Resources

FRV Scotia 0119S

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0119S
Cruise period2019-01-06 — 2019-01-21
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To undertake water, sediment and biological sampling for the Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP).
2. To collect water samples for nutrient studies as part of the Scottish Coastal Eutrophication Assessment Survey (SCEAS).
3. Monitor and record all litter brought aboard in all trawls. Sample water column and sediment for micro-plastic litter. Collect fish guts and any other biota of interest for microplastic research.
4. If possible, deploy Aquatracka and Seabird 19 to collect fluorescence data.

Procedure

The vessel will depart Leith on 6 January and after all drills have been completed will head to the first sampling station. The order in which the survey will be undertaken is weather dependent and will be decided in consultation with the Captain and Fishing Master. Surface water will be collected for hydrographic nutrient studies (SCEAS) throughout the survey at fixed time intervals (every 30 minutes for nutrients, every hour for ammonia and every 12 hours for salinity and chlorophyll samples). From the Forth to Berwick initially, north to Montrose Bank then following the sediment/fish sampling track. Nutrient samples will be analysed onboard as far as possible. Any remaining at end of the survey will be returned to the laboratory for analysis.

Fish sampling will be carried out at the Montrose Bank, Inner Moray, East Shetland, East Shetland Basin, Hebrides and Colonsay CSEMP sites. Sediment sampling will be carried out at the Montrose bank, East coast, Inner and Outer Moray Firth, East Shetland, East Shetland basin, Minch North, Minch South, Colonsay and Sea of Hebrides. Sediment sampling will also be carried out at the four CSEMP fixed sites (NMMP85 - North Minch, NMMP95 - Inner Moray Firth, NMMP105 - Outer Moray Firth, NMMP165 - Montrose Bank). Sediments will be sampled for chemical analyses at all locations. Fish will be sampled for chemical analyses, biological effects and fish diseases. Some biological effects measurements will be carried out during the survey.

Monitoring of all litter brought on board during trawling operations will continue throughout the survey. The catamaran will be deployed to sample for micro-plastics whenever possible and samples processed onboard as far as possible. Additional sediment samples will also be taken for micro-plastics where possible. Fish guts and any other biota of interest will be preserved and returned to the lab for analysis. The Aquatracka will be deployed in the Forth and in at least one other area to obtain reference measurements.

Sediment will be collected to provide chemistry laboratory reference material. Where possible, if sufficient suitable fish are obtained which are not required for other studies then livers will also be sampled for reference material.
Chief scientistUnknown (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0119S cruise programme 0119s.pdf  (0.09 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificEast Coast and Moray Firth, Hebrides and The Minch, Rockall Plateau, Shetland, Faroe-Shetland Channel.