FRV Scotia 0112S
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Scotia (748S) |
| Cruise identifier | 0112S |
| Cruise period | 2012-01-05 — 2012-01-20 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To undertake water, sediment and biological sampling for the Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP). 2. To collect water samples for nutrient studies as part of the Scottish Coastal Eutrophication Assessment Survey (SCEAS). 3. Undertake CSEMP sediment sampling in the Firth of Forth for SEPA. 4. Undertake WFD biological sampling at 3 sites for SEPA (Cromarty Firth, the Minch North, Sea of Hebrides). 5. WFD sediment sampling for SEPA - off Lerwick and at Hilton of Cadboll sites. 6. Undertake additional fish sampling for integrated assessment ROAME. 7. Monitor and record all litter brought aboard in all trawls. Sample water column and sediment for microplastic litter. Procedure After departing Aberdeen and completing all relevant drills and training the vessel will steam to the start point of the survey which will be decided in consultation with the officers onboard and taking forecast maps into consideration. At the 4 CSEMP fixed sites (NMMP85, NMMP95, NMMP105, NMMP165) sediment and fish will be sampled. Stratified random samples of sediment will be taken from one stratum on the East coast, four strata in the Fladen Ground, two strata in the Moray Firth, two strata in the North Minch and one stratum in the Sea of Hebrides. Fish sampling will be carried out within these strata, except for the Sea of Hebrides. Sediments will be sampled for chemical analyses at all locations. Sediment will be sieved for macrobenthos analysis only at the stratified random sampling locations. Fish will be sampled for biological effects measurements and chemical analyses. Some biological effects measurements will be carried out during the cruise. Additional sampling will be carried out at 5 sites in the Firth of Forth, in support of CSEMP sampling for SEPA. Five sites off Lerwick will be sampled for SEPA, for benthos only. Five sites at Hilton of Cadboll will also be sampled for SEPA for benthos only. Sampling in support of WFD for SEPA (phytoplankton/nutrients and chlorophyll) will be carried out at three sites. Surface water will be collected for hydrographic nutrient studies (SCEAS) throughout the cruise at fixed time intervals. Nutrient samples will be appropriately stored throughout the cruise and returned to the laboratory for analyses. In support of the Integrated Assessment ROAME both plaice and dab will be sampled, if present, in the outer Moray Firth, Montrose Bank, Shetland, North Minch and the Fladen Ground. Dab identified as possibly being infected with protozoan parasites will be sampled in the Moray Firth on behalf of Stirling University (M Freeman). Samples identified as such will be dissected and preserved for return to the laboratory. Monitoring of all litter brought on board during trawling operations will continue throughout the cruise. Testing of the sampling equipment for microplastics in the water column will be carried out in each of the fishing areas. Sites will be these will be within the CSEMP cruise track and will be defined in advance. Additional sediment samples will also be taken at all sites sampled for microplastics in the water column. Weather and time permitting extra sediment will be collected to provide a chemistry laboratory reference material. Liquid nitrogen and formaldehyde will be carried aboard for the preservation and storage of biological material. |
| Chief scientist | Marie Russell (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | ST03n, STO3q, ST002 |
| Cruise programme |  (0.11 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | Fladen Ground, Moray Firth, North Minch, Sea of Hebrides, Firth of Forth, Shetland, Montrose Bank |
| Track charts | (0.07 MB) |
