MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

S. Georgia annual fisheries science cruise moved to winter

FPV “Dorada” along FIPASS

In a change from the norm, the annual South Georgia government Fisheries Science Cruise was conducted in winter this year instead of the summer.

The Fishery Patrol Vessel (FPV) "Dorada", a fully functioning trawler, was chartered from the Falkland Islands for the research cruise. The three BAS scientists from King Edward Point joined four scientists who traveled down from the UK for the three and a half week research period. The focus of the research was stock levels of Mackerel Icefish and Toothfish in the SGMZ. Up to five trawls were made a day, and all the catch analyzed. Normally conducted in summer, the scientists were interested to see the different results obtained in the winter. They found the species composition, and the fishes' diets and maturity stages, differed markedly from summer results. The weather made for challenging working conditions. At one point the ship exceeded its previous record roll angle, throwing scientists and their samples across the laboratory. A couple of times the ship had to seek the shelter of land when winds exceeded 80 knots making it unsafe to continue trawling. On their return to KEP, Chief Scientist Anjali Pande said the work had been hard but inspiring, and had helped to put into context the routine work they do in South Georgia. Many samples came ashore with them and will be worked up in the coming months, and they also bought back some new inhabitants for the KEP research aquarium, including octopus, skate and crabs.