Resources

FRV Scotia 0611S

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0611S
Cruise period2011-05-26 — 2011-06-15
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To obtain estimates of the abundance and distribution of Nephrops burrow complexes at Fladen, in the North Minch, the South Minch, the Firth of Clyde and at Devil's Hole. If time and weather permits, stations in the Sound of Jura and at the Noup will also be surveyed.
2. To use the TV footage to record occurrence of other benthic fauna and evidence of commercial trawling activity.
3. To collect sediment samples at each station.
4. To carry out trawling for Nephrops, based on one haul in each sediment stratum in each of the main survey areas, to obtain samples of Nephrops for size composition analysis.
5. To collect samples of Nephrops for comparison of reproductive condition and morphometrics in each of the different survey areas (functional units)

Procedures

The main areas in which the survey will take place have been surveyed on annual basis for a number of years. A combination of two approaches will be used to derive the survey positions. The majority of stations will be generated by employing the traditional stratified random technique in all areas except the North Minch, where stations will be created using commercial effort based data obtained from the Vessel Monitoring System. The location of all TV stations will be provided ahead of the cruise.

It is planned that the vessel will first steam to the deep water in the Southern Trench (in the East of the Moray Firth) where a training session in deploying the sledge and approximately 450 m of cable will be carried out. The sledge will then be recovered and when this procedure is carried out to the satisfaction of all involved, the vessel can then progress on to the first of the Nephrops burrow TV stations at the SW edge of the Fladen ground. Once the work at Fladen has been completed, the vessel will then steam around to the west coast and survey stations in the North and South Minches and the west of the Firth of Clyde before calling into Greenock for the half landing.

At this time, there will be a scientific staff change. On leaving Greenock the remaining stations in the Clyde will be completed before surveying the Sound of Jura (if time and weather permits). The remaining South and North Minch stations will then be completed whilst working north. If practical, stations in the Noup will be surveyed prior to carrying out any additional stations in Fladen (if required) before heading to the final survey area at the Devils Hole.

TV observations will be made 24 hours a day (except when trawling or steaming) by three teams of two people. Each team will work 8 hour shifts involving deploying and recovering the TV equipment, recording data and liaising with the ship's compliment. There will be a requirement for staff to review video footage at sea outwith their shift period, as well as assisting in working up trawl catches and data entry. At each station, a video camera mounted on the sledge will be towed along the seabed for approximately 10 minutes - dynamic positioning will be required for this. Records of Nephrops burrows, Nephrops and other benthic fauna will be recorded onto DVD for analysis. The depth and distance travelled by the sledge as well as camera height will be automatically recorded. Where practical sediment samples will be taken using the mini van Veen grab mounted on the sledge. However, it may be necessary to use the Day Grab on occasion, if the mini van Veen fails.

Trawl caught samples of Nephrops will be collected and data on size composition, maturity and morphometrics will be recorded. Up to five trawls will be made in each of the main areas surveyed. The trawl will be required to be cleaned by 'streaming' it behind the vessel for 15 minutes between the main fishing areas.
Chief scientistAdrian Weetman (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectRV1107, RV1108
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0611S cruise programme 0611s.pdf  (0.14 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
SpecificFladen, North Minch, South Minch, Firth of Clyde, Devil’s Hole
Track chartsFRV Scotia 0611S cruise track — 0611strk.pdf (0.13 MB)