Data are reported on shell length (mm), dry shell weight (g), dry flesh weight (g), and condition index in mussels farmed in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto from 2004 to 2020. From 2004 to 2012 data were collected in summer in one station in the First Inlet of the basin. In 2013, data were collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. In 2014, data were collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet and in the near Mar Grande. In 2015, data were collected in winter and spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. Starting from 2016, data were routinely collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. Each season, 75 randomly selected mussels were measured, sampled from three breeding “camera” (five for each camera), at three different distances from the coastline (i.e. land, middle, off shore) (five for each distance).

Abundance (individuals/m2) and biomass (g/m2) of macrozoobenthic taxa from seagrass meadows along the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast (Burgas Bay), collected during field surveys of IBER-BAS in 2013-2014 as part of project PERSEUS. Due to the sampling method (hand corer), the dataset represents the infauna associated with the seagrasses. The dataset also contains measurements of several environmental parameters at the stations: sediment grain size (% gravel, sand, and silt/clay); sediment moisture content (%) and total organic matter (% loss on ignition); temperature and salinity of the water.

The collection of biometric variables on mussels from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto started in 2004 and is still ongoing. Seventy-five randomly selected mussels are seasonally sampled from three breeding “camera” (five for each camera), at three different distances from the coastline (i.e. land, middle, off shore) (five for each distance). For each specimen, shell length, shell and meat dry weight, and condition index are measured in the laboratory. From 2004 until 2012, the absence of high levels of contamination and of cyclical heat waves allowed sampling only in summer, in one station in the First Inlet (FI) (40°29’28.99”N 17°15’41.85”E). In 2013, due to the increasing PCB contamination in FI, mussels were moved to the Second Inlet (SI) in summer, where contamination remained lower than the legal limits. Therefore, mussels were sampled in FI in spring, and in SI (40°29’22.46”N 17°18’09.15”) in summer. By way of exception, in 2014, two summer samplings were carried out, one in SI and one in the near Mar Grande (40°27’23.93”N 17°14’38.32”E), to assess the commercial suitability of this second site. In 2015, due to the extreme climatic events occurred, an additional winter sampling in FI became necessary. From 2016 onwards, a spring sampling in FI and a summer sampling in SI are routinely carried out.

Abundance (individuals/m2) and biomass (g/m2) of macrozoobenthic taxa at soft-bottom stations along the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast (Burgas Bay), collected during field surveys of IBER-BAS in 2013-2014 as part of project PERSEUS. The dataset also contains measurements of several environmental parameters at the stations: sediment grain size (% gravel, sand, and silt/clay); sediment moisture content (%) and total organic matter (% loss on ignition); temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen in the water column and near the bottom.