Resources

Thalassa CGFS2019

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)Thalassa (35HT)
Cruise identifierCGFS2019
Cruise period2019-09-15 — 2019-10-17
StatusCompleted
Port of departureBrest, France
Port of returnBoulogne, France
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesSince 1988, IFREMER has carried out a pluri-annual program to estimate recruitment and demography structure of the main commercial fish populations in the English Channel. These data are collected annually during the bottom trawl survey CGFS (Channel Ground Fish Survey), as part of the EU DCMAP (Data Collection Multi-Annual Programme). While the time series initially concerned the eastern part of the English Channel, the western part of this area is now included in the survey coverage. This scientific survey investigates the fish community composition and spatial distribution and collects biological information needed for stock assessments by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) working groups. From 2015 onwards, CGFS has taken place on the R/V Thalassa, allowing a broader sampling of the ecosystem, notably physico-chemical measurements and phyto-, zoo- and ichthyoplankton samples. Benthic invertebrates, litter and jellyfish are also recorded as part as the MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) requirements. The data and samples collected during this survey are also used to determinate the relationship between environmental parameters and species abundance to identified their optimal habitats, and to determine the links between the populations inhabiting this ecosystem, in order to estimate its trophic structure and functioning.
Chief scientistDidier Le Roy (IFREMER, Brest)
ProjectICES International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS)
Coordinating bodyInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
NPRCThalassa CGFS2019 NPRC thalassa_cgfs2019.pdf (0.21 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralEnglish Channel
SpecificEnglish Channel from 48.30N, 6.5W to 51.0N, 2.0E