Category: Safety

Conwy Bay/Constable Bank fish trawl and sediment sampling surveys

Mariners are advised that Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences are scheduled to undertake fish trawl surveys in the Conwy Bay and north Constable Bank areas between 7th-10th October and 13th-20th October inclusive. The fishing surveys will consist of a maximum of two 1-hour long trawls per day. A sediment grab sampling survey will also be conducted in the Red Wharf Bay area between 13th-20th October.

The work will be undertaken by Bangor University’s survey vessel ‘Prince Madog’, call sign ZNLJ5, monitoring VHF channel 77.

Please coordinate with the vessel during this period and note that the sampling locations may vary slightly depending on weather and other factors.

Contacts:

Scientific Lead (vessel mobile): 07860342451

School of Ocean Sciences, Askew Street, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB
Dr Ian McCarthy ([email protected]): 01248 382862
Dr Michael Roberts ([email protected]): 01248 383966

Vessel specifications and contact details

Contact Details
Vessel name	Prince Madog
Call Sign	ZNLJ5
IMO	9229611
MMSI	235234000
Vessel Contact	[email protected]

Vessel Specifications
Length	34.9m
Beam	8.5m
Draft	3.7m

Trawl Surveys

To research local demersal fish populations as part of an ongoing 50-year study, 1-hour rockhopper otter trawl surveys will be undertaken in the boxed areas indicated on the chart below. The surveys will be conducted between 7th-10th October and 13th-20th October inclusive. The exact locations (start and end points) for the trawls will be dependent on factors associated with weather, tide and time available. A maximum of two 1-hour trawls will be conducted each day as per dispensation from Welsh Government (DISP_2024_024)

Areas to be Surveyed

Offshore 1 – within an area bounded by 53 28’ and 53 30’ N and 3 40’ and 3 52.5’ W

Offshore 2 – within an area bounded by 53 28’ and 53 30’ N and 3 40’ and 4 00.0’ W

4 Fathom Bank – within an area bounded by 53 21.2’ and 53 21.6’ N and 3 52.4’ and 3 58.5’ W

Puffin – within an area bounded by 53 58.5’ and 53 21.2’ N and 3 40’ and 4 03.5’ W

Inside Conwy – within an area bounded by 53 18.1’ and 53 21.4’ N and 3 52.8’ and 4 00.5’ W

Red Wharf Bay Sediment Survey

A survey of the benthic infaunal community (animals living in the surface sediment) in Red Wharf Bay will be conducted between 13th and 20th October. Triplicate sediment samples will be collected using a Day grab from each of 15 sampling sites located along three depth profiles as shown in the figure below (see Table for planned co-ordinates)

At each sampling site, three grab samples will be taken as close together as possible. Each grab sample will collect sediment from 0.1m² of seabed.

Depth	Location	Long DD	Lat DD
D1	D1L1	-4.19306	53.33311
D1	D1L2	-4.17866	53.33008
D1	D1L3	-4.16729	53.32679
D1	D1L4	-4.15541	53.32401
D1	D1L5	-4.14353	53.32073
D2	D2L1	-4.18472	53.36268
D2	D2L2	-4.17234	53.35838
D2	D2L3	-4.16046	53.35409
D2	D2L4	-4.14707	53.3508
D2	D2L5	-4.13191	53.34575
D3	D3L1	-4.17386	53.39401
D3	D3L2	-4.16097	53.38997
D3	D3L3	-4.14909	53.38593
D3	D3L4	-4.1362	53.38239
D3	D3L5	-4.12155	53.37834

Aid to Navigation Starboard No C9 ( Y Felinheli) Fl(3).G 10s is now on its new station

53°10’.62 N 004°13’.82 W

David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr Caernarfon Harbour Master

On Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of August Caernarfon Harbour is hosting the annual OCRDA Powerboat racing.

Mariners are advised that there will be Powerboat and Jet ski racing in the area outside the River Seiont and Victoria Dock There will be potential delays in being able to navigate inbound and outbound of both the River Seiont and the Victoria Dock. Please be patient and follow the official’s requests.

Navigation inside the BLUE area is strictly prohibited during the racing times.

Please contact the Dock Master on VHF ch80 for further info on the race days.

Timings are subject to change at short notice

Activity	Saturday	Sunday
OCR / Jet Ski / ProCat & Safety Briefing	10:00 – 10:30	11:00 – 11:15
Launching Jet Ski / ProCat & Boat	11:00 – 14:00	12:00 – 15:00
Jet Ski Races 1 & 3 – 25min + Lap	12:00 – 12:30	13:00 – 13:30
ProCat Races 1 & 4 – 10min + Lap	12:45 – 13:00	13:45 – 14:00
PowerBoat Races 1 & 3 – 25min + Lap	13:15 – 13:45	14:15 – 14:45
ProCat Races 2 & 5 – 10min + Lap	14:00 – 14:15	15:00 – 15:15
PowerBoat Races 2 & 4 – 25min + Lap	14:30 – 15:00	15:30 – 16:00
ProCat Races 3 & 6 – 10min + Lap	15:15 – 15:30	16:15 – 16:30
Jet Ski Races 1 & 3 – 25min + Lap	15:45 – 16:15	16:45 – 17:30
Prizegiving		19:00

David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr Caernarfon Harbour Master

Aid to Navigation Aber Menai Point is on station and showing it’s appropriate lights.

The land marks position is 53°7.619 N 004°19.715 W

David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr Caernarfon Harbour Master