Resources

FRV Alba Na Mara 1916A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1916A
Cruise period2016-10-15 — 2016-10-31
StatusCompleted
Port of departureGreenock, United Kingdom
Port of returnFraserburgh, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To conduct an acoustic survey designed to survey both the open and enclosed areas of the Clyde to ultimately provide an estimate of the abundance and distribution of herring and sprat.
2. To obtain samples of herring and sprat for biological analysis, including age, length, weight, sex, maturity and ichthyophonus infection.
3. All other species caught will be measured for length and weight to establish a length weight relationship.
4. CTD profiles will be taken at the end of each trawl.
5. Data will be gathered on cetaceans using a towed passive acoustic array.

Procedure

Fishing gear will be transported to Greenock by lorry on 13 October and loaded onto the vessel. Scientific staff will travel by lab vehicle to join the vessel in Greenock on 14 October. The vessel will commence the survey on 15 October at the earliest opportunity once all relevant safety drills have been completed.

The survey will be carried out within an area bounded by approx. 55°N to 56°N and 04° 40' W to 05° 40' W. Echointegration will be carried out at 38, 120 and 200 kHz. Data gathered in the hours of darkness will not be used for stock assessment. Trawling operations will be carried out as and when marks are identified. Otoliths will be collected from a sub-sample of the herring and sprat to determine age. The maturity state and presence of Icthyophonus infection will also be recorded.
A CTD profile will be taken at the end of each trawl.

The track will be similar to that carried out on the previous surveys. A passive acoustic array will be towed during the survey, to detect the presence of cetaceans throughout the survey area. TSG data will be gathered during the survey. The survey will involve following a pre-set survey pattern, at a steaming speed of 8 knots. At the end of the survey the vessel will aim to be in Fraserburgh for the morning of the 31 October.
Chief scientistEric Armstrong (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1916A cruise programme 1916a.pdf  (0.07 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
SpecificFirth of Clyde
Track chartsFRV Alba Na Mara 1916A cruise track — 1916atrk.pdf (0.08 MB) 
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
17  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Reference numbers
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
19075282016-10-17 08:20 55° 48' 40" N  5° 17' 47" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907528
19076212016-10-22 10:04 55° 39' 51" N  4° 53' 14" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907621
19076452016-10-23 09:27 55° 26' 23" N  4° 51' 25" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907645
19075772016-10-19 12:21 55° 16' 40" N  5° 16' 13" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907577
19076082016-10-21 11:33 55° 37' 10" N  5° 4' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907608
19075162016-10-16 11:36 55° 56' 23" N  5° 4' 37" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907516
19075532016-10-18 07:42 56° 4' 4" N  5° 16' 40" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907553
19075892016-10-20 08:30 55° 26' 39" N  5° 0' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907589
19076332016-10-22 11:55 55° 34' 31" N  4° 48' 21" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907633
19076692016-10-24 09:27 55° 5' 53" N  5° 12' 2" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907669
19076822016-10-26 13:52 55° 20' 21" N  5° 22' 31" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907682
19075042016-10-15 13:05 55° 46' 54" N  4° 58' 36" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907504
19075902016-10-21 09:54 55° 34' 21" N  4° 55' 34" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907590
19076572016-10-23 12:53 55° 20' 53" N  4° 57' 3" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907657
19076702016-10-25 11:34 55° 7' 32" N  5° 28' 41" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907670
19075652016-10-19 08:41 55° 25' 4" N  5° 26' 50" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907565
19075412016-10-17 13:41 56° 10' 47" N  5° 5' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 1907541