Scallop Study Unveils Practices Known as "HabCamming" and Constant Dredging Operations
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center Sea Scallop Survey, currently underway, is a comprehensive exploration of the ocean's depths. The mission is being carried out on two different ships: the NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow and the R/V Hugh Sharp.
During the first few days of the 9-day leg, the team utilised HabCam, a camera system that captures millions of images of the sea floor. The system requires a significant amount of maintenance, including pre-survey inspections for damage and wear, and regular checks during the survey.
The work of annotating these images is meticulous. Team members measure scallops, identify roundfish, flatfish, and crabs, and record all relevant information. Before they can start annotating official pictures, they must complete a test set of 206 images.
As the survey progressed, the team transitioned from using HabCam to dredging for the rest of the trip. This part of the work involves moving buckets and sorting samples outside. Attention is required during dredging, as there are various interesting animals and shells in the samples that can't be seen on HabCam. A small pipefish was almost missed during sorting, emphasising the need to be careful when handling dredge samples.
The ocean's diversity serves as a constant reminder of the intrinsic value of all its animals beyond their utility for consumption or non-consumption. The speaker emphasises the importance of considering the diversity of marine life, even when focusing on a specific species like scallops.
The weather at the start of the trip was calm, with a beautiful sunrise, and the water was smooth and glassy during the first part of the journey. However, the team had to contend with the challenges of working during the night shift. The speaker finds working in the crisp, early morning air helps them stay awake. During the night shift, the team rotates between driving, copiloting, completing the test set, and annotating.
Despite the survey's focus on sea scallops, the trip did not yield a large number of tiny animals. However, they made occasional appearances, adding to the overall richness of the marine life observed during the expedition.
This survey is just one example of the ongoing efforts to understand and protect our oceans and the diverse life they harbour.
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