hammerhead – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 26, 2025August 28, 2025

Robert Markuske: Starting to Untangle the Lines of Science and Policy, but Not Finished… August 26, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Robert Markuske

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

August 13 – 29, 2025

Mission: Long Shark and Snapper Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of America

Date: August 26th, 2025

Greenwich mean Time: 5:52 PM

Data from the Bridge:

Latitude: 29 degrees 22.755’N
Longitude: 83 degrees 37.314’W
Relative Wind speed: 5.42 Knots
Wind Direction: Southeast
Air Temperature: 32.8 Celsius
Sea Surface Temperature: 30.3 Celsius

close-up photo of Rob, wearing a hard hat, life vest, reflective sunglasses, and a serious expression; in the distance, across a span of blue water, is the full view of NOAA Ship Oregon II. the sky is blue with a few wispy clouds. — Had a chance to ride the small boat, and really see the *Oregon II*

Ahoy from the Gulf!

This first paragraph was written in worse weather. Today the sun has come out and the calm waters are back. But previously, I was editing this blog as we floated around in storms in the Gulf. They finally dissipated and we had a chance to score stations with a snakefish, sandbar, and a tiger shark. Probably one of the higher-wave days on the Beaufort scale since we left the port of Miami. Today’s prediction from the bridge is west-southwest winds at 5–10 knots and wave heights of about 1 ft, with scattered showers. The Oregon II is rolling, and swaying to the beat of the Gulf.

What number do we fall on the Beaufort scale? Right now, we’re sitting at about a 2—depending on the moment. But it can change quickly.

Video from the galley. What’s our Beaufort Reading?

a table explaining the Beaufort Scale (Estimating Wind Speed and Sea State with Visual Cues.) Beaufort numbers range from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane.) — Beaufort Scale

Just like our environment speaks to us about what’s happening around us, the ship communicates with other seafarers. The Day Shapes on the Oregon II mean something. Different shapes, and combinations of shapes, signal the level of awareness and caution other vessels need to have when approaching.

Different shapes, and combinations of shapes, signal the level of awareness and caution other vessels need to have when approaching.

view up the mast of a line with metal shapes suspended from it — Shapes are tied to Foremast to communicate with other vessels

closer view of three metal shapes suspended in a line from lines against a blue sky. — Shapes are tied to Foremast to communicate with other vessels

Our Day Shapes mean we’re restricted in our ability to maneuver – especially when we are deploying the CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) instrument. Since late in the evening on August 13th, we’ve been laying long lines and conducting CTD’s in 12-hour watches, usually 3-4 sets per watch.

meteorologica map of the Gulf of America from the Windy App showing some storm clouds toward Florida — We are currently the white dot inside the white circle in the storm front.

So those shapes have been up for a while. Other than our current status, wading in the not so velvet Gulf, we’ve been consistently living those shapes.

I already blogged about how we fish using bottom longline gear—I’m going to dive a little deeper into why we do it, what happens after the fish are caught, and what happens after we release them.

I just want to preface this by saying: this is by far one of the most complicated topics I’ve ever tried to teach high school students. Part of my work out here is learning from the people who do this everyday, so I can simplify it and make a complex system of natural resource management engaging for my students—and make it make sense.

Everything I’m sharing below is based on my personal experience learning from the fisheries biologists aboard the Oregon II—whom I’ll introduce in another blog post—as well as digging through NOAA Fisheries and academic resources to add to my understanding. Some of those resources were created with input from the very fisheries biologists on this ship, using the science and data collected during surveys like the one I’m on.

Enjoy.

Fish Hauled – New additions are in red, since last blog post.

As of August 17th As of August 25th
Silky Shark – Carcharhinus falciformis
Sandbar Shark – Carcharhinus plumbeus
Barracuda– Sphyraena barracuda
Speckled hind– Epinephelus drummondhayi
Yellowedge grouper – Hyporthodus flavolimbatus
Red Porgy – Pagrus pagrus
Tiger Shark– Galeocerdo cuvier
Sharpnose shark– Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Gulf Smoothhound – Mustelus sinusmexicanus
Snakefish – Trachinocephalus myops Great Hammerhead shark – Sphyrna mokarran
BlackTip shark – Carcharhinus limbatus
Spotted eel –
Lemon Shark – Negaprion brevirostris
Nurse Shark – Ginglymostoma cirratum
Blacknose shark – Carcharhinus acronotus
Scallaoped Hammerhead – Sphyrna lewini
Click Common Name for for more info

beautiful photo of sunset over the ocean, with streaks of blue and orange — Whats beneath the water and beyond that horizon?

Science and Technology Blog

Often overlooked, forgotten, Oceans and waterways are a massive source of “wild food,” a popular recreational playground, spiritual engagement, an epic research zone, and home to endless stakeholders. What I find most captivating about our ocean—and the complicated relationship humans have with it—is that you can’t see what’s below the surface without incredible precision, science, and a bit of luck and/ or chance.

a view of NOAA Ship Oregon II underway, at a distance, such that the length of the ship is visible. the sky is bright blue with wispy white clouds, and the ocean is glassy enough to reflect the images of the ship and the sky — Oregon II Underway to next fishing station.

The vast ocean covers 70% of Earth, and it’s deeply intertwined with our food, culture, oxygen, weather and climate, the water cycle, and life itself—the mystical, the economical, the spiritual, the recreational, and the scientific—right down to our land. How we manage and use it is vital to us all.

There are endless trenches I could dive into, but I’ll do my best to keep a steady progression in these blogs, cater to the students who will likely be reading this once school starts, and hopefully inspire some of them to explore deeper depths. I know I will—both during this trip and when I return to Brooklyn.

What is a “stock,” and how is it assessed?

First and foremost, a “stock” refers to the population demographics of a species of marine life. Stock assessments are conducted to check abundance and respond accordingly if needed with management strategies.

These assessments are built on the ABCs of a stock: Abundance, Biology, and Catch.

How do you collect data for the ABCs of fisheries science?

There are two types of data collected to assess a stock: fishery-dependent and fishery-independent.

Fishery-independent	Fishery-dependent
Fishery-independent data are collected by biologists on at-sea surveys that keep sampling time, area and gear consistent to gather information on fish stock abundance, biology, and their ecosystem.	Fishery-dependent data are collected directly from recreational and commercial fisheries, and provides landings information (total numbers caught), bycatch (catch that is incidentally caught), and biological details about the fish.

I am currently on a Fishery-Independent survey.

photo of a screen displaying planned ship transects overlaid on a nautical chart filled with depth readings — This a sample of what the day will look like.

Where is Oregon II going?

Being on the open water can get you all spun around. Now add zig-zagging across the Gulf nonstop for 18 days, 24 hours a day—baiting, setting, hauling, and doing science in the blistering heat. It helps that we have charts all over the “dry lab” and around the ship to show us where we are and where we’re headed.

I’m currently on Leg 2 of the survey. This survey has four legs. A leg is a separate time at sea within the overall survey. On each leg, different stations are worked to meet the objectives. The survey runs down the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to West Palm Beach, FL, then transits back around past the Florida Keys and into the Gulf to begin sampling again north of the Dry Tortugas. In the Gulf, data is collected at three different depth strata: the shallowest and closest to the coast (9–55 m), midway (55–183 m), and farther out on the continental shelf (183–366 m)—bouncing back and forth along the shelf as we move up the western coast of Florida.

On my leg, we fish at different stations throughout the eastern Gulf, moving between these depth strata. I wasn’t too far from the coast where some families live. These stations are selected at random, with some structure like the depth strata and geographic areas to help ensure adequate spatial coverage. .

black and white line map of the eastern Gulf of America with green dots showing the sample stations, and a few black square outlines; also bathymetric lines; the sample sites are all in the contours along the coast of Florida, not in the deep Gulf — Green Dots represent areas surveyed, and black squares represent MPAs (Marine Protected Areas)

What is collected and how is it collected?

Catch is identified, measured, weighed, sexed, and often a fin clip is taken. Not all sharks are tagged, but every single one is identified. This part is the hardest for me—accurate identification is critical for collecting data used to assess the stock.

Even though we’re sailing in the Gulf of America, we use meters and Celsius. Standardization across datasets—as well as consistency in methods and results—is essential in science. Accessibility and transferability of data are key for making accurate determinations and ensuring the longevity of the dataset. I often forget that the rest of the world uses the metric system!

See a list of Atlantic and Gulf Sharks NOAA Fisheries.

There are lots of shark species that are easy to tell apart—and others, not so much. For example, there isn’t just one type of hammerhead.

Rob and another member of the science team, both wearing life vests, gloves, and hats, crouch on deck to hold a small shark on a measuring board — Smoothhound Shark ID

I find it so impressive when the fisheries biologists can identify them and then explain the differences to people who aren’t trained in fisheries biology. Major and subtle differences exist, and it takes a trained eye to spot them. The more you see it, the more you can’t unsee it.

a poster of shark anatomy - shared here at a size too small to read - developed by Shark Trust. — Basic Shark anatomy for reference.
Credit Shark Trust.

a line drawing of a generalized finfish showing different standard length measurements — Basic Shark anatomy for reference.
Credit Shark Trust.

To figure out the sex of sharks you look for claspers—males have them, females don’t. Males use their claspers during the reproductive process. And that’s the story of the birds and the fish.

visual guide to identifying male v female sharks with both illustrations and photos of the anal regions. — Identification of sex

We weigh them using a scale, placed in the mouth.

Finally, we remove the hook and let them go. All of this has to be done quickly, and once all the data is collected, we gently return the shark to the water and watch it swim away.

Rob, wearing a life vest, sunglasses, and a hat, poses for a photo holding a roughly 3 foot shark in two hands. he stands on deck. — Ready to release

view over the railing of the ship into dark water; the cradle is just below the water's churning surface, lifting a large shark in motion — Ready to release

Larger sharks are brought up in a cradle on the side of the vessel.

I got to see up close and personal what a hammerhead looks like—and had the privilege of participating in the tagging of this incredible animal. I have to say, I always knew they were real—a sort of mystical sea creature I thought I could only dream of seeing. Well, they’re real, and just as beautiful as I imagined.

Bringing a shark up in the cradle is always an exhilarating experience—being so close to these animals while contributing to both commercial and conservation efforts.

a great hammerhead swimming near the surface of bright blue water — Great Hammerhead we took samples and tagged and released.

great hammerhead swimming near the surface of bright blue water (different direction) — Great Hammerhead we took samples and tagged and released.

Rob sits and a computer desk with a row of small blue-capped sample vials — Processing fin clips

Genetic samples (fin clips) are taken to a lab back on shore, where Texas A&M geneticists catalog and store them for future use and species-specific research projects.

For other fish, we collect eye lenses, fin clips, and otoliths.

All of these methods—and the data collected—help inform the preservation, conservation, and management of these species for both commercial and recreational purposes.

Retrieving samples from Red Grouper
inside the eye lies a lenses
close up of red grouper eye lenses
Preserving eye lenses from red grouper
Sample of Fin Clip
Otolith is the ear bone from fish
Ear bone from fish can help age it
Close up of Otolith
Preserving Otoliths
Red Grouper; eye lenses, fin clip, and otolith.

But why is this collected?

A colleague and mentor from New York Harbor School—a Teacher at Sea alum on NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson years ago— told me he was confused about what I was doing; what is the research question he asked?

The research questions can change depending on the needs of a particular species and or direction of particular research bodies. This data is collected to help manage the stocks of shark species and red snapper. The fisheries data collected on the Oregon II is included in regional stock assessments. After the stock assessment team reviews all the available data for a given species, scientific models can be developed which can then contribute to federal stock management in the region.

This survey has been happening year after year—for more than 25 years.

So, what’s going on with sharks today?

The famous summer blockbuster based on the book the Peter Benchley, Jaws Novel, instilled fear among people about sharks and was a catalyst to increased fishing for sharks – specifically white sharks – contributing to overfishing. For two decades following the release, lack of knowledge and fear, led to effects on the shark fishery.

a gif from the movie Jaws, when the shark jumps up on the back of the insufficiently large boat — “Think we are gonna need a bigger boat?”

“Jaws spearheaded a “collective testosterone rush” among fishers in the East Coast of the United States, leading thousands to hunt sharks for sport, as George Burgess, former director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, told the BBC in 2015. In the years following the film’s release, the number of large sharks in the waters east of North America declined by about 50 percent. “

Sharks are fished for several reasons: sport, commercial products, food, and scientific research.

Over the course of this immersion with scientists aboard the Oregon II, I’ve grown to love these animals and feel far less fear around them. Now, does that mean I’m going to go swimming with sharks off Long Island or in NYC? Not without a trained biologist like the ones I’m working with on the Oregon II!

A long time fear of these apex predators, has been sort of a commercial enterprise. Go to any water park and you will see a shark necklace. I think I even swam with sharks at Disney World Blizzard Beach, now that I think about it, sort of a weird thing. Baby shark is all over the airwaves and streaming services. I think we underestimate how cultural influences affect our view of our environment and its inhabitants. Sometimes, culture seeps into our consciousness.

top-down view of a sandbar shark swimming away from the shark cradle in bright blue water — Sandbar shark swimming after being tagged.

top-down view of a sandbar shark swimming away in bright blue water — Sandbar shark swimming after being tagged.

I’ve stayed humbled and fascinated by these animals every single day of this experience.

Keep in mind, I’m just talking about federally managed fish in federal waters. To further complicate the matter there are also, States and/ or international law involved too. Sharks are managed federally under the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) classification.

Fishing and other human activities have influenced the species started in these fisheries, and the data has helped show these shifts over time. Hence the complicated, but necessary interconnections of science, policy, conservation, economics and stewardship. What adds to more a complicated scenario, generally sharks (relative to say many bony fish) are longer lived, take longer to mature and reproduce fewer young so that overfishing can have larger deleterious effects on their populations.

black and white photo of two men in suits sitting at a desk and conversing with one another. nameplates identify Mr. Stevens on the left and Mr. Magnuson on the right. — *U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Warren Magnuson (D-WA), 1973. Credit: Ted Stevens Foundation*

The primary law that manages fisheries is the Magnuson Stevenson Act. The main purpose of the act was to establish sustainable and economically viable U.S. fisheries. Major components to establish this directive are as follows; Preventing overfishing, Rebuilding overfished stocks, Increasing long-term economic and social benefits, Ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of seafood, Protecting habitat that fish need to spawn, breed, feed, and grow to maturity.

NOAA Fisheries graphic on Science-Based Management Tools: Stock Assessments, Annual Quotas, Size Limits, Retention Limits, Gear Restrictions, Area Closures, Retention Bans, Reporting Requirements, Naturally Attached Fin Requirement, Strong Enforcement. — Science-Based Management Tools

Much of the management of sharks in the Gulf are in line with the Magnuson Stevenson Act. There are a variety of methods that contribute to managing a species.

Due to surveys such as the one I am sailing on, and a science-based management approach, some shark stocks have even experienced population growth including:

Atlantic sharpnose
Atlantic blacktip
Sandbar
Spiny dogfish
Tiger
White

However, there are some species that aren’t as positive a story and need protection. Below is a list of sharks that are Prohibited from being caught in the U.S Atlantic, the Gulf, and Caribbean. Moreover, there are tools to help mitigate harm to these animals if an unintended catch (bycatch) occurs.

Below is a list of Prohibited Sharks in U.S Atlantic, the Gulf, and Caribbean. Moreover, there are tools to help mitigate harm if bycatch occurs. Bycatch occurs when you catch something that wasn’t what you are targeting.

Prohibited Shark ID Placard Download

It’s important to note that regulations exist for both commercial and recreational fisheries. However, in all fisheries that harvest sharks, no fins can be harvested at sea. Animals must come intact (fins naturally attached) to shore then can be harvested along with the entire animal. Finning has been illegal in US waters since 1993, with further protection enacted in 2000 and 2010.

Fin-Sales-Act-FAQsDownload

Commercial Regulations

Recreational Regulations

Fin-Sales-Act-FAQs Download

Commercial Regulations

Recreational Regulations

Over time, if stocks replenish, species can be removed from the “no-fish” list. Conversely, if stocks dwindle, actions will be taken. Data is critical for making these decisions. It’s common for people to think that “overfished” means extinct. There are actually different classifications for fish populations. There’s a difference between extinction and being threatened, based on definitions in the Endangered Species Act.

An important concept for fisheries management and stock assessment is maximum sustainable yield—the maximum catch a species can sustain over time. It’s the amount of fish that can be harvested from a source, which will allow adequate reproduction and replacement. This is why research is done like the stuff down on the Oregon II and other ships in the NOAA fisheries fleet, the data helps make that decision. Fishermen need fish to make money, folks want fish to eat, and the environment needs to have the fish. Complicated.

Although complicated, data driven management has been proved to support growth of some shark species. Check out the cool story of the white shark slowly making a comeback after years of overfishing: White Shark Recovery.

In addition look at the timeline of shark fisheries; fishing, science, conservation, and policy.

two maps of the waters south of Long Island. the top map shows trajectories of 8 tagged white sharks, represented as dots (location pings) connected by straight lines. the bottom map replaces the individual pings with a heat map color-coding areas by ping frequency. there is a red hot spot adjacent to the eastern end of Long Island — First insights into the movements of young-of-the-year white sharks (*Carcharodon carcharias*) in the western North Atlantic Ocean Scientific Reports ( 2018)

What’s even more delicate and fascinating, the white shark nursery is in waters not far from NYC. Several researchers are tracking white sharks and their nursery habitats and juvenile behavior. They tagged and tracked 8 sharks and tracked their movement. You can see from their data where they are most frequent; red being the highest concentration, and light blue being the least during the months of August to October. This really shows the interconnection between the Hudson canyon, Long Island and our coastal harbors of NYC. All happening under the nose of the big city. The sharks are making it to the Hudson Canyon, which is approximately over 100 miles from NYC and filled with biological diversity.

Link to full paper.

Personal Log

We started talking today about when we’ll head back to port, and honestly, it made me a little sad that this trip is almost over. I had one day where I got really homesick—started missing Clara and the cat. A quick FaceTime fixed that and reminded me to stay present. Lately, school emails have started coming in too, so I guess I finally get what people mean by the “dog days of summer.”

The past few days have been a mix. Some hauls were pretty boring, and the weather’s been rough. But I don’t mind rough seas—kind of makes me feel salty, like a real mariner. Plus, the clouds have been a blessing, giving us some relief from the heat. And then came the set that changed everything: we brought up a tiger shark and a big sandbar in the cradle. That got my energy back in a hurry.

a person kneels near a fish measuring board to grasp the head of a tiger shark with two gloved hands safely behind its jaws — Taking hook out of Tiger Shark

Rob, wearing a life vest and gloves, looks on as two other science team members work together to weigh a tiger shark on a hanging fish scale — Taking hook out of Tiger Shark

Even on slow days, there’s a silver lining—it gives you time to really talk to people. Lately, we’ve been making our own fun with games like “find the rubber sharks” and a ship-wide murder mystery. I’ve already been “killed” and found 3 out of 20 sharks. When I’m not blogging or doing science, we’re in the lab playing Overcooked or Mario Kart. I wish I could say I’m crushing it, but that’d be a lie—at least for now. Maybe my luck will turn around. Out here, you need fun built in. Otherwise, the downtime will drive you nuts.

I’ve been working on listening more. It’s been cool. Folks here are curious about the Teacher-at-Sea guy from Brooklyn, and I’m just as curious about people from Mississippi doing shark stuff. The deck crew and engineering crew seem to be from all over, its awesome how all these people are on this ship to participate in this work. Clara would be proud—I’ve been asking more questions than talking about myself.

We’ve been sharing music too, and jamming during sets/ hauls. These folks are definitely not Phish fans, so I’ve had to dig into my youth and other playlists. I got one Phish studio track played—just one. Our watch leader Kristin was taking requests, and when I said Five Years, she laughed and asked, “Is it five years long?” It’s been fun shaking up my musical listening. New Orleans came up in convo, I forgot the geography of the Gulf area to NOLA—and that I actually lived and taught there in a season of my life. I have found memories of the food and culture of this area, it’s nice to relate to folks that enjoy it more frequently. One of these days, I’ll be back. Moe. is playing Halloween, Clara—what do you think?

I’ve also started talking to folks outside my watch crew. Turns out, it’s a small world out here. Some of these people are just a few degrees away from me in the environmental education world. We even know some of the same people. A couple of us have been in the same place at the same time before and didn’t even know it. One guy almost went to Harbor School but chose another path—still ended up working on ships like he wanted. Wild how that happens. The more I think about it, the more I realize: there are a lot of people out there doing wild things, and somehow, you bump into each other.

This blog was tough to write. There are so many directions to go. But at its core, it’s simple: people do science, and policymakers use that science to make decisions—especially about natural resources. Moreover, fingers crossed . For me, these blogs and this whole experience are filling in gaps in my own learning. They’re helping me figure out how to teach this stuff to my Harbor students in a real, meaningful way. Honestly, every paragraph here could be a lesson. Some could even turn into a whole unit. Maybe even a year-long course. The gears are turning.

Who knew I’d get this into sharks? It’s crazy how much we know—and how much we don’t—at the same time. A teacher at school is always saying playing science vs. real science, I wonder what he classifies this as. This experience makes me feel special, it’s been nice to see all the comments and folks have been reaching out to see how it’s going. It’s a good feeling when people are interested in what you are doing. I am glad to be tagging along with the crew on this ship, and it’s nice to highlight what they do is important and special. Waiting on the students to be interested, maybe I will let them have the dog days of summer. I see some of my students doing things like this in their future.

Animal Sighting:

view up at a brown bird flying overhead through bright blue sky — Brown Booby flying over the deck

Brown Booby ( Sula leucogaster)

Brown Booby flying over the deck

Brown Booby ( Sula leucogaster)

Seabirds that don’t nest in the U.S. but are seen flying in the gulf and visiting Caribbean and Florida.

Natty Brown, with yellow-bill, white underneath its wings. This one is a juvenile, as it hasn’t developed its color yet.

I thought this was a frigatebird at first, they are very different. Especially, the wings on the Booby are smooth, where is the wings on the frigatebird are sharp and lines.

Did you know?

photo a rusted plaque that reads R.V. Oregon II. Designed by R. H. Macy for U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. Built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. A Division of Litton Industries. Pascagoula, Mississippi 1967. — Once Built for Bureau of Commercial Fisheries

Prior to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) there was the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is part of the Department of Commerce and was created in 1970.

Early on the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had a contest of what the logo should be. Below are the candidates from 1970.

The candidates for NOAA

Dr. Robert White, NOAA’s first administrator, gave employees a choice. A year after they all were introduced, number one was chosen to show the interconnections between Earth, ocean, atmosphere, and ecosystems.

Dr. White stated: “A white, gull-like form links the atmosphere to the sea or Earth. The Earth and atmosphere and the interrelationships between the two are, of course, major concerns of NOAA. The line defining the top of the gull’s wings also resembles the trough of a foaming ocean wave against the blue sky. A creature of sea, land, and air, the gull adds an ecological touch to the Earth-sky motif.”

NOAA emblem; dark blue sky, white seagull, light blue water. — Winning Logo from 1971, still used today.

References

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2025). Brown Booby overview. All About Birds. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Booby/overview

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2025). All about birds. Cornell Lab. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Magnificent_Frigatebird/overview

Curtis, T. H., Metzger, G., Fischer, C., et al. (2018). First insights into the movements of young-of-the-year white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Scientific Reports, 8(10794). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29180-5

Germain, J. (2022, December 20). Steven Spielberg regrets how Jaws impacted real-world sharks. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/steven-spielberg-regrets-how-jaws-impacted-real-world-sharks-180981335/

JetStream Max: Wind and sea scales. (2023, September 22). National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

National Weather Service & National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Estimating wind speed and sea state: Beaufort scale.

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-a). Atlantic highly migratory species. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/shark-identification-cooperative-shark-1

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-b). Atlantic shark fisheries management highlights: A timeline. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable-fisheries/atlantic-shark-fisheries-management-highlights-timeline

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-c). Endangered species conservation. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/endangered-species-conservation

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-d). Population assessments and fish stocks. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/population-assessments/fish-stocks

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-e). Shark management laws. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/laws-policies/shark-management-laws

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-f). Understanding Atlantic shark fishing. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-atlantic-shark-fishing

NOAA Fisheries. (n.d.-g). Understanding population assessments. Population assessments. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-population-assessments

NOAA Fisheries. (2014, September 7). White shark recovery [Podcast]. In On the Line. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/podcast/white-shark-recovery#!

NOAA Fisheries. (2020, August 7). Are all U.S. sharks overfished? NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/are-all-us-sharks-overfished

NOAA Fisheries Outreach and Education & Northeast Fisheries Science Center. (2025, August 11). Fun facts about shocking sharks. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/outreach-and-education/fun-facts-about-shocking-sharksNOAA Office of Communications. (n.d.). About the NOAA emblem and logo. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa.gov/office-of-communication/about-noaa-emblem-and-logo

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Sharks off South Carolina, August 3, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 3, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge (3:00 PM)

Latitude: 32° 54.4’ N

Longitude: 079° 00.3’ W

Wind speed: 18 kts.

Wave height: 1-2’

Air temp.: 28.1 C

Sky: Clouds

Science and Technology Log

To date, we have caught, tagged, and fin-clipped silky, sharpnose, sandbar, tiger, great hammerhead, blacknose, nurse, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. We have also brought up red snappers, a pale spotted eel, and a blunt-nose lizardfish. I have never seen any of these fishes before, so it has opened a whole new world of sea creatures for me. I am grateful to have this opportunity to explore a region of the ocean with which I am unfamiliar.

view of a scalloped hammerhead shark lying on it ventral side (belly) in a teal mesh shark cradle suspended over the water. a crewmember, mostly out of frame, reaches two arms over the ship's railing to steady the shark.

top-down view from an upper deck of crewmembers standing near the rail as a teal mesh shark cradle rises out of the water, holding a large tiger shark

a man wearing blue gloves, standing on deck and facing away from the camera, holds out a large red-orange fish by the operculum (opening behind the jaw)

straight on view of a hammerhead shark's head; the shark is suspended in the teal mesh cradle, and two gloved hands hold up its head to prepare to remove the hook

Cheryl, wearing a sunhat, a hard hat on top of the sunhat, and a life vest, kneels on deck. with two gloved hands, she holds up a small sharpnose shark and smiles for a photo.

Top row: Scallloped hammerhead shark in mesh cradle; Large tiger shark being hoisted by crane and cradle to be processed alongside the ship (photo courtesy NOAA Corps officer on the bridge); Field Party Chief and PI Trey Driggers lifting red snapper onto cutting table to remove otoliths and eye lenses. Bottom row: Face of scalloped hammerhead shark prior to removal of circle hook; I am holding a sharpnose shark after measuring and fin-clipping it. (Photo by Gretchen Kruizenga).

Personal Log

Living on a ship is much different than living on land. Obviously, we’re on a moving vessel, so the scenery and location are different every time we wake up. As soon as the mooring lines were cast off, we had no access to shopping for anything that we might have forgotten…

One major change from when I was last aboard a ship 25 years ago is the internet. Thanks to a satellite connection through Starlink, I can now stream movies, call my husband, and scroll through Facebook — even miles from shore. It’s strange but comforting to feel connected to the outside world while being so physically remote.

Our living quarters are compact and communal. On the main deck where we fish, there’s a toilet and sink, while the lower deck — where we sleep — has two water closets with an adjacent sink. Each stateroom also has a small sink, which makes washing up and brushing teeth a bit easier. For showers, we have two shared ones for the entire crew, so we limit ourselves to ten-minute showers to make sure everyone gets a turn and can get to bed soon after their shift.

Before leaving port, the crew was split into two watches: day watch (12 noon to midnight) and night watch (midnight to noon). Most staterooms house two people on opposite watches, so the person off duty has the room to themselves while the other works. Unfortunately, our bunks are located just below the deck where the fishing line is hauled in, so it gets quite noisy. Sleep is something we grab when we can, knowing it may be disrupted by the sound of the winch or the motion of high seas. I’m on day watch, so my schedule feels more natural — but for those on night watch, sleeping during daylight and staying alert all night is a real challenge.

Yesterday we also launched the second drifter. This one had Falmouth High School stickers, of course, but also the crew of NOAA Ship Oregon II wrote their names, drew, or wrote favorite quotes. It was fun to get everyone on the ship involved in this project! The track of Drifter #1 appears to be keeping up with the ship!

close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see a sticker of a lobster (mvyradio.org), a school sticker (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures. — Drifter #2 with quotes from crew

close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see some school stickers (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures, and a drawing of a shark near the seabed. — Drifter #2 with quotes from crew

Cheryl, wearing her Teacher at Sea t shirt, a life vest, and sunglasses, poses for a photo on deck next to the drifting buoy, currently curled up and resting on a table surface. — I am preparing to launch Drifter #2 from fantail

map of sea surface temperature by geographic location as measured by the first drifting buoy. measurements are depicted as squares, color coded by temperature, ranging from 28 degrees Celsius (purple) to 32 degrees Celsius (red); most of the readings are green, which corresponds to 30 degrees C. the measurements start east of Florida and extend north along the Gulf Stream toward North Carolina. — I am preparing to launch Drifter #2 from fantail

Interview with Trey Driggers

Trey, wearing a life vest and work gloves, stands on deck with his right hand on the rail of the ship and his left resting on a white barrel lined with circle hooks. Behind him, the sky is blue with many gray clouds, and the water is blue-gray with some chop. — Dr. Trey Driggers hauling in hooks during our longline survey.

Trey Driggers is the PI, or principal investigator, of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Longline (BLL) Survey. He originally wanted to be a musician playing guitar, but his father said that if he went to military school first, he would pay for college. That seemed like a good deal, so he completed an associate’s degree at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA, then continued for a BA in History from Clemson University.

Trey imagined being a lawyer, but he was always interested in sharks. His fascination with large predators was driven after his childhood dog was eaten by an alligator in his grandparents’ yard in Florida. He was 8 years old when the movie Jaws came out, and although he was too young to see it, he was intrigued by all the shark-related merchandise that was on the shelves at that time. During his senior year in college, scientists from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History released a book entitled, Sharks in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book. The last section was entitled, “How Do I Become a Shark Specialist?” He read that and thought, “That’s a job?” His career goals dramatically changed; now he realized that he could be a shark biologist. After graduating from Clemson, he enrolled in the courses needed to earn another degree in Marine Science. Once Trey had this focus, he became a straight A student. He finished that program in two years.

After finishing his coursework in marine science, Trey applied for graduate school and was accepted into Dr. John Dean’s lab at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Dean was very supportive of his students and is considered one of the godfathers of otoliths, studying ear stones of finfish to determine their age. Trey’s master’s thesis was on the age and growth of yellowfin tuna. Dr. Dean convinced him to stay in that lab to complete his PhD, as well. Part of his research on blacknose sharks required him to collect fin clips from sharks for a genetic study which was done in part on the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Bottom Longline Survey, which solidified his desire to work for the National Marine Fisheries Service. He has been participating in this survey since 1999. The rest is history!

Tell me about your family:

“We live in Ocean Springs, MS. My wife is a biology teacher in middle school. We met at USC and are both Clemson Tigers. We’ve been married for 26 years and have three children: Amelia is a biomedical engineer; Boyd is a junior at Ole Miss; and Max is a senior in high school. We have a malinois dog named Lilah and a chihuahua named Oliver.”

How did you get your position at NOAA Fisheries?

“In 2002 I was still a post-doc, but I went to the Resource Surveys Branch Chief at the Pascagoula lab three separate times to ask for a job. I think I finally wore him down and was hired in 2003. In 2012, I became the Shark Unit Leader. Kristin Hannan is my right-hand partner, and Will Tilley complements us both to make a solid team.”

What is the most fun part of your job?

“There are many fun parts of my job. My coworkers and I are very close, and it’s great being around people who have the same interests. I get to see things very few people get to see and I feel very fortunate to have access to the resources that allow me to conduct broad scale research. When I retire, I will know I did exactly what I set out to do and will have achieved my professional goals.”

What is the most difficult part of your job?

“I miss important family events such as birthdays, first days of school, etc. The good definitely outweighs the bad, though. Our work helps conservation and fishermen. I feel it’s critical to have boots on the ground when conducting research and in my field there is only one place to do that and that is on the water.”

What part of your job with NOAA did you least expect to be doing?

“I least expected the Deepwater Horizon disaster. When that happened, we were told, ‘You’re now forensic biologists,’ and our jobs changed significantly for a time. It was a big adjustment, and a massive effort by many, many people.”

What would you be doing if you didn’t work for NOAA?

“I’ve thought about that a lot and don’t have a good answer. I do play my guitar 3-4 hours per day, though, and would try to do something with that.”

Did You Know?

Scientists have identified ten different species of hammerhead sharks. We are fortunate to have caught two different species so far!

New Animals Seen:

Scalloped hammerhead shark
Pale spotted eel
Decorator crab
Semipalmated plover

out of focus view of a small shorebird walking on a gray surface — Semipalmated plover
(courtesy of Lila Xenakis)

a decorated crab photographed splayed out against a blue surface; we can see some seaweed stuck to it — Decorator crab

August 4, 2025August 5, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Fish On! August 1, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 1, 2025 (11:00 AM)

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 30° 30.1’N

Longitude: 081° 12.6′ W

Wind speed: 10 kts.

Wave height: 0-1 ft.

Air temp.: 31.5° C (89° F)

Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

“Fish on!” is what is called out whenever we have a fish on a hook. Everyone springs into action to collect data on the fish as efficiently as possible so it has a better chance of surviving. Their success is evidenced by the number of shark tags that have been returned after this release. Wednesday we caught a large female tiger shark that had been tagged by scientists out of the Apex Predators Program out of the NOAA Fisheries Narragansett lab. Here is a link to the work they conduct in that lab: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/northeast-shark-research. We are awaiting information about the tagged individual (where and when it was tagged, how much it has grown since she was tagged) from scientists in Narragansett.

NOAA Fisheries has been conducting the Southeast Bottom Longline Survey for 30 years! Scientists and crew participating in the survey have vital scientific data on sharks and finfish in U.S. waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to the Florida Keys and through the Gulf of America.

Each year, survey stations—randomly selected before each cruise—are sampled in both shallow and deep waters. Scientists and crew use standardized fishing protocols to collect data on abundance, distribution, size, sex, and maturity of captured species. For bony fish, they also remove otoliths—tiny calcareous structures in the ear—to count growth rings and estimate age, similar to how one might age a tree.

This long-term, standardized dataset is an invaluable resource. It provides critical baseline information about marine ecosystems, which is especially important when natural disasters strike. Managers can refer to this historical data to understand pre-disaster conditions and guide recovery efforts.

Best of all, the entire database is public. Researchers, policymakers, and curious minds alike can access this wealth of information to support science-based decision-making. Learn more about the Southeast fishery-independent surveys: NOAA Fisheries Southeast Surveys.

Teamwork in Action: Skilled Crew and Augmenters Keep the Survey Moving

This leg of the Southeast Bottom Longline Survey includes several augmenters—crew members temporarily reassigned from other NOAA ships or roles to help out where they’re most needed. Their skills and experience are a welcome asset on board, especially during a time when a federal hiring freeze has led staff to pitch in across vessels.

Among the augmenters are NOAA Corps officers either in training or assisting with training, the ship’s chief steward, and members of the deck crew. Their flexibility and teamwork ensure the survey continues smoothly and safely.

a man stands on deck, feet spread apart for balance, holding up a large barracuda for a photo. we see blue skies with puffy clouds and fairly even blue water in the background beyond the rail.

portrait photo of a man in a red t-shirt wearing sunglasses and a very wide-brimmed straw hat; he leans on a railing of the deck and looks off dramatically into the distance

a man, mostly in silhouette due to the lighting, fishing off the back deck of the ship. beyond the railing is a lovely orange sunset obscured by just a few bits of cloud over dark blue waters.

Left to right: Josh with a barracuda he trolled off the stern deck; Chuck Godwin in the best hat; Sean reeling in the line at sunset.

Fishing operations on this leg are led by a capable and experienced Deck Department:

Josh Cooper, Chief Boatswain, has served on board for 3 ½ years.
Chuck Godwin, the lead fisherman, brings years of experience working aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II.
Sean Gronquist, a skilled fisherman, just celebrated his one-year anniversary on board this week.
Aaron Walton, a seasoned Lead Fisherman from NOAA Ship Bigelow out of Rhode Island, is augmenting the night watch team.
Malachi Olson, a contractor, is also supporting night operations as an augmenter.

During fishing operations, this team handles critical tasks: setting longlines, hauling them back in after one hour, and moving a specialized mesh cradle into place when large sharks are brought aboard. Their coordination and expertise are essential to ensuring the data collection is efficient, humane, and safe for both crew and animals.

Interview with Sean Gronquist

This interview is with skilled fisherman Sean Gronquist. He has been around the Atlantic Ocean his whole life, but on NOAA Ship Oregon II for a year. Growing up, Sean and his friends used to take all kinds of watercraft out into the Intracoastal Waterway around St. Augustine, FL, from a dock behind his house. He learned some basic mechanics from his friend, Jordan, who was able to fix 2-stroke engines on the fly when they were out on the water together.

Sean graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in anthropology and a dream to be an underwater “Indiana Jones.” He earned his captain’s license and worked as a charter fishing captain for 15 years, where the focus for him was locating the target species of his clients to catch whatever they requested, if possible. Sean literally helped customers check items off their bucket list (he runs Uno Mas Fishing Charters out of Stuart, FL). He could return to this profession if he ever needed to, but for now he finds joy in working toward the important goal of figuring out how many fish are off the southeastern coast of the US.

Why is your work important?

“We collect data that is used by multiple groups to set quotas or limits on fisheries. We’re one of the longest running surveys.”

What do you enjoy most about your work?

“Even during transits, no two days are the same. Straight up, I fish for the government. The fact that I found a job that pays me to do what I’m passionate about, you can’t beat it. I learn something new every day. “

What is the most important tool that you use for your job?

“My answer is simple: a sharp pocket knife comes in handy all the time. You can cut something, open things, all sorts of uses. “

If you could invent any tool to make your work more efficient and cost were no object, what would it be and why?

“It would have to be something to keep weeds off the line, a weedless spring to remove the sargassum weed from the trolling line. We fish off the stern when we have finished all that we need to do, and it’s a pain to have to pull in the lures all the time because they’re fouled with sargassum.”

When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean career?

“I’ve always known I wanted that. I grew up on the water, so I just needed to figure out how to make a career out of it. I did marine mechanics on Yamaha engines at a guy’s shop but realized that the owner of the shop would always make a lot more money than I would. I did finish carpentry, too, but ultimately I decided to put down a hammer and picked up a wrench.

“My great grandfather was a merchant marine, and my grandfather was a See Bee in the Navy in Okinawa in World War II. It ran in my family, so I always figured I’d end up on a ship.”

Personal Log

I am having so much fun and learning so much on this trip. It’s always nice to interact with people who are like-minded about the wonder of the ocean. We have a range of people on this leg of the cruise (it takes 4 legs to sample all of the stations and regions). Here are the people on the day watch with me:

Trey Driggers, primary investigator for the project
Gretchen Kruizenga, survey technician (Ms. Fix-It!)
Tera Winters, survey scientist (and former veterinarian)
Evan Winters, volunteer entering college at West Florida University when we return

Everyone is pulling their weight (I always feel like I need to step up a little more, but I am trying to keep up at these new tasks) and getting along well. I will try to write more about these new friends in the future.

New Animals Seen

Spotted dolphins
Cannonball jellyfish
Lion’s mane jellyfish
Tiger sharks (large and small)
Sandbar sharks
Leech on the sandbar shark
Nurse shark
Bull shark
Sharpnose shark
Great hammerhead shark! (the other watch actually saw this shark, but they showed me the pictures! We are in competition now to see who catches the next hammerhead.)
Two large red snappers!

a somewhat out of focus view of two dolphins leaping above the surface of the water; blue, mostly clear skies, bright blue water.

a woman wearing a hard hat, life vest, and gloves crouches on deck to hold a large red-orange fish against a long wooden measuring board

a woman wearing a life vest, hat, and sunglasses smiles for the camera as she stands on deck grasping a small stripey shark behind its jaws

close-up view of a marine leech against the bright blue textured background of a fish glove. the leach is blue gray with a pattern of white spots in bands.

view of the underside of a hammerhead shark's head, held back by a blue gloved hand. the shark is suspended above the water in the mesh cradle.

a hammerhead shark in the water, caught on a line, as seen over the railing.

Photos clockwise, from top left: Spotted dolphins swimming in the wake for fun; Lila holding a baby tiger shark, a favorite!; great hammerhead shark on the longline, prior to hauling up; great hammerhead in the mesh cradle being measured, sexed, and tagged; leech (size approximately 2 cm) in my glove, removed from a large sandbar shark); Tera measuring a red snapper prior to removing otoliths (estimated to be around 15 years old).

Did You Know?

Otoliths, or fish ear stones, are the densest part of a finfish’s body and are made of calcium carbonate, the same material as seashells. They are suspended in a liquid to help the fish to know which end is up and to sense vibrations.

otoliths arranged in six neat columns against a black background. the otoliths have been dyed different colors prior to sectioning.

close-up view of two cleaned otoliths resting in the fingers of someone's upturned

Left: Otoliths from six species aligned at the core and ready to be sectioned. Photo: Sandy Sutherland, NOAA Fisheries. Right: Otoliths removed by Tera from the red snapper in the previous photos.

April 28, 2017May 2, 2017

Karen Grady: Observations and Data Collection Today Leads to Knowledge In The Future, April 25, 2017

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Karen Grady

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

April 5 – April 20, 2017

Mission: Experimental Longline Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: April 25, 2017

Weather Data:

I am back settled into the crazy weather that is spring in Arkansas. Supposed to be 90 degrees today and then storms tomorrow.

Science and Technology Log

The second leg of the Oregon II’s experimental longline survey is now complete. The ship and all the crew are safely back in the harbor. Fourteen days at sea allows for a lot of data to be gathered by the science crew.

Now, an obvious question would be what do they do with all the data and the samples that were collected? The largest thing from this experimental survey is looking at catch data and the different bait types that were used to see if there were differences in the species caught/numbers caught etc. They are also able to look at species compositions during a different time frame than the annual survey and different depth ranges with the much deeper sets. Fin clips were taken from certain species of sharks. Each fin clip can be tied to a specific shark that was also tagged. If anyone ever wanted or needed to they could trace that fin clip back to the specific shark, the latitude and longitude of where it was taken, and the conditions found in the water column on that day. Everything the scientists do is geared towards collecting data and providing as many details as possible for the big picture.

Occasionally sharks are captured and do not survive, but even these instances provide an opportunity to sample things like vertebrae for ageing studies or to look at reproductive stages. Science is always at work. With the ultrasound machine on board we were able to use it on a couple of the sharpnose sharks and determine if they were pregnant .

ultrasound — Ultrasounding female Sharp Nose sharks to see how may pups they were carrying.

Parasites… did you know sharks and fish can have parasites on them? Yes, they do and we caught a few on this leg. Sharks or fish caught with parasites were sampled to pass along to other researchers to use for identification purposes. Kristin showed me evidence of a skin parasite on several of the small sharks. It looked like an Etch-A-Sketch drawing.

etchisketch 2 — This shark had whole mural on the underside from the parasites

etchisketch 1 — Shark underside marred by parasite infection

Red snapper were also sampled at times on the survey to look deeper into their life history and ecology. Muscle tissue was collected to look at ecotoxicity within the fish (what it has been exposed to throughout out its lifetime); along with otoliths to estimate age. We are using muscle tissue to examine carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Each element looks into where that fish lives within the food web. For instance, carbon can help provide information about the basal primary producers, nitrogen can help to estimate the trophic level of the fish within the ecosystem, and sulfur can try to determine if the fish feeds on benthic or pelagic organisms. Otoliths are the ear bones of the fish. There are three different types of ear bones; however, sagittal ear bones (the largest of the three) will be sectioned through the core and read like a tree. Each ring is presumed to represent one year of growth.

red snapper1 — Red Snapper caught and used for sample collection

paul red snapper — Paul Felts removing a hook

redsnapper head — Sometimes someone bigger swims by while a fish is on the hook

Personal Log

Now that I am home and settled I still had a few things to share. One it was great to get home to my family, but as I was warned by the science crew it does take a couple of days to adjust to the usual schedule. It did feel good to go for a jog around town instead of having to face the Jacob’s Ladder again!

Everyone asks me if I had a good time, if it was scary, if we caught any sharks. I just don’t think there are words to express what an amazing experience this was for me. Of course, seeing the sharks up close was just beyond words, but it was also being made a part of a working science team that are working year-round to monitor the health of the ocean and the species that live there. For me this was a two-week section of my life where I got to live on the ocean and catch sharks while learning a little about the data the science crew collects and how they use it. The science crew will all be back out on the ocean on different legs over the next few months.

I confess I am not super hi tech, so I am not proficient with a Gopro so I probably missed out on making the best films. However, I did get some excellent photos and some good photos of some impressive sharks. Thanks to technology I will be able to create slide shows to my K-12 students so they can see the experience through my eyes. I am looking forward to showing these slide shows to my students. My elementary students were so excited to have me back that they made me feel like a celebrity. I was gone a little over two weeks and to my younger students it seemed forever. Many of the teachers shared some of my trip with the students so they would know where I was and what I was doing.

I am settled back into my regular schedule at school. One awesome thing about my job is that I deal with students from kindergarten through seniors. I started back with my elementary students yesterday. Let me just say that young people can make you feel like a Rockstar when you have been gone for 15 days. I knocked on a classroom door and could hear the students yelling “ she’s here! Mrs. Grady is here!” and then there were the hugs. Young kids are so genuine and they have an excitement and love of learning. I have to get busy on my power point to share with them. They wanted a list of sharks we caught, how big they were, etc. I am getting exactly what I hoped, the students want to understand what I did on the ship, why we did these things and what did I actually learn.

For my last blog, I have decided to share some of my favorite photos from my time on the Oregon II.

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April 14, 2017

Karen Grady: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish …… Weird Fish, April 10, 2017

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Karen Grady

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

April 5 – April 20, 2017

Mission: Experimental Longline Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: April 10, 2017

Weather Data

Latitude 2827.10
Longitude 09148.6
75 degrees
Sunny
No precipitation
Winds at 10 KTS
Waves at 2-4 FT

Science and Technology Log

We have continued to move between deep stations setting the baited line and hoping to catch deep water fish and sharks. These deep sets require longer soaking time to allow the hooks to reach the bottom. The downside is that we have been retrieving one set of gear and putting out one set of gear in a 12 hour period of time. Some sets have a few fish and some we get a big goose egg. There is always anticipation though as the 100 hooks are brought up. Everyone stands in their spots waiting to hear either “fish on,” “shark” or everyone’s favorite, “hard hats!” which means there is a big shark and it’s time for the sling. Below you will see the awesome Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) we caught.

TAS Karen Grady 4-13-17 great hammerhead — Great Hammerhead Shark

The first few days we have been fishing deep in the Mississippi Canyon. The Mississippi Canyon is a geological formation in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located in an area which is part of the territorial waters of the United States. We put out some deep lines with the deepest at 1900 feet. These lines soaked four hours once fully deployed. They soak longer because they have so far to sink to get to the depth the scientists want to fish at. When we deploy a line the first thing in the water is the High Flyer, which stands like a beacon and bobs in the water marking the start of our fishing line. The next thing over the side of the ship is a weight that helps carry the line to the desired depth. Halfway through, another weight is deployed, and after the 100^th hook, the third weight goes in. The last thing over is another High Flyer to mark the end of the line. If it is dark outside, the High Flyers have lights attached on top that flash so that they can be seen.

TAS Karen Grady launching high flyer — “High Flyers” mark the beginning and the end of the long line set.

At our last deep station we caught a Mexican Grenadier, Coryphaenoides mexicanus. This fish is very unusual in color and appearance. If you feel the scales on the fish you find that they are very unique. Each scale has tiny sharp, thin spinules. As you run your hand over the fish you can feel these scale modifications. The eyes are bulged due to the pressure change of coming up from such deep depths. The scientists determined the sex of the Grenadier and then it was frozen for future study.

TAS Karen Grady 4-13-17 grenadier — Mexican Grenadier

We also caught two Cutthroat Eels, from the family Synaphobranchidae, that were both females. Synaphobranch means unified gill… the two gill slits join together making it look like a cut throat. They are bottom-dwelling fish, found in deep waters. The eels were weighed, measured, and the scientists determined the sex and maturity of each eel. It is important that they make accurate identification of specimens and collect data. The scientists work together using personal knowledge and books when necessary. There are times on deck when the scientists will stop to examine a species and will take multiple pictures of certain identifying parts so that they can look at them closely later.

Examining a cutthroat eel

The scientists work together and reference books to identify specimens.

Personal Log

One of the great things during a watch is being able to talk with the scientists. I am an avid listener and observer. This is what they do year in and year out and they love what they do. I am a quiet observer a lot of the time. I listen and then ask questions later. It’s not exactly easy to carry around paper and pencil to take notes. But during the transit portions or soak times I ask more questions and gather information to share in my blog posts or for the lesson plan I will be writing when I get home.

The food has been great here on the ship. Our stewards have fresh salads, and menus that include two main course options, a daily soup, dessert and multiple side choices. There are snacks available 24/7 so you are never hungry. Because the meals are so great you see most people trying to fit in a workout during the day. I have been introduced to the Jacob’s ladder for workouts. I never liked hills and now I can say I don’t like climbing ladder rungs either. That machine is evil!! However, I will continue to do cardio on it as the food is excellent and keeping food in your stomach helps prevent sea sickness. I will happily eat more than I usually do if it means I don’t get seasick. An example of a typical lunch would be today when we had choices of salad, reuben, tuna melt, french fries, sweet potato fries, cookies and several other sides.

Today started with us catching two Cutthroat Eels and a Mexican Grenadier. You can see from the pictures I have posted that they look very different from most fish that you see. They really are that color. It was a shock after the sleek sharks and the bright orange Red Snapper I had seen on previous sets. I was busy watching the scientists using their books and personal knowledge to identify each species accurately. After we finished the work up on the fish we caught we headed for the next station. Now we are back to shallower fishing and expect to catch sharks, red snapper, and a variety of other fish.

TAS Karen Grady 4-13-17 grenadier and eels — Two cutthroat eels (top) and Mexican grenadier (bottom)

I can honestly say that the 12 hour shifts start wearing you down, and sleeping is not an issue once you climb under the covers. The waves will wake you up now and then. And some mornings I wake up and can smell them cooking breakfast but sleep overrides the smell of food because I know how long it will be till I get to bed again. Walking out on deck each morning to views like this does lead to a smile on your face, that and the music that is playing loudly on the deck. Yesterday it was Hair Nation…. taking me back to the 80’s.

TAS Karen Grady 4-13-17 blue water — View from the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II

Did You Know?

The Gulf of Mexico is roughly 995 miles along its longer, east-west axis. It has a surface area of about 600,000 square miles.

A wide variety of physical adaptations allow sharks to thrive in the Gulf of Mexico. They have powerful smell receptors. The sensory organs lining their prominent snouts, called ampullae of Lorenzini, can detect movement of potential prey even if the sharks cannot see it. These sensory organs assist in trailing injured marine animals from great distances. They help sharks locate all sort of other things, too– shrimp boats, other sharks, birds, turtles (tiger sharks a big turtle eaters!), even boats that are dumping trash.

The skin on a shark is smooth if you run your hand head to tail and rough like sandpaper if you run your hand from tail to head. At one time, sharks skin was used as a form of sandpaper. The dermal denticles, or skin teeth, can be different from species to species and can sometimes be used as a character to look at when trying to identify one species from another.