Duration of the cruise:  7 to 23 February 2025

Cruise area:  North Sea

Purpose of the cruise:  International Bottom Trawl Survey

The cruise is part of the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS), which is an internationally coordinated ICES program aiming to provide fish population data and biological parameters of commercial fish species for stock assessment purposes. The cruise has been moved from the German FRV Walther Herwig III to the Danish FRV Dana. Fish sampling will be carried out by GOV hauls in allocated ICES statistical rectangles in the North Sea and will be accompanied by:

• physical measurements via a CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) probe
• plankton tows with a 2-m-midwater-ring-trawl for sampling of fish larvae
• environmental DNA sampling.

Additionally, a comprehensive genetic sampling program is planned aiming to improve stock assessment parameters for cod and plaice.

A sea diary (in german) provides information about the progress of the voyage.

Cruise report (PDF)