FRV Alba Na Mara 2116A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 2116A |
| Cruise period | 2016-11-17 — 2016-11-30 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Leith, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
To retrieve a series of moorings comprising dhan buoys (seven surface marked moorings) or acoustic release systems (23 subsurface moorings) and the acoustic recording devices attached to them (30 C-POD and 10 SM2M/SM3M) as part of the east coast marine mammal monitoring programme. Procedure Loading of all equipment will be carried out on 13 November when the previous survey (2016A) returns to Fraserburgh. Alba na Mara will sail from Fraserburgh on the morning of 17 November and make for the first mooring position. The ultimate order in which the moorings are retrieved will be decided in conjunction with the vessel master, but will be dictated by the weather forecast and the likely shelter that can be provided by the east coast. Acoustically triggered moorings that may have malfunctioned but can be located by echosounder will be grappled for using the creeping hook attached to the trawl warp. It may be necessary for Alba na Mara to make a partial unloading of retrieved moorings to ensure enough available space on the vessel. If this is the case the vessel will visit the most suitable port depending on her location at the time. Additional range testing of acoustic salmon receivers will be carried out using a small hydrophone system and a tag in Aberdeen Bay. Alba na Mara will dock in Leith by 30 November for unloading. Normal contacts will be maintained with the Marine Laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | Robert Watret (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.13 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | East coast of Scotland |