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RV Prince Madog PD18/03

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)RV Prince Madog (74P2)
Cruise identifierPD18/03
Cruise period2003-04-28 — 2003-04-30
StatusCompleted
Port of departureMenai Bridge, United Kingdom
Port of returnMenai Bridge, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesCEFAS charter. Last in a series of five plankton surveys in the eastern Irish Sea in 2003 to:
1. Collect plankton samples for determination of plaice egg spawning and production.
2. Collect zooplankton samples for copepod production and fish larval feeding studies.
Chief scientistNatasha Bunn (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory)
ProjectSpatially structured population modelling of Irish Sea plaice
Cruise reportRV Prince Madog PD18/03 cruise report pd5_03.pdf (0.08 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralIrish Sea and St. George's Channel
Specificeastern Irish Sea
Track chartsRV Prince Madog PD18/03 cruise track — pm5_03trk.pdf (0.06 MB) 
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 41
Description: FSI mini-CTD attached to sampler frame to provide profile of conductivity, temperature and depth. Purpose to monitor/ provide information on environmental parameters.
Subsurface temperature and salinity measurementsQuantity: number of stations = 13
Description: Samples of sea water from surface/near surface collected during selected tows. Analysed ashore for conductivity to compare to CTD measurements.
Biology and fisheries 
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of stations = 41
Description: Samples collected in 80um mesh net attached to main plankton sampler and preserved in 4% formalin. Samples to be stored for future analysis to provide information on copepod production and fish larval feeding.
Eggs and larvaeQuantity: number of stations = 41
Description: Samples collected using Gulf VII unencased plankton sampler, towed from surface to near bottom in 'V' shaped profile. Volume of water filtered calculated from self-logging flowmeters inside nosecone. Eggs and larvae collected in 270um mesh net and preserved in formalin for later analysis. Purpose of analysis - to identify and quantify eggs and larvae.