Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico Date: July 8, 2026
Weather Data from the Bridge: Latitude: 28.41N Longitude: 90.12W Sea wave height: 1 ft Wind Speed: 7 kt Wind Direction: 180 Visibility: 10 miles Sea Temperature: 88.34℉ Air Temperature: 85℉ Barometric Pressure: 30.03 inHg Humidity: 70 Sky: Overcast
Science and Technology Log
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz
Amelia introduces Dorothy
Transcript: [Amelia]: And meet Dorothy! Dorothy is the CTD. And she’s named Dorothy II because we are on the Oregon II.
The entire instrument is called a rosette, but aboard Oregon II it is nicknamed Dorothy II. The rosette is the large circular frame that holds multiple bottles and scientific instruments. At the very bottom of the rosette is the CTD, affectionately known as Toto. CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth and it is one of the instruments scientists use to measure the health of the Gulf.
Dorothy II (The Rosette on Oregon II) Diagram created by Amelia Black, NOAA Teacher at Sea, with input from NOAA Senior Survey Tech Stephanie Stable
You may be wondering, how salty is the ocean? This depends on the temperature of the ocean water. The warmer the water, the more salt the water can hold. The Gulf’s average salinity is 36 parts per thousand or 3.6 percent. That’s roughly equivalent to a little under ½ a cup of salt dissolved in a gallon of water. Now that’s salty!
Next, the CTD measures the temperature of the water. Both temperature and conductivity are measured at different water depths. As the rosette approaches the seafloor, an altimeter uses sound waves to determine the distance to the bottom. An alert is sent to the scientists starting when the rosette is 100 meters from the ocean floor. The altimeter ensures that the rosette doesn’t run into the ground (bottom of the sea).
The next two sensors, the fluorometer and the transmissometer measure different particles within the water. According to NOAA Ocean Exploration page:
Yes, chlorophyll, similar to the chlorophyll that plants use to change carbon dioxide into oxygen (photosynthesis). The fluorometer looks at fluorescents (types of chlorophyll and other compounds) that are in the water. This information helps the scientists to determine the overall productivity, or health, of the water. Similar to the fluorometer, the transmissometer uses a beam of light to measure the turbidity of the water. Turbidity is how clear the water is (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-07/parameter-factsheet_turbidity.pdf). The clearer the water, the farther the light travels. Think about the difference between a clear clean creek versus a muddy river. Which would you rather swim in?
Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile explains final CTD checks as it is deployed into the water.
Transcript: [Stephanie]: We go over and we check to make sure all the bottles are open, none of the lanyards are stuck. These air vents at the top of the bottles? We want them closed. And then samples valves at the bottom, we want them pulled out all the way so all water stays in the bottle. We take the caps off the sensor: so there’s two red caps and then one white cap at the bottom as well. And then she’s ready to go!
One final piece of the CTD that is very crucial is the cable. This cable transmits (sends) data in real time back to the ship’s dry lab. Scientists receive the data and decide whether to close the rosette’s sampling bottles to collect water for further analysis. Common water samples are tested for chlorophyll, oxygen, and nutrient levels.
Back in the dry lab, scientists analyze the incoming data using multiple displays. There is an incredible amount of information flowing in before a single fish is ever caught!
NOAA Scientist Adam Pollack analyzing real-time data from the CTD
And all of this happens before the crew even deploys the otter trawl nets to collect the groundfish sample for SEAMAP.
Personal Log
I am really enjoying my time at sea. I’m not sure if it’s the beautiful ocean, getting to handle fascinating sea creatures, the delicious meals prepared by Chief Steward Missy, or simply the incredible people abroad Oregon II, but so far this has been an amazing experience!
Speaking of the great crew, I would like to introduce you to one of my coworkers, Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile.
Stephanie works with NOAA as part of the relief pool. Rather than being permanently assigned to Oregon II, she gets the opportunity to work aboard many different NOAA ships and crew as relief help, similar to a substitute teacher.
Survey technicians are responsible for data acquisition. They oversee the collection and quality of the scientific data gathered by the ship. “Data is our ‘cargo’, it is why we are out here,” Stephanie explains.
NOAA Senior Survey Technician Stephanie Stabile
Stephanie has worked for NOAA since 2015. The part of her job she enjoys most is being part of a team, accomplishing the mission, and spending time at sea.
“There are moments where I can’t believe that I get paid to be out at sea,” Stephanie says. “I look out at the horizon and see how vast the world is. It is very humbling.”
“There are moments where I can’t believe that I get paid to be out at sea. I look out at the horizon and see how vast the world is. It is very humbling.” – Stephanie Stabile
View of the horizon from Oregon II
Her advice for anyone unsure of their future career: “Whatever it is that you want to do, try to be around it as much as you can. Volunteer, work at an aquarium, get the experience.”
I absolutely love this advice! Sometimes the best way to discover whether something is the right path/career is simply to get involved and experience it firsthand.
Mission: Hydrographic Survey Geographic Area of Cruise: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 043o20′ N Longitude: 077o18′ W Sky Conditions: Cloudy Visibility: 9 miles Wind Speed: 9 knots Wind Direction: W Dry Bulb: 18oC Web Bulb: 18oC
Science and Technology Log
Getting ready to deploy the Sea-bird CTD
Surveying has finally begun! Before any data can be collected with the multibeam sonar system, the survey technicians first deploy a Sea-Bird CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) instrument. This important piece of equipment measures the water’s conductivity, temperature, and depth throughout the water column.
Why is this necessary? The multibeam sonar determines water depth by sending sound waves to the lake bottom and measuring how long it takes for the echoes to return. However, sound does not travel at the same speed through all water. Changes in temperature, especially at the thermocline where warmer surface water meets colder deeper water, can significantly affect sound velocity. If these variations are not accounted for, the depth measurements could be inaccurate.
Survey technicians working at the acquisition station on NOAA Thomas Jefferson
Once the Sea-Bird CTD has been recovered, the survey technicians move to the acquisition station to begin collecting hydrographic data. This is where the real mapping of the lake floor begins.
At the acquisition station, technicians have access to navigation information through HYSWEEP, a software program that displays the planned survey lines and the vessel’s position in real time. Because the survey team and bridge officers are looking at the same information, technicians can communicate precise directions to help keep the vessel on the correct track lines.
The team collects crosslines across each survey sheet. These lines provide an initial overview of the seafloor terrain and later serve as an important quality-control check. By comparing the crossline data to the primary survey lines, technicians can verify the accuracy of their measurements.
Another key display is the Seafloor Information System (SIS), which shows the depth data being collected by the multibeam sonar. As the vessel travels back and forth along carefully planned survey lines, the sonar data appears on the screen like strokes from a paintbrush. Each pass adds another strip of seafloor information until the entire survey sheet has been “painted” with depth measurements.
The survey vessel must travel in straight, parallel lines because the data collected during turns is often unreliable. When the ship turns, turbulence and bubbles form beneath the hull. These bubbles interfere with the sonar signals, preventing them from reaching the bottom and returning accurate depth measurements. On the data display, these disruptions appear as black streaks or gaps, similar to those shown below.
Crosslines on SIS of two sheets completeDepth data during the ships turn. (Not logged)
During this leg of the mission, the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson was finally able to deploy both of its survey launches. This marked the first time this season that both small boats could be used, following repairs to a broken DAVIT cable that had previously limited operations.
Before any launch leaves the ship, the survey team gathers to complete a Float Plan, brief and conduct an Operational Risk Management assessment using a GAR (Green, Amber, Red) score. This process evaluates factors such as weather, crew readiness, equipment status, and mission complexity to determine whether it is safe to proceed.
Small boat safety briefSmall boat float plan with GAR score
Once approved, the launches are deployed using the ship’s davit system. The davit lifts the boat over the ship’s rail, and after it is safely positioned, the launch crew boards. The davit then carefully lowers the boat into the water where it begins survey operations.
The survey launches play a critical role in hydrographic mapping. Each boat is equipped with multibeam sonar and side-scan sonar systems that allow surveyors to collect detailed seafloor data in areas too shallow for the ship to safely navigate. By working close to shore and in confined areas, the launches help ensure complete coverage of the survey sheets and provide valuable information for updating nautical charts and identifying potential hazards to navigation.
Deployment of small boat
Recovery of small boat
Because the 2903 launch had not been deployed yet this season, the crew encountered several issues that needed to be addressed during their launch. To tackle these challenges, the Commanding Officer (CO), Executive Officer (XO), engineers, Operations Officers, survey technicians, and available officers gathered for a debrief to discuss solutions and develop a plan moving forward.
One aspect that I found particularly interesting was learning how replacement parts are obtained while the ship is underway. When a needed part is not available onboard, it is often shipped to the nearest port. The crew then evaluates the ship’s schedule, available transportation options, and operational priorities to determine the most efficient way to retrieve it. What might seem like a simple repair on land requires careful coordination and planning at sea.
These debriefs serve another important purpose as well. In addition to troubleshooting equipment issues, they allow the team to review the day’s operations, assess progress, and develop a detailed plan for overnight activities and the following day’s survey work. It was another reminder of the amount of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving required to keep a hydrographic survey mission running successfully.
Small boat debrief
Personal Log
It has been really rewarding to take part in more activities on board. I’ve had the opportunity to deploy the Sea-bird CTD and assist with both the launching and recovery of the small boats, which has given me a much better appreciation for how coordinated and precise these operations need to be and how many hands are needed. Thank you to Chief Scientist Sarah Thompson and Bosun Alex Bischoff for the opportunities to help out along side them. I’ve also really enjoyed observing the work on the bridge and seeing how navigation, communication, and decision-making all come together in real time to keep operations running safely and efficiently.
One of the biggest adjustments for me has definitely been the 4:30 p.m. dinner time! Eating three full meals between the hours of 7am and 4:30pm is slowly killing me, but it is SO hard to skip a meal when everything is so good. I’ve also been surprised by how cool the temperatures have been while on board which has been really nice. I have spent most of the time in pants and light sweaters.
My photo was also added to the crew board, which made me feel even more like part of the team and included in the daily life of the ship. Overall, being exposed to so many different roles and responsibilities on board has been eye-opening. If I had known earlier about the range of careers involved in hydrography and ship operations, I absolutely would have considered this path when I was younger.
Newbies photos on the board on NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson
Did You Know?
Ports are not required to maintain current depth information for their slips, which can increase the risk of vessels running aground. Can you see the dock in the background we are backing in to in Osewgo?
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson backing into Port of Oswego
Not sweater weather, but fall is in the air, at least for now.
Final Blog and Reflection
This will be my last blog reflecting on and drifting in the Gulf. Due to getting caught up in the final moments at sea and reacclimatizing to land in Brooklyn, I’ve kept this blog at home. I had several colleagues and students asking about it.
By the time this is published, I will be behind the porthole of room 201 at New York Harbor School, a few weeks into the chaos.
Group photo of the day watch science team.
After my watch finished fishing, collecting data in the late evening hours of the 27th, I did some laundry and packed my bags. Yes, a whole day early; we still had more than 24 hours to get to Gulfport, Mississippi. Most people who were my shipmates didn’t live in the urban culture or environment. They were baffled by my intent on staying up late to do laundry, due to the desire not to bring home dirty clothes and take them to the laundromat.
Never got old, no filter. Taken with iPhone 16 Pro
Throughout my journey, I’ve mostly caught beautiful sunsets each evening during my shift, which didn’t get old.
I waited until the last day to wear my “Teacher at Sea” swag. Little do people know, I am superstitious. Even when I go to see my favorite bands, if I buy a t-shirt, I wait to wear it until after the three-day run or the tour is over, so I can’t ruin the vibes. Can’t represent until it’s over, and can’t sabotage the vibes.
Although I haven’t made it to the dock yet and stepped foot on land, the swag broke loose; fieldwork is over. So I thought. I didn’t expect to get dirty again on the 28th. However, the night crew was gracious enough to give me one more chance to collect and survey the Gulf. Photo op achieved, trying to study a tilefish that goes a little squirrelly. We also had an opportunity to see a shark – this survey hasn’t seen one in five years –roughskin spurdog, Cirrhigaleus asper.
Tossed the shirt on, last morning at sea. I have it under control, I promise.
My last two blogs were directly related to my own learning and gathering information to enhance the curriculum of the marine affairs program.
I untangle threads I’ve felt I was deficient in, traveling from a park ranger to the Marine Affairs instructor at New York Harbor School. The experience and the people I worked with, talked with, and learned from added a level to what I attempt to facilitate yearly. Like a puzzle, I had lost pieces too. More accurately, I never fully opened this puzzle. Glad I found the pieces.
As you can see from my last blog, I facilitate a fairly complex course for high school students. The content of the previous blog is what I try to reduce to 11th and 12th graders in some shape or form. It’s about to become more complicated due to this experience; more precise and methodical at the same time. More organized chaos coming your way.
I’ve seen every program offered at New York Harbor School on this ship. Most high school students have a hard time seeing several feet or years in front of them, and what these careers look like. I had no idea what I was doing when I went to college at 18, with aspirations to be a lawyer.
Crew on “Day Watch”
The projects on the ship I’ve been engaged in and the people I’ve been working with to do them, I can see our students at Harbor School pursuing. These insights help support them in following their passions and achieving them, including how to find them, how they evolve, and the resilience needed to try new things.
Often, pathways aren’t a straight line.
I know mine wasn’t. Like, what am I even doing on this ship in the Gulf of America, going back to teach Marine Affairs, Sustainability, and Urban Agriscience? It unfolded that way. Who knows what happens next with all the materials and networks I came back to New York City with? School starts on Sept. 2nd.
Science and TechnologyLog
The goal of the New York Harbor School Adopted drifters is to follow the Gulf Stream up to and around the Hudson Canyon. Can they make it?
The Gulf Stream is a powerful ocean current that transports water from the Gulf of Mexico up the U.S. coast, past North Carolina, and then heads northeast across the Atlantic. It carries an incredible amount of water—about 100 times more than all the world’s rivers combined!
This animation shows the Gulf Stream sending warm water to the North Atlantic Ocean, forcing colder water to sink and travel southward. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
A map of the Atlantic Ocean depicts the flow of the Gulf Stream current
This current plays a massive role in shaping the climate and the ocean, affecting our lives on land culturally, economically, and environmentally.
It keeps Florida’s east coast warm and even helps places like England stay milder than they would be otherwise. The Gulf Stream also supports marine life by moving fish species that people rely on for food and the fishing industry. For example, some highly migratory species I mentioned in my last blog travel all the way to the Hudson Canyon from the southeast.
The Hudson Canyon is a massive underwater valley and the biggest submarine canyon along the U.S. Atlantic coast. The Gulf Stream’s warm, salty water can flow into the Hudson Canyon, affecting its temperature, salinity, and the marine life that lives there.
Surface Temp by Month and Submarine Canyons Credit – Mid-Atlantic Data Portal
Another essential process associated with all this movement of water is ocean upwelling. When surface water gets pushed, for example, by wind action, deeper water rises to replace it. This deeper water is colder and packed with nutrients, which act like adding nutrients to a hydroponics tower, but for the ocean. Because of that, areas where upwelling occurs are usually some of the best fishing spots.
Diagram of ocean upwelling. Credit: oceanservice.noaa.gov.
Drifter Buoy
The Adopt-a-Drifter Program has been around since 2004 and offers teachers ways to engage students in ocean observations from their classroom. I was lucky enough to deploy two of these data-collecting drifter buoys. The first I deployed as we steamed out of Miami and around the Keys—the other I deployed in the Gulf, near the Eastern Loop Current. The drifters transmit real-time data on ocean observations. This piece of scientific equipment measures the surface temperature of the ocean and is designed to measure other variables on the open ocean.
Harbor School adopts two drifters
Fingers-crossed, our drifter buoys follow this stream from the southeast, into the Atlantic, and as far as it can go before washing up on a shore or becoming part of a marine habitat. They can last up to 450 days. We are about one to two weeks into this journey. Where will it go? Below is how Harbor School and Marine Affairs students can track.
Students are creating ArcGIS maps that predict its trajectory and data collection points. We will publish those at a late date.
The drifter is drifting.
This map shows the locations of each drifter buoy deployment and the Gulf Stream Credit: ArcGIS Online made by Rob
As the drifter moves around, guided by ocean currents, measurements of atmospheric pressure, winds, wave height, and salinity can be taken. This data is collected by sensors in the drifter and transmitted to overhead satellites. The tracking of the location of these drifters over time can aid scientists in profiling ocean currents and allow students to engage in this work as well. Students can follow the drifter through its currents, watching for variables that move its course and monitoring surface temperature.
Tagged and ready to deployGetting Ready to deploy
The design of the drifter is super important.
The instructions were rather hilarious, and they made me feel like one of my students. They were precise and instructed me not to touch anything or start fiddling with anything. They are delicately packed, ensuring safe deployment. A drifter’s drogue – a device that’s shaped in a sort of cone shape, also known as a sea anchor- extends 20 meters (or 65 feet) deep and is designed to move with the near-surface ocean currents. The drogue and surface float move together, connected by a long tether.
Unfortunately, Drifter One has not yet made contact with the satellite….
Psych, it just linked up late Monday evening, August 25th, 2025, after our second drifter linked. This shows that patience, experimentation, trial and error, and science are held in high regard. I had a fear; I just tossed this instrument into the ocean and missed the mark on collecting data. It is quickly moving up the Gulf Stream along the eastern Florida coast, and the temperature has been chiefly constant.
The info below is correct to when the drifter linked up for us to track it.
Drifter ID card for Drifter 1
Closer view of additional data in drifter ID card
Trajectory of Drifter 1 as of August 26
Drifting buoy location data is transmitted once per hour.
Sea Surface Temperature by location
Since my landing to shore and being back at school, the drifter has moved quite a bit.
This came online within a few days of launching it off the stern. It’s doing as we intended. Toss it near the Eastern Loop Current. Let it swirl around, and hopefully, it ends up in the loop and shoots back around the Keys and then shoots northward.
Info below is right when the drifter links up for us to track it.
Drifter ID card for Drifter 2
Closer view of additional data in drifter ID card
Trajectory of Drifter 2 as of August 26
Drifting buoy location data is transmitted once per hour
Sea Surface Temperature by location
Although this is still in the gulf, it seems to be doing as intended; joining the Gulf stream out of the loop.
Refer to this link to see real time data from our drifter at sea.
Students have already been tracking and have predicted where it’s going. They have done some lessons on currents, wind, and climate. The drifters are adding in that delivery. A prize will be awarded for the closest prediction.
Stations fisheries and CTD data collect in the first 2/3rds of the leg.
I want to preface this by saying that this instrument stressed me out. First, I kept saying “CDT”; that’s not what it’s called. In addition, it’s always good to put the watertight lid on the underwater camera.
The CTD instrument is a giant depth finder with several physical and chemical sensors – pH, temperature, salinity, oxygen, depth, fluorescence – that collects data at every station we collected fisheries data at throughout the Gulf. There are two main jobs to deploy this instrument: monitoring its deployment and retrieval, and then lab data collecting. However, in order for those tasks to be completed during stations, there is another widely important job done by the survey tech on board the Oregon II.
Preparing
Remove caps to sensors
Hook up camera
Hook up light
Remove pH sensor’s protective buffer solution
Make sure all water pathways are open
Preparing CTD
Deployment
Lift CTD into water.
Hold at Surface, to allow the CTD to stabilize.
Send CTD down to just above the sea floor.
Reach just above the sea floor.
Bring the unit back up to the surface.
Wait for the lab to complete data collection before bringing it to the surface.
Deploying the CTD
Cleaning CTD
Clean with Fresh water thoroughly
Take Camera and Light Off
Put caps on instruments and sensors
Put pH sensor in buffer solution
Cleaning the CTD
Data Collection & Review
Data Collected from CTD Deployment
This data is used alongside catch data collected on the fisheries surveys, allowing scientists to make connections between water quality and fish caught. This data can be used in stock assessments.
Water quality and marine life abundance is directly related; complexly I might add. Water quality and the survivability of marine species contributes to our economic, cultural, and public health.
Monitoring water quality at the stations that fisheries data is collected, aids in determining the complex factors of species abundance and health. Moreover, these data points can help determine potential threats and aid in management plans for both water quality and targeted species.
Career Pathways Blog
I just want to preface that I didn’t speak to everyone on the ship for an extended interview on career paths in these fields. The goal of outlining the people below is to offer insight into what deck, below deck and science teams do on a research vessel supported by NOAA. As they call them, the “white ships.” This aspect of the trip is invaluable information for students at New York Harbor School. There were so many people I won’t get to highlight in this final blog that are part of the team.
James, the junior engineer, shared a stateroom with me.
Due to our shift times and structure, often I wouldn’t see some people. Sort of like two ships passing in the night. For example, near the end of my journey, was the first time I spoke to my roommate for more than two minutes at 12am. I had all intentions of getting up earlier to chat with people, but to be honest, I was waking up at 10am each day. Unlike my usual 4 am wake up in Brooklyn.
James – my roommate – is a junior engineer on the ship. Engineers have a variety of roles on a vessel at sea. Long story short, they keep it moving and operational. I was nervous to bother James, even though he was one the most approachable people I’ve met. Didn’t wanna be the Teacher at Sea that kept the ship from being monitored.
James had the most fascinating story and traveled from New Orleans to Seattle, to Hawaii and now Mississippi; working on several different ships in the NOAA fleet. I am so grateful for him welcoming me into his space – a space that he and another NOAA fleet member share, James is regular on the Oregon II – being so kind, helpful, supportive, and considerate to me being foreign to this whole experience. We gave each other space, respected our shifts, our sleep, in passing had a laugh or two, and got to know each other in the time we had. He found out I danced, and we had a love for famous tap dancers from the 90s.
He liked the room warm, I liked it cold. Which is funny, because generally I don’t like the AC, but it was a hot one on the Gulf for sure while pulling up those longlines. I froze him out, and he sweated me out. This is a joke, it was a funny occurrence between us, and got us talking. Mainly, because I didn’t know how to change the temp, nor wanted to touch anything and break anything. Always good to ask for help when needed.
I wish I had more time to chat it up, but from what I gather, engineers on shift got some things to do. But glad we got some time near the end of the mission to get to know each-other. We are now facebook friends and look forward to staying connected.
Part of living on a ship with people, particularly strangers, is empathetic communication. Advice to young people, you never know who you are similar too, and share interests with until you talk to them, and give them time to tell their story.
Below are people who took 45 minutes or more to chat with me on their pathway to Oregon II. We sat and had a conversation, it wasn’t formal, and I took notes. I wanted our conversations to be organic, and I had a hard time not relating to everyone I talked to. I had to keep myself from chiming in and telling my story. Below is what they do, how they got there, the greatest part of the job, toughest part of the job and what they do in their off time. You will see some differences and similarities among them all.
Anyone seeking careers on and for the ocean, these are good perspectives to consider.
Gretchen – Senior Survey Technician
Gretchen hanging with a remora fish
Gretchen manages all weather and oceanographic sensors on the ship, ensuring data accuracy across the board. It sounds simple, but as I learned, it takes specialized skills. She holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a Certificate in Environmental Science from Florida Atlantic University.
Gretchen’s journey in marine biology began at community college, with aspirations to work on white sharks. She interned in South Africa and studied in Florida, returning to Africa for shark ecotourism. She volunteered on sea turtle nesting and worked with the American Shark Conservancy, later studying blacktip shark migration. After COVID disrupted her master’s plans, she worked in the Everglades and pursued water quality initiatives, eventually becoming a survey technician at NOAA after multiple applications.
I first met Gretchen right after checking into my stateroom. Before we even left the dock, she was walking me through the CTD instrument.
We share a common thread—school wasn’t easy, and people told us to pick an easier path. Well, she made it to sea, and I made it as a teacher.
Advice? Compete with yourself, that’s what matters.
Her most important tool? A multimeter—she does a lot of electrical work to keep instruments running. She also blends her love for sharks with water quality research.
The hardest part of her job? Is balancing time at sea with a social life.
Off duty? She’s a beach bum, into arts and crafts, and a big fan of death metal.
Will Tilley – Earth and Resources Technology Contractor on Fisheries Surveys
Will doing what he loves
Will assists with running longline surveys as a contractor for NOAA through Earth and Resources Technology. His role covers everything from prepping gear, coordinating volunteers, and collecting data during surveys, to processing the results afterward.
His passion for the ocean began at a young age when he visited NOAA’s lab in Pascagoula during a marine biology class. Inspired by the experience, he volunteered and demonstrated persistence in pursuing his goals, highlighting the importance of first impressions and networking. After joining a summer longline survey as a volunteer, he was invited back for more roles while still in school. Following some life changes, he returned to education and completed his B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of Southern Mississippi during the COVID pandemic. He gained valuable experience at the Gulf Coast Research Lab, working his way up from a research tech to positions in gillnetting, trawling, and plankton research, ultimately developing a love for juvenile fish studies and genetics projects.
His advice? Keep an open mind. Tunnel vision won’t get you far in this competitive field. Passion matters more than money, and persistence pays off.
His most important tools? Identification guides and fish ID charts—essential for accurate data collection.
The best part of the job? Is getting paid to do what he loves.
The hardest part of his job? Working in the heat and being away from family and the farm for months at a time.
Off duty? When he’s not at sea, he’s on the farm in Mississippi—a place he grew up and now manages. He loves fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. And if marine biology hadn’t worked out, teaching would have been his next path—sharing his love for the ocean with others.
Josh – Chief Bosun
Josh is the Chief Bosun on the Oregon II. Josh was somebody I talked with frequently on the trip. He was a wealth of information, and experience, and never turned down an opportunity to teach the Teacher at Sea.
Never misses a sunset in the Gulf.
Josh earned a degree in Marine Biology and started his career as a fishery observer in Alaska and the Gulf of America. “He started his career with NOAA as a contractor, collecting biological data on commercial fishing vessels. This job eventually led him to the Oregon II, where he was involved in a project that taught AI to identify fish caught on the NOAA SEAMAP groundfish survey.” As a fishery observer, he collected data on commercial boats, often spending up to 45 days at sea. Inspired by fellow NOAA staff who transitioned from observation to careers within NOAA, he pursued this path. Eventually, he became chief bosun, managing operations, overseeing the deck department, handling inventory, and serving as a liaison to maintain the chain of command.
His advice? He emphasizes the importance of being specific about your goals and pursuing them fully. Combining passion, skill, and opportunity can make a dream job a reality.
Favorite part of his job? Josh loves being on the water—the sunsets, the freedom, and the chance to fish whenever possible. Ideally, he’d like to sail and fish without working for anyone, but NOAA offered a way to combine his passion for the ocean with his science degree, even when not directly on the science team.
Toughest part of the job? His role required both planning and flexibility, because life on the water is full of unexpected challenges.
If it moves and shouldn’t? duct tape, if it doesn’t move and it should? PB Blaster
Off duty? Fishing on his off time gives him a sense of peace and escape from the world. He literally gets right on his boat after he gets back on land from the surveys.
Amy – Rotating Engineer
Amy was given a shot at the hook.
Amy is a Junior Unlicensed QMED who took the “hawsepiper” route—a non-maritime path into the work. She manages and maintains the ship’s engineering systems, including propulsion, electricity, potable water, toilets, lighting, and hydraulic equipment, ensuring the vessel can operate and the mission can happen. On NOAA diving ships, she’s also involved in hull husbandry and underwater maintenance.
Amy has a degree in Marine Biology and enhanced her skills through scuba diving. She obtained a captain’s license and has a strong connection to boats from her upbringing in the Outer Banks and New Hampshire. Recognizing vessels as vital for marine education, she gained experience working on yachts and leading expeditions before joining research vessels at NOAA, where there is a high demand for QMED positions.
Her Advice? Take the fantasy out of the idea and pursue the idea.
Her most important tool? A flashlight—for scanning and emergencies.
The most challenging part of the job? Understanding that machines have their own ways of working, and humans influence them. Balancing that dynamic requires clear communication and patience.
Off duty? Amy loves Frisbee, sailing, and swimming, and she encourages everyone to sail at least once. Her advice: never say no to opportunities. Research vessel work isn’t always glamorous—some tasks are more fun than others—but everything contributes toward the mission. She emphasizes removing fantasy from expectations and focusing on the experience itself.
Kristin – Fisheries Biologist and Survey Party ( Acting) Chief
Kristin measuring length of shark
Kristin is currently serving as the Field Party Chief (FPC) on this survey leg, coordinating logistics and ensuring the science team has everything needed to run the survey. She organizes the crew, manages tools, and liaises between operations and deck teams, adjusting stations as sampling dynamics require, and acts as the day watch lead. On other legs, she has also led night watches.
Offshore, Kristin manages the year-round logistics of the longline survey, reviewing and merging data to ensure accuracy after long days at sea. She contributes to SEDAR stock assessments for the Southeast, collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure that survey operations run smoothly.
Kristin’s early fascination with marine life was sparked by watching Jaws, which led her to extensively read about sharks and cultivate a passion for the ocean. Inspired by a high school biology teacher, she pursued a degree in biology and a chemistry minor at Virginia Tech. Her practical experience includes work at a biological field station, various tech roles in marine mammal research, internships focused on sharks in Panama City, volunteering on the Oregon II, and contributing to NOAA projects during the oil spill response. These experiences enhanced her appreciation for applied science and NOAA’s mission-driven initiatives.
Her Advice? Cooperation, patience, and interpersonal skills are essential for navigating life at sea and on land.
Best part of the job? She enjoys the excitement of surveys—there’s always the chance to encounter something new at sea.
Most important tools? Zip ties and duct tape, plus a positive attitude.
The toughest part of the job? Is being away for extended periods at sea and navigating the many stakeholders in the world of fisheries surveys.
Umbrellas for Mardi Gras made by Kristin
Off duty? Kristin enjoys Mardi Gras, crafting glittery projects, baking (including sourdough), and attending live music events. She’s honest about the competitive nature of the field, emphasizing that pursuing a career in marine science requires determination, flexibility, and the willingness to accept that things don’t always go as expected.
Personal Log
This will probably be one of my last blogs floating and rolling in the Gulf. Moreover, it’s also in part reflecting a week after I returned. School has started, and I’ve already started using things I’ve gained – both professionally and personally – while being a Teacher at Sea.
Students are predicting buoy movementDay two of class already. by the water.
I was pampered with bright skies and calm seas 90% of the time. It got a little rocky for a few days but I was able to utilize my sea legs. As this journey unfolded it reminded me of living in New York City. Although it’s a vast city, we are kind of all on top of each other trying to make it through the day with a mission ahead of us. Being at sea taught me to be humble, and grateful. Not that I wasn’t before, but it made me cherish it. There was a calmness at sea, despite the short stint of the rolling waves and the ship swaying. I know what people meant, when they said they loved doing what they do. Although being at sea, away from people on land, the work of this ship has an organized chaos that brings peace to one’s soul.
We can learn a lot from the white ships.
Especially with those that are doing it because of NOAA’s mission and goals. Its been interesting describing my experience. I feel people want me to complain or describe how hard it was to be in the Gulf; in the heat, on a ship, doing something I never did before, with strangers, fishing for sharks, handling sharks, and the list can go on. But to be honest, it wasn’t hard at all. It is, but it isn’t.
One last sunset, and still learning.
Yes all those things are hard but it all makes sense why they have teachers go on these missions. We have a growth mindset, or most of us do, to keep learning and challenging ourselves to evolve with the times. I’ve been teaching for 13 years. If I don’t change, my students will suffer. Just like communities at sea on Oregon II, we need to work together and communicate. Especially, when a larger mission is at stake like NOAA’s.
Not a Real Shark
This experience at sea reminds me of teaching; you need to be able to change, adapt, and be teachable. To be honest, my observation is, being on the ship in the middle of the Gulf, everyone needs to be like that. As I said in one of my earlier blogs, we can learn lots of things from people who work on the NOAA “white ships.” That mindset can translate. Nothing says, flexible, compassionate and approachable like people on a ship together for a couple of weeks monitoring our natural resources. Anything can happen and you need to be prepared for it. This experience reminded me of commuting by bike to work. You can get comfortable, but the world says, slow down and pay attention. Anything can happen at sea, anything can happen on land. Pays to be kind, teachable and adaptable. This experience reminded me of that motto.
It’s been a challenge. A challenge well expected, welcomed and enjoyable. I think that’s one thing I would like to impart from my blogs, to my colleagues and students. Never turn down opportunities to learn, we don’t know it all, and you don’t know where experiences could take you. This was hard but an open-mind and humility made it easier.
Final Station of Fishing
This journey has continued my route I’ve been engaged in for the last few years. I was asked to start a course at New York Harbor School, and experiences like these enhance myself as an educator and the community I serve. Hopefully, this journey hooks some folks – colleagues and students – to be inspired like I have throughout this journey. Moreover, I’m looking forward to reading next year’s Teacher at Sea blogs.
Hooking experiences and the longline
I welcome any chance to do this again. I wonder if my students would jump at the chance?
Full transparency and sort of tells the whole story of these blogs; trying to reach students with valuable information for their future and interests. Moreover, this experience strengthened my knowledge and skills to do so. The video has been edited. I missed catching the long line with the grappling hook a few times. Don’t believe all the pictures and videos. Beyond the photos are people trying and often failing. The best way to learn something is by doing and learning from others. We all make mistakes, and it’s not the end of the world. However, at sea, although mistakes happen, it’s a time of reflection because sometimes when doing science on a ship at sea, it is best not to make mistakes. I made mistakes while on the trip, I asked for help and guidance.
Final words for students:
Fear isn’t always a bad thing if its coupled with an attitude of open-mindedness and a teachable attitude. Like Amy said, take the fantasy out of the idea.
You are asking great questions. Answers are in the blogs; if I missed them, I will answer in class.
Teacher at Sea; on land and on bike with students mapping climate issues and solutions. Photo courtesy of New York Harbor School.
Geographic Area of Cruise: Northwest Atlantic Ocean
Blog Post #3, August 5, 2025
Date: August 5, 2025
Weather Data from Bridge: Latitude: 4259.65 N Longitude: 07026.35 W Relative Wind speed: 15 Wind Direction: 356 Air Temperature: 21.3 Sea Surface Temperature: 18.996 Barometric Pressure: 1023.4 Speed over ground: 9.9 Water Conductivity: 4.265 Water Salinity: 31.21
Sky is overcast due to the Canadian wildfires!
First, a Thank you to Pam who posted a comment to my last post. When out at sea, it is good to know someone is reading along!
Second, an answer to the math problem….. If we are out at sea for two weeks, and deploy the Bongo nets at 100 different stops, our team of scientists will deploy and collect plankton over seven times each day, and since there are two groups, we’ll each deploy and collect about 3-4 times each day. (No, we can’t do partial, or fractional, jobs!)
Photo: Sunset while on duty is the best!
Science at Sea:
Over 70% of our planet’s surface contains water. While we can’t analyze every single drop, we can monitor and evaluate water quality patterns to better understand and predict changes in weather, climate, oceans, and coasts. NOAA scientists’ work supports severe weather preparedness and international shipping.
Photos: Scientist team and Deck team work together to get CTD equipment in place. Photos by LT Karina Urquhart.
The CTD Rosette is an instrument used to collect water samples in the water column at our stops on our Ecosystem Monitoring (EcoMon) Cruise. “CTD” stands for conductivity, temperature and depth. Closer to the ocean floor, the temperature will be colder (lower) and the pressure will be higher. Conductivity describes how well electricity is being conducted and can be used to determine salinity. Taken together, salinity, temperature, and pressure influence water density, which in turn drive ocean currents and influence global climate patterns. Monitoring salinity and temperature patterns helps us better understand marine life distribution and predict changes in our planet’s water cycle.
The CTD Rosette also has oxygen sensors and a fluorometer. There are 12 Niskin bottles that open and close to collect water samples at different depths in the column. Water from three of the bottles is for a project on chlorophyll concentration. We filter water from three different depths to be examined back at the land lab. (Find out more about CTD Rosettes here.)
CTD Rosette waiting for the next stop. Do you see the windmills?!
You do the Math: If I filtered water from 3 CTD Rosette bottles at each of our 100 stops, and it takes 12 minutes to run the protocol to filter each bottle, then how much time (in days) would I spend on the project? Check in the next blog post for the answer.
Interesting Things: There are no landfills in the ocean. So what happens to our waste?! After every meal we scrape our food waste into a bucket and our paper and plastic waste into another bucket. Plates, cups, bowls, and silverware are washed for the next meal. The food waste is pulverized and dumped into the ocean to biodegrade. The other bucket’s waste is incinerated onboard.
Career Spotlight:
Santanna Dawson, professional mariner
Santanna Dawson has been a part of the deck department on NOAA Ship Pisces for the last year and a half. His team is responsible for everything deck – docking, undocking, equipment, cargo, operations, maintenance, painting, repairing, and even security rounds (in case something comes loose and starts rolling around in the night). He ensures the science experiments actually happen by getting the equipment safely in place.
Santanna speaks with a Gullah Geechee dialect, a mixture of creole and low county charm. And even though he grew up around the ocean in South Carolina, his plan was to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Air Force. A car accident after graduation snapped his femur in half, changing everything. Santanna began his career with little knowledge of the maritime industry, working his way up from entry level with training (earning a spot at a maritime school in San Diego) and persistence.
One tool Santanna says he can’t live without is a hammer. A tool he doesn’t have yet is a Bluetooth screw driver. The next book on his reading list is Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.
Santanna was one of the first people I met on the ship, and he made me feel right at home. How is that? It wasn’t the obvious southern drawl (he sounds more Senegalese!) but the fact that Santana recently lived in Knightdale, NC, my hometown! He knows about the beautiful Knightdale Station Park and his son attended Knightdale High School. As my mom would say, it really is a small world!
Personal Log: It is joyful to get to “do science” every day! Today I saw pilot whales on the flying bridge with binoculars and a fish egg in the lab with a microscope. I hope you get to experience some joy today, too!
Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Ocean, Slope Sea
Date: 7/21/2025
Weather Data:
4:27 PM Eastern Time
Information source: Windy app
The current temperature is 26°C (°79F).
The wind speed is 270 knots (21mph). Source: Windy app.
Science Log
Mighty Primary scholars: Our mission has officially started! NOAA Ship Pisces sailed to an area of the ocean called Slope Sea. Slope Sea is what scientists use to describe a part of ocean here on the East Coast.
The Slope Sea is a region, or area, of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Photo credit: NOAA
We’ve been sailing to areas with the best conditions for larval bluefin tuna to spawn, where larval bluefin tuna are born. Each color represents water temperature. On the scale (right), from blue to red represents colder to hotter water temperature.
Chief Scientist Dave gave a presentation on the goals of our mission.Chief Scientist Dave gave a presentation on the goals of our mission.
Activity: Let’s explore Slope Sea on Google Earth!
Remember, our mission is to survey (catch and identify) larval bluefin fish. Since one of our science members focuses on surveying seabirds, there are 8 of us left for work. We are divided into two equal teams for the shifts, or watches.
Sunset Crew
This team works from the 3PM to 3AM watch. They get to see the sunset!
Chief Scientist Dave
Autumn
Betsy
Myself
Sunrise Crew
This team works from the 3AM to 3PM watch. They get to see the sunrise!
Sunrise crew is representing! Photo credit: Allison BlackThey’re extra excited for the mission. Photo credit: Allison Black
Kristen
Amanda
Sarah
Chrissy
Seabird Crew
Allison surveys seabirds on the flying bridge, the highest point of NOAA Ship Pisces! She then identifies them for research.
With Allison, watching for seabirds or marine animals!This tool is like binoculars. It magnifies, or zooms into, objects.It’s great for the view as well!
Mighty Primary scholars: Here’s a math connection. How many hours are there in one shift? If we combine both shifts, what is the total number of hours?
We’ve all been coordinating (working together) for these four tasks to be done:
Computer for CTD and Data
We look at CTD data. We use walkie-talkies to coordinate with deck crew and NOAA Corps Officers so that it is dropped into the sea. When it’s returned, we record data.
We then print out CTD information (remember conductivity, temperature, and depth) to label our bottles of samples.
Recording CTD dataRecording CTD dataRecording CTD data
We make sure all the data is saved and then backed up, or stored, so that other scientists can use them for more research.
Washing Bongo Nets
After catching planktons (tiny fish and other small creatures), we wash the nets carefully, so we don’t lose any samples.
Bongo nets return to deck.
Chrissy washed down plankton into a tray.
Preserving samples
We wash and store planktons in jars to keep them safe.
Dave carefully washed plankton down to be preserved and then observed.Amanda stored collected plankton into jars, which are then studied and then saved for later research.
These bottles are stored in ethanol, which helps preserve (protect) the DNA of planktons.
We print CTD information from the computer to label collected samples.
Identification (ID)
We look closely and carefully at planktons’ physical properties to identify them.
We use a microscope for this.
What is a microscope?
A microscope is a tool that allows small creatures or objects to be seen. Almost like looking through binoculars or a camera to zoom in.
Autumn was observing and identifying what kinds of planktons we saw on the microscope. They were identified as chaetognaths and another type of tuna! No bluefin tuna larvae yet. Photo credit: Autumn Moya
I had to pay close attention! I had to move the planktons around a lot using a tweezer (can you locate it in the picture?)
Pouring the samples into a tray helped us pick out certain plankton to observe. The light and the tweezer definitely helped!
Can you guess what we were looking at?
Sometimes, when a scientist is really good at one task, he or she would stick to it throughout the entire shift.
You’ve learned about NOAA Corps Officers who work in the bridge and support our science missions. We’ve also been working closely with the deck crew to make our surveying possible.
The deck crew helps the ship work safely. They make sure everything on deck working right. Photo credit: NOAA Ship Pisces
Nets on deckDeploying a drifterDeploying the CTD
On our shifts, they’ve been helping us put the CTD instrument and drifters into the water and then back on ship.
They do things like drive small boats to and from the ship.They tie the ship to the dock with ropes when it stops.
A video of deck crew members making sure ropes were tied to the dock.
Personal Log
Right now, I’m writing to you from the flying deck, or the very top part of the ship.
The flying deck is a wide, open area where scientists can get a great view of the ocean, sky, and marine life.
This is part of an anemometer that measures wind speed and direction.
Allison gets very excited when she sees fish or seabirds! If we’re not with her on the flying bridge, she sends photos and videos:
A brown booby bird flying around NOAA Ship Pisces. Video credit: Allison BlackPhoto Credit: Allison Black, NOAA Photo Credit: Allison Black, NOAA
We spent more time practicing safety drills. It’s important that all crew members know about safety equipment.
We went over how to evacuate our staterooms in case there’s a fire and lots of smoke. This included hands-on practice. We were blindfolded to make it feel real! Was scientist Allison able to evacuate safely?
Good healthy food is super important on a ship! We eat three meals a day in the mess (kitchen). There are continental foods, fruits, and drinks we can enjoy all day and night. Do you recognize some of the food here? What is something you’d like to eat aboard?
Right now, because of my shift, I sleep in so I miss breakfast. I make it up by having a big lunch instead. Throughout the afternoon and night, I snack on lots of vegetables and fruits.
The stewards in our mission cook and prepare all the delicious food for everyone. They make sure the scientists and crew stay strong and healthy by serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They work in the kitchen (remember: called the galley or mess).
Our Chief Steward Jean and Steward Mo.
Enjoying an ice cream social.
Crew members hang out in the galley, or kitchen.
Jean and Mo preparing our dinner, listening to awesome music.
Crew members lining up for lunch.
A riddle on screen while we wait in line. Can you solve it?
My colorful meal!
Can’t forget the hot sauce.
Did you know?
There are 15 different types, or species, of tuna that live in all the oceans of the world! Some are tiny… and some are giants (as you know)!
Here are just a few types of tuna!
Bluefin Tuna
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
The biggest! They can weigh over 1,000 pounds. Found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Yellowfin Tuna
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Named for its bright yellow fins. Super fast swimmers. Popular in sushi!
Skipjack Tuna
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Small but speedy. Most common in canned tun. Has stripes on its belly
Albacore Tuna
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Known as “white tuna.” Has long fins. Also used in canned tuna
Bigeye Tuna
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Got its name from its large eyes. Loves deep, cooler waters. Fished for sushi and sashimi
Now, if you’d like, try this activity: Compare and contrast two different types of tuna fish!
Pick two types of tuna. Name them on each circle. Write or draw the differences (outside) or similarities (overlap, inside). Resource credit: Sinh Nguyen
![a group of 5 polaroid photos pinned to a cork bulletin board under a small title, separately pinned, that reads "Augmenters." Each photo is hand-labeled. The first is a photo of Jen sitting at a computer, labeled "TAS Widdig." The other augmenting crew are identified as ENS Ruiz, ENS [illegible], 2C Grant, CC Wright.](https://i0.wp.com/noaateacheratsea.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260625_131214.jpg?ssl=1)
