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FRV Alba Na Mara 1711A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1711A
Cruise period2011-11-24 — 2011-12-01
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLeith, United Kingdom
Port of returnLeith, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To undertake an acoustic survey of clupeid fish (and sandeels if present) in the water column using 38 and 120 kH. Acoustic survey will be undertaken in the Firth of Forth and off St Andrews Bay as indicated in Figure 1. Concentrations of fish will be sampled using the pelagic trawl.
2. To conduct a RoxAnn survey of the substrate along all acoustic survey track.
3. To sample 1+ aged sandeels at previously established stations on the Wee Bankie, Marr Bank, Berwick's Bank, and St Andrew's Bay using the sandeel dredge.
4. To sample 0 group sandeels at each visited dredge station by means of random drift Day grab survey.
5. To sample variation in water temperature and salinity through the water column using a Seabird CTD sampler at fishing and dredge stations and on the acoustic transect.

Procedure

Scientific equipment will be loaded onto Alba na Mara on 21 November.

The cruise will follow the following protocol:

Scientists will join the vessel at approximately 1330h on the afternoon of Wednesday 23 November to allow for an early departure time on 24 November. If conditions allow, the acoustic survey will take place over the next 3 days, covering the tracks indicated in Figure 1. Whilst undertaking acoustic survey, the vessel will start work at 0600h and finish at 1800h. Concentrations of pelagic fish will be sampled using the pelagic trawl for species composition, length-frequency distribution, weight at length and age at length analysis. Samples will be retained and frozen for subsequent sex, maturity, and condition analysis in the laboratory. It is hoped that there will be sufficient time to fish two to three times on each of the surveyed days. The CTD will be deployed each time that the vessel stops to fish. Additional CTD samples at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, St Andrews Bay, and off the acoustic tracks may also be taken, time permitting.

Once the acoustic survey is completed the vessel will berth at Rosyth Docks (provisionally, the evening of the 26 November). The vessel's routine will switch thereafter from day-time to night-time working mode, working between 1800h and 0600h. An additional member of scientific crew will join the vessel at this juncture. In the days that follow, Alba will sample as many of the dredge stations on the Wee Bankie, Marr Bank, Berwick's Bank, and St Andrew's Bay indicated in Figure 2 as is possible. The CTD will be deployed at each dredge station prior to deploying the dredge. At each station the dredge will be deployed twice. Total catch size will be determined and sub-samples examined to assess length frequency distribution, weight at length and age at length relationships. Further sub samples will be retained and frozen for subsequent sex, maturity, and condition analysis in the laboratory. Alba na Mara will then drift across sampled dredge stations before the wind between three and five times deploying the Day grab repeatedly until between 50 and 80 adequate grab samples have been collected at each station. All sandeels collected will be weighed, measured, have their otoliths extracted, and the 0-group frozen and retained for subsequent analysis in the laboratory.

Work will cease on the night of 30 November/1 December in time to allow the vessel sufficient time to be in Leith by 0600h.

Scientists will leave the vessel and scientific equipment and samples will be offloaded on Thursday 1 December.
Normal contacts will be maintained with the Marine Laboratory.
Chief scientistPhilip Boulcott (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1711A cruise programme 1711a.pdf  (0.14 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificEast Coast of Scotland (Wee Bankie)
Track chartsFRV Alba Na Mara 1711A cruise track — 1711atrk.pdf (0.12 MB) 
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
8  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
Reference numbers
Salinity of the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
11556142011-11-24 14:58 56° 8' 58" N  2° 39' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155614
11556512011-11-26 08:39 56° 11' 44" N  2° 36' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155651
11556992011-11-29 19:28 56° 24' 54" N  2° 26' 32" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155699
11556382011-11-25 11:03 56° 22' 31" N  2° 36' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155638
11556752011-11-28 01:09 56° 15' 10" N  2° 1' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155675
11556872011-11-28 21:18 56° 14' 16" N  2° 3' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155687
11556632011-11-28 00:09 56° 14' 29" N  2° 2' 29" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155663
11556262011-11-25 08:24 56° 27' 35" N  2° 18' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1155626