This months adventure doesn't include catching anything larger than an inch!! I'm out on the NOAA R/V Gorden Gunter with some work geared towards identifying bottom habitat, fish larvae and marine mammals. I'm on the overnight shift doing bottom grabs(how fun) to further identify animals living in/on the ocean bottom in areas that are being considered for Wind Energy Areas off of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Additional daytime work is with observers identifying the whales/dolphins and birds that are in each zone. This work has already been going on for four weeks and I jumped on last week.
While out here the marine mammal folks are deploying listening devices and towing hydrophones as we criss/cross the canyons in this northern zone.
So fish larvae? yes to Herrings and Sand Lance. Tons? not yet, it seems as thought the phytoplankton blooms are coming and they are followed by more zooplankton. So the whale food isn't peaking yet.
Did anyone know there are bottlenose and beaked whales? not me but hopefully I'll be awake long enough to see some.
Will try to get access to some cool photos. Mine just are of boring mud and maybe a sunrise or sunset.
Link to NOAA Shiptracker. Ship is the Gorden Gunter. Cruise is current "Spring Cetacean"
http://shiptracker.noaa.gov/Home/Map
the Gorden Gunter link for info:
http://www.moc.noaa.gov/gu/index.htm...208e1abf827c68
More info on the research:
http://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/Publi...PPS_DReeb.aspx
