Fishery survey, fishing duration and other benthic organism data from unknown and other platforms from North Atlantic Ocean was collected over four years between January 16, 1980 to March 14, 1984. The data was collected by Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston SC as part of Living Marine Resources Study. The data was submitted by South Carolina State Wildlife and Marine Resources Department. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard SD2- Oceanographic Station Data, F123- Fish/Shellfish Survey, F124- Zooplankton Data, and F132- Benthic Organisms formats. The SD2 format is used for physical-chemical oceanographic data recorded at discrete depth levels. Most of the observations were made using multi-bottle Nansen casts or other types of water samplers. A small amount (about 5%) were obtained using electronic CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) or STD (salinity-temperature-depth) recorders. The CTD/STD data were reported to NODC at depth levels equivalent to Nansen cast data, however, and have been processed and stored the same as the Nansen data. Cruise information, position, date and time are reported for each station. Each station contains the measurements taken at observed depth levels, but also includes data values interpolated to a set of standard depth levels. The F123 format is used for data from field sampling of marine fish and shellfish. The data derive from analysis of midwater or bottom tow catches and provide information on population density and distribution. Cruise information, position, date, time, gear type, fishing distance and duration, and number of hauls are reported for each survey. Environmental data may include meteorological conditions, surface and bottom temperature and salinity, and current direction and speed. Bottom trawl or other gear dimensions and characteristics are also reported. Catch statistics (e.g., weight, volume, number of fish per unit volume) may be reported for both total haul and for individual species. Biological characteristics of selected specimens, predator/ prey information (from stomach contents analysis), and growth data may also be included. A text record is available for comments. The F124 format is used for data from sampling and analysis of marine zooplankton. Information on zooplankton abundance, distribution, and productivity derived from these data support studies of marine populations and ecosystems. Data reported may include: cruise information, position, date, and time of sampling; bottom depth, sampling depths, temperature, and salinity; gear type, volume of water filtered, total dry and wet weight, and other data for total haul; and data for subsamples by species. Data on zooplankton catch by species may include subsample size, zooplankton concentration, life history code, and numbers of adults, juveniles, eggs, and larvae. Estimated density of holoplankton and meroplankton and data on ichthyoplankton may also be reported. A text record is available for comments. Note: there are two options for reporting subsample counts of individuals at different life history stages. If life history codes are used, only number of adults should be reported on that record. Additional separate records should then be used to report number of juveniles and so on. Alternatively, life history codes may not be used and number of adults, juveniles, and so entered in the proper fields of a single record. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include

Benthic organisms were collected using net, sediment sampler casts, and other instruments from the R/V VENTURE in the Gulf of Mexico from 27 October 1980 to 29 April 1984. Data were submitted by the Woodward - Cycle Consultant with support from the S.W. Florida Shelf project. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F132- Benthic Organisms formats. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments.

The accession contains Benthic and Tissue toxin data from stations in U.S. coastal waters (Coastal Waters of Western U.S. and North American Coastline-North) collected under the National Status and Trends (NS&T) program from 1984-1989. NS&T program for marine environmental quality was designed to define the geographic distribution of contaminant concentrations in tissues of marine organisms and sediments, and documenting biological responses to contamination. Samples have been collected under the original Benthic Surveillance Project (sediment and tissue samples from benthic fish) since 1984. Samples have been collected under the Mussel Watch Project (sediment and bivalves) since 1986. Both programs involved collecting samples from fixed sites on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Sites were selected so as not to be in close proximity to a major contamination source, as the programs objective was to quantify contamination over general areas. Chemical data from sediments collected during the benthic surveillance project, 1984-1986, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (bssed.txt). Additional contaminated sediment data from the mussel watch program, 1986-1989, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (mwsed.txt). These data do not include tissue analysis for contaminants. Chemicals and related parameters measured in sediments include: DDT. Since 1986, NOAA'S NS&T Program has included a component called the mussel watch project that has annually collected and chemically analyzed mussels and oysters from 177 sites at coastal and estuarine sites. Tissue samples from these mollusks have been analyzed to establish temporal trends of contaminant accumulation. Contaminants analyzed during this project include: polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides (such as DDT and its metabolites), aluminum, iron, manganese, silicon, other trace elements, and lipids. Tissue contaminant data from the mussel watch project, years 1986-1989, is contained in a single wordperfect 4.2 file, mollto90.txt. A second file, tbt_90.txt, lists the sum of concentrations of tributyltin and its breakdown products (dibutyltin and monobutyltin) found in bivalve tissue samples. Tributyltin (TBT) was previously used as an antifouling agent in paints, but its use on vessels under 75 feet was banned in 1988. A third file, mwsiteyr.txt, lists collection sites.

The three files contain trace metal data from North, Central and South Atlantic observed in bottom sediment samples along the East Coast Continental Slope and Rise region. Samples were collected from a large number of surveys from May 1983 to July 1986. These data were collected by National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole for the US East Coast Continental Rise/Slope region. The documentation includes the field variables (including region, box core number, location, and type of metal recorded) and a listing of cruises.

Marine animal sightings, sea birds, benthic animals, trace metal concentrations in fish, chlorophyll a and phaeophytin, physical and chemical characterization of sewage sludge, marine toxic substances and pollutants, salinity, water temperature, and other data were collected using visual observations, bottle casts, and other instruments from GYRE and other platforms in the New York Bight and North Atlantic Ocean. Data were collected from 01 August 1984 to 26 May 1990 by Battelle Marine Research Laboratory in New England with support from Ocean Dumping project.

Chemical, benthic organisms, and other data were collected using moored current meter casts and other instruments in the Gulf of Mexico from November 11, 1983 to November 13, 1984. Data were submitted by Alaska Research Associates, Inc., as part of the Gulf of Mexico North Continental Slope Study (MNCSS) project. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F004 Water Physics and Chemistry, F123 Fish Shellfish Resource, and F132 Benthic Organisms formats. The F004 format is used for data from measurements and analyses of physical and chemical characteristics of the water column. Among chemical parameters that may be recorded are salinity, pH, and concentration of oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll, and suspended solids. Physical parameters that may be recorded include temperature, density (sigma-t), transmissivity, and current velocity (east-west and north-south components). Cruise and station information, including environmental conditions of the study site at the time of observations, is also included. The F123 format is used for data from field sampling of marine fish and shellfish. The data derive from analysis of midwater or bottom tow catches and provide information on population density and distribution. Cruise information, position, date, time, gear type, fishing distance and duration, and number of hauls are reported for each survey. Environmental data may include meteorological conditions, surface and bottom temperature and salinity, and current direction and speed. Bottom trawl or other gear dimensions and characteristics are also reported. Catch statistics (e.g., weight, volume, number of fish per unit volume) may be reported for both total haul and for individual species. Biological characteristics of selected specimens, predator/ prey information (from stomach contents analysis), and growth data may also be included. A text record is available for comments. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments.

This dataset contains an analog copy of the 1974 Ph.D. dissertation "Some effects of sewage discharge to the marine environment" by Gary Bartlett Smith. The dissertation is available from other sources which can be discovered using WorldCat.org.

Benthic organism and marine toxic substances and pollutants were collected using net, sediment sampler, and other instruments from NOAA Ship RESEARCHER and other platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Data were submitted by the Energy Resources Co., INC. with support from IXTOC project. Data were collected from 23 July 1979 to 13 December 1980. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F132- Benthic Organisms and F144- Marine Toxic Substances and Pollutants formats. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments. The F144 contains data on ambient concentrations of toxic substances and other pollutants in the marine environment. The data derive from laboratory analyses of samples of water, sediment, or marine organisms. Samples may have been collected near marine discharge sites or during ocean monitoring surveys of large areas. Field observations of tar deposits on beaches may also be reported. Survey information includes platform type, start and end dates, and investigator and institution. If data are collected near a discharge site, discharge location, depth, distance to shore, average volume, and other characteristics are reported. Position, date, time and environmental conditions are reported for each sample station. Environmental data may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, tide stage and height, depth of the thermocline or mixed layer surface temperature and salinity, and wave height and periods. Sample characteristics, collection methods, and laboratory techniques are reported for each sample collected and analyzed. The data record comprises concentration values (or a code to indicate trace amounts) for each chemical substance analyzed. Chemical substances are identified by codes based on the registry numbers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) of the American Chemical Society. Marine organisms from which samples have been taken are identified using the 12-digit NODC Taxonomic Code. A text record is available for optional comments.

Water physical, chemical, and benthic organisms data were collected using current meter and bottle casts from the H.J.W.FAY and CAPE HENLOPEN from November 3, 1976 to September 15, 1977. Data were submitted by Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Gloucester Point, as part of the Ocean Continental Shelf - Mid Atlantic (OCS - Mid Atlantic) project. Data were processed by NODC to the NODC standard Water Physical and Chemistry (F014) and Benthic Organisms (F132) format. The F014 format is designed to support studies of physical and chemical observations on the water column. Reported are measurements of temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate, and organic carbon. The format consists of four data record types, 80 characters in length, sorted by station and sequence numbers for proper order. The first nine columns for all records are to be used for file type (columns 1-3) and file identifier (columns 4-9). The file identifier, to be assigned by the originator, is an unique originator id for each data submission. After submission, the NODC reassigns to this field an unique NODC identifier for internal use. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments.

Data submitted by Dr. Gerald L. Engel. The data was collected between June 1976 and September 1976. This study was organized to collect Histopathology and Benthic data. SST, wave, turbidity, gear type (trawl v.s dredge), benthic species counts and weights were collected. These data are "megabenthic" species. The documentation describes instruments employed for sampling, units, and a detailed description of the record format. The original data on tape has been converted to current NODC storage format. These studies were part of the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Studies (OCS). These data were collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).