Resources

FRV Explorer 3/79

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Explorer (74EX)
Cruise identifier3/79
Cruise period1979-03-19 — 1979-03-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesTo undertake a trawling survey to the north and west of Scotland to determine
1) the distribution and abundance of adolescent and adult mackerel
2) the abundance and geographical distribution of larval nematodes in cod, whiting and mackerel, and to carry out experiments on the migrations of worms in flesh
3) the abundance and distribution of parasitic fungus Ichthyophonus in haddock and plaice

''Explorer'' was due to set sail on 16/03/1977 but crew shortages delayed sailing. Severe weather caused the ship to seek shelter east of Orkney from the 21/03/1979 till the 23/03/1979. Shelter was sought again from the 23/03/1979 till the 25/03/1979 south of Skye. A malfunction of the echo sounder/intergrator prevented the location and recording of any midwater echo traces. Sterile cultures of Ichthyophonus from plaice were prepared,and samples of infected tissues were fixed for subsequent light and electron microscope studies.
Chief scientistA H McVicar (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise reportFRV Explorer 3/79 cruise report explorer3_79.pdf (0.96 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificClyth Ness, Sanday, east of Orkney, Westray Firth, Minch, south of North Rona, Flannans, Hebrides
Track chartsFRV Explorer 3/79 cruise track — explorer3_79track.pdf (0.83 MB) 
Measurements 
Biology and fisheries 
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of stations = 12
Description: monitoring,pathology studies. Herring, mackerel and sprats were caught
Demersal fishQuantity: number of stations = 12
Description: Samples of kidney were taken from 390 measured haddock, 61 plaice were measure for the Tchthyophonus infection. Cell diffusion antibody tests were carried out on the blood serum of 30 haddock and all plaice using fungal antigen from plaice. Samples of 10 haddock were deep frozen for subsequent length-weight/maturity studies
Other biological/fisheries measurementDescription: 23 Cod examined for larval anisakine nematodes. Viscera and flesh of 40 whiting were deep frozen after capture for later examination for the post-mortem migration of larval Anisakis. Batches of 40 fish were similarly treated 12 hours and 32 hours after capture and storage on ice. 50 squid were deep frozen for subsequent examination of larval anisakines