The annual international ecosystem summer survey in Nordic Seas has started

R/V Arni Fridriksson has joined the annual International Summer Survey annual in Nordic Seas for the tenth consecutive year. Five more vessels from four nations (Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Denmark) participate in the survey. For the first time progress of most of the vessels is assessable online at: skip.hafro.is.

Goal of the survey is to collect samples and register observations from various aspects of the pelagic ecosystem from measuring primary production in the surface to observing whale behaviour. Our aim is to collect data for 21 research projects of which four are new this year. The new projects include measuring fat content of mackerel and collecting DNA samples from Icelandic summer spawning herring.

The survey will last for 30 days and cover 5900 nautical miles or approximately 11 thousand km.  Seven scientists and 17 crew members are on board. As in previous years survey participants will blog about the research and life on board during the survey at the blog site: pelagicecosystemsurvey.wordpress.com.