FRV Scotia 1321S
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Scotia (748S) |
| Cruise identifier | 1321S |
| Cruise period | 2021-10-01 — 2021-10-06 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To catch representative samples of northern North Sea fish and shellfish communities from bottom trawl and scallop dredge gears. From these catches: a. To collect CCTV footage of unsorted catch from the conveyor belt (at different simulated belt densities). b. To collect quantitative information on catch composition and length frequencies of species. c. To measure, weigh and photograph 300 individuals of all commercial species using the CatchSnap photography boards. d. GoPro footage of simulated creel fish (mixed species) bycatch being collected in a fish box will also be recorded along with the lengths of the fish. e. 3D camera footage of fish baskets of single species will be collected to develop AI algorithms to estimate bycatch weight in baskets. 2. To measure, age and photograph all scallops caught and return the shells to the lab, where they will be aged by experts onshore (measures and age determination may be carried out on-board or onshore depending on survey staffing). a. To collect CCTV footage of unsorted scallops and by-catch from the conveyor belt (at different simulated belt densities). 3. To investigate possible causes of recent recordings of dead auks around UK coast by collecting abundance information on small pelagic species as well as biological samples of potential prey species. Procedure The fishing gear and scientific equipment for 1321S will be loaded on 30 September. Scotia will sail on 1 October and, after all safety drills, a shakedown trawl (<30 minutes) will be conducted with the cod end tied off to secure a catch to carry out a run through of the catch processing procedure in the fish house. The vessel will then steam North heading to fishing grounds around Shetland (48E8), weather conditions, and input from the Captain and Fishing Master will determine the exact start area. The survey schedule and operations will be decided by the SIC after daily consultation with the Fishing Master and Captain. Fishing operations will take place in daylight hours between 07:00 and 18:00 using known IBTS tows. The last two days will be spent in the Moray Firth firstly repeating 2021 IBTS Q3 tows for Objective 3 and for the second day fishing with scallop dredges before returning to port. There will be no staff transfers or a scheduled half landing. The survey will finish in Aberdeen on 6 October with all staff and equipment/fishing gear returning to the Marine Laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | Helen Holah (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.22 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Orkney, Shetland |
