Marine

MRV Scotia: survey 0715S update

July 3, 2015 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Compliance, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Research Vessel Surveys

The MRV Scotia sailed east from Aberdeen on the 3rd June to begin the Annual Nephrops TV Survey. Work commenced at the Fladen grounds, however after only completing half the planned stations the weather turned poor and the outlook even worse so the vessel made its way for the Minches. In considerably better conditions, stations down the west side of the North Minch were completed. The survey carried on just to the east of Harris and the Uists and then off Barra Head before turning east and heading for Coll, Tiree and Jura. Work continued in the Clyde in perfect weather, without incident and with only a few modifications to some stations due to the close proximity of commercial trawlers.

After two days working in the area MRV Scotia then sailed to the Sound of Jura where a number of sites were surveyed along with a trawl. Following a long steam, the vessel then returned to the South Minch and began to work up the east side, around Canna, Eigg, Rhum and off Mallaig, before working up the west side of Skye in to Dunvegan and Loch Snizort. Surprisingly clear of creels, these areas were completed before heading round into the east side of Skye and Raasay, where a trawl was also carried out. To allow work to continue through the hours of darkness in areas traditionally fished with creels, the vessel scouted out the next few sites before daylight faded, and with no buoys present the TV sledge was safely deployed and recovered throughout the night. The survey then worked west towards Stornoway clearing stations in open water before having the half landing in Stornoway on the 15th June. However on the morning of the 15th whilst finishing the last three stations, a fault developed in the cable which required the cable to be replaced. This was undertaken once tied up in port. The last ten stations in the North Minch were surveyed on the 16th before heading east and back to Fladen to continue the survey, covering the stations that had not been visited in the first part of the survey due to the poor weather.

With favourable weather through to the end of the survey the remaining stations at Fladen and Devils Hole were also completed as set out in the cruise programme.

Comments