Between February and May of 1995 a series of plankton surveys were carried out
in the Irish Sea by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Science, and a number of partner research institutes, to undertake stock
assessment by the egg production method. The species targetted were cod, sole
and plaice. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected at each site on a planned
survey grid. The data described here consists of the numbers of fish eggs and
larvae identified from the main net samples collected, along with associated
positional and ancillary data and volumes filtered.
In addition, 69 main net samples were later analysed for mesozooplankton (12
to 16 samples from 5 of the cruises), and these data are also included.