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FRV Scotia 0410S

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0410S
Cruise period2010-04-01 — 2010-04-16
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To undertake a nationally co-ordinated demersal trawling survey of anglerfish on the Rockall Plateau.
2. To undertake counts of anglerfish and determine coral density using the Seatronics TV chariot.
3. To undertake counts of anglerfish (using the Seatronics TV chariot) in two areas regarded as unsuitable for towing the fishing trawl.
4. To obtain temperature and salinity profiles at each trawling station.

Narrative

Scotia sailed from Aberdeen at 1130 on 1 April 2010 and proceeded to a recognised fishing location east of Peterhead where a shakedown haul was completed with full instrumentation to ensure that the gear was functioning effectively. A similar exercise was then conducted with the underwater TV system to familiarise the crew with deployment and retrieval techniques as well as a full test on the lighting and camera equipment. With the trials completed at 1700, Scotia then headed for the first underwater TV sampling location near Sule Skerry. The vessel arrived at the sampling site at 1100 on 2 April but weather conditions were unsuitable for underwater equipment deployment. Scotia then set course for the first trawl site on the northeast side of Rockall Plateau, arriving on station at 1000 on 3 April. After completing 4 trawl stations, the vessel then moved into the closed fishing area northwest of Rockall where the underwater camera was deployed successfully. A further 5 trawl stations were completed the following day and with a slight improvement in weather conditions in the evening, further camera work was conducted in an area south of the previous nights work. Scotia resumed trawling on the east side of the plateau the following morning but after completing 2 hauls, strong winds intervened, preventing any further trawling or camera work. A slight improvement in weather conditions allowed Scotia to resume fishing the following morning in the south east of the survey area. After completing 4 hauls during the day, the vessel was able to deploy the camera system in the closed area in the Empress of Britain Bank area. The following two days were spent covering the trawl stations on the south west of the survey area, followed by camera work on the evening of 8 April in the southern end of the closed area on the west side of the plateau. A further 8 trawls were completed on the west side of the plateau over the next 2 days but strong winds restricted the deployment of the underwater camera system.

A fracture in one of the main hydraulic pipes resulted in delays to trawling operations on the morning of 11 April. The ship's engineers were able to isolate the fractured pipe, allowing trawling to recommence but this action resulted in the loss of the TV winch, effectively ending any further camera work for the trip. With an improvement in weather conditions, Scotia worked on the northern and northeast stations, completing the survey stations on the afternoon of 13 April.

Scotia docked in Aberdeen on the evening of 15 April with unloading taking place on the morning of 16 April
Chief scientistKenneth A Coull (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectMF01T
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0410S cruise programme 0410s.pdf  (0.08 MB) 
Cruise reportFRV Scotia 0410S cruise report 0410s.pdf (0.16 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificRockall Plateau
Track chartsFRV Scotia 0410S cruise track — 0410strk.pdf (0.05 MB)