The dataset includes age- and length-based catch per unit effort data for commercial fish species collected during the Irish Ground Fish trawl survey.

A requirement of the Water Framework Directive is that benthic macro-invertebrates must be sampled from coastal and transitional waters at least twice within a river basin cycle (6 years) in order to classify these waterbodies. Numerous samples will be taken from sites in matched habitats throughout the water body. Sampling and analysis is carried out according to established protocols. The Directive requires the sampling of nominated coastal and transitional waters for benthic macro-invertebrates. This includes the field sampling, processing and analysis of samples. In addition, grab samples have been taken on vessels of opportunity and are considered suitable to fulfill obligations under the WFD. For each grab sample collected this dataset contains: - lists and abundance of benthic species >1mm, -sediment particle size analysis (PSA), -Folk (1954) sediment classification, and an estimate of organic matter (LOI).

The Irish Groundfish Surveys is part of an annual International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) programme co-ordinated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The survey is carried out over 47 days between October-December each year by the Marine Institute and collects demersal trawl and ancillary data in Irish waters to produce relative abundance indices for fisheries management in the Northwest Atlantic Shelf waters.