October 23, 2014 — Compared to the fishery biologists working aboard the Seawolf, Sysiphus had it easy. While the mythical rock roller only had to move a boulder up a mountain, these folks are tasked with counting the fish in the sea.
Actually, it's not a fair comparison. While his labors were pointless and eternal, the job these professionals do for the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife is vital to the health of the state's fisheries.
Last week, I had the opportunity to join Greg Hinks, Becky Ford, Courtney Lonergan, Brian Neilan and Brendan Harrison aboard the Seawolf, an 80-foot research vessel owned by the University of New York at Stony Brook for the ocean stock assessment program.
Five times a year, in January, April, June, August and October, the Bureau of Marine Fisheries conducts trawl surveys to estimate the populations and distribution of fish and other marine animals in coastal waters from Sandy Hook down to Cape May.
During each monthly survey, the ship drops its net on 39 separate "stations," or specific areas of ocean bottom to be sampled. The January trawl cover 30 stations.
Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press