FRV Scotia 1409S
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | FRV Scotia (748S) |
| Cruise identifier | 1409S |
| Cruise period | 2009-10-23 — 2009-11-03 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Fisheries |
| Objectives | Objectives
1. Comparative fishing trails using GOV trawls (BT137), one rigged with ground gear C and the other with the new rockhopper ground gear D. 2. All catches will be worked up as per standing instructions. Narrative Due to the large swell running into Aberdeen harbour sailing was delayed until 1300 on 23 October. The vessel steamed North overnight to fishing tows in the Scalloway deeps on the west side of the Shetland Islands. During the passage, both nets were shot off the netdrums to tighten them up. The vessel arrived at Scalloway deeps on the morning of 24 October and commenced paired fishing tows with ground gears C and D. Due to the prevailing weather conditions fishing had to be suspended on 25 October. The vessel steamed round to the NE side of Unst and re-commenced work on fishing tows at Balta and NW Flugga from 27 to 28 October. Due to the low numbers of cod being encountered, the vessel returned to the west side of the Scalloway Deeps to fish new tows in an attempt to improve cod catches. However, numbers of cod were still very limited and with an increasing weather forecast giving SE gales the decision was taken to steam down to the west side of the Orkney Islands. Fishing continued on fishing tows at the North Shoal during 30 October but cod were encountered in very small numbers. Again due to an increasing weather forecast giving SW gales the vessel steamed overnight to Start Point on the East side of the Orkney's and continued fishing during 31 October. Again very few cod were encountered during these tows and therefore the vessel steamed overnight to the Moray Firth and continued work at Smith Bank throughout 1 November. Due to a NW Gale it was not possible to work during 2 November therefore the decision was taken to finish fishing operations and make for Aberdeen. The vessel arrived at Aberdeen Harbour on the morning of 3 November and docked at approximately 0100 hours. |
| Chief scientist | Robert J Kynoch (Marine Scotland Aberdeen Marine Laboratory) |
| Project | MF01ta |
| Cruise programme |  (0.02 MB) |
| Cruise report | (0.02 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | North Sea |
| Specific | Shetland Islands |
