flatfish – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

Amelia Black, There’s No Place Like Home, July 18, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Amelia Black

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 6-17, 2026

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico
Date: July 18, 2026

Science and Technology Log

Are you curious about the final number of marine taxa (types) that we caught on Leg 3 of the SEAMAP Groundfish Survey?

We caught more than even the scientists onboard predicted we would! However, before I tell you the final count, I want to explain a little bit about the process of sorting and identifying the different types of marine life counted during the survey.

Not everything that came up in the net was counted as part of the survey. Trash, empty shells, sea grass, and organisms small enough to pass through the holes in the net were not included. We first sorted everything into similar groups and then separated those groups further when needed. For marine life that looked very similar or was difficult to identify, the scientists would double-check each other’s work to make sure everything was sorted correctly. Remember, this survey was not just about fish but included all kinds of marine life living on the ocean floor.

Looking at these pictures, can you tell the difference between some of these organisms?

four flat fish displayed in a column down a white plastic measuring board. each flatfish is positioned with its mouth to the left of the photo, so that the two eyes, which are on the same (top-facing) side, are visible. the fish toward the top is noticeably larger than the three laid out beneath it. — Four different types of flatfish, most commonly known as Flounder, all caught in the same haul

two closed scallop shells photographed on a metal sorting table. the one on the left is larger, and appears lighter in color, mottled yellow and orange. we can see a few small barnacles attached to its shell. the one on the right is smaller, darker, and cleaner. — Two different types of scallops

Sometimes it was easy to tell the difference and other times it was very difficult. The scientists had to not only know the differences but also the scientific (Latin) names for hundreds of different marine taxa. Occasionally, we would catch something that was not common during the groundfish survey. When this happened the scientists would consult identification guides or databases to help identify what we had caught.

Over the past two weeks, I have learned so much and encountered many new names and words. Not only have I learned the common names of the marine life we encountered, but I have also learned their scientific names. I’m not sure how many of those names will stay in my long-term memory since I may never encounter some of these organisms again. I do know I have learned more than I ever expected.

I was able to identify a lionfish on someone’s shirt! Before this trip, I never would have recognized it.

a man stands in the wetlab, surrounded by metal work tables. on the table in front of him are several white plastic sorting baskets. His gloved right hand grasps the jaw of a lionfish and holds it toward the camera for a photo. we can see the dramatic spotted fins and striped body of the fish, its feathery pectoral fins, and its tall dorsal spines. — Scientist Dereke with a lionfish.

Lionfish are an invasive species from the Indo-Pacific region. They are related to scorpionfish and also have venomous spines. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lionfish-facts.html

So.. what was the final count?

The total count of different marine taxa (types) that we counted was…

350!

That’s 350 different marine taxa that we identified during Leg 3 of the survey. Then, every individual within those taxa had to be counted, with many also being measured and weighed. It was incredible to see the diversity of life living on the ocean floor.

Watch this slideshow to see video to see some of the amazing marine life we encountered.

Marine Life of the Groundfish Survey

Did you see any marine life that looked familiar? I did! I was surprised to learn that there are catfish in the sea! They are a different type than the catfish we have in the rivers back home in Kansas, but they look very similar.

Personal Log

Before leaving for this trip, I wanted to get a picture of the sunset every night. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen! At first, I did not realize the sun set around 8:00 p.m. in the Gulf instead of closer to 9:00 p.m. like back home in Kansas. By the time I figured that out, I had already missed a few beautiful sunsets. Thankfully, I was still able to capture several beautiful sunsets before the end of the trip.

a collage of 6 photos. the largest photo, at top left, is a selfie of Amelia taken in front of a railing at sunset. she wears her Teacher at Sea hat. this photo is surrounded by five smaller square images to its right and bottom sides. Each shows a different sunset, capturing a range of colors. One sunset is viewed through a porthole.

They say that if you are lucky, you might see a ‘green flash’ just as the sun disappears below the horizon because green is the last color visible before the sun is gone. I watched every chance I got, but I was not lucky enough to see one.

As I head back to Kansas, I just want to say thank you to everyone who made this experience possible. Thank you to the NOAA Teacher at Sea team, the crew of Oregon II, the science team, and everyone who followed along on my adventure.

It is still hard to believe that this was my life for the past two weeks. The entire Oregon II crew was incredibly welcoming and made the ship feel like a home away from home.

a collage of two photos, stacked. the top photo shows 5 people in hard hats, life vests, and gloves standing near the railing of NOAA Ship Oregon II. Four of the people are facing the camera to smile for the photo; the fifth is facing away, grasping a rope with both hands. One woman holds an empty sorting basket off to her side. In the bottom photo, 6 people stand in different locations around the wet lab, and smile for the photo. Four are positioned around a table to be sort and measure fish. — Part of the science team aboard NOAA ship *Oregon II*

To the science team, thank you for making room for a Teacher at Sea and for answering my thousand-and-one questions. You are an incredible group of people, and the research you do to help monitor the health of the Gulf is so important. A special thank you to Scientist Dereke for being willing to pick up the ‘spicy’ fish so I could take pictures, and to Mo, the college student, for learning alongside me and teaching me about marine biology.

Amelia takes a selfie in front of NOAA Ship Oregon II from the dock in Pascagoula. It is low tide, so the ship sits low compared to the dock and the hull is mostly out of sight. Amelia wears a maroon shirt that reads "There's No Place Like Home"

Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, “there is no place like home.” While I am happy to be back in Kansas and preparing for my next adventure at a new school, I know I will miss the people I met aboard Oregon II. It truly became a home away from home.

Artist Highlight

Meet artist Sean Gronquist, a member of the NOAA crew. Sean uses the Japanese art of fish printing called Gyotaku. Gyo means fish and taku means rubbing. This traditional art form began as a way for fishermen to record their catches before photography and is still practiced today. https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/get-involved/educational-uses-gyotaku-or-fish-printing

a man uses both hands to hold an unfurled piece of paper or perhaps a canvas displaying a black and white print of a dolphinfish. he has a serious expression. in front of him on a table, more artwork is rolled up on a wooden dowel. — Sean Gronquist displays a fish print of a dolphinfish

Activity Corner

Choose an ocean animal that interests you and do a little research. Where does it live? What adaptations help it survive? What role does it play in its ecosystem?

Here is a website you can use to help you learn more about your ocean animal: https://oceanconservancy.org

You can also learn more about Gyotaku https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_mG-Ka4mv8&t=1s or even create your own fish print https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tI92lYwL8U For younger children, I recommend using finger paints instead of traditional ink.

Book Recommendations

The science team shared some of their favorite ocean-themed books for readers of all ages. Whether you are just beginning to learn about marine life or you are looking for your next great read, I hope you find one that inspires you to learn more about our oceans.

Lower Elementary

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
The Cod’s Tale by Mark Kurlansky

Upper Elementary and Up

The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk by Sy Montgomery
Why Fish Fart: Gross but True Things You’ll Wish You Didn’t Know by Francesca Gould

Middle School and up

Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate by Jennifer A. Mather
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Nonfiction High School and up

What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe
Emperors of the Deep by William McKeever
Longitude by Dava Sobel
So Excellent a Fishe by Archie Carr
A Shadow and a Song by Mark Jerome Walters

Fiction High School and up

Andy Weir: The Martian or Project Hail Mary
Merfolk by Jeremy Bates

Nonfiction Adult

Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky
The Reef: A Passionate History by Iain McCalman
The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales
Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Rachel Carson’ ‘s The Sea Around Us or Silent Spring

Adult Fiction Books

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Did You Know?

Oregon II will welcome another NOAA Teacher at Sea at the end of July for Longline Survey. It will be a different science team, but I hear they will be catching lots of sharks and snappers! Follow the NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog to continue the adventure.

Adventure awaits!

¡La aventura te espera!

Sources

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/ctd/
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/science-data/oceanographic-and-ecosystem-sampling-during-pacific-hake-survey
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/ctd/
https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-conductivity
https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/19gulfofalaska-logs-july26-2/ https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-07/parameter-factsheet_turbidity.pdf

July 8, 2010April 15, 2021

Bruce Taterka, July 8, 2010

NOAA Teacher at Sea: Bruce Taterka
NOAA Ship: Oregon II

Mission: SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey
Geographical Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sexing the Catch

Weather Data from the Bridge

Time: 1630 (4:30 pm)
Position: Latitude = 28.20.93 N; Longitude = 095.58.98 W
Present Weather: Could cover 100%
Visibility: 4-6 nautical miles
Wind Speed: 18 knots
Wave Height: 6-8 feet
Sea Water Temp: 28.9 C
Air Temperature: Dry bulb = 27.2 C; Wet bulb = 25.3 C
Barometric Pressure: 1011.56 mb

Science and Technology Log

As you can tell from our previous blogs, we spend a lot of our time on the Oregon II counting, measuring and weighing our catch and loading the data into FSCS. These data are critical to NOAA and the states in managing fish stocks and the Gulf ecosystem. In addition to knowing population size, weights, and lengths of individuals it’s also important to know the sex of the organisms. Information on the male:female ratio helps NOAA and the states assess the ability of the population to reproduce, and to establish sustainable catch levels for commercial fishing.

But how do you determine the sex of marine organisms? For most fish and invertebrates you can only tell the sex by internal anatomy, which almost always requires cutting the animal open. This is time consuming and not always practical when we have a large catch to process and other tasks take priority, such as preparing samples to be analyzed for contamination from the oil spill which is our top priority right now.

For some organisms, however, sex can be determined externally. One of the things we’ve learned in the past week is how to determine the sex of shrimp, flatfish, crabs, sharks, skates and rays. Here’s how:

Shrimp: the males have a pair of claspers (called petasma) on their first set of legs.The petasma are absent in females. The males use the petasma during mating to grasp the female and transfer the sperm sac.

Shrimp M — Male – arrows show the petasma

Crabs: On most crab species females have wide plates curving around the rear of the abdomen, while males have a long narrow plate or plates. On females, the eggs develop under the curved plate.

Flatfish: When you hold a flatfish up to the light you can see through it, which enables you to do an internal examination without cutting it open. On female flatfish, the gonad extends in a dark red, curved wedge which is absent in the male.

Flatfish F — Female showing long curved gonad

Flatfish M — Male – long gonad is absent

Sharks, skates and rays. Males have external claspers that they use in mating, while in females the cloaca is smooth and claspers are absent.

Shark M — Male Angel shark – arrows point to claspers

Shark F — Female Angel shark – claspers are absent

Personal Log

A tropical depression moved through the Gulf yesterday evening, making it too rough and windy to fish. So instead of counting, measuring and loading data into FSCS, my watchmates and I cleaned the lab, secured our gear, and headed up to the lounge to watch Shutter Island on the large-screen TV. Last night my bunk was like a roller coaster, tossing me from side-to-side and head-to-toe as the ship rolled and pitched in the big swells. Today has been a slow day for the scientists on board, waiting for the storm to pass so we can start trawling again, while the crew and officers remain as busy as ever.

July 10, 2009April 5, 2021

Megan Woodward, July 10, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Megan Woodward
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
July 1 – 18, 2009

Mission: Bering Sea Acoustic Trawl Survey
Geographical Area: Bering Sea/Dutch Harbor
Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2009

The pollock are carefully loaded onto the table.

Weather/Location
Position: N 56.30.202; W 172.34.37
Air Temp: 7.4 (deg C)
Water Temp: 7.4 (deg C)
Wind Speed: 19 knots
Weather: Overcast

Science and Technology

Once the fish are onboard a rigorous data collection process begins. All of the data collected are recorded via instruments linked to a computer network in the fish lab. Below is a series of photos showing the process used in the fish lab to collect valuable data.

Once the fish are on the table, we carefully look through the fish for any species other than pollock caught in the trawl. These non-pollock species are sorted into bins and accounted for. The fish are weighed one basket full at a time as they reach the end of the conveyor belt. Initially, we take a count of how many fish fill one basket. There is a scale connected to a computer program that records the basket’s weight.

The sorting begins. The pollock are sorted between male and female.

After weighing the pollock, we move on to sorting a sample of approximately 300 fish by sex. To find the sex of a fish we cut open its belly and look for either male or female reproductive organs. The sexed fish are then placed in the appropriate bin. Next, each pollock from the male/female sort is measured in centimeters. We use a measuring board linked to a computer that records the size of each fish. There is a small tool in my hand that gets placed at the “v” of the fish tail. Sensors on the board detect the placement of the measuring wand, and send a length measurement to the computer so it can be recorded. This program also keeps track of how many fish we measure, so we get an accurate sample count.

The stomach of a pollock is prepared for preservation.

Several scientists have asked us to collect pollock for various research projects. One project, designed to study the diet of pollock, requires us to sex, measure, weigh and take the stomach of 20 pollock from each haul. A label with all of the information is placed in a bag with the stomach. They are placed in a freezer for preservation purposes.

Here I am using the measuring board. The stomach of a pollock is prepared for preservation. — Here I am using the measuring board.

We also use a similar process for scientists examining one-year-old pollock. This study asks for the entire fish to be preserved, not a specific organ. In one 12-hour shift there is a maximum of 3 trawls if fish sign is identified in the acoustics lab. Each trawl takes 2 to 3 hours to process. It’s possible another trawl could happen while finishing up the data collection from the previous haul. This makes for a very busy, fish filled shift.

Personal Log

Working in the fish lab has provided for a tremendous amount of new learning to take place. I’ve learned to identify species of fish that mix in with pollock (capelin, flatfish, skate and cod), and have seen several crustaceans and jellyfish, too. All of the measuring technology has been straight forward and user friendly. Sexing the fish has been the most difficult job, but has become easier with practice. Examining the innards to identify male or female reproductive organs seems nearly impossible in the young fish, and it’s not always clear in the older fish.

Today I was in charge of weighing the fish as they came down the conveyor belt. I was certainly mistaken when I thought it would be a simple task. First off, I had to count the fish as they dropped into the basket at a speed faster than I could count. At the same time I had to control the speed of the belt and open the gate so more fish would move down the line. When the basket was full, I stopped the belt and placed the full (semi-accurately counted) basket on the scale and waited for the scale’s “steady” signal to come on. Since the boat is constantly in motion the steady light rapidly blinks on and off. It took me three tries before I managed to get the basket weighed. Meanwhile the rest of the team patiently waited. Maybe I’ll give it another try tomorrow.

This average sized skate was flapping his wings making him difficult to hold. Look closely at the fish on the conveyor belt and you will see hermit crabs and seastars.

Basketstars were brought up in a bottom trawl. Hermit crabs and snails were also caught in the bottom trawl. — Basketstars were brought up in a bottom trawl.

Hermit crabs and snails were also caught in the bottom trawl. — Hermit crabs and snails were also caught in the trawl.

Animals Seen

Minke Whale
Skate
Pacific Cod
Tanner Crab
Snow Crab
Basketstar
Sturgeon Poacher
Snails
Hermit Crabs
Arrow Tooth Flounder

July 5, 2009April 5, 2021

Megan Woodward, July 5, 2009

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Megan Woodward
Onboard NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson
July 1 – 18, 2009

Mission: Bering Sea Acoustic Trawl Survey
Geographical Area: Bering Sea/Dutch Harbor
Date: Tuesday, July 5, 2009

Weather/Location
Position: N 58.37.239; W 171.05.968
Air Temp: 4.5-6.0 (deg C)
Water Temp: 4.94 (deg C)
Wind Speed: 16 knots
Weather: Overcast and rainy

This is the screen I use to get info about our ship’s location. The little white speck inside the red oval is our ship.

Science and Technology Log

We have been at sea now for almost five days in search of pollock. The fish had not been spotted on the lines we traveled on until today. We had the opportunity for our first pollock trawl around 02:00, and used the Methot net to bring in two zooplankton samples earlier in my shift. This was by far the most action yet. I was eager and ready to see what the fishing process was all about. This log will focus on the zooplankton samples.

The Methot net was put in the water and lowered to the desired depth determined by watching the location of the acoustic return. After twenty minutes the net was brought back up and the catch was unloaded. I was expecting a net full of euphausiids, but the critters were actually collected in a small container on the back end of the net. The catch was brought into the fish lab and dumped into a bucket so we could separate the other organisms caught in the net (9 jellyfish and 23 tiny pollock in this case). Once the other fish had been removed, we took a sample (a ••• cup scoop) to weigh and count the euphausiids in the sample (sample is shown above). The rest of the catch was also weighed.

There were 543 euphausiids in the scoop. The weight and number help estimate the amount of euphausiids in the entire catch. We repeated this process again a few hours later. The second sample had almost twice as many euphausiids, 13 jellyfish and fewer than 5 pollock.

The survey tech and skilled fishermen lower the Methot net into the water.

Personal Log

Until today, the fishing portion of this trip remained a mystery. However, I was feeling a little sea sick, okay very sea sick, so it was probably a good thing. We encountered some VERY rough seas with sustained winds ranging from 30-40 knots and swells averaging 17 ft. Some of the swells were much larger; one was rumored to be almost 35 ft. high. Apparently the rough seas are expected to return tonight and tomorrow. My sea legs are securely fastened, so I am ready to take on whatever the sea has to offer.

When we brought in the first haul of pollock last night, my eyes must have looked like they were going to roll out of my head. I couldn’t believe how many fish were coming across the conveyor belt. This was what I had been waiting for, so I got on my rain gear and started sorting the fish. Each species was placed into separate crates so a count of all fish caught could be taken. Of course, pollock made up the majority of the catch. In the next few weeks, I will become an expert member of the pollock survey team. Everyone on board, both scientists and crew, have been more than willing to answer my

A sample of zooplankton brought up in the Methot net. These are euphausiids, which are also referred to as krill.

Getting used to the 16:00-04:00 (4pm4am) shift has been trying. Today’s shift was the first that didn’t require a nap. Due to the odd shift hours, I’ve been waking up at 14:00 (2 pm) and going to bed around 05:00 (5 am). This makes mealtime tricky. Dinner is served first, then I eat some breakfast in the middle of the night. My body is thoroughly confused. The ship’s cooks are wonderful, and continually provide a stocked mess hall with loads of choices. I swear the dessert bar is continually whispering my name. I couldn’t ask for a more kind, welcoming group of people to work questions. One part of this adventure I’m looking forward to is getting to know the wide range of characters who make this important research possible.

It was certainly a thrill to see the first whale of the trip. The pod was spotted just off the bow of the ship andlater seen in the distance.

Animals Seen

Fin Whale
Jelly Fish
Flathead Sole
Northern Flathead Sole
Arrow tooth Flounder
Pollock
Yellow Irish Lord
Euphausiids

New Vocabulary

Zooplankton– A very small or microscopic animal organisms possessing little or no power of locomotion (can’t move themselves), leaving them to merely drift or float in the water.

Euphausiids (eu·phau·si·id) – A type of zooplankton, also known as krill, are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans that form an important part in the diet of many animals including whales, seals, fishes and birds. These are the main food source for pollock.

Methot Net – Methot is the name of the man who designed the style of plankton net we used to catch the euphausiids.

One of several jellyfish brought up in the nets. This guy is slimy and heavy, but not a stinger