FFS Walther Herwig III 438
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FFS Walther Herwig III (06NI) |
| Cruise identifier | 438 |
| Cruise period | 2020-08-20 — 2020-09-04 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Bremerhaven, Germany |
| Port of return | Bremerhaven, Germany |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | As part of the integrated monitoring programme of the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology (FI) on contaminants and biological effects (incl. fish diseases) in fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea, studies were carried out in four Baltic Sea and five North Sea areas. In addition to the onboard examination of dab (Limanda limanda), flounder (Platichthys flesus) and cod (Gadus morhua) for macroscopic externally and internally visible diseases and parasites, a large range of fish samples were taken for a subsequent analysis of contaminants (organic, inorganic and radioactive substances) and their biological effects. Samples were also taken for the PlasM project on the contamination of fish with microplastics, as well as for the Fish Genome project. Samples of fish and other organisms were taken for a project at the Helmholtz Center Geesthacht on the "Occurrence and distribution of UV filters and stabilizer substances in the food chain of the Baltic and North Sea". Furthermore, hydrographical measurements were carried out (water temperature, salinity, oxygen content) and water samples were taken for measurement of radioactive substances.
Objectives 1. Studies on biological effects of contaminants 2. Studies on the occurrence of fish diseases and parasites 3. Sampling of fish for chemical analysis of contaminants 4. Tissue sampling of livers for subsequent histological and biochemical analyses 5. Studies and sampling for the project PlasM (microplastics in fish) 6. Sampling of different biota to study occurrence and concentration of UV filter and stabilizer substances (cooperation with Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht) 7. Assessment and documentation of litter items in the bottom trawls 8. Hydrographical measurements (salinity, temperature, oxygen, turbidity). |
| Chief scientist | Klaus Wysujack (Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology, Bremerhaven) |
| Cruise report |  (0.62 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Baltic Sea North Sea |
