Changes in Latitudes

[Preliminary survey tracks for the vessels involved] Tomorrow we get into Tromsø for the end of the survey. I didn't give any updates because, well, it was about the same everyday. So the last 3+ weeks have gone by quite fast and it will feel weird to be back in Bergen Monday night. I have gained many new skills on this survey, and my colleagues hope that the institute will have a place for me because I am also "efficient, positive and hardworking" (not to toot my own horn). We are currently headed south from Bjørnoya (Bear Island) located approximately 74 degrees N and 16 deg E. We have hauled in tens of tons of Atlantic mackerel (makrell), slightly less than optimal amounts of herring (sild), lumpsucker (rognkjeks), and wild Atlantic salmon (laks). Some of the more interesting fish we brought in included:  håbrann (Lamna nasus), English: mackerel shark (possibly porbeagle) langebarn/snake blenny torsk/cod (juveniles less than 10 cm long) hyse/haddock ...

Getting into a routine: Sample, eat, gym, sleep, eat, sample, sleep, eat... Pulled in three wild salmon. The cook will make them for lunch or dinner in the next couple of days. Sun is shining today. Life is good :) [Herring Oil Factory (Sildolje fabrikk) Pit-stop in Egersund to fix the trawl.] [Gulls lined up in a row waiting for dinner] [Wild Atlantic salmon]

On the 4th of July I joined the mackerel survey cruise aboard M/V Eros. It's a brand new vessel that is even nicer than G.O. Sars! However, as I found last year, most of these luxuries aren't used on the survey because we are quite tired from 12 hour work days; and the gym is the most important room when you are limited to only walking up and down a flight of stairs. The first dinner was a very Norwegian meal of raspeballer (potato and flour mixed together with some bacon), sausages and potatoes. At least the crew blasted some CCR after dinner, so that was about as "American" as it got for the 4th.  I'm working the 2-8 shift, so 2am-8am and 2pm-8pm. My shift partner's name is Stine (Justine and Stine -- cute) - and pronounced like 'steeneh', not stein. On this survey I have more responsibilities than last year. This year I can add plankton sampling to my resume. And this probably sounds weird, but the one thing that has officially made me feel like...

Monday I officially earned my Master of Science in marine biology. I presented my work to a crowd of 12 in a small classroom, and right afterwards I went into another room with the sensors and my supervisors. It was a very intense 90 minutes of grilling. The main sensor was very very tough, but I was warned about him by others at the IMR. Feels a little weird to be done, but tomorrow I leave for my second mackerel cruise. The same as last year - 26 days at sea working 12 hr days. Now I'm searching for a job in the meantime.