Though big seas are keeping us at dock, we are prepping for the spring when an autonomous vehicle, Triton, will be sampling off our coast. In collaboration with the Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom Partnership, the Newport Line will be deploying Triton, a sailing and diving drone, to monitor for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Early detection of the domoic acid producing phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia, can help managers that regulate commercial, recreational, and subsistence harvesting of affected shellfish. Triton will be sailing our way in spring of 2022 for its first annual spring deployment!
We are a group of NOAA Fisheries and Oregon State University scientists that sample the Newport Line every two weeks to understand changing ocean conditions. Follow us as we share the fun things we learn about this region and other areas of the North Pacific Ocean.