray and fairly calm, and the bow of the ship is creating a sizeable splash. — NOAA Ship *Henry B. Bigelow* pushing water (NOAA Collections)

It was built in 2007 by VT Halter Marine Inc., in Moss Point, Mississippi. Because it was built for the purpose of being a fisheries survey ship, it has lots of unique characteristics not found in other vessels.

It has instruments used for recording crucial data for NOAA’s various projects. The ship is home ported in Newport, Rhode Island and its primary purpose is to perform fisheries stock research along the U.S. East Coast, including the Fall Bottom Trawl Survey that I am part of this year. Read even more about the other types of capabilities of Henry B. Bigelow here.

view into the empty wet lab: we are looking down the conveyor belt, but can also see multiple fish measuring boards and computer monitors — The wet lab is where the fish (and other critters) are sorted and processed.

It recently underwent mid-life maintenance and its sister ship, NOAA Ship Pisces conducted the Spring Bottom Trawl earlier this year.

Personal Log

All aboard! We’ve arrived, folks. I landed in Rhode Island and was able to explore Newport. Okay, okay, perhaps I overpacked, but listen – my father, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain, instilled the official “Semper paratus” motto meaning “always ready” deep within me. Who knows what I might need?? Trekking about 100 lbs of luggage through the airport was quite the journey. I chose to count that walk to my rental car as my workout for the day.

Melina smiles for the camera on a suburban street as she stands wearing one hiking backpack, holding another in her right hand, and gripping a duffle bag in her left. — Carrying all my belongings for the next few weeks.

a pile of luggage and miscellaneous items packed in black trash bags on a dock — A fraction of the baggage we transported via small boat.

After a lovely stay in Newport, I met up with the science team members that were also boarding the ship for the first leg of the bottom trawl survey. The large van transported us to the Navy pier where we then boarded a small boat to be transferred onto Henry B. Bigelow. Because we had about a dozen scientists with all their gear, we took multiple trips. I was on the last batch of folks transferred over so I boarded in the late afternoon. The evening included a whirlwind of orientation of the ship, safety trainings, and sneaking in a quick meal.

view of the stern of NOAA Ship Henry Bigelow as it faces the horizon. we can see the A-frame used in fishing operations. the water is blue and reflective. the sky is bright blue with lines of white clouds moving in multiple directions. — The view of *Henry B. Bigelow* from the small boat.

view of a plate of food - looks like rice, fried rice, dumplings, veggies, chicken - and a bottle of sweet chili sauce resting on a blue tablecloth. — My first onboard meal!

Now, time to get some much needed rest before the mission officially begins; can’t wait to start my first watch tonight!!!

Did You Know?

Something interesting I learned in my research was about some of the traditional terminology surrounding shipbuilding. Did you know that ships have specific stages of their construction? Laying the keel is the formal start of the ships construction.

Learn more about Henry B. Bigelow:

Ecosystems Surveys Volunteer Information: Preparing for a Cruise – what it actually looks like to work on NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, R/V Hugh R.Sharp, R/V Gloria Michelle, and F/V E.S.S. Pursuit.

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow Fact Sheet (PDF) – this archived page from 2009 contains an in-depth explanation of the ship from when it was commissioned.

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow: About the Ship (Office of Marine and Aviation Operations)
– a quick read with the basic specifications and information about Henry B. Bigelow as well as contact information for getting in touch with the ship

September 1, 2026September 21, 2026

Melina Vella: Soon to Set Sail, September 1, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Melina Vella

(Soon to be) Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

September 10 – 30, 2026

Mission: Northeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Trawl Survey – Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast U.S. Atlantic Coast

Date: September 1, 2026

Weather Data from Slaughter Beach, DE (Delaware Environmental Observing System)

Latitude: 38.91°N

Longitude: 75.31°W

Temperature: 86° F

Wind: 5 mph S

Personal Log

It’s wild to think that this opportunity could have drifted past me if I hadn’t opened a random email from one of the many environmental newsletters I’m subscribed to. In some ways, though, it was something that I manifested back in elementary school. My name is Melina Vella and I am thrilled to be writing my first blog post as a NOAA Teacher at Sea. Currently, I work for the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife as an environmental educator at the DuPont Nature Center.

By almost all accounts, my dream career growing up was to be a scientist. I recently sifted through bins of keepsakes spanning my years of schooling, and every “get to know me” assignment documents a clear plan. Aside from one deviating record that listed my aspiration to be a dentist (perhaps around the time my brother was getting his braces put on), science was always my end goal.

a collage of three photos: (1) a cut-out paper star with the printed prompt "My goal for the future is" followed by Melina's handwritten response: "To be an athlete or a scientist." (2) A worksheet titled "Who Am I?" that ends in the prompt: "When I Grow Up I Would like to be" and Melina's answer: "scientist." (3) a photo of a collage with cut-out printed statements (the top reads: "I want to be a type of scientist when I grow up. Most likely a paleontologist or a chemist." and a photo of a young Melina. — Assignments from elementary school demonstrating my aspirations of being a scientist.

a very young Melina wearing a sweater, butterfly wings, and safety goggles. — Assignments from elementary school demonstrating my aspirations of being a scientist.

view from the back of Melina wearing her graduation cap, which is decorated elaborately with ocean waves filled with sea creatures, and a sandy beach with the words "Environmental Science" — My decorated undergraduate cap.

I wonder if past me would consider my present-day self a scientist. My undergraduate degree is technically a science degree, but in practice I’m not a scientist. So, in some ways, this expedition is fulfilling a childhood dream that no one will be able to argue: I’ll be a scientist.

Why the trip down memory lane? Well, I bring up these artifacts from many moons ago to illustrate that my interest in science started when I was only five years old. My passion was enhanced by field trips to the aquarium and my very first lab dissection of a flower in fifth grade. I was encouraged by my teachers to compete in the science fair each year. Through my position as a naturalist at the DuPont Nature Center, I have the chance to make that core memory for hundreds of kids visiting on field trips. Every single week for months I lead programming for students from dozens of local homeschool groups, public schools, daycares, and more. The overarching goal of these field trips while the kids visit is to connect them to the Delaware Bay, one of the state’s most important natural resources.

Melina and a young girl hold on end of a seine net on a beach — Seining program with a homeschool group. (Image Credit: Heidi Bacon)

view of the Dupont Nature Center building at a distance beyond a flooded parking lot — The Delaware Bay absorbing our Nature Center parking lot at high tide during a storm surge.

We all have some sort of relationship with the Earth, whether we want to or not. For some, the love they have for the planet is what drives them day in and day out. For others, they might not give a second thought to the impact their decisions have on the land, sea, or atmosphere. However, sometimes all it takes is finding a beautiful bivalve shell on the beach or petting a horseshoe crab for the first time to instill that desire to keep exploring.

That brings me to how I ended up here, as part of this program. The foundation of my education is environmental science, with an intense focus on ecology in marine environments. Unfortunately, one of the results of the COVID-19 pandemic spanning my junior and senior years of college was that the classes that typically offer field and lab opportunities were instead virtual. Alas, I never dissected a shark in my elasmobranch class. So, when the chance to actually go on a research cruise with NOAA came across my screen, applying was inevitable.

people kayaking on a pond - the front of a kayak visible right where the camera would be - on a day with blue skies and bright white clouds — Kayaking on Lums Pond

I’ve been lucky enough to have some very unique work “offices,” including on Nantucket Island as a summer camp environmental educator for a non-profit and the woods of upstate New York with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on a field research project. Another unique one was a small fishing boat, also operating as a summer camp, but specifically for young anglers.

a line of 8 people jumping at the same time in front of a white and red striped lighthouse — In front of Sankaty Head Lighthouse on Nantucket Island with my 2024 intern cohort.

Melina sits on the floor of the visitors center reading a children's book to a group of visitors seated on the floor or in chairs. — A group of visitors attending a Storybook Saturday Program at the Nature Center.

This upcoming trip will be the longest I’ve ever been on a boat at once! I hope to absorb as much as I can through this experience and take it with me for the rest of my life. This opportunity will give me an entirely unique experience that very few people get to have each year. I’m excited to meet new people and learn more about what it actually takes for a research project to be successful day-to-day. We’ll all have our roles, and I hope to add value to the team while I’m there by bringing my natural strengths and past experiences along with a passion for pushing myself to always try new things.

Today’s Tune:

How Far I’ll Go by Auli’i Cravalho (from Moana)

“See the line where the sky/meets the sea, it calls me”