RV Cefas Endeavour 04/17
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9) |
| Cruise identifier | 04/17 |
| Cruise period | 2017-03-07 — 2017-04-05 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Swansea, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Aims
1. To carry out an integrated monitoring survey of the Celtic Sea, south-western approaches and the western Channel using a random stratified survey design for the purposes of providing fish stock assessment data and the collection of associated ecosystem information. A) Deployment of two standardised 4m beam trawls. Both beam trawls with 75mm cod-end – one with a 40mm blinder fitted; one without. Catches from the trawls will be processed to obtain information on: - Distribution, size composition and relative abundance of fish, shellfish, cephalopods, and benthic invertebrates. - Age-length distribution of selected fish species. - Biological parameters of selected species. - Distribution of fish in relation to their environment. - Distribution of macro-benthos and anthropogenic debris. - Length, weight and maturity information in support of the EU Data Regulation. The data obtained from processing the trawl catches are collected in support of the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF), and will be submitted to ICES Expert Groups and will also support other Cefas projects. B) Water column sampling. Water column profile and water samples using a Niskin with ESM2 logger will be collected at each trawl station, providing profile information for 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. Vertical plankton nets/ring nets will also be deployed. C) Sediment and benthos at a station. Sediment sample(s) will be collected at one end of the tows along the trawl transect using a mini-Mini-Hamon grab or NIOZ corer. These samples will be used for collecting the following data: - The benthic macro infauna (5 mm sieve) - Benthic infauna (1 mm sieve) - Sediment particle size analysis - Bulk chlorophyll - Bulk nutrients - Meiofaunal sample /core D) Sediment redox. SPI camera dips (with up to 5 replicates at each location) will be collected at one end of the tow where sediments were appropriate for the deployment of this gear type. These data will be linked to the sediment and benthic samples so should occur at an equivalent site to those samples. E) 2m beam trawl deployments. Where SPI camera deployment is not possible, a 2m beam trawl may be deployed to supplement and provide contrast to the fish/benthic catches observed in the 4m beams. 2. To continuously log sub-surface (3m) salinity, temperature, fluorometry and other environmental data using the ‘Ferrybox’. Additionally, a Flow-cytometer (phytoplankton) and Plankton Image Analyser (PIA) (zooplankton) may be run in conjunction with the Ferrybox. 3. To record details of surface sightings of any marine mammals, sea turtles and large pelagic fish, and record observations on jellyfish aggregations. 4. Collect water samples for caesium and tritium analysis under SLA22 (T Bailey – Cefas Lowestoft). 5. To tag/release specimens of various commercially exploited skates (Rajidae) and other selected elasmobranchs. 6. Collect specimens of selected species for ID purposes as well as length-weight measurements where still required. 7. To collect length and weight measurements of jellyfish caught. 8. To collect specimens of cuttlefish to aid identification and for Cefas on-going projects. 9. To collect other samples in support of active Cefas projects. Narrative in attached cruise report. |
| Chief scientist | Ian David Holmes (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.29 MB) |
| Cruise report | (2.49 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | English Channel Celtic Sea |
| Specific | Western English Channel and Celtic Sea (ICES areas VIIe, VIIf, VIIg, VIIh, VIIj) |
