Gray's Reef NMS | alison-biogeo

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is 1 out of 14 National Marine Sanctuaries that are located all along the coasts of the United States and America Samoa. Gray's Reef was designated a Marine Protected area in 1982 by President Jimmy Carter. Jane Yarn also played a significant role in the nomination process as a strong woman who put the right papers on his desk to sign. Gray's Reef is just 16 miles off the shore of Sapelo Island, GA and the reef's depth ranges from 60-75ft deep and it is a live hardbottom reef. The nomination of this 22 square mile of protected area allows a diverse group of invertebrates, algae and vertebrates to conjugate and migrate. The area is full of dynamic reef ledges that provides small habitats in their crevices.

Official NOAA Gray's Reef Website

I began volunteering at Gray's Reef in August 2014. After spending 260 volunteer hours interning with GRNMS, I have become very involved in working with their acoustic telemetry data and aboard the R/V Sam Gray, R/V Ferguson. Some of the skills that I have developed are as follows:

NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Adventures Volunteering and Interning with Marine Biology Research

Top-side Research Support

First aid, CPR, Nitrox, Oxygen Admin, Boating Safety (course)
Photograph documentation
Dive log assistant
Prepares research equipment for deployment and retrieval
Records coordinates and research operation reports
Handles Lionfish
Assists divers needs
Future NOAA Team Ocean Diver

Acoustic Telemetry Research

Organizing and interpreting data using VUE Software and VEMCO products
Monitor the acoustic detections from visiting marine organisms (such as Sturgeon and Great White Sharks)
Future, use this data with GIS Mapping

Office Support