Resources

RRS Challenger CH15/79

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RRS Challenger (74CH)
Cruise identifierCH15/79
Cruise period1979-10-09 — 1979-10-24
StatusCompleted
Port of departureArdrossan, United Kingdom
Port of returnArdrossan, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1. To obtain further fish samples from the SMBA permanent station in the Rockall Channel.
2. To continue a seasonal survey of the deep-sea demersal fish populations of the upper slope of the Porcupine Seabight using the large SMBA Granton trawl.
3. To continue the seasonal surveys of the deep-sea demersal fish populations of the Porcupine Seabight from 500m to 4800m using the IOS semi-balloon trawl.
4. To collect invertebrate samples from the trawls for IOS (Wormley).
5. To carry out comparative fishing trials between the SMBA Granton trawl and the IOS semi-balloon trawl.
6. To obtain core samples for meiofauna studies at the SMBA shelf, Rockall Trough and Porcupine Abyssal Plain routine stations, with associated bottom photography.
7. To obtain core samples for meiofauna distribution studies on the Goban Spur (southern boundary of the Porcupine Seabight).
Chief scientistPeter R Barnett (Scottish Marine Biological Association)
Cruise reportRRS Challenger CH15/79 cruise report ch15_79.pdf (0.56 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
Track chartsRRS Challenger CH15/79 cruise track — trk2736.html RRS Challenger CH15/79 cruise track — trk2736a.html
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 16
Description: T bottom 9 S surface
Biology and fisheries 
Benthic bacteria/micro-organismsQuantity: number of stations = 7
ZoobenthosQuantity: number of hauls = 17
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 17
Description: Granton Trawl used to survey taxonomy, energy transfers and biomass determination.
Gear research
Exploratory fishing