Marine

  • A new data recording system for fish sampling

    14th January 2016 by

    As 2016 gets off to a somewhat stormy start, scientists onboard the MRV Scotia are welcoming a new data recording system that will not only reduce the chance of error but will also speed up the process for recording important statistics. Fish sampling is a very important part of fisheries research, contributing to a number...

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  • MRV Scotia: Survey 0116S Programme

    7th January 2016 by

    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: To undertake water, sediment and biological sampling for the Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP);...

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 1915A Programme

    8th December 2015 by

    Duration: 4-18 December 2015 Equipment: Sandeel dredge × 2 (modified 4′ scallop dredge with 6″ teeth and spare toothbars) with towing bar and camera attachment; TV camera; and Minilogger (or equivalent – DST). Objectives: To determine the abundance, length and age of sandeels in the sediment in regions east of the Firth of Forth and...

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  • Protecting the Ocean Quahog

    3rd December 2015 by

    The Ocean quahog, Arctica islandica, is a large marine bivalve that can live for over 500 years. This makes it one of the longest lived animals known to science. It is found around British and Irish coasts and lives in sediments from just below low water to depths of about 500 metres. They are often...

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  • MRV Scotia: Survey 1715S Programme

    24th November 2015 by

    Duration: 18 November – 8 December 2015 Fishing Gear: GOV Trawl (BT137 – Strengthened) and ground gear D. Objectives: To participate in the ICES co-ordinated western division demersal trawling survey; To obtain temperature and salinity data profiles at each trawling position; and To collect additional biological data in connection with the EU data collection framework...

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 1815A Programme

    18th November 2015 by

    Duration: 26 November – 1 December 2015 Sampling Gear: BT 158 with 50 mm cod-end; 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end; Day grab and table; Catamaran and manta neuston net; and Bongo net. Objectives:  To undertake flatfish sampling in St Andrews Bay, and Forth estuary in support of the Clean Seas Environment Monitoring...

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  • MRV Sir John Murray: Survey 0215SJM Programme

    17th November 2015 by

    Duration: 16-22 November 2015 Sampling Gear: SEPA-provided 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end; SEPA-provided bottom trawl with 50 mm cod-end; SEPA-provided Day grab and table; MSS-provided catamaran and manta neuston net; and MSS-provided bongo nets for plankton sampling. Objectives:  To undertake flatfish and sediment sampling in the Clyde and Solway in support of...

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  • MRV Scotia: An update on survey 1615S

    12th November 2015 by

    We sailed from Aberdeen on 4th November to undertake comparison trials of a new ground gear (ground gear E), with a standard ground gear (ground gear B). The survey began with instrumentation trials, before moving to commercial fishing grounds to undertake catchability trials. Once the required number of hauls were completed for ground gear E,...

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 1715A Programme

    6th November 2015 by

    Duration: 10-23 November 2015 Gear: Surface and subsurface PAM moorings Objectives: To retrieve a series of moorings comprising dhan buoys (eight surface marked moorings) or acoustic release systems (22 subsurface moorings) and the acoustic recording devices attached to them (30 C-POD and ten SM2M/SM3M) as part of the east coast marine mammal monitoring programme (see...

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  • MRV Scotia: An Update on Survey 1515S

    30th October 2015 by

    On the 19th October 2015, MRV Scotia set sail from Aberdeen on survey 1515S to undertake 15 days of cooperative work between JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) and MSS (Marine Scotland Science). The survey covered two sites some 100 miles east of Aberdeen, with all scientific work being carried out by our team of four...

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