RV Celtic Voyager CV18033
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Celtic Voyager (45CV) |
| Cruise identifier | CV18033 |
| Cruise period | 2018-10-24 — 2018-11-02 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Cork, Ireland |
| Port of return | Dublin, Ireland |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | A multi-disciplinary survey of an offshore killer whale community that associate with the Northeast Atlantic mackerel fishery.
Objectives 1. Carry out a sightings-based survey to record marine mammal sightings and to determine if killer whale distribution is heavily influenced by location of mackerel fishing vessels and/or activity of fishing vessels (steaming/trawling/hauling/fish pumping) 2. Take high quality images of killer whales for, individual identification, estimating abundance, group composition, and comparison with ID catalogues from surrounding countries to gain insights into site/fishery fidelity and year-round movements. 3. Take skin biopsies to carry out genetic and stable-isotope analyses to reveal population structure and diet. 4. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling for genetic analyses. DNA will be extracted from filtered seawater samples and tested for the presence of killer whale DNA. 5. Collect acoustic data, specifically individual signature whistles with the use of a dipping hydrophone, for comparison with other killer whale populations in the Northeast Atlantic to further aid in identifying geographical range and population connectivity. Note: a towed Passive Acoustic Array was added to the survey to allow collection of acoustic data while in transit. 6. Gather drone footage to investigate foraging behaviour and movements of the killer whales around the fishing vessels to determine if a feeding hierarchy exists. |
| Chief scientist | Roisin Pinfield (University College Cork School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences) |
| Cruise report |  (1.76 MB) |
| NPRC | (0.08 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | East of Fair Isle |
| Track charts | (0.73 MB) |