The Database of Trawl Surveys

This document focusses on the data flow into the ICES data management systems for surveys at sea, primarily those with a focus on fish species caught using bottom trawling nets. Trawlsurvey data hosted at ICES are collected by research institutions in ICES member countries, and other European countries outside the ICES area. These data contain information on the distribution, abundance, and population structure of target fish species. The data are used by ICES working groups to produce single and mixed species stock assessments. In some cases data from outside the ICES areas might be requested. The data are not requested under a data call, but a timetable of deadlines are agreed on and reviewed by the ICES survey groups that coordinate the surveys, in dialogue with the ICES assessment groups that make use of the data. These deadlines are related to the advisory process. Collected data are publicly accessible under the general ICES data policy, which uses the CC BY 4.0 license.