Marine

MRV Scotia Survey 0117S Programme

January 4, 2017 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Compliance, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Marine Directorate Surveys, Marine Litter, Research Vessel Surveys

Duration: 4-19 January 2017

Fishing gear: BT 137 with Ground gear E;

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. Collect fish guts and any other biota of interest for microplastic research.
4. Deploy Aquatracka and Seabird 19 to collect fluorescence data.

Procedure:

Surface water will be collected for hydrographic nutrient studies (SCEAS) throughout the survey at fixed time intervals. Nutrient samples will be analysed onboard as far as possible. Any remaining at the end of the survey will be returned to the laboratory for analyses.

Fish sampling will be carried out at the Montrose Bank and Outer Moray Firth CSEMP sites. Fishing will also be carried out in the Firth of Clyde (Holy Loch, Hunterston and Garroch Head, Pladda) and Solway Firth (Table 1).

Sediment sampling will be carried out at the East coast, Inner and Outer Moray Firth, the Minch North, the Minch South and the Sea of Hebrides. 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). Sediment sampling will be carried out at the east of Shetland site abandoned last year due to poor weather. Sediment sampling will also take place in the Firth of Clyde (off Holy Loch, Garroch Head and Hunterston) and the Solway (Table 1).

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.

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. Additional sediment samples will also be taken for micro-plastics. Fish guts and any other biota of interest will be preserved and returned to the lab for analysis.

The Aquatracka will be deployed in the Forth and in at least one other area to obtain reference measurements.

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

If conditions allow, sampling (fish and sediment) may be carried out in any of the following areas; Faroe-Shetland Channel, Rockall or Bailey.

Table 1 Sampling

Tags: biota, marine litter, microplastics, MRV Scotia, Scotia, Sediment sampling

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