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RV Cefas Endeavour 14/22

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Cefas Endeavour (74E9)
Cruise identifier14/22
Cruise period2022-08-03 — 2022-08-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLowestoft, United Kingdom
Port of returnLowestoft, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesPrimary Aims
1. To carry out a groundfish survey of the North Sea as part of the ICES coordinated IBTS, using a hybrid GOV trawl in order to obtain information on:
a) Distribution, size composition and abundance of all fish species caught.
b) Age – length distribution of selected species.
c) Distribution of fish in relation to their environment.
d) Distribution of macrobenthos and anthropogenic debris.
e) Surface and bottom temperature and salinity data using ESM2 profiler/mini-CTD logger and Niskin Bottle.
f) Length weight & maturity information using individual fish measurements, in support of the EU Data Regulation.
2. Collect surface sea water samples for Caesium/Tritium testing to be performed post-survey.

Secondary Aims
3. Tag and release specimens of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias, spurdog Squalus acanthias, tope Galeorhinus galeus, common skate Dipturus batis species-complex, blonde ray Raja brachyura and cuckoo ray Leucoraja naevus, in support of the ICES Working Group for Elasmobranch Fishes work to inform on stock units for demersal elasmobranchs.
4. To freeze any unusual fish species for subsequent identification / verification in the laboratory, including specimens of eelpout (Zoarces, Lycodes and Lycenchelys), sea scorpions (Cottidae, sub-area IVa only), and any unusual fish species, which may also be used in otolith research.
5. To retain any dead specimens of tope Galeorhinus galeus and common skate Dipturus batis species-complex for biological studies.
6. Retain any dead specimens of shad Alosa spp. and lamprey Petromyzontiformes for biological studies.
7. Collect fisheries acoustic continuously data at four operating frequencies (38 kHz, 120 kHz, 200 kHz and 333kHz), using the Simrad EK60 split beam sounder. The data will contribute to the existing 17 year time series of acoustic data in the North Sea and will be used as part of the Defra funded project Poseidon (MF1112) to monitor changes in mackerel Scomber scombrus distribution and abundance.
8. Cetacean observations will be recorded where possible and sent to the Sea Watch Foundation.
9. Identify to species, count, measure and weight all jellyfish caught in GOV trawl to allow the continuation of the North Sea August Jellyfish dataset started in 2012; As the dataset grows from year to year, this should allow the evaluation of changes in jellyfish community and biomass with time.
10. Collect squid egg samples to map spawning grounds. This could be highly relevant in studying squid stock structure. Retain any specimens of Loligo (not L. forbesi – keep all if in doubt) and all ommastrephidae squids (Illex, Todaropsis, Todarodes) for maturity and age analysis, respectively. 25 Alloteuthis are to be retained for maturity and age analysis.
11. Collect, retain and filter surface water samples from Ferrybox underway water supply every 12 hours (or once a day) for subsequent chlorophyll sampling in support of SLA25.
12. Zooplankton plankton sampling using ringnets to collect samples from the Gabbard smart buoy site.
13. Collect queen scallops (queenies) Aequipecten opercularis to allow for experimental work on ageing, for Length/Weight relationship analysis, development of length to height parameters and, to provide specimens to Bangor University for further work which will be made available to ICES WGScallop
14. Visual examination of livers for liver worm conducted on all cod Gadus morhua selected for individual fish measurements over 25 cm, work completed for IBTS.

Narrative in attached Cruise Report.
Chief scientistRichard Humphreys (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory)
ProjectICES International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS)
Coordinating bodyInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
Cruise reportRV Cefas Endeavour 14/22 cruise report endeavour14_22.pdf (3.12 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificNorth Sea (ICES Divisions IVa–IVc)
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 41
Description: 41 CTD casts with ESM2 profiler.
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 41
Description: Salinity samples collected at surface and bottom using niskin at 41 stations
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of samples = 22
Description: Surface water chlorophyll filtrations at 22 stations
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 71
Description: 71 valid stations completed with GOV otter trawl, plus 2 invalid.
TaggingsQuantity: number of specimens = 30
Description: 30 elasmobranchs tagged with Petersen discs.
Other biological/fisheries measurementQuantity: number of samples = 8218
Description: Length distributions of all fish and selected shellfish/cephalopod species at every haul, plus 8218 biological samples, including otoliths collected for ageing purposes for commercial fish