North Sea

Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters; Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Zooplankton taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column

Water temperature sensor; pelagic trawl nets; discrete water samplers; salinity sensor

Surveys were initially designed to determine the distribution and abundance of adult and larval herring plus juvenile gadoids and to monitor environmental parameters as part of an ICES co-ordinated programme. The pre 1976 data are mainly for pelagic, commercial gadoids and Norway pout and the catch was not weighed. For 1976-1981 all the pelagic, commercial gadoids and Norway pout were weighed and measured and the other species were weighed and counted. Since 1982 all species have been weighed and measured. The survey was carried out in the rectangles allocated by ICES and the results combined with those of other participating nations to give estimates of abundance for pelagic species and commercial gadoids.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 OHT
United Kingdom