Programs Blog

“A” Watch had the deck and lab from 0100-0700. During this time, “A” Watch
in lab rinsed out the NT and began looking at the sediment from a previous
deployment. Many lobster larvae were present and our mini aquarium inside
the lab gained 5 new little lobsters! Using a water displacement technique,
we found the biovolume of the biomass we had been looking at. It was around
273ml, and contained many organisms. To evaluate and identify these
organisms we put a 1ml sample onto a petri dish and looked at the contents
under a microscope. Many copepods, and we mean many, were found. In addition
we found some crab and shrimp larvae. It was incredibly exciting to be in
the lab and have hands on activity to do at such early hours. We began a
100ct with the sample in the petri dish. On deck it was about a four to five
beaufort scale, meaning some very high seas. We jibed about two times we
brought in the J.T. sail which required some risky maneuvering on the head
rig, which is located on the bow of the boat. We slept the rest of the day,
after some great oatmeal.

We saw pilot whales off the front of the boat around 1030. Then we saw the
spout and flukes of an unidentified whale, possibly a humpback!

All said, it was a whale of a day!

Liza, Sophia, Meri, and Ryan  (A Watch)