Resources

FRV Explorer 6/73

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FRV Explorer (74EX)
Cruise identifier6/73
Cruise period1973-07-10 — 1973-07-31
StatusCompleted
Port of departureAberdeen, United Kingdom
Port of returnAberdeen, United Kingdom
PurposeResearch
Objectives1) To survey the abundance and distribution of 0-group gadoids in midwater in the north western North Sea
2) To make routine observations on the organic and inorganic environments
3) To collect material for studies on the food of young gadoids
4) To bring back live 0-group fish for use in the aquarium
5) Samples of young gadoids from every haul were preserved in formalin for stomach content analysis

A shortage of crew prevented the ''Explorer'' from sailing till the 10/07/1973. A call was made at Peterhead on the 17/07/1973 to disembark and re-embark a member of crew and land a number of live 0-group haddock. A short call for mail and water was made at Lerwick from the 20/07/1973 till the 21/07/1973. A second call was made at Peterhead where a member of crew and the echo-intergrator equipment were put ashore
Chief scientistJohn R G Hislop (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory)
Cruise reportFRV Explorer 6/73 cruise report explorer6_73.pdf (0.09 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificMoray Firth grounds, Shetland Islands
Measurements 
Physical oceanography 
Water bottle stationsQuantity: number of stations = 50
Chemical oceanography 
PhosphateQuantity: number of stations = 50
NitrateQuantity: number of stations = 50
Total - NQuantity: number of stations = 48
SilicateQuantity: number of stations = 50
Biology and fisheries 
Phytoplankton pigs (eg chlorophyll, fluorescence)Quantity: number of stations = 49
Description: chlorophyll a
Particulate organic matter (inc POC, PON)Quantity: number of stations = 49
PhytoplanktonQuantity: number of hauls = 80
Description: 19 counts with a standard net, and 61 with a Dutch Gulf III hauls
Pelagic fishQuantity: number of hauls = 56
Description: O-group gadoid survey, young cod, haddock, Norway pout, whiting and saithe. Blue whiting were also caught. Approximately 200 live young gadoids of cod, haddock, whiting and Norway pout were brought back to the aquarium for experimental studies
Demersal fishQuantity: number of hauls = 56
Description: O-group gadoid survey, young cod, haddock, Norway pout, whiting and saithe. Blue whiting were also caught. Approximately 200 live young gadoids of cod, haddock, whiting and Norway pout were brought back to the aquarium for experimental studies