Overall objectives in the EU GO project are to assess the promising potential of seismic imaging for physical oceanography, in view of its combination of fine resolution and coverage unmatched by conventional oceanographic measurements. D318 was to provide the means of assessment by obtaining a unique comprehensive oceanographic and seismic dataset at the same time and place. Specific objectives for R.R.S. Discovery cruise 318b were to (i) recover four ADCP moorings, three adjacent temperature-logger moorings and STABLE, from 750-1000m depth east of Portimao Canyon (ii) perform deep water CTD casts (iii) carry out seismic sections using the NMF supplied Bolt airgun and streamer, accompanied by regular XBT and less frequent XCTD casts, iv) work with MV Poseidon to test novel seismic data acquistion strategies. In addition underway data was logged including ship-borne ADCP, surface temperature and salinity, meteorology, gravity and magnetics (to test new NERC magnetometers).

Charter cruise with the objective of validating the performance of SERCEL equipment, i.e. evaluation of different seismic devices and validating this equipment.

<p style="text-align:justify">The main objective of the observing system MOOSE is to monitor the long-term evolution of the north-western Mediterranean Sea (over more than 10 years) in the context of climate change and anthropogenic pressure in order to detect and identify the trend and environmental anomalies of the marine ecosystem. The MOOSE network aims to establish an integrated and multidisciplinary system in the Mediterranean Sea in accordance with the objectives of the national MISTRALS program (HyMeX, MeRMEX and ChARMeX). The MOOSE system is supported by national institutes (CNRS-INSU, French Ministry of Higher Education and Research) and involved different partners (Universities, IFREMER, Meteo France).</p> <p style="text-align:justify">The MOOSE network includes "multi-scale" measurement capabilities to accurately document the broad spectrum of hydrodynamic processes already identified (large scale eddies, mesoscale eddies, biogeochemical provinces). High temporal resolution measurements are obtained from fixed observatories (moorings, buoys) but their spatial distribution remains insufficient. Spatial variability is of the same order as temporal variability and understanding the evolution of this basin as a whole implies being able to dissociate both. Synergy with other strategies (ships, floats, gliders) is essential for the establishment of an observation network in such a system. To address the issues identified by MOOSE, two key areas of the north-western basin have been identified:</p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify">The central and western part of the Ligurian Sea, which constitutes a homogeneous system isolated from direct coastal inputs by rivers and where atmospheric inputs are predominant (DYFAMED and ANTARES). It is also one of the entrance passages of the Intermediate Levantine Water (LIW) in the north-western Mediterranean basin.</li> <li style="text-align:justify">The central area of the Gulf of Lion where winter cooling leads to vertical mixing over 2000 m and sometimes to the bottom. The LION site (42°N 5°E) is ideal for studying the variability of winter convection to better understand mixing processes and dense water formation. It also characterizes the variability of the deep particle flow.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify">Currently, fixed observation at these sites is carried out by six moorings:</p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify">The Planier and Lacaze-Duthiers moorings composed of sediment traps and T/S sensors and current meters, for dense water cascading and particle export studies. These moorings have been set up since 1994 and managed by CEFREM.</li> <li style="text-align:justify">The LION mooring, consisting of a large number of T/S sensors, current meters, and two oxygen sensors, is in the Gulf of Lion convection zone. It has been deployed since 2007, and is managed by CEFREM and LOCEAN. A sediment trap near the bottom has also been present for 2 years in this area (LIONCEAU mooring). The latter will be integrated into the LION mooring in 2019.</li> <li style="text-align:justify">The ANTARES mooring is located in the North Current off Toulon and equipped with T/S sensors, current meters and oxygen sensors to quantify the bacteria activity and organic matter remineralization process in a deep marine environment. It exists since 2004, it is managed by the M.I.O. and the CPPM (Marseille). This mooring is part of the ERIC EMSO since 2017.</li> <li style="text-align:justify">The DYFAMED mooring, in the Ligurian Sea, equipped with sediment traps, T/S sensors, current meters and oxygen sensors to monitor the evolution of the water column, the impact of atmospheric dust deposition and marine particles export to deep waters. It exists since 1988, it is currently managed by the Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer. This mooring is part of the ERIC EMSO since 2017.

Small pelagic fish are both the keystone species of the ecosystem because of the central position they hold in the food chain and represent highly significant economic stakes for fisheries since they make up the majority of landings in the French Mediterranean (approximately 50% of catches for sardines and anchovies; Demaneche et al. 2009). So, to assess stocks and propose appropriate management methods, it is important to have both good knowledge about these species and independent fisheries data. Ifremer's fisheries science laboratory in Sète has monitored these populations since the 1990s. In 2002, the EU asked Member States to formalize certain operations by contract, in this context, the PELMED cruise was part of the extended contractual programme for biomass assessment (DCF). Therefore, each year France is obliged to assess the biomass of small pelagic species in the Mediterranean, in order to determine the stocks' status and propose management measures. These assessments are carried out in the framework of the general fisheries commission for the Mediterranean (CGPM). Since numerous countries had begun monitoring these species using acoustic methods, the MEDIAS (MEDIterannean Acoustic Surveys) scientific group was created in 2008 with the objective of standardizing the protocols. Finally, national management plans for Gulf of Lion fisheries were set up in 2014 (particularly for pelagic trawlers and purse seines) with scientific objectives touching on the biomass of small pelagics. The PELMED cruise, whose main aim is to directly assess the small pelagics biomass, is conducted therefore in a clearly institutional framework (national, European and Mediterranean). However, the scientific stakes remain just as important. Since 2008, a special situation has been observed in the Gulf of Lion, where the biomasses of sardines and anchovies (and even mackerel) have decreased synchronously. Even more unexpectedly, although the recruitment rates observed over the past few years in the species are particularly high, the populations don't seem to be growing back and their biomass is continuing to drop. This is particularly surprising in a marine ecosystem where recruitment is generally considered to be the determining factor of population dynamics for species with a short life span. The collection of biological parameters on species of small pelagics done during the previous PELMED cruises made it possible to highlight significant demographic changes (loss of large age classes, decrease in size, poorer body condition) which seem to suggest "bottom-up" population control. Therefore, the ecosystem-based nature of the PELMED cruises (from physical parameters to top predators, not to mention phyto- and zooplankton and fodder fish) appears to be crucial in understanding the dynamics of these populations. It was decided this year to stop prospecting the Catalan Sea, in order to extend the spatial coverage to the east of the Gulf in the PACA region (from Marseille to Nice). Since the narrowness of the shelf in this zone does not allow for prospecting along "classic" legs, the objective will be to validate a prospection method which is adapted to the area.

Characterization of the Quaternary and Neogene sedimentary cover of the NW Atlantic shelf zone off Morocco and Quaternary deformations. This falls under the ANR ISIS project.

<p style="text-align:justify">The main scientific objectives of the cruises are threefold:</p> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;">to asses the large scale circulation in the Western Basin, evaluating the water masses and the fluxes at different key point in the basin (The North Current, The East and West Corsica currents, the Balearic front, Algerian Basin). The final goal was numerical modelling assessment.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">to identify and follow peculiar mesoscale structures such as surface eddies, modal weddies, submesoscale coherent vortices (SCV) meanders or filaments and explore the signature on the sea surface height (altimetry) and the acoustic impact (sound propagation).</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">to observe and interpret the submesoscale dynamics such ageostrophic stirring, symmetric instabilities, mixed layer instabilities, subduction and convection.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify">The <strong>Protevs2015_leg1&nbsp; </strong>campaign took place from the 8th to 28th of January 2015 on board of the RV <em>Pourquoi Pas?</em> in the north western mediterranean basin. It is focused on physical aspects (hydrology and dynamics). The main objective was the dynamics of the North current from its roots in the Ligurian Sea downstream to the Gulf of Lion. The surveys try to catch not only the meso-scale features but also the submesoscale associated to the the northern current or at least in its vicinity.</p> <p style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</p>

Studies on food safety and quality changes of fish\nmain tasks:\n- Sampling of fish species for contaminant analysis in relation to the fishing area\n- Sampling of fish for various other analytical purposes \n- Investigation on nematodes in fish\n- microbiological studies

The main objective of the MOOSE-GE cruises is to observe the annual evolution of the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea in the context of the climate change and anthropogenic pressure in order to be able to detect and identify long-term environmental trend and anomalies of the marine ecosystem. The annual cruise focuses on moorings maintenance and hydrology, biogeochemistry and biology monitoring of the Northwestern Mediterranean basin. It aims to follow variability of water masses properties (LIW and WMDW) and biogeochemical and biological content related to these water masses. BILLION 36 cruise was part of this cruise too.

Investigations at the dumpsite for low-level radioactive waste at the Iberian Deep Sea Plain