FRV Alba Na Mara 1811A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 1811A |
| Cruise period | 2011-12-05 — 2011-12-19 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Leith, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To determine the abundance, length and age of sandeels in the sediment in regions east of the Firth of Forth and Turbot bank. 2. To collect and preserve frozen samples of sandeels for analysis of age and maturity. Procedure All required gear will be loaded onto the vessel on 1 December. Some relevant equipment will have been used in the previous trip and this will be left aboard. Scientific staff will join the vessel on 4 December. C Shand will remain onboard for the first week of the cruise to ensure continuity of care of the underwater photographic equipment. He will disembark at a suitable port of call approximately around 12 December. Two regions important to sandeel fishing will be surveyed, near the Firth of Forth and the Turbot bank. In the first half of the survey a series of 8 dredge stations (previously surveyed between 1999 and 2003) near the Firth of Forth will be sampled in the same manner as in 2008 and 2009. Further stations in this region will be sampled if time permits. In the second half of the survey, the dredge will be deployed around the approximate locations of station nos. 20-26 in order to sample the areas covered previously. In 2009 and 2010, enough exploratory stations were established in Turbot bank and surrounding areas. At all stations, the dredge tows will be repeated depending on catch quantities up to a maximum of five times. Dredge duration will be approximately 10 minutes. At each dredge station, all sandeels will be identified to species, measured and otoliths (5, 8 or 10 at different lengths, per half centimetre) will be taken for age determination. From each of the survey locations, sub-samples of 100 sandeels < 9 cm and a 100 sandeels > 9 cm (age 1+) will be individually frozen for later analysis. Following the completion of survey work, Alba na Mara will return to Fraserburgh for unloading on 19 December 2011. Normal contacts will be maintained with the laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | Robert Watret (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | SU02Nd |
| Cruise programme |  (0.14 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Firth of Forth and Turbot Bank |
| Track charts | (0.12 MB) |
