Journals 2005/2006

Debra Slade-Redden
New Caney High School, New Caney, Texas

"Platts Bank Survey" R/V Galatea July 10-24, 2005

Journal Index: July 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17        18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24

July 15, 2005
Experiencing another hot spot

We woke up to a call from Scott Kraus saying we would be going out on the boat at 1p.m. and would need to meet at the dock by noon. We left early so we could purchase a wireless intercom, food and drinks. We arrived at 11:30, we loaded and cleaned the boat. After refueling, we headed out to Platts Bank at 1:40.

Aerial view of Galatea from the observation plane. View full version pop-up.

The observation plane contacted us to report a group of Humpbacks feeding on Calanus and Krill. Lew Incze decided the "hot spot" would be our first stop. We arrived at the "hot spot" and observed a minimum of ten humpback whales feeding on red patches that rise and were being fed on by many fish.

Humpback from plane. View full version pop-up.		Fin whale as seen from plane. View full version pop-up.

A humpback mother and calf were part of the group. The calf was attempting to lunge feed like his mother. Despite his attempts, he would need many more days of practice. Over and over the red patches became visible and the humpbacks fed continuously.

Mom and Calf from plane. View full version pop-up.

After dropping the TAPS, CTD, and plankton tow we did three more stations on a new transect. We planned to return to the "hot spot" around 9 p.m. to see if it was still active. We made another stop, where the depth was 300 feet to drop the TAPS and CTD. We then moved to a spot where water depth was 400 feet to repeat the TAPS, CTD, and then we attached the Acoustical fish finder and tow it across the "hot spot" in transect lines. We pulled up the fish finder at 10 p.m. and arrived back at port around 12:40 to unload the boat and go to bed.

Adam and me, hard at work. View full version pop-up.