To investigate the benthos biodiversity of the Fairlie Channel, in the Firth of Clyde, semi-annual beam trawl samples were taken, as part of undergraduate field courses in marine biology at the University Marine Biological Station Millport. A species list of demersal fish and epibenthos was compiled. Samples were normally taken in March/April and August/September.

The research project was carried out to determine whether precision stock assessment of <i>Nephrops norvegicus</i> can be performed by using a sledge-mounted underwater television (UWTV). This can be achieved by a method of counting the number of Nephrops burrows within a fishery ground, as established by the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department, Aberdeen.

The survey aimed to collect epibenthic megafauna to aid in assessing the variabilty and population densities of fauna and trawling impact.The damage load which fauna experience during the process of commercial trawling was investigated.