This dataset contains presence/absence information of infaunal bycatch from seed mussel stock (Mytilus edulis) assessment surveys off the Outer Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland. The seed mussel survey is carried out each year and this particular dataset contains the bycatch information from initial ground truthing (dredge) on these surveys from 2017-02 to 2018- 07.

This dataset contains information on bycatch of non-target species from the AFBI Nephrops Trawl Research Survey series between 1994 – present from surveys carried out in the Irish Sea. The primary objectives of this research surveys series are: • To study spatial variability in population structure and abundance of Nephrops and by-catch species. • To obtain information on temporal trends of population structure of Nephrops. • To study female maturity in Nephrops.

This dataset contains information on the abundance of benthic infauna species from sediment grabs collected from the South East Mourne Coast off Co. Down (Northern Ireland). This survey is part of a large project called INIS Hydro which aims to provide high resolution seabed baseline data for the coast of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland using multibeam echosounders and grab samples for ground truthing. This survey was carried out in February 2011 on the RV Corystes using a 0.1m2 day grab. There were 47 grab samples taken in which infaunal analysis, Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and and Carbon & Nitrogen (C&N) analysis were carried out. The most abundant species found was the brittle star Amphiura filiformis and the most frequently recorded was the polychaete Lumbrineris cingulata.

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance & biomass from sediment grabs in Belfast Lough as part of a larger & ongoing habitat mapping project. The sediment & infaunal survey was carried out in January 2018 by AFBI and this dataset was integrated into the larger mapping project since 2012. The project is joint with the British Geological Society and Belfast Harbour with the aim of mapping the seabed floor and updating it from more historical information.

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grab samples off the Co. Down coast in Northern Ireland as part of an Essesntial Fish Habitat (EFH) project. Essential Fish Habitat is defined as “those waters & substrata necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity” and these can help to form a basis for the designation of Marine Protected Areas such as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). This survey was carried out on the RV Corystes in 2012 and 2013 off the Co. Down coast using a 0.1m2 day grab. In 2012 there were 88 samples taken. In 2013 there were 48 samples. Infaunal analysis, Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and Carbon & Nitrogen analysis were carried out on all samples.

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs in North Channel as part of a larger, more comprehensive habitat mapping project. This survey was carried out over two days in 2017 by the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) on the RV Corystes. A 0.1m2 Day Grab was used to collect the sediment samples. Particle size analysis (PSA) and Carbon & Nitrogen analysis were carried out. The infaunal samples were sent away to accredited taxonomic laboratories to be identified and weighed. There were many commercially and biologically important species found in the samples for example Modiolus modiolus (Northern Ireland priority species) and a few non-native species such as Goniadella gracilis. There were also a few records of species that are not formally recorded in the UK e.g. Syllis licheri. The most abundant species recorded was the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa. The polychaete species Syllis armillaris was present in all 12 samples taken.

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs from the Western Irish Sea collected in 2014 and 2015 from the RV Corystes. This survey was carried out to assess the presence, extent and the condition of subtidal mud habitats in the Western Irish Sea. A 0.1m2 day grab was used to obtain the sediment and infaunal samples. In total there were 85 grab samples taken and this was also supplemented with underwater video tows of the area for nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) but this information is not included in this dataset. Particle Size analysis (PSA) of the sediment was also carried out along with Carbon & Nitrogen (C & N) analysis. The most abundant species found was the Bivalve Abra alba and the most frequently recorded species was the Bivalve Abra nitida.

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance & biomass from sediment grab samples and video tows carried out off the coast of Fair Head (Co. Antrim) on the FPV Banríon Uladh (now Queen of Ulster). This survey was carried out to provide a benthic baseline for a potential offshore windfarm development site in May 2014. The main aim of this survey was to undertake a baseline assessment of the species & biotopes found in the area of interest. The survey comprised of 26 video stations and 10 grab stations (3 repeats per station) with 24 samples retained for infaunal analysis- the abundance & biomass was recorded. Particle size analysis (PSA) was also carried out but due to low success rate of grab samples, only 4 samples were appropriate for this analysis. The most abundant infauna found was Ascidiacea.

This dataset contains information on the presence and absence of bycaught infaunal species from Crepidula fornicata surveys in Belfast Lough from 2013 to 2017 on board the Fisheries Protection Vessel, Banríon Uladh (renamed in 2016 to Queen of Ulster). The surveys were carried out each year in late September and early October (each over 2 days of surveying). It is important to note that this dataset contains bycatch information and this was not the key aim of the survey. The C.fornicata survey is carried out to routinely monitor the extent of the breeding population of C.fornicata (non-native in Northern Ireland) to enable policies to be put in place to minimise the spread of non-native fauna. In the years 2013-2015, a small oyster dredge was used to collect samples, in 2016 and 2017 a small AFBI naturalist dredge was used. In total over the 4 years, 278 samples were collected for identification & analysis. The most frequently recorded species was the gastropod Philine aperta.

This dataset contains information on bycatch of non-target species from the AFBI Queen Scallop Research Survey in 2013-2018 in the Irish Sea and North Channel – present on board the R.V. Corystes. The primary objectives of this research surveys series are: • To obtain information on spatial patterns of abundance of different size-classes of queen scallops in the Irish Sea and off the north coast; • To further test for optimal sampling gear for future queen scallop surveys • To collect biological information from queen scallops and scallops by area, including tissue samples. <br> </br> The survey primarily utilises underwater television (UWTV) footage (c. 10 mins) to identify abundance of queen scallop which is supplement with biological sampling from dredge and beam trawl. Dredge samples were taken at selected stations across a spectrum of observed queenie densities