FRV Alba Na Mara 0110A Part 1
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 0110A Part 1 |
| Cruise period | 2010-02-11 — 2010-02-24 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Ullapool, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To obtain estimates of the Nephrops habitat distribution in West Coast Sea Lochs, using sediment grabs and underwater cameras. 2. To obtain estimates of the distribution and abundance of Nephrops within these lochs using underwater video cameras. 3. To use the video footage to record occurrence of other benthic fauna and evidence of commercial trawling activity. 4. To collect trawl caught samples of Nephrops for comparison of reproductive condition and morphometrics. Narrative All scientific staff joined FRV Alba na Mara in Fraserburgh at 1000 on 11 February 2010 and the vessel set sail at 1500. After catching the midnight tide in the Pentland Firth, the Alba na Mara arrived at Loch Inchard at 0900 on 12 February. The day was spent working east to the head of the loch deploying the drop frame along the length and breadth of the loch, until at station 13 the density of creels halted any further TV work in that direction. At this point, the vessel retraced the path of the video survey covered earlier in the day, and at each TV site, a sediment sample on suitable Nephrops grounds was collected. After gathering footage from 13 TV sites and sediment from 11 of these stations (2 sites were found to be rock) the vessel tied up alongside Kinlochbervie pier early that evening. The following morning in Loch Inchard a further four TV sites were surveyed and four sediment samples were taken. Various technical issues relating to the video equipment were dealt with before heading to Loch Laxford around midday. On arriving at Loch Laxford the ship experienced power distribution difficulties that resulted in only being able to carry out TV work until this issue was resolved. For the remainder of the day the vessel surveyed TV sites within Loch Laxford before anchoring at the head of the loch. On the morning of 14 February, the video camera (model OE14-366) on the drop frame was replaced by |
| Chief scientist | Adrian Weetman (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | MF01TA/10066 |
| Cruise programme |  (0.03 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.72 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | West Coast Sea Lochs: Loch Inchard, Loch Laxford, Eddrachillis Bay, Loch Glen Coul, Loch Cairn Dhu, Cairn Bhain, Gruinard Bay, Loch Broom, Little Loch Broom, Upper Loch Broom. |
| Track charts | (0.34 MB) |
