NAFO-EU-Spain-SL, An ocean variables dataset from the Spanish Oceanographic Surveys at NAFO Regulatory Area.

NAFO-EU-Spain-SL is a regional database that compiled around four decades of physical profile data obtained during cruises managed by the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) and Vigo Oceanographic Center of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC) since 1988 in the framework of studies of biology, management and use of exploited species in distant-water fisheries. They have been supported by the European Union Data Collection Framework, IPMA (Portugal), AZTI, IEO-CSIC and IIM-CSIC (Spain). It initially integrated CTD-derived hydrographic profiles (conductivity, temperature, depth).  Within the NAFO Regulatory Area, the Distant-Water Fisheries team conducts three annual research surveys. The longest-running is the Flemish Cap survey (Div. 3M), carried out in July since 1988 (FLEMISH CAP series). The second is the Grand Bank survey (Div. 3NO), conducted in June since 1995 (PLATUXA series). The most recent is the Flemish Pass survey (Div. 3L, FLETAN NEGRO series), initiated in 2003.  
Now, the recently revised NAFO-EU-Spain- SL database incorporates data from 64 oceanographic surveys from the original sampling period. All historical data have been reprocessed under unified protocols and quality control (QC) procedures—both manual and automated checks for spikes, range validity, inversion, and outliers across the entire time span using consistent protocols and applies uniform QC methodologies to each variable—ensuring a homogeneous, quality controlled dataset. The result is a comprehensive regional resource that includes key physical variables (temperature and salinity), ensuring consistency across time and platforms. The enhanced version adds results from 1988 to 2020 and provides data at standard levels (SLs) as defined by Levitus et al., 1998. ranging from 1 o 1500 m depth—permitting consistent comparisons across profiles. To ensure FAIR compliance, the NAFO-EU-Spain-SL file now includes and all related quality-control (QC) flags. Variable names have been mapped to their corresponding SeaDataNet P01 parameter codes and units aligned with P06 controlled vocabularies, standardizing terminology and measurement units across the dataset. These processing steps enhance both the findability and reusability. It is also included a Cruise Summary Report (CSR) list and their links. The use of standardized vocabularies and CSR integration promotes interoperability with SeaDataNet and other international infrastructures, facilitating broader data discovery and reuse.
This database, formatted in ODV, is freely available via the institutional IEO portal. It provides users with reliable, long-term data optimized for exploration, download, and incorporation into broader analyses and climate assessments.