Pascagoula – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

September 11, 2026September 15, 2026

Krista Fleming: A Classroom Without Walls: Beginning My NOAA Teacher at Sea Journey: September 5-8, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Krista Fleming

NOAA Ship Oregon II

September 5-20, 2026

Mission: Shark/Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 3

Geographic Area of Cruise: Western Gulf of America

Date: September 9, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 27°33.665 N

Longitude: 96°41.862 W

SE Winds 12kts.

Seas 1-2ft SE at 3 seconds

Science and Technology Log

A Long-Term Fisheries Survey

My first few days aboard the NOAA Ship Oregon II have been an incredible introduction to what fisheries science looks like in the field. Our mission is the Shark/Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey, which focuses on collecting information about populations of some of the shark, snapper, grouper and tilefish species in the Gulf of America.

One of the things I am beginning to understand is just how important reliable, long-term data are to fisheries management. Scientists need to know not only what species are present, but also how abundant they are and how those populations change over time. NOAA Fisheries conducts this survey using standardized methods so that data collected this year can be compared with data collected in previous years.

The survey is divided into four legs each year, and scientists work in specific areas of the Atlantic and Gulf to collect samples and record everything they encounter. By returning to the same general areas and following consistent methods, researchers can look for changes and trends in the health and abundance of different species.

What makes this especially exciting to me is knowing that the data we are collecting are part of a much larger story. This survey has been conducted since 1995, which means scientists have more than 30 years of information to work with. The individual species we encounter during this trip are contributing to a long-term dataset that can help scientists understand what is happening in Gulf ecosystems.

NOAA Ship Oregon II in Pascagoula

NOAA Ship Oregon II

For the next 17 days, the Oregon II is both our home and our workplace. The ship is 170 feet long, with a beam of 34 feet and a draft of 14 feet. Its home port is Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Knowing a little about the ship’s history makes being aboard it even more interesting. Ingalls Shipbuilding also played an important role during World War II, building nearly 100 ships for the United States and British Royal Navy.

There is also a lot happening aboard the Oregon II beyond the research I am participating in. The ship supports a variety of NOAA missions throughout the year, and it is fascinating to think about how many different scientists, researchers, and crew members have relied on this vessel to conduct work in the Gulf and beyond.

Learning the Survey Process

Before we began our first survey, Dr. William “Trey” Driggers, our Field Party Chief, and Will Tilley, a Fisheries Biologist, walked us through the survey process. We learned how to identify the sharks we might encounter, how to handle them safely, and how to collect the information scientists need without keeping the animals out of the water any longer than necessary.

Our sampling method uses a bottom longline with 100 individual hooks. We prepare and bait each hook, release high flyers that mark the beginning and end of the longline, and attach the baited hooks to the mainline as it is deployed.

Once the entire line is in the water, it remains there for one hour. During deployment and haul back, every hook is accounted for. We record when each hook enters and leaves the water, along with the GPS coordinates and what, if anything, was caught on each individual hook.

I am quickly learning that science isn’t just about what we catch. The information surrounding each catch is just as important. Knowing exactly where an animal was caught, when it was caught, and which hook caught it allows scientists to connect that animal to the larger dataset.

Measuring Sharks

One of the most hands-on parts of my training has been learning how scientists collect standardized measurements from sharks. When a shark comes aboard, we have a specific process to follow, and each measurement serves a purpose.

We collect several different measurements, including:

Pre-caudal length
Fork length
Natural total length
Stretched total length

a simple illustration of a shark with horizontal bars showing the "pre-caudal length" (length from snout to base of tail), "fork length," (length from snout to fork of tail), and "total length" (length from snout to tip of tail.) — Length measurements taken during shark processing
(Image uploaded by Steven T Kessel to Researchgate.net: source)

We also collect a small fin clip that can be provided to researchers for genetic studies.

I am realizing that consistency is what makes this type of research valuable. If scientists collect measurements the same way every time, they can make meaningful comparisons among animals, locations, and years.

The other major lesson has been the importance of efficiency. We want to collect as much useful information as possible while minimizing the amount of time an animal spends out of the water. That means everyone has to know their role, communicate with one another, and be ready to move quickly when an animal comes aboard.

Our First Station

We completed our first station, and it didn’t take long for me to see just how much teamwork is required to make this research work.

I am working the day shift, from noon until midnight. Dr. Trey Driggers has been guiding us through the process. With 30 years of experience researching sharks, he has already given us a tremendous amount of information to absorb.

Dr. Tera Winters, a Senior Research Associate, has also been working closely with Ryan, another volunteer and aspiring marine biologist, and me as we learn our roles. There is a rhythm to the work that we are slowly beginning to develop. We help prepare and bait the hooks, release the high flyers, attach the hooks to the longline, clean buckets, record information, and help process the animals we catch.

So far, we have encountered several small sharks, including sharpnose, blacknose, and sandbar sharks. We have also caught eels and red snapper.

One of the things I have really enjoyed is being able to connect the research happening around me to actual scientific studies. Dr. Walter Ingram Jr., a fisheries biologist, has been incredibly generous with his time. He has explained our mission and survey methods, answered my many questions, and shared some of his research with me. I am currently reading a recently published study on snapper populations that he co-authored with Dr. Trey Driggers and Will Tilley and other prominent scientists.

What makes reading that study so interesting is that these aren’t just names on a research paper. They are three of the scientists working alongside me aboard the Oregon II. I am getting to see firsthand the people, equipment, fieldwork, and data collection that go into producing the research I am reading. I am an active participant in the research, too.

It has been especially meaningful to see the connection between the data being collected in the field and the scientific research that eventually comes from it. It is a reminder that published research doesn’t just appear on a page—it begins with scientists asking questions, collecting data, carefully documenting their observations, and working together to make sense of what they find.

I am only a few days into this experience, but I am already seeing how much science happens behind what may look like a simple catch. There is biology, data collection, technology, mathematics, teamwork, and an incredible amount of attention to detail involved in turning one animal into useful scientific information.

Careers at Sea

One of the things I was most looking forward to about Teacher at Sea was meeting the people who actually do this work. Being able to talk with scientists about their careers and then watch them apply their expertise in the field has been one of the most valuable parts of the experience so far.

There are fisheries biologists, research associates, NOAA Corps officers, deck crew, stewards, and many other professionals aboard the Oregon II. Each person brings a different area of expertise, but all of those roles have to come together for the mission to be successful.

Seeing all of these different careers working together has also made me think about how many different pathways there are into marine science. Not everyone aboard has the same background or does the same job, but each role is important to keeping the ship, the research, and the mission moving forward.

Personal Log

Arriving Aboard

When I arrived aboard the NOAA Ship Oregon II, I was welcomed aboard by the Executive Officer (XO), Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Peter “Pete” Gleichauf. He showed me to my quarters and then gave me a tour of the ship so I could begin getting acclimated to life at sea.

I got to see the wet lab, dry lab, galley, head, bridge, and many of the other spaces that will become part of my daily life over the next couple of weeks. It was exciting to see the ship in action and begin imagining what life at sea would actually be like.

After unpacking, I was pleasantly surprised by how much space I had left. Then I discovered something I definitely wasn’t expecting—a refrigerator in our room! I also met my roommate, Heather, a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the NOAA Corps. Heather serves as the Operations Officer for the ship. For this leg, she is also the survey technician. It was nice having someone to help me navigate this new environment.

Two Days at Sea

For the first two days, we were in transit from Pascagoula, Mississippi, to Brownsville, Texas, where we would begin our survey.

Being on a research vessel is very different from being on land. There is a rhythm to life at sea that I am still learning. Everyone has a job to do, and the ship operates around the clock. My day shift runs from noon until midnight, which means my schedule is already very different from my normal life as a teacher.

I am also learning that being a Teacher at Sea isn’t just about observing science. I am becoming part of the team, learning procedures, asking questions, and experiencing what it actually feels like to conduct field research in a marine environment.

Meet the Crew: The Galley

I want to use each blog post to introduce you to a different part of the ship and some of the people who help make this research possible. Today, we’re heading to the galley!

I’ll admit, before I arrived, I was a little nervous about what the food situation would be like on a ship. I wasn’t sure what to expect from meals prepared at sea for an entire crew. Thankfully, I quickly discovered that I had absolutely nothing to worry about—the food has been delicious!

Our cooks also put a lot of thought into keeping the crew healthy and energized. Missy, our Chief Steward, and Myesha, our second cook, are piloting a “Go for Green” initiative aboard the Oregon II. They are adapting a Department of Defense performance-nutrition program for life at sea, making healthy, nutrient-dense choices more accessible to the crew.

That is especially important on a research vessel where people are working long shifts, often doing physically demanding jobs, and need to stay focused and energized throughout the day.

For lunch today, we had a chicken burrito with whole-wheat tortilla chips and homemade guacamole. And for Labor Day, the galley staff really went all out. They decorated the galley and set it up like a Labor Day cookout. It was such a fun surprise and a great way to celebrate the holiday.

The galley has quickly become more than just the place where we eat. It is one of the places where everyone comes together, catches up, and gets a chance to relax between shifts. Even though we are miles offshore, the crew puts a lot of effort into making the Oregon II feel a little more like home.

two women lean toward one another and smile for a photo in the galley of NOAA Ship Oregon II. the photo is taken from the other side of a counter containing a crock pot and a basket of peppermints. Behind the women, we can see cabinets and kitchen appliances. — Missy, Chief Steward (left) and Myesha, 2nd cook (right)

Something to Think About

When scientists collect data from one shark, that information may seem small by itself. But what happens when you collect the same types of data from thousands of animals over many years?

Individual measurements become a dataset.
A dataset becomes a record.
A long-term record can reveal patterns and trends that would be impossible to see from a single observation.

That is one of the things I am beginning to appreciate most about scientific research at sea. What may seem like a single shark on one day of one survey is actually contributing to a much larger scientific story—one that has been developing for more than three decades.

July 28, 2026July 28, 2026

Cheyanne Vanderdonckt: Underway, July 27-28, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheyanne Vanderdonckt

NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 27 – August 12, 2026

Mission: Shark/Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey, Leg I

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Ocean

Date: July 28, 2026

Latitude: 27° 04.803’ N

Longitude: 85° 14.792’ W

Weather Data from the Bridge: West winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Waves west 3 feet at 4 seconds and south 1 foot at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning.

Science and Technology Log

For the first days of our journey, we will be traveling south from Pascagoula through the Gulf to the Straits of Florida. This means we will not be starting our survey work until later in the week. So for this post, I will be giving you some background information on the survey’s mission, our ship, and what I’ve learned about the maritime industry while staying in Pascagoula.

Mission

If you’ve ever been fishing you know that it is governed by very strict rules. There are short seasons when you are allowed to catch certain species, as well as limits on the number, sex, and size of fish you are allowed to take home. When it comes to fishing, it is important that we have an accurate picture of the health and abundance of fish stock to promote the health of our marine ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries plays an important part in this. The Shark/Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey takes place in four stages/legs every year in late summer in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The team decides on specific areas to sample and they make records of everything they haul in. (More details on how this is done will come in later posts.) Because they visit the same region annually, the scientists can measure trends in the health and abundance of species across time.

NOAA Ship Oregon II

Our home and workplace for the next 17 days is NOAA Ship Oregon II. Its home port is Pascagoula, Mississippi where it was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding, which is still in operation today. This shipyard played an important role in World War II, as it built nearly 100 ships for the United States and British Royal Navy. Oregon II is 170 feet long. It has a beam (width at its widest point) of 34 feet and a draft (the distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the boat) of 14 feet.

You can follow Oregon II on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NOAAShipOregon2 to see the various types of missions its crew and scientists carry out throughout the year. If you would like to track Oregon II or any other NOAA vessel, you can use its unique identifiers (IMO Number 6728068 or MMSI Number 303976000) on a variety of marine vessel tracking websites.

For parents and teachers, this could be a great way to teach children about geography, transportation, and economics. You can “adopt” a ship and watch it travel the globe or track how long it takes a container of goods to travel to your nearest port from across the world. My hometown Baltimore, Maryland, has a “roll-on, roll-off” (Ro Ro Cargo) port that allows cars, trucks, farm equipment, and other vehicles to be driven right off the ships. Car-loving children might enjoy tracking how their favorite imported models arrive.

The image is a screenshot of the website Vessel Finder showing the location of Oregon II in the Gulf of Mexico along with other vessels in the vicinity. — Screenshot from vesselfinder.com

Maritime Career Focus: Shipbuilding

Are you interested in shipbuilding or know a student who is? While people zip around the world on airplanes, the majority of our goods still travel the way they have for millennia: on the water. Although technology changes, waterways are still vital for commerce and the demand for ships and those who build them is still strong. According to Fortune magazine, there is a shortage of 250,000 workers in the industry. Shipbuilding requires “workers from across nearly every skilled trade. Shipyards rely on welders, electricians, pipefitters, and machinists.”

The image shows a ship docked with cranes — Operations at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi

Personal Log

The image shows Cheyanne Vanderdonckt standing in front of Oregon II at dock — Finally I get to see *Oregon II* up close! (Photo credit: William Tilley)

After spending two nights in Pascagoula, I boarded the ship Monday morning at 7:30. Although I was able to see the ship at the dock from the street the day I arrived, this is my first close up view of Oregon II. I have seen many pictures of it from the NOAA website and Teacher at Sea alumni blog posts, so it was kind of like meeting my favorite celebrity in person. I received a warm greeting from William (Will) Tilley, a NOAA fisheries biologist who has been my contact for pre-travel orientation. I was nervous about boarding and departure, but Will was so welcoming I immediately felt more at ease.

The first order of business was to find my stateroom (a bedroom on a ship) and get unpacked and settled in. Space is tight and I am sharing with another member of the science team, so tidiness is key. I received a mesh laundry bag with linens for my stay and made up my bed. I haven’t slept in a bunk bed since my days of sharing a room with my sister! I will be working the day shift (noon to midnight) and my roommate works the opposite shift so that we will each get time alone in the room.

The image shows bunkbeds and a storage cabinet in the stateroom — The stateroom has two berths (a bed on a ship) and storage space for our belongings. The “EEBD” (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) helps you breathe in case of fire evacuation. This card reminds me what signals I will hear in case of an emergency, where I should muster (meet up with my team), and what my task will be.

The image shows an orange box labeled EEBD with instructions for use — The stateroom has two berths (a bed on a ship) and storage space for our belongings. The “EEBD” (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) helps you breathe in case of fire evacuation. This card reminds me what signals I will hear in case of an emergency, where I should muster (meet up with my team), and what my task will be.

After moving into my stateroom, I met with members of the crew and the science team for orientations and safety briefings. There are other volunteers aboard ship — mostly undergraduate and graduate students — and they assured me I was in for a lot of fun. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming.

Without other duties for the day, I had plenty of time to explore the ship and enjoy the views. I found a shady spot on deck and read a book on my Nook. (I’m on my second book since I left Baltimore two days ago!) I did not bring any physical books in order to save on space, but the ship has a small library. If you’re a big reader like I am, you know how cool it is to see somebody else reading a book you love. I had a moment like that as I looked through the books and saw that there is a copy of Men Against the Sea, part of the Bounty Trilogy by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. This is a classic true story of endurance and survival at sea. Seeing a story I love in the library is another way that I feel welcomed to the ship.

close up view of the cover of an old trade paperback edition of Men Against the Sea by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. a price sticker in the lower corner reads $5.98. Cheyanne is holding the book up for the photo - we can just barely see her hand - in front of a well stocked bookcase. — A true find in the library of the ship’s lounge.

A great moment this afternoon was when I saw my first container ship on water. I turn into a little kid when I see big working ships. Soon after the big news story of the Evergreen Evergiven running aground and blocking the Suez Canal in 2021, we had our own container ship drama in Chesapeake Bay. The Ever Forward (also an Evergreen ship) ran aground off Pasadena, Maryland in 2022 and I insisted on an outing to go see it. (Did I mention I like boats?)

The image shows a pink cargo ship with shipping containers of various colors on deck with the water and they sky — A container ship came into view off the starboard deck.

Cheyanne and her husband, sweatshirt hoods pulled up over their hats, take a selfie in front of the water with a container ship positioned on the horizon just between the two of them — My husband and me in 2022 with *Ever Forward* aground in the background.

In the evening, I witnessed a beautiful sunset over the water, which I had been looking forward to all day. I tucked into the ship’s lounge with some other science volunteers to watch a movie and write. Since our shift ended at midnight, we all dipped into the generous stock of snacks in the mess (dining room). I was nervous about how I would sleep but the cool, dark, and the gentle rock of the ship helped me sleep like a rock. Then in the morning, I got to enjoy some delicious coffee to warm my teacher’s heart. Today will be another day underway and it’s rainy with some thunder and lightning so we are staying indoors.

The image shows a sunset over the water with light waves — Sunset on Monday, July 27, 2026 viewed from the starboard deck of *Oregon II*.

The image is of a window through which you can see water, the sky, and part of a throw ring — A view of the rainy weather from inside the ship’s lounge.

Did You Know?

Without roads, how do ships know how to get into port without running aground like our friend Ever Forward? Besides their charts and equipment, they also use a system of buoys called “lateral marks.” When leaving port, the ship will keep the green buoys to the starboard (right when facing the front of the boat) and the red buoys to port side (left side when facing the front of the boat). When returning, the colors will be reversed, giving way to a classic nautical mnemonic: “red right returning.”

The image shows a green buoy in the water with some land in the background — Leaving the port in Pascagoula we pass through the navigational buoys.

The image shows a red buoy in the water with some land in the background — Leaving the port in Pascagoula we pass through the navigational buoys.

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

Cheryl Milliken: We’re Steaming across the Gulf, July 26, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 26 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: July 26, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 29° 32.4’ N

Longitude: 087° 53.2’ W

Wind speed: 8 knots (peak 36 knots)

Wave height: 3’ swell (wind waves 1-2’)

Air temp.: 32.6° C

Sky: Cumulus and cirrus clouds, ⅜ cloud coverage

Science and Technology Log

Although we are going to spend a couple of days steaming before we reach our sampling stations on the Atlantic (east) side of Florida, crew and staff having been gearing up to prepare for the work ahead.

Personal Log

After a stormy start that delayed our departure by a day, I’ve officially embarked on my journey aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II. Though the thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday scrambled flight plans, the extra day in Pascagoula turned out to be a gift — a chance to explore this small but vibrant coastal city and ease into ship life.

I moved into my stateroom Thursday morning, a cozy space shared with Lila Xenakis, a grad student from Florida Tech researching sharks. The room is compact but comfortable, featuring a bunk bed, a personal sink, and a mini-split A/C unit that’s been a lifesaver in Mississippi’s sweltering July heat. Although Lila and I are on different watch shifts (she will work from midnight until noon, while I will work from noon until midnight), we had a great time getting to know each other before departure.

view of wooden bunks with high sides and individual blackout curtains; we can see chairs and the edge of a sink around the corner

metal storage cabinets; two of the cabinets are labeled with images of life vests and survival suits

Photos, L to R: Bunk bed and sink viewed from your door; our storage cabinets behind the door; cabinet in our room with emergency gear and a foldout desk.

Lila and I walked 6 miles (three each way) to see the beach. Top 5 things we saw there:

5. Buffett Bridge – apparently, Jimmy Buffett lived here as a child, so they named this bridge in his honor. You can also see his house, but it was not along our route.

4. The trains and bridge – many trains pass through Pascagoula, and they need to cross the Pascagoula River. The CSX Transportation railroad drawbridge, a bascule bridge (according to my research), is operated by a bridge tender in Mobile, AL. It was eye-opening to see such long trains coming through this city (I counted 44 cars on one train Thursday evening) and to think about all the industry going on in the southern states.

cement barrier painted with a mural of a beach scene and the words "Buffett Bridge;" there is grass beyond the cement barrier. We also see a small sign on a post that reads: Buffett Bridge, In Honor of Jimmy Buffett, Singer, Songwriter, Author.

view from a distance as a train crosses over the railroad drawbridge. the sky is blue with white clouds.

a fishing vessel approaches an open drawbridge

Photos, L to R: Buffett Bridge along Pascagoula coast; train coming over Pascagoula River; pogie boat passing under drawbridge.

3. Downtown Pascagoula – full of local color, murals, and culinary gems like “Jack’s by the Tracks,” where I chose shrimp and grits one night and mahi mahi tacos the next. The sushi might be the local favorite, but I have no regrets. We spent some time with other crew members, who have been very helpful and kind in welcoming us aboard.

2. Coastal nature – we walked past towering Southern Magnolias and graceful Coastal Live Oaks, plants that rarely survive back home on Cape Cod. The beach itself, rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina (2005) and restored post–Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010), stands as a testament to the Gulf’s resilience and the hard work of conservation teams.

view from underneath of large moss-covered branches on sprawling live oak

close-up view of a large white magnolia flower

Photos, L to R: live oak on our route; magnolia in bloom; beach.

1. NOAA Ship Oregon II – our home for the next couple of weeks! Built in 1967, this vessel has aged gracefully, with modern updates and full air conditioning throughout. Getting around her isn’t always straightforward (still learning how to get from the stern to the flying bridge), but I’m eager to call her home as we head into the Gulf.

close-up view of a rusted metal 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.

view over the bow of NOAA Ship Oregon II from the flying bridge as it makes its way out of the port of Pascagoula. The water is calm and the sky is bright blue with a few fluffy clouds.

Photos, Clockwise from left: NOAA Ship Oregon II docked in Pascagoula; plaque on Oregon II acknowledging its origin at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS; view of forward deck from above.

Special thanks to my friend, Laura, for showing me around Ocean Springs, MS, on Thursday! We had a great time exploring such a charming place.

Did You Know?

The Gulf is home to more than 1,443 finfish species, 51 shark species, and at least 49 species of rays and skates. Source: sign hanging in the hallway of NOAA Fisheries building in Pascagoula, MS.

Animals Seen Today:

Many birds in port and on the way out to the middle of the Gulf:
- Brown pelicans – they sit on every channel marker out of Pascagoula
- Laughing gulls
- Black skimmer – striking black and white with distinct orange and black bill
- Sandwich terns – identified by yellow-tipped bills like mustard smears
Bottlenose dolphins! (Tursiops truncatus) – right next to NOAA Ship Oregon II in the Pascagoula River!

July 28, 2023July 28, 2023

Martin McClure: Getting Acquainted, July 28, 2023

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Martin McClure

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 9, 2023

Mission: Shark/Snapper Long Line Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic Ocean

Date: Jul 28, 2023

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 25°49.441’N

Longitude: 79°59.970’W

Temperature: 30.5° Celcius

Wind Speed: 7 knots

The Oregon II at dock in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Science and Technology Log

NOAA conducts the Shark/Snapper Longline Survey each year at the same time and place. It goes from July through September and surveys from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to West Palm Beach, FL, and the U.S. northern Gulf of Mexico from southwest Florida to Brownsville, TX. This is a longline survey and one mile of gear is baited and laid down for one hour.

When the line is reeled in, the science and fishing teams take them off the hooks and record data on the fish. The data gathered includes what species (kind of fish) are caught, if they are male or female, their age, weight and length. Additionally, the sharks will be tagged with a number and released.

The data collected will be used by NOAA to help manage the health of the fishery. It is one set of data that goes into deciding how many fish can be safely taken from the ocean each year. Without this information, fishermen might take too many fish to keep the population stable.

a view up at four flags flown on a line, one after the other. the top is a navy blue flag with a black square. the second has vertical bands of red, white, and blue. the third is diagonally split between a lower yellow right triangle and an upper red right triangle. the last has horizontal bands of yellow, navy, yellow. — The *Oregon II* call sign flags, WTDO

NOAA Ship Oregon II is the ship that is used to conduct this survey each year. It takes a lot of people working together to accomplish this. The crew of the Oregon II is made up of several teams. Everyone has a job as a part of the team to make sure everything works as needed.

The NOAA Corps are the officers on the ship. They are responsible for the overall operation of the ship and are in charge of navigation, steering and everyone’s safety. They work in shifts from the “bridge.”

The engineering team makes sure that everything is working properly. This includes the engines, electrical systems, fresh water and the all-important air conditioning.

The deck crew includes the professional fisherman who do boat maintenance, prepare fishing gear as well as handle the big fish.

There are two stewards who prepare our meals and keep the dining area clean. They keep us well fed with several choices available at each meal three times a day.

The electronics department has just one person who is responsible to make sure all of the technology is working properly. That is a very big responsibility on this ship.

Finally, there is the science team. That is where I fit in. There are four NOAA scientists and six volunteers. I am one of the volunteers. The other volunteers are all university students.

There are 29 people on board and everyone works on shifts. The ship operates 24 hours a day so all jobs must be done around the clock. Most teams have two shifts that each last for… you guessed it… twelve hours.

Personal Log

These first few days have been spent getting acquainted with the layout of the ship, learning the routines of life on the ocean and the people on the ship. The most striking feature is that there seems to be an incredible amount of equipment packed into such a small space. Everything a crew of 29 could need for three weeks, emergency equipment and replacement parts. Yet, in any one place, there is adequate room to move and work. I have a “stateroom” that I share with one other member of the science team. Each of us have a “rack” to sleep in, lockers and drawers for personal belongings as well as a fold out desk to work at. We also have a sink and mirror. All this in a room that is about 7’X10’.

view of Martin's stateroom. we see high sided bunk beds built into the wall, a sink and a cabinet, the edge of a desk and a desk chair, two backpacks. — stateroom with two berths

Rarely are we both in there but there is adequate room when that happens. The “passageways” are narrow and it takes coordination to pass another crewmember. The “mess” seats twelve people, at most, so we have to eat meals in shifts.

the mess, or dining area, of NOAA Ship Oregon II. there are two tables anchored to the floor by posts; each table has six swivel chairs anchored to the floor on posts, as at a diner. someone sits at one seat, facing away from the camera. there are two televisions mounted on the wall, one showing a baseball game. in the foreground is a small refrigerator with juices and tea. — NOAA Ship *Oregon II*‘s “mess” seats 12 people at most.

There are three bathrooms and two showers available for general use. Showers should be short to preserve water as well as to make it available for others to use. There are three different “gym” areas with equipment to work out in. My favorite is the flying bridge where you can look out over the ocean.

a view over the bow of NOAA Ship Oregon II, from high up. we can see the front mast, lines, part of a davit arm. the sky is blue, clear of clouds if a bit hazy on the horizon. the ocean is dark blue and calm. — view from the flying bridge of NOAA Ship *Oregon II*

Safety is a priority on board the ship. We start by using basic safety procedures while moving around the ship. While underway, the pitch (front to back motion) and roll (side to side motion) of the ship never stops. This becomes more or less pronounced depending on the weather. So moving through the passageways and doorways and especially on the outside decks, one must be careful to use a hand to keep their balance. The stairwells are narrow and steep but negotiable. When using stairwells always have 3 points of contact, that means use two hands and then a foot is the third point of contact.

view down a narrow metal staircase. equipment is stashed on the other side of a railing to the right of the photo. — view down a stairwell on NOAA Ship *Oregon II*

Moving around comes more easily with time. No open toed shoes are to be worn except on the way to and from the shower. Safety equipment must be worn when working. We will be wearing hard hats, gloves, glasses and a work vest. The work vest looks a lot like a personal flotation device but flat. If you fall overboard it will automatically inflate. There is a lot of equipment and devices all over the ship for use in emergency situations.

firefighting equipment mounted on an interior wall: an axe (labeled "Oregon II"), a crow bar, a folded up fire hose. a red plaque on the wall reads FIRE STATION NO. 4. — firefighting equipment in case of emergencies

Fire extinguishers, AEDs, masks for smoke, and, of course, life rafts. We have to do drills to make sure that we know what to do in emergencies.

four people stand on the aft deck "decked out" in firefighting gear. they wear yellow fireproof pants and jackets, heavy black and yellow boots, large yellow gloves, black or white helmets, gas masks, some sort of backpack. the sky is bright blue with some wispy clouds and the ocean is fairly calm. — our firefighting team

Martin stands on the aft deck in a heavy orange survival suit with his arms raised for the photo. it's only partially zipped, revealing his Teacher at Sea t-shirt underneath. He wears a Teacher at Sea hat and sunglasses. other survival suits and flotation devices rest on deck around him — That’s me in a “Gumby” suit for survival in case we have to abandon ship.

Did You Know?

Did you know that not all sharks reproduce the same way? Be sure to check future blogs to find out how.

Animals Seen Today:

the dorsal fin of a dolphin visible above water — dolphin

and also: masked booby, swallow, flying fish, barracuda.

July 11, 2019July 14, 2019

Hayden Roberts: Data and More Data… July 11, 2019

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Hayden Roberts

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 8-19, 2019

Mission: Leg III of SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: July 11, 2019

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Latitude: 28.29° N
Longitude: 83.18° W
Wave Height: 1-2 feet
Wind Speed: 11 knots
Wind Direction: 190
Visibility: 10 nm
Air Temperature: 29.8°C
Barometric Pressure: 1013.6 mb
Sky: Few clouds

Science Log

As I mentioned in my introductory post, the purpose of the SEAMAP Summer Groundfish Survey is to collect data for managing commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. However, the science involved is much more complex than counting and measuring fish varieties.

The research crew gathers data in three ways. The first way involves trawling for fish. The bulk of the work on-board focuses on trawling or dragging a 42-foot net along the bottom of the Gulf floor for 30 minutes. Then cranes haul the net and its catch, and the research team and other personnel weigh the catch. The shift team sorts the haul which involves pulling out all of the shrimp and red snapper, which are the most commercially important species, and taking random samples of the rest. Then the team counts each species in the sample and record weights and measurements in a database called FSCS (Fisheries Scientific Computer System).

SEAMAP can be used by various government, educational, and private entities. For example, in the Gulf data is used to protect the shrimp and red snapper populations. For several years, Gulf states have been closing the shrimp fishery and putting limits on the snapper catches seasonally to allow the population to reproduce and grow. The SEAMAP data helps determine the length of the season and size limits for each species.

Tampa Bay area waters — Digital chart of the waters off the Tampa Bay area. Black dots represent research stations or stops for our cruise.

Another method of data collection is conductivity, temperature, and depth measurements (CTD). The process involves taking readings on the surface, the bottom of Gulf floor, and at least two other points between in order to create a CTD profile of the water sampled at each trawling locations. The data becomes important in order to assess the extent of hypoxia or “dead zones” in the Gulf (see how compounded data is used to build maps of hypoxic areas of the Gulf: https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-forecasts-very-large-dead-zone-for-gulf-of-mexico). Plotting and measuring characteristics of hypoxia have become a major part of fishery research especially in the Gulf, which has the second largest area of seasonal hypoxia in the world around the Mississippi Delta area. SEAMAP data collected since the early 1980s show that the zone of hypoxia in the Gulf has been spreading, unfortunately. One recent research sample taken near Corpus Christi, TX indicated that hypoxia was occurring further south than in the past. This summer, during surveys two CTD devices are being used. The first is a large cylinder-shaped machine that travels the depth of the water for its readings. It provides a single snapshot. The second CTD is called a “Manta,” which is a multi-parameter water quality sonde (or probe). While it can be used for many kinds of water quality tests, NOAA is using it to test for hypoxia across a swath of sea while pulling the trawling net. This help determine the rate of oxygenation at a different depth in the water and across a wider field than the other CTD can provide.

Setting up the CTD for its first dive of our research cruise.

Did You Know?

Algae is a major problem in the Gulf of Mexico. Hypoxia is often associated with the overgrowth of certain species of algae, which can lead to oxygen depletion when they die, sink to the bottom, and decompose. Two major outbreaks of algae contamination have occurred in the past three years. From 2017-2018, red algae, which is common in the Gulf, began washing ashore in Florida. “Red Tide” is the common name for these algae blooms, which are large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms, such as protozoans and unicellular algae. The upwelling of nutrients from the sea floor, often following massive storms, provides for the algae and triggers bloom events. The wave of hurricanes (including Irma and during this period caused the bloom. The second is more recent. Currently, beaches nearest the Mississippi Delta have been closed due to an abundance of green algae. This toxic algae bloom resulted from large amounts of nutrients, pesticides, fertilizers being released into the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana because of the record-high Mississippi River levels near Lake Pontchartrain. The spillway opening is being blamed for high mortality rates of dolphins, oysters and other aquatic life, as well as the algae blooms plaguing Louisiana and Mississippi waters.

Personal Log

Pulling away from Pascagoula yesterday, I knew we were headed into open waters for the next day and half as we traveled east down the coast to the Tampa Bay, FL area. I stood on the fore deck and watched Oregon II cruise past the shipyard, the old naval station, the refinery, navigation buoys, barrier islands, and returning vessels. The Gulf is a busy place. While the two major oceans that flank either side of the U.S. seem so dominant, the Gulf as the ninth largest body of water in the world and has just as much importance. As a basin linked to the Atlantic Ocean, the tidal ranges in the Gulf are extremely small due to the narrow connection with the ocean. This means that outside of major weather, the Gulf is relatively calm, which is not the case with our trip.

Navigation buoy that we passed leaving Pascagoula harbor.

As we cruise into open waters, along the horizon we can see drilling platforms jutting out of the Gulf like skyscrapers or resorts lining the distant shore. Oil and gas extraction are huge in this region. Steaming alongside us are oil tankers coming up from the south and cargo ships with towering containers moving back and forth between Latin America and the US Coast. What’s in the Gulf (marine wildlife and natural resources) has geographic importance, but what comes across the Gulf has strategic value too.

The further we cruised away from Mississippi, the water became choppy. The storm clouds that delayed our departure the day before were now overhead. In the distances, rain connected the sky to sea. While the storm is predicted to move northwest, the hope is that we can avoid its intensification over the Gulf Stream as we move southeasterly.

Choppy seas as we cruise across the Gulf to the West Coast of Florida to start our research.

I learned that water in the Gulf this July is much warmer than normal. As a result, locally produced tropical storms have formed over the Gulf. Typically, tropical storms (the prelude to a hurricane) form over the Atlantic closer to the Equator and move North. Sometimes they can form in isolated areas like the Gulf. Near us, an isolated tropical storm (named Barry) is pushing us toward research stations closer to the coast in order to avoid more turbulent and windy working conditions. While the research we are conducting is important, safety and security aboard the ship comes first.