Marine Exploration Aboard the
R/V North Wind

"Having the North Wind is pretty awesome. The fact that a small university like ours has this research vessel—one where students can learn real skills—speaks to the educational experience Humboldt offers," says Jose Marin Jarrin, professor of Fisheries Biology.

For Fisheries Biology majors Inigo Baxter ('25, Fisheries Biology) and Elin Antaya, those experiences include an exploration of the ichthyological kind.

In May, under a brilliant blue sky (and under the watchful eye of Marin Jarrin), students in FISH 335 learned and practiced deploying the massive trawl that scoured the bottom of the bay. They retrieved, identified, and measured everything from English sole and surfperch to staghorn sculpin. They also recorded other data, such as the water temperature, depth, location and speed of the trawling.

But the coolest catch of the day?

"The starry flounder," he says of the dark brown common flatfish. This particular one was a whopping 2.1 feet, about 2 inches longer than the average. "It's cool to see and learn about equipment and different fishing techniques in the classroom, but it's amazing to learn that in action."

Antaya agrees that practical application of what she learned to real-world situations is critical to developing the foundational skills that help prepare students for a career as a scientist or graduate school.

"It's one thing to study sampling techniques or fish ecology in theory, but actually collecting data, identifying species, and working with research equipment in the field adds a whole new level of understanding," she says. "We step into the shoes of fisheries professionals for a day and learn how to collaborate with others, troubleshoot, and adapt in the way you will have to if you continue in this field."

Combined with learning in the classroom and at the University's Telonicher Marine Lab, the R/V North Wind provides a more complete picture of the scientific process.

"Being able to conduct hands-on research on the R/V Coral Sea was one of the most valuable opportunities of my time as a Fisheries Biology student at Cal Poly Humboldt," Antaya says.

"I'm excited that we now have this state-of-the-art vessel to continue learning in the most hands-on way possible."

Beyond its bells and whistles, the R/V North Wind serves a deeper purpose: to inspire and foster future generations of scientists who explore Earth's ocean wonders.

"The R/V North Wind stands at the forefront of modern marine research platforms. Every element, from its hull design to its onboard systems, was engineered to meet the unique demands of Cal Poly Humboldt's research objectives and the specific conditions of its operating environment," says Ron Wille, president of All American Marine. "As a cornerstone of their hands-on marine science education, the R/V North Wind enables deeper exploration, more precise data collection that empowers faculty and students to make meaningful contributions to ocean conservation."