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FRV Alba Na Mara 1412A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1412A
Cruise period2012-08-13 — 2012-09-01
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLeith, United Kingdom
Port of returnLeith, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To assess abundance, length-frequency-distribution, and weight-at-length of demersal fish predators at 19 fixed stations in the area off Wee Bankie by demersal trawl survey. Samples will be retained for stomach analysis at a later date.

2. To sample variation in water temperature, salinity and fluorometry through the water column using a Seabird CTD sampler at 38 locations on and between the demersal trawl stations.

3. To undertake an acoustic survey of sandeels and clupeid fish in the water column using 38 and 120 kHz. Concentrations of fish will be sampled using the pelagic trawl. Species composition and length frequency distributions of fish caught will be determined. Sub samples will be weighed and their otoliths removed to establish length-weight relationships and age composition.

4. To conduct RoxAnn survey of the substrate along all acoustic survey track.

5. To conduct seabird at sea survey and survey of marine mammals along the acoustic survey track.

6. To assess variation in the abundance and composition of the zooplankton community at the 38 CTD stations using the dual bongo net (200 µm mesh).

7. To assess abundance and length-frequency-distributions of demersal fish communities at 15 - 20 new demersal trawl stations within the normal study area.

Procedure

Scientific equipment will be loaded onto Alba na Mara on Saturday 11 August at Leith Docks. Scientists will join the vessel on the morning of Monday 13 August. Alba na Mara will make passage to the study site to begin the acoustic survey. Work will continue over the next five days between 0430 and 1530 hours (all times UTC). Concentrations of pelagic fish will be sampled using the PT154, with the aim to fish twice each day if possible. Trawl samples will be worked up to determine the total catch at length of each species. Sub-samples of herring, sprats and sandeels will be weighed to determine length-weight relationships, and have their otoliths removed for age composition assessment back at the laboratory. RoxAnn data will be collected along the same acoustic transects to enable the development of seabed sediment maps. Seabirds at sea data will also be collected using standard transect census methods to determine the numbers of seabirds using the study area on a daily basis, and their distribution over the area. It is expected that the acoustic survey work will end on the 18 August in readiness for the half landing and crew change in Montrose (port entry times TBC with skipper). During this half landing the pelagic trawl will be exchanged for the demersal trawl.

The second half of the survey will be devoted to demersal fish sampling. 38 trawl, CTD and plankton stations will be surveyed at during this phase. Trawl (BT158) performance characteristics will be monitored using Scanmar equipment to enable swept area to be determined. Each catch will be worked up to determine numbers at length of all species caught. Catch size can then be converted to point density estimates. Size stratified samples of cod, haddock and whiting will be weighed to determine their length-weight relationships. Samples of these species will be retained for analysis back at the laboratory to determine diet and food consumption rates, energy reserve status and age.

A further crew change at Montrose will take pace on the evening of the 25 August (port entry times TBC with skipper) Alba na Mara will resume work to complete the remaining standard trawl stations before continuing to fish at a further 15 additional new demersal stations.

Fishing will cease in time to arrive in Fraserburgh by the evening of the 31 August. The return route will follow a prescribed acoustic transect. The scientific equipment will be offloaded and the scientists will leave the vessel.
Chief scientistPhilip Boulcott (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Project10861
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1412A cruise programme 1412a.pdf  (0.14 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificEast coast of Scotland; Wee Bankie.
Track chartsFRV Alba Na Mara 1412A cruise track — 1412atrk.pdf (0.12 MB) 
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
43  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Salinity of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column
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
Vertical spatial coordinates
Temperature of the water column
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.
11768272012-08-20 09:26 56° 27' 29" N  1° 50' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176827
11768402012-08-20 11:54 56° 22' 25" N  1° 40' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176840
11768882012-08-20 15:55 56° 7' 19" N  1° 20' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176888
11771122012-08-23 10:17 56° 12' 27" N  2° 30' 7" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177112
11771482012-08-23 14:51 56° 17' 30" N  2° 29' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177148
11768522012-08-20 12:39 56° 17' 33" N  1° 39' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176852
11770202012-08-22 11:03 56° 12' 33" N  2° 10' 1" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177020
11770322012-08-22 12:08 56° 7' 28" N  2° 0' 4" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177032
11772772012-08-30 16:11 56° 25' 8" N  2° 36' 16" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177277
11768762012-08-20 14:54 56° 12' 24" N  1° 29' 56" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176876
11769202012-08-21 07:16 56° 7' 27" N  1° 27' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176920
11770932012-08-23 08:12 56° 7' 29" N  2° 39' 45" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177093
11771362012-08-23 13:53 56° 17' 26" N  2° 20' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177136
11772042012-08-30 07:44 56° 22' 27" N  2° 0' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177204
11772162012-08-30 09:46 56° 22' 29" N  2° 10' 8" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177216
11772282012-08-30 11:06 56° 22' 8" N  2° 20' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177228
11769072012-08-21 04:43 56° 1' 38" N  1° 18' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176907
11769192012-08-21 06:25 56° 2' 31" N  1° 29' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176919
11770072012-08-22 08:20 56° 12' 22" N  1° 49' 59" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177007
11770562012-08-22 14:34 56° 7' 34" N  2° 19' 52" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177056
11771612012-08-24 06:22 56° 17' 11" N  2° 12' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177161
11772412012-08-30 13:07 56° 27' 28" N  2° 20' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177241
11768392012-08-20 11:05 56° 27' 32" N  1° 39' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176839
11771972012-08-24 11:00 56° 11' 35" N  1° 41' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177197
11772532012-08-30 13:45 56° 27' 43" N  2° 27' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177253
11768642012-08-20 13:24 56° 17' 19" N  1° 30' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176864
11769562012-08-21 12:23 56° 2' 25" N  1° 50' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176956
11770192012-08-22 09:01 56° 12' 24" N  1° 55' 57" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177019
11770442012-08-22 12:48 56° 8' 48" N  2° 7' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177044
11770682012-08-22 15:58 56° 2' 21" N  2° 29' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177068
11770812012-08-23 05:31 56° 2' 29" N  2° 22' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177081
11771002012-08-23 08:40 56° 8' 7" N  2° 33' 39" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177100
11771852012-08-24 08:47 56° 17' 28" N  1° 50' 6" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177185
11769442012-08-21 10:01 56° 2' 36" N  1° 38' 17" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176944
11769812012-08-21 14:46 56° 2' 26" N  2° 10' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176981
11769932012-08-22 06:41 56° 6' 43" N  1° 51' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176993
11771732012-08-24 08:00 56° 17' 30" N  1° 59' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177173
11768032012-08-20 06:50 56° 27' 28" N  2° 11' 9" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176803
11768152012-08-20 08:32 56° 27' 26" N  1° 59' 55" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176815
11769322012-08-21 09:06 56° 7' 30" N  1° 40' 0" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176932
11769682012-08-21 13:05 56° 2' 46" N  1° 58' 28" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1176968
11771242012-08-23 11:08 56° 11' 17" N  2° 20' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177124
11772652012-08-30 15:22 56° 22' 34" N  2° 30' 10" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1177265