Presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B, northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28

This dataset reports presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B (2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28). Larval fishes were sampled from 48 stations and cruise data were collected at each site including latitude/longitude, date, time, environmental data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and Sargassum dry weight. Larval catch data before and after the oil spill will be compared to improve our understanding of the causes of temporal variability as it relates to the Deep-Water Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Habitat associations of selected taxa (billfishes, tunas, dolphinfishes, flyingfishes) will be examined before (2007-2009) and after (2015-2017) the DWHOS, and catch data will be coupled with environmental data to identify critical spawning/nursery habitats of several pelagic fishes in the nGoM. In addition, life history and ecosystem parameters that favor the production and survival of pelagic fish larvae and juveniles from multiple cohorts (2015-2017) will be compared to estimates before and after the DWHOS.