This dataset series comprises deck logs from the vessel "Rama" in which observations made during the Gulf of Carpentaria Prawn Survey are recorded. This survey was conducted jointly by the Queensland State and Commonwealth Governments during 1963-1965 to examine the prawn resources of the south-eastern corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

This dataset series comprises fish species composition data collected during the survey conducted jointly by the Queensland State and Commonwealth Governments during 1963-1965 to examine the prawn resources of the south-eastern corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Aubrey Harris retrieved the data from Rainer and Munro c.1984 - and it was used by Aubrey Harris and Ian Poiner for analysis for their paper (Harris, A. N. M. and Poiner, I. R. (1991)).

Adult grooved tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus) were caught in prawn trawls during one transect of the Gulf of Carpentaria on the FRV Southern Surveyor. The catches were used to assess offshore migration of the species. Data collected include length frequency, sex and gonad stage. Data were collected using 39 paired Florida Flyer trawls centred on 6nm grids across approximately 13 sites. The sites are spaced some distance apart along the cruise track (a transect from Weipa to N Groote and back to Weipa). The AusTED and standard codend were compared in these trawls, and the same data were also to be used monitor the distribution of Penaeus semisulcatus across the Gulf. Problem shots were retrawled when possible to meet the experimental design. Nine were abandoned due to lack of time.

Nine cruises took place between 1975 and 1977 on chartered boats and the "Kalinda". Prawn larval biomass and densities were measured in several transects across the Gulf of Carpentaria, as well as total plankton biomass. These data are comprised of three distinct datasets: Total zooplankton biomass - see https://marlin.csiro.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search;jsessionid=sisv4i7204pn13kfcrqfp7deu#/metadata/8c2dac2a-41ea-48ef-b917-cd0673f19ed9; Prawn larval densities (All Penaeids identified to genus level) - see https://marlin.csiro.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search;jsessionid=sisv4i7204pn13kfcrqfp7deu#/metadata/638044de-7168-44d7-9390-4df74fef997c; and Prawn larval densities (Metapenaeus and Penaeus only, identified to species) - see https://marlin.csiro.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search;jsessionid=sisv4i7204pn13kfcrqfp7deu#/metadata/cb69f468-a637-4366-b684-28eafc68bb16.

Seagrass biomass, density and morphometrics were measured at sites around Groote Eylandt and Albatross Bay in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Environmental data such as depth were also collected at a number of sites. Transect data was collected to give a qualitative assessment of these parameters.

Prawn trawl data from Weipa, East and South East Gulf of Carpentaria in the late 1970s. The main objective was to ascertain the distribution and abundance of each of the main commercial and some non-commercial penaeid species. The main data collection was performed off the Judy B with cruises repeated every month for 13 months; some other vessels were involved at different times (Kalinda, Raptis Pearl, Sprightly). Trawling was conducted at night and consisting of 30 minute shots. All prawns were sorted by species (general codes used) and sex, but no weights were recorded. Catch rates were expressed as number of prawns caught per net per hour. There were more than four sampling plans.

This dataset series comprises fish species composition data collected during the trawl and bottom sediment survey carried out in April 1985 and April 1986. This data was collected and used to compare fish abundance for this region with the pre-trawling surveys done by Munro between 1963 and 1965. Sediment samples were collected during the 1986 survey.

Hydrographic data from six cruises, between April 1976 and March 1977 in the Gulf of Carpentaira are presented. Physical quantities (temperature, salinity and sigma-t) and chemical properties (dissolved oxygen, nitrate and silicate) were measured, and are presented in an associated report both as values at the stations and as contour maps. These cruises began in 1975 with the initiation of the CSIRO Tropical Prawn Research Project, a new series of Gulf-wide cruises undertaken to study the larval ecology of penaeid prawns. Approximately 70 stations were occupied on each cruise (with the exception of KL 7/76 which made only three transects in the southern Gulf). Two types of hydrographic stations were undertaken. Type 'A' stations consisted of Nansen casts with bottles every 10m from the surface to the bottom, sampling temperature, salinity, oxygen, nitrate plus nitrite, nitrogen and silicate. Type 'B' stations were Nansen casts with three bottles (at the surface, at 10m depth and within 10m of the bottom) sampling the same parameters as the Type 'A' stations. The sigma-t values were calculated from the temperature and salinity values, and the percentage of oxygen saturation was calculated from the oxygen concentration, temperature and salinity data. The difference between surface and bottom values was also calculated for all properties. The six cruises included: FRV Kalinda: KL 4/76 April 1976 KL 7/76 June 1976 KL 9/76 September 1976 FV Judy B: JB 2/76 November 1976 FV Raptis Pearl: TP 1/77 January 1977 RV Sprightly: TP 3/77 March 1977

Megabenthos was sampled using a beam trawl, at 105 sites throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria during the Southern Surveyor cruise SS 03/90. The infauna was identified, counted and weighed. The results were used in pattern analysis of the communities. Data on sediment grain size were also collected.

This dataset was collected mainly to provide banana prawn length-frequency data by undertaking size sampling of commercial catches of banana prawns (P merguiensis). The aim was to calculate optimal seasonal opening dates for the commercial fishery and to provide other management advice. Length-frequency data for other prawn species was also provided.