EAF-Nansen Programme
Species identification
Myanmar 18.09.18 At sea on board “Dr. Fridjof Nansen”
By: Jens-Otto Krakstad, IMR. Cruise Leader
It feels good to be back at sea again, and a pleasure to be back in the waters of Myanmar. After a great reception and a crew change in Yangon in the middle of the survey, the vessel and crew is back at work. The first leg completed more than half of the ecosystem survey, the third one in recent years, and the first with the third “Dr. Fridtjof Nansen”.
The purpose of the survey is as previously to get updated information of the living marine resources and environment in Myanmar waters, and in addition, as a new goal, to identify spawning areas of commercial fish species along the coast. These are areas that should receive special protection to be able to increase fish production in other areas. In addition, this survey is in yet another season (after the Summer (southwest) Monsoon) than the two previous surveys (November-December 2013 (Onset of the winter monsoon) and May 2015 (onset of the Summer Monsoon) complimenting the overall picture of the seasonality of both fish distribution and variability in the marine environment.
On-board are 17 scientists from Myanmar and participants from India (1) and Thailand (2). The inclusion of scientists from neighbouring countries are important to stimulate regional cooperation. In addition, there are 10 scientists and technicians from IMR and FAO that are responsible for the data collection within the different scientific disciplines on board and carry out on-the-job training of the local scientists.
The results from the survey are all very preliminary but we see very important seasonal changes in the ecosystem that we are aware of on a large scale, but which we need to understand in a more local context. We observe a high biodiversity as in the previous surveys and new species not discovered in any of the two previous. In addition, we observe that this season is relative non-productive. Water masses are relatively well mixed in the surface (to 80-90 m) then strongly stratified. Upwelling observed in other periods of the year is now virtually non-existing and primary production is low. This is also reflected in fish biomass who is now possibly at its lowest level seasonally as fish are migrating to other more productive areas.
On-board is a variety of scientific equipment used for our research during this survey. Data on the physical oceanography are collected by a thermosalinograph and a CTD who record environmental parameters like temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorescence in the water column at selected stations and continuously from the surface water (4 m). For plankton sampling we use four different plankton net with different mesh sizes depending on the type of plankton we search for. Phytoplankton uses a very fine messed net 10 mikron, for zooplankton we use a 180 mikron net called a WP2, while fish egg and larvae are collected with a multinet, and from a so-called manta trawl skimming the surface. In addition, we pump water continuously trough another net to collect fish egg and larvae from the surface. The two last mentioned nets are also used for collection of micro plastic. Plastic pollution and microplastic in the ocean has received considerably attention lately. The Nansen program has recorded plastic in the trawl catches for many years already, but now also microplastic receive special attention and all plastic that we find are carefully recorded, measured and taken to Norway for further laboratory analyses.
Our trawls are historically the equipment that has stayed unchanged the longest. During this survey, we use three different trawls. A bottom trawl for demersal fish, a small pelagic fish trawl and a high speed pelagic fish specially designed for fast swimming species. Once the catch is on board we sort the catch and record the number and weight of all species caught in addition to other biological parameters. Myanmar has an enormous fish biodiversity and all species are carefully identified, while species that cannot be identified will be sent to expert taxonomist around the world.
Another new ting we focus on is food quality. Very little is known about pollution levels; pesticides, heavy metals and other pollutants, in fish flesh. Therefore, fish and fish fillets are collected regularly during the survey, dried, preserved and taken to specialised laboratories to analyse for these substances. This is part of a big international food safety study to identify potential health risks when we eat fish and fish products.
Species identification
Myanmar 18.09.18 At sea on board “Dr. Fridjof Nansen”
By: Jens-Otto Krakstad, IMR. Cruise Leader
It feels good to be back at sea again, and a pleasure to be back in the waters of Myanmar. After a great reception and a crew change in Yangon in the middle of the survey, the vessel and crew is back at work. The first leg completed more than half of the ecosystem survey, the third one in recent years, and the first with the third “Dr. Fridtjof Nansen”.
The purpose of the survey is as previously to get updated information of the living marine resources and environment in Myanmar waters, and in addition, as a new goal, to identify spawning areas of commercial fish species along the coast. These are areas that should receive special protection to be able to increase fish production in other areas. In addition, this survey is in yet another season (after the Summer (southwest) Monsoon) than the two previous surveys (November-December 2013 (Onset of the winter monsoon) and May 2015 (onset of the Summer Monsoon) complimenting the overall picture of the seasonality of both fish distribution and variability in the marine environment.
On-board are 17 scientists from Myanmar and participants from India (1) and Thailand (2). The inclusion of scientists from neighbouring countries are important to stimulate regional cooperation. In addition, there are 10 scientists and technicians from IMR and FAO that are responsible for the data collection within the different scientific disciplines on board and carry out on-the-job training of the local scientists.
The results from the survey are all very preliminary but we see very important seasonal changes in the ecosystem that we are aware of on a large scale, but which we need to understand in a more local context. We observe a high biodiversity as in the previous surveys and new species not discovered in any of the two previous. In addition, we observe that this season is relative non-productive. Water masses are relatively well mixed in the surface (to 80-90 m) then strongly stratified. Upwelling observed in other periods of the year is now virtually non-existing and primary production is low. This is also reflected in fish biomass who is now possibly at its lowest level seasonally as fish are migrating to other more productive areas.
On-board is a variety of scientific equipment used for our research during this survey. Data on the physical oceanography are collected by a thermosalinograph and a CTD who record environmental parameters like temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorescence in the water column at selected stations and continuously from the surface water (4 m). For plankton sampling we use four different plankton net with different mesh sizes depending on the type of plankton we search for. Phytoplankton uses a very fine messed net 10 mikron, for zooplankton we use a 180 mikron net called a WP2, while fish egg and larvae are collected with a multinet, and from a so-called manta trawl skimming the surface. In addition, we pump water continuously trough another net to collect fish egg and larvae from the surface. The two last mentioned nets are also used for collection of micro plastic. Plastic pollution and microplastic in the ocean has received considerably attention lately. The Nansen program has recorded plastic in the trawl catches for many years already, but now also microplastic receive special attention and all plastic that we find are carefully recorded, measured and taken to Norway for further laboratory analyses.
Our trawls are historically the equipment that has stayed unchanged the longest. During this survey, we use three different trawls. A bottom trawl for demersal fish, a small pelagic fish trawl and a high speed pelagic fish specially designed for fast swimming species. Once the catch is on board we sort the catch and record the number and weight of all species caught in addition to other biological parameters. Myanmar has an enormous fish biodiversity and all species are carefully identified, while species that cannot be identified will be sent to expert taxonomist around the world.
Another new ting we focus on is food quality. Very little is known about pollution levels; pesticides, heavy metals and other pollutants, in fish flesh. Therefore, fish and fish fillets are collected regularly during the survey, dried, preserved and taken to specialised laboratories to analyse for these substances. This is part of a big international food safety study to identify potential health risks when we eat fish and fish products.