NOAA Teacher at Sea Nick Lee Aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson June 29 – July 20, 2024
Mission: Pollock Acoustic-Trawl Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Eastern Bering Sea
Date: July 10, 2024
Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 50° 40.9 N
Longitude: 178° 29.9 W
Wind Speed: 20 knots
Air Temperature: 6.2° Celsius (43.1° Fahrenheit)
Science and Technology Log:
Last blog post, I talked about acoustic backscatter, which scientists on board use to locate fish. When scientists notice high-intensity backscatter – or backscatter that they’re interested in collecting more biological data about – they’ll call the bridge and ask to go fishing. The bridge then makes the announcement over the radio:
“All stations. This is the bridge. We will be fishing, fishing, fishing.”
This announcement sparks a flurry of action from scientists, NOAA officers, and the deck crew. A few scientists go up to the bridge for a marine mammal watch, where they make sure that there are no marine mammals in the area of the operation. NOAA officers navigate to the science team’s target fishing area, and the deck crew prepares the net to go in the water.
Marine mammal watch on the bridge.
Before my cruise, I thought fishing nets were relatively simple and uniform. However, I’ve since learned that the net has many different components and sensors, which help scientists collect additional information about the fish seen with acoustics.
Codend
During the trawl, the net is dragged behind the boat. Near the opening at the mouth of the net, the net’s mesh is over a meter wide. This helps reduce drag from the water, while still funneling fish toward the back of the net. The net gradually gets smaller until the very end of the net – called the codend – where the fish are collected.At the end of each trawl, the net is hauled out of the water, and the contents of the codend are emptied into a sorting table for further processing in the fish lab, where length, weight, sex, and maturity are recorded for a representative sample.
Lowering the codend into the water at the start of a trawl.
Pocket Nets
In portions of the net with larger mesh, small fish and other organisms can escape through the holes in the mesh. This creates a problem for scientists – a trawl could show that only adult pollock are present in a certain area when in reality the population is mixed, but all of the juveniles escaped! Since scientists will be using trawl samples to understand the overall population of pollock, they want to avoid bias as much as possible in their data.
Pocket nets are fine black mesh on the side of the net made out of the same material as the codend, and they capture organisms that would have otherwise escaped.
To get around this problem, scientists are studying the rates at which different sized pollock (and other organisms) escape from the net. They use pocket nets, or small nets made of the same fine mesh as the codend, to get an idea of what escaped from each trawl. Nine pocket nets are attached to the side, top, and bottom of three different sections of the net with varying mesh sizes. As the trawl net is being hauled back on the boat, one of my jobs is to help empty these pocket nets and collect what’s inside.
We’ve mostly found krill and jellyfish, but occasionally we’ll find a larval fish or squid!
Larval fish and squid found in the pocket nets.
CamTrawl
Near the codend, there is also a camera, referred to as CamTrawl. This camera provides scientists with a visual of what is going into the net, and can be used to help identify species and length of fish that are caught.
CamTrawl (left) and scientists Matthew Phillips and Mike Levine deploying PelagiCam (right).
On this cruise, scientists are also testing a camera that they lower over the side of the ship (without a net), known as PelagiCam. They are hoping that PelagiCam may be able to collect species and length data, supplementing the data captured when processing fish from the trawl. If PelagiCam can record this data accurately, it could provide an efficient complement to trawling, which requires a lot of time and collaboration between different teams of people.
A pollock seen on PelagiCam (left). Posing with scientist Mike Levine in front of the PlagiCam (right).
FS70 Net Sounder
The FS70, nicknamed the Turtle, collects acoustic data and produces a live image of the net’s opening when it is in the water. This data allows scientists and the deck crew to monitor the shape of the net while fishing, ensuring that the net opened correctly. It also monitors when fish enter the net.
FS70 (left), nicknamed the turtle, and the live data it shows scientists during a trawl.
Personal Log:
Going fishing can sometimes be a lot of “hurry up and wait.” After the marine mammal watch, at least one scientist stays on the bridge to monitor the net using the FS70, and the others get ready to process the trawl. Letting the net out and hauling it back in is far from simple, however. It requires constant communication between the bridge and the deck crew, and it can be made more complicated by the weather or equipment malfunctions. Once the net is in the water, trawling can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour.
Opening the codend is always exciting, because we’re never quite sure what we caught. While our target is always pollock, we’ll often find other interesting organisms mixed in as well. Some highlights include rockfish, squid, and a smooth lumpsucker.
Organisms caught in the trawl so far include rockfish, squid, and smooth lumpsuckers.
Did you know?
The net used on NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson was specifically designed for this survey!
Mission: Acoustic Trawl Survey (Leg 3 of 3) Geographic Area of Cruise: Pacific Ocean/ Gulf of Alaska Date: Sunday, August 13, 2023
Weather Data Lat 59.12 N, Lon 150.11 W Sky condition: Partly Cloudy Wind Speed: 13 knots Wind Direction: 330° Air Temp: 14 °C
Science and Technology blog
The ocean is a really big place. We have really only mapped about 5% of the ocean bottom. How do we manage fisheries if we have to count fish in an area that is overwhelmingly large? This is where the genius of acoustics and trawl sampling complement each other. The scientists aboardNOAA Ship Oscar Dyson use the echo sounders to find fish or other animals lurking in the ocean and then they can extrapolate and upscale that data to a much larger area which is covered by their transects.
Wait! That is a lot of information using language that folks don’t really use at the dinner table. Could you please explain this in more basic terms? You bet, as a matter of fact in the last couple of days I have been swimming in a sea of new vocabulary, talking to really smart people and trying to keep up with the conversation that it almost makes my head explode. Don’t worry, I am safe. But it’s really impressive how scientists have developed ways to accurately know fish and marine organism populations in the ocean with out having to sample all of it.
Acoustics
Acoustics uses the echo-sounders a lot like a fish finder, but the ones on NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson are much more capable than the type you would find on your boat. The echo-sounders are attached to the bottom of a lowered centerboard—essentially a large keel—in the center of the boat, and they measure five different frequencies with different wavelengths.
View of the 5 different frequencies measured by the echosounders, one in each frame. The darker marks on the screen could be fish, jellyfish, krill or other marine organisms, this is referred to as “backscatter.” The red circles show the different frequencies used to measure the backscatter.
So, if we can see the fish using acoustics, why do scientists need to sample using a trawl net? As you can see above, the marks in the backscatter can show the depth and the approximate shape of objects, but there is not enough detail to tell exactly what kind of organism is present. Most of the scientists on board have a pretty good idea what kind of fish or organisms are present, but the most definitive way to know is to take a trawl sample.
Trawl Sampling
The trawl net as seen in the picture below is being set off the aft deck.
The part that is in the air is called the codend. That is the section of the net where the specimens are ultimately collected.
The trawl is a about 172 meters long and it stored on these rollers on the back deck.
When the trawl is deployed to the depth that the scientists want to sample, the net will funnel fish and other organisms into it. This is called flying the net.
The screen above diagrams three different views of the net as it is pulled through the water. You can see that the trawl net was not directly behind the boat and went to a depth of 21.5 m.
In this image you can see the net and how far back it trails behind the Oscar Dyson.
I just have to include one more view of the trawl net from the bridge as it is pulled behind the boat.
This image was taken when the crew was bringing the net back into the boat, so the depth is shallower.
The next image shows the path that the net was pulled through the water.
The acoustics show the backscatter which the scientists make the trawl target. The next step is to process what is captured in the codend of the trawl and see exactly what is present.
Because the trawl is dragged through the water, it catches different organisms at different times. The scientists want to know when the different organisms were caught so they have cleverly attached a camera to the side of the net. Through the camera they can see which type of fish came into the trawl. Ultimately, this links the kind of acoustic backscatter viewed in the echograms recorded during the trawl to exactly the type of organism caught by the trawl.
The camtrawl: a camera that records the type of fish entering the net and when they enter.
Below is a picture of some fish as they enter the trawl net and move towards the codend.
The camera is looking across the net as the fish move past. The fish in the picture are pollock, the type of fish we are looking for on this leg of the cruise.
Transect Lines
So how do scientists take this information and extrapolate the data to a broader area? While the Oscar Dyson is out at sea they run transect lines while recording acoustic data. Transect lines are specific paths in the ocean. The picture below shows the transect lines that we plan to do and have done on this leg of the cruise.
The red lines are the transects we have done and the blue lines are the transects scientists plan to do in the remainder of this leg of the cruise. If you look closely there are pictures of fish symbols on the transect lines where the ship has made trawl samples.
Using the acoustic data that the echo-sounders provide and verifying the types of fish and other marine organisms through the trawl sampling allows the scientists to predict, with a high level of certainty, the amount and types of marine organisms that are present along the transect lines that were not trawl-sampled. Thus saving the taxpayers money, and allowing fisheries managers to use good data, keeping the fishery viable, and allowing commercial fishing boats to have reasonable catch limits.
Scientist in the Spotlight
Honestly it takes a team to make all of this happen. But, half of our team is sleeping at the moment, I have the night shift from 4pm to 4am, so I am going to introduce one fabulous expert in acoustics and fisheries:
Abigail McCarthy in the Acoustics Lab
Abigail McCarthy has been working for MACE: Midwater Assessment and Conservation Engineering Program since 2007. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Wellesley College and then obtained a Masters in Fisheries from Oregon State University.
For fun, she surfs and enjoys long-distance prone paddle board races. She has recently found a new love with fly fishing.
Aboard the Ship Oscar Dyson, she is working as a specialist helping to run the acoustics lab.
I asked Abigail what she thought of about her educational experience? She immediately said, “I love learning! High school and college were both a lot of fun.”
What would be a good suggestion for a young aspiring high school student pursuing a degree related to ocean studies or science in general?
Her response was great: “Being curious and working hard is more important than being brilliant. Persistence and determination will get you where you want to be in the future.” Finally, “Learn to code! Become familiar with programing languages like Python and R.”
Hopefully, I answered your burning questions about the use of acoustic trawl sampling, and surveys. Yet, there is so much more to learn. Why not take a trip yourself? Check NOAA’s website out and just apply.
Mission: 2023 Summer Acoustic-Trawl Survey of Walleye Pollock in the Gulf of Alaska
Geographic Area of Cruise: Islands of Four Mountains area, to Shumagin Islands area Location (2PM (Alaska Time), June 19): 55o 30.9384′ N, 159o 47.6478′ W
Data from 2PM (Alaska Time), June 19, 2023 Air Temperature: 8.2 oC Water Temperature (mid-hull): 6.8oC Wind Speed: 18 knots Wind Direction: 62 degrees Course Over Ground (COG): 30 degrees Speed Over Ground (SOG): 11 knots
Date: June 20, 2023
To conduct a fisheries survey or any oceanographic research expedition, there’s an enormous checklist of items you need on a ship. Jokingly, those on board will tell you that food and internet access are at the top of the list. But there’s no doubt that technology and its function, application, durability, etc., are critical during the time at sea. For example, see NOAA’s explainers for Ocean Exploration Technology: How Robots Are Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep and Collecting and Visualizing Deep-Sea Data. For a broader look at the technologies NOAA uses to explore the ocean (vessels and submersibles, observing systems and sensors, communication technologies, and diving technologies), see Exploration Tools.
Leg 2 of this Summer Survey will be bringing on board the DriX, an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), to see if this technology can improve the efficiency of collecting acoustic and biological data to estimate pollock abundance when working alongside Oscar Dyson. To read more/see a video, check out NOAA’s article, Uncrewed Surface Vehicles Complement NOAA Vessels for More Efficient Fisheries Surveys.
Trawl Sonar
The Simrad FS70 on the back deck of Oscar Dyson (June 2023)
Trawl sonar units are used to provide a rough estimate of how many fish are going into the trawl net. The device (which we’ve been using on our expedition, a Simrad FS70 nicknamed “the turtle”) is a third wire system that in real time establishes communication between the submerged sonar head and the bridge. On this cruise, the trawl sonar unit is placed on the headrope of the trawl net (i.e., on the top of the mouth of the net). It communicates its depth back to the ship. It also scans the mouth of the net and relays any acoustic images of things going into the net back to the ship. These data allow the scientists and crew to adjust the depth of the net and length of time the trawl net remains in the water to collect samples. Our goal is to collect enough fish (approximately one ton) to have a representative sample of the various species and lengths of fishes in the water column.
Screenshot of the display returned by the FS70 during a trawl. The pink/yellow/blue line in the left column is where you see the bottom of the net. This is also represented in the middle column by the multi-colored horizontal line you see in the third circle from the center. (Screenshot from Leg 1 provided by Rick Towler).
One fascinating piece of technology we’re using on this pollock survey is the CamTrawl. This article I found will give you everything you would want to know about CamTrawl in a non-technical summary:
Introduced in 2012, the CamTrawl is a stereo camera system when attached to a trawl net, can provide data about fish without ever touching a fish. This 3D imagery records fish passing by the camera towards the codend (the closed end of the trawl net), which provides species and size composition data as well as how fish behave in the trawl net to be collected from within a midwater survey trawl. CamTrawl is used to verify the trawl catch and specimen data, and in some cases, can be used to determine where in the water column the species entered the net. These data help inform ecosystem-based fisheries management.
The CamTrawl on Oscar Dyson for 2023 Summer Survey. The orange balls are flotation devices, the two “eyes” in the middle are the stereo camera and computer system, with the battery power across/under the eyes. The four round devices in the corner are lights used during the image recording.
Top-down view of the CamTrawl. The front of the camera set-up is the wider side of the trapezoidal frame (top of image) which is then attached to the trawl net.
Figure 1 from Williams et al. (2016). CamTrawl system description.
CamTrawl attached to trawl net about to be set off the back of Oscar Dyson.
The CamTrawl has uses and applications beyond our walleye pollock survey. It can go to depths of the ocean where it is not possible to lower a trawl net and capture data on other fish species like the bottom-dwelling rockfish. CamTrawl can explore and map deep-sea corals, and there is potential for collaborative research with the fishing industry.
Some CamTrawl footage from Leg 1 of 2023 Summer Survey.
The CamTrawl was developed by NOAA scientists Kresimir Williams and Rick Towler (both of whom I’m sailing with on Oscar Dyson for Leg 1). I feel incredibly fortunate to have sailed with these two scientists and to hear how NOAA encourages their researchers to be creative and experiment with developing technologies to advance NOAA’s overall mission and expedition objectives.
CamTrawl being detached from a trawl net after a mid-water trawl (June 16, 2023, on Oscar Dyson)
Curious to see more? Check out this Salmon shark caught on CamTrawl underwater camera.Below is a picture of a salmon shark from the Shumagin Islands, Alaska area in February 2017 (photo provided by Sarah Stienessen).
Boldt et al. (2018). Development of stereo camera methodologies to improve pelagic fish biomass estimates and inform ecosystem management in marine waters. Fisheries Research, 198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.10.013
Williams et al. (2018). A method for computing volumetric fish density using stereo cameras. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2018.08.001
Williams et al. (2016). Automated measurements of fish within a trawl using stereo images from a Camera-Trawl device (CamTrawl). Methods in Oceanography, 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mio.2016.09.008
TAS Lacee Sherman getting in rain gear to process a haul
Weather Data from the Bridge at 19:00 on 6/24
Latitude: 56° 0.7 N
Longitude: 169° 34.5 W
Sea Wave Height: 3-4 ft
Wind Speed: 16 knots
Wind Direction:107° (E)
Visibility: 10 nmi
Air Temperature: 8.1°C
Water Temperature: 7.7° C
Sky: Overcast
Science and Technology Log
With this blog, I will be focusing on the biodiversity in the Eastern Bering Sea. Biodiversity includes all of the different types of plant and animal species in a given environment. All of the species that I will be discussing I’ve seen come up in the trawl net, or have seen from the ship.
Adult Walleye Pollock
Common Name: Walleye Pollock
Scientific Name: Gadus chalcogrammus
Identifying Features: 3 Dorsal Fins, large eyes
Ecological Importance: Polllock influence the euphausiid populations and are food to many larger marine species, and humans.
Interesting Facts: Walleye pollock produces the largest catch by volume of any single species inhabiting the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
Krill (Euphausiid)
Krill (Euphausiids)
Common Name: Krill
Scientific Name: Euphausiidae (Family)
Identifying Features: 1-2 centimeters in length on average. They look similar to very small shrimp, and often swim in schools.
Ecological Importance: Krill are a very important food source for many fish and also larger marine mammals such as whales.
Interesting Facts: They are filter feeders and eat zooplankton and phytoplankton, which makes them omnivores.
Chrysaora melanaster
Common Name: Northern Sea Nettle, Brown Jellyfish
Scientific Name: Chrysaora melanaster
Identifying Features: 16 lines from the center of the bell to the outer edges of the bell. Large range in sizes, from very small to very large.
Interesting Facts: Jellyfish may become a problem for the Bering Sea in the future because they reproduce in large numbers and they can dominate an entire environment easily.
Pacific Ocean Perch
Common Name: Pacific Ocean Perch
Scientific Name: Sebastes alutus
Identifying Features: Bright to light red with brown blotches dorsally near fins, large spines on dorsal and anal fins, knob on lower jaw
Ecological Importance: delicious
Interesting Facts: Pacific Ocean Perch are a type of Rockfish. Pacific Ocean Perch have a swim bladder similar to that of pollock, so they reflect similar acoustic signals and can sometimes be acoustically confused for pollock if no sample is taken in a specific area.
Yellowfin Sole
Common Name: Yellowfin Sole
Scientific Name: Limanda aspera
Identifying Features: Black line between body and dorsal and ventral fins, fins may appear yellow in color
Ecological Importance: Yellowfin sole are benthic (live and feed on the ocean floor).
Interesting Facts: Yellowfin sole grow slowly and may be 10.5 years old by the time they reach 30 cm in length.
Magister Armhook Squid
Common Name: Magister Armhook Squid
Scientific Name: Berryteuthis magister
Identifying Features: 8 tentacles and two larger feeding arms, dark red in color, but white when damaged
Ecological Importance: Prey on fishes and other squid
Interesting Facts: These are the most abundant squid found in the waters of Alaska.
Chum Salmon on the conveyer belt with pollock
Common Name: Chum Salmon
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus keta
Identifying Features: Metallic dark blue on the top and silvery on the sides
Ecological Importance: Chum Salmon have adapted to live in saltwater and freshwater. They mainly eat copepods, fishes, squid, mollusks and tunicates.
Interesting Facts: Chum salmon eggs are hatched in freshwater rivers and streams. They then travel downstream to live most of their life in the ocean. When it is time, Chum Salmon spawn (reproduce) in the same freshwater stream they hatched in. Once a salmon spawns, they die.
Pacific Herring
Common Name: Pacific Herring
Scientific Name: Clupea pallasii
Identifying Features: Large scales that are shiny silver along the sides and shiny blue along the top of the fish. Tail has a fork and there is only one dorsal fin.
Ecological Importance: Eat phytoplankton and zooplankton. Herring and their eggs are eaten by fish, birds, marine mammals, and humans.
Interesting Facts: Herring eggs (roe) are considered a traditional delicacy in Japan called kazunoko.
Yellow Irish Lord
Common Name: Yellow Irish Lord
Scientific Name: Hemilepidotus jordani
Identifying Features: Yellowish tan to dark brown, white to yellow bottom, and yellow gill membranes
Ecological Importance: Since they are usually found close the ocean floor, they regularly eat things like fish eggs, isopods and amphipods, worms, and small fishes.
Interesting Facts: There is another species of Sculpin that is similar called a Red Irish Lord.
A photo of our fish lab gloves
Personal Log
During our hauls, a member of the science team is needed on the bridge to watch for the presence of marine mammals and endangered bird species. I am one of the people that gets to do this, and I must admit, there is a slight conflict of interest. I, of course, want to see all of the marine mammals possible, but if they are nearby during a haul, we are required to give them space until they pass so that they are not injured in any way by the ship. This can definitely slow down the process of hauling if we see them, but of course I don’t mind it if I get to see more whales. Most of the time I don’t see any marine mammals and just end up enjoying a beautiful view of the open ocean.
I am definitely feeling more comfortable and at home on the ship now. Constant motion from the swells is the new normal, and the creaks and sounds of the ship are a new soundtrack to listen to (on repeat). Sometimes I like to push the limits and see how far forward or backward I can lean during larger swells to maintain balance and have a few superhero moments as I pretend to defy the laws of physics.
I’m getting to know more about the other people on the ship every day and it’s nice to get into a rhythm and start to really work well together and have a good flow, especially in the fish lab. If we are motivated to finish before meal times, we can process a good haul of Pollock in around 45 minutes. That is much quicker than we started at, and it’s because we have really learned how to capitalize on each other’s strengths and just being willing to do whatever job is needed in the lab, even if it is not our favorite task.
Some of the science team in the fish lab. (left to right) TAS Lacee Sherman, Darin Jones, Sarah Stienessen, Denise McKelvey, Matthew Phillips, and Mike Levine
I have claimed a workspace in “the cave” (acoustics lab) that is perfectly in the way of the phone when it rings, but it’s usually quiet in there and I can focus on these blogs, reading, or planning for next school year. I’ve also been reading the transcripts to a ton of TED talks when we don’t have access to the internet.
Did You Know?
In Alaska, during the summer, they experience what is called “the midnight sun”. It is rarely ever dark enough to see the stars during the summer. This happens because of how far north it is!
This photo was taken just after midnight on 6/21/18 (summer solstice).
Bonus! Cool Photo time!
Cam Trawl image of pollock and pacific ocean perch. Can you tell the difference?
This bird flew into the table where the fish are held before being processed. It was just hoping for a free meal, but ended up getting stuck. After realizing it couldn’t get out on its own, a survey technician helped to get it out and back on its way.
The black bars on the sides of the doors hold it shut and are controlled by the black lever on the left of the photo. Talk about a tough door!
Jorgensen, Elaina M. Field Guide to Squids and Octopods of the Eastern North Pacific and Bering Sea. Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2009.
Mecklenburg, Catherine W., et al. Fishes of Alaska. American Fisheries Society, 2002.
TenBrink, Todd & W Buckley, Troy. (2013). Life-History Aspects of the Yellow Irish Lord ( Hemilepidotus jordani ) in the Eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Northwestern Naturalist. 94. 126-136. 10.1898/12-33.1.
Geographical Area of Cruise: Bering Sea South of Russia
Date: July 20, 2014
Weather Data from the Bridge
Wind Speed: 15.11 kt
Air Temperature: 9.5 degrees Celsius
Barometric Pressure: 1016.9
Latitude: 5717.3530 N
Longitude: 17317.1393 W
Almost 70 cm long pollock. That’s big!
Science and Technology Log:
CamTrawl
Kresimir in the Acoustics Lab
Kresimir Williams, one of the scientists on board the Oscar Dyson, has been with NOAA for over ten years. He is a Fisheries Biologist. He was born in Switzerland and moved to Yugoslavia, now Croatia, a year and half later. Kresimir has always loved fish ever since he was a little boy. He as many as ten aquariums in his house growing up. He moved to the United States when he was 17 years old. His mother is from Croatia, and his dad is from the United States. Kresimir received his bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a degree in Biology and Marine Science. He received his Master’s degree from Auburn University, in Alabama with a degree in Aquaculture Fisheries. He continued his education at the University of Washington, where he earned his PhD in fisheries and aquatic sciences. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. Kresimir current interests include integrating new technologies into marine surveys.
Cam trawl attached to trawl net
Trawl net with camtrawl attached being deployed to fish
He is a fisheries biologist for NOAA and works on fishery surveys investigating new technology to make the survey process more accurate and effective. Kresimir, along with fellow scientists Rick Towler and Scott McEntire, invented the camtrawl. The camtrawl is made up of two small industrial cameras, protected by water proof, pressure resistant housing. The cameras are attached to the trawl nets when deployed for fishing. The cameras continuously take pictures (about eight pictures per second) in the net. It photographs the animals as they swim through the net.
Picture from camtrawl of a lamprey
Camtrawl picture of a rockfish
When the camtrawl is returned to the ship, the pictures can be downloaded for observation. Using two cameras in stereo, allows scientists, to accurately length the fish they observe. Looking at an object from two different perspectives allows you to see how far away an object is. If you close one eye and look at an object, it is harder to tell how far it is away, however, if you use both eyes you have better depth-perception. How will seeing the fish inside the net, in the ocean, help with the surveying process? The camtrawl will make the process more efficient and save time. Fewer people will be needed to conduct the surveys therefore reducing cost. It uses a non-lethal method of sampling the fish; the codend (the end of the trawl net that collects all the fish) can be left open allowing the fish to swim through easily, so the fish will not be captured and killed. And finally, it allows scientists to sample a greater range of animals sizes. Kresimir is still experimenting with the camtrawl and testing out its’ effectiveness. He is very enthusiastic about its prospects. I really enjoy viewing the pictures and seeing the fish on the monitor. I have attached a couple of my favorite pictures for you to view.
The Scientific Method in Action:
The Scientific Method is actively used in science careers and is very similar to the Engineering Design Process. It is a process that scientists follow to solve problems in order to test a theory or answer a need. In order for the camtrawl to be invented, Kresimir and Rick had to have an idea or question to get the process started. Next, the idea had to be constructed, researched, and tested (testing is the fun part) numerous times. During testing, data is collected and organized and then a conclusion can be generated based on the data. If the idea is not successful, then it is important to go back to the beginning, make changes, and experiment again. If the idea is successful, then all is good, however, there is always room for improvement. Scientists continue to test and retest until they get their expected results or prove themselves wrong and learn something totally new in the process.
Touring the Engine Rooms
First Engineer Kyle
I got the chance to tour the engine rooms at the bottom of the Oscar Dyson. First Engineer, Kyle Chernoff, graciously escorted me and explained how everything works. He received his bachelors degree in Marine Engineering at California Maritime University. After graduation he had to take a series of seven coast guard exams in order to be qualified to work as a marine engineer.
Two of the ship’s engines
One of the evaporator machines
Besides the controls on the bridge, you can control the direction of the ship from the engine room. The ship has many back up motors and generators so that if one breaks down or a fire ensues, the ship can continue on its course. This is reassuring news for me and all of the 29 other crew aboard the ship. I had to wear ear plugs while walking through the generator room. It was extremely loud due to the noise the generators make to keep the ship running. One of the pieces of equipment, I found most interesting, was the evaporator. The Oscar Dyson has two. The evaporators use heat to remove the salt from the sea water and convert it into drinking water. During the process UV (ultraviolet) is used to kill any bacteria in the water to make it safe for drinking. As well as the evaporators, the ship has a special machine that removes any oil before water is released back into the ocean. This protects wildlife living in the ocean. What a great use of resources.
I am in the engine room
Personal Log:
While on the bridge this week, I saw porpoises and whales. I did not get pictures because the ship moves fast and so do the animals. I had two gorgeous days, where the sun was out and I could feel the heat on my face. Even the foggy days are nice, however ominous. It rarely rained and the seas were relatively calm. Thankfully, I did not have to don my survival suit except during weekly drills. I participated in a really cool experiment on this trip. Alyssa, the survey technician, gave me two Styrofoam cups (the exact same size) and asked me to color them, in which, I did. The next morning during the scheduled CTD, Alyssa placed one of my cups into a small net bag and attached it to the CTD device. The bag was deployed to the bottom of the ocean floor. Once back on deck of the ship, she retrieved the cup and returned it to me. It looked the exact same with the exception that it shrunk. Really awesome! The air bubbles in the styrofoam cup and the pressure from the depth of the ocean cause this to happen. It would shrink even more if we were in deeper waters.
Two cups I decorated before deploying into the ocean.
I only deployed the second cup into the ocean. Notice the difference in size. Talk about “under pressure”!
Over the past couple of weeks, I have learned so much. My voyage on the Bering Sea is quickly coming to an end. In a couple of days, I will board the small puddle jumper from Dutch Harbor to Anchorage and eventually end up in Delaware. The science team, NOAA Corps, and crew have been wonderful to work with during my time at sea. This has truly been an experience of a lifetime.
Puddle Jumper from Dutch Harbor to Anchorage
Another beautiful sunrise on the Bering Sea
Getting to know the Crew:
LT Greg Schweitzer, XO
NOAA Corps LT Greg Schweitzer, Executive Officer or XO
In my last blog, I introduced you to the Commanding Officer of the Oscar Dyson. Another vital member of the NOAA Corps and the crew of the Oscar Dyson, is the Executive Officer (XO), LT Greg Schweitzer. He is married and has four children. He has been with NOAA for seven years and was in the Air Force before that for 10 years. He received a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology and in Management. He received his Master’s Degree in Environmental Science. While not at sea, he resides with his family in Kentucky. He is second in command of the Oscar Dyson. He reports directly to the Commanding Officer and oversees the officers, stewards (cooks), engineers, deck crew, survey technicians, and scientists. He is in charge of the ship’s budget, time cards and attendance, discipline, and port-side logistics. He started his NOAA career, after a four month officer training, then aboard the NOAA ship Henry Bigelow for 2 ½ years out of Newport, Rhode Island. Because of his past military experience, he became an XO after only six years. This is his last leg at sea before he starts a new land assignment.
An experience he really enjoyed during his NOAA career, was working on his first land assignment in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He worked for NOAA’s Protected Resource Division. Part of the XO’s job was to go out, on a small boat, off the coast of Florida and Georgia, to help disentangle North Atlantic Right Whales. The XO describes the whales as curious animals that spend most of their time at the surface of the water. Because they like to hang out on the surface of the water, they easily get tangled in nets and crab pots. Right Whales are on the critically endangered list. In the past, they were hunted to almost extinction. They got their name because they are easy to see and catch, so therefore fishermen, called them the Right Whales to fish. There are approximately 350 North Atlantic Right Whales living at this time. They eat mainly plankton and krill. The Right Whales are migratory animals. They are located off the Florida-Georgia coast during the winter where they calve and then travel up the east coast to Cape Code in the summertime. They swim along the Atlantic Ocean, right outside of Delaware. Check out this website for more information on the North Atlantic Right Whales.
I asked the XO if he had any advice for my students. He said to remember that there is no perfect path and that students should be open to new opportunities and be willing to take on new adventures. He lived in Kentucky until he was out of high school. He never imagined he would ever leave. His Air Force and NOAA careers have given him opportunities, he might never had experienced. He also adds, that it is important to go out and contribute and remember that there is still a lot of unknown discoveries on our planet, just waiting to be explored.
Job Responsibilities: Commercial fishing gear research: she looks for ways to modify the fishing gear to reduce impacts to the seafloor habitat and reduce bycatch (animals caught in net other than intended; i.e. Dolphin caught in a crab fisheries net) of commercially important species. She works directly with commercial fisheries as well as helps conduct surveys for NOAA.
Education: Undergraduate Degree in Marine Resource Development at the University of Rhode Island; Master’s Degree in Fisheries at the University of Washington.
Hometown: She was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Hancock, MA at the age of six.
Current Residence: Seattle, Washington
Why pursue this career? When deciding on a career, she asked, “What degree will let me play in the ocean?” and that is how she got started in the fisheries field of work.
Recently, she and her co-worker, Craig Rose, won the best paper award for their work on RAMP or Reflex Assessment Mortality Predictor. Medical doctors use RAMP to check patients’ vital signs or reflexes such as tapping your knee to see if your leg reacts or kicks. They applied this method to crabs. On crabs they check six different reflexes: flare (legs moving up and down), leg retraction (pulling on leg), chela (claws), eyes, mouth, and abdomen. Checking their vital signs allows scientists to help fishermen modify their fishing gear in order to reduce the mortality rate of their catch.
Good advice: I asked Carwyn, “What would you tell kids interested in pursuing a science career?”she responded, “follow your gut and never stop asking questions”.
Meet the Scientist: Dr. Mikhail A. Stepanenko
Mikhail helping process a trawl
Title: Senior Biologist, Northern Pacific Fish Resources Laboratory, Russia
Job Responsibilities: In charge of pollock stock assessment and providing data for total allowable catch for Russia. Building a international relationship with the United States of America. He works closely with the New Fisheries Agreement between Russia, United States, Japan, Korea, and China, which works on improving fishery management for all fish. He works on both Russian and United States fishery vessels, including NOAA’s Oscar Dyson as part of the science team.
Home: Vladivostok, Russia where his wife currently lives. He has two daughters and four grandchildren, all of whom reside in the United States.
Why pursue this career? He has always had a dream to be a seaman and he loves sport fishing. He has an interest in animals and marine biology.
Mikhail has been working in the fisheries industry since graduating university in 1968.
New Riddle from theOscar DysonCrew: Why does a wet deck remind you of music?
Scroll to the bottom of my blog for the answer!
Did you know?
Did you know, during a new moon (the moon is not shining) out at sea, giant schools of anchovies glow on the ocean surface?
Did you know the Oscar Dyson uses 500,000 gallons of fuel a year?
