FRV Alba Na Mara 0508A
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |||||
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Alba Na Mara (74NM) | ||||
| Cruise identifier | 0508A | ||||
| Cruise period | 2008-06-11 — 2008-06-24 | ||||
| Status | Completed | ||||
| Port of departure | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom | ||||
| Port of return | Fraserburgh, United Kingdom | ||||
| Purpose | Research | ||||
| Objectives | Objectives
1. To carry out an acoustic survey to determine an abundance estimate for sandeels in the in the water column. Three frequencies, 38, 120, and 200 kHz were used to aid species recognition. This acoustic survey also produced herring and sprat abundance estimates. Concentrations of fish were sampled using the pelagic trawl to determine species composition and length frequency distributions. Sub samples of the fish caught were weighed and had otoliths removed to establish length-weight relationships and age composition. 2. To carry out a demersal trawl survey to determine an abundance index for sandeels in the seabed sediment. This demersal trawl survey also produced abundance indices for herring and sprats, the two other main "prey" species, as well as abundance indices for the major piscivorous fish predators in the area, whiting, haddock and cod. At each trawl station, the length frequency of all fish species caught was determined. Sub-samples of sandeels, herring, sprats, cod, haddock, and whiting were weighed to determine length-weight relationships. Otoliths were removed from sandeels and clupeids to determine age composition. Sub-samples of the gadoid predators were retained and frozen for subsequent dietary and age composition analysis if required. 3. Simultaneously with the demersal trawl survey, hydrographic survey was undertaken using a Seabird 19 CTD sampler fitted with a fluorometer to determine spatial variation in water temperature, salinity and fluoroescence across the study area. Nineteen vertical dip stations were sampled. 4. Simultaneously with the acoustic survey, survey of seabirds at sea within the study area was undertaken using standard census methods. Protection of local breeding seabirds was one of the principal motives underpinning the sandeel fishery closure. 5. Whilst carrying out seabird at sea survey, all sightings of marine mammals (number of animals, species if possible, and their lo | ||||
| Chief scientist | Simon Greenstreet (Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) | ||||
| Project | AE11D | ||||
| Coordinating body | FRS | ||||
| Cruise programme |  (0.03 MB) | ||||
| Cruise report | (0.13 MB) | ||||
| Ocean/sea areas | |||||
| General | North Sea | ||||
| Specific | Firth of Forth | ||||
| Data held at BODC | Get data | ||||
| Series/Profiles | |||||
| 44 CTD/STD cast | Reference numbers Vertical spatial coordinates Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies Reference numbers Vertical spatial coordinates Salinity of the water column Temperature of the water column Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column Electrical conductivity of the water column Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies
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