Data obtained in oceanographic surveys conducted north of the Catalan coast (from 41˚N to 42.3˚N and from 2.5˚E to 4˚E).
The dataset contains:
The stations sampled in each survey, with location data (longitude and latitude) and data for the year sampled.
At each mesoscale sampling station, the following data are provided:
• The environmental variables analysed: bottom depth (m); surface (10 m) oceanographic variables from the CTD casts (temperature, in ºC, salinity, density anomaly, in kg m-3, and chlorophyll-a, in µg L-1); mean chlorophyll-a in the upper 50 m of the water column (MChla_50); distance from a sampling station to the coast (Dist_Coast) and surface dynamic height (DH_10).
• Abundance of fish larvae collected, standardized per unit area (No. larvae 10 m 2), at each sampling station.
At each deep-stratified sampling station, abundance of fish larvae collected, standardized per unit volume (No. larvae 1000 m 3), are provided, This study analyses the influence of the winter environmental conditions on the structure of larval fish assemblages off the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean). Data were obtained during two oceanographic surveys (February 2017 and 2018) with contrasting environmental conditions. Winter 2017 was mild, the coastal zone was occupied by cold, low salinity and productive surface waters, and the water column was slightly stratified. Winter 2018 was more severe, temperatures were lower, with intense vertical mixing and deep-water formation and cascading events down the slope that enhanced shelf-slope water exchanges. Larvae of 52 fish taxa, both shelf and oceanic, were identified, with Sardina pilchardus being numerically dominant. Larvae of shelf fish species were more abundant in 2017 associated with the productive coastal waters. Larvae of oceanic species were more abundant in 2018, with a wide distribution all over the area that would be related to the vertical mixing and the shelf-slope exchange processes that year. Accordingly, the distribution of fish larvae in the water column was wider and deeper in 2018 than in 2017. The assemblages identified by the cluster analysis were determined by bottom depth, sea surface temperature and sea surface chlorophyll-a, with dynamic height being the main factor explaining the differences in assemblages between years. These differences highlighted the role of the shelf-slope water exchange processes in 2018, mainly in the submarine canyons. The results shed light on how changes in larval fish assemblages are indicators of shifts in environmental conditions. Under a climate change scenario, it is likely that the decrease in the fertilisation processes, such as deep-water formation (by convection or cascading) and vertical mixing, would have adverse effects on larval fish populations, Project WINFISH (CTM2015-68543-R).-- With the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), WINFISH 2017. Sampling: Mesoscale. Data provided: Environmental variables Ichthyoplankton. WINFISH 2017. Sampling: Deep-stratified. Data provided: Ichthyoplankton WINFISH 2018. Sampling: Mesoscale. Data provided: Environmental variables Ichthyoplankton WINFISH 2018. Sampling: Deep-stratified. Data provided: Ichthyoplankton, Peer reviewed

Data obtained in oceanographic surveys conducted north of the Catalan coast (from 41˚N to 42.3˚N and from 2.5˚E to 4˚E). Vessel Name: García del Cid, This dataset gives information on sardine eggs and larval diversity and abundances, integrated through the water column, off the Catalan coast in two oceanographic cruises in winter 2017 and 2018. The investigation showed the associations between larval fish assemblages and oceanographic conditions in the upper ocean (top 500 m). Furthermore, this dataset gives information on fish larvae and sardine eggs abundances at different layers of the water column and explores the diel vertical distribution of fish early stages in relation to oceanographic features, Role of vertical mixing processes and dense water formation in the spawning strategy and recruitment of winter breeding fishes in the NW Mediterranean. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTM2015-68543-R, Peer reviewed