Mission: Rockfish Recruitment and Ecosystem Assessment Survey (RREAS)
Geographic Area of Cruise: Pacific Ocean; U.S. West Coast
Date: June 11th, 2024
Weather Datafrom the Bridge
Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 Latitude: 35.42 ยฐN Longitude: 121.22 ยฐW Sea Wave Height: 4-5 ft Wind Speed: 4 knots Air Temperature: 57 ยฐ F Sky: Foggy / light rain
Science Log
Arriving on the Lasker
We’re off! After landing in San Francisco and driving down to Santa Cruz, I arrived on the NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker by way of small boat transfer. The Lasker was anchored in Monterey Bay, and sent a small boat to pick up myself and some of the science team and crew to be taken aboard. We boarded the small boat, the “RL-2 Shark,” then traveled to the side of the Lasker where we were hoisted up via a winch. I then got a full tour around the ship, and the opportunity to meet many people who work on the Lasker, including members of the science team, NOAA Corps, and Lasker crew.
Charlotte boards the RL-2 Shark in Santa CruzApproaching the LaskerRL-2 Shark on board the LaskerThe RL-2 Shark approaches the Lasker
The Night Shift
Running a ship like the Lasker is a 24-hour-a-day operation. At all times there are some groups of people sleeping and others who are working. The majority of the science crew works at night, so my day typically begins with dinner at 5:00 pm and then working with the science team from approximately 9:30 pm until 6:30 am. As a morning person this was very difficult at first! But after two nights working, I’m finally adjusting to our new schedule.
What is the Goal of the Survey?
The main scientific focus of the upcoming mission is the Rockfish Recruitment and Ecosystem Assessment Survey (RREAS). This survey has been conducted since 1983, and collects data on rockfish and other organisms in their ecosystem.
Rockfish are a very important fish commercially and recreationally in California and on the West Coast. One of the primary purposes of the survey is to use the data collected to helpย provide additionalย information about the management of commercialย and recreational fisheries off the west coast.ย
CTD Operations
CTD rosette, ready to be deployed into the ocean.
I began my first night shift by observing a CTD deployment. CTDs are instruments that measure Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD). CTD measurements are conducted approximately 5-6 times a day, and twice at night. The CTD descends down into the ocean to a depth of up to 500 m . There are other instruments and sensors attached to the CTD that measure things like chlorophyll levels and oxygen levels. The data taken from the water column serves as a foundation for scientists to understand the ocean environment.
All of the CTD data, and all the data that the Lasker collects, is free and available to the public.
Trawling
Hand-drawn diagram of trawl net, courtesy of scientist Tanya Rogers.
When do we trawl?
The reason the science team trawls at night because there is net avoidance during the daytime, meaning the fish will see the net coming during the day and swim away from it. Other creatures migrate towards the surface at night. In a pattern called vertical migration, these mesopelagic species migrate to shallow waters to feed during the night, while spending day hours at depth.
Having more diverse species to study is useful for the Rockfish Recruitment and Ecosystem Assessment Survey (RREAS). The more data that is collected on rockfish and other species helps scientists to better understand the heath of different fish species, and make predictions and assessments of ocean trends.
How does trawling work?
Each night, the Lasker crew, NOAA corps officers, and science team work together to trawl for different fish species.
In our Rockfish Recruitment and Ecosystem Assessment Survey, the science team conducts midwater trawls, at approximately 30m depth to target the fish and other ocean organisms that are targeted for the study.
The last few days we’ve averaged 5 trawls per night. The process begins by deploying the trawling net behind the ship into the midwater section of the water column, and trawling for fish for either 5 or 15 min. After the net is brought in, the contents of the trawl are sorted, measured, and recorded by the science team. This data will be later analyzed to help better understand the ocean ecosystem.
Teacher at Sea Charlotte with the catch of a trawl.
The science team sort fish and other organisms from the trawl.
Personal Log
NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker: My New Home at Sea
NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker (photo courtesy of NOAA)
My new home for my time at sea is the NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker. The Lasker is a NOAA fisheries vessel, with a home port located in San Diego, CA.
During my time at sea, the Lasker will be sailing off the coast of California, sailing out of Santa Cruz and back into port in San Diego.
Living on the ship reminds me a lot of my college dorm room. On the ship most people have roommates, and we all have shared spaces like the mess (cafeteria), science labs, outside decks and places to relax. Everyone aboard the ship has been extremely welcoming and kind, always answering any questions I might have and teaching me about life aboard a ship. I am happy to call the Lasker home over my trip at sea!
There are three major teams working and living as a cohesive unit aboard the Lasker. The Reuben Lasker crew, NOAA science team, and NOAA Corps officers each have distinct roles and work together each day to accomplish various science projects.
Sunset aboard the Lasker.
Did you know?
Adjusting to working the night shift (approximately 9:00 pm – 7:00 am) as a typical morning person has meant sleep is often on my mind. Chatting before our second night shift, scientist Ily Iglesias shared with me how dolphins sleep. Both dolphins and whales sleep much differently than most mammals. Known as unihemisphericsleep, dolphins
Mission: Fisheries: Pacific Hake Survey (More info here)
GeographicRegion: Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California
Date: July 16, 2023
โ โ โ โ โ
Weather Data from the Bridge
July 14 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 38ยฐ 34.9โ N, 123ยฐ 42.7โ W 15nm (17mi) West of Stewarts Point, CA
Visibility: <1 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast, fog Wind: 19 knots from NW 330ยฐ Barometer: 1014.6 mbar Sea wave height: 3-4 feet Swell: 5-6 ft from NW 300ยฐ Sea temperature: 11.0ยฐC (51.8ยฐF) Air temperature: 13.1ยฐC (55.6ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 330ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 15 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 38ยฐ 56.3โ N, 124ยฐ 02.1โ W 13nm (15mi) West of Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast Wind: 20 knots from NW 340ยฐ Barometer: 1013.1 mbar Sea wave height: 3-4 feet 3-4 Swell: 7-8 ft from NW 320ยฐ Sea temperature: 10.8ยฐC (51.4ยฐF) Air temperature: 13.3ยฐC (55.9ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 270ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 9 knots
July 16 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 39ยฐ 36.2โ N, 124ยฐ 01.6โ W 14nm (16mi) Northwest of Fort Bragg, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast Wind: 29 knots from NW 320ยฐ Barometer: 1011.4 mbar Sea wave height: 3-4 feet Swell: 5-6 ft from NW 320ยฐ Sea temperature: 11.3ยฐC (52.3ยฐF) Air temperature: 13.9ยฐC (57.0ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 280ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 7 knots
โ โ โ โ โ
Science and Technology Log
Without a vessel and without a crew, none of this mission would be possible. As Iโve said before, this crew is special. Like any job, employees are required, but that does not mean that you will work well cohesively and passionately towards a goal. The two weeks Iโve been spending with this crew who is so wholeheartedly excited about their job and role, while being on the ocean, has been so rewarding and inspiring. More later, this is starting to remind me of crying along with my sobbing fourth graders on the last day of school.
While Iโve discussed a lot of the daily operations of the crew and ship, and what Iโve been learning and working on myself, however, I have not discussed the vessel and agency that has made all of this possible. Many people question, โWhat is NOAA?โ when I explain this opportunity.
About NOAA
โThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. government agency that was formed in 1970 as a combination of several different organizations. The purpose of NOAA is to study and report on the ocean, atmosphere, and coastal regions of Earth.โ
โOur mission: To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and managecoastal and marine ecosystems and resources.โ NOAA: โAbout Our Agencyโ
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada can carry a total crew of 24, which include NOAA Corps officers, engineers, other crew members, and scientists.
โThe NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) is one of the nationโs eight uniformed services. NOAA Corps officers are an integral part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and serve with the special trust and confidence of the President.โ
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada, commissioned in 2010, is a fisheries survey vessel designed to produce a low acoustic signature, built to collect data on fish populations, conduct marine mammal and seabird surveys, and study marine ecosystems. The quiet operation provides scientists the ability to study fish and marine mammals without significantly altering their behavior.
Stats and Specs (Link for more information) Length: 208.60 ft Beam (width): 49.2 ft Draft (bottom of the lowered centerboard to waterline): 29.7 ft Displacement (full load): 2,479 tons (4,958,000 lbs) Speed: 11.00 knots Endurance: 40 days Range: 12,000 nautical miles Home port: Newport, Oregon Crew: – 24 (5 NOAA Corps officers, 4 licensed engineers, and 15 other crew members) – Plus up to 15 scientists
Namesake
โ[Dr.] Bell M. Shimada (1922-1958), served with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, and was known for his studies of tropical Pacific tuna stocks.โ
The ship’s namesake was known for his contributions to the study of Tropical Pacific tuna stocks, which were important to the development of West Coast commercial fisheries following World War II. Dr. Bell Shimada and colleagues at Pacific Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (POFI) Honolulu Laboratory were among the first to study the population dynamics of tunas and the oceanography affecting their abundance and distribution.
Dr. Bell M. Shimada, circa 1957. Wikipedia: โBell M. Shimadaโ
โIn her remarks at the christening and launch, [Dr. Shimadaโs daughter] Julie Shimada offered the following, “I hope the Bell M. Shimada is a lasting testament that no life is too short, no career too brief, no contribution too small, to make a difference.โ
NVC Foundation: โNOAA Honors Nisei With Launch of Fisheries Vessel โBell M. Shimadaโ”
โ โ โ โ โ
Interviews with the Crew (Part 1 of 2)
(Take note of the similarities and differences between how these crew members chose an ocean-related career and got to be assigned to NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada)
Executive Officer Commander Laura Gibson
What is your role aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada? CDR Gibsonโs role includes a lot of administrative work, handling the budget, standing bridge watches as the Officer on Duty (OOD), along with other executive duties.
What do you enjoy the most about your role? The mission and camaraderie of the crew, as well as getting to know the ship and happy, successful operations.
When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean-related career? CDR Gibson enjoys Scuba diving and grew up on lakes. She worked on a research ship in college and continued working on the water which led her to NOAA. She mentions her Dad as a large motivator and inspiration of wanting to pursue an ocean-related career.
What do you think you would be doing if you were not working for NOAA? Working a boring 9-5 desk job!
Favorite animal Rhinoceros
Fun Fact: she brings a stuffed animal dog with her from her son, named Barfolomew.
His nickname is Barf!
Operations Officer Lieutenant Nicole Chappelle
What is your role aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada? Coordinate with scientists to make the plan of the day, assist in navigation and operation of the vessel.
What do you enjoy the most about your role? Nicole enjoys seeing all of the sea life and creatures, and hearing and learning what the scientists are doing and why.
When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean-related career? She originally wanted to work with animals, which she did as a member of a rehabilitation team at Sea World. She then wanted to join uniformed service. Nicole chose NOAAโs uniformed service (NOAA Corps) because their science missions aligned with her interests.
What do you think you would be doing if you were not working for NOAA? Working with animals and marine life or being a scuba instructor.
Do you have an outside hobby? Horseback riding, Scuba diving, jogging, kayaking, hiking.
Whatโs something you were surprised to see or learn about living and working onboard when you first started? Nicole remarked on the times sheโs been out in the ocean, hundreds of miles away from shore, and how few other vessels you see there. She says it gave her a much greater appreciation for just how big the ocean is.
Favorite animal Horses
Junior Engineer Deb Rose
What is your role aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada? Junior Engineer Deb Rose (in her words) handles the โhotel servicesโ of the vessel. Her role includes plumbing, electrical work, repairs, and many other behind the scene tasks to keep the vessel running safely.
What do you enjoy the most about your role? I get to fix stuff! Troubleshooting, figuring out whatโs wrong, and fixing the problem were among steps that she described as part of her work onboard.
When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean-related career? While working at Firestone, Deb met and befriended Jason who became a wiper on NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette. She saw pictures and heard his stories of how he is now a licensed engineer, and decided to follow in his footsteps! She mentions Jason as a motivator that inspired her to pursue an ocean-related career.
What do you think you would be doing if you were not working for NOAA? Continue to work on the Alaska Marine Highway ferries. (These ferries cover 3,500 miles of Alaskaโs coastline.)
Outside hobbies: Video games, Scuba diving, swimming, fishing
Whatโs something you were surprised to see or learn about living and working onboard when you first started? How few women there still are in the industry. Deb has often been the only or one of the only female crew members both on land and at sea. She hopes that this trend will keep changing and that women will be in more engineering industries.
Favorite animal Her favorite animals are the Jackson Chameleon and dogs.
Fun Fact: Humans are more related to salps than any other creatures we catch. She can also identify 12 Rockfish species!
Deck Department Connor Rauch
What is your role aboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada? Connor is a General Vessel Assistant as part of the Deck Department. He helps deploy and recover the trawl net and CTD rosette, stands watch as a lookout, helps keep the ship clean, and much more! He took classes at Seattle Maritime Academy for one year and is now applying his education on his first NOAA vessel!
What do you enjoy the most about your role? He is enjoying his first assignment on a NOAA vessel and traveling up and down the Pacific coast. He says he is also enjoying being on the water, applying new knowledge to tasks, and training to a real ship. He also enjoys learning about trawling and commented on how nice the people onboard are.
When did you know you wanted to pursue an ocean-related career? He wanted to try something new after working for a non-profit group during the Covid-19 pandemic assisting those in need. He decided to work on the water since he grew up sailing and kayaking. He thought of working on local ferries, but after taking classes at Seattle Maritime Academy, he had the confidence to apply for NOAA.
Do you have an outside hobby? Reading, kayaking, camping, and hiking.
Whatโs something you were surprised to see or learn about living and working onboard when you first started? Connor said he was pleasantly surprised at how tight the crew is, how easy it is to sleep, how comfortable the ship is, and the good food!
Favorite animal Beavers and dog
โ โ โ โ โ
Personal Log
As this experience comes to the end, I reflect on all parts of this mission. The crew, vessel, marine life, food, sleep, friendships, and more. Iโm so thankful I was able to have this experience and share NOAAโs Teacher at Sea program more with coworkers, family, friends, and my students. Meeting and talking with the crew resulted in long conversations and plenty of laughs and connections amongst each other that they previously had not known.
Winds and swells picked up over the weekend and on Sunday July 16 we only caught six Hake. After that trawl and an increase in marine mammals being sighted when we were trying to trawl, fishing was called off for the rest of the Leg. At 1020 Monday July 17, we completed our last transect for Leg 2 of the Survey and headed due North for the long trek to Newport, Oregon. We still found ways to entertain ourselves, nap, snack, share stories and riddles, take photos of sunsets and marine mammals, watch shooting stars and have a movie night. Below are photos of our art craft: fish prints of two Chilipepper Rockfish!
Art stationFish prints hanging to dryFinished fish print
โ โ โ โ โ
Did You Know?
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada has an endurance, the amount of time the vessel can be at sea in a row, of forty days. This is not because the ship canโt make its own fresh water through reverse osmosis from sea water, or a lack of fuel, oil, extra parts, or a way to exhume waste and trash in an environmentally friendly wayโฆ
but because of food!
Our galley crew is amazingly talented and spoils us with a huge all you can eat buffet, desserts, and drinks every day! But, as per various laws and for the safety of the crew, they are lawfully entitled to fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, etc. within set guidelines and window of time.
Salad and food service bar in galleyFresh fruitShip’s mess
โ โ โ โ โ
Animals Seen Today
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins! Although these energetic friends caused us to abandon a trawl attempt after multiple marine mammal watches ended early because of their presence, they were so much fun to watch! I brought my DSLR camera up to the bridge deck and eventually sat down on the deck watching them jump and race through the ocean waters next to the hull. Below are some of my favorite photos I took of the pod.
Mission: Fisheries: Pacific Hake Survey (More info here)
GeographicRegion: Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California
Date: July 13, 2023
โ โ โ โ โ
Weather Data from the bridge:
July11 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 37ยฐ 46.7โ N, 123ยฐ 26.6โ W 43nm (50mi) West of San Francisco, CA
Visibility: 2 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast, fog Wind: 20 knots from N 250ยฐ Barometer: 1015.2 mbar Sea wave height: 2-3 feet Swell: 6-7 ft from NW 320ยฐ Sea temperature: 12.2ยฐC (57.2ยฐF) Air temperature: 12.7ยฐC (57.9ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 270ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 12 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 38ยฐ 06.8โ N, 123ยฐ 01.6โ W 7nm (8mi) North of Point Reyes Lighthouse, Inverness, CA
Visibility: 2 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast, fog Wind: 12 knots from N 350ยฐ Barometer: 1016.0 mbar Sea wave height: 1-2 feet Swell: 3-4 ft from W 280ยฐ Sea temperature: 11.0ยฐC (57.2ยฐF) Air temperature: 11.5ยฐC (57.9ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 270ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 13 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 38ยฐ 17.3โ N, 123ยฐ 06.1โ W 2.5nm (4mi) Southwest of Bodega Bay, CA
Visibility: 3 nautical miles Sky condition: Few clouds, fog Wind: 13 knots from NW 300ยฐ Barometer: 1015.9 mbar Sea wave height: 1-2 feet 1-2 Swell: 3-4 ft from NW 300ยฐ Sea temperature: 10.7ยฐC (51.3ยฐF) Air temperature: 13.7ยฐC (56.6ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 340ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
โ โ โ โ โ
In my July 6 post, I explained how NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is equipped to collect acoustic data in the form of echo grams and therefore find fish to trawl for. In my July 10 post, I explained how we get the fish onboard, and what we do with the sample once it is collected from the net. These entries described what work is done in the Acoustics Lab and the Wet Lab, but there is one more Lab onboard to explore and explain: the Chemistry Lab.
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada leaving Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA on July 5, 2023. (Just a nice photo taken by me that I wanted to include)
Science and Technology Log
Each morning after breakfast, we usually gather in the Acoustics Lab, determine what transect we are on, if we are inshore or offshore, and in some ways: hurry up and wait. Once certain patterns and blips show up on the echo grams, the Acoustics team talks with the bridge and may request to turn around and attempt a trawl. After all marine mammal observations are completed, the net is retrieved, and the samples are brought to the Wet Lab, we sort and collect data on the samples. These operations usually take place between 0800 and 2000. (8am to 8pm)
So what happens at night? In the Chemistry Lab, scientists work with the Deck and Surveys Departments to deploy a collection of electronic instruments and 12 Niskin bottles (open bottles used to collect and hold water samples, about one meter long) secured to a cylindrical frame called a rosette. It is deployed from the side sampling station instead of the stern. Scientists onboard NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada use the instruments and collection of water samples in two ways: measuring Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) within a water column to study oceanography, and collecting environmental DNA (eDNA).
CTD Niskin bottles arranged on a circular rosette frame.
โNighttime operations primarily consists of deploying the Conductivity-Temperature [-Depth] (CTD) rosette which gathers oceanographic data such as conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll fluorescence. The CTD can also be triggered to collect water at specific depths.โ
CTD stands for conductivity (ability to pass an electrical current), temperature, and depth. Scientists use the rosette frame, which is attached to the ship by cables, and has the CTD and 12 Niskin bottles attached, to collect electronic data and multiple water samples.
โA CTD deviceโs primary function is to detect how the conductivity and temperature of the water column changes relative to depth. Conductivity is a measure of how well a solution conducts electricity and it is directly related to salinity. By measuring the conductivity of seawater, the salinity can be derived from the temperature and pressure of the same water. The depth is then derived from the pressure measurement by calculating the density of water from the temperature and the salinity.โ
Senior Survey Technician Elysha Agne gives commands to the Deck Department running the winch and cable to the rosette, and ensures quality data is being collected at each sampling depth.
โFor more detailed analyses back in the lab, each of the large gray bottles captures a water sample at a different depth. The data provide scientists important information about the local aquatic environment.โ
Depending on the depth at which the vessel is currently operating, the rosette will descend to one to five predetermined depths (50m-500m) for sampling. For example, if the vessel depth reads 400m, water samples will occur at 50m, 150m, 200m, and 300m (more information in Table 1 below). A water sample is also taken just below the ocean surface using a through hull fitting, which allows seawater to be collected via a hole in the hull that feeds directly to the Chem Lab.
Table 1 in Protocol manual, written by Chem Lab member and eDNA scientist Abi Wells.
While the rosette descends, data is recorded from multiple sensors and are later used by scientists to compare with Acoustic and Wet Lab data and compile and categorize new information from the survey. Pressure, depth, temperature, conductivity, salinity, oxygen, fluorescence, and turbidity were all being recorded during this leg of the survey mission.
Program displaying data collected from the CTD rosette in real time.
Environmental DNA: eDNA
During the day, Hake stay in deeper waters, averaging around 200-350m, but at night the nocturnal feeders start their daily migration through the water column to shallower depths. They feed primarily on zooplankton, shrimp, myctophids (Lanternfish), and even young Hake at this depth. As Hake move throughout the water column, they leave behind DNA in the water that can be collected later as sort of a signature of their presence in that location. The collection, filtering, and preservation of sampled water in the ocean environment is categorized as collecting eDNA. This environmental DNA can be in the form of gametes (reproductive cells), fish scales, feces, etc.
Collecting water samples at different depths in the same vertical column can show what marine life was present at that location, and what depth they were at. I relate it to reviewing school security cameras or talking to other teachers at the end of the school day, to determine where a student was at a certain time and why.
Chem Lab member and eDNA scientist Abi Wells collecting a 2.5L water sample from a Niskin bottle after a successful CTD deployment.
When the rosette is back on deck, scientists use gloves and new collection bags called Whirlpacks, to collect approximately 2.5L of water from each 10L Niskin bottle. This process is conducted with a great emphasis on sterility, including wiping the bottle spigot with DNAway to remove any contaminants, using new materials, and not allowing fingers or the spigot to touch the collection bag.
Sterile work site being set up to pour water samples into the cups and strain through the filters.Chem Lab member and eDNA scientist Abi Wells pouring a 2.5L water sample into the corresponding cup to strain through the filter.
Once the collection bags are filled and brought to the Chem Lab, filtration occurs using 1.0 micron filters. Although this size of filter, compared to smaller filters, allows some cells to pass through and not be collected, it is faster and results in less breakage of cells and loss of DNA. After 2.5L of the water sample is poured through individual filters for each depth sample, they are placed in pre-labeled (location and depth information) tubes with 2mL of preservative buffer. The tubes are stored at room temperature and away from UV light until NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is back in port and the samples can be further researched in on-land laboratories. Results from additional studies help to compile lists of marine life that was present in the water column and can be compared to acoustic data and species caught and logged in the Wet Lab.
โ โ โ โ โ
Personal Log
So, there you have it. Three Labs onboard that conduct very different research, but fit together in the puzzle of Hake development, migration, diet, niches, ecosystem, biomass, and supporting sustainable commercial fisheries. Each additional piece of data; whether it be echo sounds, physical samples, eDNA, or CTD information, strengthens the others and helps to create a cohesive summary of the data.
This was a lot to learn in the first few days, but as Iโve said before, all of the crew has been welcoming, supportive, and educational. Having a strong team that works together is priceless, and thoroughly noticed and appreciated.
A few days into the mission my Mom asked me what the best part of my day was. I had three answers and havenโt had a day yet with only one answer. I replied that it was the great salmon dinner, clean clothes, and seeing Rissoโs Dolphins for the first time.
Video taken by me of Rissoโs Dolphins surfacing for air. (Plays on loop)
We are now a little more than halfway through the mission and it has truly flown by. Weโve shared riddles and daily Final Jeopardy questions. Weโve laughed over daily experiences and the faces Hake fish make. Weโve played music and watched baseball during dinner. We enjoy watching marine life and breathe in the salt air while strengthening our sea legs. Sometimes we just drink coffee and snack and enjoy this opportunity with each other, and that makes every part of the day the best part.
โ โ โ โ โ
Did You Know?
Although Hake are occasionally cannibalistic, they are not at the top of their food chain. Humboldt Squid (Remember those 15 foot long tentacles in my Wet Lab post?), Dogfish Sharks, and marine mammals are all predators, as well as commercial fishing. Today well over 100 Spiny Dogfish Sharks were inadvertently caught in the trawl, in the same location as the baskets of Hake we sampled from. Maybe there were baby Hake fish in the sharksโ stomachsโฆ we didnโt attempt to find out.
Basket one of Spiny DogfishBasket two of Spiny Dogfish
โ โ โ โ โ
New Terms/Phrases
Although I had learned the terms a few days earlier, I got to help Wet Lab Lead Ethan Beyer collect otolith and stomach samples for the first time from a sub-sample of Hake the other day.
I watched and learned, then helped scan barcodes of otolith sample bottles, add 95% ethanol that is diluted 50/50 with water, and delicately pick up the ear bones with tweezers and place them in the bottle.
Additionally, each Hake in the sub-sample has its weight recorded, along with length, sex, and developmental stage. From that sub-sample, five stomachs are removed for later analysis, and five have their stomachs opened and their diet is recorded. We often find Lanternfish (Myctophids), Krill (Euphausiidae) and small Hake.
Wet Lab Lead Ethan Beyer weighing a Hake sample. Otolith tubes are in the foreground, those with lids have samples inside them and have been scanned into the database with other measurements and samples data from the Hake.
Mission: Fisheries: Pacific Hake Survey (More info here)
Geographic Region: Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California
Date: July 10, 2023
โ โ โ โ โ
Weather Data from the bridge:
July 7 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 36ยฐ 00.4โ N, 122ยฐ 05.9โ W 16nm (21mi) West of Big Sur, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast Wind: 20 knots from NW 330ยฐ Barometer: 1013.1 mbar Sea wave height: 3-4 feet Swell: 6-7 ft from NW 320ยฐ Sea temperature: 14.0ยฐC (57.2ยฐF) Air temperature: 14.4ยฐC (57.9ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 323ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 8 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 36ยฐ 34.5โ N, 122ยฐ 05.3โ W 17nm (20mi) Southwest of Monterey, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Few clouds Wind: 19 knots from NW 330ยฐ Barometer: 1013.8 mbar Sea wave height: 5-6 feet Swell: 6-7 ft from NW 330ยฐ Sea temperature: 14.0ยฐC (57.2ยฐF) 13.7 Air temperature: 14.4ยฐC (57.9ยฐF) 14.3 Course Over Ground: (COG): 089ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 9 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 37ยฐ 06.8โ N, 123ยฐ 00.5โ W 30nm (35mi) West of Pigeon Point Light Station, Pescadero, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast Wind: 13 knots from NW 332ยฐ Barometer: 1016.0 mbar Sea wave height: 2-3 feet Swell: 4-5 ft from NW 310ยฐ 4-5 Sea temperature: 14.3ยฐC (57.7ยฐF) Air temperature: 15.2ยฐC (59.4ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 093ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
July 10 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 37ยฐ 26.7โ N, 123ยฐ 06.4โ W 32nm (37mi) West of Pescadero, CA
Visibility: 8 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast, fog in vicinity Wind: 20 knots from NW 330ยฐ Barometer: 1015.9 mbar Sea wave height: 2-3 feet Swell: 3-4 ft from NW 320ยฐ Sea temperature: 14.5ยฐC (58.1ยฐF) Air temperature: 13.6ยฐC (56.5ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): 314ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 3 knots
โ โ โ โ โ
Science and Technology Log
Me holding a Hake before sorting. After observation, we determined this was a developmentally mature female, measuring 50cm (20in) long!
In my July 6 blog post, I explained how NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is equipped to collect acoustic data in the form of echo grams. The acoustics team uses the data to determine if there are enough return signals to suggest fish are present and attempt a trawl. In this blog post, I will explain how we get the fish onboard, and what we do with the sample of marine life once it is collected from the net.
One question I had after learning about the acoustics and environmental DNA (eDNA) pieces of the survey mission was, โHow does physically collecting and researching Hake samples fit into the puzzle of understanding their ecosystem and supporting sustainable fisheries?โ (NOAA Fisheries quick facts and video here)
โWhile echosounders are useful, they do not provide certain quantitative data that researchers need to understand the ecology of these organisms and the midwater zone. To collect quantitative data, such as biomass, length and weight, and age class distributions, researchers must gather representational samples and take direct measurements of them. The best way to do this is by employing trawls.โ
So, although acoustics and eDNA research is important to the overall survey, they are only pieces of the puzzle, and the puzzle is not complete without conducting trawls and physically researching samples. NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada uses a midwater trawl net that is deployed from the stern over the transom, and towed behind the vessel. As the name suggests, midwater trawls occur in the middle section of the water column, versus surface and bottom trawls. The net is conical in shape and uses two metal Fishbuster Trawl Doors, and two sets of heavy chain links called Tom weights, in order to keep the trawl in the middle of the water column.
โThe midwater region is especially important because the creatures that inhabit it constitute the majority of the world’s seafood. Understanding the ecology of midwater organisms and their vast environment can provide us with better information to manage these important natural resources and prevent their overexploitation.โ
Deck department assisting in recovering the trawl net after a successful deployment.
Once the net is onboard, the net is emptied one of two ways depending on the size of the sample. For large samples, marine life is deposited into a hopper and subsequent conveyor belt. For smaller samples, the Hake will be put into a large basket then divided into smaller baskets of approximately 100 Hake each. Any other marine life like Salps, Myctophids, Pyrosomes, Rockfish, King of the Salmon, and small bony fish, etc. are recorded in the database and returned to the ocean.
โThe shipโs wet lab allows scientists to sort, weigh, measure and examine fish. The data is entered directly into the shipโs scientific computer network.โ
NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO): โBell M. Shimadaโ
Large basket containing a sample of Hake with a few (red) Splitnose Rockfish.
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimadaโs Wet Lab with multiple scales, Ichtystick electronic measuring boards, trawl camera, vials for otolith (ear) bones, disposal chute, and tools including scalpels, tweezers, and knives.Wet Lab team member Maddie Reifsteck holding a Hake sample.Hake coming down the hopper ramp and onto the conveyor belt. Also in photo: Pinkish-brown Sea Pickle (Pyrosome) and translucent Salp.Basket of freshly caught Hake waiting to be sexed, sorted and have their length measured.Chemistry Lab team member Abi Wells using a scalpel to remove an organ sample from a Hake for further research of RNA.
With our boots and bright orange rubber pants and gloves on, our first task is to distribute the sample of Hake into baskets of about 100 each. Based on how many baskets we fill, a random selection of baskets will be kept, and the others will be returned to the ocean. With the remaining groups of Hake, we determine their sex and length.
In order to do this, we use a scalpel to make an incision on the underside/belly of the Hake. Once open, we are able to examine their organs, including the gonads to determine if the fish is male or female, and if they are developmentally immature or mature. Young Hake are difficult to sex, and it takes practice to get over any initial fears of cutting into an animal; let alone being able to locate and identify the gonads. Hake usually spawn in early winter, so many of the smaller Hake we sample from during the summer are age one or younger.
Our largest Hake thus far was a developmentally mature female, measuring 50cm (20in). In order to accurately and consistently measure the length of the sample, we use a waterproof, magnetic plastic board with metric (centimeter and millimeter) markings called an Ichthystick (think: high-tech meter stick). The fish is placed on the board with its mouth touching the black board at 0cm, then a magnetic stylus is placed at the fork of the fishโs tail. Once the magnetic stylus is placed on the board, the length to the nearest millimeter is displayed on the LCD screen and automatically entered into the database program. The length data is grouped with the date, time, and identified sex for later observation and comparison.
Additional information, abstracts and outline about Ichthystick here
Ichthystickโs LCD display, motherboard, magnetic board, and magnetic stylus. Digital scale in background.
An even smaller subgroup is then selected and examined to record weights of individual Hake, collect ear bones called Otoliths for aging, stomach samples for diet, liver for RNA, and ovaries for maturity development. Otolith bones help determine the age of the Hake because they grow a new โlayerโ of bone each year, similar to coral structures and annual tree rings. Organs and bones removed from the Hake are sent to NOAA Fisheries centers for analysis and included in databases with the date, identified sex, length, weight, and location in which they were collected.
This data is used to build more of the puzzle, along with acoustical information, water samples, and eDNA data in order to further understand the ecosystem, biomass, diet, and
โsupport sustainable populations of Pacific hake on the West Coast.โ (โฆ) โIt provides vital data to help manage the migratory coastal stock of Pacific hake. The hake survey, officially called the Joint U.S.-Canada Integrated Ecosystem and Pacific Hake Acoustic Trawl Survey, occurs every odd-numbered year.โ
Although this subtopic of explaining the Integrated Ecosystem and Pacific Hake Acoustic Trawl Survey is a bit easier to understand than my July 6 Acoustics Lab post, it certainly does not mean itโs an easy task!
When I had a tour on July 4, I remarked how clean and organized the Wet Lab is. I hadnโt see it in action yet, but noticed how everything had its place and use. On July 6 we conducted our first trawl and collected a sample of 11 baskets of Hake (approximately 1,100 Hake since we group about 100 Hake together in each basket.) From that sample, we kept four baskets and counted, sexed, and measured 541 Hake.
Five of us were working together in the Wet Lab for that haul. Iโll admit I probably didnโt sex 100+ Hake. It took a few minutes of watching the others carefully and swiftly cut into the underside of a fish, open the two sides, and know what to look for to determine the sex of very young Hake. Eventually I found the courage to slice in and take a look. By the fourth or fifth Hake, the uneasiness had subsided and I found the process very interesting and educational. Although young samples are hard to sex as they are often undeveloped, the others encouraged me and answered my questions and guesses with enthusiasm and support.
While working on measuring the lengths of our samples, one Science Team member paused and remarked how beautiful he found the fish. Although they do not have vibrant, bold colors, shimmering scales, or anything else particularly remarkable, he found the beauty in them. He digressed into a conversation of their role in the ecosystem, how they are living and breathing creatures, and how they probably all have their own personalities and slight physical differences. I noticed some of their eyes were shiny and sparkling, and how their faces and expressions were noticeably unique the more you looked. That โdown to earthโ, heartfelt discussion was very special and demonstrated how the crew respects the process of catching and sampling Hake, while keeping each other and marine mammals safe.
From the NOAA Corps Officers, to the deck department, to the engineers, electronics, science team, survey team, galley crew, volunteers, and everyone in between; the crew on NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada is special. They take pride in their vessel and job, and always seem to have a smile and kind greeting. Being away from land and loved ones for weeks and months at a time will certainly take a toll on the body and mind, but this team is there for each other. To all of the crew, thank you for making me feel so welcomed and appreciated. Weโre almost halfway through the mission, and as tired as I may get after (sometimes) 12+ hour days, I sleep well knowing the crew trusts their vessel and each other; and look forward to learning and becoming more and more acquainted each day with the people that make this mission possible. Thank you!
โ โ โ โ โ
Did You Know? (FAQs)
1. Are you finding schools of them?
Weโve had seven successful trawls out of nine attempts for Pacific Hake fish. They often come with pyrosomes (Sea Pickle) myctophids (Lanternfish), and salps in the net too. Some trawl attempts are successful without a hitch, but more often than not we have to restart our Marine Mammal watches a few times before deploying in order to keep our ocean life safe and not get tangled in the net. Two trawl attempts have been abandoned because of the amount of persistent marine mammal life and playfulness near the ship. (I think they know weโre watching and show off for our cameras.)
2. What’s your average depth?
The transects (Set and numbered longitudinal east-west lines NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada navigates on while collecting acoustic data) usually range from 50m – 1,500m (164ft – 4,921ft) in depth.
However, right now one of the displays in the Acoustics Lab, the depth reading is 3,240m which is about 10,630ft or just over two miles deep!
This depth is only 1,870ft shallower than the wreck of the RMS Titanic!
(We were on a long transect, we do not often see depths this great.)
3. Have you gotten seasick? Seasickness should subside after about 3 days.
Iโve never gotten seasick thankfully! Knock on wood and all the other premonitions, please.
4. What is the Hake role in the ecosystem?
More info on this coming in later posts after explaining our Chemistry lab and technology aboard!
However, as predators, they can be cannibalistic towards their own kind.
As far as their role in human consumption: They are often used as a substitute for Cod and Haddock, and in fish sticks and imitation crab meat.
Mission: Fisheries: Pacific Hake Survey (More info here)
Geographic Region: Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California
Date: July 6, 2023
Weather Data from the Bridge:
โ July 5 Departure (1800 PT, 2100 EST) Location: 37ยฐ 44.9โN, 122ยฐ 39.2โW Docked at Pier 30/32 San Francisco, CA
Visibility: 10 nautical miles Sky condition: Overcast Wind: 17 knots from NW 300ยฐ Barometer: 1012.8 mbar Sea wave height: 1-2 feet Swell: 2-4 ft from W 270ยฐ Sea temperature: 14.2ยฐC (57.6ยฐF) Air temperature: 14.7ยฐC (58.5ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): N/A Speed Over Ground (SOG): N/A
โ July 6 (1200 PT, 1500 EST) Location: 35ยฐ 38.2โ N, 121ยฐ 18.9โ W 16nm (18mi) West of San Simeon, CA
Visibility: 10nm Wind: 6 knots from 330ยฐ Barometer: 1013.9 Sea wave height: 1-2ft Swell: 2-4ft from 280ยฐ Sea wave temperature: 14.4ยฐC (57.9ยฐF) Air temperature: 14.9ยฐC (58.8ยฐF) Course Over Ground: (COG): W 270ยฐ Speed Over Ground (SOG): 10 knots
โ โ โ โ โ
Science and Technology Log
On July 6, our first full day at sea, we gathered in the acoustics lab to observe and keep watch on data from various screens. Data includes our current course plotted on a digital chart, a camera showing current sea state, measurements of the wind speed and direction, and displays of the multiple frequencies at which the Simrad EK80 transmitter emits sound. The EK80 is used while traveling on numbered longitudinal east-west lines called transects. NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada navigates on these lines while collecting acoustic data along the west coast of the U.S. and into Canada, in hopes of finding schools of Hake to collect for surveying.
Map showing transects 1-45 off the coast of California. Transect 1 is south of Morro Bay, CA and transect 45 is near Crescent City, CA. (We hope to survey transects 8-35 by Cape Mendocino, CA before traveling north to dock in Newport, OR.)
โFor acoustic surveys, the ship uses a multibeam echo sounder (MBES) that projects a fan-shaped beam of sound that bounces back to the ship. The shipโs MBESโone of only three systems of its type worldwideโacquires data from both the water column and the sea floor.โ
NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO): โBell M. Shimadaโ
The Simrad EK80 emits sound waves from the hull of the vessel down to the sea floor. The process is very similar to a dolphin or bat using echolocation to find prey. Any object the signal hits that has a different density and reflectivity than the surrounding water will cause the waves to bounce back to the ship. An image, called an echo gram, is pieced together each time this occurs and the acoustics team is able to use this information to determine if there are enough return signals that suggest fish are present to attempt a trawl.
EK80 displaying returned sound waves at two different wave frequencies.Display from sonar camera showing the outer edge of the net (between ring 2 and 3)Image demonstrating the use of a MBES โThe sound pulses travel down into the water column, illustrated by the white cones here, and bounce back when encountering resistance.โ NOAA Fisheries: โAcoustic Hake Survey Methods on the West Coastโ
Fish that have swim bladders, like bony fish, reflect or echo the sound wave back to the vessel very strongly. Other marine life such as myctophids and zooplankton also have a different density than the sea water, and reflect sound, although not as strongly as fish with air-filled swim bladders. The sea floor itself also reflects sound very strongly, because of the density difference between water and rocks, sand, and mud.
Marine life that have swim bladders (represented in blue) reflect or echo the sound wave back to the vessel. Examples of such marine life include bony fish, myctophids, and zooplankton, as well as the sea floor itself, which has a different density than the sea water.
Image: Cross section example of a Black Sea Bass to show a swim bladder.
If the acoustics team determines there is enough marine life (that they are interested in surveying) to attempt a haul, they will notify the bridge deck and officers that they would like to have the fishing net deployed.
Before an attempted haul, the science team conducts a marine mammal watch for ten minutes. In this time window, several pairs of eyes are observing from the bridge deck and stern for any signs of dolphins, whales, sea lions, seals, and any other marine mammals that are within 500 meters of the vessel. If any marine mammals are spotted within the ten minute observation, we will stand down and wait ten minutes before restarting the marine mammal watch. Net deployment cannot occur until the full observation window has completed.
First haul July 6: 1422-1432 Mammal watch, no marine mammals spotted. The net deployment started, at which time the vessel continues forward at two knots. Vessel speed increases to three knots when the net is fully deployed with doors and weights in the water, which assist in opening the conical shaped net outwards linearly and laterally. During this time the science team watches displays of the EK80 frequencies and observe the linear width and depth of the net. Scientists can compare these displays to determine if the net is in the correct position to have the best chance of collecting fish.
Chief Scientist Steve de Blois monitoring EK80 frequencies and net information.Deck department deploying fishing net.Wet Lab team takes over sorting Hake and other marine life.
Hauling back the net occurs after several minutes, at which time the vessel returns to a speed of two knots, and we estimate how many fish were collected. The amount of time in which the net is submerged depends on the depth of the water and acoustic information about the size of the school of fish the net is (hopefully) sampling. After recovery, the haul is deposited into a hopper which feeds onto a conveyor belt in the wet lab, then into large baskets and the wet lab team takes over.
During the first attempt, two sea lions were spotted which required the haul attempt to be paused. We restarted the ten minute marine mammal watch from 1500-1510, the deck department retrieved and reset the net, and the vessel was turned around to return to the start of the noted longitudinal transect. With no marine mammals spotted during the observation period, the second attempt was successful and resulted in:
– 1604-1634: 30 minute haul at 350m depth.
– 11 baskets of Hake collected.
– 4 sample baskets kept at random.
– 541 Hake counted and studied in the wet lab.
Photo: Two deck department members about to open the net to allow the sample to drop into a large collection basket.
โ โ โ โ โ
Personal Log
On July 4 I arrived to pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA to board NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada. Although I grew up volunteering on the 441โ WWII Liberty Ship SS John W. Brown in Baltimore, MD, seeing a new ship still resulted in a mix of emotions, nervousness, adrenaline, excitement, and everything in between. After five and a half years, finally seeing the 208โ vessel that would become my home for the next two weeks was a core memory and feeling I will always remember.
NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada docked at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA on July 4
Once onboard, I met Chief Scientist Steve de Blois and Wet Lab Lead Ethan Beyer. I was given a tour of the acoustic, chem, and wet labs and shown to my cabin. After dinner ashore, I joined some of the crew on the flying bridge to watch the July 4th fireworks. I met additional science team members and enjoyed a long nightโs rest.
In the morning on July 5, we had a welcome aboard meeting, various trainings, a safety meeting and orientation, fire and abandon ship drills, and a science team meeting. We introduced ourselves, took an official team photo, and soon departed pier 30/32 for our 14 day mission. After passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and heading to the Pacific Ocean, our cold hands were warmed by a wonderful hot dinner of chicken, steak, fresh veggies, salad, and desserts from our galley crew. After dinner, we settled in for our first night at sea, waiting with anticipation for our first trawl on July 6.
Last morning on land: July 5 at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA!Just after taking in lines and leaving Pier 30/32 on July 5Science Team! Back: Maddie, Ethan, Toby, Jamie, Beth Front: Myself, Steve, AbiSan Francisco, CA SkylineHeading out to the open sea of the Pacific Ocean
โ โ โ โ โ
Did You Know?
– Hake can be cannibalistic! – Some larger Hake we have collected have had a smaller Hake in their mouth, throat, or stomach! – Their very sharp teeth often stick to our thick rubber gloves.
โ โ โ โ โ
New Terms/Phrases:
โSalp: Barrel-shaped, planktonic tunicate in the family Salpidae. It moves by contracting, thereby pumping water through its gelatinous body.โ
โMyctophid: Lanternfish (or myctophids, from the Greek ฮผฯ ฮบฯฮฎฯ myktแธr, “nose” and ophis, “serpent”) are small mesopelagic fish (โฆ) Lanternfishes are aptly named after their conspicuous use of bioluminescence.โ
Simrad EK80: Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) transducer that emits sound waves from the hull of the vessel down to the sea floor. It allows scientists to observe and study returned sound wave signals that may suggest marine life is present.
Transect: Set and numbered longitudinal east-west lines NOAA Ship Bell M. Shimada navigates on while collecting acoustic data.
