Resources

FRV Alba Na Mara 1419A

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM)
Cruise identifier1419A
Cruise period2019-08-27 — 2019-08-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departureFraserburgh, United Kingdom
Port of returnFraserburgh, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesPrimary Objectives

1. To study the distribution of prey species (fish schools and zooplankton patches) across Smith Bank in relation to data available from BOWL post-construction digital aerial surveys and UoA PAM surveys of top predators.
2. To compare the distribution of schooling sandeels in summer with data on their presence in the sediment from the BOWL/MEOW winter sandeel monitoring
3. Recover two ADCP devices deployed in the BOWL area.

Secondary Objectives:

1. To collect hydrographic data to further validate the Scottish Shelf Model (SSM) and incorporate its outputs into assessment of drivers of predator distribution.

Procedure

All sampling gear will be transported to the vessel in Fraserburgh and rigged on 24 August. Visitors and MS staff will join the vessel the day before the survey starts on Monday 26 August. Provided all vessel stores are loaded, Alba na Mara will make her way to the survey area during the pm of 26 August to maximise available survey time. This survey will operate a daily working timetable of 06:00 to 18:00 hours. On Tuesday 27 August, Alba na Mara will begin surveying at the first transect in the BOWL wind farm. The survey will finish on 29 August in Fraserburgh and all staff, scientific equipment and collected samples will be returned to the Marine laboratory on 30 August.

Contact will be maintained with the MEOW and BOWL operations teams throughout the survey and before any work commences. Alba na Mara will conduct an acoustic survey at an average speed of 8 knots along key transects between wind farm turbine rows, to capture data on mid-water feeding sandeels using all available frequencies from the EK60 echo sounder. Concurrent seabird and cetacean visual surveys will collect predator data during the transects. Pelagic sampling for sandeels using the PT154 will normally be conducted early on in the day. Sandeel dredge tows or Day grabs will be deployed as a back-up if required.

Fishing haul positions will be chosen along the survey transects but not necessarily in the same orientation. Plankton sampling will be conducted using the dual bongo net, fitted with mesh sizes of 200 and 68 µm. Collected samples will be preserved in each of: 70% alcohol, 4% formaldehyde and frozen in vital stain neutral red.

Sampling positions have been selected to cover the southern part of the BOWL area based on the survey transect lines. Three of the selected positions will be prioritised and the two remaining ones will be done if time allows. The two ADCP devices will be retrieved during the survey when possible. This survey continues the work undertaken during Alba na Mara survey 0919A.
Chief scientistRobert Watret (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Alba Na Mara 1419A cruise programme 1419a.pdf  (0.49 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
Unknown
SpecificSmith Bank
Data held at BODC Get data
Series/Profiles 
11  CTD/STD cast
Reference numbers
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column
Reference numbers
Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column
Temperature of the water column
Vertical spatial coordinates
Salinity of the water column
Density of the water column
Electrical conductivity of the water column

BODC idDate/TimeLocationDoc.
20353572019-08-27 10:28 58° 14' 41" N  3° 7' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035357
20353702019-08-27 13:16 58° 10' 5" N  2° 56' 48" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035370
20354132019-08-28 14:29 58° 14' 55" N  2° 51' 26" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035413
20353692019-08-27 12:31 58° 10' 18" N  2° 49' 5" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035369
20354252019-08-28 14:45 58° 14' 52" N  2° 51' 11" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035425
20353452019-08-27 08:32 58° 8' 5" N  2° 52' 18" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035345
20354012019-08-28 09:24 58° 18' 17" N  2° 43' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035401
20353822019-08-28 06:57 58° 22' 48" N  2° 53' 53" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035382
20353942019-08-28 09:05 58° 18' 17" N  2° 43' 23" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035394
20354492019-08-29 12:27 58° 9' 20" N  2° 38' 58" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035449
20354372019-08-29 12:12 58° 9' 9" N  2° 38' 57" W  View metadata report for BODC series reference number 2035437