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FRV Alba Na Mara 0508A

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier0508A
Cruise period2008-06-11 — 2008-06-24
StatusCompleted
Port of departureFraserburgh, United Kingdom
Port of returnFraserburgh, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To carry out an acoustic survey to determine an abundance estimate for sandeels in the in the water column. Three frequencies, 38, 120, and 200 kHz were used to aid species recognition. This acoustic survey also produced herring and sprat abundance estimates. Concentrations of fish were sampled using the pelagic trawl to determine species composition and length frequency distributions. Sub samples of the fish caught were weighed and had otoliths removed to establish length-weight relationships and age composition.

2. To carry out a demersal trawl survey to determine an abundance index for sandeels in the seabed sediment. This demersal trawl survey also produced abundance indices for herring and sprats, the two other main "prey" species, as well as abundance indices for the major piscivorous fish predators in the area, whiting, haddock and cod. At each trawl station, the length frequency of all fish species caught was determined. Sub-samples of sandeels, herring, sprats, cod, haddock, and whiting were weighed to determine length-weight relationships. Otoliths were removed from sandeels and clupeids to determine age composition. Sub-samples of the gadoid predators were retained and frozen for subsequent dietary and age composition analysis if required.

3. Simultaneously with the demersal trawl survey, hydrographic survey was undertaken using a Seabird 19 CTD sampler fitted with a fluorometer to determine spatial variation in water temperature, salinity and fluoroescence across the study area. Nineteen vertical dip stations were sampled.

4. Simultaneously with the acoustic survey, survey of seabirds at sea within the study area was undertaken using standard census methods. Protection of local breeding seabirds was one of the principal motives underpinning the sandeel fishery closure.

5. Whilst carrying out seabird at sea survey, all sightings of marine mammals (number of animals, species if possible, and their lo
Chief scientistSimon Greenstreet (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectAE11D
Coordinating bodyFRS
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 0508A cruise programme 0508a.pdf  (0.03 MB) 
Cruise reportFRV Alba Na Mara 0508A cruise report 0508a.pdf (0.13 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificFirth of Forth
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
44  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
9240852008-06-19 03:14 56° 2' 26" N  1° 19' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924085
9241532008-06-20 03:52 56° 24' 59" N  2° 35' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924153
9241652008-06-20 04:22 56° 27' 27" N  2° 32' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924165
9242692008-06-20 15:05 56° 7' 29" N  1° 59' 49" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924269
9242702008-06-21 03:09 56° 9' 7" N  1° 50' 41" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924270
9243982008-06-22 10:46 56° 17' 26" N  2° 20' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924398
9244052008-06-22 11:59 56° 22' 27" N  2° 10' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924405
9240122008-06-18 07:29 56° 22' 33" N  1° 39' 54" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924012
9240242008-06-18 08:20 56° 17' 38" N  1° 40' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924024
9241162008-06-19 07:30 56° 7' 24" N  1° 39' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924116
9243012008-06-21 07:24 56° 2' 33" N  2° 9' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924301
9243132008-06-21 08:02 56° 6' 35" N  2° 10' 46" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924313
9243502008-06-22 05:38 56° 7' 59" N  2° 33' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924350
9240002008-06-18 06:41 56° 27' 40" N  1° 40' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924000
9240972008-06-19 04:58 56° 2' 26" N  1° 29' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924097
9241412008-06-19 10:36 56° 12' 30" N  1° 49' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924141
9241892008-06-20 06:29 56° 27' 37" N  2° 7' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924189
9242822008-06-21 05:06 56° 2' 29" N  1° 50' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924282
9243492008-06-21 12:00 56° 14' 22" N  2° 19' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924349
9243622008-06-22 07:11 56° 2' 33" N  2° 29' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924362
9243742008-06-22 07:50 56° 2' 28" N  2° 22' 33" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924374
9243862008-06-22 09:27 56° 7' 32" N  2° 20' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924386
9244172008-06-22 12:50 56° 22' 25" N  2° 19' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924417
9240732008-06-18 13:39 56° 7' 28" N  1° 20' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924073
9241282008-06-19 08:06 56° 11' 36" N  1° 40' 46" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924128
9242082008-06-20 08:50 56° 22' 31" N  2° 1' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924208
9244292008-06-22 14:25 56° 22' 25" N  2° 30' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924429
9244302008-06-23 07:16 56° 17' 29" N  2° 30' 4" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924430
9240362008-06-18 09:05 56° 17' 35" N  1° 31' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924036
9241042008-06-19 05:45 56° 2' 27" N  1° 37' 43" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924104
9239972008-06-18 06:02 56° 27' 56" N  1° 46' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 923997
9240482008-06-18 10:43 56° 12' 21" N  1° 29' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924048
9240612008-06-18 11:36 56° 7' 46" N  1° 29' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924061
9241772008-06-20 05:44 56° 27' 28" N  2° 20' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924177
9244422008-06-23 08:04 56° 12' 34" N  2° 29' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924442
9244542008-06-23 09:31 56° 7' 28" N  2° 39' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924454
9242212008-06-20 10:13 56° 22' 29" N  1° 50' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924221
9242942008-06-21 05:55 56° 2' 35" N  1° 58' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924294
9241902008-06-20 08:00 56° 27' 31" N  2° 0' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924190
9242332008-06-20 10:59 56° 17' 46" N  1° 50' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924233
9242452008-06-20 12:47 56° 17' 25" N  2° 0' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924245
9242572008-06-20 13:30 56° 12' 28" N  1° 59' 51" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924257
9243372008-06-21 10:08 56° 16' 48" N  2° 12' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924337
9243252008-06-21 09:28 56° 12' 19" N  2° 10' 6" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 924325