Victoria May 0512H
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | Victoria May (74PV) |
| Cruise identifier | 0512H |
| Cruise period | 2012-07-28 — 2012-08-03 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Peterhead, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Peterhead, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To assess the performance of a standard Nephrops trawl incorporating a Faithlie Cod Avoidance Panel (FCAP) in reducing by-catches of cod. Catches from the modified test trawl will be compared to those retained by unmodified control trawl rigged with a 110mm square mesh panel (SMP). 2. If Objective 1 is found not to give a 60% reduction in cod catches then the performance of the FCAP will be assessed when rigged into a 'Letterbox' low headline trawl. Procedure Staff and equipment will join Victoria May (PD267) at Peterhead on 28 July. Prior to sailing one of the vessels standard Nephrops trawls will be modified to include the FCAP, which incorporates a 300mm square mesh inclined netting panel, fish escape outlet holes and groundfish hole. Throughout the trials, the twin trawl method will be used to assess the performance of the test net which will be compared against a similar unmodified control trawl. Catch comparison data will be collected using 80mm diamond mesh codends. The test trawl will be rigged with a 120mm SMP and the control trawl a 110mm SMP as per 2009 regulation. The intention is to collect length data for all cod, haddock, whiting, anglerfish and weight data for Nephrops but as available other species may be included. If after a suitable number of hauls the FCAP panel is found to be giving less than 60% cod reductions then it will be tested with the 'Letterbox' low headline Nephrops trawl (Objective 2). On leaving port, the vessel will sail to suitable Nephrops fishing grounds in the North Sea. Thereafter the vessel will commence catch comparison hauls for the remainder of the cruise. Ships accommodation will be used throughout and the charter will end in Peterhead on 3 August. Normal contact will be maintained with the laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | Robert J Kynoch (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | 10844 |
| Cruise programme |  (0.03 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
