In summer 2019, the specially outfitted sailing yacht hosted long-distance swimmer Ben Lecomte and his crew on a 300-mile swim through the Pacific Gyre between Hawaii and the mainland U.S. Currents in this region accumulate discarded plastic and rogue fishing gear and the expedition through the Vortex brings attention to the environmental impact of plastic in the ocean. The expedition crew will host tours of the boat from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2019.

Photo: Vortex, @seamarshall

NOAA fisheries ship Reuben Lasker is completing one leg of a rockfish survey. This survey uses rod and reel gear to sample fish in areas that are difficult to survey with traditional methods such as research trawl nets. Surveying current fish populations provides crucial data for fishery policymakers

The E/V Nautilus is docked at the Exploratorium as it transitions between research cruises. Before arriving, the ship was mapping the seafloor in transit between Honolulu and San Francisco. From here it will be traveling to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to explore a deep-sea reef near Davidson Seamount, an inactive volcanic undersea mountain habitat off the coast of central California.

Survey of deep-sea fish populations along the West Coast.