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Bjarni Saemundsson B8-2016

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)Bjarni Saemundsson (46BS)
Cruise identifierB8-2016
Cruise period2016-05-02 — 2016-05-16
StatusCompleted
Port of departureReykjavík, Iceland
Port of returnReykjavík, Iceland
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesThe cruise was a part of an international Atlantic survey, carried out by 10 different European institutes to monitor the spatial and seasonal distribution of Atlantic mackerel and horse mackerel. During this survey mackerel and horse mackerel eggs are sampled using a plankton torpedo or bongo nets. The survey covers the whole spawning area and season. It starts along the Portuguese coast in February and continues until July when the waters west of Scotland are sampled. The planning and coordination of the survey is made within the ICES Working Group for Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys (WGMEGS).

The ICES triennial mackerel and horse mackerel egg surveys have been carried out since 1977. Since then the participating countries and sampling area have expanded. In 2016 the following countries participated in this survey: The Faroes, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, The Netherlands and now for the third time, Iceland.

The MRI sampling undertaken on board the RV Bjarni Sæmundsson provided egg data in the area between 58°45' N to 60°45' N and 4°15' W to 17°15' W during period 5 (May). Also, pelagic hauls were carried out to collect adult mackerel samples to estimate fecundity. These data will be combined to provide a fisheries-independent estimate of the spawning stock biomass of western mackerel and horse mackerel.
Chief scientistBjorn Gunnarsson (Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik)
ProjectICES International Mackerel Egg Survey
Coordinating bodyInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
Cruise reportBjarni Saemundsson B8-2016 cruise report bjarnisaemundsson_b8-2016.pdf (1.26 MB) 
NPRCBjarni Saemundsson B8-2016 NPRC bjarnisaemundsson_b6-2016.pdf (1.34 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificNorth of the UK