RV Cefas Endeavour 22/15
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9) |
| Cruise identifier | 22/15 |
| Cruise period | 2015-10-03 — 2015-10-21 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Portland Harbour, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Swansea, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Aims
1. To carry out the fourth in a series of five annual multidisciplinary pelagic survey of the Western Channel and Celtic Sea waters to estimate the biomass of-, and gain insight into the population of the small pelagic fish community (sprat, sardine, mackerel, anchovy, horse mackerel, herring). a. To carry out a fisheries acoustic survey during daylight only using four operating frequencies (38, 120, 200 and 333 kHz) to investigate: - distribution of small pelagic species - abundance of small pelagic species - distribution of the pelagic species in relation to their environment b. To trawl for small pelagic species using a 20x40m herring (mid-water) trawl (taking the Cosmos Foto and Engels 800 as back up) in order to obtain information on: - Species- and size composition of acoustic marks - Age-composition and distribution, from all small pelagic species - Length weight and maturity information on pelagic species - Stomach contents (see also 11 ) 2. To collect plankton samples using 2 different mesh ringnets (80 μm, and 270 μm mesh) at fixed stations along the acoustic transects at night by vertical haul. Samples will be processed onboard: a. Ichtyoplankton (eggs and larvae, 270 μm) of pelagic species will be identified, counted and (in case of clupeids) measured onboard and combined with information from maturity to identify spawning areas. b. Zooplankton samples (from ringnet with 80 μm mesh) will be stored for further analysis back in the lab. 3. Water column sampling. At fixed stations along the acoustic transect, an ESM2 (where possible fixed to a Rosette sampler) will be deployed to obtain a vertical profile of the water column. Water column profiles and water samples will provide information on chlorophyll concentration, dissolved oxygen concentration, salinity, temperature, inorganic nutrients concentration and the relevant QAQC samples for calibration of the equipment. Water samples will be collected and fixed on board for analysis post-hoc. 4. Seabirds and Marine Mammals. Locations, species, numbers and activities observed will be recorded continuously during daylight hours by two Marinelife observers from bridge. 5. Additional high-resolution ESAS observations will be conducted on critically endangered Balearic shearwaters and other seabirds. 6. Ferrybox Continuous CTD/Thermo-salinigraph/pCO2. Continuously collect oceanographic data at the sea surface (4 m depth) during steaming. 7. To conduct further experiments with the online flow-cytometer to obtain continuous data on phytoplankton functional groups in collaboration with project JERICO NEXT. 8. To collect discrete samples of phytoplankton and micro-zooplankton at predetermined 18 primary stations for further analysis back to the lab (species composition, abundance, biomass and size distribution). 9. To collect water samples for nutrient and TA/DIC analysis at one station per day in support of a programme on ocean acidification to continue autumn time-series in area. 10. To map the acoustically derived zooplankton densities using the new 333 kHz frequency and compare it with data collected under 2 (and where possible 7) as part of Defra project HAZARD. 11. To collect genetic samples of gut contents and jellyfish for a UEA PhD studentship aiming to identify and quantify predation of jellyfish 12. To collect and freeze samples of jellyfish for isotope work 13. To quantify the size, biomass, distribution of the gelatinous species as part of a collaboration with the NERC-Defra funded Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP) |
| Chief scientist | Jeroen Van der Kooij (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.35 MB) |
| Cruise report | (1.38 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | English Channel Celtic Sea |
| Specific | Western Channel and Celtic Sea coastal zone. |
| Data held at BODC | |
| Discrete samples | |
| 9 Sample taken from ship's non-toxic supply | |
| 3 Water bottle hydrocast |
