2023 University of Essex UK Juvenile Seabass Survey

Juvenile bass surveys undertaken as part of a FISP funded research project to obtain samples of 0-group sea bass from estuarine nurseries between Aug-Nov. Samples were to be retained to compile an archival tissue bank of cohort matched juvenile sea bass, specifically white muscle tissue, otoliths, and eye lenses, housed at the University of Essex. The primary function of this sampling was to provide samples for DNA extraction to assess the genomic connectivity of sea bass across estuarine nurseries of the southern UK. Samples were collected using beach seine netting at 31 sites across 17 estuarine systems where juvenile bass are found. Secondly, this data is useful in assessing the distribution and abundance of bass within and between these estuarine systems. Here we present the raw counts of juvenile bass caught from the upper and lower reaches (where possible) of estuarine nurseries, as well as the morphometrics recorded for bass which were retained for genomic analysis.