EXPEDITIONS
The sanctuary sponsors, coordinates and/or participates in a variety of expeditions each year. Some expeditions are conducted aboard NOAA Research Vessels, some aboard vessels chartered by the sanctuary and still others aboard vessels made available courtesy of sanctuary partners. In addition to research conducted within sanctuary boundaries, the team also explores and investigates outside the sanctuary.
Click on the highlighted links below to get information about some of our 2009 expeditions.
August 3-5, 2009 Science at Sea Teacher Cruise, R/V Manta
- Pilot workshop to get teachers doing science at sea.
July 20-25, 2009 Marine Debris Assessment, R/V Manta
- Technical divers search for marine debris and collect deepwater coral samples.
March 1-6, 2009 TAMUG CHIRP Cruise, R/V Manta
- Surveys of sea floor near Sabine Bank and Galveston.
- Testing of equipment capabilities on board the Manta.
Remember that factors such as weather and vessel availability change rapidly, so trips are frequently rescheduled. If you are interested in conducting research in the sanctuary, please contact emma.hickerson@noaa.gov for more information.
top of page
Prior Expeditions:
2008 Expeditions
2007 Expeditions
2006 Expeditions
top of page
EXPEDITIONS OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY
A question frequently asked by sanctuary constituents is "Why do sanctuary staff conduct research outside the sanctuary?" There are a couple of reasons:
- The Flower Garden and Stetson Banks do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the
Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Sanctuary resources cannot be protected if we do not know
what is happening outside the boundaries that may affect the resources within the
boundaries. An excellent example of this is the recent realization that the sea floor
between the many topographic features scattered across the continental shelf is far
from the flat, featureless expansion it was once thought to be. Rather, the banks are
connected by low-relief outcroppings, potentially providing a kind of "fish highway"
where animals can move between banks and still have a little protection and food source
for the journey. If the sanctuary team had restricted its explorations, this discovery
would have taken longer.
- The world of knowledge and research techniques is constantly expanding. Like any other professionals, researchers must remain sharp and current on their knowledge and skills so that the sanctuary can benefit from the latest innovations. Participating in non-sanctuary research projects helps 'sharpen the saw' by allowing exchanges with researchers from different regions and disciplines.
top of page
