FRV Alba Na Mara 1108A Part 2
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 1108A Part 2 |
| Cruise period | 2008-10-11 — 2008-10-23 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Oban, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To carry out an acoustic mapping survey with ground truthing of the Lamlash Bay closed area (S.S.I. 2008/317) and adjacent areas. 2. To develop a Pyramid drop frame sampling system for scallop and associated habitat assessments. Narrative On Saturday 11 October, Alba na Mara returned to Oban, where she tied up at 0800. Scientific staff were exchanged, and Alba na Mara sailed again at 1105 and made for Arran arriving at 0240 12 October. Alba na Mara dodged to the east of Holy Island until 0730 before proceeding to Lamlash Bay where preparatory work for the survey commenced. During the day the boundaries of the survey area were explored, the CCTD winch spooling speed was checked, and initial trials of the pyramid frame were carried out. Alba na Mara then made for Ardrossan arriving at 1615. The half landing took place during the following day during which the Sea Star Survey team joined the vessel and set up their equipment. The following day sailing was delayed until 10:35 to allow for delivery of a sidescan component, freighted to Ardrossan overnight. Upon arrival at Lamlash a CTD profile was taken followed by preliminary sidescan sonar/bathymetry transects of the northern area of the bay, with one pyramid frame test. Over the following 3 days, priority was given to the sidescan survey with pyramid frame testing carried out as time allowed. By 17 October the North, Deacon Rock, and South sidescan transect runs were completed. The outer transects, to the east of Holy Island, were also completed apart from an area inaccessible due to the presence of creels. From 17 to 20 October priority was switched to ground truthing using the Sea Star Survey drop frame system. Drop frame runs were carried out by drifting over the sidescan transect areas. Deteriorating weather cut short drop framework on 19 October and a poor weather forecast forced a decision to make 20 October the last effective working day of the survey. This meant that the third phase of the ground truthing, using the Day grab, took place on afternoon of 20 October prior to the vessel returning to Ardrossan. It also meant that no further development of the pyramid frame could take place. Sea Star Survey demobilised on the morning of 21 October. After the departure of the survey contractors and scientific staff, Alba na Mara made passage for Fraserburgh. Severe weather conditions hampered Alba na Mara's progress on the return journey delaying her arrival in Fraserburgh until Sunday 26 October. |
| Chief scientist | Trevor R W Howell (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.44 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.51 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | Lamlash Bay |
| Track charts | (0.42 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Quantity: number of stations = 5413 Description: IC, 5413 at ICES(ENQ808f), Sea-Bird SBE21 Thermosalinograph |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Grab | Quantity: number of stations = 10 Description: Grabs for sediment |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | Quantity: number of stations = 55 Description: Sidescan transects |
