The Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi Laboratories has conducted standardized groundfish trawl surveys in the Gulf of Mexico since 1987. Prior to 1987, the summer survey was conducted under Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) protocols; however, the fall survey operated independent of SEAMAP and dates back to 1972. Data from these standardized surveys were provided to the Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) to support assessment of the environmental impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted in the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia) during 1979-1981 to ascertain the onset of fish spawning, and to explore distributional pattern and estimate total biomass of fish species. Oblique tows were made using 0.25m2 Bongos equipped with 351 micron Nitex nets of modified SCOR design. All sampling gear was black to minimize potential avoidance and resulting catch bias. The tow procedure generally followed that established by CALCOFI. This dataset contains a compilation of corrected catches of juvenile fishes, fish eggs and fish larvae by station.

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.

On the FRV Southern Surveyor cruise SS3/90, 108 stations throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria were sampled for sea temperature, salinity, water depth, and sediment grain size. Data was also collected from the 1989-1990 "Jacqueline D" cruises and from commercial trawlers. Relevant rainfall, wind and temperature data were obtained from the Meteorological Bureau.

Fish captured in trawls by the SWFSC Fisheries Resources Division during surveys for coastal pelagic species. Most tows were targeted for sardine using a Nordic trawl on the surface at night. The database includes identification to various taxonomic levels depending on species, length frequencies, biomass data, and some age data for sardine based on analysis of otoliths.

Fish Bycatch samples were collected for CSIRO from trawls between March and December 1983.These trawls were part of a 12 month survey of the tiger prawn fishery of southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria carried out by Queensland Department of Primary Industry. The vessels involved were the 'Gwendolyn May' and Shirley Ross' which fished each month for four nights on either side of the new moon, using 6-fathom nets (Florida Flyers, with a Texas drop chain rig) with a cod-end mesh of 45 mm. This data was then used to compare demersal fish community with that found from Munro's 1962-65 data (Poiner and Harris 1986).

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.

Fishes and macroinvertebrates were collected using a 12.8m semi-balloon trawl with 5cm mesh in spring and fall of 2010 and 2011 in the coastal waters of Alabama and Mississippi. All species were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and counted. A wet weight estimate of total biomass (+ grams) was attained for each species using portable spring scales. Finfish collected in 2010 were measured for length (standard, fork, and/or total as appropriate).

Trawling of commercial prawn species was undertaken in the Western Gulf of Carpentaria, in the Groote Eylandt region. Areas subject to commercial fishing were targeted, with sampling being undertaken at approximately monthly intervals between October 1982 and March 1983. The sampling platform was the 15.8m prawn trawler F.V. "Paulwin", towing standard double-twin rig otter trawls. All prawns sampled were identified, sexed, and measured. The total weight for each species, by sex, was measured to ± 5g. Project objectives were: To determine the size composition of the principal tiger prawn species (Penaeus esculentus and Penaeus semisulcatus) and endeavour prawn species (Metapenaeus endeavouri and Metapenaeus ensis) on the commercial fishing grounds subject to seasonal closure in the western Gulf of Carpentaria; to undertake these determinations at monthly intervals between October 1982 and March 1983 inclusive, using a chartered prawn trawler; and to assess and report on the size composition of prawns on fishing grounds within or adjacent to the closed area with reference to the effectiveness of the closures in space and time. Refer to the listed report for further information.