TRANS-ATLANTIC RESEARCH CRUISES ( ) CENTRE FOR FISHERIES ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH (CFER, CANADA)

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1 1 TRANS-ATLANTIC RESEARCH CRUISES ( ) CENTRE FOR FISHERIES ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH (CFER, CANADA)

2 Who you re listening to from St. John s 2 Jonathan Fisher, Research Scientist within CFER Interests in fisheries, ecosystem dynamics, macroecology, size structure, biological oceanography Newfoundland food fishery, Sept. 24, 2011

3 3 Who you re also listening to from St. John s George Rose, Scientific Director of CFER Led 2011 mission, will lead 2012, 2013 missions Expertise in fisheries, acoustics, oceanography; long track-record of success led to establishment of CFER in 2010

4 What is the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research? Established in July 2010 with major funding from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador focus on fisheries ecosystem science with the goal of ensuring that our fisheries be sustainable for future generations 55% of the support allocated to staff and inshore research; 45% allocated to chartered vessel time In October 2010, the Marine Institute chartered the RV Celtic Explorer from the Irish Marine Institute for offshore and trans-atlantic surveys ( ) Fortuitous timing for potential collaboration with Euro-BASIN 4

5 5 RV Celtic Explorer technical specs 65.5 m; Gross 2425 T For 4 page vessel description, see 96A231-D556-44DC E478185BDD34/0/CESpecs.pdf

6 Celtic Explorer mission objectives CFER Survey the biomass and agesize structure of overwintering cod within Newfoundland waters Collect otoliths for ageing and studies of cod distribution and movements via microchemistry Collect cod stomachs and tissue samples for isotope analyses to determine feeding Study the impact of a fishery closed area on the distribution and abundance of fish and crustaceans Collect oceanographic data Listen for cod tagged with active transmitters (Canadian DFO) Collect acoustic (fishplankton), CPR (plankton), oceanographic, and seabird and whale data across the North Atlantic Provide a training platform for graduate students

7 7 Cod overwintering survey CFER February 2011 Last conducted in 2008 Acoustic survey with fishing (Campelen Trawl) This research fell between two crossings

8 RV Celtic Explorer trans- Atlantic cruise paths (2011) Daily cruise blog and photos online 8 February 6, arrive St. John s January 29, depart Ireland

9 Weather was a factor during trans-atlantic crossing (photos from Day 4) 9 Severe weather temporarily halted even XBT casts; lesson learned!

10 RV Celtic Explorer trans- Atlantic cruise paths (2011) Daily cruise blog and photos online 10 Shelf surveys, avoiding rough weather: remainder of February to March 2 Rough winter weather = later spring surveys planned for 2012, 2013

11 11 Trans-Atlantic science (2011) CFER Oceanography XBT, XCTD data every 30 miles temperature (Rose et al. unpublished) Data also shared with WHOI, BIO researchers

12 Trans-Atlantic science (2011) 12 Mid-Atlantic ridge data over rough seabed Deep scattering layer evident (Rose et al. unpublished)

13 13 Trans-Atlantic science (2011) CFER Oceanography Acoustics-plankton Seabirds Marine mammals Deep scattering layer Paper in progress (Rose et al.) (Local) continuous acoustic transects 18 khz 38 khz 120 khz 200 khz

14 14 Beyond 2011: potential connections to EURO-BASIN BASIN September meeting Objectives: Discuss synergy in sampling techniques & approaches, data flow and sharing, collaboration within the project and involvement of North American partners

15 Jan Feb Ma r as listed in POGO-SCOR & EUROFLEETS Cruise Databases Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 15 G.O. Sars, IMR B. Saemundsson Meteor, DFG Celtic Explorer, Memorial Un. (external contribution) RV Dana, DTU-Aqua (external contribution) B. Saemundsson, MRI, Iceland James Cook, NOC, UK G.O. Sars, IMR Maria S. Meriam, DFG Celtic Explorer, Memorial Un. (external contribution) RV Dana, DTU-Aqua (external contribution) CRUISE Campaigns (updated Sept 2011) FP7 EURO-BASIN,

16 16 Beyond 2011: potential connections to EURO-BASIN CFER has a total of 4 more trans- Atlantic crossings scheduled (2012, 2013) Our colleagues in Ireland are planning some additional oceanography on our 2012 trip and will be funding that (still in planning stage) and we will be working closely with them on this and other aspects of the research. Although our focus is on the continental shelf fisheries, we do need to get a better handle on the whole North Atlantic ecosystem (it isn't all continental shelf).

17 trans-atlantic dates known May 8, 2012 depart St. John s Early June 2012 return to Ireland Late April 2012 depart Ireland

18 18 Beyond 2011: potential connections to EURO-BASIN at the moment at least we should be listed as basinindependent activities, but of common interest; but we are interested in as close a collaboration as we can. we are open to modifying what we do on the crossings if it will benefit an overall research effort. We are particularly interested in oceanography, the acoustics of the mesopelagic (deep scattering layer) and concurrent distributions of marine mammals and seabirds.

19 19 Lessons learned by CFER in 2011 and possible points of discussion 2011 late winter crossing was rough and limited surveyed area future surveys will be in late Spring (should still see cod aggregations) 2011 data suggest interesting trans-atlantic oceanographic and species distribution patterns The duration of trans-atlantic crossings appear to differ between CFER and Euro-BASIN 2012, 2013 CFER trans-atlantic objectives remain flexible CFER has an interest in international collaborations