by Erin Loury, Ichthyology.

What is a marine scientist’s vehicle of choice? Ships, boats, and anything that floats!

Summer is an exciting and busy time for marine scientists, especially graduate students. With classes done for the time being, our lives are consumed by the a few hectic months of field work. As a marine scientist in Moss Landing, our “field” is the entire ocean! Our vast study area stretches from pole to pole, and includes everything from the waves crashing on the rocky intertidal shore, to the dark abyssal depths of the Monterey Submarine Canyon.

So how to we explore and poke and probe a body of water that is so deep and wide? In the ichthyology lab, we use boats to scour the sea for our fishy specimens in a variety of ways. This month I’ll be posting lots of photos from our ship-side adventures that will put you right in the field with us – minus the wind and seasickness! Stay tuned and enjoy!