Second Dispatch from Keith Rittmaster's NOAA Marine Mammal Assessment Cruise

If you look carefully (or enlarge the picture by double clicking on it) you can see where the ship made extra loops. Makes me wonder what they sighted there. The information in the white 'observation box' is really interesting, be sure to look at it.

Last dispatch we saw the moon and here the sun - amazing definition. I am surprised there was a heron that far off shore. And the flying fish, for me, are like seeing a critical time in an evolutionary process from fish to bird, or from water to air breather. (That is my musing, not a scientific statement)

Keith says he's not very good at juggling and mainly just chases around tennis balls, but as he picks them up he exhales, keeps his knees straight, and pretends he's doing yoga. 

He sounds very busy, not a lot of swinging in the hammock time, this is serious work.

Start of Keith Rittmaster's NOAA Marine Mammal Assessment Cruise

Here is Keith Rittmaster's first dispatch from aboard the Gordon Gunter. They are on their way to Key West (not to play) and then out to deep water.
Refer to previous post for the path of the cruise. 1st Posting - NOAA Cruise
Below, that is Keith on the binoculars and his is the upper bunk, notice the open laptop. He can send and receive emails on board. I think the pictures of dolphins look like incredible paintings.
I am truly excited that he is sharing this adventure with us. 

All photographs copyright by Keith Rittmaster

Keith's NOAA Cruise

Keith will be taking leave from NCMM to serve as a scientist (marine mammal observer) aboard the 225' NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter (http://www.moc.noaa.gov/gu/) in the deep blue Atlantic Ocean.

He will be part of a team of 14 scientists including other marine mammal observers, oceanographers, birders, and acousticians.  Their study area will be off the Atlantic coast between 28d & 38d N latitude, inshore to the 50 meter isobath and offshore to the U.S. Economic Exclusion Zone (approx. 200 miles offshore). This area includes two historic sperm whaling destinations ("Hatteras Ground" and "Charleston Ground") which is of particular interest to him.  The primary objective of the cruise is to help estimate abundance and distribution of whales and dolphins (cetaceans) in the U.S. Atlantic waters.  His responsibilities will include standing watch on 25x150 military binoculars (termed "big eyes") searching for cetaceans, directing the ship to any sightings, identifying the species, and counting the individuals.  Other projects on board: 24/7 acoustic monitoring, biopsying whales for DNA, oceanographic profiling (temperature, oxygen, conductivity, productivity, and plankton at various depths), and identifying birds, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife.

He plans to provide  periodic dispatches (with photos) for blog posting.

Five Students Receive Grant from 'Protect Wild Dolphin' License Plate Money

Keith Rittmaster feels it is important to support students who are actively involved in  research to expand our knowledge of marine mammals. Even when money is tight in his own programs, he makes supporting student presentations a reality every year.  

Monofilament Recovery and Recycling

Today we sent off 13.4 pounds of monofilament from recycling bins around the county to be recycled into fresh water fish habitats. 13.4 pounds of monofilament is equal to 12.25 miles. I wonder how many marine mammals, birds and turtles were prevented from being tangled or from filling their stomachs with this killer.