Benthic epifauna German Bight (North Sea) since 1999

Samples were collected with a 2-m beam trawl during surveys with the RV "Walther Herwig III" from 1998 to 2011 (with exception of 2001 and 2002). All samples were taken in summer (July/August). The surveys were part of the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) and covered 24 ICES rectangles (30 x 30 miles) from 53.5 to 56.0 degree N and 3.0 to 8.0 degree E. The study area included the inner German Bight with its shallow West and North Frisian coasts, the deeper Oyster Ground, and the shallow northeastern Dogger Bank. Abundance and biomass of all epibenthic species were recorded.