Marine

Scallop Stocks and Starfish Species

January 29, 2019 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Marine Directorate Surveys, Research Vessel Surveys, Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths_STEM

MRV Alba na Mara Survey: 0219A Programme

Duration: 24 January – 06 February 2019

Fishing Gear: Scallop dredges

Objectives:

• Carry out a survey of scallop stocks around the Shetland Islands.
• Age, measure and assess shell damage on all scallops caught.
• Collect information on by-catch of other commercial fish and shellfish species.
• Identify, quantify numbers, and damage assess of starfish species in all dredge tows.
• Undertake underwater filming of dredges using a Go-pro camera.

Procedure:

The survey will depart Fraserburgh on 24 January and, after vessel drills, make passage for Shetland.

Scallop dredge hauls will be made at sites used on previous surveys as shown Figure 1. Hauls will be of 30 minutes duration. From each haul, all of the scallops will be measured to the half centimeter 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. Filming the gear fishing will be undertaken on selected tows to show gear efficiency.

Further Information:

• Previous Blogs about Scallops
• MRV Alba na Mara Topic Sheet
• Fisheries Management Programme
• Find out where the Alba na Mara is now

Tags: Alba na Mara, fish species, fisheries, fishing gear, research, sampling, scallops, science, shellfish, Shetland, starfish, Survey

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