2010 STETSON MONITORING
August 8-12, 2010
aboard the R/V MANTA
Although the Stetson Bank Long-Term Monitoring program has only been in place 15 years, some years have required more than one expedition. This year we conducted the 21st Stetson Bank data collection effort.
Participants
The crew: Mike Shetler, Darrell Walker, Eric Larson
Photo: Embesi/FGBNMS
R/V Manta crew
Sanctuary research team
Texas A&M Galveston AAUS divers
Moody Gardens AAUS diver
Long-term Photo Stations
This year, 38 photo stations were located and photographed. Seven new stations were also established.
Conditions
There was a green layer of water for the top 20 ft (6 m), similar to what was encountered a week earlier during the previous cruise. Salinity at the surface was slightly higher this time (31 ppt salinity at the surface).
Seas were calm and warm at 84F (29C), with horizontal visibility up to 100 ft (30 m).
A shrimp trawler, Miss Winnie, tied up to a buoy as we arrived.
Sightings
Atlantic spotted dolphins were foraging around the vessel. Divers also heard dolphins underwater later during the trip.
A female loggerhead sea turtle with distinctive barnacles
on her carapace (shell). Photo: Hickerson/FGBNMS
Large schools of spadefish, vermillion snapper, cottonwick, rainbow runners, Spanish mackerel and yellowtail snapper were noted.
A scorpionfish was photographed with a rockhind sticking out of its mouth.
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Marine Debris
This piece of shrimping net was removed from the reef crest Photo: Hickerson/FGBNMS
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