Marine

MRV Alba na Mara Survey 0517A Programme

April 6, 2017 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Fisheries, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Marine Directorate Surveys, Research Vessel Surveys

Duration: 06 – 26 April 2017

Fishing Gear: Scallop Dredges

Objectives:

1. To carry out a survey of scallop stocks on the West Coast.
2. To age, measure and assess shell damage on all scallops caught.
3. To Identify and sample additional areas of commercial interest to the scallop fishery.
4. To collect information on by-catch of other commercial fish and shellfish species.
5. To identify, quantify numbers, and damage assess of starfish species in all dredge tows.
6. To collect flesh samples for genetic and toxin analysis back at the laboratory.
7. To undertake underwater filming trials using a Go-pro camera.
8. If time permits carry out a depletion study on a selected dredge tow.

Procedure:

The survey will depart from Fraserburgh on 06 April and after vessel drills, make passage for the West Coast stations on the survey.

Scallop dredge hauls will be made at sites used on previous surveys as shown Figure 1. Hauls will be of 30 minutes duration. In addition to the historical tows, additional tows will be done to the South West of Islay and if time permits, from the Clyde. From each haul all of the scallops will be measured to the half centimetre below and aged. Numbers and size distribution of commercial fish and shellfish species will be recorded along with scallop shell damage and starfish numbers and species. Tissue samples will also be collected from selected sites and frozen for toxin analysis back at the laboratory.

Figure 1: Scallop Dredge Haul Sites

Tags: Alba na Mara, Firth of Clyde, islay, samples, scallop

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