FRV Clupea 0106C
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Clupea (74CU) |
| Cruise identifier | 0106C |
| Cruise period | 2006-01-06 — 2006-01-20 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To obtain estimates of distribution and abundance of Nephrops in Loch Torridon and the Inner Sound areas, as part of the Torridon project. 2. To collect sediment samples at each station. 3. To use trawl caught samples of Nephrops to examine biological features at different sites throughout the survey areas. 4. To record the habits of Nephrops around a creel, in situ. Narrative The scientific staff joined the vessel at Fraserburgh 6 January, and in poor sea conditions sailed for the West Coast, allowing work to commence early the following morning. After initial investigations at the most northerly Inner Sound sites revealed the sea state was unfavourable for the use of the TV sledge in that area, work was successfully carried out to the South West of Longa. Leaving Gairloch on 8 January, the sea had settled a little allowing work to be carried out in the more exposed northerly stations, returning to Gairloch that evening. Overnight the wind had gathered strength, and by first light it was obvious no TV work could be achieved, and that with strong South Westerly gales forecast, Kyle of Lochalsh was a safer location to be at than Gairloch. Clupea steamed south to Kyle, arriving at 1400 to find the conditions were such that it was advised to anchor in Lochalsh until the weather abated. By 1930 the vessel was secured to the pier where it remained for the next four days, as violent storms (Beaufort force 11) were being recorded in the Minch. There was a complete turn around in the weather by 14 January and having contacted the creel fishermen the previous day to coordinate suitable survey sites, the vessel headed for Loch Torridon. Following a full day's work using the drop frame system in Loch Shieldaig, and the Inner and Outer Lochs, Clupea then had to return to Kyle of Lochalsh for safe haven, as strong gales were forecast for 15 January. During the TV operations that day, the remote control for the TV winch ceased to work, so a system of hand held radios to direct the winch man was used. As expected, this was not as responsive as controlling the winch from the laboratory, which raised concerns about using the sledge. It was decided that for the remainder of the trip, only the drop frame would be used to survey the grounds. This, due to its design and working practice, would pose the least risk to damaging the TV equipment if an obstacle was encountered. Strong gales were experienced on 15 January, but by 16 January it was possible to head across to Portree and start working north through the Sound of Raasay. Once the lee from Rona was no longer available, the South Easterly wind proved difficult to work in, Outer Loch Torridon and Loch Shieldaig were surveyed, returning to Gairloch that evening. On 17 January four TV stations to the west side of the survey area and two fishing trawls were carried out (with poor results) before the vessel returned to Gairloch. On the morning of 18 January, Clupea sailed to catch the tide at the Pentland Firth, and proceeded to the Moray Firth to anchor off Burghead. Clupea set for Fraserburgh, after two successful deployments of the 'creel frame' were made. While this system was recording fauna interaction with the baited creel, six further drop frame TV surveys were carried out in the immediate locale. The scientific staff disembarked on 20 January after collecting data from 44 TV sites, 2 fishing trawls and 2 creel frame deployments. |
| Chief scientist | Adrian Weetman (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | RV0601 (10388) |
| Coordinating body | FRS |
| Cruise report |  (0.21 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | The Minch and Loch Torridon |
| Track charts | (0.05 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Crustaceans | |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Grab | Quantity: number of stations = 44 Description: Sediment samples obtained through use of a Day Grab. |
| Bottom photography | Quantity: number of stations = 44 Description: Towed TV sledge used to survey sites in the Inner Sound, Loch Torridon and Moray Firth. |
