This was Raquel’s first scientific cruise. “One of the most interesting aspects for me was taking part in sampling activities. I especially enjoyed the fish larvae identification work, it was fascinating to see species such as cod for the first time!” she says. “Another unforgettable part was the shift work, because it allowed us to work during both sunrise and sunset at sea — something truly special!”

The AL649 cruise took place over five days onboard RV Alkor, led by researcher Hanna Rudnick and continued the annual tradition of monitoring planktonic communities, fish populations, and food webs in the Baltic Sea, which GEOMAR has coordinated since 1987.

Two main research activities took place throughout the cruise: fish stock assessments and plankton sampling.

A trial was conducted using a specialized fishing net (‘Fish Lift for the Harter Lab’), which consists of interconnected nets of varying mesh sizes that selectively capture fish based on size. At the base of the net is a cage that allows the fish to be brought to the surface while minimizing decompression stress. This trial enables the collection of live cod for biological assessments while causing minimal (ideally zero) mortality. According to Raquel and Eva, collection took place where cod are no longer commonly found, but they were able to capture flatfish, herring and sprat, providing them with their first hands-on experience in Baltic fish species identification.

“Beyond the scientific work, we were warmly welcomed by the entire team. In just a few days, the atmosphere onboard became both collaborative and friendly, creating space for personal connections. We are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to take part in this field trip and to everyone who made it possible. Special thanks to Hanna, Eric, Noah, Jana, Java, Ann, Anton, Stefan, Erica, and the crew and the captain for sharing their knowledge and making this such a rewarding experience.”