FRV Alba Na Mara 0109A
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 0109A |
| Cruise period | 2009-01-07 — 2009-01-21 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To improve the definition of survey area (Nephrops suitable habitat) by allocating TV survey stations according to Nephrops fishing activity based on VMS data and catch composition thresholds. 2. To visually confirm the presence of Nephrops and suitable habitat from video footage recorded by the towed sledge. 3. To collect sediment samples at each station. 4. To use trawl caught samples of Nephrops to record morphometric and biological information. 5. The TV survey will also be used to collect data on other benthic fauna. Narrative Scientific staff joined F.R.V. Alba na Mara in Fraserburgh at 1100 on 7 January 2009. A short delay was necessary to allow time for some minor adjustments to be made to the video equipment before the vessel sailed at 1230. Once in deep water to the north of Fraserburgh, the initial task of stretching and improving the lay of the umbilical on the TV winch was carried out by deploying the sledge and most of the cable then recovering the equipment under tension. The poor sea conditions experienced hindered the initial 2 deployments however, the third attempt proved successful, as did the following 2 stations, which were completed before heading back to port, arriving there at 1930. Three more stations were carried out in the same vicinity the following day, before steaming 40 miles north of Fraserburgh and surveying 2 sites before the sea conditions proved too difficult to work in. The vessel arrived in Arberdour Bay at 2000 where it anchored for the night. Working in a semi-circular pattern on 9 January, 11 stations were surveyed before heading back to Fraserburgh in anticipation of gale force conditions over night. Due to the weather, the vessel stayed in port during the following 2 days. Before sailing on the morning of 12 January, Martin Burns left the vessel and returned to the Lab, having completed his work aboard. The vessel headed west to find areas with more shel |
| Chief scientist | Adrian Weetman (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | MF01TA |
| Cruise programme |  (0.03 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.06 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | Moray Firth, North Minch |
| Track charts | (0.04 MB) |
