FRV Alba Na Mara 0718A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 0718A |
| Cruise period | 2018-05-17 — 2018-06-05 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Greenock, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Ullapool, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To further survey known populations of other priority marine feature (PMF) species within and outside the Small Isles MPA. 2. To conduct further assessments of Funiculina quadrangularis and Atrina fragilis abundance within the Small Isles MPA and areas outside. 3. To trial stereo-imagery systems developed by MSS. Plan Gear will remain on from the previous survey 0618A. Scientists will join the vessel on 17 May around 11:00. Weather permitting Alba na Mara will depart from James Watt Dock, Greenock, on the same day, heading for the first survey site. The survey will consist of a series of UW HDTV surveys of the seabed at various sites inside and outside the Small Isles MPA. The survey will utilise the modular camera frame (hybrid drop and lander frame - 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. Further sites outside the SMI MPA may be surveyed given favourable conditions. These are F. quadrangularis areas lying off Wester Ross and North of Skye and potential sites for A. fragilis sited near Barra. Survey operations will take place between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 (all times BST). Work will cease on the evening of 3 June to allow sufficient time for the vessel to travel to Ullapool (TBC). Unloading will occur on the 5 May. Scientists will disembark at this time. |
| Chief scientist | Philip Boulcott (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.63 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland |
| Specific | Small Isles MPA |
