Length and depth distributions of twelve deep-pelagic fish of the Bay of Biscay slope, Northeast Atlantic, between 2011 and 2021

The dataset contains individual total body length (cm) of 4165 individuals belonging to 12 deep pelagic fish species (Aphanopus carbo, Arctozenus risso, Argyropelecus olfersii, Lampanyctus crocodilus, Lampanyctus macdonaldi, Melanostigma atlanticum, Myctophum punctatum, Notoscopelus kroyeri, Searsia koefoedi, Serrivomer beanii, Stomias boa, Xenodermichthys copei). These measurements are classified by trawling station, including geographical position and trawling depth on the Bay of Biscay slope area. Individuals were collected by epi- to bathypelagic trawls in canyons of the continental slope of the Bay of Biscay (Northeast Atlantic) during EVHOE (Evaluation Halieutique de l'Ouest de l'Europe; https://doi.org/10.18142/8) scientific cruises between 2011 and 2021. Trawls were conducted at night between 25 m and 2000 m depth at 23 stations. The trawl was 192 m long with a headline of 76 m and a footrope of 70 m. The average vertical opening of the trawl was about 24 m and the horizontal opening was about 58 m. The mesh size gradually decreased from a very large 8 m (stretched mesh) at the mouth to 20 mm (stretched mesh) in the codend. In order to catch very small specimens, the trawl was also equipped with a 7.5 m long sock with a 12 mm mesh size. Each haul was conducted at a specific depth. Once the trawl reached the selected depth, it was towed horizontally (i.e. constant depth) at 4 knots for 1 hour.