RV Cefas Endeavour 04/22
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9) |
| Cruise identifier | 04/22 |
| Cruise period | 2022-03-04 — 2022-03-31 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Falmouth, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Primary Aims
1) To carry out a beam trawl survey of the Celtic Sea, Southwestern Approaches and western Channel, deploying standardised 4m beam trawls (x2) and water column profiler. Station selection will be based on a fully random stratified approach with gears deployed at each station where appropriate. Catches from the trawls will be processed to obtain information on: - Distribution, size composition and relative abundance of fish, cephalopods, and benthic invertebrates. - Biological parameters of selected species. - Distribution and classification of anthropogenic debris. The data obtained from processing the trawl catches is collected in support of the UK fisheries data collection (previously the EU DCF) and will be submitted to ICES working groups and will also support other Cefas biological studies. 2) Carry out field testing of the new Gulf VII high speed plankton sampler and test associated electronics and software. Gear to be deployed when time and weather permits at the discretion of the SIC. Ideally, multiple deployment will be conducted to allow full review and testing of equipment. Secondary Aims 3) To collect fisheries acoustic data at three operating frequencies (38, 120 & 200 kHz) and multibeam data continuously throughout the survey. 4) To collect full depth, conductivity, temperature and depth profiles at each trawl station alongside surface and near-bottom water samples. 5) To continuously log sub-surface (3m) salinity, temperature, fluorometry and other environmental data using the Ferrybox. 6) To record details of surface sightings of any marine mammals, sea turtles and large pelagic fish, and record observations on jellyfish aggregations. 7) Collect water samples for caesium & tritium analysis under SLA22. 8) To collect biological samples and information for Lesser weever, Echiichthys vipera as part of a Cefas study on species growth and biology. 9) To collect King Scallop Pecten maximus shell height/weight information along with the collection of shell (flat side) for subsequent ageing and growth studies. 10) To collect specimens of Northern squid Loligo forbesi, Pink cuttlefish Sepia orbignyana and Elegant cuttlefish Sepia elegans to further Cefas studies. 11) To recover the lost Cefas beam trawl (from 2021) located off the French Coast north of Brest. 12) To collect phytoplankton information and images using the flow cytometer. Opportunistic Aims 13) To tag and release specimens of various commercially exploited skates (Rajidae) and other select elasmobranchs. 14) Collect specimens of selected species for ID purposes as well as length-weight measurements where still required. 15) All diadromous species (including allis shad Alosa alosa, twaite shad Alosa fallax and lampreys (Petromyzontidae)) found dead on capture are to be frozen and returned to the lab for analyses, marking samples with the survey, station and date to support DiadES project. 16) Collect a vertical ring net sample at the west Gabbard smartbuoy, contributing to the Lifeform project (Defra) as part of the UK monitoring network for zooplankton. 17) Collect tub gurnard Trigla lucerna morphometric photographs following SOP provided. 18) Collect selected benthic specimens for chemical toxicity programme, following SOP provided). |
| Chief scientist | Ian David Holmes (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.32 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | English Channel Celtic Sea |
| Specific | Celtic Sea, South Western Approaches (ICES Division VIIf, VIIg, VIIh, VIIj), Western English Channel (ICES Division VIIe) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 24 Description: Salinity samples collected at surface and bottom using niskin at 24 stations |
| CTD stations | Quantity: number of stations = 24 Description: 24 CTD casts with ESM2 profiler or SAIV mini CTD |
| Chemical oceanography | |
| Trace elements | Quantity: number of samples = 10 Description: 10 samples taken for Caesium/Tritium analysis |
| Other chemical oceanographic measurements | Quantity: number of samples = 14 Description: Surface water chlorophyll filtrations at 14 stations |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: 1 plankton sample taken |
| Phytoplankton | Quantity: number of hauls = 3 Description: 3 TTN test deployments |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of samples = 1 Description: 1 plankton sample taken |
| Zooplankton | Quantity: number of hauls = 3 Description: 3 TTN test deployments |
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 67 Description: 66 valid stations completed with 2 x 4m beam trawl, plus 1 invalid. |
| Taggings | Quantity: number of specimens = 9 Description: 9 elasmobranchs tagged with Petersen discs. |
| Other biological/fisheries measurement | Quantity: number of samples = 5201 Description: Length distributions of all fish and selected shellfish/cephalopod species at every haul, plus 5201 biological samples, including otoliths collected for ageing purposes for commercial fish |
