Fladen experimental fishing impact recovery data - Benthic macrofauna

Total counts and biomass in grams of individual taxa identified from 0.1m squared Day Grab samples of the seabed with associated station information. The benthic macrofaunal samples were collected at sampling stations located within six experimental boxes (three treatments and three control) during a fishing impact recovery survey within the Fladen Grounds. Data were collected at three time points (before impact (time 0), immediately after impact (time 1) and 8 months after impact (time 2) during two research surveys on the RV Cefas Endeavour in April 2015 and November 2015. Day grab samples were collected from within a 50m radius around each target location. On recovery of the grab, sample depth was measured to ensure the sample was of minimum size (5cm). The whole of the second sample was retained for macrofaunal analysis, as a separate grab sample was collected for particle size analysis. The macrofaunal sample was decanted into a plastic box and transferred to the sample processing area on board the vessel. Benthic fauna were collected by washing the sample with seawater over a 5mm and 1mm sieve. The retained less than 1mm fraction was transferred to a labelled container and preserved in 4 percent buffered formaldehyde for analysis ashore. Samples were processed to extract all fauna present, which were then identified to the highest taxonomic level possible, enumerated and weighed (blotted wet weight) to the nearest 0.0001g following the recommendations of the North East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control scheme.