FRV Scotia 1017S
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Scotia (748S) |
| Cruise identifier | 1017S |
| Cruise period | 2017-07-31 — 2017-08-07 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Scrabster, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To deploy a passive acoustic device on Rosemary Bank. 2. To collect data on bird and marine mammal observations along transects at three locations: Rosemary bank, the shelf edge and towards Rockall. 3. To obtain sounder data whilst observing. 4. To obtain thermosalinograph data whilst observing. The survey is part of EXPOMAR which aims to bring together multiple offshore research and monitoring requirements under one streamlined project. EXPOMAR aims to deliver a combination of new exploration, development work, continued established monitoring and spatial planning of the deep sea and offshore environment. The vast proportion of Scotland's waters lie beyond the 12 nautical mile territorial limit and are thus classed as 'offshore'. A number of offshore marine protected areas and special areas of conservation have been designated and these now need to be managed in relation to human activities such as fishing and oil and gas exploration and extraction. Monitoring is required to assess these management needs and determine their effectiveness as well as being a statutory requirement for reporting to Scottish Parliament, the European Commission and OSPAR. It has been identified that there is limited information on ornithology and marine mammal observations and detections from these offshore waters. This survey aims to gain a better understanding of birds and marine mammals West of Scotland, with a focus on the Rosemary Bank Seamount MPA but also including the shelf edge and the area from the shelf edge towards Rockall through observations made by trained observers and the deployment of a passive acoustic device that can detect marine mammal vocalisations. Additional information will be collected on identifiable fish aggregations through the use of the ships sounder and also on sea temperature and salinity through the use of the thermosalinograph. |
| Chief scientist | Adrian Tait (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.55 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) |
| Specific | Rosemary Bank. Rockall. |
