Marine Directorate Communications
Written 357 posts
Crossing the edge: from coastal seas to open ocean
5th September 2014
By Bee Berx The Faroe Shetland Channel (FSC) is a key connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nordic Seas. The flow of warm, saline Atlantic water polewards, and the underlying equatorward cold overflow are important branches of the Atlantic overturning circulation. Marine Scotland Science (MSS), in collaboration with the Faroese Marine Research Institute (FAMRI)…
New measures to control trade in some shark and ray species
5th September 2014
From 14th September new trade restrictions will be in place to protect populations of some sharks and ray species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has added six shark and ray species to Appendix II. Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but…
Migrating Atlantic salmon findings published
1st August 2014
Marine Scotland Science has published findings of a study looking at the behaviour of homeward migrating salmon in the ICES Journal of Marine Science. The study is part of a research programme, funded by the Scottish Government, which aims to identify and minimise any disruptions to wildlife as the marine renewable energy industry develops.Using coastal…
MRV Scotia Survey 0814S – Herring Acoustic Survey Complete
31st July 2014
MRV Scotia has now completed the annual HERAS ( HERring Acoustic Survey), returning to Aberdeen on 17 July 2014. HERAS is an International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) co-ordinated survey with five countries taking a “snapshot” of herring stocks with coverage from the southern North Sea to north of Shetland and down…
Supporting the Scottish Marine Protected Area (MPA) project
24th July 2014
This week the Scottish MPA project reached a significant milestone this week with the designation of 30 protected sites throughout Scottish waters. This network is the result of work involving many agencies and organisations. Marine Scotland Science (MSS) has been working hard conducting research, monitoring surveys and providing advice to help support this work. MSS…
Marine & Fisheries News from other organisations
16th July 2014
EcoWatt2050 – maximum marine energy extraction, minimum environmental impact Funding of more than £1 million has been awarded to a Scottish-based project that will help to determine the limits to tidal and wave energy extraction before potential environmental and ecological impacts occur. Read the Article
MRV Scotia; Survey 0814S – Herring Acoustic Survey
16th July 2014
Overview of survey: The MRV Scotia and a chartered pelagic vessel will conduct the Herring Acoustic Survey covering the area shown below. The pelagic vessel will identify fish shoals using the echosounder and fishing operations will be carried out using the multisampler cod end unless large aggregations are seen in the area. Samples of all species…
MRV Alba na Mara; Survey 1214A – Renewable Energy Survey
16th July 2014
Overview of survey: The survey work will involve the deployment of the TV drop frame (shown right) and, where practical, the deployment of a day grab. Some additional bathymetric survey work and trawling may also be undertaken depending on the weather conditions. MRV Alba na Mara will complete a half landing to exchange scientific staff. The…
Marine & Fisheries News from other organisations
16th July 2014
Fishermen scraping the bottom of the barrel in the English Channel Decades of overfishing in the English Channel has resulted in the removal of many top predators from the sea and left fishermen ‘scraping the barrel’ for increasing amounts of shellfish to make up their catch. Sharks, rays, cod, haddock and many other species at…
Marine & Fisheries News from other organisations
9th July 2014
Anti-depressants disrupt fish’s brains Drugs designed to ease the symptoms of mental health problems such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress can have major disruptive effects on aquatic animals’ brains, say scientists. A suite of new research, published in a special issue of the journal Aquatic Toxicology, points to mounting evidence that they…