Estimates of sediment organic carbon content and stocks, fishing pressure (Swept Area Ratio) Nephrops norvegicus density in the Western Irish Sea Mud Patch

The western Irish Sea mud belt is an area of fine grained muddy sediments located in the UK and Irish Waters, Here we present data on sediment oranic carbon content (per gram dry mass), areal carbon stocks (g per squaire meter) and, associated data on sediment chlorophyll and phaeopigments, for the 2143 km² of the western Irish Sea mud belf located in UK territorial waters. Sediment geochemical data is derived from sediment sampes collected in May 2022 as part of RV Corystes cruise CO1822. Alongide sediment geochemical data we provide seafloor fishing pressure data, as the mean swept area ratio calculated from VMS data for 2021 and 2022 seasons. We also provide mean density of Nephrops norveigicus (estimated from Underwater TV surveys of burrow denisty in 2021 and 2022).