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After three weeks as eddy-makers in the five knot current of the Rocas channel, our floats were fouled with algae. Anthony Cacciuri takes a stiff brush to the problem.
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Seaman Jeff Antingstall watches as seaman Scott Hopkins and 2nd Assitant Engineer Steve Wise steer a small skiff into it's cradle. Chief Engineer Stu Moreaux works the crane.
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Giving the universal signal for "take 'er away", Chris Buitron signals the ship's crane operator while Mark Corcoron guides one of our outboard motors around some obstacles.
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With his ship, the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON safely tied up along the Natal dockside, Ship's Captain Vince Seiler watches another captain brings a vessel to port.
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Tim Calver is an accomplished underwater wildlife photographer and a veteran shark researcher in his own right. Click below to learn more...
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Most importantly, we are leaving the atoll with many new questions and ideas.
The sharks of Lama Lagoon were theorized to use this area during times of extreme tides -- the full moon and the new moon. Our catch rate during the new moon was indeed high (35 sharks were caught during our first set). But during the full moon, our catch rate fell...only five sharks were caught on the final full-moon set. During the full moon period, we saw that the lemon sharks remained grouped at the entrance to the lagoon and did not venture inside. Was there too much water inside the lagoon? Could large sharks enter and make the area unsafe for newborns? Did our research activities disturb the sharks and make them wary of their refuge? We will have to ponder these questions over the next twelve months. Future expeditions may take shape around finding the answers.
Over the past three weeks our international science crew has netted and tagged and tried our best to communicate. We've seen lemon sharks, nurse sharks, and reef sharks. We have laughed and complained and gone through a whole lot of SPF 40. In the end, we have come away feeling like a very close-knit team.
Working in isolated locations such as Atol das Rocas, one would expect to rough it...at least a little. But for three weeks we have lived happily and comfortably on board the R/V SEWARD JOHNSON enjoying hot showers and hot meals. This ship has been an ideal platform for our operations. Our expedition has been in good hands from the moment we stepped on board. The ship's crew was there to help with everything from loading heavy gear to providing technical advice and supplies when things went wrong. Every member of our science team owes a big "thank you" to these ocean-going professionals. We were made to feel very welcome aboard their floating home. Thanks to Vince, Rob, Corbin, Stu, Robert, Steve, John, April, Aric, Scott, Jeff and Tim.
Taking photos and writing dispatches is a snap amid such inspiring subjects and locations. But none of these stories and images would have made it to the Web without months of hard work by our chief scientists, Dr. Samuel Gruber and Dr. Ricardo Rosa. Thanks to Zelia Brito, the warden of Rocas, for allowing me and my cameras to wander all over her island. I would like to thank the science crew for saying "cheese" and for putting me and my lens in the middle of the action. A special thanks to all of the Brazilian crew members who patiently translated everything from conversation to menus. OBRIGADO! Thanks to Tim McGovern on board the RVSJ for the technical help with the computer system. And many, many many thanks to Captain Vince Seiler and the entire crew of the SEWARD JOHNSON. It would be great to do all of this again. See you next year! |
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Science crewmembers Anja Petersen, Neil Welner, and Brad Wetherbee trail back to the ship after a day in the port city of Natal.
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