IMIS - Marine Onderzoeksgroepen

Database reconstructed from historical research by Charles Gilis during his annual 'spent herring campaigns' that were conducted along the Belgian coastal area during spent herring season (November to March). This database contains detailed descriptions of biological parameters (length, weight, winter rings, body fat, sex, number of vertebrae, etc.) collected by Gilis during his (daily/) monthly scientific surveys between 1942 and 1950. The surveys are systematic collections of 25 specimens (later he expanded to collecting 50 specimens) of 'spent' herring (after spawning) caught by fishing vessels with which Gilis had made a collaboration agreement. The data are unique because they span a specific time period for which relatively little information is available on the (spent) herring in the North Sea AND because they use a systematic sampling method AND because they cover a very broad range of biological parameters. For more information and background; see VLIZ website or contact Ann-Katrien Lescrauwaet (annkatrien.lescrauwaet@vliz.be).