Mission: Integrated West Coast Pelagics Survey (Leg 2)
Geographic Area of Cruise: Pacific Ocean, California Coast
Date: June 27, 2025
Introduction
I’ve always been a water girl. My earliest memories are swimming with my mom in an indoor pool and learning how to jellyfish float—a vital survival skill needed if stranded at sea. Blowing bubbles, butterfly, rhythmic breathing: these are swimming words that have been a part of my life from the moment my memories start.
Young Jojo
Fast forward a few decades, and water is still my element—but now I get to share it from the pool deck, whistle in hand. As both a teacher and a swim coach, I’ve spent well over 10,000 hours diving into both careers—enough to earn the “expert” badge. The roots of my professions were planted early, and I’ve nurtured them with passion and purpose. Growing up in Arizona, this included plenty of pool time but now, I live in Hawaii and swim regularly at the beach by my house. I like to tell my friends, “I’ve got salt water flowing through my veins.”
Jojo teaching swim
Currently, I teach swimming, music, writing, and journalism at Asia Pacific International—a project-based learning school tucked away in the small, oceanside town of Hau‘ula, Hawai‘i. My eclectic schedule is like a vibrant coral reef: dynamic and busy! I work with students from elementary through high school, and every day brings something new and interesting.
Jojo teaching music. Photo courtesy of Asia-Pacific International School, Hawaii.
One of my greatest hopes for participating in this NOAA experience is to return with stories and insights from the sea—knowledge I couldn’t possibly gain without being out there in the deep blue myself. I want to share what I learn in a way that sparks curiosity and connection, especially with my middle school writers. During the research unit, we will explore the various fish populations. Students will select one specific type of edible fish to research and write about. The end product will be a book that will explore details about fish from ocean to table.
Jojo shows off a broom fish
In this photo, I’m beaming with wonder and joy after catching a broom fish off the coast of Moloka‘i—yes, a broom fish! (Sadly, it does not sweep the ocean floor, but is named for the shape of its tail.) My love for the sea runs deep, and it’s been a guiding current throughout my life. I care deeply about making smart, sustainable choices and empowering my students to do the same. Whether we’re writing stories or swimming laps, I try to weave in the message: this planet is ours to protect.
The Teacher at Sea adventure began as a simple search for a meaningful professional development opportunity. I applied, crossed my fingers—and got in! Now, with wholehearted enthusiasm, I’m preparing for the journey ahead. Tomorrow, I’ll fly from Honolulu to San Francisco to board the NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada.
I’m armed with Dramamine and sunscreen, a cozy winter hat for chilly nights, and a big summer hat for the sunny days. Adventure and learning, I’m ready. Aloha!
Weather Data Snapshot: 9:54am, Pacific Daylight Time
Currently, the air temperature is 58°F (14°C) with a wind speed of 23 knots and a wave height of 9 feet. Not only are the seas rough offshore, but the wind is making it very chilly to work outside. Luckily, we have some gear that keeps us warm for times when we need to be outside for extended periods. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining, so I am counting my blessings despite the cooler temperatures.
Melissa (left) and myself (right) preparing to go outside for UCTD deployment.
Science and Technology Log
It’s been an exciting week regarding technology! I had the opportunity to help prepare a CTD (a piece of equipment mentioned in a previous blog post) for deployment as well as the opportunity to observe a UCTD being deployed. A CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) is a tool that measures how salty and warm the water is at certain depths . For larger CTDs, the ship comes to a stop, scientists then lower the CTD using a cable, and it collects data as it goes down. A UCTD (Underway CTD), however, is a smaller version that can be used while the ship is moving. It’s dropped into the water and pulled behind the ship, collecting data as it sinks. This allows scientists to gather information more quickly and without stopping the ship. Both tools are important for helping scientists understand seawater conditions and how they change based on depth, time of day, season, location, etc.
Elias and myself preparing the CTD for deployment.
Photo of me with UCTD equipment.
In other news, we have run into several different cephalopods this week. Cephalopods are part of a group of marine invertebrates that includes octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus. They are known for having large heads, arms or tentacles, and relatively high intelligence when compared to other invertebrates. In our case, we caught a few different kinds of squid, a few small octopus, and a nautilus in our trawling net. I was particularly excited to see the nautilus, because I had never seen one in person before!
Paper Nautilus
Robust Clubhook Squid
Market Squid
Tuberculate Pelagic Octopus
A group of three (3) Seven-Armed Octopus.
As you can see, cephalopods come in many different varieties. I enjoy teaching about them in the classroom because of their unique evolutionary features, like chromatophores, which are specialized cells that enable cephalopods like squid, cuttlefish, and octopuses to rapidly change color. It should also be noted that cephalopods are part of the phylum Mollusca, just like the abalone that I discussed in a previous blog post. In general, I really love teaching about mollusks in the classroom because of the amount of diversity that we see within the phylum.
Personal Log
Speaking of squid, I tried calamari (fried squid) for lunch yesterday. I typically do not eat seafood of any kind, but when you’re on a ship, the food options may not always be what you want them to be. (That’s not to say that the food isn’t amazing, because it is. I am simply a picky eater.) Let’s just say that I will not be eating any more squid any time soon. (But I will still pose for pictures with them!)
Me, holding a Sandpaper Squid.
I also got to photograph a sunrise on the Pacific! The mornings have typically been hazy, or the boat has been facing the wrong direction for me to view the sun properly, but I finally managed to catch the sunrise while out on the back deck after processing our last catch of the night. Seeing the sunrise and sunset on the Pacific are two goals that I had when I started this journey. Unfortunately, because of my night shift hours, I do not think I will be able to catch a sunset any time soon. Perhaps on the last night of the cruise, I will stay up past my “bedtime” and wait for the sunset!
Sunrise on the Pacific ocean from the fishing deck of NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada.
On another note, it has been 10 days since I left Georgia and arrived on the west coast, and I am starting to feel the effects of working such long days. I miss my family, and I miss the comfort of home. That is not to say that I am not enjoying this learning experience, because I am. But I want people to know that individuals who conduct research on scientific vessels like NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada are some of the most hard-working people I have ever met. I get to go home after 16 days and return to my own house with my own bed and other creature comforts. Some people are on this ship for several legs between now and September, and if they’re not at sea, they’re at their respective places of everyday work, such as an office or science center. It’s quite admirable, and humbling, to see how dedicated these people are to marine science and to the well-being of our oceans. It makes me want to be a better teacher so that we have people in the future who love and care for the ocean and are interested in preserving it as well.
A view of the rough seas from my stateroom.
Did You Know?
Let’s talk about butterfish! Off the Atlantic coast, there is a commercial fishery for Atlantic butterfish. There’s another species of butterfish known as the Pacific butterfish that is quite common off the coast of California even though it’s not fished commercially in this region. I have decided that butterfish are the cutest fish that we have caught in our net so far! I love them so much that my teammates toss me all the butterfish when we are sorting our catch, and I make excited noises when I find them buried amongst our anchovies, mackerels, and sardines. In honor of the humble butterfish, I dedicate this Did You Know? section to them!
A Pacific butterfish from our catch being compared to an image of the species.
According to NOAA, butterfish are small, round fish that are bluish on top with silvery sides and belly. They have small mouths, blunt noses, and grow to about 6–9 inches long, though some can reach 12 inches and weigh up to 1.25 pounds. Butterfish grow quickly but don’t live long; most only live about 3 years and can reproduce by age 1. They spawn in the summer (June and July) and swim in loose groups, feeding on small invertebrates. Why do we care about butterfish? Many animals, like bigger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, eat butterfish. That means that they are a humble yet important piece of a healthy and balanced ocean ecosystem.
Weather Data Snapshot: 12:23pm, Pacific Daylight Time
Currently, the air temperature is 63°F (17°C) with a wind speed of 14 knots and a wave height of 8 feet. The seas have been rough lately, but at least the sun is shining! I wandered onto the back deck earlier to combat some seasickness, and it was quite chilly with the strong wind.
Science and Technology Log
I am amazed at how quickly conditions change while at sea. One minute, I forget I’m even on a moving vessel. The next, I’m bumping into walls and feeling like gravity isn’t following its own rules anymore. And getting work done? That’s a whole other challenge!
Two days ago, the seas were relatively calm, and we had a ton of work to do in the science lab. My teammates extracted 150 otoliths from various fish specimens, and I must have measured and weighed at least 100 more fish. We had an amazing set of trawls that brought us samples of each of our target species: anchovy, sardine, and mackerel. We are studying these species to estimate their biomass and better understand their population dynamics and life cycles. I had already seen plenty of anchovy and some small mackerel. However, this was my first time seeing such large mackerel – and this isn’t even their full size!
Photo of me holding a Pacific mackerel and being very excited about it.
According to NOAA, Pacific mackerel are a smart seafood choice for consumers in the United States because they are harvested sustainably; their nets are selective and therefore reduce bycatch; and they are caught using surface trawls instead of bottom trawls, which can destroy sensitive habitat. (Click here to see if some of your favorite seafood is harvested sustainably, or if you should make a different choice at the grocery store or at your favorite restaurant.)
Here, the mackerel are laid out in special trays that we use to organize them for dissection. Each mackerel will be dissected for otoliths, or ear bones, as mentioned in my previous blog post.
Let me explain some keywords related to seafood sustainability:
Sustainable fishing means catching just enough fish for people to eat without hurting fish populations to the point that they can’t grow and stay healthy for the future. It also means protecting the ocean environment and other species that share the habitat. This helps make sure there are fish for people to catch and eat for many generations.
Bycatch is when fishers accidentally catch animals they weren’t trying to catch, like turtles, dolphins, or other fish. These animals are often thrown back into the ocean, but some may be injured or die in the process. Reducing bycatch helps protect ocean ecosystems and endangered species.
Bottom trawling is when a fishing net is dragged along the ocean floor to catch fish or shellfish that live near the bottom, like shrimp. Surface trawling, also called pelagic trawling, uses nets that are pulled through the open water to catch fish that swim near the surface, like the anchovy, mackerel, and sardines that we are targeting.
The surface trawling net on NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada is also equipped with a marine mammal excluder device, which is a special apparatus built into the net that prevents large mammals such as dolphins or sea lions from becoming trapped. If these animals do happen to swim into our net, they can escape through the excluder device. This reduces bycatch of other large animals as well, such as sea turtles and sharks.
Photo of me on deck with some fishing gear.
Going back to the changing conditions at sea, yesterday was a rough day! Our trawling operations were cut short due to a tangled net, so we finished our work early. That was a very good thing for me, because I had time to catch up on this blog, do some laundry, and even take a break to try and combat some seasickness. I am taking Dramamine every single day, but when the waves are rough, there’s not much you can do except step outside for some fresh air and hope you don’t lose your lunch. (Or breakfast, in my case.) The sea was so rough that afternoon that instead of being rocked to sleep, I was awake for most of my sleeping hours, which left me feeling exhausted when I woke for my next shift.
Personal Log
I need to take a minute to give a shout-out to the incredible team of human beings that I have been working with on this cruise. Honestly, everyone here has been so friendly, helpful, and supportive in every way. While I interact with many people on the ship throughout the day, I am part of a specific night shift of individuals that work alongside each other during the midnight to noon hours. Melissa, Kelsey, Bryan, and Elias have been so much fun to work with, and I am learning new things from them every day. They hold a variety of positions: a fish biologist and project coordinator, a research fish biologist, a fisheries biologist, and an affiliated data analyst.
Kelsey, a research fish biologist, is very excited for otolith dissections.
Did You Know?
Part of our job as scientists is to conduct a marine mammal watch before every trawl to ensure that we avoid marine mammals that may be swimming within range of our net. This is another way that we work to reduce bycatch and keep marine mammals safe while we conduct our trawling operations. We conduct these watches during daylight and nighttime hours in all kinds of weather, because you never know when you might spot a marine mammal. I took this picture of the moonlight reflecting on the ocean’s surface during one of my late-night marine mammal watches.
Photo of the moon reflecting off the Pacific ocean during my nighttime marine mammal watch shift.
Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea
Today’s Date: June 19, 2025
Embarkation Date: July 7, 2025
Personal Introduction
Howdy from Fort Worth, Texas! My name’s Sinh Nguyen, and I’m a 2nd grade teacher at Uplift Education Mighty Preparatory.
I grew up in Aliso Viejo, California – bordered by Laguna Beach – along the southern Pacific Coast. Some of my favorite memories were made at its beaches: Catching our breaths while trailing down Laguna Beach’s infamous “Thousand Steps” for a workout; blasting music around San Clemente Beach’s firepits while huddling for bonfire warmth; and scrambling around with food trays at Dana Point’s Doheny Beach Park while searching for a picnic site.
A family photo taken in Laguna Beach, California.
I then relocated to Los Angeles for my undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where there was a travel-study opportunity in Honolulu, O‘ahu, for environmental conservation work. One day, at the top of the Diamond Head trail, I stared into the ocean. She was so mighty… and vast. So spectacular that everything else around seemed incomparable. The feeling was humbling; and it taught me to seek out beauty among the unknowns of our world’s depth. I reminded myself to not only learn more about the waters, but to share that experience with others.
Me atop the Puʻu Pia Trail near the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa, our travel-study host campus.
Our group, following an exploration and clean-up project of protected lands in Honolulu.
Fast forward to today: I moved to Fort Worth in 2016 to complete teacher training through the urban education model with City Teaching Alliance and Johns Hopkins University. Since then, I’ve been working as a primary school teacher here. I’ve noticed that even though oceanography is slightly covered in our science curriculum, students are particularly fascinated by the sea and its inhabitants (e.g., they fall in complete silence during Finding Nemo).
While there are pockets of water in North Texas, most of my students have never experienced the coast. “Mr. Nguyen, how can SpongeBob SquarePants live under the sea?” “Do octopuses behave like Ursula?” and “Can we make sand angels like they do in Lilo and Stitch?” are oftentimes asked as I hook students with sea world experiences. These “tricky questions” – inquiries – are my motivation behind this excursion. This sail will help me contextualize and gain first-hand experience of oceanic research, while exposing students to world-renowned scientists. My students are feeling extra curious and excited about the trip’s findings. They predicted a lot of seasickness (as a first timer aboard a ship) and plenty of “fish [to catch and study] because the waters are warmer in the summer.”
As I’ve told my students, for the following weeks in sea, the mission is clear: “To research, to inform, and to find Nemo!” Photo courtesy of Uplift Education.
Preparing for Research at Sea
Howdy, from Los Angeles! After flying out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, I planned to take the Amtrak down to Orange County for a family reunion. But there’s been a delay on the train, which means time to kickstart my travel blog. This trip is a chance to revisit loved ones before sailing, as not everyone has been caught up to speed yet in this process.
For preparation, I’ve been studying more about NOAA Ship Pisces, internalizing excursion protocol, and learning more about larval bluefin tuna. Because there are physical demands to this expedition, I’ve been following a daily running and fitness regiment. Mentally, I’ve been maintaining an open mindset as we’re told throughout training: anything can go once in the ocean!
All to be aboard NOAA Ship Pisces! (Photo credit: NOAA Ship Pisces Facebook page)
On Monday, July 7th, I’ll be joining NOAA Ship Pisces in Norfolk, Virginia. I’ll have the honor of attending her Change of Command Ceremony; and there were arrangements made to ensure a warm welcome from the crew. I’ll spend that first night acclimating to life at sea and familiarizing myself with the crew and daily operations. The fishery research will begin on the following Tuesday and involves me participating in shifts of up to 12 hours, assisting the science crew, and documenting the experience through weekly blog updates. Essentially, I am supporting the mission as directed by the scientists and officers.
So, as I prepare to sail the waves aboard NOAA Ship Pisces, I carry with me the excitement and wonder of the students and school community I serve. I hope to bring back a wave of discoveries that will inspire the next generation of scientists to explore, protect, and appreciate (and demystify) our waters.
Weather Data Snapshot: 12:23pm, Pacific Daylight Time
Currently, the air temperature is 65°F (18°C) with a wind speed of 10 knots and a wave height of 5 feet. I was finally able to witness a sunrise this morning during my working hours, thanks to clear skies, and I am staying up a little bit past my “bedtime” to enjoy today’s sunshine.
Science and Technology Log
Trawling operations are in full swing here on the ship! Please enjoy this image of me in front of our two trawling nets, which we pull behind the boat at different depths to target different species of fish.
Photo of me with our fishing nets, which we use for surface and midwater trawling.
In these first few days, we are seeing many anchovy! I have quickly become an expert at identifying the differences between anchovy and other fishes that may be brought up with our net. In addition to fish species, we see quite a few small squid and some other invertebrates known as pyrosomes in our net. (See the Did You Know? section below for more information.)
Photo of a basket of anchovy, with one being held by someone’s hand for a size reference.
After sorting our catch, we measure and weigh a certain number of the target species (sardine, anchovy, and mackerel) to collect data that helps us characterize their species and size distributions. In addition, some specimens are selected for dissection, where we determine the fish’s sex, reproductive stage, and health; collect tissue samples for genetic analysis; and extract otoliths for estimating age.(For more about otoliths, which are also known as ear stones or ear bones, click here.) This information helps scientists monitor fish health through their life history stages. It’s not possible to catch every fish in the ocean, so scientists study a smaller representative group instead, like we are doing aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada. This age data, along with other information like length, weight, and sex, is used to create computer-generated models of the fish population. When combined with acoustic data, these models help estimate how many fish are in the wild and predict what might happen if people keep fishing.
Photo of me measuring a very small fish with a digital tool called an Ichythystick.
In the picture above, you can see that I am using a special tool called an Ichthystick to digitally measure the length of each fish in a specific subset from our catch. I have discovered that, although I do not normally consider myself squeamish when it comes to science, I am not a fan of dissecting fish for otoliths. Instead, I do a lot of the measuring and weighing of the fish, as well as additional tasks to support my teammates while they work on extracting otoliths.
In addition to trawling for fish, NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada has a special piece of technology known as a CTD. A CTD is a scientific instrument used in marine science to study the properties of seawater. CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth. These three measurements help scientists understand what the ocean is like at different levels. The CTD device is usually attached to a metal frame and lowered into the ocean from a research ship. As it goes down, it collects data about the water’s temperature, how salty it is (measured by conductivity), and how deep it is. This information helps scientists learn about ocean currents, climate, and marine life. CTDs can also carry bottles that collect water samples from specific depths. Scientists use these samples to test for oxygen, nutrients, or tiny organisms. CTD data is very important for studying how the ocean changes over time. (I have not yet seen the CTD in action, but I pass by it every day on the side deck and am hoping that it will be deployed sometime soon during my working hours.)
Photo of me next to a CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) device for size reference.
Personal Log
Adjusting to life at sea is an ongoing process. I experienced a bit of seasickness yesterday right after lunch, but I was able to go to my stateroom at noon (which is the end of my night shift) and sleep it off until my next shift began at midnight. As a person who traditionally struggles with sleep, I am so exhausted after each shift that I am sleeping much better on the ship than I do at home, which I did not expect! In addition, I am eating much better on the ship than I do at home, thanks to our amazing Chief Steward who has been cooking fabulous meals for us. I have learned that mealtimes are very important on the ship, because sitting with your colleagues while enjoying good food is a boost for team morale and helps everyone stay energized.
Did You Know?
A lot of different animals can become caught in a trawling net while fishing, but pyrosomes are some of the most common animals we see during night trawls (aside from our target species of anchovy, mackerel, and sardine). What are pyrosomes? NOAA’s website tells us that pyrosomes are pelagic tunicates, which are part of the phylum Chordata. In other words, pyrosomes are tough, bumpy, gelatinous tube-like animals that gather in large clusters at the ocean’s surface. Like many jelly-like animals in the ocean, we still don’t know a lot about pyrosomes and how they live. This makes it hard to understand how they might be affecting ocean ecosystems. For example, pyrosomes can grow quickly and filter large amounts of water, which could have a big effect on phytoplankton blooms. Before this experience, I had never even heard of a pyrosome, and now, I feel like I am part of a pyrosome party every night!
A basket full of pyrosomes (the pink gelatinous tubes) mixed with fish.
