Marine

  • What’s at our Disposal? The latest from the research vessel Alba na mara

    20th June 2018 by

    Alba na Mara

    Survey: 0918A Duration: 18 June – 1 July 2018 Sampling Gear: TV drop frame, TV winch and cable, 2 x day grabs and RoxAnn. Objectives To undertake grab, underwater television (UTV) and RoxAnn surveys of sea disposal sites and assess the condition of the seabed, identify the predominant benthic epifauna species, and the distribution of...

    Read more

  • Multi-tasking with the Scotia

    19th June 2018 by

    Scotia in Scapa Flow by Michael Stewart

    MRV Scotia left Aberdeen on 3rd June 2018 to begin survey 0818S – the ‘Annual Nephrops Underwater TV Survey’ (UWTV) – covering Fladen (North Sea), the North and South Minches, the Clyde, and the Sound of Jura. TV operations went well during the first day until the sea state worsened so the survey was halted until early on...

    Read more

  • Benthic Biotopes in Barra

    11th June 2018 by

    Alba na Mara

    Survey: 0818A Duration: 8 – 14 June 2018 Gear: Seatronics drop frame (to be loaded 05.06.18) – SNH hire Seatronics lights (to be loaded 05.06.18) – SNH hire HD TV system + lights (5 plastic cages) Armoured cable + spare + axle stands & bar Day grab + table + 2 x sieve drawers Background...

    Read more

  • Mackerel and Eggs on the Altaire

    29th May 2018 by

    MFV Altaire survey 0118H May 2018_5

    MFV Altaire departed Ullapool at 1400hrs on the 22nd May to begin survey 0118H. Onboard during this exploratory mackerel egg survey we have an international scientific complement including scientists from: Scotland, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. Flowmeter calibration deployments were completed successfully in the Minch, west of Melvaig, and the Altaire is now proceeding to...

    Read more

  • Rockall and Mackerel

    28th May 2018 by

    MFV Altaire during survey 0118H May 2018_6

    Survey: 0118H MFV Altaire Duration: 22 May – 6 June 2018 Fishing/Sampling Gear: Gulf VII plankton sampler Objectives: To carry out standalone mackerel egg survey, on the western shelf and slope in the area from 52o N to 59o N (see Figure 1). Opportunistic trawling for adult mackerel samples; for exploratory ovary analysis. Procedures: After...

    Read more

  • Pipelines, Camera, Action

    25th May 2018 by

    Scotia in Scapa Flow by Michael Stewart

    Survey: 0718S Duration: 18- 31 May 2018 Gear: Day grabs TV drop frame with lasers Aarmoured cable Multibeam echosounder system EK 60 Conductivity, Pressure & Depth (CTD) device Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (VM-ADCP) Fish cages PT160 (trawl) Objectives: To assess the hydrographic influences on the aggregation of fish around surface laid oil and gas pipelines....

    Read more

  • Sunbeam Surveys going Swimmingly

    21st May 2018 by

    MRV Sunbeam FR 487

    Scientists from Marine Scotland Science (MSS) have recently been operating on Fraserburgh pelagic trawler Sunbeam (FR 487) to survey salmon smolts at various points on the Scottish east coast. Operating in the Moray Firth, Firths of Forth and Tay, MSS used a specially designed net for sampling very close to the surface. The net incorporates...

    Read more

  • Salmon Smolt Surveying on the Sunbeam

    11th May 2018 by

    Survey: 0718H – MFV Sunbeam FR487 Duration: 04-16 May 2018 Scientific gear: Smolt trawl, Thyboron type 15vf pelagic trawl doors (6m2), Dyneema sweep rig and Fenders (dia 300mm with 215kg buoyancy) attached 4 per side of the trawl. Video frame/box incorporating pit tag detector. Self-contained underwater camera systems. Objectives: To undertake smolt trawl surveys in...

    Read more

  • Predicting Suitable Habitat

    10th May 2018 by

    Alba na Mara

    Survey: 0618A – MRV Alba n Mara Duration: 5-14 May 2018 Gear: Hybrid drop/lander frame and calibration mesh; HD TV system and lights (five plastic cages); Armoured cable, spare, axle stands and bar; Stereo TV system; and Day grab, table and two sieve drawers. Background and Objectives: This survey will conduct a benthic survey of southern,...

    Read more

  • Recover, Download, Re-deploy, Repeat

    4th May 2018 by

    Scotia in Scapa Flow by Michael Stewart

    Survey: 0618S – MRV Scotia Duration: 2-12 May 2018 Gear: Sea-Bird CTDs, ADCPs and current meter instrumentation, water filtering equipment, mooring equipment, chemistry sampling and analysis equipment. Objectives: Perform hydrographic sampling along the AlterEco monitoring section in the northern North Sea, which will be sampled on all MSS oceanographic surveys in 2018. Perform hydrographic sampling...

    Read more