CRUISE PLAN, TOMMY MUNRO TM-2003-01
K. SULAK, JUNE 2003

Research Vessel: R/V Tommy Munro, GCRL
Port:  Point Cadet Marina, 119 East Beach Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS, 39530
Captain Paul Beaujez
 

Time Slot: At-Sea, 9-16 June 2003; Loading of gear in Gainesville Friday 6 June; Transport of crew and gear to port & loading on board 8 June 2003; Off-loading 13:00 16 June, return to Gainesville.

Area of Operations: NEGOM-west comparative sites, Mississippi/Alabama/W. Florida OCS.  Potential target sites: Roughtongue Reef, Yellowtail Reef, CSA Site 5, Scamp Scarp, Pancake, Alabama Alps, and Mountain-Top salt dome.

Objectives: In general – completion of community structure investigations as originally specified at outset of Pinnacles/NEGOM studies.

1. ROV video and digital still documentation, quantification of fish & invertebrate community – emphasis on comparative sites.
    
2. Completion of stable isotope sampling base; target 30 tissue specimens per taxonomic or ontogenetic entity.
    
3. Completion of ROV video exploration and faunal inventory of NEGOM-West comparative reef types and habitat types.

Sampling Methods:

1. NURP ROV equipped with zoom video, digital still, trackpoint navigation
2. GPS/GIS coordination of sample sighting
3. Optional rotenone dispensing suction sampler for ROV
4. Fish traps, trawls and angling gear to collect fish specimens
5. Sled trawl and Tangles rig to collect sessile and mobile invertebrates
6. Dual-rigged plankton nets to collect phytoplankton and zooplankton
7. Long-handled dip nets to collect sargassum organisms
8. Optional neuston net to construct for sargassum collections
9. Benthic box-grab for sediment/benthos sampling
10. Seabird CTD to measure physical water parameters

Scientific Crew (with special responsibilities specified):

• Sulak, K. – Chief Scientist, ROV watch chief
• Brooks, R. A. – benthos and isotope operations chief
• Nizinski, M. –  invertebrate taxonomist, ID & preparation
• Randall, M. – trawl master
• Berg, J. – angling operations chief
• Quaid, A. – data master, mapping navigation coordinator
• Yeargin, G. – rigging master, trap operations chief & safety officer
• Horn, L. – ROV operator
• Harden, W. – ROV deck technician
• Albert, B – Photography
• Bennett, C. – Specimen Preparation, photography

Watch Rotation: two watch teams: four 6-hour watches

1. SAMPLING VIA SURFACE-DEPLOYED GEAR:  0600-1200 & 1800-2000
    
2. ROV OPERATIONS: 1200-1800 & 2400-0600

General Daily Itinerary

• 0600-1200 AM sampling operations with ship underway: angling, trawling, sled, trap deploy/retrieve, grab sampling, CTD, plankton
   
• 1200-1800 ROV daytime operations (on reef), ship anchored
   
• 1800-2400 PM sampling operations
   
• 2400-0600 ROV nighttime operations (on and off reef) & transits between sites
   
• [Day vs Night ROV ops should enable a comprehensive evaluation of fish faunal composition, including nocturnal species, and capture nighttime period of invert activity]