Resources

RV Cefas Endeavour 09/11

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9)
Cruise identifier09/11
Cruise period2011-05-18 — 2011-06-09
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLowestoft, United Kingdom
Port of returnLowestoft, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To carry out a multidisciplinary pelagic survey of the Western Channel and Celtic Sea waters to estimate the biomass and gain insight into the population structure of sardine and other small pelagic fish species (anchovy, herring, sprat, horse mackerel, mackerel, boarfish, blue whiting).
a. To carry out a fisheries acoustic survey using three operating frequencies (38, 120, 200kHz) during day light hours, to investigate:
- distribution of sardine and other small pelagic species
- abundance of sardine and other small pelagic species
- distribution of the pelagic species in relation to their environment
b. To trawl for small pelagics species, using an Engels 800 trawl, during daylight hours, in order to obtain information on:
- Species- and size composition of acoustic marks
- Age-composition and distribution, from sardine and other small pelagic species
- Length weight and maturity information on pelagic species
- Genetic structure of sardine and anchovy. Finclips will be taken of subsets of sardine and anchovy and stored, to be genetically analysed.
2. To collect plankton samples using a 1m diameter ringnet (270μm mesh) and where possible a 0.5m diameter (80 μm mesh ) at fixed stations along the acoustic transects at night and at a subset of trawl stations during the day. Where possible samples will be processed onboard:
a. eggs and larvae of pelagic species will be identified and counted and combined with information from maturity to identify spawning areas.
b. Zooplankton will be stored for further analysis back in the lab.
3. Water column sampling. At fixed stations (same as plankton samples) along the acoustic transect, a Rosette and ESM2 will be used at night to obtain a vertical profile of the water column. Water column profile and water samples will provide information on chlorophyll, oxygen salinity temperature, nutrient samples and the relevant QAQC samples for calibration of the equipment. Water samples will be collected and fixed on board for analysis post-hoc.
4. Seabirds and Marine Mammals. Locations, species, numbers and activities observed will be recorded continuously during daylight hours by three Marinelife observers from bridge.
5. Ferrybox Continuous CTD/Thermosalinigraph. Continuously collect oceanographic data on the sea surface during steaming.
6. Marine litter (1): Marine macrolitter in the trawl will be weighed.
7. Marine litter (2) Depending on time available and weather conditions, where possible micro plastic samples will be collected at plankton/oceanography station using the manta-trawl towed for a minimum of half an hour at 4-8 knots.
8. Tag elasmobranchs, in support of studies on their movement patterns in western Channel and Celtic Sea
9. Collect rare species for Jim Ellis (Cefas)
Chief scientistJeroen Van der Kooij (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory)
ProjectPeltic11
Cruise reportRV Cefas Endeavour 09/11 cruise report endeavour09_11.pdf (1.41 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
Celtic Sea
SpecificWestern Channel and Celtic Sea plateau
Track chartsRV Cefas Endeavour 09/11 cruise track — endeavour09_11trk.pdf (0.11 MB)