1981 Eastern Irish Sea Groundfish Survey Catch Data from the Silver Star

Catch data from three groundfish surveys conducted in the eastern Irish Sea during 1981 aboard the fishing vessel Silver Star. Numbers at length by centimetre for main commercial fish species are recorded, along with station positions. The dataset includes a summary table for two cruises containing catch data for all other species.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical fish population length distributions based on the recorded numbers at length by centimetre.
• Studying spatial distribution of commercial species based on the recorded station positions by area.
• Investigating species composition and biodiversity from the summary table containing catch data for all other species.
• Modeling historical fishing effort and catch per unit effort for the eastern Irish Sea region.

Strengths

• Data originates from a defined time series of surveys conducted from 1976 to 1991, providing temporal context.
• Surveys used a standardized method with a Boris Goshawk trawl towed for an hour, suggesting methodological consistency.
• Includes a summary table for cruises 02/81 and 03/81, which may offer broader ecological context.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service via the eu_open_data platform.

Collection Method

Surveys carried out using a Boris Goshawk trawl towed for an hour.

Time Range

1981

Freshness

Data is from 1981; the dataset's last update status is unknown.

Geography

Eastern Irish Sea