Eastern Irish Sea Groundfish Catch Data from 1985 Silver Star Surveys

Three groundfish surveys were conducted in 1985 aboard the vessel Silver Star in the eastern Irish Sea. The data records numbers at length by centimetre for main commercial fish species and includes station positions. A summary table for two cruises contains catch data for all other species.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical fish population size structure based on numbers at length data.
• Mapping species distribution and abundance based on recorded station positions.
• Studying changes in commercial fish communities over time as part of a longer time series.
• Comparing catch composition between different survey cruises in 1985.

Strengths

• Data is part of a 15-year time series of surveys conducted from 1976 to 1991.
• Includes detailed catch data for all other species from two specific cruises (02/85 and 03/85).
• Collection method is standardized, using a Boris Goshawk trawl towed for one hour.

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

Collection Method

Surveys conducted using a Boris Goshawk trawl towed for one hour from the fishing vessel Silver Star.

Time Range

1985

Freshness

Data is from 1985; part of a historical series ending in 1991.

Geography

Eastern Irish Sea