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Krista Fleming: A Shark, a Tag, and a Lesson, September 13, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Krista Fleming

Aboard 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 13, 2026

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 27°39.801 N

Longitude: 93°36.615 W

SE Winds 10-15 kts

Seas 3 ft at 6 seconds 

Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Krista, wearing her Teacher at Sea t-shirt, poses for a photo at the railing of NOAA Ship Oregon II at sunset. the sky is dark blue above a pink horizon with just a few purple clouds; the water is almost dark purple.
TAS Krista Fleming at sunset

Science and Technology Log

I am learning to tell the difference among the different species of sharks we are catching. In this survey, we can encounter approximately 20 or more species of sharks. So far, we have seen Blacknose, Atlantic Sharpnose, Tiger, Scalloped Hammerhead, Sandbar, Spinner, Silky, Cuban Dogfish, Night, Blacktip, Bull ,and  Gulf Smoothhound sharks and more!

The blacknose sharks definitely have an attitude and have been some of the feistier sharks we have handled! They get their name from the distinctive black smudge on the tip of their nose. Their fins do not have any distinctive markings. Interestingly, adult blacknose sharks can lose the dark marking on their noses as they age.

The Atlantic Sharpnose sharks are easier to recognize as many of them have distinctive white spots along their sides, which help set them apart from some of the other species we are encountering.

When the Spinner shark came up, we had to be especially careful because of how active and powerful they can be. Learning to recognize each species by its physical characteristics, behavior, and even its attitude has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the survey.

Krista, wearing a life vest and fish gloves, holds a small shark in two hands and smiles for a photo. she is standing on the aft deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II in between two wooden measuring boards.
Krista holding Cuban dogfish shark

Shark Tags 

We administer several types of tags during the survey to monitor movement patterns and record growth in the wild. 

P-tags are internal anchor tags. An incision is made in the skin, and the tag is inserted beneath the skin so it can remain attached to the shark.

close-up view of a P-tag mounted on an insertion tool, which has a sharp tip to insert the end of the P-tag under the skin
P-tag (yellow) and insertion tool

Roto tags are external tags that can rotate freely, allowing the tag to remain visible as the shark moves.

a set of 18 orange plastic tags, still attached to one another, where each has a spinning (rotating, hence "roto") attachment point. each tag is printed with the word REWARD, an ID number, and a phone number for the finder to call. This set of tags is resting on a datasheet.
a set of roto tags

Acoustic tags are implanted inside the shark’s abdominal cavity. Tera carefully opens the abdominal cavity, inserts the tag, and then sutures the incision closed. These tags transmit a unique acoustic signal that can be detected by passive acoustic receivers stationed throughout the Gulf of America. When a tagged shark swims within range of one of these receivers, the receiver records the signal, allowing scientists to track the shark’s movements and learn more about where it travels.

close-up view of a gloved hand grasping the end of the metal acoustic tag
acoustic tag

I have been asked several times why we don’t use satellite tags more often. The biggest factor is cost. Satellite tags can range from approximately $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the type of tag and its capabilities, with additional costs associated with satellite data transmission and tracking through systems such as Argos. Because of the expense, satellite tags are typically reserved for studies where researchers need very specific information about movements over a particular geographic area or over longer distances.

Personal Log

I’m getting a handle on ship life. I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep without the boat rocking when I return home! After much practice, I think I’ve finally gotten my sea legs. I initially thought the movement of the ship while setting lines and bringing in the haul would keep me awake, but I’m learning to sleep right through it. One evening this week, the wind picked up and we had waves around four feet, which had the Oregon II rocking pretty good. By then, I was surprised at how comfortable I had become moving around the ship.

I wasn’t prepared for how much manual labor would be required during the survey. From baiting hundreds of hooks and releasing the gear to collecting data from every organism we bring aboard, there is always something to do. In one haul alone, we collected data on 18 Red Snapper and 21 sharks, including Blacknose and Atlantic Sharpnose sharks.

Earlier this week, a 6-foot-8-inch spinner shark came aboard, and because of its size, the crew had to place it in the cradle so the science team could safely collect all of the necessary data. Tera taught me how to tag it and then let me place the tag myself. Before we released the shark, I saved the hook that had been removed from it, so I now have the hook from the very first shark I ever tagged! Tera also gave me a straightened hook from a tiger shark that had bent the hook when it broke away from the line. These may seem like small souvenirs, but they are pretty special reminders of what I am learning out here.

Krista takes a selfie on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II and holds up for the camera a circle hook. we can see buoys stored on deck behind her, and gray water and skies in the distance
Krista with hook from spinner shark

Meet the Crew: Science Team Day Shift

Dr. William Trey Driggers

Trey, wearing fish gloves, stands on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II, holding up a very large fish by gripping it under its operculum (gill cover)
Dr. Trey Driggers with grouper

Dr. William “Trey” Driggers III is a Research Fishery Biologist with NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center and serves as the Principal Investigator and Field Party Chief for the Bottom Longline Survey aboard the Oregon II. He has spent nearly 30 years studying sharks and other marine species, and his experience and knowledge have made him an incredible resource during this survey.

Dr. Driggers was part of the team of scientists that identified the Carolina hammerhead (Sphyrna gilberti) as a distinct species. This discovery came from years of research and genetic analysis of hammerheads that had previously been identified as scalloped hammerheads.

During this trip, Dr. Driggers has taken time to share his research with me and teach me about the work we are doing, from shark identification and handling to collecting biological data and understanding how those data are used in fisheries science. I have really appreciated how willing he is to stop and explain not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from him is how important it is for scientists to actually be in the field. Careful observations made during fieldwork can lead scientists to notice patterns, ask new questions, and ultimately make discoveries that may not have been possible from existing data alone. Dr. Driggers has shared several examples of discoveries that began with observations made in the field.

Dr. Walter Ingram

Dr. Ingram sits with his laptop at a wooden table on a deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II
Dr. Walter Ingram

Dr. Ingram is a highly respected scientist in the field of fisheries science. He earned his undergraduate degree from Jacksonville State University before studying Marine Science at the University of South Alabama. He continued his education at South Alabama, working all the way through his Ph.D. Simultaneously, he earned a master’s degree in Applied Statistics.

His Ph.D. dissertation focused on the gray triggerfish fishery in the Gulf of America, combining his expertise in marine science with his knowledge of statistics and data analysis. Just two weeks after graduating, Dr. Ingram began his career with NOAA, where he has now worked for 25 years. His favorite shark species is the goblin shark. As a matter of fact, Dr. Ingram was a co-author of the scientific paper documenting the largest goblin shark ever recorded. In 2000, a massive female goblin shark measuring an estimated 17.7–20.2 feet was caught in the northern Gulf of America, providing the first documented record of the species in the Gulf and expanding scientists’ understanding of how large these deep-sea sharks can grow. It continues to be the largest goblin shark ever recorded to date.

a massive captured goblin shark hoisted up on a fishing vessel; we can see piles of traps on the deck below, and a very small-looking fisherman manning the winch
record-breaking goblin shark, documented in Dr. Ingram’s paper
(Parsons, Glenn & Ingram, Jr, G. & Havard, Ralph. (2002). FIRST RECORD OF THE GOBLIN SHARK MITSUKURINA OWSTONI, JORDAN (FAMILY MITSUKURINIDAE) IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. Southeastern Naturalist.)

Dr. Tera Winters

Dr. Tera Winters with grouper

Dr. Tera Winters is a Senior Research Associate and survey scientist working with the NOAA fisheries team aboard the Oregon II. She is affiliated with the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS).

What makes Dr. Winters’ career particularly interesting is her unusual path into marine science. She works part time as a veterinarian in Panama City, Florida, before adding marine science to her professional expertise. Her veterinary background gives her a unique perspective when working with fish and other marine animals. She will also be helping with coral health assessments and NOAA’s Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Restoration efforts, including research focused on restoring coral communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

A major part of her work involves otoliths, or the small ear stones found in bony fishes. Otoliths grow throughout a fish’s life and can be examined to estimate the animal’s age and growth rate. Dr. Winters has processed thousands of red snapper otoliths, using techniques including scanning, imaging, weighing, and aging. This information becomes an important part of fisheries stock assessments because scientists need to understand how quickly fish grow and when they reach reproductive maturity.

Her work demonstrates an important point about fisheries science: what happens after a fish comes aboard the ship can be just as important as what happens on deck. The measurements and samples collected during each survey eventually become data that scientists and fisheries managers can use to understand population health and make decisions about sustainable catch levels.

Dr. Tera Winters has become one of my mentors aboard the Oregon II. She has been teaching me how to accurately collect and record fisheries data and, one of the most exciting parts for me, how to safely and properly tag sharks. Working alongside her has given me a greater appreciation for the skill, precision, and attention to detail required during a fisheries survey. Every measurement and observation matters because these data become part of the larger body of information scientists use to understand fish and shark populations. As a teacher, I am especially excited to take what I am learning from Dr. Winters and bring these real-world experiences back to my students. Tera’s favorite shark is the thresher shark.

LTJG Heather Gaughan

a woman wearing a life vest and fish gloves kneels next to a wooden fish measuring board on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. she uses her right hand to hold the tail of a fish against the measuring board, while her left hand grasps a pile of fishing line
LTJG Heather Gaughan measuring a fish

LTJG Gaughan is a NOAA Corps officer who has extensive experience working aboard NOAA research vessels. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and was commissioned into the NOAA Corps in 2021. Before joining NOAA Corps, she gained experience through internships and marine research, including work on ocean acidification and sea scallops and with NOAA’s Office of Education.

During this survey aboard the Oregon II, Heather is serving as the Operations Officer while also filling in for the current Senior Survey Technician. Her responsibilities involve much more than the science happening on deck. She stands watches, helps operate the ship, and even drives the ship, giving her a unique role that connects the vessel’s operations with the scientific mission. Watching all of the different responsibilities she manages has given me a greater appreciation for how many people and skills it takes to successfully conduct a NOAA research survey.

Heather has spent lots of time at sea aboard NOAA research vessels and has served in a variety of roles, including Officer of the Deck, Navigation Officer, Environmental Compliance Officer, NOAA Diver, Rescue Swimmer, and Medical Person in Charge. During her land assignment, she served as the Mission & Support Branch Specialist and Port Captain for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA. In that position, she also sailed as the acting Junior Officer-in-Charge of the R/V Gloria Michelle. In June 2026, she received her Master of Science in Maritime Business Management from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  Her experience demonstrates just how diverse a career with NOAA Corps can be.

And, of course, I had to ask her favorite shark! Her favorite is the Great Hammerhead. It seems fitting for someone who spends so much time working with sharks and fisheries research. Getting to know Heather has been another reminder that there are many different career paths within marine science, and that NOAA’s missions depend on people with a wide range of expertise and responsibilities.

Ryan O’Malley

Ryan O’Malley weighing a fish

Mr. O’Malley is a volunteer from Maryland on his very first NOAA Survey. He just graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University. He came on this trip to gain experience in the field, particularly with Elasmobranchs (cartilaginous fishes like sharks, skates, and rays). His favorite shark species are Blacktips. He has some experience with shark taxonomy and has been a wealth of information as we bring sharks onto the deck to collect data.

Did You Know? Fish vs. Fishes

Did you know there is a difference between fish and fishes? Both words are correct, but scientists use them in different ways.

  • Fish is the plural when you are talking about multiple individual fish, generally or when they are the same species.
     Example: We caught 15 fish during today’s survey.
  • Fishes is used when referring to multiple species of fish or to fish as distinct groups.
     Example: Scientists study the fishes of the Gulf of America.

So, if Dr. Ingram is analyzing a haul containing several individual red snapper, you would say he is analyzing fish. If he is comparing red snapper, gray triggerfish, grouper, and other species, you could describe his work as studying the fishes of the Gulf of America.

A simple way to remember it:
 🐟 Fish = individuals
 🐠 🐠 Fishes = two or more individuals of different species

In fisheries science, choosing between fish and fishes can actually be important because scientists are often distinguishing between individual animals and different species or populations.

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Cheyanne Vanderdonckt: The Survey Begins, July 30, 2026

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheyanne Vanderdonckt

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 27 – August 12, 2026

Mission: Shark/Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Western North Atlantic Ocean

Date: July 30, 2026

Latitude: 27° 40.261’ N

Longitude: 80° 12.372’ W

Weather Data from the Bridge: Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

Science and Technology Log

I promised more details of how the longline survey is carried out and I will do my best to describe it here. A long fishing line (about a mile long) is equipped with weights and buoys at each end, along with a weight in the middle. The buoys also have a “high flyer,” which is a marker that sticks up off of the buoy so that we can see where it is. Attached to this longline are 100 shorter lines called “gangions” (say “GAN-jin”) with a number and a baited circle hook. (Circle hooks are used because they cause less damage to fish than “j-hooks.”) The longline is deployed, then given about an hour to “soak,” before we go back and start reeling it in.

illustration of a fishing vessel setting a long line. each end of the line is attached to an anchor and a buoy. along the line itself, shorter lines connected to fishing hooks are attached at regular intervals. this illustration depicts a fish on one of the hooks.
Longline setup (Credit: NOAA)

How do you manage a mile-long line with 100 shorter lines attached without getting everything tangled? It’s a careful and orderly — albeit fast-moving — operation. The hooks are set up in barrels with notches that keep them lined up and ready to be attached to the longline as it is let out off the stern (back of the ship). Later when the line is hauled in, somebody will place them back in order to be ready for the next station. When every element of this set-up — high flyers, weights, and every single hook — is either deployed (thrown off the stern) or hauled in at the bow (front of the ship), somebody is ready at the computer to record the exact time, latitude, longitude, the state of the bait, whether there is a fish, weather conditions, etc. for each hook. Fortunately, the computer records most of this automatically so there are only a few keys to push when each piece is either deployed or hauled in.

a white plastic barrel lined with baited hooks attached to short fishing lines
Hooks baited with mackerel attached to the gangions ready to be clamped to the longline

At our first station we caught four sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus). When a shark is caught, it is a carefully coordinated operation to haul it up in a “cradle” (a big net with a stiff metal frame) using a crane. There is an operator working the crane, two people holding onto ropes attached to each side of the cradle, and at least two people to manage the shark’s head and tail while measurements and samples are taken. They are also communicating with the bridge where the officers driving the ship have to maneuver it to help get the cradle into position. The shark’s length is measured in millimeters and a small tissue sample is taken from its fin. Most sharks are also tagged, which allows scientists to track movements and examine growth rates. When smaller fish are caught, they are brought onto a measuring board in the middle of the deck. (More pictures and information about all of this will be coming in future posts!)

three people work to hold a large sandbar shark still against a cradle made of teal mesh webbing. we can see part of the face of the man in the foreground and only the arms of the other two scientists. everyone wears fish gloves.
William “Trey” Driggers helps secure the tail of a sandbar shark while it is tagged

Wildlife Spotted

One afternoon when the skies cleared after some rain, a pair of brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) came to rest on the weather station.  A fellow science volunteer alerted me to their presence and we spent some time watching them spin around. To my amazement, they were still there hours later. I spent some more time watching them with the nearly full moon behind them.

two birds with brown backs and white undersides perch on either side of a weather vane. the sky is light blue and cloudy.
two birds are visible perched on either side of the weather vane, photographed at a distance. we can see the moon shining through the clouds and reflecting on the water.

Two brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) perched on the ship for hours

Simple Machines on a Ship

I have a student who got really interested in simple machines this year after, so I thought I would investigate as many of the simple machines as I could find on the ship. Simple machines are devices with few or no moving parts that make work easier. There are six basic types: wheel-and-axle, inclined plane, lever, pulley, wedge, and screw. A good example that we have at my school is a ramp, which is an inclined plane. I couldn’t carry a shopping cart full of science supplies up the stairs, but the ramp — along with the wheels and axles on the cart  — allows me to push a heavy load up to the second floor relatively easily. Likewise, you probably can’t pick up your best friend, but if you get on a see-saw (a type of lever), you can send him high up into the air. Simple machines can be used on their own or in combination to make work easier. 

There are many pulleys on the ship. They help make it easier to lift heavy objects. Winches are used to make it easier to haul in lines and to adjust the length of cables on cranes. Winches are essentially made of a wheel and axle and a lever. The rope or line wraps around the wheel as it turns on the axle. The handle acts as a lever that makes it easier to turn the wheel. The reel on a fishing rod acts as a winch when you turn the crank to reel the line in. Motorized winches use motors to turn the wheel.

view of pulleys clearly visible against a blue sky
Pulleys on one of the outriggers
view of the winch mounted on deck
This winch lowers and raises scientific gear attached to the “J-frame,” which is a big arm that can go out over the water
close up of a reel on a fishing rod; the rod has been mounted on the railing of the ship to fish. we can see the water and blue sky, with white clouds, beyond.
The reel on a fishing rod acts as a winch when you haul in the line
Simple machines on the ship

A screw is a simple machine that is basically an inclined plane that wraps around a cylinder. If you have a screw at home, you can put your finger at the tip and follow that one groove all the way to the head. Think about cars driving up a circular ramp in a parking garage: they move on a continuous inclined plane that spirals around from bottom to top. The ship has engines that turn a big propeller and that propeller is a giant screw that pushes against the water to make the ship move forward. Although the blades of a propeller are separate rather than one continuous plane, they operate on the same basic principle as a screw. 

Obviously I can’t see the ship’s propeller because it is under the water, but I asked the crew to tell me more about it. Oregon II has a variable pitch propeller which means that they can change the angle of the propellers relative to the axis that they spin around. The angle of this pitch changes the amount of work the screw can do with one full rotation. So a 1-foot pitch means that turning the screw one full rotation would theoretically move the ship 1 foot (This can vary depending on the other forces acting on the ship, such as currents and wind). Oregon II’s propeller has a maximum pitch of 6 feet. Naturally, I had to ask why you wouldn’t just always use the maximum pitch to go as fast as possible. It is like the gears on a bike or a car. If you have a bike with gears, you have probably found yourself pedaling furiously at some point, wearing yourself out without going any faster. If you choose the right gear, your energy will not be wasted. The officer driving the ship determines which pitch is appropriate for the conditions and the desired speed.

These are some of the simple machines I’ve discovered so far. Look around you and see what simple machines you have at home, work, school, or in the community. How do they make work easier? Can you use some objects in your house to make a simple machine?

Resources from NOAA:

Personal Log

I am settling into life aboard ship. Because I get off duty at midnight and still need time to shower and wind down a bit, I am waking up later in the morning than I am used to in order to get a full night’s sleep. (I always tell my students how important sleep is and I like to practice what I preach.) This means that I wake up after breakfast and just about an hour before lunch is served. At home I tend to eat something on the sweet side for breakfast, but I am getting used to starting my day with a hearty meal of pulled pork, cod, or fried green tomato sandwiches. I was told to expect good food and I have not been disappointed. Everything is fresh and delicious! As you can imagine, the people aboard all have great stories and interesting backgrounds. I hope to introduce you to some of them in future posts.

As we had three days of transit time without much for me to do, I got to spend a lot of time just looking at the water and the sky and this is truly a gift. Everyone should have the opportunity to see and experience this. Earlier this summer I participated in a teacher training course with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. I enrolled thinking it would be another way to enhance my scientific understanding of our local watershed and it certainly did that. However, the instructors and community partners also took the time to let us simply experience being in nature and encouraged us to let our students do the same. We visited an urban farm with a summer camp (and soon to have an all-outdoor year-round preschool program!) and the staff talked about how they incorporate nature to help students with emotional regulation and other skills that develop the whole child. They emphasized that these are things we can do anywhere outdoors. We don’t need to go off to the wilderness or even a park. In fact, the more we can get children to pay attention to the nature that they see everyday in their yard, neighborhood, or schoolyard, the deeper their connection will be. This will in turn drive their curiosity and their desire to learn more. 

I am experiencing this myself aboard ship. Although I have work to do, taking some time to just experience what is around me with all of my senses helps to calm me, refresh me, and make me even more eager to keep learning. Being at sea is a new experience for me, but I can tell that even the veterans aboard still carry that sense of awe. People still come out to watch the sun set over the water and they still get excited to see dolphins surface. I wrote in a previous post about the teacher’s charge to help students feel emotionally secure so that they can learn. Finding ways to let them experience amazement at our world is another dimension to this. In first grade students learn about the phases of the moon and I always encourage my students to look for the moon throughout the night and day. It is notoriously hard to get a good picture of the moon with a cell phone, but I took this video before putting my phone away and just looking.

View of the moon from NOAA Ship Oregon II

Ship Rules

When I return to my classroom in August, I will spend a lot of time teaching my students about the rules of the school and the classroom. Of course, this is not always popular, but I do my best to explain the purpose of each rule and invite students to think about what could happen if we don’t follow it. (Admittedly, we sometimes get silly with these scenarios.) Children often feel bombarded by rules and that they are uniquely burdened by them. So I think it’s important to share examples of rules adults have to follow, as well. I’m going to have lots of great examples of rules Ms. Vanderdonckt had to follow while at sea. When you’re on land and close to the nearest hospital, your health and safety might be your own business. But on a ship far from shore, your health and safety affects everyone. If somebody were to be careless and get injured, it could jeopardize the entire mission that has been so carefully planned. 

There are rules that are written and taught explicitly and then, of course, there are unspoken rules of etiquette and society that we just have to pick up on. This is something many neurodivergent students can struggle with. Special educators use tools like social stories to help them understand various social scenarios and explicitly teach expectations. Being in a completely different type of social environment is forcing me to simply ask people about etiquette and expectations. This is another dimension of my learning experience that I wasn’t even expecting. I knew I had a lot to learn about science and fishing, but I’m learning just as much by asking somebody, “Hey, if you’re working in your office with your door open does that mean it’s okay to ask a question?” Fortunately, people are very kind about teaching me the ropes. 

Cheyanne, wearing a blue hard hat and an orange life vest, grins for a photo, hands in pockets. she is on the deck of NOAA Ship Oregon II. Behind her we see two other crewmembers with the CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth probe). the sky is light blue and mostly cloudy.
Hardhats and PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) are mandatory during operations. (Photo credit: Kleys Murillo)

Accessibility Corner

As a special educator, I’d like to share some insights and tips with teachers and caregivers that I am thinking about on my journey. As parents do shopping for the new school year, a big item on the list is new shoes. Many young students and/or students with fine motor challenges have difficulty tying shoes on their own. Velcro can be a great help but what if the pair your child is begging for have laces? My packing list suggested slip-on shoes because on a ship you need to get in and out of your shoes frequently and quickly. I don’t find most slip-ons comfortable so I’m using these elastic laces for my favorite sneakers. The bumps help me adjust them to my perfect comfort level. These could be great for students (or adults) who have trouble tying independently or who have sensory issues requiring fine tuning of laces. There are many brands, sizes and colors available.

close up view of two shoes with interesting, bumpy elastic laces. the shoes are on feet, which are propped up on something in the corner of the deck; we can see the railing and a bit of the water beyond.
My favorite pair of sneakers are easier to get on and off quickly with elastic shoelaces

Did You Know?

Sargassum is a type of floating brown algae. It can provide shelter and food to many types of marine life. It plays an important role in supporting life in the Atlantic Ocean but it can also cause issues when a lot of it washes up on shores at once. To learn more about sargassum, visit https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sargassum/

clumps of sargassum floating in bright blue water, topped by bright blue sky with only a few hints of clouds
Sargassum floats on the surface of the water in the Atlantic Ocean

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

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

Date: August 3, 2025

Weather Data from the Bridge (3:00 PM)

Latitude:     32° 54.4’ N

Longitude:  079° 00.3’ W

Wind speed:  18 kts.

Wave height:  1-2’

Air temp.: 28.1 C

Sky:   Clouds

Science and Technology Log

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

view of a scalloped hammerhead shark lying on it ventral side (belly) in a teal mesh shark cradle suspended over the water. a crewmember, mostly out of frame, reaches two arms over the ship's railing to steady the shark.
top-down view from an upper deck of crewmembers standing near the rail as a teal mesh shark cradle rises out of the water, holding a large tiger shark
a man wearing blue gloves, standing on deck and facing away from the camera, holds out a large red-orange fish by the operculum (opening behind the jaw)
straight on view of a hammerhead shark's head; the shark is suspended in the teal mesh cradle, and two gloved hands hold up its head to prepare to remove the hook
Cheryl, wearing a sunhat, a hard hat on top of the sunhat, and a life vest, kneels on deck. with two gloved hands, she holds up a small sharpnose shark and smiles for a photo.

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

Personal Log

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

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

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

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

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

close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see a sticker of a lobster (mvyradio.org), a school sticker (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures.
Drifter #2 with quotes from crew
close up view of the buoy, shaped like a large fiberglass beach ball. the bottom half is blue and the top half is white, and decorated. We see some school stickers (for Falmouth Clippers), and some handwritten quotes and signatures, and a drawing of a shark near the seabed.
Drifter #2 with quotes from crew
Cheryl, wearing her Teacher at Sea t shirt, a life vest, and sunglasses, poses for a photo on deck next to the drifting buoy, currently curled up and resting on a table surface.
I am preparing to launch Drifter #2 from fantail
map of sea surface temperature by geographic location as measured by the first drifting buoy. measurements are depicted as squares, color coded by temperature, ranging from 28 degrees Celsius (purple) to 32 degrees Celsius (red); most of the readings are green, which corresponds to 30 degrees C. the measurements start east of Florida and extend north along the Gulf Stream toward North Carolina.
track of Drifter #1 as of 8/3/25 at 2:06 PM









Interview with Trey Driggers

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

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

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

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

Tell me about your family:

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

How did you get your position at NOAA Fisheries?

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

What is the most fun part of your job?

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

What is the most difficult part of your job?

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

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

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

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

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

Did You Know?

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

New Animals Seen:

  • Scalloped hammerhead shark
  • Pale spotted eel
  • Decorator crab
  • Semipalmated plover
out of focus view of a small shorebird walking on a gray surface
Semipalmated plover
(courtesy of Lila Xenakis)
a decorated crab photographed splayed out against a blue surface; we can see some seaweed stuck to it
Decorator crab
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Cheryl Milliken: Fish On! August 1, 2025

NOAA Teacher at Sea

Cheryl Milliken

Aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II

July 25 – August 10, 2025

Mission: Bottom Longline Survey, Leg 1

Geographic Area of Cruise: Atlantic Coast of Florida

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

Weather Data from the Bridge

Latitude: 30° 30.1’N

Longitude: 081° 12.6′ W

Wind speed: 10 kts.

Wave height: 0-1 ft.

Air temp.: 31.5° C (89° F)

Sky: Clear

Science and Technology Log

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

a man stands on deck, feet spread apart for balance, holding up a large barracuda for a photo. we see blue skies with puffy clouds and fairly even blue water in the background beyond the rail.
portrait photo of a man in a red t-shirt wearing sunglasses and a very wide-brimmed straw hat; he leans on a railing of the deck and looks off dramatically into the distance
a man, mostly in silhouette due to the lighting, fishing off the back deck of the ship. beyond the railing is a lovely orange sunset obscured by just a few bits of cloud over dark blue waters.

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

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

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

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

Interview with Sean Gronquist

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

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

Why is your work important?

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

What do you enjoy most about your work?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Personal Log

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

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

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

New Animals Seen

  • Spotted dolphins
  • Cannonball jellyfish
  • Lion’s mane jellyfish
  • Tiger sharks (large and small)
  • Sandbar sharks
  • Leech on the sandbar shark
  • Nurse shark
  • Bull shark
  • Sharpnose shark
  • Great hammerhead shark! (the other watch actually saw this shark, but they showed me the pictures! We are in competition now to see who catches the next hammerhead.)
  • Two large red snappers!
a somewhat out of focus view of two dolphins leaping above the surface of the water; blue, mostly clear skies, bright blue water.
a woman wearing a hard hat, life vest, and gloves crouches on deck to hold a large red-orange fish against a long wooden measuring board
a woman wearing a life vest, hat, and sunglasses smiles for the camera as she stands on deck grasping a small stripey shark behind its jaws
close-up view of a marine leech against the bright blue textured background of a fish glove. the leach is blue gray with a pattern of white spots in bands.
view of the underside of a hammerhead shark's head, held back by a blue gloved hand. the shark is suspended above the water in the mesh cradle.
a hammerhead shark in the water, caught on a line, as seen over the railing.

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

Did You Know?

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

otoliths arranged in six neat columns against a black background. the otoliths have been dyed different colors prior to sectioning.
close-up view of two cleaned otoliths resting in the fingers of someone's upturned

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