FINAL CRUISE INSTRUCTIONS
NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN

Cruise No:MF98-06
FOCI No:6MF98

Applicability:

These instructions, with FOCI Standard Operating Instructions for NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN, 1998 present complete information for this cruise.

Area: Gulf of Alaska

Itinerary:

1 May , Dutch Harbor
10 May , Kodiak

Participating organizations:

NOAA - Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC)
NOAA - Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)

CRUISE DESCRIPTION:

Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) is an effort by NOAA scientists to understand the physical and biological processes that determine recruitment variability of commercially valuable finfish and shellfish stocks in Alaskan waters. At present, FOCI consists of a Shelikof Strait walleye pollock project (western Gulf of Alaska), and two NOAA Coastal Ocean Program (COP) projects: Bering Sea FOCI and Southeast Bering Sea Carrying Capacity. The COP projects are collaborative efforts by NOAA and academic scientists to understand the affects of abiotic and biotic variability on the SE Bering Sea ecosystem.

CRUISE OBJECTIVES:

The object of this cruise is to conduct studies on how hydrographic and/or atmospheric events affect the growth and survival of pollock larvae in Shelikof Strait. Eddies are common circulatory features generated in Shelikof Strait which may entrain pollock under optimal or sub-optimal conditions for growth. We will sample both inside and outside of an eddy containing pollock larve if one is detected. Another process study will examine the effects of storms upon the conditions for growth and survival by pollock larvae if one occurs during the cruise.

1.0. PERSONNEL

1.1. Chief Scientist:

The Chief Scientist has the authority to revise or alter the technical portion of the instructions as work progresses provided that, after consultation with the Commanding Officer, it is ascertained that the proposed changes will not: (1) jeopardize the safety of personnel or the ship; (2) exceed the overall time allotted for the project; (3) result in undue additional expenses; (4) alter the general intent of these project instructions.

1.2 Participating Scientists:

1.3 NOAA Pacific Marine Center Operations Contact:
Larry Mordock
NOAA/PMC (PMC1x4)
1801 Fairview Ave. East
Seattle, WA 98102-3767
(206) 553 - 4764
Larry.Mordock@noaa.gov

1.4 Program Contacts:

2.0. OPERATIONS

A standard oceanographic watch will be utilized which consists of a winch operator, a scientific staff of three and a Survey Tech on deck. Operations will be conducted 24 hours a day.

2.1. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

The first phase of the study will be a large-scale 60 cm bongo survey of pollock larvae (approximately 3 days). The purpose of this initial survey is to determine larval abundance, distribution and prevailing hydrographic conditions. The survey will begin at approximately FOCI Line 15 (Appendix A) and proceed northeasterly to approximately Line 8. Additional survey lines or stations may be added or dropped at the discretion of the Chief Scientist.

The second phase of the survey (approximately 5 days) will consist of sampling operations to examine the effects of eddies, storm events, or hydrographic fronts upon biological and hydrographic processes. These conditions will not be known or prioritized until the initial phase of the survey is completed. Recognition of the necessity for opportunistic and flexible sampling designs by scientific personnel and ship's command is essential.

Eddy Study

If an eddy is found to be coincident with pollock larvae, the Chief Scientist may exercise his option to implement this experiment and rearrange the rest of the cruise schedule accordingly. A 5x5 grid of stations spaced 5-8 km apart and oriented north/south (Appendix B) will be placed on a chart by the Chief Scientist, FOO, and OOD. The first pass will be a continuous tract for surface temperature, salinity, fluorescence, and ADCP profiles. The second stage will be occupation of all stations for Bongo/SeaCat tows. Satellite-tracked drogues will be deployed during this operation. The third pass will be an occupation of all stations (in a different order) for SeaBird CTD/Rosette casts. Water for nutrients, microzooplankton, and chlorophyll samples will be collected at selected stations. The penultimate pass will be for depth-specific sampling of larval fish and zooplankton predators using the MOCNESS. The last stage will be a repeat of the first pass using the ADCP.

Storm Effects Study

If a storm with significant winds (both magnitude and duration) is forecast to affect the larval sampling area, we will examine temporal changes in a patch of larvae by sampling before and after the storm. The day before the storm begins we will proceed to a larval patch,mark it with both satellite-tracked and radar-tracked drogues, and conduct CTD casts, bongo and CalVET tows, and MOCNESS tows. After the storm, we will proceed to the drifters' new location and repeat the sampling.

Hydrographic Front Study

In the event that neither an eddy nor a storm event is encountered, sampling priority for the process studies will focus on hydrographic fronts. Two lines of FOCI grid stations will be occupied (Appendix C). At each station, we will conduct CTD casts, collecting chlorophyll and nutrient samples, 60 cm and 20 cm bongo net tows, and CalVET tows.

Additional bongo stations may be occupied en route to Kodiak after completion of the process studies. Also, Tucker trawls for the El Nino study may be conducted at the entrance to Shelikof Strait (Appendix D).

The following are operations to be conducted on this cruise. The procedures for these operations are listed in the FOCI Standard Operating Instructions (SOI). Operations not addressed in the SOI and changes to standard procedures are addressed below.

3.0. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

The following systems and their associated support services are essential to the cruise. Sufficient consumables, back-up units, and on-site spares and technical support must be in place to assure that operational interruptions are minimal. All measurement instruments are expected to have current calibrations, and all pertinent calibration information shall be included in the data package.

3.1 Equipment and Capabilities to be Provided by the Ship

Oceanographic winch with slip rings and 3-conductor cable terminated for CTD,

Wire-angle indicator and readout for oceanographic winch,

Oceanographic winch for bongo net (and other nets when used) with slip rings and 3- conductor cable terminated for the SeaCat,

Sea-Bird 911 plus CTD system to be used with PMEL stand (primary system)
(The underwater CTD unit should have mounts compatible with the PMEL CTD stand),

Sea-Bird 911 plus CTD system with stand (back up system),

(Each CTD system should include underwater CTD, weights, and pinger and there should be one deck unit and tape recorder for the two systems),

10-liter sampling bottles for use with rosette (10 plus 4 spares),

For CTD field corrections: IAPSO water and AUTOSAL salinometer,

Sea-Bird SBE-19 Seacat system (backup system),

Meter block for plankton tows,

Wire speed indicators and readout for quarterdeck, Fowe and Marco winches,

For meteorological observations: 2 anemometers (one R. M. Young system interfaced to the SCS), calibrated air thermometer (wet-and dry-bulb) and a calibrated barometer and/or barograph,

Freezer space for storage of biological and chemical samples (blast and storage freezers),

RDI ADCP which is written to SCS and Iomega Zip drives

Radar tracked drifter buoy,

Bench space in DataPlot for PCs, monitor, printer and VCR to fly
MOCNESS,

Use of Pentium PC in DataPlot for data analysis,

VHS cassette CTD tape backup system,

SCS (Shipboard Computer System),

Aft Rowe winch with single conductor cable and slip rings for MOCNESS,

Electrical connection between Rowe winch and DataPlot,

Stern platform in place,

Laboratory space with exhaust hood, sink, lab tables and storage space,

Sea-water hoses and nozzles to wash nets (quarterdeck and aft deck),

Adequate deck lighting for night-time operations,

Navigational equipment including GPS and radar ,

Safety harnesses for working on quarter deck and fantail,

3.2 Equipment to be Provided by the Project

Sea-Bird SBE-19 Seacat system (primary system),

PMEL PC with SEASOFT software for CTD data collection and processing,

Fluorometer, light meter, and chlorophyll absorbance meter (ChlAM) to be mounted on CTD,

CTD stand modified for attachment of fluorometer,

Conductivity and temperature sensor package to provide dual sensors on the primary CTD,

CTD rosette sampler,

60-cm bongo sampling arrays,

20 cm bongo arrays,

Spare wire angle indicator,

Tucker trawl, complete 1 M sampling array,

CalVET net array,

MOCNESS,

Holy sock drogue for ship's radar tracked drifter buoy,
+Argos tracked drifter buoys with optical sensors,

Miscellaneous scientific sampling and processing equipment ,

Scientific ultra-cold freezer.

Discrete Sample Data Base software and forms.

3.3. Ship's Computer System (SCS)

The ship's Scientific Computer System (SCS) shall operate throughout the cruise, acquiring and logging data from navigation, meteorological, oceanographic, and fisheries sensors. See FOCI Standard Operating Instructions for specific requirements.

4.0 DATA AND REPORTS

Data disposition, responsibilities and data requirements are listed in the FOCI Standard Operating Instructions.

5.0 ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS

5.3 Piggyback projects:
none

6.0 MISCELLANEOUS

6.5. Hazardous Materials:

The Chief Scientist shall be responsible for complying with NC Instruction 6280A, Hazardous Waste; policy, guidance, and training, dated February 4, 1991, paragraph 7.g and paragraph 9. By federal law, the ship may not sail without a complete inventory of MSDS, and appropriate neutralizing agents, buffers, and/or absorbents in amounts adequate to address spills of a size equal to the amount aboard.

The following hazardous materials will be provided and controlled by the scientists with the Chief Scientist assuming responsibility for the safe handling of such substances:

95% Ethanol, ETOH
Formalin

7.0 COMMUNICATIONS

7.4 Important phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses:

PMEL/CARD Fax: (206) 526-6485
PMEL/ADMIN Fax: (206) 526-6815
AFSC/RACE Fax: (206) 526-6723

Please see NOAA Marine Operations Fleet Telephone Numbers at
http://www.moc.noaa.gov//phone.html.

MILLER FREEMAN COMSAT (government account numbers): These are much cheaper than Inmarsat direct numbers and should always be used first.

COMSAT (government account numbers)
(Voice):800-678-0872, after voice prompt dial 154-2712, after tone dial customer ID#
(Fax): 800-678-0872, after voice prompt dial 154-2713, after tone dial customer ID#

PI's should establish their ID#'s with their program.

Inmarsat (direct numbers)
011-872-154-2712 (Voice)
011-872-154-2713 (Fax)

CELLULAR: 206-660-7167
DUTCH HARBOR ROAMER: 907-391-7626
KODIAK ROAMER: 907-391-7626
(First dial roamer, wait for dial tone, then dial cellular number.)

8.0. APPENDICES

Appendix A. List of FOCI grid stations in MF98-06 area of operations
Appendix B. Schematic of station array for eddy/oceanographic front process study.
Appendix C. List of FOCI grid stations for Hydrographic Front Study
Appendix D. List of potential Tucker trawl stations for El Nino study sampling.