Duration: 7 to 27 February 2026

Cruise area: North Sea

Purpose: International Bottom Trawl Survey

The cruise is part of the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS), which is an internationally coordinated ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) 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 (Grande Ouverture Verticale, a specialized net designed for standardized catches) in allocated ICES statistical rectangles and will be accompanied by physical measurements and eDNA (environmental DNA) sampling via a CTD (instrument package to collect vertical profiles of ocean water properties and retrieve water samples) and plankton tows for sampling of fish larvae. Additionally, a comprehensive genetic sampling program is planned aiming to improve stock assessment parameters for cod and plaice.

The main objectives are:

• determine the distribution and relative abundance of pre-recruits of the main commercial species with a view of deriving recruitment indices
• monitor changes in the stocks of commercial fish species independently of commercial fisheries data
• monitor the distribution and relative abundance of all fish species and selected invertebrates
• collect data for the determination of biological parameters for selected species
• collect hydrographical and environmental information
• determine the abundance and distribution of late (= older and larger) herring larvae