Our final day and our final station!

Photo courtesy by: Jeff Janowski / UNCW

The fun creature feature for our final day were two juvenile Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks! These friends were measured, weighed, and safely released back into the sea.

Photo courtesy by: Jeff Janowski / UNCW

Collections of our final CTD measurements and surface / bottom water samples are performed one last time with the make-shift rig, as onlooking shore birds observe from the sky for any signs of food. Sorry our fellow aviary friends, trawls were early this morning, only the earliest of birds get the fish!

Photo courtesy by: Jeff Janowski / UNCW

And to wrap up our collections, the plankton crew acquire their last plankton sample. Of all of the stations sampled, this collection was the most colorful, painting the net a sediment-brown color reflecting that of the river influenced coastal area.

Photo courtesy by: Jeff Janowski / UNCW

As collections and processing come to an end, our team of researchers converse with smiles as the Cape Hatteras makes its way back to dock. Although the journey had its own “Dragon” (otherwise known as technical issues) to battle, these researchers are primed with experience of mishaps occurring. Like our Hero Bima, Scientists are ready to face the challenges of research in the journey to acquire knowledge.

Photo courtesy by: Bradley Tolar / UNCW

Our trip comes to an end with a group photo, reflecting the multitudes of collaboration that has occurred over the past 4 days. As one cruise comes to an end, though, Teal Ships 3 is already in the planning!