FV Challenge 'A' Young Fish Survey 2007: Team 1
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FV Challenge 'A' (740E) |
| Cruise identifier | Young Fish Survey 2007: Team 1 |
| Cruise period | 2007-08-26 — 2007-09-04 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Skegness, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Skegness, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Aim
To carry out an inshore beam trawl survey to estimate juvenile flatfish abundance and collect data on small demersal fish in relation to the environment, in support of the EU Data Collection Regulation. Method Two teams of two staff working on charter vessels carried out the Young Fish Survey. The standard survey positions for each of the two areas were worked using a 2-metre wooden beam trawl with three tickler chains a 4 mm-mesh liner towed for ten minutes. At each station all the fish were identified and measured, the shrimp catch estimated volumetrically and other commercial shellfish species counted. Benthic species were counted at 20 of the standard positions for each survey area that were pre-selected prior to the survey's commencement. Otoliths were collected for ageing purposes from sole and plaice. Observations of temperature and salinity were also recorded at every station and dissolved oxygen readings were taken in the River Humber for the Environment Agency. Narrative Staff travelled to Gibraltar Point, Skegness on the 25th of August and loaded gear on the FV Challenge. The following day the vessel left Gibraltar Point to commence fishing in the Wash. 32 stations were fished in the first three days, one of which was an invalid tow. The survey stopped for one day to allow for a change of staff. The survey then recommenced on the 30th of August when the boat sailed from Gibraltar Point and fished the stations in the locality of Wells-Next-The-Sea. The boat stayed in Wells for one night and then sailed back to Gibraltar Point. During these two days, 17 valid tows were completed. One invalid tow resulted in gear damage. The last four days were spent working from Grimsby. During this period, 35 tows were completed with three invalid tows. 19 Environment Agency stations were successfully completed but the station at Reed's Island could not be completed after undertaking two invalid tows as the channel had changed. The vessel finally docked at Gibraltar point, after which staff then returned to Lowestoft on the 4th of September. The weather during the survey varied between fair to moderate. |
| Chief scientist | Stephen Shaw (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Project | Young Fish Survey 2007 |
| Coordinating body | CEFAS |
| Cruise programme |  (0.01 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.83 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | River Humber; Lincolnshire coast; The Wash; north Norfolk coast. |
| Track charts | (0.28 MB) |
