Resources

FRV Scotia 0616S

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0616S
Cruise period2016-05-08 — 2016-05-29
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To carry out mackerel egg survey (ICES Triennial Survey), on the western shelf and shelf edge in the area from 51N to 58.5N.
2. To collect fish samples, by trawling, for atresia and fecundity analysis back at the laboratory.

Procedure

After departing port and undertaking all relevant drills the vessel will proceed to the first plankton station line at 58 15N 07 15W. Subsequent stations will be taken along the same line west at 30' intervals. Transects will be at 1oN intervals with stations at 30' E/W intervals. Plankton stations will be taken using the Gulf VII sampler with mounted CTD, which will record salinity and temperature during each tow.

The plankton tows will require the vessel to deploy then proceed to tow the sampler at five knots. The sampler will then be lowered at a steady rate (10 m/min) from the plankton crane to within 5m of the seabed or 200m - whichever is shallower. The sampler will then be recovered at the same speed. Once aboard, plankton samples will be washed from the sampler net, fixed in formalin and scored for egg abundance. Trawl samples will be taken at the discretion of the scientist in charge in conjunction with the fishing master and will usually be taken at the shelf edge. The precise length of each transect cannot be defined in advance as this survey uses an adaptive design, where sampling along a line will continue until there are no or very small numbers of mackerel eggs present.

The half landing is expected to be in Ireland around 18-19 May, the exact location of which will depend on the progress of both Scotia and that of the other nations sampling during this period. Scotia may be asked to extend the range further south which would see Galway or Cork as a possibility for a half landing. Following the half landing the survey will proceed back over the area covered in the first half with transects interlaced between those carried out during the first half. Normal contact will be retained with the laboratory throughout, and with other vessels taking part in the survey.
Chief scientistJames Drewery (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0616S cruise programme 0616s.pdf  (0.13 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificWest and south of Ireland