Fixed station grids covering the north east Irish Sea and Bristol Channel. Extended to include Celtic Sea and rest of Irish Sea in 1993.

Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Fishery characterisation; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts; Fish and shellfish catch statistics

Pelagic trawl nets; benthos samplers; salinity sensor

Initially surveys were limited to the known major nursery grounds in September in the north east Irish Sea and Bristol Channel to assess the relative abundance of pre-recruit plaice and sole. In 1993 the September survey area was extended to cover the rest of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea to provide additional biological information of flatfish populations. A new survey in March was introduced at the same time to provide similar biological data. Data are collected on other fish and commercial shell fisheries.

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