Deploying the Eye-in-the-Sea (EITS) involves several critical steps. First, the team must determine a sampling strategy, based on the location and depth of the station, as well as the length of deployment, factoring in the amount of surface light that could reach EITS’s bioluminescence detector and trigger the camera to turn on.

Next, the sampling protocol must be entered into EITS’s computer via an Ethernet cable. Each time block can be programmed for different modes.

Once the EITS has been programmed, it is inspected and baited. Since animals can be widely distributed in the deep sea, a baited bag is placed 2 m in front of EITS after it is deployed. Nothing advertises a free dinner in the deep sea like a bag of rotting fish heads.

Related Links

Deep Scope 2004

Deep Scope: August 8 log

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery