With the sampling at Aqaba Gulf completed, the Aegaeo set off in the early morning of June 30 on a southward course to the Tabuk Fisheries. Situated close to shore and within the boundaries of the NEOM project, the fisheries is a large and expanding operation, and a potential of excess nutrients and other contaminants to the coastal zone.  Examination of any contaminant signal from this facility was deemed critical to the MCEP Project as aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry within the KSA and is principally concentrated in the coastal zone of the Red Sea.

Fish cages at Tabuk Fisheries, as seen from the Aegaeo.

Sampling Locations at the Tabuk Fisheries

Sediment and water sampling in the area of the Tabuk Fisheries began at noon on the 30^th and was a two-vessel operation. The sampling at stations TB3 and TB4 (above) was accomplished from the deck of the Aegaeo, while the proximity of sites TB1 and TB2 to the fish cages required the use of the Aegaeo’s zodiac. Host to a variety of fish, the cages span a water depth from roughly 15 to 80 m. The sampling and subsequent onboard chemical analysis of the water samples was a collaborative effort, with scientists from HCMR and NCEC working together.

Operations at the Tabuk Fisheries also included deployment of a mooring equipped with a CTD that will acquire continuous measurements of temperature, salinity, turbidity and oxygen concentration.  Deployed at station TB3 (above), the mooring will be recovered with the help of our NEOM colleagues sometime in late July or early August. 

Taha Boksmati (NCEC) seated next to Vassilis Stasinos (HCMR), with Kostas Parinos and Theodoros Zoulias (HCMR) in the bow, off for water and sediment sampling close to the cages of the Tabuk Fisheries.

George Krokos (KAUST), with the Tabuk shoreline in the background, set to deploy the mooring.

Mooring deployment accomplished!

With the samples secured, the mooring deployed and lab work underway, the Aegaeo set out from this final survey area of the cruise on a course towards the Port of Duba.

Upon arrival at Duba on the morning of July 1, all onboard harbored some regret that the cruise work had ended and no additional sites could be sampled!

At about noon on July 1, the Aegaeo eased away from the dock at Duba and began the trip home to the Port of Pireus in Greece. Just before the departure, the full science crew, joined by the Aegaeo’s captain, assembled on the front deck for a group photo. We’re all looking forward to the next field surveillance!

A fond farewell to Red Sea sampling.