RV Corystes COR4/03
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Corystes (74RY) |
| Cruise identifier | COR4/03 |
| Cruise period | 2003-03-19 — 2003-03-28 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Lowestoft, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | The aims of this cruise were to (1) describe the impacts of trawling disturbance on the structure and productivity of benthic communities (2) examine the effects of fishing on the trophic structure of fish communities and (3) identify new sites in the central and northern North Sea for assessing the effects of fishing on the environment.
1. To sample infaunal and epifaunal invertebrates at a series of sites subject to different levels of trawling disturbance for production studies. This objective was not met in full because the NIOZ corer and coring wire were lost and because the replacement corer was inoperative. 2. To sample infaunal and epifaunal invertebrates and fish at a series of sites subject to different levels of trawling disturbance for food web studies. This objective was met for invertebrates and fish in the North West Rough area and for fish in four additional boxes at Devils Hole, the Hills, Barmade Bank and Indefatigable. The work if the Fladen Ground was not progressed due to the loss of the NIOZ corer and the absence of a replacement coring wire. 3. To survey sites in the central and northern North Sea with side scan sonar in an attempt to locate new areas for the study of fishing impacts. This objective was met in full. 4. To collect fish and benthic invertebrate species for stable isotope analysis. This objective was largely met. |
| Chief scientist | Simon Jennings (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise programme |  (0.05 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.22 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Measurements | |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: worked using a benthic dredge. |
| Zoobenthos | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: infauna sampled using a NIOZ corer. |
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of hauls = 50 Description: made using both a 4m beam trawl (20 tows) and a 2m beam trawl (30 tows). The tows were made to study the benthic food web. |
| Demersal fish | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: Epifauna sampled with a 2m beam trawl. |
| Geology and geophysics | |
| Dredge | Quantity: number of stations = 3 Description: worked using a benthic dredge. |
| Long/short range side scan sonar | Quantity: number of stations = 7 Description: surveyed using side-scan sonar. |
