Resources

FRV Scotia 0421S

Cruise plan

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Scotia (748S)
Cruise identifier0421S
Cruise period2021-04-08 — 2021-04-29
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesObjectives

1. To undertake a nationally co-ordinated demersal trawling survey of Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and Lophius budegassa) at Rockall (ICES area VIb) West of Scotland (ICES area VIa) and the North Sea (ICES area IVa).
2. To record and map distributions of Megrim (Lepidorhombus wiffiagonis), Four-Spot Megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) Cod (Gadus morhua), Blue Skate (Dipturus batis) and Flapper Skate (Dipturus intermedius).
3. To collect biological data on Anglerfish species, Megrim, Four-Spot Megrim, Cod, Blue Skate and Flapper Skate.
4. To collect additional species distribution, length frequency and biological data in connection with the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF).
5. Collect and quantify all marine litter encountered on the survey as part of our MSFD responsibilities.
6. To obtain temperature and salinity data from the trawl using a CTD DST.
7. Examine catch for presence of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS)

Procedures

This trawl survey follows a set of protocols drawn up by an industry science survey planning group made up of Marine Scotland scientists and fishing representatives. These protocols share much in common with the sampling regimes described in the Marine Scotland standing instructions for demersal trawl surveys and the Manual of the IBTS North Eastern Atlantic Surveys. Series of ICES Survey Protocols SISP 15. 92 pp. http://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.3519. Fish house protocols and survey risk assessments with SARS-Cov-2 mitigation measures will be applicable.

Loading of all trawl gear will take place on the 06th of April with rigging and testing being completed before sailing. The trawl, supplied by Jackson Trawls, already rigged to the ground gear, will require a crane to load and can coincide with container loading. Loading of the scientific gear will take place on the 06th of April. Scotia will sail on the morning of the 08th of April. Once safety drills have been completed, Scotia will proceed to NE of Aberdeen where the first predefined station doubling as a shakedown trawl will be completed in order to check the net configuration, equipment functionality and the SCANMAR units. Due to the expansive survey area, the route taken to complete the survey will be weather dependent. An operational daily survey plan will be formulated by the SIC subsequent to meetings with both the Fishing Master and Captain.
Chief scientistRuadhan Gillespie-Mules (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise programmeFRV Scotia 0421S cruise programme 0421s.pdf  (1.09 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificRockall (ICES area VIb), West of Scotland (ICES area VIa), North Sea (ICES area IVa)