Pisces – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

January 21, 2025January 21, 2025

Kiersten Newtoff: Deck the Halls with Cranes and Winches. January 21, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Kiersten Newtoff
Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces
January 6 – January 29, 2025

Mission: Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS)
Geographic Area of Cruise: North Atlantic Coast
Date: January 21, 2025
Data from the Bridge: N35°0’0″, W74°54’0″, off the coast of Hatteras, NC. 38°F outside, with 14kt winds.

If the kitchen is the soul of the ship then the deck crew is the heart. Without the deck crew, we could not run the science missions because they run all of the equipment (cranes, winches, etc.) and provide deck support 24/7. I appreciate the deck crew letting me interview them.

~~Chief Boatswain~~

I have never been so confused with reading a word like I have with the word “boatswain”. Since I have 0 nautical knowledge, I have been pronouncing it like “boat-swane”. But it’s not. It’s pronounced “bo-sun”. And people will spell it that way too. I have heard of “bosun” from Below Deck, but had no idea that “boatswain” was the ‘official’ way of spelling it. It’s like donut instead of doughnut. I don’t like it.

Chief Bosun

Looking over the back deck of the Pisces, James is up a level controlling the winch. Tanya is looking toward the winch as she guides the line being wrapped. Tanya is in the foreground wrapping up rope. — When the bioacoustic array comes in, James controls the winch from an upper deck. Tasha is guiding the line to neatly place it on the spool and Tanya is wrapping the support rope to put it safely away.

There, that’s better. James is the big boss of the deck. He trains and teaches the deck crew, operates all the equipment on board, and oversees the small boats. His favorite is operating the fish trawls, but unfortunately, it’s been quite a few years since a science team has done that on the Pisces. James has been with the Pisces for 17 years! He is the only crew member that has been on the boat since it was commissioned, which means James has earned the “Plankowner” title. He plans on retiring in 3 years, at the 20 year mark, which he very much deserves. He previously did 20 years in the Navy and one year of teaching. He chose to join NOAA because they aren’t at sea as much as the Navy, so it means he can spend more time at home (a common theme we have been seeing with the crew!).

Lead/Skilled Fisherman

Here’s another position where I just don’t get the name. I hear “fisherman,” and I think of a person on the deck fishing. And if they are the lead fisherman, that means they catch more things because they are more skilled. More skilled than the “skilled fisherman”. Apparently, none of this is true. The ‘fisherman’ title comes from the type of vessel; the NOAA Pisces is a fisheries vessel with lots of gear needed for catching fish. Those with “Fisherman” titles are responsible for the usage, upkeep, and repair of the fishing gear. Rodney is a Skilled Fisherman but is filling in on this trip as the Lead Fisherman, since the Lead is on leave (more on how scheduling works later on). Rodney oversees the day-to-day operations, operates the cranes, serves as the rescue boat coxswain (like boatswain, this word is not pronounced anything like how it’s spelled), does security rounds, bridge watches, and assists in science operations. Many of these duties overlap with the bosun, but Rodney is on the night shift. He started about 1.5 years ago as a General Vessel Assistant and has been working his way up, hopefully to bosun some day! His hometown community was full of fishermen and merchant mariners, which influenced his path. He had some bumps here and there, but when he started at NOAA, he truly found a career he was passionate about. He enjoys giving back to his community by guest speaking at the Bluewater Maritime School, where he trained at.

I love this boat. I love the camaraderie. I love the people.
Rodney

Able Seaman
(AB; sometimes also referred as Able-bodied Seaman)

On the side deck of the Pisces. In the tower (side sampling station) is Rodney, looking down on Lily and Santanna on the lower deck. They are stnading around the bongo before it gets lifted into the ocean. — Rodney is in the side sampling station controlling the winch that lets out the bongo. Lily and Santanna get in position to guide the bongo over the railing.

The Able Seaman role wears many hats: they do lookout, drive helm, sanitation, keep the ship spotless, mooring lines, anchor the ship, preservation of the ship, help with the science party, work oceanographic equipment, and drive small boats. If you need to do anything on the boat, they are probably right alongside you. There are three Able Seamen on the Pisces: Tanya, Tasha, and Santanna. Tanya and Tasha are part of the aug pool (more on that soon), and Santanna is attached to the Pisces. Tanya used to work in property and casualty insurances but wanted to try something new. She took advantage of the Workforce Investment Act to get training to become an AB. Tasha worked in healthcare for 19 years but also had a twinkle for the ocean as her dad and husband served in the Navy. As her kids got older, it was easier for her to be away at sea. Santanna is a friend of the seas, having worked in the Military Sealift Command resupplying Navy ships. He enjoys the sea life but wanted to be home more and NOAA enables him to do so. He just started, this is his second cruise, but he has been enjoying it so far!

General Vessel Assistant (GVA)

When you first get started on deck, you likely will come in as a General Vessel Assistant. Your roles are more limited such as just working with sanitation, repair, and cleaning. But NOAA offers lots of training and credentials to learn skills to become an Able Seaman and more. At the moment, the Pisces doesn’t have any GVAs in the deck crew, but that can definitely change over time!

The Deck Crew, a limerick

All aboard the NOAA Pisces
James has sailed with her over many seas
Santanna and Rodney are permanent crew
While Tanya and Tasha fill in for a few
Working together makes tasks a breeze

How Does Scheduling Work?

Many positions on board are 60 days on and 30 days off. “On” refers to being on the boat, and “off” referring to shore work. This helps to prevent fatigue of living on a vessel and gives time for family. Leave can be used when on shore, or personnel can do training or other tasks. Although someone may have 30 days off of the Pisces, the ship is still operating as usual. This is where the augmented (or aug) pool comes in. Crew members can choose to be in the aug pool versus permanently assigned to a ship. In the aug pool, you share your availability for the year and vessels will reach out to the pool to fill positions for when a crew member is “off”. This isn’t just reserved for deck positions, the aug pool is for every position on the ship that isn’t filled by a NOAA Corps member (more on them in a future post). The aug pool is still a fully benefited position and can be great for someone who wants more flexibility, but with that it means you need to be adaptable. You’ll be working on different boats with different people constantly, which for some is a welcomed challenge! It’s important to reflect on your work style to choose what would be best for you.

How Can I Work on Deck?

Requirements

Get your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC)
Get a passport, or ensure yours is current
Get your Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Tips

Try to learn about as many jobs as possible and soak up all the knowledge you can.
The earlier you start the better; you’ll start at the bottom and have to work your way up.
Get as much sea time in as possible.
Go to maritime school (partial list here).
Work hard no matter your position. Word gets around about your work ethic to other ships.

Tasha and Robert are on the back deck in warm weather gear. Tasha is holding the line that connects to the acoustic array that Robert is holding. — This photo was too cute to not share. Here Tasha and Robert pose with the bioacoustic array.

April 26, 2018

Dana Kosztur: Back to School, April 25, 2018

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Dana Kosztur

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

April 5-18, 2018

Mission: SEAMAP Reef Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: April 17-25, 2018

Science and Technology Log

Safety is very important on NOAA vessels. We did various safety drills while I was on board. We did a fire drill and a man overboard drill. We also did an abandon ship drill where we reported to our assigned lifeboats. During one of these drills, I was required to put on a “Gumby” suit. This survival suit is designed to keep you from getting hypothermia if you are to be in the water for long periods of time. For another drill, I donned a blindfold and found my way out my room and to the outside deck. This drill was to simulate an emergency situation with no lights. It was pretty scary to walk through the boat in the dark.

“Gumby” suit

Blindfold deck escape

The final day of fishing and camera drops proved to be awesome. We had lots of fish on camera and caught fish all four times we dropped lines. I was able to collect the measurements and samples from those fish without any extra guidance. The mission scientist recorded and observed, but they didn’t have to assist me. Their confidence in me was a pretty great feeling.

The video below is an example of the videos collected by both SatCam and RIOT Cam. These arrays have 6 cameras. The video is the view from these cameras stitched together. The top camera is not included in the panorama. The NOAA scientists use the videos to count fish species they study during the SEAMAP reef fish survey.

Personal Log

As we were docking, I had mixed emotions as we approached the harbor. I disembarked in Tampa, Florida. I was very excited to get back home but I knew my journey on Pisces was coming to an end. I am proud of myself for taking this trip. I am grateful for all the support from my family, friends, team teachers, and administration. I would not have been able to sail without their help. I learned so much more than I imagined and I will treasure the memories I made on this adventure. Being a Teacher at Sea increased my appreciation of Gulf of Mexico and I want to pass that on to my students.

Tampa Skyway Bridge

Image from a rooftop webcam of us Docking

Cow on the plane

Life at home has returned to normal. I returned back to school this week. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my students about my experience aboard the ship. They have asked tons of questions. They are very interested in every aspect of my time at sea and loved all of the pictures and videos. I love that they are so engaged in the lessons this week. We are in the last month of school and it is often hard to keep the student’s attention. My Teacher at Sea tales and lesson plans have kept them focused and on task. They claim to have missed me and I, of course, missed them.

Welcome home sign

Counting fish on camera footage for lesson

Students working on NOAA lesson

I do have a few pieces of advice for the others that have yet to embark on their Teacher at Sea journey.

It is amazing. You will love it.
Bring a water bottle and a backpack. I used both of these almost constantly.
Talk to everyone on the ship. Every member of the vessel has valuable knowledge.
Ask your students what they are the most curious about. After a brief overview of NOAA and the mission I was going on, I had my students write questions for me to get answered. It was a great way to gauge what they were most interested in and these also make great conversation starters.

Did You Know?

If there are not enough male grouper in a given area, the largest or dominant female will change from a female to male.

April 16, 2018

Dana Kosztur: Science Lab at Sea, April 15, 2018

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Dana Kosztur

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

April 5-18

Mission: SEAMAP Reef Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: April 15, 2018

Weather Data from the Bridge

Lat: 29° 35.5335′ N Long: 084° 19.8126′ W
Air Temperature: 18.2°C (64.76°F)
Water Temperature: 20.43°C (68.77°F)
Wind speed: 28.11 knots (32.35 mph)
Conditions: stormy, Seas 7 to 9 feet

Science and Technology Log

While I have been at sea, I have spent time exploring Pisces and getting to know the people on board. This research vessel is 209 feet long, 50 feet wide, and it has a draft of 20 feet. It is large enough to hold 39 passengers. The crew of the vessel during my sail consists of 5 NOAA Officers, 5 deck crew, 5 engineers, 4 technicians, 2 stewards and 5 scientists.

Pisces is loaded with science equipment. It has the capability to run acoustic surveys, marine mammal surveys, and various fish surveys. The onboard wet lab is used to process the marine life brought in on trawls, long lines, or bandit reels. In the dry lab, the mission data is stored and processed by the scientists and survey technicians on the ship. There is a side sample station on the starboard deck where the cameras and ROVs are launched and the trawls are deployed on its stern. The centerboard, on the hull underneath the ship, has mounted sensors that send back various types of data for the scientist to use. This vessel was also engineered to be quiet while underway so it won’t scare marine life. The ship shares the oceanographic, hydrographic and weather data it gathers daily to the outside world.

Wet Lab

sample station deck

Bandit Reels

The Commanding Officer gave me a tour of the bridge. The bridge is the navigation center. The vessel can be operated from one of four different stations. The science that is being conducted determines where the officer will navigate from. The technology on the bridge is quite amazing. The dynamic positioning system allows the vessel to stay within certain parameters when supporting science missions. It functions almost like an auto-pilot to keep the ship in the proper position.

NOAA Ship Pisces is like a floating city. I had the opportunity to explore the engine room with the ship’s first assistant engineer to see how this mini-city works. He showed me how they process sewage and garbage aboard the vessel. I learned how the vessel creates its own water and power. I saw the huge engines. This ship has two 8 cylinder engines and two 12 cylinders engines that power the ship. I also learned how the bilge/ballast system keeps the ship stable and how the bow thruster aids in steering

one of four engines on Pisces — one of four engines on *Pisces*

Personal Log

Most of the days pass quickly and I lose track of time. I can’t believe I have been at sea for 10 days. Having a different type of workday is very unusual to me. I have taught for almost 18 years so school days are what I know. It is different to work with adults all day instead of children. It is a definite change of pace. Today is a slow day. We are currently standing-by due to a weather delay. We have moved closer to shore and are riding out the storm. Hopefully, we will be able to be back up and running tomorrow.

I will surely miss the trips to the galley when I get home. I have probably gained five pounds on this trip. The stewards that cook on this ship do an amazing job. It is nice to have already prepared meals. I have gotten spoiled by not cooking too. I know will miss the view when I get back to land. Watching the waves never gets old. I could stare at the water all day. Even when it is stormy the ocean is beautiful.

Ship’s stewards

Gulf of Mexico

flybridge sunset

Being away from home is hard. It’s difficult not to harass my team teachers about my classroom while I am gone. I know that my students are well taken care of but it is hard not to worry. The letters from my students, emails from family, texts from my husband, messages from friends, and sweet videos from my granddaughter help me combat homesickness.

Did You Know?

The Gulf of Mexico is home to 21 marine mammals and 5 sea turtle species

Student questions

How many species of sharks are in the gulf? There are approximately 49 shark species in the gulf.

jaws of Atlantic Sharpnose

pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins

April 11, 2018

Dana Kosztur: Unexpected Visitors, April 11, 2018

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Dana Kosztur

Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces

April 5-18, 2018

Mission: SEAMAP Reef Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Gulf of Mexico

Date: April 11, 2018

Weather Data from the Bridge

Lat: 29° 54.7331′ N Long: 087° 12.1562′ W
Air Temperature: 22.5°C (72.5°F)
Water Temperature: 21.29°C (70°F)
Wind speed: 5.8 knots (6.7mph)
Conditions: blue sky, flat seas

Science and Technology Log

This week I have learned a lot about the reef fish studied in this SEAMAP survey. I have learned how to weigh the fish and take various length measurements. I have also learned how to examine the gonads and distinguish a male from a female. I can now properly remove the otolith bones from the otic capsule that is located at the base of the fish’s skull.

Dana measures the length of a fish.

Dana weighs a fish gonad on a hanging scale.

Dana removes an otolith from the fish.

We have had some unusual catches that have provided great learning experiences as well. The bandit reel caught a sharksucker on the line as it returned. This fish belongs to the Remora family. It attaches to sharks and other marine animals. This was a really unusual creature to observe.

Dana and shark sucker — TAS Dana Kosztur displays a sharksucker captured on the bandit reel.

The camera arrays had fireworms hitch a ride to the deck from the bottom of the gulf. These guys look like large spikey caterpillars. They have venom in their bristles that can cause a painful sting.

Personal Log

Today was a beautiful day. The water is such a beautiful blue. The sky was cloudless last night so I finally got to look at the stars. The night sky seems much more vast and bright away from the light pollution on land. The stars are amazingly bright. I am enjoying life on the ship but I do miss home. I have a greater respect for those that work away from home for long periods of time. Teamwork and a positive attitude seem to be the lifeblood of this NOAA vessel and that makes it much easier to adjust.

Did You Know?

Many birds will often land on the vessel to rest during their migration route across the Gulf of Mexico.

Waves transmit energy, not water.

Questions from students:

Why do scientists need to know what types of fish are on the reef?

It is important to manage and maintain the reef fish species because they are often over-fished.

August 2, 2015August 21, 2021

Leah Johnson: Fish Identification & Pisces Farewell, August 1, 2015

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Leah Johnson
Aboard NOAA Ship Pisces
July 21 – August 3, 2015

Mission: Southeast Fishery – Independent Survey
Geographical Area of Cruise: Atlantic Ocean, Southeastern U.S. Coast
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2015

Weather Data from the Bridge:
Time 12:13 PM
Latitude 033.995650
Longitude -077.348710
Water Temperature 24.37 °C
Salinity 36.179 ppt
Air Temperature 27.4 °C
Relative Humidity 83 %
Wind Speed 15.95 knots
Wind Direction 189.45 degrees
Air Pressure 1012.3 mbar

Science and Technology Log:
I am still amazed at the wealth of data collected aboard the Pisces on this survey cruise. I am getting better at identifying the fish as they are hauled up in the traps, as well as when I see these fish on video. Because of light attenuation, many fish look very different in color when they are underwater. Light attenuation refers to the gradual loss of visible light that can penetrate water with increasing depth. Red light has the longest wavelength on the visible light spectrum, and violet has the shortest wavelength. In water, light with the shortest wavelength is absorbed first. Therefore, with increasing depth, red light is absorbed, followed by orange, then yellow. Fish that appear red in color at the surface will not appear red when they are several meters below the sea surface where they are captured on camera.

For example, we hauled in some blackfin snapper earlier this week. At the surface, its color is a distinct red like many other types of snappers, and it has a black spot near the base of its pectoral fin. When I looked at the videos from the trap site, I did not realize that all of the fish swimming around with yellow-looking tails were the very same blackfin snappers that appeared in the traps! When I remembered that red light is quickly absorbed in ocean water and noticed the black spot on the pectoral fin and shape of the dorsal fin, it made more sense.

Top: Blackfin snapper collected from trap.
Bottom: Video still of blackfin snappers swimming near trap.

I tell my geology students every year that when identifying minerals, color is the least reliable property. I realize now that this can also apply to fish identification. Therefore, I am trying to pay closer attention to the shape of the different fins, slope of the head, and relative proportions of different features. The adult scamp grouper, for example, has a distinct, unevenly serrated caudal fin (tail) with tips that extend beyond the fin membrane. The tip of the anal fin is elongated as well.

Scamp grouper

Another tricky aspect of fish identification is that some fish change color and pattern over time. Some groups of fish, like wrasses, parrotfish, and grouper, exhibit sequential hermaphroditism. This means that these fish change sex at some point in their lifespan. These fish are associated with different colors and patterns as they progress through the juvenile phase, the initial phase, and finally the terminal phase. Some fish exhibit fleeting changes in appearance that can be caught on camera. This could be as subtle as a slight darkening of the face.

The slight shape variations among groupers can also lead groups of scientists to gather around the computer screen and debate which species it is. If the trap lands in an area where there are some rocky outcrops, a fish may be partially concealed, adding another challenge to the identification process. This is no easy task! Yet, everyone on board is excited about the videos, and we make a point to call others over when something different pops up on the screen.

We were all impressed by this large Warsaw grouper, which is not a common sight.

I have seen many more types of fish and invertebrates come up in the traps over the past week. Here are a few new specimens that were not featured in my last “fish” post:

Did You Know?

Fish eyes are very similar to those of terrestrial vertebrates, but their lenses that are more spherical.

lens from fish eye

Lens from fish eye

Personal Log:

I love being surrounded by people who are enthusiastic about and dedicated to what they do. Everyone makes an extra effort to show me things that they think I will be interested to see – which I am, of course! If an interesting fish is pulled up in the trap and I have stepped out of the wet lab, someone will grab my camera and take a picture for me. I continue to be touched by everyone’s thoughtfulness, and willingness to let me try something new, even if I slow down the process.

Me, on the deck of the ship. We just deployed the traps off the stern.

As our cruise comes to an end, I want to thank everyone on board for letting me share their work and living space for two weeks. To the NOAA Corps officers, scientists, technicians, engineers, deckhands, and stewards, thank you for everything you do. The data collection that takes place on NOAA fishery survey cruises is critical for the management and protection of our marine resources. I am grateful that the Teacher at Sea program allowed me this experience of a lifetime. Finally, thank you, readers! I sincerely appreciate your continued support. I am excited to share more of what I have learned when I am back on land and in the classroom. Farewell, Pisces!