The R/V in Action SHEARWATER
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News from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary the r/v SHEARWATER In Action Winter 2005 Volume 17 Number 1 “Alolkoy” is a Chumash word From the Bridge meaning dolphin. This newsletter A Platform for Partnerships is published semi-annually by the Channel Islands National Marine The R/V Shearwater: Sanctuary. Guest opinions A Vessel Whose Time Has Come The R/V Shearwater spent 193 days at sea in 2004. The expressed in Alolkoy do not vessel is generally made available to national, state, and local necessarily reflect the official partners in support of their work. Research and education position of the sanctuary. By Chris Mobley, Sanctuary Manager projects that meet CINMS management needs receive vessel time at no cost, in exchange for the information gathered and The Channel Islands National On May 12, 2003, Channel Islands National the community outreach provided—both of which help better Marine Sanctuary is a part of Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) and the National protect the sanctuary. the National Marine Sanctuary Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Because of the R/V Shearwater’s research capabilities, System, established under Title III christened the R/V Shearwater, a 62’, high-speed it is uniquely qualified to support a wide variety of work. of the Marine Protection, Teknicraft aluminum-hull catamaran. While we The R/V Shearwater’s special equipment includes: Research, and Sanctuaries Act, knew that this vessel would enhance our man- as amended. For more informa- agement, research, and education efforts, the • Scientific winch with 2,000-meter conducting cable tion, contact: National Marine vessel has more than fulfilled its promise. that sends signals from the lab to equipment at the end Sanctuary System, National The vessel design provides the stability and of the cable; Oceanic and Atmospheric speed needed to navigate the sanctuary’s 1,252.5 • A-frame for launching and recovering sampling Administration, U.S. Department square nautical miles—an area larger than the equipment (trawls, grabs, sidescan sonar, remotely of Commerce, 1305 East-West state of Rhode Island. Its state-of-the-art capabil- operated vehicles, etc.) Highway, SSMC4, 11th Floor, ities for on-board science and data collection Dryer© Steve Silver Spring, MD 20910. • Dive compressor that supports multi-day scuba trips Members of the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Survey Team gather on the have benefited both the sanctuary research team stern of the R/V Shearwater. Left to right: Christine Pattison, California and nearly two dozen national, state, and local • Articulated crane for deploying equipment, including an Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) biologist; Steve Wertz, CDFG biologist; Support for producing Alolkoy partners that use the vessel. inflatable boat used for surveys and passenger transport Konstantin Karpov, CDFG senior biologist; Dirk Rosen, president, Marine Robert Schwemmer comes from the Channel Islands While a dedicated team effort helped make Applied Research and Exploration (MARE); Andrew Lauermann, CDFG biolo- The R/V Shearwater has helped set a new standard for • Separate wet and dry labs, each with clean power National Marine Sanctuary and the R/V Shearwater possible, special credit goes gist and ROV specialist; Mike Prall, CDFG biologist and ROV specialist; and state-of-the-art research, education, and management in the National Marine Sanctuary to CINMS Research Coordinator Sarah Fangman, • Wet lab with fresh and salt water sinks Terrence Shinn, R/V Shearwater captain. (See article page 8) Foundation. national marine sanctuaries. who coordinated the boat’s design and produc- • Refrigerator and freezer for scientific samples tion over a period of three years. Sarah also Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, and Cordell Bank); Direct correspondence, submis- • Water maker that supports multi-day cruises CINMS PARTNERS WHO USE THE R/V SHEARWATER helped coordinate this issue of the Alolkoy, a 53’ law enforcement vessel for the Florida sions, and address changes to: which highlights the R/V Shearwater’s accom- • Observer deck with four stations and computer/network American Trader Trustee Council Alolkoy, CINMS, 113 Harbor Way, Keys National Marine Sanctuary; and a 48’ plishments as well as some of the research and American Zoo and Aquarium Association Suite 150, Santa Barbara, CA research vessel for the Stellwagen Bank connections (for seabird and marine mammal observations) education programs supported by the vessel. National Marine Sanctuary. Cabrillo High School Aquarium 93109, 805/966-7107. • Cameras on the top deck, aft deck, and engine rooms with Other sanctuaries have been quick to When Representative Lois Capps chris- California Department of Fish and Game a monitor in the bridge so that the captain can observe oper- Editor: Cynthia Anderson recognize the value of the R/V Shearwater’s tened the R/V Shearwater, she remarked, California Institute of Environmental Studies ations when the A-frame or crane is being deployed Designer: Margy Brown design. At this time, three vessels are being “This vessel shows NOAA’s commitment to California State Lands Commission • Speaker system throughout the vessel that allows the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence Front cover photo: constructed for the National Marine Sanctuary the Santa Barbara area, and I believe that the R/V Shearwater at Cuyler Harbor, Program by the same builder, All American R/V Shearwater will prove to be a critical captain to communicate with the crew while at the helm Channel Islands National Park San Miguel Island during the Shipwreck Marine in Bellingham, Washington. Sarah is investment in the agency’s ongoing work to Channel Islands Naturalist Corps Reconnaissance Program’s annual • Plankton video microscope and water sampling equipment expedition. part of the design/construction oversight team protect the Channel Islands National Marine Channel Islands Sanctuary Advisory Council Because the sanctuary’s mandate includes promoting, Photo by Robert Schwemmer for these three vessels: a 65’ sister ship to the Sanctuary.” CINMS has indeed been privileged Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources coordinating, and supporting the efforts of outside research R/V Shearwater that will be used by the three to lead the way in initiating a new era on the Humboldt State University Back cover photos: groups, inquiries about the use of the R/V Shearwater and its northern California sanctuaries (Monterey water for sanctuaries nationwide. Marine Applied Research and Exploration Top: Channel Islands aerial view. sister vessel, the R/V Xantu, are welcome. In 2004, our vessels © Wm. B. Dewey National Geographic Society supported research projects on seabirds, marine mammals, Bottom: Sanctuary and Channel Islands TABLE OF CONTENTS Ocean Explorers images © James Forte kelp forests, oceanography, intertidal life, geology, and more. A Platform for Partnerships ............................3 Up Close with the R/V Shearwater ................12 To request vessel time, scientists and others must REEF Environmental Education Foundation Santa Barbara City College Adult Education Program Meet the CINMS Vessel Operations Team........4 Sanctuary Updates 2004 complete a “Request for Vessel Support” form, found on the CINMS website at http://channelislands.noaa.gov/ Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Bight ‘03 Update ............................................5 Management and Research ......................14 res/prores.html. The sanctuary develops the vessels’ schedules Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Xantus’s Murrelet Surveys Expand in 2004......6 Education and Outreach ............................16 in November for the following year, selecting projects that best UC Santa Barbara (Marine Science Institute, Partnership meet the sanctuary’s mission. Additional requests may be for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans, ROV Surveys Get to the Bottom of MPAs ........8 Channel Islands Naturalist Corps (CINC)....19 made throughout the year and will be accommodated as time Institute for Computational Earth System Science) PISCO Partners in MPA Monitoring ..................9 Maritime Heritage Program ........................20 and resources permit. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Through ongoing partnerships, we look forward to U.S. Geological Survey Valuing MPAs: A Monitoring Protocol ............10 Sanctuary New Hires..................................22 identifying and filling the gaps of knowledge that exist Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Go Fish! ........................................................11 Calendar of Events ........................................23 about sanctuary resources. ALOLKOY, SPRING 2002 ALOLKOY, WINTER 2005 w 6 3 w Xantus’s Murrelet Surveys Expand in 2004 CINC Research Log By Clare Fritzsche By Darrell Whitworth From March 29-31, 2004, fellow volunteer Barbara LaCorte and I had a glorious three-day trip out at the islands, looking for For more than a decade, the sanctuary hatching, tumble to the water’s edge (some- and learning about Xantus’s Murrelets as volunteers with the has supported research on marine birds in times several hundred feet down a cliff!), Channel Islands Naturalist Corps (CINC). I wanted to pass along the Southern California Bight—including and swim through the surf to join their some of what we experienced and learned. annual surveys of Xantus’s Murrelets. parents who accompany them out to sea. We worked morning, noon, and night, catching naps on the floor as we traveled from Partners in these studies have included