Genesis 1207H
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | Genesis (74GI) |
| Cruise identifier | 1207H |
| Cruise period | 2007-10-31 — 2007-11-09 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Ullapool, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Ullapool, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To undertake a nationally co-ordinated demersal trawling survey of anglerfish on the western continental shelf/slope using the BT195 monktrawl. 2. To obtain a temperature profile at each trawling station. 3. To obtain catch weights and length frequency data for both megrim (L. whiffiagonis) and four spot megrim (L. boscii). In addition, Norway lobster (N. norvegicus) numbers and weights were also recorded from each haul. Narrative The Genesis arrived in Ullapool on the morning of the 30 October and proceeded to offload her own fishing gear in readiness for the forthcoming charter. The net (BT195) and associated gear arrived mid-afternoon and FRS personnel aided by the crew were able to prepare the vessel in readiness for the charter. Setup was complete by early evening and the vessel was able to depart Ullapool first thing next morning (31 October) The cruise track as supplied by the project coordinator directed the vessel south through the Minch to the first station south of Coll. A strong WSW gale was blowing which initially slowed progress until lee was reached close to the east side of Lewis. Genesis was then able to proceed south with an improving forecast and arrived at the first station at around 0645 on the morning of the 1 November. The first station was completed successfully at a depth of around 80m and although yielding no monks the fishing gear and sensors performed well. Genesis then proceeded south to complete stations 2 and 3, which were located just north of 56 N. Again both stations were completed successfully and without incident and Genesis continued west on the afternoon of the 1 November still without catching a single anglerfish. Station 4 was located southwest of Stanton banks in a depth of 140 metres. Another successful deployment followed as well as 5 anglerfish in the catch. Settled weather conditions allowed good progress to be made although anglerfish catches overall were low. The settled weather continued until the evening of the 4 November when the wind started to freshen from the southwest. At this stage, Genesis was west of Gallen Head having successfully completed 23 stations without any significant gear damage. The wind shifted round to the northwest and continued to strengthen throughout the 5 until by mid afternoon it was gusting 40 knots. This was to be the script until the end of the survey with the 6 and 7 November providing very little respite. Although Genesis was able to keep working a consequence of the weather meant the last 3 deepwater stations in the north of the survey area had to be abandoned. These were subsequently replaced with shallower additional stations located nearby. Conditions were set to deteriorate even further with 80 knot winds forecast for the morning of the 8 November. With hurricane force winds less than 24 hours away Genesis completed haul 34 (station 35) before heading south towards the Butt of Lewis. Enroute, Genesis took advantage of a temporary lull in the weather and completed an additional station located ten miles NW of the Butt of Lewis (haul 35). The final haul (haul 36) was completed 15nm SSE of the Butt of Lewis by 2200 on the 7 November. By this time, the weather had once again started to deteriorate and a rough passage across the Minch followed. Genesis finally arrived back in Ullapool at 0300 on the morning of the 8 November 2008. |
| Chief scientist | Finlay Burns (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | MF0353 |
| Coordinating body | FRS |
| Cruise programme |  (0.08 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.39 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) |
| Specific | Continental shelf and slope to the west of Scotland. |
| Track charts | (0.08 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 32 Description: trawls for Anglerfish with temperature logger attached to trawl |
