Marine

MRV Scotia: Survey 0116S Programme

January 7, 2016 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Compliance, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Marine Litter, Research Vessel Surveys

Duration: 5 – 20 January 2016

• Fishing gear: BT 101 with tickler chains; flats and rockhopper ground gear;
• Sediment Sampling: Day grab and sieves;
• Litter sampling: Catamaran neuston trawl; Plankton net;
• Water sampling: Aquatracka fluorometer, Seabird 19 and sled.

Objectives:

1. To undertake water, sediment and biological sampling for the Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP);
2. To collect water samples for nutrient studies as part of the Scottish Coastal Eutrophication Assessment Survey (SCEAS);
3. Monitor and record all litter brought aboard in all trawls. Sample water column and sediment for micro-plastic litter.
4. Collect seawater samples off Mingulay for Ocean Acidification ROAME;
5. Collect and process samples for Candyfloss programme;
6. Deploy Aquatracka and Seabird 19 to collect fluorescence data; and
7. Phytoplankton sampling for student project.

Procedure:

After departing Leith and completing appropriate drills, the SIC will liaise with the ships master to prioritise the working areas outlined below with updated weather forecast information.

Surface water will be collected for hydrographic nutrient studies (SCEAS) throughout the survey at fixed time intervals. Nutrient samples will be analysed onboard. Any remaining will be appropriately stored and returned to the laboratory for analyses. Water samples will be taken off Mingulay, in support of the Ocean Acidification ROAME (Fig 1). Water samples will be collected for the Candyfloss programme once per day and processed onboard.

Fish sampling will be carried out at Montrose Bank, Inner Moray Firth, Outer Clyde and Solway. It is proposed to carry out fish sampling in the Rockall and Bailey areas; if weather allows a sampling window. If these areas are fished then the Solway fishing and sediments will be dropped. An alternative fishing area is the Faroe-Shetland Channel.

Sediment sampling will be carried out at Outer Forth, East Coast, Inner and Outer Moray Firth, East Shetland, the Minch North, the Minch South, Sea of Hebrides, Outer Clyde and the Solway. Sediment sampling will also be carried out at the four CSEMP fixed sites (NMMP85 – North Minch, NMMP95 – Inner Moray Firth, NMMP105 – Outer Moray Firth, NMMP165 – Montrose Bank).

A limited investigation of potential sediment sampling areas will be carried out in the Rockall and Bailey sea areas (weather permitting – see above). If fishing is carried out in the Faroe-Shetland Channel then sediment samples will also be collected.

Sediments will be sampled for chemical analyses at all locations. Fish will be sampled for biological effects measurements and chemical analyses. Some biological effects measurements will be carried out during the survey. Phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish will be collected by the PhD student at suitable sites.

Monitoring of all litter brought on board during trawling operations will continue throughout the survey. The catamaran will be deployed to sample for micro-plastics whenever possible and samples processed onboard as far as possible. Additional sediment samples will also be taken for microplastics where possible.

The Aquatracka and Seabird 19 will be deployed at suitable points throughout the survey.

Sediment will be collected to provide a chemistry laboratory reference material. Where possible, if sufficient suitable fish not required for other studies are obtained during trawling, livers will be sampled for a reference material.

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Further Information:

Proposed Sampling – Table 1

Chemicals for Survey – Table 2

Figure 1: 0116S Sampling Areas

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