An international research vessel has set sail from Edinburgh on a mission to study the North Sea and its fisheries.

The Neptune is run by the charity Oceana and left Leith docks on Tuesday night. It will be at sea for two-months and will use an underwater robot to examine the seabed.

Scotland's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be the focus of its research. Fishing is restricted in MPAs and the Neptune will try to identify more areas where fish and marine life can be protected.

The project is funded by a grant from the Dutch postcode lottery worth more than £2 million.

Oceana, an international conservation charity, carried out an initial expedition in the North Sea last year.

Research director Ricardo Aguilar said: "This is the second expedition in the North Sea. We expect to get more information about the seabed, about habitats.

"Our idea is to increase knowledge and promote the creation of new Marine Protected Areas and improve management of marine resources."

Last year, while exploring a region of the sea known as Devil's Hole, Neptune found a new species of "sea pen", a type of coral which can grown more than a metre long and live for more than 40 years.

Neptune's robot will dive to depths of around 600 metres as the ship continues its voyage around the North Sea to the coastal areas of Norway.

It has an arm which can "grab" samples from the seabed and return them to the ship.