Baltic Expedition (2012): Expedition Diaries
Oceana Baltic Expedition is over
Author: Xavier Pastor - Baltic Sea Expedition leader
Date: June 11, 2012
The 2012 Oceana Baltic Expedition is about to finish. While we keep carrying out the intensive fishing fleet investigation on the field in which we have been involved in the last days, we are gradually approaching Copenhagen again. In that harbor we will be ending this year’s voyage, after almost two months at sea.
Diving offshore and more bottom samples
Author: Christina Abel (Marine scientist)
Date: June 8, 2012
After having a day with nice weather yesterday, today is foggy, windy, and rainy. Our plan for today is to make a scuba dive near a buoy in Kattegat and collect more bottom samples. The divers jumped into the big waves from the zodiac, and found an exposed sandy bottom, with many starfish, but else not much life.
Coming to a close
Author: Jesús Molino - Diver and Deck coordinator
Date: June 7, 2012
This morning we sailed to Kattegat from Copenhagen. Once we were in the area, we spent the day taking seabed samples with trawls and diving, and, in between, we packed all the gear we don’t use to send it back. Yesterday most of our colleagues left.
Alexandra Cousteau joins the expedition
Author: Carlos Suárez - Buceador y cámara submarino
Date: June 3, 2012
Today we are moored in Copenhagen. We will sail out this afternoon, and I have taken the chance to advance in the work of arranging captured images and data. I was unable to do all this work in the last 20 hours due to the rough sea.
As I work on my laptop I watch many people walk by. Most of them are tourists of various nationalities who want to learn about the history and monuments of this beautiful city as they enjoy the good weather. I suppose that it’s harder to be a tourist in the winter here.
Read More...Rough sea and good intentions
Author: Enrique Talledo - Diver and videographer
Date: June 2, 2012
A new day breaks on board, although for some of us it was never night. This time not because of the midnight sun, but because of the rough waves throughout the night and part of the day.
Read More...
Swedish Spawning Ground
Author: Claus Koch - Dive Coordinator
Date: May 30, 2012
The day started a little earlier than our average day, with an rov dive before breakfast.
Not much was observed during the dive and the rov was back on board after less than an hour of diving.
The boat quickly proceeded to the next location, which was a small bank at about 16 meters depth. This was the position for our afternoon scuba dive.
Back in action
Author: Andrzej Bialas - Baltic Sea Project Policy Advisor
Date: May 29, 2012
Today, after a few hours on a train from Copenhagen I have arrived to Stockholm, to finally join our Expedition team again. Unfortunately we can’t just stay at the sea for the whole time and other duties called me back to the office about 3 weeks ago, but today I got back on board of Hanse Explorer.
A Day in Stockholm
Author: Carlos Suarez - Photographer
Date: May 28, 2012
This time we dropped anchor in Stockholm. The ROV team receive the visit of a technician for maintenance of this delicate and extremely expensive instrument. Others go out for a walk and to visit the city. I meet a Swedish colleague whom I hadn’t seen in 3 years and who is a good family friend. We met many years ago in the Canary Islands and my wife and I have travelled with her to such exotic destinations as Egypt to dive in the Red Sea.
Read More...Port call in Stockholm
Author: Xavier Pastor - Baltic Sea Expedition leader
Date: May 28, 2012
We arrived to Stockholm at 09:00 am today, after four hours of a very nice sailing through the myriad of charming islands of the archipelago. In this port we have a change of Baltic team members. Christina Abel (Dk) is leaving the ship temporally, while Andrzej Bialas (Pol) is joining for another period of time onboard.
