We left Berwickshire
and North Numberland SAC and arrived at Swallow Sand rMCZ late on Wednesday
night following an 8 hour transit. Like Fulmar rMCZ, it is not possible to map
all of Swallow Sand in the time available due to its huge size (~ 4,000km2).
Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data are collected on transit between the
survey stations. The day and night shifts are settling into a routine now collecting
grabs at every station and completing camera tows at every third or fourth
station. The transit between stations takes roughly 40 minutes as we map the
route between sampling stations.
Fulmar rMCZ was
visited on the first part of this survey. At just over 2,000km2 it’s
half the size of Swallow Sand. Fulmar is being recommended as an MCZ for its
subtidal coarse sediments and sands and the Ocean quahog (Artica Islandica) (see pg 535 for more information). Sixty- five Hamon grab sediment samples were
taken and the camera sledge was used to take video and still images at 25 of
those stations. Artica Islandica was
found in several grab samples (see image below).
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| Map of Fulmar rMCZ broadscale habitats overlaid with grab stations and multibeam bathymetry |
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| Hagfish from station 261 |
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| Seapens at station 229 |
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| Crab at station 173 |
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| Anemones at station 251 |
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| Ocean Quahog (Artica Islandica) from Station 170 |
It’s important to
celebrate the important events at sea and on Wednesday we did just that with
balloons, banners and cake for Ruth’s 30th Birthday.
Fionnuala
