Marine

MFV Ocean Endeavour: Survey 0315H Programme

April 9, 2015 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Compliance, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Research Vessel Surveys

Duration: 9-18 April 2015

Fishing Gear: Anglerfish Trawl BT 195

Objectives:

1. To undertake a coordinated demersal trawling survey of anglerfish species on the continental shelf and slope to the North and West of Scotland.
2. To obtain temperature and depth profiles at each trawling station.
3. To record and map distributions of megrim, four spot megrim and cod.

Procedures:

This trawl survey follows a set of protocols drawn up by an Industry Science Survey Planning Group, made up of Marine Scotland scientists and fishing representatives.  These protocols share much in common with the sampling regimes described in Marine Scotland standing instructions for demersal trawl surveys.

The survey track and sampling locations are shown below.

Trawling:

One haul of 60 minutes duration will be made at each sampling station; trawling operations will occur in waters up to a maximum of 1000 m.  The Scanmar system will be used to monitor wing spread, door spread and distance covered during each haul.  A bottom contact sensor will be mounted on the footrope.

Catches will be worked up according to the protocols for Marine Scotland anglerfish surveys which are similar in principle to Marine Scotland standing instructions.

Marine Scotland’s Working Time Policy will be observed throughout the survey.  A maximum of 13 hours per person will be worked per 24 hour period. Where possible trawling will be limited to the hours of 06:00 – 24:00 hours.

Hydrography:

A DST will be deployed on the trawl at each station to monitor salinity, depth and temperature.

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