RV Cefas Endeavour 15/21
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9) |
| Cruise identifier | 15/21 |
| Cruise period | 2021-09-10 — 2021-09-30 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Aims
1. To carry out a 4m beam-trawl survey of groundfish to i) obtain fisheries independent data on the distribution and abundance of commercial flatfish species ii) derive age compositions of sole, plaice, cod and whiting for use in stock assessments. 2. To collect biological data including maturity and weight at age of sole Solea solea, plaice Pleuronectes platessa, lemon sole Microstomus kitt and other commercially important finfish species as part of CEFAS' requirements under the EU Data Collection Framework. 3. To determine the distribution and relative abundance of juvenile and adult sole and plaice. 4. To collect surface & bottom temperature/salinity data using CTD and Niskin Bottle. 5. To quantify epibenthos and using 4m beam trawl by-catch. 6. Collect length/weight & maturity information using individual fish measurements, in support of the EU Data Collection Framework. 7. To collect surface sea-water samples for processing on return to Lowestoft for the analysis of tritium. 8. Collection of water samples using the Niskin at night to support PHD student. 9. To collect fish samples in support of Cefas and non-Cefas projects and training courses. 10. Retain any dead specimens of diadromous fish for the DiadES Interreg project. 11. Collect up to five samples of Queen scallops Aequipecten opercularis for biological sampling. 12. Collect individual specimens of broadtail squid Illex coindetii and Northern squid Loligo forbesii, these are to be frozen separately and will be used by a PHD student. 13. Collect plankton sample at the Gabbard smart buoy site. 14. Collect chlorophyll samples to test for nutrients from the surface water for the ASMIAC project. 15. Collect 10 to 12 samples of plastic marine litter for a Seedcorn project. 16. Collection of fish samples, 15 individuals of similar size of up to 15 species. 17. Opportunistic aim - collect sediment core and water samples at a site with ~100 metres of water in the Bristol Channel outer sector at the end of the trip. Narrative in attached cruise report. |
| Chief scientist | Stephen Shaw (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.44 MB) |
| Cruise report | (1.05 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Irish Sea and St. George's Channel Bristol Channel |
| Specific | Irish Sea (ICES area VIIa) & Bristol Channel (ICES areas VIIf, VIIg) |
