Townsend Cromwell
Just in from the Ship
TC-99-06 Marine Mammal Field Camp DeploymentMay 15-May 31, 1999
June 1, 1999 After our stop at Kure, we started our transit southeast towards Honolulu. Along the way we stopped at Pearl and Hermes Reef on Tuesday May 25 to set up the last of the field camps. Pearl and Hermes Reef (marine chart at right) is another coral atoll with a characteristic circular fringing reef and central lagoon. The camp is located on a small sand and coral island on the south edge of the reef. The run to shore in the small boats from the ship's anchorage location is about a mile and can be a spectacular ride. As the boats enter the lagoon they are typically greeted by a school of about 25 spinner dolphins who chase and play alongside the boats often displaying aerial acrobatics. We also see green sea turtles and of course, Hawaiian Monk seals. We try to minimize our interference with the marine animals, but the arrival of a small boat is too much of a temptation for the dolphins who love to swim and play alongside the boats.
Following our departure from Pearl and Hermes Reef we made our last stop at Laysan Island on to pick up a scientist (left). When we arrived at Laysan on Wednesday evening May 26, the scientists on shore were busy performing a necropsy on a recently killed young Monk seal. A necropsy is similar to an autopsy in that it is an examination of a dead animal body. Various organs and tissues are examined, sampled and preserved in formalin for more a more detailed analysis back in the laboratory. Necropsies are important so that the growth, development and physiology of monk seals can be better understood. The monk seal fatality was most likely due to an aggressive male who injured the smaller young seal. Following the necropsy we transferred some additional fresh water to the island and loaded up some
fishing net debris to be later disposed of on Oahu. The ship transited back to Honolulu under fair skies and relatively calm seas. We arrived back in our home port on Monday, May 31. This week we are busy repairing various systems on the ship and preparing for our next cruise. The ship will depart Honolulu on Sunday June 6 for our next mission which is a lobster population assessment study at Necker Island and Maro Reef. Related web sites:
- Honolulu Laboratory Protected Species Investigation which includes the Marine Mammal Research Program and the Marine Turtle Research Program