In December, BioProtect researchers Maÿlis Sontot-Marjary and Fiona Culhane spent ten days at sea aboard the R.V. Tom Crean, taking part in the SCOOP survey (Survey of Carbon Oceanographic Observation in Particles) in the Celtic Sea.
The multidisciplinary survey brought together scientists from BioProtect, OceanICU, ATU, Natural England, and the University of Southampton to investigate the role of fish in the ocean carbon cycle.
Life on board was busy and hands-on. Alongside long shifts at sea, the team collected a wide range of samples, including dietary DNA, fish faecal matter, and stomach contents, to improve understanding of how carbon moves through marine food webs.
The data collected will feed into an ecosystem model of the Celtic Sea, which will be spatialised within BioProtect and integrated into the BioProtect Marine Planner. This will support the evaluation of future scenarios, such as marine protected area designations or offshore renewable energy developments, and their potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Beyond the science, the SCOOP survey also highlighted the collaborative and human side of marine research. Maÿlis and Fiona shared their experience of life on board in an early-career scientists blog published on the Marine Institute Scientist@Sea platform.
