Townsend Cromwell
TC9903 March 15, 1999 write-up
TC9903 Marine Mammal Research Program Field Camp Deployment, March 6-March 18, 1999
March 10: We anchored off Laysan and transferred 23 boatloads of supplies and personnel to the beach. The resulting camp will be home to the NMFS scientists as they gather data on the Hawaiian monk seal population. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) also has a camp on the island from which they monitor the many sea birds using Laysan's low lying shrubs and fields to nest their young.
After the supplies were transferred, we hauled anchor and set course NW for Lisianski. As with Laysan, Lisianski is a low lying island of sand located upon a large coral reef (roughly 20 miles across) which rises from the ocean's depths.
March 11-13: We completed the 133 mile transit and anchored 3 miles off Lisianski. Over the next 3 days, we transferred supplies and personnel to the island for the new camp and our divers performed reef surveys for derelict fish net on the surrounding reef (Neva Shoals). 3 NMFS scientists will remain on this one mile long island for the next 5 months, monitoring the seals and other wild life. During this time, I was in the boats quite a bit serving as coxswain (boat driver) and diver/snorkeler. The first time I approached the beach, I was awestruck as before me materialized the sight of hundreds of frigate birds hovering against the steady sea breeze pushed upward by the island. On the white sandy beaches, the dark gray forms of monk seals lay scattered, soaking up the sun's rays after having been fishing in the ocean for days on end. Next to one of the slumbering, 500 lb. mammals, was a small, coal-black, pup which was clumsily biting at a small plastic float that had washed in with the tide.
The circular shapes of green sea turtles lay amongst the seals, also in sound slumber. These remote, isolated islands are one of the few places in the world where sea turtles haul out other than to lay eggs. Beyond the peacefulness of the beach, life among the island's grasses and shrubs was in marked contrast. Many different species of sea birds compete for nesting space and the air was filled with various squawks, whistles and calls. There seemed to be endless activity as the birds constantly wandered into one another's territory in their attempts to attract mates, feed chicks, or to escape the wrath of another bird.
After transferring the camp's supplies, our divers spent a day and a half performing surveys of the nearby reef. Lisianski has the highest observance of monk seals being entangled in derelict fish and cargo net. A quick survey of Lisianski's beaches proved that nets were present, scattered here and there weighted down with bleached white coral heads and sand. Our reef surveys were conducted by towing snorkelers from the small boats at various locations that looked likely to snag drifting net. After a day and a half, our surveys found surprisingly little net on the outer reef. What we did find was mainly around the island itself. Also see some pictures from TC9812, our derelict fish net clean up effort.
At 4:00 p.m. on the 13th, we hauled anchor and transited back to Laysan where we made a 2.5 hr stop to swap personnel. We then hauled anchor and started the 823 NM trip back to Honolulu. Presently heading SE at 8.5 knots, under a star filled sky, heading into 15 knot winds and 4-6 ft seas. We hope to be back in Honolulu by noon on the 18th.Yesterdays cruise write-ups for TC-99-03