Whelk Population and Reproductive Biology Survey in the English Channel, 2009

September 2009 surveys collected by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) as part of the Fisheries Science Partnership. The data describe the population structure and reproductive cycle of whelks (*Buccinum undatum*) from two areas off the Sussex coast. It includes size distributions, catch estimates, station details, morphometric data, and sexual maturity assignments for individual whelks.

Use Cases

• Modeling whelk population structure based on size distribution data.
• Analyzing spatial catch variations based on station details.
• Studying reproductive cycles based on morphometric data and sexual maturity assignments.

Strengths

• Data covers two distinct survey areas off Selsey and Eastbourne, allowing for spatial comparison.
• Includes multiple biological data types: size distributions, catch numbers, station details, morphometrics, and sexual maturity.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) via the Fisheries Science Partnership.

Collection Method

Potting surveys conducted from chartered fishing vessels *Tomkat of Selsey* and *Beachy Head*.

Time Range

September 2009.

Freshness

Data is from a single survey in 2009.

Geography

Eastern English Channel, off the Sussex coast (Selsey and Eastbourne).