Marine

  • Scallop Dredging and Octopus Spotting

    14th July 2017 by

    Last month our Ships Co-ordinator joined the Alba na Mara for a day to observe colleagues during the East Coast Scallop Dredging Survey 0917A. The aim of this visit was to get a better understanding of the scallop dredging process, the equipment and techniques used, and the challenges associated with this sampling method. The feedback…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara Survey 0517A Programme

    6th April 2017 by

    Duration: 06 – 26 April 2017 Fishing Gear: Scallop Dredges Objectives: To carry out a survey of scallop stocks on the West Coast. To age, measure and assess shell damage on all scallops caught. To Identify and sample additional areas of commercial interest to the scallop fishery. To collect information on by-catch of other commercial…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara Survey 0417A Programme

    24th March 2017 by

    Duration: 25 March – 03 April 2017 Gear: Surface and subsurface PAM moorings Objective: To deploy a series of moorings comprising dhan buoys (9 surface marked moorings) and acoustic release systems (21 subsurface moorings) with attached acoustic recording devices (30 C-POD and 10 SM2M) as part of the east coast marine mammal monitoring programme (see…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 0117A Programme

    2nd January 2017 by

    Duration: 4-20 January 2017 Gear: Large TV drop frame; TV sledge; 1 x 600m umbilical towing cable; 1 x armoured cable; Video cameras and associated equipment (plus backup); Four lasers and 60cm bracket for the drop frame; 1 x BT201 prawn trawl (plus minimal spares); Day grab and table; Prawn sorting table; and Go Pro…

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  • A Very Fortunate Find

    23rd December 2016 by

    Recently, as part of the East Coast Marine Mammal Acoustic Study (ECOMMAS), some colleagues were out on the research vessel Alba na Mara to retrieve acoustic detectors; devices deployed and retrieved which help to build a picture of dolphin and porpoise population distribution. During the trip they searched for one particular mooring, approximately 5 km…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 2316A Programme

    12th December 2016 by

    Duration: 8-21 December 2016 Equipment: Sandeel dredge × 2 (modified 4′ scallop dredge with 6″ teeth and spare toothbars) with towing bar and camera attachment. TV camera. Minilogger (or equivalent – i.e. DST). Objectives: To determine the abundance, length and age of sandeels in the sediment from regions east of the Firth of Forth and…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 2216A Programme

    8th December 2016 by

    Duration: 2-6 December 2016 Sampling Gear: BT 158 with 50 mm cod-end; 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end; Day grab and table; and Catamaran and manta neuston net. Objectives: To undertake flatfish sampling in St Andrews Bay, inner Firth of Forth, outer Firth of Forth and the Forth estuary in support of the…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara Survey 2116A programme

    28th November 2016 by

    Duration: 17-30 November 2016 Gear: Surface and subsurface PAM moorings Objectives: To retrieve a series of moorings comprising dhan buoys (seven surface marked moorings) or acoustic release systems (23 subsurface moorings) and the acoustic recording devices attached to them (30 C-POD and 10 SM2M/SM3M) as part of the east coast marine mammal monitoring programme (see…

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  • MRV Alba na Mara: Survey 1716A Programme

    20th September 2016 by

    Duration: 7-21 September 2016 Sampling Gear: TV drop frame; TV winch and cable; and 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 man-made debris. Some of…

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