Whaler collection records have been collated for use in conservation assessments. This MarLIN record refers specifically to a customised dataset that was created for delivery to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW). The dataset comprises distribution records of the freshwater speartooth shark, Glyphis sp. A, and the northern river shark, Glyphis sp. C, in northern Australia.

Logbook and observer data were obtained from state agencies WA Fisheries, NT DBIRD, QDPI, Logbook and observer data for fisheries in commonwealth waters were collected from AFMA and CMR - Hobart. Visits were also made to Museums to gather catch records and measure and photograph sawfish remains. This dataset is the result of a desktop study carried out by J. Giles whilst based at Cleveland. The spatial and biological catch data on sawfish was obtained from as many sources as possible in northern Australia; including commercial fisheries, research and recreational sectors and historical data sets. This also includes morphometric data on sawfish and rostra held in public and private collections.

The dataset comprises catch records of demersal fish and invertebrates from demersal fish trawls, demersal prawn trawls and epibenthic sled samples from the Northern Planning Region. It is a compilation of data from 9 research voyages (SO 05/80, SO 07/80, SO 02/81, SS 03/90, SS 05/91, SS 01/93, SS 02/97, SS 08/97and SS 03/98). The catch of each species in a sample is recorded as raw weight and count, gross weight and count (raw values divided by the subsampling fraction) and per area weight and count. Species are recorded as CAAB codes. Sample attributes include the voyage, location, time, sampling gear and sampled area. The dataset was created for the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW) for use in profiling of the North Marine Region during the development of a marine bioregional plan for the region. Data from all voyages are in a single set of tables and in the same structure and measurement units. The aim of the dataset is to provide convenient access to the data from the source datasets, which were stored in various data structures in various locations. Although the data are presented in uniform measurement units of counts and weights per unit area, data from different samples cannot be assumed to be comparable. In particular, the catchability of a species varies among types of sampling gears. Even samples from a given gear type on a given voyage may not all be comparable to one another. For example, gear may be altered during a voyage (e.g. multiple codend mesh sizes may be tried) and fish trawls are occasionally aimed at fish visible on the echo sounder. The data should therefore be analysed no more than semi-quantitatively. Assumptions on the comparability of samples -- even from a single voyage and gear type -- should be based on reference to the voyage reports.

Sea snake collection records were compiled for use in two research projects: (a) Risk assessment and mitigation for sea snakes caught in the Northern Prawn Fishery (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation project 2005/051), and (b) Scientific support for regional marine planning and marine protected area design in the North Marine Region (A Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW) project). This metadata record refers specifically to the customised dataset that was created for delivery to DEW. The sea snake dataset is a compilation of collection records from CSIRO and other agencies. There are 11023 records of 41 species. The CSIRO data sources included the following: (a) Bycatch monitoring (FRDC 2002/035); (b) Bycatch sustainability (FRDC 96/257); (c) CSIRO red snapper project (ACIAR); (d) CSIRO scientific observer program, GOC, 1996-98; (e) CSIRO scientific observer program, GOC, 2000-01; (f) CSIRO scientific observer program, JBG, 2003; (g) Crew member observer program, GOC, 2003-05; (h) Effects of trawl design (FRDC 93/179); (i) GBR effects of trawling; (j) NPF pre-season monitoring; (k) Tropical fish (FIRDC 88/77); (l) Tropical prawn ecology 1992-1995; and (m) Tropical prawn project (Redfield). The non-CSIRO data sources were (a) Australian Museum, (b) Bureau of Rural Sciences, (c) NT Fisheries scientific observers, (d) Northern Territory Museum, (e) QDPI scientific observers, (f) Queensland Museum, and (g) Western Australian Museum.

The dataset comprises catch records of syngnathids (seahorses, pipefish etc.) from demersal fish trawls, demersal prawn trawls and epibenthic sled samples from the North Marine Region. It is a compilation of data from 9 research voyages (SO 05/80, SO 07/80, SO 02/81, SS 03/90, SS 05/91, SS 01/93, SS 02/97, SS 08/97 and SS 03/98) and the CSIRO scientific observer program, 1996-98. The dataset was created for the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW) for use in profiling of the North Marine Region during the development of a marine bioregional plan for the region.

The dataset is a compilation of records of sea turtles caught in prawn trawls in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF). There are 316 records of five species. The records are from research voyages, scientific observers on commercial prawn trawlers and crew member observers on commercial prawn trawlers. More specifically, the data sources were as follows: (a) CSIRO and collaborative research voyages on RV Southern Surveyor; (b) crew member observers on NPF commercial vessels, 2003-2005 (FRDC project 2002/035, collaboration between CSIRO and AFMA, funding by FRDC); (c) scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels (FRDC project 2000/173, collaboration between CSIRO and the Australian Maritime College (AMC), funding by FRDC); (d) crew members and scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels (FRDC project 1998/202, collaboration between BRS, CSIRO, AFMA, funding by FRDC and NORMAC); (e) crew member observers and scientific observers on NPF commercial vessels and RV Southern Surveyor (FRDC project 1996/257, collaboration between CSIRO, DPIQ and AMC, funding by FRDC).

The datasets contain summaries of Victorian logbook data on catch and effort distribution for commercial fisheries in state marine and estuarine waters. The logbook data has been recorded and submitted to Victorian Fisheries Authourity by commercial fishers. The data are aggregated to produce summaries of total catch and effort by fishery at a reporting blocks where 5 boats or more operate. For areas where less than 5 boats operate the data is shown as confidential. The data was mapped using 5 year - financial year periods; 2003/04 to 2007/08, 2008/09 to 2012/13, 2018/19 to 2022/23, and 1 year; 2022/23.

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)).

The datasets contain summaries of Western Australia logbook data on catch and effort distribution for commercial fisheries in state marine and estuarine waters. The logbook data has been recorded and submitted to WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development by commercial fishers. The data are aggregated to produce summaries of total catch and effort by fishery at a 0.1 degree resolution where 5 boats or more operate. For areas where less than 5 boats operate the data is shown as confidential. The data was mapped using 5 year - financial year periods; 2003/04 to 2007/08, 2008/09 to 2012/13, 2018/19 to 2022/23, and 1 year; 2022/23.

This dataset comprises catch compositions and trawl locations from a cruise of the Russian fishery research vessel "Pr. Deruygin" carried out in Australian waters in May 1974, containing 11 demersal trawls from the Australian North West Shelf. Most records include catch composition by species (presence/absence but not weight), also some data on length frequency, maturity and diet of commercially important species. The data were obtained by exchange with Soviet scientists in the mid 1990s and has had CSIRO species codes incorporated. The dataset is now in an Oracle database in Hobart, and analyses/summaries of the data are given in the accompanying report (see References). A MS Access version of the dataset has been compiled for use within the North West Shelf-JEMS study. This version is available on-line for researchers in the NWS-JEMS study (see data links). The data are also accessible to authorised users via CMR's "Data Trawler" application. A username and password is required to access this dataset.