Northwest Atlantic Shelf Fish Biological and Reproductive Data

Seven fish species, including winter flounder and Atlantic herring, are sampled for biological data on the continental shelf. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains this database, with data collected primarily from fishermen in the NECRP Study Fleet and other research programs. It includes physical measurements, age, fecundity estimates from gonad samples, and energetic condition data.

Use Cases

• Modeling fish population growth and mortality based on age and physical measurement data.
• Studying reproductive cycles and fecundity based on oocyte counts and gonad histology grading.
• Assessing fish health and energetic condition based on tissue weights and bioimpedance data.
• Analyzing spatial patterns in biological traits using catch location data linked from fishery tables.

Strengths

• Includes data for seven distinct fish species from the northwest Atlantic.
• Collects multiple data types: physical measurements, age, reproductive status, and energetic condition.
• Data sourced from multiple programs, including a principal fishery-dependent source (NECRP Study Fleet).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format is PDF, which may require extraction and structuring for analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Collected from fish provided by fishermen in the NECRP Study Fleet, other NECRP research, and surveys by NEFSC, MADMF, and URI GSO.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 22:48:53.943969; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Continental shelf in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, including areas like Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine.