Resources

FRV Scotia 0408S

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0408S
Cruise period2008-04-15 — 2008-04-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To undertake a nationally co-ordinated demersal trawling survey of anglerfish on the Rockall Plateau.

2. To undertake counts of anglerfish and determine coral density using the Seatronics TV chariot.

3. To tag anglerfish with data storage tags and return them to the sea.

4. To obtain temperature and salinity profiles at each trawling station.

Narrative

On departing from Aberdeen at 1020 on 15 April, Scotia proceeded to a location off Peterhead where familiarisation procedures were carried out with the trawl gear and the Seatronics TV chariot. On completion of this work, the vessel then set course for the survey stations on Rockall Plateau, carrying out further training and familiarisation procedures on route.

Scotia arrived at the fishing locations at 0630 on 17 April and after surveying the potential tow with the ship's echo sounder, commenced trawling operation. Four tows were completed during the day but with strong southeasterly winds continuing, the vessel was unable to deploy the underwater camera at night. Scotia then proceeded to cover the stations on the north west of the survey area over the next two days and with the weather easing during 19 April, was able to deploy the underwater camera through the night. Five stations were completed at the southern end of Rockall Plateau on 20 April with the underwater camera being deployed within a protected area of coral and on the location of the first trawl for the morning of 21 April. The vessel then worked on the southwestern edge of the survey area with 6 hauls and 2 camera deployments being successfully achieved (within two coral areas). Due to unsuitable ground conditions, 2 tows were reallocated on the southern area and these were completed during 23 April along with 2 programmed tows. The underwater camera was deployed within the closed coral area during the night and the vessel resumed trawling on the stations off the southeast sector of the survey area. With poor weather forecast for a few days ahead, it was decided to move to an area east of Rockall where the camera was deployed along 3 proposed trawling stations in order to ensure there was no conflict with presence of coral. This was completed on the morning of 25 April and Scotia returned to trawling operations in the area west and south of Rockall but was unable to carry out camera work this time due to poor weather conditions. After completing 4 successful tows on 26 April, the opportunity was taken to carry out an additional tow in order to obtain live monkfish for tagging purposes. By the time this work was completed at 2200, the weather had improved sufficiently to allow Scotia to deploy the underwater camera in the same location. A further 4 hauls were completed east of Rockall on 27 April with the camera being deployed in an area within a closed coral box (north of Rockall). After completing the last programmed survey station at 1030 on 28 April, Scotia set course for Aberdeen, docking at 0700 on 30 April 2008.
Chief scientistKenneth A Coull (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectMF01T
Coordinating bodyFRS
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0408S cruise programme 0408s.pdf  (0.08 MB) 
Cruise reportFRV Scotia 0408S cruise report 0408s.pdf (0.09 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificRockall Plateau
Track chartsFRV Scotia 0408S cruise track — 0408strk.pdf (0.07 MB)