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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.
track of Drifter #1 as of 8/3/25 at 2:06 PM









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
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Dorothy Holley: Is it Important to Take Your Temperature? August 2, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Dorothy Holley

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

July 31 – August 15, 2025

Mission: Northeast Ecosystem Monitoring Survey (EcoMon)

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northwest Atlantic Ocean

Date: August 2, 2025

Weather Data from Bridge:
Latitude: N41o30’0’’
Longitude: W67o17’0’’
Sea Wave height: 8 feet waves
Wind speed: 13 kt
Wind Direction: 40o SW
Visibility: overcast
Air Temperature: 20.oC
Barometric Pressure: 30.22 inHg
Sky: gray to clear

view from across the cement dock of NOAA Ship Pisces in port. the sky is pale blue with a few fluffy clouds.
view looking up at a line of flags hanging vertically off an upper deck of NOAA Ship PIsces. Four of the flags spell the letters WTDL, the Pisces' call sign, in semaphore

Photos: NOAA Ship Pisces in port in Newport, Rhode Island; NOAA Ship Pisces’ call sign; Teacher at Sea Dorothy Holley and NOAA Ship Pisces.

Science at Sea 

When someone I care about tells me they don’t feel so good, the first thing I want to do is put the back of my hand to their forehead. Do you have a temperature? If so, your body is probably fighting off something. A thermometer can give a more quantitative answer. With more precise data, I can best treat the underlying cause.

view over the railing of the sunset; the nets are visible in the foreground, folded up inside the metal rings that serve as the opening
two crewmembers wearing life jackets and hard hats stand at the rail and reach out toward the bongo nets suspended above the water's surface; it is evening and the sun has only just set
two crewmembers wearing life jackets and hard hats guide the nets back onto deck; it is evening and the sun has only just set

Photos: Bongo nets on deck, awaiting deployment; Ed Williams and Alyssa Rauscher deploying the bongo nets; Pulling the nets back on board. Photos by LT Karina Urquhart

NOAA scientists help us take the temperature of our oceans by monitoring plankton – the base of the marine food web. I’m not talking about sticking tiny thermometers into copepods or krill, I’m talking about measuring plankton abundance and composition over time. NOAA collects plankton data four times each year – summer, fall, winter, and spring. With over four decades of plankton data, NOAA scientists are able to help fisheries make informed decisions to maximize production as well as protect vulnerable species. 

Our team uses Bongo nets to collect plankton on this NOAA Summer Ecosystem Monitoring cruise. We will make over 100 (I think there are about 160 planned stations but we probably won’t have time to get to all of them) stops from Cape Hatteras to the Gulf of Maine, collecting samples that will later be sorted and catalogued. (For a more detailed description of Bongos, see Teacher at Sea Tonya Prentice’s blog here)

You do the math: If we are out at sea for two weeks, and deploy the Bongo nets at 100 different stops, how many times does each group need to collect plankton from the Bongo nets each day? Check in the next bog post for the answer.

view of tables in the mess. each of the chairs' legs is capped in a cut tennis ball.
Mess hall or Cafeteria?

Interesting Things: I am surprised by the ways I have been prepared for life on a NOAA ship by classroom life in a public school. The chairs all come with tennis balls on the bottom. In my classroom, we put tennis balls on the chairs so that they don’t make loud noises or create as many scuffs on the floor. Why do you think we have tennis balls on the chairs on a NOAA ship?

photo of the seal of NOAA Ship Pisces, displayed somewhere on the ship. It features an illustration of the ship against a simple map of the Gulf of America, above two swimming fish. on the land of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, there's a pale image of an old diving helmet and crossed tridents. The seal includes the words NOAA Ship Pisces; R-226; Pascagoula, Mississippi. The circle of the seal is bordered by the design of a rope.
NOAA Ship Pisces home port is Pascagoula, MS
Amanda Jacobsen, Science FIeld Party Chief, NOAA Ship Pisces

Career Spotlight 

Amanda Jacobsen is our Science Field Party Chief. She works in the NOAA Fisheries lab in Rhode Island, and sails on NOAA cruises like this one. She grew up in Connecticut and attended a small, liberal arts school, Connecticut College. While there, Amanda took a broad spectrum of science courses including Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and even Environmental Law. Her degree in Environmental Studies helps her understand the many impacts on Marine Ecosystems.

Amanda is now a full-time NOAA scientist and a part time graduate student, studying to earn a Master’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Her thesis examines the energy of plankton in the food chain. (Alert: we will do bomb calorimetry labs next year with Amanda’s data!) Better understanding the bottom layer of the energy pyramid is important to harvesting all of the tropic levels above it. If you like eating fish or even fish sticks, you will benefit from Amanda’s work because plankton provides food for nearly every creature in the ocean either directly or indirectly!

One tool that Amanda can’t live without is the Katy Clip (shout out to NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow survey technician Katy McGinnis!). The Katy Clip helps us wash down the Bongo nets when collecting plankton.

Amanda is currently reading the Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown. She also recommends The Ocean’s Menagerie by Drew Harvell. Amanda enjoys doing just about anything as long as it is outside. I am glad she is helping take the temperature of our oceans so that we might enjoy fishing for many years to come!

group photo of two women and a man lined up on deck against an outer wall of the ship. Dorothy, on the left, and Miles, at right, wear life jackets; Miles also wears a green hard hat. Amanda, at the center, has an intercom radio receiver attached to the neck of her sweatshirt.
A part of our Science team: Dorothy, Amanda, and Miles

Personal Log

The ship is going 24/7, so the scientist are, too! Our team is divided into two groups – one that works 3 am – 3 pm and the other works 3 pm- 3 am. Amanda, Miles and I are in the second group. We get to see the sunset every day, but I probably won’t make it to breakfast!

Sunset over the ocean; the sun has almost dipped beneath the horizon. the sky is mostly clear except a few wisps of low clouds.
Sunset over the Atlantic

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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.

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Joshua Gonzalez: From the Dairyland to No Land at All, August 1, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Joshua Gonzalez

Aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada

August 8 – August 23, 2025

Mission: Integrated West Coast Pelagics Survey (Leg 4)

Geographic Area of Cruise: Pacific Ocean, California Coast

Today’s Date: August 1, 2025

Personal Introduction

I am a city boy from the North side of Milwaukee. All of my education from kindergarten through my Master’s is from schools in Milwaukee and the greater Milwaukee area. I also teach in Milwaukee Public Schools and have done so for the last 20 years. When it comes to sports, I am a homer, and I am very proud of where I come from.

a group photo of Josh, his wife, and three children at the 50-yard-line of an empty football stadium
My family and me at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

With that being said, I do love to travel and have new experiences. Many of the students that I teach come from the same neighborhood in which I grew up, which is not especially affluent. As a result, many of the children in my classroom do not have opportunities for experiences outside of the neighborhood, let alone outside of the city. Since they do not get to see a lot of the world, I make a point to try to bring as many experiences as I can into the classroom to help open up my students’ minds to the world around them. When they see and hear new unimaginable things, they begin to recognize that with education they too can go out and have adventures beyond what they thought was possible.

a scanned photograph of a younger Josh sitting on an open kayak in the ocean, with tall green mountains visible at one side
Enjoying the South Pacific Ocean.

I wanted to start with this background as it shows how I ended up in the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program. Jumping out of planes, swimming with sharks, hiking up mountains, playing college football, traveling to five continents (and more) are experiences that I draw from to make education more alive for my students.

Another way that I try to bring new opportunities for my students into the classroom is through incorporating agriculture into regular lessons. I helped to turn my school into an agriculture specialty school and we pair with a public high school that also specializes in agriculture education to make a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade program.

I am sure that many of you reading this remember during Covid seeing empty shelves in the grocery store. For me, this was a startling sight as it was a first for me. It became clear to me that many people need to learn to be more self sufficient and supplement the food we have with what we can grow ourselves. To do that at my school we have made agriculture education a part of our regular curriculum. Many of my students eat a large percentage of processed foods, even when healthier and fresher options are provided to them. However, when they grow their own food, e.g. lettuce from our hydroponics machines, fruits from our “food forest,” and vegetables from our raised garden beds, they always come back for second or even third helpings. Providing them with real experiences in their education is affecting their lives now and, no doubt, into the future.

a group of students, dressed warmly in winter coats, walks through a large building housing a line of cows on the other side of a railing. signs hanging above the cows' stalls identify their breeds.
Some of my students learning about where their food comes from.

This is where I saw the Teacher at Sea Program fitting in. It is one thing to teach science and learn about the scientific method. I am looking forward to living it during my time on NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada. The knowledge, skills, and experiences that I gain as a part of this program will allow me to positively influence students’ education for years to come.

I have been trying to prepare myself for this opportunity in a number of ways. I will be working the midnight to noon shift and have been trying to adjust my sleep patterns a little already. Of course that means naps during the day and staying up late. I think I kind of like this schedule, although my wife probably would like me not to nap so much 🙂 Another thing I am trying to be proactive about is sea sickness. I stocked up on various treatments, but hopefully I’ll adjust quickly on the boat. I was recently on a boat for the day in Alaska, but I don’t think that will compare.

Josh, wearing a coat and knit hat, takes a selfie in front of a glacier
In Alaska at Holgate Glacier.

Growing up in the city, you don’t get to see as many stars with all the street lights. I can’t wait for the starlit skies at night and the sunrise over the ocean. There is so much to learn and experience and my journey is just about to start.

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Cheryl Milliken: Drifting and Setting, July 30, 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: July 30, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 28° 35.1’ N

Longitude: 080° 14.9’ W

Wind speed: 9 knots

Wave height: 0-1 ft.

Air temp.: 31.3° C (88° F)

Sky: Few clouds

Science and Technology Log

Before I begin, my friend asked if we have a streaming presence. Although we do not, NOAA supports a website that tells where NOAA Ship Oregon II (and the rest of the fleet) is located at this link: https://coastwatch.noaa.gov/cwn/apps/noaa-shipwatch.html. This week we are completing many stations off the Florida coast and have made it as far north as Cape Canaveral.

On Tuesday we launched our first drifter, from NOAA’s Adopt-a-Drifter (ADP) program. The deployment went off without a hitch. Soon we will be able to view its movements using the following link: https://adp.noaa.gov/trackadrifter/falmouth-high-school/. Oceanographers from NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, Florida, set up this dashboard to eventually see all three drifters in the ocean.

drifter folded up on a table. the round buoy is why and blue, with stickers and hand-drawn wave designs. it is attached to a cable and a wrapped up plastic cylinder, currently collapsed and held together with tape
Cheryl, wearing sunglasses and a life vest, stands next to the folded up drifter on a table on deck and smiles for the camera
Cheryl and Josh, wearing life jackets, work together to toss the drifter over the rail of the ship. the ocean i a vivid blue.
Cheryl and Josh stand across from one another, holding the drifter buoy and its folded up drogue with two hands between them, in front of the rail.
drifter just visible at the surface of very blue water

Images: (1) Drifter #1 in wet lab; (2) Cheryl and drifter #1 prior to deployment; (3) Cheryl and Josh (chief bosun) deploying Drifter #1; (4) Cheryl and Josh preparing to launch; (5) Drifter #1 in the Gulf Stream!

Tuesday night at 2030 (military time for 8:30 PM), we began preparing the first longline of the trip! This process looked daunting the first time we did it, but I’m sure we will settle into a groove soon.

A longline is a series of baited hooks stretched out for a long distance (ours stretches for a mile!). The line is weighted down at the beginning, middle, and end and marked by flanking high flyers, or buoys with long poles and a flashing beacon on top of a reflective panel so the ship’s captain can return to retrieve the gear.

We set out 100 gangions clipped to the mile-long longline. The ship steams forward, and the bridge calls out every 1/10 of a mile (10, 20, etc.) to help the bosun pace the number of gangions along the mile-long line. A gangion is a fishing unit consisting of a metal number to keep track of the hook, a clip, a length of monofilament with a circle hook at the end, and a piece of bait (we used mackerel cut into thirds). A circle hook is used because the curve of the hook reduces the chances that a fish or sea turtle will swallow the hook (an event that often mortally wounds the fish because it is very difficult to remove, or it can hold a sea turtle underwater and may drown them ). The bait has to be double-hooked (pierce it twice with the hook) to secure it.

Once the 100th gangion is attached to the monofilament, the bosun secures a weight, the second high-flyer, and a separate floating buoy to mark the end of the longline. Then the timer begins: the longline soaks, or stays in the water, for an hour from the time the second high flyer hits the water to the time we retrieve the first high-flyer. Here is an infographic made by Stephen Kade, former Teacher at Sea from 2018:

an illustration titled Long Line Fishing on the NOAA Ship Oregon II. The ship is depicted at the (completely flat) surface of the ocean. in the foreground, the ocean surface is cutaway to reveal a view of a deployed longline both above and beneath the surface. two buoys with tall fins ("high flyer buoys") are tied to each end of a line that is weighted at the ends and middle to stay on the ocean bottom. short lines extending off the longline in two directions are labeled baited gangions. there are silhouettes of sharks all around. at the top, there are 10 lines of text explaining the steps for deploying and retrieving the long line.

Infographic of longline survey aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II, created by Stephen Kade, NOAA TAS 2018.

We did not land any fish at our first station, but we have a long way to go! The night watch caught two sharks: one silky shark and one dusky shark. I can’t wait to see some on our watch!

I am enjoying being on the ship and meeting new people. I will be interviewing some of them for this blog, so you can see for yourself the diversity of careers needed to support a survey cruise.

Interview with LT Luke Petzy

portrait of a man in a navy blue t-shirt, a blue NOAA Corps baseball cap, and an orange life vest. he stands at a railing on the deck of the ship. the sky and the ocean are bright blue.

LT Luke Petzy of NOAA Corps on NOAA Ship Oregon II.

LT Luke Petzy was one of the first members of NOAA Corps (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps) we met, as he led the “Welcome Aboard” meeting for all new volunteers and crew. From the outset, it was clear that safety is a top priority on this vessel.

The meeting covered essential safety procedures and introduced us to the impressive array of equipment installed to ensure our well-being at sea. Located at the top of the ship is an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon), which is triggered to call for help via satellite if the ship is in distress. In addition, SARTs (Search and Rescue Transponders) emit radar signals to aid in locating the ship during an emergency. 

Each person aboard is assigned to a specific life raft and issued an EEBD (emergency escape breathing device) for use in smoke-filled or low-oxygen situations. Hard hats and work vests are mandatory when working on deck. It is reassuring to know that we are in capable and well-practiced hands, as they perform drills at the start of each leg of the survey. Here’s a closer look at LT Petzy’s background and how he came to serve in the NOAA Corps.

How did you become a part of the NOAA Corps?

I grew up in Methuen, MA, and graduated with a degree in Natural Resource Studies and Fisheries Conservation from UMass Amherst. I took a SCUBA course that culminated in a trip to Key Largo, FL, which really hooked my interest in fish and the ocean. After college, I moved to St. John, US Virgin Islands to work at an eco-resort, where I met my wife, Corie. We moved back to MA when I got a job as a fisheries observer out of Woods Hole to go out on different types of fishing boats. It was the coolest job, but also the most dangerous. The job had a very unpredictable schedule and no way to call home for a couple of weeks while I was at sea observing. It was a really great experience but also a tough lifestyle.

In 2015 I moved back to St. John with my wife. I got my captain’s license and taught scuba. In 2019 I got a job in Newburyport, MA, as a tow boat captain.

Later that year, I applied and was accepted to NOAA Corps training. This job has given me the ability to drive boats and be a part of scientific operations and have adventures. I am a NOAA diver and have to dive a certain amount per year to maintain proficiency.

Why is your work important?

My job is to navigate the ship. I also work with the science crew to plan trips to complete the surveys. I like working for an agency that promotes science, scientific integrity, and an environmentally focused mindset. My job supports these efforts. I am responsible for the safety of the crew and safety of the ship, and I take pride in that.

What do you like most about your job?

I like seeing the ocean in a way that many others don’t, in all its moods and forms. I get to see marine mammals and marine life during the surveys. It is a rewarding feeling after we complete a successful mission.

What is the most important piece of technology that you use in your job?

The radar and electronic chart display system are so important to know where we are, and to avoid other vessels. I have to add the depth sounder, too, to avoid shallow water. 

What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t working at NOAA?

I would put my captain’s license to use on ecotourism boats or work with schools to bring students out on the water.

Do you have any hobbies?

Scuba, woodworking, and playing guitar. I have my ukulele on this trip to practice.

Personal Log

Life aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II is comfortable and exciting. The scientific crew work twelve-hour shifts, so a lot of time is spent with four other people on my watch. Each person brings different strengths to the group and takes on a variety of roles and responsibilities when we are fishing. I will share more about that in my next blog.

Animals seen:

  • Flying fish (they don’t actually fly, but the ship’s movement definitely motivates them to scoot along or glide)
  • Brown booby (a seabird)
  • Barracuda! The fishermen troll behind the ship when their work is done, and this day they caught a barracuda. They did not keep it because the barracuda sometimes contains ciguatoxin, a toxin that causes ciguatera fish poisoning. We don’t want anyone to be poisoned on this trip!
two men stand near the railing at the aft deck of the ship. the sun is low in the sky, which is dotted with fluffly clouds. one man holds a fishing pole that is curved downward with the weight of his catch.
a man in a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses holds up a roughly 3-foot long barracuda for a photo; the evening sun makes the ocean look almost metallic behind him

L to R: Chief bosun Josh Cooper and skilled fisherman Sean Gronquist reel in the barracuda from the stern of the ship. Josh Cooper shows his barracuda catch to an excited group.

Did You Know?

Many sharks have only a few babies (called pups) at a time. Tiger sharks, however, can have up to a hundred! Their pups are often preyed upon by adult tiger sharks, including their mother!