Dataset: MOCNESS and environmental data from R/V Endeavor cruise EN723 on the US NE Shelf Break in October 2024

In October 2024, the R/V Endeavor cruise EN723 was conducted on the US NE Shelf Break. The MOCNESS tow nets with 222 micron mesh were deployed from October 22-26th. MOCNESS sampling protocols included targeted vertical day night pairs whose depths were adapted to seafloor depth and canyon topography. 

After collection different samples were preserved in formalin for later Zooscan analysis or dried as five size fractionated biomass (200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000) samples. 

The location of the cruise focused on part of the Atlantis Canyon, East area. The canyon has a strong bent mid-way, and in the upper part there is a bowl, and a very low sill closing this bowl form the exit to the bent. The tows were associated with some deployments with a lander that was placed to the NW of the bowl, at about 644 m depth. Other tows focused on canyons themselves.