Atlantic sea scallop – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

June 2, 2026June 2, 2026

Mandy Freeman: Be the Scallop In a Sea of Sand Dollars, May 26, 2026

view of the seafloor as seen by an underwater camera. the seafloor is densely dotted with small dark circles which are sand dollars. toward the top right of the image, there is a single larger circle of a lighter orange-brown color: this is the scallop.

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Mandy Freeman

Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

May 19 – May 29, 2026

Mission: Sea Scallop HabCam Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Date: May 28, 2026

Weather Data from Georges Bank
Latitude: 41° 59. 926′ N
Longitude: 067° 11. 176′ W

Science and Technology

Why survey scallops? The fishery stock assessments study the size and age composition of approximately 40 fish and invertebrate species in the New England/Mid-Atlantic area. This data informs stakeholders and policymakers of the abundance of each species, the impact of the fishing industry, and evaluates biological aspects of the ecosystem. (Fishery Stock Assessments in New England and the Mid-Atlantic) The data collected by NOAA and other sources (including commercial and recreational fishermen) is then used to determine sustainable harvest levels for each species (See graphic below). Find more information HERE.

This image has four sections with arrows to show the progression from data analysis to stock assessments to management advice to healthy fish stocks. Commercial data, recreational data, and scientific data inform stock assessments and are represented by outlines of the three different types of vessels. Stock assessments answer questions including, “How are the stocks doing now?” and “What are the future projections?” and this section has outlines of fish and a fishing net. Stock assessments inform management advice, the next section, with icons for licenses/permits, fishing seasons, gear, quotas, and size limits. The final section and overall goal is “healthy fish stocks” with line drawings of fish on a plate for sustainable seafood, fish below a fishing vessel to represent future jobs, and a squid, lobster, and urchins to represent healthy oceans and marine life. — An infographic shows the progression from data analysis to stock assessments to management advice to healthy fish stocks. Commercial data, recreational data, and scientific data inform stock assessments. Stock assessments answer questions including, “How are the stocks doing now?” and “What are the future projections?” Stock assessments inform management advice. The final section and overall goal is “healthy fish stocks” which provide sustainable seafood, future jobs, and healthy oceans and marine life.
Credit: NOAA Fisheries

How is this survey conducted? The Atlantic Sea Scallop survey has four main components: dredge, trawl, a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and Habitat Mapping Camera (HabCam).
– A dredge has a metal frame with a chain-mesh bag that collect scallops off the sea floor, like raking leaves in your yard.
– The trawl uses a net to scoop up swimming scallops without digging into the sediment.
– The HabCam, what I worked with on this survey, is a boat-towed camera system that takes continuous paired photos, 5-6 pairs per second, as it moves through the water (NOAA survey preparation materials).
– The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), “Stella,” has the same camera system as the HabCam, but can be programmed to operate without a human pilot.

(Read this for more details: Long-Running Sea Scallop Survey Diversifies for the Future)

“Approximately 4 million images of the ocean bottom are collected during an annual survey. Humans are annotating about 1 in 50 of the images.” (NOAA Fisheries)

What is a HabCam? Watch THIS VIDEO!

What do the HabCam images LOOK like? The HabCam system captures high-resolution images and transmits them to a computer for processing and annotating. This is what that looks like from the pilot station:

NOAA HabCam Live Image Capture during Scallop Survey

Can you guess what these images are? Some examples of images captured by HabCam!

octopus well-camouflaged on the seafloor, as seen by an underwater camera — HabCam Image 1

lobster, visible as a dark silhouette, on the seafloor next to a rock, as seen by underwater camera — HabCam Image 1

What areas were sampled? NOAA uses past data to determine the sampling tracks. This was what our survey track looked like for this trip.

Planned Scallop Survey Track – Credit: Preparation Materials NOAA Fisheries

photo of a computer monitor displaying the live track patterns of NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow overlaid on a nautical chart. The track travels mostly in straight lines north and then south, slowly making its way east. — Live Track Pattern

The Atlantic Sea Scallop Management Program is broad and complex, involving many different aspects of research, management, and monitoring. You can read more about it at the NOAA Sea Scallop Management page.

Personal Log

On NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, there are both two- and four-person staterooms. Megan and Kristen are on day shift, so I usually only see them during watch changes. Sandy, however, is on night shift with me.

portrait of a woman wearing a brown coat and a navy beanie, smiling straight at the camera for a photo. behind her, we see a green field extend down to a line of trees along a shoreline; beyond the trees, blue water; and on the other side of the water, golden fields. — Sandy Sutherland, Research Fishery Biologist. Photo courtesy of Sandy Sutherland.

Sandy Sutherland is a research fishery biologist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Eckerd College and a master’s degree from University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. She started her career as an outdoor educator with Nature’s Classroom.

At the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole lab, Sandy conducts age determinations for haddock and Atlantic mackerel and measures growth rings for sea scallops. Using a dissecting microscope, she determines the age of fish earbones (otoliths) — a process she says feels a bit like playing a video game. She also conducts research related to age determinations and created Excel templates used to calculate measures of age precision.

She says important skills for this type of work include paying close attention to detail, writing legibly, and being able to see how all the pieces fit together to understand the “big picture.”

When she’s not working, Sandy enjoys birding, reading, and volunteering at science fiction conventions such as Readercon. Although she can’t choose a favorite bird, she says she would be especially excited to spot any species of albatross.

Did you know sea scallops can swim?

They rapidly clap their shells together to move away from predators, like sea stars. And we can actually “see” this from the HabCam images! In the image below, the sea scallop appears to be swimming away from a predator. A swimming scallop can be identified by the two dark “shadows” visible on either side of it. Can you see the predator???!

an underwater view of an orange and yellow scallop captured in motion above the seafloor. we can see a couple sand dollars and a purple sea star resting on the seafloor. — Swimming Sea Scallop from HabCam

Careers at Sea

Jonathan kneels on an old wooden dock, holding a fish in two hands and smiling for the camera. a yellow fishing pole rests in front of his knees. behind him is gray-blue water, specks of small boats, and a distant tree-lined shore. — Jonathan Duquette, Biological Science Technician. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Duquette.

Meet Jonathan Duquette, a Biological Science Technician with the Ecosystems Surveys Branch at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. He specializes in shellfish surveys involving Atlantic sea scallops, Atlantic Northern Shrimp, Ocean Quahogs, and Atlantic Surfclams. Jonathan plays an integral role in critical research initiatives, including the high-resolution HabCam (Habitat Camera Array) and sea scallop dredge surveys. His work at sea and ashore supports the rigorous monitoring, data analysis, and ecological assessments essential for sustainable fisheries management and marine ecosystem conservation in the Northeast.

Jonathan has had a lifelong obsession with the sea, sharks, and fishing since an early age. After graduating with a BS in Marine Biology from the University of New England, Jonathan became a fisheries observer collecting data for the federal government on vessels in Alaska. After working as an observer on King Crab fishing vessels (think TV’s “Deadliest Catch”), longline vessels, and Scallop fishing vessels, he returned to the East Coast where he worked as a sternman on lobster fishing vessels in Boothbay Harbor Maine. In 2003, Jonathan joined the Ecosystems Surveys Branch at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, a role that continues today.

I asked him if he had any advice for “his younger self.” He said, “I’d tell myself that persistence pays off, and that you’re really never gonna be done learning, it’s a lifelong pursuit. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, that’s part of the journey.”

Fun fact: While on a research cruise in 2024, Jonathan and other scientists discovered an ice-age jawbone from a Walrus, off the coast of Virginia! Read about his exciting discovery HERE!

a thick curved bone, smooth and white in some areas and dark and degraded in others, sits on a white table surface in a lab. in the background we can see typical lab equipment: a sink, chemicals, etc. — The right jawbone of a walrus, possibly thousands of years old, discovered during a NOAA dredge survey in 2024. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jonathan Duquette

Zach wears a baseball cap, a black hoodie sweater, and orange foul-weather gear coveralls. he stands, hands in pockets, for a photo at the foot of a ramp or gangway leading down from an old wooden shack covered in fishing floats. — Zach Fyke, Biological Science Technician. Photo courtesy of Zach Fyke.

Meet Zach Fyke, he is a Biological Science Technician with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystems Survey Branch. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife. After college, he began his marine science career as a fisheries observer based out of Point Judith, Rhode Island, before taking on several positions within NOAA Fisheries. Today, he primarily works on shellfish surveys involving Atlantic sea scallops, Atlantic Northern Shrimp, Ocean Quahogs, and Atlantic Surfclams.

Interestingly, Zach originally planned to be an educator, but after an elective Intro-Biology course, he found himself declaring into the major of Fisheries and Wildlife. Near the time Zach was graduating with a degree in Fisheries, a college professor at Michigan State University, who had worked at the Woods Hole lab in the 90’s, encouraged him to “try somewhere new for a few years.” This was a driving factor on why Zach moved to the East coast to begin a career in Marine Fisheries. Zach describes himself as an “average student,” but says he always enjoyed hands-on activities and learning by doing. That passion for fieldwork and adventure eventually led him to a career at sea.

His advice to students interested in science careers is simple: don’t be afraid to move away and try something new. Some of the best opportunities are found outside of your comfort zone.

When he’s not working, Zach enjoys photography and has recently started photographing birds. He jokes that birding is a lot like “real-life Pokémon.” His favorite bird is the Belted Kingfisher.

Personal Reflection

Scallops may blend into the seafloor until they suddenly swim off in a burst of movement — a fitting reminder that sometimes growth happens when we are willing to move beyond what feels comfortable. Whether it’s learning to annotate images, transitioning to night shift, or piloting the HabCam, this journey has been a reminder to BE the Scallop in a sea of sand dollars.

May 14, 2026May 25, 2026

Mandy Freeman: Introduction, Packing, Excitement, Oh My! May 12, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Mandy Freeman

Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

May 19 – 29, 2026

Mission: Sea Scallop HabCam Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Date: May 12, 2026

Weather Data from Richburg, South Carolina (Piedmont Region)
Latitude: 34.7218° N
Longitude: Longitude: -81.0197° W
Wind Speed: E at 6 mph
Air Temperature: 20°C (69°F)

Introduction
Hello! My name is Amanda (Mandy) Freeman from Richburg, South Carolina and I am BEYOND ecstatic to begin my adventure aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow for the NOAA Teacher at Sea 2026! This is my 28th year of teaching high school science and my 19th year at Lewisville High School in Richburg, South Carolina.

Lewisville Lions

In my classroom, I work to bridge science concepts with real environmental challenges so students recognize their impact on the world and understand how biology applies to their daily lives. As a high school science teacher, I often talk about ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability, but this experience will allow me to move beyond talking about it and actually do it! The NOAA Teacher at Sea Program will allow me to bring authentic scientific research into my classroom while exposing students to a variety of potential career paths.

Packing
OH MY…What do you even pack for life at sea?! What shouldn’t I pack?!

In South Carolina, May usually means temperatures somewhere between 26°C to 13°C (80°F – 56°F), so trying to prepare for the much chillier weather in Rhode Island has definitely been a challenge. My suitcase currently contains everything from t-shirts to sweatshirts to rain gear… and I’m still convinced I’m forgetting something important.

Hopefully, I’m just overthinking it – although there’s a very real possibility I’ll either freeze, overpack or both!

Excitement
Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about this opportunity. In just a few days, I will go from teaching biology in a classroom to living and working aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow alongside real scientists conducting fisheries research.

I’m excited to experience what life is really like on a research vessel, learn how scientists collect and analyze data at sea, and see technology in action through the HabCam survey. Most of all, I’m excited to bring these experiences back to my students. OH – and did I mention I’ll have the opportunity to deploy TWO drifter buoys?! How amazing is that???!!

For many of my students, careers in marine science or ocean research may seem far away from our everyday lives in South Carolina. I hope this journey helps them see that science is more than a textbook or lab activity — it’s exploration, discovery, teamwork, and problem-solving in the real world.

I can’t wait to share photos, stories, challenges, and discoveries from this adventure. Hopefully my students will learn right alongside me as we trade our normal classroom walls for the open ocean!

Stay Tuned!

Mandy, her daughter, and her husband pose for a photo in front of a shimmery curtain of birthday streamer decorations. Mandy's daughter wears a sash.

Mandy (right) and her husband, wearing sunglasses, take a selfie at a waterfront

Science and Technology Log

Next Tuesday, I will board NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow from Woods Hole, Massachusetts via a small boat transfer. The ship is a “state-of-the-art fisheries survey ship that studies a wide range of marine life and ocean conditions” ( NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow).

NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. Credit: NOAA

The ship was named after Henry Bryant Bigelow, an oceanographer and marine biologist, who was the founding director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). “He is credited with describing 110 new species for science and authoring some 100 scientific papers over the course of his career” (WHOI).

black and white portrait of a gray-haired man in a suit looking down at something — Henry Bryant Bigelow (1879-1967). Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The annual Northeast Fisheries Science Center scallop survey will use the Habitat Mapping Camera System (HabCam) to determine the distribution and relative abundance of Atlantic sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus). According to preparatory materials from the science team, the HabCam V4 is an underwater “boat towed camera system that takes continuous paired photos (typically 6 pairs per second) at approximately 2 meters above the sea floor.”

illustration of an Atlantic sea scallop shell, as viewed from the top — Atlantic Sea Scallop. Credit: NOAA

June 28, 2013August 13, 2021

Virginia Warren: Introduction, June 27, 2013

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Virginia Warren
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
July 9 – 17, 2013

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical Area of Cruise: Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013

Personal Log:

Virginia Warren, 2013 NOAA Teacher at Sea

Hello, my name is Virginia Warren and I live in Theodore, Alabama. I teach 5th grade science and social studies at Breitling Elementary School in Grand Bay. I am really excited to have been chosen by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to be a part of their Teacher at Sea program! I believe that one of my biggest responsibilities as a teacher is to educate my students about the importance of protecting and conserving the earth and its seas so that they will continue to thrive for many generations to come. Both Theodore and Grand Bay are only minutes from the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast has abundance of what I think are the prettiest, sugar-white-sand beaches the world has to offer. Growing up on the Gulf Coast has created a love and passion in my heart for the sea and all the wonder creatures that live in it! I’m so thankful to NOAA for giving me the opportunity to be a real scientist and to learn more about the scientific research behind protecting the seas that I love so much.

Beautiful Dauphin Island, Alabama! Courtesy of http://dibeachhouses.com/resources/beach_front_condo_rental_on_dauphin_island.JPG — Beautiful Dauphin Island, Alabama!

Science and Technology Log:

I will be sailing from Woods Hole, Massachusetts aboard the R/V Hugh R. Sharp to participate in an Atlantic sea scallop survey. The R/V Hugh R. Sharp was built in 2006, is 146 feet long, and is the newest vessel in the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment fleet. You can take a virtual tour of the ship by clicking here. If you would like to follow the ship while I am at sea you can track the ship here (Google Earth is required).

R/V Hugh R. Sharp Courtesy of http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2013/navy-researchers-reservists-evaluate-novel-passive-sonar-surveillance-methods — R/V Hugh R. Sharp
Courtesy of http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2013/navy-researchers-reservists-evaluate-novel-passive-sonar-surveillance-methods

The purpose of a sea scallop survey is to protect this important fishery from being over-harvested. Traditionally scientists will dredge the bottom of the ocean with a scallop dredge to collect samples. NOAA uses the information collected from the surveys to make decisions about which areas are okay to harvest scallops.

Atlantic Sea Scallop Courtesy of http://www.vims.edu/features/research/scallop_management.php — Atlantic Sea Scallop
Courtesy of http://www.vims.edu/features/research/scallop_management.php

The R/V Hugh R. Sharp is equipped with a relatively new piece of equipment called the HabCam, short for Habitat Camera Mapping System. The HabCam is a less invasive way to survey populations and allows scientists to see what is on the ocean floor. This is an alternative method of surveying, compared to dredging. I look forward to learning how both methods of surveying work.

What I Hope to Learn:

I am so excited to be able to learn firsthand what it’s like to be a real scientist and to be able to participate in a genuine research experience. I hope to learn more about the scientific process and pass the knowledge I learn on to my students. I am also excited to learn about the different types of sea life found in the North West Atlantic Ocean and compare that with what I know of sea life from home on the Gulf of Mexico.

Please follow me on this adventure as I post my experiences on this blog. Let me know what you think by leaving your thoughts and questions in the comment section at the bottom of every blog entry.

June 23, 2013August 13, 2021

Eric Velarde: Beginning Seafloor Dredge Tows, June 17, 2013

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Eric Velarde
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
Wednesday, June 13, 2013 – Monday, June 24, 2013

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical Area: Cape May – Cape Hatteras
Date: June 17, 2013

Weather Data from Bridge
Latitude: 40.07°N
Longitude: 73.05°W
Atmospheric Pressure: 1025 mb
Wind Speed: 4.6 knots
Humidity: 85%
Air Temperature: 18.33°C
Surface Seawater Temperature: 18.46°C

Science & Technology Log

Suspending flight of the HabCam V4 & beginning the first of the seafloor dredge tows was the focus of work on June 17, 2013. In order for seafloor dredge tows to occur, the HabCam V4 is withdrawn from the sea to eliminate risk of accidental collision or entanglement. After the science team raises the HabCam V4 to a safe depth, the engineering team assumes responsibility of HabCam V4 retrieval through winch operation on the loading deck. When not in operation, the HabCam V4 rests on the loading deck for cleaning & maintenance until seafloor dredge towing is complete. While being a delicate scientific recording instrument, the HabCam V4 also possesses the engineered fortitude to withstand the demands of oceanic scientific research.

Dredges aboard scientific vessels are 8’ wide, New Bedford style commercial scallop dredge frames, fitted with a ring bag and sweep on the bottom. The ring bag is built from 2” interconnected metal facets. Additionally, a 1.5” polypropylene liner is installed inside the ring to capture all sizes of Sea Scallops. In contrast, commercial vessels have two 15’ wide dredges with 4” rings so that younger, smaller scallops pass through the net. Once the dredge is lowered to the seafloor, it is dragged behind the vessel for 15 minutes at a speed of 3.8 knots before being lifted onto the vessel for sorting, categorization, and measurement. The engineering team assumes responsibility of lowering & raising the dredge while the science team dons foul weather gear for the messy, but detailed analysis of the catch.

Once the dredge tow catch is aboard, collaboration between the science and engineering teams occurs so that the catch can be quickly, but accurately sorted into species. All dredge tows are focused on analyzing Atlantic Sea Scallop populations at predetermined points on the ships trajectory. In addition, fish, and sometimes sea stars and crabs require subsampling to assess their population as well. Sea Scallops must be weighed and measured en masse before being returned to their seafloor habitat. In addition, subsamples of Scallops are dissected so that the sex, gonad weight, and meat weight can be recorded.

All scientific analysis of captured specimens occurs in the scientific lab, which houses FSCS (NOAA Fisheries Scientific Computer system) which is a combination of touch-screen computer monitors, electronic measuring boards, and digital weight scales. The scientific lab is portable, loaded with scientific sampling equipment in Lewes, DE by the scientific team before being carefully loaded onto the vessel prior to departure. Working & cleaning in the scientific lab is nearly effortless due to its engineered design, allowing for streamlined operation.

Personal Log

One of my favorite aspects of the seafloor dredge tows is the dissection of the scallops. I enjoy dissection because it is slower than the rest of the operations that occur after the catch has been sorted, giving me time to observe and record the internal anatomy of the scallops. I also enjoy dissection as it grants me time to work in systematic symmetry with the luminous La’Shaun Willis, a Bennett College ’98 Alumnus. Her warming energy is radiant, making me feel as if I am back in Greensboro, teaching & learning alongside my students at The Early/Middle College at Bennett. Listening to her speak about her life journey causes me daydream about the scientific possibilities that await my students when I return to Greensboro, North Carolina with this newfound experience to fuel their continued character, leadership, and academic development. I am constantly filled with inspiration as she shares priceless nuggets of wisdom with me.

Following each seafloor dredge tow, the science and engineering teams work to shuck the largest of the scallops for closer analysis of meat weights when the science team returns to the lab in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Admittedly, I am not very adept at shucking, but I am learning quickly from some of the most talented shuckers I have come into contact with. They transform shucking into a scientific art of speed, precision, and accuracy.

One of the benefits of working from Midnight-Noon is that I get to soak in the warmth of the rising sun, which, as expected, is breathtaking. Each new day has been filled with awesome scientific beauty, wonder, and energy. Several days of seafloor dredge tows will succeed today, eventually followed by the return of the HabCam V4 to the sea as the vessel makes its returning voyage to port.

Did You Know?

Atlantic Sea Scallops inhabit the seafloor from Cape Hatteras at their southernmost range, to Newfoundland at their northernmost range.

-Mr. V

May 30, 2013August 11, 2021

Sherie Gee: Preparing for Life at Sea, May 30, 2013

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Sherie Gee
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
June 26 – July 7, 2013

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Date: May 30, 2013

Personal Log:

Hello, my name is Sherie Gee and I live in the big Lone Star State of Texas. I teach AP Environmental Science and Aquatic Science at John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, home of the Alamo and the Spurs. I have been teaching for 31 years and I am still thirsty for new knowledge and experiences to share with the students which is one of the reasons I am so excited to be a NOAA Teacher at Sea. I will get to be a “scientist” for two weeks collecting specimens, data, and using scientific equipment and technology that I plan to incorporate into the classroom.

I am also excited to be on this spectacular voyage because I feel very passionate about the ocean and all of its inhabitants. The ocean is a free-access resource which means it belongs to everyone on Earth so it needs to be taken care of. Overfishing, overharvesting and ocean pollution are global issues that I feel strongly about and feel that there has to be new ocean ethics. Teachers are in the best position to bring about ocean awareness to the students and the public. I feel very fortunate to be given this opportunity by NOAA to be part of an ocean conservation program. One of my favorite quotes is from Rachel Carson: “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” I truly believe this because in order for people to care for our Earth and environment and not destroy it, they have to understand it and appreciate it first.

For two weeks I will be collecting the Atlantic sea scallop to determine the distribution and abundance of these animals. This survey is conducted in order to assess these scallop populations in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean and determine if they have been overharvested and need to be closed to commercial fishermen for a period of time. I am very relieved to know that there are such programs around the world that focus on ocean fisheries and sustainability. I will be describing this survey of the Atlantic sea scallop in greater detail in my blogs.

This will definitely be an exciting ocean experience for me. I live three hours away from the nearest ocean (The Gulf of Mexico) and have always managed to venture to an ocean each year. Every year I take my students to the Gulf of Mexico on the University of Texas research vessel (The Katy) to conduct plankton tows, water chemistry, mud grabs and bottom trawls. I love to see the students get so excited every time they bring up the otter trawl and watch the various fish and invertebrates spill out of the nets.

UT Marine Science Research Vessel, The Katy

Student sorting through the otter trawl on the Katy

I know I will be just like the kids when they bring up the trawls from dredging. People who know me say I am a “fish freak”. Fish are my favorite animals because of their high biodiversity and unique adaptations that they possess. I am a scuba diver and so I get to see all kinds of fish and other marine life in their natural habitat. I am always looking for new fish that I haven’t seen before. The top two items on my “Bucket List” are to cage dive with the great white shark (my favorite fish) and to swim with the whale shark. I recently swam with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez and would like to do that again in the Caribbean with adult whale sharks.

Juvenile 15 foot whale shark in the Sea of Cortez Photo by Britt Coleman — Juvenile 15 foot whale shark in the Sea of Cortez

Needless to say, I can’t wait to start sorting through all of the various ocean dwellers and discover all the many species of fish and invertebrates that I have never seen before. I hope you will share my enthusiasm and follow me through this magnificent journey through the North Atlantic Ocean and witness the menagerie of marine life while aboard the Research Vessel Hugh /R. Sharp.

http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/marine/rvSharp.shtml

Sherie Gee holding an Olive Ridley hatchling at the Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C. in Todos Santos, Mexico Photo by Britt Coleman — Sherie Gee holding an Olive Ridley hatchling at the Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C. in Todos Santos, Mexico
Photo by Britt Coleman