FRV Alba Na Mara 1421A
Cruise plan
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) |
| Cruise identifier | 1421A |
| Cruise period | 2021-10-14 — 2021-10-26 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Troon, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Troon, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To carry out a dredge survey of king scallops in the Clyde. 2. To age, measure and assess shell damage for all king scallops caught. 3. To collect information on by-catch of other commercial fish and shellfish species. 4. To identify and quantify all starfish species in all dredge tows. 5. To collect data on king scallop ring measurements. 6. To collect king scallop meat weight and biological data. 7. To record and retain marine litter obtained during the dredging process. 8. To collect frozen whole scallops for heavy metal testing as part of the OSPAR assessment of hazardous substances in the marine environment. 9. To collect tissue samples for genetic testing. 10. To collect scallop shells to form part of a reference set for Scotland Procedure The survey will depart from Troon on the 14th of October with the aim of conducting a dredge survey of king scallops in the Clyde region. A preliminary survey to collect king scallop catch rate data in this area was carried out in 2019. A total of 47 stations have been selected (from the orginal 2019 survey) to repeat this year. The survey will also collect biological information on this species. Vessel drills will be conducted as required and the vessel will head to the first station. Hauls will be of 30 minutes duration. From each haul, all king scallops will be measured to the half centimeter below and aged. In addition, numbers and size distribution of commercial fish and shellfish species will be recorded along with scallop shell damage and starfish numbers and species. A sub sample of king scallops will be selected for ring measurements to enable growth studies. A separate sub sample will be dissected to collect biological data which will include examination of the gonad to try and ascertain spawning period. Scallops (10 individuals per station) will also be collected from selected sites and frozen for heavy metal analysis back at the laboratory. Any litter collected in the dredges will be recorded as set out in the standard operating procedure and placed in bags to be disposed of on return to port. Scallop shells will be collected during the survey at various stations with a variety of ages to form part of MSS' reference set of scallop shells. The survey will end on 26 October 2021 and the vessel will berth in Troon where all equipment and staff will then return to the laboratory. |
| Chief scientist | John Turriff (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.10 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland Unknown |
| Specific | Firth of Clyde |
