To carry out an inshore beam trawl survey of parts of the North Sea and English Channel for juvenile flatfish year class size estimation and collect data on young demersal fish in relation to the environment.
Three teams of two staff working on charter vessels carried out the Young Fish Survey.
Team 3
Staff travelled to Gibraltar Point, Skegness on 30th August and loaded gear aboard the FV Challenge. Fishing was delayed until 1st September due to poor weather, Challenge sailed from Gibraltar Point and steamed north to commence fishing and a total of 13 stations including some off Mablethorpe and in the Humber were completed on the first day.
Over the good 2 days the remaining 12 Humber stations were completed in exceptional weather, before the vessel returned to Grimsby for the night. Challenge sailed the following morning and steamed out of the Humber and completed 7 stations off the Lincolnshire coast and in the Wash With the weather deteriorating and with the forecast predicting worse to come the decision was made to call off the next days work. Staff drove back to Lowestoft for the night and returned the following day. The remaining stations in the Wash and off the South Lincolnshire coast were completed over the following 6 days. Staff returned to Lowestoft on 10th September.
A total of 80 valid stations from a total of 84 were completed. Dissolved oxygen readings were taken at Environment Agency stations in the Humber. Salinity samples were collected at each station. Catches of 0-group and 1+-group plaice remained low throughout the survey area compared with recent years.
Chief scientist
Thomas R Woods (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory)
Cruise programme
(0.01 MB)
Cruise report
(0.81 MB)
Ocean/sea areas
General
English Channel North Sea
Specific
North East Coast
Track charts
(0.80 MB)
Measurements
Physical oceanography
Surface measurements underway (T,S)
Quantity: number of stations = 80 Description: Salinity samples
Chemical oceanography
Oxygen
Quantity: number of stations = 80 Description: Dissolved oxygen readings
Biology and fisheries
Demersal fish
Quantity: number of hauls = 80 Description: catching plaice