LMRCSC Cruise January

LMRCSC Cruise January, 2006

The second annual NOAA LMRCSC cruise began on January 9, 2006 aboard the NOAA Research Vessel the Delaware II with Dr. Vince Guida (NOAA/NMFS), Peter Chase (NOAA/NMFS), Dr. Joseph Love (LMRCSC) and Dr. Eric May (LMRCSC) as senior scientists and our student scientists: Erica Anusziewski (UMES), Brandon Fortt (UMES), Will Gardner (UMES), Lonnie Gonsalves (UMES), Trey Mace (SSU), Johnny Moore (SSU), Greg Oliver (UMES), Robert Patterson (UMES), and Branson Williams (UMES) assembled and ready. This year, planned projects included marine fish diversity and assemblage structure, reference fish collection, latitudinal assessment of benthic community structure, trophic ecology of littoral, cold-water fish species, predator-prey relationships, summer flounder interregional migratory patterns, spiny dogfish stress study and sampling of the Hudson Canyon.

As we traveled to our first stations, the weather produced winds of 40 knots or more with 8 to 10 foot waves, hampering our progress. Sampling for striped bass started on January 16^th north of Cape Hatteras with nearly 60 caught and processed for PCB contaminants and endocrine research. At the same time, we caught dogfish for the stress study. With winds abating we sampled for summer flounder south of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on the night of the 17th; however due to the abundance of spiny dogfish, the first trawl produced nearly 2 tons of dog fish. None-the-less, summer flounder were collected throughout the rest of the sampling. During the morning and afternoon we continued sampling off the Chesapeake Bay using the Van Veen dredge to collect sediments, and 35 foot Yankee otter trawl for fish. With data obtained for seven of the projects, we proceeded to the coast of Long Island, hoping for a break in the weather. Instead we were met with 50 knot sustained winds and waves of 10 to 15 ft. The weather failed to ease back and the final stations at the Hudson Canyon could not be completed.

We arrived back at Woods Hole, on morning of Friday 20^th and, to our amazement, it was calm. When we look back at the events that overtook us, we were only able to sample 2 ½ days; and yet, thanks to the patience of Captain, crew and scientific staff, we were able to complete 5 of 8 projects and provide at least some data for an additional 2 projects. Along the way, the newcomers and seasoned vets gained insight into the trials and tribulations of open ocean sampling, an appreciation for one another, and the feeling of a job well done. From the NOAA LMRCSC to the Captain and Crew of the NOAA R/V Delaware II, we thank you for the experience and the opportunity.

-Dr. Eric May