Sprightly Voyage SP 03/80 Biological Data overview

This record describes the biological datasets obtained on Sprightly Voyage SP 03/80. The data were obtained as part of a time series study of Eddy "J" in the Tasman Sea off the New South Wales Coast in February 1980. At this time the eddy was centred on approximately 36 deg S and 152 deg 10 min E. Stations inside and outside the eddy were sampled for hydrology/nutrients, phytoplankton fluorescence and particle size, zooplankton (including organic nitrogen), and midwater fishes using the RMT (rectangular midwater trawl) net. Underway data were also collected on surface salinity, night-time light intensity, in vivo fluorescence and particle size, and thermal structure of the water was investigated using XBTs. Within the eddy, the most abundant family of fishes in the midwater trawls was family Myctophidae (lanternfishes). Decapod crustacea, salps and squid were also enumerated. Some squid jigging with hand lines was also carried out on two occasions. Catch data from the midwater trawls (17 operations) are currently held by the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Data Centre in Hobart.