sea scallop – NOAA Teacher at Sea Blog

June 2, 2026June 2, 2026

Mandy Freeman: Be the Scallop In a Sea of Sand Dollars, May 26, 2026

view of the seafloor as seen by an underwater camera. the seafloor is densely dotted with small dark circles which are sand dollars. toward the top right of the image, there is a single larger circle of a lighter orange-brown color: this is the scallop.

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Mandy Freeman

Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

May 19 – May 29, 2026

Mission: Sea Scallop HabCam Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Date: May 28, 2026

Weather Data from Georges Bank
Latitude: 41° 59. 926′ N
Longitude: 067° 11. 176′ W

Science and Technology

Why survey scallops? The fishery stock assessments study the size and age composition of approximately 40 fish and invertebrate species in the New England/Mid-Atlantic area. This data informs stakeholders and policymakers of the abundance of each species, the impact of the fishing industry, and evaluates biological aspects of the ecosystem. (Fishery Stock Assessments in New England and the Mid-Atlantic) The data collected by NOAA and other sources (including commercial and recreational fishermen) is then used to determine sustainable harvest levels for each species (See graphic below). Find more information HERE.

This image has four sections with arrows to show the progression from data analysis to stock assessments to management advice to healthy fish stocks. Commercial data, recreational data, and scientific data inform stock assessments and are represented by outlines of the three different types of vessels. Stock assessments answer questions including, “How are the stocks doing now?” and “What are the future projections?” and this section has outlines of fish and a fishing net. Stock assessments inform management advice, the next section, with icons for licenses/permits, fishing seasons, gear, quotas, and size limits. The final section and overall goal is “healthy fish stocks” with line drawings of fish on a plate for sustainable seafood, fish below a fishing vessel to represent future jobs, and a squid, lobster, and urchins to represent healthy oceans and marine life. — An infographic shows the progression from data analysis to stock assessments to management advice to healthy fish stocks. Commercial data, recreational data, and scientific data inform stock assessments. Stock assessments answer questions including, “How are the stocks doing now?” and “What are the future projections?” Stock assessments inform management advice. The final section and overall goal is “healthy fish stocks” which provide sustainable seafood, future jobs, and healthy oceans and marine life.
Credit: NOAA Fisheries

How is this survey conducted? The Atlantic Sea Scallop survey has four main components: dredge, trawl, a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and Habitat Mapping Camera (HabCam).
– A dredge has a metal frame with a chain-mesh bag that collect scallops off the sea floor, like raking leaves in your yard.
– The trawl uses a net to scoop up swimming scallops without digging into the sediment.
– The HabCam, what I worked with on this survey, is a boat-towed camera system that takes continuous paired photos, 5-6 pairs per second, as it moves through the water (NOAA survey preparation materials).
– The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), “Stella,” has the same camera system as the HabCam, but can be programmed to operate without a human pilot.

(Read this for more details: Long-Running Sea Scallop Survey Diversifies for the Future)

“Approximately 4 million images of the ocean bottom are collected during an annual survey. Humans are annotating about 1 in 50 of the images.” (NOAA Fisheries)

What is a HabCam? Watch THIS VIDEO!

What do the HabCam images LOOK like? The HabCam system captures high-resolution images and transmits them to a computer for processing and annotating. This is what that looks like from the pilot station:

NOAA HabCam Live Image Capture during Scallop Survey

Can you guess what these images are? Some examples of images captured by HabCam!

octopus well-camouflaged on the seafloor, as seen by an underwater camera — HabCam Image 1

lobster, visible as a dark silhouette, on the seafloor next to a rock, as seen by underwater camera — HabCam Image 1

What areas were sampled? NOAA uses past data to determine the sampling tracks. This was what our survey track looked like for this trip.

Planned Scallop Survey Track – Credit: Preparation Materials NOAA Fisheries

photo of a computer monitor displaying the live track patterns of NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow overlaid on a nautical chart. The track travels mostly in straight lines north and then south, slowly making its way east. — Live Track Pattern

The Atlantic Sea Scallop Management Program is broad and complex, involving many different aspects of research, management, and monitoring. You can read more about it at the NOAA Sea Scallop Management page.

Personal Log

On NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, there are both two- and four-person staterooms. Megan and Kristen are on day shift, so I usually only see them during watch changes. Sandy, however, is on night shift with me.

portrait of a woman wearing a brown coat and a navy beanie, smiling straight at the camera for a photo. behind her, we see a green field extend down to a line of trees along a shoreline; beyond the trees, blue water; and on the other side of the water, golden fields. — Sandy Sutherland, Research Fishery Biologist. Photo courtesy of Sandy Sutherland.

Sandy Sutherland is a research fishery biologist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Eckerd College and a master’s degree from University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. She started her career as an outdoor educator with Nature’s Classroom.

At the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole lab, Sandy conducts age determinations for haddock and Atlantic mackerel and measures growth rings for sea scallops. Using a dissecting microscope, she determines the age of fish earbones (otoliths) — a process she says feels a bit like playing a video game. She also conducts research related to age determinations and created Excel templates used to calculate measures of age precision.

She says important skills for this type of work include paying close attention to detail, writing legibly, and being able to see how all the pieces fit together to understand the “big picture.”

When she’s not working, Sandy enjoys birding, reading, and volunteering at science fiction conventions such as Readercon. Although she can’t choose a favorite bird, she says she would be especially excited to spot any species of albatross.

Did you know sea scallops can swim?

They rapidly clap their shells together to move away from predators, like sea stars. And we can actually “see” this from the HabCam images! In the image below, the sea scallop appears to be swimming away from a predator. A swimming scallop can be identified by the two dark “shadows” visible on either side of it. Can you see the predator???!

an underwater view of an orange and yellow scallop captured in motion above the seafloor. we can see a couple sand dollars and a purple sea star resting on the seafloor. — Swimming Sea Scallop from HabCam

Careers at Sea

Jonathan kneels on an old wooden dock, holding a fish in two hands and smiling for the camera. a yellow fishing pole rests in front of his knees. behind him is gray-blue water, specks of small boats, and a distant tree-lined shore. — Jonathan Duquette, Biological Science Technician. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Duquette.

Meet Jonathan Duquette, a Biological Science Technician with the Ecosystems Surveys Branch at the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. He specializes in shellfish surveys involving Atlantic sea scallops, Atlantic Northern Shrimp, Ocean Quahogs, and Atlantic Surfclams. Jonathan plays an integral role in critical research initiatives, including the high-resolution HabCam (Habitat Camera Array) and sea scallop dredge surveys. His work at sea and ashore supports the rigorous monitoring, data analysis, and ecological assessments essential for sustainable fisheries management and marine ecosystem conservation in the Northeast.

Jonathan has had a lifelong obsession with the sea, sharks, and fishing since an early age. After graduating with a BS in Marine Biology from the University of New England, Jonathan became a fisheries observer collecting data for the federal government on vessels in Alaska. After working as an observer on King Crab fishing vessels (think TV’s “Deadliest Catch”), longline vessels, and Scallop fishing vessels, he returned to the East Coast where he worked as a sternman on lobster fishing vessels in Boothbay Harbor Maine. In 2003, Jonathan joined the Ecosystems Surveys Branch at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, a role that continues today.

I asked him if he had any advice for “his younger self.” He said, “I’d tell myself that persistence pays off, and that you’re really never gonna be done learning, it’s a lifelong pursuit. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, that’s part of the journey.”

Fun fact: While on a research cruise in 2024, Jonathan and other scientists discovered an ice-age jawbone from a Walrus, off the coast of Virginia! Read about his exciting discovery HERE!

a thick curved bone, smooth and white in some areas and dark and degraded in others, sits on a white table surface in a lab. in the background we can see typical lab equipment: a sink, chemicals, etc. — The right jawbone of a walrus, possibly thousands of years old, discovered during a NOAA dredge survey in 2024. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jonathan Duquette

Zach wears a baseball cap, a black hoodie sweater, and orange foul-weather gear coveralls. he stands, hands in pockets, for a photo at the foot of a ramp or gangway leading down from an old wooden shack covered in fishing floats. — Zach Fyke, Biological Science Technician. Photo courtesy of Zach Fyke.

Meet Zach Fyke, he is a Biological Science Technician with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Ecosystems Survey Branch. He graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife. After college, he began his marine science career as a fisheries observer based out of Point Judith, Rhode Island, before taking on several positions within NOAA Fisheries. Today, he primarily works on shellfish surveys involving Atlantic sea scallops, Atlantic Northern Shrimp, Ocean Quahogs, and Atlantic Surfclams.

Interestingly, Zach originally planned to be an educator, but after an elective Intro-Biology course, he found himself declaring into the major of Fisheries and Wildlife. Near the time Zach was graduating with a degree in Fisheries, a college professor at Michigan State University, who had worked at the Woods Hole lab in the 90’s, encouraged him to “try somewhere new for a few years.” This was a driving factor on why Zach moved to the East coast to begin a career in Marine Fisheries. Zach describes himself as an “average student,” but says he always enjoyed hands-on activities and learning by doing. That passion for fieldwork and adventure eventually led him to a career at sea.

His advice to students interested in science careers is simple: don’t be afraid to move away and try something new. Some of the best opportunities are found outside of your comfort zone.

When he’s not working, Zach enjoys photography and has recently started photographing birds. He jokes that birding is a lot like “real-life Pokémon.” His favorite bird is the Belted Kingfisher.

Personal Reflection

Scallops may blend into the seafloor until they suddenly swim off in a burst of movement — a fitting reminder that sometimes growth happens when we are willing to move beyond what feels comfortable. Whether it’s learning to annotate images, transitioning to night shift, or piloting the HabCam, this journey has been a reminder to BE the Scallop in a sea of sand dollars.

May 26, 2026May 28, 2026

Mandy Freeman: Life Between Sunrises and Humpbacks, May 24, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Mandy Freeman

Aboard NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow

May 19 – May 29, 2026

Mission: Sea Scallop HabCam Survey

Geographic Area of Cruise: Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Date: May 24, 2026

Weather Data from 13 miles due East of Monomoy Point, Massachusetts
Latitude: 41 32.7776 ° N
Longitude: 069 42.0435 ° W
Wind Speed: 12.5 knots E
Air Temperature: 10.5 °C (50.9°F)

Science and Technology Log

The Habitat Mapping Camera System (HabCam) has been taking LOTS of pictures of the life near the sea floor. As part of the nightshift, my duties include annotating the HabCam images, driving the HabCam vehicle as Pilot, and serving as Co-Pilot.

Annotating images involves identifying and measuring scallops, as well as identifying other animals like round fish, flat fish, skates, crabs and whelks.

As Co-Pilot, there are several monitors with varying data from both the ship and the HabCam that must be watched in order to see obstacles on the path to avoid a collision. The depth of the HabCam is controlled by a “joy stick” that deploys and retracts the cable attached to the frame surrounding the HabCam. Ideally the camera should be kept within 2 meters from the ocean bottom.

As the Pilot, I must constantly monitor and adjust for the ever-changing distance from the seafloor to keep the HabCam from touching bottom. Some areas are easy to navigate, while others are rocky with “surprise” boulders.

BEFORE Annotations

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) places a strong emphasis on producing reliable, standardized research data, so I was required to watch a training video, pass a verbal quiz, and then take a 200 image test to ensure my annotations met those standards.

view of a desktop computer at a workstation. we cannot really interpret anything on the screen. a sea scallop shell rests on the table off to the side. — Training and a test before I could annotate images

screenshot of an underwater view of a scallop on the seafloor — Live Sea Scallop from training session

Mandy sits at a corner desk with an array of computer monitors and a control panel with a joystick. she faces the screens intently as she grips the joystick with her right hand — Mandy piloting the HabCam

Mandy stands on deck in front of the HabCam, a large apparatus housing underwater cameras. she wears an orange hard hat and orange life vest. — Mandy standing on deck with the HabCam

Drifter Buoys

Through NOAA’s Adopt a Drifter Program, I also had the opportunity to deploy two drifter buoys while aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. The mission of this program is “to connect classrooms around the world with NOAA data, and provide a real-life, interactive classroom experience to teach students about ocean science” (Adopt a Drifter Program). After decorating the buoys, we deployed both buoys from the starboard side of the ship at 5:21 AM and 5:22AM on Friday, May 22, 2026. As soon as I have a link to track them, I will post here!

If you or your school would like to adopt a drifter buoy, you can find out more information HERE.

Lewisville High School side of buoy

close-up of the buoy portion of the drifter showing the orange outline of a cat's paw and the words "c/o 1998, 2020" — Clemson University side of buoy (Mandy is a 1998 & 2020 graduate of Clemson)

close up of the buoy portion of the drifter showing a sticker of the state of South Carolina with a moon and palm tree from the state flag, and a NOAA Teacher at Sea Program sticker — Representing Mandy’s home state of South Carolina and the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program

three people stand on the deck of ship, in front of the railing, at sunrise. Mandy is in the center. Andrew and Tommi to her left and right each hold up a heavy drifting buoy, which consists of the float, cable, and folded up drogue. All three wear hard hats and life vests. — Andrew Merlino (Survey Tech) and Tommi Truong (Able Seaman) assisted Mandy in the deployment of the buoys (Image courtesy of Kristen Jabanoski)

Mandy and Tommi, wearing hard hats and life vests, stand at the railing of the ship at sunrise and watch as the drifting buoy flies through the air toward the water. Tommi's arms are still extended from tossing. With low lighting, this photo is a little out of focus. — Deployment (Image courtesy of Zach Fyke, NOAA Watch Chief)

view of the drifting buoy in the water: a round blue and white float, attached to a cable, attached to a folded "drogue" or fabric tail. the cardboard packaging will dissolve and allow the drogue to extend. we can just barely see the Lewisville High School sticker. — Buoy In (Image courtesy of Zach Fyke, NOAA Watch Chief)

Personal Log

Ship living isn’t all that bad, but night shift has been an adjustment! I am in a stateroom with three other ladies; two of us are on night shift (11:30 PM – 11:30 AM) and two are on day shift (11:30 AM-11:30 PM). When you leave for watch, it is common courtesy to NOT return to the stateroom when your bunkmates are sleeping. *It’s a good idea to set your things out before going to bed so your essentials aren’t left behind!*

close up view of a single lower stateroom bunk. we can see a nightlight mounted to the wall, a curtain drawn aside, and the ladder up to the top bunk

view of lockers in the stateroom, with luggage and backpacks visible on the floor in front of them.

view of a small desk and chair tucked next a locker in the stateroom. above the desk is a window with blackout curtains.

view of four bunks, stacked in pairs, in the shared stateroom. each bunk has its own curtain. we can also see a sink and a locker.

view of the head (bathroom) with toilet, shower, sink

My stateroom: four berths, storage lockers, desk, head

What day is it? Not really sure…But I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the crew and learning how the HabCam collects images of sea life and how NOAA uses this data to inform the local fisheries. More about the crew later!

I’ve had the opportunity to see some amazing sunrises…

view of sunrise over the railing of NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. the water is calm and gray. an orange sun peeks over low gray clouds and illuminates parts of the horizon; it adds a golden tinge to the otherwise gray water

view over the railing at calm gray waters, cloudy gray skies, but a riotous streak of neon red-orange right at the horizon

And today, we had the honor of watching humpback whales while SNOW fell!

All humpback whale images courtesy of Zach Fyke.

Did You Know?

The Humpback whale can weigh up to about 40 tons, grow to around 60 feet (18 meters) long, and live roughly 80–90 years. They are known for their long migrations, complex songs, and acrobatic behaviors such as breaching and tail slapping. Humpback whales are found in oceans worldwide and feed mainly on small fish and krill (Humpback Whales – NOAA). They are also called the “singing whale,” because the male mating song can change from year to year and can last as long 30 minutes (Fun Facts About Wonderful Whales).

Although humpback whale populations are increasing, they remain on the endangered species list. Their greatest threats include entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris, vessel strikes, harassment from boats, ocean noise, and changing climate conditions (Humpback Overview – NOAA).

Did you know different animals (and fish) make specific sounds? Watch the following video to learn more about how NOAA Fisheries uses Passive Acoustic Monitoring to study not only the humpback whale, but many different types of sea life! Listening for Whales. Visit the NOAA Mammals: Sounds in the Ocean site to hear the differences between 32 mammals including the humpback whale and the minke whale!

Careers at Sea

portrait of a man in a fleece with a shoulder bag strap standing at a ship's railing at sunrise or sunset — Rhett Finley, NOAA Passive Acoustics Branch in the Northeast
(Credit Rhett Finley)

Meet Rhett Finley, a fieldwork team lead from the NOAA Passive Acoustics Branch in the Northeast. Rhett grew up in Tulsa, OK and developed a passion for science at just 6 or 7 years old. By the age of ten, he already knew he wanted to become a marine biologist, inspired by the nature documentaries he watched growing up. He later attended Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology.

When I asked Rhett how he became drawn to the field of bioacoustics, he said “it was because of its versatility and noninvasive nature and the ability to integrate it with other scientific disciplines, like genetics. This approach is an effective means of collecting detailed data on threatened species especially in remote or difficult to access areas and therefore can contribute to well-informed conservation management efforts for those species and their respective habitats.”

His job with the NOAA Fisheries Passive Acoustics Branch involves:
– placing underwater microphones (hydrophones) in designated areas, such as wind farm areas and marine sanctuaries
– assists with analyzing and interpreting acoustic data, which is visualized in the form of spectrograms (picture below).

His current focus is on the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). More information on this whale found here. The goal of this NOAA division is to “use passive acoustic technologies to study the behavior and movements of marine animals, their contribution to the ocean soundscape, and how they are affected by human-made sounds” (Passive Acoustic Research in the Northeast)

a graph showing frequency (Hz) v time (m:ss). sounds show up as yellow or green markings against a darker purple background. annotations point out a humpback whale song (markings in a patter that extend the full length of the x-axis); North Atlantic right whale upcalls (a few vertical markings toward the left side of the x axis) and sei whale downsweep doublet (two curved downward markings toward the right side of the x-axis.) in the low frequency values there are a lot of scattered green markings from ship noise. — Spectrogram showing unique calls by multiple species including humpback whale song, North Atlantic right whale upcalls, and a sei whale downsweep doublet with low-frequency ship noise overlapping.
Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Interested in this type of career? NOAA offers internships to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as high school students! Check out the opportunities and scholarships available HERE!

For more information and great pictures, check out the NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic Facebook page! Or their Instagram page.

July 9, 2012March 12, 2021

Alicia Gillean: Visiting the Bridge and Dredging Overload, July 5, 2012

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Alicia Gillean
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
June 27 – July 7, 2012

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: North Atlantic; Georges Bank
Date: Thursday, July 5, 2012

Weather Data from the Bridge*
*This data is for July 6, 2012. I was so busy dredging on the 5^ththat I forgot to record the weather data*

Latitude: 41 49.09 N
Longitude: 69 52.77 W
Relative Wind Speed: 11 Knots
Air Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius
Humidity: 82%
Surface Seawater Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius

Science and Technology Log

Wednesday, July 4: Visiting the Bridge and Flying HabCam

Wednesday was a lazy day on the ship. To make up some lost time and to hit as many dredge and HabCam stations as possible, there were a few long “steams” during my shift today. The ship can’t go full speed when pulling the dredge or the HabCam, so in order to go full speed, the ship “steams” with no scientific tools in the water until it reaches its next destination. We had about five hours of “steam” time today and the rest of the day was spent with HabCam, so I didn’t smell like sea scallops at the end of my shift, but I still prefer the more active days.

I used some of my spare time to go visit the Bridge. Remember, this is where the Captain, engineer, and mates keep the ship moving on the right course and keep everything operating smoothly. Since it was rainy outside, the big windows in the Bridge were a nice substitute to the deck where I usually like to spend my free time. Mary, one of the mates, was on duty. She has been working on boats for more than 20 years and has been on the Hugh R. Sharp for four years. She was kind enough to give me an overview of the function of each of the seemingly limitless computers and buttons that she and the engineer use to do their jobs. I was surprised by how computerized everything is, from steering, to navigation, to monitoring the water and fuel of the ship. There are duplicates of many of the computer systems, in case something doesn’t work and non-technical ways to navigate the ship too, like paper copies of nautical charts.

Alicia fly HabCam — Alicia flying the HabCam

While flying the HabCam Wednesday, I was struck by the amazing camouflage of some of the creatures that live on the ocean floor, like monkfish, flounder, and skates. If you don’t know what you are looking for or if you blink at the wrong moment, they are very easy to miss. It’s neat to see these adaptations in action! I’m glad that I got to experience this science tool in its early stages and appreciate the relationships that the HabCam allows you to see between different animals and how the animals live on the ocean floor that you can’t tell from a dredge haul.

Thursday, July 5: Dredging Overload and the Scoop on Scallops

Since Wednesday was lazy, Thursday was insanely busy! We made it through nine dredge stations during the day shift and one haul was so large that we had almost 6,000 scallops (not to mention all the rocks, fish, sea stars, crabs, etc.). Everyone worked together to get this giant haul sorted and processed. Mary even came down from the Bridge to help! When a haul is this large, we don’t measure and weigh every scallop. Instead, we count the total number of baskets (about the size of a laundry basket) of sea scallops and randomly select two baskets to measure and weigh. The number and average length of the overall scallop haul is calculated based on this subsample. There’s lots of math involved in this process!

Alicia measure scallop — Alicia measuring scallops

We dredged in an area with lots of big rocks and boulders today, so the crew added rock chains to the dredge to help keep the giant boulders out of the dredge. It doesn’t come close to keeping out all the rocks, though! They also added what looks like a metal slide that goes from the side of the sorting table to the edge of the deck to help get the giant rocks off of the table and back into the ocean. I’m constantly amazed at how the scientists and crew seem to anticipate and have a plan for every possible obstacle we might run up against. I expect that is the result of lots of years of experience and very careful planning.

Scallop Gonad — The scallop with pink is female. The other is male.

I mentioned in a previous post that we weigh about 5 scallops from each tow individually and also weigh the meat and the gonad (reproductive organ) of these five scallops individually. As soon as you cut a scallop open, you can tell if it is a male or female by the color of the gonad. Males are white and females are red or pink, as you can see in this picture. Another interesting tidbit about sea scallops is that they have lots of simple eyes that allow them to see shadows and light. You can see a fascinating close-up of sea scallop eyes by clicking here and can learn more about the anatomy of a sea scallop by clicking here.

Since this is a sea scallop survey, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with sea scallops, but I’m still not very skilled at cutting sea scallops to remove the meat quickly. One of the ladies on my watch can shuck about twenty for every one I shuck! She’s offered me lots of pointers, but I’m not going to win a scallop cutting contest any time soon. When we finish sorting and processing each haul, we usually remove the meat from the scallops, wash it, bag it, and put it in a freezer. It can seem like the work is never done when there’s a big haul!

Personal Log

The 4^th of July at sea was business as usual; no firework or backyard cookouts for me this year. However, we did make a cake and sing happy birthday for the youngest member of the science group’s 20^th birthday.

Since we didn’t do any dredging or anything active on Wednesday, I felt like I needed to run laps around the ship after my shift ended. I settled on trying the stationary bike instead. Riding a stationary bike on a ship that is rocking and swaying means that the bike isn’t really all that stationary! I think I got a nice abdominal workout from trying to keep myself balanced. It felt good to move, though.

On Thursday, we had a fire drill. The Captain was nice enough to schedule it at 12:15 pm, just as one shift was ending and one was beginning, so that people would not be in bed or in the shower when the drill began. During the fire drill, an alarm sounded and the Captain came on the intercom to tell us that it was a fire drill and that all scientists should muster (gather) in their designated spot. All of the scientists met in the dry lab with a life jacket where the chief scientist counted us and reported back to the Captain that we were all accounted for. We waited while the crew finished its part of the drill, then went back to work (or bed, for the night shift). I felt kind of like a student in a fire drill at school!

As I look around the ship, I find it interesting how things are designed for life at sea, like the hooks at the top of every door. If you want a door to stay open, you need to hook it, otherwise the rocking of the door will slam it closed. The table in the galley has about a half inch lip around the edge of it and the drawers of the pantry need to be opened in a special way, because they don’t just slide open. Thanks to these details, you don’t really hear things sliding and crashing around like you might imagine you would when the ship is rocking.

I’m grateful that I have been able to participate in the NOAA Teacher at Sea Program as a part of the science crew. I have worked hard, learned a ton, and can’t wait to share my learning and experiences with my students! However, I miss my family, so I’m glad that we’re headed back toward land soon!

July 6, 2012March 12, 2021

Alicia Gillean: Strange Ocean Critters and Science at Sea, July 3, 2012

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Alicia Gillean
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
June 27 – July 7, 2012

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: North Atlantic; Georges Bank
Date: Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 41 13.20 N
Longitude: 066 35.21 W
Relative Wind Speed: 2.3 Knots
Air Temperature: 18.72 degrees C
Humidity: 78%
Surface Seawater Temperature: 15 degrees C

Science and Technology Log

The HabCam-ing and dredging continue here in the North Atlantic in calm seas and clear skies!

Alicia Star Oddi — Alicia installing sensor on dredge

I learned a new part of the data collection process with the dredge. Each time the dredge goes out, a sensor that tracks the pitch and roll (side to side and up and down movement) of the dredge on the ocean floor needs to be installed on the dredge. When the trawl is complete, the sensor is removed and the data is uploaded to the computer. It is automatically plotted on a line graph that visually tells the story of the dredge’s movement on the ocean floor. This data is eventually combined with all the other data gathered at each dredge station. Installing and removing the sensor has been my job for the last couple of shifts. To do this, I have to climb up on the sorting table when the dredge is first brought to the surface, remove a metal pin and plastic holder that keeps the sensor in place, remove the old sensor and add a new sensor, then reinstall the holder and pin. This all happens before they dump the dredge. On a funny note, on my way to the sorting table to add the sensor to the dredge earlier today, I managed to trip on a hose that was on deck and turn it on, watering myself and the lab technician that was on the deck with me and entertaining everyone else watching, I’m sure! Luckily, we were all wearing our foul weather gear, so no one was soaked!!

It’s interesting to experience all the different pieces that make a successful dredge tow. Before coming to sea, I guess I just assumed that you lowered a big net to the ocean floor and hoped to catch something. I had no concept of how methodical and detailed each deployment of the dredge really is, from the locations, to the timing, to the number of people involved, to the detailed data collection. The process is still being refined, even on this third leg of the sea scallop survey. One of the scientists on my watch is an engineer who helped design and build the latest version of HabCam. When a part that holds the sensor in the dredge was not working correctly, he was asked to use his engineering skills to create a better way to hold the sensor, so he made the needed modifications right on the ship.

While sorting the haul from dredging stations, I sometimes run across ocean critters that I’ve never seen before. I usually set these to the side to snap a picture after we finish sorting and to ask a scientist, usually Karen or Sean, to identify it for me. It turns out that the strange hairy, oval-shaped creature I keep running across is a type of worm called a sea mouse. In my pictures it looks like a grassy ball of mud, but it’s much more interesting in person, I promise! I consulted a field guide in the dry lab to learn a little more about it. Its scientific name is Aphrodita hastate and it is usually about 6 inches by 3 inches and can be green, gold, or brown. There are 15 gills hidden under the bristly fur. They like muddy areas and often live in the very deep parts of the ocean, so they are only seen when brought up with a dredge or after being tossed ashore in a storm. I haven’t seen any of them in the HabCam images, so I’m wondering if they tend to burrow in the mud, if their camouflage skills are really impressive, or if we just haven’t flown over any. The HabCam moves so quickly (remember, it takes 6 pictures per second) that it’s impossible to see everything in enough time to figure out what it is.

Another item that keeps coming up in the dredge looks like a clump of pasta shells and cheese and it crumbles easily. My initial guess was that it is some type of sponge, but I was wrong. It turns out these are moon snail egg cases. Once I’m back ashore, I think I’ll have to find out more about these.

We’ve seen lots of sea stars, scallops, sand dollars, crabs, clams, hermit crabs, flounder, several species of fish called hake, and skates (relative of the stingray) in the dredge hauls. We’ve also seen most of these on the ocean floor with the HabCam. One of the scientists found a whale vertebrae (part of the backbone) while sorting. It’s at least a foot and a half wide and 8 inches high! Can you imagine the size of the whale when it was alive? Each haul usually has a monkfish or two in it. I’ve heard that these fish are pretty tasty, but they sure look mean! I was warned early on to keep my hands away from their mouths unless I want to get bitten!

Today is supposed to be a day of mainly flying the HabCam, so I’m hoping to be able to interview a few people on the ship about their jobs for use back at school when I’m not flying the HabCam or co-piloting.

Sea stars — Pretty sea stars that came up in the dredge

Personal Log

I ate my first real meal in the galley tonight and it was pretty tasty! The steward, Paul, has worked on this ship for eight years and seems to have cooking a sea down to a science. He has to work and sleep some unusual hours to keep everyone aboard well-fed, but he does it with a smile on his face. Between the meals, snacks, and limited space to exercise, I imagine that keeping fit while at sea for long periods of time can be a challenge. There is a stationary bike next to the washer and dryer, but other than that you have to be creative with getting your exercise. I saw one crew member on the deck this morning with a yoga mat doing crunches and using a storage container to do tricep dips. He said that it’s a challenge, but that you can find ways to keep in shape at sea if it’s a priority for you.

I actually slept better the first few days at sea when I was seasick than I do now that I’m feeling better, thanks to the anti-nausea medication, I expect. I’ve found that earplugs are essential for catching sleep aboard the ship when I’m not medicated! There is one washer and dryer aboard the ship and I’ve had a bit of trouble finding a time when it’s not in use, so I decided to do my laundry at 5 am a day or so ago when I was having trouble sleeping. I figured I may as well use insomnia to my advantage and it was so nice to use a towel that is finally completely dry for the first time in a week!

There are 22 people aboard this ship; 12 scientists and 10 crew members. Four of the scientists and two of the crew are women. Because of watch schedules, most of the time I see only two other women while I’m awake. All that to say, the ship is a pretty male-dominated arena, with lots of ESPN, toilet seats left up, and guy humor. I feel very welcome aboard the ship, but I find that I spend most of my down time doing my own thing, like working on this blog or just enjoying the view, since I’m not much of a movie or sports watcher. With fabulous views of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful weather, this doesn’t bother me a bit! In fact, I find that I see the most animals swimming in the ocean during these down times. Today it was a huge group of jellyfish swimming next to the ship!

I’m still enjoying my time at sea and am looking forward to learning even more in my last few days.

View from science lab — View from the science lab at night

July 3, 2012March 12, 2021

Alicia Gillean: Adventures in Dredging; July 1, 2012

NOAA Teacher at Sea
Alicia Gillean
Aboard R/V Hugh R. Sharp
June 27 – July 7, 2012

Mission: Sea Scallop Survey
Geographical area of cruise: North Atlantic; Georges Bank
Date: Sunday, July 1, 2012

Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 40 48.43 N
Longitude: 068 04.06W
Relative Wind Speed: 8.9 Knots
Air Temperature: 17.61 degrees C
Humidity: 92%
Surface Seawater Temperature: 16 degrees C

Science and Technology Log

Dump dredge — Dumping dredge onto sorting table

My last shifts have been a mix of HabCam work and dredging. Remember, dredging is when we drag a heavy-duty net along the ocean floor for fifteen minutes, then bring it up and record what ocean critters we catch. Dredging involves a lot more physical work and is much dirtier than flying the HabCam, so time goes much faster when we are dredging and it’s exciting to see what we will catch. However, it is also kind of sad to see all the animals we bring up in the dredge, because most of them are dead or will soon be dead. You can watch a video about sea scallop dredging here and here.

There are three two-week legs to this sea scallop survey. I am on the last leg. Before the first leg began, a computer program, with the assistance of a few people, decided which spots in the sea scallop habitat we should dredge and fly the HabCam. These points were all plotted on a computerized map and the chief scientist connects the dots and decides the best route for the ship to take to make it to all the designated stations in the available time.

Here’s how our typical dredging process works:

About 10 minutes before we reach a dredge station, the Captain radios the lab from the Bridge (fancy name for the place at the top of the ship where the Captain and his crew work their magic) to let us know we are approaching our station. At this point, I get on a computer in the dry lab to start a program that keeps track of our dredge position, length of tow, etc. I enter data about the weather and check the depth of our dredge station. When the engineer and Captain are ready, they radio the lab and ask for our depth and how much wire they need to send out to lower the dredge to the ocean floor. I get the wire length from a chart hanging in the dry lab that is based on the depth of the ocean at the dredge site and use the radio to tell the engineer, who lets out that amount of wire until the dredge is on the ocean floor. When the dredge hits the ocean floor, I use the computer program to start timing for 15 minutes and notify them when it is time to bring the dredge back up.

Alicia sorting fish — Alicia sorting the haul

The lab technicians and engineer raise and dump the dredge on a giant metal table, then secure it for the scientists to come in and begin sorting the haul. Meanwhile, the scientists get dressed in foul weather gear to prepare for the messy job ahead. That means I’m wearing yellow rubber overalls, black steel-toed rubber boots, blue rubber gloves, and a lovely orange lifejacket for each dredge. Sometimes I add a yellow rubber jacket to the mix, too. Science is not a beauty contest and I’m grateful for the protection! Each scientist grabs two orange baskets, one large white bucket, and one small white bucket and heads to the table. The lab technicians shovel the catch toward each scientist as we sort. Scallops go in one orange basket, fish go in the white bucket, crabs go in the small white bucket (sometimes), and everything else goes into the other orange basket. This is considered “trash” and is thrown back overboard, but the watch chief keeps track of how many baskets of “trash” are thrown overboard during each haul and enters it into a computer database along with other data. After sorting the haul, much of the data collection takes place in lab called a “van”.

Research Van — Research “van” where we gather data from haul

The fish are sorted by species, counted, weighed, sometimes measured, and entered into a special computer system that tracks data from the hauls. Sometimes we also collect and count crabs and sea stars. The baskets of sea scallops are counted and weighed, and then individual scallops are measured on a special magnetic measuring board. You lay the scallop on the measuring board, touch the magnet to the board at the end of the scallop, and the length is automatically entered into the database. Some hauls have lots of sea scallops and some don’t have very many. We had a couple hauls that were almost completely sand dollars and one that was almost completely sea stars. I learned that sea stars can be quite slimy when they are stressed. I had no idea!

Sand dollar dresge — Dredge haul with LOTS of sand dollars

Sometimes my watch chief, Sean, will select a subsample of five sea scallops for us to scrub clean with a wire brush.

Alicia scrub scallops — Alicia scrubbing scallops at about 11pm

Next, we weigh and measure all five sea scallops before cutting them open to determine the gender. We remove the gonad (the reproductive organ) and weigh it, then do the same with the “meat” (the muscle that allows the scallop to open and close its shell and the part people like to eat). All of this information is recorded and each scallop is given a number. We write the number on each shell half and bag and tag the shells. The shells and data will be given to a scientist on shore that has requested them for additional research. The scallop shells can be aged by counting the rings, just like counting the rings on a tree.

Alicia scrub scallops 2 — Scrubbing scallops is dirty work!

Meanwhile, other people are hosing off the deck, table, buckets, and baskets used. The dredge ends by shucking the scallops and saving the meat for meals later. A successful dredge requires cooperation and communication between scientists, lab technicians, the Captain, and the crew. It requires careful attention to detail to make sure the data collected is accurate. It also requires strategic planning before the voyage even begins. It’s an exciting process to be a part of and it is interesting to think about the different types of information that can be collected about the ocean from the HabCam versus the dredge.

Personal Log

Hallway to shower — Hallway to the shower and bathroom

Living on a ship is kind of like living in a college dorm again: shared room with bunkbeds, communal shower and bathroom down the hall, and meals prepared for you. I can’t speak to the food prepared by the steward (cook) Paul, as I haven’t been able to eat much of it yet (I’m finally starting to get a handle on the seasickness, but I’m not ready for tuna steaks and lima beans just yet), but I do appreciate that the galley (mess hall) is open all the time for people to rummage through the cabinets for crackers, cereal, and other snacks. There’s even an entire freezer full of ice cream sandwiches, bars, etc. If my husband had known about the ice cream, he probably would have packed himself in my duffel bag for this adventure at sea!

Taking a shower at sea is really not much different than taking a shower at the gym or in a college dorm… in the middle of a small earthquake. Actually, it’s really not too bad once you get used to the rock of the ship. On the floor where the scientists’ berths (rooms) are, there are also two heads (bathrooms) and two showers. The ship converts ocean water into water that we can use on the ship for showering, washing hands, etc. through a process called reverse osmosis. Sea water is forced through a series of filters so small that not even the salt in the water can fit through. I was afraid that I might be taking cold showers, but there is a water heater on board, too! We are supposed to take “Navy showers”, which means you get wet, press a button on the shower head to stop the water while you scrub, then press the button to turn the water back on to rinse. I’ll admit that I find myself forgetting about this sometimes, but I’m getting much better!

Today there was about an hour and a half of “steam” time while we headed to our next dredge location and had nothing official to do. Some of the people on my watch watched a movie in the galley, but I decided to head to one of the upper decks and enjoy the gorgeous views of ocean in every direction. I was awarded by a pod of about 15 common dolphins jumping out of the water next to the ship!

I’m starting to get a feel for the process of science at sea and am looking forward to the new adventures that tomorrow might bring!

Question of the Day

Which way do you think is the best way to learn about the sea scallop population and ocean life in general: dredging or HabCam? Why do you think so?

You can share your thoughts, questions, and comments in the comments section below.