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FRV Alba Na Mara 1816A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1816A
Cruise period2016-09-23 — 2016-10-13
StatusCompleted
Port of departureGreenock, United Kingdom
Port of returnGreenock, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To conduct further assessments of Funiculina quadrangularis abundance within the Small Isles MPA and areas outside.
2. To survey known Funiculina quadrangularis habitat using the stereo camera system.
3. To further survey known populations of other priority marine feature (PMF) species within and outside the Small Isles MPA.

Procedure

Scientists will join the vessel on 23 September. Weather permitting Alba na Mara will depart from Greenock on the same day, heading for the Small Isles.

UW HDTV surveys of the seabed at various sites inside and outside the Small Isles MPA will be carried out during 1816A. The survey will utilise the newly built modular camera frame (combined drop and lander - 2460 × 1900 × 1940 mm, L × W × H) deployed from the aft of the vessel. Species type, species densities and substrate type (assessed visually) will be classified for each video transect post-survey. RoxAnn sediment data will also be collected at each site.

Underwater video of the seabed within established Funiculina quadrangularis survey boxes will be captured using two HD cameras attached to the drop frame. Post-survey analysis will provide 3D length measurements of specimens encountered along each drift transect.

Survey operations will take place between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 (all times BST). Work will cease on the afternoon of 2 or 3 October and the vessel will head for Mallaig. All scientific work will cease on the afternoon of 11 October to allow passage back to Greenock.
Chief scientistPhilip Boulcott (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1816A cruise programme 1816a.pdf  (0.16 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland