Initially, the Western European Shelf between Shetland in the North to the southern part of the Bay of Biscay in the South; from 1988 the area has been standardised to cover ICES divisions VIIe-j and VIIIa

Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Temperature of the water column

Water temperature sensor; pelagic trawl nets; CTD

The surveys were originally carried out to investigate the distribution and abundance of juvenile mackerel. From 1982-1988, two surveys were carried out each year, one in March and a second in December, each of about 30 days duration. Between 1982 and 1985, the surveys had no standardised format, and the area of coverage extended from the southern part of the Bay of Biscay northwards along the western European shelf to Shetland. By 1986, the initial objectives had been met and the survey evolved into a standardised groundfish survey of the Celtic Sea between the latitudes 47° 30'N and 52° N. The surveys are used to monitor the annual changes in distribution and abundance of length and age of all finfish species caught. Data from the survey series are used to provide additional fishery-independent information for the assessment of stocks of commercial interest that are caught in the area. New tows were added in 1997 to investigate species distribution at depths greater than 300m. Since 1996 CTD has been used to provide temperature and salinity data.

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