Resources

FRV Clupea 1206C Part 2

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Clupea (74CU)
Cruise identifier1206C Part 2
Cruise period2006-09-06 — 2006-09-15
StatusCompleted
Port of departureLochinver, United Kingdom
Port of returnFraserburgh, United Kingdom
PurposeFisheries
ObjectivesObjectives

To conduct a 'late summer' survey of a suite of sea lochs / voes impacted to varying degrees by nutrient releases from fish farming activity. This survey forms part of an ongoing programme of work to assess the potential for eutrophication arising from nutrient 'hotspots' linked to aquaculture. This will be undertaken by measuring the following parameters at multiple stations in each loch:

1. CTD and dissolved oxygen
2. Nutrients (inc. silicates)
3. Chlorophyll a
4. Phytoplankton
5. Shoreline macroalgae
6. Organic carbon in sediments
7. Algal toxins in wild shoreline mussels, phytoplankton and water

These determinands will be made available for assessment against criteria as defined by the OSPAR Eutrophication Committee and used for future eutrophication assessment of Scottish coastal waters. Data will also be compared to that collected during previous cruises and will be used to inform estimates of internal mixing within sea lochs/voes to improve laboratory models to predict nutrient enhancement from aquaculture.

In addition zooplankton will be sampled by bongo net from 1-2 stations in each loch and fixed in ethanol and formalin.

Sediment samples from close to fish farms will also be taken to determine the levels of metals, organic carbon and persistent organic pollutants.

Surface chlorophyll a levels will be recorded by continuously recording flourometer, within a tidal excursion close to two large open water fish farms during a 12 hour tidal cycle.

Narrative

Clupea departed Lochinver for Shetland at 0300 on the 7 September and arrived in Scalloway at 23:30. A single CTD cast and plankton sample was taken in Scalloway harbour (a long term phytoplankton monitoring site) on the morning of the 8 September before conducting survey work with CTD and plankton sampling in Seli Voe. Similar survey work was then completed in Weisdale Voe and outer Stromness Voe.
Chief scientistMatt Gubbins (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
ProjectAE11s-15d, AE1192-5d
Coordinating bodyFRS
Cruise reportFRV Clupea 1206C Part 2 cruise report 1206c.pdf (0.07 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W)
SpecificNorth Minch & Shetland
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 187
Description: CTD/rosette sampler
CTD stationsQuantity: number of stations = 187
Description: CTD/rosette sampler
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Description: surface chlorophyll over 12hr tidal cycle with fluorometer
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 160
Description: plankton sampling: 97 phytoplankton; 41 toxic phytoplankton; 22 zooplankton
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of stations = 35
Description: macroalgae
ZooplanktonQuantity: number of samples = 160
Description: plankton sampling: 97 phytoplankton; 41 toxic phytoplankton; 22 zooplankton
Geology and geophysics 
GrabQuantity: number of samples = 23
Description: Day grab, sediment, including 4 farm transects