FRV Scotia 1320S
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Scotia (748S) |
| Cruise identifier | 1320S |
| Cruise period | 2020-09-10 — 2020-09-22 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Ullapool, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To undertake the bottom trawl survey of haddock on Rockall Bank to a depth of 350 m. 2. To deploy a CTD at selected trawl stations to collect temperature and salinity profiles. 3. To record marine litter at each trawl station for MSFD Procedure The primary objective of the survey is to assess the state of the haddock stock on the Rockall Plateau. The Rockall haddock survey employs a semi random stratified survey design comprising four sampling strata separated according to depth. Sampling intensity within each of the four strata reflects the fish density observed in each of these during previous surveys. Trawling will be carried out during the hours of daylight at randomly selected locations within the 350 m contour. Forty primary tow positions have been generated. The number of stations within each depth strata is as follows: five stations at 0-150 m, 21 stations at 150-200 m, ten stations at 200-250 m and four stations at 250-350 m. Scotia will undertake a haul within a five mile of each station where possible or, failing that, choose an alternative. A further 22 secondary stations across the various strata have been generated to provide a source of additional stations and/or alternatives should any primary station prove unfishable. Where time allows additional hauls will be conducted outside our strata (at depth range 350-500 m) and 17 random positions have been generated for this eventually (not illustrated). One haul of 30 minutes duration will be made at each sampling station. Daily start times for survey stations will be at approximately 06:00 hours and continue until approximately 20:00 hours. The Scanmar system will be used to monitor and record wing spread, door spread and distance covered during each haul. A bottom contact sensor will be mounted on the footrope to monitor seabed contact. Catches will be worked up according to the protocols for International Bottom Trawl Surveys. A CTD will be deployed at selected trawl stations to collect environmental data covering the overall survey area. An array of three marine mammal/underwater noise acoustic monitoring moorings will be deployed on behalf of the EU INTERREG VA funded COMPASS project at a selected site in the Rockall Haddock Box. |
| Chief scientist | James Drewery (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.84 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) |
| Specific | Rockall Plateau |
