Koyanagi, K.

PIFSC Cruise Report CR-12-007 (Cruise SE-12-04)

2012

Honolulu, HI

NOAA NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)

14

Vessel: NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette; Cruise Number: SE-12-04; Cruise Period: June 15 - July 14 2012; Area of Operation: The operating area included transit northwest along the main Hawaiian Islands and Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument from Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, to Kure with Protected Species Division (PSD) field camp deployments and Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) marine debris operations at Nihoa Island, Necker Island, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll.; Type of Operation: The NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette was engaged as support for a Protected Species Division (PSD) and Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA, project. The ship transported personnel, equipment, and supplies to field camps at French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll. The cruise also transferred personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) camp at French Frigate Shoals to Midway, transported supplies to French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island for the USFWS, and transported personnel and supplies to Kure Atoll for the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Fish and Wildlife (DOFAW). Day surveys at Necker and Nihoa Islands were conducted to census the monk seal population.

Mission: A) Transport Protected Species Division (PSD) personnel, equipment, and supplies to field camps at French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll. The cruise will also transfer personnel from the USFWS camp at French Frigate Shoals to Midway, transport supplies to French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and transport personnel and supplies to Kure Atoll for the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Fish and Wildlife (DOFAW). Day surveys will be conducted to census the monk seal population on Necker Island and Nihoa Island. B) Support in-water and shoreline marine debris surveys and removal operations at Kure and Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Laysan, Lisianski, and French Frigate Shoals. The marine debris (derelict fishing gear) collected during the Midway and Oscar Elton Sette marine debris survey and removal operations will be stored onboard until the vessel returns to Ford Island, Pearl Harbor for disposal. C) Conduct shipboard 500 m conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) casts and water samples opportunistically at designated permanent stations along the Hawaiian Archipelago."