FRV Explorer 3/72
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Explorer (74EX) |
| Cruise identifier | 3/72 |
| Cruise period | 1972-04-19 — 1972-05-02 |
| Status | Completed |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | 1) Routine North Sea trawl survey
2) Environmental observations 3) Lay current meter moorings (omitted due to curlailment of cruise) Recruit haddock were well represented in practically every haul of the valid 42 trawls made with the 48' Aberdeen trawl. Recruit stocks were sampled in the Moray Firth, East and Orkney grounds. Non-recruit and industrial fish species were also sampled. Samples of gadoids (fillet,liver, kidney) were preserved for trace metals analysis. Whiting were examined for infestation with the oestode Gilguinia squali as part of the Parasitology Section's biological tag programme. Numerous other specimens were kept for the examination of parasites etc. Plankton was sampled using the Dutch Gulf III sampler |
| Chief scientist | Robert Johnston (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise report |  (0.12 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea Norwegian Sea |
| Specific | Fladen area, Ling Bank, Shetland, Orkney, main island coasts, Moray Firth, |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Description: thermosalinograph. |
| Bathythermograph | Quantity: number of profiles = 40 Description: mechanical |
| Water bottle stations | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: water bottle samples were taken for phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and silicate analysis. Pump samples were filtered for particulate carbon and chlorophyll determinations. |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Phosphate | Quantity: 40 |
| Nitrate | Quantity: 40 |
| Nitrite | Quantity: 40 |
| Silicate | Quantity: 39 |
| Trace elements | Quantity: number of samples = 12 Description: Sea water samples (41, unfiltered) were treated for mercury analysis on board ship |
| Contamination | |
| Other contaminant measurements | Description: parallel samples of whole fish kept for pesticides and pcb's analysis |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence) | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: water bottle samples were taken for phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and silicate analysis. Pump samples were filtered for particulate carbon and chlorophyll determinations. |
| Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON) | Quantity: number of stations = 40 Description: water bottle samples were taken for phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and silicate analysis. Pump samples were filtered for particulate carbon and chlorophyll determinations. |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: 13 Description: standard net trawl |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: 40 Description: dry weight;gulf 3 type sampler |
| Birds | Quantity: 42 |
| Pelagic fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 42 Description: Herring, mackerel |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Description: biological pollutants |
