night shark – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

August 10, 2025August 17, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: Only a Few Days Left, August 7, 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 7, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 32° 37.7′ N

Longitude: 078° 34.0′ W

Wind speed: 13 kts

Wave height: 2-3 ft

Air temp.: 28.5°C (Water temp. Is 28.7° C!)

Sky: BKN (broken cloud cover, meaning between 5/8 and 7/8 of the sky is covered by clouds)

Science and Technology Log

Yesterday the most exciting part of our watch was catching a spinner shark, a new species for me. Henry Legett, a volunteer on the other watch, is on the cruise to implant acoustic tags into any spinner or blacktip sharks we catch on this leg. Henry had to race out to the deck in order to perform this procedure.

top down view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended over the water. two crewmembers in hard hats and life vests are nearby; one crew member raising his arm perhaps to signal someone

close up view of a hand holding a black metal object about three inches long

two crewmembers wearing life vests, hard hats, and gloves lean over a shark in the cradle

Photos, L to R: Spinner shark in cradle (photo courtesy of the Bridge). Acoustic tag that is now implanted into spinner shark. Henry Legett tying closing sutures on spinner shark.

At the beginning of our watch today we finished Station 38, and we are hoping to complete 46 stations during this leg before landing in Miami, FL. We aim for 5-6 stations per day, but sometimes the steam (distance to travel) between stations is long, and during this leg we had to avoid some weather (the tropical depression that was later named Dexter). Summer in this region of the Atlantic Ocean can be threatened by hurricane activity, so I would expect that this survey is used to working around weather.

At our first station, we had a small catch, but it is always exciting. I was able to tag another 2 meter long (6.6 feet) sandbar shark hauled up in the cradle. I had trouble cutting the fin for genetic testing, but Field Party Chief Trey helped me out. We also caught a small spotted eel (that was wrapped around the line) and a shark sucker. I am glad we were able to get a good look at the sharksucker. Apparently there are two species of sharksucker, and you have to count the number of grooves in the sucker in order to identify (the one we observed had 24).

three crewmembers in hard hats, life vests, and work gloves work together to measure a large shark in a teal mesh cradle

while two other crewmembers steady the shark, Cheryl, wearing a hard hat, life vest, and gloves, readies to insert a tag

view of a sharksucker being held up for a photo

Photos, L to R: Trey, Cheryl, and Josh measure the sandbar shark for pre-caudal length, fork length, and total length. Cheryl inserts spaghetti tag into skin of sandbar shark. Scientists rely on the return of these tags to get information on growth and migration between tagging and recapture.

But then, we hit the mother lode! On the next station, we caught a shark that Trey Driggers, the chief scientist, has not seen in decades: an adult night shark. Gretchen and I took photos and videos to document the catch, while Trey and the fishermen measured, tagged, and took a fin clip of the female. As soon as she was lifted, Trey was teaching us about night sharks: “see how long the snout is and how big the eye is?” My pictures show Trey also removed and preserved parasitic copepods from her body to send to Ash Bullard, a parasitologist in Illinois, to identify. Based on scratches on her back, Trey said that she had recently mated. We feel privileged to have been a part of this catch. We knew it was a big deal when Trey got excited!

straight-on view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended above the ocean surface

straight-on view of a shark in a teal mesh cradle suspended above the ocean surface; its large mouth is open

close up view over Trey's shoulder has he uses what might be pliers to pull something (a parasite) off the skin of a shark in the mesh cradle

Night shark in cradle. Night shark in cradle with mouth open. Chief Scientist Trey Driggers removing parasitic copepods from night shark for preservation and future identification.

Interview with Matt Kupiec

portrait view of a man in a gray hard hat, orange life vest, and blue and white fish gloves. he smiles and flashes two thumbs up for the camera. in the distance, we see very cloudy gray skies and a sliver of gray water.

view down a set of stairs. at the base is a cement floor with buckets, a shop vacuum, and a trash can that is decorated to look like R2D2. there are also footprint sticker on the floor, and someone has drawn the outline of a body.

Photos, L to R: Second Assistant Engineer Matt Kupiec immediately following his first time tagging a shark on the bottom longline survey. View from main deck down into the Engine Room, where engineers spend their work time on the vessel. I was most taken by the body outline on the floor because I teach forensic science at my high school.

NOAA Ship Oregon II, as does every ship, needs people on board to make sure everything is running smoothly, from a mechanical standpoint. Five engineers help to make that happen: Chief Marine Engineer Joe Howe, 1^st Assistant Engineer Nate Durbin, 2^nd Assistant Engineer Matt Kupiec, Junior Engineer James “MacDaddy” McDade, and oiler Mike Fountain (who has been assisting the day watch with fishing on this leg).

Matt has been working on NOAA Ship Oregon II for a year this week (he started right around his birthday, which is coming up again this weekend!). Engineers in this job with NOAA generally work 2 months on followed by one month off. He will be off for the next leg of this cruise, which is about three weeks, so he will have time to fly home to Ashland, MA, where he shares a place with his brother.

I am most interested in Matt’s experience because he graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), which is in my home town. At least three of my students last year are enrolling at MMA for marine engineering, so I am curious about their future. I know MMA claims a 99% employment rate following graduation, which is incredible.

How did you find out about your major?

“My cousin’s boyfriend went there and told me about it. He said engineers make a lot of money. My brother joined the Navy, and this is like the next step down. I chose marine engineering because I had never been on a boat before. The TS (Training Ship) Kennedy was my first love. I went out on a couple of sea terms (a period of time when maritime academy students gain hands-on experience on a ship) after graduating. They called me the maintenance hero because I was always on the ship. In my senior year I was Cadet Chief Engineer, which was a lot of work. It was a great experience, though. I was responsible for hundreds of kids as a kid. It would have been great for my hiring possibilities, but I came out at a tough time.”

What do you do as an engineer on a ship?

“We are responsible for the plant, or the engine room. We make sure the boilers, pumps, HVAC, hydraulics, and electrical are all functioning. Oregon II is an older ship, so you can see the mechanical parts of her. Newer ships have a lot more electronics, and it’s harder to find a faulty circuit board or something on them.”

What else have you done with your degree?

“My first job was on a cruise ship (Celebrity Summit) that sailed under foreign flag [owned by someone outside the United States]. That ship could take 5000 people out. I have seen every island in the Caribbean! I had a five month contract with them, and then a four month contract. Then a friend told me how much he was making on a US ship… I was the only US engineer in the fleet. I made $8000 a month as opposed to my friend making $20K per month plus benefits. I bounced around different jobs and then found AMO (American Maritime Officers union) about 5-6 years ago. I sailed all around the world moving cargo, working 4-5 months at a time, then had 4-5 months of vacation. During COVID I stopped sailing, took a break and worked at Sea World in San Diego [maintaining pumps and plants]. I had another shoreside job as lead building engineer for Lincoln Properties in Cambridge, MA, keeping science buildings running, but the commute was an hour each way and I was a slave to my cell phone, nights and weekends after working all week.”

How did you learn to SCUBA dive?

“NOAA invited me to be on the SCUBA Diving Team. I took an open water course and dive school in Seattle in dry suits (43° F!).

“I like working for NOAA because of the stability, and there’s less turnover. Oregon II is my first NOAA ship. Nate Durbin, the 1^st Engineer, also went to MMA, so he was able to ask around to find out about me. This is only the third vessel I’ve stayed on for more than three trips. It’s a small boat, but the crew is awesome. Here everyone gets together outside of work. It’s a family atmosphere. I’m going diving on a shipwreck with some of the guys when we are off in Miami. It’s nice working on a ship based on science rather than moving cargo.”

Interview with Chuck Godwin

portrait of a man standing in front of a banner. he wears a suit and tie, but also a beanie. this image has been cropped out of a larger group photo; we see the cut-off arm of someone standing to his right. — *Chuck Godwin present in February 2024 to receive Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award on behalf of* Oregon II crew, who aided a vessel that was taking on water in 2022.

I had the pleasure of learning more about Chuck Godwin, the lead fisherman on NOAA Ship Oregon II. Chuck (Charles Scott) has been working on Oregon II since July 2000. When I looked up “Oregon II” on the internet, I found a photo of Chuck in a suit receiving the Department of Commerce Gold Medal in February 2024 after he and crewmates saved a vessel in distress (it was taking on water) in November 2022 (look it up!). He was excited to share his personal story with us.

Chuck has four kids: two girls and two boys, ages 19-34, and three grandchildren who all live in Alabama. Chuck currently lives in Milton, FL, about two hours from Pascagoula, MS, where the ship is docked when not at sea. In his off time, Chuck likes to play guitar and harmonica, karaoke, kayak, hike, and go off-roading in his Jeep. He also likes reading and writing short stories and poetry, or trying to (but he will not share his writing with me).

What training have you had for this job?

“I graduated from the University of Florida (UF) with a degree in Wildlife Management and Ecology. I wanted to work for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or any nearby State Fish and Game Department. I couldn’t find a job in that field after I graduated, so I joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served 10 years, where I did Fisheries Enforcement and Search and Rescue. After separating from the military, I applied for a job with NOAA and found work on the Oregon 2 and have been here ever since.

I enjoy my work when underway, the shark cruise, especially. The people, boat, and various surveys have kept me around. The great white [shark] is my ‘dream catch.’”

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career near the ocean, or in science?

“I decided in high school. I grew up in, around, and under the water. I was raised in Florida and lived in Panama (the country) when I was 10-14 years old, and I became a certified scuba diver at age 12. I got to go back to Panama for a summer internship when I was in college, doing field work in biodiversity.”

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

“Robots to do this! Have you seen the robots that are out now? It’s only going to get more advanced and sophisticated. I could stand by and supervise….lol.”

Personal Log

I am getting ready to go home. This trip has been amazing, but it is also the longest time I have been away from my family, I know my pets and gardens are in good hands with my husband, Henry, but it’s time to go back and help out. Our beehives, in particular, need to be examined. I am hopeful the bees found some summersweet to tide them over.

Did You Know?

Sharksuckers, from the Remora family of fishes, do not hurt sharks when they are attached. Their first dorsal fin is modified into a series of plates that form a suction pad to hitch a ride on sharks, turtles, whales, or other large marine creatures. They get a free ride and can eat the leftover scraps from their ride’s meal.

Animals seen since last blog:

Octopus! I saw three (or perhaps the same one, three times?) wrapped around the baited hook as it came up.

Spinner shark

Sharksucker

Red grouper

Night shark!

August 6, 2013August 19, 2021

Julie Karre: A Weekend with the Wind and Wild Sharks, August 2-4, 2013

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Julie Karre
Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II
July 26 – August 8, 2013

Mission: Shark and Red snapper Longline Survey
Geographical Area of Cruise: Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Florida
Date: Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4, 2013

Weather Data from the Bridge
Friday – SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS

Saturday – SW WINDS AROUND 15 KNOTS
ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT
SEAS AROUND 4 FEET

Sunday – W WIND 5 TO 7 KNOTS BECOMING VARIABLE AND LESS THAN 5 KNOTS
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY AFTER 10PM
SEAS AROUND 3 FEET

Science and Technology Log
In this log we’ll take a closer look at the sharks we’ve brought on board:

Atlantic Sharpnose Shark:

Volunteer Arjen Krigsman works on a Sharpnose on his birthday! — Volunteer Arjen Krijgsman works on a Sharpnose on his birthday!

The Atlantic Sharpnose has been the most abundant shark on our survey and will continue to be abundant for the rest of the cruise, even in the Gulf of Mexico. It is in fact one of the species that is on the Least Concern list in terms of its vulnerability. It is often a victim of by-catch and makes up 1/3 of the commercial landings of sharks in the United States. But being capable of producing offspring in abundance, the Sharpnose remains a steady species with moderate population growths. As indicated by its name the Atlantic Sharpnose is found all along the U.S. Atlantic coast and even as far as New Brunswick, Canada. When the Oregon II makes its way back into the Gulf of Mexico, it will likely continue to make an appearance on deck.

Blacknose Shark

The Blacknose Shark shares a similar body with the Sharpnose, but is marked by a (drumroll please) black mark on its nose. Unfortunately, the Blacknose doesn’t share its abundance with the Sharpnose. The Blacknose is listed as Near Threatened due to its high mortality rates in shrimp trawl nets. The Blacknose is suffering a decline in its population. The Oregon II has only seen 5-6 Blacknose during this leg of the survey.

Nurse Shark

The Nurse Shark, the first big shark we cradled, is characterized by sedentary and relatively docile behavior. They are still relatively mysterious in their migratory behavior and the gene flow between populations. Recently, it has been shown in population decline in certain areas perhaps due to its vulnerability to catch, but also perhaps because of habitat alteration.

Scalloped Hammerhead

The Scalloped Hammerhead has been my favorite so far. A friend of mine characterized it as the hipster of the shark world. There is something truly magnificent about those wide-set eyes. Unfortunately, the Scalloped Hammerhead is Endangered. The Scalloped Hammerhead can be found in coastal temperate waters all around the world. In each of these regions, it is threatened by capture, mostly as by-catch in fishing gear, gillnets, and longlines. Hammerhead shark fins are also more valuable than other species because of their high fin count. The species is in decline.

Bull Shark

The Bull Shark is a unique shark species because it can survive in freshwater for extended periods of time. This ability has caused it to be categorized as Near Threatened because it often gets caught in fisheries, but it is not a target species the way others are. Here’s what Kristin Hannan had to say: “Bull sharks’ ability to tolerate greater salinity extremes means that it is likely to be in more productive areas like at the input of rivers. The rivers which dump high levels of nutrients into the system spur on production, high nutrients means more phytoplankton, more phytoplankton means more small critters eating and so on up. These areas also mean hot spots for fishing activities as productivity means more fish, more fish means more predators, more interaction with gear, more possibilities for shark mortality.”

Sandbar Shark

The Sandbar Shark, which we caught in abundance one night, is a widespread species in warm temperate waters. Studies have found that it is a long-lived species, but it does not reproduce quickly so it has become Vulnerable due to overfishing. The species is currently in decline. The Sandbar is considered valuable because of their fins, which are large.

Tiger Shark

The Tiger Shark is commonly found world wide in tropical and warm coastal waters. Aside from the Sandbar, it is the largest shark we have caught the most of. Fortunately, it is considered a fast-growing species with the ability to reproduce abundantly. It is not considered at a high risk for extinction, but the desire for fins makes the risk of further population decline a distinct possibility.

Night Shark

We have only caught 1 Night Shark during our survey. It is a Vulnerable species. It is prized mostly for its fins and meats and is caught in abundance off the coast of Brazil. Studies have shown that most of the Night Sharks landed were below 50% maturity, which is 8 years for males and 10 years for females. In the United States, the Night Shark is listed as a prohibited species.

When talking to Kristin about these sharks, she shared this about their reproduction, “All sharks are considered K-selected species like humans; we are late to mature, grow slowly and reproduce relatively few young comparatively to say a bony fish that might produce thousands of babies in its lifetime (s-selected). So when we talk about a tiger [shark] vs. a sandbar [shark] being more or less productive, it is definitely in relation to each other and not all fish. A tiger [shark] does produce more young than some other species but way less than the red grouper he goes after for dinner. This is why all sharks are so sensitive to fishing pressures; they have a considerably longer bounce back time.”

Personal Log
It’s hard to believe that over a week has passed, but given how much we have seen and done, it makes sense.

As I get more and more comfortable handling sharks and working on the boat, I have noticed a few things. My sister-in-law Elizabeth noticed a few years ago that my family has a love for responding to each other (and often friends and acquaintances) with movie quotes. The most commonly quoted movies in our family include The Big Lebowski, The Princess Bride, Blues Brothers, To Kill A Mockingbird, and many more. I am no exception to this family trend.

So while we’re all eagerly awaiting the call that a shark is on the hook, it occurred to me that this movie-quoting affliction had not escaped this trip. When a fish or shark is caught on one of our hooks, the fishermen call out “Fish on” to notify those of us handling to come over and retrieve the animal. I realized that this was no common call in my head, though. Each time I hear the “Fish on” I hear it more in the call of “Game Ooon” from Wayne’s World. I suppose that’s a hazard of anyone growing up in the 90s. What proves I am truly a Karre though is that when I’m talking to the shark I’m handling, asking and sometimes begging it to be still so I can remove the hook quickly and reduce its harm and pain, in my head the shark is responding “Oh I’m cooperating with you” in the voice of William H. Macy from the movie Fargo.

"Fish ooonnn" - A Sharpnose comes up to join us. — “Fish ooonnn” – A Sharpnose comes up to join us.

"Oh I'm cooperating with you" says the Sharpnose that has just come aboard the Oregon II. — “Oh I’m cooperating with you” says the Sharpnose that has just come aboard the Oregon II.

Did You Know?
There are over 6000 known coral species around the world. We have brought up several pieces of coral on our clips. Kevin found a bright red piece of coral, which prompted a lesson for us about how many red corals release an irritant that will make our skin burn and sting. Fortunately, that’s not what Kevin brought up!

The sun is setting on my trip and all I can say is that it has been extraordinary.