UK, Scottish scientists sample mackerel eggs in Arctic circle

Scottish scientists sample mackerel eggs in Arctic Circle. Scientists from Marine Scotland have been involved in a survey sampling mackerel eggs in the Arctic Circle. Four scientists from Marine Scotland, which is the Scottish Government Directorate responsible for the integrated management of Scotland’s seas, joined the crew of the chartered vessel Marine Fishing Vessel (MFV) Altaire to survey mackerel spawning activity within the Northern North Sea and Norwegian Sea regions this month. Colleagues were involved in collecting and analysing plankton samples, as well as small quantities of adult mackerel for analysis to assist ongoing research led by scientists from the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway. Plankton samplers such as the Gulf 7 sampler and also importantly their flowmeters, are used to collect samples of plankton and calculate the volume of sea water filtered (and therefore also the density of mackerel eggs) captured within the sampler during its journey ...