RV Cefas Endeavour 03/19
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9) |
| Cruise identifier | 03/19 |
| Cruise period | 2019-02-05 — 2019-03-13 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Falmouth, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Aims
1. To carry out an otter trawl survey of the demersal fisheries resources in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel to assess stock identity and to provide more robust data to improve commercial fish stock assessments using a Jackson 19 otter trawl, standardised for fisheries monitoring purposes. The main aims are to examine: a) Distribution, size composition and abundance of all fish species caught. b) Age - length distribution of selected species. c) Distribution of fish in relation to their environment. d) Distribution of macrobenthos and anthropogenic debris. e) Surface and bottom temperature and salinity data using CTD. f) Length weight & maturity information using individual fish measurements consistent with requirements of the EU Data Regulation. 2. To collect multibeam data and fisheries acoustic data at three operating frequencies (38, 120 & 200 kHz) and continuously throughout the survey if this does not result in interference between the two systems - multibeam data acquisition takes priority over acoustic data that being the case. These data will be used to determine the spatial scale of various habitats. All data will be stored as raw files, but also maintained individually in Olex to aid the subsequent beam trawl survey fishing the same stations on the following survey. 3. All dead shad (allis and twaite) and all dead lampreys are to be frozen and returned to the lab for analyses, marking samples with the survey, station and date. 4. Tag and release rays where possible (e.g. undulate, cuckoo, and blonde rays and common skate). 5. To report on cetaceans and seabird observations, in conjunction with the SeaWatch Foundation and MarineLife. 6. Collect a vertical ring net sample at the west Gabbard smartbuoy, contributing to the Lifeform project (Defra) as part of the UK monitoring network for zooplankton. 7. To electronically tag and release specimens of Starry smooth-hound for Defra project (tbc) 8. Collect dead specimens of selected species for ID purposes as well as length-weight measurements where required. 9. Test the feasibility of using the CALPS system to collect microplastic samples from the Ferrybox water supply. Narrative in attached cruise report. |
| Chief scientist | Benjamin Hatton (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory), Louise Straker Cox (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.23 MB) |
| Cruise report | (2.20 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | English Channel Bristol Channel Celtic Sea |
| Specific | Celtic Seas/western English Channel (ICES areas 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j) |
| Track charts | (0.29 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of profiles = 51 Description: 51 CTD casts; 41 with ESM2 profiler and 10 with CTD only |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of samples = 41 Description: Salinity samples collected at surface and bottom using niskin at 41 stations |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of hauls = 1 Description: 1 station completed with 200 micrometre plankton ring net. Sample retained for a secondary aim. |
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 103 Description: 103 stations completed with monk otter trawl, 6 invalid and 1 additional. |
| Taggings | Quantity: number of specimens = 488 Description: 488 elasmobranchs tagged with Petersen discs |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of samples = 6778 Description: Length distributions of all fish and selected shellfish/cephalopod species at every haul, plus 6778 biological samples, including otoliths collected for ageing purposes for commercial fish |
| Moorings, landers, buoys | |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Zooplankton | 51° 57' 34" N 2° 6' 52" E — 200µ vertical ring net dip |
